July, 2015 • Volume 140, Issue No. 7 ‘Thankful, honored and blessed’ Presiding Bishop-elect Curry addresses the media By Pat McCaughan one of the women in our church community along with my grandmother and others who [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City] came in and raised me.” Several hours after being elected as the Episco - “I believe in the community of church be - pal Church’s 27th – and first African-American cause I’ve been raised by it,” he said. – presiding bishop-elect, Michael Curry fielded He shared some thoughts about a range of a range of media questions with characteristic issues: humility and humor June 27 and said he in - Among his priorities – the Jesus movement Inside this issue: tends to build on the good work of his prede - “I am looking forward to serving and cessor “because that’s the way the Spirit working for the cause of the Jesus movement in Notes & Quotes ...... 2 works.” world … to help this become a transformed Current Presiding Bishop Katharine Jef - world that looks more like God’s dream and Truckin' ...... 3 ferts Schori introduced Curry at a crowded Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry makes a point at his first news less like our nightmare. That’s what energizes Convention news ...... 4 press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Salt conference a few hours after his historic election as the 27th presiding me and what I believe in and we can really con - General Convention photos ...... 7 Lake City, saying the House of Bishops handed bishop of The Episcopal Church. tinue and build on the good work that’s been him “a major mandate” with the historic land - Photo: Janet Kawamoto/For Episcopal News Service done in Bishop Katharine’s years.” General Convention Summary . . . .8 slide victory. ops the same year and “it’s the first time presiding Evangelism vs. evangelical Diocesan Calendar ...... 11 Curry jokingly agreed that he thought both bish - bishops from the same class have been elected” suc - “Everybody knows I really do take evangelism se - ops and deputies “were happy houses today.” riously and discipleship and witness and service and Speaking in Faith ...... 12 cessively,” she said. It is also the first time that a pre - Jefferts Schori and Curry became diocesan bish - siding bishop has been elected on the social advocacy, the gospel principles that we hold. first ballot. Those three things are critical and needed in this Curry, whose term will begin Nov. time. I think The Episcopal Church has something to Editor’s Note: Bishop Seage will write a pastoral letter to the diocese in upcoming weeks. 1, was accompanied at the news con - offer in the public square. We have a way of looking ference by his wife Sharon, a daughter, at the Gospel that makes known the love of God in July 4, 2015 — Independence Day Elizabeth, and other family members Jesus.” and friends. Included among his guests But is he evangelical? “I think it’s fair to say that I Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won was “Josie Robbins who, when I was a am a follower of Jesus.” liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations young boy and my mother died, … was Bishop-elect Curry addresses media then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have Continued on page 10 grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. General Convention approves Dear Friends, It’s been an incredibly busy week. I apologize for being out of touch for the last couple of days! To say the last 12 days were overwhelming is an marriage equality understatement. I’m certain the news from General Convention has left you with many questions. Thank you for patiently waiting while I compiled answers related to the business of General Conven - By Sharon Sheridan tion. I’m sure most of your questions and those of your churches revolve around changes to the mar - riage canon and the adoption of trial liturgies for marriage. [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City] In the wake of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court rul - The first thing to know is that, for now, we will continue with our current process for the ing legalizing same-sex marriage for all Americans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 blessing of same sex relationships. In short, the ban on same sex blessings remains in place with canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians. except in those churches that engaged in a process of discernment and requested that the ban The House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ approval the day before of a be lifted. canonical change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Reso - I will be spending an unspecified amount of time intentionally and carefully discerning the next lution A036) and authorizing two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by steps for our church. Allow me to reiterate something said within the legislation passed by General same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054). Convention: “That this convention honor the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters The resolutions marked the culmination of a conversation launched when the 1976 General of human sexuality; and that no bishop, priest, deacon or lay person should be coerced or penalized Convention said that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim in any manner, nor suffer any canonical disabilities, as a result of his or her theological objection to with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the church,” or support for the 78th General Convention’s action contained in this resolution.” I intend to do no said the Very Rev. Brian Baker, deputy chair of the Special Legislative Committee on Marriage. less. “That resolution began a 39-year conversation about what that full and equal claim would look For many, events will seem to have moved very quickly. For others, these changes have been very like. The conversation has been difficult for many and painful for many.” slow in coming. I understand and appreciate both perspectives. My goal – and I hope yours as well – Resolutions A054 and A036 represented compromises reached after prayerful consideration is to not react to these developments, but to take appropriate time to respond. I expect to return and conversation within the legislative committee, and then the House of Bishops to make room home this weekend and will offer an appropriate pastoral letter after catching my breath and spending for everyone, Baker said. “I know that most of you will find something… to dislike and to disagree time with my family. Thanks for your prayers and support. with” in the resolutions, he said, asking deputies to “look through the lens of how this compro - mise makes room for other people.” Peace be with you, +Brian General Convention approves marriage equality Continued on page 2 OUR DIOCESE

ages 8 through adult on Monday and Thursday body ‘Brother Ass.’ In the end he said, ‘I have evenings in the parish hall at All Saints/Jackson . sinned against my brother the ass.’ Too late for The cost, which includes a uniform, is $119 for a himself, he bids us to care for creation and for self. four-month session. All funds go to All Saints. ‘Come apart … and rest a while.’” St. John’s/Pascagoula is preparing for their The Very Rev. Robert Weatherington, annual drawdown and silent auction. This year’s R edeemer/Biloxi : “Little steps are what change event will take place on Saturday, August 1st, at the world from a place focused on self-will and the Pascagoula Country Club. With a theme of selfish perceptions into a community defined by Notes from around the diocese: children will present what they learned in VBS for Cajun Bahamas, attendees are invited to wear love for God and one another. Each little step Grace Church/Canton has been asked by their parents and friends. flip-flops, khaki shorts, and island shirts. Tickets might seem inconsequential, but every time we Bishop Seage to manage The Storybook Project in St. Columb’s/Ridgeland has designated are $100 for a chance to win $10,000 and include grow, the Kingdom draws a little nearer. Each partnership with the diocese. The program pro - Wednesday evenings in July to be occasions for an open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Event pro - step along the way, God is there patiently watch - vides new books for children up to age 18 with clean-up and reorganization. Better use of the ceeds will be used to help pay for improvements ing and celebrating each success and waiting to parents and/or grandparents incarcerated in Mis - parish hall space is anticipated. Members are en - to the triangle east of the church. turn each failure into a gateway to new life.” sissippi prisons. Volunteers help inmates select couraged to come for a little physical labor and The 2015 Rummage for Water sale at The Rev. Jeff Reich, St. John’s/Laurel : “En - books and then facilitate the dictating of those pizza. A rummage sale will follow the clean-up on St. Stephen’s/Indianola was a huge success. The couragement is foundational to a life of Christian books, excerpts from those books, and messages Saturday, August 1st. effort raised $7,300 to provide a well for clean faith and practice. Encouragement means being of love into digital recorders and burned on CDs. It’s Heritage Month at Ascension/Hatties - drinking water in Malawi. present with others and helping them overcome The books and CDs are packaged and mailed to burg , a chance for all of their “adopted” St. Matthew’s/Kosciusko has new recently- despair and difficulties. Encouragement means the inmates’ children and grandchildren. The Sto - Episcopalians to sing some of the old songs they installed Stations of the Cross adorning the walls. cheering others on, and being a positive influence rybook Project will be funded by the diocese, grew up with and for their cradle Episcopalians Anyone wishing to walk the Stations is welcome to and presence in the community.” Grace Church, and donations. there’s to sing again a favorite hymn that didn’t do so at any time; there are booklets in the cre - The Rev. Lyn Stabler-Tippett, St. Grace Church has become the new home for make it into the 1980 Hymnal . They’ll finish the denza in the narthex. Stephen’s/Columbia : “The promises we make at Our Daily Bread. The staff of ODB will prepare month off in grand style with dinner on the Baptism are modern expressions of the covenant meals, serve them in to-go boxes, and distribute grounds. Quotes this month: made between God and Abraham, Isaac, them to the community. All Saints’/Tupelo is conducting a campaign The Rev. Ann Whitaker, St. Peter’s/Oxford: Jacob...the covenant made manifest in the rule of Additionally, the Sunday school group at to purchase the remaining chairs that match their “Enjoy your summer; heed Jesus’ invitation. David...the covenant renewed in Christ and sus - Grace Church is enjoying an active summer. Out - conference room table. The subscription cam - Francis of Assisi near the end of his life regretted tained in us through the Holy Spirit. Though in ings planned or under consideration include visits paign will run through July 31st. The chairs are that he had not taken better care of his body. opposition to the world, the promises are the to the Mississippi Museum of Natural History and handmade, custom-built oak chairs with a dark Although he spent hours in solitude and prayer world’s salvation.” the Clinton Nature Center, a scavenger hunt at the oak inlay. A total of eleven chairs are available for and good works, he neglected himself calling his Mississippi Museum of Art, a movie at the Planetar - purchase at a cost of $400 each. Anyone who is ium, a picnic, a hike, a baseball game, and fishing. interested in giving an honorarium or memorial to St. Peter’s by-the-Lake/Brandon will enjoy All Saints’ is invited to consider purchasing a chair. General Convention approves marriage equality A Night at the Ballpark on Friday, July 17th. This The ECW at St. Pierre’s/Gautier is gearing year they have reserved the third base party deck up to make a variety of jellies. Their jellies are Continued from page 1 for members and their friends only. Tickets are sold throughout the year to fund various projects. Deputies defeated an attempt to amend each of the resolutions. Following 20 minutes of de - $20 each and include admission to the game, hot Trinity/Hattiesburg is encouraging its youth bate per resolution, each resolution passed in a vote by orders. A054 passed by 94-12 with 2 di - dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chips, cookies, to learn about service to the church and the com - vided deputations in the clerical order and 90-11-3 in the lay order. A036 passed 85-15-6 in the water, and soft drinks. munity. Throughout the month of July, children clerical order and 88-12-6 in the lay order. On Saturday, August 8th, St. Mark’s/Gulf - aged 6 through 18 will have opportunities to par - Besides authorizing two new marriage liturgies, A054 also approves for continued use “The port will have an About “Son Harvest” Fair and ticipate as office volunteers and with church guilds Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” from “Liturgical Resources I,” which General Con - Picnic on the grounds with games, a petting zoo, and outreach projects. vention approved for provisional use in 2012, “under the direction and with the permission of the music, and other surprises. For a special treat, the Karate for Christ has begun having classes for bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority.” Earlier in the week, the bishops divided the portion of A054 dealing with the existing rite from that addressing the new liturgies for the purposes of discussion, ultimately voting to approve both portions. They approved A036 in a roll call vote, with 129 for, 26 against and five abstaining. “At my first General Convention in 1991, I don’t think I ever dreamed that we would have Continually published for 139 years in the Diocese of Mississippi such a resolution before us,” Atlanta Deputy Bruce Garner said as debate began on A054. “I came to Salt Lake City a second-class citizen in my nation and my church, and I hope to leave here a first- class citizen in both.” Among the dissenting voices was Holden Holsinger from the Diocese of East Michigan, a member of the Official Youth Presence, who urged defeat “in order to maintain the unity of the church.” The two new liturgies, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2” from “Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will be a Blessing, Official news organ of the Bishop and the Diocese of Mississippi Revised and Expanded 2015” from the supplemental Blue Book materials of the Standing Commis - 118 N. Congress Street - P.O. Box 23107 sion on Liturgy and Music, are authorized for use beginning this Advent. Those rites offer the op - Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3107 tion of using “wife,” “husband,” “person” or “spouse,” thus making them applicable for all couples. The liturgies can be found on pages 2-151 here from the materials provided to convention by the standing commission, including one rejected by bishops in their deliberations. The Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage A054 stipulates: “Bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority or, where appropriate, ecclesiasti - Tenth Bishop of Mississippi cal supervision, will make provision for all couples asking to be married in this church to have ac - cess to these liturgies. Trial use is only to be available under the discretion and with the permission The Rev. Scott Lenoir of the diocesan bishop.” The resolution also says that “bishops may continue to provide generous Editor pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church.” During their house discussion, bishops said this was intended to address bishops’ situations in jurisdictions outside the United The Mississippi Episcopalian (USPS 024755) is published monthly by the Episcopal Diocese of States, such as Italy and countries in Province IX, where same-sex marriages remain illegal. Mississippi, 118 N. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201. Periodical postage paid at Jackson, MS. Both resolutions say that clergy retain the canonical right to refuse to officiate at any wedding. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to the Mississippi Episcopalian, P.O. Box 23107, Jack - son, MS 39225-3107. In giving changes of address send the old address as well as the new. General Convention approves marriage equality We cannot be responsible for the return of manuscripts or photographs. Continued on page 9

2 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015 ORDINARY CONCERNS

Salt Palace Convention Center for a meeting with be. It was a first ballot election and after reassem - my committee, Dispatch of Business. Thanks to bling the House the announcement was made. this meeting and other conversations I’m begin - Michael Curry, the first African-American presiding ning to better understand my committee responsi - bishop in our history, was greeted with a thunder - Truckin’ bilities. After the meeting I officially registered for ous applause. A very holy moment took place GENCON and picked up my iPad. Following regis - when the testimonials for our signature were laid June 9, 2015 — This was a Thomas’ is beautiful little tration I took a stroll through the exhibit and ven - out while we sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The busy day! It began with breakfast church with great archi - dor area of the convention. I immediately ran into first to sign was Barbara Harris, an African-Ameri - at Gray Center with our new or - tectural features. At the lots of old friends. Later I ran into Marietta and can and the first woman bishop in the Anglican dinands. The six of them have service I was assisted by Bishop Brian Seage Jeff Paul. Jeff was the best man at my wedding and Communion. I cried. Yes, I voted for Michael and been participating in a pre-ordi - the Rev. George Woodliff. serves as a priest and deputy in the Diocese of Ne - he was who I intended to vote for from the begin - nation retreat led by the Rev. Following the service we vada. We enjoyed lunch together and reminisced ning. After consent from the House of Deputies, Lynn Stabler-Tippet. I spent enjoyed a reception in the parish hall. Someone about the old days when we did youth ministry to - we gathered back at the Salt Palace. That evening I some time after breakfast talking brought a smoked catfish pate that was delicious! gether in the Diocese of Los Angeles. The Missis - enjoyed supper with Jon Bruno, bishop of Los An - about the changing dynamics June 15, 2015 — Early morning workout. sippi delegation slowly and steadily arrived. At geles and my youth leader when I was in high within their lives as they become clergy. I am very Sabbath day. I rested. supper I attended a banquet of the Union of Black school. grateful they said “yes” to God’s call. After return - June 16, 2015 — I attended a staff meeting Episcopalians. I sat with the Scantleburys. June 28, 2015 — Early breakfast with Gar ing to the office, I had a variety of meetings. In - for the first time in a couple weeks. The rest of the June 24, 2015 — I attended an early morn - Demo, a seminary friend who serves in the Dio - cluded were two meetings with aspirants for Holy day is taken up with meetings! I spent a little bit of ing meeting with the Dispatch Committee. Later cese of Kansas. A festival Eucharist was celebrated Orders and a meeting with one of the ordinands. time reading reports for General Convention. that morning an opening and introduction from and there was a UTO ingathering. I was stoked to June 10, 2015 — Early morning workout. In June 17, 2015 — Early morning workout. In the presiding bishop and president of the House see how well represented our province and dio - the office I met with Tammie Stephens to discuss the office I met with some parishioners of local of Deputies took place in the House of Deputies. cese are in the church-wide work of UTO. At lunch the Storybook ministry within our diocese. I took parishes about our continuing efforts in recovery After lunch both houses met jointly for time with I attended a UTO banquet where Kathryn Mc - some time at lunch to eat with my daughter, Betsy. ministries. We are blessed with incredible re - the candidates for presiding bishop. I arrived at Cormick was honored as a “person of distinction.” My hectic travel schedule and their summer activi - sources for this ministry. At lunch I attended the GENCON fairly convinced of who I was going to In the afternoon the House assembled for busi - ties have made it difficult to spend time with the deans’ meeting. Most of the meeting was taken up vote for. The time with the candidates made it ness including discussion of the marriage canon girls individually. We had an awesome lunch at with reports and discussion about General Con - much more difficult! That evening I attended a and trial liturgies. Our diocese hosted Mississippi Cafe Ole in Fondren. In the afternoon I had two vention. In the afternoon I had an annual consul - screening of a documentary being made on the Night later that evening. It was lots of fun! annual visits with diocesan clergy. tation with one of the deans. life of Howard Thurman. June 29, 2015 — Today was packed with June 11, 2015 — In the morning I had an June 18, 2015 — In the morning I met with June 25, 2015 — Convention officially business! The bulk revolved around respectful de - annual clergy visit. At midday I convened a meet - an aspirant for Holy Orders. After that meeting I started. We worshiped together at a prayerful cele - bate on the marriage canon and trial liturgies for ing with the diocesan task force on wellness. It is went to St. James’ for their men’s lunch where I bration of the Holy Eucharist. It was really cool to the same sex marriage. Throughout the time, I was my hope that this task force will continue to seek was the guest speaker. At the meeting they pre - see a member of our deputation, Margaret impressed by the respectful nature of our time to - ways to encourage our Church to get physically, sented me with a framed Grateful Dead print. In McLarty, serving on the altar as a minister of cere - gether. I was blown away by the number of bish - emotionally and spiritually healthy! There’s signifi - the afternoon I met with a member of our clergy monies. Church was followed by business in the ops with traditional views on marriage who openly cant enthusiasm in the room as we discuss our for an annual visit. House of Bishops. In the evening I attended a thanked the House for the conscience clause of - mission. In the afternoon I kept two meetings. June 19, 2015 — Early morning workout. It hearing with the task force on marriage. fered in the legislation. They were clear about vot - The last half hour was spent trying to clean off the was a busy morning! I had back-to-back-to-back June 26, 2015 — I got up early in order to ing against the resolution, but thankful for the top of my desk. It was still a mess when I left! meetings from the time I stepped in the office. At work out with SALT Masters swim team. This team “grace” offered. I voted yes to the liturgies and the June 12, 2015 — Early morning workout. I midday I ate and met with the deacons’ council. works out on the University of Utah campus which canonical changes. I will share explanations later. had two morning meetings with clergy from the Following our time together I went to the Missis - is a short “uber” from the convention area. It was a In the evening I attended a supper for the House diocese. One meeting was with the Rev. Canon sippi Museum of Art to see work done by my great way to start the day but I quickly learned that of Bishops. Part of the evening program was hon - Jody Burnett. Jody and I spent time going over the daughter Betsy, during her week at art camp. As I Salt Lake City sits at a much greater altitude than oring our retiring presiding bishop, her husband next day’s ordination service. He did a great job left my office, I notice how messy my desk was! Jackson (gasp)! Upon arriving at the convention and all other retiring bishops and their spouses. It on the planning of the liturgy. I am so grateful for Note to self … clean up your desk! center, I learned about the Supreme Court’s pas - was great to see Bishop Gray and Kathy recog - the efforts of our cathedral staff. I spent the after - June 20, 2015 — In preparation for my de - sage of the marriage equality act. A respectful cele - nized again. noon at home trying to put some thoughts to - parture to General Convention, I spent the day bratory mood could be sensed. In the evening I June 30, 2015 — I woke up exhausted and gether for an ordination sermon. In the evening I working on stuff around the house. In the evening attended the UTO banquet with our ECW contin - homesick. I suspect the fast pace of the weekend attended a rehearsal for a wedding at St. Columb’s I attended a candlelight vigil for the victims of the gency. and Monday caught up with me. We worked that I will officiate tomorrow evening. shooting in Charleston. My prayers go out to the June 27, 2015 — Today was a truly remark - through a full slate of legislation. In the afternoon June 13, 2015 — In the morning I ordained families and their communities. The gathering is able experience. After worship the House of Bish - there was a joint session of the Houses as discus - six to the transitional diaconate. It was a great sponsored by members of the Interfaith Commu - ops, we took buses to St. Mark’s Cathedral where sion began relating to restructuring how General service with outstanding attendance. It was ex - nity. On my way home I stopped at the hospital to we were sequestered until we elected a new pre - Convention works. In the evening I attended a re - tremely powerful when I looked down and saw make a pastoral call. siding bishop. It was amazing to be part of the ception hosted by my alma mater, the Seminary of the six candidates kneeling on the upper steps of June 21, 2015 — A rare Sunday off! I en - electorate for our next presiding bishop. Dispatch the Southwest. Lots of former classmates were the cathedral sanctuary. I was very excited for the joyed a slow Father’s day morning and began of Business was charged with running the elec - there! gifts that Will, Katie, Jennifer, Morris, Alex and Hai - preparing and packing for my travel to General tion. I actually counted the ballots and knew early ley brought to the church. In the evening I offici - Convention on Monday. I took time in the early af - on who our next presiding bishop was going to ated at the wedding of Patrick Howell and Maggie ternoon for a short workout, later Betsy, Katie and Vaughan. I’ve known both of them for a while and I enjoyed the new Jurassic Park. Father’s Day came was honored to officiate that Holy moment in to a close with a meal fixed Kyle and the girls after their lives. After the wedding I went home to which they gave me new Grateful Dead chacos! spend time with family. Katie returned home from June 22, 2015 — Early morning workout. I CBG earlier in the day. As you can imagine she finished packing for General Convention and ran was full of stories! some errands. Before heading to the airport, I vis - June 14, 2015 — I left the house early for a ited the hospital to see Peggy and David Jones. All visitation at St. Matthew’s in Kosciusko. It was a re - my flights were on time and I arrived in Salt Lake laxing and really pretty drive northbound on the City around 8pm. The light rail transport made for Trace. Good worship service, and the congrega - an easy trip from the airport to the hotel. tion was so welcoming! Thanks to the Rev. Mary June 23, 2015 — I’m already surrounded by Berry for assisting me and for her ministry at St. Episcopalians. At breakfast I ran into Kate and Matthew’s. In the afternoon I drove to Belzoni for Peter Eaton from the Diocese of Southeast Florida. a late afternoon service at St. Thomas’. St. After breakfast I walked across the street to the

July 2015 The Mississippi Episcopalian 3 CONVENTION NEWS General Convention takes a first step, admits: ‘Alcohol affects us all’ Bishops and deputies approved task force, update policies By Pat McCaughan and Matthew Davies husband and father of two, “has shaken so many of us and we have yearned for our denomination to take a hard look at this issue.” [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City] The House of Bishops on July 1 passed three resolutions, Legislative Committee 22 on Alcohol and Drug Abuse was created by the presiding officers to do one with an amendment, on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse. just that and “there was a clear charge to us to conduct our work with compassion for all affected by the “I’m Mark and I’m an alcoholic,” said Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of Ohio, chair of the Legislative devastating effects of alcohol misuse and addiction,” said deputy Steven Thomason of Olympia, a co- Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as he introduced the resolutions to the House of Bishops and chair. acknowledged his own journey of addiction and recovery. “Many members of the committee and several who testified in our hearings shared their experi - Hollingsworth said that the committee represented “hundreds of years of sobriety and recovery.” ences with alcohol. Many shared their shameful experiences of the church’s complicity in a culture of al - He expressed “profound gratitude” to the presiding bishop and the president of the House of Deputies cohol,” he said. “Some have even felt unwelcomed or stigmatized by the church simply because they are for establishing the committee and thanked all the bishops for their affirmation of the work. in recovery.” Resolution D014 recommends that ordinands should be questioned at the very beginning of the The Rev. Steve Lane, treasurer of Recovery Ministries of The Episcopal Church, was stationed at a discernment process about addiction and substance use in their lives and family systems. booth during General Convention and said he is excited to see the church finally beginning to face the The bishops also passed Resolution A159, which acknowledges the church’s role in the culture of challenges of addiction. alcohol and drug abuse. Hollingsworth said A159 is intended to give direction in how the church can “Addiction is rampant in every congregation in our church, I believe, in one form or another,” he move forward in owning that reality of complicity and in healing. told Episcopal News Service. Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe said that Europe is, in “The best known solution for it is a spiritual one, but our church needs to be aware of it and see many ways, “far behind the U.S. in understanding alcohol and drug addiction.” The resolutions, he said, our own shortcomings and be aware of our own failures first before we can reach out and help others.” “will enable us in Europe to put forward the policy in our church…to address a culture of denial in Retired Bishop Chilton Knudsen of Maine, who will begin assisting in the Maryland diocese in Oc - many respects.” tober, is a recovering alcoholic, an experience that is central to her ministry, she told ENS recently. Resolution A158, to create a task force to review and revise policy on substance abuse, addiction “When the case in Maryland happened, my heart broke, as everybody’s did,” she said. “There’s and recovery, passed with one amendment. The amended resolution will return to the House of some good leadership in Maryland, and good recovery, and those folks are part of the forward move - Deputies for concurrence. ment in the diocese.” The amendment asks that when offering the sacrament, a nonalcoholic wine be provided. The Advocating abstinence is not the answer – training is, she said, and understanding addiction not as original resolution had suggested a nonalcoholic alternative, but did not specify that it be wine. a moral issue but as a health issue. “Many denominations that do advocate abstinence have the same Deputies examine ‘unhealthy and unholy’ relationship?. rate of alcoholism as we do.” A day earlier, deputies had overwhelmingly supported the resolutions, asserting the time has come Rather, she is advocating for a sense of “intentional awareness that some people are at risk, and to to transform the church’s “unhealthy and unholy relationship” with alcohol and addiction. make our social life so hospitable that it’s not weird or strange if you decline to drink.” “We have lived too much into the jokes of ‘where there are four Episcopalians, there is a fifth’ and Updated policies and training for seminarians and communities of faith are needed “the way we ‘we are whiskey-palians’: we must redefine the norm,” said the Rev. Kevin Cross, a deputy from Easton, make anti-racism training mandatory, the way we make sexual misconduct training mandatory,” Knud - Maryland. sen said. Deputy Mary June Nestler of Utah said that alcohol topped the list of diocesan inquiries during Otherwise, “the church can be helpful, or can really help foster somebody’s denial or support their preparation for General Convention. being sick for awhile.” “The No. 1 question that came into our offices went like this: Can we get a drink in Utah? Will we And finally, she said, becoming healthy requires telling the truth about who we are and requires be allowed to drink in our hotel rooms? Can our group hold an evening meeting and serve alcohol? Can telling our stories. “The tragedy in Maryland presents us with an opportunity,” she said. I bring alcohol in from other states?’ Deputy Doris Westfall of Missouri agreed. “The church holds out the hope of living into recovery, “We must address this in our corporate culture.” which is no less than resurrection,” she said. After Maryland: courage to change the things we can When urging adoption of Resolution A159, Westfall said: “This resolution also recognizes that ad - Paraphrasing the prayer popularized by recovery ministries, Deputy Scott Slater of Maryland, told diction is a complex disease, that it needs to be treated in its totality and with all the support and love deputies June 30: “I ask God to grant me the serenity to accept legislative actions I cannot change. I that we can muster as the people of God.” pray that we as a church will have the courage to change the things we can.” Slater, a member of diocesan staff, said former Suffragan Bishop Heather Cook’s drunken driving The Rev. Pat McCaughan and Matthew Davies are part of the Episcopal News Service team reporting arrest for manslaughter in the Dec. 27, 2014, hit-and-run death of cyclist Tom Palermo, a 41-year-old on the 78th General Convention. Convention agrees to major structural changes Actions dramatically cut number of commissions, change some of Executive Council’s authority

By Matthew Davies and Mary Frances Schjonberg chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief legal of - ficer (a position created in the resolution). The presiding [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City] The General bishop will conduct annual performance reviews with all three Convention has approved two resolutions making major of those officers and share the results with council’s executive changes to the structure of The Episcopal Church. committee under the terms of the resolution. The deputies and bishops serving on the Committee of The resolution also sets up a provision for those three of - Structure and Governance, which considered the resolutions, ficers, along with the presiding bishop and the House of “were united in love for this church and its mission,” Commit - Deputies president, to engage in a mutual ministry review tee Chair Bishop Clifton Daniel of Pennsylvania told the House every 18 months. of Bishops July 2. “In the end the tone of our conversations Deputies struck from the resolution a controversial provi - brought hope as our church enters into a renewing process of sion proposed by the Legislative Committee on Governance change.” and Structure that would have allowed council, by a two-thirds Substitute Resolution A0004, rewriting the rules governing vote, to direct the presiding bishop to fire any of those three the church’s Executive Council, rejected a proposal by the Task officers. Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church to halve council’s Substitute Resolution A006 reduces the number of the size. The resolution slightly expands Executive Council’s ap - Bishop Seage visited the House of Deputies to confer with the Mississippi dep - church’s standing commissions from 14 to two. The two would pointment power concerning three members of the Domestic utation regarding the proposals to the change of structure of the convention. Major structural changes and Foreign Missionary Society’s executive staff, including the Margaret McLarty/Photo Continued on page 5

4 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015 CONVENTION NEWS

Major structural changes need to live into the spirit of what the governance and structure committee has put forward and I be - lieve that under the direction of Bishop Curry that this (idea of being members of a missionary society) Continued from page 4 will continue and (we will) not lose our identity as missioners.” West Missouri Deputy the Rev. Stan Runnels, a member of Executive Council, told the house that be the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, and the Standing “I want to assure the convention that the Executive Council in conversation in this last triennium, espe - Commission on Liturgy and Music. The presiding bishop and House of Deputies president would ap - cially as the TREC report became more and more available to us, we are aware that this privilege to ap - point study committees and task forces to complete the work called for by a meeting of General Con - point task forces will require us to use the history of the CCABs as a guide and that many of the task vention, with council’s approval. All of those bodies would expire at the start of the next General forces that will be appointed will basically reflect the history of the CCAB structure.” Convention unless they are renewed. The house passed the resolution 649-114. The resolution concerns standing commissions only and not committees, agencies or boards. As House of Bishops accepted the resolution on a voice vote. with all General Convention resolutions, the legislation will take effect in the next triennium, which be - Bishop Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania, a member of the General Convention Legislative gins Jan. 1, 2016. Committee on Structure and Governance, clarified that the resolution concerns standing commissions Substitute Resolution A004 only and not committees, agencies or boards. As with all General Convention resolutions, the legisla - Substitute Resolution A004 calls for both the presiding bishop as chair and the president of the tion will take effect in the next triennium, which begins Jan. 1, 2016. House of Deputies as vice chair to nominate people to serve as the church’s chief operating officer, Milwaukee Bishop Steven Miller proposed two amendments, one to call for the chair and vice chief financial officer and chief legal officer. People who hold those three positions also act as officers of chair of the two standing commissions to be appointed from different houses, and another to add a the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, along with the chair and vice chair. Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations. Council would then vote to appoint those people. Currently the presiding bishop appoints the The House of Bishops voted in favor of the first amendment but voted down the second by 69 to chief operating officer, with the advice and consent of the council. The churchwide staff reports to the 71 votes. chief operating officer who reports to the presiding bishop. The presiding bishop and the president of However, following some debate, Miller asked the house to reconsider his amendment. The house the House of Deputies, as chair and vice chair of council, jointly nominate the chief financial officer, voted to remove the amendment and consider the unamended Substitute Resolution A006, which whom the council then appoints. passed by a straight majority vote. Had the amendment passed, the revised resolution would have re - During a Governance and Structure Committee hearing on June 25, Presiding Bishop Katharine quired the concurrence of the House of Deputies. Jefferts Schori took the unusual step of speaking in opposition to substitute Resolution A004, as well as Before the house revoked the amendment, Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer for The Epis - D006 and D010, saying they would dilute the authority and responsibilities of the presiding bishop. Res - copal Church, expressed appreciation for the resolution but concern about amending it and sending it olutions D006 and D010 went beyond the reorganization of the presiding bishop-Executive Council re - back to the House of Deputies. “There are many people standing in line to add standing commissions lationship of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society proposed by the Task Force for Reimagining back in,” he said. “I urge us to be very careful.” the Episcopal Church. Earlier, several other bishop members of the structure committee spoke about the resolution. “A board cannot be responsible for employment relationships,” she told the committee. “A board Bishop Mary Glasspool, suffragan of Los Angeles, said she is grateful for the work of TREC “for put - can set policy about employment relationships but a board cannot carry out the work of managing em - ting in some creative and loving thinking.” ployment issues. I see that as one essential piece of the presiding bishop’s responsibility.” The reduction in the number of standing commissions, she said, is the “most concrete and visible Northwestern Pennsylvania Deputy the Rev. Adam Trambley kicked off the debate in the House of manifestation of change. It is very clear that we’re not ready for a unicameral legislature. We’re not ask - Deputies July 1 by trying to assure the house that the controversial provision to enable council, by a ing for a decrease in the number of Executive Council members or deputies at General Convention. But two-thirds vote, to direct the presiding bishop to fire the chief operating officer, the chief financial offi - the CCABs (the church’s committees, commissions, agencies and boards) is a starting place for an ongo - cer or the chief legal officer constitutes “very limited ability to provide some kind of accountability au - ing conversation. This is a marathon and not a sprint.” thority to the officers.” Bishop Lawrence Provenzano of Long Island expressed concern about “the inward-looking focus Trambley, a member of the Legislative Committee on Governance and Structure, said if the council of the two standing committees that remain.” is going to appoint the officers after the chair and vice chair nominate them, then it ought to have a way But he said he hopes it will allow Executive Council “to be more nimble in response to mission, to hold them accountable. evangelism, social justice, and then to fund some of these ministries, and then to sunset them as appro - Meanwhile, the Rev. Ledlie Laughlin, deputy from Pennsylvania, provided the shortest testimony of priate needs change.” the debate, saying simply “the authority should stay with the chair of Executive Council.” Deputies voted 464 to 359 to strike the firing provision, and passed Substitute Resolution A004 on Matthew Davies and the Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg are editors and reporters for the Episcopal a 649-179 vote. News Service. The House of Bishops concurred with the House of Deputies on Resolution A004, and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori confirmed that the resolution would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Incum - bents will not be affected by the resolution. Substitute Resolution A004, which revises Canon 1.4 Sections 1-8, covers some of the ideas ad - vanced in the original version proposed by the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church as well as in Resolutions C032, D006, D020 and D010. Debate on Substitute Resolution A006 Deputies rejected a motion to refer the standing commission resolution, which covers Resolution A006 in its original form and A097, to the church’s Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church. Such a move would have postponed any actions on standing commissions to at least the 2018 General Convention. Diocese of the Virgin Islands Deputy Patricia Rhymer Todman, who made the motion to refer, said reducing the number of standing commissions amounts to the “indiscriminate destruction” of the church’s structure of committees, commission, agencies and boards, which operate between conven - tions to recommend policies and strategies for consideration by the next meeting of convention. She said the church wants to focus on mission, evangelism and “our church needs a streamlined but suitable structure to fulfill its rich promise in mission.” Diocese of Colorado Deputy L. Zoe Cole said that to adopt the reduction means “we become a church with a permanent structure devoted to rules and music.” She added that it will take a long time during each triennium to determine what groups are needed, what they’re in charge of, and who will be appointed. Deputies rejected a proposed amendment by California Deputy Sarah Lawton to add a Standing Commission on Mission, despite her argument that the church should not have only inwardly focused standing commissions. North Dakota Deputy the Rev. John Floberg, who is also an Executive Council member, noted that the proposed 2016-2018 budget increases the amount of money available for the interim bodies as council might form. He said council needed the power to create interim bodies “in order for this church to more nimbly respond to the needs” that the church faces in society. The Rev. Victoria Balling, chair of the Diocese of New Jersey deputation, said before rejecting the reduction, the church needs to remember that it is the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. “We

July 2015 The Mississippi Episcopalian 5 PEOPLE

Everlyn Smith/Photo Three give century-and-a-half of service on altar guild at St. Columb’s By Janis Quinn

Three parishioners at St. Columb’s/Ridgeland reached a landmark in altar guild service. Each of the three has served 50 years in loyal and careful attention to God’s altar. The Rev. Melanie Lemburg, priest-in-charge of St. Columb’s, recognized Beverly Alexander, Lib Allison, and Mary Glen Beane during a recent Sunday service and presented them with silver charms commemorating their service. They all recall past traditions of wearing chapel veils and smocks during their rotation on altar service and starting each work session with a prayer. Basically, the elements were always the same—linens, vessels, vestments, flowers, bread and wine—but each priest they’ve served has had varying requirements. Allison’s service at St. Columb’s was interrupted for three-and-a-half years when her husband was transferred to New Iberia, LA. The priest there, having worked in the Canal Zone, always had the guild set up a vial of alcohol with the chalice so he could dip the purificator in it when he cleaned it after each communicant. “When I was a newcomer to St. Columb’s in the early 50s, I told Fr. (Paul) Engle I would like to Celebrating four score years of service join the altar guild. I was in new town, and I wanted to do everything and meet everybody. He informed me that one did not ‘join’ the altar guild; one was ‘invited,’ but not a week later I got an invitation.” By Barbara Moton Allison said the training was fairly rigorous, but she loved learning the meanings and names of the things she was touching and arranging. “It gave the experience great meaning to me to know that the Members of Redeemer/Greenville recently hosted an appreciation and retirement celebration to purificator was a symbol of the cloth found in Jesus’ tomb and that the fair linen represented the cloth honor the life and service of their long-time organist, Ms. Mary L. Peaches. Ms. Peaches was one of three he was wrapped in.” children born in Grenada, MS to the Rev. S.W. and Nellie Foster. The Rev. Foster served as priest at Beane, too, was an early communicant of St. Columb’s, along with Alexander, and has been direc - Okolona College, Columbus, MS, and in Mound Bayou, MS, before the family moved to tor since about 1979. Redeemer/Greenville in 1930 where Foster served until he retired in 1964. Mrs. Foster started Re - “Fr. (Osborne) Moyer described himself as a ‘sacristy rat.’ He liked to order everything himself, deemer’s day school, while Ms. Peaches served as the organist at the church beginning in 1931. down to the candles,” Beane said. “He also insisted that the altar guild lay out his vestments—chasuble, Ms. Peaches first learned music in Mound Bayou and continued her studies in Okolona. She took stole, alb—and it all had to be in the right order and most certainly the right color, or I would hear how only a four-year hiatus from being Redeemer’s organist since 1931, resulting in a total of 80 years of the altar guild was not ‘functioning’ that day.” service at Redeemer. She recalled that she has played for every bishop in the diocese from Bishop Brat - She didn’t mind his attention to detail or for pointing out her mistakes. “I loved Fr. Moyer, and he ton through Duncan Gray, III, not to forget the 41 priests who served Redeemer from 1964-2014. Ms. taught me everything I know.” Peaches retired in December of 2014. The Rev. Lowell Grisham succeeded Moyer as rector at St. Columb’s, and roles between the rector Mary Lou Peaches is the proud mother of three children: Charles Strange, John Peaches and San - and altar guild director reversed somewhat. “Lowell says we taught him about high church. He said he dra Peaches-Creecy. She has five grandchildren and her first great-grandchild arrived in April 2015. could dress himself, but I had to do all the ordering.” In Grisham’s first Easter vigil at St. Columb’s, the She was educated in the Greenville Public School System, Sacred Heart Catholic School and first fire of Easter could have been the last, according to Beane. “I got self starting charcoal for the hi - Okolona Junior College. She received a B.A. degree in history from Tougaloo College. bachi, but Lowell put lighter fluid on it. We almost caught the church on fire.” Her career as an educator carried her to the cities of Hollandale, Tutwiler, and Greenville, and to For each of these remarkable women, altar guild service has been a labor of love and an integral teaching at Coleman junior and senior high schools and Greenville High School. part of their own spiritual journeys. During her 35 years of retirement from teaching, Mrs. Peaches traveled the globe, cruising to visit The Rt. Rev.Lawrence C. Provenzano, bishop of Long Island, describing the vital work of the altar many countries.. She also camped at the Yellowstone National Park and walked the beaches in Hawaii, guild, wrote, “The holiness of this work is not found solely in the function of cleaning and putting her favorite point of destination. things in proper place. It is understood in the being of each person who dedicates prayer and time to Mary Lou Peaches chose to serve as Redeemer’s organist without compensation. It was her gift to welcome all who come seeking a connection to God and each other.” God and to the congregation. Ms. Peaches also served as a member of the Episcopal Church Women, “I am so deeply grateful for these three women and for their faithful and loving service to God the altar guild and flower guild, and as a Sunday school teacher. through caring for the holy things in God’s church,” Lemburg said. “It was so meaningful to recognize In the wider community, Ms. Peaches served as a faithful member of the Retired Teachers of and give thanks for their ministries. They are a delight and an inspiration to me, and I love hearing all Greenville, Eta Phi Beta Sorority and Church Women United. their wonderful stories.” Even though she has retired from playing the organ at Redeemer, Ms. Peaches still enjoys her days The three will dutifully learn from their new priest-in- charge, and they may also do a little teach - playing her organ at home—entertaining herself and her dog, Sam. ing of their own. Ms. Peaches has been, and continues to be, a blessing to Redeemer and the Diocese of Mississippi. Her wit, wisdom, and loving presence helped keep the mission and ministry of Redeemer Church alive. For her many years of dedicated service, we offer a heartfelt thank you. The Rev. Melanie Lemburg, priest-in- Barbara Moton is a communicant of Redeemer/Greenville. charge at St. Columb’s/Ridgeland (second left) recognized Mary Glen Beane, left, The Tenth Annual Spiritual Renewal Retreat will be Lib Allison, third from led by the Rev. Canon Susan Russell, senior associate left, and Beverly at All Saints’/Pasadena, CA, on August 21-23rd at Alexander, right, Gray Center. The retreat focus will be “Are We Run - for their 150 year total service to the ning with You, Jesus?” For registration and other in - altar guild during a formation, visit www.dioms.org/ministries/gay/html. recent Sunday service. The retreat is presented by the Diocesan Committee

on Ministry with LGBT Persons and the Episcopal Janis Quinn/Photo Diocese of Mississippi.

6 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015 CONVENTION PHOTOS

The diocesan deputation for General Convention were: (standing) Ed Sisson, the Rev. Margaret Ayers, the Rev. Paul Stevens, Lee Davis Thames, the Rev. Elizabeth Wheatley-Jones, Danny Meadors, the Rev. David Knight, Canon Kathryn McCormick, Bishop Seage, and the Rev. Betsy Baumgarten; (seated front row) the Rev. Margaret McLarty, the Rev. Canon David Johnson, and Anita George. Not Pictured: Bishop Gray, III, Bobbie Marascalco, the Rev. Beth Palmer, the Rev. Ann Fraser and Alice Perry. Lollie Everett (ECW), the Rev. Margaret Ayers, the Rev. Cathy Halford (Episcopal Relief and Develop - ment), Brenda Hawkins (ECW), Mary Beth Welch (ECW) are pictured at Mississippi Night at General Convention in Salt Lake City.

The Revs. Gates and Annie Elliot, Betsy Baumgarten and deputy Sandy Webb enjoyed Mississippi The Rev. Betsy Baumgarten, a member of the Mississippi deputation at General Convention, Night at General Convention. is pictured on the big screen addressing the House of Deputies. Margaret McLarty/Photo Margaret McLarty/Photo

Bishop Seage welcomes new and old friends to the Mississippi Pictured are Margaret McLarty, platform master of ceremonies, Lollie Everett prepares to present the UTO to Presiding Bishop Night dinner at General Convention. Danny Meadors, verger, and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Kathrine at the Sunday Eucharist and UTO Ingathering at Gen - Margaret McLarty/Photo Schori at Sunday Festival Eucharist in Salt Lake City. eral Convention in Salt Lake City

July 2015 The Mississippi Episcopalian 7 MORE NEWS FROM GENERAL CONVENTION General Convention summary: Historic actions, structural changes First black presiding bishop, marriage equality approved, church governance revamped By ENS staff Agrees to major structural changes The General Convention approved two resolutions making major changes to the structure of The [Episcopal News Service] The 78th General Convention, in a series of historic moments, elected Episcopal Church. the first African-American presiding bishop; approved marriage equality for all Episcopalians; adopted a Substitute Resolution A004 slightly expands Executive Council’s appointment power concerning budget that emphasizes racial reconciliation and evangelism; endorsed the study of fossil fuel divest - three members of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s executive staff, including the chief op - ment; opposed divestment in Israel, Palestine; and made some significant changes to the church’s gov - erating officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer (a position created in the resolution). ernance. Substitute Resolution A006 reduces the number of the church’s standing commissions from 14 to two. The two would be the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry elected presiding bishop and the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The presiding bishop and House of Deputies presi - The Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North dent would appoint study committees and task forces to complete the work called for by a meeting of Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop. General Convention, with council’s approval. All of those bodies would expire at the start of the next The House of Bishops elected Curry, 62, from a slate of four nominees on the first ballot. He re - General Convention unless they are renewed. ceived 121 votes of a total 174 cast. Diocese of Southwest Florida Bishop Dabney Smith received 21, Diocese of Southern Ohio Bishop Thomas Breidenthal, 19, and Diocese of Connecticut Bishop Ian Dou - Oppose divestment in Israel, Palestine glas, 13. The number of votes needed for election was 89. The House of Bishops sent a strong and clear message July 2 that divestment from companies and Curry’s election was confirmed an hour later by the House of Deputies, as outlined in the church’s corporations engaged in certain business related to the State of Israel is not in the best interests of The canons, by a vote of 800 to 12. Episcopal Church, its partners in the Holy Land, interreligious relations, and the lives of Palestinians on the ground. Marriage equality The bishops rejected Substitute Resolution D016, which would have called on the Executive Coun - In the wake of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage for all Ameri - cil’s Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to develop a list of U.S. and foreign corpora - cans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 with canonical and liturgical changes to provide mar - tions that provide goods and services that support the infrastructure of Israel’s occupation “to monitor riage equality for Episcopalians. its investments and apply its CSR policy to any possible future investments” in such companies. The House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ approval the day before of a canoni - General Convention passed two resolutions on peacemaking. Substitute Resolution B013, pro - cal change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) posed by Bishop Nicholas Knisely of Rhode Island, “reaffirms the vocation of the Church as an agent of and authorizing two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or oppo - reconciliation and restorative justice,” and recognizes that “meaningful reconciliation can help to en - site-sex couples (Resolution A054). gender sustainable, long-lasting peace and that such reconciliation must incorporate both political ac - tion and locally driven grassroots efforts.” Budget emphasizes racial reconciliation, evangelism Resolution C018 expresses solidarity with and support for Christians in Israel and the Israeli-occu - The General Convention adopted the 2016-2018 triennial budget July 2 after agreeing to add $2.8 pied territories; affirms the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in healing, education, and pas - million for evangelism work. toral care; and affirms the work of Christians engaged in relationship building, interfaith dialogue, While the addition passed with relatively little debate in the House of Deputies, it faced some op - nonviolence training, and advocacy for the rights of Palestinians. The resolution also urges Episco - position in the House of Bishops. palians to demonstrate their solidarity by making pilgrimage to the Holy Land and learning from fellow The 2016-2018 triennial budget is based on $125,083,185 in revenue, compared to the forecasted Christians in the region. $118,243,102 for the triennium that ends Dec. 31 of this year. The expenses are projected to be $125,057,351. The budget comes in with a negligible surplus of $25,834. Its revenue projection is based Plans to be created for prayer book, hymnal revision in part on asking the church’s dioceses and regional mission areas to give 18 percent of their income to General Convention 2015 took a step toward revising the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and The fund the 2016 budget, 16.5 percent for the 2017 budget and 15 percent in 2018. Hymnal 1982, directing the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to prepare plans for revising The version of the budget presented July 1 by the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget each and to present them to the next convention in Austin, Texas, in 2018. and Finance (PB&F) also included a major new $2 million initiative on racial justice and reconciliation, Among other liturgical issues, the convention directs bishops to find ways for congregations with - even as it reduces the amount of money it asks dioceses to contribute to 15 percent by 2018. out clergy to receive Communion, but the House of Bishops defeated proposals to allow unbaptized people to receive Holy Communion or to study the issue. Mandatory assessment The convention approved making available a revised version of “Holy Women, Holy Men” with ad - General Convention made mandatory the current voluntary diocesan budgetary asking system for ditional saints’ commemorations but left “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” as the church authorized supplemen - the 2019-2021 budget cycle and imposed penalties for noncompliance. tal calendar of commemorations. The mandatory assessment will not apply to the upcoming 2016-2018 triennial budget, but be - The revised “Holy Women, Holy Men,” is called “A Great Cloud of Witnesses.” comes effective Jan. 1, 2019. Without getting a waiver, a diocese that does not pay the full assessment will be unable to get grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless the Exec - Convention takes a first step, admits: ‘Alcohol affects us all.’ utive Council (http://www.generalconvention.org/ec) specifically approves disbursing the money. (The General Convention passed three resolutions on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is the name under which The Episcopal Church is incorpo - Resolution D014 recommends that ordinands should be questioned at the very beginning of the rated, conducts business, and carries out mission.) discernment process about addiction and substance use in their lives and family systems. The resolution allows the council to begin granting waivers to dioceses that do not pay, based on financial hardship, beginning Jan. 1, 2016. Council agreed in January to create a so-called Diocesan As - General Convention summary sessment Review Committee to work with dioceses that do not to meet the full churchwide asking. Continued on page 9 The resolution also agrees to study the issue of whether the House of Deputies president ought to re - ceive a salary.

Divest from fossil fuels, reinvest in renewables General Convention passed two resolutions aimed at environmentally responsible investing and creating a climate change advisory committee. Resolution C045 calls upon the Investment Committee of Executive Council, the Episcopal Church Endowment Fund and the Episcopal Church Foundation “to divest from fossil fuel companies and rein - vest in clean renewable energy in a fiscally responsible manner.” Resolution A030 calls for the creation of a climate change advisory committee with one representa - tive from each of The Episcopal Church’s nine provinces. The resolution also calls on each province to create a Regional Consultative Group composed “of no fewer than five experts in areas of environmen - tal sustainability appropriate to the demographic, ecological, cultural and geographic specifics of each region.”

8 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015 GOOD READING Immortal Diamond: The Search For Our True Self

By Janet C. Nail concocted. God allows us; He gives us the freedom to choose. The False Self wants God to smite sinners (whom they will identify for God, of course) immediately. They You have probably all heard the story of the four-year-old child who asked want God to let our political, religious, and social agendas triumph. his parents if he could talk to his infant brother. The parents, a bit worried, God doesn’t work that way. gave permission, but quietly turned on the intercom so they could monitor Of course, the greatest mask for the False Self is religion. If you go to the him. “right” church, follow the “right” liturgy (or lack thereof), believe the “right” things, The child ran to the crib, leaned over, and asked, “Quick! Tell me read the “right” parts of the Bible, you will be “right.” where you come from. Tell me who made you! I’m beginning to forget!” Again, God doesn’t work that way. According to Richard Rohr, OFM, we have all begun to forget who God loves. God loves your shadow self, the part you try to hide. God loves you made us and where we came from. In Immortal Diamond: The Search totally, your body, your soul, and your mind. God loves you all the way to death, from For Our True Self (Jossey-Bass, 2013) he follows our quest to regain this which you will not escape. God loves you. Period. heart-felt knowledge. Oh, yes; those verses in the Gospels in which Jesus says He has other sheep, that Rohr begins with a discussion of the True Self: it is the You that is He calls everyone? He meant it. The False Self will say that He really just referred to part of God, the You that is present when you were born, the You that Christians as opposed to Jews, but He meant—everyone. He meant the Muslims, the yearns to be with God. It is also the You that you feel you must push Buddhists, the Hindus, all the others. The False Self has a hard time with that; it wants to down so that you can fit in. It is the You that sees success, the great keep the undesirables out. (Have you ever been in a vestry meeting when someone cau - aim of our society, as the true goal of your life. tioned us to be careful whom we invite to church; we don’t want just anybody? That was The danger of living is that one might think he/she has found the his/her False Self speaking.) True Self when all he has found is the Ego. As Rohr says, a little en - The immortal diamond that is the True Self demands a lifetime of searching, of listen - lightenment is a dangerous thing. He sees this as a mistaken belief ing, to surrendering. When we find it, we don’t always live with it; we keep falling, but this that “I know” in clergy, academics, radicals, and loners who feel that is what we yearn for, this is what we seek. they cannot belong to any group because they alone know Truth. If you think that is lot You are better than you think you are. You are more precious than you know. You of baggage, you are right! don’t have to hide. You are loved. You are your True Self. One mark of the False Self is a belief that God is false because He doesn’t fit in the box we have General Convention summary General Convention approves marriage equality Continued from page 8 Continued from page 2 The bishops also passed Resolution A159, which acknowledges the church’s role in the culture of Resolution A036 revises Canon I.18 titled “Of the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony” (page 58 of alcohol and drug abuse. The Episcopal Church’s canons here). Among many edits, it removes references to marriage as being be - Resolution A158, to create a task force to review and revise policy on substance abuse, addiction tween a man and a woman. The revised first section of the canon now says that clergy “shall conform to and recovery, passed with one amendment. the laws of the state governing the creation of the civil status of marriage, and also these canons con - cerning the solemnization of marriage. Members of the clergy may solemnize a marriage using any of Closer relations with Cuba the liturgical forms authorized by this church.” Under the revised canon, couples would sign a declara - The U.S.-based Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church of Cuba took a step toward closer rela - tion of intent, which the legislative committee crafted to respect the needs of couples where only one tions during the 78th General Convention, meeting here June 25-July 3. Convention also passed a reso - member is a Christian. lution calling for the U.S. government to lift its economic embargo against Cuba. The Rev. Joseph Howard of Tennessee said he voted for A054 “because I thought it was a state - ment of honesty about where the church is and that it regularized what we have been doing.” But he Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry sat for a video interview opposed A036 as “a vote against good order because I believe it assumes a belief that has not yet be - In an 18-minute interview with the Episcopal News Service, Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry come clear in our church.” speaks about his priorities for leadership and administration, the role of the church in engaging God’s James Steadman of Northwestern Pennsylvania cited the words of the post-Communion prayer in mission in the world, the state of race relations in the U.S., the importance of Anglican Communion the Book of Common Prayer, telling deputies: “This is the time. Use the courage that you have prayed partnerships, and his commitment to what he calls the Jesus Movement, to go out into the world “to for all these years and vote for this resolution.” bear witness to the good news of Jesus.” In other marriage-related legislation, earlier in the week the House of Deputies approved Resolu - tion A037, after several failed amendments, concurring with bishops on the continued work of the Task Bishops led a march against gun violence Force on the Study of Marriage. The resolution asks congregations to study resources that were created About 1,500 General Convention participants joined a Bishops United Against Gun Violence pro - by the Task Force on Marriage to help understand the theology of marriage and the long history of mar - cession in Salt Lake City the morning of June 28. riage, which are now available to congregations (beginning on page 9 here), Baker told the deputies. The prayerful procession walked the half-mile from the Salt Palace Convention Center to Pioneer It also authorizes continued work of the task force “because the work is not done,” Baker said. It Park while marchers sang hymns and prayed. Members of Utah anti-gun violence groups and civil rights invites exploration of the cultural and theological diversity to move the conversation forward, he said, organizations joined in. adding that too often the study has focused on an Anglo-Western perspective “when we are a church that has people from different nations.” Greater solidarity for persecuted Christians Advocacy for Christians facing persecution and living in the context of civil war are the subject of Sharon Sheridan is an ENS correspondent. several resolutions passed by the Episcopal Church’s 78th General Convention, meeting here June 25- July 3. Convention agrees that Christians in Pakistan, Syria, Liberia, South Sudan and Sudan are among those for whom the church needs to step up its support and solidarity as many of them live in fear of death, starvation, and displacement in their war-ravaged or extremist-influenced countries.

A date to remember: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 Deadline for the September issue of The Mississippi Episcopalian

July 2015 The Mississippi Episcopalian 9 EVENTS St. Columb’s hosts Plant-based Immersion Day

[MSE] On August 29, 2015, St. Columb’s will play host to a Plant-Based Immersion Day that lasts from 8:00 am to 2:00 p.m. The event includes speakers, activities, and most importantly, great food. The speakers for the day are Dr. Richard Guynes from the Dean Ornish Program at the Jackson Heart Clinic; Dr. John McDougall, author of the Starch So - lution; Mary Lindsey Simpkins, registered dietician from Whole Foods Market; Shane Mar - tin, creator of From Famine to Feast; Gigi Carter, vegan ultra-cyclist; and Alyssa Sikora, Food for Life instructor. The cost of the event is $35. This price covers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and so much more! Plant-based diets are a perennial trend sweeping the nation and the world. The popu - larity stems from the award winning 2011 documentary entitled, “Forks Over Knives.” The documentary illustrates how a whole-foods, plant-based, diet can prevent and even reverse chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. St. Columb’s parishioner, Alyssa Sikora, saw this documentary in 2011 and has been plant-based for almost four years now. She hopes to inspire the people of Mississippi to make positive changes in their lives through a plant-based diet. Alyssa has her “Food For Life” certification from the Physi - cians Committee for Responsible Medicine. In January of this year, Alyssa taught 20 students from both the congregation and community-at-large in a “Kick Start Your Health” five-week program. Go online and register for the Plant-based Immersion Day at magnoliahealthyliving.com. Alyssa Sikora

“I think that’s a sign of our church growing more deeply in the you,” he told Jefferts Schori. “I am very thankful, honored and Bishop-elect Curry addresses media spirit of God and the movement of God in our world. It was like the blessed. I’ve been blessed to be bishop of the Diocese of North Car - Continued from page 1 day of Pentecost, when the spirit came down, people living in the olina for 15 years. I love that diocese and our people and I’m How will he address societal issues? spirit of God’s love, of God’s embrace, and we find ourselves grow - blessed to be the presiding bishop-elect.” “Some of this will evolve over time,” Curry told the gathering, ing more in the direction of God’s dream.” adding that there are good public initiatives already going on, with On growing churches The Rev. Pat McCaughan is a correspondent for Episcopal News the church’s Office of Governmental Relations and other efforts, to “The gospel hasn’t changed. Jesus is still the same. We need to Service. address issues of racism and poverty. learn and discover new ways of carrying out and sharing that good Noting the specter of the recent killings of nine people at a news of Jesus. In this day, in this time, the church can no longer Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina, he added: “it was the wait for its congregation to come to it. That change of directional - voice of the Christian community that really did change the narrative ity on the part of the church, church-wide, will have impact for from one that could have degenerated into a negative and hurtful to reaching people who are not automatically coming to our doors.” one that was a narrative of forgiveness. That’s one of the roles reli - What he wants people to know about him gious communities and in particular the Christian community can “That Michael Curry is a follower of Jesus. Not a perfect one. offer, is a positive way forward.” I want to be one of his disciples. I believe that the way of Jesus, Becoming the beloved community: the way of God’s love that we see in Jesus, is the way of life, life “I believe profoundly that Dr. King was right. We were put here that sets us free, that moves us. to create the beloved community; God is the same God and creator “I just want people to know that Michael Curry does strive to of all of us. If we all come from the same source, I’m not a scientist follow in the way of Jesus and reflect his love and compassion in … I’m just a preacher, but if we’ve got the same parental source his life and in the life of the church.” then you’re related to everybody. We are brothers and sisters of each About reconciliation other. The hard work is to figure out how we live as beloved com - “If you follow Jesus, you’re good with me … let’s go to - munity, as the human family of God and do that in practical and tan - gether. Ultimately, that’s the thing that matters. We deal with each gible ways.” other in love and charity. We’ll find a way forward. We will create Involving more Latinos in leadership roles space. Better yet, the spirit of God will create space for all of us.” “This will be critical. It’s one of the things we’ve worked on in About the Supreme Court’s decision and what General Con - North Carolina. It has taken time. I’ve been bishop there for 15 years vention will do about same gender marriage and people from the Latino community are now taking leadership in “The Supreme Court affirmed the authenticity of love. We’re the life of the diocese. It’s happened over time in communities of in the business of love. There’s a hymn, ‘where true love is found, faith.” God himself is there.’ We’re in the process of working that out, On preaching what form that will take we’ll know at the end of this convention. “I do love to preach. The preaching and teaching of God’s The reality is the issues are about marriage. How do we make it word does make a difference and can lift us up. You know the story fulsome and wholesome for all? How do we make marriage a con - in Ezekiel 37? That’s pretty much about preaching. We’re a valley of text where life is ennobled and lifted up? Those are critical pas - dry bones; God said preach to them and the bones started to shake, toral concerns.” rattle, and roll … that is what preaching does. I hope to continue the About healing the breach with the global south preaching ministry as well, as a way of moving the church forward.” “As a bishop, I am supportive of our current presiding On being elected the African-American leader of a largely white bishop and our leadership and the work we’ve done. I am com - denomination mitted to the work of reconciliation. It is part of our gospel man - “It’ll be interesting to see what terms get used about me. Let’s date. I have friends in the global south and many of my ancestors wait and see.” are from the global south. I will be an instrument of God’s recon - He said the election of Jefferts Schori as the first woman presid - ciliation any way I can that will lead to true reconciliation. I’ll do ing bishop paved the way for him. “I was there when it happened my best.” and I remember just realizing it was an experience of the Holy Spirit About living into his new ministry for real. And today I had that same feeling,” he said, his voice grow - “I am very thankful for the presiding bishop’s long, sus - ing softer. tained, courageous, wise and faithful stewardship. Thank God for

10 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015 EVENTS

­ DIOCESAN CALENDAR JULY 2015 • 21-26: Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy • 22: Trustees of the Diocese — Allin House — 2:00 p.m. • 26: Bishop Seage attends closing of Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy — St. Andrew’s Cathedral

AUGUST 2015 • 2: Bishop Seage visits St. James’, Greenville — 10:30 a.m. Bishop Seage visits Redeemer, Greenville — 5:00 p.m. • 4: Deadline for The Mississippi Episcopalian • 9: Bishop Seage visits St. John’s, Aberdeen — 10:30 a.m. • 13: General Convention Day — St. Andrew’s Cathedral • 16: Bishop Seage visits St. John’s, Pascagoula — 10:00 a.m. • 18: Gray Center Executive Committee Meeting — Gray Center — 4:00 p.m. • 19: Examining Chaplains Meeting — Gray Center — 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. • 19-21: Commission on Ministry Meeting — Gray Center • 21: Standing Committee Meeting — Gray Center — 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. • 21-23: Spiritual Renewal Retreat — Gray Center • 23: Bishop Seage visits St. Mark’s, Gulfport — 9:30 a.m. • 25: Finance Committee Meeting — St. Andrew’s Cathedral — 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. • 27: Executive Committee Meeting — St. Andrew’s Cathedral — 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. • 29: Gray Center Board Meeting — Gray Center • 30: Bishop Seage visits St. Paul’s, Hollandale — 10:30 a.m. SEPTEMBER 2015 • 2: Deadline for The Mississippi Episcopalian • 7: Allin House closed for Labor Day • 9: Convocational Deans’ Meeting — Allin House — 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. • 13: Bishop Seage visits St. George’s, Clarksdale — 10:30 a.m. Bishop Seage visits St. John’s, Leland — 5:00 p.m. • 13-16: Presbyter POC — Gray Center • 16: Deacons’ Council Meeting — Allin House — 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. • 20: Bishop Seage visits Trinity, Pass Christian — 10:30 a.m. • 22: Disaster Preparedness & Response Team Meeting — Allin House — 12:00 noon • 24-27: Cursillo #129 — Gray Center • 27: Bishop Seage visits Creator, Clinton — 10:30 a.m. Bishop Seage at Cursillo #129 Closing — 2:30 p.m.

FAITHFUL DEPARTED Please submit Faithful Departed notices to your church for submission Joe Turner Bilbro , 78, communicant of St. James’, Port Gibson, died January 30, 2015. James Kelly Sharp , 84, communicant of St. Patrick’s, Long Beach, died February 20, 2015. Mary Helen Phillips White , 82, communicant of St. James’, Port Gibson, died on May 22, 2015. Ginger Madgwick , 72, communicant of Mediator-Redeemer, Magnolia-McComb, died June 7, 2015. Raymond Farley “Fish” Salmon, Jr. , 88, communicant of St. George’s, Clarksdale, died on June 7, 2015. Elizabeth (Betty) Hill Fry , 92, communicant of Trinity, Hattiesburg, died June 15, 2015. The Rev. Ben Bell , 90, communicant of Trinity, Hattiesburg, died June 23, 2015. David Meredith Jones, Sr. , 65, husband of Peggy Carlton Jones, assistant to the bishop, died June 24. 2015. B. W. Curry, Jr. , 94, communicant of Trinity, Hattiesburg, died July 5, 2015. Lottie Lee Smith , 87, communicant of St. James’, Jackson, died July 6, 2015.

July 2015 The Mississippi Episcopalian 11 EVANGELISM ‘Put Jesus up front,’ presiding bishop-elect urges budget committee Michael Curry asks group to help church ‘engage evangelism seriously’ By Mary Frances Schjonberg PB&F’s work and hoping to get what she called a “road [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City] As the Joint map” from convention’s debate on structural change about Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance how those changes will be accomplished over the 2016- (PB&F) nears its July 1 budget deadline, Presiding Bishop- 2018 triennium, “and release Executive Council to mess elect Michael Curry on June 29 asked the members to craft a with the budget that we have to present.” plan to help the church “put Jesus up front,” share the good General Convention approves the triennial budget, news and makes disciples. and the council often revises the three annual budgets, “I talk of the Jesus movement, of evangelism, of making based on changes in income and expenses. disciples and our witness through public service and public Curry, who served on the Task Force for Reimagining advocacy,” Curry told the committee during a brief conversa - the Episcopal Church, said he does not know what conven - tion during a 7:30 a.m. meeting. “That can sound like rheto - tion will decide about structural changes. “But there may ric that has no actual consequence, but let me assure you… be some creative ways to pre-stage some of those creative we are talking about the church moving forth, taking evan - possibilities … so that council can pivot when it needs to – gelism seriously – in the Episcopal way but taking them for that may be the wisest kind of thing to do going forward,” real because there is good news to share. There really is.” he said. Personal service and public witness and advocacy “is “The more creative space there is, the more the possi - what we do; that’s the Jesus movement,” Curry said. bilities of a big system like this pivoting quickly and engag - The presiding bishop-elect, who reminded the commit - ing what it needs to,” he said. tee that his term does not begin until Nov. 1, said PB&F is B&F member David Quittmeyer of the Diocese of doing God’s work. He likened the members’ job to that of Central Gulf Coast asked Curry if he had any particular piv - Peter and Paul, whose feast day the church celebrates on Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry asks the General Convention’s Joint Standing ots points in mind to which the committee ought to pay at - June 29, saying that as word of Jesus spread out from Committee on Program, Budget and Finance June 29 to help the church “engage tention. Jerusalem to Rome and then to the known world at that evangelism seriously.” PB&F chair the Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd of Massachusetts “I don’t know what’s going to hit the floor and what time, the leaders had to organize themselves and decide looks on. Photo: Mary Frances Schjonberg/Episcopal News Service we’re going to end up with at the end of the day,” Curry how they would share their resources. said, adding that the “critical part” will be which dimen - “They had to have their own PB&F to figure out how their distributions and their funds would be sions of TREC’s recommendations “have the capacity to serve this movement we’re talking about.” used to change the world,” Curry said. “The work they did in the first century is the work you’re doing Curry suggested that PB&F members ask themselves “what will enable the church-wide community in the 21st century. God bless you.” to energize and equip our diocesan and local communities to really engage in evangelism.” Curry said the committee has the tough job of figuring out how the Jesus movement can “translate “I think this mission has got to drive the organization,” he said, adding that in the church-wide into concrete, practical reality in terms of the budget.” structures “there’s some stuff that’s just given but there’s some stuff that’s not given.” “Put Jesus up front. Put sharing that good news in front. Put forming our people as followers of He asked them to consider “changes that are going to facilitate our being able to ramp up quickly Jesus – as disciples for real – at the front of it,” he suggested. “And then put inspiring and enabling them and engage evangelism seriously.” to serve in their personal lives, and for us to witness in the public square in the front. That’s the church; PB&F is considering how to adapt Executive Council’s balanced $120 million draft 2016-2018 tri - that’s the movement. I know full well that movements can float off into the air if they are not incarnated ennium budget that was passed in January. Council’s draft budget was compiled after the church’s com - in reality.” mittees, commissions, agencies and boards filed their reports to convention containing funding Nebraska Bishop Scott Baker asked Curry if he sees specific changes in the church’s structures that resolutions. Some of those requests have been amended here at convention. Plus, many new resolu - PB&F could accomplish through the 2016-2018 triennium budget it is crafting for convention to con - tions filed since council passed its budget also ask for money to be included in the 2016-2018 budget. sider. The presiding bishop-elect, in turn, asked PB&F chair the Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd of Massachu - PB&F must decide how to fund all the requests that are before convention. setts whether the committee had been talking to convention’s Legislative Committee on Governance and Structure. The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is an editor and reporter for the Episcopal News Service. She told Curry “we’re kind of caught in the cracks” between having to follow the rules that govern

is that God created. It’s the time frame that gets everyone in an uproar… Speaking in Faith I say the only concern is the understanding that God created it all and that we are evolving every second of every day.” Tracey concludes by saying, “Perhaps a better By Carol Mead way of looking at this issue is to understand that science and creativity came to - gether by God’s hands and set it all into play and even better - God meets you When I first became impassioned about my Christian faith, one friend said, where you are.” “I’m glad you’ve found such meaning in it, but I couldn’t be a Christian because I If time allows in a conversation, it’s important to point out that the Bible itself believe in evolution.” Her comment points toward a common misconception about presents not one creation story, but two. A literal approach to the creation story Christianity: that the findings of science and the life of faith are incompatible or isn’t possible, after all, given the two distinct stories, one beginning in Genesis 1:1 even contradictory. and another beginning in Genesis 2:4. One loving and reverent response to con - Unlike some of the issues discussed in this effort, the topic of evolution and cerns about evolution “versus” creation would be, “It’s not a short-answer question, creation could come up, in some form, either with a Christian established in the but an essay question. I’d love to talk with you in more depth about it.” Sadly, most faith or (as with my friend) with someone outside the faith. Some Christians see an people (in all issues, not only religious/theological ones) do not want discussion: embracing of evolutionary theory as equivalent to rejecting Biblical truth. Persons They want to win over the other “side.” outside the faith then see headlines about (some) Christians’ rejection of evolution But we are Christians. There are no “sides.” There is only the commandment and mistakenly project those impressions onto all of us. that we are to love one another as God loves us. Like many theological issues, this one requires not sound bytes but thoughtful discussion. One Next time, we will talk about the accusation, “Episcopalians don’t use the Bible.” Please send your short way into that conversation may be the one used in our evangelism presentation (Evangelism: The input to me so that the next column can offer thoughtful and loving ways to respond to that assertion. I Gentle Response). We suggested, “It’s not an either/or question. Many Christians see evolution as part would also appreciate your suggesting other questions and topics we can explore in the coming of God’s creation story.” months. You can contact me as follows: The Rev. Carol Mead, St. Peter’s by-the-Lake, 1954 Spillway Tracey Countz of St. Stephen’s/Columbia offered this observation on the so-called conflict between Road, Brandon, MS 39047. You may also send me an email at [email protected]. belief in evolution “versus” belief in the creation story. “The central truth in either theory, in my mind, The Rev. Carol Mead is the rector of St. Peter’s by-the-Lake/Brandon.

12 The Mississippi Episcopalian July 2015