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Diocesan CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS OPEN COMMUNION messengerDiocesan MARCH 2016 OPEN COMMUNION BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 LENTEN REFLECTION: LISTENING PAGE 16 CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS PAGE 22 2 CONTENTS SPRING 2016 civil disagreement innovation & growth 16 Listening With Your Heart by Brenda Sol 5 School for Ministry: My Experience by Susan Green and Chris Craig-Jones 20 You Are Entitled to Your Wrong Opinion by Marjorie Coburn 11 Companion Convention by Colin Mathewson open communion 6 On Open Communion by Laura Sheridan-Campbell 7 Honoring Tradition by Doran Stambaugh 8 Liturgically Traditional, Socially Progressive by Joseph Dirbas 9 Behold What You Are, Become What You Receive by Simon Mainwaring around the diocese 17 Welcoming New Clergy Members by Hannah Wilder 18 Journey to Ordination by Richard Lee, Chris Harris, and Jacqueline Bray 21 Fresh Start Starts Fresh by Allisyn Thomas 6 On Open Communion New Episcopal Relief & Development Coordinator by JoAnn Roberts Armstead Formed for Ministry by Robin Taylor congregational 14 Small Congregation Leverages Its Size by Richard Anderson 22 Congregational Events and More bishop’s office 4 Bishop’s Letter: Bridge or Boat? 12 Spring Calendar 18 Journey to Ordination 19 New Roles & Responsibilities by Hannah Wilder 23 Our Spiritual Gifts and Talents COVER: MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOTWASHING IN OCEAN BEACH/ HANNAH WILDER CIVIL DISAGREEMENTEDITOR: Hannah Wilder EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: edsd.org olitics is becoming more lieve and how I artciulate my to engage public life with polarized. People are thoughts, or they change my a hopeful spirit, one that Pbecoming less toler- perspective if I am truly open. stands in stark contrast to the ant. Or so it seems. One thing mean-spirited cynicism that remains true: an election year Sometimes we yearn for a pervades public discourse. always stirs up vitriolic rancor conflict-free life, but where is Acting in hopefulness reflects between political parties. What the challenge in that? “Iron our belief that God is working is our calling as Christians sharpens iron, and one person in the world for the good of amidst the negative political sharpens the wits of another” everyone. ads and character maligning (Proverbs 27:17, NRSV). campaigns? How do we hold This issue of the Messenger difference in tension while Those who make us uncom- explores these questions, par- continuing to care for one an- fortable are often the very ticularly through the articles other? How do we honor those ones with whom we should that consider open commun- with whom we disagree? engage. Jesus went out of his ion – a hot button issue in the way to encounter the Other: Episcopal Church. By present- As always, thank you for read- It is often the case that the Roman centurions, tax collec- ing articles from differing ing The Diocesan Messenger. people I disagree with are the tors, prostitutes, Gentiles. Can viewpoints, we hope to model ones who teach me the most. we do any less if we consider respectful disagreement. We May this election year be a In the course of respectful ourselves his followers? would like to hear from you time of hope and confidence conversations with them, they about how we did. Feel free to in God’s providential care for help me to clarify what I be- Many Episcopalians choose email me with your thoughts. all humankind. + messengercivil contact Diocesan MARCH 2016 The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107 this time, the magazine cannot pro- messenger magazine info vide compensation for submissions. EDITOR: Hannah Wilder t. disagreement619-481-5456 e. [email protected] advertising This magazine has a circulation of submissions about 13,000 and an approximate We welcome submissions of original readership of 26,000. For more in- articles, letters, poetry, art and photo- formation or to receive a copy of our graphs. Submissions should pertain rate card, email [email protected]. in some way to the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of San Diego. It is distribution OPEN COMMUNION advised to check with the editor prior BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 to submitting, to ensure your materi- This magazine is a free publication LENTEN REFLECTION: LISTENING als fit thematically and that there is for The Episcopal Diocese of San PAGE 16 space. All submissions should be Diego published 3-4 times per year. CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS PAGE 22 sent via email: [email protected]. If you would like to be added to our Include your name, congregation, mailing list, send an email with your phone and home address. The editor name and address to: hwilder@edsd. reserves the right to edit all material org COVER: MAUNDY THURSDAY for length, clarity and accuracy. At FOOTWASHING IN OCEAN BEACH/ HANNAH WILDER 4 BISHOP’S REFLECTION: BRIDGE OR BOAT? AUTHOR: The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes EMAIL: [email protected] by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed . .” My own growth as bishop in this place and this time is centered in a change of metaphors. We thought we needed to build a bridge to cross the divide. But rather our calling was to build a boat. Perhaps the bridge is a bit like the tower of Babel, a human creation that is apt to be constructed with hubris. But a boat ultimately rests on the water where God’s power rests and we must risk total trust in God. In the boat, like those early pilgrims to this land, we may think we are supposed to land at one point but we are destined for another shore. And the boat requires us to all come on board; we are tethered together as one body. We must use our various gifts and rely on the gifts and wisdom of others. In the boat, we are destined to travel together. In the boat, we must be reconciled to one another. Through this practice of reconciliation, we will enact our collective vision for the future of our diocese. What might that look like? More ministry to and with Latino congregations. More intentional communities. More considered youth and hen the diocese was searching for a bishop eleven young adult programs and ministry. Consolidated assets and years ago, the community discerned that the next operations. Such work requires our investment in being in the Wbishop should be a bridge builder. As you may recall, boat together. there was a divide in our church over matters of theology and This issue explores how the Christian community sexuality. We were a church in deep conflict. carries on holy conversations and conflicts about things that When I was subsequently elected and consecrated, matter. Attentiveness to our discourse and disputations is an I set to that work. I followed the wisdom that bridges must be elemental part of the Jesus movement. It is an essential part built from both sides if they are to span a great divide. Regret- of being boat people who are on the way with Jesus, the great tably, we could not build a bridge. Painfully, many people left the gatherer and reconciler as our captain. May God continue to church. However, the issues of difference remained even if tem- bless us, guide us, and teach us on this journey. pered a bit. And since then, new issues and positions of conflict have arisen. After all, human beings are wonderfully and differ- Faithfully, ently made. We have different gifts and different perspectives. The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes And so, divisions remain. As that beloved hymn notes in our Bishop + worst moments, this church is a community “. sore oppressed, “IN THE BISHOP’S VISITATION SCHEDULE BOAT WE March 6 May 1 June 5 MUST BE Holy Cross, Carlsbad St. Bartholomew’s, Poway St. Hugh’s, Idyllwild RECONCILED March 20 May 15 June 12 TO ONE Trinity, Escondido St. Peter’s, Del Mar St. Stephen’s, Menifee April 3 May 22 June 26 ANOTHER.” Christ Church, Coronado All Saints’, San Diego All Saints’, Vista April 10 May 29 St. James, La Jolla St. John’s, Indio 5 SCHOOL FOR MINISTRY visit us online: my experience sfmedsd.org AUTHOR: The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes EMAIL: [email protected] AUTHOR: Susan Green EMAIL: [email protected] AUTHOR: Chris Craig-Jones EMAIL: [email protected] MY FELLOW STUDENTS HAVE A DIFFERENT AND REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE . BECOME CHERISHED FRIENDS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE ost people who know me are aware I am going t last year’s Leadership Academy at St. Bartholomew’s, to school and my ultimate goal is to be or- Poway I stopped by the SFM table and picked up information Mdained as a vocational deacon. However, they Aon the fall courses. The content intrigued me, but due to work are surprised to hear our diocese has a local theological commitments I could not attend that semester. The feeling that I training program. The School for Ministry operates out of needed to investigate and maybe attend stayed with me through the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach, a beautiful the summer until the spring schedule came out in December. community northwest of downtown San Diego. I have I am involved with the pastoral care ministry at St. Mi- been asked if surfing is part of the curriculum! While it is chael’s, Carlsbad and as I checked the spring semester for relevant not, our days spent at the school are no less demanding topics I noticed a class on pastoral care development and an inter- and exciting than hitting the waves on a surfboard. esting offering on the New Testament. All classes are conducted in an inquiry model I signed up and started the courses in January with trepida- where we are expected to take control of our learning by tion and concerns about being able to keep up with the workload.
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