Summer 2012 Volume 19, Issue 3 a Newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield Contents Springfieldcurrent on the COVER COLUMNS Newsletter of the Fr
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springfieldcurrent Summer 2012 Volume 19, Issue 3 A newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield Contents springfieldcurrent ON THE COVER COLUMNS Newsletter of the Fr. Halt, St. Mattew’s, Bloomington, Episcopal Diocese of with Fr. Clement at the Livingston Springfield Stanley Monument in Africa - read From the Bishop 3 more on page 4 By the River Ruzizi 4 The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield Around the Diocese 6 821 S. 2nd Street Council Reports 8-18 Springfield, IL 62704 Phone: (217) 525-1876 Prayer Calendar 19-24 Fax: (217) 525-1877 www.episcopalspringfield.org Publisher: The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins, Bishop Diocese of Springfield ~ Calendar for 2012 Editor: JULY 2012 Meeting, Chapel of St. John the Betsy Schroeder 17 Finance Department Meeting, Divine, Champaign (3 p.m.) Diocesan Center (10 a.m.) 13 Bishop w/Redeemer, Cairo Chair, Department of 14 Bishop w/St. Stephen’s, Communication: AUGUST 2012 Harrisburg Pete Sherman 24 Diocesan Council, Diocesan 19-20 135th Synod, St. Matthew’s, Center (10 a.m.) Bloomington Submissions: 26 Bishop w/ St. Bartholomew’s, 21 Bishop w/ St. Andrew’s, We welcome original letters, Granite City Edwardsville articles, art and photos relevant TBD New Beginnings 28 Bishop w/ St. Barnabas’, Havana to the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield. All submissions should SEPTEMBER 2012 NOVEMBER 2012 be sent via email to, editor@ 02 Bishop w/ Trinity, Lincoln 01 ALL SAINTS DAY episcopalspringfield.org. The 09 Bishop w/ Trinity, Mt. Vernon 04 Bishop w/ St. Andrew’s, editor reserves the right to edit 16 Bishop w/ Trinity, Mattoon Carbondale all material for clarity, length 06 Trustees Meeting, Diocesan 16 Darrow Deanery Meeting, St. and accuracy. Articles should be George’s, Belleville (2 p.m.) Center (10 a.m.) between 300-400 words in length. 16 Northern Deanery Meeting, 08-10 Clergy/Musicians Retreat, All Saints’, Morton (2:30 p.m.) Cathedral, Springfield (1 p.m.) Address changes and 11 Bishop w/St. Thomas’, Glen 23 Bishop w/ St. Matthew’s, cancellations for the Current Bloomington Carbon may be made to: 23 Eastern Deanery Meeting, 17 Diocesan Council, Diocesan Trinity, Mt. Vernon (2 p.m.) Center (10 a.m.) Dena Toth (tothd@emissourian. 23 Hale Deanery Meeting, St. 18 Bishop w/All Saints’, Morton com) or Al Eckelkamp (mailings@ Mark’s, West Frankfort (2 p.m.) 25 Bishop w/Christ the King, Normal emissourian.com), Missourian TBD Happening 23 Northwestern Deanery Publishing Company, P.O. Box 336, Meeting, Trinity, Jacksonville Washington, MO 63090 (Include (2:30 p.m.) DECEMBER 2012 30 Bishop w/ St. Michael’s, O’Fallon 02 ADVENT, Bishop w/St. Paul’s, Pekin complete new name and address 09 Bishop w/St. Thomas’, Salem with zip code, the parish or OCTOBER 2012 16 Bishop w/St. Paul’s, Carlinville mission, and the community in 07 Bishop w/ St. Laurence, 23 Bishop w/Christ Church, Springfield which it is located. Also, include Effingham 24 Bishop w/Cathedral, Springfield the old address or mailing label.) 07 Northeastern Deanery 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 2 Springfield Current From the Bishop aving just emerged from the 77th person who must be younger than 35. HGeneral Convention of the Epis- While the 2015 General Convention will copal Church, and in the midst of this still need to approve any changes this task uncommonly hot and dry weather (please force proposes, the special gathering will join me in prayer for rain and for more effectively be a constitutional convention. moderate temperatures, for the sake of all Everything--our entire constitution and whose livelihoods depend on agriculture), canons, and everything else about our I have much to share with you. common life--is on the table for review. First, let me offer just a few reflec- This process evokes both hope and fear. tions on General Convention. I believe we are in for lots of surprises, Your deputation worked very hard, some of which may be pleasant, and oth- and conducted itself with distinction. ers less so. I choose to live in hope. But I could not be more proud of our lay I am already holding this process in my deputies: Elisabeth Langford (Trinity, prayers. Jacksonville), Kevin Babb (St Andrew’s, Ed- The growing movement to rethink the traditional sacramental order of Bap- wardsville), Gerry Smith (Christ the King, The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins Normal), with the fourth slot shared by tism first, then Eucharist, hit a brick wall. The resolution that was reported out of Rick Velde (Christ Church, Springfield) and dioceses. This rite, or anything like it, will the Evangelism Committee, and subse- Joe Patterson (St Paul’s Cathedral); and not be authorized for use in the Diocese quently passed by the House of Depu- our clergy deputies: Shawn Denney (St of Springfield. That said, I am not unaware ties without amendment, left the door Luke’s, Springfield and Archdeacon), Kip that there are some in this diocese, clergy implicitly ajar for the uncanonical practice, Ashmore (Trinity, Jacksonville), Geoffrey and laity, who find my position dishearten- followed in many places, of formally invit- Scanlon (Holy Trinity, Danville), and Gene ing. It gives me no joy to be the source of ing all who are in attendance to recieve Tucker (Trinity, Mt Vernon). The work of a disappointment or pain to anyone. I honor Holy Communion, regardless of their Deputy is, quite frankly, grueling, with early the witness of faithful lesbian and gay baptismal status. The House of Bishops, morning committee meetings, long legisla- Episcopalians in the diocese. They enrich however, slammed the door hard, remov- tive sessions, and several evening commit- our life together, and it is my desire to be ing any ambiguity, and sent it back to the ments. If their experience was anything a pastor to all, especially those who are Deputies on the afternoon of the last day like mine, they returned home sleep- hurt by decisions I must make. I pledge of convention, where it was concurred deprived and slightly disoriented. When a special effort to stay connected and in and therefore formally adopted. I voted you see any of them, please express your dialogue with those who feel marginalized with the overwhelming majority of the hearty thanks. We were also represented by my words or actions. I wish there were bishops on this, and was pleased to see in the ECW Triennial by Jan Goosens (St an easier way through this. my colleagues stepping up and exercising Thomas’, Glen Carbon), Chris DeWitt ------------------------- (St John the Baptist, Mt Carmel), Deacon the teaching author ity that comes with I cannot describe how excited and Ann Tofani (St Mary’s, Robinson), Roberta the office. encouraged I am by the conversations I’ve Clark (St Michael’s, O’Fallon), and Mother A provisional liturgical form for the been having with congregations all around Sherry Black (St James’, Marion). I also blessing of marriage and marriage-like re- the dioceses about our mission strategy spotted Linda Toberman from St James’, lationships between persons of the same vision. Together, we are embracing a future Marion helping out in one of the exhibi- sex was authorized for use. This was, of that will demand a great deal of us as our tor’s booths. course, simultaneously completely predict- surrounding culture plunges into secular- Significant steps were taken toward a able--no one doubted it would happen-- ization. I believe the Holy Spirit is leading structural reform of historic proportions. and the most intensely contested act of us into the path through which we will be The level of pain felt across the Episcopal the convention. It carried by roughly a 3:1 able to negotiate that change as faithful Church resulting from precipitous decline margin in both houses. It should come as disciples of Jesus and faithful witnesses to in membership has reached critical mass. no surprise that I voted with the minority, the gospel. The convention authorized the creation as did our entire deputation. I must say As you receive this issue of the Cur- of a Special Task Force of around twenty that, for the most part, the conversation rent, I am beginning my annual sabbath people that will operate outside the usual was carried on in a respectful manner, and rest. I look forward to this time of recol- governance structures of the church. Its with a minimum of chest-thumping by the lection and refreshment. Brenda and I will job will be to re-imagine the mission, victorious side after the results became be visiting with family members and spend- administration, and governance of the clear. For this I am grateful. I am also ing some time in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I’ll Episcopal Church. Part of this will involve grateful for clear provisions that protect be back in the office on August 22. a special gathering, to which every diocese the conscience of bishops and dioceses in Faithfully in Christ, will be invited to send one bishop, one this largely “progressive” church, as well as +Daniel priest, one lay person, and one other clergy and parishes in “progressive” Springfield Current 3 By the River Ruzizi By the Rev. David J. A. Halt, obl. OSB St. Matthew’s, Bloomington Transport in Burundi, Africa tepping onto the mobile stairway, in the Free Methodist Church, I was formed between St. Matthew’s, the I confronted a wall of humidity enthralled by the stories of the mis- NGO, and/or the Anglican Church in Sso thick that if I had a penknife I sionaries, but loved to sing the prayer Burundi. Furthermore, my invitation could cut out a slice and hold it in my chorus, “Please don’t send me to derived from my “expertise” in rabbit hand.