THE GRAPEVINE

The Newsletter of Province II of the Episcopal Church


Spring 1998 - Volume 5 Number 2
Jan Paxton, Editor

Contents:

Synod Meets in New Jersey

By the Rev. Stephen T. Lane
Province II President

The Annual Synod of the Second Province will meet in the Diocese of New Jersey, May 14-16, 1998. The site of the Synod will be the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Cherry Hill. The Synod Eucharist will be held at St. Augustine's Church, Camden.

As always, the Synod will provide opportunities for networking and for education in addition to official business. This year the official business consists of the election of a Provincial Court of Review and presentation of the 1999 Budget. The meeting will also consider a proposal from the Provincial Council to authorize a study of a part time executive position for the Province.

A highlight of the Synod will be a Ministries Faire lifting up the work of the various networks. Exhibit tables will allow the networks to showcase their ministries and to educate the deputies.

As of this writing, planned workshops will include discussion of the issues before the Lambeth Conference, presentations on the work of JPIC and the status of continuing dialogue with the Lutheran Church, possible uses of electronic media in ministry, and an opportunity to talk about the job description of a part time provincial executive.

Last year's meeting of the Synod chose to meet in New Jersey despite early indications of conflict between the bishop and some members of the diocese. The Province wants to express its support for the people of the diocese and the ministries of the churches. Worship in Camden will highlight some of the important urban ministry of the diocese.

Registration for the this year's Synod is being done through diocesan coordinators in an effort to eliminate delinquent payment of hotel bills and to take advantage of diocesan tax exempt status. Registration information has been circulated and registration forms and hotel registrations should have been returned. If you have questions about the registration process, please contact Secretary John Goldsack (at King, King and Goldsack, 450 Somerset St., Box 1106, Plainfield, NJ 07061-1106).

Compared with a number of provinces, Province II has an active and vital life. Several of the networks are very robust, and most function at some level. The Synod will be an opportunity to learn about or renew your understanding of the work of the Province and to have a say in the future direction of our ministry. I look forward to a good attendance, even in this post General Convention year.

Contact: The Rev. Stephen T. Lane 120 East Main St.
Palmyra, NY 14522
e-mail: zion@computer-connection.net

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Agenda Synod of Province II

May 14-16, 1998

Synod of Province II

Thursday, May 14

12 noon - 2 p.m. Hotel and Synod Registration
12:30 p.m. Meeting of Network Chairs
2:00 p.m. Opening Business Session
2:30 p.m. Reports from Provincial Officers
3:15 p.m. Election of the Court of Review
3:30 p.m. Other Reports as time allows
4:00 p.m. Recess to view Ministry Fair
5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:00 p.m. Social Time/Supper
7:30 p.m. The Work of a Provincial Executive
Address by the Rev. Gene Robinson
8:30 p.m. Compline

Friday, May 15

7:30 a.m Breakfast
8:30 a.m Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m Morning business session
• Unfinished business from Thursday
• Provincial and Network Reports
• 1998 Synod Budget
• Other business
• Resolutions
10:30 a.m. Small groups: The work of a Provincial Executive
11:45 a.m. Noonday Prayers
12 noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Workshop Session #1
• Lutheran-Episcopal Concordat Revisited
• The Use of Electronic Media in Parishes
• Issues Before the Lambeth Conference
• JPIC
2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Workshop Session #2 (Workshops repeat)
4:30 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. Synod Eucharist
7:00 p.m. Social time/Dinner/Entertainment

Saturday, May 3:
8:00 a.m. Breakfast and departure
9:00 a.m. Provincial Council meeting

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Editor's Note

As I put together this issue of The Grapevine I was struck by the diversity of articles I had to use. All of them came in as offerings by either the author or a friend of the author. At first, my concern was that this issue would not "hang together" very well. Now that this issue is all sent off to Mission Graphics for printing, I realize that its unifying theme is growth and renewal. This issue reflects the life of this province, and there is clear evidence of life. Presiding Bishop Griswold has called us to join him in the renewal of this church and Province II seems to be doing just that. Our Synod agenda reflects concern for our part in the worldwide Anglican Communion with its items relating to the coming Lambeth Conference, and that concern is continued in the articles from the Churches in Europe and other topics related to Lambeth. Our Synod Agenda also reflects the concerns of our Province about the organization of our common life and communication ministry in this electronic age, as well as our concerns about justice and peace. The other articles in this issue concern growth in communication, spirituality, mission, and evangelism. Finally, all of the articles came as offerings. Some of them had been first printed elsewhere, but these were commended for wider circulation and the rest were written specifically for The Grapevine. This Province is concerned about communication and sharing our common ministry. I hope that future issues will continue to reflect that concern and that they will be able to mirror the growth and renewal taking place in this province.

Please remember that the deadline for articles for the next issue is September 12, 1998. I hope to have more to share about the exciting things happening in Province II. If you have events that you wish to have publicized in Coming Events, remember that they will go onto the website for Coming Events as soon as I get them. That website can be reached by going to the Province II website at www.ecusa.anglican.org/province-two/ and then linking to The Grapevine Online, or by going directly to www.ecusa.anglican.org/province-two/gv-ol-ce.html.

Jan Paxton
275 Boulevard Dr.
Wayne, NJ 07470
e-mail: paxton@intac.com or jan.paxton@ecunet.org

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