JANUARY CLERGY ENEWSLETTER
January 24, 2019
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Faith, Hope, and Love
by: Link Huller
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Last night I went to bed knowing what I was going to write about this morning.
I even had a clever opening. This morning I woke up thinking about Dr. King. Lying in the darkness under warm covers, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was on my heart and in my mind. I am from the deep South. Dr. King was at the center of a swirling, changing universe when I was growing up in Alabama. Many white folks seemed to fear him while some seemed to hate him (those two are probably closely related).
Pappy, my grandfather, knew immediately what it was all about. A steel-worker and a union man, Pappy knew that Dr. King’s message was about coming together, unity, sharing, and respecting one another. I could not claim that my grandfather was free of all racial prejudice, but for a man born in Alabama in the 1890s (with only an elementary school education) he was well ahead of his time. Pappy knew that the “we” in “We Shall Overcome” was all of us. There was no threat in Dr. King’s message, but rather a promise and a hope.
We, humans and all creation, united shall overcome through faith, hope, and love.
Flash forward to 2019; one of my two parishes is in Plainville, CT. Just a few blocks from Church of Our Saviour is a restaurant owned by the Iriarte family. Recently, our neighbor (husband/father) was suddenly detained then quickly deported leaving his wife and two daughters behind in Plainville. As soon as we became aware of this tragic situation, the Rev. Armando Ghinaglia and I decided to do something, a fundraiser for the family.
The fundraiser turned out to be a “hootenanny,” gathering musicians, singing, playing instruments, dancing, laughing, and eating lots of food. Its purpose: bring folks together and gather donations for the family. With the help of Plainville neighbor Bill Morrell, we had sound, music, an afternoon of great fun and fellowship, and we raised over $1,500 for the Iriarte family.
What started as an event became a lesson in faith, hope, and love.
Paul writes that “In this life we have three lasting qualities – faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of them is love” (1 Corinthians 13: 13). We are reminded over and over again that we do not get to select priorities. Jesus tells us that “love your neighbor” is a priority. Our issues and agendas can come to dominate our thinking and distort our perspective. We begin in love then our “issue” becomes more important that the love. Our divided world filled with red angry faces gives testimony to the results of issue driven priorities.
What started as an event – a “hoot” to raise money for our neighbors, became a manifestation of faith, hope, and love. We saw what happened when we leave the issues and agendas at the door to simply come together in love: neighbors helping neighbors. There were no sermons and no speeches, but a lot of good will among good people of diverse ages, backgrounds, religions, and very different social and political perspectives.
We gathered for an event, but came away with a strengthened faith in God and one another. We left with hope that people really can overcome differences to do good things. We know that God’s love for us and our love for one another is stronger that the world’s pull to divide us. Dr. King would have loved the afternoon we shared. We hold fast to faith, hope, & love.
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The Rev. Link Hullar is Missional Priest in Charge at St. John’s (Bristol) and Church of Our Saviour (Plainville). He is from Decatur, Alabama. He is an adherent of the Briscoe Darling School of Music (“just jump in and hang on”) and committed to that guiding principle “I knew if I hung around here long enough something like this was bound to happen.”
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Season of Racial Healing, Justice, & Reconciliation for ECCT
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Guidelines for Clergy on Supporting Discernment
The Revs. Molly James and Marrissa Rorhbach with the Commission on Ministry have put together this
letter of guidelines for clergy
supporting individuals for discernment. If you have questions please reach out to
Molly James
.
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Serving God’s Mission with the Poor & Marginalized: Convention Follow-up this Saturday, January 26
The work that began at Convention in the Saturday workshop on the question that asked, “How do we meaningfully engage ECCT in the existing work of serving God’s mission among the poor & marginalized,” is continuing with an initial gathering to work on the next steps identified in the report to Convention. Join the Rev. Jessie Karpf and the Rev. Ron Steed, ECCT deacons, for the first gathering on January 26 at The Commons.
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Upcoming Region Clericus Gatherings, Registration Required
All Clergy -- please register for one of the following upcoming Clericus gatherings:
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February 5
Northwest & Southwest Regions
St. Timothy's, Fairfield
10:00 a.m.
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April 4
North Central & South Central Regions
St. Paul's, Wallingford
11:00 a.m.
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Joining Jesus in the New Missional Age, February 23
Gather with parishes from across ECCT and learn firsthand about the five “Spiritual Practices for a New Missional Age.” Join the Rev. Tim Hodapp, Canon for Mission Collaboration at The Commons on Saturday, February 23, with
Al Roxburgh
, theologian and facilitator from
The Missional Network
, for a day in exploration of ancient Christian practices and how they can transform our lives, parishes, and neighborhoods.
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WHO?
: Any Rector or PIC and three to five parishioners.
WHAT?
: Exploring the Spiritual Practices for a New Missional Age
WHEN?
: Saturday, February 23, 2019, 8:30 a.m-2:00 p.m.
WHERE?
The Commons, 290 Pratt St. Meriden, CT, 06450
WHY?
Why not? Who doesn’t want to join Jesus and change the world?
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The Missional Network has designed a four-module/12-month process for parishes to dive into these five practices more deeply. Come and learn more and, if you’re ready, sign up to be one of our 12 parishes to embark on a yearlong facilitated process to engage these practices in 2019. Required participation for 12-Month Engagement: Rector/PIC and six to eight parishioners.
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Mandatory Clergy Professional Development 2019 (MCPD)
All clergy canonically resident or licensed to serve in ECCT are required to attend MCPD for one day every three years. All clergy in ECCT are due for this training in 2019.
Please hold one of the following three dates to attend MCPD:
- Thursday, April 11, 2019 at St. Mark’s, New Canaan
- Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at St. Peter’s-Trinity, Thomaston
- Saturday, June 15, 2019 at St. John’s, Vernon
If you cannot attend on the day for which you register, then you will need to attend the only make-up session on
Saturday, September 7
at St. John’s, West Hartford.
Clergy who fail to attend MCPD will not be in good standing
.
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Parochial and Non-Parochial Reports Due March 1!
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Title 1, Canon 6, of the Constitutions & Canons requires the “Every Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon whose report is not included in a parochial report shall also report on the exercise of such office, and if there has been none, the causes or reasons which have prevented the same.”
To be consistent with the General Church definition of “non-parochial” clergy, this form is to be completed annually by all clergy who are canonically resident in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and who are not affiliated with a parish.
This includes retired clergy and clergy in secular employment including those affiliated with parishes but not in their parochial report. A report is required to be a clergy in good standing within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.
Please complete, print, sign, & return by March 1, 2019.
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Parochial Reports 101:
Join Canon Louis Fuertes and other ECCT office of finance staff for Parochial Reports 101.
Space is limited, no more than 2 people per parish.
January 25
, 10:00–11:30 a.m.
January 29
, 10:00–11:30 a.m.
January 31
, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Faithful Futures on Parochial Reports: February 7, 2019
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By mail: The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Office of the Episcopate, 290 Pratt Street, Meriden, CT 06450; By email:
ahollo@episcopalct.org;
Questions: Alison Hollo, 203-639-3501 ext. 112
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Upcoming
:
- January 24: Missional Priest-in-Charge Gathering, The Commons
- January 25: Parochial Reports 101, The Commons
- January 26: Mission Council Work Day, Camp Washington
- January 26: Serving God's Mission with the Poor and Marginalized, The Commons
- January 29: Parochial Reports 101, The Commons
- January 29: Transition Consultants Gathering, The Commons
- January 31: Parochial Reports 101, The Commons
- January 31: Celebration of New Ministry: Taylor Albright, Trinity, Tariffville
- February 5: Northwest & Southwest Region Clericus Gathering, St. Timothy's, Fairfield
- February 7: Joining Jesus Advisory Council, The Commons
- February 7: Faithful Futures Parochial Reports, The Commons
- February 10: Day of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation
- February 12: Clergy Day, Trinity, Portland
- February 13: COM Meeting, The Commons
- February 18: The Commons is Closed
- February 21: New Call Meeting, The Commons
- February 21: Standing Committee, The Commons
Save the Date:
- March 6 - 8: Women's Clergy Retreat, Camp Washington
- March 30: Faith Behind Bars & Beyond Annual Forum
- April 11 & May 14: Clergy Professional Development & Safe Church Recertification
- April 27: Spring Training and Gathering
- May 20-22: Speak Truth to Power, Clergy Conference with the Rev. Mpho Tutu van Furth, leader, and the Rev. Leng Lim, as chaplain, Westbrook, CT
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From Lee Ann Tolzmann, Canon for Mission Leadership
The
Transition Ministries Conference
is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers from about 40 dioceses, mostly in the northeastern quadrant of the US (from Missouri east and North Carolina north), specifically to share information about congregations that are searching for clergy and clergy who are looking for new congregations. Diocesan transition ministers present summaries of congregational profiles and pertinent information about potential clergy candidates in search of the best match between talent and need.
The conference occurs twice a year, and the next meeting is March 25-29. This particular TMC meeting is part of a wider church (all TEC) gathering of Diocesan Transition Ministers. If you are exploring another call, or are in the early stages of the discernment process, this is a chance for you to test that out.
Knowing that the decision to explore new ministry possibilities is a sensitive one, please rest assured that the names shared at the TMC are kept in strictest confidence; only I will know who has asked to be presented. There is a high trust level between TMC transitions ministers, and we honor the delicate nature of this sort of discernment.
Please contact
Lee Ann Tolzmann
with any questions about the TMC or the process.
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Clergy in Transition
The Rev. Ann Perrott is now Conditional Priest in Charge at Christ Church, Middle Haddam. Please note that the parish is not in discernment about closing, but rather has chosen not to engage in missional work.
The Rev. Jane Jeuland is now Missional Priest in Charge of Christ Church, Tashua (Trumbull).
The Rev. Peter Thompson will end his ministry at St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk on January 27. He has accepted a call as Associate Rector for Formation and Liturgy at St. Bartholomew’s in New York.
The Rev. Carlos de la Torre, ECCT Southwest Region Missionary, has accepted a call as Rector of St. John’s Church in Bellefonte, PA, diocese of Central Pennsylvania. He will begin his new ministry in May.
The Rev. Nicholas Lang has announced his retirement as rector of St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk, effective June 1, 2019.
Parishes in Transition
Calvary Church, Stonington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Ajung Sojwal
Christ Church, East Norwalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Christ Church, Norwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Christ Church, Redding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Alon White
Epiphany, Durham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Good Shepherd, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Good Shepherd, Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Good Shepherd, Shelton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Newington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Stafford Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Holy Spirit, West Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking CPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Middlesex Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
San Lucas/San Pablo, Bridgeport .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Spanish speaking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Devon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Stamford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Ann’s, Old Lyme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking PPIC
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recruiting
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. James’ Danbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim in place: Lisa Hahneman
St. James’ Winsted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Salisbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Stamford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking PPIC
St. John’s, Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will seek PPIC in spring 2019
St. Luke’s, Darien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking IPIC
St. Luke’s, New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking half-time PPIC
St. Mark’s, Bridgeport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Mark’s, Bridgewater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Martin’s, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Peter’s/Trinity, Thomaston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Stephen’s, Bloomfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
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