Diocesan Council Reports Progress in April 27 Meeting
Diocesan Council is the legislative arm of the diocese between conventions and consists of the Bishop as Chair, ex officio; the Chancellor, ex officio; and three members elected by each of the five Mission Districts.
Council meetings are open to all people of the Diocese.
The next meeting will take place Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, Rutland, Vt. Please call the Diocesan Office at (802) 863-3431 if you plan to attend.
To follow are reports from the meeting held on April 27.
Bishop’s Report to Diocesan Council April 27, 2017
1. The Rev. Kim Hardy has been called as Priest in Partnership to serve at St, James’, Essex Junction.
2. The following congregations are in transition (mostly with respect to calling new clergy leadership): St. James’, Arlington: The Reverend Christopher David, Interim; St. Thomas & Grace, Brandon, Supply Clergy; Christ Church, Island Pond: Supply Clergy; St. Peter’s, Lyndonville: Supply Clergy; Saint Mark’s, Newport: The Rev. Jane Butterfield, Interim; Gethsemane, Proctorsville: Supply Clergy; Saint John’s, Randolph; Saint Luke’s, St. Albans: The Rev. Craig Smith, Sunday Supply and one day a week; Saint Andrew’s, St. Johnsbury: Supply Clergy; St. Mark’s, Springfield: The Rev. Betty Berlenbach and The Rev. Victor Horvath, Interim; Calvary, Underhill: Supply Clergy; St. Mary’s, Wilmington: The Rev. Nicholas Porter, Interim.
3. On March 21st, we held a Clergy Day at Trinity Rutland on matters related to Refugees. Over 40 clergy participated in a day organized by the Reverends Rick Swanson and Paul Habersang, along with Wendy Grace, our diocesan liaison with Episcopal Migration Ministries.
4. I participated in a meeting of the General Convention Task Force on the Study of Marriage (March 27-30) in Baltimore. We are preparing our report and resolutions for the 2018 General Convention.
5. I participated in the Retreat Day involving the Standing Committee, the Commission on Ministry and persons in the VT ordination process on April 1st at Christ Church, Montpelier. The theme for the Retreat was Dignity.
6. Along with Elizabeth Parker, I attended the Province One Synod meeting in North Grafton, MA on April 8th.
7. I spent Holy Week at the Cathedral, participating in the full liturgical life of the week, including co-presiding at the Holy Monday Taizé worship with the Bishop Coyne, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. At the Great Vigil, I had the joy of baptizing our newest granddaughter Madelyn, along with an adult member of St. Paul’s. In addition, seven adults from St. Paul’s were Confirmed or Received at that liturgy.
8. Ann and I attended the Bishops United Against Gun Violence sponsored Conference title “Unholy Trinity: The Intersection of Racism, Poverty and Gun Violence” held in Chicago April 20-22. It was a very powerful event. Here is a link to an article in ENS http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/04/25/unholy-trinity-serves-as-call-to-action-on-poverty-racism-gun-violence/
9. I have been devoting considerable time to matters related to Rock Point, including the Partnership Campaign and Staffing. (see related documents in the 365 Drive)
10 I recently signed onto two amici curiae briefs, each related to one of the two Executive Orders on immigration issued by President Trump earlier this year. Here is an ENS link to an article about this. I am also preparing a letter to the diocese about this. http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/04/24/bishops-file-brief-on-behalf-of-immigrants-refugees/
11. My visitations since our last Council meeting included Sunday visits with St. Luke’s, Saint Albans, St. Martin’s, Fairlee and St. Mark’s, Springfield; and weekday visits with St. Paul’s, White River Junction, St. John the Baptist, Hardwick and St. Andrew’s, Colchester.
12. An Easter weekend visit from our kids and grandkids made for a delightful weekend. I’m looking forward to golf!
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely
Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Vermont
Diocesan Council Meeting Recap
By Liam Muller | The Rev. Liam Muller, Mission District 4
Here are a few brief notes from the April 27 Diocesan Council Meeting:
1. Treasurer Gerry Davis is looking for Budget & Finance Committee members from Mission Districts 3, 4 and 5. The Committee will likely be meeting the third or fourth week of May.
2. Communications Minister Maurice Harris reported on plans to hold half-day diocesan communicators workshops on July 22, 27, 29, in three separate locations (likely to be Manchester, Stowe, Shelburne) and asked Council members to share these plans. He has been and will be in congregations working with them on various communication projects. He recently attended the Episcopal Communicators Conference in Ohio.
3. Bishop Tom reported on the Rock Point and Partnership Campaign. The campaign is getting close to the $1.3 million mark. The next phase will be the parish phase; information is being drafted for that phase. There have been some decisions regarding Rock Point staffing – Craig Smith will be Director of Property and Program; David McKay will be Director of Finance and Administration.
4. The Diocesan Council unanimously endorsed the Montpelier People’s Climate March on April 29.
Council meetings are open to all people of the diocese. The next meeting will take place Saturday, May 20 at Trinity Church, Rutland.
Please call (802) 863-3431 to RSVP.