MAY CLERGY eNEWSLETTER
May 23, 2019
“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
By Elise Hanley

SURPRISE! I thought to myself, as I discovered that our small apron/parking lot had been ripped up by construction on Wednesday morning. The sidewalk adjacent to it belongs to the City of New Haven, not Trinity on the Green, so they can do as they wish. Unfortunately, they had not given the church any advance notice of the work, so we could not give any notice to our parishioners of no available free parking on our second busiest day of the week.
 
I am the Associate Rector, and am currently serving solo while our rector, Luk De Volder, is on sabbatical. I knew there would be surprises while he was away. Of course, we can never anticipate surprises, as they are surprises. While I have already imagined the worst possible catastrophes occurring, it is more often the smaller, unimaginable annoyances that can throw one completely off one’s A game.
 
The surprise of the parking lot caused us to have to cancel some meetings and events. And suddenly, the truth began to come out in whispers: “Oh, thank God - I got my afternoon back…” “Good, I can actually get some work done….” “Good, I can go home early…”

We all know we are supposed to find time to rest. We clergy know that we are supposed to take at least one Sabbath Day each week, and that we are supposed to put up healthy boundaries to protect it at all costs. Then we find ourselves in weeks where the problems are non-stop, the needs are too great, and we risk going into SUPER PRIEST! mode, cape not included. And the worst part is that we know better.
 
We all know better. Even when we keep getting busier, because Look busy, Jesus is coming! Newly ordained or long ordained, we can fall into the mindset of “I have to be busy.” The changing church and changing world can make us afraid. We get busier to justify our existence: to justify others paying us, to justify others needing us. Burnout is real: we see it around us, but somehow think, “that won’t be me…” Our fear and anxiety keep us busy. Then, it takes unexpected surprises, sometimes bad ones, to finally get us to stop and rest.
 
Every Sunday of Luk’s sabbatical, we pray a prayer in unison for his time away. The prayer not only asks God to guide and restore him during that time, but it also asks that it may be a time of intentional rest, prayer, and reflection for the all of us. Each week, I am reminded that I have to keep encouraging everyone to stop and breathe; to cut back, rest, and discern what new possibilities might lie for us in the fall. I must model that by example, even if I feel like I am drowning in busy.
 
I pray we all find rest this summer, whether it is on retreat, on vacation, or even in our preaching, teaching, and worshipping. May we all find time to draw near to God, so that our restless hearts may rest in God’s tender care.

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The Rev. Elise Ashley Hanley currently serves as Associate Rector at Trinity on the Green, and as Assisting Priest at The Episcopal Church at Yale. A born and raised New Yorker, she is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and worked as a stage and production manager on, off, and way off Broadway prior to discerning a call to the priesthood. She is married to Chris Ashley, who serves as a chaplain at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, and they live together in New Haven.
OTM Personal Profile Workshop for Clergy to be held May 28

By Canon for Mission Leadership the Rev. Lee Ann Tolzmann

It is advisable for all clergy to have an updated Office of Transition Ministry (OTM) personal ministry profile. On  Tuesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. until 11:30 , Canon for Mission Leadership Lee Ann Tolzmann will offer a workshop on how to effectively complete a profile. While paper versions for drafts will be available, it is recommended that participants bring laptops with them to sign in and see how it all works.  Before the workshop ,  please go to:  otmportfolio.org   and sign in , just to make sure you have access. If you cannot sign in, scroll down the sign in page for information on how to get help. If you need to request a new account, you will find the New Account Request form at: https://www.otmportfolio.org/request-access  
NOTE: Lee Ann cannot help you access your own portfolio for editing . 

The workshop will take place in the Connecticut River Room at The Commons in Meriden.  Registration will be limited. To register, please email  Amber Page Gehr .
Congrats to the Rev. Jonathan Folts on his election as bishop of the Diocese of South Dakota

The Rev. Jonathan Folts, rector of St. John's in Essex CT, was elected on May 4 as the 11th bishop of the Diocese of South Dakota, which has 78 congregations. Pending consent from bishops and standing committees, he will be ordained and consecrated on November 2. Read more in this ENS article.
Clergy conference survey link here

The 2019 Clergy Conference, May 20-22 in Westbrook, just wrapped up and organizers would like to hear back from participants. Link here to a survey/evaluation .
Mandatory Clergy Professional Development 2019 (MCPD) - Limited # seats remain in final June session

All clergy canonically resident and living in CT or elsewhere, functioning liturgically at all, and clergy canonically resident elsewhere and licensed to serve in ECCT, are required to attend MCPD for one day every three years and are due for this training in 2019. The training also serves as Safe Church recertification and will include an updated public records background check as required by the new Model Policies of The Episcopal Church, which required all dioceses to adopt them by 1/1/19.

The first date was April 11, the second was May 14, the third is June 15. If you haven't yet registered and the June one is full, you can ask to be added to the waiting list. If you can't get into the June event or need to cancel a current registration, you will need to register for the final session on Saturday, Sept. 7 at St. John's, West Hartford. Registration for that will open after the June session. There will be no "make-up" sessions after that.

  • Saturday, June 15, 2019 at St. John’s, Vernon - Register here
  • For questions about what's required, and who's required, and what "Good Standing" means, link here to FAQs.
  • For technical problems related to registering on eventbrite, contact Administrator for Mission Collaboration Gigi Leackfeldt.

Clergy who fail to attend MCPD will not be in "Good Standing"  
Witnessing against gun violence:
Facebook live Friday prayer services;
Wear Orange weekend June 7-9

Starting last January 11 in Epiphany, going through Easter, bishops from Bishops United Against Gun Violence (BUAGV) have been leading a series of brief online worship services on Fridays. Each have different themes related to gun violence. The services are recorded live on the Episcopalians Against Gun Violence Facebook page and remain accessible there.

Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple of the Diocese of North Carolina will lead the May 24 service at 2 p.m. EST, and Bishop Ian T. Douglas, who led the first one in the series in January, will host the concluding service on Friday, May 31 at 2 p.m. EST.

Both ECCT bishops are members of BUAGV, which is a partner to Wear Orange , an organization devoted to "fight[ing] for a future free from gun violence. "Orange is the color that Hadily Pendleton's friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 -- just one week after performing at President Obama's 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. After her death, they asked us to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange to raise awareness about gun violence." Orange is worn by hunters in order to be seen. Wear Orange weekend is June 7-10. Both bishops will participate and encourage other Episcopalians to do so as well, at liturgical or other events where they'll be seen.
June book study to discuss Rachel Held Evans' book on church

The next Bishop's Book Study, Friday June 28 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. will discuss Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church , a memoir by Rachel Held Evans, published in 2015. The discussion is led by Bishop Laura J. Ahrens at Camp Washington . There's an optional lunch that follows and a $10 registration fee. Register here or call 860-567-9623. Open to both clergy and laity.

From the book summary on the publisher's page:

"New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans embarks on a quest to find out what it really means to be part of the Church.

"Like millions of her millennial peers, Rachel Held Evans didn’t want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals—church culture seemed so far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing her back to Church. And so she set out on a journey to understand Church and to find her place in it.

"Centered around seven sacraments, Evans’ quest takes readers through a liturgical year with stories about baptism, communion, confirmation, confession, marriage, vocation, and death that are funny, heartbreaking, and sharply honest.

"A memoir about making do and taking risks, about the messiness of community and the power of grace, Searching for Sunday is about overcoming cynicism to find hope and, somewhere in between, Church."
eNewsletters: Are you getting the info you need?
The electronic newsletters published by ECCT include:

  • weekly general-interest eNews;
  • monthly Clergy eNews;
  • bi-monthly Parish Administration & Finance eNews;
  • Bishops' Letters including clergy death notices), sent as needed;
  • Annual Convention eNews, sent as needed and contains links to all documents needed;
  • local newsletter for each Region, usually monthly;
  • occasional single-focus newsletters
You can add, delete, or change your subscriptions any time for any of the ECCT-wide or Region newsletters.

As you welcome new clergy, please be sure they know

More info on this page .  Includes link to sign up and link to the online archives of prior issues.
Clergy Events
The ECCT calendar is here.
Note: Monday May 27 The Commons is closed

Upcoming ECCT events for lay and ordained:
  • May 24-31 River Pilgrimage
  • May 29, Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Alan Murchie
  • June 6, Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Marek Zabriskie
  • June 9-19 Holy Land Pilgrimage
  • June 28, Bishop's Book Study
  • June 29, Ordination of Deacons, Christ Church Cathedral

Upcoming ECCT events for ordained (& in process):
  • May 28, OTM Profile workshop
  • June 4, NE and SE Region Clericus
  • June 4, Missional PIC Gathering
  • June 7-10, Episcopal Association of Deacons (AED) Triennial
  • June 15, Mandatory Clergy Professional Development & Safe Church recertification (third of three dates offered; registration for September make-up session opens after this)
  • June 15, Gathering of Nominees, Postulants & Candidates

Save the date: Women's Clergy Retreat, Feb. 27-28, 2020, Camp Washington
Clergy in Transition
The search for a chaplain at Seabury Life Care Community in Bloomfield CT has been re-opened. Candidates will be interviewed as they apply. All applications (letter of interest, current OTM and current resumé) should be sent to Lee Ann Tolzmann at latolzmann@episcopalct.org . Click here for job description .

We are also seeking full-time Provisional Priests in Charge for Christ Church, Pomfret and St. Paul’s, Norwalk . Their rectors are retiring on May 31. Please refer any and all potential candidates to Lee Ann Tolzmann. The position in Pomfret comes with a rectory.

Clergy in Transition

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Folts has been elected Bishop of South Dakota. His last Sunday as rector of St. John’s Church, Essex, will be June 23.

The Rev. Susan Davidson will end her ministry as Missional Priest in Charge of All Saints Church, Wolcott, on June 30. She will be relocating to Florida.

The Rev. Ray Cox will end his ministry as Missional Priest in Charge of Trinity-St. Michael’s Church, Fairfield, on June 30.

The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez, Diocese of Long Island, has been appointed Provisional Priest in Charge of St. John’s Church, Stamford, effective June 2.

The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell, Diocese of Rhode Island, has been appointed Provisional Priest in Charge of St. Ann’s Church, Old Lyme, effective August 1.


Parishes in Transition

Calvary Church, Stonington..............................................................................Interviewing
Christ Church, Norwich.......................................................................Seeking half time PPIC
Christ Church, Redding...................................................................................Interviewing
Good Shepherd, Shelton.................................................................................Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Newington.................................................................................Negotiating
Grace Church, Stafford Springs.........................................................................Seeking MPIC
Holy Spirit, West Haven..................................................................................Seeking CPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown.....................................................................Seeking half-time PPIC
Middlesex Cluster................................................................................................Pending
San Lucas/San Pablo, Bridgeport.....................................................Seeking Spanish spking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Devon......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Stamford..................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry.............................................................Names being received by CML
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. James’ Danbury....................................................................IPIC in place: Lisa Hahneman
St. James’ Winsted.......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Salisbury......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Washington.........................................................................................Pending
St. Luke’s, Darien.......................................................................IPIC in place: Ellen Tillotson
St. Luke’s, New Haven....................................................................................Interviewing
St. Mark’s, Bridgewater..................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Martin’s, Hartford....................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Peter’s/Trinity, Thomaston............................................................................Negotiating
St. Stephen’s, Bloomfield......................................................................................Pending
Trinity, Hartford............................................................................................Seeking IPIC
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