Mayor of Warwick speaks at Celebration of Bishop Wolf's Ministry

 

Speech given by the Honorable Scott Avedesian on 9/23/2012 at the celebration honoring Bishop Geralyn Wolf's nearly 17 years of Ministry as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. She retires November 17th.

 

Have you heard the joke about the Mayor and the Bishop?

 

Normally, those types of jokes start along the lines of, “Have you heard the joke about the priest, the rabbi and the minister?” …and I’ve always wanted to suggest that maybe there is a way to have a joke about the Bishop and the Mayor.

 

However, today I have to tell you that, while we shared lots of laughs over the past few years, nothing about the work that Bishop Wolf has done in and for our Diocese could be considered to be a joke.

 

In thinking about what to say today, I thought about how I came to be in this spot. As a lifelong Episcopalian, I had been involved somewhat in Diocesan activities. But my involvement has increased a lot over the past several years, and it all stared when Bishop Wolf asked me to serve on the Committee on Resolutions. I didn’t even know what that Committee did, but she convinced me to be part of it.

 

From there it was a short trip to becoming a member of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court, the honorary chairman of the Episcopal Charities Fund and a member of Diocesan Council.

 

Through all of those activities an image of a thoughtful, principled leader became the way I viewed Geralyn Wolf. And the more I worked with her, the more my respect for her, and my support for her vision for the Diocese deepened. So it’s no surprise that when she and the late Ed Bennett asked me to run for an open seat on the Standing Committee, I immediately said yes. And, after a year on the Standing Committee, working closely with the Bishop to work through a number of different issues on church mergers, church polities and the like, I was elected the president.

 

And that’s really where the journey that led us to this day began. A month after becoming president, I went in to meet with the Bishop and, at the end of the meeting, she pulled out a folder and said, “Now I need to talk to you about something else.” And in January of 2011, I learned that the Bishop was going to announce her retirement in March.

 

I was, of course, concerned about what she intended to do and, quite honestly, I was petrified about what I was about to have to do. Two months later, the Bishop announced at convocation her intent to retire and we began a process that has led to the election of Bishop-Elect Knisley.

 

In retrospect, to most people it must have seemed like a very easy period of time and transition for the Diocese. The truth is, it’s enough material for a book. Who would have ever thought that, by accepting the Bishop’s request to serve the Diocese, I would learn the process of electing and consecrating a Bishop, of merging parishes, of removing a priest from service, or serving as the chancellor? Yet, through it all, Geralyn Wolf and Tom Bair provided the right amount of leadership, guidance and pastoral care to allow all of us to do our jobs.

 

When I think of the legacy of Gerry Wolf, I see an empowering, gifted leader who, although she had an opinion on issues, always listened to other points of view and really strove to reach consensus. While other Dioceses were being pulled apart amidst stories of breakaway parishes, Bishop Wolf used her talent to ensure that any separations were done with kindness, and an ability to return.

 

Whether closing parishes, changing parishes to missions, or assisting parishes as they merged, Bishop Wolf consistently put the thoughts and needs of the individuals in the pews first and foremost. You all know that religion is intensely emotional and personal for most people. Yet it would be all too easy to administer a Diocese without concern to that emotion. We have been blessed to have a leader who allowed emotion a place at the table while making sure that cooler heads always prevailed.

 

There are lots of similarities to our jobs. Just as a Bishop is responsible for leading a faith community, meeting the needs of those in spiritual and personal crisis and ensuring the viability of the church, so, too, is a Mayor responsible for the overall good of his community, assuring its stability, and addressing the myriad needs of a diverse group of residents and businesses. And, as faith organizations and municipalities work together as partners for the overall good, those roles sometimes intertwine. The Bishop and I always found an ability to learn from one another’s perspectives. And I know that my staff at City Hall, if ever on Jeopardy, hopes that the category for the Daily Double is “Facts about the Episcopal Church."

 

We have all learned to be stronger in faith and deeper in purpose from the example of ministry that we learned from Gerry Wolf.

 

Today the Diocese says thank you and presents you, Bishop, with a long-awaited trip to the Holy Land. On behalf of the Standing Committee, I thank you for your steadfast belief in the future of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island and in your never-ending optimism that good people will always prevail.

 

Today, I’m sure, brings many emotions with new beginnings and the closing of different chapters of life.

 

I will remind you what you said to me right before you walked to the west door of St. Paul’s Pawtucket to begin the Celebration of the Eucharist to start the electing convention that chose your successor. When I asked you your feelings that day and whether they were bittersweet, you flashed your trademark grin and you told me that it wasn’t time to be bittersweet. Instead, you looked at the congregation and you reminded me that we were in a church full of people and those people were filled with hope and enthusiasm for the future.

 

Well, those people today are full of gratitude, and still brimming with hope and enthusiasm. For that, we owe you a great big thank you.

Bishop Wolf & Bishop-Elect Knisely to Dedicate St. Mary's New Parish House

Haven't seen Bishop-Elect Knisely out and about in RI yet? This Saturday September 15th at 9:30am you have a good chance. Bishop Wolf and Bishop-Elect Knisely will be at St. Mary's in Portsmouth to cut the ribbon to the new parish house which has just been built.

 

Come say hello to the Bishop Elect for the first time, and to Bishop Wolf for what may be one of the last times before she retires. After the ribbon cutting there will be fellowhip over food, tours, and even a few mini-classes in St. George's Chapel which is the great room of the new building.

 

It is a joyous occasion for St. Mary's, as the parish begins to reap the benefits of a little creative thought on how to be good stewards of their resources, how to be true to their mission, and how to best impact and interact with the community outside their church.  Exciting plans are also in the works for the re-purposing and rehabilitation of St. Mary's old parish house. Read about it in RISEN magazine and dream big for your own home parish.

The Latest eRISEN: September 5th 2012

You can view the latest issue of eRISEN, our biweekly email events calendar, at the link below:

eRISEN: 9/5/2012 issue

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Letter from the Bishop-Elect: The Rev. Linda Grenz Joins RI Diocesan Staff

The Rev. Linda L. Grenz

People of the Diocese of Rhode Island,

During the interviews with the Search Committee for the 13^th Bishop of Rhode Island and during the walkabout presentations this past Spring, I emphasized my belief that the Diocese must be very intentional about leadership development and Christian formation for the laity as well as the clergy as it moves into the 21^st century. Since the election I have been thinking and praying about how we might sharpen our focus in these areas.

As I begin the transition to the Diocese of Rhode Island and assume the role of bishop later this Fall, I’d like to announce a staff addition made in consultation with Bishop Wolf, our Standing Committee President Scott Avedisian, and our Transition Committee Chair Lora MacFall. At my request, Bishop Wolf will invite the Rev. Linda Grenz to join the diocesan staff as my consultant during the transition process.

After the Consecration in November, I will name the Rev. Grenz as Canon to the Ordinary.

Many of you will recognize Linda’s name. She has had a long and successful ministry as an Episcopal priest serving in parishes large and small on the East Coast. She is the publisher and CEO of Leader Resources, which publishes the Journey to Adulthood curricula as well as a number of other faith formation resources. As part of that ministry she has been a consultant to parish vestries and dioceses across the country in leader training, management, development, and conflict resolution. She has done extensive work assisting congregations in developing effective Christian formation, evangelism, and stewardship programs. She has taught at General Seminary and served on the national church staff as the Coordinator of Adult Education and Leadership Development. She has a number of books in print on these topics and has been in demand as a speaker for years.

Linda is married to Del Glover, a retired DuPont Executive, who just completed his term as a member of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council and was recently elected as a Trustee of the Church Pension Fund at the General Convention in July. Del has failed to truly retire several times, having served as the Associate Dean of General Seminary and as the chief administrative officer at Trinity Wall Street as well as The Riverside Church.

I am grateful to Bishop Wolf for her graciousness in supporting this call and making it possible for Linda and I to start working with all of you as soon as possible. I am also grateful that the present staff will continue to offer their important skills to the life and ministry of the diocese.  We all look forward to working together as a team to provide the diocese with the resources it will need to grow deeper in faith and to most effectively proclaim the Good News of God in Christ Jesus to our neighbors in Rhode Island.

 Yours in the shared ministry of the Gospel,

The Very Rev. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop-Elect

A Celebration of Bishop Wolf's Ministry

Photo by Mary Murphy

As we look forward to the ordination of the Very Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely as the 13th Bishop of Rhode Island on November 17, 2012, we remain mindful of how important it is to also express appreciation to our outgoing leader.

 

We ask that you join us for a Celebration of Bishop Wolf's Ministry on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Greenwich to thank Bishop Wolf (and her husband, Tom) for nearly 17 years of ministry with us.

 

The Transition Committee is arranging for delicious food, a festive atmosphere and a special slide show of photos from throughout the Bishop's years with us. All ages are welcome.

 

If you haven’t RSVP’d by mail or email yet, you can RSVP online here and/or donate online to Bishop Wolf's gift. When a bishop completes his or her ministry in a diocese, it’s customary for the people of the diocese to express their thanks with a gift, and we will be presenting Bishop Wolf and Tom with a check to help with the expense of the trip to Jerusalem they have dreamed about for some time.

 

The amount of your gift – whether large or small – is less important than your joining together with others in this offering.  

 

As we move closer to the ordination of our new bishop in November, please keep Bishop-Elect Knisely and his wife, Karen, as well as Bishop Wolf and Tom in your prayers. We appreciate your support and patience, and we look forward to your joining us for the festivities on September 23rd.

 

 

RISEN Magazine Summer 2012 Issue Now Online.

The Summer 2012 issue of RISEN Magazine has been released! Look for it in your mailboxes or read it online below.

This issue is focused on General Convention, which took place in Indianapolis this July. The issue features an interview with our Bishop Elect, photos from the Electing Convention in June, deputy diaries from General Convention, and a wrap up of the legislations General Convention passed this time around.

Can't load the magazine widget below? View a PDF at www.episcopalri.org/RISENMagazine

TEC Restructures Staff and Offices for Mission

At General Convention this past July "structural change" was a keyword or trending topic.  Resolutions were passed to encourage the Episcopal Church to look into selling its property in NYC, to found a task force on structural reform  (Nominations to the task force are open here until August 23rd), and the structure of the budget was re-written around the Anglican 5 Marks of Mission.

The resolutions voted on by deputies we sent to General Convention are now being lived into in visible, tangible ways. The Episcopal Church office of Public Affairs released an article last Wednesday called  "Transitions for Episcopal Church, DFMS staff"  which delineates the structural changes that are in process.  Offices are moving. 10.25 Jobs have been eliminated, other jobs are being re-envisioned. A development office is being built.  TEC is talking with other denominations and organizations about the potential for space and staff sharing.

 “We have been reviewing and talking about seriously redesigning what we, as a staff, do" said TEC's Chief operating Officer, Bishop Stacy Sauls. “The whole Church is being called to restructure for mission. We as the DFMS staff must engage this work faithfully.”

Read the full article for the details on what is changing at 815.

Statement on the Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships

On July 7^th 2012 The 77^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church authorized a provisional liturgy for the blessing of same-sex relationships. [resolution A049 available here]. The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island’s deputation voted unanimously in support of this action. Our current bishop, the Right Reverent Geralyn Wolf, also voted in favor.

The 77^th General Convention was careful to specify that this liturgy is not to be misunderstood as a marriage rite, that it is a provisional liturgy while more theological work is being done. It is a pastoral response to those in committed same sex relationships who seek the blessing of the church.

As a provisional liturgy, Resolution A049 calls for three years of careful review and a report to the 2015 General Convention, to include diverse theological perspectives, “further engagement with scripture and the relevant categories and sources of systematic theology (e.g., creation, sin, grace, salvation, redemption, human nature)” and an open process to review the liturgy through responses from dioceses, congregations, individuals, the Anglican Communion, and our ecumenical partners.

A049 also specifies that the liturgy will not be authorized for use until the first Sunday in Advent 2012, which is December 2^nd of this year. Due to Bishop Wolf’s retirement and Bishop Elect Nicholas Knisely’s consecration November 17^th, the implementation of this liturgy will be at his direction in consultation with others.

Bishop Elect Nicholas Knisely did not have vote at this year’s General Convention, but during his election process this past May he spoke in support of authorizing a blessing of same-sex relationships while at the same time honoring the diversity of opinion on this subject in Rhode Island Episcopal Parishes.

Bishop Elect Knisely reminds Rhode Island Episcopalians of Roger William’s legacy of religious tolerance. He said this week “How do we live into a world where people disagree? We are Episcopalians. We understand and fully expect that we won’t agree. That would be a “pure” church – and we have historically rejected that understanding of how to live as God’s people in the world.  We find our unity in common prayer.”

In the time between now and December 2^nd the Bishop Elect will be working with diocesan bodies to craft a process of mutual discernment between parishes, clergy, and congregations for whom offering a blessing liturgy would be appropriate in their context.

General Convention July 12th Closing Eucharist: The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

General Convention July 12 Sermon:
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

I have some bad news.  PB&F [1 ] asked Gregory Straub [2] to find the latest audit, and when he went looking in the Archives, he discovered that we have been using the wrong edition of the Constitution and Canons all through our deliberations.  The general conclusion is that everything we’ve done here is therefore invalid.  Are you ready to start over?

That’s basically what happened with King Josiah.  Hilkiah went to investigate the Temple finances and discovered that they’d been reading the wrong rule book for years and years.

We’ve had some struggles here that sound a little bit like that – like whether this body is hierarchical or not, or what kind of governance or structure fits what those guys who held the first Episcopal Church convention had in mind back in 1785.

It will take many more Conventions before we all agree about anything, but, you know what?  IT DOESN’T MATTER!  We won’t all agree before the Second Coming, but there is only one essential rule – “love one another,” says Jesus, “as I have loved you.”  That is the one and only rule of life together in Christ.  It is the same one that Augustine of Hippo cited:  “love God and do as you please.”  Martin Luther’s version was, “sin boldly… and more boldly still rejoice in Christ.”

Our task is not to timidly take comfort in the details of our nice behavior – not even in impeccable parliamentary procedure!  Life in Christ is risky, it’s about leaping into the uncertain choices before us, like Indiana Jones on that light bridge [3 ] – stepping out over the chasm without knowing if the bridge will be there until we do.  Way down in the depths, deep down, the body of Christ has an abiding memory of the trustworthiness of that bridge, even if some of the individual members don’t remember quite so well.

That’s what Lars Olof Jonathan Söderblom offered the world.  The body of Christ, indeed the whole body of all faithful people, has much to teach its members about trust and confidence – and it is all about love. 

Söderblom – who went by Nathan – was a Swedish Lutheran pastor, theologian, and Archbishop of Uppsala, born in 1866 and died in 1931.  He came from a tradition of border crossers, and it was evident even in his early life.  His university degree was in Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin, and he started the formal academic study of comparative religions.[4]  In 1890 he came to the United States for a meeting of the Student Missionary Association – something like a General Convention for young adults.  He went back to Sweden, was ordained and was appointed chaplain to a mental hospital. Then he started looking for a job that would pay enough to let him get married.  Anna Forsell was one of 20 women students among the 1700 men in the University, and she was his writing partner as well as his wife.  Söderblom did find a job; he was appointed to the Swedish church in Paris, and stayed there until 1901.  That Parisian congregation was filled with Scandinavian artists, diplomats, and merchants, among them Alfred Nobel and August Strindberg, and the several older of the Söderblom’s 13 children. 

The Church of Sweden started planting churches abroad in 1626, and that church in Paris was the first one.  Several of the ones in the American colonies were later transferred to The Episcopal Church.[5]  The Church of Sweden has an ancient tradition of ecumenism, loving and learning and working with others.

Söderblom went back to Sweden to take an academic post in theology at Uppsala University, and he began a theological revival in the Swedish church that spread about the world.  He worked on the easy stuff like world peace and liturgical renewal.

Söderblom is remembered most distinctly for starting the modern ecumenical movement, with the Conference on Life and Work in Stockholm in 1925.  He insisted that personal spirituality made no sense if it was divorced from work for justice in the larger society, and he repeatedly called on Christian leaders to make common cause for world peace.  He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930.

Peace begins with loving one another.  Start with the people in this room.  This body has done a pretty good job over the last few days.  We’ve seen quite a few leaps beyond old spheres of safety for the sake of the other.  Each person who has stepped out has done so in order to meet another.  And we have discovered a new place, a third way beyond what either one knew before.

Take what you have learned here about deep hospitality [6] and keep moving toward the other.  Maybe we can even figure out how to love everybody in this church.  This reconciling work isn’t like BASE jumping [7] – finding a thrill by stretching some rubber band that ties you to the earth.  God’s mission is real faith work, the kind of trusting vulnerability that knows there’s only one rule to keep us safe, the spirit’s tether that will draw us into the arms of a Friend on the other side of that chasm. [8]

So step on out there past this narrow ledge of safety and love one another.  Step out there and expect to find your Friend on the other side.  Cross the chasm and you will find the other – and every single one of them will bear the image of God.  Trust the wings of the morning, and take a flying leap!  Take a flying leap into the future, and toward the other.  The bridge is there – we call it the Light of the World.

[1] Program, Budget, and Finance – committee that develops the budget
[2] The Rev. Gregory Straub is the Secretary of General Convention
[3 ]Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
[4] A good biographical review can be found here:  http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1930/soderblom-bio.html
[5] http://www.colonialswedes.org/Churches/Churches.html and related sites
[6] http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/07/11/the-rev-stephanie-spellers-preaches-at-convention-eucharist
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping
[8] Draw us in the Spirit’s Tether, music by Harold Friedell; text by Percy Deamer

General Convention Deputy Reflections: the Passing of the Budget

Dennis Stark, Lay Deputy to General Convention
On July 10th the Program Budget and Finance Committee (PB&F) presented their recommended budget for the Triennium 2013-2015. Yesterday each house debated that budget.  The House of Deputies started by suspending the rules for one hour so that the discussion could be free of motions to amend, divide, and call the question.

The first step was for small groups of sixteen to discuss the budget together, in our case we were paired with the deputies from Delaware.  We talked about the asking of l9% for each year, the block grants, and the approach to funding the development office by a grant from past operating surpluses.  We did not have any problem with these proposals.

Next the entire body was able to make comments and ask questions.  Various members of PB&F answered those questions.  Some people asked about the recommendation to fund the Anglican Council at 50% of the amount requested, others asked about the reduction in the budget for Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards, the amount appropriated for legal costs to defend property rights, and how Block Grants in the program area would work.

Then the house went back into normal session and various motions were made.  One deputy proposed to reduce the amount allocated for staff costs by 25%.  That motion was defeated by a substantial majority.  Another motion proposed to add $500,000 to Miscellaneous Income and to appropriate those funds for the work of the Digital Communications Department.  This motion failed as well.

Someone called the question and the budget passed as originally proposed.  We subsequently learned that the House of Bishops concurred by passing the budget as well.

What this means for the Rhode Island Diocese is that our share of the expenses of The Episcopal Church for the next three years will be approximately the same as this year ($400,000).  We should be proud that we have a long track record of paying the amount requested.

During the next Triennium a special committee appointed by the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies will be studying the matter of structure and making a recommendation to the 2015 General Convention about possible changes in the amount of funding requested and how those funds are expended.

Also this week, a nominating committee for the next Presiding Bishop was elected, including Dante Tavealaro from Rhode Island.  That committee has two lay and two clerical deputies from each of the nine provinces.  Byron Rushing from Massachusetts was elected Vice President of the House of Deputies, and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings of Ohio was elected President.