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On
Line The
Bishop’s Newsletter to the Clergy of the Diocese of Northern California September 25, 2008 Volume 10, Issue 39 Dear Friends in Christ: The special meeting of the House of Bishops last week was
an extremely difficult one. We were
faced with a hard decision regarding a resolution calling for the deposition
of the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Robert Duncan.
By now, a very great amount of detail about our decision has been made
available, and passionately scrutinized.
It is true that there were several questions having to do
with canonical process, and that differences of interpretation were
present. Still, the fact is that the
Presiding Bishop’s Chancellor gave a reasonable interpretation, the Parliamentarian
ruled accordingly, and a challenge to the ruling was overwhelmingly
defeated. There was no possibility for
a trial because the charges were not brought under the canon which would have
provided for one. Bp. Duncan did not
make a convincing effort to refute the charges against him, nor did he find
it possible to simply affirm that he wished to remain an Episcopalian. As you know from experience in a variety of
organizations, it is possible to defect in place, to withdraw loyalty before
leaving, to abandon before walking out the door. This has been Bp. Duncan’s behavior with
regard to the Episcopal Church for several years, culminating in a pending
action to formally withdraw. Some in
the House of Bishops felt that we should wait for that formal action to take
place before deposing him. I was very
nearly persuaded by that argument; the tipping point for me, however, came
when I considered the plight of those fellow Episcopalians in While feelings were strong, and debate was intense, our
proceedings were respectful. No voices
were raised. There was no sense of
being divided into winning and losing factions. We worked hard and well, and in the end I
think that what many of us felt was mostly sorrow that such an action had to
come before us at all. This is a time
to grieve. And it is a time to focus
on our mission. Although the deposition was the main agenda item for the
special meeting of the HOB, we also received a briefing from the bishops of
the Diocese of Texas, and learned about the devastation there from Hurricane
Ike. The needs of the people there are
great. More information will be coming
soon about ways to help, but for now, Episcopal Relief and Development is the
best conduit for your contributions.
Please also remember that this is an especially critical week to be
emphasizing the Millennium Development Goals, and to make use of the MDG
materials available via the link below. [ed.
See Information and Events] Grace and peace, +Barry Address change: Please note that we have closed our post office
box. Mail should be sent directly to
our street address at CLERGY
CHANGES AND NEWS The Rev. Tyler Strand will be installed as Rector of St.
Paul’s, The Rev. John Vafis is recovering from successful surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. Retired Clergy and Spouses – The next gathering will be at
Church of the Incarnation in The Rev. Wendy Watson has been called as Rector of St.
Luke’s, Insurance Information
Meetings
!
– Significant changes will be made next
year to our health coverage. Church
Medical Trust will be available to answer questions regarding our new medical
insurance plan(s) for all lay and ordained employees prior to Open
Enrollment. The meetings are scheduled
as follows: o
October 7 at 9:00 a.m. - Trinity Cathedral, o
October 7 at 3:00 p.m. - All
Saints’, Redding o
October 8 at 1:00 p.m. -
Ascension, RSVP: Thea Mangels (916) 442-6918 ext. 10. Next week you will receive a letter from Church Pension
Group detailing the plans that will be provided. You
will need to check with your own doctor to determine whether he/she will
accept the new insurance coverage. The Diocesan Office regrets that it
cannot provide that service for you. Pre-Convention Convocations – Materials relating to
convention, such as an agenda, budget, resolutions, etc. will be distributed
at the following meetings: o
Trinity Cathedral, o
Incarnation, o
All Saints’, Redding on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.
Please continue to pray for Leonard Shaheen and John Vafis. YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT, AND CAMPUS
MINISTRY
Go to “Ministries” on our website www.dncweb.org
for a full listing. Convention Youth Event (CYE) 08!!
Nov 14 – Nov 16, All Saints’, Redding – for Youth 6th – 12th
Grades - $ 40.00 registration fee provides lodging and meals (scholarships
available). Watch for more details
coming!! SEARCH - Candidate Applications for the Fall session are now
available for download at http://www.dncweb.org/305721.ihtml
. If you have any questions, please
contact Deacon Dave Ferrell at 530-265-5542. Fall and Winter Retreats at Young Adult Spiritual Weekend - Vocare for ages 19-30 is happening Oct. 10-12th at St. Luke's in Auburn! Candidate applications are online and due
Sept. 15th. Do you know of a young adult who is searching for company in
exploring their faith with peers? Go to www.dncweb.org and under Ministries, click on Youth and Young
Adults. Contact coordinator Amy Dierlam
at 916-442-6918 ext. 28 or vocare@dncweb.org.
Rector for the weekend is Marty
Kirchner, 530-263-0613 or cheeserap@hotmail.com
. Halloween Dance and Haunted House - sponsored by The Trinity Cathedral Youth
Group on Saturday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. All youth 6th grade - 12th grade
from the diocese are welcome. We will make arrangements for youth who would
like to stay the night and attend the 9:00 am service. The cost is $10.00 per
person. Call 916-446-2513 or Tennyson@trinitycathedral.org
for more information. Scholarships for S.E.E. the Light!
- 2008
Gathering of Episcopal College and
University Students <www.episcopalchurch.org/highereducation>
Scholarships to cover the registration fee for this event are available from
the Campus Ministry Commission. Application deadline is November 24. To apply
please email The Rev. Susan J. Armstrong
at sja3@humboldt.edu . Information and Events Go to “Upcoming Events” on our website www.dncweb.org
for a full listing. UPDATE: Convention Childcare - There will be childcare at Convention after all! Please use the form found on the website,
or a paper form (this was mailed to each church), to request childcare. The deadline for requests is October 15th. Important
Millennium Development Goals News - On September 25,
world leaders will come together at the United Nations to review and renew
commitments to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and set
out concrete plans and practical steps for action. Anglicans and
others will join in advocacy, worship, and prayer that week in support of
those meeting at the UN. Our voices from the Diocese of Northern
California are a needed part of these efforts! Go to http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_100495_ENG_HTM.htm for special resources which have been
developed for use in worship on Sundays September 21 or 28, 2008. For
more information about our Diocese and the MDGs contact clong@dncweb.org Diocesan
Communications Survey –
Please take a few moments to complete the survey found on the home page of our
website at www.dncweb.org. Your
responses will help us to carry out the strategic priority of improving
communications and connectivity across the Diocese. Bishop’s Renewal Conference – on Saturday,
September 27th from 9 to 4 at Southwest Deanery Book Discussion Group - The next meeting will be on
Tuesday, September 30th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's, National Episcopal Health Ministries - Training to be held October 5-10, 2008. For further information go to www.episcopalhealthministries.org For scholarships contact CROP Hunger Walks - Help raise money to fight local and global hunger. o 10/12/08- o 10/18/08- o 10/25/08- Galt & Orland For more info go to www.churchworldservice.org .
Catechumenate Training for Congregational Teams – Cursillo Weekend - at St. Sava’s EfM Mentor Training - at Bishop's Close in Canon
Olson’s Calendar Sep 27 Diocese
of Sep 28 St.
Paul’s, Oroville Mutual Ministry Review/Worship Service Sep 30
Congregational Development Committee, Oct 5
Oct. 8 Board of Directors &
Diocesan Council, St. Paul’s, Benicia Oct 9-10 CDSP, St. Margaret’s lecture Oct 10
Discernment Weekend, Oct 11 Pre-Convention Convocation, Trinity
Cathedral Oct. 12
St. Francis’, Oct 13-16
Synod Clergy Gathering, Asilomar Oct 17-18
Total Ministry Overnight, Ukiah Oct 19
Epiphany, Oct 22-23
Fresh Start Overnight, Bishop’s Ranch Oct 25
Pre-Convention Convocation, Incarnation, Oct 26
Oct 28
Congregational Development, Holy Family, Bishop Beisner's Calendar Sep 25 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Paul’s,
Healdsburg Sep 27 Bishop’s Renewal Conference, St. John’s,
Roseville Sep 28 St. Michael’s, Alturas Sep 30 Southwest Clericus Readers’ Group, Oct 1 Retired Clergy & Spouses,
Incarnation, Oct 4 Deacons’ Gathering, Trinity Cathedral, Installation of
Methodist Bishop, Stockton – p.m. Oct 5 St. Francis’, Oct 8 Board of Directors & Diocesan Council,
St. Paul’s,
Oct 10-11 Ordination:
Bishop of Oct 12-24 Interfaith Reconciliation, Oct 25 Pre-Convention Convocation,
Incarnation, Oct 26 Holy Trinity, Ukiah – a.m. St. Francis
in the Redwoods, Willits – p.m. |
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