Narnia comes to life at St. Anne s Sunday School

Transcription

1 Pentecost II 2006 Equipping the Saints Narnia comes to life at St. Anne s Sunday School Many small parishes face the problem of having few young families in the congregation, especially if they are in vacation or leisure communities. Such has been the case for St. Anne s, Fort Worth, which sits in the Lake Worth area north of the city. But with a new rector and explosive commercial and residential growth all around them, the congregation decided earlier this year to dedicate space and resources to a knockout Sunday School program. The results are dramatic: Between Epiphany and Easter the Mr. Tumnus cosy hearth number of children in attendance went from 3 to 37. The leading visionary was Nancy Grist, the rector s wife, who collaborated with Cynthia Pigeon, wife of Fr. Darryl Pigeon, on a curriculum made up of four-week thematic blocks. They asked for classroom and chapel space inside the church. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and soon other visionaries in the congregation came forward to lend a hand with construction and decoration. The parish men s group is spearheading the construction of a new playground and sheltered seating area outdoors, as a visible sign of the church s commitment to children. Indoors, the magically transformed great hall has a chapel (aka The Stone Table) at the East end and the throne room of Cair Paravel at the West. In between is a wintery forest (a whole afternoon was spent on the snow ) and the handsome wooden facade of the wardrobe, through which children go to class. Skits are rehearsed and performed in the Castle Theater; Aslan s Tent is set up for craft work; and Mr. Tumnus Cave is a soothing place for viewing and discussing scenes from the Narnia movie. Children visit one room each week, following their chapel service and Bible lesson. The fourth week of each curriculum cycle is anchored to a celebration such as Mother s Day, a blessing of animals, or Thanksgiving. Adult leaders commit themselves to one four-week unit at a time. Cynthia Pigeon s curriculum takes advantage of the Christian themes in C.S. Lewis adventure story to teach both faith and practice: temptation, sin and repentance; becoming children of the Kingdom through baptism and confirmation; God s power protects the Christian. Always winter and never Christmas At left: the Wardrobe, with an open doorway leading o classrooms. At the far end of the room are the thrones of Cair Paravel. The final element of this visionary plan was outreach through newspaper advertising: an invitation to enter the life of the church through the door of the children s Sunday School.

2 From the Bishop Let us remain Christ s faithful disciples by the Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth As you know from my Report to the Diocese following General Convention in June, as well as from information published on our diocesan Web site and in the secular press, we have joined with several other dioceses in an appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the Communion for alternative primatial oversight and pastoral care based on irreconcilable theological differences with the new Presiding Bishopelect of the Episcopal Church and the failure of General Convention to respond adequately to the requirements of the Windsor Report. We hope that this request will be granted in the interest of maintaining [as the Windsor Report mandate put it] the highest degree of communion possible in this time of conflict and division. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you will find a discussion of one of the issues facing our Diocesan Convention in November: to withdraw from Province VII of the Episcopal Church. This is a serious step designed as a response to the state of broken communion in the Episcopal Church. It sends a message to the Anglican Communion that our diocese does not wish to walk apart. As your bishop, I renew my ordination vows to guard and defend the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church as a faithful bishop of the Anglican Communion, standing in full compliance with the Windsor Report. And I call upon each one of you to remain faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ and to continue steadfastly in your life of worship, prayer, and witness in the world. Whatever decisions we may be called upon to make in the days ahead or whatever decisions others may make for us I can assure you of this: The Word of God will continue to be truly preached and truly heard in the churches of this diocese; the Sacraments will be faithfully administered and faithfully received; and we will continue to show the power of the love of Jesus Christ to all among whom we live. Despite what the scaremongers and alarmists may say, no one is going to take your church from you. Whatever may happen in the future, the congregations in this diocese will continue to worship and believe, serve and evangelize, fellowship and witness as we have in the past. No one is going to take from us our faith or our beliefs, our buildings or our prayer books, our Scriptures or our creeds, our clergy or our Bishop. Our hope is built on nothing less than our Lord Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. By His grace, we will remain faithful through whatever turmoil lies ahead. Additional information may be found at 2 Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II 2006

3 Around the Diocese Bishop Iker Challenge Over 290 men, women, and junior golfers from all over the diocese turned out for the Sixth Annual Bishop Iker Challenge Golf Tournament on Friday, June 2, at the Squaw Valley golf courses in Glen Rose. The weather was beautiful, and the lunch was delicious. The golfers were organized into five flights, with winning foursomes as follows: ECW News Pictured above at the opening of June s Triennial in Columbus, Ohio, are ECW President Mary Sue Coffman (left) and Doris Gregory (right), who represented our diocese at the national gathering. Sue Yarger, our diocesan Altar Guild directress, attended the triennial meeting of the National Altar Guild. All women of the diocese are invited to attend the annual Women s Congress on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Trinity Church in Fort Worth. Come early to register before the opening Eucharist at 10 a.m. The program brings together members of the ECW, Daughters of the King, and Altar Guild for a day of fellowship and personal and spiritual development. Highlights will include the keynote presentation by Dr. Toni Craven, the diocesan UTO ingathering, and the investiture of the ECW Board. The cost for registration, including lunch, is $14. Send checks to Mary Sue Coffman, 5629 El Campo Avenue, Fort Worth 76107, before Oct. 9, and please indicate whether you will need nursery care for an infant or small child. New Wineskins Conference Anyone interested in mission work is invited to attend New Wineskins for Global Mission, a national conference to be held April 11-15, 2007, in Ridgecrest, NC. The last New Wineskins conference, held in 2003, attracted over 1,000 Anglicans and featured speakers from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. For more information, contact Lynn Waltman, a member of our World Mission Committee, at lynnew@allsaintsfortworth.org. 1ST FLIGHT: Dave Appleton, Bud Monroe, Ned Welch, N. Finley 2ND FLIGHT: John Bell, Keith Bell, Bill Gerhart, Mike Luptak 3RD FLIGHT: Bill Hightower, Sean Moore, Don Valdez, Ryan Valdez 4TH FLIGHT: Joe Bullock, Pat Bullock, Fr. Keith Roberson, Randy Stone LADIES FLIGHT: Nancy Franklin, Janet Green, Jo Ann Patton, Gloria Winfree Heartfelt thanks go Everything s going well at the registration desk. to all our parish coordinators, volunteers, participants, and donors. Frost Bank was the lead sponsor of the tournament this year, and Southwest Airlines donated two round-trip tickets to the drawing prizes. The tournament raised $28,000 for improvements and scholarships at Camp Crucis, our diocesan conference and retreat center. Thanks to the camp staff, too, for hosting a golfers and spouses social on the evening before the event. For more pictures, scores, and contest winners, see the results page at Bell, Gerhart, Bell, and Luptak Nancy Weaver photos Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II

4 Diocesan Convention: Nov. 17 & 18 What does it mean to withdraw from a Province of the Episcopal Church? One of the resolutions to be presented at our Diocesan Convention in November asks the Convention to withdraw its consent to membership in Province VII of The Episcopal Church. This is an important step that might easily be misunderstood. The following explains the provincial system, offers a bit of recent history, and gives reasons for withdrawing at this time. Province VII map What is a Province? A province is a regional grouping of dioceses in the Episcopal Church. Currently there are nine provinces. Currently the Diocese of Fort Worth is part of Province VII, in the Southwestern United States. Also within Province VII are the Dioceses of Arkansas, Dallas, Kansas, Northwest Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Grande, Texas, West Missouri, West Texas, Western Kansas and Western Louisiana. The Constitution of the Church says that no Diocese shall be included in a Province without its own consent. What does a Province do? Each Province has its own synod (convention). This body elects a President and Provincial Council as well as judges for a Provincial Court of Review, and it adopts a program of ministry and a budget to fund it. Programs in Province VII include anti-racism training, Hispanic ministry, Christian Education and Formation, and Companion Dioceses (World Mission). Representatives from each Province serve on the Episcopal Church s Executive Council. The synod also can pass resolutions on ministry, administration, and other matters; these may be presented in due course to General Convention. Dioceses pay an annual assessment to the Province. We are represented at the synod by our bishop and elected deputies to General Convention. Why should we leave Province VII? The Resolution (far right) adopted by our diocesan Standing Committee cites several reasons for withdrawing; a supporting letter, also issued by Episcopal Church Constitution, Article VII: Dioceses may be united into Provinces in such manner, under such conditions, and with such powers, as shall be provided by Canon of the General Convention; Provided, however, that no Diocese shall be included in a Province without its own consent. the committee, says a state of broken Communion exists in Province VII. The fracture lines include: August 2002: Bishop William Smalley of Kansas, President of Province VII, gave permission for same-sex rites in his diocese. In October, the laity of his diocese tried to reverse the move during Diocesan Convention and were defeated. General Convention 2003: Four Province VII bishops voted to confirm the election of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire: Bishop Larry Maze (Arkansas), Bishop Smalley, Bishop Robert Moody (Oklahoma), and Bishop Barry Howe (West Missouri). In the House of Deputies, the clerical deputations of Arkansas, Kansas, and Northwest Texas also voted yes; the lay deputations of Kansas, Northwest Texas, and West Missouri voted yes, while Arkansas was divided. On Resolution C051, to permit same-sex blessings, there was no roll call vote by bishops. In the deputations, the clergy of Arkansas and Northwest Texas approved, and the four-person clerical deputations of Dallas, Oklahoma, and West Texas were divided. Among the laity, the deputies from Kansas, Northwest Texas, and West Missouri voted yes, while those of Arkansas were divided. At this point, our representatives stopped attending 4 Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II 2006

5 Provincial meetings as a way of dissociating ourselves from these actions. Bishop Moody has prohibited our Assisting Bishop, the Rt. Rev. William Wantland, who is retired in good standing and living in southern Oklahoma, from functioning in any Episcopal church in that diocese. April 2006: The Diocese of Texas elected a woman, the Ven. Dena Harrison, as Suffragan Bishop. General Convention 2006: The convention failed to produce the statement of regret called for by the Windsor Report. A far weaker resolution, A161, came before the House of Deputies. The deputations (both lay and clerical) from Fort Worth, Dallas, West Missouri, and Western Louisiana voted against A161. In a statement, the deputation from Fort Worth called its language inadequate and dishonest. Among other Province VII dioceses, the lay and clerical deputies from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, West Texas, and Western Kansas voted for A161. The deputations from Kansas and Northwest Texas differed amongst themselves. July 2006: Bishop Moody and Bishop Dean Wolfe, the new Bishop of Kansas, brought charges against retired Bishop William Cox for ordaining three men on behalf of the Archbishop of Uganda in a church that is Anglican but no longer Episcopal. Also in July Bishop Maze gave The Diocese of Missouri withdrew from its Province in It later joined a different Province. permission for same-sex blessing rites in Arkansas. Contrary to the Province s stated commitment to continue the support and participation of a variety of Episcopalians from all its Dioceses, the Diocese of Fort Worth has been marginalized in Province VII. Despite repeated invitations over 25 years, the synod has never met in our diocese. And while we have continued to pay our assessment, we are not represented on the provincial Council. Could we join another Province? Since January 2004 the Anglican Communion Network has served as a pseudo-province for us, providing relationships and ministry initiatives based on theological affinity. If it were declared a non-geographic province tomorrow, it would already include two other Province VII dioceses: Dallas and Rio Grande. Shortly after General Convention in June, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, led by Bishop Robert Duncan, the Moderator of the Network, called for the formation of a tenth, nongeographic Province of The Episcopal Church. Province X would be positioned with that part of the Episcopal Church determined to maintain constituent status with the Anglican Communion," according to their resolution. If it were approved by the next General Convention, Province X could become a reality. July 24, 2006 The following Resolution was unanimously adopted today by the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and will be presented to the Diocesan Convention in its annual meeting on Nov. 18, WHEREAS the Archbishop of Canterbury in light of the actions of General Convention 2006 has proposed that the best way forward for the Anglican Communion is to have in the future both constituent and associated members, necessitating ordered and mutually respectful separation between constituent and associated elements within local Churches; and WHEREAS the stated aim of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is to be a constituent member of the Anglican Communion as provided for in the Constitution of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America; and, WHEREAS the Bishop and Standing Committee believe it necessary for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to dissociate itself from those actions of the 75th General Convention which constitute a decision of the Episcopal Church to walk apart from the Anglican Communion; and, WHEREAS the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in good faith appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates of the Anglican Communion, and the Panel of Reference for immediate alternative Primatial oversight and pastoral care so that a unifying solution can be found to preserve an authentic Anglican community of witness within the United States of America and provide pastoral and apostolic care to biblically orthodox Anglicans in this country regardless of geographical location; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, pending final ratification by its 24th Annual Convention, withdraws its consent, pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, to be included in the Seventh Province of the Episcopal Church. Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II

6 The Canon s Corner By The Rev. Canon Charles A. Hough III, Canon to the Ordinary As we look forward to the end of a hot summer, it is once again time for me to report some clergy changes to the Diocese. The Rev. Bryant Bechtold has resigned as rector of Christ the King, Fort Worth, to pursue ministry in the Church of England. He and his wife, Susan, who is a British citizen, have moved to England, and we wish them well. Fr. Stanley Maneikis, former assistant at St. Andrew s, Fort Worth, and now chaplain to Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, will be interim Fr. Bechtold priest at Christ the King. The Rev. David Edman, a retired priest in the diocese, has assumed duties as interim priest at All Saints, Wichita Falls, since the retirement of Fr. John Payne.We send our best wishes to Fr. Payne and his wife, Kay. The Rev. Stuart Smith, a native of this diocese, and coming back to us from the Diocese of West Tennessee, has assumed duties as rector at Good Shepherd, Granbury. We welcome Fr. Smith, his wife, Sara, and their three daughters. Fr. Darryl Pigeon,assistant chaplain at All Saints School, Fort Worth, is part Fr. Payne and Kay time interim at St. Michael s Church, Richland Hills. Fr. Joshua Whitfield has completed his duties as Diocesan Curate at St. Peter & St. Paul s Church, Arlington, and has been accepted as a graduate student in theology by Duke University. He and his wife, Alison, will be moving to North Carolina in time for the fall term. We also congratulate Fr. Robert Young, rector of St. Andrew s, Grand Prairie, and Fr. Stan Sullivan, vicar at St. Mary s, Hamilton, on the 25th anniversaries of their ordinations to the priesthood. We are anticipating the ordinations Fr. Pigeon of two new priests in September: the Rev. Deacon Jon Jenkins, Diocesan Curate at St. Peter and St. Paul s, Arlington, and the Rev. Deacon John Jordan, Diocesan Curate at St. Vincent s Cathedral. Deacon Jenkins will be ordained on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter & St. Paul. Deacon Jordan will be ordained on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent s Cathedral. Finally, we look forward to the 24th Annual Diocesan Convention, to be held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 & 18, at St. Peter & St. Paul, Arlington, the host parish for the convention. Many of us have fond memories of the hospitality shown to us several years ago when the Diocese last held its convention at that parish. Arrangements for this November are well under way. On Saturday, the Convention delegates will enjoy a Mexican lunch provided by the people of Iglesia San Miguel, Fort Worth. Convention information, deanery meeting dates, and necessary forms are posted on the diocesan Web site. On June 25, Fr. Stan Sullivan (center), the vicar of St. Mary s, Hamilton, was honored with a reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. It was an ecumenical gathering that included clergy from the local Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches. 6 Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II 2006

7 Leo Kuehn worshiped at St. Paul s, Gainesville, for over 70 years. Leo Kuehn Around the Diocese In June Leo M. Kuehn, Jr., celebrated the 60th anniversary of his baptism, right where it happened, at St. Paul s Episcopal Church on E. California Street in Gainesville. At 97, he was in good health. He was taking a few antioxidant vitamins each morning, but no prescription medications. The 5-inch stent on his heart was working beautifully. He would get in his car every weekday and go down to the bank, where he had been the public relations officer for several years after selling his family s clothing business, just to say hi. On Sunday, he never missed church. Leo first came to St. Paul s with a boyhood friend whose parents owned the Turner Hotel, across the street from the church. It was about 10 years before he spoke up and said he d like to be baptized. He graduated from Vanderbilt University but gave up dreams of law school when his father died and Leo took over Manhattan Clothiers. He married his dear wife, Maxine, in 1936, and they raised two boys. Leo served in the Army during World War II. He also served on the church vestry and saw four local boys William Crary, Robert and James Mitchell, and Cecil James (now rector of St. Paul s) grow up to become Episcopal priests. Before Maxine s death in 1997, Leo and his bride enjoyed traveling together and always returned to the family home they built when the boys were young. In late July Leo fell and broke his hip. He rallied briefly following surgery but never recovered enough to go home. He died on Aug. 1. On Aug. 4, the pews at St. Paul s were filled for Leo s memorial service, conducted by Fr. James and Fr. Crary. The bell in the church tower tolled as Leo s body left for the last time. Its solemn farewell filled the air over Gainesville; it found its way all over town, to the places Leo knew so well. The funeral procession left the old Turner Hotel behind and drove west on California Street, past American flags fluttering on a brick store front, past the cafe where Leo sometimes lunched and ran into old friends, past the bank building he used to visit daily, past the Confederate soldier and the World War II memorial in the Cooke County Court House square. In his homily, Fr. Crary reminded the congregation that Leo s life of faith didn t happen by accident. It started, he said, because somebody brought him to church. Malawi visitors Fr. Fanuel and Beatrice Magangani visited the diocese this summer. After church on Sunday, June 25, they were guests at the Boddy Ranch. Pictured with them, above, are Annie McClintock, Jason Schindler, and Fr. Tom Kennedy. Other stops on their itinerary included Camp Crucis and the churches of Good Shepherd, Wichita Falls; St. Vincent s, Bedford; and St. Andrew s, Fort Worth. Fr. Fanuel is dean of St. Peter s Cathedral on Likoma Island in the Diocese of Northern Malawi, and Beatrice is an elementary school teacher with over 180 student sin her charge. Photo submtted by Jo Williams. Forward In Mission ~ Pentecost II

8 Diocesan Calendar - Pentecost II 2006 Boldface type indicates Bishop Iker s visitations Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held at the Diocesan Center for Ministry January February March April May June July August September October November December 8/27 ST. VINCENT S, Bedford 9/3 GOOD SHEPHERD, Brownwood 9/4 Labor Day, Diocesan Offices closed 9/10 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL, Arlington 9/14 11 a.m. Finance Committee 2 p.m. Executive Council 9/17 ST. THOMAS, Jacksboro, and TRINITY, Henrietta 9/18 9:30 a.m. Committee on Ministry 1:30 p.m. Standing Committee 9/23 10 a.m. Ordination of Deacon Jon Jenkins to the priesthood, at St. Peter & St. Paul 9/24 Discretion 9/30 10 a.m. Ordination of Deacon John Jordan to the priesthood, at St. Vincent s, Bedford 10/1 ST. LUKE S, Stephenville Forward In Mission, a publication of the Diocese of Fort Worth, is distributed seven times a year The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, publisher; Suzanne Gill, editor (sgill@fwepiscopal.org) Offices & mail The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, 2900 Alemeda Street, Fort Worth, Texas Telephone fax Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Fort Worth, Texas Permit No. (538)