Loading...Around 60 clergy, lay delegates and interested parishioners from 13 parishes participated in the first of three regional pre-diocesan convention meetings at St. James, Knoxville, Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13.
The presentation by Bishop George Young, the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew, Mary Berl and Bill Selden featured convention events, activities and convention pointers, and gave participants opportunity to ask questions. Highlights included:
Convention Theme
The convention theme is “Send Us Out with Gladness and Singleness of Heart,” with the Five Marks of Mission an underlying theme. Parishes will receive posters with the Five Marks of Mission at the convention and downloadable images will be available on the convention web site for parishes to use following the convention.
The Rev. Eric Law Convention Speaker
The Rev. Eric Law is the convention speaker. He will tie the convention elements together and speak to discussion points as they arise. Law, who is noted for bringing people from diverse backgrounds into conversation, will be leading the program on Friday afternoon on Same-Sex Blessings and will be the keynote speaker at the Friday evening banquet.
Bishop Young said that this year’s convention process with Eric Law will be different than the usual convention experience and that those interested in learning more about Eric Law should explore the “Kaleidoscope Institute” web site. Delegates have received one reading from Law and another will be sent before the end January.
Parish Banners Featured in Convention Opening Procession
All parishes and worshiping communities are asked to bring their banners (and banner stands) to the convention. The youngest member of each delegation will join Friday’s 11 am opening procession carrying their parish banner. The banners will then be on display at the Marriott Hotel until the close of business sessions on Saturday afternoon.
Nominations and Resolutions
Individuals nominated for diocesan leadership positions are now posted on the diocesan convention page. No resolutions have been submitted to date, but at least one resolution with an amendment to the Constitution and Canons is expected. Nominations and resolutions may be taken from the floor of convention, but information about the nominees are provided for all delegates (300 copies) by the nominator.
Diocesan Budget
Bill Selden, new diocesan treasurer, presented and answered questions about the proposed 2013 diocesan budget. Two of the question topics were:
- Funding for Southside Abbey, a thriving new worshiping community on the Southside of Chattanooga, which has no building, shares a weekly common meal in an art gallery, and strives to reach the “unchurched,” “underchurched” and “overchurched” in the area. The Rev. Bob Leopold, a former assistant rector at St. Paul, Chattanooga, received approval from Bishop and Council for the new worshiping community and started Southside Abbey earlier this year. Funding comes from a diocesan Growth Fund begun several years ago to help start a new church. Leopold is a missioner staff member of the Diocesan House. A new video will be premiered at the convention about Southside Abbey.
- Difference between the budget items of “Support for Ministry and Congregational Development” and “Support for Congregations.” Support for Ministry and Congregational Development is the line item for this work in the diocese, headed by Rick Govan, deputy for ministry and congregational development. Support for Congregations contains funding to provide help to congregations that are not currently self-supporting. Part of the increase from 2012 to 2013 in Support for Congregations is for Southside Abbey.
Conventions to be Held in Knoxville; Concluding Worship at the Cathedral
Bishop Young said that for the foreseeable future, conventions will be held in Knoxville. Because Knoxville is in the center of the diocese, it makes sense, and, since the Cathedral is in Knoxville, we’ll have worship at the cathedral to conclude each convention. He said, “Worship at the Cathedral is a part of convention, so just because you’re in your car at the Marriott, don’t think, ‘I’m in my car so I might as well just go on home.’ We won’t drive home until after worship!”
‘Convention Magi Fund’ Established to Help Commuting Parishes
“Because we live here (Knoxville area),” Young told those gathered, “we don’t have the same expenses as those who commute from the Upper East and South East Areas.” The bishop proposed a fund to help offset costs for commuting parishes, with contributions from Knoxville-area parishes. The bishop said he meant to introduce the idea before the 2013 convention, but since it is so close to convention now, he proposed that the parishes include some money for the fund in their 2014 convention budgets.
The group thought it might be possible to provide some assistance for this year, and agreed with the name of “the Convention Magi Fund,” proposed by the Rev. Claire Keene. Parishes wanting to contribute should send a check to Mary Berl’s attention at the Diocesan House with “Convention Magi Fund” in the memo line.
The bishop concluded the gathering with thanks to clergy and delegates for their service and the group was sent out with prayer.
Links of interest
- The convention schedule, budget and all other information about the convention is available on the convention web page.
- A link to a Google map of the cathedral may be found on the convention web page.
- Kaleidoscope Institute web site
