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News for the Weeks of
November 12 and 19, 2017
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"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way."
- First Corinthians 12:27-31
When St. Paul traveled, spreading Christianity throughout the empire, he would enter a city and often go to the synagogue until he was kicked out, and then he'd go amongst the Gentiles. He would spend weeks, months, sometimes years preaching and teaching about the risen Jesus Christ. Often meeting in homes, a community of believers would arise around him, but always, there was a need to move on. Sometimes, as Anthony Hopkins portraying Paul says in the movie Peter and Paul, the hope was "the stones would be softer in the next town". But when the Apostle departed each community he left behind a Church: people who had Christ proclaimed to them and whose hearts burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit. On occasion he would return, more often he wrote letters offering advice, but that community that came together in the name of Jesus Christ continued and grew. The resurrected Christ was preached, the Lord's Supper was celebrated, people were baptized, and the church multiplied. In a short ten years, because of the work of Paul and those he left, the Church could be found in the provinces of Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia. His method was simply to enter, teach a little, have believers baptized, teach a lot more, raise up respected members of the community and appoint them as leaders, along with the mutual support and responsibility of that same community. Paul, Barnabas, Timothy and later bishops would provide oversight and advice, but the community was responsible for itself. They were to decide who should be admitted to membership, they were to resolve conflicts whenever possible, they would provide their own financial support, and gathered in community, they would educate their leaders and themselves. What was absent from all of this was one thing: seminary. Looking back at the first century church, I think it would be fair to say that Paul might have been the only person, even among the disciples, who had anything resembling a seminary education.
In the late 1950's and early 1960's, roughly half of our Diocesan income came out of our Eastern Kentucky congregations. At that time there were few Episcopalians in the region, but despite their smaller numbers, the desire for sacramental Episcopal worship was essential for them. Blessed with our own seminary, and the primary service of the church at the time still being Morning Prayer several times a month, we were able to supply the need for persons-in-charge with seminarians and newly ordained Deacons and Priests. By the time the 1979 Book of Common Prayer came to be the standard and the Eucharist again became the primary form of Sunday worship, the need for a priest in each congregation became the norm. Only a few years later, things began to change for our more isolated congregations. In 1984 the annual salary for a full-time priest in one of our Mission Congregations was $19,218 and health insurance was around $2,000 for family coverage. By the mid-eighties our seminary had closed, and salaries and insurance premiums began to soar. Thankfully we were blessed by a number of retired clergy who were willing to drive long distances through the mountains and take on multiple churches. In 1987, our twelve congregations east of I-75 and south of I-64 were served by ten priests. Today, of the ten remaining congregations, only one has a full-time resident priest and five have a priest present only twice a month. The Diocese of Lexington is not unique in this respect. Our young adults leave home for college, then after graduation move out of the more isolated communities for better work opportunities. Our congregations are declining, although not as quickly as most of the communities where they are found. The current starting salary for a seminary trained clergyperson is $58,800 plus health and dental insurance, which can add another $6,000 to $8,000 for single coverage. We also now find ourselves with few retired clergy who are capable of driving hours each way to rea
ch some of these distant congregations. So, do we give up and just close the doors?
I would like to suggest that we look back to St. Paul's methods for founding the Church. What would happen if we were to raise up people from within our congregations? Could we, like Paul, help congregations discover their members who have the gift of preaching? Could we help them raise up communicants who can teach the faith? Why can't we help them to discover those within the community who would have the gifts to celebrate the sacraments with the Church? All these congregations have people who take care of the pastoral needs of the congregation when no clergy are available; why not recognize them and make them official? In doing so, before long we'll find the total congregation recovering the gifts which we proclaim they possess by the right of their full membership by baptism into the Body of Jesus Christ.
But they have not spent three years in seminary! Why can we not help them grow in the faith within the congregations they will serve? Why can we not help the whole congregations grow together, sharing the gifts and knowledge they have and will learn? Today, nearly every Episcopal Seminary has online courses on almost any aspect of ministry, realizing that a three year degree is a waning reality for many. There are programs such as EFM and LifeCycles, to mention only two that are being used in the Diocese of Lexington at this moment, which can assist in the formation within the congregations where they live and work, just as they have been for decades in some dioceses of the Anglican Church around the world. But we have never done it this way before! Well, yes, we have, and are today. No, this is not a model for every congregation. But for some, it may be the only way to continue to be a sacramental church, fed by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. For some, it may be the only way to fully use the gifts we have been given.
The Venerable Bryant C. Kibler, Sr.
Bishop's Deputy for Administration, The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
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PRESIDING BISHOP CALLS FOR PRAYER FOLLOWING TEXAS SHOOTING
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"We pray for those who suffer and for those who have died. Will you pray with me?"
During his visit to the Scottish Episcopal Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered comments following the recent Texas church shooting.
To read the full text of his statement,
click here.
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BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARINGS
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The Budget Committee will be hosting hearings throughout the Diocese of Lexington on the 2018 proposed budget. Everyone in the diocese is invited to attend. The hearings will be open-forum, providing an opportunity for parishioners to ask questions and be heard. Please share and plan to attend.
2018 Proposed Budget Hearings (Remaining Dates)
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
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An announcement from the Nominations Committee for the
2018 Diocesan Convention:
The Nominations Committee of the Diocese of Lexington is looking for candidates, who are communicants in good standing in their local churches, to stand for election for the following offices:
Standing Committee
,
Executive Council
and
Board of Trustees for the University of the South
.
Please
click here
to view and download the church bulletin insert containing more information.
Nominations are currently being accepted. To fill out and submit the Nomination Form,
click here
.
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Save the Date! Diocesan Convention 2018
The 122nd Convention of the Diocese of Lexington will occur on
Saturday, February 24 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Winchester, Kentucky. Please mark your calendars!
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NEWS FROM BISHOP CALDWELL
AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE
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On Friday, October 20, the Standing Committee shared with the Diocese the plan for moving forward after Bishop Caldwell completes his time with us. You can read that message
here.
On Friday, September 8, Bishop Provisional Bruce Caldwell shared with the diocese that due to family health issues he will be bringing his time with us in the diocese to a close at the end of this year. Please
click here to read this letter from The Rt. Rev. Bruce Caldwell.
Click here to download and print Bishop Caldwell's 2017 Visitation Schedule.
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Happening
November 10-12, 2017
Happening is a Christian experience presented by teenagers for teenagers. It is sponsored by The Episcopal Church and is designed for all youth in grades 10-12.
The Registration Deadline is
November 1, 2017.
For more information (including links to print the application and make an online payment) please
click here to visit the Cathedral Domain website.
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At this introduction to Centering Prayer, you'll learn about prayer as relationship, the simple method of Centering Prayer, how to deal with thoughts during prayer and how to deepen your
relationship with God. You will also experience two periods of Centering Prayer.
Please
click here
to view and download the event flyer.
Cost: $25 per person includes the workshop and six follow-up sessions.
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ECW Annual Meeting and Luncheon
November 11, 2017 at 10am
Please join us for fun, fellowship and worship as we recognize our
Distinguished Women of the Diocese. Reservations are requested but not required.
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The subject of the conference is "Consequences of Incarceration:
The
life-changing prison journey through the eyes of inmates, family members, and pioneering ministries".
Please
click here
to view and download the agenda and registration form.
Cost: $15
Deadline to register: October 28, 2017
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Are you a young adult looking for conversation and fellowship in a non-judgmental setting? Then join us for Theology on Tap on the first and third Mondays of each month at popular bars around Lexington. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey you are welcome at the table!
1st & 3rd Mondays, 6:30-8:30pm at the following locations:
November 20 - Mirror Twin
Cost: just cost of drinks!
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 Join us at St. Augustine's Chapel for a quiet, candle-lit service of readings and songs to start your Advent off right. We will gather after the service for light refreshments.
Please
click here
to view and sign up for this event on Facebook.
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A New Year in the Spirit - Junior & Senior High Youth Event
December 27-30, 2017
The term "A New Year in the Spirit" refers to an attitude - a challenge - an effort - to increase our awareness of God's will and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Open to all youth in grades 7-12.
Registration is limited; first come, first served! Deadline:
December 15, 2017.
Cost: only $125.00 for this 4-day, 3-night event. Meals, lodging, program activities and T-shirt are included.
Click here to download and print the Registration Form.
To make an online payment, please
click here to visit the Cathedral Domain website.
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Art at the Cathedral Gallery Hop and Arts Weekend
January 19-21, 2018
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Sunday, November 12, 2017 (Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost)
Sunday, November 19, 2017 (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
St. Patrick's Church, Somerset
The Rev. Amanda Musterman, Priest-in-Charge
Sunday, November 26, 2017 (Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King)
Lay Church Staff of the Diocese of Lexington
Sunday, December 3, 2017 (First Sunday of Advent)
The Church of the Advent, Cynthiana
The Rev. Paul Wanter, Priest-in-Charge
Download the Intercessory Prayer List
The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is published on the Resources page of the diocesan website under the "Resources for Worship" tab.
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To submit an event for publication in
DioLink and on diolex.org:
click here.
Please note that
submissions must be received by Tuesday evening
in order to be
included in that week's DioLink. The website is updated continually.
Thank you!
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