During the Partners in Ministry conference this spring, a great deal of time was devoted to the understanding that the ministry of the church is shared between its members and its clergy. As a response to that conference, the Shared Ministry Formation Committee developed this concept paper on shared ministry in the Diocese of East Tennessee. We are especially grateful to the Rev. Pat Grace, who is serving at St. James, Knoxville, for her contributions in the section titled “Theological Basis.” Resources are available to assist any parish that wishes to explore and/or develop shared ministry built on an active team approach. Those parishes are encouraged to contact me at 423-698-1222 or rgovan@etdiocese.net.

– Rick Govan, Lay Ministry Development Director

The Gifts Among Us: A Concept Paper on Shared Ministry in the Diocese of East Tennessee

By Emily McDonald
South East Area Correspondent

A dream of the late Bishop Robert G. Tharp and Bishop Jean-Zaché Duracin of Haiti is becoming a reality in Les Cayes, Haiti, and the finished product will bear Bishop Tharp’s name.

The bishops sought a way to provide postsecondary, technical education for the Haitian people to enable them to obtain jobs and create family wealth. As a result of their vision and several years of planning, the Bishop Tharp Business and Technology Institute is under construction by Episcopal Relief and Development.

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  write of experiences in Haiti

Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center’s first ’04 summer campers were greeted June 8 at the camp entrance with a big counselor-created sign.

Three additional weeklong sessions followed, each for a designated school-aged group, and the regular season closed with a special weekend camp for rising first-, second- and third-graders with a parent. A special extension of the season was scheduled for youth from Appalachia, whose camp fees were paid through donations from East Tennessee parishioners, churches, seminarians, diocesan convention delegates and others.

Full Text plus photos

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Episcopal Church Women to host scholars’ reunion at fall conference

With a theme of Jellybean Prayers and Songs in the Heart, the women of the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee will meet in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Episcopal School of Knoxville. The event has been shifted from midweek to Saturday to open participation to more women.

Highlights of the annual fall gathering will include recognition of this year’s Mollie Tucker scholarship recipient and the first reunion of all Mollie Tucker Scholarship recipients, who are being invited as our guests to share their experiences “after Mollie Tucker.”

Full Text

• Clergy escape to Sewanee for weekend revels at Bishop's House Party
• Newly ordained priest shares goals, dreams for ministry
• Transitions

• ST. ELIZABETH, Farragut
• THANKFUL MEMORIAL, Chattanooga
• ST. TIMOTHY, Signal Mountain
• ST. PETER CHURCH AND SCHOOL, Chattanooga
• EPISCOPAL PARISHES, Kingsport
• EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE
• CHRIST, South Pittsburg
• ASCENSION, Knoxville
• YOKED PARISHES, Upper East Area
• ST. JOHN CATHEDRAL, Knoxville
• ST. STEPHEN, Oak Ridge
• ALL SAINTS SCHOOL, Morristown