Seek, Sept/oct 2009

Volume 2, Number 3

September-October 2009

The Children’s Art Project in Lui and Missouri

Notes for the Journey

When I first met Bishop Bullen Dolli at the fall convention of the Diocese of Missouri in 2005 I told him, as much out of politeness as anything else, that I would like to go to Lui. His reaction wasn’t a conventional response; it was “When will you come?” I never really expected it to happen. I was the rector of TrinityCentral West End, served on Diocesan Council, and had much to keep me more than busy as it was. Southern Sudan was a world away, literally, and I did not think that I had anything much to offer on any Young Girl in Lui kind of mission trip. Then Bishop Smith called and asked if I would go to Lui with him, the Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Dan Smith, and the President of Standing Committee, Ida Early in April of 2006 We would be formally representing the Diocese of Missouri and signing the Covenant agreement between the two dioceses.

How do you say no to two bishops? You don’t. On the day after Easter I left for Sudan as part of our mission team, trying to stuff my fear of flying under the seat along with regret that I wouldn’t be traveling to California with my husband to see our first grandchild who had been born only a week earlier. It took so long to get to Lui on so many different airplanes that the trip itself was a kind of inoculation against my fear, and I actually sat in the copilot’s seat in the tiny plane that took us from Nairobi to Lui and back. Being in Lui with the people of Southern Sudan was a conversion experience. The Anglicans in Lui have survived a terrible civil war, suffer from hunger and disease as constant companions, and have seen their cathedral bombed three times. Under those Children in Lui circumstances you might expect anger and bitterness and hostility towards those of us who have so much. Yet, as those who have been to Lui will attest, there is only gracious and generous hospitality and tremendous faith. Worship is fervent and joyful, thronging with children who learn to drum at an early age. As part of my preparation I’d thrown in my suitcase some colored pencils and a sketch pad. I have an undergraduate degree in art and hadn’t done any drawing in years, but thought maybe there would be something of interest to inspire me. One afternoon when we were given some free time, I pulled out a plastic chair and sat at the edge of the cathedral compound with my sketch book and pencils and began to draw one of the houses called tukals. As I struggled with rusty drawing skills a man came Tukals behind a fence

INSIDE: After General Convention, Bishop Smith and the Deputation report back to the diocese, p. 2 Making Disciples Workshops by Canon Ralph McMichael, p.4 Living a Parable at Calvary Parish by Mary Faith Russell, p. 5 We are the Diocese of Missouri; Go Deeper. And Go Outside, pp. 6-7

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by the Reverend Anne Kelsey

up to me, knelt down and admired the half-finished picture. Then he turned to me and said, “Will you come and teach our children?” It was a beautiful and overwhelming and impossible request and I didn’t want to lie, so I said that I would love to come and teach the children. Going to Lui once had seemed more than improbable, returning looked impossible. The Lui Children’s Art Project grew out of that one simple question. The question remained in my heart until I developed it to present to the Companion Diocese Committee. The committee approved the project, which will be part of the next mission trip to Lui in November. This fall children Rev. Anne and Mama Janifa ages six to twelve will be able to attend an art workshop at several parishes here in the diocese of Missouri. In November I will return to Lui to hold those same workshops in four or five villages. Following each workshop the children’s pictures will be displayed for their families and villagers, and I will bring some of them back to the United States with me. Each picture (both Lui and Missouri) will be accompanied by a photo of the child artist who created it, and next year the selected pictures will be displayed at a special art show here in St. Louis. There is so much that is needed in Sudan, from clean water and medical supplies to irrigation plans and mosquito control. These fall under the category of development. However, our relationship with Lui is more than raising money, as much as that is needed. It is about spending time with people and discovering the commonalities that bring us together as Christians. The language of art is universal, and speaks without words across the world. The opportunity for children to create art is an important experience, and one that we in Missouri perhaps take for granted. Our children have paper and crayons from an early age, and even when they are quite little they can express themselves vividly. Look at a piece of paper filled with black scribbles and slashes, and you might accurately guess that the child who made them was angry at the time. I am eager to give children in Lui an opportunity to exercise creativity, even in such a limited way as a single workshop. It will give them a chance to express what they cannot say in words, both happy things and sad ones as well. As I prepare once more to go to Sudan I reflect on all of the ways God works and surprises us with grace. Out of a chance encounter and a simple question mission is born. I am very grateful for the opportunity to develop and present this project, even as I am both eager and nervous. I am sure that God has more surprises in store.

Follow our missioners from November 22 through December 4 on their blogs: luinotes.blogspot.com and stl2lui.blogspot.com. Join us in daily prayer with our missioners at 7:00AM Missouri time (4:00PM Lui time), reminders through twitter.com/diocesemo.

8/26/2009 4:38:50 PM

After General Convention: Hearing Session

An audience of about sixty attended the post General Convention diocesan “hearing session” on Wednesday, August 19th. It was an opportunity to hear Bishop Smith and members of the deputation review some of the legislation highlights and describe the convention atmosphere. The five members of the Missouri deputation able to attend were the Rev. Lydia Speller, the Rev. Tamsen Whistler, the Rev. Jason Samuel, Mrs. Kathy Dyer, and Mr. Jay Kloecker. The evening was hosted by the Church of the Transfiguration in Lake St. Louis, their generous hospitality included freshly baked cookies still warm from the oven. The session began after singing a hymn with an overview of General Convention from the Bishop, the Deputies, and concluded with questions from the assembled.

Bishop Wayne Smith reported that at this his third General Convention (GC) the routine felt more comfortable. The Bishop described GC as a great “extroverted experience” that at times offers challenges to his inner introvert. Even with increased work load from committee assignments, this convention was “rather more satisfying than the others.” Smith spoke about the different characters of the two houses beginning with the House of Deputies (HoD), with members elected by diocesan conventions, which is an enormous deliberative body. The Episcopal Church’s convention functions as the largest bicameral legislative body in the world. “And it is amazing that so much gets done is such a short time; legislative groups are on the ‘hurry-up offense’ for about three weeks, the two weeks of convention and the week before.” The HoD is of necessity more formal, their rules of debate more constrained to keep the schedule running on time. The House of Bishops is a much smaller body with perhaps 100–150 people in the room at any give time. One advantage the HoB has is ongoing and developing relationships from working with one another on a more frequent basis. Bishops often know not only what each other will say, but how they will phrase it. And although the HoB follows very careful parliamentary procedure, there is a more relaxed atmosphere. Bishop Smith served as one of the two chairs of the legislative committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Church Music. It was comprised of thirty members: six bishops and twenty-four deputies. Smith was the chair of the bishops and there was a cognate chair of the deputies. Both chairs took turns presiding over the daily meetings, but when it came time to vote, they voted separately, by bishops and by deputies. There were 61 resolutions all together that were presented by this committee. Following rules of order, they had to hold a public hearing on each one. Deputy Tamsen Whistler interjected that 61 was the number of resolutions in that one committee, and that it was a huge number for a committee to deal with. “Overwhelming,” said Smith, “We had a couple of extra sessions just to get through the material.” Smith then focused on one of the particular resolutions, C056, which originated from our own diocesan convention in 2008. This was one of the 8 or 10 resolutions dealing with same sex blessings, in one form or another, which came from diocesan conventions. Smith described the process of creating an “omnibus” resolution which would combine the language of the several diocesan resolutions presented, and be edited and appended as one piece. “We had a very large public hearing, one of the largest halls available at the Anaheim center, and it was well attended.” In one and one half hours 36 people testified, material that the committee took into account. “There was some hint of tension between the two houses, bishops and deputies, but I saw none of that whatsoever in our committee which was a very smoothly working group. Every resolution from our joint committee was scheduled to be presented to the House of Bishops first. The committee members said early on that our purpose would be to craft legislation that would actually get out of the HOB and make its way to HOD, so we were working towards the same end,” said Smith. There came a point when the bishops decided to meet separately from the cognate committee. “We brought our concerns out to one another first, then to the entire committee. The deputies were very receptive and helped us craft an omnibus resolution, taking into account these 8-10 resolutions that would be presented to the HoB,” he reported. As chair of the committee, Smith’s duty was to present the resolution to the HoB. It went along in standard legislative way, with a good deal of discussion. The beginning of afternoon sessions were spent with thirty minutes of private conversation, and it became clear in that conversation that this resolution was not going to work the way it was presented. “It wasn’t the substance,” said the Bishop, “it was the process.” The bishops decided they needed to work on the resolution themselves, as a group. In an unusual move a self-selecting group of around twenty six from across the political spectrum met privately. “That is a good sized group for an ad hoc drafting committee,” said Smith. The ad hoc group decided to use a process they learned at Lambeth, one in which every one had the chance to speak. There was a scribe noting everything that was said. “Every voice was heard; those who were

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Seek

September-October 2009

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

inalterably in favor and those who were absolutely against the very idea of same sex blessings worked together. And I think there is something very good in that process. Even those who knew they would have to vote no on such a matter had a place for their voice to be heard, to be taken seriously, and to be taken into account,” reported the Bishop. In the end, there was not much substantive difference between the legislation that the committee brought to the HoB and what the ad hoc group of 26 bishops produced. Smith continued, “But there was a huge difference in terms of ownership. I think that this process could be very instructive for us in the way that we deliberate and put together legislation for our diocesan convention.” The legislation was presented again to HoB, discussed, voted upon, and passed in greatly altered form from the original C056 submitted by the Diocese of Missouri’s convention. It then traveled to the HoD, where it passed with no alterations. “That is a short synopsis of a great deal of work,” Smith continued, “and it is one of two resolutions that got the most press. I think they were widely misunderstood by the press. Ours is a church that lives and breathes on nuance. The press doesn’t get nuance. They want sound bites, it is very hard to communicate this in sound bites, so some of the things you might have heard about making the process of discernment available to all the baptized was often misquoted.” During convention, and at the time of the media storm around another resolution, D025, Bishop Smith wrote a letter to the diocese regarding this legislation, available below. A question from the floor to the bishop, “The same sex blessing resolution authorizes any bishop, as I read it… is that how you read it?” Bishop Smith answered, “That portion of the resolution maintains the status quo. There are bishops in their dioceses who do authorize same sex blessings. I’m not ready to authorize it until we decide together as a church. I think that is clearly the direction we are headed. That same resolution directs the standing committee on liturgy and music and to begin to collect resources for use in same sex blessings, in consultation with the HoB and other members of the Anglican Communion. It does not authorize our church to use same sex blessings, it is just saying, let’s draft one and see what it looks like.” Deputy Samuel said, “It does allow for bishops to offer generous pastoral response to meet the needs of the people of the church. “ Bishop Smith added, “Another fact on the ground right now is there are six states in which same sex marriage is allowed and this has become a pastoral issue in those six states.” Other significant items that were not much covered by the media included convention’s passing a budget that is “a realistic budget in this time of financial crisis.” This budget will reduce the church center staff by over 35 positions and alter drastically the way the committees of the church work together. Smith offered as example the standing commission which in the past six years has met for 3–4 days at a time, three or four times per year. “That is a lot of expense for travel, lodging, and food. In this next triennium, no commission will be allowed more than one face to face meeting a year, most every other discussion will happen electronically.” There was serious talk about streamlining future general conventions, and the next one will be shorter by two legislative days. For conventions after 2012 the church will entertain holding them in another sort of venue, perhaps a college campus. Other resolutions from the Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music committee included a complete reworking of the Lesser Feasts and Fasts, Holy Women, Holy Men (profiled in last month’s Seek). “There was some controversy over this, particularly from people who think the calendar is now too crowded and, ‘what are these Methodists doing in here?’” Smith said this is an attempt to take into account the whole diversity of the church. The committee also added saints from the worldwide Anglican Communion including “every province that supplied us their national calendar.” Holy Women, Holy Men will be published next year after all of the final edits are in. Smith just finished writing the hagiography (short biography) of Lotte (Charlotte) Moon. Another of the 61 resolutions originating in Smith’s committee will be available in the Enriching our Worship series, Rachel’s Tears, Hannah’s Hopes: Liturgies and Prayers for Healing from Loss Related to Childbearing and Childbirth. This work developed in response to a 2003 General Convention resolution asking for rites responding to the pastoral needs of women and men and who have experienced miscarriage, abortion or other trauma in the childbearing or childbirth process, originally proposed by the president of Anglicans for Life. “Part of the great story here, is that the pro life group was quickly joined by pro choice forces. The liturgies and prayers submitted are a joint effort from both of those groups. To me, having this backstory is part of the beauty of the resource. And it is nuanced—there is that word again,” said the Bishop. Smith pointed out Deputy Speller had worked as a project reviewer with these materials. The Rev. Jason Samuel, rector of Transfiguration, put together a packet of printouts of some passed legislation, highlights for the audiMaking Disciples • Building Congregations • For the Life of the World

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report from Bishop Smith and Deputation ence to peruse. He reminded us that it is important to read the actual legislation, not only someone’s opinion or retelling of the legislation. The material in the handouts is all available online at http://gc2009. org/ViewLegislation/ but the more accurate, final version will not be available until the printing of the Journal of Convention. Deputy Samuel said, “I’ve attended four General Conventions, and I’d agree that this one had a different tenor in every aspect.” For Samuel this was the first convention with space for meaningful conversations with colleagues across the political spectrum. “We had long conversations and fellowship that I had not experienced before,” said Samuel. “There was a feeling of ‘This is where we are as the Episcopal Church’. We have differences on some issues, but here we are, this is our church and we love it. I don’t mean to candy coat it...there was difficult legislation, tough decisions. But at the end of the day we strive to work together, in witness, with support and love. We have a unique way of doing that, not only in the Episcopal church, but in the world with other Christians.” Samuel recounted a particularly touching conversation with the Chancellor and Deputy from the Diocese of Fort Worth. It was a moment of building relationship, of offering support, of saying we’ll stand with you. “I was very moved by the whole experience.” Deputy Jay Kloecker identified GC’s size as contributing to its cumbersome nature which makes it seem “steeped in inertia. It is difficult to get it to move in a clear direction and that is kind of the way we like it. We meet every three years and it is tough to change things immediately, there is a gradual slide in direction of importance.” Kloecker reported that his impression of the main issues this convention focused on were mission, evangelism, and financial responsibility. “Other issues came up, but financial responsibility was one of our highest priorities.” The budget for the next three years represents close to 30% across the board cost reductions. Last minute efforts were mounted to try to save specific programs or individual positions, but the budget passed as presented with deference to the hard choices the Program, Budget, and Finance committee has wrestled with in crafting this resolution. What items will be eliminated, asked a member of the audience. Several copies of the deputation’s budgets were passed around the room. The deputation repeated an often heard quote around budget issues, that cuts made were not a judgment on the quality of programs. The office for women’s ministry was eliminated, and several other areas are refining their focus. Bishop Smith added that the objective for next triennium is a focus on building sustainable networks. “Networks, not staffing—I think that is a logical way to work.” Deputy Kathy Dyer made another point on the budget, “In addition to cutting back on the spending side, there will be a cutting back on the income side. Some of you may know that our diocesan council asked the deputation to bring a resolution asking for a decrease in the amount of the assessment on the diocesan level.” While the deputation did not bring forward a resolution, the Program, Budget, and Finance committee did receive testimony during hearings to that effect, and did make that recommendation in the finalized budget. Instead of the 21% that dioceses are asked to contribute to the national church, after this year each year will be reduced by 1%. The rationale was if the assessment was more realistic, more dioceses might be able to pay the full asking. The Rev. Lydia Speller, rector of St. Mark’s, spoke about public narrative (profiled in last month’s Seek). Deputy Speller was a group facilitator and described one of her sessions where participants told their stories. In her group were both a more conservative bishop and an alternate deputy who became an Episcopalian not long after the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson. The bishop began his story with his discovery of and claiming of new faith as experienced in his Bible 101 class in college. Speller said, “My Bible 101 class in college was very important to me, too, in the shaping of my faith, but in a different direction. That experience of seeing scripture whole, seeing it as speaking to you, is something I share with the conservative bishop.” Then the alternate deputy recounted an experience similar to the bishop. “And both bishop and deputy clearly admired each other, sitting on opposite sides of an issue. What I value about public narrative is that when we make decisions, we often think we are acting in a purely logical, rational way but really it is our hearts and minds that work together. I like the idea that in our congregations we could learn to say where we are coming from, and then move on to say where our vision for the future is, and what our hope is for reaching that place. Public narrative is a way of getting to know each other better, of getting to feel connected to each other, and working to find the passion for mission in our stories.” The Rev. Tamsen Whistler, rector of Trinity, St. Charles, explained that what Deputy Speller had just done was use the public narrative technique to make the case for public narrative. Deputy Whistler was also a group facilitator for narrative sessions, and felt that some of the best testimony heard and some of the best presentations on the floor used these same techniques. At one point, the deputies were asked to address the controversial resolution from last convention, B033, by finding another person nearby, that they didn’t know, and sharing their

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personal stories surrounding this resolution. “I ended up talking to someone from Honduras,” said Whistler. “We had a completely different conversation than I otherwise would have had.” She continued, “Even though people fussed and complained about how this public narrative stuff took up our time, it actually had a huge impact on the atmosphere of convention.” Whistler also cited “Ubuntu, the idea that we are who we are because we are in relationship with each other” as another important focus. “If I really believe that to be who I am I have to know you, then I have a different attitude about myself and I have a different attitude about the 832 people in the HoD, and the 150 in the HoB, and the 1400 volunteers, the 380+ triennial delegates, the vendors and exhibitors, and yes, even the protesters. Whether we thought this was an unfamiliar word or not, or that public narrative was a time waster, in my opinion these two things made a huge difference in the atmosphere of the entire general convention.”

July 15, 2009

A Message to the diocese regarding recently passed General Convention resolution D025

Some of the press reports about the House of Bishops action on Resolution D025 have been incomplete or, in some cases, completely misleading. Accurate coverage can be found online at http://ecusa.anglican.org/79901_112523_ENG_HTM.htm. And since I voted in the affirmative, and with the majority, I also offer these reflections of my own for your consideration. First, the resolution deserves a reading in its totality, despite a tendency to separate the most newsworthy section from the rest and treat it in isolation. Five of the seven resolves in this action, for example, directly address the participation of the Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion. While this resolution addresses the rightful place of gay men and lesbians in the common life of the Episcopal Church, that life is given context within a community of Christians larger than this Church alone. D025 addresses both inclusion and communion—and gives greater attention to issues of communion. Second, the resolution recognizes the canonical access to the ordination process for gay men and lesbians, a recognition which they and their allies have asked for, and for which they and I are grateful. They also understand fully, I believe, that access to a process is never a guarantee of ordination itself. Our canonical and pastoral processes toward ordination never treat ordination as a right for anyone. But anyone has the full privilege of presenting himself or herself to the Church in order to say: I believe I am so called. This is a pastoral clarification which D025 makes, for the sake of gay men and lesbians. Third, and with this being the case, D025 does not in itself represent an end to the moratorium on the ordination of partnered gay men or lesbians to the episcopate. To state the obvious, this moratorium would end only in the event of such an ordination. Fourth, the resolution explicitly notes and affirms that the Church, both in this province and in the worldwide communion, is not of one mind on these matters. This resolution has been appreciatively received by the gay men and lesbians within our Church, and I rejoice with them for this clarification which the General Convention has been working to offer. I ask, with them, for a full and careful reading of the entire resolution. The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith Tenth Bishop of Missouri

Resolution D025: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.

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Canon Ralph McMichael

Making Disciples Workshops Purpose, Nature, and Outcomes

Making Disciples Workshops are available to every parish and mission in the diocese at no cost. In this three hour workshop, a trained leader will facilitate reflection and discussion on three questions: How am I a disciple of Jesus, How are we making disciples of Jesus? The third hour asks, As formed disciples of Jesus, how are we sent into the world? Participants receive a copy of the New Testament and a workbook with the presentation and place to record their answers and notes. Workshops may be arranged for congregations and/or vestries and leadership. Share this experience with your diocesan brothers and sisters. Purpose These workshops exist for the renewal of personal and congregational life regarding formation and mission. They are a way for a congregation to return to the beginning, to build on the foundation, which is Jesus Christ himself. The opening quotation sets the tone and direction, and the three phases following deepen and broaden this direction: from calling to forming, and from forming to sending. The first hour allows for the participants to engage their own sense of identity and commitment as disciples of Jesus. How am I a disciple of Jesus? The second hour directs the group to consider the congregation’s practices or disciplines of formation. How are we making disciples of Jesus? The third hour has the least amount of presented content, which allows for a greater amount of discussion on what the mission of the congregation is for the life of the world. As formed disciples of Jesus, how are we sent into the world on his mission? Nature The workshops consist of a power point presentation and workbook. The style of the workshop is minimal in order to maximize the space for reflection, discussion, and planning. Attendees are participants and not passive consumers of what is presented. In fact, very little content is placed before the attendees. The content has been selected to provoke and direct the hearts and minds of those attending. Except for the opening quotation, all of the content is drawn from the New Testament. The questions that accompany each quotation lend themselves to a wide range of reflections and not to one direct answer. The participants

are encouraged to explore these questions as they will but not to stray into other questions or concerns. This workshop focuses the participants on three basic themes: the calling of disciples of Jesus; the forming of disciples; and the sending of disciples. The leader serves to present the material and to keep the focus on the questions asked. The leader is not there to provide answers. Outcomes The outcomes from this workshop provide beginnings and directions. They will not comprise everything that will be, can be, or should be, thought, said, and done. Follow up and development are assumed. There are three outcomes corresponding to the three phases: calling, forming, and sending. The first outcome is for the individual participant and is personal and private: what are the disciplines and commitments that bring me to a more faithful and transformative following of Jesus? The second outcome is directed toward congregational formation. What are our commitments toward a more faithful and transformative making of disciples of Jesus? The third outcome addresses the way forward for the mission of the congregation. What are our commitments to the mission of Jesus in the world where we live? At the end of each workshop, the participants will have articulated a beginning and direction for their congregation in two ways: formation and mission. What are some ways that we will commit to a more faithful and sustained making of disciples of Jesus? What are some ways we will commit to the mission of Jesus for the life of the world? The Rev. Ralph McMichael is Canon for Ministry Formation in the Diocese of Missouri. Dr.. McMichael also serves as Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry.

The Fourth Annual Making Disciples Conference

God Wants Everything You Have The Practice of Stewardship September 12, 2009, 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust, St. Louis Bishop Wayne Smith will address the theology of stewardship (creation, incarnation, and trinity), in addition to the practical with “how the rubber hits the road.” This conference is provided for both clergy and lay members of the diocese. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided. Agenda:

9:00 AM Morning Session 11:30 AM Episcopal School for Ministry Commencement Eucharist 12:30 PM Lunch 1-3:00 PM Afternoon Session

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Reservations needed for lunch count by Sept 8; contact the Offices of the Bishop, Cory Hoehn 314-231-1220 x1383 or [email protected]

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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Mission in our Community

Living a Parable at Calvary Parish, Columbia by Mary Faith Russell he do? What should I do? I was disgusted with my thoughts, but for the moment I couldn’t shake them for the strength of the myth I’d learned was too heavy upon me. We passed one another in the middle of Broadway, and neither of us acknowledged the presence of the other. The man, however, stopped talking to himself until he was entirely across the street where he began to chatter with unoccupied cars again. I believe that there are many business owners downtown who Intersection at Tenth and Broadway, Columbia share this myth for I have read about efforts to curtail the numWe arrive at adulthood with perceptions bers of street people, perhaps by removing the of the world and of its people from stories we benches which they often occupy, especially on have heard throughout childhood. These stories 9th Street. I’m not privy to where they should inform us of people who are good and those who be dispersed, but I’m aware that these thoughts are bad, of whom to trust and whom to avoid, of are a part of the accepted myth. There are rules to keep and rules to test. citizens living in Columbia’s suburbs who avoid The Catholic theologian John Dominic downtown because of their animosity to street Crossan has written a book entitled The Dark Inpeople. These suburbanites have heard the same terval, Towards a Theology of Story. In this book he myths as I have and they too have become feargives a label to the teachings we trust through the ful. stories we hear, and these he calls myths. Myth Of the parables written about Jesus, one doesn’t necessarily mean the story is untruthful; thing is clear. He taught of God’s love for it simply is a term to include all that we accept individuals by “doing” rather than lecturing. as unquestionable fact. These facts make interAnd what he did was relationships proceed more smoothly when we usually unexpected. accept them as norms of our society. He healed the woman Crossan is aware that there are other stories that question the accepted norms. These he calls parables. Parables illustrate outcomes that are contrary to society’s myths.There are numerous parables in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite, who ought to have helped the wounded man, ignored him. The Samaritan, who was an outcast to the Israelites, stopped, bound up the man’s wounds, took him to shelter and paid his rent and the cost of his care.

who had had an issue of blood for twelve years. He dined with Zacchaeus at that tax gatherer’s house. He permitted Mary to wash his feet in costly perfume and then dry them with her hair. He forgave the woman caught in adultery.

According to Crossan, the outcome of parables is that, “They are supposed to overturn one’s structure of expectation and therein and thereby they threaten the security of one’s established world.” In the parable of the tax collector named Zacchaeus, Jesus calls him down from the tree he’d climbed to get a better view of Jesus’ approach and then invites himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’s house. Jesus knew the myth that all tax collectors cheated on what they collected and were therefore dishonest and persons to be avoided. Jesus overturned the myth and treated Zacchaeus as a trusted friend.

Parables don’t give a trite, compact answer to problems or needs, but they lead to layers of meaning. With eyes of faith we see an unfolding of the parable. When some parishioners learned that Columbia’s street people had nowhere to eat on Saturday morning, they became engaged in a parable with these citizens by inviting them to breakfast on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 10:00 at the church. Not only are these brothers and sisters treated to breakfast, but Calvary’s members who participate in the preparation of the meal and in hosting it, sit down at God’s table and eat and talk with their guests. To be invited to tell one’s story is a gift and to have someone listen to it respectfully is an experience that seldom occurs. It is a way of being honored. And for the parishioners, the breakfast opens their minds and hearts to observation.

I was astonished and embarrassed recently to discover how thoroughly I had accepted a myth about homeless men, street people, who are known to be unkempt, with addictive personalities, who inhabit downtown streets and are given to panhandling and are capable of robbery, physical assault and assaultive language. They are lazy, and they do not seek employment. As a sociologist, I am aware that most of these myths are incorrect, but as a pedestrian I experienced fear when I was crossing Broadway at 10th street on a Sunday morning and saw a street person approaching from across the street with a dirty blanket thrown over his shoulder. He was carrying on an imaginary conversation with parked cars, empty of people, and for my protection, there was neither another pedestrian nor an occupied vehicle in sight. I experienced FEAR. He’s going to pass me in the street! What will

Small quantities of personal hygiene items such as soap, razors, deodorant, first aid and hand wipes are laid out in colorful plastic baskets on a table, and the guests are invited to help themselves according to their needs. Thus far, no guest has taken too many of these gifts. Instead, an item will be picked up and examined and then returned to its basket and another item will be looked at and then perhaps chosen, but the idea of “enough” seems to apply. Perhaps it is partly because homelessness gives little or no room for storage, but it is also because our guests have learned how to get by with the little that they have. Enough suffices.

Making Disciples • Building Congregations • For the Life of the World

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Another layer of meaning for one of the hosts occurred when a man in his early twenties came as a guest. He was clean shaven and nicely dressed but had fallen on hard times and was living at St. Francis House. His appearance reminded her greatly of her son, and she often returns to the thought “but for the grace of God that could be my son’s situation.” Parables are to stories as the Golden Rule is to the Ten Commandments. It is spreading the gospel with acts instead of words. There are many levels of participation in the ongoing parable at Calvary Church, and each of us can be attuned to the Spirit’s leading. Some are called to bake the muffins and pastries and to buy the fruit and cheese and others are called to serve them. Some are diners at the table and they listen to the guests’ stories. Since most of our guests are men, it is especially meaningful if male parishioners participate in these conversations. Some parishioners provide toiletries or small items of clothing such as hats or bandanas to ward off the hot sun, while others contribute money for purchasing food and needed items. Everyone can spend time in prayer for the continuation and success of the Saturday morning breakfast. Several helpers have commented on the sense of community this activity has provided for Calvary Church and how much they appreciate the way the congregation continues to come forward to provide resources to carry out the parable. The guests themselves have been courteous. No one leaves Calvary Church without thanking us for our food and toiletries, and several people have expressed, throughout their meal, their appreciation for what we are doing. On a recent Sunday morning we saw several of our guests of the day before at the coffee hour between our services. They seemed totally comfortable in our presence as they enjoyed coffee and cookies. Perhaps they will attend our worship service sometime in the future. In sharing the good news of God, St. Francis of Assisi is reported to have said, “If preaching is necessary finally do it with words.” But first must come actions that demonstrate the love of God which enriches all who participate. That is what we are doing in our parable at Calvary Church on Saturday morning.

Mary Faith Russell, married to William since 1953, mother of three, retired from teaching in 1992. Raised a Methodist, she joined the Episcopal Church in 1971 and has been a member of Church of the Holy Communion, University City, Trinity, Central West End, and is presently a parishioner at Calvary where she is active in the Newcomers Committee and has served as a Eucharistic Minister. Would you like to contribute an essay on mission in your community? Submissions preferred by email, publication is not guaranteed. Submission deadlines for diocesan publications are listed in the online calendar at diocesemo.org.

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Formation materials for grades 6-12 The Diocese has again renewed our license for all parishes and missions to have free access to the Rite 13, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), and Young Adults in the Church (YAC) materials from Leader Resources. If you are unfamiliar with these materials, or haven’t looked at them for awhile, please take advantage of this offering. The materials are rich, packed with prayers, discussion points, and activities. They are flexible enough to support either a more formal A to Z timeline, or a less linear, modular organization. Rite-13 is a two year sequence, grades 6-7 or 7-8 that celebrate “the individuality of each young person and their creative potential.” It concludes with a Liturgy which celebrates passage from childhood towards adulthood. Rite-13 materials include a book of lesson plans (339 pp.), a Liturgy guide, bulletin inserts, and certificate. J2A materials address the next two years emphasizing individual and community growth and honing critical thinking skills. At the end of J2A, the youth plan and experience

a pilgrimage, which many identify as a meaningful spiritual marker in their lives. J2A materials include a book of lesson plans (290 pp.), a Pilgrimage manual, a coordinator’s manual, and preparation materials. YAC is a mentor-based program for grades 11 and 12. It encourages youth to discern their ministry within church or in community. “Vocation and development of a personal credo are also emphasized.” YAC concludes with a rite of passage sending the youth into the world, to live their baptismal covenant. Materials include a YAC Mentor Manual and the YAC sessions workbook (140 pp.). There are robust supplementary materials for leaders which include sample planning calendars, annotated movie and book guides, and a collection of background readings on the history and theological underpinnings of the program.

Is your interest piqued? Less than half of our parishes have used these materials, and some of that contact information is reported to be out of date. If you need assistance finding your parish information or setting up a new account through the website leaderresources.org you’ll be happy to know that our area representative there is Heidi Clark.

An Invitation to the Ladies of the Diocese of Missouri Would you like some stress-free time away from your everyday tasks? Time to renew friendships, fellowship, and faith with your diocesan family?

Please join us for the Annual Meeting and Conference of the Diocese of Missouri Episcopal Church Women on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 2009. Saturday will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Creve Coeur, from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Our theme is “Grow in Grace.” You won’t want to miss “Girl’s Night Out” on Friday evening. Last year’s Girl’s Night Out was great success and featured a tour of the Main Street area of St. Charles in a trolley followed by a lovely dinner at the Mother-In-Law’s House. Plans are underway to find an equally charming evening, and details will be available in iSeek and on the diocesan web site. We will begin Saturday with a worship service with Bishop Wayne Smith and the Rev. Emily Bloemker followed by three sessions:

•Service Dogs and their training. C.H.A.M.P. shares their

training technique which uses positive motivation.

The featured speaker this year will be the Rev. Emily Bloemker with her presentation on “Growing up Female, the Lives of Women and Girls in Lui, Sudan.” She will talk about her experience as a missioner in Lui, Sudan, both before and after becoming an ordained priest. We might also have a special guest from the Diocese of Lui, Mama Margaret, if visas and travel arrangements work out. Mama Margaret will talk about the differences and similarities between the Mother’s Union in Sudan and Episcopal Church Women here in the U.S. Of course, a delicious lunch will be included with the modest price of registration. Look for reservation materials in your church office and on the diocesan web site in the next month. Karen Birr Diocese of Missouri ECW President

•Diocesan archivist Sue Rehkopf with a special presentation on some women’s’ organizations past and present, including ECW, Women’s Auxiliary, Daughters of the King, and parish guilds •Operation Christmas Child, the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Box project. Linda Maple shares her story with this Christmastide collection for those in need.

Dismantling Racism Commission Friday, September 18, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, Missouri History Museum in Forest Park

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North

Two showings, view the film and discuss with the filmmaker, Katrina Browne. Saturday, September 19, 8:30 AM, Church of the Holy Communion, 7401 Delmar, University City

Repairing the Breach: The Episcopal Church and Slavery Atonement View the film and discuss with special guest Katrina Browne.

n atio istr . 29 Friday & Saturday, Oct. 2-3, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Dismantling Racism Training held at Eden Seminary g e R ept This is a required workshop for all persons seeking ordination, youth workers, employees, and vestry members. by S

Attendance of volunteer workers is highly recommended, but not required for unpaid teachers of Sunday School. This two-day workshop will count for 14 hours of canonically required training. Class size limited to 30.

n atio istr d Friday & Saturday, Oct. 16-17, Dismantling Racism “Training the Trainer” Workshop, Eden Seminary g e R uire with the Rev Jayne J. Oasin, Program Officer for Anti-Racism & Gender Equality, Episcopal Church Center. Req

At General Convention this July, we again affirmed our commitment to dismantling racism with two resolutions: A142, to Recommit to being anti-racists for the next three triennia; A143, which extends a resolution encouraging each diocese to continue gathering local information on the complicity of the Episcopal Church in the institution of slavery and in the subsequent history of segregation and discrimination. In addition to the showings and filmmaker led discussions of Traces of the Trade, Katrina Browne will again be our guest on Saturday, September 19th at Church of the Holy Communion for a showing of the film Repairing the Breach. This new, short film gives an overview of the Episcopal Church’s complicity in slavery, and shows the Church’s process of seeking to come to terms with that history at our 2006 General Convention and 2008 National Service of Repentance. COMMISSION Vision

Join the Commission

As people living out our Baptismal covenant, we see our diocese reconciled to God by challenging racism in ourselves and society.

Meetings are held generally on the first Saturday of each month, and begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 noon. All are invited to attend and participate. For additional information, contact commission chair Chester Hines, Jr. at 314-641-8411 or at [email protected].

Mission

To dismantle racism through education, dialogue and action.

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September-October 2009

Seek is published six times a year by the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith Tenth Bishop of Missouri Executive Editor: Bishop Wayne Smith Editor: Ms. Beth Felice Editorial Board: Ms. Jodie Kuhn Allen, Glendale; Ms. Martha Baker, St. Louis; the Rev. Joe Chambers, Columbia; the Rev. Ralph McMichael, Canon for Ministry Formation, Diocese; the Rev. Bob Towner, Cape Girardeau; the Rev. Dan Smith, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese. Vol. 2, No. 3, September-October 2009

Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St, 3rd floor St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-231-1220 Diocesan members may request a complimentary subscription by mail; send your address to the Offices of the Bishop, attn. Seek subscription. Seek is also distributed in each parish, mission, and preaching station in the diocese. Seek is available online at diocesemo.org. Submissions by post, attention Beth Felice, or by email to [email protected]

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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Go deeper. And go outside. Children’s chalk drawing speaks for all of us at Sicangu Tikaga Okiciyapi Chapter of HFH. Emmanuel’s mission trips to Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota include work with Habitat. Another mission trip planned June 19th -26th, 2010, space limited to 20 participants. http://emmanuelamt.blogspot.com/

Camp Phoenix 2009 concluded August first. Before camp this year, a project was mounted to upgrade the Chapel area. The annual work day cleared brush and cleaned up this picturesque area. Parishes were asked to make pews for camp, and Transfiguration, St. Tim’s, and the Cathedral pitched in. But the people of Transfiguration really made this project work by completing twenty benches. Congregations had fun decorating the pews before they were trucked in to camp. An altar was built and installed. The bottom three pictures were from Celebration of Eucharist and Holy Baptism on July 28.

This picture from the August 22 Episcopal Habitat Project work day in St. Louis. Participating in the 2009 Project build (to date) are Advent, Holy Communion, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Francis, Emmanuel, St. Michael & St. George, GraceKirkwood, and St. Timothy’s. The final opportunity to help is Saturday, October 3. Visit online to register and view the picture and video gallery, http://www.ehfhp.org.

Diocesan Youth Mission, June 8-13, 2009, Thirteen youth from four parishes traveled to Bay St Louis, Mississippi for three days of service rehabbing homes suffering hurricane damage. They also had a day in New Orleans exploring the French Quarter and learning about life post-Katrina. They recorded some of their experiences at their blog, http://mission.elemontropy.org. Making Disciples • Building Congregations • For the Life of the World

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So, in the face of an economic crisis, and persistent decline: What is God asking from us? My provisional answer is this: Go deeper. And go outside. The instinctive answer might be to turn inward, to get our own house in order before engaging in anything beyond ourselves. Wrong. I believe that the movements to go deeper, and go outside, are but two parts of a single movement, mutually sustaining. The deepening of true prayer, both communal and personal, will result in mission; the work of mission, in turn will convert us, deepen our spiritual awareness. It is that missional spirituality which truly interests me. God’s mission in the world is to reconcile all things and all people, through Jesus Christ. The more anxious the times, the more we need in this diocese to participate in that mission. This missio Dei—God’s project, as many theologians translate that Latin phrase—is the answer to what ails us. Bishop Wayne Smith

November 22, 2008 from the address to the 169th Convention of the Diocese of Missouri

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1210 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103

Notes for the Journey: The Children’s Art Project

Go Deeper. And Go Outside, p.7

We Are the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Complete diocesan calendar is online at http://diocesemo.org/calendar

1210 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103

170th Diocesan Convention , Cape Girardeau

from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Fri-Sat, Nov 20 & 21

from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Happening, Church of the Holy Communion, open to all teens in grades 9-12. http://mohappening.org

Seek

Fri-Sun, Nov 13-15

Episcopal Church Women Annual Diocesan Meeting and Conference. Sat. at St. Timothy’s in Creve Coeur, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration and more information online and in parishes.

Fri-Sat, Oct 23 & 24

Sat - Oct 17, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Women and Friendship workshop and discussion, St. Matthew’s, Warson Woods. Open to all the women of the diocese, facilitated by Doris Westfall, Tamsen Whistler, and Lydia Speller. Explore the topic with meditations, reflections, and small group discussions. Fee: $15, includes lunch.

Charles. This event raises money for our companion diocese in Lui. Registration 2PM, ride from 3-5PM on the Katy trail, BBQ will follow the ride at Trinity. Questions to Holly Murray, 636-448-4005, [email protected]

Sat. Oct 10, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM 5th annual Bike for Bikes-Trinity, St.

http://epsomething here

Sat. Oct 3 Episcopal Habitat for Humanity project, last work day,

Cathedral, the Very Reverend Michael Kinman, Provost

Thurs. Oct 1, 7:00 PM Celebration of New Ministry at Christ Church

Mission. Hilton Plaza Frontenac. Cocktail reception followed by dinner and auction. Information at ecitymission.org

Fri - Sep 25, 6:00 PM Moment in Time to benefit Episcopal City

Wed. Sep 16 7:00 PM Celebration and Renewal of Ministry at Grace, Kirkwood, the Reverend Todd S. McDowell, XIV Rector.

bia, registration required.

Sat, Sep 19 Safeguarding God’s Children workshop, Calvary-Colum-

Sat, Sep 12 Making Disciples Conference: God Wants Everything You Have, 9-3, Christ Church Cathedral

Sept.-Oct. 2009

Selected Upcoming Events

Sunday, Sept 13 St. John’s, Tower Grove Sunday, Sept 20 St. Paul’s, Ironton Sunday, Oct 4 Trinity, Kirksville Sunday, Oct 11 Calvary, Columbia Sunday, Oct 11 Columbia Campus Ministry Sunday, Oct 18 Holy Communion, University City Sunday, Oct 25 SS John & James, Sullivan Sunday, Nov 1 Good Shepherd, Town & Country Sunday, Nov 8 St. Barnabas’, Florissant

Bishop Smith’s Visitation Schedule

Seek NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S.POSTAGE

PAID

ST.LOUIS,MO PERMIT NO. 1296

Did you know the diocese will mail Seek to your address, at no cost? Just send your postal address to diocesan offices, and we’ll add you to the list!

by the Reverend Anne Kelsey

After General Convention, a report from the Bishop and Deputation, p. 2-3

Making Disciples Workshops, p.4

by Canon Ralph McMichael

Living a Parable at Calvary Parish, Columbia, p. 5

by Mary Faith Russell

We are the Diocese of Missouri, p. 6

INSIDE

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