Vol. 1, No. 1, Sept. 2006

Windsor-supporting bishops to meet this month

Bishop Gary Lillibridge will be among diocesan bishops who will gather at Camp Allen this month to discuss a way forward in the present circumstances of the Episcopal Church. The consultation has been called by Bishop Don Wimberly of the Diocese of Texas. The invitation to the meeting was extended to any diocesan bishop who is committed to living into the recommendations of the Windsor Report. Wimberly has said that he intends to remain within The Episcopal Church and be a part of the Anglican Communion. Also attending the meeting will be two bishops from the Church of England -- Bishop N. T. Wright and Bishop Michael Scott-Joynt -- who are coming with the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Lillibridge stressed that the meeting will not debate the merits of the Windsor Report, the document issued by a special commission of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the fall of 2004 following the Episcopal Church's confirmation of a partnered gay man as bishop of New Hampshire. Bishops attending the September meeting, said Lillibridge, accept the recommendations of The Windsor Report. (For the complete Windsor Report and associated documents, go to The Anglican Communion Website.

The 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which met in June in Columbus, Ohio, passed several resolutions in response to the Windsor Report. For reports from the General Convention and since then, including several messages from Bishop Lillibridge, go to the Diocesan General Convention website pages.

Bishop Lillibridge will report on the September meeting in the October issue of The Direct Line.

Reaching Out Budget - What's next?

November 1 is the deadline for congregations to designate how one-third of their apportionment for 2007 will be distributed among the ministries of the diocese. Over the last several weeks, vestry and bishop's committee members have been receiving, by e-mail, information about the 18 ministries that make up the Reaching Out Budget, which is about one-third of the total diocesan budget. In addition, three Reaching Out Budget workshops will be held this month: Sept 9 at St. Bartholomew's, Corpus Christi; and Sept 16 at St. Thomas, San Antonio, and St. Alban's, Harlingen.

By November 1, each congregation must complete an allocation form that designates which ministries that congregation wishes to support. As part of the process, 14.83 percent of a congregation's Reaching Out apportionment must be directed either to The Episcopal Church or to ministries and mission work outside the Diocese of West Texas.

Churches may, but are not required to, give this same option to their parishioners.

For full information on the Reaching Out Budget process and full details on each of the 18 diocesan ministries, go to the diocesan website pages on the Reaching Out Budget.

Of the teens for the teens

Young people are taking a seat at the table this fall as the former Bishop's Youth Commission becomes the Bishop's Youth Action Council (BYAC). The council is composed of 25 young people and adults who will discuss, plan, and lead events for the youth of West Texas. "We are taking a page from the Happening notebook," says the Rev. Jonathan Wickham, Youth Ministry Officer for the diocese. "What makes Happening work is that young people plan it and run it for other young people, and the leadership is constantly changing."

The BYAC will be the core leadership group for the diocesan youth program. Council members also will be trained in peer ministry and be role models for their peers. Teens on the BYAC are in the 10th through 12th grades and have been drawn from six of the seven convocations of the diocese. Terms on the council are for one year with an option to renew for three years. The first event the council will plan is the October 21 Bishop's Youth Day at Six Flags.

Chair of the BYAC is Jessica Thompson, youth minister at St. Francis, San Antonio. For more information on the BYAC or the Bishop's Youth Day, e-mail jean.beere@dwtx.org or Jonathan Wickham at jwwickham@dwtx.org.

Around the circuit

The five churches of the Southern Partnership in Ministry will not renew their covenant agreement, for many reasons, when it expires on October 31. The churches - Good Shepherd, George West; St. Matthias', Devine; All Saints', Pleasanton; St. Michael's, Lake Corpus Christi; and St. Timothy's, Cotulla -- had been in a covenant relationship since 2000. They were served by Canon Missioner the Rev. Ben Wright and shared resources.

When St. George, San Antonio, learned recently that St. Michael's, San Antonio, was struggling to pay its 2005 apportionment, they wanted to help. St. George had recently been able to bring their own apportionment up to date -- with a lot of hard work. So the St. George vestry voted to pay $1,000 of St. Michael's back apportionment. "We knew what it felt like to owe that money," said the Rev. Ram Lopez, rector of St. George, "so we were happy to help." How's that for reaching out?

All Saints', Corpus Christi, adds a new, contemporary service to their worship offerings beginning September 10. The service, aimed mainly at young families, youth, and young adults, will take place in the parish's labyrinth area. Artwork by All Saints' artists will reflect the liturgical season, and Prayers of the People will incorporate photography from parish photographers. "A main emphasis of the service is incorporating youth and children in all aspects," says Kendra Whitmire, youth minister at All Saints'. "We'll have a section just for kids and activities for them to respond to the gospel story each week." Whitmire says the new service is energizing the parish.

Christ Church, Laredo, will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the establishment of their church on Sunday, September 24, with a service of Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. Bishop Gary Lillibridge will confirm those presented and install their rector, the Rev. Paul Frey. Luncheon will follow; no reservations needed.

The Rev. Lori Johnson is the new assistant at St. David's, San Antonio. Johnson is a May 2006 graduate of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest; she entered seminary from the Diocese of San Diego.

The Rev. Ram Lopez was installed as rector of St. George, San Antonio, August 20. The Rev. Andrew Thayer was installed as rector of St. Bartholomew's, Corpus Christi, on August 24.

The Rev. Robert McAllen was ordained to the diaconate on August 30 at Grace Church, Weslaco. McAllen is vicar at Church of the Epiphany, Raymondville. He has been studying for the ordained ministry under the tutelage of Bishop Hibbs for several years and will be ordained to the priesthood, God willing, in the spring of 2007.

St. Bartholomew's Academy, Corpus Christi, has been awarded four stars as a Texas Rising Star designated vendor. This is the highest honor awarded for childcare facilities, and the sixth year St. Bartholomew's has earned the designation.

Help Wanted
Good Samaritan Community Services has a position opening for a Development Director. The person will design, implement, and manage a comprehensive development program including oversight of capital campaigns and annual giving programs. For details, visit the Good Samaritan Community Services website.

Events

Education online

The Online School at Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest will offer courses in New Testament Greek, Islam for Christians, Celtic Prayer, and more this fall. Classes begin Sept. 25; register before Sept. 18. Courses may be audited, taken for CEUs, or taken for credit. More info at the seminary website.

Author Debra Farrington will offer All God's Creatures through Church Divinity School of the Pacific. The course will look at biblical, ethical, and theological questions around our relationships with animals. For details: the CDSP website.

Resources from elsewhere

The most frequent mistake clergy search committees make is to try to overcompensate for the perceived weaknesses of their previous rector according to the July 10, 2006, issue of Alban Weekly. Read "Choosing Your Next Clergy Leader" at the Alban website. Visit The Alban Institute at www.alban.org for more leadership resources.

Need help with stewardship? Visit these websites: www.stewardship-dwtx.org, and www.tens.org.