The Alabama the Alabama

TheThe AlabamaAlabama EPISCOPALIANEPISCOPALIAN The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama • Pentecost • May-June 2009 / Vol. 94, No. 4 “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done.” John 13:15 2 • Mission and Outreach Weaving a Tapestry The Alabama Episcopalian Weaving a Tapestry of Mission May-June 2009 This issue is dedicated to mission and outreach. Through their gracious and generous outpouring of time, and Outreach in Our Diocese energy, and resources, individuals and parishes are sharing God’s love and meeting the needs of our sisters and By the Rev. Bill King brothers across Alabama, our nation, and our world.The stories on the following pages represent just a sampling of Much can be writ- those of all ages with educational and special needs, not to the almost countless mission and outreach projects initiat- ten about the acts of mention generous responses of human talent and financial ed and supported by the people of our diocese. goodness, charity, support at times of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina For more information please visit our diocesan Web and justice practiced or the 1998 Level 5 tornadoes in Tuscaloosa and western site at www.dioala.org or contact Judy Quick, the chair of by those most dedi- Jefferson Counties that brought together Lutheran and our Department of Mission and Outreach and also our cated to outreach in Episcopal outreach efforts for the first time, or the tornado Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) representative, the Diocese of in the winter of 2008 that cut through Prattville in Autauga at [email protected] or 205/669-6862; the Rev. Alabama over the County bringing together responders from the surrounding Deacon Steve Shanks, our Jubilee Ministry Officer, at past 30 years.This parishes in Autauga, Chilton, Elmore, and Montgomery [email protected] or 205/960-1826; our Companion issue of The Alabama Counties. Diocese Commission cochairs Anne Kimzey at Episcopalian is both a In the late 1970s and early 1980s, giants of social min- [email protected] or Dave Drachlis at ddrachlis@ review and a for- istries were scattered around our diocese with very little orga- dioala.org or 205/715-2060; the Venerable Louise ward look into the great strides taken by parishes in collabo- nizational support.Taylor Wingo, George Quiggle, Maurice Thibodaux, our Archdeacon, at [email protected] ration with our diocese in the areas of outreach and mission Branscomb, Jeanne Johnston, Bill Yon,and Jim Tuohy walked or 205/715-2060 ext. 325; the Rev. Dr. Hernan Afanador, over the most recent years. urban streets surveying neighborhoods to determine what the our Missioner for Hispanic Ministries, at hernan_ In the late 1970s, it was primarily our diocese that funded needs of the poor might be. So many others were involved [email protected] or 205/381-4885; or the Rev. direct outreach ministries through grants in our diocesan in developing agencies like the Interfaith Mission Service Marianne Stephens, our Missioner for Deaf Ministries, at budget.Today our diocese primarily provides start-up funding in Huntsville, the Jubilee Center in Montgomery, and the [email protected] or 205/967-1437 (Relay to parishes wishing to initiate outreach ministries like food Greater Birmingham Ministries in Birmingham.These new Center 711). pantries, community gardens, childcare for Hispanic children, kinds of ecumenical ministries of faith-building communities For the most current news about our diocese, please and welcoming baskets for newborns, as well as partial fund- based on the principles of justice and social engagement visit www.dioala.org. ing for specialized ministries including Hispanic ministries formed the foundation blocks for the emergence of Alabama —— and ministry to the Deaf.With start-up grants, parishes can Arise in the 1990s and the Alabama Faith Council established On the Cover then continue to maintain outreach and mission ministries in the early 21st century. Many thanks to Brenda Smith, an artist and a mem- from their operating budgets and special local gifts. Parishes One person who transcends these past 30 years and con- ber of St.Thomas’ in Huntsville, for the cover art for this directly invested more than $1,500,000 in 2007 in outreach tinues to witness and participate in the growth of outreach issue. Brenda has created and donated several pieces of and mission ministries, as reported through their Annual and mission in our diocese is the Rev. Jim Tuohy. Jim was artwork to our diocese, including the images for a series Parochial Reports. serving as the director of the Interfaith Mission Service in of notecards that are used to raise scholarship funds for Our diocese also encourages mission initiatives both Huntsville in the late 1970s when Bishop Furman “Bill” the Camp McDowell Special Session campers. domestically and internationally in partnership with parish Stough invited him to return to full-time active ordained resources. Of the almost $100,000 generated in 2007 for ministry. Jim went on to serve parishes in Birmingham, we do is this:“When I was hungry, you gave me food … our current companion diocese relationship with Haiti, our Anniston, and Montevallo in pivotal aspects of outreach min- when I was thirsty, you gave me a drink of water … when I diocesan budget included support at a level of $20,000 with istries. In the 1980s Jim, who was then serving St.Andrew’s in was naked, you clothed me … when I was sick, you visited an additional $80,000 coming from parishes and local gifts, Birmingham, witnessed the development of campus ministry me … when I was in prison, you came to me” (Matthew 25: not including costs of parishioners traveling to Haiti on at UAB including a Visiting Religious Scholar program, the 31–46).“That,” Jim emphasized,“is why we reach out to diocesan-sponsored trips. establishment of a soup kitchen at St Andrew’s as the begin- others who are in need.We reach out to others because Today it is the norm that just about every one of our ning of Community Kitchens, the establishment of Southside Jesus is present in each person we care for.This we must 92 parishes and worshiping communities is directly involved Ministries (now Bridge Ministries), and the continued do,” he noted,“so that we may be followers of Jesus.” with caring for the homeless through programs like growth of the St.Andrew’s Foundation, a residential program What a powerful teaching given to us by Jesus.A teach- Hospitality Network or Habitat for Humanity; or feeding the for adults with disabilities established by the Rev. Francis ing that was understood in the earliest church at Antioch. hungry through numerous nutrition, community gardens, and Walter. Moving on to St. Michael and All Angels’ in Anniston, Acting on the words of Jesus, the local congregation instruct- food-distribution ministries in Anniston,Auburn, Clanton, Jim continued to encourage the growth of St. Michael’s ed Barnabas and Paul to take relief funds to the saints in the Woodlawn and Southside areas of Birmingham, Fayette, Community Clinic, a free medical clinic adjacent to the Jerusalem where there was widespread hunger due to a Huntsville, Mentone, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuscaloosa;or church; the beginning of an AIDS treatment program; and famine (Acts 11: 27–30).What we do today in caring for concern for the elderly with subsidized HUD programs in the Habitat for Humanity program in Calhoun County. the hungry, the homeless, those with AIDS, the unemployed, Gadsden and Birmingham; or health clinics in Anniston, Moving to St.Andrew’s in Montevallo in the late 1990s, Jim children in need, the elderly who are alone, and our brothers Decatur, and Cullman; or English as a Second Language again promoted campus ministry including the new Canter- and sisters without clean water to drink in places like Haiti, programs directed to Hispanic immigrants in Alabaster, bury House for University of Montevallo students that Honduras, Malawi, and Namibia is what the Church has Albertville, Birmingham, and Montevallo; or Jubilee will be built with funds from our diocesan ACTS 2 capital been called to do since the very beginning of the community Ministries stretching from Athens to Montgomery; or part- campaign, ecumenical and interfaith partnerships at the of Christian faith 2,000 years ago. nerships with inner-city public schools in Anniston, community level, and English as a Second Language.What a Today the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama Birmingham, and Montgomery; or the Sawyerville (Hale tapestry of servant ministry Jim has woven over the past continues to weave a tapestry of mission and outreach now County) youth camp initiated by some of our young adults three decades that mirrors what was beginning to take place almost 180 years old, a tapestry of caring for others in need more than 15 years ago; or the Kairos ministry now in just throughout our diocese during the same time period. from the youngest child to our oldest seniors, from those about every state prison; and on and on.Today Camp In conversation with Jim Tuohy during Easter week, he who are sick and without resources to those who might be McDowell provides summer camping experiences for those acknowledged his participation in so many ministries initiated physically or emotionally challenged, from those who are with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers as well as the Special within our diocese since 1980, but he also quickly added that hungry for food to eat to those starving for dignity and self- Session, with both camps drawing on the talents of members the basis for all of our outreach and mission work comes worth.The following pages offer us a new and exciting view of parishes from across our diocese.Today more and more from the teaching of Jesus when he spoke to his disciples on of this living tapestry and so challenge us all to become more parishes of all sizes are on the front line of servant ministries the Mount of Olives shortly before he was crucified.

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