State of the Congregations Follow Up Resources and Letter from Bishop Wolf

May 6, 2011

Dear Friends,

Thanks to those who were with us at the "State of the Congregations" meeting last Saturday. There were over 115 people there from more than 30 congregations. The presentation made by the Rev. David Lucey on behalf of the Program and Budget Committee was frank and clear; if we are to thrive as a diocese, each church must take an unvarnished look at its current reality, figure how it can best utilize its assets – financial, physical and human – in order to further God’s kingdom.

In addition, we need to talk to our neighboring churches and find effective ways to collaborate in such a way that the Gospel mandates are creatively fulfilled and needs are met in the local communities. This may lead to mergers, partnerships, shared ministry or other ideas that you generate.

We left the meeting committing to three things.

1. Each church will complete the form from Alban Institute and have conversation with their leaders and congregation about the financial future.
2. Each Deanery will meet within the next month inviting leaders –both clergy and lay – from each church to discuss what each church is currently doing and begin conversation about how groups of congregations can work together to enhance ministry, share resources and save money
3. Another meeting will be held in the fall to report back how the work has progressed.

If you were not at Saturday’s meeting, I ask you to view the material we distributed at Saturday’s meeting including Fr. Lucey’s PowerPoint presentation, 2009 Parochial Report Statistics, and the Congregation Budget Self-Test so that you can be part of this important dialogue.

Faithfully Yours,
Geralyn Wolf

Lookout, Your Church May be Flocked

Photo: Joey.Parsons 

Your church may soon be flocked by plastic flamingos, courtesy of the Rhode Island delegates to the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) of 2011.

The Episcopal Youth Event is a gathering of high schoolers and their advocates from throughout the Episcopal Church, to inspire and empower youth as Christian apostles. It is a triennial event and this summer's meeting will be taking place at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Our delegates are a diverse group of high school students from various Episcopal parishes throughout Rhode Island, who have been selected for their leadership abilities and deep faith.

Together with a flock of plastic flamingoes they are trying to raise as much funding as possible to help cover the costs of the trip.

If you happen to be flocked, the general cost to remove the flamingos is $25.

For an additional:

• $10 they will remove them in 24 hours
• $25 you can choose their next destination, but play nice please.
• $15 insures that they will not return

**If you don’t want your church to be flocked at all you always can donate $50 to the EYE delegation in advance**

Contact Catherine (401) 258-9249 or Kate (401) 862-0142 with your requests. The youth of RI are thankful for all your donations!



The Bible beats Manchester United and Justin Bieber to top of the Facebook charts

[April 15, 2011 the Anglican Communion News Service]

Figures published by http://www.allfacebook.com/ this week revealed that more people are actively engaging with the The Bible than any other page on leading social media site Facebook.

With Easter only days away it seems that the world's best-selling book is also making a massive impact in the digital world. With more than 6 million 'fans' it has beaten other hugely popular pages including those of sports teams like Manchester United and celebrities like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.

The Anglican who oversees The Bible's Facebook page, United Bible Societies' Jane Pleace, expressed her excitement... Click here for the full article.

The Latest e-Risen- April 21st 2011

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

eRISEN April 21st 2011 issue

Want to subscribe to the eRISEN mailing list? Want to submit your event? Just visit eRISEN our website

Committee Nominations Open for Bishop Search and Transition Process

The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of RI, the groups that oversee the transition process leading to the ordination of the next Bishop of Rhode Island, are forming two committees to conduct the work of that process: a Search & Nomination Committee and a Transition Committee.

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees or you wish to nominate qualified committee candidates, please read the Ministry Description & Qualifications and use the Application for Appointment form to submit your nomination(s) to the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council at committees@episcopalrisearch.org.

If you have questions, feel free to send them to that same email address. Information about progress in the transition process will be posted periodically at http://www.episcopalrisearch.org/.

...click here for the full article at http://www.episcopalrisearch.org/

Youth raise over $3,000 for Haiti, at 2011 Dicoesan 30 Hour Famine

On the weekend of March 26th-27th, 31 youth and 14 adult chaperones gathered at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea in Narragansett to participate in the annual Diocesan 30 Hour Famine. Participants traveled from St. Paul’s Pawtucket, St. John’s Barrington, St. George’s Central Falls, and Christ Church Westerly to learn about world hunger, to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and to have some fun with Episcopalians across the state.

The 30 Hour Famine is a nationwide event coordinated by World Vision, and this year our donations will be sent to Haiti to continue to provide relief and support there. So far we know that participants raised more than $3,000.00, and we are still collecting the donations that were taken in!

A highlight of the weekend was when the Rev. Deacon Buck Close of St. George’s in Central falls visited to share his firsthand experiences of Haiti. Deacon Close founded 1000 Jobs Haiti  long before last year’s earthquake. He was in Haiti when it struck and has been back many times since with 1000 jobs, an organization that helps to create sustainable jobs at fair wages, and offers entrepreneurial assistance to Haitian artisans, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs.

The Diocesan 30 Hour Famine owes a special thank you to the community at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, for their gracious hospitality. Our Saturday Eucharist was celebrated by their Rector, the Rev. Casey Shobe. Linda O’Neill was vital in the planning and implementation of the weekend’s activities, as she is both their parish administrator and youth leader. Some St. Peter’s parishioners even came to the church at 5:00am Sunday morning to get things ready for our breaking of the fast at 6:00am!
Thank you all for your prayers and support throughout the weekend.

A Blog for the Brown/RISD Chaplaincy

The Latest news from the Brown/RISD Chaplaincy is that their news now has its own blog!

Check it out, to keep updated on the latest happenings and other useful information from our Diocesan Chaplian to Brown & RISD, The Rev. Michael Tuck.


To view the blog go to http://brownrisd-episcopalians.blogspot.com/

Bishop's Search Process Begins: A Letter from Standing Committee and Diocesan Council

Diocese of Rhode Island,

The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, the diocesan groups officially charged with appointing a Committee to conduct the nomination and election process for the XIII Bishop of Rhode Island, have started the process. The groups met March 15 and March 25, to learn about best practices for an episcopal transition from the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop of the Office of Pastoral Development of the House of Bishops, and to make initial decisions about how to proceed.

At its March 25 meeting, the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council reached consensus about a methodology both for accepting names of people who are interested in serving on the Committee to conduct the nomination and election process and for seeking out other potential appointees; specific details and timing of that process are still being developed. Also in development is a timeline for the transition process, which is expected to conclude in late 2012.

The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council also commissioned three ad-hoc teams to begin work in areas that need immediate attention for the transition process:

• Finance — to begin reviewing potential expenses
• Communication — to begin developing an approach for timely and effective communication
• Organization — to begin drafting job descriptions and tasks

In addition to the ad-hoc teams, individual members of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council are working to:

• Invite a priest in the Diocese to write a prayer for the transition process.
• Identify a consultant for the Committee to conduct the nomination and election process
• Identify a chaplain for the Committee to conduct the nomination and election process

The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council will meet again in early April. Watch for additional updates as the transition process moves forward.

Please pray for Bishop Wolf and for all those involved in our episcopal transition.


Scott Avedisian, President, Standing Committee
The Reverend James Bocchino, Vice President, Diocesan Council

The Latest eRISEN events newsletter: April 4th 2011

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

eRISEN April 4th 2011 issue

Want to subscribe to the eRISEN mailing list? Want to submit your event? Just visit eRISEN our website

Prayers for Japan, A letter from Bishop Wolf

[3/15/2011] The images of the earthquake, after shocks, and tsunami are powerful reminders of the mighty forces of nature and the wonder of things beyond our control. The fragility of life was ever apparent as trucks and boats were swept away, as if toys, and the bodies of the dead continued its horrific increase. Radiation frightens all of us, especially the Japanese, and who can predict the psychic wounds on children and adults alike.

In both the 1998 and 2008 Lambeth Conference, I had the honor of being in a small group with the now archbishop of Japan. At both conferences, I was struck by his deep insight, and capacity to articulate the mind of the group with compassion and quiet wisdom.

“I have been trying to collect the information from the provincial office and from all the dioceses of NSKK [Nippon Sei-Ko-Kai; the Anglican-Episcopal Church of Japan],” wrote the Most Rev. Nathaniel M. Uematsu, Primate of Japan & Bishop of Hokkaido to Episcopal Relief & Development. “Because of the scale of damage and devastation, our communication has had great difficulty, and I have not heard anything from the Diocese of Tohoku which has been hit most by the earthquakes and tsunamis, and I am very concerned for Bishop John Kato and churches and people in his diocese.”

Our ongoing commitment to the Diocese of Haiti, the recent earthquakes in New Zealand, and now, the tragedy in Japan are stretching the resources of Episcopal Relief and Development, and our willingness to reach out and help the victims of these frightening disasters must stretch our generosity as well.

During this season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, please pray for the people of Japan, and continue your intercessions for those in New Zealand and Haiti. Please consider making a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development through their website www.er-d.org, or send a check made out to The Diocese of Rhode Island for a joint diocesan contribution to ERD. All contributions should be earmarked for “Japan,” or other country of your choice.

Holy and Gracious God, from whose love we are never separated; be with those who are suffering from dislocation, fear, profound loss, and inconsolable grief; bring them relief from their troubles and tears, and instill within us the gift of generosity to support them in this time of great need; this we ask through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

+The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf