March 8, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 10

What faithfulness looks like now

This past Saturday, I worked with Diocesan Council on the challenge we all see as in differing ways in our congregations. All of our congregations are experiencing the impact of the loss of generations of parishioners who gave generously to their church. For some, this means fewer priests on a staff. For others, it means difficulty having a full-time priest. For eighteen of our congregations, it means they currently do not have a priest. In her opening presentation to our diocesan convention last November Canon Loren Lasch did an excellent job sharing the reality of a clergy shortage coming as budgets are not keeping up with inflation (Reality Presentation).

As a means of looking at some root concerns that we will need to address, we did a question burst exercise to look for the questions that get at the root issues. In four minutes, we generated twenty questions such as: Are we more concerned with parish self-interest and survival or Gospel mandate? What’s non-negotiable? What does church look like? and What do we prioritize? 

The discussion that followed on Saturday revealed how the pain points are different in varying contexts, but we are all in the same boat. The good news is both that we have been here before as a Diocese at other points in our history and that at those times we continued to be the Body of Christ in our communities.

What the work on Saturday clarified for me is the need to keep the information flowing to you, the leaders of the Diocese, on how we are responding to the issues that arise from decreased attendance and giving. We are continuing with plans described in the Bishop’s Address in which a cohort of Episcopal clergy are meeting regularly with Lutheran counterparts and expert leaders to share experiences and learning. We also have an upcoming retreat at Honey Creek for leaders of congregations with a priest to give them a new way of working to discern their next faithful step. Two people went through Lay Preacher training and we are seeing how that can assist as an additional tool in the toolbelt. 

Some changes are occurring as congregations find ways to thrive with lower levels of income and attendance. Two churches that had full-time priests for generations are moving to part-time clergy. The priest in another congregation who is serving halftime is going to work full-time outside the church to be fully bi-vocational as he continues to serve. In yet another area, two churches adjusted their worship times to be able to share a supply priest and are now looking at calling a priest to serve the two congregations. Congregations that have generationally been multi-priest churches are also working with what this means for them. 

What faithfulness looks like now is for clergy and vestries to look honestly at the trends in giving and how the passing of generations of generous givers is posing an ever increasing challenge. We would do well to look proactively at how this will come to impact us in the coming years rather than sitting by as if we do not know of the concern. As your bishop I spend time in every church in the Diocese. From my vantage point, I can say that we do face serious threats to business as usual, but there is no existential threat to our church. We need to attend together to see how God is leading us in this new challenge. We know that God has not brought us this far in order to abandon us, as our communities need Jesus as much as ever. There is no one-size fits all solution other than faithfulness to the ways in which we perceive our Triune God leading us.

pax et bonum,

+Frank

Pictured: The Rev. Canon Varner presents to Diocesan Council (top); the Rev. Canon Lasch celebrates Eucharist in Little St. Anne's at St. Anne's in Tifton (bottom).

The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold, III (1938-2023)

The Diocese mourns the death of the Rt. Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, the 25th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1998-2006. Griswold died Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A renowned preacher known for his warmth and wit, Griswold served as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, leading the Protestant denomination from 1998 to 2006. Griswold also co-chaired the Roman Catholic-Anglican Commission from 1998 to 2003 and made significant contributions to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and to its practical use in the liturgical life of the church. Griswold’s private spiritual practice was deeply informed by the early mothers and fathers of the church, and he championed Eastern traditions of the open-hearted and healing power of God’s love. 

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1937, Griswold earned a Bachelor of Arts at Harvard College and a Master of Arts from Oriel College at the University of Oxford. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1963. He married his beloved wife, Phoebe Wetzel, in 1965, and they raised two daughters in Philadelphia and Chicago, where Griswold was elected as Episcopal bishop in 1987. Griswold practiced a wide ministry of teaching, writing, lecturing, and leading retreats, nationally and internationally. After completing his term as presiding bishop, he served as a visiting professor at seminaries and universities in South Korea, Cuba, and Japan, as well as at the Episcopal Divinity School, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Virginia Theological Seminary and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He also served as bishop visitor to the Society of St. John the Evangelist. His books include “Going Home” (Cowley Publications Cloister Book), “Praying our Days: A guide and companion” (Church Publishing Group),“Tracking Down the Holy Ghost: reflections on love and longing” (Church Publishing Group), and, co-authored with the Rev. Mark McIntosh, “Seeds and Faith” and “Harvest of Hope” (Eerdmans).

He is survived by his widow, Phoebe, his two daughters, Hannah and Eliza, and three grandchildren.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered the following statement:

“Please join me in prayer for Bishop Griswold’s family and for all of us who give thanks for a remarkable and faithful servant of God who served among us as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. May the soul of Bishop Griswold, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercies of God, rest in peace and rise in glory."

Pictured above: Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold III smiles to his predecessor Edmond L. Browning during his installation ceremony as the 25th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Jan. 10, 1998, at the Washington National Cathedral. Photo: Reuters

Clergy Spouse and Family Retreat

All Clergy Spouses and Clergy Families (including the ordained member) are invited to an overnight retreat at Honey Creek. Our special guest will be Dr. Bertice Berry, who is a member of Christ Church in Savannah and a postulant for the diaconate. Dr. Berry is an incredible public speaker, and she will inspire us to rediscover joy, despite the challenges of our lives. We will also have time for relaxing together and enjoying the gifts of our community. Childcare will be provided during Dr. Berry’s presentations, and other activities will be intergenerational. 

When: Friday, May 5th (arrive after 3:00) to Saturday, May 6th (ending after lunch)

Where: Honey Creek (register at Honeycreek.org by April 21st)

Cost: meals - $76 per adult

Children 0-3 no charge

Children 3-8 half price $38 per child

Lodge One $104 per night.

Lodge Two $92 per night. (contact Helen White for scholarship information)

Who: Clergy Spouses or Clergy Families

Questions: The Rev. Helen White, helen.white@ccesavannah.org

1Book1Diocese discussion questions

The 1Book1Diocese read for Lent is a classic work, Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom. This simple and powerful book, gets at the vital importance of encountering God in prayer.

The 1970 book is readily available both in a new edition and in used copies. You can find the reading guide for the Diocese of Georgia here.

The guide offers questions for groups to use for the weeks following the Sundays in Lent with an optional meeting in Holy Week.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the best gift you ever received? What made the gift precious to you?
2. Bloom writes, “As long as you are rich there is nothing to thank God for.” When have you been moved past a general thanksgiving and repentance, to being thankful to God in such a way as to know you are loved?
3. Think of a time when you had such a great joy or sorrow on your mind that you recalled it even as you worked and went about your day. Does this assist in understanding the presence of God?
4. Is there a prayer that has been meaningful to you? Share the prayer with the group and tell how you learned it or when it was particularly helpful. Expect that not everyone in the group will have a prayer to name. 

Across the diocese

St. Patrick's in Albany held a Souper Bowl of Caring food drive that raised $484 and 415 food items for the food pantry.

Youth at Christ Church in Savannah teamed up with the Mickve Israel youth group and the Savannah Tree Foundation to plant nine Southern Magnolias.

Three members of St. Patrick's in Pooler began their preparation period to join their chapter of the Daughters of the King.

St. Peter's in Savannah dedicated their sound booth to Chris Goode for his countless hours of work live streaming each service.

St. Francis of the Islands in Savannah held an Italian dinner fundraiser for their Outreach Committee.

Lissa Leege from Trinity in Statesboro poses with other 2023 grant recipients of

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light.

Bishop Logue offered the invocation and benediction for the moving Weeping Time Commemoration at

St. Cyprian’s in Darien.

Update your parish information

The Diocese is requesting that each parish fill out the form linked below with updated information on those in leadership roles at the church. The staff uses this information to make sure that critical communications are directed to the correct person in each parish.

To fill out the form, click here.

Upcoming Events

Happening #107

• When: March 24-26, 2023
• Who: Youth in Grades 9-12
• Where: Honey Creek
• Cost: $145 per person

Registration for Candidates is available here: https://bit.ly/HappeningParticipants.

The Rector for Happening #107 is Adair Weston, form the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta. More information is also on the Georgia Happening Website: www.georgiahappening.com.

Episcopal Youth Event

• When: July 4-July 8, 2023
• Who: Youth currently in Grades 9-12
• Where: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
• Cost: $800 per person

Cost should never be prohibitive to participate in diocesan youth events. Contact Canon Varner for any questions regarding the event fee.

Registration Instructions: Registration for EYE is now open through the Diocese. Once youth and adult advisors are registered, Canon Varner will take their information register and register the group with the Episcopal Church.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/GeorgiaEYERegistration.

Chrism Mass

During Holy Week Clergy will have an opportunity to renew their ordination vows at two Chrism Mass services in which Bishop Logue will also bless holy oils. Services will take place on 

Monday, April 3 at 10:30 am

at Annunciation in Vidalia 

Tuesday, April 4 at 10:30 am

at Christ Church in Cordele.

Lunch will be provided. Please register online using this Google Form so that appropriate plans can be made: Click here to register.

Clergy Conferences

Spring Clergy Conference: April 24-26

Fall Clergy Conference: October 2-4

These conferences offer a mix of retreat time and training. The heart of every clergy conference is time spent together in worship, in meals, and in fireside and other casual conversations that assist us in staying connected to one another. Both conferences will be held at Honey Creek.

SWGA Clergy Spouse Gathering

Spouses of clergy in the SWGA convocation will meet for lunch on Saturday, April 15 at noon at the home of John and Rev Marcia McRae at 2701 Green Meadow Dr Valdosta 31602, spouses from other convocations are more than welcome to join. Lunch will be provided. This is meet and greet for new spouses to the convocation.

Please RSVP to John McRae at jhmcae@bellsouth.net or 229-220-5619.

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. 

March 12 - 18

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Cordele, Christ Church and for our ecumenical partners in Cordele, especially St. Theresa Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Dajabon, especially Holy Spirit the Comforter (Espíritu Consolador) and Holy Word (Verbo Divina).

March 19 - 25

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Dawson, the Church of the Holy Spirit. We pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Camilla, and St. Christopher Catholic Church in Claxton. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Michael’s (San Miguel) in Doña Ana and The Grand Commission (La Gran Comisión) in Doña Lila. 

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised February 28, 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 2/28/2023)

Bishop Logue will be in California for the wedding of his daughter Griffin.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2023 - 1/2/2023)

Picture: Bishop Logue with the Revs. Ian Lasch and Ella Roundtree Davis at St. Francis on Sunday.

Canon Loren Lasch will celebrate and preach at St. Michel and All Angels in Savannah on Sunday.

Canon Katie Easterlin remains on maternity leave.

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.

Bishop Frank takes a breather at St. Francis after having wayyyyy too much fun with Elias and

Ezra Lasch.