• preconvention letter to East Tennessee Episcopalians
• Address to the 20th Annual Convention

Convention theme,
design set tone

The diocese gathered in Johnson City Feb. 6-7 in a spirit of listening and cooperation for the 20th Annual Convention, supported by a convention design set in the context of the Eucharist and a theme of "Unity, Constancy and Peace."

From Friday's prayer following the call to order to the Evensong service at St. John's; from Saturday's opening hymn and prayer to a responsive reading of the Baptismal Covenant and to the Great Thanksgiving, worship flowed around and through the business of the diocese.

Full Text

Related stories:

• Most proposed resolutions respond to General Convention
• Resolutions of appreciation
• Results of elections
• Convention workshops
• Involved youth take on convention, other events
• Retiring bishop's deputy feted at convention
• Prayers of the people

Adult laity invited
to energize ministry

By Rick Govan
Lay Ministry Development Director

"Where is the energy? Where is the passion? Where is the fun? Where is the commitment to the faith, and to the ministry to which we are called, at this time and in this place?" asks the Rt. Rev. Jim Kelsey, bishop of Northern Michigan.

Bishop Kelsey is a nationally recognized leader in emphasizing the authority and importance of ministry of the adult baptized and for his emphasis on congregational ministry development, and he will be the featured speaker and facilitator at a ministry conference available to all adult laity and clergy and held at Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center on Saturday, March 27.

Full Text

Bishop Charles vonRosenberg noted in his address to the 2003 diocesan convention that staff had changed in the previous year and that efforts would increase to inform the diocese of who staff were and of their individual responsibilities.

In the year just completed, more change has ensued: Staff members for lay ministry (Rick Govan), youth ministry (Alex Haralson) and the Chapter & Verse Bookshop (Beth Anderson) have come on board, and Bookshop Manager Amy Morehous and Bishop's Deputy for Program Carolyn Dicer have taken their leave. In addition, Alice Clayton, Canon to the Ordinary and diocesan deployment officer, has decided to reduce her hours in order to address personal goals.

Recognizing that future change is inevitable, the Episcopalian has frozen a moment in time to introduce the diocesan staff in its current configuration.

Full Text

Holiday gatherings
emphasize unity

KNOXVILLE — JOHNSON CITY — CHATTANOOGA

• ST. TIMOTHY, KINGSPORT
• ST. ALBAN, HIXSON
• ST. ELIZABETH, FARRAGUT
• ST. LUKE, CLEVELAND
• ST. PAUL, ATHENS
• GRACE, CHATTANOOGA
• ST. PAUL, CHATTANOOGA
• ST. PAUL, KINGSPORT
• EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
• FAITH ALIVE