General Convention in Brief

Condensing 12 days into a few paragraphs is a challenge. I will touch on several major actions but would enjoy conversation with you on issues you wish addressed or concerns you might have.

In a historic action the House of Bishops with concurrence from the House of Deputies elected The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Shori to be the 26^th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. She will be the first woman Primate in the Anglican Communion.

Since the consent to the election of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 and the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster authorization of services for same sex unions, there has been considerable concern in the Anglican Communion over this non- traditional life style. These concerns prompted the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a commission to, “seek ways forward which would encourage communion within the Anglican Communion.” The result of this consultation was the Windsor Report, which has been studied throughout the Episcopal Church. Several resolutions passed at this General Convention were in response to the report. They confirmed the desire of the Episcopal Church to continue to be in conversation with any province of the Anglican Communion and to continue the participation of the Episcopal Church within that Communion. The Episcopal Church has expressed, “apology to those within the Anglican Communion who are offended by our failure to accord sufficient importance to our actions on our church and other parts of the Communion.” The bishops have provided for Delegated Episcopal Oversight for those who disagree or feel isolated because of the actions of General Convention with, “respect for the historical relationship of the separate and autonomous Provinces of the Anglican communion.” Other resolutions committed to participation in discussions of a covenant among members of the A.C., and full participation in a listening process. A final resolution issues a, “call to Standing Committees and bishops to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.”

Much attention was focused on the Millennium Development Goals as a first priority for the work of the Episcopal Church over the next three years including work in diocese and congregations. In the Diocese of Maine we have already begun the commitment to these goals through our work as a Companion Diocese with Haiti and the contribution of 0.7% of the budget for International development.

The approximately 250 resolutions processed through committees of Convention were revised or combine and then brought to the floor of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies for acceptance or concurrence. Some topics dealt with were liturgy and music, small churches, communications and information technology, a three year budget, youth and young adults, education, revision of the Canons, and justice issues in areas of conflict, hunger and disease.

Of local interest, by action of the House of Bishops, The Rev. Dr. Vesta Kowalski was elected to the General Board of Examining Chaplains. She will participate in developing the examination used in the Episcopal Church for candidates to the priesthood.

Further information may be found on the Diocesan web site and through links to the Episcopal Church web site at www.diomaine.org.

Rita Redfield

Windsor Report

At Diocesan Convention 2005, we passed a Resolution that included the request that congregations study the Windsor Report and report their findings electronically. To do this, please go to http://www.diomaine.org/windsorreport.shtml. Your reports will be collated by Heidi Shott and can be read at http://www.diomaine.org/windsorresults.shtml

Survey

The Episcopal Church web team wants to improve the Visitors’ Center @ www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors – and needs your input (maybe re-name it?)Whether you are a first time visitor to this site or a life-long Episcopalian, please take a few minutes to answer the following questions.

The survey is here.

Province I Stewardship Conference

The Province I Stewardship Conference will take place March 31 through April 2. The Diocese has offered to subsidize the registrations of two participants from each congregation in this year’s Conference.

The Church in Brit Lit – Where is the Search Committee

A couple of months ago [before we were online - the editor] I shared with you the sentiments of Silas Marner’s neighbor as she expressed her love for the comforting presence of the church. This month I would like to focus on one of the major differences in the English Church and our American Episcopal Church. That is the selection of clergy for a parish and, in this case, the selection of the Bishop for the See of Barchester.

Anthony Trollope tells us that:

the death of old Dr. Grantly, who had for many
years filled that chair with meek authority, took
place exactly as the ministry of Lord ____ was
going to give place to Lord ____. The illness of
the good old man was long and lingering and it
became a matter of intense interest whether the
new appointment would be made by a
conservative or a liberal government.

The Bishop’s son, Archdeacon Grantly, had long
managed the affairs of the diocese and was the
known choice of the outgoing government. Alas
the old Bishop lingered too long and the choice
fell to the new government. Dr. Proudie was
appointed to the post.

He was a man born to move in high circles: at
least he thought so himself, and circumstances
had certainly sustained him in that view…He
had for years held some clerical office
appertaining to courtly matters, which enabled
him to live in London, and to entrust his parish
to his curate. He had been preacher to the royal
beefeaters, curator of theological manuscripts in
the Ecclesiastical Courts, chaplain to the
Queen’s yeomanry guard and almoner to his
Royal Highness Prince of Rappe-Blankenberg.

Although my enjoyment of Trollope’s
Barchester Towers is extreme, my feelings
suggest that we might celebrate the work of the
founding fathers who separated church and state
– and also celebrate the work of our own search
committee.

Cass Wright

New and updated Windsor Report study materials on-line

At our diocesan convention in October Maine congregations pledged to take time to study the Windsor Report which, in part, explores the nature of what it means to be the Anglican Communion. Diocesan Resource Center Director Elizabeth Ring has provided updated study materials to assist congregations in their efforts. The pdf file is here. An html version is here.