ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
May 21, 2019
In response to questions, Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations offers summary of General Convention Policy on Abortion and Women's Reproductive Rights
TEC office of Govt Rel. DC
In response to questions from Episcopalians and others related to The Episcopal Church’s position on abortion, the Office of Government Relations (OGR) prepared a summary of General Convention Policy on Abortion and Women’s Reproductive Health and list of related resolutions:

May 17, 2019 [Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church] Clergy throughout The Episcopal Church counsel women, men, and families who must make decisions relating to pregnancy and childbirth, adoption, family planning, and who face infertility. Our ordained and lay leaders walk alongside Episcopalians and others who struggle with this intimate and challenging aspect of human life. Over the past several decades, the General Convention has addressed the topic of abortion from a position informed by this ministry and personal lived experience of clergy and laity within their own families. As a result, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church recognizes the moral, legal, personal, and societal complexity of the issue. The diversity of views within the Church represents our common struggle to understand and discern this issue.

The Episcopal Church  teaches  that “all human life is sacred. Hence, it is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness. Human life, therefore, should be initiated only advisedly and in full accord with this understanding of the power to conceive and give birth which is bestowed by God.” Our liturgical text Enriching Our Worship calls for great pastoral sensitivity to the needs of the woman and others involved in decisions relating to “abortion, or mishaps of pregnancy and infertility.” This ministry is particularly important in situations that result in the loss of a pregnancy or inability to become pregnant and as a Church, we have experienced that all of these have “a tragic dimension.”

In a series of statements over the past decades, the Church has declared that “we emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.” At the same time, since 1967, The Episcopal Church has maintained its “unequivocal opposition to any legislation on the part of the national or state governments which would abridge or deny the right of individuals to reach informed decisions [about the termination of pregnancy] and to act upon them.”


NOTE: The summary, linked above, is followed by a list of resolutions by name, year, and resolution number, each linked to the final version of the resolution as passed, now archived, as well as three resolves of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church.
From the blog: Meet Pam Toffey: Bridging the gap between us and the communion of saints
by ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Huggin s
“I’m a mutt,” she said with a huge smile on her face. “I’ve done the research, and have found that I am a little bit of everything, and I am embracing that.” 

Years ago, Pam Toffey was in a car accident which left her quite a bit of recovery time. While she was recovering, Pam jumped into the world of genealogy. “My father is 92, I wanted to know his stories, and I didn’t know any from my mother’s history. Now I am the family genealogist.” 

I sat down for coffee with Pam to learn about her, her ancestors, and how her spirituality has shaped since becoming interested in genealogy. With sites like Ancestry.com and the 23-and-me at home DNA kits, finding more about where you come from and who you come from, bridges the gap between us and the communion of saints.

“Every time I found something in my ancestry, I got more excited and kept exploring,” she said. The thing she was the most excited to explore – her great-great-great-great grandfather, the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African-American priest ordained in the Episcopal Church,  whose feast day is celebrated on February 13 .

ECCT's Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins is using a blog site, episcopalct.blog , to share her stories and those from others. ECCT podcast episodes are linked, as well. You can search archives and submit story leads. Contact her at storytelling@episcopalct.org
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 .
The Rev. Jonathan Folts of St. John's in Essex elected bishop of South Dakota

[ENS] The Diocese of South Dakota elected the Rev. Jonathan H. Folts as its 11th Bishop at its Special Election Convention in Pierre on May 4.
One of four nominees, Folts was elected on the fourth ballot. Folts, the rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, Connecticut, received 40 votes in the clergy order and 103 votes in the lay order. Thirty-eight clergy votes and 96 lay votes were necessary for election on that ballot. ...

Pending consent of a majority of the church’s bishops with jurisdiction and the diocesan standing committees, Folts will be ordained and consecrated on Nov. 2, with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as the chief consecrator. Folts will succeed the Rt. Rev. John T. Tarrant, who has served the diocese since 2009 and will retire in July.

Folts, 51, is a life-long Episcopalian who was raised in a clergy family in the Dioceses of West Texas and Northwest Texas.

The Diocese of South Dakota, encompassing 78 congregations, has the largest Native population in the Episcopal Church.

Diocese of Vermont elects Shannon MacVean-Brown as 11th bishop

[ENS] [Episcopal Church in Vermont] The Episcopal Church in Vermont has announced the election of the Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, interim rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Franklin, Indiana, as its 11th bishop diocesan.

MacVean-Brown was elected on the first ballot of the Special Electing Convention held May 18 in Burlington, receiving 41 votes in the clergy order and 69 votes in the lay order. A minimum of 31 clergy votes and 58 lay votes were necessary for election on that ballot.


ECCT Note: MacVean-Brown succeeds Bishop Tom Ely, a native of Connecticut, who was ordained deacon and priest in Connecticut and served in parishes, on diocesan staff, and at Camp Washington before his election in 2001 as bishop diocesan of Vermont.
Church site visit needed for credit checks required by new Model Safe Church Policies

You may have noticed requirements for various public records checks required by the Model Safe Church Policies. (See page 6 under "Section IV. Application and Screening" on both the Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults, and the one for the Protection of Children and Youth. The policies, available here , were adopted by ECCT effective 1/1/19.

The fourth item is: "A criminal public records check and a credit check is required of treasurers and those with check signing authority."

An on-site parish inspection is required by federal law before a parish can conduct a credit check. It will verify that you actually exist and that you have a "safe, secure location for personal information such as a locked filing cabinet, safe, etc., as well as a paper shredder." The on-site inspection costs $85 and will be conducted by the vendor who conducts ECCT's public record searches, SecureSearch Faith, using their designated inspector, Trendsource.

The site visit and expense is one-time only unless you physically change your address. Credit reports costs $13.50 per person.

If you have further questions contact Safe Church administrator Deb Kenney.
Wear Orange - Weekend of June 7 - 9

Orange is the color that Hadiya 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. ( wearorange.org )

Bishops United Against Gun Violence is a partner to this organization; Bishop Ian T. Douglas is a convener and Bishop Laura J. Ahrens is a member. Our bishops, and other BUAGV members, will observe this annual weekend and encourage other Episcopalians to do so as well. Bishop Ahrens will be at the Association of Episcopal Deacons and wear an orange stole while celebrating the Eucharist; Bishop Ian T. Douglas will wear orange while attending the June Leadership Gathering (likely will others there as well).

Visit the Episcopalians Against Gun Violence Facebook page for a May 13 post with info on ordering an orange stole from article Colleen Hintz.
Racial Justice Resource Coordinator hired

ECCT has hired Kelli R. Gibson, a YDS student, to serve as the Racial Justice Resource Coordinator as authorized by Annual Convention 2018 .

Kelli is a native of New Haven who attended the city's public schools. She completed her undergraduate studies at CCSU with a dual major in psychology and criminology. Currently she is in a Masters of Arts in Religion (MAR) program at Yale Divinity School, with a plan to concentrate in ethics. She's also a part of YDS' Black Church Studies certificate program, with expected graduation dates in 2020. Kelli has work experience in municipal and regional policy administration, sales, group home residential program management, and development consulting. She is the president of the Black Graduate Network at Yale, a leader in New Haven's "Pinky Promise" network, a ministry sponsorship director, a member of New Haven's NAACP Legal Redress Committee, and a New Haven Promise alum.
Kelli said what attracted her to this position is ECCT's boldness of wanting to address White supremacy at a time such as this, and the way it aligns with her current path. "I feel like this position is revealing itself to me as an 'Esther moment,' to be called to a time such as this," she said. "Pre-destined. It's a profound time."
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The Racial Justice Resource Coordinator is 10-hour/week position. Kelli will work particularly closely with the Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network (RHJRMN). The resource coordinator also serves ECCT bishops and staff, parishes, Region Missionaries and Region Leadership Teams, and other Ministry Networks. The Canon for Mission Communication & Media will serve as her supervisor. Kelli began May 8 and has met with ECCT staff and RHJRMN co-convenors and will attend Clergy Conference and meet with clergy, including Clergy of Color, this afternoon, May 21. Her email address is kgibson@episcopalct.org .

As part of her YDS program, Kelli has accepted a 10-week supervised ministry this summer in London, England, working with their YMCA to develop a new community chaplaincy program. She leaves May 25 and returns in early August. The working plan is for her to check email and work on ECCT projects on Mondays and Fridays while away; days and times may change after her return to classes in the fall. Request forms and other protocols are still in process.
Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in 2020 to be held July 7-11 at Howard University in D.C.; planning team announced

The Department of Faith Formation of The Episcopal Church announced May 20 that the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20) will be held in partnership with the Washington National Cathedral and the Episcopal Diocese of Washington on the campus of Howard University July 7-11, 2020.

EYE is planned by a team of youth along with adult mentors and others in specialized roles. Application for youth adults interested in serving on the Pastoral Care Team will be available in June. General registration is not yet open and will be coordinated by registrars in each diocese.

More info, list of planning team members, here in English, here in Spanish.
ECCT PODCAST
Listen to episodes at Coffee Hour at The Commons , or on iTunes , Google Play , and Stitcher !

 Know of an interesting individual or unique ministry in ECCT? Maybe something going on at your parish, or someone there? Let us know!!

Here's a list of archive guests by date with name/s and topic in case you want to check out past episodes.
In Episode #46, published May 17, Alli hosts conversations from our Cathedral in Hartford with several ministry leaders: Dean Miguelina Howell, Canon Jorge Pallares, Jilda Aliotta, Andrew May, Nancy Jacob, Kevin Bishop, and Theresa Greaves. Learn about the congregations and about Church Street Eats; Music Moves Hartford; Church by the Pond; and Wednesday Wellness. Link here.
ECCT IN THE NEWS
A few Episcopalians including the Rev. Curtis Farr, the Rev. Keri Aubert, and Berkeley Divinity School Dean Andrew McGowan are quoted in this New Haven Register article by Ed Stannard about a tour that Franklin Graham is bringing to CT that some describe as anti-LGBTQ+. Link here to read. Farr noted later that the Pride Service referenced in the article is collaborative and hosted at St. Paul's, Norwalk.)

Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in non-ECCT media/news!
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP WASHINGTON?
Sign up the kids for summer camp!

Mini-camp (overnight and day, ages 5-10); Children's Camp (ages 7-12); Teen Camp (ages 12-16); Wilderness Adventure Camp (ages 7-12 and 12-16); and Service Leadership Camp (ages 13-16).


WELCOME Tyler Jarvis, Camp Washington's new summer camp director and special programs coordinator. Video intro of Tyler here.

Programs at Camp Washington:
June 9, Second Sunday, with the Rev. Marilyn Anderson. 4:30 p.m. Conversation about wolves followed by worship and a meal. $10 suggested donation, register by calling 860-567-9623. More info here .
June 21-23, Writing workshop w/Davyne Verstandig ( info/register here )
Camp Washington is the official Camp and Conference Center of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) and a resource for Christian development and spiritual formation for followers of Jesus. Camp Washington is located on 300 acres in northwestern Connecticut and organizes and/or hosts retreats, conferences, and events throughout the year and offers a full summer camp program. It is a place of “acceptance, joy, and renewal for all God’s people.”
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL?
Upcoming events at Christ Church Cathedral
* Specially designated Centennial year events

  • June 9 Church Street Eats (CSE) Anniversary; International Day & Unveiling of Church Street Heroes Portrait, noon -2 p.m.
  • June 21 Church Street Eats Paint Night, 6 p.m.
  • June 29 Ordination of Deacons, 3 p.m. (ECCT event hosted at CCC)
  • June 30 Stained Glass Window Sunday - Tours at 9, 11:30, 1:30

Plan ahead! Centennial offering to ECCT in July:
*Sunday July 21, Jazz Mass at 10:30 a.m., Joint service with Hartford communities
Christ Church Cathedral is the gathering place for the entire Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the seat of its bishops. It is “Connecticut’s Cathedral” as all Episcopalians in CT are members of the Cathedral. From our Cathedral we are called and empowered to participate in God’s mission in our local neighborhoods. In this its centennial year, our Cathedral is opening its doors in new ways to neighbors near and far.
ECCT CALENDARS
Events below are coming up in the next few weeks
The ECCT calendar is located  here . It allows you to filter events by category and includes a subscribe link at the bottom of the page. Specific details including locations, times, etc. will also be found there.

ECCT meetings and events calendar (see other calendars below for bishops; Ministry Networks; Regions; and Clergy

  • May 24-31 CT River Pilgrimage
  • May 27: The Commons is closed
  • May 28: Convention planning team
  • May 28: Faith & Order Cttee Mtg
  • May 29: Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Alan Murchie
  • May 30: Finance Cttee Mtg
  • June 1: Retiro Hispano (Hispanic Retreat)
  • June 4: Missional PIC Gathering
  • June 6: Joining Jesus Advisory Council
  • June 6: Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Marek Zabriskie
  • June 8: Leadership Gathering followed by meetings of Mission Council, COM, Standing Cttee, and trustees of D&B.
  • June 9-19 Holy Land Pilgrimage

Bishops' Schedule:
Visitations:
  • June 2, Bishop Ahrens, St. James's, W. Hartford; Bishop Douglas, St. Martin's, Hartford
Confirmations:
  • June 1, Bishop Ahrens. Saint Luke's, Darien
  • June 8, Bishop TBD, SW Region, Ridgefield

Ministry Network meetings (see more on this calendar )

Region events
  • May 28: NC Region Leadership Team Mtg
  • May 29: SE and SC with St. Stephen's E. Haddam, Life along the River: Homelessness in Connecticut (see parish events, below)
  • June 6: NE Region Leadership Team Mtg
  • June 7: NE Region Men's Breakfast

Ordinations and Celebrations of New Ministry
  • May 29, Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Alan Murchie, Trinity, Nichols, 6:30 p.m.
  • June 6, Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Marek Zabriskie, Christ Church, Greenwich, 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming clergy events (see next category also)

  • May 23 Clericus: No. Central & So Central, at St. Peter's Cheshire; 11 a.m. Register here
  • May 28: OTM Profile workshop
  • June 4 Clericus: Northeast & Southeast, at St. Peter's, Hebron, 10 a.m. Register here
  • June 4, Missional PIC gathering
  • June 7 - 10, AED Triennial, RI
  • June 15: Mandatory Clergy Professional Development/Safe Church Recertification

Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day (MCPD)
  • The first session was April 11; the second was May 14; the final "regular" session will be Saturday, June 15, St. John's, Vernon. If it is full you can ask to be on the waiting list (call Deb Kenney to ask questions about that. See the FAQs if you have general questions about MCPD.)
  • If you cannot attend either of these, or you must cancel a session for which you already registered, you must register for and attend the one make-up session on Sat., Sept. 7 at St. John's, West Hartford. Registration opens after the June session,
  • Clergy who fail to attend MCPD in 2019 will not be "clergy in good standing."
  • See FAQs here. (what's required, who's required to participate, and more)
PARISH EVENTS
Events below are coming up in the next few weeks
Please visit this calendar for details on these parish events not listed above. To add an event, please fill out this form .

List of parish events Link here for full info. (Ministry Network and Region Leadership, see above). Be sure to list your events in your Region eNewsletters to reach your local audiences.

May 24 & 31, Balance class, Hebron
May 25 Church 200th Anniversary event, Zion No. Branford
May 26, Healing Service, Brooklyn
May 28 Book club discussion, Waking Up White , Torrington
May 29, Life Along the River: Homelessness in CT, East Haddam
May 31 Organ music of Great Britain, W. Hartford (w/ re-dedication of expanded Austin Organ)
June 2 Music events: Organ concert, W. Hartford; community choral evensong, Torrington]
June 5, Pops concert, Hartford
June 6 Book discussion, Flip-flops after 50 , Glastonbury
June 8, Golden Oldies concert, Wethersfield
June 9, St. Luke's Steel Band Anniversary Awards Brunch, Branford
June 9, Healing Service, Enfield

Selected event featured this week: Life along the River: Homelessness in Connecticut, May 29, 6-8 p.m. at St. Stephen's East Haddam. " Come for a meal and conversation with people who are currently and formerly homeless and learn about the experience of housing insecurity, especially along the CT River. This event is sponsored by St. Stephen's, the Southeast and South Central Regions of ECCT and LEAD, a committee of the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. The event is free and open to the public, with dinner provided (side dishes welcomed) Register here.
Sign up for Region Newsletters

All Region Missionaries can now use a common Constant Contact account for ECCT staff to create and publish regular newsletters. Here are links to some recent issues. Be sure to sign up for these by updating your subscriptions at the bottom of any enewsletter or from a link on this page . Get your local news & events!

Safe Church Training - Spring schedule started in March - FINAL DATES

All Safe Church Trainings (Comprehensive Basic and Lay Recertification) can be found on our website.
  • Use this link to the website page. From that page:
  • Lay recertification trainings are listed at the bottom of that page. Final session for this spring is June 1.
  • Option 1 for comprehensive training, full day in-person sessions. These have concluded for spring 2019.
  • Choose Option 2 for a hybrid: online training w/shorter in-person sessions (direct link here). Three upcoming dates for the in-person component are: June 8 (E. Windsor); and June 15 (Lime Rock).

If you have an upcoming summer program or Vacation Bible School and you need basic safe church training, plan ahead and take training in advance.

Important note for clergy only:
ALL clergy must attend one Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day in 2019. See clergy section in Calendar of Events, above.

OPEN POSITIONS - WE'RE HIRING!
Job openings may be found  here on the website . NOTE: Applicants will be able to submit their resume and cover letter to the contact person directly from the ECCT website, if that option is chosen by the person submitting the position for posting. 

ECCT staff positions:

  • Canon for Mission Communications & Media - reviewing applications
  • Dean of Formation - Link here for more
  • Canon for Mission Finance & Operations - reviewing applications

Parish and Camp pos itions:


Clergy non-parochial:

For open Clergy positions in parishes please click here .