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Bishop Gutierrez joins the Church Farm School
Board of Directors
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Church Farm School
, the private boarding and day school for boys in grades 9-12 based in Exton, PA, welcomes The Rt. Rev. Canon Daniel G.P. Gutierrez to its
Board of Directors
.
Gutierrez was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in March 2016 and consecrated in July, succeeding The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd.
Prior to his election, Gutierrez was Canon to the Ordinary, chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Diocese of the Rio Grande in New Mexico. He has had an extensive career in public service, including service as chief of staff to the mayor of Albuquerque and as director of the Bernalillo County Economic Development Department.
During a recent visit to Church Farm School, Gutierrez said, "It is with great excitement and hope that I join the Board. The history, faithfulness and mission of Church Farm School lift my spirit. I look forward to our work in the years ahead. Church Farm School is a beacon of light in the Diocese."
"We welcome Bishop Gutierrez to the CFS Board of Directors with joy and anticipation of good things to come. His energy and commitment to all people within the Diocese is evident and infectious which bodes well for our own mission to serve young people, especially as we approach our Centennial in 2018," says The Rev. Edmund K. Sherrill II, Church Farm School head of school.
For the past six years, 100% of Church Farm School students have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities, many with substantial scholarships. In 2015, the school had both a QuestBridge Scholar (attending Princeton University) and a Gates Millennium Scholar (attending Swarthmore College).
About Church Farm School: The Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible. Located in Exton, PA, the school serves nearly 200 residential and day students in grades 9-12 through its rigorous and engaging academic, athletic and extracurricular programs. Learn more about our mission at
www.gocfs.net
.
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Union of Black Episcopalians 48th Annual Meeting and Conference
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Bishop Thompson, Diocese of Louisiana leads a confession of the Sin of Racism
An historic and symbolic act of racial reconciliation and wholeness.
The opening Eucharist Service held at Christ church Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana commenced with a powerful acknowledgment and confession of the sin of racism, Bishop Diocesan of Louisiana, The Right Revere
nd Thompson addressed the congregation of more than 400 people stating:
"Sisters and Brothers in Christ, welcome in the name of Christ. We gather in this sacred space, that has long been hallowed by laughter, great celebration, and the tears of lament. Today we gather with the heirs of the African Diaspora, in the Union of Black Episcopalians, to celebrate, to grieve, to confess, and to move a step closer toward God's vision of reconciliation and wholeness. We as the Diocese of Louisiana rejoice to host this gathering and take this opportunity to express again our most profound regret that the Episcopal Church in this Diocese lent the institution of slavery its support and justification based on scripture and after slavery formally was abolished, continued for at least a century to be negligent in opposing segregation and discrimination. This chair, built by the hands of slaves and owned by our very own Bishop Leonidas Pol
k for his use in fulfilling his duties as Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, is a physical reminder of our own complicity in this evil system. And we here repent again, and apologize for our complicity in the institution of slavery and the injury done by it and its aftermath. We recommit ourselves to amend our lives, and continue to oppose the sin of racism in personal and public life, and continue to help build communities and liberation and justice."
Bishop Thompson then motioned to The Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to come
and be sea
ted in the chair built by slaves and now filled by a Bishop that is a descendent of slaves was a powerful symbol of reconciliation and wholeness and all in attendance gave a rousing applause to signify this moment. He also presented Bishop Curry with a gift of artwork commissioned by one of his parishioners and they embraced after the presentation of the gift to our presiding Bishop. The evening set of a tone of love, reconciliation and wholeness being one in the body of Christ.
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Photos From City Camp 2016
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Choristers from Camp Advent (Church of the Advent, Hatboro) celebrate the end of a fantastic week by leading friends and family in sung evening prayer.
Campers and staff are all smiles while swimming at Camp St. Luke (St. Luke's Church, Germantown)!
Camp St. Simon (St. Simon the Cyrenian Church, Point Breeze) explores the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Counselor Suzannah leads worship time at Camp St. Alban (Church of St. Alban, Roxborough).
Science experiments were a hit at Camp Holy Trinity (Church of the Holy Trinity, Lansdale)!
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The Free Church of St. John Gets Some Air!
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Last weekend we all felt the oppressive heat that gripped the greater Philadelphia area. With temperatures above 90 degrees and heat indices into the triple digits, it was hard for anyone to escape the scorching sun. One place where the heat was particularly oppressive was the rectory of the Free Church of St. John in Kensington.
The Free Church of St. John is a mission church in the Riverwards of Philadelphia and is primarily a Hispanic worship site. With three Sunday services, countless outreaches all while trying to renovate the building, it is no surprise that Fr. David was truly feeling the heat of the sun.
When it came to the attention of Canon Nancy Deming that Father David had no respite from the heat while the mercury continued its climb into truly dangerous temperatures, she quickly determined that something had to be done. Canon Deming called Mark Klinger into her office and the two were quickly on the road to Home Depot to purchase window air conditioners for the rectory. In less than 24 hours Father David 's rectory was cooling to a much more pleasant temperature.
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Diocesan Anti-Human Trafficking Commission Chair helps staff exhibit at the Democratic National Convention here in Philadelphia
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The photo above is of the people manning the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition table at Convention Center (where caucuses were held for the Democratic National Convention). Pictured are are a familiar Rose Muriel Rains, Chair, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Commission; Linda Lempart, and Ellyn Waller, Enon Baptist Church, on the right. Ellyn's husband is Pastor of Enon. They are working with the Salvation Army to open a trafficking rehab shelter for 8 women in the city using an already existing Salvation Army building.
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The Church Foundation Charitable Giving
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Gifts of Stock
Many people have discovered that their charitable giving can be enhanced by making gifts of stock. The process is easy, and offers benefits to both the donor and the recipient.
The Church Foundation is pleased to announce it has opened a brokerage account that provides a vehicle for donating gifts of stock to the Diocese of Pennsylvania, The Church Foundation, or any of the parishes, schools and other institutions within the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
Visit
The Church Foundation website or contact Lori Daniels at 215-220-9886 or Alan Lindsay at 215-621-8310 for more information.
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Anti-Racism Training September 17, 2016
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The Anti-Racism Commission of the Diocese of Pennsylvania invites you to join us for a day-long training on September 17, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Grace Epiphany Church, Gowen and Ardleigh Avenues. This is phase two (from April 9) but anyone can come. Cost is $25 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Come prepared to learn more about racism and its impact on the institutions in our society, including the church. For more information or to register, contact Jane Cosby at 215.848.1760.
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Update: Office of Family and Young Adult Ministry
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July has brought a season of change to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries also known as OFYAM. Unexpectedly two of our cherished staff members announced their departure from our office.
Effective June 24th, Sarah Hedgis resigned as the Director of the Episcopal Mission Center to accept a new position as an Associate Priest at the Philadelphia Cathedral. Sarah was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral last year, and this opportunity allows her to follow her call to serve a parish and fully live in to that ministry. As the Director for the EMC she developed the curriculum and staff for our summer Mission Program. She has done inspired work in helping us define and shape this important formation and outreach ministry by having discipleship inform and guide our outreach!
Lindsay Barrett-Adler resigned her position as Associate for Young Adult Ministries and Servant Year Program Director effective July 8. Lindsay faithfully served the Diocese of Pennsylvania for five years, first as a member of Servant Year and served on its Board of Directors before becoming its Program Director in 2013. Her own service gave her first hand experience that guided her in this ministry, and under her leadership our program tripled in size, added youth, church and school partnerships and overhauled the formation program. She leaves us to take a position with the Development Team at Green Street Friends School. Its commitment to diversity and equality mirror the goals of Servant Year.
We are sad that Sarah and Lindsay will not be with us but we are grateful for their ministries with OFYAM. We send them on with our blessings and good wishes as they move forward on their journeys.
To help us navigate this time of transition we are pleased to announce that Jan Berry-Schroeder, who had served as Interim Director for OFYAM during Andrew Kuhn's paternity leave, has agreed to stay on and serve as Interim Missioner for Missional Living and work with the EMC and Servant Year Programs. Jan has a Master's degree in counseling and served for 8 years as a Director for Youth and Family Ministry at the parish level. Certified by FORMA in Youth and Family Ministry Jan brings with her extensive experience in program design, planning, and management as well as curriculum development and implementation.
We did have to make one timely decision. This year's Servant Year members experienced challenges that needed long-term solutions and some of our current corps members even felt that the program needed to take a year off. We were working with them to address identified issues in housing, placements and formation and it became clear that we needed the next year to get the best solutions in place. When Lindsay's departure came within a month of the new year start, we made the difficult decision to not offer Servant Year during the 2016-17-program year. We erred on the side of getting things done completely right instead of quickly and incompletely. We determined that we did not fully live up to our Servant Year pillars of community, service, and formation. We will continue to work diligently and methodically so that the programs we offer fully meet the needs of its members and reflect our diocesan values and mission
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven", and with every change there is opportunity. We look forward to where God is leading us in this ministry serving the needs of our parishes, clergy and laity.
-Andrew Kuhn
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Photos from Philadelphia Cathedral,
the Consecration of Bishop Gutierrez, and more
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Including photos from:
Presiding Bishop Curry meeting with clergy at Philadelphia Cathedral
The Service of Ordination and Consecration
The Presiding Bishop at St. Mary's Chester
and Bishop Gutierrez at Christ Church, Philadelphia
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Education for Ministry
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Have you ever considered a formal study of the things which inform your baptismal covenant? Many EfM seminar groups will be reforming or starting in the fall and now is the time for you to consider if this program is for you. The current texts are portrayed in the attached link.
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