The Record - Spring 2012 by Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

VOL. 3, ISSUE 1 â&#x20AC;˘ SPRING 2012

Faith without borders Bishop Gibbs visits Ghana Projects in the Dominican Republic, Haiti

The Record/Spring 2012

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Interview: Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. The Record 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399 therecord@edomi.org www.theRecordOnline.org Phone: (313) 833-4425 The Record is a quarterly magazine for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Vol. 3, Issue 1 Spring 2012 Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Episcopal Church Center 4800 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-1399 (313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424

The Rt. Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. Bishop of the Diocese bishop@edomi.org The Reverend Canon Lisa A. Gray Canon to the Ordinary lgray@edomi.org Jo Ann Hardy Diocesan Administrator jhardy@edomi.org Sue McCune Executive Assistant Office of the Bishop smccune@edomi.org Beth Rowley Assistant for Program and Administration browley@edomi.org

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Rick Schulte Diocesan Communications Editor, The Record therecord@edomi.org Karen Robinson Executive Director Whitaker Institute krobinson@edomi.org

The election season is fully underway, which brings up the topic of politics and the pulpit. Bishop Gibbs makes it pretty clear how he feels about separation of church and state. Page 4

Diocesan news A look at some of the recent happenings within the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, including a change in the finance ministry. Page 6

Faith without borders Dominican Republic: Mission trip in conjunction with two other dioceses helps erect church and school buildings, but also does much more. Page 8 Ghana: Bishop Gibbs spends a week in Africa on a study tour, learning about the Nets for Life program and the opportunities presented by working with the Ghanaians. Page 10

VOL. 3, ISSUE 1 • SPRING 2012

Faith without borders Bishop Gibbs visits Ghana Projects in the Dominican Republic, Haiti

Haiti: Outreach Mission trip provides various forms of medical relief. Page 11

Commentary As pastor at Spirit of Hope, Detroit, the Rev. Matthew Bode describes just some of what faces the LGBT community. Page 16

Going to work

Eric Travis Missioner for Youth and Young Adults etravis@edomi.org

Many people struggle to find work; others have to contend with having a job that doesn’t match their abilities. A program at St. John’s, Royal Oak helps overcome both issues. Page 17

Maria Franklin Director of Finance mfranklin@edomi.org

In ‘The Alto Wore Tweed,’ Dawn McDuffie points out the humor of everyday life can make for a very entertaining read. Page 18

Kara Chapman Accountant kchapman@edomi.org

Book review

The Last Word Rick Schulte poses the question: Where would the Diocese be without 25 years of Canon Jo Ann Hardy? Page 19

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THE INTERVIEW: BISHOP WENDELL GIBBS JR.

The role of the Church is to inform, not to provide political endorsements With the presidential primary elections underway and the general election coming in November, Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. spoke with Editor Rick Schulte about the role of the Church and its clergy regarding political activity.

: I know you pretty well. I think I have a sense of whom you’re voting for in November. In some religions, clergy may use their pulpit to tell you who to vote for. In our church, we don’t do that. How difficult is it when you are a church leader, a member of the clergy, to not reveal your political preferences? : When I first started, it was probably more difficult not to be very obvious about who I was going to vote for. Most people who know me probably know who I’m going to vote for. What is supposed to be spoken from the pulpit is not politics. It’s transformation and morality and how the gospel is going to transform our lives. I’m an incredibly rabid separation of church and state person. I believe the government needs to keep its fingers out of our business. But we have a moral obligation to make sure the people in the secular society who are ruling our nation are doing it with the best intentions for everyone. Just, legal, moral – all of that. So we do have a right to speak out when the government is being unjust or its officials are being immoral. I don’t think that’s a ‘having it both ways’ kind of thing. The church has the power of influence. …I think to not speak is a sin. We have an obligation. Jesus spoke out against the unjust, but he also said to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render unto God what belongs to God. We

long as you have the sizzle, you don’t need the steak? As long as you make a statement and everyone can see it, but no one really puts forth the effort to create and enact legislation for real change… : Yes, I think so. Part of it is because there are still too many people in the legislatures of the country that are old. And I say that as an aging Baby Boomer that realizes we’re still, in all levels of society today – church, state, whatever – we’re not making it easy for the successive generations to get into power. I’ve been talking about youth representation on vestries and at diocesan convention for eons. I look around at convention and there’s not a lot of youth. I go to a different church every Sunday and I look around. Most of the time I meet with the vestry there…and I’m not seeing a lot of people we would see at YaYA (Youth and Young Adult ministry) at our table. We still seem to find an issue with embracing the youth of today to get them into power.

are called to be good citizens. We should pay taxes, if that’s what the government says we should do. We should speak out if we think a law will be unjust, but once the law is passed, we need to be good citizens and follow the law.

: In terms of the Occupy movements, I’ve spoken to a lot of people involved with it that have very good ideas and want recognition of an issue. I’ve spoken with others who have ideas that are less centered… : I think the Occupy movement has the right idea. But there’s no leadership. The reason the segregation movement from the 1960s worked is it had leadership. It had cohesion, direction and a set of goals.

They knew what they wanted to do. They were able to plan…This movement is all over the map. I don’t think you could identify any people who can speak for the Occupy movement. I’m sort of frustrated by the whole thing because they’ve had to spend far too much of their time dealing with the laws about sleeping in the parks, instead of dealing with why they are sleeping in the parks. I grew up during a time where there were tent cities on the Mall in Washington, D.C. because there was leadership to make sure they could. There was organization.

: Do you think it’s more a sign of the times, where as

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: But we also can look at some groups who are willing to mobilize for some issues, such as same-sex benefits and marriage, bullying, the environment, for example. So while we aren’t telling who to vote for, we’re telling people there are issues out there to be aware of. A: Those things you named are all issues of justice. Equal access, equal rights for same-sex couples, bullying, those are real issues. The environment, it’s a gift from God and look how we screwed it up! Talk about wasting God’s creation. We should be involved in all of that. We have Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

the moral obligation to speak to those things. Where we get into conflict is, there are people who don’t want politics discussed in church. Get over it. The church is political. I had to learn that in seminary. I’m not suggesting our clergy and those who preach and give reflections should preach secular politics. I think we should be preaching about justice. Is it wrong to stand in a pulpit and say we shouldn’t bully? No. Is it wrong to stand in a pulpit and say you should vote for ‘X’, when ‘X’ is a person? Yes.

: Suppose there is a political rally, where a member of the clergy had an opportunity to appear with a political candidate. Do you think that’s a slippery slope? : It is, because there’s the issue of perception. The perception is, especially if they’re wearing a collar, they represent ‘the Church,’ or a specific congregation. And they can’t claim that. No clergy person, even if they stand next to someone I want to vote for, can claim to represent me. No more than some of these ‘interesting’ Christians who give us a bad name can stand there and claim they speak for all Christians. They can’t. I’ve not given them that permission. So for any cleric to stand with any politician, in a collar, whether or not ‘they actually’ represent the Episcopal Church or any specific church, that’s what the media is going to do. It’s a matter of perception.

: The opportunity to be with a famous person, what most would give to have a picture of themselves with a famous person. But the collar comes before the photo opportunity. : It’s a matter of why are you wearing a collar. If you are there to represent the Church, it’s one thing. But for a personal political persuasion, why are you wearing a collar? Yes,

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There were concerns when John F. Kennedy was elected president, he would actually serve as a puppet for the Roman Catholic Church. As history showed, that didn’t prove to be the case.

you’re always ordained, whether you’re wearing a swimming suit or a cope and mitre. But again, it’s perception. You don’t have the permission to represent the Church. You don’t have the right to stand out there as an Episcopalian and act like you are speaking for all Episcopalians. That’s just taken away my right, my freedom of choice. Do ministers end up in political situations? Of course. Standing with the Imam at the Islamic Center (in Dearborn), showing our displeasure with the guy who’s burning the Quran, that’s political. This was a group of religious leaders, standing together. The Church stands in a certain place on immigration issues. Obviously, there are people who stand on both sides of that. It’s a difficult place to be. We have to know what we’re doing when we do it, who are we there for, who it’s about. Is it about spreading the Gospel and transformation? Or, you simply want this to hap-

pen and this is about me?

Q A

sue?

: Have people asked how should we vote on this is-

: I tell people we have to vote our conscience. Our job as a clergy is to help take the tenants of our faith…and put it into practice of our everyday life. That’s where our conscience is

going to be affected. Some have their conscience vote it one way and some have their conscience vote another way. They did it by their choice and their interpretation of how to vote, not from someone in the pulpit telling them how to vote. Simply doing what someone else tells them to do is not accepting the responsibility of good citizenship.

Members of the Detroit-area religious community gathered at the Islamic Center of America in November.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Franklin to retire; Miliotto named new finance ministry director

During her time with the Diocese of Michigan, Maria Franklin proved to be a diligent person who handled a difficult job as the director of finance ministry exceptionally well. Normally, a person with that sort of well-earned reputation would be difficult to replace. And while she leaves large shoes to fill, Mark Miliotto has shown why he is an ideal replacement for Franklin. Miliotto – who will be working concurrently with Franklin until her May 31 retirement date – has been diocesan treasurer since November 2010. He’s no stranger to the Diocese, having worked with diocesan council, staff and trustees in that time. “His wisdom, professional experience and ability to convey the financial position of our corporate entities in a clear, concise and user friendly manner has certainly been an asset to our diocesan life,” Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. said. “We are so grateful for his presence among us.” Miliotto served as director of finance and administration for Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Chicago. Prior to his time at the seminary, Mark worked in a variety of financial management positions in the Denver banking industry. He is a member of Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, where his wife, the Rev. Beth Taylor, is an associate priest. Children Gianni and Sofia are active in the church’s children’s activities. He is also a board member of the Evangelical Education Society of the Episcopal Church and a member of the finance committee at Christ Church Cranbrook. Franklin has been the director of finance ministry since August 2001.

“Through Maria’s skilled and dedicated guidance over the past 11 years, the ministry of finance for our diocese is capable, well-organized, transparent and responsive to the needs and requirements of those that rely upon the information provided by our finance office,” Bishop Gibbs said. “The reality of our financial position being a significant part of the ministry of this diocese is very much a result of Maria’s commitment to that ministry.” Clergy Retreat

The Rev. Will Thompson will be the retreat leader for this year’s Clergy Retreat, set for April 2527 at the Weber Retreat and Conference Center in Adrian. His ministry as a clergy coach acknowledges the stressors and difficulties in maintaining a balance between life as a cleric and personal time. “In this retreat, we will focus on three worlds,” the Rev. Thompson said. “We will remember who we are, what we wrestle with and how we can live fully.” Ministry Fair The annual Ministry Fair takes place May 5 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit. Upto-date information on the event may be found on the diocesan website (www.edomi.org), including a registration form and event booklet. Becoming the Household of God Nearly 150 participants met at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul for the 15th annual Becoming the Household of God conference. ‘Transforming Worship’ was

the theme for the event, highlighted with appearances from the Rev. Karen Ward and the Rev. Ian Mobsby. Throughout the day, their keynote addresses and several breakout sessions touched on new expressions of prayer. Next year’s event, with a tentative topic focusing on Anglican identity, is set for Feb. 23, also at the Cathedral.

Plan Ahead: Diocesan Picnic

The second-annual Diocesan Picnic takes place July 28 at the Emrich Retreat Center in Brighton. More details will become available as the event draws closer.

Here are upcoming events geared towards young people in the Diocese. Registration forms and more information on each event are available online at www.edomi.org/yaya. Nightwatch: Detroit When: April 14-15 Where: Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit For Whom: Youngsters in grades 6-12 (and adult sponsors, too) Details: Through open discussion, games and more, Nightwatch:Detroit shows students a small sample of the nature of God, who loves all completely and unconditionally. This is an overnight stay in the Cathedral complex. Three bus routes are available to bring young people to the Cathedral. A Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, sack lunch (for the ride home) and snacks/beverages will be provided. Fee: $25. Scholarship opportunities are available. Contact: Eric Travis at (313) 833-4418 or etravis@edomi.org. Happening

When: April 25-27 Where: St. James, Grosse Ile For Whom: Students in grades 9-12 (and adult sponsors, too) Details: This is a weekend retreat for high school-aged students, allowing participants a chance to explore their relationships with Jesus, each other and the world. Happening is an event that takes place in more than 70 other dioceses and other provinces of the Anglican Communion. The registration deadline is April 25. Fee: $45. Scholarship assistance is available. Contact: Eric Travis at (313) 833-4418 or etravis@edomi.org. Camp Compassion When: July 15-22 Where: Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton and various locations For Whom: Youth and young adults, for incoming high school freshmen and older Details: Participants will be doing hands-on work in various locations throughout Livingston County. The registration deadline is June 15. Fee: $275. Scholarship and fundraising assistance is available. Contact: Eric Travis at (313) 833-4418 or etravis@edomi.org.

The Record/Spring 2012

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

The Record/Spring 2012

FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS

I have a DREAM

Three Lower Peninsula dioceses join forces to make a difference in the Dominican Republic

By Eric Travis I find it a bit ironic that over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 2012, I found myself in the Dominican Republic on a mission trip called the DREAM project. It’s an acronym for ‘Dominican Republic and Episcopal Churches in All of Lower Michigan’ and a project of the three lower peninsula dioceses in Michigan, in conjunction with our companion relationship diocese of the Dominican Republic. The entire project is to raise funds and send “missionaries” to the town of San Marcos in the Dominican Republic and help build a church, school and rectory on two acres in the town for the Church of San Simón. I was told the first trip down would be for the leadership of future trips. Since I wanted to check out the possibility of taking youth and young adults to the Dominican Republic in 2013, I figured I should go. I will admit to being anxious before heading out. There were vaccines to get, as well as making sure my passport was up-to-date. I was also hearing rumors that we would be tying rebar and pouring cement. Well, I have never tied rebar or poured cement before. The temperature was going to be in the 80s and I would have to wear work boots and long pants every day. I really hate wearing long pants when it is warm out! I just kept praying to God to help me through this and went out to buy some work boots. Gracious Hosts On Sunday, Jan 15, I arrived with 10 others from around Michigan, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We were

A load of backbreaking work went into the task of building a church, school and rectory in the town of San Marcos.

greeted by the Rev. Bienvenido Lopez and members of San Simón Church. They loaded up our bags and we all boarded a bus to take us to our hotel. During the 25-minute ride, Padre Bienvenido introduced himself and the members of the church, telling us they would drop us off at the hotel, let us have dinner and then come back at 6 p.m. to take us to the church for evening worship. It seems they had postponed their Sunday services until a time we could join them. It was humbling to know they would make that sort of sacrifice for us. Services that evening were wonderful. The current church is a 30-by-30 foot portion of a small building which houses a family in

the back half. It is simply decorated and furnished with plastic chairs and benches along with a wooden table altar that had to be propped up with a brick to keep it level. The members of the congregation were warm and welcoming and made sure we were able to follow along in the prayerbooks and songbooks. The music was lively and the mood festive. This was going to be a fun experience. They next day, we were driven to the work site. It was about four blocks from the current church and sat next to a drainage ditch. The 6-foot-deep foundation ditch had already been dug, with piles of dirt surrounding the wooden scaffolding that would hold the

The Record/Spring 2012

forms and rebar. The entire structure looked to be about 60 feet by 30 feet, and there was a lot of dirt. Over the next five days, the group moved all that dirt from around the structure to another part of the land and removed many buckets of water, mud and clay that filled the ditch due to the rains that occurred daily. Members of the group also cut rebar and hauled away large rocks from the worksite, plus poured small rocks into the ditch in preparation for the rebar and cement. For three of us, the work was a bit too much and we helped with supporting the team by filling water and getting them to take breaks. We then were given the task of painting Bible verses on Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

the walls of the current church. It was nice to be able to contribute to the work being done, especially as I was feeling a bit guilty for not doing my part. The Reason Appears It took me until Thursday to really understand why I was on this trip. Part of it was about doing the work of building the foundation for the new church, but a bigger part of it was building the foundation of love and friendship that are truly at the heart of this project. I was meeting new people, getting to know the members of the church and the young people who were helping with the construction. I was sharing this information with the others of our group who were doing “their” thing. I was taking pictures, making friends, painting walls and doing what I could to be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus. Each day we all worked hard and each evening we shared stories of our work with each other. I learned a few things during my week in the Dominican Republic. Most Dominicans may be poor in material goods, but they are very rich in love and caring for each other. I saw numerous examples of people sharing what they had with others, with no expectations. The people of San Simón could teach us how

FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS to be welcoming to outsiders and how to help newcomers with the Prayer Book and Hymnal. I saw firsthand how young people feel like they are a part of the church; how they want to invest in its future. Several teenagers came to the worksite to help with the digging and building of their church. I was the recipient of patience and encouragement as I tried to speak a language I did not know, and was lovingly corrected when I mangled that language. The DREAM project is not just about raising money and building a church and school. It is about sharing what we have with our Episcopal brothers and sisters in another country and, in turn, Even the young residents of San Marcos enjoyed the company of their having them share what they visitors from Michigan. have with us. It is about building foundations of faith and love that come from God – and that we should have flow from us. It is about reaching out our hands, not to give or take, but to love our neighbors in the way that Jesus commanded us to. The Dioceses of Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan have a DREAM and we want you to be a part of it, too. There are three more trips planned for this summer as well as the Youth and Young Adult trip for the summer of 2013. Please visit www.Michigan-Dominican.org for more information.

Locals and the contingent from Michigan worked side-by-side in creating a new church.

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All the work that went into the DREAM visit to the Dominican Republic is not a one-shot deal: Three more trips ‘there’ are planned.

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FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS

A Succes

Episcopal Relief and Development get By Rick Schulte It was a lot packed into one week, so one could forgive Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. for being tired and a bit overwhelmed. Tired, yes. But also inspired, moved, thrilled: Those emotions came pouring out as he discussed his weeklong visit to Ghana. Set up as a study tour through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), Gibbs was able to see first-hand just how effective the Nets for Life program has been in battling the spread of malaria. Bishop Gibbs also felt the rush of emotions visiting the slave castles – large, beautiful structures which housed government leaders and Anglican churches, both of which merrily existed just above dungeons crammed full of slaves, waiting to be moved to another part of the world. He was also able to see the joys in life found daily by the Ghanaian people, most who did not suffer from their abject poverty as much as they celebrated the dawn of a new day, every day. “We have so much and still, we’re not happy,” said Bishop Gibbs, following his return from Ghana. “They have next to nothing and are absolutely ecstatic. There’s a lot we can learn from them.” So what do the Ghanaians have to deal with on a daily basis? Apparently, enough to give a real understanding of why ERD has devoted its energies and knowhow into having a real presence in Africa. Nets for Life: A program that saves and teaches

gram was doing.” Bishop Gibbs said. Funding through a grant from ERD allowed him to take part in the study tour. In Ghana, an unpredictable rain season and short harvest lead to food shortages and chronic poverty. The poverty comes because most Ghanaians own small tracts of land and depend on subsistence farming.

“The original purpose of the trip for me was an opportunity to see what the Nets for Life pro-

A digital camera brings about great excitement among youngsters, who are amazed by technology.

With poverty comes a greater risk for malaria, which claims the lives of more than one in five children under the age of five annually. Mosquitoes are one of the biggest sources of malaria. Young children and pregnant women are most susceptible at night, when they sleep. Amazingly, a simple-sounding solution was

Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. prays among Ghanaians and his study tour group during a weeklong visit. (Photos by Harvey Wang for Episcopal Relief and Development).

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developed – covering cribs and beds with mosquito netting. Used as a sort of wraparound canopy, it keeps the mosquitoes away while allowing enough air to get in for comfort. But it’s not just about providing life-saving nets. A bit of education goes a long way with these nets. “Nets for Life has been an important entrée into these communities,” Bishop Gibbs said. “But, it has been such an effective entrée that the government of Ghana has adopted the program as its countrywide malaria prevention program. That’s not to say other people haven’t gone in and tried to provide mosquito nets. They have. But not in the way Episcopal Relief and Development has. “Other groups have gone in there and simply distributed netting and that’s it. No education to go with it. And the people, they get these nets for free, but they discover it’s a commodity and they sell it to somebody. They’ve got money, but they don’t know why it’s so important to have these nets. “Episcopal Relief and Development gives full education of these nets, of what is malaria and how to prevent it. Rather than leaving it for the people to figure out how to hang it, they don’t leave until the net is hung – in the hut, in the house, wherever – properly, and they see how to use it properly. Because of that, the government has adopted that process for a countrywide system of fighting malaria.” ERD partners with the Anglican Diocese of Tamale in the region. That diocese has a relationship with the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO), which Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

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FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS

ts it right with involvement in Ghana has more than 20 years experience working in communities in northern Ghana. The result of the anti-Malaria efforts in Ghana (it’s estimated there’s a 93 percent success rate) and the longevity of providing assistance in the region must mean something. “It might be a food program. Or they say they want us to teach them how to sew. But every issue is met with a ‘big picture’ approach. It’s not just about solving one problem. Said Bishop Gibbs: “In talking to the beneficiaries and also the people on the ground, Episcopal Relief and Development goes in there and asks people, ‘What else do you need? What else could we help you with? Not imposing anyone else’s will on them, but what could you use?’ “It might be a food program. Or they say they want to teach us how to sew. It could be a well, it could be anything. And then Episcopal Relief and Development, and ADDRO, partners with the community to do what the community needs them to do. There is more than just putting up nets. So much more… “Yes, it’s saving lives and keeps people who use them appropriately from getting malaria, that’s step one. But beyond that, Episcopal Relief and Development doesn’t step away when the net is hung. They keep coming back and help the community solve other issues. Teaching their kids, making sure they get education. Teaching women to be self-sufficient, especially when they lost their husband and they have to be able to fend for themselves. “This trip convinced me even more, as if I needed it, that Episcopal Relief and Development is, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Basket-making is one of the skills with which the Ghanaians are quite proficient. Learning a skill such as this provides an ability to generate an income.

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in fact, for the Episcopal Church our best and most successful mission arm.” That brings into question the trump card played by many in industrialized, wealthier nations: Charity starts at home, so why give handouts to someone simply because they are less fortunate? In some ways, it can be a valid argument. But that is another reason why simply handing out solutions is not how this works with ERD and ADDRO. “They are on the ground in Ghana, in touch with the people who are benefiting from what they do. It’s truly ministry in context,” Bishop Gibbs said. “It’s not a bunch of bureaucrats with a lot of money going, ‘you need this,

FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS this and this’ and not paying at- quito netting or send their kids to tention to what they really need. school, whatever they need. And “…Handouts are great, but isn’t it all started with, ‘We wanted to it better if you have these people drop by with a mosquito net to wanting to use these nets, to save your life. What else can we make it possible for them to buy do for you? What else can we do these nets? We all know people with you?’ treasure what they actually have “It’s pretty awesome. I’ve never to pay for, whether it’s a dollar, been so proud of Episcopal Relief $5, $500? There’s more ownership and Development, actually being and they’re more careful if they on the ground and seeing what have to use their money. they’re doing.” “Human dignity? Instead of always having to hand out, isn’t The day-to-day challenges it better to give them the buying power and the ability to make The fact that malaria is even choices? Of course. That’s part of in the conversation shows that the success. If you teach them to much of Ghana is developing. farm, they can sell food and with There are large, urban areas with food they can have income, and modern buildings and infrawith income they can buy mos- structure typical of industrialized

nations. But that’s a small portion of the story. Most of the country consists of a rural, village life one would expect to see. And it’s not an easy life. But through it all, the people of Ghana are happy. “Bishop Jacob (Ayeebo, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale) loves to say it’s abundant life,” Bishop Gibbs said. “If you deal with the malaria, they have one less thing to worry about and they can really focus on living life to its fullest, and reaching whatever dreams they might have. “It truly tends to put things here in a different perspective. You get really petty about stupid stuff, as opposed to a whole society that

Bishop Gibbs and the study group were able to spend a week together, learning much about the culture, the people and the history of Ghana.

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FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS

is trying to get food, to get clean water, education, clothing; things we all take for granted.” He noted one day, seeing children coming out of school, all in uniforms. There was nothing unusual about that. But a second look revealed there were no children carrying books. “It’s not that they’re not desirous of study,” Bishop Gibbs said. “But they don’t have any books.” Learning occurs in the classroom, where the teacher writes a concept on the board. Children copy this onto a slate (or paper, the few times it is available), and process the information as they write it. Because the slate must be reused, the concept essentially has to sink in as it’s being written. Bishop Gibbs was also taken by the children’s fascination with digital cameras. “They don’t know what to make of it,” he said. “You take a picture…and they can see it immediately in the preview window. They giggle and laugh and want you to take more pictures, and they’ll follow you everywhere. You put their image in a box. “But we take it all for granted. We forget to give thanks. We say we give thanks. We have Thanksgiving. Every Sunday is giving thanks. But we really don’t. I learned that and recall it every time I go to Africa. They give thanks for just another day.”

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Bishop Jacob Ayeebo, from the Anglican Diocese of Tamale and executive director of ADDRO, and the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Arongo, Bishop Emeritus of Tamale, greet Bishop Gibbs.

A stirring look at slavery’s past Dain and Constance Perry recently visited the Diocese of Michigan during various presentations of the documentary, “Traces of the Trade” The documentary looked back at the history of the slave trade and the people who, at one time, had purchased slaves. While the documentary was insightful, it didn’t match the intensity of actually walking the grounds where slaves lived – and died. A visit to a mass gravesite where hundreds of slaves were laid to rest proved to be overwhelming for Bishop Gibbs. “It was there where I was most overcome, and eventually sensed a pressure that was almost more than I could bear,” he said. “I said to Constance Perry at one point, ‘I can’t breathe. This is so oppressive here.’ So I slowly walked away from the cemetery. And as I turned back at the whole area, I could finally breathe. “The only thing I could attribute that to was the presence of ancestor, almost reaching out at such a force that it was overwhelming…Someone said, ‘it’s a sign you still have a soul.’ That was a hard place to visit. A very hard place.” Slaves were brought to castles – a rather curious name for a structure that, in part, housed so many slaves – on the western shores of Ghana from all parts of the country, including the northern portion. Bishop Gibbs explained that after visiting the northern region, his group had to drive quite a ways, fly a bit of distance on a plane, and had to drive quite a bit further to reach the castles. It struck the group that “the only way those slaves made it from up north to those castles was by walking,” Bishop Gibbs said. “A three- or four-week walk, a forced walk. “To see the conditions they were kept in, in these dungeons…These were human beings, treated by other human beings, as if they weren’t human. There was no recognition for human dignity, no regard for their pain and suffering.” He found it troubling that the history books have a cleaned-up version of slavery, with an impression of Africans being gathered, placed on ships and set sail for all parts of the world. In reality, with the government and the churches in full knowledge, many slaves were kept in crowded dungeons or camps while those who profited from it “were walking around, enjoying ocean breezes on the Atlantic coast of Africa, beautiful sunsets, going to church directly above them.” While that paints a stark image of what clearly is an issue of indifference and profit, it would seem likely that the ‘modern world’ is too educated to let something like that happen again. In reality, various forms of human trafficking still exist today. And while iron shackles might not keep down people as much today, issues of justice still do. “Anything that diminishes the human dignity of another is slavery,” Bishop Gibbs said. “Even though we give people paychecks, what we have them do and how little we pay them diminishes them. It’s slavery. It’s too easy to not call it slavery because we’ve cleaned it up. Oh, we may pay them. They have houses and modern toilets. They can even afford cell phones. So what? “We think of it as someone in chains who isn’t free. But we can get it where people are so dependent on us and can’t do anything without us. It’s slavery.” The Record/Spring 2012

FAITH WITHOUT BORDERS

Haiti Outreach Mission visit a chance to provide medical aid By Kathy Graham Twenty volunteers plus three Haitian translators equals one successful 2012 trip for Haiti Outreach Mission. In late February, our weeklong trip with 14 Detroit-area members included 40 pieces of luggage packed with donated medical supplies, plus carry-on bags packed with our personal belongings. We were joined on the way to Haiti by two medical members from Montana, a minister from Chicago, a Haitian-speaking businesswoman from Pennsylvania and a mother and son (both of whom were registered nurses). Everyone worked together for two days sorting dental and medical supplies and setting up individual doses of medication for children and adults. The focus was divided into three areas: our volunteer dentist would stay at the clinic in Mirebalais and would work with the Haitian dentist; members of the fluoride team would visit two schools in Mirebalais and two rural schools outside of Mirebalais; and the mobile medical team would travel to the same two rural areas to spend the final day at the clinic in Mirebalais. In total, 105 patients were seen at the dental clinic in four days. All patients were seen for tooth extractions, some having multiple extractions. In addition to fluoride treatments, all the schoolchildren were treated for intestinal worm infections. A total of 1,508 children and 59 teachers and school personnel received care by the fluoride team. There were two doctors on the mobile medical team – the Haitian internist from the clinic in Mirebalais and Dominique Monde-Matthews, a Detroit-area pediatrician.

Mothers and patients wait for treatment at St. Andre’s Medical Center in Haiti. (Photos by Valerie McNeece)

Among those treated was a 1-year-old baby girl who weighed nine pounds. Her mother died giving birth; the girl was being cared for by her aunt. We supplied the aunt with formula, infant vitamins and medications. A 12-year-old boy was seen for a wrist he fractured in a fall the week before we arrived. The wrist was splinted and he was fitted with a sling and given pain medication. He was directed to a neighboring town’s hospital for an x-ray and cast. A young woman came to the clinic with a severely swollen and painful index finger, which had been crushed where she worked. The skin was cut open and the wound was drained to prevent the spread of infection. She was given bandages for dressing changes, pain medications and antibiotics. Just

under 500 patients were seen by the medical team. In addition to the full-time clinic, Haiti Outreach Mission also supports an orphanage in Mirebalais. Our dentist and pediatrician evaluated the 32 children living there. All the children were given fluoride treatments. Those children were treated for infections and skin disorders. Two of our construction volunteers looked over the water purification system the orphanage maintains. It was a busy week for the medical mission team but such a blessing to be in Mirebalais and to see the improvements at the clinic and at the orphanage. Kathy Graham is a registered nurse and also a member of St. David’s Church, Southfield.

The Record/Spring 2012

Dr. Dominique Monde-Matthews treats an infant.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

The Record/Spring 2012

COMMENTARY

The reality of LGBT life in Detroit

Not one month into my tenure as pastor at Spirit of Hope in Detroit, the first guest in our community kitchen came out to me with his positive HIV status that was threatening to develop into AIDS. It counts as one of the most humbling moments of my life. A 26-year-old spiritual student of life, allowed to wear a plastic collar attached to his neat black dress shirt, is exposed to the reality of a man one generation older who lives on the streets. The man and I still talk regularly, but I do not know how or if he defines his sexual orientation, nor do I know anything about his sexual activity or gender preference. I do not even know how he contracted HIV. Many in our Spirit of Hope community who define themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are with us in the first faith community that ever accepted them. Not only our members, but many we serve and with whom we live in our near west and southwest sides of Detroit are estranged from family, friends, their home faith communities, their workplaces, neighbors and more. Yet the differences between the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community defined in our church community, and the publicized and funded arm of the movement fighting for deserved civil rights, are all about economics, race and often even gender. As the national conversa-

tion about the rights and gender lines while of the LGBT commubeing aware of systems nity revolves around of discrimination and marriage, our local prejudice, the use of community focuses on our wealth to build survival, on the man long-lasting systems who came out with his of hope and the supHIV status. While I do port of our LGBT elMatthew not know his sexual ders who never had Bode orientation, I do know the luxury of being that the LGBT comfully out must be at munity here has emthe top of our agenda braced and supported him. At the as well. risk of over-dramatization and Nine years ago, not long after negating the joy that outweighs I talked to the man mentioned the hurt in our community, it is above, I walked three blocks not unheard of for our people from Spirit of Hope to a local, to face beatings, homelessness, more fundamentalist Christian health risks and just plain loneli- youth organization that has a ness in a world that is hostile to strong influence on many youth their, and our, very existence. in our community. In those three Marriage issues are important. blocks, I walked past abandoned Marriage rights and falling strucput front and centures, one functer the reality of tioning drug house the existence of and several groups LGBT people in of youth milling our country. Marabout at bus stops riage rights, when and on street corachieved, will ners. Upon my increase the visarrival, one of the ibility of people adult advisors at suffering from opmy destination pression throughinformed me that out our community. Yet, we in the biggest threat to our youth is the movement must be careful, the rapid expansion of lesbianism because marriage rights must not in Detroit high schools. It was as be our final goal. The goal must if there was a Santorum bubble be the lifting up of all members of around this man that did not alour community in every context low him to see reality, including and reality of our peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exis- the reality of a gay pastor standtence. Marriage is one of many ing before him. tools to achieve that goal, but not Faith leaders must step forward the only one. now to teach and, if necessary, to The prevention of HIV, the shame those who abuse outsiders housing of those who are rejected to uplift their own moral righby family and friends, the build- teousness. The month of March ing of relationships across racial (which is also Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History The Record/Spring 2012

Month) began with the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS. Pride celebrations begin in June. Every day of the year we have an organization supporting and sheltering youth in the Detroit area. We must lift up all of our community and get out of our spiritually-neutral closets. To my fellow leaders in the establishment LGBT fight for justice, we must turn our eyes to our entire community. Race, gender and income are serious parts of our struggle. It means even more risk for our entire community that lives at the precipice of demoralization every day, especially in Michigan, where beating up the LGBT community is a conservative sport. It may not feel like we have privilege, but comparatively, many of us do. We have strength in numbers. Even battered and journey-weary travelers have power in the binds of common purpose. More people are on our side than we think. And even when we cannot see it happening, conservative shackles always yield to the spirit of justice that resides in the base of our historic living faiths. Truth always wins, even if it takes time to come out. Let us all come out together. This was originally posted online in the Huffington Post. The Rev. Matthew Bode is pastor at Spirit of Hope Church, Detroit.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

OUTREACH MINISTRY

The hunt for employment: How those who want to work can find jobs

By Rick Schulte Even in a staggering economy, Kevin McLogan was in a relatively solid place, professionally. He was working – always a plus in Michigan – with the same employer for practically his entire adult life, in a management position. But one day, a manager came to his office. “They were offering buyouts,” said McLogan, five months away from his 30-year anniversary as a distribution manager for a suburban newspaper chain. “When you have a manager come to you and say ‘you really should take the buyout’, you know it’s time.” Whether it’s for experienced workers like McLogan, young workers or recent college graduates, the employment market is tenuous. That’s why groups such as the Looking for Work Support Group, an outreach ministry of St. John’s, Royal Oak, have been useful in helping many refocus their employment search strategies. McLogan, a member of St. John’s, is the group’s organizer and facilitator. Often, around a dozen visitors gather to discuss topical points. “Some months, we have more people attend than others. But we’ve lost some who came here regularly, but have now found work,” McLogan said. “So that’s not always a bad thing when you don’t see the same people.” The group meets at 8:30 a.m. on the first Monday of every month, offering “fellowship, support, strategies and tools for success for those looking for work,” according to an accurate description on the group’s Facebook page. The presence on Facebook is important, as Logan and other Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

members of the group regularly post helpful job search techniques, new trends in hiring and ways to effectively prepare resumes and (with a good break) interview techniques. Many who are out of work or underemployed are running into similar issues – challenges for experienced workers, a glut of commission-based sales positions, to name a few. There’s also the issue of working a less-than-desirable job. One attendee talked about how he was offered a chance to provide technical support for a payday lender, who described it as “working for someone who’s a legalized loan shark. I have problems with that.” “It’s amazing,” McLogan said. “When times are tough, people get desperate…You’re clearly overqualified, but the jobs you are qualified for have been reduced to such a level. That’s why there are so few jobs left and so many people competing for them.” The key, as pointed out in an Edgar A. Guest poem McLogan handed out at a recent group meeting, is to never give up: “And when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.”

Tips for Helping the Underemployed While many people are simply out of work, others are stuck in jobs that fall well under their abilities. Kevin McLogan listed five suggestions for the underemployed: Maintain a positive attitude. This is tough, but it has to be done. Focus on the positive things in your life (I know you have some) and don’t dwell on your misfortunes. Always look to the future and incorporate a daily pledge to yourself, like “I pledge to do at least one thing today that will bring me closer to success.” Remember that success is an ongoing process and that your journey will make you stronger and a more attractive job seeker. Keep learning. Cultivate new skills that will lead you to a better position. Go back to school and finish that degree you have been putting off. Even if the new skill you learn doesn’t lead to better employment, it will help your mind to grow by increasing the connections of neurons in your brain. It is critical, especially for job seekers “of an age,” to keep their minds fresh and ready to learn. Refine your social media presence. Make sure that you have current information on all of your profiles. Post something daily to LinkedIn, like an article on job strategy or an interesting new development in the field you want to break into. (Go to www.15minutesadayonlinkedin.blogspot.com for some helpful hints). Clean up the questionable stuff on Facebook – no incriminating pictures and make sure other people are not posting things you don’t want on your profile. That being said, you need to post something daily to Facebook and Twitter, and try to maintain a consistent theme in your posts. Keep your interviewing skills sharp. The best way to do this is to get a list of questions (a pretty exhaustive list can be found on my website (www. kevinmclogan.com/tools_for_job_seekers). Modify events of your experience as stories that will answer many of these questions. One story can answer many questions, but be sure to have a good answer for “Tell me about a time when you failed/were not successful” and put a positive spin on it. Look at the job you are doing now very closely. Is it sucking the life out of you? Think about ways that you can make it better, more challenging. By all means, don’t burn any bridges; use this as a stepping stone by creating a positive image of you for your supervisors so that they will be happy to give you a great recommendation. Make sure you list this job on your resume (organizations love to hire the employed), but consider carefully if you want to put this on LinkedIn. If you have no other current activities, you probably should, but if you do have other current activities, and the job has nothing to do with what you are seeking, you may want to consider leaving it off.

Kevin McLogan has organized an outreach ministry at St. John’s, Royal Oak for the unemployed and the underemployed.

The Record/Spring 2012

BOOK REVIEW

‘The Alto Wore Tweed’:

Finding humor in daily life creates a great read I love the liturgy of the EpisHayden’s challenge is to detercopal Church, the Good News mine who killed the disagreeof the Gospels and the Sunday able sexton, Willie Boyd, whose Eucharist as much as anyone can. body is discovered in the choir However, besides these great and loft. One suspect is the new recsolemn joys, I have tor of Saint Barnabas, a tender appreciaLoraine Ryan. Mother tion for humor. Mark Ryan, as she would Schweizer’s Liturgical like to be addressed, mysteries appeal to my has perpetrated many love of details, satire outrageous deeds on and goofy overblown the members of Saint “bad writing.” Most Barnabas: dreadful novelists would be “children’s moments,” Dawn offended at the menfamily therapy with McDuffie tion of bad writing in unwholesome suga book review, but I’m gestions, and (to the convinced Schweizer choir director) the would be elated. Both the author crowning indignity, insisting the and his narrator in the myster- post-Communion hymn will be ies are addicted to the bloated Kum-Baya. Hayden knows the sentences made famous by the campfire song won’t coordinate Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, well with Duruflé’s Ubi Caritas, which “…challenges entrants to but Mother Ryan, always referred compose bad opening sentences to as herself, doesn’t care about to imaginary novels.” The delib- other people. That’s her real sin. erate bad writing is half of the fun and one of the reasons these books have been passed from one reader to another, often right after choir practice. The actual story of the alto who wore tweed is part of a mystery in progress by Hayden Konig, chief of police for Saint Germaine, choir director of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and narrator of all 10 volumes of this series. As with all mystery novels, a reader must be alert to differences between the truth and statements that pretend to be true. Witnesses may lie and the chief of police may exaggerate. Konig sifts bits of possible evidence for clues and works on his own novel about a suspicious alto with hair “…dark as the elevator with the broken light bulb…” In fact, his meditations on his imaginary cigar smoking alto helps him discover the solution to the mystery.

She could be a modernist, a feminist or any other variation of human. She might even be the person who ended Willie Boyd’s life. Hayden doesn’t condone murder, but it doesn’t disgust him the way the priest’s central flaw disgusts him. Loraine Ryan has no sense of humor at all. To Hayden Konig, her lack of humor is a sign of her lack of faith. In Schweizer’s world of Saint Germaine, North Carolina, the narrator cares about every quirky resident. Maybe that’s why I love the author’s exuberant silliness more than many serious novels. Schweizer satirizes what he finds laughable, but loves good music and a faithful heart. In addition

The Record/Spring 2012

to unforgettable sentences and an ongoing list of CDs worth listening to, a discriminating reader will find hints on getting rid of excessive hedgehogs, matching up micro-brewed beer with appropriate snacks and tips on loving one’s neighbors (even the woman who makes squirrel head soup or the family of children all named for brands of beer). I’m glad I found these books during a winter full of my own health challenges. As anyone can read in Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Reviewer Dawn McDuffie is a freelance writer and a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit.

Ash Wednesday The Rev. Ian Reed Twiss (pastor for Holy Faith, Saline) administers ashes during a unique Ash Wednesday ceremony. As part of the national ‘Ashes to Go’ campaign which was administered by several clergy throughout the Diocese of Michigan, ashes were provided for people who did not have the time or ability to attend church services for a more traditional visit. According to the Rev. Twiss, the idea was well-received by the local community, with several passers-by pulling through to receive ashes — many of whom never previously visited Holy Faith.

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

THE FINAL WORD

Sometimes, those who deserve credit for a job well done really do get recognized The Christmas decorations had already been removed from the office walls, but for some reason, the subject turned to the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “You know, I have never seen that movie,” said Jo Ann Hardy, who has served as diocesan administrator for several years. “For whatever reason, I think everyone but me has seen that movie.” How ironic. In the movie, Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a great young man who was always giving of himself. To summarize: He saved his kid brother’s life when they were young, kept the town pharmacist from mistakenly poisoning someone, managed his family’s building and loans business after his father’s death, took money from his own honeymoon kitty to pay off customers when there was a run on the bank… you get the idea. Always giving, always doing whatever he could to make things right. That was the build-up to the climax of the movie. Through a series of unfortunate events, the bank faces series financial trouble and George, in a drunken moment of despair, tries to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. He likely would have succeeded, too, if not for the intervention of an angel. The angel grants George the opportunity to see what life would have been like if he had never been born. (I know, it’s tough to condense a Frank Capra classic into six sentences). Anyway, George discovers he really has impacted many lives and, without him, life in Bedford Falls would have turned out quite differently. In serving several different roles with the Diocese, Hardy is not only a very visible member of the household, but has also worked tirelessly behind the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Facebook. “We apscenes to make a difpreciate your gracious ference. patience and encourShe’s a liaison beagement.” tween the Diocese, its “Jo Ann, you are a congregations and its blessing to us all,” said clergy, handling an arthe Rev. David Glaser ray of administrative of St. Barnabas, Chelduties. It’s not always sea. fun work; she’s had to “You rock, Jo Ann!” handle tasks that aren’t Rick Schulte said Tamara Hicksalways popular. But Syron of All Saints, she has always repEast Lansing. resented the Diocese with grace and professionalism. Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. paid And so, on the 25th anniver- perhaps the highest compliment sary of her employment, some- to Hardy, who was honored with thing wonderful happened. Just a liturgical service. Oh, and one like when the folks from Bedford more thing, as noted in a letter he Falls came out to support George sent to all clergy: “On January 7, Jo Ann celBailey in his time of crisis, a flood of well-wishers also came forth ebrated her 25th anniversary of for Hardy. The outpouring of employment with the Diocese gratitude stunned Hardy, but not of Michigan. Today, at the midday Eucharist in the Cathedral, Jo those who know her. “Thank you for all you do, Jo Ann was joined by her husband Ann,” wrote Judith Schellham- Jerry, the Dean of the Cathedral mer of St. Peter’s, Hillsdale on and other staff members as we

marked in a liturgical way her faithful dedication and tireless service over the past 25 years. “Now, it is my great privilege, in my capacity as Bishop, to bestow upon Mrs. Hardy the title of Canon, effective immediately, in honor of her loyal and faithful service and in acknowledgement of the value we place on her ministry among us. As Canon Administrator, Jo Ann’s duties will not change; Jo Ann’s loyalties will not change; but, I do hope that by addressing her formally as Canon Hardy, we will demonstrate how much her life has touched and been a force for change in our lives. “Please join me in congratulating, Canon Jo Ann Hardy!” It is a wonderful life, indeed. Rick Schulte is editor for The Record and director of communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.

Serving the Diocese for 25 years – currently as diocesan administrator – Jo Ann Hardy was recognized for her years of dedicated service by Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr.

The Record/Spring 2012

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Diocesan Calendar Nightwatch April 14-15 Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit Clergy Conference April 25-27 Weber Retreat Center, Adrian Happening April 27-29 St. James, Grosse Ile Ministry Fair May 5 Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit Diocesan Council May 12 St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Plymouth

The Record/Spring 2012

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan