July 20, 2022 | Volume 12, No. 29

Prayers. Laughter. Music. Cheers. Excited yells. Splashes. These were some, but by no means all, of the sounds from Honey Creek Summer Camp this year! It was a joy to have our traditional camp program back after a two year break. Sessions were held for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as a Family Camp Weekend. Approximately 100 people took part in summer camp this year, and we are well on our way to building back! 

One of the things that makes Honey Creek Camp special is the work of its amazing counselors and staff. Counselors came from all over the Diocese and beyond to offer their gifts in the service of others. They helped campers with everything from tying shoelaces, to making sure everyone was drinking enough water, to leading activities and playing games. Our Spiritual Directors offered age-appropriate programs during each session as well, focusing on our identity as God’s Beloved (high school), the great Feasts of the Church Year (middle school), and the story of Joseph, son of Jacob from Genesis (elementary school). Of course, everything was made possible by our incredible Camp Director, Karen Bell, and by the Honey Creek staff who work constantly to ensure that our camp has a safe and welcoming space to call home!

Elementary School Camp was a particular challenge and success this year because all of the campers were new to Honey Creek, and for many of them it was their first time at a sleep-away camp at all. At the end of the week many of these first-time campers talked about how much they loved being there, saying that their favorite part of camp was just being at Honey Creek, in community both with people they already knew, and with people they had never met.

We also continued last summer’s innovation by offering a weekend of Family Camp from July 8-10. That session included families from Valdosta, Thomasville, Savannah, Atlanta, and more, as well as many of the counselors from the regular sessions. This year we were able to expand our activities during Family Camp by offering Archery, Kayaking, and our Zip Line, in addition to Arts & Crafts, Nature, and of course Music and Games!

Over 70% of our campers received some financial aid in order to attend Honey Creek. This aid came from their home congregations, from the Diocese, or from both. Once again we succeeded in ensuring that no camper was unable to attend due to financial constraints. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports Honey Creek Summer Camp, by trusting us with your children, by financially supporting a camper, by purchasing gifts from our wish list or by making a donation directly to Honey Creek! We are already looking forward to next Summer’s Camp Sessions!

The Logues renew an historic connection to Aberdeen

This week, Bishop Frank and Victoria Logue travel to the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney in Scotland as part of a journey to further renew an historic connection. This trip is thanks to his ordination and consecration as bishop being significantly downsized to prevent spreading COVID-19. 

In the spring of 2020, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry saw how the pandemic led to history was repeating itself when planning was underway to consecrate a handful of bishops with only the minimal people present as required by canons. He was reminded of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s cathedral in Aberdeen where a small gathering consecrated Samuel Seabury as the first American Bishop in November 1784. Bishop Curry referred to the liturgies in pandemic as "Aberdeen Consecrations." When Bishop Logue became the first person made a bishop with a congregation largely online, the image was even clearer as Communications Manager Liz Williams’ photo of the moment with just three bishops laying on hands looked more like a stained glass window in Aberdeen than any consecration in memory.

Today, Seabury is better know as being a rival to Alexander Hamilton thanks to a Broadway Musical, but his consecration in Scotland became a catalyst for the interconnectedness we see Anglicanism developing in the centuries. Seabury had been duly elected Bishop of Connecticut, but when he went to England seeking consecration, he was told he would have to pledge allegiance to the King of the consecration to go forward. This was a non-starter for a bishop of the new nation. The independent streak that runs deep in Scotland, made it natural for the bishops there who had refused to swear and oath to William and Mary to consecrate a bishop with no such requirement. The Scottish Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church in American forged close ties in the 18th century that have remained.

To honor this history and further renew the connection, Bishop Logue, together with Bishop Deon Johnson of Missouri, Bishop Glenda Curry of Alabama, and Bishop Craig Loya of Minnesota will travel this week to Scotland for a series of visits in the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. Bishop Logue will preach at St. Andrew’s in Alford this coming Sunday as a part of this visit.

From Scotland, the Logues will travel south to England to represent the Diocese of Georgia at the Lambeth Conference, a gathering more than 700 Anglican bishops from around the world. Bishop Henry and Jan Louttit attended the most recent Lambeth meeting in 2008. We will share more on the Lambeth Conference in next week's From the Field.

The Rector and Vestry of St. Paul's in Albany announce that Bishop Logue has assigned the Rev. Joy Davis, Deacon, to serve at St. Paul's. Her new call began July 10.

Joy is a native of Albany. She attended area schools, and studied at the University of Georgia. She worked as a pediodontic dental hygienist in Albany for 30 years before retiring. She has been married to Tim since 1984, and they have two married sons, Rackley and Mason, who were baptized and grew up at St. Paul's, and three beloved grandchildren.

She was confirmed in the Episcopal Church at St. Paul's by Bishop Paul Reeves in 1984 and was a member her from 1984-2012. She served in many capacities, including Vestry Member, Junior Warden, and Senior Warden. Joy was ordained a deacon in 2021 by Bishop Scott Benhase. This followed her completion of the three-year school for Deacons, as established by the Diocese of Georgia. During that time, she was lovingly mentored by the late Deacon Jim Purks.

After her ordination, she was assigned to St. Patrick's in Albany, where she served from 2012-2021. She has been active in numerous ministries, including serving as a chaplain at the Wilson Hospice House, Neighbors in Need, St. Clare's, Liberty House, ARC, and Hurricane Michael recovery, both in Albany and down the Florida coast. She is presently and Examining Chaplain in the Diocese of Georgia Deacon's School.

Mother Galen Mirate notes that, "the work of a Deacon is very different than that of a Priest, so having members of both orders of ministry serving at St. Paul's is highly beneficial. It allows St. Paul's to be of assistance to a wider audience, enhances the beauty of our liturgies, and gives parishioners an additional role model of ordained service. The presence of a Deacon in our midst provides an opportunity for those who are called by God to see new ways to serve God that might never have occurred to them, without this vital role model." 

"More than that," Mother Galen notes, "I have been blessed to serve alongside Deacon Joy in other settings, and she is a person whose insight and wisdom I know I can trust. She has a huge heart as well - and she's also a lot of fun!"

Deacon Joy is excited to be back at St. Paul's and says she is "looking forward to greeting old friends, making new friends, and working with and serving all."

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: August 12-14, 2022

How: Register here!

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

The Montpelier Institute, an ill-fated experiment

As we approach the bicentennial of our founding in 2023, we will share the story of the Diocese of Georgia. This week we remember Bishop Elliott and his contribution to women's education in Georgia.

Bishop Stephen Elliott, Jr. was a strong proponent of education, including women’s education. Immediately following his first diocesan convention in 1841, the new bishop traveled to Montpelier Springs near the town of Forsyth in middle Georgia to spend four days organizing a school. He left the Rev. Charles Fay as Rector of the church and school. That December, he reported that when he went back to Montpelier Springs to inspect the school and make arrangements for the winter term, “I found everything in the very best condition, full of promise to the Church and to the State.” By the spring of 1842, he could say, “Our Schools have flourished at the Springs beyond our most sanguine expectation.”

Bishop Elliott adopted a plan inconceivable today as the church school was to be founded around the work of enslaved Africans. He wrote that this scheme had worked for many years on the island of Barbados. The Montpelier Institute, with both boys and girls schools on an 800-acre campus was to be a working farm staffed by enslaved persons. Their work was to pay the bulk of the costs of the school. He saw additional advantage for the students in studying on a farm writing, “They will also be trained in the best mode of performing their duties as the owners of slaves and the masters of human beings for whose souls they must give an account.” 

Elliott said, “It is neither numbers, nor profit, nor popularity which we seek. Our desire is to give a finished education upon strictly religious principles, and everything else will be sacrificed to that object.”

The girls were taught in Lamar Hall, the boys were a mile distant in Chase Hall, named for Bishop Philander Chase, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Elliott recruited faculty from England, with every effort being made as Elliott would say to assure that “whatever is taught, will be thoroughly taught.”

By 1846, Elliott was living on the school grounds and reported that he had accomplished more Bishop’s visits in the previous year than in the years before moving to centrally-located Institute. By that time, more than 80 students were enrolled in the two schools which formed the Montpelier Institute. The rapid expansion of the school including the completion of more buildings amassed debt. Never funded by the Diocese, Elliott used his personal property, including “human capital” of enslaved persons, as a guarantee. In 1850, Elliott lost everything he owned. He sold all of his land and his considerable holdings in enslaved persons to satisfy the school’s creditors.

In 1851, the Diocese raised a salary for him for the first time. He was paid $2,500, which is $85,000 in 2022 dollars. Yet this was a step down for the wealthy bishop and his family. In December 1852 Bishop Elliott, now broke save for his salary as bishop, moved back to Savannah to take up duties as Rector of Christ Church in addition to serving as Bishop.

Pictured above: The Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, (above) and the historic marker for Montpelier Institute (below).

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.

Please note : the deadline to submit your your amendment will be August 15.

During the 2021 Diocesan Convention that met in November, delegates considered a package of changes to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese. After passing two amendments and postponing a third, the Convention passed the resolution on a first reading. The proposed changes will come before the Convention this November.

Bishop Logue is appointing a Task Group to shepherd the process this year, allowing time for due consideration and a a way to propose additional amendments. The Constitution and Canons as voted on by Convention in 2021 can be viewed here.

The Constitution and Canons as voted on by Convention in 2021, with all changes tracked from the previous version, can be viewed here.

Propose amendments online

The Diocese will use a Google Form to facilitate the collection of proposed amendments to the Canons. Any member of the clergy or delegate to Convention (2021 delegates remain in effect until a congregation names new delegates) may propose an amendment using this form: Proposed Amendments to Canons.

If you have any questions, please contact Canon Loren Lasch at llasch@gaepiscopal.org.

Convention will be held November 10-12, 2022 in Savannah.

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and the diocese will once again use AlertMedia to stay in contact with parishes who may be affected by natural disasters. 

Send your updated information of Clergy, Senior, and Junior Wardens to Liz Williams at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org.

The Rev. Ri Lamb, Deacon at St. John's and St. Mark's in Albany reads the Gospel in worship this past Sunday.

Family Campers were able to enjoy all Honey Creek has to offer, including going down the zip line!

The congregation of Christ the King worships in the downtown Valdosta building to which they moved in the past year and continue to make their new home.

A team from St. Anne's in Tifton spent the morning participating in the Adopt-a-Mile clean up effort.

The Rev. Katie Knoll Lenon and four Christ Church, St. Simons Island youth, Robert and Bruce Bland, McKenzie Brown and Calleigh Purdy joined a group of youth from St. Simons Presbyterian Church, who went to Kentucky to help repair the homes of families stricken by tornadoes earlier in 2022.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Darien is seeking a part-time organist for Sunday worship and special occasion services. Hymns and service music are typically from the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal. There is also a Tuesday evening rehearsal requirement with the choir, all to total approximately 3-4 hours per week. Candidates should be familiar with an organ with 2 manuals and a pedal clavier, be music literate, and be willing to work collaboratively with the Rector and Music Director. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Interested parties should email their resume to standrew@darientel.net.

St. Augustine of Canterbury in Augusta is looking for a Parish Administrator. For more information, contact the Rev. Jim Said at jim@st-augustines.org.

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.   

July 17 - 23

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in St. Marys, Christ Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in St. Marys, especially Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Timothy (San Timoteo) in Nizao. 

July 24 - 30

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation on St. Simons Island, Christ Church and Holy Nativity. We also pray for our ecumenical partners on the island, especially Lord of Life Lutheran Church and St. William’s Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Barnabas (San Bernabé) in Pizarrete. 

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)

Please note that diocesan staff members will be traveling this summer for both work and personal time. Those updates will be noted in this section, along with the corresponding staff member to contact if there is a need.

Bishop Logue is traveling to Scotland this week in advance of the Lambeth Conference and will return August 9. On Sunday he will be preaching at St. Andrew's in Alford, Scotland, in the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney at the invitation of their Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Anne Dyer. Please direct any scheduling questions to his Executive Assistant, Maggie Lyons, and other correspondence with the bishop to Canon Loren Lasch.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2023 - 7/19/2022)

Pictured: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Alford, Scotland, where Bishop Frank Logue will preach this Sunday.

Canon Varner will be celebrating and preaching at St. Luke's in Rincon on Sunday.

The office's summer hours of operation include closing the office at noon on Fridays.



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.

Clergy of the Diocese of Georgia gather around Bishop Scott Anson Benhase, the 10th Bishop of Georgia, for the Commendation in Saturday's funeral for the Rev. RV Cate at St. Mark's in Brunswick. Bishop Logue was quarantined, recovering from COVID. Bishop Benhase, who was already planning to attend and take part in the funeral, was able to step in as officiant.