The Record Spring 2015 by Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

VOL. 6, ISSUE 1 â&#x20AC;˘ SPRING 2015

The Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic

The Record Spring 2015

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

TABLE OF CONTENTS Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Episcopal Church Center 4800 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-1399 (313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424 Submissions: submit@edomi.org

The Reverend Michelle Meech Ministry Developer mmeech@edomi.org

James Gettel Canon for Congregational Life jgettel@edomi.org

The Reverend Eric Williams Director of Whitaker Institute ewilliams@edomi.org

Beth Rowley Assistant for Program and Administration browley@edomi.org Rick Schulte Diocesan Communications Editor, The Record therecord@edomi.org

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Requiem: Bishop Orris Walker Jr.

Remembering the former rector of a Detroit church. Page 5

A new event brings in many vestry members. Page 6

The Rt. Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. Bishop of the Diocese bishop@edomi.org

Sue McCune Executive Assistant Office of the Bishop smccune@edomi.org

How do you ‘reimagine’ the Episcopal Church? Page 4

Vestry Retreat

The Record is a quarterly magazine for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Vol. 6, Issue 1 Spring 2015

Canon Jo Ann Hardy Diocesan Administrator jhardy@edomi.org

Conversation: Bishop Gibbs

Eric Travis Missioner for Youth and Young Adults etravis@edomi.org Mark Miliotto Director of Finance mmiliotto@edomi.org Kara Chapman Accountant kchapman@edomi.org Knena Causey Whitaker Institute kcausey@edomi.org

Cover Story: The Dominican Republic The Diocese of Michigan enjoys a great companion relationship with the Dominican Republic. So what’s going on in Central America, and how can we be a part of it? Page 8

Ministry Fair

Re: Imagining the Household of God May 2 in Detroit. Page 12

To Ghana, with love

A great outreach from Grace Church, Southgate. Page 15

Onward and upward

It’s been five amazing years at the Emrich Retreat Center. Page 18

The Final Word: Rick Schulte A bus ride, and a 1980s look at race relations. Page 19

The Record Spring 2015

BISHOP GIBBS INTERVIEW

The act of ‘reimagining’ the Church covers a wide range of methods Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. spoke with editor Rick Schulte recently about many topics relating to the process of ‘reimagining’ the Episcopal Church, including mission, budget and forms of communication. : A lot of conversation has recently centered about the Taskforce to Reimagine the Episcopal Church. Why is there a need to reimagine the Church, and why is it in play now? : I think there are some in the Church who tend to think there’s too much hierarchy. That we spend too much time and too many of our resources supporting structures. And they’re probably right. There are places where we could be more efficient. In many ways, this diocese has undergone this in the time I’ve been here, simply by shrinking the size of the staff, or having people oversee larger chunks of the mission we’re trying to respond to. In terms of the entire church, we need to do that. So that’s certainly why I think it’s on the docket.

who will help direct us – lead us, guide us, walk with us – into this new way of being, and not fight against it. And in my mind, we need to find somebody who will stand up to, talk to, cajole folks who will not want to do it differently than the way we’ve always done it. That’s going to take a lot of diplomacy. There’s a lot we are asking of our next presiding bishop, especially because as of now, we have no idea who that’s going to be.

Q A

: Do you think the conversation is more based in budget or church growth? : Some of the ideas I see coming out sound more like budgetary issues. I’d like to see us focus more on mission, making our response to God’s mission more effective and easier for us to change directions quickly, as needed. I think we’ve spent some time as a church trying to refocus our budgeting, so that it’s responsive to the Five Marks of Mission, and our structure needs to follow that in many ways.

: You will have your fourth different presiding bishop since you were ordained. A lot is made out of who the presiding bishop is, or who the local bishops are, but the truth is time marches on. : A lot of what the presiding bishop does is to help us, as a church, speak to the issues of the day. They they walk with us when we do our legislative process. We have a hierarchy, but it is also a democracy. So that person has to balance some of that. I think it’s a hard job, and it’s not one I would not want. That’s why I’m not in the process. I’m more than willing and happy to support the next presiding bishop in whatever way I can. But I’m not interested in being the presiding bishop.

: The idea of mission sounds like acknowledging a natural growth. Perhaps addressing needs that need to be met. : Remember, in the Book of Common Prayer in the Cathechism, it speaks to what our mission is. The mission of the church is actually God’s mission. God is supposed to be directing the church and we are responding to that. The mission is, to reconcile all of us to one another and to God. Part of the way we do that is to go up against structures and level the playing field so that all have access. It’s not natural for

some people because, I hear too many people talk about my mission, our mission, my parish’s mission, and none of that is true. It’s God’s mission. What we’re trying to do is refocus on what God is calling us to say, do and be.

: At some point, we will have a new presiding bishop. What affect do you think it will have on the church view of itself, its mission? : I think a lot is being done to make certain that, in choosing our next presiding bishop, we will choose someone

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: So what’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the church since your ordination? : Well, it has to be in the way we communicate, because from the day I was first ordained in 1987 to today, technology has changed dramatically. For instance, I bought my first computer and my first printer

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

BISHOP GIBBS INTERVIEW (which was a dot matrix printer) my senior year in seminary. When I was first in the parish as a rector, I had a pager, and still had to stop at a payphone to find out what people wanted. Certainly, email and texting and Twitter were not on the scene at all. So we still relied on the mail, and getting information somewhat more slowly than we do today. Now, information is instantaneous, and I’m not always sure that’s a good thing. There’s no time to filter it, buffer it, call it back if it’s not exactly what you want it to say We are doing less with relational work. We’re not in relationship with each other the same way we were 28 years ago. We’re in relationship with our computers and Facebook, but that’s not relationship. And I think that’s changed how we treat one another. Technology has changed to where we have different forms of communicating, but it’s also changed the way people think in terms of immediacy. It seems like it hasn’t done anything to help dialogue. And I don’t think email or texting is dialogue. It’s a form of communication that is severely lacking. One of the difficulties in reimagining the church is we’re a bunch of people who grew up in a relational age, where all of our meetings were face-to-face and we could create community around whatever sort of conversation we were having. Now, because of budgetary constraints, we are saying to one another that we need to meet face-to-face less and do more of our work online, by email and even with Facetime and other video connections; that’s still not community. Yes, it helps us see each other a little bit. But that’s not enough. There isn’t the same kind of connection, and I think it changes how we interact. And I don’t think it’s changed us for the better. …We’ve made so much use of technology, that we’ve forgotEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan

ten the church is people. Living, breathing, flawed human beings; it’s not an institution. And we’ve turned it into an institution because of our ability to communicate with each other instantly, and we’ve lost that human side of it.

: We spoke about that in your staff meeting today. You have different forms of offices, including strictly working in cubicles. Here, we are encouraged to interact. And people seem to respond well to us. Is that a calculated effort? : Absolutely, and it’s much less about technology and more about us going to the people. Yes, we use email, Facebook,

Twitter. But the bottom line is, for 15 years, once a week for 15 years, someone from this office is in Lansing, so we can be closer in relationship to those not in the Detroit area. I find I’m meeting with more people when I’m there, because I come to them, instead of waiting for people to come here to Detroit.

Q A

: Technology is not an end-all. : It’s a tool. And as long as we use it as a tool, and not as the be-all and end-all, we will be fine. People like interacting with the diocesan staff. But they also want to be known as part of the whole. They are a part of the Diocese

of Michigan. And that’s a good thing. And with the two vestry days that have gone by, they said they want to talk to their counterparts in other congregations. I think that’s part of us wanting to become part of a community, which is relational. Yes, we’ve used technology to reinforce that. But it’s the opportunity to sit across the table with another individual in the diocese, and learn from them, share with them and teach them and recognize we’re part of a larger community. I really hope in reimagining the Episcopal Church as a whole, we don’t let technology rule us, but we use it as a tool to help continue to be in relationship with one another.

Bishop Gibbs served as part of the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop. The group is made up of a lay member, priest or deacon, and bishop from each of the nine provinces of the Episcopal Church, plus two appointed youth representatives. An announcement will be made May 1, naming the nominees. The next presiding bishop will be elected at General Convention this summer in Salt Lake City.

The Record Spring 2015

DIOCESAN NEWS

Requiem for Bishop Orris Walker Jr. The Rt. Rev. Orris Walker Jr., retired bishop for the Diocese of Long Island and former rector at St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s, Detroit, died Feb. 28 after an extended illness. Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. presided over the March 14 requiem service at Christ Church, Detroit, where Walker served as bishop-in-residence in recent years. While with the Diocese of Michigan, Walker served as a member of Executive Council, the Trustees, the Urban Affairs Committee, Dean of Convocation, as a board member and associate professor of Contemporary Society at the Whitaker School of Theology. He was elected five times to serve as a deputy to General Convention. He chaired several committees and commissions at both General Convention and throughout the Episcopal Church. After serving as its coadjutor from 1988-91, Walker was named seventh bishop – and first African-American bishop – for the Diocese of Long Island, serving from 1991 until his retirement in 2009.

Bishop Orris Walker Jr. was the first African-American to lead the Diocese of Long Island. Previous to that, he was rector at St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s, Detroit. Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. presided over his requiem service March 14 at Christ Church, Detroit.

More details will be available on the diocesan website (www.edomi. org) as the event draws closer.

Diocesan Picnic July 25 at Emrich Retreat Center All are invited to attend the annual Bishop’s Diocesan Picnic, beginning at 10 a.m. July 25. For the fifth consecutive year, the Emrich Retreat Center will host the event. Food and drinks, games, fellowship and much more are in store.

Other News A pair of canonically-required Mission Budget Discussions are scheduled for May. The first takes place at lunchtime during Re-Imagining the Household of God (May 2 at the Cathedral). The next will be available to view online at 7 p.m. May 12. …Clergy planning to attend the annual AMEN Conference should look for information to become available in July. The event will be held on Mackinac

Island at the Grand Hotel Oct. 13-15. … The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. George Carey, 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, will be part of three events with St. John’s, Detroit, starting May 14 with a 7:30 p.m. Feast of the Ascension celebration. A noon clergy luncheon (reservations required) takes place May 15, followed by a 6 p.m. banquet (tickets required) at the Detroit Athletic Club. Contact the church at (313) 962-7358 for details. …Upcoming Diocesan Council meetings are set for May 9 and June 20 and are tentatively sched-

The Record Spring 2015

uled for St. Paul’s, Brighton. … The Task Force for Gun Violence meets Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. at Christ Church, Grosse Pointe. The group (formed in conjunction with Church of the Messiah, Detroit) explores what can be done to support national and local efforts to address the problems of violence. Established in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, the meetings are open to others in the local faith community. Call (313) 885-4841 for more information.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

PHOTOSTORY

First Vestry Retreats prove to be popular A longtime goal of Bishop Gibbs has been to establish events where all vestry members can learn about a wide array of church-related issues. It came to fruition in February as two churches -- St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Royal Oak and St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Lansing -- each hosted a Vestry Retreat. All vestry members were encouraged to attend, with content geared toward both experienced and novice vestrypersons. Networking opportunities provided a chance to see what other vestries are doing. Both retreats were well-received. Look for two more vestry retreats in 2016.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

The Record Spring 2015

DREAM Makers DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Local involvement through DDG, Episcopal Diocese of Dominican Republic yields great results By Rick Schulte Most people picture a growing church as one in a booming area, with a strong economy and no shortage of resources. The fact that an amazing growth spurt is taking place in the Dominican Republic – with limited local financial resources but plenty of hard work and innovation – makes one wonder how such a miracle could occur. Actually, it is not a miracle. But this growth, in large part, was spurred on by a DREAM – an acronym for the Dominican Republic and Episcopal Churches in All of Lower Michigan. “It’s been a great privilege having the Diocese of Michigan as a partner,” said the Rt. Rev. Julio Holguin, Bishop for the Diocese of the Dominican Republic, as he spoke at Michigan’s 180th Diocesan Convention. The Diocese of Michigan, in partnership with the Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, has developed a relationship with the Dominican Development Group (DDG, which originated in 1998). The work of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic and the DDG has been productive; the DREAM participation has been a large part of the success. “We’ve been able to triple the number of congregations in the last 20 years,” Bishop Holguin said. “When I took over, we developed seven schools. Now, we have 28.” “I’ve been on many mission experiences and many different mission trips,” said Eric Travis,

Bishop Gibbs demonstrates how to locate Michigan and our diocese.

youth missioner for the Diocese of Michigan, who has been to the Dominican Republic twice. “There is definitely something special and unique to it.” Travis and a group first went to San Simon (located in San Marcos in the northern region of the island nation) to help with the building of a new church in 2011. (“It was a surprise to most of us,” he said. “We thought we were going there to survey the area, but we wound up being put to work.”) The construction should be completed this summer, with Consecration scheduled for July. The DDG funnels financial and human resources into specific projects to do work in the Dominican Republic. The group was created with the goal of ensuring any incoming money was directed to the right projects, and to make sure proper personnel was

in place to provide oversight. A board (of which Travis is a member) oversees this organization (to which the Diocese of Michigan pays annual dues of $10,000). It has made for an efficient, effective system. There is no wasted effort, as the results bear out. The DDG works throughout the entire country; our local involvement takes place in San Simon, where the new building is two stories tall and – due to its construction specifications – can serve as a hurricane shelter. It has a large worship area with additional meeting rooms on the main floor. The second floor has potential living space for a priest, plus additional meeting space. The vision of the church in San Simon is for it to become a sort of town center, which can provide more than a place to worship and meet, but to also serve as a

The Record Spring 2015

location where locals can access a wide range of needs, such as health care and eventually, education. (Someday, it is hoped a school will be built). The DDG does not handle liturgical matters; that is left to Bishop Holguin and the diocese. It operates with a low overhead, which explains the efficiency of the organization. “I’ve been a part of many mission experiences and many mission trips, and there’s something that is uplifting about being able to go somewhere and help. I believe as Americans, we have a tendency to pat ourselves on the back when we give money for something or help for a week,” Travis said. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s not the whole story or that’s not the most that we can do.” The key is being open to how work is done in the Dominican Republic and not going in with any pre-conceived notions. “You rent wood to make concrete forms, or for the scaffolding, and you only have so long to use it before it has to go back, or you have to pay more,” he said. “There are different building practices, but we’ve had to let go of some of our building practices. It’s different, but it works.” Deacon Beth Drew, from St. Mark’s, Coldwater, represents the Diocese of Western Michigan in the DREAM program. It didn’t take long for her to realize this was something that called out for involvement from her diocese. “At the end of the trip, with evEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC • Impressions on our relationship with the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic, plus a way you can get involved with a Companion Diocese Task Force: Pages 10-11. Country: Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo Population: Approximately 9 million. Official Language: Spanish Distance from Detroit: 1,798 miles Government: Democracy Climate: Tropical year-round.

HISTORY The Rev. P. Benjamin Isaac Wilson was ordained as a priest in 1897. He founded Holy Trinity Church in San Pedro de Macoris. The Dominican Episcopal Church operated under the supervision of the Haitian Orthodox Church until 1913, when the local church voted to become a missionary district of the Episcopal Church (later part of Province IX).

The annual convention for the Diocese of the Dominican Republic featured a march through the streets and, of course, worship. (All photos courtesy of Julius Ariail, DDG.)

erything said and done and the DDG already in place, we knew we wanted to be a part of this,” Drew said. Despite the fact she had limited construction experience (“I knew nothing. I was scared to death,” she noted), the need for working in the Dominican Republic was obvious – especially since the organizational set-up is in place. And, she urges others to take part. “I can tell you, it can work in your diocese,” Drew said. “Whether you know ola or nada.” She travels her own diocese to spread the message of need and Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

success. But it is not at all a case of American outsiders taking on a project; it is a case of working with the Dominicanos on their terms on a project they fully intend on running without any ongoing assistance. “Ministry partnerships are most effective when they are mutually helpful, rather than mired in the concept of dominance, when one partner wants to give but not receive,” said the Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs Jr., Bishop for the Diocese of Michigan. “We are truly blessed by this partnership and look forward to what we will learn and receive from our part-

ners in the Dominican Republic.” DREAM trips have taken folks of various ages and skillsets to work there – and there is always room for more who are interested in helping. Travis, the missioner for youth and young adults in the Diocese of Michigan, and Tomas Manney (Eastern Michigan) are the Michigan diocesan contacts, along with Drew. More information about the program may be found online at www.michigan-domincan.org. You may also reach Travis at etravis@edomi.org to learn how to get involved.

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Migrants arrived from the British West Indies, bringing their language, culture and – for many – an established Anglican tradition. Later, American missionaries William Wiley and James Beer arrived in 1918, founding the Church of the Epiphany in Santo Domingo, San Esteban in San Pedro de Macoris and many missions in the surrounding sugar mills. For more than the first half century of its existence, the church grew even as most services were conducted in English. But in the 1950s, a group of missionaries set out to “nationalize” the church. It succeeded, as soon the Rt. Rev. Paul Kellogg was named the first resident bishop; in 1972, the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac became the first native Dominicano to serve as bishop on the island. The Rt. Rev. Julio Holguin followed in 1991 and is still bishop today.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Impressions on the Dominican Republic, plus a chance to be a part of a new Companion Diocese Task Force At the 2014 Diocesan Convention, we had a time of table conversation around our ministry with our Companion Diocese of the Dominican Republic. During that time, delegates to convention gathered in small groups and answered some questions. Here are some of the responses: What do you know about our work and relationships with the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic? • Mission trips – youth and adult • Outreach Committee support • Sister Diocese • Common ministry with Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan • Newly forming relationship • Working to establish a stronger Episcopal presence, building churches and schools • Almost nothing • We pray for them every Sunday • There is great willingness to collaborate, to be transformed, and to close the gaps created by our different languages, cultures, races and ethnicities. • The relationship aspect is primary; the work aspect is secondary What gifts do we share in common with the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic, and what gifts are gained in these relationships? • Sharing our gifts of love, hope and charity • Break down barriers that separate – culture, language, economics

Many visiting bishops and local clergy participated in the celebration.

• Model support for future generations • Concept of church is people not a building • Both trying to grow the church at unique times • Eucharist • Understanding the ability to create so much out of so little • God is Good all the time • We are not quite sure, but are interested in the possibilities for collaboration • We gain a better understanding of each other when we stay in relationship • Unemployment, poverty & homelessness are common challenges • Gives us insight into how much of the world lives and how faith operated in such places • Youth who have returned being changed and ready to be leaders in their local churches

Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori is greeted in a recent visit to the Dominican Republic.

• Ability to access and respond to specific community needs • If this is a relationship, then let’s actually get to know each other • We share the sacraments & liturgy – shared message

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How do we apply the gifts, learning, and experiences of the Dominican Republic mission in our own lives and our diocese? How will you and your congregation be transformed by the learning and experiences? • Reaching out into the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The march through the streets took more than two hours in hot weather conditions.

community • Participate in mission trips • Model how to connect with one another more deeply • We need to be more aware of cultural differences • Moving from “going to church” to “being the church” • Perhaps we need to as parishes in our Diocese to join in companion relationship with parishes in the D.R. – share ideas, pray for each other regularly • Exchange program or mission trip to adopted parish • Help break down sense of isolation, sense of supremacy, helps us see ourselves as part of a global church and community • We don’t yet know how we will be transformed by the learning and experiences because our experience with our partnership is yet limited. We are open to and excited about opportunities to be informed about culture and potential ministry, but we must Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

take part in this mission before we know how it will transform us • Increased online resources about the ministry would be very helpful • Go beyond our traditional boundaries/localities to participate in bilingual missions • Increased awareness of Latino population in our area, increased investment in local mission in general • The DR experience challenges us to new levels of sacrifice and commitment – how to do so much with so little, maximize our results • Are you willing to be transformed? • Raise awareness of needs of Spanish speaking/Latino people among us Where do we do next? We are going to create a Companion Diocese Task Force. The purpose of this Task Force is to flesh out ways to share information, create

Bishop Julio Holguin meets members of the congregation from Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills during a visit to Michigan for the 180th convention for the Diocese of Michigan.

relationships and strengthen our “companionship” with the church in the Dominican Republic. To create this Task Force, we need you. If you are interested in serving on this Task Force, please contact

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Eric Travis at etravis@edomi. org or (313) 833-4418. As the companion diocese liaison, he will be coordinating the Task Force. The first meeting of the group takes place in May.

MINISTRY FAIR: RE-IMAGINING THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

Check out the offerings for May learning event The 2015 Ministry Fair: Re-Imagining the Household of God will be held May 2 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit. This year’s program was created with an emphasis on The Five Marks of Mission and was born of two previous programs – Ministry Fair and Becoming the Household of God. The Rev. Tom Brackett is the keynote speaker. He has been passionate about lively and transformative communities of faith for 31 years of ordained life. Originally ordained as a Baptist, he studied ecumenical approaches to church growth and leadership development in eight very different cultures from 1980-86. His undergraduate studies focused on new leadership models for the 21st century, as well as the power of storytelling and metaphor to transform communities, compelling them to take courageous action, together. Here’s a summary of the workshops. Times and events are subject to change. Go to www.edomi.org/whitaker for full details, including how to register. SESSION I WORKSHOPS: 10:30-11:45 a.m. Going Further Presenter: Tom Brackett Tom will continue the dialogue about re-imaging the household of God. Please rejoin the conversation after a brief break. Cruzando La Frontera: Mission and Latin@ Ministries Presenter: The Rev. Juan Perez This workshop will explore the Five Marks of Mission in the contextual setting of Southwest Detroit and provide tools for mission development for your worship community. Juan is the Curate Missioner for La Iglesia Detroit: Sta. Teresa Y San Juan. Conversation with the Diversity Task Force Presenter: The Rev. Bill Hale, Jackie Spann and Emery Dumas The Lower Peninsula Diversity Task Force has been formed by three dioceses in Michigan to create a new educational model for dealing with racism and other unjust structures while affirming the power of our differences and the richness these differences bring. Service and Transformation: The Detroit Water Struggle Presenters: The Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellerman and members of St. Peter’s, Detroit Using film, biblical reflection and storytelling, this workshop would offer an account of and invitation to the ongoing work around just access to water as a public trust. How to get Children and Youth Interested and Engaged in the Five Marks of Mission Presenter: Eric Travis Discuss and discover ways to engage young people in the Five Marks of Mission with the Youth and Young Adult Missioner for the Diocese of Michigan. Regional Transportation Issues Presenters: Marie Donigan and William O’Brian Episcopal congregations can play an important and exciting role in this common good effort to improve lives of everyday people in Greater Detroit. Learn how in this workshop. Islam: Getting to Know Your Muslim Neighbors Presenter: The Rev. Canon Bob Hart Bob will lead an overview of Islam, its history, practices, diversity, and beliefs, along with a discussion on how to get to know your Muslim

List: The Five Marks of Mission 1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom 2. To teach, baptize and nurture new believers 3. To respond to human need by loving service 4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation 5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth Program Schedule Registration, coffee and pastries, Barth Hall, 8-9 a.m. Keynote: Tom Brackett, Barth Hall, 9-10:15 a.m. Workshop Session I, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Lunch, Barth Hall, 11:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mission Budget Conversation, Barth Hall, 12:30-1:00 p.m. Workshop Session II, 1:15-2:30 p.m. Workshop Session IV, 2:45-4:00 p.m Mission Budget Conversation The Mission Budget Committee of Diocesan Council invites everyone to participate in the Mission Budget Conversation. This conversation will satisfy the canonical requirement to discuss “the development of the formula for congregational asking,” which has been set by the diocesan convention. neighbors and perhaps sponsor an interfaith dialogue. SESSION II WORKSHOPS: 1:15-2:30 p.m. And God Saw That It Was Good Presenter: The Rev. Michelle Meech Grounded in the theology of creation found in Genesis, this workshop will help us to be more attuned to our decisions and offer a list of resources to develop a congregational ministry focused on our responsibility to sustain and renew the life of the earth. Being or Being Noticed? Identity and Being-Based Leadership Presenter: The Rev. Ron Spann Identity grounded in being distinguishes leaders who provide what Rabbi Edwin Friedman called a non-anxious presence. It keeps leaders focused on growing inwardly solid versus accruing a bagful of management tricks, a tempting shortcut to mature leadership. Connecting the Household With Video Technology The Rev. Deacon Tim Spannaus and the Rev. Eric Williams Free and low-cost video and other technologies provide congregations with tools to build their communities of faith. From recording sermons to share with those unable to be in church to using web conferencing to save time and travel costs, the web gives us tools to bring people together. Lenten Journey Books Presenters: Amy Kohair and Kate Hartwell, St. James, Grosse Ile ‘Our Lenten Journey Book’ consists of the Lenten Readings for the liturgical year being shared through the writer’s point of view and a closing prayer for each day of Lent from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

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Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

MINISTRY FAIR: RE-IMAGINING THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD Healing Broken Bodies: Putting Missional Theology into Practice Presenters: The Rev. Bill Danaher, Felix Rogers and Katie Knoer The presenters review the theology that generated the Five Marks of Mission in 1986. Then, they look at how this theology currently transforms the work at Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills. Hello, My Name Is ___________. Presenter: Rick Schulte Every church, no matter what the size, needs a communications strategy. What does your church do to reach its members? How do you make yourself known to potential new members? Do you have a real social media presence and an updated website?

social justice and caring for the environment coming from a Beloved Community? LGBTQ: Why and How the Church Can Be Welcoming and What Young People Can Teach Us Presenter: Eric Travis Is your parish struggling with sexuality/gender identity and how faith and Christianity fit in? Do you wonder if LGBTQ and the Church can fit together? Join us for this time of exploration and discussion on these and other questions.

Pastoral Care Issues for LGBTQ People Presenter: The Rev. Marcia Ledford LGBTQ people have some unique pastoral needs. This workshop will explore those areas in order to equip clergy and lay pastoral ministers in their work. Crisis care and common pastoral issues will be addressed. Time for discussion and questions will also be included.

One Body We: Working Together as We Advocate for Justice and Peace Presenters: Covenant 5 We thank and encourage congregations implementing one or more General Convention 2012 justice-and-peace resolutions; this discusses our vision, mission, goals and strategies as we advocate for human worth and dignity, justice and peace.

Now the Eyes of My Eyes Can See, Now the Ears of My Ears Can Hear: A Bible Study on Jesus, the Good News and The Purity Code Presenter: The Rev. Joe Summers Many cannot hear the Good News of the New Testament because of failing to understand the context of the purity code at the time of Jesus. Participants gain some basic tools to be able to talk with others about the Good News and the purity code and Christian ethics.

Opening the Mystical Heart Presenter: The Rev. Michelle Meech The mystical heart is one that enables us to be in this world but not of it so that we can bring our full selves to the world and be more aware of God’s presence in it so we come to learn that mission is not something we do, but who we are as beloved children of God and as the Body of Christ.

Towards the Divine, Amongst the Diverse: Creating a safe space for conversation about Diversity Presenter: Kevin O’Connor This will define diversity and its benefits and create awareness of how personal behaviors affect interactions, stereotypes and prejudices. It provides tools and procedures to handle sensitive diversity issues. It also increases awareness to valuing diversity.

Servant Ministry in the Church and in the World Presenter: The Ven. Linda MacDonald There will be discussion about servant ministry as a response to our baptismal covenant. How it is different than just doing ‘good things’? It will then define servant ministry as expressed in diaconal ministry, lay and ordained.

Stereotypes: If You Really Knew Me Presenter: Eric Travis An interactive look at how stereotypes can separate us from each other and ways we can break down these barriers. SESSION III WORKSHOPS: 2:45-4 p.m. Basic Will and Estate Planning for Clergy and Congregants Presenter: Geoffrey Smereck, Attorney at Law This teaches clergy and congregants the basics of will preparation and estate planning. Add to your pastoral care capabilities by becoming more knowledgeable about the pastoral care needs in settling affairs and adult guardianships.

Worshiping and Ministering in Spanish: How do we get there? A first approach Presenter: Sylvia Maria Booth Are you noticing increasing numbers of Latino neighbors and parishioners, and wondering how you can reach out to them or create a deeper connection? How about mixing some Spanish into your coffee hour, Ministry or Worship? Music Workshop Presenter: Ana Hernandez She is a composer, arranger, and performer of sacred music. For more than a decade, she has conducted workshops that encourage people to explore the effects of rhythm and chant on their bodies.

How to Start Up a Prison Ministry Presenter: The Rev. Linda Shafer In many of our churches no need is more neglected than the ministering to victims of crime. One of the most neglected is the family of the offender; seldom considered a victim. Incarceration has become widespread in our state and throughout the USA. Engaging the Secular Soul Presenter: Pastor Ken Wilson An overview of perspectives, strategies, and practical tips to make faith accessible to the fastest growing segment of the American religious landscape, the religiously unaffiliated. He is founder of a church that grew to an average attendance of 600 and planted three other churches. Incarnational Community and the Five Marks of Mission Presenter: Canon Jim Gettel Does your church community truly show forth God’s love? Are the elements of our church mission such as evangelism, formation, outreach,

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

The Record Spring 2015

e are grateful you are reading this edition of ‘The Record’ magazine. Four times a year, we do our best to present a wide range of news and events, showing who we are as the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.

And while this magazine has been a large part of how we keep you informed, it’s not the only way.

Our Communications Ministry also presents Weekly Connection, a Tuesday-morning electronic newsletter highlighting church events and offering helpful resources to everyone in our diocesan household. We also offer The Friday Morning Grind. This includes links to stories of interest to all, including The Nuts and Bolts Blog (which explains resolutions and issues of the Episcopal Church in terms everyone can understand). We are also busy in other areas online. We have developed and maintain a website that serves as a great resource for information about our diocese. We also believe it’s important to maintain a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, promoting events locally while also providing timely news and information to all. All of this is done so our identity is clear – not only to long-time Episcopalians, but also to those who are curious about what our Church has to offer. Today, we ask you consider helping our Communications Ministry. Your help allows us to continue the mission of telling our story. Won’t you consider making a donation to our worthy cause? Simply cut out the attachment below. We are grateful for whatever you can do to help.

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The Record Spring 2015

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

OUTREACH

Upon receiving many supplies sent to support a school in Ghana, the community shows its appreciation for the efforts of Grace Episcopal, Southgate.

Grace Episcopal, Southgate assists school in Ghana

Local media found the relationship with Grace to be newsworthy, with several outlets picking up on the story.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

In the fall of 2014, the youth class of Grace Episcopal, Southgate was discussing ideas and trying to plan out projects they could engage in while writing a stewardship performance play for the entire parish. Their talks focused on taking on a project for people who were in great need. Juliana Beecham, a youth class member, started talking about her uncle, Akobima, a principal at a school in Ghana. She talked about how they needed a number of classroom items. The school is situated in an area of Ghana with little to no aid for education and no financial resources to buy supplies. The whole class thought about this for several weeks’ time and came back with an idea; fundraise with help from the congregation. Both instructors agreed with this concept. One of the instructors, Pam Wagner, found online a number of small, Halloween-type pumpkin savings banks. As the project started to jell, the youth decorated the pumpkins and offered them to members of the congregation. Soon, the pumpkins were filling with donations, making the outreach effort bear fruit. There have now been multiple donations, both hand-carried by Juliana’s Aunt Mary and mailed to Ghana to aid the school. In early February, Julianna’s aunt attended a program to personally thank Grace and especially its youth. The local television stations carried the program, as did many news reporting agencies within Ghana. In return, Grace has received many photos from the dedication, plus a banner specially made to honor Grace for its support.

The Record Spring 2015

EMRICH CENTER

Onward and upward Emrich Center completes successful fifth year after re-opening

Ongoing work takes place at the Emrich Retreat Center, located just outside of Brighton.

By Andrea Morrow The Emrich Retreat Center at Parishfield occupies 26 acres in Livingston County, situated at the edge of the 5,000-acre Bishop Lake State Park in the Brighton Recreational Area and about 10 minutes from I-96. Emrich has six buildings, five with sleeping quarters, plus an office/garage and a caretaker’s residence. Emrich has beds for 90 overnight guests in its current configuration and can host many more in sleeping bags in large meeting rooms

and/or tents on the property. All dormitory buildings have small conference and meeting rooms. In addition, the chapel/library building and the Winters common room are suitable for large meetings. Nearly a decade ago, Emrich was closed, because costs were far exceeding income and the facilities had become rundown due to deferred maintenance. At that time, a survey was sent to all congregations and made available online, asking the Diocesan

Household their thoughts on whether this ministry of hospitality should continue. Three hundred people from around the Diocese responded, and they all said a resounding ‘yes.’ The task then became figuring out if Emrich could be made financially sustainable. After a trial re-opening period in 2009, which demonstrated that a lean operating model and increased reliance on in-kind (work and material) donations could in fact be sustainable, Emrich began

The Record Spring 2015

full-time, year-round operations in 2010. Last year marked the end of our fifth year of continuous operation under the new model and with a new name that embraces the property’s heritage. What is now Emrich was founded in 1944 as Parishfield by a group of Episcopalians as a center for lay education and empowerment. Though the Parishfield community moved on to help establish the Detroit Industrial Mission in the 1960s, its legacy lives on in the Emrich Retreat Center at Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Parishfield. We’d like you to join us in celebrating our accomplishments and in making the future possible. Here are some things that we’ve done: • Replaced aging roofs, siding, and windows on most buildings, as well as repainted interiors and exteriors • Replaced aging flooring in common areas and meeting rooms with laminate and restored the chapel to its original tile floor • Renovated the caretaker’s house, which had been closed due to disrepair, allowing the caretaker’s family to move out of the Ayres House, freeing it up for rentals • Made the buildings more energy efficient with better insulation and windows, weatherproofing, energy-efficient lighting, setback thermostats and better management of heat in unused spaces, and replacement of appliances with more energyefficient ones as they wear out • Improved accessibility with the addition of two sidewalks and low-entry showers in most buildings; Winters Building is barrierfree for four of its five rooms and all bathrooms • Created a large garden, which supplies food for meals at Emrich as well as for donations to Gleaner’s Food Bank • Provided equitable compensation to the Executive Director and Caretaker, including health insurance coverage • Ensured sound financial oversight by hiring a contract accountant • Updated and improved marketing materials, including a website and Facebook presence • Hosted the last three Diocesan Family Picnics Just in 2014 alone, we hosted over 60 groups, which translates to over 2,000 people. The groups we host have a variety of missions that help make the world a better place. For instance, one group Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

provides a camp for children who are homeless or from very lowincome families. Another is a Christian men’s group that helps men improve their relationship with God, each other, and their families, leading to amazingly transformed lives. Another is a public high school that selects 70 students each year for a course in leadership and anti-bullying, which has reduced violence in the school dramatically. A longtime client is a silent meditation group, where people come for 11 days of silence, going inward to help them become more focused, calm, and peaceful. We also have groups from the University of Michigan, retreats hosted by many faith traditions, family reunions and weddings, and of course some Episcopal groups. This was a big year for renewal of our physical plant – and for amazing generosity. A yoga group repainted one of our large meeting rooms, donating over $900 in materials and labor. The men’s fellowship group installed two new sidewalks to increase accessibility, and also created a beautiful fire pit area, donating over $8,000 in materials and labor. The roof on the chapel, one

of the most difficult to work on due to its height and pitch, was replaced with a grant from Diocesan Council. Many other smaller projects, from grounds clean-up to garden help, were also completed. This year, an Eagle Scout plans to build a gazebo for us. We are thrilled to report that we have not just survived for five years, but we have thrived. We would like to thank everyone in that original group of 300 who said a resounding ‘yes’ to Emrich’s continued existence as well as to all the friends who have supported us throughout the years. We would like to ask all of you to consider chipping in with some financial support. As you all know, last winter was one of the coldest, and fuel prices were among the highest, in living memory. We spent $6,000 over our already large budget of $32,000 for heating the facilities – much lower than the $45,000 a year that Emrich used to spend under the old management, but still a substantial amount. We also implemented cost-of-living raises and health insurance for our employees this year, and while we believe that’s the right thing to do, we all know health

insurance doesn’t come cheap. Emrich does not receive funding through the Diocesan operating budget. Instead, we work to be self-sufficient through our income from facilities and donations. If we could get 300 people to chip in $10 apiece, it would help us continue to be a sustainable resource for the whole Diocese and beyond. We know that some of you may not have $10, and that’s OK – your love and support is priceless, and there are probably some people who can afford to give more than $10. If we all work together, we can do amazing things. Because if we are willing, God is able. And if we are ready, God has already gone ahead to prepare a way for us. Our experience of God’s presence at Emrich over the past several years has left no doubt about that. Andrea Morrow is chair of Emrich Advisory Board. For more information, including how to donate online via PayPal, please go to www.discoveremrich.org. Donations can also be mailed to the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, 4800 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201 (please put Emrich in the memo line of your check).

Boarding the bus to the movie ‘Selma’ In conjunction with the celebration day for Absalom Jones, the first African-American priest of the Episcopal Church, a pair of chartered buses brought more than 70 guests (courtesy of Bishop Gibbs) to the AMC Star John R in Madison Heights to view the movie ‘Selma.’ Afterward, all returned to Barth Hall at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit for a luncheon and conversation. This took place in conjunction with the H. Irving Mayson Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.

The Record Spring 2015

ST. ANNE’S MEAD

What do you do with clutter when it’s time to move?

The Generation That Grew Up Stockpiling Life was a lot different 90 years ago. It spawned behaviors and habits that seem peculiar among today’s younger generation. Consider the Silent Generation born between 1925 and 1945, during the worst economic times this nation has ever faced. Today, Silents comprise most of the residents of assisted living and nursing care facilities. Shaped largely by the financial crises of the times, Silents became adept at hoarding, accumulating “things” that might be needed during some future crisis. Their penchant for collecting was passed on to their Baby Boomer children born between 1946 and 1965, who grew up never being taught how to avoid clutter. Gen Xers, born between 1965 and the early 1980s, entered the American Dream courtesy of their Boomer parents, who could not let them “go without” or endure unnecessary discomfort. Their sacrifices fostered “Soccer Moms,” female parents who gave up much of their day to drive their offspring to school, to extracurricular activities, and wherever else they needed to go. That continued until the child turned 16 and was given a car newer and better than the one their parents owned. Nurtured by rapidly changing technologies, namely cell phones, computers, flat-screen TVs and other electronics, GenXers grew up accepting early obsolescence and had little problem disposing of things that were outdated or no longer gave them social status. As more and more Silents move into assisted living or nursing care, what to do about Mom’s or Dad’s collections becomes a common problem. Robin Harris, Director of Admissions at St. Anne’s Mead and her colleague Michelle Mitchell, Social Worker, see this every day. The Boomer children have few ideas about how to deal with the stacks of old paper records and personal items that their parents collected because they believed it “might be valuable someday,” says Robin. “On top of that, their dilemma is worsened by having to dispose of broken appliances, worn out furniture and cases of expired can goods.” “In some cities there are services that come in and handle just about every aspect of sorting, selling and giving away personal items,” says Robin, “but we prefer alternatives such as charities and auctions that can fix or repair the items and then sell them to eager buyers, or put them out for purchase ‘as is’.” “Quite often, Boomer children are not capable of deciding what items should be kept and which should be discarded,” says Michelle. “I help them by talking about why the items were saved in the first place, whether siblings have any interest in them, and deciding which ones their parents haven’t touched, used or thought of in years.” A solution for where to keep select, special items despite limited storage space? A legacy box, which can hold photos of special items, a few sandwich bags to store favorite earrings, watches and other jewelry, and some sample stamps or coins from a larger collection. It can be part of a move-in to help new residents acclimate to unfamiliar surroundings. “The contents can be shared with friends and family,” says Michelle, “providing seniors with memory loss visible cues to help them reminisce. Once the substitutes are inserted the actual items can then be discarded or given away with fewer feelings of guilt or remorse.” Interested in St. Anne’s Mead? St. Anne’s Mead is a senior community offering compassionate and professional health care and supportive services in a safe, secure and loving home. In keeping with our faith-based traditions, we endeavor to serve the unique nees of individuals and their families while preserving their dignity and enriching their lives.

We are located at 16106 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield MI 48076. To learn more, go to www.stannesmead.org or call (248) 557-1221.

The Record Spring 2015

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

THE FINAL WORD

The real meaning of diversity, lost on a group of high schoolers It was 1981. There I was, on one of two buses heading from the suburbia southwest of Detroit to Oxford in northern Oakland County for a high school retreat. If I recall correctly, our school’s Human Relations Committee – organized to create dialogue and understanding among our Catholic school’s Caucasian and African-American students – organized this event. It was a specially-chosen group of students, mostly the ‘popular kids’ seen as leaders in the school community. I’m not sure how I made the cut, but I suspect since it took place during the height of the winter sports season, I probably took the place of a wrestler with better teeth and far more friends than me. If my lack of positive social standing in the school pecking order wasn’t enough to make me feel out of place, perhaps the 90-minute bus ride should have. About 50 of us filled one bus; the bus driver and myself were the only white people on it. Yeah, it was an interesting dichotomy. A bus ride to explore our feelings on ‘race relations’ (that was a big catchphrase back then) with the black kids on one bus, the white kids on another. This ought to be good, I thought. When we arrived, we were broken into smaller, racially-integrated groups. There were several scenarios painted where we discussed, acted out, chalk talked and used all forms of tapping into our feelings and learning that, gosh-darn it, even though we had different skin colors, we were all basically the same inside. Now let’s hold hands and sing Kumbaya by the fireplace. A few of us found the tone of everything to be rather disingenuous. As these scripted scenarios Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

played out, everyone So tell me this: Why said what they thought was there one bus for the black kids and one they were supposed to bus for the white kids say. Of course, no one coming up here?” would ever choose to I remember one act the bully in a situation involving someclassmate, clear as a one who looks or acts bell to this day, asking Rick differently. No one me if I was sure about Schulte would admit to disthis. honesty when given “Since I was the only white kid on the bus I the opportunity of getting away some kind of mal- came here on, yeah, I’m pretty feasance. And most definitely, sure it happened. Don’t you see everyone would treat a black anything wrong with that?” And with that, one of the group kid the same way they treat their facilitators said they were waiting white friends, or vice versa. “Wait a minute,” I said. Maybe for someone to acknowledge the the fact I was a little mouthy and giant elephant in the room: That a bit of a smart-aleck was going we were all so set in our ways and to serve me well in this forum. Or content with our own comfort maybe it was going to make for a zone, it never dawned on anyone long ride back from Oxford. “Ev- there was anything out of place eryone’s talking like they’re per- with having unofficially-segrefect here. Like we all make ideal gated buses. No one set out to choices. That yes, racism does ex- have the buses fill that way, they ist, but not here, because as you said. It just sort of happened, so can see, I’m comfortable with they ran with that in the name of my friends from another race. an educational opportunity.

A 90-minute bus ride to a school retreat created a memory that remains today.

The Record Spring 2015

My little retreat speech did nothing to enhance my social standing. But the buses were integrated for the ride home. And for the first day or two, some of the white kids wandered over to the corner of the cafeteria to hang out with the black kids before school, playing cards and listening to Parliament Funkadelic. And some of the black kids came over to play cards with the white kids while listening to Pink Floyd. By the time the following Monday rolled around, everyone was back in their own comfort zone. I wonder if anyone really noticed that brief change. I did. And it made me sad that all the optimism and insight eventually created at that retreat really did little to change our school. People actually wanted something better. They embraced change. But they embraced it only long enough to prove it could be done; it’s just that no one really thought it was anything more than a novelty. I see some hope today. We, and many parents, raise our children to judge a person by how they act, not how they look. They don’t particularly care about a person’s skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or anything else that can be used to divide us. Is everyone like this? No, not yet. It may still take a while. But it seems like the general comfort of staying with “folks of our kind” has morphed into something new: A discomfort with not including “folks of all kinds.” And for that, I hope the next high school retreat offers a reasonable amount of diversity on each bus. Rick Schulte is director of communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and is editor for The Record.

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The Record Spring 2015

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan