EPISCOPALIAN. When the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, On Feb. 12, after eight ballots, Mr. President, lay delegates and clergy, and

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1 T H E E A S T T E N N E S S E E EPISCOPALIAN The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee w Volume 26, No. 1 w Spring 11 Rebuilding Haiti s cathedral East Tennesseans join wider church in raising funds When the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, it effectively leveled the most populous diocese of The Episcopal Church. Seventy percent of church buildings were considered a total loss. Diocesan-run schools, clinics and hospitals that served over 100,000 Episcopalians, as well as countless community members, were wiped out in thirty-five seconds. Many of the services we expect from the government healthcare, education, culture are provided in Haiti by The Episcopal Church. Holy Trinity Cathedral, home of the famous murals that depicted the Biblical narrative, was a beacon in a land where strength of faith is inversely proportional to economic development. As the site of Holy Trinity Music School, the Cathedral trained a touring choir and the nation s only symphony orchestra, providing both cultural development and income. Holy Trinity Professional School and the primary and secondary schools, also located on the Cathedral grounds, all raised up future leaders in an environment of cultural and spiri- CATHEDRAL continues on page 3 Bishop offers advice for bishop-elect in convention address Mr. President, lay delegates and clergy, and guests and visitors at this Twenty Seventh Convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee, I greet you today in the name of the One we call Lord, Jesus Christ. It is our oneness in Christ that offers cause for thanksgiving, for celebration, for joy, and for hope. That unity in Christ transcends differences of opinion about church issues and about nominees for bishop, as well as differences in church experiences our comings and our goings, for instance. Indeed, unity in Christ pro- ADDRESS continues on page 2 Photo by Kelly Norrell The Rev. George Young answers questions at the Episcopal School of Knoxville, during the second of three regional walkabout gatherings. About 250 people attended the meeting, held on Jan. 25. Diocesan Convention delegates, clergy and parishioners of churches in the diocese participated in the regional meetings. Gatherings were also held at St. Paul, Chattanooga, and St. John, Johnson City. The Rev. George D. Young III is bishop-elect of the diocese On Feb. 12, after eight ballots, not too long after lunch, Bishop vonrosenberg received a piece of paper from Chancellor Sarah Sheppeard. He rose from his chair and exited the nave of St. John s Cathedral, as a buzz of anticipation spread through the pews. He returned several minutes later, and said, We have... a hymn to sing. Clergy and lay delegates rose from their pews for a hymn and prayer, June a.m. ORDINATION Church of the Ascension 800 Northshore Drive Knoxville The people of the diocese are invited to participate in this celebration and in the reception following the service. then the bishop announced, We have a bishop-elect. All 226 clergy and lay delegates burst into applause and the bells of St. John s Cathedral rang through the city of Knoxville as they learned that the Rev. George Young had been elected fourth bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee. The day started early. Clergy and delegates arrived at St. John s Cathedral at 7:30 a.m. for registration on the second day of the diocesan convention for the election of the bishop. Expectation and excitement were in the air along with a sense of purpose as clergy and delegates mingled, discussed and visited with each other before moving into the nave for Holy Eucharist. In his homily, Bishop vonrosenberg spoke a few words about the day and the purpose of the day, then said that the remainder of time BISHOP-ELECT continues on page 4 [Interview with Bishop-elect Young on page 10] I N T H I S I S S U E DIOCESAN CONVENTION / 1-7 DIOCESAN BUDGET / 5 GRACE POINT / 9 INTERVIEW WITH BISHOP- ELECT YOUNG /10 AROUND THE DIOCESE/ 12 HAITI MURALS /8 OPPORTUNITIES /17 SUBMITTAL GUIDELINES /20

2 2 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 The Diocese of East Tennessee Diocesan House 814 Episcopal School Way Knoxville, Tenn Web site: etdiocese.net Bishop The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonrosenberg cgvonr@etdiocese.net Vision Statement The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee, Unified and empowered by the Spirit of God, Embraces the call of Jesus as servants for the sake of the world And as faithful stewards of God s gracious bounty. The diocese is in communion with: The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori The Anglican Communion Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams Member: Episcopal Communicators; Episcopal News Service /Episcopal LIfe Online T H E E A S T T E N N E S S E E EPISCOPALIAN Vol. 26, No. 1 The East Tennessee Episcopalian (USPS ; ISSN ) is a quarterly publication of the Diocese of East Tennessee. Periodical postage is paid at Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscription rate is $10 per year outside the Diocese of East Tennessee. Web archives: etdiocese.net/ete/ Publisher: The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonrosenberg Editor: Vikki Myers editor@etdiocese.net 814 Episcopal School Way Knoxville, Tenn Correspondents: Emily McDonald, South East Area ecmcdonald@bellsouth.net 724 Bacon Trail No. 46 Chattanooga, Tenn Nancy Ledford, Upper East Area (greater Tri-Cities) nledford@chartertn.net r Middle East Area (greater Knoxville) Vacant Interested volunteers, please contact the editor TO THE POSTMASTER AND READERS: FOR CORRECTIONS OF ADDRESS AND NOTICE OF DUPLICATE MAILINGS, PLEASE NOTIFY: ETE Circulation Manager Lynn Lazlo llazlo@etdiocese.net 814 Episcopal School Way Knoxville, Tenn Subscription rate is $10 per year outside the diocese. Photo by Vernon Britton Bishop vonrosenberg smiles at the ovation in response to his address, given on the first day of the 27th Annual Diocesan Convention, Feb. 11, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. ADDRESS continued from page 1 vides the sure foundation which weathers storms of difference, of disagreement, and, even, of despair in the life of the Church. Whatever happens in that life whatever joys we celebrate, whatever difficulties we endure, whatever mistakes we make the sure foundation of unity in Christ provides assurance and hope for the future. It is precisely due to our unity in Christ that we gather today. As we Anticipate the Future, with Thanksgiving, we do so with the assurance from Christ that we find our unity in him. And such unity is precious indeed today and always. On behalf of everyone here, I want to offer greetings, from a distance, to the Rt. Rev. William E. Sanders, first bishop of this diocese. Bishop Sanders is not present at this convention, but he has assured me that he believes we can carry on, nevertheless. Also, on behalf of us all, I give special thanks to Mary Keller and to Zulette Melnick, from St. John s Cathedral, who serve as our convention co-chairs and to the clergy and staff of St. John s as well. We are also grateful to our diocesan Standing Committee and to the Transition Committee who have played important roles in preparing for this convention. Today marks my thirteenth Annual Address to this diocese, gathered in convention. Therefore, it has been my honor to offer presentations to nearly half of the conventions which this diocese has known. Thank you for your attention and your kindness on those occasions through the years. And, please know how blessed I am to have served as bishop of this diocese for twelve years. Recognition of staff and Annie I also want to offer special thanks for my partner in this ministry, who has been such a support to me and such a gift to this diocese as well Annie vonrosenberg. Every year in my Address, I have made special reference to our diocesan staff and have mentioned each of them by name. I want to follow that practice again this year both to call attention to these Retirement Celebration May 14 Grace Point 11 to 4 Rejoice - reminisce - share time Noon Friars for Hire BBQ BBQ plate or hamburgers/hot dogs $10/person - $40/family 2:30 Holy Eucharist The Rev. Scherry Fouke celebrating The Rev. Canon Stephen Askew preaching Fran McKendree music RSVP to Lynn Lazlo by May gifted people whose resources are so valuable to the diocese and to offer once again my thanks for the good work they accomplish on behalf of us all. Today is the last time that I will have such an opportunity in this setting, and so, on this occasion, I want to make certain that you and the staff members themselves know how very grateful I am for their service. Lynn Lazlo serves as Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. Alex Haralson is our Youth Ministries Coordinator and Camp Director at Grace Point. Herb Berl serves as our volunteer Stewardship Officer. Rosemary Davenport is Insurance Administrator and Administrative Assistant. I need to add that Rosemary plans to retire next month. She has served in several capacities on diocesan staff for twenty years, and we are grateful indeed for her service. Jim Powell is the interim Executive Director at Grace Point. Vikki Myers serves as our Communications Director. Rick Govan is Deputy for Ministry and Congregational Development. Mary Berl is our Diocesan Administrator. Laura Nichols serves as the Bishop s Executive Assistant. And, Stephen Askew wears many hats as the Canon to the Ordinary. Please join me now in offering our thanks to this very fine diocesan staff! At this time, I also want to offer special thanks for my partner in this ministry, who has been such a support to me and such a gift to this diocese as well Annie vonrosenberg. Outline of convention Now, to borrow and modify words from Julius Caesar, all of this convention is divided into two parts. The business session of today... do not believe meets the requirements of everything that people our canons. We will hear say about you the required reports but nothing extra. We will present and adopt a budget. We will elect people to represent us in various ministries and works of the church. In today s task of holding elections, we will also be practicing for tomorrow. That is, our tellers ADDRESS continues on page 3

3 Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 3 ADDRESS continued from page 2 CATHEDRAL continued from page 1 today will be responsible for the same delegates tomorrow, and we will we hope work out potential kinks in our brand new voting machine as well. Then, at the conclusion of today s session, we will stand in recess. Tomorrow morning we will reconvene convention, in the nave of St. John s Cathedral. After celebrating the Holy Eucharist there, our one order of business will be to elect the fourth bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee. It is that matter of electing our next bishop about which I have several additional comments at this time. Advice to bishop-elect We have good people who have agreed to be nominated and to stand for election gifted, experienced priests of the church. However, for the sake of whoever is elected, please be aware of this reality. Becoming a bishop represents a change of careers. The responsibilities of bishop do not resemble those of rector in a large church at all. It is basically a different job. And so, while we have good nominees from which to choose, we do not have people prepared to become bishop, right away. Becoming a bishop is a process after election which takes time and work and prayer. I have had individual conversations with each of the people to be nominated and I look forward to spending more time with the bishop-elect. I have offered some words of advice, and I plan to be more specific with the one elected, if that person wants to have such a discussion. As a priest makes the transition to bishop, that person will be well-served by remembering several things, it seems to me. And these points name some of my words of advice to whoever is chosen as bishop-elect. First, do not believe everything that people say about you. Many of the good things perhaps most of them really are directed to the office of bishop. There still exists a degree of respect given to that office. Kind people will say nice things about anyone who happens to be a bishop. In addition, though, it is also true that many of the bad things said about the bishop come from people who project how they might accomplish the job better or, at least, differently. Those bad things often have more to do with projection than with fact and certainly more to do with various realities other than the person who happens to hold the office. In many cases, then, neither the good things nor the bad things really should be taken personally. Therefore, do not believe everything that people say about you. I am forever grateful to this diocese for your kindness and patience... Secondly, I intend to say this also to the bishop-elect. In spite of great temptation to the contrary, do not take yourself too seriously. The temptations are great to do otherwise. For instance, the bishop s annual visitation to a parish represents a big event. Much preparation anticipates that visit. It often is the occasion of considerable excitement. However, what happens in the life of the parish once a year happens in the life of the bishop once a week. Thus, these weekly big events are one example but only one of the temptation to feel very, very important. Resist this temptation, though, and do not take yourself too seriously. Thirdly and finally, identify several people with whom you may be real and who will expect such reality from you. Bishops sometimes serve this function for one another, but there are not very many bishops in the immediate neighborhood. It is important, therefore, to find people nearer by who will provide a reality check for you, on a regular basis. These, then, are several pieces of advice which I intend to offer the bishop-elect. I have pointed out that this job represents a career change. And, it may be that such advice will be helpful in making the transition. Examples of learning opportunities for bishop-elect The good news is that East Tennessee provides opportunities and situations for someone to learn to become a bishop. I speak from experience on that subject. This diocese offers times and circumstances and people that are well-equipped to teach our bishop-elect. While I might list many lessons that have been significant to me in learning about this office, I will limit myself to three of them at this point. First, I think of a long day in the car, as I accompanied the local rector in making pastoral visits to the distant and remote corners of Cocke County. Stories about the particular, unique, and surprising encounters that day probably are best left untold here. Suffice it to say, however, that on that day and on many others I have learned the value of flexibility in times of uncertainty flexibility in times of uncertainty. Not too long afterwards, I visited St. John s, Johnson City, on the occasion of groundbreaking for the new worship space there. On the day of that event, the rain was pouring down, and the cameras of the local television station were rolling. And, oh yes, tual grace. It was all reduced to rubble. Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin and the people of Haiti have asked for our help. The Episcopal Church, acting through the Executive Council, asks every Episcopal diocese and congregation to join in this initial phase of rebuilding the Diocese of Haiti. As the walls of a new Cathedral rise, so too will the hearts and fortunes of those who have depended on Holy Trinity for spiritual succor, for education, and for income. We have the chance to resurrect the spirit of a nation. Bishop vonrosenberg has asked the Rev. John Talbird, Haiti missioner and extended supply priest at Christ Church, Chattanooga, and Mr. Allen Vital of All Saints, Morristown, to be diocesan coordinators of the East Tennessee appeal, joining with the wider church to Rebuild Our Church in Haiti. The appeal will be simple and grass-roots in nature. We anticipate that the diocesan program will run from Lent through the season of Easter. Pentecost June 12 will mark the completion of our appeal, the bishop said. The House of Bishops passed a resolution last September supporting this appeal. Our Bishop and Council likewise has passed a resolution of support. Following that action, the [2011] convention offering was designated for the Haiti Appeal, and we raised nearly $3,000 on that occasion. We hope to encourage every East Tennessee Episcopalian to buy a brick for $10 and thus our contribution to this effort will amount to $160,000. See story about mural restoration on p. 8 How well do you know your facts? Take this quiz about last year s earthquake in Haiti and about the Diocese of Haiti. 1. What anniversary will the Diocese of Haiti be celebrating this year? 2. The Diocese of Haiti is in what province? 3. How many Episcopalians are in the diocese? 4. How long did the Jan 12 earthquake last? 5. Where was the epicenter of the earthquake? 6. How many congregations were damaged or destroyed? 7. How many schools were in the diocese before the earthquake? 8. What part(s) of the cathedral remained standing after the earthquake? 9. What other agencies are helping to rebuild the cathedral? 10. How many people remain homeless? Answers may be found on p. 19 ADDRESS continues on page 5

4 4 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION BISHOP-ELECT continued from page 1 allotted for the homily would be in silence so all gathered could pray, meditate and contemplate the nominees. We will elect a nominee today, he said, but only God can make a bishop. It has been more than 12 years since there has been a bishop elected in the diocese, so there was much planning and organization beforehand. It all came together in a smooth and orderly process even with the introduction of a new voting machine. Many volunteers participated, performing all sorts of tasks: standing on nearby street corners and in the parking lot directing people to the cathedral; arranging breakfast and lunch; keeping coffee and water carafes filled; helping delegates, clergy and visitors navigate around the cathedral; ensuring all delegates and clergy were in the right places at the right times; distributing and collecting ballots, and making sure voting proceeded according to the Rules of Order. The election was surely sacred business. People entered with purpose, conducted themselves according to the rules, and let the Holy Spirit flow. The Rev. Peter Keese said in his Feb. 13 sermon, Yesterday, at St. John s Cathedral in Knoxville, I think we experienced a Church happening. The bishop-elect is currently the rector of St. Peter s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach (Amelia Island), in the Diocese of Florida, where he has served since Previously, he served as rector of St. Elizabeth, Jacksonville, Florida, for five years, and as assistant at St. Giles, Northbrook, Illinois (Diocese of Chicago) for two years. Young received a Master of Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in 1990 and a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Florida State University in He was ordained to the priesthood in Young and his wife, the Rev. Kammy Young, were married in 1981 and have two children, both in college; Bishop vonrosenberg looks out at clergy, lay delegates, tellers and vistors before Eucharist at St. John s Cathedral on Feb. 12. The Eucharist preceeded voting for the fourth bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee. George, 24, and Lucy, 22. The electing delegates consisted of representatives from each of the 45 parishes in the Diocese of East Tennessee as well as its clergy members. They chose the new bishop from a slate of five nominees. The other nominees were the Rev. Frank Crumbaugh III, rector, Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Beach Haven, New Jersey; the Rev. Frederick DuMontier Devall IV, rector, St. Martin s Episcopal Church, Metairie, Louisiana; the Rev. Lisa W. Hunt, rector, St. Stephen s Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas; and the Rev. Joseph R. Parrish, rector of St. John s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey Bishop-elect Young will follow the Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonrosenberg, who has served as third bishop of the diocese since The search for a bishop began in Fall 2009 after Bishop vonrosenberg announced his plans to retire in June Shortly following the bishop s announcement of his retirement, Search and Transition Committees were appointed by the Standing Committee of the diocese to determine the qualities wanted in the next bishop and to locate suitable nominees. In November 2010, following a careful search process, the Search Committee presented four nominees to the Standing Committee. Subsequently, a fifth nominee was added to the slate by petition. Pending the required consents from a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees, the ordination is scheduled for Saturday, June 25 at Church of the Ascension, Knoxville, and the seating of the bishop is to be held at St. John s Cathedral on June 26. The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, is scheduled to preside at the ordination. Additional information about the search process, convention and related events may be found at and n ELECTIONS OF DIOCESAN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BISHOP AND COUNCIL Elected: The Rev. Michelle Warriner Bolt, nonparochial (2014); Mr. John Hermes, parishioner at St. Timothy, Kingsport (2014); Mr Henry Lodge, parishioner at Christ Church, South Pittsburg (2014); the Rev. Wil Keith, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain (2014). Continuing members: Ms. Arline Caliger, parishioner, St. Francis, Ooltewah (2013) and Mr. Cameron Ellis, parishioner, St. Stephen, Oak Ridge (2013). The Rev. Dr. Hal Hutchison, rector, St. John, Johnson City (2012); the Rev. Bob Leopold, assistant-college and Young Adult Ministries, St. Paul, Chattanooga (2012); Mr. John Hicks, parishioner, Christ Church, Rugby (2012); the Rev. Charles Fels, rector, Good Shepherd, Knoxville (2012). Bishop and Council will select any additional needed members per diocesan Constitution and Canons. STANDING COMMITTEE Elected for Full terms: The Rev. Peter Keese, supply priest at Christ Church, Rugby (2014); Ms. Andrea Odle, parishioner at St. Paul, Chattanooga (2014). Continuing members: Ms. Christopher Robinson, parishioner at Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain (2013); the Rev. Scherry Fouke, rector at All Saints, Morristown (2013); the Rev. Lou Parsons, rector at St. Francis, Ooltewah (2012), and Dr. Walter Williams, Jr., parishioner at St. Luke, Knoxville (2012). DEPUTIES TO THE 2012 GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH Elected in the clergy order: The Rev. Hendree Harrison, rector of St. Paul, Athens, seat 1; the Rev. Cal Calhoun, rector of Good Samaritan, Knoxville, seat 2; the Rev. Maggie Zeller, rector, St. Christopher, Kingsport, seat 3; the Rev. Suzanne Smitherman, assistant at St. Paul, Chattanooga, seat 4; the Rev. Leyla King, rector at Thankful Memorial, Chattanooga, alternate 1; the Rev. Peter Keese, supply at Christ Church, Rugby, alternate 2; the Rev. John Talbird, supply, Christ Church, Chattanooga, alternate 3; the Rev. Chris Harpster, deacon at St. Paul, Kingsport, alternate 4. Elected in the lay order: Ms. Lynn Schmissrauter, parishioner at St. Timothy, Signal Mountain, seat 1, chair; Mr. Henry Lodge, parishioner, Christ Church, So. Pittsburg, seat 2; Mr. Mike Keene, parishioner at Resurrection, Loudon, seat 3; Ms. Jennifer Dunn, parishioner at Good Samaritan, Knoxville, seat 4; Mr. Erik Broeren, parishioner at Grace Church, Chattanooga, alternate 1; Mr. Matt Farr, parishioner at Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, alternate 2; Mr. Brandon Heren, parishioner at St. Timothy, Kingsport, alternate 3; Mr. James Johnson, parishioner at Christ Church, Chattanooga, alternate 4. COMMISSION ON MINISTRY Approved by convention: The Rev. Brett Backus, associate at Ascension, Knoxville (2014); the Rev. Chris Harpster, deacon, St. Paul, Kingsport (2014); the Rev. Hendree Harrison, rector at St. Paul, Athens (2014); Ms. Jennifer Paden, parishioner at St. Peter, Chattanooga (2014); Ms. Kennetha (Kenny) Zitt, parishioner at All Satins, Morristown (2014). Continuing members: The Rev. John Mark Wiggers, rector at St. James, Knoxville (2013); the Rev. Kay Reynolds, associate at St. Luke, Knoxville (2013); the Rev. Claire Keene, rector at Resurrection, Loudon (2013); the Rev. Gordon Brewer, deacon at St. Christopher, Kingsport (2013); Ms. Lynn Schmissrauter, parishioner at St. Timothy, Signal Mountain; the Rev. Maggie Zeller, rector at St. Christopher, Kingsport (2012); Ms. Anne Hayward, parishioner at St. Andrew, Maryville (2012); Dr. Elsbeth Freeman, parishioner at St. John s Cathedral, Knoxville (2012); Mr. Bert Ackermann, parishioner at Ascension, Knoxville (2012), and the Rev. Suzanne Smitherman, assistant at St. Paul, Chattanooga (2012). TRUSTEE, UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH Elected: The Rev. Taylor Dinsmore, assistant at Good Samaritan, Knoxville (2014). Continuing members from East Tennessee: Ms. Lee Phillips, parishioner at St. John, Johnson City (2013); Robert G. Norred, Jr., parishioner at St. Peter, Chattanooga (2012). GRACE POINT CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER BOARD OF MANAGERS Appointed filling unexpired terms: The Rev. John John Mark Wiggers, rector at St. James, Knoxville (2012). Appointed for full terms: Mr. George Dixon, parishioner at Ascension, Knoxville (2014); the Rev. John Wilson, retired, St. Stephen, Oak Ridge (2014); Ms. JoAnn Yates, parishioner at Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain (2014). Continuing members: Ms. Martha Terrell, parishioner at Good Samaritan, Knoxville (2013); Mr. Richard Spence, parishioner at St. Joseph the Carpenter (2013; Ms. Sonya Minarik, parishioner at St. Francis, Norris (2013); Mr. John McElroy, Parishioner at Ascension, Knoxville (2013); Ms. Annette Anderson, parishioner at St. John s Cathedral, Knoxville (2013); Mr. Mike Gray, parishioner at St. Timothy, Signal Mountain (2012); the Rev. Robert Childers, rector, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mtn. (2012); Mr. Ben Alford, parishioner at Good Samaritan, Knoxville (2012). DISCIPLINARY BOARD (The Disciplinary Board replaces the Ecclesiastical Trail Court per a 2010 change in the Title VI Canon) Elected at 2011 convention: The Rev. Brad Weeks, deacon at Grace Church, Chattanooga (2013); Mr. Bill Wilcox, parishioner at St. Stephen, Oak Ridge (2013); Ms. Mary LeMense, parisioner at Ascension, Knoxville (2014); the Rev. Jay Mills, rector at St. Paul, Kingsport (2014); Members serving from Ecclesiastical Trial Court : Lida Barrett, parishioner at Ascension, Knoxville (2015); the Rev. Craig Kallio, rector at St. Stephen, Oak Ridge (2015); the Rev. Art Bass, deacon at St. Luke, Cleveland (2015). OFFICERS (elected annually) Secretary of the Convention: The Rev. Canon Stephen Askew of the diocesan staff. Assistant Secretary: Ms. Laura Nichols of the diocesan staff. Treasurer: Mr. Don Sproles, parishioner at Good Samaritan, Knoxville. Assistant Treasurers: Mr. Joseph Bacon, parishioner at St. John s Cathedral, Knoxville; Ms. Merry Keyser, parishioner at St. Stephen, Oak Ridge. Chancellor: Ms. Sarah Sheppeard, Esq., parishioner at Good Samaritan, Knoxville. Vice Chancellors: Mr. Thomas Peters, Esq., parishioner at St. Timothy, Kingsport; the Hon. Neil Thomas and the Hon. Marie Williams, parishioners at St. Paul, Chattanooga; Mr. Chris Cone, parishioner at St. Andrew, Maryville. Registrar: Ms. Mary Berl of the diocesan staff. n

5 Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w diocesan budget adopted by convention 27th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION Diocese of East Tennessee 2011 Budget w By Don Sproles, diocesan treasurer Delegates of the 27th Annual Diocesan Convention adopted a budget of $1,667, This is an increase of $51,125 from the budget previously published. The generosity and faithfulness of congregations meeting their voluntary commitment accounts for this increase. These monies are expensed over several areas of our diocesan budget. $11,834 was used to bolster our staff s pay levels, not so much as a raise but as another effort to bring them to a level of pay commensurate with a comparable average of other comparable jobs in the Knoxville area. Increases were also made to: w Outreach Ministries ($2,000), Don Sproles w Support for Ministry and Congregational Development ($5,000), w Support for Campus ($5,000), w Maintenance Reserve ($3.062) and w Contingencies ($3,000). It was decided to commence our new bishop s stipend and housing in mid-may as opposed to June 1, which increased that item by $6,146. Finally, an additional $13,725 was added to the Commission on Ministry line so another of our wonderful seminary graduates could be placed in a position in our diocese. We give thanks to each congregation for their prayerful response in support of our Diocesan Ministry and Program. n ADDRESS continued from page 3 there was a backhoe involved, too, and an assistant rector who knew just a little bit more than the bishop did about running that machine and what the bishop knew was nothing at all. The situation envisioned by someone as grand and dramatic actually resulted in some awkward moments, I assure you. From that occasion and from many others I have learned the appropriateness of humility in the face of my own inadequacy. Finally, several years later, I visited St. Francis of Assisi, Ooltewah, on the feast day of St. Francis himself. The blessing of the animals that day was unlike any I had ever experienced previously. Indeed, I commented at the time that I seemed to have arrived at the Mecca for blessing of the animals. Except for the dog who attempted to bite the bishop, the day was a wonderful one. And from that occasion and in many, many others I have learned the joy which emerges from times of celebration. Flexibility, humility, and joy these are lessons I have learned from you during my time as bishop. Those lessons and others have been important indeed, invaluable for my practice of the ministry of bishop. And such are some of the lessons that you have offered me. It is with the assurance gained from personal experience, therefore, that I affirm that you are prepared and wellequipped to teach the bishop-elect similar lessons, as that person grows into the role and responsibilities of bishop. Conclusion Iam forever grateful to this diocese for your kindness and patience, as I learned and continue to learn the craft of service as bishop. In addition to your kindness and patience, I thank you for opportunities to practice flexibility, to learn humility, and to experience joy, in and through the Episcopal communities of East Tennessee. Most of all, I give thanks to you and to God for the unity in Christ with which we are blessed and on which we may depend. I am grateful beyond words for the blessing of Christian unity that I have known throughout this diocese for twelve years. May we continue our journeys of faith, as we Anticipate the Future, with Thanksgiving. Finally, may God bless us all as we continue to learn, to grow, and to live as brothers and sisters of Jesus and as children of God. n

6 6 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION Jeep shouts repent w By the Rev. Amy Morehous Meditation and prayer given on second day of the 27th Annual Diocesan Convention at St. John s Cathedral, Knoxville. So, two days ago, Thursday morning, I was driving to work, minding my own business and feeling a little down. I had a lot on my mind, I was praying for a friend in surgery, and thinking of a funeral later that day, and really just wrapped up in my own little world. While contemplating all this, I stopped at a traffic light. As I was stopped, this gentleman pulled up beside me in a bright yellow Jeep. Painted along the side in bright red letters, it said Friends Don t Let Friends Go to Hell. It had accompanying scenes of people trapped in the midst of hellfire and damnation, and citations of verses from the Bible all over the sides, but I didn t write any of them down I didn t think my curiosity was a good reason to cause an accident. Across the hood of the Jeep was the word REPENT in two-foot high letters. As I was reading his Jeep, the man unzipped his window, and leaned out toward me, and I held my breath. He shouted, Roll down your window, lady, so I can tell you about the Gospel! Like any good Episcopalian who is confronted with the prospect of evangelism, I ignored him. The light changed, and I drove off. My first reaction was relief I had escaped! Then after relief came irritation. Something about me looked to him as if I was in need of salvation. I thought I looked okay that day not too obviously spiritually poor, or in want of spiritual sustenance. I didn t see him do it to anyone else, so I don t know why he chose me. I admit that God has sent me some unlikely messengers in my time, but the very nerve thinking that I was in need of the Gospel! But then I tuned in to my internal monologue and I really heard myself. I m sure I ve said plenty of things about the Gospel that people have ignored. And the more I thought about it, the more sympathy I felt for the poor guy. Here he had what looked like a likely prospect for salvation, and I m sure it seemed like to him that I had totally blown him off. But I thought about the Gospel all day that day, so I m not sure his efforts were totally in vain. (So, if you re Photo by Vernon Britton out there in the congregation today, sir, two thumbs up to you.) Clearly, at some point in his life, this man discerned a call to evangelism. He gave it some serious consideration, and decided this was how he would live that call out in the world, here in Knoxville, Tennessee. Now, his methods may not be my methods. His theology is not my theology. I have never found terror to be the basis of a solid relationship with anyone certainly not God. But here was a man who was unafraid to make a fool out of himself for the sake of the Gospel as he understood it. Here was a man who heard a call, and who looked at his bright yellow Jeep and said, I can work with that. The Rev. Amy Morehous holds a t-shirt given to her her by the Very Rev. John Ross following the meditation she delivered Feb. 12 at St. John s Cathedral during tallying of votes for bishop on the eighth ballot. Feb. 12 was the second day of the diocesan convention and the day of the bishop election. Although a new voting machine and faster procedure had been tested the previous day during voting for diocesan leadership positions, there was down time while ballots were tallied and results checked. Diocesan deacons provided thoughtful meditations and prayers for clergy and lay delegates while ballots were tallied. Other participating deacons were the Rev. Art Bass, the Rev. Ann Weeks, the Rev. Bill McGee, the Rev. Suzanne Burch, the Rev. Gordon Brewer, the Rev. Lani Hubbard, and the Rev. Bercry Leas. Now, like a lot of us, I wake up most mornings, and think, God, how would you have me live out my call today, exactly where I am? Sometimes we forget to ask that question in the crush of our daily lives. Sometimes we ask without hearing anything. Sometimes we only hear a still, small voice in the silence. And sometimes we get shouting evangelists in neon yellow Jeeps that we would prefer to ignore. However your call comes to you, whatever you are called to do, may you receive that call thoughtfully, and live it out with joy. As we each listen deeply for God s call to us, may we be bold in our response, honest in our answers, faithful to the Gospel, and willing to take a chance and listen to even the most unlikely of messengers. Amen. Holy and Loving God Your people yearn to hear your voice. Open our ears so we may hear your call. Inspire us to be bold, strengthen us to be honest, empower us to do your will in the world, and send us forth from here with joy and thanksgiving and peace your peace that peace that passes all understanding. Amen. Photo by Vikki Myers New clergy and clergy new to the diocese in 2010 were introduced on the first day of the Diocesan Convention, Feb. 11. L-R are the Rev. Carol Westpfahl, St. Elizabeth, Knoxville; the Rev. Wil Keith, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain; the Rev. David Lovett, Good Shepherd, Knoxville; the Rev. Kirk LaFon, Episcopal School of Knoxville and St. James, Knoxville; the Rev. Caroline Vogel, Good Samaritan, Knoxville; the Very Rev. Ward Ewing, retired dean of General Theological Seminary; the Rev. David Pina, St. Luke, Knoxville, and the Rev. John Mark Wiggers, St. James, Knoxville. Photo by Vernon Britton A stained glass window at St. John s Cathedral an angel seemingly watching over the voting for bishop on Feb. 12, the second day of the diocesan convention.

7 27th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 7 Candidates and postulants pose for a picture after introductions by Bishop vonrosenberg on the first day of the 27th Annual Diocesan Convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Knoxville. L-R are: Fred Mac Brown, General Theological Seminary; Rebecca Edwards, Virginia Theological Seminary; Chris Hackett, University of the South Theological Seminary; Robert Hartmans, Virginia Theological Seminary; Steve White, University of the South Theological Seminary; Andy Olivo, University of the South Theological Seminary; Patricia Tanzer Askew, local process for priesthood; Richard Carter, local process for priesthood, and Ellie Pickett, local process for priesthood. Photo by Vikki Myers Photo by Vernon Britton L-R: Laura Nichols, the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew and the Rt. Rev. Charles vonrosenberg sing a hymn while ballots are tallied on Feb. 12. Reasonable and Holy Conversations enlighten St. Paul, Chattanooga w By the Rev. Donald Fishburne What brought 100 parishioners to a Sunday Adult Forum at St. Paul, Chattanooga, for three Sundays in Advent? Reasonable and holy conversations about sexuality, facilitated by members of the Bishop s Committee on Inclusivity, were the big draw. In the course of three Sundays in December, more than 100 adult parishioners came together for plenary sessions and for 14 small group discussions each Sunday. St. Paul s Adult Christian Education Committee member Shelley Andrews said, The committee s work was outstanding and each member s contribution was meaningful, candid, and eloquent. The committee s thoughtful background preparation made for a respectful and purposeful examination of three sensitive topics. Each Sunday, introductory remarks set the stage and tone for subsequent smallgroup discussions at tables of 8 to 10 participants. Each day s conclusion included collecting individual anonymous responses to the questions discussed at the tables, which the team used to prepare for the following Sunday. In a letter to Bishop Charles vonrosenberg at the close of the series, she wrote, Over the course of the three Sundays, I sat at tables with people who aren t sure what they think, some who consider homosexuality a sin, some who are gay/lesbian, and some who wonder why it s even an issue. The respectful tone and guided discussion contributed to everyone s positive experience in the classes. Universally, people responded that they felt we did not have enough time for our discussion. I believe that St. Paul will want to continue its conversation at some time in the future, based on the strong foundation that was laid by your wonderfully prepared committee! Presentations and discussions included biblical, personal and church stories and examination of parts of the Book of Common Prayer. The Rev. Donald Fishburne, rector of St. Paul, joined Andrews and others in thanking the bishop and committee members for inspiring the vehicle for reasonable and holy Photo by the Rev. Donald Fishburne A group engages in discussion at reasonable and holy conversations about sexuality at St. Paul Chattanooga. Three sessions on the topic during Advent were facilitated by members of the Bishop s Committee on Inclusivity. discussion at St. Paul. They hope other parishes will take advantage of this opportunity to bring their congregations together in such a deep and meaningful way. At the Dec. 21 vestry meeting, vestry members comments and those shared with them by others in the parish were summarized: w A good and helpful initiative w Well worth the time and effort w The participants reflected a helpful demographic mix of the congregation w The persons in the parish interested in the topic were present, while some who perhaps may have benefited from the dialogue were not w This dialogue is long-awaited and may be an opportunity for leadership and social activism by St. Paul on the issue of inclusivity w What are the next steps? Where do we go from here? w Some participants were supportive of the legal and moral precepts pertaining to sexual orientation, but were concerned about the outward manifestation of those rights w The YAMs (Young Adult 20s-30s Ministries) are encouraged to participate in follow-up dialogue as they are the present and future of the Church whether evolutionary change or revolutionary change is in that future wa reminder that the goal of the forum was to initiate open dialogue and to foster a climate of working together in open communication rather than to draw any conclusions Fishburne noted that although there may have been some understandable initial anxiety about holding the forum in the Advent Season, with the positive initial results of the forum, it is evident that the season of hope and expectation was a good time to have this important conversation. He reminded the vestry that within the Parish Profile are the desired elements of increased diversity and expanded inclusivity. Fishburne shared with the vestry the following reflections on this important topic: w At the 2012 General Convention, it is anticipated that resolutions will be passed authorizing liturgies for the blessing of same gender relationships. w In connection with that anticipated reality, the parish and diocese must examine these questions: What do we make of this? and What do we do with this? w The vestry may have the opportunity for leadership in continuing this conversation. wa new beginning was made by means of the dialogue which may be enhanced and enriched by small group exchanges. Members of the Bishop s Committee on Inclusivity who traveled to St. Paul to lead the series included the Rev. Howard Bowlin, David Thomas, John Robertson, Bruce Haas, Barbara Grissett, the Rev. Harry Howard and the Rev. Scherry Fouke. Small group facilitators from the congregation included vestry members, Adult Christian Education and Formation Committee members, seminarians, DOCC (Disciples of Christ in Community) leaders, two members of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory, parishioners trained in small group facilitation through a Spiritual Gifts and Talents Workshop, and others. St. Paul, Chattanooga:

8 8 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 Remaining murals leaving Haitian cathedral s walls w By Mary Frances Schjonberg Work being done now to remove the three remaining murals from the earthquake-damaged walls of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is aimed at seeing those works of art return to the site one day. But the work between now and that point is painstakingly complex. Rosa Lowinger and Viviana Dominguez, two art conservators working under the auspices of the of Smithsonian Institution and the Haitian Cultural Recovery Project, told Episcopal News Service by phone Feb. 15 that the work is what is known in their trade as extreme conservation. Lowinger jokingly called it the Hail Mary pass of conservation. Lowinger, who specializes in sculpture and architecture conservation and has experience of removing mosaic and terrazzo murals from stone, said that while she and Dominguez often work on complicated conservation projects, the cathedral work is different because the artwork is in such a fragile state of disrepair [because of the earthquake and located] in a country where it s so hard to get materials. Current plans call for the present cathedral site to become a memorial with most of the walls that are still standing left in place, albeit with reinforcement. The conserved murals would be re-installed on their original walls. A new cathedral would be built adjacent to the memorial. It s going to have a power for those murals to go back on their original walls, Lowinger said, adding that planners are going to have to figure out how to protect those murals because the original walls are presently outdoors and the paintings were designed to be indoors. Dominguez, a paintings conservator with many years of experience working on murals, noted that conservators say that we conserve the integrity of the piece and that means that one works on the material itself, but also one preserves the history of the piece. The earthquake is also part of the history of the piece itself, so the fact that it is going to go to the same site where it was makes sense. The 14 murals paintings, completed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, portrayed biblical stories in Haitian motifs and were crafted by some of the best-known Haitian painters of the 20th century. It is said that they gave Haitians of all faiths a vision of their place in the stories of the Bible. The three surviving murals are Philomé Obin s threewalled The Last Supper and Castera Bazile s The Baptism of Christ, both in what was the north transept, and, in the south transept, Préfète Duffaut s Nativity Procession (others have referred to this mural as depicting a Corpus Christi procession). Obin is considered to be the most important Haitian artist of all time, according to Lowinger. While some have referred to the murals as folk art, Lowinger said that to call it folk art somehow belittles the artists work because the work is done in a vernacular style that is local in imagery. These are sophisticated renderings. The three walls with Obin s murals were structurally unstable after the quake, large fissures are present across the murals and sections are vulnerable to collapse, according to a summary of the work of the cultural recovery project. While the Obin and Bazile murals are somewhat sheltered by the remains of the cathedral, the Duffaut mural was completely exposed after the roof above it collapsed. Dominguez and Lowinger lead a team of young Haitian artists who in January began removing the murals from the cathedral s remaining unstable walls. They expect this part of the work will take three months. They began the project in July and predicted it will be eight to 10 months before the mural fragments are in a state where they can be stored until it is possible to display them again. The Haitian artists working with the conservators range in age from 22 to 32. One is a student and two are professionals who are very prolific artists, according to Dominguez. They were chosen from among those who participated in introductory art conservation workshops held in Port-au- Prince, and Dominguez said they are working as artists respecting the work of their peers. Training is part of their job on the site. As artists, they are excited by process and they are very clearly engaged in what they're doing the new methodologies that they're learning, the tools, Lowinger said. You can see the wheel turning as they work. The Nativity Procession mural was been removed from its wall and work is underway to do the same with the other two murals, the conservators said. Usually we are against removing things from the original site unless the original site puts the piece in real danger, which is the case at the cathedral because of its exposure to the elements, Dominguez said. Holy Trinity was established in Port-au-Prince on Pentecost, May 25, Its church building has since been destroyed six times, often by fire and once by an earthquake in the 1920s. The current building was, as Lowinger characterized it, a limestone rubble wall set in mortar with cinderblock corners, which is a typical, regional vernacular style of architecture from the Caribbean. She said she d seen older versions of this style from the 18th and 19th centuries in southern Cuba in which bricks were used to reinforce the corners because cinder blocks were not yet invented. The cathedral is still operating on the site, albeit without walls, in what Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin calls the open-air cathedral. A structure to shelter worshippers, once made of plastic tarping over lumber supports, now has a more solid roof. On weekdays, the cathedral ruins echo with the sounds of Holy Trinity Music School students taking classes under and around the shelter. The work to preserve the surviving murals began soon after the quake when Haitian architect Patrick Vilaire led a group that built temporary wooden scaffolding to shore up the walls and roof of the transept area with the Obin and Bazile murals, and placed a plastic tarp over the Duffaut mural. That work was followed with more substantial scaffolding in the transept containing the Obin and Bazile works, as well as platforms for conservators to use. Lowinger and Dominguez began their work in mid-july by visiting the site and developing a plan to stabilize the murals, clean their surfaces, remove, consolidate and repair them, according to the project summary. Each mural was photographed so that conservators could see how the fragments fit together. They also are using full-size drawings and small ones with a grid system to aid in the murals eventual reassembly. Haitian Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori survey the ruins of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince during Jefferts Schori s Feb. 8, 2010 visit to the diocese. Photo by Eddy Alcindor Carpenters built wooden frames to hold the fragments, and filled them with cushioning foam. The murals surfaces were dry cleaned and a liquid was applied to fix the egg tempura pigment to the surface, according to the summary. A facing material similar to cheesecloth was applied to the murals to hold them together, and the fragments were removed with the artists working along existing cracks but sometimes having to cut the murals. Often the artists are using tools especially designed for the project. Because the mortar on which the mural was painted is very crumbly, the back of the fragments must be repaired before the facing can be removed. If the facing is not removed before the fragments are stored, mold will grow on the fragments, Lowinger explained. The Duffaut mural was taken down first, they said, because it was the smallest of the three and seemed to be the most easily removed, according to Lowinger. The other two are much taller and might require the workers to modify their scaffolding in order to remove the fragments from the wall, Dominguez said. On other sites, Lowinger said, conservators can routinely stop what we re doing and go to the Home Depot to buy material or equipment. The thing about this one that makes it so difficult is that we have to pre-think everything before we get there and bring everything with us on the plane, she said. If we want to make a modification [on site in Port-au-Prince], we have to really get creative about how to make that modification because we're just not going to find what we need there. In a country with so many needs even before the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, some have questioned the decision to spend so much money on art conservation. On their first visit to the site, Lowinger said, she and Dominguez asked that very same question of Magdalena Carmelita Douby, one of the architects working on the project. She was unequivocal about it. She said We have lost everything except our culture. We have to protect what is left. Dominguez said culture is the people s identity and they treasure that museums and galleries and art institutions exist because people want to save their history and their culture. The Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project is being conducted in partnership with the President s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities with assistance from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, the Hillman Foundation, the Haitian FOKAL foundation, UNESCO, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and the Broadway League. The project operates out of a 7,500-square-foot, threestory air-conditioned building that once housed the United Nations Development Programme in Bourdon in the hills above Port-au-Prince. It is a place where objects retrieved from the rubble can be assessed, conserved and stored. n

9 G R A C E P O I N T C A M P N E W S grace -ful getaway specials Sun through Thurs HALFprice Per night: $12.50 per person; $50 maximum for a family For communicants clergy and staff You are invited to book the Retreat House and take advantage of all of the facilities at Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center. s Bring that book that you have been meaning to read, or pick one of ours, and curl up in front of the cozy wood burning fireplace in the den and enjoy that peaceful atmosphere that only a winter get a way can provide s Invite a friend(s) to join you who needs to be nurtured by some time with you and your family s Enjoy a panoramic view of Watts Bar Lake s Invite someone who is looking for some time with you and your family to help them learn more about the church s Hike the Ridge Trail, Barn Trail or the entire neighborhood s Fish s Work on a service project for a short while to improve the camp s Play games/puzzles with the kids (many available at the camp) s There is no TV and you can turn off the cell phone or if you like we can turn on the internet if the web beckons The choice is yours, now is the time to take advantage of all of the facilities that Grace Point has to offer. Reservations: gracepoint@etdiocese.net, Camp is gearing up! Directions to Grace Point From Knoxville/North: w Take I-40 West to Hwy 58 South exit 352 (Kingston). w Travel south on Hwy 58 for exactly 6 miles. w Look for the Grace Point sign on your left. w All turns have a Grace Point (or Episcopal Camp) sign from this point on. w Turn LEFT onto Smalley Lane and go 2.5 miles to Chamberlain Cove. w Turn hard LEFT on Chamberlain Cove. w Stay to the right at the next intersec-tion; find the two-rail cedar fence on the right that marks the entrance to the property. w Turn right onto the gravel drive. From Chattanooga/South: w From I75, exit at Sweetwater (Hwy 68). w Turn left (W) onto Hwy 68. w At the four-way stop intersection with Hwy 58, turn right (N). w Travel about 15 miles. w After you pass through the intersection of Hwy 58 with Hwy 72, take the next right onto Smalley Lane. w Follow the directions above after turn onto Smalley Lane. Via the lake: Chamberlain Cove is due south of Long Island between markers 571 and 572, about 3 miles upstream of the Hwy 58 Kingston bridge. Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 9 Lent - what better time to come to Grace Point Work day scheduled Sat. April 16 Jim Powell, Interim Director of Grace Point Camp and Retreat Lent is upon us a season of reflection, of repentance, of preparation, of looking forward to the glories of Christ at Easter. What better time to come to Grace Point? Whether the time is spent here enjoying the warm weather at the water s edge or deep in the forest on one of the trails, working on a service project, or just experiencing some quiet time participation in these activities can touch our souls, and prepare us for a meaningful season. The needs of the camp are many. The date of the last frost for this area is mid-april. Planting flowers, pruning, thinning, and relocation of plant materials that have become too shady to a new sunny location are only a few of the planting tasks. Some of our other ongoing projects include: clearing underbrush at the main entrance, continuation of privet eradication, road maintenance, trail enhancement, window washing at Tree Houses, Commons and Retreat House, polishing the Commons floors and the list goes on. Please join us on Saturday, April 16, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a day of work, fun and fellowship. Lunch will be provided. Or, give us a call and schedule your own individual time here. This could be a family project. Remember our offer a day of volunteering earns you a free night at Grace Point! n Grace Point Camp is gearing up for the 2011 summer camp season! Have you marked your calendar yet? Come spend a week with us on Watts Bar Lake and enjoy some time outdoors. With plenty of kayaks and canoes and hiking trails and open fields, it s the perfect place to get away for a few days and relax in the summer sun! Our theme for 2011 is Where His Feet Pass and is taken from a line in the hymn Morning Has Broken. Using images of the garden and the wilderness, we ll explore the presence of Christ in all facets of life both good and bad, both uplifting and challenging. Registration forms are available online at and sessions are open for all ages from rising 1st-graders through rising college freshmen. And remember, money should never be a reason for a child or young person to miss out on summer camp. Scholarship applications are also online. For more information, go to our website or contact Alex Haralson, Camp Program Director, at (865) or aharalson@etdiocese.net. Note that after May 2, 2011, there will be a $25 late registration fee. Camp Billy Johnson is looking for high-school staff If you are a rising sophomore through rising college freshman as of this summer, please consider applying to staff! This camp session offers a free summer camp experience to impoverished children from urban areas in East Tennessee, and campers range in age from 7 to 11 years. Camp Billy Johnson focuses on one-on-one attention with the campers. Campers pay nothing to attend, and staff pay their own room and board for the week. This is an enriching experience for both campers and staff, and is a great way to end the summer. The commitment for staff is July For more information on the camp, or to download a staff application, please visit n Camp Calendar Grace Point offers summer camp sessions throughout the months of June and July. Sessions are divided by age groups and run from four to six days. Our camps offer an outdoor experience in a Scripture-based setting full of music, games, worship, friendship, and much more! Please note that Family Camp, formerly Camp 5, has been moved to the start of the summer. Family Camp: June 2-5 Rising 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders with a parent $135 per camper Camp 1: June 6-11 Rising 10th grade through rising college freshmen $375 per camper Camp 2: June Rising 8th and 9th grades $375 per camper After May 2, 2011, there will be a $25 late registration fee. There is a 10% discount for the second child from the same family. Camp 3: June Rising 6th and 7th grades $375 per camper Camp 4: June 28 - July 3 Rising 4th and 5th grades $375 per camper Summer Session: July Rising 4th through 12th grades $350 per camper OUTREACH CAMPS: Appalachian Kids Camp, July 5 7 Jim Muir Kamp 4 Kids, July Camp Billy Johnson, July Plan for summer camp now camper registration packets and scholarship applications are available now at or TO SUPPORT A CAMPER THROUGH THE DIOCESAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Make your check payable to Diocese of East Tennessee with the notation, Grace Point camp scholarship fund, and send it to: Mary Berl, Grace Point Scholarship Fund Diocese of East Tennessee, 814 Episcopal School Way, Knoxville TN Thank you!

10 10 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 ETE talks with Bishop-elect George Young Shortly after the election on Feb. 12, we had opportunity to ask the Rev. George Young questions about the day of the election, and about how his life is changing as a result of that day. Where were you who were you with - when Bishop vonrosenberg called you from the convention on Feb. 12? My wife Kammy, son George, daughter Lucy and her boyfriend Rob, and I after breakfast at a favorite neighborhood restaurant sat around our kitchen table throughout the day. Once 10 a.m. arrived, we played a lot of Flat Busted (a dice Bishop-elect George Young game) and then later, Scrabble. After 1 or 1:30 it got pretty difficult to concentrate. What was your reaction to the news that you are bishop-elect of the Diocese of East Tennessee? We had a funny feeling how things were going when the results of the after lunch ballots started coming in, and the moment when Bishop vonrosenberg called with the news was definitely an OH MY GOD!!! moment. The role of a bishop is very different from that of priest. How are you preparing for the transition? What challenges do you see? What are you looking forward to? For the next couple of months, much of my focus is on saying goodbye to my parish family at St. Peter s, as well as friends and colleagues in the Diocese of Florida. The larger transition from priest to bishop is fortunately aided in a big way by a system called College for Bishops which provides for a companion in the first 90 days, for a coach later, for gatherings of other newer bishops, as well as the larger House of Bishops. There is much orientation, socialization, formation and training. Thank God. Also, Bishop vonrosenberg has been from the very beginning incredibly kind, open, honest, encouraging, available, and realistic with me. He is quite a man, and I am so thankful for him as I know the good people of the Diocese of East Tennessee are. Some of the many challenges will be moving from a parish family of 800 people to a diocesan family of many thousands; learning a new role and new people, and a new place; leaving a small, Florida beach community where everyone knows one another to fresh, new faces. It will also be a challenge for my wife Kammy and me to re-organize and re-create our life together. She will be transitioning to East Tennessee more slowly than I, as she discerns the shape of her work life. Kammy is a senior priest in the Diocese of Florida, just rotated off as President of the Standing Committee, and recently elected as chair of the deputation to General Convention. We are committed to discernment of the shape of my life and ministry, her life and ministry, and our life and ministry as a couple. Challenging, I m sure, but with God s help as we say, certainly doable. We have always worked in different specific settings, and will continue to do so, and though we are friends and beloveds first, we have also always been colleagues and confidantes. I very much look forward to the people of East Tennessee getting to know this wonderful woman. You will love her very, very much. I am very much looking forward to actually living and worshipping and sharing ministry with all of the incredibly wonderful East Tennessee people I have been meeting and interviewing and talking and writing with over these past nine months. I m looking forward to visiting the various parishes in the diocese with a church full of people on a Sunday morning, and summer camp at Grace Point, and finding my way to some good hiking in the mountains. I m looking forward to a lot. You said, in the Walkabout gatherings, that you took a tour of churches in the Diocese of East Tennessee after you learned that you were a nominee. What were some of your impressions? What did you learn? On my Drive-about, as someone called it, I so enjoyed seeing the beautiful church buildings and properties, which were so lovingly cared for. That showed me a people who are proud of who they are, and very much open for business. I saw great beauty and tremendous diversity in churches and neighborhoods. I didn t really learn my way around, because my GPS device took me zig-zagging around, but I loved the mountains, valleys, rivers, and intense natural beauty of the area. You ve lived in Florida for much of your life, how do you feel about transitioning to East Tennessee? It will be significant, though I bet that the combination of new people, places and things to do, growing into a new role, keeping busy with all the new things will keep me from worrying about it. I look forward to the new adventure of a new place, for cooler springs/summers (hmm I guess there are probably cooler winters, too), and I know I will miss the ocean. Leaving my family and life-long friends will be very difficult. My mother died a year and a half ago, and my father s health is not very good, and I have been the closest family member to him. My in-laws live in the same town we do, as well as other family nearby, so this will be quite a tender transition. Are you planning on keeping a home in Florida? We love our 100+ year-old home in the historic district of Fernandina Beach, and had hoped we could keep it, but have decided against it. We raised our children here over the past 14 years, and it is hard to let go. For the short term, we will be renting in Knoxville as we learn our way around, as Kammy s work life shapes up, and as we try to sell our home. You ve stressed that fun is an integral part of your being and of your ministry. Would you explain what you mean? Ilike to play, I like to laugh, I very much have as one of my primary goals in life not to take myself too seriously. I think we need to laugh in church, and be reminded that life in the Spirit is not something we are to clinch our fists, grit our teeth, and put frowns on our faces about. It s about joy and freedom and forgiveness and reconciliation. That s good news and fun, to me. One of my new friends in East Tennessee recently sent us a bouquet of noses; she gets it. You ve mentioned that The Episcopal Church has a lot to offer - what excites you about The Episcopal Church? The basis of our life together is in our liturgy, specifically Baptism and Eucharist. We are loved, accepted, and marked as Christ s own forever then our primary act of worship is about thanksgiving, and belonging, and joy. We embrace the mystery of who God is, though we YOUNG continues on page 11 WHEN IS A BISHOP A BISHOP? At his/her election? If you answered yes to that question, then it s time to brush up on the canons of The Episcopal Church. And, considering the diocese has just elected a bishop, it s a good time to look at the process. While bishops in The Episcopal Church are elected on the local level, they are not approved to serve as bishops until after the completion of a consent process by the leaders of rest of the Church, followed by ordination. The process Generally, the process for electing bishops in the dioceses of The Episcopal Church is the same, whether the election calls for a diocesan, a co-adjutor or a suffragan bishop. After a process of discernment within the diocese, in which usually a selection of candidates is presented to the diocese, an election is conducted on an appointed date. Upon election, the successful candidate is a Bishop-Elect. Following some procedural matters including examinations, formal notices are then sent to bishops with jurisdiction (diocesan bishops only) with separate notices to the standing committees of each of the dioceses in The Episcopal Church. These notices require their own actions and signatures. It s at this point that time starts ticking. Approvals In order for a Bishop-elect to become a bishop, Canon III.11.4 (a) of The Episcopal Church mandates that a majority of diocesan bishops AND a majority of diocesan standing committees must consent to the Bishop-elect s ordination as bishop. These actions - done separately - must be completed within 120 days from the day after notice of the election was sent to the proper parties. If the Bishop-elect receives a majority (at least 50% plus 1) of consents from the diocesan bishops as well as a majority from the standing committees, the Bishop-elect is one step closer. Following a successful consent process, ordination and celebration are in order. It is at this point, often more than four months after local election, that a Bishop-elect is a Bishop. However, if the majority of the diocesan bishops do not consent, and/or the majority of the standing committees do not consent, the Presiding Bishop, in accordance with Canon III.11.5, is required to declare the election null and void. In those cases, a person elected by the diocese will not be ordained. Hence, the bishop is not a bishop, and the process must start anew. (Note: The consent process differs when the election is within 90 days of a General Convention, and the next General Convention is July 2012.)

11 YOUNG continued from page 10 believe God to be One who creates and redeems and blesses us in love, not One who seeks to deal with us in fiery judgment. I believe that there is a world full of people out there who don t know that church can be what we have and who we are. They see boring, irrelevant, judgmental, abusive when they think of church, and no wonder they aren t interested. It excites me to no end to experience people finding life and healing and meaning in this old church of ours, and I m hoping we can continue to fling the doors wide open and invite our families, friends and neighbors as well as those very different from us in to the party. Have you talked with Bishop Howard since the election? Has he given you any advice? Bishop vonrosenberg? Yes, I ve talked to both Bishops Howard and vonrosenberg (as well as a couple of other bishops) and they have been very helpful and kind. Some general advice I ve received is: go slowly, treat people with great care, enjoy yourself, take care of yourself and your family. All good stuff. How would you describe your leadership style? Asimple, straightforward description of my leadership style is that I like to listen, I try to sense what the needs, desires, hopes and dreams of a group are. I try to make decisions cooperatively, and then I lead to the best of my abilities. I am a strong, gentle person who cares about people (ISFJ for the Myers-Briggs folks), and moves intentionally and consistently. What is on your agenda between now and June 25? Many, many details, and most importantly saying goodbye, and beginning to say hello. How has life changed following the election? Juggling two very different roles in two states is quite a change. My primary plan is keeping centered, not getting overly stressed, keeping the main thing the main thing, and enjoying the ride. One of my colleagues shared an image with me a number of years ago, and it is as relevant now as it has ever been. He said, Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. We ll try our best for a healthy, doable pace. n From here to June... w By the Rev. Maggie Zeller The Walkabouts are over and the election is behind us. The Rev. George D. Young III is our bishop-elect. What a wonderful search/election process set up by the Search Committee, the Standing Committee and the Transition Committee this has been. So many people made this process a holy one. Not least of all, but rarely mentioned, are all of the people of this Diocese. You all helped write the profile, read and studied the information about our nominees, came to meet them in large numbers and then had conversations with your clergy and delegates. Those folks came to Convention willing to continue listening to the Holy Spirit and to vote their hearts. This was an experience of the Church at her best. Almost as soon as the bells of St. John s Cathedral ceased their joyous ringing, the process of ordaining and seating our next bishop The Rev. Maggie Zeller became the focus of life for many of us. There is a group of people who began working on the liturgy for June 25 last fall and they continue to do shape the liturgy for the ordination, now with input from the Bishop-elect. The Presiding Bishop s Office also helps with that. Soon, there will be musicians selecting just the right music and calls for crucifers, acolytes and others to assist in making this service both liturgically correct and full of joy. Another trio of people are working closely with the Youngs to help their move to East Tennessee be as hassle-free as possible. Housing needs to be found first. Then come the tasks of finding new doctors, dentists, car maintenance shops and all of the other people we need to keep life running smoothly. This group is dedicated to helping make all of this happen. Beyond our diocesan borders, there is also work that is going on. Half of all bishops diocesan and standing committees of The Episcopal Church must consent to Father Young s election. We forget sometimes that bishops represent more than their home diocese. Again, the Presiding Bishop s Office is part of this process. They also will create the Certificate of Ordination and help us with all the other paper work that has to be done before the ordination can take place. There is one more committee hard at work. This is the group that is planning the events surrounding the ordination. The Presiding Bishop will come to Knoxville late on Thursday, June 23. She (and perhaps her husband, Dr. Richard Schori) will have breakfast with the Youngs and the vonrosenbergs on Friday. At noon, there will be a lunch and meeting with Bishop Katharine for all the clergy of the Diocese. If Dr. Schori comes, clergy spouses will be invited to join clergy for lunch before having their own meeting with Dr. Schori. Friday evening, we will have a dinner celebrating the ordination of our next bishop. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville, 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday is the big day! All bishops attending the ordination will meet with Bishop Katharine at 9 a.m. There will also be rehearsals at that time for those taking part in the service. At 10, the doors will be open for seating in The Church of the Ascension. There will be parking both at Ascension and across the street at the Roman Catholic Church (with a shuttle between parking lots and police to help people crossing the street). There will be prelude music and the service will begin at 11. After the service, there will be a light reception in the undercroft. The very last event of the weekend is the seating of our new bishop at St. John s Cathedral on Sunday, June 26. This will take place at the principal service and is being planned by the cathedral staff. It takes many people and many months to search for, elect and ordain a bishop. It really is a lot of work but it is such good work. All of us who have been a part of this process are grateful for the opportunity to serve and rejoice with the entire Diocese in the election of The Rev. George D. Young III as Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee. Thanks be to God! n Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 11 Ordination of Bishop-Elect George Young Saturday, June 25, 2011 Eleven o clock in the morning The Church of the Ascension 800 Northshore Boulevard Knoxville, Tennessee The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Celebrant and Chief Consecrator The people of the Diocese of East Tennessee are invited to participate in this celebration and in the reception following the service. Celebration Dinner On Friday, June 24, at 6 p.m., a reception and dinner will be held at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville. The dinner is open to all. Everyone must purchase a ticket. The deadline for ordering tickets is June 10. You may make a reservation by filling out a form - that will include the cost of the dinner - to be available shortly on the diocesan web page, or by calling Lynn Lazlo at Hotel Accomodations A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The rooms are reserved under Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee and may be reserved by calling , Ext The deadline for room reservations is May 23. The cost of a room is $92/ night. Gift Donation The Transition Committee is asking that monetary donations be given to provide the gifts that will be given to the bishop-elect at ordination. Please make checks out to the Diocese of East Tennessee; write bishop-elect s gifts on the memo line and send them to: Lynn Lazlo Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee 814 Episcopal School Way Knoxville TN 37932

12 12 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 Rosemary Davenport to retire at end of March Rosemary Davenport, diocesan staff executive assistant and insurance administrator, will be retiring effective March 24. Hired in February, 1991, Rosemary has worked with three bishops and multiple staff members in four different positions handling too many tasks to count during her 20-year tenure working for the Diocese of East Tennessee. She fondly remembers the diocesan offices next door to St. John s Cathedral, where she first worked as a receptionist when hired in 1991, although as the first person people saw when they come in, she said she received a lot of complaints about parking. When I was interviewed, she said, I was told they wanted someone who knew about the Episcopal Church, and I thought I knew all about it. I soon found out I didn t know as much as I thought I did I still don t know everything it seems that everything you know changes just about the time you learn it. I was the receptionist for about eight years under Bishop Tharp. I remember his grandchildren used to come in sometimes. They were so sweet, she said. Rosemary recalls much of her tenure with a wry sense of humor. I didn t have a computer and voic was this terrible thing when I first started, she said. I had a pad and pen and I transcribed everyone s messages. I also kept a log of who called. Thank goodness that s changed. She enjoyed working as assistant to Canon to the Ordinary Alice Clayton in the late 90s. She recalled an incident when she was working on the computer in her office and the boiler on the floor above her overflowed. Rosemary, sitting at her desk, screamed WATER! and Alice came running Photo by Vikki Myers Rosemary Davenport is pictured in her office at Diocesan House AROUND THE DIOCESE with a pot of water. Church work turned out to be much different than I expected, Rosemary said. She said she had looked at it with rose-colored glasses, but it s more a microcosm of life some parts are pretty and some aren t. She said there have been budget challenges and a terrible time when a priest was shot and killed in his home. But, she said, No matter what, healings always happen. Rosemary said she is especially grateful for the prayers and the kindness of diocesan staff during her bout with cancer 16 years ago. I ll miss the people in the diocese, Rosemary said. Something about the conversations, once they started going, made me know what we were all about people can be much more gracious than you d expect them to be and grateful, understanding, patient and considerate. I ll miss the people I speak with and the people I work with. She added, I ll also miss the building and Bob the groundhog (adopted and named by staff members when he appeared on the grass behind Diocesan House as a baby last year). I m looking forward to sleeping late, having more family time, and also pursuing other things I want to do. Rosemary said she s always loved retail and intends to see about growing her Avon business, started a few months ago. She is also interested in mental health awareness, and is currently serving on the vestry of St. Luke, Knoxville. Laura Nichols will be the diocesan insurance administrator as of March 24. She may be reached at lnichols@etdiocese.net. n St. Martin, Chattanooga, celebrates 50th Anniversary Parishioner Janie Duke (left) stands next to the banner she created for St. Martin. At right is her husband Tony. The church celebrated its 50th anniversary this past winter. The church held a Festival Eucharist with additional music and litugical dance, followed by a celebratory luncheon. The Rev. Gordon Temple, in an article by Clint Cooper in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, said As we celebrate the past 50 years, what we need to do is look back and thank God for [those years] and look forward to the next generation of Christians that will come through our doors. Photo by Susan Polcari Grace Church accepted into GreenFaith Program w By Erik Broeren GreenFaith knocked at my door on my first Sunday celebrating at Grace, recalled the Rev. Susan Butler, priest-in-charge at Grace Church, Chattanooga, during a recent Parish Forum. I was standing at the door, greeting people as they left the nave. Suddenly two parishioners stand before me and share all the great plans they have for environmental stewardship at Grace. Without any reservation, I tell them to go for it. This brief encounter in the spring of 2010 turned out to be the start of several new initiatives at Grace Church that year, including a farmers market, a restoration of the church gardens, a community garden, and a study weekend with Mike Schut, Economic and Environmental Affairs Officer of The Episcopal Church. Joining the GreenFaith Certification Program felt like the next step to us, said Marion Pound, one of the facilitators of the Green Ministry Team at Grace. We were so honored to be accepted into the program as the first Episcopal congregation in Tennessee. GreenFaith is one of the oldest religiousenvironmental organizations in the U.S. working to inspire, educate, and mobilize people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership based on the shared commitment that protecting the earth is a religious value, and that environmental stewardship is thus a moral responsibility. During the two-year certification process, Grace will work to integrate environmental themes into their worship, religious education, facility maintenance, and social outreach. At first it seemed like a daunting task, said Pound, but the GreenFaith organization has provided us with a clear framework that helps us, as individuals and a faith community, think and learn about how to live in a way that is more responsible and more just. Improving education and building relationships with other environmental leaders in the community, in other churches, and in other faith traditions are Episcopal Church posts membership, attendance figures essential components of participation in the certification process. Members of the Green Ministry Team are involved in monthly webinars with other GreenFaith participants to exchange ideas and experiences. In addition, Grace Church and 29 other Episcopal parishes throughout the country finds itself supported by the general church, which has become a denominational partner of the GreenFaith program. Throughout the process, Grace will submit a progress report every six months outlining the different benchmarks that have been completed in that period. The Green Ministry Team is about to complete their first progress report, including a full audit of the current environmental strengths and weaknesses in the life of Grace Church, said Butler. This report will help us celebrate all the good green things that are already happening at our church, and it will help us to think about what we may need to do better in the future, including education, worship, maintenance, and outreach. Another central element in the first progress report is the formulation of a ministry mission statement. It has been helpful to have conversations with different people throughout the parish to see why caring for Creation is so important to us, said Pound. Our new GreenFaith Mission Statement reads: At Grace Church, we believe God created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, as a community of faith, creation care is one of our primary responsibilities. We put our faith into action through environmental stewardship. Specifically, we celebrate creation in both worship and fellowship; we educate ourselves and our community on the environmental impact of our daily decisions; we work to protect and sustain our fragile natural world; and we show our love toward all life on earth through increased environmental responsibility. Butler added, It may still be unknown to us what Grace will look like when it becomes a GreenFaith Sanctuary after we complete the certification process, but it is clear that this faith community has big dreams and strong prayers. GreenTeam@SayGrace.net Statistics from 2009 parochial report show 2,175,616 baptized members of The Episcopal Church for 2009, with an Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of 724,789, about a 3% decline from the previous year s report. In an accompanying report of Episcopal Domestic Fast Facts 2009 (not inclusive of any of the non- United States-based dioceses), the largest ASA was posted as the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Washington, D.C. (Washington National Cathedral) with 1,667. The largest active membership was noted as St. Martin, Houston (Diocese of Texas) with 8,311 members. The report can be found at.

13 Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 13 Ascension, Knoxville, helps neighbor in Circles of Support w By John B. Rayson As Episcopalians, we are familiar with the post communion prayer, in which we ask God to send us now into the world in peace and grant us the strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart. These are powerful words. As always, however, the question is: How can we make these words more than just words? There are many ways. But one of the very best ways is becoming involved with Compassion Coalition s Circles of Support mentoring program, which exists in partnership with the Knoxville-Knox County ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness. Partner agencies working with the Ten Year Plan connect each chronically homeless individual with a case manager, and together they work towards finding the most appropriate place for that person to live. We all understand the importance of having a place of our own, a place we can call home. Assigning a case manager and providing a place to live is just the first step in the process. One of the next essential steps is coordinated through Compassion Coalition. Circles of Support is a faith-based mentoring program for these formerly homeless people our neighbors. Mentoring program goals are to help our neighbor remain in his/her home and to encourage and nurture our neighbor s reintegration into the community. This takes shape AROUND THE DIOCESE through weekly meetings that are intended to last at least one hour. The meetings take place over the course of at least one year. Ascension, Knoxville, is a committed partner in the Circles of Support program. Ascension has a sixman team: Bert Ackermann, Allen Douglass, Greg O Connor, John Rayson, John Threadgill and the Rev. Rob Travis. Each week two members of the team meet with Cecil, our neighbor a formerly homeless man. All mentoring is done in coordination with Cecil s case manager at the Volunteer Ministry Center. The team has developed a pretty simple routine. Every Thursday, at 11:30 a.m., two people pick up Cecil at his room and go to lunch. Then the three take a short drive around town. Sometimes Cecil has somewhere he suggests going, but the last stop on the drive is a grocery store, where Cecil does whatever shopping he needs to do. Throughout our time together, which generally is about two and a half hours, we talk non-stop about a wide variety of subjects, getting to know Cecil better and learning how he is doing. Cecil has a good sense of humor and enjoys kidding around. Each member of the team looks forward to meetings with Cecil and there is no doubt that the same is true of Cecil. Over time, Cecil has come to trust us, a big step for a formerly homeless person, and we have come to love him. We don t know for sure, but we suspect that Cecil loves us too. In any case, we are gratified by the progress Cecil has made in developing a relationship with us and in reintegrating himself into the community. Getting to know Cecil, and being with him, has proven to be a richly rewarding experience for every member of the team. The time spent with him has been an opportunity and a blessing and a way of serving God with gladness and singleness of heart. Mentoring team members encourage others in the Knoxville area to consider becoming a part of the Circles of Support program and mentoring a formerly homeless person. If you are interested, have questions, or would like additional information, all you have to do is call Jessica Bocángel, mentoring program coordinator, at , Ext. 8. Sponsor a mentor for Circle of Support Compassion Coalition s Circles of Support is a faith-based mentor program that connects small teams of volunteers with an individual as they transition out of homelessness and back into the community. Each team averages five people, and it costs an average of $25 per mentor per year. Could you sponsor a mentor (or a team of five) and help offset the cost? The $25 breakdown consists of: w $9 Background Check w $5 Badge w $5 Continuing Education Production/Distribution w $6 Training Manual Production To sponsor a team, please contact Jim Thompson at , Ext. 4 or jim@compassioncoalition.org. Circles of Support: home/circles-of-support/ Ascension, Knoxville: Jubilee Centers, recertified, continue feeding hungry, providing resources to parents w By Ann Holt, Diocesan Jubilee Officer We have 12 ministries in our diocese that have been awarded recognition as Jubilee Centers by The Episcopal Church. The centers are to be recertified periodically. The stories below are about three centers that have recently been recertified. Ann Holt is the Diocesan Jubilee Officer (DJO). Call or her with any questions regarding the Jubilee program at or annholt3@gmail.com. See bilee.htm for all diocesan Jubilee Centers and links to web sites. Chattanooga Community Kitchen On November 18, 2010, Ann Holt, diocesan jubilee officer and her husband, Ben, met with Charlie Hughes, executive director and Jens Christensen, assistant executive director to tour the Chattanooga Community Kitchen JUBILEE continues on page 14 How to improve stewardship success? Good Shepherd, Knoxville, had no idea until this year. w By Harry Wade The Church of the Good Shepherd in Fountain City has a long history of not being effective at stewardship. In fact, we were very discouraged. We had tried a variety of plans and systems, led by some the best folks in our L-R: The Rev. Charles Fels, Judy Burnette, Marilyn Cottrell, Richard Horak, Nancy Griffith, Hary Wade and Becky Blankenbeckler strike a pose on the roof of the Sheridan Hotel at the July 2010 TENS Conference. The group took home information that they implemented for a successful 2011 stewardship campaign. Photo by Keith Cottrell parish. Yet, the campaigns always turned out to be about the same as the previous year. But, we persisted. We were not pleased with our lack of success. Rector Charles Fels suggested we try to learn more about stewardship. He managed to gather eight of our 12 Vestry Members together for the TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship) Conference in Indianapolis in July It was a whirlwind two-day trip. On arrival, we attended opening ceremonies, then delved into a full day of meetings on the second day. Our vestry members attended different classes, and we had at least one attendee in all 24 of the sessions. We were inspired and ready to work when we got home. At our next vestry meeting, each attendee prepared a written summary about their personal experiences. While at the conference, we met Corky Carlisle whom Fr. Fels had heard speak several years ago. Good Shepherd decided to be proactive and invited Corky to teach us more about stewardship. He met with the vestry on a Wednesday evening. We had almost 100 percent vestry plus several other parishioners in attendance. At that meeting, Corky learned more about us and we learned more about giving. In addition, we finalized details for a parish Stewardship Dinner the following Friday. Corky gave an outstanding presentation at the dinner, centered around his personal experiences and his spiritual giving habits. We all listened intently and our Stewardship Campaign for 2011 officially began. But we did not hand out pledge cards that evening. The event was a celebration, not a fund raiser. The campaign lasted about four weeks. Our rector expanded on Corky s themes during sermons and Sunday school classes. The emphasis was not on utility bills or overhead or salaries. It was about giving back a small portion of what God had given us. The ultimate goal was to try every year to come closer and closer to reaching the tithe. Without God s gifts, we would not have anything. Our focus was on the spiritual aspect of giving. The results: Our objective was to receive 100 pledges. That was our only objective. Our previous record was around 90. The pledges started arriving, and before we knew it, we had reached 97 pledges. But better than that, the total amount of the pledges increased by almost 40 percent more than the previous year s total a substantial increase. Please don t let my words lull you into thinking, let s get Corky and everything will be okay. There were many hours of planning sessions, sermon preparations, and many, many details. It took a team effort to make our plan work. Even more time and effort in executing the plan and doing the necessary follow-up. Good Shepherd had a successful Stewardship program because we worked as a community and focused on the Spirituality of Giving. Good Shepherd, Knoxville:

14 14 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 JUBILEE continued from page 13 and conducted the on-site review to recertify the facility as a Jubilee Center. The Kitchen covers a city block of services for the homeless and less fortunate in the Chattanooga area. It not only serves meals, (180,811 in 2010), but offers employment, job training, 10 units for transitional housing, clothing through an onsite thrift store, recycling, a night shelter for men, a night shelter for women (housed in St. Paul, Chattanooga) and health care (in association with the Hamilton County Medical services). In addition to training opportunities, the recycling and thrift store add needed revenue to help support other services. All services are given freely without expected recompense. A major building expansion in the past couple of years has added a day center for shelter and basic needs such as bathrooms, showers, washers and dryers, etc. The expansion included 10 rooms for respite care, a two-chair podiatrist room for foot care, office space for outside service providers to meet with the clients e.g., Social Security; telephone, etc. Since there are minimal emergency shelters in Chattanooga, the Kitchen has opened its doors for the past two winters to provide a place for the needy to come in out of the cold. By rearranging the furniture and laying mats on the floor, up to 200 people can be accommodated. I have been honored to be on the Executive Board for eight years, and this is a see it to believe it facility. To obtain more information or make a contribution, please contact Charlie or Jens at or go online: Mountain Community Parent Resource Center Want to help some children? And their parents? Go to Duff, Tenn. to the Mountain Community Parent Resource Center. June Pyle is the executive director and knows her clients. If you visit on a day when the young children and their parents/grandparents are meeting for activities, fun projects and snacks, you ll want to stay and visit longer. The day we were visiting, the children (with help from the adults) were making turkeys for Thanksgiving from their hand imprints. In addition, some were interested in having books read to them or singing. These children are learning skills to help prepare them for kindergarten and life through group activities. They are enrolled as infants in reading programs to improve the literacy levels in this remote Appalachian community (close to Jellico). At birth, parents fill out cards to enroll in Dolly Parton s book program. Sheila Smith is the early childhood counselor at the center. Through a grant from the Save the Children program, she makes home visits, helps test the children for learning difficulties, prepares backpacks of books and learning activities for children and parents, and facilitates the monthly parents meetings. The center partners with the White Oak school district to provide literacy programs in the White Oak elementary school and hope soon to implement a tutoring/mentoring program for middle-teen students. Many of these students have no quiet place to study in their homes, so June is looking for a location (perhaps the Baptist church) to accommodate them after school. AROUND THE DIOCESE This center provides various services including baby diapers, wipes, lotion; Christmas gifts for children and parents; weekend food packs for the children, and many more. Harry Chase, who has worked with the center, and is a representative of the Appalachian Ministries Resource Team accompanied Ben and me on our visit. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful center, or to contribute, please contact June at Food for the Multitude St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Elizabethton, Tenn., is small, but it does great works for God. And has for almost 30 years. Every Saturday, people who need a meal can come to pick-up or eat in the dining room. They served over 317 last November 20 when we were visiting. Ben Buck, a lifelong resident of Elizabethton oversees the coordination, preparation, and serving of these meals. He knows the needs of these people, and has seen children grow up and come back to offer to help. He was a member at a different church when he started helping in 1984 and attending the vestry meetings. Since he was spending so much time there, he decided to join St. Thomas. We are glad he did. Ben has now recruited six other local churches to help with the Saturday meals; he cooks every fifth week. The day we were there, members of the First Presbyterian Church were serving. A delightful group who came in with many pans of food, and within 2 1/2 hours had joyfully prepared 317 take-out boxes for pick up. This meal may be the only meat that a family may be able to get this week. A few years ago, Pillsbury donated a large commercial 2-unit freezer. Much of the food comes from the local Second Harvest food program, and in the summer, produce is grown in the local gardens. Ben states he can make 2 1/2 meals from each $1 they receive. To help raise funds, the church collects and holds a yard sale. Ben again is there to help the people buy what they may need, asking that they pay what they can afford. Additional funding resources are the parish, outside donations, and support from other churches. There are 56 members at St. Thomas, with an average of members in attendance each Sunday. There is no full or part-time priest. Fill-in priests visit once a month to conduct morning prayers. For more information or to make a donation, contact Ben at Since Ben still works full time, you may reach an answering machine, leave a message, and he will call you back. You can write the church at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 815 S. Second Street, Elizabethton, TN St. Thomas, Elizabethton: Photo by Vikki Myers Ben Buck, director of Feed the Multitude, opens a large commercial freezer stocked with food for an upcoming meal. Ben says he can make 2 1/2 meals from every $1 the center receives. Photo courtesy of Jamie Melton, St. Peter s Episcopal School (L-R) Fourth graders Allison Hill, Audrey Skewes, Riley Wilson and Kristopher Kennedy serve as student docents in front of the St. Peter s Episcopal Schools fourth grade class Wall of Presidents exhibit showcasing skills in history, art and creative writing. St. Peter s Episcopal School holds Core Knowledge Exhibition Night w By Jamie Melton Current parents and students, faculty and prospective parents roamed St. Peter s school halls collecting stamps for their passports, during a passport to Adventure held at the school in February. Along the way, they experienced preschool s history display of Egyptian pyramids and progressed to Kindergarteners study of animal habitats and American symbols. The first graderes study of animal habitats and American symbols used creative writing and poetry to describe the bald eagle and liberty bell. The second and third grade hallway was filled with painted displays, stories and artwork depicting civil rights heroes and ancient cultures. Many fourth and fifth grade students worked as docents, describing various cultures, ranging from ancient Rome to China. Additionally, student docents re-enacted science experiments related to their study of matter and the human body. Core Knowledge is an advanced liberal arts curriculum designed for preschool and elementary grades which guides teachers to cover advanced topics language arts, history, geography, math, science and fine arts in an understandable way at an early but appropriate age. Each classroom experience builds on one that came before and leads to one yet to come. Students begin to make necessary connections between skills and subject matter, and consequently, enjoy many Aha! moments. Core Knowledge builds on the premise that learning is best done by building on what is already known. For example, a child who understands gravity is better prepared to learn why planets can spin in a fixed orbit. A student who knows about the Vikings will have a better grasp of why European history unfolded the way it did. Knowing there was a war fought in 1812 gives new relevance to the music of Tchaikovsky s overture. It connects learning to the world around the children just as our lives are connected to the world around us, and each course reinforces another whether English and Geography or Math and Science. St. Peter s, a friend of Core Knowledge school, is currently pursuing full certification as an official Core Knowledge School, and combines the traditions of the Episcopal school with a challenging Core Knowledge curriculum to encourage a cooperative adventure of self-discovery and expression in all students. St. Peter s Episcopal School:

15 Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 15 Top right: St. John s Cathedral, St. Luke, Knoxville, and the Episcopal School of Knoxville participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. March on Jan. 17 in downtown Knoxville. Below right: At the conclusion of the Jan. 14 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Leadership Awards Banquet at the Marriott Hotel, Knoxville, Rose Spears, the Rev. Kay Reynolds, Diane Goins, Rick Roach and Nancy Mott of St. Luke, Knoxville, joined hands with all present at the luncheon, singing We Shall Overcome. AROUND THE DIOCESE Photo by Kelly Norrell Photo by Vikki Myers Episcopal School of Knoxville and area churches honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Monday, Jan. 17, the nation stopped to remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and parishes, schools and individuals across Knoxville participated in a march to remember Dr. King s dream, walking from Tabernacle Baptist Church to Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church along Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in downtown Knoxville. The Marriott Hotel s ballroom held a full crowd for its Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission Leadership Awards Banquet on Jan 14. Keynote speaker Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill, gave an impassioned presentation, stating that we ought not forget those who have paved the way for us. He spoke about Vernon Johns, one who paved the way for King. Known as the father of the Civil Rights Movement, Johns preceded Martin Luther King Jr. as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Keeping with his theme, Moss recited the names of those who paved the way all the way back to in the beginning there was God and exhorting event attendees to never act like you are the only one remember there is One who let you be where you are. Following Rev. Moss presentation, WATE newscaster and luncheon emcee, Tearsa Smith, said, These speeches don t usually make me cry, but I am a young black female news anchor and I know I stand on a lot of others shoulders to be where I am. On its Facebook Page, the Episcopal School of Knoxville thanked St. Luke, Knoxville, and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew from St. John s Cathedral for hosting and providing a Jan. 17 pre-parade breakfast. Pictures from the pre-parade breakfast and parade are posted at the ESK Facebook page, School-of-Knoxville/ Pictures from the Leadership Awards Banquest are posted on the diocesan Facebook page, n Seminarians catch the fire that fuels ministry w By the Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz The Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz shared this reflection, written in January, with the ETE. Metz is is Executive Director of the Center for Ministry in Small Churches at the School of Theology, Sewanee, and Assistant Professor of Contextual Education. She is also publisher of Tuesday Morning, a quarterly journal of ministry and liturgical preaching. Christmas is over and all the decorations are put away. We re settling back into our normal routine that includes of course, wrestling with the changes a new year brings. I m afraid that too often the reminders that we need to continue caring for our brothers and sisters who are struggling mightily in this difficult economy have been put away too. Not in all cases, certainly, but in enough that our awareness of the desperate needs of others, and perhaps even more hidden, the stressful concerns of those who work with the poor, are often put on the back burner of our own busy lives. I teach seminarians, many who later live and minister in our diocese. It s a tremendous privilege being a part of the formation of clergy and lay leadership. I ve watched many of my students catch the fire that must fuel ministry to God s most needy children. Recently I ve offered an elective in urban ministry that is focused on experiential learning. Every Friday afternoon the students and I leave Sewanee and come to Chattanooga, or go occasionally to Nashville, to meet with folks who are already doing the work. They spend time at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. They meet people who run foundations, media, social service organizations, and both clergy and lay leaders who are directing outreach ministries. This past semester our base in Chattanooga was the Episcopal Metropolitan Ministries directed by Rebecca Welchel. My students had the opportunity first to meet Becky and members of her board at EMM headquarters, then to spend a day actually participating with EMM at the Chattanooga Project Homeless Connect day. This is a day where agencies that help the homeless fill the Armoury to offer a variety of assistance programs to our most needy brothers and sisters. Finally, they spent a morning learning first-hand how volunteers at EMM help people with many needs from rent and electric bills, to how to find medical and educational assistance, just to name a very few of the needs EMM is able to deal with. My students had the opportunity to sit with volunteers and talk to those who came for help. As a result of what they experienced in this very real world outside the classroom, the students in the urban ministry class organized a collection of clothing and personal hygiene products at the seminary that they brought to EMM. This type of experiential learning is invaluable to our seminarians. There is no better way of learning to put theory into practice and to see how the classes taken in seminary are the foundation of future mission and ministry than by interacting with practitioners. Word of something good travels ten more students will be coming to Chattanooga in the spring semester. The School of Theology is fortunate that this type of immersion exercise is so readily found close by in Chattanooga and that an agency such as Episcopal Metropolitan Ministries so graciously offers our seminarians a hands-on look at what the Episcopal Church must continue to do in urban areas. My students have not stopped talking about all they learned from Becky and the volunteers at EMM. It s a ministry that deserves the full support of all of us in the Chattanooga area. But even beyond what can be learned on an intellectual level, to see the faces of those who are helped and the faces of the volunteers who receive as much as they give is truly to see and touch the face of God in God s people. Community Kitchen: Metropolitan Ministries: The line starts early at Metropolitan Ministries. The organization s mission is to help prevent homelessness in the greater Chattanooga area. Those who come seek help with basic needs - rent, utility payments and food.

16 16 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 AROUND THE DIOCESE Photo courtesy of Sarah Cardwell Update from YASCer Sarah Cardwell Greetings from Mthatha! Life and work at Itipini Community Project has been busy and full in the New Year. With school beginning again, much of our focus has been on making sure students (from kindergarten through grade 12) have the school fees, uniforms, and supplies they need. I ve also been working to form better relationships with the schools where our students attend by spending time with principals, teachers, staff, and students to try to meet their needs. After school tutoring has also begun, and a group of high schoolers are about to enter the world of Hogwarts when our reading group starts Harry Potter in the next few weeks. Thank you for your prayers and support. I have the beautiful prayer flag that the youth of St. Paul gave me in September hanging above my bed, and it is a constant reminder of the loving parish and diocese that has made each day here possible. Peace be with you, and let us walk together. To learn more, visit or Sarah Cardwell is serving as a missionary with the Young Adult Service Corps engaging in the daily work of The Itipini Project of the African Medical Mission in Mtatha, South Africa. Cultural engagement, spiritual commitment, and vocational reflection are the three guiding principles behind YASC as missionaries work in various communities around the globe. St. Mark, Copperhill grant program supports community educational opportunities St. Mark, Copperhill, in February gave $1,000 to the Copper Basin High School Band to help purchase instruments for the band, from a grant program designed to support educational opportunities in Polk County. The church donated the funds to facilitate a love of music and learning. Band director, Cara McKinney, said that instead of holding fundraisers, the band is asking for support for the program through donations from individuals and businesses. The church has been experiencing a period of growth an overflow crowd filled St. Mark at a summer confirmation service at which Bishop vonrosenberg presided. The Rev. Dr. Claude Stewart, interim rector, said in a June article in The Polk County News that he was glad to be part of the active ministry of St. Mark. St. Mark s is a church in transition. Times have changed. Circumstances have changed. Churches, including ours, face new challenges today; and old challenges have appeared in new guises. But we can be confident, and grateful, that the God who gave us the good old days is eager to give us good new days. And the congregation of the church is happy to share its good days with the community. St. Mark, Copperhill: The Rev. Rob Henley retiring from St. Joseph, Sevierville w By Anna Garber CLERGY NEWS The Rev. Robert P. Henley, rector of St. Joseph the Carpenter, is retiring after a long career in the priesthood. He has served the Sevierville parish for 10 years. His service began in an unorthodox manner that his parishioners have come to regard as typical of him: he was interviewed for the job in his canoe. In 2001, two members of St. Joseph s Vestry went to Michigan to observe Father Rob in Grayling, Mich., to interview him. When one vestry member, Steve Petty, admired Michigan s lakes and rivers, Henley suggested the interview should take place on a river in his canoe. It did, and he got the job. During his nearly 10 years in Sevierville, St. Joseph s has done a lot of things to be proud of, Father Rob said. The church campus has improved in many ways, including parking lot paving, renovation of the education rooms, the addition of a columbarium and the installation of an antique tracker organ, the fourth oldest in Tennessee. St. Joseph also hosted the annual convention for the Diocese of East Tennessee a few years ago, a major feat for a small parish, he said. Through its annual Pig Roasts, the church has supported local non-profits such as Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic and Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries. And, he said, We gave birth to St Paul in Seymour, probably one of the fastest growing parishes in the diocese. Another highlight of Father Henley s service was a visit by Bishop Mano Rumalshah of Peshawar, Pakistan whom Henley met while doing continuing education at General Seminary in New York. The church also hosted two Native American powwows, and members were involved in the early stages of the Martin Luther King Day event in Sevierville and of the 911 vigil. Petty said Father Rob s part in the church goes much deeper. One of the things that characterize Rob so much is social and political issues, he said. He has a heart for how the Gospel translates into the real world. Petty said he s seen how Father Rob has helped many people, and has done it so quietly that many others are unaware of his actions. Petty cited Father Henley s commitment to human need and to the Gospel in the trenches. L-R back: The Rev. Caroline Vogel, the Rev. Howard Hess and the Very Rev. John Ross look on as the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew (second from right) prepares for the signing of the Declaration of Conformity that is required at ordination. Vogel was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at Good Shepherd, Knoxville, on Jan. 15. HENLEY continues on page 18 NOTES AND NEWS w The Rev. Caroline Vogel was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on January 15, w The Rev. Susan Butler is Priest-In-Charge Under Special Circumstances at Grace Church, Chattanooga. w The Rev. Kirk LaFon is serving as Chaplain at the Episcopal School of Knoxville, and as transitional deacon at St. James, Knoxville. w The Rev. David Lovett is serving as transitional deacon at Good Shepherd, Knoxville. w The Rev. Rob Henley retired as rector of St. St Joseph the Carpenter, Sevierville, effective March 6. w The Rev. Julie Johnson has accepted a call to St. Mary Magdalene, Fayetteville, Tenn. w The Rev. Harry Howard resigned as Chaplain at Asbury Acres. He is available as supply clergy and for educational opportunities. w The Rev. Jocelyn Bell retired as rector of Christ Church, Chattanooga. She is available as supply clergy. w Access to CDO profiles will End April 1. Visit to make ongoing updates. If you d like assistance or if you have questions, call or the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew at or askew@etdiocese.net.

17 Spring 2011, East Tennessee Episcopalian w 17 ECW Spring Retreat, April 8-9 DuBose Conference Center, Monteagle, Tenn. Since April is in the season of Lent this year, this will be a retreat / conference for the women of the three Dioceses of Tennessee. The Rt. Rev. Don Johnson, Bishop of West Tennessee, will lead this year s Spring Conference/Retreat. His theme will be, Create in me a clean heart, O God... Bishop Johnson has served in churches in the dioceses of Tennessee and East Tennessee and is the third Bishop of West Tennessee. The weekend will begin on Friday afternoon with the Opening Service and will go through Sunday Morning with a closing Eucharist. Johnson will lead sessions on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. During this Lenten time together, participants will enjoy a mixture of listening, learning and fun. The brochure mat be found at: ECWSpringRetreat.pdf. For more information, contact Rebecca Markert, Registrations must be postmarked by March 25. Information about DuBose Conference Center may be found at n OPPORTUNITIES The Rt. Rev. Don Edward Johnson, Bishop of West Tennessee, is a native Tennessean who has served his entire ministry in the state. Born and raised in Nashville, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1972, a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 1976, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Graduate Theological Institute in His ministry in the Episcopal Church has taken him to small and large parishes in the inner city and the suburbs. He began as a deacon at St. Paul s Church in Chattanooga, and served as priest in charge at Calvary Church in Memphis, Returning to Chattanooga, he became rector of Christ Church and chaplain to the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, for eight years. In 1986, Johnson accepted a call to St. John s Church in Johnson City. In 1996 he became rector of Church of the Resurrection in Franklin, where he remained until his election as Bishop in March He was ordained the Third Bishop of The Diocese of West Tennessee in June 2001 Married to Jeannie Avery Johnson, the Bishop and his wife have two adult children, Laura and Gordon. Come, meet friends, and be refreshed WOMEN S RETREAT REGISTRATION w Registrations must be postmarked by March 25! Postmarked after March 25, a $10 late fee will be assessed. (No refunds on cancellations unless we can fill that space.) Please print your information on this form and mail it with your fee to address below. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: CHURCH: DIOCESE: ROOMMATE: Registration/Rooms/Meals (Please check one): Claiborne Hall Bishop s Hall (as available) Single: $138/person Double only: $160/person Double:$113/person VEGETARIAN MEALS Commuting participants: Registration fee $20 per person Commuters, please check any desired meals and add to total: $16 Friday dinner $8 Saturday breakfast $10 Saturday lunch $16 Saturday dinner Make checks payable to: ECW Diocese of Tennessee Mail to: Lisa Rhea 405 Winchester Drive, Franklin TN Episcopal Churchmen invited to 65th annual conference w By Martin Skinner, St. Stephen, Oak Ridge Enjoy yourself. How, you say? By attending the 2011 Annual Conference of the Churchmen of Tennessee. Yes, the 65th Conference will be held at the DuBose Conference Center August The theme is For the Beauty of the Earth. The weekend is designed to provide lots of fellowship, renewal and entertainment. There will again be a BBQ Cook-off, many sports for participation, and fine food. In keeping with the theme, there will be three speakers whose topic relates to the environment. The Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of Green Faith, is a keynote speaker. Another is the Rev. Woody Bartlett, author of Living by Surprise: a Christian Response to the Ecological Crisis. The trio is rounded out by fellow East Tennessean Bill Landry, producer of the Heartland Series on WBIR-TV. Their presentations should give rise to a wonderful environmental weekend. Watch for more information displayed on your parish bulletin board, and keep up with news on For more information, contact Sam Adams, ECT President, at St. James, Knoxville. Mark the August dates on your calendar, and Come to the Mountain. Give it a try, and you will be singing Enjoy yourself, its later than you think Also, there may be a souvenir to help you remember the 65 continuous years. n Cursillo - deepen your faith March Cursillo #35 will be held at Grace Point on March 17-20, Bob Combs of St. Martin s in Chattanooga is the lay leader. Cursillo, which means short course in Spanish, is a weekend to deepen your understanding of how to live your Christian faith. Through a lively experience of spiritual renewal worship, song, and play the Cursillo retreat will inspire you to new practices of prayer and leadership in your faith community. For information about Cursillo please contact Bobbie Suttles, bobbie.suttles@gmail.com or Flowers by You, a demonstration of flower arrangements for everyday occasions, April 2 The Episcopal School of Knoxville is holding a flower lecture, Flowers by You, presenting by Martha McCellan to benefit the school s Annual Fund. The seated lunch and lecture will be held Saturday, April 2 at 11:30 a.m. The school s address is 950 Episcopal School Way; the demonstration and lecture will be held in The Siler Great Room in Googe Hall. Tickets are $30 and seating is limited. Please contact Alice Smith at for reservations, or visit Flowers for You link. Stephen Ministries workshop a Ascension, Knoxville, April 9 Ascension, Knoxville, will host a workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, that will feature three sessions highlighting Stephen Ministry. Registration begins at 8, and refreshments will be served. Experience a sample of the training that Stephen Ministers receive through two sessions: Minstering to Those Experiencing Grief and How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way. Learn why 10,000+ congregations representing more than 150 Christian denominations use the Stephen Series for training and organizing laypeople to do one-to-one caring ministry. The cost of this workshop is $15 per person or $50 for a group of four or more from the same congregation. Gather a group from your congregation to attend this informative workshop. For more information or to register for the workshop, call or register online at OPPORTUNITIES continue on page 18

18 18 w East Tennessee Episcopalian, Spring 2011 HENLEY continued from page 16 OPPORTUNITIES Rob Henley grew up in Sewanee, Tenn., and became a scholarship student at St. Andrew s School, which was run by monks of the Order of the Holy Cross. Father Henley s wife Ann, known as Russ, has also played an active part in parish life. She and Rob became sweethearts in 1964 at Mars Hill College, N.C. He was a physical education major. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and trained to fly helicopters as a warrant officer candidate at Fort Rucker in Alabama. He was discharged for medical reasons. After his army service, Rob and Russ Henley were married and held various jobs. He became more and more curious about his Christian faith. I was investigating the call, he said. I didn t fit the mold for seminary, but after getting encouragement from his bishop he enrolled in the University of the South at Sewanee, not with the idea of becoming a priest but as a spiritual quest. By the time he graduated In 1978 with a Master of Divinity degree, I answered the call to ordination, he said. That answer took the Henleys to St. Paul Episcopal Church in Gladwin, Mich. By the time they left, he had three parishes in his charge. In 1982, the Henleys now with two children, their daughters Mariah and Merrie Hope moved to Dubois, Wyo. and served two parishes 70 miles apart. One was in cowboy country, the other at the edge of the Wind River reservation of Shoshone and Arapaho tribes wonderful, wonderful people, Henley said. Following my ministry in Wyoming, we moved to Charlotte, N.C. where I was a chaplain intern at Carolinas Regional Hospital, he said. The two-year CPE (clinical pastoral education) course was a blend of behavioral sciences and theology. He was chaplain to the psych unit and the physical therapy unit. Once certified as an Employee Assistance Professional, he worked as a short-term counselor for Presbyterian Hospital and for businesses with which the hospital contracted. I was also scratching my racecar itch, which I d had since childhood, he said. He drove Sports Car Club of America formula cars and mini-stocks at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After 12 years in Charlotte, I returned to parish ministry at St. Francis in Grayling and St. Bartholomew in Mio, Mich., he said. There, he was able to indulge in his love of sports: canoeing, ice skating, fishing, skiing, deer hunting, snowmobile racing, etc. The Henleys, however, were lonely for green hills and warm sunshine on spring days, he said. They began looking southward. The St. Joseph s job interview was set for Sept. 11, 2001 so they ended up grounded at the airport and instead made the long drive to Sevierville. They immediately felt at home. Finding St. Joseph s was a reward for going into the ministry, he said. What the couple loves most is the wonderful people, Father Henley said, a sense of really being family. He said he wants people to know how much I have enjoyed being a part of this place. It s been a fine way to end a career This parish welcomes anyone who wants to be here. He said the sense of community is rare and wonderful. He said it s been a pleasure working with the diocese of East Tennessee, and that Bishop Charles vonrosenberg is the best bishop I ve ever had. People are the reason the couple will remain in the area. The Henleys plan to travel and spend more time with their two grandchildren. Recent successful knee surgery will enable Father Rob to be more active than before; he hopes to continue competing in the Senior Olympics as a cyclist and, for the first time, to walk the trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He plans to do some writing, too. We just want to be open to new opportunities, new adventures, Russ Henley said. An open house in their honor was held March 5 at the church. n OPPORTUNITIES continued from page 17 Quilts on Display at Christ Church Rugby During Historic Rugby Quilt Exhibit April 8: Noon 4 p.m.; April 9: 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Christ Church, Rugby, will assist Historic Rugby in hosting its first Quilt Exhibit. Quilts will be displayed in historic buildings, including the 1887 Christ Church, which has an active Prayer Quilt Ministry. The admission fee of $7 will provide entry to all historic buildings and private homes where quilts will be presented. Several vendors will offer items of interest to quilters in the Rugby Community Center. Attendees may bring along quilts for appraisal by Shari Pierce, a certified quilt appraiser, who will be on hand to identify quilt patterns, establish approximate date quilts were made, and to appraise current values. The Harrow Road Cafe will be open for meals. For more information and directions, visit the Historic Rugby web site, Information is available under Events/Activities. Play Golf for Metropolitan Ministries, July Play golf for Metropolitan Ministries by joining in the State Farm Collegiate/Amateur Golf Tournament on Monday, July 11 at Bear Trace Golf Course at Harrison Bay State Park. Shotgun start is noon. The Collegiate Players Tour (CPT) is hosted by State Farm Insurance. Since the CPT was founded in 1995, the event has donated over one million dollars to local charities. The CPT has five national sponsors State Farm Insurance, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, ServiceMaster Clean, CRDN, and HeadLine Sports. All proceeds from the 2011 event in Chattanooga benefit Metropolitan Ministries. The Collegiate/Amateur Event format is an 18-hole scramble golf event. Each 4-person team is paired with a collegiate player from colleges and universities across the country to make a 5-person scramble team. The 54-hole State Farm Collegiate Players Tour event starts with 36 holes on July 12, and ends with 18 holes on July 13. Metropolitan Ministries, an outreach organization of the Diocese of East Tennessee, helps people needing assistance with utility payments, rent, food, medications and other necessities. In 2010 the Ministry served over 7,000 people. The State Farm tournament has provided funds in excess of $64,000 and is a core component of Metropolitan Ministries ability to carry out its outreach mission. Entry forms are available at or Entry fees are $500 per team, or $125 per person. Play is limited to the first 120 people who sign up. Top team awards, flag prizes, door prizes and much more will be offered. For more information, call Al Carrico, State Farm Agency Field Executive, at or Thomas Foster, Metropolitan Ministries Operations Manager, at Province IV Leadership Marks to Create and Grow Vital Congregations Small Church Conference, May 12-14, Dubose Conference Center Registration deadline is March 31 What does it mean to be a small church in the world today? The easiest response to is to say that there is no single model of what a small church looks like each lives out its vocation in a very different, very contextually driven atmosphere. For additional information, resources and registration, go to the event web site ( Marks_of_Leadership.asp), and pass along this information to anyone who may benefit from this conference. $45 Gift for Your Spouse - April 1-3, Episcopal Marriage Encounter Weekend in Knoxville Episcopal Marriage Encounter is about renewing your marriage and helping a good and satisfactory marriage become a great and special one. Register now for the next East Tennessee Diocesan Marriage Encounter Weekend to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., April Fool s Day Weekend. There is no group sharing or public disclosure. Please contact Dana Teagarden or John Robertson at johnrobertsonmd@gmail.com or register at Sewanee Church Music Conference, July See the conference web site for full information about this year s conference and for registration form: Notice to All South East Area Episcopalians Innovative Community Ministry Fund The mission of the Innovative Community Ministry Fund (ICMF) is to stimulate, encourage and promote innovative community ministries of Episcopal parishes in the southeast region of the Diocese of East Tennessee. The first cycle application deadline is April 1; the second cycle application deadline is Sept 1. Guidelines and application may be found at Tucker scholarship applications due May 1 Since 1988, more than 25 confirmed Episcopal women in the Diocese of East Tennessee have received a Mollie Hazen Tucker Scholarship to help them reach educational goals at accredited colleges or technical schools. The scholarship is a one-time $1,500 grant for one year. Applications are due May 1, and the winner will be notified in June. See etdiocese.net/ecw. To obtain an application, contact Cheryl Jones at or crjones68@live.com. Please put MHT in the subject line of requests. Opportunity Fund Grants applications due April 1 See for full information and application for Social Ministries Grants and Church Expansion Grants through the Opportunity Fund. n