September 14, 2022 | Volume 12, No. 37

Baptized for Life: A Lay Ministers' Conference

This past weekend 35 Lay Ministers from across the diocese gathered at Honey Creek for an incredible 24 hour retreat with Dr. Lisa Kimball, the Vice-President for Lifelong Learning of Virginia Theological Seminary. This was the first such Lay Ministers' retreat since 2009. The theme of the retreat was "Baptized for Life" and allowed participants to reflect on how their particular ministries, whether serving as Senior Warden, Altar Guild member, Lay Eucharistic Visitor, Youth Leader or anything else, flows out of and is grounded in their identity as Baptized members of the Body of Christ.

The retreat began with Evening Prayer on Friday evening, and concluded Saturday afternoon. There was time for large and small group reflection, worship and music, and a chance to simply get to know other lay ministers from other congregations. 

In addition, for many participants this was their first experience of Honey Creek, and they reported deeply positive and fulfilling experiences. One participant wrote that "Dr. Kimball was wonderful and the whole experience was life and faith affirming." They also added that "This [was] the first time that I've attended such an event with the Diocese and I hope to attend more in the future."

Diocesan Council Meets Saturday in Statesboro

This Saturday, September 17, Diocesan Council will meet at Trinity in Statesboro from 10 am to 3 pm. The Council, which serves as the diocesan convention in recess, has responsibilities much like a parish vestry. 

The Council will reconsider having PPP funds as part of the assessment following request from several parishes to review this decision. Council members will also consider the draft 2023 budget for the Diocese and Honey Creek after reviewing and acting on congregational appeals to the diocesan assessment. Council will review and may adopt a new model policy for safeguarding training and practices. The meeting will begin with the Holy Eucharist and conclude with the Bishop's Report.

A Daily Devotional for Advent to Epiphany

Take a journey from Advent to Epiphany that follows Jesus in the way of St. Francis of Assisi. The Diocese of Georgia will offer daily devotions written by Bishop Frank and Victoria Logue for a 7-week study. The short daily readings use the lens of Franciscan ideals including humility, simplicity, and peace as a focal point of each week. The study will be posted on the diocesan website and offered to churches for free use.

Each week will have a companion video that expands on the theme of the week. If you would like the study in book form, there will be the option to purchase a book at cost. 

This will be perfect to enjoy as a solo study, a small group, or as an offering for the whole congregation. The devotions will be posted online daily starting the First Sunday of Advent, November 27. For those who are looking to lead a study using the book, email Liz Williams at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org to be sent an advanced copy.

Annual Open Enrollment for Health Insurance

October 12 - November 2

The Diocese of Georgia continues to outperform several states and Diocese in terms of usage rates for health insurance. As such, the premiums increased on average from 4-4.7% across all available plans. The national average is expected to be over 5.6%. If you are enrolled or need to enroll, read the details in its entirety and make your changes by November 2^nd. 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 2023 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. Please be in contact with Canon Easterlin for any questions at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org.

What You Need to Know About Annual Enrollment

During the Medical Trust’s Annual Enrollment period:

· Current plan members may change their plan selections for the following year

· Eligible non-participating employees have the option to join a plan

· Eligible non-participating dependents may be added to a member’s plan and participating dependents may be removed from a member’s plan without the need to demonstrate a qualifying event

Medical Plan Costs

To find more information about the cost of plans, please visit the Diocesan website here or see below: https://gaepiscopal.org/medical-insurance/.

Dental Plans

We will continue to offer the following Cigna dental plans through the Medical Trust.

Currently Enrolled Employees

Currently enrolled employees (plan members) will receive an Annual Enrollment letter in a green envelope from the Medical Trust approximately one week before their Annual Enrollment period. This letter will include their Client ID number, which they will need to enroll. It also includes their Annual Enrollment dates and information about how to enroll. Please instruct them to save this letter. In your communications, please encourage your employees to begin reviewing their options and to research plans early. If an employee takes no action, and their current plan is offered for 2023, their plan selections will automatically carry over to 2023, and any applicable rate increases will apply.

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 participating employees to create an account on MyCPG Accounts prior to Annual Enrollment, if they have not already done so. For assistance, employees may contact the Client Services Team at (800) 480-9967, Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 8:00 PM ET, or email mtcustserv@cpg.org.

New Hires After Annual Enrollment Begins

New hires and other employees who enroll in a Medical Trust plan for the first time after the Annual Enrollment letter mailing list is created will not receive an Annual Enrollment letter however, they will be able to participate in the Medical Trust’s Annual Enrollment through the enrollment website. Their plan selections will carry over into 2023 if they do not make a change during Annual Enrollment. If the employee wishes to make a change to their plan enrollment for 2023. They will need to log in to the Annual Enrollment website or contact their group benefits administrator for assistance. Members may contact our Client Services team to access their Client ID number.

Non-participating Employees

Eligible employees and dependents who are not currently enrolled in a Medical Trust plan will not receive an Annual Enrollment letter but may enroll during Annual Enrollment for the 2023 plan year. Their previous decision to decline coverage will carry over into 2023 if they do not enroll during Annual Enrollment. Please submit an enrollment form to me as this process must be handled by the group administrator.

Plan Documents

2023 Summaries of Benefits and Coverage and Plan Document Handbooks containing plan details may be found on the Church Pension Group website at www.cpg.org/mtdocs.

No Changes to Current Plan Selections

Please note that there are no changes to our current plan options for the coming year. However, members should still be encouraged to go online during Annual Enrollment to check their information (name, address, dependents, plan selection, etc.) and make changes if necessary.

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 an employer chooses to offer the Cigna EAP on a stand-alone basis, all eligible employees must be enrolled, and 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 My Admin Portal (MAP) enrollment access.

Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Health Insurance Policy

To comply with the diocesan clergy minimum compensation standard, a congregation with a priest working at least 30 hours per week is required to assure insurance coverage. For those who do not otherwise have medical insurance provided through a spouse or an existing plan such as Tri-care, this means selecting at least the lowest cost option from the plans above.

For those in a High Deductible Plan with a Health Savings Account, the Diocese expects the employer will pay $200 per month or $2400 per year into the HSA for those electing the single HDHP and $400 or $4800 per for the plus one or family plan in the first year of coverage and to continue to pay $150 per month for Single HDHP and $300 per month for plus one, and $400 for family plans in subsequent years.

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 2023 plan year. Please submit an enrollment form 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).

Tithe confirmation due September 15

By now, parishes should have received their tithe letter from Bishop Logue. Please review it and complete the confirmation form no later than September 15, 2022.

To ease submission this year, we’ve created a Google form to confirm receipt of the tithes. Please follow the link below to enter your parish’s pledge information:

https://forms.gle/PUZEiPwnPZ4hVous7

If you have any questions, please reach out to Canon Easterlin at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org

Founding Sewanee for scholars of the South

As we approach the bicentennial of our founding in 2023, we will share the story of the Diocese of Georgia. This week we remember the founding of Sewanee: The University of the South.

On September 18, 1868, the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee held its first convocation with nine students and four faculty members present. The dream of the University had been shared by Bishop Stephen Elliott, the first Bishop of Georgia, who joined Bishop Leonidas Polk of Louisiana and Bishop Otey of Tennessee as the founding Bishops of Sewanee in the late 1850s. Though the cornerstone for the University was laid October 10, 1860, construction of the University was halted by the Civil War. Bishop Elliott, who died in 1866, did not live to see their vision realized.

The story of The University mirrors that of this country, the South, and the church in Georgia.  Very much a vision of those privileged, educated bishops and wealthy Southerners to provide an excellent higher education for Southern young gentlemen along the lines of Oxford and Cambridge, Harvard and Yale so that the sons of the South would not have to travel North or abroad. As our society has struggled with the issue of slavery and discrimination so has Sewanee. For many years, it was a bastion of higher education but not for people of color or women. The early years of the University were of that era. That era is over. 

Beginning in the 1950s the University began reckoning with its legacy which, on the one hand being an Episcopal university held the faith high, but on the other hand, was fraught with the flaws of our American government, slavery, injustices seemingly inbred. Certainly this was contradictory to the Episcopal nature of the University. Students of color and women were finally admitted in the 1960s. 

This reckoning came to an ultimate resolution unanimously passed by the Board of Trustees in 2020 as a result of the 6-year Roberson project: “The University categorically rejects its past veneration of the Confederacy and the “Lost Cause”. The Trustees have pledged that “Sewanee will be a model for diversity, for inclusion, for intellectual rigor and loving spirit in an American that rejects prejudice and embraces possibility.”

Sewanee is now the University of the New South as one of the top small liberal arts colleges in the country. Georgia continues to be one of the owning Dioceses along with 27 other Southern Dioceses. The School of Theology is highly respected as is the School of Letters. Sewanee has 18,000 alumni for all 50 states and 40 countries and has produced 27 Rhodes Scholars and dozens of Fulbright Scholars. The Board of Trustees, the Faculty and Staff and the student body currently reflect the diversity and display the strength of that diversity. Sewanee is becoming the place where its motto can ring true: Ecce Quam Bonum “Behold how good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.”

Pictured: Bishop Elliot placing items in Sewanee's Cornerstone (top); Sewanee seen from above (bottom).

You are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Saint Anna Alexander on September 25, 2022 at 3:00pm at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Pennick. The church will also  express their appreciation and well wishes to the Rev. John Butin who has faithfully served Good Shepherd, Pennick for 18 years! Seating will be limited per the size of the sanctuary, and the COVID mask protocol will be in place.

The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Racial Justice GA Team would greatly appreciate your church’s generosity in donating its September 25th open-plate offerings to: The Saint Anna Alexander Schoolhouse Restoration Project. Donations will be used to restore the original church/schoolhouse built by Anna and her brothers and other members of the community more than 120 years ago. Once completely restored, the building will be used to serve as a multi-purpose community and social justice center for the Glynn County area, the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia and other organizations, thus bringing together all peoples who desire to be actively engaged members of The Beloved Community.

Give online: https://onrealm.org/EpiscopalDioces91807/Give (select the St. Anna Alexander Center in the drop down) or text EDOG to 73256, followed by your gift amount, to give online through text. Select the St. Anna Alexander Center fund in the drop down.

What: Commemoration of the Feast of Saint Anna Ellison Butler Alexander and Celebration of the 129th Anniversary of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

When: September 25, 2022 at 3:00pm

Where: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 780 Pennick Road, Brunswick, GA 31525

Executive Assistant to the Bishop Maggie Lyons began maternity leave on Thursday, September 8. In her absence, her responsibilities will be divided up among the Diocesan staff. MJ Harris will also be volunteering a few hours a week in the office.

Please see the list below for frequently requested information:

General admin requests: Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org)

Diocesan Convention: Daniel Garrick and Rev. Canon Joshua Varner (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org) (jvarner@gaepiscopal.org) 

Bishop Logue’s calendar and visitations: Rev. Canon Loren Lasch (llasch@gaepiscopal.org) 

LEM certificates: Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) 

Letters Dimissory: Rev. Canon Loren Lasch (llasch@gaepiscopal.org) 

Background checks: Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org) 

Carriage House or Saluda Cottage rental: Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org) 

From the Field newsletter and Diocesan website info: Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org)

Finances or Insurance: Canon Katie Easterlin (keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org) 

Community of St. Joseph: Rev. Michael Chaney (padrechaney@gmail.com)

All Diocesan staff e-mails: https://gaepiscopal.org/diocesan-staff/

Diocesan Convention: https://gaepiscopal.org/convention2022/

Diocesan resources: https://gaepiscopal.org/reference-library/

If you would like to send a gift for Baby Lyons, visit the registry here.

All the women of the Diocese of Georgia are warmly invited September 16 & 17 to attend the Celebration of Women's Ministries at Honey Creek! This will be the first diocesan-wide ECW meeting since 2019 and will be a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. The keynote speaker at the Banquet Friday evening and Saturday morning will be the Rev. June Johnson from All Saints' on Tybee Island. 

There will be lots of time for catching up, lots of time to walk the labyrinth, Bible study, reflection, and sharing sessions. All are welcome to bring knitting, needlepoint, etc for peaceful aids while listening and sharing. 

This will include The Daughters of the King Fall Assembly.

The price of attending includes all meals and lodging from 3:00pm on Friday through 1:00pm on Saturday. New officers will be installed during the Eucharist at noon on Saturday. To register, click here.

New Beginnings #58 will meet October 14-16, 2022 at Honey Creek! This conference is for youth in grades 7-9 and is led by youth who have previously attended either New Beginnings or Happening. 

Registration is open for all participants, using this link. If you are not certain that your registration successfully went through, email Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org and ask!

Happening #106 registration for candidates (participants) is now open! Happening, held at Honey Creek, is a weekend retreat for youth, led by youth. The weekend is focused on discovery and learning about yourself and your faith, all while enjoying fellowship and fun with youth from across the diocese. All youth and adults must follow the diocesan guidelines for youth events, which can be found here.

Who: Youth in 9-12 grade

When: November 17-20, 2022

How: Register here!

For more information, contact Happening Coordinator Sarah Brittany Greneker at sbgreneker@gmail.com.

Registration now open!

Each delegate, guest, and clergy spouse must register individually. This is an important and is a necessary step in order to have the appropriate contact information for each person registered. Parish administrators may register a delegation, but will need to use the delegate's cell number and email address in the registration. 

To register for convention, click here. If you are receiving an error message when you click on the link, switch to a different browser.

Vendor Application

All exhibit requests are subject to approval by the Bishop's office. Applications are due no later than September 16, 2022. Vendor applications must be approved before registering for convention.

To fill out a vendor application, click here. 



Convention Reports

Convention reports that are to be printed in the convention booklet are due to Communications Manager Liz Williams by Friday, September 23. Email them to lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org.

Elections

The following committee positions are open for nominations. Please note that we are electing deputies for the next General Convention, which will be held in 2024 in Kentucky. To be included in the printed convention booklet, nominations must be submitted by September 23. 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 8.

This year's Nominations Chair is Ms. Katie Grant from Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta. We will elect persons to the following:

• Board of Officers of the Corporation – 1 lay person
• Church Disciplinary Board – 2 clergy persons & 1 lay person
• Diocesan Council – 1 lay person or clergy
• Standing Committee – 1 lay person & 1 priest
• Trustee of the University of the South – 1 lay person
• General Convention Deputies – 4 clergy deputies and 4 clergy alternates; 4 lay deputies and 4 lay alternates 

To make a nomination, click here.

Once nominated, nominees will need to fill out the nominee form that can be found here.

If you would like to have your submission considered for From the Field, it needs to be sent to Communications Manager Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) by noon on Tuesday.

The Rev. David Rose with newly baptized Liam Beltran at St. Luke's in Rincon.

The Very Rev. Billy Alford served as the supply priest at St. John and St. Mark in Albany. Alford grew up in Albany, and so the parish was filled with high school classmates and family members. After the service, everyone enjoyed a lunch together.

Members of St. Augustine of Canterbury joined members of Grovetown Episcopal Luthernan Mission for a joint service in Augusta.

Members of St. Paul's in Albany create smaller flower arrangements from the altar flowers to give to those who are not able to attend services in person.

Saint Paul's in Augusta held an Oktoberfest event on September 10 to support their Community Outreach Missions.

St. Francis of the Islands in Savannah is seeking to hire a new part-time Parish Administrator. Job duties include welcoming people to the parish office, general office support, worship bulletin preparation, and accounting. Qualified candidates should have solid computer skills, including experience with MS Office Suite. Interested individuals can find a more detailed job posting at the following link: https://bit.ly/stfrancisparishadmin.

Saint Paul's Church in Augusta is seeking a full-time Parish Operations Assistant. Key responsibilities include meeting with prospective rental clients, managing the rental documents and details of the events, preparing the weekend and special event bulletins, answering the telephone and greeting parishioners, and providing general administrative support to staff and ministries. Please send a cover letter and resume to the Parish Administrator, Elisabeth Price, at mailbox@saintpauls.org. To view the full job description, click here.

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 2022 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2022 Prayer Cycle.   

September 11 - 17

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Peter’s and Epiphany. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially Messiah Lutheran Church and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Matthew (San Matías) in Santana. 

September 18 - 24

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Paul the Apostle and St. Bartholomew’s Chapel. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic congregations of St. Frances Cabrini and Saints Peter and Paul as well as St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Christ the Savior (Cristo Salvador) 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. (Updated 7/1/2022)

Bishop Logue will be in Statesboro on Saturday for the Diocesan Council meeting with Canon Easterlin, Canon Varner, Canon Lasch, and Communications Manager Liz Williams.

On Sunday, Bishop Logue makes his visitation to Good Shepherd in Swainsboro.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2023 - 8/30/2022)

Pictured: Bishop Logue with the altar party at St. Mary's in Augusta.

Executive Assistant to the Bishop Maggie Lyons is on maternity leave.

Next week, Canon Varner will be attending the Diocesan Youth Leaders' Conference at Chapel Rock in Prescott, AZ.

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.

You may also reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279.

Canons Loren Lasch and Joshua Varner are joined by Liz Williams' dog, Henry (the Missioner of Snuggles), as they participate in lectio divina during the Baptized for Life conference.