THE GRAPEVINE
THE GRAPEVINE
Contents:
Recent emphasis throughout the church, supported by General Convention resolutions, is to develop new partnerships between the national church and the provinces. One form through which this is being accomplished is with financial grants from the national church to provincial program networks. Within the past three months, Province II has been notified of the following partnership grants.
In addition, responding to the General Convention resolution to provide for training in AIDS education, the national budget will support, per province, up to $8,000 in matching funds for training AIDS educators. Funds are envisioned as coming from a wide variety of sources, both institutional and private. As this funding is available only through the provincial structures, we are being challenged to test our resources for another significant ministry. The Rev. Fred J. Howard (LI) will head the HIV/AIDS task force and report to Synod regarding a possible network and partnership with the national church.
During this past year Province II has benefited from financial and technical support for the development of cyberspace communication as we go "on-line" with the program Convene on the Ecunet/Quest network. Setup assistance has been supplied to provincial officers and, very significantly, throughout the Convocation of American Churches in Europe . The convocation, to date a nominal member of Province II, will, hopefully, be able to participate more fully in our common life through this program.
Each network chairperson is responsible for the administration of funds allotted both through the national church budget and our own provincial assessment. All funds are to be channeled through the provincial treasury with notification to the president. As we consider the l997 budget process, we are asking the networks to consider consolidation of training and conferences. While each network has, of course, its own focus, they share concerns of training and administration. It may be possible for each to pool a portion of their finances to consolidate administration and communication through a designated officer, The Grapevine , and Convene.
As a province we have been able to maintain fiscal responsibility without raising the assessment in the last three years. In fact, management of prior reserve funds has allowed rebates of up to 50% as well as allowing significant grants for education in Haiti and hurricane relief in the Virgin Islands. We have taken a hard look at our overall finances, refusing to carry unnecessarily large reserves or to fund extinct networks. Synod expenses remain reasonably constant. Travel expenses vary for each participant depending on the location of Synod, which rotates among the member dioceses, giving an overall long-term equity. The exception of course is for the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, Haiti, and the Virgin Islands whose burden is shared when requested through provincial funds . This is a province committed to ministry support and to meeting new challenges in the process.
We also have major organizational issues to consider at Synod in May. A proposal to amend the Ordinances which would revise the definitions of quorums will be before us. (See "Proposed Amendment to Ordinance I".) A new slate of officers will be elected to begin three-year terms at the conclusion of this Synod. They are: president and vice president, one of these officers from the House of Bishops and the other from the House of Deputies; secretary; treasurer, beginning January 1, 1997; one lay and one clerical representative to Provincial Council elected by the House of Deputies; and one bishop representative to Provincial Council elected by the House of Bishops. Also, we will elect, by a concurrent majority in both Houses, one lay representative to the Executive Council of the national church for a six year term commencing at the close of General Convention, July l997. It is the custom for this person to serve ex-officio as a member of Provincial Council for the year prior to assuming office in order to develop a deeper understanding of the life of the province. These are major committments. The careful selection of committed persons is important.
As I conclude my term as president, I want to thank publicly all those committed members who have worked to develop ever more effective ministry throughout our province. Their understanding and willingness to confront change positively have set the stage for new visions. For me it has been a time of personal growth and great fulfillment working with dedicated people throughout the many widespread endeavors which impact this office. Additionally, it has been my very special privilege to represent both this province and its recognition of lay ministry as the first person who is not a bishop or priest to serve in this office. I have every confidence that Province II will continue to affirm and proclaim all ministry in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God. AMK
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The annual Synod of the Second Province will meet in Rochester, New York, May 9-11, 1996. This will be the final meeting with President Audrey King in the chair. Audrey has served this province creatively, energetically, and faithfully in several capacities, including deputy, secretary, vice president, and president, for the past thirteen years. Elections held at Synod will result in a new leadership team for the province.
Officers for the Synod are elected for terms of three years and are eligible for re-election once. All of our current officers have served two terms in their positions. Elected will be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, clerical and lay representatives to the Provincial Council, and a lay representative to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. As of this writing, nominations have been received for all offices but secretary and treasurer.
In addition to elections, the Synod will continue its consideration of our structure as a Synod. Programs and networks once maintained at the national level are now being directed to the provinces. A good example is the new Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation network. Composed of the older peace and justice, Jubilee ministries, environmental stewardship, economic justice, and racism networks, JPIC will be funded and organized by province. Information concerning JPIC will be shared at Synod.
Most provinces are loosely organized with no real program function. Some provinces have part-time staff persons and strong programming. It seems clear that the provinces will be called upon to do more in the future. An evening "visioning" session will help develop a sense of the style and structure best suited for Province II.
Synod is always a time for reports and a time for catching up with news from around the church. One major report will be offered by Dr. Pamela Chinnis, President of the House of Deputies. Dr. Chinnis will address the Synod on Thursday afternoon, and will talk about her view of the role of provinces in the future. The Synod will also hear from Stephen Duggan, the new treasurer of the Episcopal Church. Reports will be received from the many networks that operate in the province, and from Sonia Francis, Province II liaison with the presiding bishop.
In addition to the business of Synod, deputies will have an opportunity to participate in several workshops on subjects of importance. For the second year running, workshops will be offered on electronic communication via Quest International and on the Concordat of Agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (Acceptance of the Concordat will be decided in 1997 when both the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America meet at their respecitve conventions in Philadelphia.) Workshops will also be offered on the interfaith agenda among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and on the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation network.
Rochester has a strong history of interfaith dialogue. Local participants in interfaith conversation will offer a panel discussion and lead the workshop. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Aly Nahas, representing the Islamic community, and Ms. Joyce Herman, representing the Jewish community. The Christian community will be represented by the Rev. Richard Comegys, a deputy from the Diocese of Rochester.
Rochester is also committed to the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue. Our morning and evening worship on this topic will be co-led by the Rev. David Robinson of St. Luke's, Brockport, New York and the Rev. Pam Hunter, ecumenical officer of the Finger Lakes District of the ELCA.
The Synod Eucharist will take place at St. Stephen's Church, Rochester, and will include commissioning of new officers. Bishop Burrill, host bishop, and Bishop Belshaw, current vice president of the province, will preside.
I am looking forward to greeting diocesan deputies at Synod.
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Thornfield Conference Center in Cazanovia, New York, in the Diocese of Central New York, is a place that has no equal among Episcopal conference centers in my book. It is a beautiful spot, with excellent food, hospitality, and attractive arrangements for conferences. I say that in spite of bitter cold, zero temperatures, January 15-16, when Province II bishops met there with Lutheran bishops.
The time set aside for study and worship proved to be rewarding for those who were able to attend the 1996 annual conference of bishops. Among those joining bishops from Province II were two Lutheran bishops, a staff member of a third Lutheran bishop, and two theologians who have spent many years in the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue.
The opportunity to discuss the Lutheran-Episcopal Concordat, which will be voted on in 1997 at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, as well as by the Lutheran Churchwide Assembly, proved inspiring.
Lutheran bishops Lee Miller from New York and Roy Riley from New Jersey were well versed in the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue. The theologians present were William Petersen, Dean of Bexley Hall at Colgate Rochester Divinity School (his address on the Concordat to last year's Synod can be found in the fall 1995 issue of The Grapevine ), and Eric Gritsch, retired professor of church history at the Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
We reviewed the three stages of the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue, begun in 1969. These led to basic agreement on the Christian faith, sharing of the Eucharist, and mutual understanding of church and gospel. An important part of our discussion focused on apostolicity, understood as the weaving together of three strands: order, doctrine, and worship. The influence of the World Council of Churches' 1982 paper on faith and order, entitled "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry," was recognized throughout our discussion.
As we talked about the Concordat, we experienced how much Lutherans and Episcopalians share a common faith in spite of differences concerning church order. We discussed history of the ordination practices in the two churches, and again we found ourselves in agreement about essentials.
Regarding the recognition of each church's ordained ministry, the words koinonia, apostolicity, and mission came up repeatedly in our conversations. As to episcopacy, the theologians present made it very clear that especially in a pluralistic society episcopacy needs to be viewed as integral to mission. A bishop is ordained for mission.
Both Lutheran bishops spoke enthusiastically about Lutheran and Episcopal agreement concerning worship, word and sacrament, faith and doctrine, and recognizing the importance of episcopacy, as they expressed hope that certain historical issues over episcopacy would be worked out over time.
In spite of the frigid weather, our dialogue at Thornfield in January proved to be enjoyable and stimulating for all of us.
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One indication that the Episcopal Church is revamping the manner in which we operate is that more people are hearing and asking about provinces, how they are organized and what their functions are. The following information gives an overview of the origin, structure, purpose, and function of the provinces.
Developed as geographic areas, the present nine provinces * of our church were established by the Constitution of the Episcopal Church in Article VII as unions of dioceses. Title I, Canon 9, describes the structure and purpose of a province. These documents state that each province is to consist of a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies. A province shall have the power to enact ordinances for its own regulation and governance; set a budget and determine the manner in which it shall be raised; deal with all matters within the province; and create a provincial council to administer and carry on such work as may be committed to it by the General Convention, the Presiding Bishop, and Executive Council, or by its own Synod.
In the Ordinances of Province II, Ordinance II states, "The purpose and function of the Province is to foster and support the Church's mission and ministry in a regional coalition of Dioceses by providing regular channels and systems of communication, promotion, support, education and fellowship among the Dioceses of the Province."
Province II seeks to accomplish those goals through this publication, by participation in Ecunet/Quest, and, most significantly, through a system of program networks which develop and sponsor conferences and training events throughout the province. Funding for this work is developed within the province by assessments levied on the individual dioceses using the same formula as that used by the national church. Additionally, the national church budget provides financial support through grants and subsidies, some of which have been detailed in the article PARTNERSHIPS, FINANCES, AND MINISTRY
Our province conducts its legislative business and sets its budget once a year at a provincial Synod. Each member diocese and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe have the privilege, set by ordinance, of sending its bishop(s), 4 clergy and 4 lay deputies to this meeting which evaluates prior work and sets the agenda for the coming year. The Provincial Council, whose members are elected by the Synod, oversees the business of the province throughout the year.
There also is a strong programmatic component in each of our Synods. Emphasis is placed on current concerns of ministry. This year Province II Synod will highlight interfaith connections, ecumenical partnerships, communication, and possible new work in the province supported in part through the national church budget.
The 1994 General Convention , in resolution A040s, resolved:
"That the 71st General Convention express its hope and desire that the provinces, dioceses, and local congregations, in envisioning a new way of responding to God's call for the mission of the church, continue and increase their support of those programmatic functions and activities which can be effectively carried out at provincial, diocesan, and local levels, so that beginning in the next triennium they:
- Take the initiative in identifying and drawing together the programs and resources required for the mission and ministries in which they are engaged,
- Continue the development of networks and partnerships to enable local congregations and dioceses to share their programs, ideas, resources and personnel with each other, and
- Review, but not be bound by, provincial configurations; and be it further Resolved, That this 71st General Convention encourage the Presiding Bishop's Staff to:
- Increase emphasis on utilizing resources in support of local, diocesan and provincial programs, and
- Adjust budgets to recognize the need for more resources to remain at these local, diocesan and provincial levels."
We look forward to a time of evaluation and empowerment at Synod, May 9-11, in Rochester, New York.
Contact: Audrey M. King, 43 East Lake Rd., Cohocton, NY 14852.
*There are eight domestic provinces. Province nine is comprised of dioceses
in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.
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The young, smiling hostess standing in the jetway of my China Southern Airways flight chanting welcome, welcome didn't prepare me a bit for the next dozen days. But after flying straight from New York City to San Francisco to Hong Kong to Beijing, any word of welcome was appreciated.
I was part of the delegation representing the National Council of Churches of Christ serving then as one of the vice-presidents of the council. Our five woman team was divided among three hotels and, of course, no Episcopal women were in my hotel. Fortunately, the Anglican delegation was within easy walking distance, as I would later learn. After a bath, bed, and a change of clothes, I felt I would be ready to tackle the NGO Forum and the Government Conference. Little did I know.
My NCCC team members and I agreed to meet the next day at 10 AM. After that first outing to Hairou, I had an inkling of the difficulties that lay ahead: travel, security, incomplete construction, incomplete arrangements, finding someone in the crowd, language, getting food, heat, rain, finding my way, avoiding Chinese undercover agents, and locating the few western style toilets. It's amazing what a group of women can overcome when they set their minds to it. Even with all the obstacles put in our path, we came together, we worked together, and we reflected the sisterhood that shows the strength of 30,000 women dedicated to the ideals of equality, friendship, and achievement.
The Government Forum opened later in the week and I spent the balance of my time there. The purpose of the Forum was to complete the Platform for Action and what a masterful task that was. Imagine if parts of The Blue Book (reports of the committees, commissions, boards, and agencies of the General Convention) could be bracketed by any group or diocese who objected to a word, phrase, sentence, or entire portion, and that by the end of General Convention, all the brackets had to be removed by a process of consensus. That was the task of the Forum and it was achieved. The platform in many ways reflects our baptismal covenant and outlines guidelines for the achievement of full equality for women and girls.
Was there a highlight for me? I can name several. Watching the American delegation in operation was clearly one highlight because the bipartisan group were outstanding women and men Ñ open, accessible, easy to talk to, letting the smaller countries have their way while facilitating the consensus process. Seeing the Rt. Rev. James Ottley, Anglican Observer to the United Nations, move through the crowd representing an alternative to the strict dogma of the representatives of The Holy See was another high point. Bishop Ottley really reflected the best of the Anglican Communion.
I was moved watching Bella Abzug, confined to a wheelchair but still able to inspire, pass her hat to raise money to help defray some photocopying costs. What a moment! Meeting a young HIV positive South African woman who had come to tell her story. She left me in tears. Meeting one of the missionary appointments of the Episcopal Church and spending time with her and having a real Chinese meal. Working with the Anglican Communion's delegation Ñ an outstanding team of women from Jordan, Uganda, the Philippines, the Cado Nation, and El Salvador. And of course another high point was scaling the Great Wall of China, using muscles that I never knew existed. What was I trying to prove?
My journal is crammed full of stories and wonderful memories but most important of all will be my lasting remembrances of the impact we had on the thousands of Chinese women and girls we met daily Ñ waitresses, sales clerks, lavatory attendants, front desk personnel, security guards, mothers and daughters. They saw women of action in action and their lives will never be the same because of their encounters with all of us.
For information about the Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration, please contact: Ruby Norfolk in the Office of the Anglican Observer to the United Nations at the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Ave., NY, NY 10017-4594, tel: 1-800-334-7626.
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The United Thank Offering, founded by and administered by women since 1889, is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. It is a joyful witness to Christ's presence within us by giving us, as a church, the opportunity to share our blessings.
The mission of the United Thank Offering Committee of the Episcopal Church Women is to raise the consciousness of the whole church to the daily discipline of offering thanks to God through use of the Blue Box, into which coins are placed, and to receive and distribute the fruit of these thank offerings through grants.
The UTO Committee is made up of one woman elected from each of the nine provinces, three members-at-large elected from the former committee, and one person appointed from Executive Council. The Executive Council representative is the Rev. Virginia M. Sheay (NJ).
Volunteer UTO coordinators in every diocese and in most parishes extend the UTO devotional-giving network to everyone. These dedicated coordinators provide education, programs, and supplies, including the Blue Boxes, as well as plan the spring and fall services for the gathering of the Blue Box offerings called ingatherings.
The granting arm of UTO operates on an annual cycle. Awards are made once each year for the following twelve months. In the two years between General Convention the UTO Committee makes the awards. In the year when General Convention is held, delegates to the Triennial Meeting of the women of the Episcopal Church, meeting at the same time as General Convention, make the awards.
Decisions for grant awards are made according to published criteria. Requests must be implemented within the requesting diocese or province. All requests must be related to compelling human needs and/or the expansion of mission and ministry. Because the UTO identifies with planned mission strategy and the grant cycle extends over six months, emergency response is impossible.
The granting process takes place in late summer. Prior to the granting meeting , every grant request has been read thoroughly and researched in the diocese or province where it originated. Grants are then presented to the entire committee for consideration. After much deliberation, awards are made. This is not an easy task. Many factors determine what requests are granted and how much each request is awarded. The amount of money requested exceeds the amount of money available for grants.
Every penny of the offering received is allocated. Last year the United Thank Offering totaled almost three million dollars; 148 grants were awarded. Expenses for the UTO Committee are paid from trust fund earnings and the UTO office and staff are supported by the general budget of the Episcopal Church.
To apply for a grant, contact your diocesan coordinator and bishop. All requests must have the bishop's approval. Grant application packets for 1997 can be obtained in the fall of 1996 from your diocesan office. The grant application packet will include the criteria, policy statement, instructions, and the UTO Committee roster. The diocesan coordinator, diocesan grant screening committee, and bishop will be of help in filling out a grant request. Completed applications must be postmarked by January 31, 1997. Awards will be made at the Triennial Meeting in Philadelphia in 1997.
In addition to grants given in the United States, United Thank Offering 1995 grant awards were given in Africa, Asia/South Pacific, the Caribbean, Central American and Mexico, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. The more money given in daily thanks the more money will be availabel for the United Thank Offering Committee to award in the form of grants.
Six dioceses in Province II received United Thank Offering Grants in 1995.
The Urban Ecumenical Center, Schenectady, New York , Diocese of Albany, received $22,500 to be used to pay part of the cost to purchase and renovate a new urban ecumenical center that will provide double the present space and allow expansion of program and volunteers in programs.
The Father Parker Shanti, Utica, New York, Diocese of Central New York, received $20,000 to insure the initial staffing for a new residential service for persons with AIDS during the last months of their lives using Grace Church facilities and volunteers and integrating with community services.
St. Lawrence of Canterbury Church, Dix Hills, New York, Diocese of Long Island, received a grant of $15,000 to make Christian education available for children with special needs by making the church accessible, purchasing educational equipment, training volunteers, and advertising widely. (See "Special, Special Needs School," winter 1996 issue of The Grapevine .)
Trinity Episcopal Academy, Trenton, New Jersey, Diocese of New Jersey, received a $25,000 matching grant to renovate an elementary school connected to the cathedral in order to introduce a literature based curriculum, and greater gender equity in science and math for a broader base of students.
St. Mary's, Manhattanville, New York, Diocese of New York, received $25,200 to renovate the undercroft hall and kitchen of a predominantly African American parish in Harlem, described as an anchor in its community, and to continue renovations supporting intensive outreach programs.
Church of the Incarnation, Jersey City, New Jersey, Diocese of Newark, received $16,500 to match church funds to buy a van and pay initial maintenance to support an after-school program and to transport their large senior population to and from services and activities at an African American parish serving its inner city neighborhood.
Contact: L. Marie Williams , 1801 Columbus Avenue, Neptune, NJ 07753.
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