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1-23-2015
March 20, 2015
Response to President Obama's Selma Speech
The indelible images of the bridge crossing fifty years ago have been reinforced by Ava DuVernay's Academy Award nominated film Selma. In addition to DuVaernay's poignant film, innumerable images in film and photographs and personal accounts have held the events of March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, close to our view thus not too far from our consciousness for the last half century.
President Barak Obama's Speech on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches recasts before our gaze, and I pray, our deepest thinking, the horrific and heroic imagery of those unforgettable events. These events form the evolving narrative of Civil Rights in the United States, a narrative which continues to evolve, sometimes ever so slowly, as evidenced in Ferguson and in far too many places across today's U.S. landscape.
Obama waxed sermonically in his speech about the significance of fifty years past.
He said, "...there are places and moments in America where this nation's destiny has been decided. Many are sites of war - Concord and Lexington, Appomattox, Gettysburg. Others are the sites that symbolize the daring of America's character - Independence Hall and Seneca Falls, Kitty Hawk and Cape Canaveral. Selma is such a place. In one afternoon 50 years ago, so much of turbulent history - the stain of slavery and the anguish of civil war; the yoke of segregation and the tyranny of Jim Crow, the death of four little girls in Birmingham, and the dream of a Baptist preacher - all that history met on the bridge."
What happened on that bridge in Selma fifty years ago certainly didn't stay on that bridge. And, I would suggest, those who crossed Selma's bridge fifty years past ask us not only to remember their crossing but to give thought, and yes prayer, to the ways in which we consider those who cross bridges in our own time. And we, I would equally suggest, should give thought to the last time we crossed such a bridge ourselves. Surely there are many bridges yet to be crossed.
Obama continues: "As we commemorate their (Americans who crossed the bridge) we are well served to remember that at the time of the marches, many in power condemned rather than praised them. Back then, they were called Communists, or half-breeds, or outside agitators, sexual and moral degenerates, and worse - they were called everything but the name their parents gave them. Their faith was questioned. Their lives were threatened. Their patriotism challenged."
The President adds: "That's why Selma is not some outlier in the American experience. That's why it's not a museum or a static monument to behold from a distance. It is instead the manifestation of a creed written into our founding documents: 'We the People...in order to form a more perfect union." "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Surely we are indebted to all who have crossed the bridges before us, bridges in our cul-de-sacs, our lanes, our streets, throughout our neighborhoods, urban, suburban and rural. And in our indebtedness, as President Obama reminds us, the least we can do is to call them by name. The very least we can do is to call them by the names they were given by their parents.
I think of the many bridges yet to be crossed throughout and over this great country of ours. I believe if we hold the Selma crossing close to our hearts (not from a distance) and remember the bravery and the commitment of those who crossed that bridge fifty years ago, then perhaps we will be more inclined to honor the names given to us and make a similar crossing in our own day, across our own bridges.
Our bridges provide an important symbol for the ways in which our land and our lives are connected. And what a wonderful place for us to gather and what an important opportunity we have to cross the bridges across our land and across our lives, together. And there, history we will meet, and history we will make too.
+David
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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House of Bishops Spring Meeting...
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House of Bishops concludes meeting with eye towards Convention
Bishops to write new letter on racism, anticipate commission on 'impairment'
By Mary Frances Schjonberg | March 17, 2015
Excerpt from Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church House of Bishops, meeting in its annual spring retreat, has agreed to write a new pastoral letter to the church on the sin of racism.
The letter, expected to be adopted at the spring 2016 meeting, will be "the most lasting response of this house to that issue," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said during a midday press conference on March 17, the final day of the bishops' meeting.
The letter would follow on one adopted by the house in April 1994 and another one issued March 22, 2006. The 2006 letter noted the 1994 pastoral statement said a new letter was needed because the "pervasive sin" of racism "continues to plague our common life in the church and in our culture."
"We have focused our conversation around curiosity about 'the other,' courage in encountering 'the other' and compassion in encountering 'the other,'" Jefferts Schori said. She added that member bishops challenged their colleagues with "provocative" mediations about race, culture, class and dealing with other faith traditions.
"The conversations have been deeper than I have ever experienced in this house and I am immensely gratified at the depth of the conversations and what I think will result from this meeting," she said.
The presiding bishop praised the work of the house's planning committee for the depth of the members' participation. Diocese of Eastern Michigan Bishop Todd Ousley, co-chair of the House of Bishops Planning Committee, said that the meeting was structured with the filter of first considering the legacy of slavery, and then moving to the "contemporary experience of the results of racism and divisions in this country and elsewhere around race."
The movement allowed the bishops "to build on our experiences of what it means to be the church in the midst of an increasingly pluralistic culture where the other is next to us at all times," Ousley said.
The meeting, which Ousley said was "packed to the brim with information and deep encounters with ourselves and our role as bishops," also energized the bishops "by having gone so deep together and discovering how we have to be as bishops as we move into an increasingly rapid, fast-changing world."
The bishops also "considered issues of impairment among our members and others in the church," Jefferts Schori said, "and we hope to appoint a commission that will address those issues in a broad sense and provide us some feedback about what and how we might attend to those issues."
The bishops passed a resolution calling on the presiding bishop, in consultation with the president of the House of Deputies, to appoint an independent commission to "explore the canonical, environment, behavioral and procedural dimensions of matters involving the serious impairment of individuals serving as leaders in the church, with special attention to issues of addiction and substance abuse," according to the March 17 daily account of the meeting.
The resolution says that appointments to the commission ought to include individuals "with professional or personal experience with varieties of impairment," as well as members of The Episcopal Church and of the church's full-communion partners.
"Recommendations for both action and further review, as appropriate, in order to clarify lines of authority, to ensure mutual accountability, and to promote justice, well-being, and safety within both the church and the world were included," the account said of the resolution.
The presiding bishop said there "will be an ongoing conversation" about how such a commission would do its work. Jefferts Schori said the goal of the commission would be for the church to understand how it "might better respond both pastorally and ecclesiastically" to its members, both lay and ordained.
Diocese of Kansas Bishop Dean Wolfe, vice president of the House of Bishops, said the commission is needed because "the church is an imperfect and dynamic institution and we're always trying to learn how to be more faithful and find ways to better exercise our ministries."
A member of the house, Maryland Bishop Suffragan Heather Cook, is on administrative leave from the diocese while awaiting trial on charges that on Dec. 27 she allegedly was driving while intoxicated and was texting when she struck and killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, 41.
The house also set its attention towards the 78th meeting of the church's General Convention June 23-July 3 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bishop Ken Price, secretary of the House of Bishops, said the bishops spent time talking about the topics that convention will consider. On March 17 the bishops began to shift their emphasis "to more of a legislative mode that we will be in at General Convention," he said.
Twenty-two bishops have never attended convention as members of the House of Bishops, Price said. They will have a learning curve, but so will all the bishops, Price noted, as the convention moves toward a paperless operation.
"This is a new learning [experience] for bishops so we're trying to get on board with that," Price said.
The Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, the convention's executive officer, met with the bishops on March 17 to introduce them to the paperless plan.
"We've moved from prayerful to personal and now we're moving into practical this afternoon," Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce said during the March 17 press conference.
Price added that the house spent very little time discussing the impending General Convention election of Jefferts Schori's successor because the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has not yet released its slate of nominees. That committee has two meetings slated, March 19-22 and April 19-20, and has said it will make that announcement in early May. Prior to the last presiding bishop election in 2006, the committee announced its slate in January.
During the meeting, The Episcopal Church's Office of Public Affairs issued daily accounts that provided a brief overview of the bishops' discussions and activities at Kanuga. Those accounts are here.
- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is an editor/reporter for the Episcopal News Service.
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From the Episcopal Church website: Good Friday
The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922 when, in the aftermath of World War I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. From these initial efforts which focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations, the Good Friday Offering was created.
Through the years many Episcopalians have found the Good Friday Offering to be an effective way to express their support for the ministries of the four dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Pastoral care, education and health care continue to be primary ministries through which the reconciling spirit of the Christian faith serves all in need. Participation in this ministry is welcome. The generous donations of Episcopalians help the Christian presence in the Land of the Holy One to be a vital and effective force for peace and understanding among all of God's children.
To make a donation to the Good Friday Offering, please write a check payable to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, write "Good Friday Offering" in the memo line, and mail to:
DFMS - Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
CONTACT: The Rev. Canon Robert Edmunds, Middle East Partnership Officer
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Stewardship University...
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STEWARDSHIP UNIVERSITY
(Psst! Stewardship University has no tuition. It's FREE!)
Lunch will be provided.
Click here for registration form.
Registration forms are due by March 22
This exciting program is coming to San Joaquin on Saturday, March 28th, at Holy Family in Fresno. The Rev. Canon Timothy M. Dombeck will lead this workshop. The workshop begins at 10:30am and will continue to 3:30pm, lunch will be provided. Everyone is invited and it is important that at least one person from each of our congregations attends.
Why a "Stewardship University"?
Stewardship University is a one-day series of educational workshops for congregational leaders designed to assist churches in becoming more grateful, generous, sustainable, welcoming and hospitable communities of Christ-centered life transformation, outreach and worship.
How does Stewardship University work?
By the use of an engaging, workshop approach, Stew U (as it is affectionately called) educates and trains people in practical matters related to many aspects of hospitality, communication, story-telling, gratitude, and the concept of stewardship as it relates to people exercising their baptismal ministry through involvement in active ministry, including one's life as a steward and giving of one's time and abilities, as well as financial resources.
What topics get covered at a Stew U?
A typical Stewardship University event covers the broad topics of:
- Understanding Giving
- Practical Steps to Increase Giving
- Planned Giving: Giving from the Heart and Soul
- Year-round Stewardship That You Can Do, With or Without The Annual Pledge Drive
- Enhancing Generous Hospitality: What We Can Learn from Starbucks and Why
Other requested topics presented at other meetings include:
- Understanding Your Money in Your Life
- How To Talk About Money: In the Culture, In the Church
- Three Shifts in Stewardship
Additionally, you can request a particular topic that you would like addressed. Just have a talk with Timothy about what you want to achieve.
STEWARDSHIP UNIVERSITY™ is the creation of the Reverend Canon Timothy M. Dombek, Canon for Stewardship and Planned Giving in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. Prior to entering seminary in the late 1980's, Canon Dombek was a Certified Financial Planner based in South Bend, Indiana. Serving the needs of individuals and small business owners, Timothy worked with clients in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy and Lay:
Missional Bags Please contact the Diocesan Office if you are in need of more bags to fill and pass out to those in need. St. Paul's Preschool, Modesto has asked for bags on the next order for the children. Please think of this if you have a youth group or a preschool that can be part of our "missional" outreach.
UPDATE: Bags have been ordered and will be distributed. If you have not made your request please email me at the Diocesan Office with your needs.
For Clergy and Treasurers:
Clergy....IMPORTANT: Please be sure to get your directories, contact forms, and other forms in packet into the diocesan office quickly! Many thanks go to Holy Trinity, St. Raphael's, St. Matthew's, St. Andrew's, St. John the Baptist, St. Paul's, Visalia, St. Nicholas, and St. Paul's, Modesto, for having all documents turned in! Do not forget the Disaster Preparedness form!
All forms were due March 1, 2015.
ALL MAIL...
for the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, Bishop, Canon, and Administrator is to be mailed to 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355.
Thank you,
Ellen Meyer,
Administrator
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Northern Deanery Meeting: Please Note Change of Date
The next Northern Deanery Meeting is Saturday, June 6, 2015. 10 a.m. to 12 noon,
St. Francis, Turlock.
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Central Deanery Meeting
The next Central Deanery Meeting is Sunday, May 17, 2015, 2:00 p.m.,
St. Raphael's, Oakhurst.
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Southern Deanery Meeting
The next Southern Deanery meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m., St. Andrew's, Taft.
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What's Happening in the DIO
Spring House of Bishops March 10-22, 2015, Kanuga, North Carolina
Standing Committee Adobe Meeting, March 24, 2015, 7:15 p.m.
Diocesan Council Adobe Meeting, March 26, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Stewardship University, March 28, 2015, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Chrism Mass, March 31, 2015, 11:00 a.m., Church of the Saviour, Hanford
Annual Convention, October 23-24, 2015, St. Paul's, Modesto
Click on the link below to see more upcoming events and meetings around the diocese.
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From our Parishes and Missions..
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SAINT MATTHEW'S CHURCH
414 Oak Street + San Andreas
INVITES YOU TO JOIN US at 6 pm each FRIDAY THROUGH LENT
for our
Parish Lenten Devotions
Stations of the Cross
and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
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St. Pat's at St. Matt's
5 p.m. till 7 p.m.
MARCH 21st
Saint Matthew's Church
414 Oak Street
San Andreas
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Church of the Saviour
Sound of Spring Concert
On Sunday, 19 April, beginning at 3p.m., the Episcopal Church of the Saviour will once again host the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists in a concert entitled Sounds of Spring.
The concert will feature music from the baroque through the modern periods expertly rendered by a number of local organists including Church of the Saviour's music director, Dennis Flynn. This will be the fourth in our community concert series which showcases a variety of artists and performances.
The final concert in the series will be held on 31 May, and will feature St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble, a Russian folk group. No tickets are needed for the events, but a $10 donation is requested at the door to defray costs. A reception with light refreshments will follow the organ concert.
The church is located at 519 N. Douty Street in Hanford. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 559-584-7706 559.584.7706.559-584-770
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Diocesan Website and Facebook...
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Have you checked it out?
Keep up to date on news and events with our
Facebook
Check out postings from Bishop David and Canon Kate at
Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
The Episcopal Church Website
Episcopal News Service
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For the Bishop and Canon's Calendar...
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