In the face of an international H1N1 flu pandemic and the approach of the regular influenza season, Episcopal Relief & Development is continuing to monitor the public health situation.

According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a new study estimates that the recent outbreak of H1N1 (also known as swine flu) infected more than one million Americans, including 800,000 in New York City.

“Although national and local health officials will take the lead in responding to a pandemic, faith-based and community-based organizations will also have an important role,” said Abagail Nelson, Episcopal Relief & Development’s Senior Vice President for Programs.

“Through our national church networks, we can help ensure that those affected by a health emergency will receive the physical, emotional, and spiritual support they need.”

On June 11, the World Health Organization stated that a worldwide H1N1 pandemic is underway. WHO estimates that due to lack of immunity against the new virus, one-third of the global population will become infected with H1N1—far higher than the typical seasonal flu infection rate of 5% to 20%.

Episcopal Relief & Development is maintaining regular contact with national and local public health officials. “Our U.S. disaster relief staff are staying up to date on the public health situation and we are poised to respond,” Nelson said.

“We also are connected with other emergency response agencies through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters. This collaboration will enable us to most effectively serve Episcopalians and other communities in the face of a pandemic.”

Information on preparing for potential H1N1 and other influenza outbreaks is available on the Episcopal Relief & Development website.  The site links to examples of preparedness plans and provides resources that can help faith-based and other organizations continue operating effectively and provide support to communities affected by a health crisis.

For more information, visit www.er-d.org/PlanningforPandemicInfluenza/.To support Episcopal Relief & Development’s domestic disaster programs, please make an online donation to the Disaster Response Fund at https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php, or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can also be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

 

 

Diocesan News

Celebrating Bishop Henderson, Celebrating Lives Changed—87th Diocesan Convention registration now online

Come one, come all to the celebrations, Friday & Friday evening, October 16, and Saturday, October 17 at the Palmetto First Center, Greenville—
choose one, two, or all three events!

childcare available (with a reservation) friday evening and saturday

REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE at www.edusc.org/Celebration, or contact Julie Price, 803.771.7800, ext. 23

October 16-17, 2009
Carolina First Center, Greenville SC
Hosted by St. Andrew’s, St. James’, St. Peter’s, Greenville

Register by Sept. 25 & win this painting by Roger Hutchison!!

"Convergence"

"Convergence," by Roger Hutchison.  In the artist's words: "'convergence-- the act of moving toward union."' This is my dream for who we are as a diocese and who we are as a church. The church will be coming together to celebrate the ministry of Bishop Henderson...and we come together to look to the future - together. There are big squares...and little squares...big churches and little churches...and they are moving to the center of the painting...forming the shape of a cross. The painting is full of layers, textures, and many colors...just like the church. The colors I chose reflect the church year...I also spiced it up with copper and gold. "

"Convergence" measures 30X30 and is acrylic on canvas.

---

Our bishop is retiring at the end of the calendar year, so we're planning a very special celebration of his ministry on Friday, October 16, following the business day of our annual Diocesan Convention. Highlights of evening will be a gala dinner beginning at 6:30 and topped off by an “episcopal roast" (with emcee The Rev.  Mike Flanagan) – including great surprises.  

Saturday, October 17 will be a day of inspiring worship with The Very Rev.  Michael Kinman as our preacher and our bishop as our celebrant.  Choir members from around the diocese are encouraged to join the mass choir.  Congregations are asked to bring and process their banners.  In the midst of our liturgy, there will be hands-on workshops and programs for all ages, with amazing and gifted presenters from right here at home and from far away.

The more events you register for, the greater your discount.  Those who register for two or more events, and by September 25, are eligible to win an original painting by award-winning Upper SC artist Roger Hutchison.

There will even be free childcare, with a reservation 803.881.7800, ext. 19), for the very youngest on Friday evening and all day Saturday, with reservations. All Upper South Carolinians are invited to participate.

 

 

Mass choir forming for Diocesan Convention

Calling all Music Directors of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina!

You and members of your Adult Choirs are invited to join a Mass Choir, which will be a part of our celebration at Diocesan Convention of the ministry of The Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr. and the life of this diocese over the last 15 years. The music will be uplifting, yet very accessible for choirs of all levels. There is the possibility of one anthem that will take a small amount of preparation.

Diocesan Convention is being held in Greenville SC at the Carolina First Center on Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17. The business of the diocese will be conducted in the day on Friday and that evening will be a special banquet honoring our bishop. On Saturday, October 17, the Mass Choir will be leading our Celebration Eucharist, beginning with the Liturgy of the Word in the morning and concluding with the Liturgy of the Table in the afternoon. In-between the two will be a variety of formational workshops and lunch. All participants in the day will need to be pre-registered, www.edusc.org/Celebration.

On Saturday, registration begins at 8:30am and the day's festivities conclude at 4pm. The choir will need to be present at the very beginning of the day to work out the logistics of seating and procession. All choir members will be able to take one of the many workshops offered for the first session; however, there will be a choir rehearsal during the second workshop session. Our Choir Director for the day will be Canon Jared Johnson of Trinity Cathedral, Columbia!

If you and any choir members are interested in joining us, please email Laura Rosier at laurar23@earthlink.net, or call 803.360.3536. We will need the name and voice part (SATB) of all choir participants to plan for seating and logistics. Details about hymns, service music, and an anthem will follow shortly. Please plan to bring your vestments and a black anthem folder. All music from the Hymnal will be printed in our bulletin, but you may bring your personal copies of The Hymnal 1982.

If you have questions about the music for this event, please contact Laura Rosier at the above email or phone number!

We look forward to singing and celebrating with you,

Laura E. Rosier
Director of Music
St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church
6408 Bridgewood Rd.
Columbia SC 29206

 

Bishop search update

October 16: Nominees announced

November 21: Walk-About, St. John's, Columbia

November 22: Walk-About, Christ Church, Greenville

December 12: Election

The Search Committee continues to make good progress in the discernment of nominees to present to Diocesan Convention as candidates for bishop! The weekends of August 29-30 and September 12-13, teams of three visited each of the nine nominees. Each team interviewed the nominee, senior warden and/or other parish leaders, members of the congregation, and other local clergy and/or community leaders; toured the church and facilities; had dinner with the nominee and spouse; and attended worship on Sunday at which the nominee celebrated the Eucharist and preached.

Members of the Search Committee are attending convocation meetings to provide education about the process and the election to both clergy and lay delegates.

On September 29-30 and October 5-6, the nine nominees will meet with the entire Search Committee in Charlotte, NC, a location selected due to ease of access for those who must fly. Four of the nominees will attend the first meeting and the remaining five will attend the second meeting.

On October 10, the Search Committee will meet to select the final four to six individuals who will be presented as candidates for bishop on October 16 at our Diocesan Convention. At that time, information about the candidates will be posted to our website to provide information about them to everyone in the diocese.

Two Walk-Abouts are scheduled for the weekend of November 21-22. The Walk-Abouts are designed to allow voting delegates to the electing convention, clergy, and other interested persons to meet the candidates and ask them questions. On November 21, the Walk-About will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia. On the afternoon of November 22, the Walk-About will be held at Christ Church in Greenville. For more details, please click on “transition committee” in the left sidebar of the website home page.

Diocesan Convention will be reconvened on December 12 at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia for the election. The consecration is scheduled to take place on May 22, 2010. We encourage you to follow the process on our website at www.bishopsearch.edusc.org.  

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Aiken, welcomes new vicar

On Wednesday, September 9, Bishop Henderson installed the Rev. Leslie Drake as the third vicar of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Aiken.

Fr. Drake comes to Upper South Carolina after having served for 25 years in the Church of England Dioceses of London and Southwark . His first celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. Augustine's was celebrated the Eucharist for the first time at St Augustine’s on The Feast of the Ascension, Thursday, May 21.

 

Celebration of new ministry at St. Thaddeus', Aiken, October 1

he Right Reverend Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr.,  Bishop of Upper South Carolina, will institute The Reverend Grant Buchanan Wiseman as the 18th Rector of St. Thaddeus', Aiken, South Carolina, on Thursday, the 1st of October, Two Thousand and Nine, The feast of Remigius, at 7:00 pm. Reception will follow. Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy: White stoles

 

 

Haiti World Mission update

The water system is running on borrowed time—Your contribution to the Gifts of Bread & Water Campaign can help

It all depends on this . . .

Thirty years ago Upper SC decided to focus our world mission efforts on a small village, Cange, in the poorest part of Haiti, the poorest of the developing countries in this hemisphere. This long-term commitment, plus partnership with such groups as Partners in Health of Boston, has helped to make our efforts enormously successful, resulting in a hospital that serves as a model for other such efforts world wide, an eye clinic, a dental office, a school and a church.

All of our efforts have been built on the foundation of a water system that was our first project in Cange. In late spring a crisis was barely averted when the pump that pumps water to the village failed. Were it not for the grace of God and the expertise and willingness of a Greenville engineer who was willing to drop everything and fly to Haiti to install a new pump, we could have had a major humanitarian crisis. Fortunately a crisis was averted this time—barely.

If the dam fails or the rest or the system, which is composed of miles of 25-year-old pipe, fails, we will not be so fortunate. The system was built when the village had 800 people. It now has 8000 people. Even when the system works at its best, it averages only 4-5 gallons of water per person per day. The World Heath Organization classifies any system with less than 5 gallons per day per person to be at crisis level. To put this in perspective, the average American is estimated to use 30 gallons per day.

Our Diocese has initiated the Gifts of Bread & Water capital funds drive to raise the necessary funds to rebuild the water system and additionally to build a production facility to manufacture nutritional products to help alleviate the critical health problems associated with malnutrition, which plagues Haitian children.

Please make your checks to the Gifts of Bread and Water and send them to the Diocesan House in care of Julie Price. If you want to learn more about this critical humanitarian effort, please contact Earl Burch, Chair of the Gifts of Bread and Water. 864.639.4918, eburch@innova.net. He can provide you with information, pledge cards or arrange for a speaker to visit your church or civic organization.

Donate to Gravatt—now it's as easy as shopping online!

www.goodsearch.com

What if Gravatt earned a donation every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to Gravatt? Well, now it can!

Gravatt is now a member of GoodSearch.com, a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and the donations will add up. There is no cost to you to participate. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Gravatt Camp and Conference Center as the charity you want to support. And be sure to spread the word. Thanks!

Upcoming Events

ECW Regional Meetings coming up, September 26, October 3

All women are are cordially invited to attend the diocesan ECW annual Regional Meetings to be held Saturday, September 26,, at Holy Cross, Simpsonville and Saturday, October 3, at St. Simon and St. Jude, Irmo. We will be emphasizing the Mission Opportunities at these meetings. We will have speakers from each of our Mission Projects: The Bread and Water Project in Cange, Haiti; the ECW Jericho Road House in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Chapel of the Transfiguration at the Bishop Gravatt Center.

We will also have the opportunity to hear a report about the 46th Triennial Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women and the Church Periodical Club Triennial, held in July in Anaheim, California.

You are welcome at either meeting. Please pick the one that suits you best by date or location. Registration, questions/comments: Please contact Cai Armstrong, Registrar, at cevarmst@sc.rr.com or 803-261-6861 (leave message) or 803-749-9216 (evenings)or Phyllis Webb, Diocesan ECW President, stphwebb@bellsouth.net.

The schedule will be as follows:

9:00 - 9:30 AM Registration with Coffee & Breakfast Goodies
9:30 – 11:30 AM Business Meeting (short);
Triennial Report;
Mission Program
11:45 AM Holy Eucharist
12:45 PM Lunch

 The ECW Diocesan Board looks forward to seeing and being with you!

An Autumn Refresher: A Day of Yoga, Reflection and Healing Insight, September 26

Time out for "An Autumn Refresher: A Day of Yoga, Reflection and Healing Insight,"  with Maxine Deutschendorf and Amy Sander Montanez,  Saturday, September 26,  from 9:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Columbia.

What would it feel like to spend a day exploring what nurtures you and what is healing for you? And if you cold enrich your spiritual and psychological journey by spending a day discovering how to care for your body and your mind, would you give yourself that gift?

Come join us for a day of yoga and experiential psycho-therapeutic exercises that are designed to do just that. We will be focusing on yoga and exercises that address the causes of anxiety and depression and that provide ways of shifting those emotions.

Lunch is provided and a breakfast snack will be available. Cost: $130 or $120 if you register with a friend. $75 for seminary staff or students.

Please call 803.254.5650 x 201 for more information or to register. You can e-mail amymontanezdmin@bellsouth.net as well. A full brochure is available at www.amysandermontanez.com.

CADRE presents program on Native American foods used in healing, September 27

Columbia Area Dialog on Religious Exploration (CADRE) will present a program investigating the thousands of years of traditions of Native American Indian goods and plants in healing of the people. It will also look at the role of the medicinal health practitioner (Medicine Man or Medicine Woman) in tribes in ancient times and in contemporary times.

Guest wpeaker Dr. Will Goins is a descendant of the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians and Chief of the Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina. He is a folklorist, cultural presenter, storyteller, chanter-singer, dancer, artist, educator, and arts administrator. He has Bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Anthropology and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

Please join us, as we explore one aspect of Native American life, Sunday, September 27th, 2:00, at St. Simon St. Jude Episcopal Church, 1110 Kinley Rd., Irmo, SC. For more information contact Ann Bright, afbright@gmail.com.

Women's self-defense course to be offered at Good Shepherd, Columbia, September 19

The Richland County Sheriff's Department offers a women's self-defense course free of charge to the public. This is a crime prevention program that utilizes techniques specifically designed for women to reduce the likelihood of victimization. This program empowers women to recognize their strengths and make sound decisions when faced with potentially dangerous situations.

A class is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1512 Blanding Street, Columbia. For more information, please contact Joyce Fauntleroy, 803.749.9853. All are welcome! Bring a friend.

Holy Cross, Simpsonville, pumpkin sales to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Come purchase your pumpkins to Benefit Habitat for Humanity at the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch daily during October. The patch is located on Main Street, Simpsonville, one block south of the Clock Tower by Vaughan's Feed & Seed Market.

This is the fourth year that Holy Cross is selling pumpkins during the month of October. Funds raised are used strictly for the outreach ministries we support. The primary ministry is Habitat for Humanity. Last year's sales totaled more than $30,000.

"Honoring the Creator Retreat" at Gravatt, October 18-23

Gravatt Camp and Conference Center provides the ideal environment to renew, reflect and create at the Honoring the Creator Retreat, Sunday, October 18 through Friday October 23.. Participants will choose a primary area of interest while simultaneously exploring ways to connect with the creative spirit given to each of us by the greatest Creator of all.

Three tracks—watercolor, clay, and photography—will be taught by professional artists and participants will choose one of these areas to study for the weeklong event. Additionally, participants can choose to attend sessions incorporating experiential art activities exploring ways to increase connection with God and the creative spirit that lives in each of us.

Instructors include Robin Smith (photography), Paula Bowers (watercolor), Cookie Richardson and Paul Moore (clay), and Mary How and Holly Rankin Zaher (creative exploration)). The Rev. Janet Tarbox will serve as chaplain for the retreat.

Registration information is now available, and can be found on the Gravatt website or by calling the Gravatt office, 803.648.1817, for a brochure. Brochures are also being sent to all churches in the Upper SC, so check your information center.

Mark your calendar for Spring Break Camp at Gravatt

Looking for an exciting spring break opportunity? How about a week at Camp Gravatt? More info to come, but mark your calendar for April 5 - 10 (coincides with spring break for Richland County, SC as well as many others). This camp session is available for 5th through 9th graders. Cost will be $350. Sign up for spring break camp, and receive a discount on summer camp fees!

Home Works one-day blitz coming up October 24

Home Works of America will sponsor a one-day blitz on October 24 in the Greater Columbia area.

Teen and adult volunteers needed to make repairs to the homes of the elderly and disadvantaged in the Greater Columbia area. Repairs will be made to 35 homes! No skill level is required; your mere presence conveys hope.

Two planning meetings for Greater Columbia Blitz are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Benedict-Allen Community Development Center, 2001 Two Notch Road on Thursday, October 1, and Thursday, October 8 (pizza and soda will be served)

For more information or to help in any manner call Hank Chardos 803.781.4536; or e-mail H.Chardos@homeworksusa.net.

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Lay School of Religion begins October 6

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Lay School of Religion begins October 6, and runs for four weeks, with meetings on October 13, 20, and 27.

Dinner, 6:00 p.m., devotions 6:45 p.m, classes 7:00-8:30 p.m. Class Registration: $40; meal reservation $36 for 4 weeks (advance reservation required).

The following classes will be offered: "Those Who Have Ears to Hear: Preaching as a Ministry of the Whole Congregation," The Rev. Shauna K. Hannan, Assistant Professor of Homiletics, LTSS; "Scaling the Alps of Acts (Part 2),"  The Rev. Dr. Charles P. Sigel, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, LTSS; "Christian Education Today (Part 2)," The Rev. Dr. James Thomas, Associate Professor of Church and Ministry, Director of African American Ministries, LTSS.

FTE 2009 Calling Congregations Conference in Atlanta, October 8-10

An uncertain economy is fueling concern about almost everything—from unemployment to homelessness to faith in the future. Increasingly, local congregations find themselves at the forefront of caring for individuals, families and entire communities.

 In turn, churches are relying on competence and compassion from gifted pastors who can lead in both difficult and good times. People who care about the impact of pastoral leaders and the need to identify talented young people to serve congregations in the future will have an opportunity to make a difference at the 2009 Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Calling Congregations Conference. The open-registration, ecumenical gathering will take place October 8-10 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta.

The conference focuses on the role of pastors, educators, church staff and lay leaders in cultivating and supporting young adults with leadership gifts for ministry. Anyone with an interest in developing future church leaders is welcome.  Theologian and author Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, is a keynote speaker, together with Judy Fentress Williams, associate professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary.

 For more information about the FTE 2009 Calling Congregations Conference, visit www.callingcongregations.org/conference.

"Faith and Science: Breaking the Barriers" at Kanuga October 19-22

Must science and faith be adversaries? Can they be complementary and respectful partners in the search for answers to some of humanity's most important questions? Theologians, scientists, doctors and other brilliant minds will join the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, to lead discussions on "Faith and Science: Breaking the Barriers" at Kanuga's third annual Lansing Lee Conference October 19-22.

A former oceanographer, Jefferts Schori will share her unique perspective on the interplay between heaven and earth. Workshops will explore the deep connections of faith and environmental sustainability, wellness and nutrition, end of life, water rights and cosmology. Workshop leaders include physician Dr. John W. Simmons of Spartanburg,  biomedical ethics professor Dr. Jeffery P. Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee, water rights attorney Martha Franks of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and physician and Episcopal priest the Rev. Dr. William J. Watson of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The Rev. Martha Horne, former dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary, is coordinating the conference. For more information, visit www.kanuga.org or call 828.692.9136.

Fall icon writing workshops at Kanuga in September and November

Create a Byzantine-style icon using paint and prayer during two Icon Writing workshops held September 27-October 3 and November 14-20 at Kanuga Conferences.

“Icon writing is a creative experience that asks for an openness to God,” said instructor Teresa Harrison, who has taught icon writing workshops across the country for eight years. “The art aspect is really secondary to the spirituality of this experience. During our six days of creating we are given a unique chance to give our total attention to creating, loving and living in harmony with creation and with God. The beautiful icon at the end of our time together is a window to heaven, a tool for prayer and a reminder of the transformative power of living open to the Spirit.”

Participants will choose their subjects from a collection of ancient Christian icons. Icons will be written in Jo Sonia acrylic paint and gold leaf, a medium that most closely resembles the traditional egg tempera. Special care is taken during each workshop to render icons in a transformative experience open to all participants regardless of their faith or artistic skill levels. Each retreat will include the Eucharist, Gregorian chant, praying with icons, readings and silence as well as lively group conversation, free time and social hours. All necessary art materials are provided. To allow for individual instruction, each workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Registration is open for both the September 27-October 3 session titled “Sacred Images” and the November 14-20 retreat titled “A Glimpse of the Kingdom.” For more information, visit www.kanuga.org or call 828.692.9136.

Connections Conference coming November 21-22

The Connections Conference sponsored by the Christian Formation Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia will take place at the Honey Creek Camp and Conference Center, Waverly, Georgia, November 20-22.  The theme is “Creating an Inner Foundation for Outer Work,” and presenters are Sisters Linda Elston and Sophia Woods, Episcopal Order of St Helena, Augusta, and Dianna Deaderick, who is a postulant to the diaconate in our diocese.

All Christians hope to grow into the full stature of Christ. By serving the Church we grow in Christ like trees in bloom, but growth is not only what we see from the ground up. This weekend we will be looking at what makes our roots flourish. Using and expanding on the work of Episcopal priest Cynthia Bourgeualt in her book The Wisdom Jesus, we’ll look at ancient practices, fresh approaches to scripture, liturgy and the body, fertilizing the foundations of our ministry and our being. For more information or reservations, contact Honey Creek 912.265.6463.

Tour of the Holy Land departing March, 2010

The Reverend Harold Morgan, Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Clinton, and The Reverend Elizabeth Morgan, Rector of St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Newberry, will be hosting a group on a tour of the Holy Land and Jordan which will depart on March 1, 2010.

The purpose of this tour will be to experience the major Christian pilgrimage sites: Jerusalem, Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Masada, and Petra among many others. The tour includes round trip transportation form New York, quality hotels, sightseeing with English-speaking guides, lectures, most meals, and much more. For the enjoyment of the travelers, all arrangements will be made in advance.

However, there will also be ample leisure time to pursue personal interests, learn, relax and shop. Mark you calendar and join this wonderful opportunity to travel the Holy Land with your Bible. For further information, contact the Morgans at 204 Derby Lane, Clinton, SC 29325 or call 864.923.2033 or 864.938.6693 or e-mail allsaintsclinton@earthlink.net.

St. James Pilgrimage to Ireland, Wales & England June 7-17, 2010

Deposit deadline is October 15

The pilgrimage, called Walking Through Thin Places, will take place June 7-17, 2010, and will include eleven days (nine nights) exploring the Celtic treasures in such places as Dublin, Kildare, Glendalough, Tenby, Oxford, and Salisbury.

We will begin our pilgrimage at Newgrange, a megalithic burial chamber, and end it at Stonehenge, the possible site of Druidic sun worship. In between we will see sites associated with Saint Brigid, Saint David, Saint Kevin, and Saint Patrick. We will visit museums, cathedrals, holy wells, and a medieval walled city. You can find more information on the Center’s website, www.saintjamescenter.org, or contact St. James', 864.244.6358.

Clergy News

Request for Godly Play materials

St. Christopher's, Spartanburg will be using the Godly Play curriculum this year and need your help with the story pieces. We have the curriculum, experienced teachers but need to make the investment in the stories over a period of time.

In the mean time, if your church has some of the pieces and are not using them this year, we would love to borrow them. Consider them in good hands. They will be in the hands of experienced teachers and young children who yearn to hear the stories of God's activity in the world. Please contact Raiford Collins, 803.603.1636, if you can help.

 

 

PLEASE update church mailing lists!

All churches will have received a letter from Trevett's mailing service asking for current member rosters for use in updating the Crosswalk mailing list. This is a legitimate request! Please do send member lists in any format you have them to Trevett's, 6065 Saint Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212, mail@trevetts.com.Contact Lynne Trevett with questions: 803.781.3150. Every Upper SC household should receive Crosswalk!

And every computer-using Episcopalian in our diocese should receive this e-mail newsletter. Please send member e-mail addresses in any format you  have them to Bethany Human (803.771.7800, ext. 19) at Diocesan House. N either your Communications Office nor the folks at Trevett's will share addresses with any third party. We promise!

Calendar

September	Search Committee visits to candidates for Bishop
September 20	Midlands Convocation meeting, place TBA, 3 p.m. Gravatt Convocation meeting, Resurrection, Greenwood, 2:30 p.m.
September 25-27	Jr. High Fall Retreat, Gravatt
September 27	Catawba Convocation meeting, Christ Church, Lancaster, 3 p.m. Piedmont Convocation meeting, Incarnation, Gaffney, 2 p.m.
October 13	Catawba clericus, Harmony House, noon
October 15	Reedy River clericus, Redeemer, Greenville, 12:30 p.m.
October 16-17	87th Diocesan Convention, Carolina First Center, Greenville Announcement of slate of candidates for Bishop, October 16 (see also December 12)
October 20	Fresh Start, All Saints', Clinton, 9:30 a.m.
October 24-25	"24"—Sr. High Youth Event
October 28-30	Midlands Convocation residency
November 10	Catawba clericus, Harmony House, noon Fresh Start, All Saints', Clinton, 9:30 a.m.
November 19-22	Province IV Youth Event (hosted by USC at Gravatt)
November 21	Bishop nominees—Midlands "walk about"
November 22	Bishop nominees—Upstate "walk about"
December 4-6	Happening #62
December 12	87th Diocesan Convention, cont'd: Election of our eighth bishop
December 17	Reedy River clericus, Redeemer, Greenville, 12:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

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

By Amy Sander Montanez, D. Min.

Hired hand or leader?

Many of you who are reading this may know that I specialize in working with clergy, seminarians, and clergy families. I work across at least six denominational lines with men, women, gay, straight, liberal, conservative, black, white, single, married, divorced, and most other distinctions one could imagine. I see clergy for therapy, spiritual direction, coaching, and clergy support groups.

With the recent votes in the Episcopal Church affirming the openness of the ordination process and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America approving ordination for those that are homosexual, celibate, or partnered, the clergy who have come into my office have been wounded and bleeding due to an escalation of an already disturbing behavior by those who call themselves Christian. It is not unlike the behavior we see in the mainline media, in town hall meetings, in the joint chamber, or in the streets. When a minister does or says something one doesn’t agree with, apparently what is now considered acceptable is to attack that minister, privately or publicly or both. The attack may be face to face, but it is just as likely to be done by a group e-mail blast, a Facebook posting, or even a Tweet.

Hopefully we all know that there are times, and there may be many times, when we disagree with a stance taken by one of our leaders. There may be stances taken by our denominations, our clergy, our leadership councils, or even our Sunday School teachers with which we disagree. If this disagreement reaches the point where we feel we must say something, there are many biblical examples of how to handle disagreements. All of the examples involve respect, listening, and treating others as we would like to treated. But recently more than ever before, clergy are being treated like hired hands. We expect them to do exactly what we want. We want to be able to give orders, like, “This program needs to be cut,” or “This change you’ve made is uncomfortable for me. Change back.” Or, “How dare you believe something different than I do. You most certainly cannot call yourself a Christian.”

I want to propose another possibility that might be more appropriate, given the cultural climate of diversity and extreme conflict, which, I believe, is only going to continue to escalate. Rather than seeing our clergy as hired hands there to do our bidding, perhaps we could see them as leaders, and as the human beings that they are, trying to navigate this difficult culture the same way we are. They are trying to hold communities of people together when everything else is trying to pull those same communities apart. They are trying to keep up with the changing times, even though the times are changing faster than anyone can keep up with. They are sorting through all of the issues and all of the arguments and examining all of their own thoughts just like we are. They are also baptizing, marrying, and burying our beloved. They are trying to raise children, pay the bills, care for their aging parents, and stay healthy, just like we are. Although most of them develop thick skin in order to survive, when they are attacked, they bleed, just like we do.

I am not saying in any way that the clergy should not be held accountable for their actions or should be protected from disapproval or disagreement. What I am saying is that as members of spiritual communities, we are called to act like mature members of those communities. We are called to speak our minds civilly and respectfully. We are called to examine our own motives and intentions. We are commanded to look at our selfish fears and desires and turn them over to Jesus. We are asked to look at our scapegoating behavior, our anger, and our subtle and not so subtle dishonesty.

I have a client who says periodically, when she acts on something that she feels is important, “ I could feel God’s pleasure when I did that.” When I asked her where she felt it, she could tell me how it felt in her chest, her abdomen, her head. She could tell me what the energy in the air was like when she did that. When we are doing something that is in God’s will, we are promised the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5: 22-24). Against these things, there is no law. However, when we attack the leaders in our own community, when we gossip, spread lies, speak untruths or take parting shots, we are not bathed in the fruit of the Spirit and we are told that “those who live like that will not inherit the kingdom of God”( Gal.5: 19-21) When we approach someone with respect and treat them like we would like to be treated, even in disagreement and conflict, then we can feel God’s pleasure.

For decades now, America has had a culture that encouraged sabotage of our leaders (politicians, clergy, educators, etc.). Because of this, it is difficult to get people to be leaders because they can predict ahead of time that they will be sabotaged. That means we get fewer quality leaders because who would want to lead knowing ahead of time what they will face? We, the Christian church, can do better than that if we chose. We can raise up good leaders. We can choose to not sabotage them. We can look for the fruits of the Spirit in all that we do. We can feel God’s pleasure in how we deal with each other.
 

©2009 Amy Sander Montanez, D. Min.