Letter From Bishop vonRosenberg

I want to begin this letter with a word of apology. We have not been as reliable in communicating with you in recent months as we should have been. This newspaper has been irregular in its timing, and it has not done the job that we need for it to do. I regret that, for we all suffer from infrequent and unreliable communication. We intend to do better.

My thanks to Alice Clayton and David Smart, who have volunteered to compile this particular edition. As former editors of “The East Tennessee Episcopalian”, each of them certainly is capable of accomplishing the job. However, this work is not part of the current job descriptions of either one of them. Therefore, I am grateful to both of them for their efforts in getting this publication to you – and this one is especially important because it serves to preview our diocesan convention.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will read about our diocesan Communications Officer who will take over her responsibility in late January – Sharon Rasmussen. Sharon comes to us with a wonderful background in communications, even church communications. She has a master’s degree in journalism and is passionate about communicating and facilitating communications within systems such as the diocese.

However, our renewed efforts in diocesan communication will involve more than new personnel. We will begin a process that intends to provide timely information in more timely ways. Our Communications Committee has challenged us to use electronic communication creatively. Since many of us might be uneasy at the prospect of such changes, we will make them gradually, after careful education. Our intention, though, is to be as effective and efficient as possible in providing churches and individual Episcopalians with helpful and interesting information on a timely basis. That is our pledge to you.

Stay tuned! Exciting times lie ahead as we seek improved communications for the Diocese of East Tennessee!