In his final address as Bishop to the 198th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, the Right Rev. Scott Anson Benhase, 10th Bishop of Georgia, announced that he is committing 3% of the diocese's unrestricted endowment to help form the St. Anna Alexander Center for Racial Reconciliation & Healing.

Benhase noted that Virginia Theological Seminary recently committed approximately 1% of its endowment toward racial reparations. Also recently, the Diocese of New York committed 2.5% of its endowment to that goal. In addition, Bishop Benhase urged all congregations in the Diocese of Georgia who have endowments to commit their own 3% toward racial reconciliation and healing.

Bishop Benhase said: "As I wrote to the Diocese last week, every person's life is an unspoken sermon that is constantly preaching to others. That is true not just of individuals. It is also true for the church as a whole and for a diocese in particular. What we do as a diocese speaks volumes. What we are beginning is not reparations. No amount of money can do that. What we are doing is committing significant resources to the long, slow work of racial reconciliation and healing."

The Diocese of Georgia has formed a Resource Team for Racial Reconciliation & Healing to work through the new St. Anna Alexander Center. Referencing the text for his address ("The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" - Matthew 9:37), Bishop Benhase stated: "Our team leaders are ready and equipped for a very Jesus-like harvest of racial reconciliation and healing."

Board of the Corporation

Edward Field, St. Peter's, Savannah, left; Mary Willoughby, Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah

Disciplinary Board

From left: Neal W. Dickert, Good Shepherd, Augusta; the Rev. Becky Rowell, Christ Church, St. Simons and the Rev. Jim Said, St. Augustine of Canterbury, Augusta

Diocesan Council at Large

The Rev. Ashton Williston, Christ Church Frederica, St. Simons Island

Sewanee Trustee

 

Isabella Stuart Reeves, Christ Church, Savannah

Lay Deputies to the General Convention

From left: 1. Cissy Bowden, Good Shepherd, Augusta;  2. Dade Brantley, St. Mark's, Brunswick;  3. Molly Stevenson, Christ Church, Valdosta;  4. Jody Grant, Our Savior, Martinez. 

Alternates: 1. Elizabeth Williams, St. Thomas', Thomasville; 2. Katie Easterlin, Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah. Not shown: 3. Sarah Riggle, St. Barnabas', Valdosta

General Convention Deputy, Deacon or Priest

From left: 1. The Rev. Kelly Steele, St. Peter's, Savannah, Chair of the Deputation;  2. The Very Rev. Ted Clarkson,  St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's, Darien:  3. The Rev. David Rose, St. Luke's, Rincon:  4. The Rev. Cynthia Taylor, Holy Comforter, Martinez

From left: 1st alternate) The Rev. Tom Purdy,  Christ Church Frederica, St. Simons;  2nd alternate); the Rev. Leeann Culbreath, Deacon, St. Barnabas', Valdosta, and  3rd alternate) the Rev. Dee Shaffer,  St. Paul's, Jesup

Standing Committee

From left: The Very Rev. Tar Drazdowski,  Christ Church, Cordele;  Pat Leslie,  St. George's, Savannah

Convention Votes to Amend Canons

The 198th Convention voted to amend Canon I.13.2-3 to further spell out with great specificity the composition of the Commission on Ministry including both the interview committee and the examining chaplains. The clergy and delegates voted down the proposed change to Canon I.13.4 which would have replaced the Worship Committee described by canons with the ability for the bishop to create additional ad hoc groups with the consent of Diocesan Council. The 2019 Canons as revised by convention will be posted online soon. The changes approved are found online here 

	Jody Grant, left, was this year's recipient of the Bishop's Award.

The Brain Trust, finishing some final details for the 198th Convention on Friday morning.

Episcopal Youth Event, July 2020

The University of Maryland, College Park Maryland

Every three years, in accordance with General Convention Resolution, the Episcopal Church convenes an international youth event so "that the energy of the youth of the Episcopal Church can continue to be utilized in active ministry as members of the Body of Christ."

In other words, every three years there is an incredible gathering of hundreds of Episcopal youth from all over the world...and you have a chance to go this summer! Approximately 1000 people will come together for worship, play, workshops, small group discussions, and presentations designed to help young people claim their call to leadership in the Episcopal Church.

This year, the Diocese of Georgia delegation will be making a pilgrimage and mission experience part of our EYE experience. Our trip will take place July 6-14, and will include EYE itself, which takes place July 7-11. After EYE we will stay in D.C. and engage in mission work before returning to Georgia on July 14.

Here are the details:
● Dates: July 6 - July 14, 2020
● Cost: Approximately $1,000. Payable in one sum, or in three payments of $350, $350, and $300. Financial Aid is available on an as-needed basis.
● Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
● Participant Grades: Must be currently in Grades 9-12

Registration Instructions: This is a two step process. First, register by submitting your information at http://bit.ly/EYE2020Reg. Then follow the link to http://bit.ly/EYE2020Payment in order to pay the deposit. Both of these steps must be completed in order to be fully registered with the Diocese of Georgia! Once youth are registered, the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will register the group with the National Church.