Vol. 2, No. 10, December 2007

Direct Line Audio

In the Bishop's Words: Bishop Lillibridge reflects on the Advent theme of living in community. This audio is about 4 minutes in length. Click here to listen.

Announcing:

How Well is it Working?

A parish newsletter contest

How good is your parish newsletter? Do parishioners read it? Do they want to read it? Is it appealing? Informational?

Here is your chance to find out.

Submit your best three newsletters (print only, no electronics) for 2007.

First, Second, and Third Place Awards will be given in three divisions: Small churchmid-size church (ASA 100 to 349) and large church (ASA 350 and over). (ASA 99 or fewer)

Entries will be judged by at least three impartial persons and winners announced at Council 2008 (February 21-23 in San Antonio). Judges' critiques and comments will be returned to each entrant with suggestions for improvement.

Prizes include a one-year subscription to ChurchArt Online

Entries must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2008.

For an entry form, click here.

Lookin' Good - Almost

Once when President and Mrs. John Kennedy were expected at a public event, only Mr. Kennedy arrived. He took to the podium and explained that his wife would be along shortly. "It takes her a little longer to get dressed," he told the crowd, adding, "But then, she always looks so much better than the rest of us."

That's how we feel about our new website: it is having a hard time making an actual appearance, but it sure will look good when it gets here.

We have now been working on the new site for more than a year and expect to go "live" before the end of the year. No, really, we do.

Our main concern is that navigation on the new site be very intuitive for users. So we have adjusted, reviewed, adjusted, reviewed and adjusted again. In good Episcopal fashion, we have involved an entire committee in this work, which has its own way of slowing things down but getting better results.

The new site will have seven major categories: visitors, events and calendar, diocese, Episcopal entities, churches and schools, prayer and spiritual formation, and the broader church. Under those are 43 sub-categories, many of which go down three or four layers deeper. The site will have a search function, direct links to Camp Capers and the Mustang Island Conference Center, links to special events such as Council 2008, and lots more

And this is just the beginning. The site we introduce will have basic info; plans for further development include such things as online completion of forms and online registration for all diocesan events.

When we go live, users will be automatically redirected to our new site (www.dwtx.org) from our current site. And if it is a little bit late, just remember that we want to look better than everyone else.

Will Golf for Kids

The November 9 Bishop's Golf Classic raised more than $13,000 for camp scholarships and put $1,800 into the coffers of parish youth ministry programs. Total revenue for the event was $23,970 with enough money, after expenses, to send 87 youngsters to camp next summer.

The Rev. Chuck Woehler, St. Thomas, San Antonio, won bragging rights with a "double eagle" (that's two under par) when he holed-out from 200 yards on a par five. He says it was brilliant playing, not just dumb luck.

St. Thomas also took the biggest prize -- $500 for their youth ministry by taking first place low gross. Another St. Thomas team took $500 for first place low net.

Second place low gross went to a team from St. Luke's, San Antonio ; second place low net went to St. George, San Antonio. Third place winners were TMI (two teams tied for low gross) and St. Mark's, San Antonio, low net.

Mostly, the 126 players enjoyed a day of good-natured competition and fellowship. Next year's Bishop's Golf Classic is scheduled for November 14 at Canyon Springs Country Club in San Antonio. 

New Camps Director to Oversee Three Sites

With the continuing success of our two camping centers --Camp Capers in the Hill Country and the Mustang Island Conference Center on the Coast -- as well as plans to develop a third camping site, the diocese is now looking for a Director of Camps and Conferences. This position is in addition to our existing staff. This new person will oversee the management, operations, and development of the two current sites and lead the effort to develop a distinctively different third site on property near Wimberley.

To apply, please send resume to Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, Attn: Kirk Mason, P.O. Box 6885, San Antonio, TX 78209 or by email to kirk.mason@dwtx.org by January 15, 2008.

For a complete job description, click here http://www.council-dwtx.org/Counselors/index.html.

National News

San Joaquin votes to leave Episcopal Church, realign with Southern Cone
(from Episcopal News Service) Delegates attending the 48th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin on Saturday, Dec. 8, overwhelmingly voted to leave the Episcopal Church and to align with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

The results, by orders were: 70-12 clergy and 103-10 in the lay order to effectively remove all references to the Episcopal Church from the diocese's constitution and describe the diocese as "a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and in full communion with the See of Canterbury."

"The Episcopal Church receives with sadness the news that some members of this church have made a decision to leave this church," said Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. "We deeply regret their unwillingness or inability to live within the historical Anglican understanding of comprehensiveness. We wish them to know of our prayers for them and their journey. The Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership."

For the full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92524_ENG_HTM.htm

Primates respond to House of Bishops
(from Anglican Communion News Service) The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowen Williams, has written to Anglican Communion Primates and members of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) with a summary of their individual responses to the outcome of the September House of Bishops meeting of the Episcopal Church. He made it clear that he was not at this stage advancing his own interpretation of these responses, but will include his own reflections in his (annual) Advent Letter to the Primates expected very soon.

The Archbishop had written at the beginning of October to the Primates and Moderators of the Anglican Communion, sending them the report of the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the ACC following the JSC's visit with the House of Bishops in New Orleans in September. In his letter, the Archbishop invited the Primates to consult within their Provinces and asked for a response by October 31. He posed two questions in his letter: How far is your Province able to accept the JSC Report assessment that the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops have responded positively to the requests of the Windsor Report and those made by the Primates in their Communique at the end of their meeting in Dar es Salaam? And: What proposals do you have for any next steps that should be taken?

By November 6, the Archbishop had received 26 responses from primates, with no reply from12 provinces. Of the 26, 12 agreed with the conclusions of the Joint Standing Committee report that the Episcopal Church House of Bishops had provided the necessary clarification and assurances to issues in the Windsor Report. Another 10 provinces disagreed with the conclusions of the Joint Standing Committee Report, and in two provinces the response to the JSC report was mixed.

For the full report, go to http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2007/11/22/ACNS4340

State of the Church
[from Episcopal News Service] An interim report issued by the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church says the Episcopal Church needs "a plan for action" to address concerns related to its identity, mission and organization.

Described as a "brief assessment of facts and trends," the report points out that "marvelous work goes forward at all levels of our church, often understated, and not fully appreciated, but truly transforming in nature."

A pdf of the report is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/11-2007_StateOfTheChurchFinal.pdf.

For 2006 Episcopal Church Fast Facts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/FAST_FACTS_for_Domestic_Dioceses_20061.pdf

Briefs

An agency that provides training for mentally handicapped adults has purchased the property that was Trinity Church in San Antonio. "Their objective is to help their clients stay at home and not be institutionalized," explained Jerry Ash, former senior warden of the church. "It's a worthwhile and good program," he added. The church's stained glass windows were not removed because of the possibility of damage and the new tenant "thought it would be a good place to meet with potential clients and their families," says Ash. The "Trinity Remnant," as Ash calls several of the former parishioners, still get together once a month or so for fellowship; proof positive that the Church is in the people, not in the building.

Remember that 2008 Apportionment Designation forms for Line 1 of the Diocesan Reaching Out Budget are due no later than December 31, 2007. Forms were mailed out to each church showing their 2008 apportionment and the 6 percent that can be allocated to The Episcopal Church USA (Line 1a) and/or to Ministries Outside the Diocese (Line b). Please contact Susan Hardaway susan.hardaway@dwtx.org or Nancy Stinson nancy.stinson@dwtx.org if you need a replacement form. If a church does not return its form, its portion will be split equally between The Episcopal Church and Ministries Outside the Diocese.

The congregation of Sts. Thomas and Martin, Corpus Christi, has decided to close the church; their last service will be December 23 with Bishop David Reed as celebrant. St. Thomas was founded in 1950 and its church building erected in 1955. The congregation of St. Martin's joined them in the early 1990s to create the current Sts. Thomas and Martin. Average Sunday attendance has been about 12 in recent years. Watch for a full story about the history of the church in the next issue of The Church News.

Just in time for Christmas, a new book -- St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas -- tells the story of the St. Nicholas of history and legend. Full of historical information and rare illustrations from Christian traditions around the world, the book uses stories and pictures to reclaim the historical St. Nicholas who inspired the Santa Claus story. Price is $34.99, authors are Joe Wheeler and Jim Rosenthal. To order: Episcopal Books and Resources www.episcopalbookstore.org or visit your local Episcopal bookseller www.episcopalbooksellers.org. or phone 800-903-5544.

The roots of violence in religion will be explored in the 38th Trinity Institute, January 21-23. The live web cast from Trinity Church Wall Street will be hosted at St. Paul's, San Antonio, in partnership with the diocesan Department of Christian Education. Speakers for the institute are James Carroll, James H. Cone, Susannah Heschel, and Tariq Ramadan. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will preach at the opening service. The conference will bring together a panel of Christian, Jewsish, and Muslim voices to explore the deep roots of religious conflict and how that has led to the religious extremism we see today. Cost of $30 includes lunch January 22 and 23. For a detailed schedule and to register, contact Lou Taylor at lou.taylor@dwtx.org or Jean Beere at jean.beere@dwtx.org at the diocesan office. To view the web cast on your own computer, see the Trinity website www.trinitywallstreet.org for details.

CDs from the recent conference with Bishop N. T. Wright are now available at the Bishop Elliott Society website www.bishopelliott.org -- and see a photo gallery of the event while you are there. Four CDs on the subject of "The Bible and Tomorrow's World" are available at $12 each or $45 for the set of four.

As we move to the new Revised Common Lectionary for Sunday readings, how does it compare to the lectionary in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer we have been using? Visit http://www.bombaxo.com/rclcompg.html to track the differences, which aren't many. Other pages on the site compare first and second readings as well as Psalm selections.

A reminder that all resolutions to be considered for action by the 104th Council of the Diocese of West Texas, meeting in San Antonio February 21-23, 2008, must be received in written form in the office of the Archdeacon no later than December 31, 2007. You may submit via e-mail, FAX, or regular mail. Milton E. Black, Jr., Archdeacon, P.O.Box 6885, San Antonio, TX 78209, (210 or 888) 824-5387, FAX (210) 824-2164, e-mail Milton.black@dwtx.org.

More Council reminders: Annual reports from department, committee and commissions chairs are due in Marilyn Koontz's office by January 11. Send written reports by e-mail to jean.beere@dwtx.org. Registration for council exhibit booths opened December 10. For details, go to www.council-dwtx.org

From Our Churches

People

Workshops, seminars, classes, conferences

Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd instructors begins in December and continues over the next several months. Level I, Part I training will be Dec.7-8, Feb. 8-9, Mar. 7-8,and Apr. 11-12. Level I, Part 2 training picks up in September 2008 and runs one weekend a month through December. For details, contact Lou Taylor in the diocesan Department of Christian Education at lou.taylor@dwtx.org.

St. Andrew's, Corpus Christi, presents The Poured-Out Life, January 11-12. Looking through a Christian prism and using clips from contemporary films, participants will see how they might strip away, subtract, and pour themselves out in order to be filled the more with God's energy and grace. Cost is $150 including lodging, $90 for commuters. For more info: www.standycc.org.

Province VII Campus Ministry presents a conference on Practicing the Presence, January 18-20 at Camp Allen, Navasota. Keynote speaker is Patricia Hendricks, and spiritual director is the Rev. Michael Battle. Cost is $130 (double occupancy). To register www.highergroundtxstate.org/form

Trinity Church Wall Street will present Trinity Institute's 38th National Theological Conference, "Religion and Violence: Untangling the Roots of Conflict," on January 21-23, 2008. Keynote speakers will include James Carroll, James H. Cone, Susannah Heschel, and Tariq Ramadan. Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori will preach the opening Evensong. For more info, www.trinitywallstreet.org.

The 2008 Women of Faith Conference will be in San Antonio, February 7-9. It's America's largest women's conference and features a team of speakers including Max Lucado. Cost is $139 before December 15, $149 after that. For details and to register www.womenoffaith.com.

Together We Grow, the 2008 church staff conference sponsored by Church Supplies and Services Inc., will be February 21 at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston. Topics include Shelby databases, ServiceU, TransactU, and EventU, and PhoneTree LIve plus excellent speakers. Cost is $75/person for groups of three or more. For details, www.ChurchCo-op.org.

The Diocese of Northwest Texas will host a Parish Nurse Preparation Course at Mercy Center in Slaton, Texas, April 6-10, 2008. Parish nurse programs in congregations promote wellness, prevention, and clinical programs of health ministry. Their purpose is to empower, educate, and advocate for healthcare for people in need. To learn more about the April event, e-mail Margaret Williams at mhiettwilliams@hotmail.com. To learn more about parish nurse programs in the Episcopal Church, visit online at www.episcopalhealthministries.org.

April 21-26, 2008, Mustang Island Conference Center will be the location for the Epiphany Institute's clergy and lay leadership development program, "Look Up." For information or to register, go to www.epiphanyinstitute.org or call (828) 324-1351.

The advanced degree programs of the University of the South include the master of sacred theology program and the D. Min. program. Dates for summer courses in 2008 are June 25 to July 16. In addition, the Anglican Heritage Tour course will be May 29 to June 9. For information on any of these programs, visit http://sewanee.edu.

Retreats

Just for fun

The Sewanee Club of San Antonio will host a Sewanee Celebration for alumni, parents, and prospective students on Thursday, Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m. at the Bishop Jones Center. Cost is $20/ person. To RSVP, go to http://ur.sewanee.edu/alumni/sewaneeclubevents.

Cursillo happenings

Cursillo #242 will be held at Camp Capers, March 6-9, 2008. Lay rector Curt Mowen (St. Luke's, San Antonio) and Spiritual Director The Rev. Stockton Williams (St. Peter's, Kerrville). To register for any Cursillo weekend, download a registration form or for information contact Cursillo registrar Faith Miller, faith.miller@dwtx.org or (888/210) 824-5387.