Vol. 3, No. 3, June 2008

June 2008 

The month we hear from Bishop David Reed on what he sees as he moves about the diocese. This audio is about three minutes in length and is an mp3 file, click here. 

The vision for the diocesan camping program continues to expand with the recent calling of Rob Watson as the new Director of Camps and Conferences. “This is a new position;” says Kirk Mason, diocesan Canon to the Ordinary, “one that we need because of the continued success and growth of our camping program.” In fact, recognizing the current growth and the potential growth, the position is being funded initially by individuals of the Diocesan Development Committee.The diocese now has two stable and strong camping centers with two more about to come online. Camp Capers in the Texas Hill Country, which opened in 1947, serves over a thousand youngsters every summer and is host to retreats and conferences all year long; the Mustang Island Conference Center is home to the growing Family Camps program and also is the venue for year-round retreats and conferences. In addition, the diocese has access to a site in Colorado at the base of the Rockies for summer “trip camps” and has  been blessed with the gift of a 140-acre ranch property on the Blanco River near Wimberley that will likely be developed as a wilderness camp.“Rob will coordinate all of these facilities so we can make the most efficient and effective use of them,” says Mason. Watson will oversee the camping facilities, budget, and staff.  The program aspect of camping will continue to be guided by Youth and Young Adult Ministries Officer Stacy Dowdy and various diocesan committees. “Not only will this enable us to make the best possible use of our facilities,” says Mason, “it will also allow Stacy to spend more time developing college and young adult ministry.” Watson, 45, most recently has been the executive director of the C5 Youth Foundation of Texas (formerly known as the Coca Cola camp) and headed the camping program for the Greater San Antonio YMCA. He has served as president of the board of the American Camp Association as well as president of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association.He lives with his wife and five children in Wimberley where he is active in his church, serving as an adult Sunday school teacher and youth group volunteer.Watson begins duties with the diocese in mid-July.  

Vocare makes a comeback

After an absence of more than two years, a Vocare weekend for college-age persons and young adults was held at Camp Capers May 16-18. It was the first Vocare weekend held in the diocese since January 2006. Nearly 20 young adults and college students representing nine different colleges or universities gathered for the weekend, which gave them an opportunity to examine what faith looks like as they live into adulthood. Topics included relationships and Christian marriage; what to do if one person in a couple relationship is spiritual and the other is not; and what it looks like to be a Christian in the secular world of work.  “It was not only theologically big, but life big,” commented Stacy Dowdy, diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministries Officer. “It met the participants where they are and fed them what they needed.”Spiritual directors for the weekend were Bishop Suffragan David Reed and the Rev. Jonathan Melton, assistant rector at St. Helena’s, Boerne. A number of young adults from around this diocese and the Diocese of Texas came to participate by sharing their life experiences and perspectives.The Vocare weekend was part of an intentional effort to resurrect college and young adult ministry in the diocese. Dowdy is exploring other conference formats, such as discussion forums centered on a topic like prayer or spiritual direction.This fall, Dowdy hopes to rejuvenate college ministry by starting with a weekly gathering at the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio for college students from the several universities in the city. One angle might be to make it a cross-denominational gathering. Her hope is that San Antonio parishes will take turns “hosting” the gatherings by providing food, worship, and part of the evening program.  “We are tentatively planning this for Thursday evenings with a format of worship, music, fellowship, and food,” she says. “Once we get this off the ground, I can see it being replicated in other parts of the diocese.” An informational/planning meeting for churches and individuals interested in helping this ministry takes place at the Bishop Jones Center on Wednesday, June 18, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.. Or contact Dowdy at stacy.dowdy@dwtx.org.  

Staying in Touch with Lambeth

For the first time since our bishops starting attending the world-wide Lambeth Conference, members of the diocese will be able to stay abreast of the conference electronically by logging on to the diocesan website. The Lambeth Conference, the once-a-decade gathering of all of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, begins July 16 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. About 600 of the 800 bishops of the Anglican Communion have indicated they will attend the meeting, which is called by the Archbishop of Canterbury and goes through August 3. The bishops who gather at Lambeth include the primates – the heads of the 38 autonomous provinces that make up the Anglican Communion – as well as diocesan bishops, suffragan bishops, and assisting bishops. Both West Texas bishops -- Bishop Gary Lillibridge, and Bishop Suffragan David Reed -- will attend. Already on the diocesan website is a set of pages devoted to the conference (http://dwtx.org/index.php/diocese/Lambeth_2008). The most recent issue of The Church News, the diocesan newspaper, featured the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Communion, and those articles are also on the Lambeth pages on our website. As the conference progresses, regular audio reports from our bishops will be posted to the website, as will whatever press releases are available.    

A sporting event

Just to make it a sporting event, the bishops have announced a little friendly competition when the Corpus Christi Hooks meet the San Antonio Missions at Diocesan Night at the Ball Game, June 16. Bishop Reed has confessed that as a “Valley boy” he feels called to root for The Hooks, while Bishop Lillibridge holds to his San Antonio root(s). Episcopalians will gather en masse for the game, to be played in San Antonio at Wolff Stadium. If the San Antonio team wins, Bishop Reed will don a coonskin cap at Diocesan Council next year. If Corpus Christi wins, Bishop Lillibridge will wear a pirate’s hat. Other penalties may apply. Tickets for the game are $6.50 for the game only, $15.50 adults/$12.50 kids for the game and a hot dog and hamburger picnic. Tickets must be ordered through your church, and church orders must be received at the diocesan office no later than June 9. Remember that Bishop Reed will draw from submitted children’s names for the chance to throw out the first pitch. Names must be submitted - on the form provided to churches – no later than June 9. Bishop Reed will draw the name on June 12 and notify the winner. r flyer, click here.    

Matthew Wise, recent graduate of The School of Theology at the University of the South, will be ordained to the diaconate on June 4, 7 p.m., at St. Thomas, San Antonio. Wise will serve at the Church of Reconciliation, San Antonio, beginning July 1. 

The Rev. Jay George leaves his position as rector of St. Andrew’s, Seguin, on June 1. George has been called to plant a new church in the northwest part of San Antonio, beginning July 1. He has served at St. Andrew’s for five years. The Rev. Doug Hutchings will serve as interim rector at St. Andrew’s. 

The Rev. Kevin Dellaria, from the Diocese of Northwest Texas and a recent graduate of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, has accepted a call to be the assistant to the rector at Trinity, Victoria.  Dellaria has been ordained as a transitional deacon and will begin his duties July 1.  

The Rev. Keith Turbeville, from the Diocese of Virginia and recent graduate of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, has been called to be deacon in charge and then vicar at St. Elizabeth’s in Buda.  Turbeville will begin work at St. Elizabeth’s on June 1; he was ordained at Washington National Cathedral in May.

The Rev. Sean Maloney, a recent graduate of the School of Theology at the University of the South, will serve as assistant rector at St. Bartholomew’s, Corpus Christi, beginning July 1. Maloney is from the Diocese of Northern Indiana. He is currently a deacon and will be ordained to the priesthood in South Bend, Indiana, on June 25. 

The Rev. Philip Stevenson has retired from active ministry (again) and is serving as interim rector at Church of the Epiphany, Kingsville.