The Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo Eighth Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina Report for Diocesan Executive Council Fourth Quarter 2014 I. Ministries A. The Church as a Community of Dialogue, Worship and Prayer Diocesan Convention Stewardship of People, Place and Money was the theme of the 92 nd Diocesan Convention, October 17-18, at Christ Church, Greenville. The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop of Olympia, and The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, served as keynote speakers. Over 350 were in attendance for the two-day event. The Episcopal Church: Church-wide Web Meeting - On October 2 nd, the bishop, Canon Wilson and youth representative Lillian Hardaway participated in The Episcopal Church s Church-wide web meeting discussing the restructuring of the Church. During the meeting the members of the Task Force for Reimagining The Episcopal Church shared their dreams and visions for the Church, as well as answered questions posed by live audience members and those participating via the web. The task force did not announce any specific restructuring plans during the meeting. B. Teaching, Formation and Vocation within the Church Confirmation Task Force The Confirmation Task Force has completed its draft of A Guide for Confirmation. Throughout the month of November, the task force received feedback on the document. The task force will now reconvene to make any final changes to the document. It will then be placed on the diocesan website as a resource. Diocesan Youth Leadership Committee / Diocesan Youth Ministries 1) Relational Ministers and Logo Committee This committee has redesigned the diocesan youth logo. It was approved by DYLC in September and will be used beginning in 2015. 2) Middle School Fall Retreat The retreat was cancelled at the end of October due to inclement weather. Areas around Gravatt received over 2 inches of snow on the first day of the retreat. Traffic was stopped on I-20 for hours and design team members found the back roads impassable. The retreat could not be rescheduled because it was on the camp side, and the weather is now too cold to hold an event on the camp side. 3) Happening #72 is December 12-14. There are 21 candidates. 4) Province IV Youth Network Meeting December 4-7, the Reverend Canon Kellie Wilson will join 3 youth and 1 adult as representatives at this annual gathering where resources are shared and provincial youth events are planned.
5) DYLC is in the process of planning the Diocesan youth Conference which is January 30-February 1 at Camp Bob at Kanuga. The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Millicent Brown who was once known as the little girl in Brown v. Board of Education. The conference will focus on race reconciliation and recognizing the privileges that we may enjoy that are out of reach for others. The conference will provide youth with the tools to recognize issues surrounding race discrimination so that they can address these issues in their everyday lives. Please encourage your senior high youth to attend. Canterbury The Reverend Canon Kellie Wilson is working with members of the Canterbury subcommittee to develop a long term plan for our campus ministries. One member of the sub-committee and Canon Wilson are meeting with campus officials and local clergy to discuss the future of each campus ministry. These meetings will continue over the next several months. Meanwhile, the DEC approved funding for this year has led to increased recognition on most of our campuses. Attendance figures overall have slightly increased while many of the clergy contacts for the campuses have remarked on the strong leadership and involvement they see coming from these ministries. For the 2015-16 school year, we will explore using a marketing person to create advertising for the ministries as well as helping each ministry to differentiate itself on the campus. Formation consultations/resourcing: 1) October 5 St. Timothy s, Columbia 2) October 12 St. Barnabas, Jenkinsville 3) October 19 Church of the Good Shepherd, Columbia 4) October 26 Cursillo closing 5) November 20 St. Francis, Chapin 6) November 13 St. Matthew s, Spartanburg The Reverend Canon Kellie Wilson sponsored a formation leaders meeting. Canon Carrie Graves attended to present Theological Reflection as a tool for children and youth leaders. Community of Hope The Reverend Canon Kellie Wilson has been meeting with Community of Hope leadership to discuss creating a steering committee for the group as well as developing leadership among those who have participated in the program. The group has also been exploring how to communicate the benefits that this training can provide to the local congregation. Retired Clergy luncheon The Bishop and Canon Wilson attended a luncheon honoring retired clergy on December 3 at Still Hopes in Columbia. Leadership Days The Reverend Canon Kellie Wilson has been planning a Christian Formation Leadership Day for January 17, 2015. The keynote speaker will be Kyle Oliver, Digital Missioner for The Center for Ministry and Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary. The topic for the day will be Changing Ministry Models for a Changing Culture. Priests, deacons, and lay people involved in the formation of children, youth, and adults in the local congregations are invited to attend. 2
Congregational Vitality Initiative Congregational Development consultants from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina continue to develop a congregational development program that will focus on Systems Theories, Episcopal Culture, Leadership Development, and Relational Ministry. In the coming months, members of the diocesan Commission on Congregations will study the proposed program and begin to make recommendations regarding course offerings. Province IV Transition Officers Meeting Transition Officers from Province IV met November 2-4 in The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. This meeting gives all transition officers a chance to share best practices related to diocesan ministry as well as potential clergy candidates for various openings within the province. Canon Hazel serves as the convener for the group. Leadership Day: Mission Congregations A Leadership Day will be held for all mission congregations January 31. Developing a Strategic Vision for small congregations will be the focus of the event. (Time/Place to be announced next week.) Diocesan Executive Council Orientation An Orientation for members of Diocesan Executive Council was held November 14-15 at the Gravatt Conference Center. Members of Council engaged in a strategic visioning process to guide their work in the coming year. Officers elected are: President, The Rev. Grant Wiseman, Vice- President, Mr. Tom Stepp and Secretary, The Rev. Scott Fleischer. Transition Ministry in Upper South Carolina Status Report Fourth Quarter 2014 Congregation Position Status Catawba: Trinity, Abbeville ¼ time Priest-incharge Supply Clergy St. Mark, Chester ¼ time Priest-in-charge Supply clergy. Engaged in Congregational development. St. Peter s, Great Falls ¼ time Priest-incharge Supply Clergy, interviewing Foothills: Christ Church Episcopal Senior Chaplain Accepting Applications School St. Andrew s, Greenville Rector The Rev. Geoff Taylor Gravatt: Trinity, Abbeville ¼ time Priest-in-charge Sunday Supply; Engaged in Congregational Development St. Bartholomew s, North Interim Rector Preparing for David Thompson s Augusta Retirement 2015 All Saints, Beech Island ¼ time Priest-in-charge Sunday Supply. Engaged in congregational development. Midlands: Church of the Cross, Columbia Priest-in-charge The Rev. Blaney Pridgen, Interim 3
St. Alban s, Lexington Long term supply The Rev. Alice Haynes St. Francis, Chapin Rector The Rev. Mark Scott, Interim. Search Committee formed and developing profile. Piedmont St. Christopher s, Spartanburg Vicar Sunday supply, accepting applications C. Witness, Common Mission and Service to the World October Trip to Haiti Bishop Waldo and Earl Burch visited Haiti in October. Diocese of Kansas Convention and Haiti - Bishop Waldo was invited to give a keynote on our work in Haiti at the Diocese of Kansas Convention in October. Earl Burch went with him to present a workshop on Haiti. The purpose of this trip was to support our search for additional dioceses as partners for our work in Cange. November Trip to Haiti - Earl Burch went to Haiti again in November of 2014. His purpose was to negotiate for the new marketplace and relationships among varying parties regarding our work there. Diocese of Virginia and Haiti - Earl Burch and Alan met with the bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, as well as several churches there, while Alan was home this past week. Alan Yarborough - Members of the Campaign for Cange Committee met for lunch in November to receive updates from Alan. Canon Graves interviewed him on his work in Cange. Concerts for Haiti In December there will be several concerts to serve as fundraisers for our work in Cange. Trinity Cathedral is giving two performances of Messiah. The Campaign for Cange Committee is sponsoring a donor reception after one of them. In addition, Waldo Baroque and Friends will perform at Church of the Advent, Spartanburg. Proceeds from ticket sales for these three concerts will go to Cange. A mailing went out in November thanking all donors. Cange Symposium - The dates for the 2015 Cange Symposium have been moved from February 27-28 to February 13-14. It will be held at Christ Church, Greenville. Bishop Waldo s Convention Address a link to this presentation on our companion relationship with Taiwan is available on our website: http://www.edusc.org/sermons/92nd-convention-eucharist-and-bishop-saddress.html 4
Communications as Witness Canon Carrie Graves has been working on building connection and relationship among our communicants and between the Diocesan House and the people of the diocese since she began work in October 1. Social Media the diocesan Facebook Page now has 100 more likes than it did two months ago. Commenting and sharing about the work the churches are doing has increased. The story is getting out. Twitter is up and running again after a dormant period. Sharing with local and national Episcopal entities has increased. The Diocese now has an Instagram account on which the Youth and Canterbury are sharing stories, as well as a new YouTube Channel. 2. e~dusc News The e~dusc newsletter has been moved to a different online program. Positive feedback is coming in and there is an increase in the number of people who subscribe to and open the diocesan newsletters. 3. Website Improvements to the website are going on each day. Canon Graves is working with the heads of ministries and other components featured on the site to find out what their needs are for readability, better visibility and more user-friendly pages within the site. D. Stewardship and Care of People, Place and Money Parish/Mission Safety Reviews Safety Reviews were performed at the following churches during the fourth quarter: Church of the Cross, St. David s, St. Barnabas, and St. Thomas. There are three scheduled for December: St. John s, Hopkins, St. John s, Winnsboro, and St. Stephen s, Ridgeway. Development of Financial Policy for Ministries in Haiti: The World Mission Committee Financial Process Task Force, along with Alisha Hudson designed and proposed a Financial Policy along with a formalized process and supporting documents to help streamline and appropriately document all funds requested and paid to the ministries in Haiti. The World Mission Committee reviewed and finalized the Financial Policy and have submitted the policy and supporting documents, along with the Legal Opinion Regarding Payments to the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and Zanmi Lasante for consideration and approval to the Commission on Anglican Communion and International Concerns. E. Office of the Bishop LARCUM o LARCUM Dialogue The LARCUM Bishops Dialogue took place on October 13 th at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church in Irmo. There were more than 150 clergy, laity, educators, tutors and program coordinators in attendance. Guest speaker was Dr. Tammy Pawloski, Director of the Francis Marion University Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty. 5
o o State Newspaper and Public Education Ruling Bishop Waldo offered a response in The State online regarding the State Supreme Court s finding in November for poor schools in the school equity suit. Bishop Waldo was the only faith leader represented among community leaders. Reading Matters Richland School District One and the SC Bishops Public Education Initiative partnered to launch a faith-based reading program called Reading Matters. The Reverend Susan Heath recruited volunteers and organized two training sessions for them. The trainings were a success and volunteering begins in January. This program will help children identified in Richland one who are not receiving all the reading instruction they need. Diocesan House Staff: Diocesan House Staff transitions occurred in the last quarter of the year. Due to a reduced Statement of Mission, Ms. Mary Weston s position as Executive Assistant to the Bishop was eliminated. The Rev. Geoff Taylor accepted a call as Rector of St. Andrew s, Greenville. Bishop Waldo is grateful for Mary and Geoff s dedication to their respective ministries. II. Important dates and events from Bishop Waldo s calendar A. Visitations (Celebrant and preacher) November 2 St. Thaddeus Aiken November 9 St. Alban s Lexington November 23 Good Shepherd Greer December 7 Church of the Advent Spartanburg December 10 Chapel of the Holy Spirit Still Hopes, W. Columbia December 21 Grace Anderson B. Ordination None C. Other Important Diocesan dates October 4 Mutual Ministry Review Gravatt October 16-18 92 nd Diocesan Convention* Christ Church, Greenville October 29 Piedmont Clericus Advent, Spartanburg October 30 Anglican Communion Meeting St. Simon & St. Jude, Irmo November 5 ECW President & Luncheon Diocesan House November 12 World Mission Finance Diocesan House November 13 Heathwood Hall Board Meeting Heathwood Hall November 14-15 DEC Orientation Gravatt December 3 Retired Clergy/Spouse Luncheon Still Hopes December 12 Happening Gravatt December 13-14 Messiah Concert (Benefit Haiti Campaign for Cange Trinity Cathedral 6
December 19 Waldo Baroque and Friends Concert (Benefit Haiti Campaign for Cange Church of the Advent D. Conferences and Other Travel October 9-12 Haiti Haiti October 23-26 Diocese of Kansas Convention Topeka, Kansas November 7-8 Ordination & Consecration of The Rev. Robert Skirving St. Paul s, Greenville November 19-21 Province IV Bishops & Spouses Live Oak, Florida *In the last quarter of 2014 Bishop Waldo is completing 33 visitations. Every year Bishop Waldo schedules 33-34 visitations so that every congregation receives a visit from him within a two-three year timeframe. In addition, Bishops Duvall and Hultstrand visit 15 congregations combined, annually. 7