Selected Mailings online
Posted Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The Feast of St. Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
G.K. Chesterton observed that none in his life ever more perfectly imitated Jesus than Francis of Assisi. Both the growing environmental crisis and gun violence in Lancaster County and the mounting homicide rate in Philadelphia certainly call for our emulation of Francis' example of commitment to the natural order and peace among our people.
I write to update you on a number of items of importance in our common life:
Are You Involved with Katrina Recovery Efforts? Have you or your members of your congregation participated in any way in the recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast? We want to recognize you at Diocesan Convention November 11 when the Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray, Bishop of Mississippi, will speak to us at regarding our church's efforts in the recovery efforts in his diocese and the neighboring Diocese of Louisiana. Please send me as soon as possible, and by no later than October 13, the names and addresses of everyone who has volunteered hands-on help in the recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast, collected money or other items back-home, or assisted in a significant way. In addition, if you know of people who may be interested in supporting the Darkness into Light Campaign to rebuild those two dioceses, please let me know so that I can invite them to meet Bishop Gray when he is with us. Simply email me the names and addresses in a reply to this letter.
2007 Pledges to be Offered November 11: Those of you who are clergy in charge of congregations should have received by now a letter from Ken Werner, chair, Committee on Finance and Property, with your 2007 assessments and asking for voluntary support of the diocese in 2007. It is my request, my hope, and my prayer that you will do all that you can to lead your vestry or mission committee to increase its total giving to the diocese next year. The Episcopate Assessment, established by the Standing Committee on August 29, will decrease from $991,663 this year to $703,000 next year. The Diocesan Council has included ministries funded by the Episcopate Assessment this year in the Proposed 2007 Program Budget, which reflects a new Diocesan Staff structure that I am in the process of creating, taking into consideration the concerns and advice you expressed at our day together last November 16 at the Lutheran Seminary and since. Thus, the new structure includes an emphasis on having clergy in executive leadership roles at Church House, an emphasis on supporting clergy and congregations, and a revitalized and regular worship at Church House. In it there would be three new senior executives – a priest of the diocese who would serve as Canon to the Ordinary, a priest of the diocese who would serve as Canon for Communication and Education, and Rob Rogers, who is now serving as Canon for Finance and Administration. To make this possible, total giving to the diocese – Assessments plus voluntary pledges – must increase $100,000 over this year.
Please encourage your leadership to be generous as they prepare to offer your pledge November 11.
El Libro de Oracion Comun Projecto: Thanks to all of you who have already sent us your check for your share in meeting Bishop Armando Guerra's request for 1500 copies of the Book of Common Prayer in Spanish for the Diocese of Guatemala. If each congregation contributes $150 to cover the purchase of ten books now or through a special offering to be collected on November 5th, All Saints' Day, we will be able to send what is needed. Congregations contributing will be thanked at Diocesan Convention November 11, when we will bless the BCP's before sending them to Guatemala.
Encuentro in the Diocese of Guatemala: The Companion Diocese Committee is planning a week-long "encuentro" ("encounter") tentatively scheduled for February, 2007, returning just before Ash Wednesday. This will include an introduction to Guatemalan culture, meetings with Guatemalans, some travel, and the sharing of lives and worship. This is a wonderful opportunity for those in parishes already committed to work with Guatemala and those interested in exploring possible work by their parishes in our companion diocese. Martha Thomae will be the much experienced and gracious resource person and guide. If you are interested in participating, please contact Martha at MLT5678@comcast.net.
Companion Diocese Committee: You are invited to send a delegate or two or three to monthly evening meetings (4th Monday of the month, always at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill). If you would like an invitation to a member of your congregation to come from Liz & Dave Rivers, CDC co-chairs, please contact them at 215 376-0173 or RivDav@aol.com
Servant Year Program: On Saturday, September 16, at Calvary Germantown, it was my privilege to preside at the installation of Mary Katherine Martin, Terry Shield, and Courtney Rose Jung as Servant Year Interns for this year. Mary Katherine is an Atlanta native who graduated from Auburn University. Terry is a native of Fayette, North Carolina, a Duke University graduate, and an aspirant in the ordination process in the Diocese of East Carolina. Courtney is from New Jersey and graduated last June from Arcadia University. Servant Year interns live for one year in community in the rectory of Calvary Church, Germantown, and work in urban ministry venues throughout the diocese. Matthew Myers once again is doing a superb job overseeing the Servant Year program for us. If you know of college-age young people or recent college graduates who are seeking an opportunity to do something meaningful for a year, please contact Matt at 330-770-2471.
Pocket Calendars: I have discovered that much less than half of you now use "The Christian Pocket Diary" my predecessors and I have normally sent you at this time of year. A number of you have asked me not to send one to you, citing it as an example of poor stewardship. You may order the item from Morehouse Publishing at 1-800-877-0012 or www.morehousepublishing.org I will have a surprise alternate Christmas gift for you when you register at Diocesan Convention November 11.
New Revised Lectionary: Please know that I am authorizing your use of either the present BCP lectionary or the new revised lectionary until Advent Sunday, 2010, when the only lectionary of the church will become the latter.
Youth Delegates at Diocesan Convention: If you have not yet registered the two youth delegates from your congregation, please contactStephanie Hesbacher at Church House as soon as possible at 215-627-6434 x104 or stephanieh@diopa.org
People: Don Graff, who on October 1 celebrated 30 years of devoted ministry at the Free Church of St. John, Kensington … Jane Cosby,who on October 8 will be honored by her parish, St. Luke's, Germantown, for her outstanding contributions to our diocese and church … to the Church of the Advocate's Soup Kitchen, which on October 28 will celebrate its 25th Anniversary, having served over 1,000,000 meals in that time … Rodger Broadley, chair of the Commission on Ministry, accompanied by COM members Betsy Crowell and Mac McCausland, recently participated in a two-day meeting with other COM chairs in Province III to learn about the ramifications of the Title III revisions for COM's work and about the debt crisis facing so many of the younger seminarians … … Charles Flood, rector, St. Stephen's, Philadelphia, on receipt of the "Face of Courage": award at an interfaith convocation in Bali, Indonesia, for his relief and chaplaincy work as chaplain a the World Trade Center victims' unit … Women from our diocese participating this week in the Kanuga, North Carolina, conference on "Imagine: Empowering Women in Ministry," are Carol Anthony, Meg Buerkel, Mike Haynes, Ruth Kirk, Harriet Kollin, Renee McKenzie-Hayward and Judith Rhodes.
Transitions: Nanese Hawthorne has been called as rector of St. Luke's Parish, Churchill, Maryland. Her last Sunday at Our Saviour, Jenkintown, will be All Saints' Day, November 5 … after seven years of devoted ministry Robert Ritchie will conclude his ministry as deacon at Holy Nativity, Rockledge, and begin a sabbatical
Congregations in Transition: Canon Jill Mathis is currently overseeing 30 congregations in transition, including Our Saviour, Jenkintown, St. Mark's, Locust Street; Holy Trinity, West Chester; St. Mary's, Warwick; St. John's, Compass; St. Peter's-in-the-Great Valley; Emmanuel, Quakertown; Holy Nativity, Wrightstown; Holy Comforter, Drexel Hill; Trinity, Swarthmore; St. James', Prospect Park; Holy Nativity, Rockledge; Holy Trinity, Lansdale; St. Dunstan's, Blue Bell; St. Andrew's, Somerton; All Saints', Crescentville; Resurrection, Mayfair; Trinity Memorial; St. Philip's Memorial Church; Christ Church, Pottstown; St. Jude and the Nativity; Grace Epiphany; St. Alban's, Roxborough; and Redemption, Southampton.. Of these 30, 18 are full-time positions. For information contact Jill Mathis at jillm@diopa.org
I hope and pray that you are finding great satisfaction in our work meeting the challenges and opportunities we face every day.
Faithfully in Christ,
Charles E. Bennison, Jr.