The
East Tennessee Episcopalian March
2000 |
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Convention Report
by Pam Doty After a reception to meet and greet one another, the delegates and visitors retired for the evening, to come together in plenary session on Saturday morning. Convention business went smoothly with reports on credentials and elections of convention officers. Highlights of the convention included the acceptance of St. John's, Battle Creek, as a mission of the diocese with a presentation by the Rev. Dr. Howard Rhys. Rhys, who has served the congregation at Battle Creek since 1953, spoke to the convention about the history of St. John's and its present program. The delegates considered and passed an amended resolution relating to terms of service for trustees of the University of the South. Trustees will be eligible for reelection for a second term without the passage of one year beginning with the elections of the Seventeenth Annual Convention. In his address, Bishop vonRosenberg reviewed the first year of his episcopate and expanded his vision of the work of the church in East Tennessee. He introduced visitors from the new companion diocese -- Nassau and the Bahamas and expressed his desire for sharing ministry with them. Ways of fulfilling the mission of the church were addressed in the Area Mission Teams and the position of Archdeacon. The bishop expressed his gratitude for the stewardship of the churches of East Tennessee in making commitments to the diocese. For Jubilee 2000, which is concerned with several areas of social ministry, the bishop called attention to the work of our Appalachian ministries and to other ways "to respond in love to some of God's people in need." vonRosenberg expressed his sadness over the divisive nature of the Singapore ordinations of two priests from the United States to the episcopate. He said, "This action has been charitably described by the Archbishop of Canterbury as ‘irresponsible and irregular,' and ‘it will only harm the unity of the (Anglican) Communion.'" The bishop said, "A bishop ordained in Singapore has no claim to jurisdiction here, and I hope that all of us are clear about that fact." The report of the Mission Strategy Task Force, passing on the next stage of the process to the Area Mission Teams ended the morning session. Highlights of the afternoon session included the adoption of the 2000 budget with an increase of $100,000 totally funded by the great responses of voluntary commitments and trust fund income. The increases are primarily attributable to things not funded in the past including the Camp and Conference Center Task Force, the Area Mission Teams, our new Companion Diocese, Sabbatical scholarships, staff continuing education and the Archdeacon for Mission. The staff continues to monitor the expenses at Diocesan House and has kept them at the same level for the past several years. Following reports by the Committee on General Resolutions and the Committee on Constitutions and Canons, the Very Rev. Patrick Adderley, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, The Diocese of Nassau and the Bahamas, addressed the convention. He provided an overview of the diocese and its assets and needs. The youth of the diocese, meeting at the same time as the convention, made a presentation to the delegates and visitors. One hundred fifty strong, the young people reported their contributions to the parishes and missions of the diocese, from outreach projects to serving as acolytes. Of particular interest to the delegates was a resolution passed urging Governor Don Sundquist to issue stays of execution for Phillip Workman and Robert Coe and to work to abolish the death penalty in the state of Tennessee. On Sunday morning, the Diocese of East Tennessee celebrated one more time its unity. At the closing Eucharist, the Area Mission Teams and Canon Alice Clayton were commissioned to serve the diocese. Choirs, musicians, lectors and clergy from all parts of the diocese participated in a glorious service at the convention center.
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