News From Diocesan Convention
Thank you to all who attended this year's diocesan convention for helping to make it a success. If you weren't able to attend this year, be sure to ask your congregation's delegates and clergy what they learned and what about it excited them. We tried a lot of new things-from a no-bulletin service to electronic voting to carbon offsets-in an attempt to be more environmentally conscious as we were focusing on creation care. Thank you for trying them with us, and be sure to let us know what you are doing in your own parish.
Below are the results of elections held at convention and the two resolutions we passed.
Results of Elections
Executive Council, At-Large Lay Representative
Harold Hedges (St. Michael's, Little Rock)
Standing Committee, Lay Representative
Beth Matthews (Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock)
Standing Committee, Clergy Representative
The Rev. Kate Alexander (Christ Church, Little Rock)
Board of Trustees, Lay Representative
Denise Chai (St. Michael's, Little Rock)
Board of Trustees, Clergy Representative
The Rev. Greg Warren (St. Peter's, Conway)
Board of Review, Clergy Representatives (2)
The Rev. Danny Schieffler (St. Mark's, Little Rock)
The Rev. Marna Franson (St. Nicholas', Maumelle)
Camp Mitchell Board At-Large
Jenny Knight (All Saints', Russellville)
Sewanee Board, Clergy Representative
The Rev. Marti Dalby (St. Francis', Heber Springs)
General Convention, Lay Deputies (4)
1st deputy: Jeannie McCabe (St. John's, Fort Smith)
2nd deputy: Samantha Clare (St. Paul's, Fayetteville)
3rd deputy: John Tisdale (St. Mark's, Little Rock)
4th deputy: Thomas Alexander (Christ Church, Little Rock)
1st alternate: Randall Curtis (St. Mark's, Little Rock)
2nd alternate: Rick Williams (Grace, Pine Bluff)
General Convention, Clergy Deputies (4)
1st deputy: The Rev. Sara Milford (All Saints'/Todos los Santos, Bentonville)
2nd deputy: The Rev. Peggy Cromwell (St. Peter's, Conway)
3rd deputy: The Rev. Kate Alexander (Christ Church, Little Rock)
4th deputy: The Rev. Mark Nabors (St. Alban's, Stuttgart and St. Peter's, Tollville)
1st alternate: The Rev. Betsy Baumgarten (St. Mary's, El Dorado)
2nd alternate: The Rev. Stan McKinnon (Grace, Siloam Springs)
3rd alternate: The Rev. Michael McCain (St. Mark's, Little Rock)
4th alternate: The Rev. Jim McDonald (St. Paul's, Batesville)
Resolutions Passed
Narcan (naloxone HCl) Placement and Training in Congregations and Institutions of the Diocese of Arkansas
RESOLVED, all congregations and institutions of the Diocese of Arkansas have Narcan (naloxone HCl) available on their premises and work with the health professionals to provide training to the people who gather, pray, and serve in the congregation for the use of this life-saving medicine.
RESOLVED, all congregations and institutions of this Diocese engage in prayer and education about this public health crisis and the ways of response that will support people in crisis and work to overcome the crisis's devastating effects.
RESOLVED, that all congregations of the Diocese be encouraged to: (1) partner with First Responders and others in the medical community to host trainings on how to administer Narcan in the event of an overdose; (2) partner with other faith communities and recovery programs in their local contexts to offer pastoral care to those affected by this epidemic; (3) partner with other faith leaders to advocate at the state and local levels of government for policies and laws to promote healing and wholeness for those affected by this epidemic; and (4) lift up the needs of those affected by the epidemic in public prayer from time to time.
RESOLVED, all congregations and institutions of the diocese make every effort to have this resolution in effect by the year 2021.
Submitted by the Rev. Joanna Seibert. Co-sponsored by the Rev. Nancy Cook, the Rev. Peggy Cromwell, the Rev. Marna Franson, the Rev. Mark Harris, the Rev. Keith Hearnsberger, Dr. Terry Jefferson, the Rev. Sam Loudenslager, the Rev. Patricia Matthews, and the Rev. Greg Warren.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
RESOLVED, that the Episcopal Church in Arkansas reaffirms its commitment to the stewardship of God's creation as the work of every parish and parishioner; and expresses its belief that climate change poses an existential threat to the environment and to humanity and that the effects of climate change are more likely to be detrimental to the poor throughout the world; and be it further
RESOLVED, that all congregations in the diocese are encouraged to use a resource such as the freely available EPA Portfolio Manager to estimate greenhouse gas emissions of their church-owned buildings; and be it further
RESOLVED, that all congregations in the diocese should develop a plan to reduce those greenhouse gas emissions as an expression of their commitment to the stewardship of creation and share that plan with the 2021 diocesan convention.
Submitted by Mac Mayfield and co-sponsored by the Rev. Evan Garner.
