Letter From Bishop vonRosenberg

"The Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you'"(Gen.12:1). And, people of God ever since that time have understood their lives to be journeys of faith. Moses led the people from Egypt on their way to the Promised Land. Jesus' steps took him unequivocally toward Jerusalem, Calvary, and the cross. Paul traveled widely, under the direction of the Spirit, on his mission to the Gentiles. And so, too, we are called to the way of Faith - our journey.

At this point on the journey of Episcopalians in East Tennessee, we stand at the crest of a hill. Behind us, we can see the way we have come - the events, the times, and the people that have helped us along and have shaped who we are now. And, ahead of us, we may glimpse a vision of the future to which God is leading us, in the power of the Spirit.

On this hilltop crest, I am much aware of having been graced by God on the past journey. Many are the saints - lay and ordained - who have assisted us to this point. I give thanks for them! And I know, too, signs of grace in the present day - the wonderful fellowship of the Day Camps at our camp and retreat center; the faithful men and women of the Church who sense a call to ordained ministry and who offer themselves for the process of mutual discernment of that call; and the opportunities for mission and ministry development in our diocese and beyond. Indeed, the vineyard is well-laden with grace-filled fruit. We need only - with God's help - to send forth laborers into God's vineyard.

From our hilltop vantage point, we may perceive the outlines of a misty future. We may see - with the help of our mind's eye - a camp and retreat center on Watts Bar Lake … a holy place apart from the everyday experiences and pace of life … a gathering spot - "a living room" - for our diocese … an experiential symbol for Christian formation and Christian nurture … a setting that encourages the telling of stories from journeys past, as well as the invitation to share the journey of our common future.

In addition, we may see from our lookout spot an increasing number of people who sense a call to ordained ministry. Because of our intentional efforts - not the least of which may be our camp and retreat center - perhaps younger people will come to us … people not yet fully formed in their faith but aspirants who are idealistic and hopeful and eager. And there, in our future, the diocese may support them fully and encourage them after seminary to answer the callings of their journey and not just the demands of debts incurred along the way.

Finally, from this hilltop, we may look ahead at ways to respond to opportunities for mission. Many of us know from our own journeys the significance of college chaplaincies and communities of faith on campus. In East Tennessee's future, we may see a day that our work in colleges and universities is more intentional, with the higher priority it deserves. Also, in our future, we may look at those communities of projected growth in our diocese that have no Episcopal presence - and we may see in them trained missioners at work among the thirty percent of our population that is unchurched … people who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and who are the objects of our Lord's command to us, "Feed my sheep." Finally, we may perceive a day that small congregations are supported in appropriate ways so that their faithful lives and witness may flourish in the future as they often have in the past.

We do indeed stand at the hilltop of a grace-filled present - mindful of a blessed past and aware of a hopeful future. I have received a very positive preliminary report, encouraging East Tennessee to embark on a capital funds' drive to respond to three opportunities in our future - to build a camp and retreat center, to endow seminary education for future ordained leadership, and to promote mission work in our colleges and in mission congregations, new and old.

Therefore, as we stand at this significant vantage point on the faith journey of East Tennessee, I invite you to join me on the way - to envision the future, to pray without ceasing, and to anticipate miracles, as we stand poised for the journey into that future that God has prepared so abundantly for us!