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September 22, 2021 | Volume 11, No. 55

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Diocesan Convention will be in-person

with new guidelines

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Our diocesan convention will be an

in-person event at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. The diocesan staff has set new guidelines for the event in order to mitigate the risk of spreading

COVID-19 during convention. 


Planned Precautions

  • All persons attending in person will need to be fully vaccinated.
  • Masks will be required when indoors at the convention center and when in your seat for worship at Honey Creek.
  • Our tables and chairs will permit distancing.


Our convention will be the only group in the large convention center. We will have sufficient tables to have only 4-5 people at a table which typically seats eight. We will not assign seating so that people traveling together can sit together and not add to their risk. The planned convention Eucharist will be outdoors, which already mitigates risk. As we sit in close proximity and sing in worship, we will stay masked for that liturgy, other than readers and the preacher. Masks are not otherwise required while on the grounds at Honey Creek. 


What about the unvaccinated?

The Diocese will offer a way to participate online for those who can not get or have decided not to receive a vaccination as well as those whose concern for safety will not permit them to be present. Online participation is intended to be the exception rather than the norm as there is much benefit in our being together in person.


It is important to be together

We are better together, and the large convention center and Honey Creek provide a setting to mitigate risk while meeting in person. We look forward to seeing all your smiling eyes on Jekyll!

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Serving on Diocesan Committees

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Have you ever considered running for a position on a Diocesan committee? Some committees, like the Finance Committee, are by appointment by the Bishop.


Cissy Bowden from Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta, who has served on the Finance Committee, says her experience on the committee taught her more about the diocese. "I have always had great confidence in the way Canon Easterlin and the treasurer have kept a close watch on the finances of our diocese, and in the way they have shepherded this committee with integrity and transparency. It has been a blessing to serve in this capacity."


If you are interested in serving on the Finance Committee, reach out to Canon Katie Easterlin at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org.

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Pre-convention meetings for all delegates

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In preparation for convention, delegates and clergy are encouraged to attend the

pre-convention meeting in their convocation. This year all three Canons will be attending each meeting to answer any questions and offer time for discussion. 


Convocation Councils are essential

This year, we have the work of a Canonical review group that did some challenging and faithful work in proposing revisions to make our canons clearer, cleaner, and appropriately flexible. To properly consider these proposed changes, the Convocation Council meetings will all meet on Zoom. We need every member of the clergy and every lay delegate to take part. If we take the time to consider these changes at the convocation meetings, our work in convention will be more productive and less time consuming. 


To follow existing canons, the vote taken at those meetings for a convocational representative on Diocesan Council will be limited to one clergy person and one vestry member from each congregation.


Convocation Council Meetings


Sunday, October 3:

4pm - Southwestern Convocation


Sunday, October 10:

2pm - Southeastern Convocation

5pm - Albany Convocation


Saturday, October 16:

10am - Central Convocation


Sunday October 17:

2pm - Savannah Convocation

5pm - Augusta Convocation


For more information, contact Canon Loren Lasch at llasch@gaepiscopal.org.


In the photo above, Dean William Willoughby leads a meeting of the Savannah Convocation Council in advance of a previous convention.

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Watch the Natonal Cursillo Ultreya Online

If you wanted to attend the First National Cursillo Ultreya, the video linked above is the full meeting. Parishioners of St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah, offer the opening and closing songs. Both the Rev. Hallock Martin, Priest in Charge of St. Matthew's, Fitzgerald, and Bishop Frank Logue speak at the event.


Bishop Logue's talk on how the practice of Study as taught by Cursillo has assisted him in working toward Becoming Beloved Community is also in a separate video. Click here for Bishop Logue's talk which is also part of the video linked above.

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Annual Enrollment for Health Insurance Opens Soon

October 13 - November 3

Start making a plan today for any changes or additions.


For those with health insurance through the Diocese of Georgia, please find the details for Annual Enrollment below on prices and resources. You may review plans on the Diocesan website here. Premiums increased 4.4-5.5% across all available plans. The national average increase for 2022 is 6.5%. Note that 86% of our rates are 0-9% below the Medical Trust average. The Diocese of Georgia is in line with national increases due to participation and usage of CDHP health insurance plans, however, we could see improvement on the use of preventative health care visits across our enrollees. The Diocese receives data on health trends for our participants and we continue to track at lower costs for common diagnoses, meaning our folks are going to the doctor when needed and getting earlier care.


If you are enrolled, or need to enroll, read the details in entirety and make your changes by November 3. If you do not desire to change your existing coverage, you are not required to take action and your plan will roll over into the coming year.


If you are turning 65 in 2022 you will become eligible for the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Plans. It is recommended that you make the shift into the corresponding PPO plan to speed up the transition to the corresponding MSP plan. However, this is not required. Further guidance on the MSP plans is below. Please be in contact with Canon Easterlin for any questions at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org.


IMPORTANT REMINDER: Members will access the Annual Enrollment website with the same credentials (username and password) they created to access their benefits information on MyCPG Accounts. It is important for all members to create an account on MyCPG Accounts prior to Annual Enrollment, if they have not already done so. For assistance, employees may contact CPG Client Services at (800) 480-9967, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM ET, or email mtcustserv@cpg.org.


Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Cigna Behavioral Health  


In addition to the health plans, we offer a stand-alone EAP with Cigna Behavioral Health that you and your related entities may offer to employees who opt out of medical coverage. (Employees who enroll in Medical Trust health coverage are automatically enrolled in Cigna EAP benefits.) 


Note: If the Cigna EAP is offered on a stand-alone basis, the employer must pay for the EAP-only coverage. Requiring employees to contribute toward the cost of EAP-only coverage would violate the Affordable Care Act, and the employer could be subject to significant penalties. Eligibility for the stand-alone EAP is limited to qualified non-members (e.g., an employee who is on a spousal plan and has opted out of Medical Trust coverage). Since these employees will not have the ability to select the EAP on a stand-alone basis [during Annual Enrollment], enrollments must be completed by the group administrator with MLPS access.


Enrolling for the First Time?


Eligible employees and dependents who are not currently enrolled in a Medical Trust plan may enroll during Annual Enrollment for the 2022 plan year. Please submit an enrollment form to me as this process must be handled by the plan administrator.

 

For any questions please reach out Canon Easterlin (keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org) or Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org).


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Save the Date for Clergy Spouse Retreat

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Convention Corner

Registration


Register Individually

Each delegate must register individually. This is important step will assist us to populate our new ACS Realm DataBase and is a necessary step with that system to use a separate email address for each person registered.


To register for Convention, click here.

Please note that registration is needed for each individual instead of a group registration.


To fill out the vendor application, click here. All exhibit requests are subject to approval by the Bishop's office. Applications are due no later than October 1, 2021. Vendor applications must be approved before registering for convention.


Nominees

The following have accepted a nomination to run for a position in the Diocese. To be included in the printed convention booklet, nominations must be submitted by September 24. Nominations are open until they are closed on the floor of convention and will continue to be updated in From the Field and online until November 1.



BOARD of OFFICERS of THE CORPORATION - 1 lay person


CHURCH DISCIPLINARY BOARD - 3 clergy persons & 2 lay persons

Lay

Mr. Sam Colville



Clergy

The Rev. Geri Nelson, Deacon


DIOCESAN COUNCIL - 1 lay person or clergy person


STANDING COMMITTEE - 1 lay person & 1 priest

Lay

Skip Jennings

Elise Miller


TRUSTEE of the UNIVERSITY of the SOUTH - 1 lay person

Val Crumpton


To view all nominees and their bios, click here.

To submit a nomination, click here.

Once nominated, the nominee will need to fill out this form.

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Across the Diocese

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The Rev. Guillermo Arboleda with members of St. Matthew's in Savannah with the subject of their most recent book study, Hallelujah, Anywhow!: A Memoir by Bishop Barbara C. Harris and

the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas.

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Volunteers from Saint Paul's in Augusta served approximately 90 boxes of food to community members Saturday morning.

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Members of the St. Thomas Isle of Hope EYC in Savannah enjoy some friendly shenanigans during their meeting on Sunday.

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Prayer for Weekly Liturgies

Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic.  


The 2021 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2021 Prayer Cycle


September 26 - October 2 

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Swainsboro, Good Shepherd. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Swainsboro, especially Holy Trinity Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Emmanuel (Emmanuel) in Santiago.


October 3 - 9

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Statesboro, Trinity. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Statesboro, especially St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for The Annunciation (La Annunciación) in Santiago. 


Newly Revised 31-Day Prayer Cycles

We also offer 30-day prayer cycles for those who wish to pray daily for the clergy and clergy spouses: Diocesan Prayer Cycle and Clergy Spouses Prayer Cycle. These were revised on September 25, 2021.

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Diocesan Office Update and News

Bishop Logue is in a meeting of the House of Bishops this week, which began Tuesday and will meet online through Thursday afternoon.


The Diocesan Staff will be attending the virtual Diocesan Council meeting on Friday and Saturday.


On Sunday, Bishop Logue will celebrate and, together with the Very Rev. Billy Alford, will offer the sermon at Good Shepherd, Pennick, on the Feast (transferred) for St. Anna Alexander.


Canon Varner will be preaching and celebrating at All Saints' on Tybee Island on Sunday.


Bishop Logue, Canon Lasch, and Canon Varner will be at Honey Creek Monday through Wednesday for the Fall Clergy Conference.


To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated 9/8/2021)


You may reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279. Given staff schedules of meetings and travel, the best way to reach a staff member is via email as we will always get back with you promptly in many cases and in 24-72 hours when working on more pressing matters. 


Staff e-mails can be found here with a list of responsibilities so you know who to contact for what.

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Twitter Famous

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The deputies and alternates from the Diocese of Georgia for the next General Convention, to be held in July of 2022, met with the Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, via Zoom to talk all things convention. It was a great time for all, including the General Convention Pigeon (pictured with Rev. Jennings) who made their Twitter debut during the last convention held in Texas.

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