Bishop Charles vonRosenberg's
address to the 22nd Annual Diocesan Convention

Mr. President, lay and ordained delegates to this gathering, and guests who honor us by your presence: I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ to the twenty-second Annual Convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee. I soon will begin my eighth year as your bishop - and I continue to be grateful for the ministry that we share, as well as honored by your trust in me and challenged by the calls through which God encourages us in this diocese.

On behalf of the diocese and, in particular, all of us here, I want to express our appreciation to the churches of the Episcopal Commission of South East Tennessee - ECSET - who serve as our hosts for this convention. Thank you for all your work in preparation for our gathering and for your kind hospitality during our stay.

As is customary, I will provide to the Secretary a record of my 2005 official acts, and that report will become part of the Journal of this Convention.

Thanks to Diocesan Staff

As we recognize and thank diocesan staff members, we need to mention in particular two people who are no longer with us, as well as two new members of our staff. 2005 was the year in which we said "good-bye" to Alice Clayton - Canon to the Ordinary during my episcopate until last summer and Communications Director for some years prior to that - and to Tami MacDonald - my Executive Assistant for more than six years. Each of these folks served the diocese well, and we are grateful to God for their ministries with us.

We have been blessed recently to add two new staff members. The Rev. Canon Stephen Askew serves now as Canon to the Ordinary. Responsibilities for that position have changed somewhat, for Stephen brings his own unique gifts, as well as his ordination, to this ministry. Also, Laura Nichols has begun the difficult task of being the Executive Assistant to the Bishop. With her considerable experience in working with the public and in serving previously on a church staff, she seems well-qualified to take on the challenge. I look forward to a long and happy association with these new members of our diocesan staff.

Others who continue to serve on staff and for whom I am extremely grateful are these: Lynn Lazlo, Receptionist and Staff Executive Assistant; Beth Anderson, Manager of Chapter and Verse Bookshop; Alex Haralson, Youth Ministry Coordinator; Rosemary Davenport, Staff Executive Assistant and Insurance Administrator; Bo Lewis, Vicar of Grace Point; Chris Chase, Canon for Higher Education; Rick Govan, Ministry Development Coordinator; Sharon Rasmussen, Communications Director; and Mary Berl, Diocesan Administrator. I'll ask all these folks to stand. Please join me in expressing the thanks of a grateful diocese for their good work.

The Christian journey

For the remainder of this address, I want to focus our attention on a particular theme: the Christian journey. Of course, biblically speaking, journeys of faith hold prominent places in Holy Scripture. From the journey out of Eden, to the journey toward the Promised Land, to our Lord's journey to Egypt and back - mirroring the Exodus - to St. Paul's missionary journeys ... these and others give an interesting and significant perspective on our biblical faith.

In terms of this particular convention - and, indeed, always - we need to remind ourselves that our Christian journey commences at baptism. At that point of beginning, we are "marked as Christ's own for ever." That mark identifies who we are at a very fundamental level. And that mark of the cross, given at baptism, also identifies whose we are. Indeed, baptism provides the mark of our identity. As we live into that identity - defined by baptism, "marked as Christ's own for ever" - we seek ways to respond to the call of Jesus to engage in mission to the world for which he died. Thus, as faithful, baptized Christians, we sow seeds of mission and we serve needs together … the seeds and needs of the mission of Christ in the world. Responses to our baptismal commitments define the journeys of our Christian lives.

Also, as we consider our life journeys, we recognize that this theme of journey may be personal or collective; it may involve an individual, a church, a diocese, or an entire Communion. In our lives of faith, though, we are always on a journey - and, usually, two or three of them at the same time.

Let me offer you a personal perspective - my own - as a way to begin considering this theme of journeys. Surely our personal lives have a great deal to do with our ability to experience the journey of faith.

In my own life - as many of you know - the intensity of recent personal experience has affected me in some ways that I understand .... and in others that I am sure I do not understand. Over the past year and a half, both my parents have died, and I have become a grandparent myself - in fact, three times during that same year and a half!

Therefore, this has been a remarkable and intense experience of the journey of life itself - the life and death cycle, repeated several times. I have come face to face with life's journey at basic levels and with particular intensity. The landscape of this journey through life somehow looks different to me now, having walked a path I had not traveled previously.

It will take me a long time - and a good deal more reflection - to make any profound sense of the past year and a half. However, this much I have learned. There is not any one experience in life which is completely good or entirely bad. No one experience is all positive or all negative. Part of my learning recently, therefore, has been to recognize the occasion and the opportunity for thanksgiving in any event or circumstance - and to claim that reality, in gratitude to God. A theology of gratitude and thanksgiving, therefore, has become a welcome and reliable roadmap on the journey of life for me.

Thus, I offer you this personal perspective on the theme of Christian journey. Each one of us needs to consider well our own stories, even as we identify other aspects of our journeys.

Our corporate journey

Next, as we consider the corporate journey of faith - particularly in this diocese - I want to offer two examples for our attention. These are examples of ways we live out our faith in the world … ways that we sow seeds and serve needs together. Surely, as the Letter of James affirms, "faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead"(2:17). Also, as a familiar collect from the Easter season expresses the commitment to Christian living, we are called to bring into harmony what we pray and how we live, so that "we may show forth in (our) lives what (we) profess by (our) faith"(BCP, p224). Therefore, as we have already pointed out, the journey of our baptismal faith sends us forth in mission to the world.

ECSET

As a first example of our corporate, diocesan journey, then, let's consider the organization which is serving as host for this convention - the Episcopal Commission of South East Tennessee, or ECSET. The mission and ministry of ECSET through the years have demonstrated the cooperative response by churches in this part of the diocese to the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That cooperative response - that part of the journey of faith - has been impressive indeed.

I have read and heard stories about the plight of the urban poor in Chattanooga during the 1960's and 1970's. And, I am particularly grateful to the Reverend Lou Parsons for sharing some of those stories and other information with me. In response to various human needs, the Hamilton County Episcopal Commission was formed, and that group claimed a two-fold ministry: "to foster the establishment of new missions and to respond to the needs in an urban community on behalf of God's people." This was the beginning, the founding impetus, for ECSET.

On the floor of this convention sit representatives from several churches, founded in response to the first ECSET charge: Church of the Nativity, St. Peter's Church and School, St. Thaddaeus, St. Alban's, and St. Francis of Assisi. Other churches here have also benefited from grants and loans from ECSET during their early days as well. Therefore, the goal of establishing new missions has been addressed in very positive and direct ways.

The second goal - "to respond to the needs in an urban community on behalf of God's people" - has encouraged a variety of response through the years. And the responses have been wonderfully effective. We may mention ECSET's active involvement in such programs as St. Barnabas Senior Living Services, the Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, the Hosanna Community, and Habitat for Humanity as indications of ECSET's desire to respond to urban needs.

With the creation and funding for a Metropolitan Minister, response to this second goal evolved into a more defined focus. During the tenure of the Revered Jim Bills, ECSET aided and participated in the development and support of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, the Chattanooga Food Bank, the Cleveland Food Bank at St. Luke's, Warm Neighbors Utility Assistance, and the Chattanooga Homeless Coalition.

The Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry naturally emerged as an indication that this work was far greater than the accomplishments of one individual. The Reverend Lou Garcia has ably guided and served in recent years, as the Metropolitan Ministry continues to provide support and encouragement to the homeless and the hopeless. We are grateful to him for his fine leadership of Metropolitan Ministry for more than ten years.

Other efforts of ECSET - which were not parts of the original goals - include attention to youth and to campus ministry. In the latter example, we are grateful most recently to the Reverend Matilda Dunn, especially for her work with students at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Unfortunately, ECSET is experiencing some budgetary constraints in 2006, and those shortfalls have necessitated cutbacks in support for campus ministry, so that ECSET's primary foci for ministry may be adequately funded. The campus ministry, though, will continue, with the diocese and Christ Church taking larger roles than previously.

Thus, we acknowledge and celebrate ECSET's life and ministry through the years. We give thanks to God for the accomplishments of this cooperative ministry in South East Tennessee, especially in founding new churches and in responding to needs of the urban poor. And, we look forward to great accomplishments in days to come from the churches of the Episcopal Commission of South East Tennessee, as they show us the way to move effectively from baptism to mission, for the sake of our Lord.

Hurricane Relief

Another significant diocesan step on our collective journey of faith - from baptism into mission, as we sow seeds and serve needs together - is the response of churches to those suffering from the catastrophes of Hurricane Katrina. I am particularly appreciative of the efforts of Sharon Rasmussen, our diocesan Communications Director, in this regard. I also am deeply grateful to the churches and individuals who have responded with such compassion in the face of tremendous suffering.

The Office of the Bishop Suffragan for Chaplaincies has developed a church-wide program, called "We Will Stand with You", as one means for Episcopal dioceses, churches, and institutions to work with individual Gulf Coast congregations, in the long-term job of fund raising and rebuilding. The program's intention is to provide a system of support that is Christ-centered, enduring, and relational, in the months and years to come.

The House of Bishops heard of this program from Bishop George Packard in September, 2005. Several necessary phases include an inventory of needs from various Episcopal organizations, the matching of those organizations with others that can assist in their recovery, the meeting of those needs, and, finally, a continuing evaluation and improvement of living conditions. Thus, clearly, the program is designed to respond to the long-term needs for rebuilding.

In addition to the Office for Chaplaincies, other organizations involved are Episcopal Relief and Development, Episcopal Migration Ministries, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the church-wide Office of Mission Program, and the Office of Communication.

Bishop Packard's presentation to the House of Bishops included a request for contacts from individual dioceses. In response to that request, I met him as he left the podium. Since we had the beginnings of an organization for response in place for East Tennessee, I handed him the contact information for our Area resource parishes and for the Diocese. With an expression of some surprise, he indicated to me then that ours was the first that he had received. Subsequently, East Tennessee became the first diocese to have parishes formally partner with Gulf Coast congregations in this program. I am delighted to thank three parishes: St. Paul's, Chattanooga - who has two different partners - as well as Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, and St. James, Greeneville … all of whom we will especially recognize later in this convention. These are the first from our diocese to become involved in an official way with this well-organized, national, Episcopal response to the Gulf Coast devastation. In addition, two other East Tennessee churches have completed their applications and simply await their matches to be identified - St. Andrews, Maryville, and Good Shepherd, Knoxville.

I want to point out, also, that others of you have responded in a variety of appropriate, faithful, and caring ways. Thank you for what you have done for our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. In so many ways, our diocese and the churches of East Tennessee are living into our Baptismal Covenant, as we respond to the disasters of Hurricane Katrina. We are indeed growing in mission on our Christian journey, as we live into the promises of Baptism.

Complications: The Atlanta airport

Now, at this point, I want us to look at the image of the Christian journey from a different angle. The particular metaphor that I want to suggest offers us a practical and familiar dimension to our considerations of the journey of faith.

Those of us in East Tennessee who travel by air at all are probably fairly well acquainted with the Atlanta airport. To reach most destinations from East Tennessee, you have to go through Atlanta on the way. Thus our journeys often take us through the airport in Atlanta. And there it is that we may well encounter delays, changes of schedule, cancellations, and all manner of complication, aggravation, and challenge.

With this in mind, I suggest a new metaphor to you today. My friends, the Episcopal Church is on a journey, and the issue of human sexuality is our Atlanta airport! Atlanta is not our destination, but we have to go through it on our way. And the Church is experiencing familiar complication, aggravation, and challenge, as we try to get out of Atlanta and get on with the journey!

Now, let me be very clear about something in this analogy because I do not want to be misunderstood. Episcopalians - and, indeed, Anglicans worldwide - may find ourselves stuck in the Atlanta airport. Involved in this frustration of travel are gay Episcopalians and straight Episcopalians, conservative Episcopalians and liberal Episcopalians ... all of us. We are experiencing the frustrations of the airport in Atlanta together ... all of us. I am not suggesting that we leave anyone behind as we try to get out of Atlanta. Indeed, to add another analogy, I want to be very clear about our commitment to a "No Child Left Behind" program ... and I mean that we intend that no child of God will be left in Atlanta because of our current complications on the journey. There are gifted and valuable gay Episcopalians on this journey - and there are gifted and valuable conservative Episcopalians along as well. We need us all - we need everyone - as we proceed on our journey toward the destination that God has in mind.

The Grace Point Express

For us in East Tennessee, I want to suggest that God has graciously provided us with a connecting flight out of Atlanta. And that flight - this opportunity to get on with the journey - is the Grace Point Express. I suggest that all of us - all of us - get on board the Grace Point Express as a way to move us onward toward our final destination. We must take seriously the experience of Atlanta. We need to work hard at making better and clearer connections for all travelers on the journey. That task is not completed yet ... a task about which we must continue to engage one another and the Anglican Communion. But we also need to catch a flight out of Atlanta - all of us - and to get on with the journey.

As I hope you know, Grace Point is a wonderful piece of property that the diocese owns. However, its potential - in terms of use and of development - is far from realized yet. The opportunities and possibilities of Grace Point are only limited by our lack of imagination and by a lack of funds.

There are several reasons that I suggest the Grace Point Express for the next leg of our diocesan journey. Each reason is important, and I truly believe that God in His providence has given us this opportunity at this time in history and at this point on our journey.

First, I have mentioned in a previous address that the identity of the Diocese of East Tennessee is a work in process. We are a young diocese, as a separate entity - twenty-two years old at this gathering, in fact. Along those lines, I still feel like a new bishop - sometimes, at least - but this year, God willing, I will become the longest-serving bishop of East Tennessee. As a diocese, then, our identity is developing - partly because we are so young.

Grace Point provides us with a wonderful symbol for our identity as a diocese. Grace Point gives us a reason to support one another mutually in our ministries, as well as the opportunity to provide support to others as well. This is what a diocese does by definition - to live and to work for one another and for others. It is who we are called to be. And Grace Point gives us a means to claim that identity.

Secondly, Grace Point is the place that our diocese gathers as a unit - a kind of living room for all our churches. East Tennessee comes together officially once a year at diocesan convention. However, Grace Point becomes the gathering place at other times during the year - camps in the summer, youth groups and vestries in the winter, educational ministries all during the year, support groups and spiritual enrichment gatherings for retreats, and civic and non-profit organizations for workshops. Indeed, Grace Point is our diocesan living room ... our gathering place. It provides an important place and opportunity to experience unity as the Diocese of East Tennessee. My friends, in this day and time, an opportunity for unity must not - must not - be neglected.

Thirdly and finally - and, in many ways, most importantly - Grace Point has become a means for mission outreach. Growth in this area has been somewhat unexpected - but very, very welcome. Cultures have met on the hospitable grounds of Grace Point - for instance, the Ulster Project, involving Protestant and Roman Catholic teenagers from Northern Ireland; another international camp for young people from overseas; and a gathering of Hispanic families to enjoy the beautiful East Tennessee outdoors. Also, an annual Mountain-to-Mountain camp for youth from Lookout Mountain and Jellico Mountain, our Appalachian neighbors, has resulted in many mutual benefits. In addition, Grace Point provided a welcoming home for several families of Katrina evacuees. Finally, we are examining the possibilities for a camp for youth with special needs. All these examples and others indicate the growing reality of Grace Point as an outpost for mission efforts. And what a wonderful resource it is!

Conclusion

In conclusion, then, we all travel our Christian journeys - journeys that begin at baptism and that call us into the world in mission. The next leg of our diocesan journey - the connecting flight that God has provided for us - is Grace Point. Grace Point means three things for us, at least: a symbol of identity, an opportunity for unity, and a means for mission outreach. Identity, unity, and mission - those characteristics describe a healthy diocesan journey - the journey of baptism into mission, the journey followed under the direction of Gospel imperatives, as we sow seeds and serve needs together. May we be faithful as we take the next steps on our journey of faith as the Diocese of East Tennessee!

And, may God continue to bless us as we travel the Way!

The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

Copyright © 2006 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee