Topics range from the environment and peace in Korea to sexuality and covenant

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] A 44-page document meant to reflect the experience of the bishops who participated in the 2008 Lambeth Conference is filled with many details from the many conversations that took place during the 18-day gathering in Canterbury -- and many important statements about what was discussed.

Perth Archbishop Roger Herft, who chaired the document's writing committee, wrote in the introduction that the end result is a narrative of "our lived experience and the open and honest discussions we have had together."

"This document is not the primary outcome of this conference," he wrote. "Written words can never adequately describe the life-changing nature of our time together. We have gained a deeper appreciation of the worldwide Anglican Communion and of our common calling as disciples of Christ."

The document is available in two formats at www.lambethconference.org/reflections/document.cfm. A one-page official explanatory note about the document's structure is available in two formats at www.lambethconference.org/reflections/document.cfm (and is enclosed with the snail-mail version of e~DUSC).

Read the complete ENS story, including highlights from the bishops' reflections at http://episcopalchurch.org/79901_99774_ENG_HTM.htm.

Reactions to Lambeth Conference span the spectrum

The reactions ranged across the spectrum of opinion, with some urging decisive action in concert with the comments made in the reflections document and some cautioning against making legislation out of a document that is a self-described narrative of the conference.

Noticeably quiet on that day was the Global Anglican Future Conference, which held a June gathering of conservative Anglicans and Episcopalians in Jerusalem. Its silence was noteworthy considering that the absence of the so-called GAFCON bishops is referenced in the introductory section of the reflections document. The full account http://episcopalchurch.org/79901_99775_ENG_HTM.htm..

More Lambeth . . .

Diocesan News

The 86th Diocesan Convention

Business - Celebration - Leadership

October 17 - 18, 2008

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and the adjacent Hilton Hotel will serve as our site for the two days of Mission and Ministry.

Friday, October 17th, will be focused on the business of the Diocese. Elections, the Statement of Mission (SOM), possible resolutions and changes to the Constitution and Canons will be the order of the day. In the evening there will be a grand celebration, complete with the Bishop's Awards recognizing Upper South Carolinians who have made extraordinary contributions to the life and ministry of our diocese.

On Saturday, October 18th, the Bishop invites all those in various leadership areas of our congregations to come and be energized, empowered, and focused to take on the his "four goals for a seamless transition. This will be a time to come together for worship, to share stories of mission and ministry, and learn how each one of our congregations can move forward. Weaving the Story we all share and the stories of our faith communities will be the Rt. Rev. Charles F. Duvall . Throughout the day he will inspire and challenge us to enter into the story, so that in our leaving we will share it with others.

86th Convention deadline looms!

Nominations, proposed resolutions and amendments due to Diocesan House August 15!

All forms are available for download from the diocesan Web site, www.edusc.org. Instructions for submission are printed on the forms.

Nominations, proposed resolutions, and proposed changes to the Constitution and Canons that are NOT RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON AUGUST 15 will not be published in advance of convention and will have to be presented from the convention floor.

New Upper SC Web site to be launched September 2

Our diocesan Web site, www.edusc.org, will have a whole new look come Tuesday, September 2. Designed to reflect the commission structure of the diocese, the new site will offer information and contact e-mails for every Upper SC group and ministry, along with policies, forms, registration venues, links and resources of many kinds. There'll be a church finder that's cutting edge, and a searchable calendar of everything that's going on in our diocese. And, yes, no more dancing menu! We're betting you're gonna love it!

Education for Ministry now enrolling new members

We believe that a gracious God calls us into relationship to serve the world. We invite people into small, mentored communities that help us understand our lives and shape our actions as we deepen our Christian Faith. Through study, prayer, and theological reflection we discover and learn how to exercise our gifts in ministry.

—Proposed mission statement for EfM, an extension program of The University of the South (Sewanee) School of Theology

Registration is beginning for a number of Education for Ministry (EFM) groups around the diocese. To learn more about Education for Ministry access the Sewanee Web site www.sewanee.edu/EfM. Contact Betty Hudgens, diocesan coordinator for EfM at hudgens@trinitysc.org to inquire about groups in this diocese or contact one of the mentors listed below.

Libba Rhoad, St. Alban’s, Lexington. 803.957.5809; Zqueen123@aol.com
Terri Bailey, Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, 803.240.4826; Terri.Bailey@usdoj.gov
Tom Faulkner, Greer, tgf3@charter.net
Mary-Louise O’Day, Clemson; mel@oday.net
The Rev. Sue Perrin, Church of the Advent, Spartanburg; sperrin@churchofadvent.org
Susan Pretulak, St. Matthew’s , Spartanburg; david4614@charter.net
Carl Saalbach, St. Francis, Chapin; carl.saalbach@juno.com
Gibert Kennedy, St. Thaddeus', Aiken; gibert@bellsouth.net
Ann Hayden, Greenwood; alhayd@aol.com
Nancy Wylie, Camden; nwylie@bellsouth.net.

Upper SC's Thom Neal elected president of National Episcopal Cursillo Committee

Neal attended Cursillo #72 in our diocese in 1996, and has staffed several Cursillo weekends since that time, including serving as a lay rector for Cursillo #95. He served on the diocesan Cursillo Council, serving his last year as president. He has also served as treasurer to Council.

On the National level, Neal has attended several Episcopal Cursillo Leader's Workshops (ELCWs), both as a participant and as staff, and has attended several NEC Seminars. He was elected to NECC as the southeast district lay representative in October 2006 and chosen president-elect of the NECC at the quarterly meeting in Georgia in July 2008. I Neal will serve as president-elect beginning October 2008 and will be installed as president in October 2009.

Reflecting on his experience with Cursillo and his new position, Neal said: "Cursillo was a watershed in my Christian walk. It is much more than an organization. It is a way of living my faith. The Cursillo method has given me structure and purpose. It is the hope of the NECC that Cursillo will become a vehicle of reconciliation for the Church."

ECW awards six Bena Dial Scholarships to Upper SC students

Thanks to the generosity of Upper SC’s ECW branches, ECW’s Bena Dial Committee was able to award six Bena Dial scholarships this year. Bena Dial scholars are active Episcopalians who must use the award to attend, as a full-time student, an accredited college, vocational school, or graduate school. Selection criteria are academic and extra curricular school and/or community activities, church activities, and financial need.

This year’s recipients are Catherine McKenna Brandon, St. Michael and All Angels’, Columbia; Anna Grace Fisher, Good Shepherd, Columbia; Emily Ann Helmich, St. Bartholomew's, N. Augusta; Danielle Regoni, St. Margaret’s, Boiling Springs; Roddey Benn Smith, St. John’s, Columbia; and Noah Benjamin Tassie, Christ Church, Greenville.

Catherine “McKenna” Brandon plans to attend Winthrop University in the fall and will pursue a degree in Information Design. She attended Richland Northeast High School where she graduated from the Palmetto Center for the Arts (visual art) Magnet Program and also from Inflolink Technology Magnet Program, a prestigious and rigorous academic magnet.

Outside of school McKenna has contributed local area photographs for the Free Times newspaper in Columbia. She has won numerous art awards, including “outstanding photojournalist” from the USC College of Journalism and Mass Communications Summer Institute (2007). She was selected to exhibit at the Columbia Festival of Art, Sumter Gallery of Art, and the New Hampshire Art Institute High School Drawing Exhibition.

McKenna has been a member of the St. Michael’s Royal School of Church Music since she was five years old. Additionally, at her home church, St. Michael and All Angels', Columbia, she serves as a senior acolyte and Youth Committee leader.

Anna Grace Fisher graduated from Irmo High School and has enrolled at the University of South Carolina where she will be pursuing a dance major. She also was a cellist in the Irmo High School Masterclass Orchestra and participated in the District V Honors Orchestra.

She has been an active parishioner at Good Shepherd, Columbia, participating in the St. Nicholas choir, serving as an acolyte, EYC, and as a Vacation Church School teacher, in addition to participating in diocesan work trips to depressed areas of South Carolina and Appalachia to repair houses for the poor.

Emily Ann Helmich is a graduate of Augusta Preparatory Day School, where she won the class awards in AP Calculus and English IV. She was selected to attend the Georgia Society of CPA’s High School Residency Program at Georgia Southern University, a program for students who are interested in a career in accounting. Also, she was selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, a ten-day high school residency program at Emory University in the summer of 2007. She will attend Wofford College in Spartanburg and major in accounting.

Her church activities have included working in the church nursery, serving as lead acolyte, volunteering during Vacation Bible school and active involvement in the EYC. In the community, Emily has participated in many social service programs, such as the Golden Harvest Food Bank, Goodwill and the Soup Kitchen.

Danielle Regoni, who attends St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, located in Boiling Springs, will use her Bena Dial scholarship during the fall term at Wofford College, where she will be pursuing a degree in biology with a goal toward becoming a pediatric oncologist.

While attending Landrum High School, Danielle received many awards and recognition to include National Honor Society of High School Scholars, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, George W. Bush National Presidential Highest Academic Honors, to name a few. She also was senior class president and valedictorian.

She sets an example for young people in the church by serving as a lector during Sunday worship services, helping with Vacation Bible School, and hosting coffee hour after worship.

Roddey Benn Smith is a graduate of Dreher High School and a member of St. John’s, Columbia.. He plays the guitar and sings in the contemporary music group at St. John’s, sometimes singing duets with his father and also singing solo. Additionally, Roddey is an acolyte team captain, active in EYC and Sunday School.

While a student at Dreher, he participated in the theater, both in school and in the community. He was also a member of the concert and marching bands. Roddey has been active in the Boy Scouts of America, receiving the Eagle Scout, Bronze Palm, and Order of the Arrow awards.

While attending classes at Furman, Roddey plans to study engineering and music, and he will also participate in theatre. His interest in space and aeronautics, he hopes, will lead him to his goal, which is to become an aerospace engineer who designs and tests airplanes.

Noah Benjamin Tassie of Christ Church, Greenville, will be attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will study music engineering. He is already completely immersed in music, playing the drums and running the sound board for contemporary Sunday services at Christ Church. Also, Noah is active in the Greenville County Fine Arts Center.

In addition to his involvement in music, Noah is interested in ancient Greek, the Bible, and mission work. His senior thesis topic at Christ Church Episcopal School focused on AIDS in Africa.

Safe arrival in Haiti

Christ Church parishioner Jackie Williams oversees the Artisan Center, part of out diocesan ministry at Cange, Haiti, and spends most of her time there.

The container packed in Greenville in May, filled with supplies for our ministry in Cange, Haiti, and environs, has finally arrived. Hearty thanks to the following stalwark workers who packed all this up: From Holy Trinity, Clemson, Dr. Beth Kunkel, Kevin Hughes, Cheslely Rowe, Peter Sparks; from Christ Church, Greenville, Ian and Jane Clark, Reg and John Brooker, Ghislaine and Breck Warne, Don and Judy Lineback; from Christ Church, Presbyterian, Anderson: Richard, Marcia, Colby, Caleb, Caitlin and Linnea Cash.

Still Hopes certified nursing assistant remembers her childhood and finds ways to help others

Amy Mauseth was an abused child growing up in California. She was young and her voice was so small, that she was not heard. After enduring years of abuse, she was finally placed in a foster home and found some relief. However, the home was only temporary and soon she found herself going through a series of returns to her parents or to another foster home. “I remember having to leave one place or another on a moment’s notice with nothing but fear to accompany me,” stated Amy. “I needed comfort and reassurance that I would be safe. I needed compassion and understanding.”

The idea for stuffed animals for children forced into uncertain and scary circumstances was born out of Amy’s own experiences. “I remember how scared I was and even today I see children being taken away into protection and see the looks on those young faces,” said Amy. “If I had been given something of comfort, like a soft, stuffed animal, I believe that would have given me some reassurance that I would be safe. Just to bury my face in something without confrontation and fear would have helped me through those uncertain times,” remembers Amy.

With Amy’s desire to help others who are in crisis and with the help of the employees at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community, 1,000 stuffed animals were donated to the Lexington County Protective Services. Members of the West Columbia and Lexington Public Safety Departments went to Still Hopes to receive the gifts for the children who will be given these stuffed animals. “I want to thank the Still Hopes’ employees for their donations and if we have helped the lives of children, I have accomplished my goal,” stated Amy.

Today Amy is the mother of 4 boys, who keep her busy, in addition to her work as a certified nursing assistant at Still Hopes. Thank you, Amy.

Upcoming Events

Safe Church training at three locations in August

The following churches are sponsoring Safe Church training during the month of August: Grace Church, Camden, August 23 (803.432.7621); Holy Trinity, Clemson, August 24, at 1 p.m. (864.654.5071); and St. John's, Columbia, August 26, at 5:45 p.m. (803.799.4767). Please contact the churches for additional information.

Visit www.edusc.org/ChristianFormation/SafeChurchChart.pdf to see who needs Safe Church training.

Last in St. Timothy’s, Columbia, 2008 summer music series coming up August 12

The last concert in the summer music series at St. Timothy's, Columbia, is coming up August 12, featuring “The Three Baritones,”
Marc Rattray, Jacob Will, and Hal MacIntosh.

The concerts is approximately 30 minutes in length and begins at 12 noon in the sanctuary. Box lunches are available for $7.50 by calling to make a reservation. Reservations must be made by the the Monday morning before the concert.

For questions or to make reservations, please contact, St. Timothy’s Episcopal, 803.414.7803. St. Timothy's Church is located in the heart of downtown Columbia behind the governor's mansion at 900 Calhoun St . Columbia , SC 29201.

St. John's, Columbia, to sponsor bone marrow/blood drive, August 17

St. John's, Columbia, is sponsoring a bone marrow/blood drive in honor of St. John's parishioner, Dr. Press Jones, August 17, from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m, in the Barr Center at the church.

If you could give the gift of Life to someone, would you? Wouldn't we all say, "YES"? This is your chance to do that. Press Jones is undergoing treatment for acute leukemia and will eventually need a bone marrow transplant. Please open your heart—come and be tested for bone marrow donation (mouth swabbing) and/or donate blood for him and others who desperately need your help. And, as an added bonus, you can enjoy a free barbecue lunch cooked by Jim Quinn and others. In our Baptismal Covenant we say that we will seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Won't you take advantage of this opportunity to do that? For more information contact Jim Wheeler, jwheeler7@sc.rr.com, or call the church, 803.799.4767.

St. Michael's, Easley, consignment sale scheduled for August 22, 23

Twice a year for the past several years St Michael's, Easley, has sponsored a children's consignment sale to benefit outreach in the community. The fall sale at St. Michael's will take place this year on August 22 and 23. Consigners please contact Shannon Keyes (864.442.6505) or Anne Martin (864.859.2407 as soon as possible.

For details about the sale, contact the church at 1200 Powdersville Road in Easley, 864.859.6296.

St. Thaddeus', Aiken, presents "Contemporary Music Within Traditional Churches" workshop, August 30

St. Thaddeus' Episcopal Church of Aiken is honored to sponsor a musicians' workshop entitled "Contemporary Music for Traditional Churches" that will feature Robin Mark. This workshop is designed for church musicians (1) who want to begin to include contemporary Christian music in their existing services, (2) those who want to begin a contemporary music service, and (3) those who already use contemporary music within a traditional church setting.

Robin Mark is an Irish singer and song writer from Belfast whose worship and praise songs are often sung in traditional and contemporary churches. Some of his most famous songs include "Days of Elijah," "In the Beauty of Holiness," and "Take Us to the River." He has published 13 albums and has won many awards in the UK, Canada, and the United States. Those who have been to Cursillo are very familiar with his songs.

The date of the workshop is August 30, 2008, and it will be held at St. Thaddeus', Aiken. Please forward this information to anyone interested in attending this exciting and timely workshop. Please contact Gregory MacDougall with any questions at macdou_g@earthlink.net or 803.646.3948.

DOK annual diocesan business meeting, September 13, St. Bart's, N. Augusta

The Daughters of the King Diocesan Annual Business Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 13, at St. Bartholomew's, N. Augusta. Registration begins at 8:30a.m., the business meeting at 9.

Following the business meeting, there will be workshop, "Designing Prayer Cards." Lunch will be served and the guest speaker is Sister Carol Andrew from the Convent of St. Helena. The cost for the day is $12.00.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 10, 803.279.4622, ext 307.

Next diocesan Continuing Ed Training Day is October 4

The next Continuing Ed Training Day will be October 4, 2008, at St. Christopher's, Spartanburg, and St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia. The registration form is available at www.edusc.org/ChristianFormation/ContinuingEdDayRegistrationForm100408.pdf.

The following courses will be offered, but must have at least 6 participants per workshop. Workshops may be cancelled because of low registrations.

Worship Leader Basic

Worship Leader Continuing Education

Eucharistic Visitor Basic

Eucharistic visitor Continuing Education

Safe Church Training

Race Relations Training

Contact Roslyn Hook (rhook@edusc.org; 803.771.7800, ext. 20) with questions.

Cursillo weekend coming October 23-26

The dates for the upcoming October Cursillo are October 23rd-26th (this is the weekend following the Diocesan Convention). Lisa Koehler, Christ Church, Greenville, is the lay rector for the weekend. The deadline for candidate registration is Wednesday, September 22, 2008. Please visit the Cursillo pages )www.edusc.org/Cursillo/ ) of the diocesan Web site for application forms.

Lutheran Theological Seminary to offer Career Crossroads seminar, September 12-14

Are you or is someone you know going through a career crisis? Many people are unhappy in their vocation and don't know how to find the work that fits their gifts and mission in life. Career Crossroads is a spiritual retreat which will help such people.

For more information, please contact Sandra Holland, associate director for ministry, at 803.461.3263 or sandrah@ltss.edu . Download the seminar brochure at www.edusc.org/e-DUSCNewsletter/060508/Images/Brochure.pdf.

“Moving toward Wholeness Conference,” October 16-19 in Browns Summit, NC

Episcopal priest the Very Rev. J. Pittman McGehee will be a featured speaker

Episcopal priest the Very Rev. J. Pittman McGehee, D.D., who served for 11 years as dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, will be one of the featured presenters at the "Moving Toward Wholeness" conference to be held at The Summit Conference Center in Browns Summit, North Carolina, October 16-19, 2008.

The conference will focus on the dialogue between the psychology of Carl Jung and the spiritual experiences at the heart of Christianity and other faiths through lectures, workshops, morning Eucharist, dialogue, special events and periods of solitude. McGehee will explore the relation between love and power as we approach the Fall 2008 elections.

In 1991, he became the director of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychology and Spirituality. A Jungian analyst and distinguished lecturer and speaker in the fields of psychology and religion, he is also an author, book reviewer and an award-winning published poet.

Along with McGehee, two other Jungian analysts will be offering featured presentations. There will be 16 workshops led by Jungian analysts and other highly qualified professionals. Register as soon as possible to receive the best discount.

For more information, visit www.journeyconferences.com.

Clergy News

Calendar

September 2	Launch of the new and enhanced www.edusc.org Reedy River Clericus, 12:30 PM, Redeemer, Greenville
September 14	Piedmont Convocation meeting, , 2 PM, St. Christopher's Midlands Convocation meeting, 3 PM, St. Mary's
September 15-17	Fall Clergy Conference
September 21	Catawba Convocation meeting, 3 PM, Christ Church, Lancaster
September 28	Gravatt Convocation meeting, 2:30 PM, Our Saviour, Trenton
October 4	Continuing Education Day
October 5	Reedy River Convocation, 2 PM, Redeemer, Greenville
October 7	Reedy River clericus, 12:30 PM, Redeemer, Greenville
October 15	Deans & lay wardens quarterly meeting
October 17	86th Diocesan Convention business session
October 18	86th Diocesan Convention—Leadership Conference
October 20	Diocesan House closed
November 2	Day of Prayer for Peace
November 4	Reedy River clericus, 12:30 PM, Redeemer, Greenville
November 12-14	Bishop Henderson's Midlands Residency
December 2	Reedy River clericus, 12:30 PM, Redeemer, Greenville
December 11	New rector / vicar orientation

In the Moment—One Pilgrim's Attempt to Be Present

By Amy Sander Montanez, D. Min.

Amy Sander Montanez is a writer, teacher, therapist, retreat leader, and spiritual director who attends Trinity Cathedral, Columbia. She is the winner of two 2008 Polly Bond Awards for Devotional / Inspirational Writing from Episcopal Communicators You can access an archive with her award-winning reflections on the diocesan Web site at www.edusc.org/ArchiveElectronic/.

The National Cathedral

“I don’t want to leave this place.”

This was the mantra I heard repeatedly as we were piling our luggage in the foyer, awaiting various taxis and shuttles to the local airports. It had been quite a week for those of us at the writer’s conference.

For a week I lived on the grounds of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, in the Cathedral College. The building that is the College is just plain fun. It has the appearance of a small castle, complete with a dining room that, on a smaller scale, resembles the one in the Harry Potter movies: long tables, high back chairs, dark wood, a large stained-glass window at the front, wrought-iron chandeliers. There are hallways and staircases that meander, chapels that are tucked away at the end of corridors, an ancient and creaky elevator, a large and dark library, and a beautiful center meditation garden that someone’s grandchild referred to as her “secret garden.”

The grounds of the National Cathedral are noteworthy. Fifty-nine acres house not only a cathedral that rivals in size and beauty most I’ve visited in Europe, but also the college, two schools, many gardens, beautiful walking paths, several tennis courts, a few cottages, and an underground parking garage. Just stepping out every morning gave me pause, caused me to take a deep breath and appreciate the majesty of this place and the amount of resources it must take to support it.

But that alone was not why I was feeling hesitant about leaving. I had a week of having lots of time to delve into something I love to do. I had few distractions. No phone or Internet in my room. No television. No meals to prepare, no laundry to do, no bills to pay or work to attend to. I had lots of silent time because beginning immediately after breakfast, the entire morning was allotted to writing. The college was quiet during this time, almost silent. Writers were holed up in their rooms or in quiet corners of the library, in the meditation garden or at tables in the dining room. When I needed a break, I walked around the building, got a bottle of water, and started over again. Having a contained space for the purpose of attending to this art was such a blessing.

In the afternoons I spent two hours in a small, pre-assigned group with a phenomenal leader and best-selling author, Nora Gallagher. In this group we received a mini-lecture and then we read and critiqued each others’ manuscripts. My group was a lovely mish-mash of people. Although all Caucasian, we differed in many other ways: two men, eight women, one Canadian, the rest Americans, East Coasters, West Coasters, a few Mid-Westerners, two laypeople, eight clergy, four Episcopalians, one Anglican, two Lutherans, three UCCs, two gay, seven straight, some in their forties, a few in their fifties, a few more in their sixties, a couple I couldn’t place in time!

Because the kind of writing I do is so personal, when I share a piece of writing I am sharing a piece of myself. I felt cared for even in the midst of difficult conversation and critique, I think because people were honest and authentic. We were all there for the same reason: to improve our writing. My group members were bright, intuitive, perceptive, and articulate. They helped me ask myself some very important questions and they helped me sink deeper into my truths. I hope I did the same for them. Some precious and vulnerable times were shared. For me, it was intellectually stimulating as well as spiritually and psychologically challenging.

The morning I was preparing to leave I walked over to the cathedral to spend some time in prayer. Where the night before I had walked the labyrinth and sat in meditation, the next day there was a rehearsal in progress for the consecration of the new bishop of Maryland: full orchestra, 200-voice children’s choir, and scripture put to music. Sitting there soaking up the music, I had time to marvel at the stained-glass windows, the architecture, the sculpture, and the art.

Although I worked hard and I wouldn’t consider this a vacation or a leisure activity, I did come home feeling invigorated and refreshed. I was reminded of the prayer said at the end of the service of baptism. “Sustain her, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give her an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love You, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.” Allowing myself the time to develop a skill or a gift, I am in essence saying “yes” to God. Yes, I believe you will sustain me. Yes, I can trust my heart to know the truth. Yes, with your help I can persevere. Yes, your works bring me joy and wonder.

©Amy Sander Montanez, D.Min.

National & World News

Lengthy reflections document called 'narrative' of Lambeth experience