[ecm] news from the General Convention

Wed Jun 21 19:11:49 EDT 2006

Good afternoon,

            Even if you haven't been watching the Episcopal Church's General
Convention closely this past week, you probably saw some of the "highlights"
in the secular press.  Some of the news they didn't cover touched on the
lives of young adults and college/university students.  Here's that update:

Episcopal News Service

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

>From Columbus: Growth measures seek to build membership

By Carol E. Barnwell

[ENS] Personal evangelism, campus ministry and church plants form the
cornerstone of the General Convention's effort to achieve the goals of the
2020 initiative.

The Convention passed a resolution proposed by Bishop David Jones of
Virginia, chair of the Evangelism Committee, to study the Joint Commission
on Domestic Mission and Evangelism's concern that the Episcopal Church "may
be in systemic decline." The resolution charges the Standing Commission on
Domestic Mission and Evangelism with initiating "a national consultation on
methods and strategies identify best practices to reverse the decline in
mainline denominations," and making recommendations to the 76th General
Convention on ways to reverse that decline in all denominations.

College ministry

Young adults spoke passionately regarding their place in the church.
College is a time of transition when people relocate, and need counsel and
guidance to make life-changing decisions.  Campus ministry allows a
leadership opportunity that doesn't exist elsewhere, said the Rev. Mary
Hileman.  A campus missioner at Oklahoma State University and a member of
the Evangelism Committee, Hileman also supports campus ministries becoming
diocesan missions where possible.

Reynolds Wayland, an alternate for the Diocese of Missouri, had to join a
church near his campus ministry at Washington University in St Louis, in
order to stand for election as a deputy.  Active in diocesan affairs,
Wayland said, "The work of God moves in me. Students are interested in the
wider church, we want to be involved ... I would like to be a voice for my
church home." 

The Rev. Lee Anne Watkins, a member of the Evangelism Committee from
Minnesota, said, "We need to recognize campus ministries as more than
outreach programs.  This is a mature mission."  Part of the 2020 vision, she
said, is a vision to have ministry on every campus.

In an interview, Hileman emphasized the importance of campus ministry as a
place of leadership development for the Church, as well as a vital mission
field.  She highlighted the need to use technology in reaching out, as well.
She baptized a student after he had checked out the campus ministry online,
looked up the Episcopal Church in the Internet and read the Book of Common
Prayer online.  He asked Hileman how to become a member of the church.  "His
encounters on the Web and his welcome at the front door gave him the courage
to ask to be baptized, and he was - the next day!" Hileman said.  

When Hileman did a wedding for former students some time ago, one of the
bridesmaids asked if she could come by for a visit.  The young woman
eventually brought her roommate and they brought their boyfriends and
someone else's roommate.  "It started with an invitation and branches out,"
she said.  "Then they need a place to go that will be welcoming." 

Campus ministries are real congregations with unique character to that
particular place," Hileman said.  "Young adults make choices about
[denomination membership] by the time they are 25 years old," she added,
saying that growing the church in the future depends on attracting
college-aged members and giving them an active role in the church.  

Everyone's ministry

"Our genius is intellectually engaged, centrist and comprehensive," said the
Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, a member of the Standing Commission on
Communication and a deputy from the Diocese of Bethlehem. "We must give back
our gifts to those around us," according to Knisley, who also says he won
the genetic lottery as a white male, Anglo Saxon, protestant with ivy league
education.  "I found Jesus Christ in an ex heroin addict who was trying to
get off stuff so she could keep her kids.  My church adopted her, and in
doing that work she showed me Jesus and I saw Jesus in the people around
her," he said, noting that our work is in the culture.  

In order to grow, Knisely suggests a short list for each person in the pew: 

* Invite our neighbors to church

* Pray that our church will grow

* Learn what we believe and be able to articulate it

* Know why we are Episcopalians and know their own faith story

* Pray our church will grow and

* Serve Jesus in our every moment 

"People see that beacon, and will follow them to church. That's missionary,"
Knisley said.

Legislation:

Resolution A037 is specifically directed at the 2020 goals and calls on each
bishop to cast a vision for his or her diocese; calls on all orders of
ministry to speak about what God is doing in their lives; invite others to
worship, and seeks to identify and develop practical resources for personal
and congregational evangelism through the Church Center staff.  More
importantly, it is to be published in all congregational and diocesan media.
The resolution is pending in the House of Bishops.

A church planting initiative now pending in the House of Deputies (A042)
includes provisions for a major gifts campaign, which would be the first
since "Venture in Mission" 25 years ago.  Another resolution, A043,
encourages dioceses to identify "priority opportunities and estimate costs"
for new congregations to fulfill 2020 goals.  A043 includes a feasibility
study for a capital funds drive to help build these new churches. It is also
pending in the House of Deputies.

Resolution B011 partners the Episcopal Church, Episcopal Relief and
Development and the Church Pension Group with the Diocese of Louisiana to
develop a missionary initiative to support evangelism and 2020 goals, and as
a model for areas of natural disaster or impoverished areas.  

*       Carol E. Barnwell is the communication director in the Diocese of
Texas and a member of the ENS Convention news team.  

Episcopal News Service

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

>From Columbus: Young Adults lives enriched by festival

By Daphne Mack

[ENS] "I thought the Young Adult Festival was an awesome and wonderful
experience," said Wendy Pineda, 21, from the Diocese of Texas. "The
friendships and community that were built have been more than I could have
imagined."  Pineda, a student at the University of Houston, was part of the
design team for the Festival at General Convention, where young adults ages
18-30 had the opportunity to connect with peers from around the country.

Living into the "Invitation" theme of the festival, participants were
invited to a deeper understanding of the eucharist, how to manage their time
and fit God in their life, how to fill in the gap in their church and
attract the young adults in their community, and how to experience church.
"I've felt a real sense of centeredness," said R.C. Larid, 28, of the
Diocese of Minnesota. "It's been a very holy and grace filled experience
where I have felt the palpable presence of the Holy Spirit. I'm taking away
great hope in a church that has seen fit to empower all female leadership
for the first time."

David Nelson, 27, of the Diocese of Ohio, described the experience as
"amazing" and said he will take with him "hope for our church and excitement
about what it stands for." 

"It has been an absolute joy and delight," said the Rev. Douglas Fenton,
staff officer, Office of Young Adult and Higher Educational Ministries.  "We
had nearly 160 young adults at this festival from every corner of the globe;
they have enriched the Convention, and therefore the church, by their
presence."

*       Daphne Mack is a reporter for the Episcopal News Service.

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The Rev. Robert Lundquist, Priest-in-Charge

St Paul's Episcopal Church

1208 W Elizabeth St, Fort Collins, CO  80521

   970-482-2668                  FAX 970-482-8318

www.stpauls-fc.org

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