November 8, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 45

Convention to begin on Thursday

Tomorrow evening will begin our 202nd diocesan convention in Augusta. The theme for this year, Kindle our hearts and awaken hope, will give us the opportunity to see how parishes have adapted to new realities and seen the fruits of their labor extend outside of the church walls. Our speaker, Dr. Lisa Kimball, will speak to the theme of convention, asking attendees what sparks hope in their own ministries.

"I am so pleased that Dr. Kimball can lead us in our convention this year," Bishop Logue said. "She is a transformational leader who loves Jesus and knows in her bones that the gifts we need are already present within the Body of Christ and that when we use those gifts to the glory of God our communities as well as our churches thrive."

Dr. Kimball is the Vice President for Lifelong Learning and the James Maxwell Professor Chair of Lifelong Christian Formation at the Virginia Theological Seminary. She is a passionate advocate for lay ministry, the full inclusion of all generations, digital literacy, and leaders who are confident teachers of the faith. She is currently directing a 5-year, $1.5M grant project Baptized for Life: An Episcopal Discipleship Initiative in the Lilly Endowment Inc. Called to Lives of Meaning and Purpose Initiative.

You will be able to view the livestream from the Friday afternoon Eucharist at the Saint Paul's Facebook page or the Diocese of Georgia YouTube channel. You can also follow the Diocese of Georgia Facebook page to see updates throughout convention, including election results, award recipients, and more.

Next week's edition of From the Field will be a post-convention wrap up.

A Prayer for a Church Convention or Meeting

Almighty God and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in Augusta for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Convention to consider three resolutions

When the Diocese of Georgia meets in convention this week, in addition to electing persons to positions in the Diocese and considering the budgets for the Diocese and Honey Creek, the delegates will consider three resolutions.

Patron Saint of the Diocese

One resolution would name Deaconess Anna Alexander the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Georgia. This would give every congregation in the Diocese the express permission to observe the Feast of St. Anna Alexander, with its assigned collect and scripture readings every year on the Sunday closest to September 24 if they choose to do so. The resolution also urges congregations to take up a special offering on that Sunday to benefit the St. Anna Alexander Center for Reconciliation & Healing and the preservation of the historic Good Shepherd Episcopal Schoolhouse. The Diocesan Council unanimously endorsed this resolution during its September 30 meeting at Trinity Church in Cochran.

Companion Diocese Relationship

A second resolution, comes to convention after extensive work by a Task Group of Diocesan Council to consider our Companion Diocese relationship. The Task Group studied the challenges and opportunities in continuing with this relationship or starting a new one and recommended a renewed commitment to the Diocese of the Dominican Republic with a term of five years, during which time it could be approved anew. The Diocesan Council unanimously endorsed this resolution during its September 30 meeting at Trinity Church in Cochran.

A call to reduce Episcopal Church assessments to 10%

The Rev. David Rose notified the Secretary of Convention yesterday that he will ask the convention to accept a third resolution. The Secretary of Convention would send the resolution, if passed, to the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church which meets next year in Kentucky. It calls on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to set a plan for lowering the diocesan assessments to 10% by 2033, which is during the full term of the next Presiding Bishop. Several other dioceses have already passed the resolution Rose proposes. Garnering support from multiple dioceses is a means to have the General Convention see that there is already broader, church-wide support for a resolution.

The current assessment the Diocese of Georgia pays to the denomination is 15% of the prior year's diocesan revenue with an exemption of $200,000 intended to support the office of bishop in each of the 110 dioceses. The Diocese of Georgia unanimously passed a resolution in 2013 calling on the Episcopal Church to reduce assessments to 10% following the Diocese of Georgia reducing its congregation assessments to a tithe. At that time, the Episcopal Church had an asking of 19%, a percentage the Diocese of Georgia had not paid in full for many years. Photo: The Rev. Eric Biddy addresses the convention from the floor during the 2022 convention.

In response to resolutions like the one passed by the 2013 Convention of the Diocese of Georgia, the General Convention moved to the current model of a 15% assessment with an exemption for the office of bishop. Failure to pay the assessment, without an approved appeal, makes a Diocese ineligible to receive grants from the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Georgia has paid its full assessment each year since 2020.

The Canons of the Diocese of Georgia require either a referral from the Resolutions Committee or a vote of the convention gaining support of at least 2/3s of voting clergy and delegates to bring a resolution to the floor. Bishop Logue asked the Committee on Constitution and Canons to serve as the Resolutions Committee, which referred the first two resolutions to the convention. As the Committee has completed their work for this convention, the bishop will call for a vote to bring this resolution to the floor. If the resolution receives a vote in favor of consideration from at least 2/3s of voting clergy and lay delegates, the matter will be discussed on Friday and voted on after debate on Saturday.

Read the full text of each resolution

An email sent Tuesday to all who are registered for convention gave the full text of all three resolutions. These are also posted at the diocesan website: Convention 2023 Resolutions

Slate of nominees to committees and commissions available online

For many years, clergy and lay delegates to convention would learn of a host of appointments the bishop was making to the various committees and commissions of the Diocese of Georgia. In the interest of transparency, the revised Canons of the Diocese state, "At each annual meeting, the Convention shall elect members of Advisory Commissions and Committees upon nomination by the Presiding Officer." This gives the convention an advanced look at those who will serve the Diocese through the work of these groups. The convention then takes a single vote on all those the bishop nominates.

The list of those groups and the person nominated by Bishop Logue is at the diocesan website:

Nominations for diocesan committees and commissions

Upcoming Ordinations

The diocese is happy to announce the upcoming ordinations of the Rev. Shayna Warren Cranford and the Rev. Kimberly Elaine Dunn to the Sacred Order of Priests.

Matching grant challenge to support ministries of Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

From the Office of Public Affairs of the Episcopal Church

The United Thank Offering—in partnership with the Good Friday Offering—will match up to $100,000 of donations given through Dec. 15 to help sustain outreach ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates across several countries or territories and includes churches, schools, medical facilities, and other ministries.

“United Thank Offering has supported the diocese with over $1 million in grants since 1973, thanks to the generosity of Episcopalians everywhere,” said UTO Board President Sherri Dietrich. “We know people want to help those projects continue their work through and after the current heartbreaking conflict; this challenge grant will allow us all to make a powerful contribution to those impacted by this conflict.”

Matched donations to the United Thank Offering will be given in 2024 as a grant to the diocese to disburse where the needs are greatest.

The impact of the conflict in the region is “grave,” impacting the diocese’s guesthouses, medical centers, training centers, schools, and more, noted Sawsan Arani-Batato, programs development officer. “Sustaining our institutions is an urgent need for the diocese, and this initiative responds directly to this need.”



The Good Friday Offering of The Episcopal Church has been funding work in the region for more than 100 years. “It is a privilege and honor to partner with the United Thank Offering in continuing our joint history of caring, loving, and supporting the needs of the people of God,” said Archdeacon Paul Feheley, Middle East partnership officer for The Episcopal Church.

Help Leading With Grace choose sites and dates!

The leaders of Leading With Grace are continuing to receive feedback about othe proposed 4-workshop series, but they need to hear from more of you! These workshops have been tentatively set for a month and a location, but they need to make sure these are the best places/times to hold these workshops. Please follow the link below to indicate the needs of your parish.  Remember, participants may attend any or all of the standalone, one-day workshops.

Registration will cost $35/person per workshop or $100 for all four. A link for registration will be available as soon as specific dates and locations have been set. Leading With Grace plans to roll all of this out at Convention and will be present for any of your concerns/questions. Follow the link below for descriptions of workshops, possible locations, and a survey to help us determine the details. 

Click here for the Saturday Workshop Series Survey

Honey Creek Silent Auction is LIVE!

Click here to view and bid!

Convention 2023

Nominations

The following committee positions are open for nominations.Nominations are open until they are closed on the floor of convention.

This year's Nominations Chair is Ms. Katie Grant from Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta. 

Photo: Diocesan Treasurer Beth Robinson addresses the 2022 convention from the podium. Daniel Garrick, at right, served as the acting Secretary of Convention in 2021 and 2022.

Board of Officers of the Corporation – 1 lay person

Whit Davis

Church Disciplinary Board – 2 lay persons & 2 clergy persons

Clergy

The Rev. Susan C. Gage, LMT

The Rev. Samantha McKean

Lay

Neil Dickert

Peter Kastner

Diocesan Council – 1 lay person or clergy

The Rev. Bill Barton

Standing Committee – 1 lay person & 1 priest

Lay

Lisa Gibbs

Priest

The Very Rev. Al Crumpton

The Rev. June Johnson

The Rev. David Wantland

Trustee of the University of the South – 1 clergy person

The Very Rev. Tom Purdy

To view full nominee bios, click here.

To view the full job descriptions, click here.

To make a nomination, click here.

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

Biographical information and photo must be received by October 10 to guarantee inclusion in pre-conference printed materials.

Additional Information

For lodging information, click here.

To register, click here. *Please note that each delegate needs to be registered individually with separate email addresses and cell phone numbers.*

Job Openings

Saint Paul's Church, Augusta GA  is looking for a Director of Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Ministries. This person will work collaboratively with a dedicated team of clergy, staff, and volunteers to continue to develop a small but vibrant ministry with and for children and youth in the parish. There is some flexibility in how the position may be embodied. But the essentials are to work within a team of people serving God at Saint Paul’s, while taking primary responsibility for ensuring that our ministries with and for children and youth continue to deepen and expand. This is currently a half time position, with an ambition to extend it to full time. 

A job description is available here:  https://saintpauls.org/director-of-children-youth-intergenerational-ministries/

Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, GA is looking for an organist. Duties include Sunday services, choir practice, Holy Week services, Christmas Eve, funerals, weddings, and coordinate with the Choir Director. For more information, please contact the Rev. Richard Nelson at frrichard388@gmail.com.

Across the Diocese

In recognition of November 5th being designated as Retired Educators Day in the State of Georgia, the Rev. Glenn Palmer from Holy Comforter in Martinez offers a blessing for all retired and current educators.

St. Thomas in Thomasville held their Stewardship Kick Off Carnival.

The Rev. Tim Burger Celebrates All Saints' Sunday at St. Patrick's in Pooler.

The Very Rev. Bill Alford baptizes Maliah Timmons and Cason John Bailey at St. Alban's in Augusta.

Youth from St. Augustine’s, Our Savior, and Saint Paul’s participate in Halloween activities supporting other children in the Harrisburg community.

Upcoming Events

Diocesan Convention

When: November 9-11, 2023

Where: Augusta

To register, click here.

Happening #108

When: November 17-19, 2023

Where: Honey Creek



Candidate registration here



1Book1Diocese

For Advent, we will read and discuss Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I have loved) by Kate Bowler

Discussion Guide for Advent

In Lent 2024, we will read and discuss The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz.

Lay Ministers' Conference

This conference is intended for any lay person in the Diocese who is in any active ministry in their congregation. Led by Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, the Academic Dean and Professor of Christian Ethics at the Seminary of the Southwest, this conference will focus on the ministry of the laity, including its joys and challenges especially over the past two years. It will frame our various calls in the context living them in a world in which "Christendom" is no longer the dominant culture (if it ever truly was!).

When: December 1-2, 2023

Where: Honey Creek

Click here to register.

Clergy Conflict Transformation Workshop

Who: All clergy

Where: Honey Creek

When: March 4-8, 2024

Contact the Rev. Becky Rowell (browell221@gmail.com) and the Rev. Melanie Lemburg (revmelanie@stthomasioh.org) to RSVP.

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.

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 2023 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2023 Prayer Cycle.    

November 12 - 18

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Vidalia, the Church of the Annunciation. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Vidalia, especially Sacred Heart Catholic Church and for St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Reidsville. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Peter and St. Paul (San Pedro y San Pablo).

November 19 - 25

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Waycross, Grace Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Waycross, especially St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Ann’s (Santa Ana).

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised October 1, 2023

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 10/1/2023)

Bishop Logue and the Diocesan staff will be in Augusta Thursday through Saturday for diocesan convention.

On Sunday he will make his visitation to Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)

Photo: Daniel Garrick, M.J. Harris, and Maggie Lyons put name badges together at Diocesan House on Tuesday.

Assistant Administrator Daniel Garrick will be on vacation next week.

The Diocesan Office will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

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.

Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta held a Halloween dinner, which included a very stoic princess and a very excited pumpkin, aka, the Rev. Ted Clarkson.