Dale Jones - November 6

God willing and the people consenting, Dale Jones will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at 7 p.m. on November 6, 2015, at Trinity, Cochran. Dale will join the team ministry in place at Trinity, serving together with the Rev. Joy Fisher as part of a Total Ministry plan put in place during Bishop Louttit's episcopacy. Clergy wear cassock, surplice, and tippet. 

On All Saints Day Bishop Michael Bruce Curry knocked on the door of Washington National Cathedral. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, along with House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings and others, welcomed him at the door and following his answering questions from the installation liturgy, the Bishops, Clergy, and lay people filling the nave of the cathedral to capacity renewed their baptismal covenant. The installation liturgy continued with Curry's seating in the cathedral (Washington National Cathedral has been the presiding bishop's seat since 1941), then Bishop Katharine handed over of the primatial staff. The liturgy, which may be viewed online, continued with prayers, readings, a sermon by the new Presiding Bishop and a Eucharist. 

During his sermon, Bishop Michael told the congregation of a realization he had while traveling to New York City to fill out his employment paperwork and insurance forms. As the reality of becoming Presiding Bishop settled in, he said, "The real Michael Curry was frankly scared to death and wondering, 'Did you all make a mistake?' I was stuck on a plane, strapped into my seat belt because of turbulence on the flight, and I couldn't get off. At that moment, and I'm not trying to get mystical or anything, but at that moment something said to me, 'Michael Curry, this is not about you.'" 

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 13, 1953, Curry attended public schools in Buffalo, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, New York, and a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He was ordained to the diaconate in June 1978 at St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo, New York, and to the priesthood in December 1978 at St. Stephen's, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He began his ministry as deacon-in-charge at St. Stephen's, and was rector there 1979-1982. He next accepted a call to serve as the rector of St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights, Ohio, where he served 1982-1988. In 1988, he became rector of St. James' Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland, where he served until his election as bishop in 2000.

During his time as bishop of North Carolina, Curry instituted a network of canons, deacons and youth ministry professionals dedicated to supporting the ministry that already happens in local congregations. Throughout his ministry, Curry has also been active in issues of social justice, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality. Curry and his wife, Sharon, have two adult daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth.

The presiding bishop is chief pastor of the church, chair of the Executive Council, and president of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (the legal and canonical name of The Episcopal Church). The Canons charge the Presiding Bishop "with responsibility for leadership in initiating and developing the policy and strategy in the church and speaking for the church as to the policies, strategies and programs authorized by the General Convention." The presiding bishop also "speaks God's word to the church and world as the representative of this church and its episcopate in its corporate capacity," represents The Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion, serves as chief consecrator of bishops, and leads the House of Bishops. He or she also holds a significant role in the discipline and changes in status of bishops, according to the Canons of the Church.

 

Laura Wheaton

Sewanee Trustee-1 Layperson

Bill Bruce

Val Crumpton

Isabella Stuart Reeves

Diocesan Council at Large Member-1 Layperson or Clergy

Standing Committee-1 Clergy and 1 Layperson

The Rev. Al Crumpton

Skip Jennings

The photos and biographies for these nominees are online now at the convention website's Nominations Page.

Nominations Process

New Beginnings will take place during the weekend of November 20-22, 2015, at Honey Creek. The cost of weekend is $118. The deadline to register is Wednesday November 11.

New Beginnings is a weekend retreat for teenagers in grades 7-9 led by a team of mostly teenagers, with a few adults, and two clergy spiritual directors. The weekend takes participants through a discovery about ourselves, our friends, our families, our faith, and how to live out our faith in our daily lives.

How might this discovery happen? Through making new friends and sharing with old ones, through singing, skits, talks given by teens, videos, games, worship, and conversation with each other! You are encouraged to bring friends from your church and an adult who will stay through the weekend. Everyone will take an active part in the program. You can go to New Beginnings as many times as you'd like...as long as you're in grades 7-9. We know once you go, you will want to go back. There is even an opportunity to serve on the team...you'll hear more about that at the weekend.

 

 Click Here to Register as a Participant (Youth & Adults)

 

If you have any questions please contact Jason Peaslee at jason.a.peaslee@gmail.com or Maggie Bloodworth at maroush@cstel.net and 478-892-9373. For information visit youth.georgiaepiscopal.org.

The congregations of the Diocese of Georgia celebrated this weekend in a variety of ways. Here are some images gleaned from the Facebook pages of our churches.

Thursday, November 26 at Noon

Reese Dining Hall

$25 per person

$12 for 8-3 yrs old

 

If you want to stay the night, lodging is available too. Lodge 1 room $89, Lodge 2 room $78, Chapin or Hunt Cottage (minimum 5 persons) $35 per person.

Insurance rates are seeing an increase in premiums this year from 2015 to 2016. The Diocese of Georgia began the move to encourage its members to participate in the High Deductible Health Plan. This year the Church Medical Trust is offering two new available High Deductible plans. The Bishop and Diocesan Staff led by making the move to this plan first and most clergy have followed since Diocesan Council made this the compensation standard.

The annual opportunity for clergy and lay employees to review and adjust health coverage closes this Friday November 6 of 2015. The options selected during the open enrollment period will be in effect for the 2016 calendar year. This is your one chance to change, add or adjust coverage unless there is a life-altering event such as a birth, marriage or job change during the year.

An interactive resource on detailed information on plans can be found below. The Diocese of Georgia is active in Anthem BCBS plans: https://www.cpg.org/active-lay-employees/insurance/health-and-wellness/open-enrollment/