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DIOCESAN CONVENTION NOVEMBER 2008
Report on 2008 Diocesan Convention
1. Dates: Friday and Saturday, November 7-8, 2008
2. Parish attendees:
a. The Rev. Marshall Hunt
b. The Rev. Victoria Hunt
c. Becky Alden, Lay Member of the Diocesan Council
d. Barbara Rockefeller, Parish Delegate (Friday only)
e. Patrick Kimball, Guest Attendee (Friday only)
f. Robert Parke, Parish Delegate
g. Beverly Parke, Alternate Parish Delegate
3. Convention Theme: In Christ there is no East or West.
4. Order of Business, Friday:
h. Lunch Workshops: There were three workshops. Marshall Hunt attended a session led
by Bishop Shaw on the historical involvement of the diocese in the slave trade. Victoria Hunt
attended Bishop Harris’s session addressing women’s issues, including a discussion with the wife
of the Bishop of Jerusalem. Bev and I attended a session chaired by Bishop Cederholm
addressing both the Jubilee Ministries and the diocese’s Gulf Coast Partnership. Noteworthy
points included:
i. The Jubilee Ministries are funded by 0.7% of the diocesan budget and address
many of the Millennium Development Goals through support of activities in Kenya and
Uganda. AIDs and other diseases, hunger, women’s rights, and poverty are included in
this effort, with additional support coming from government AIDS programs and from
the Clinton Foundation.
ii. On the Gulf Coast, the Rev. Jane Bearden will be wrapping up her two years in
Biloxi, supported by the diocese, in January. Housing, insurance, race, and
environmental issues continue to be priorities. Lessons learned have resulted in local
parishes assisting with recovery efforts after this year’s Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The
shape of further diocesan involvement will be discussed at an open meeting at diocesan
headquarters on November 12th.
i. Bishop Tom Shaw’s opening worship meditation:
i. Bishop Shaw commented on the hope he saw in the crowds in Times Square on
the evening of the recent presidential election.
ii. He then spoke of the hope that we as Christians can have in these troubled
times. The Holy Spirit will always lead us into truth, as individuals and as a community.
j. Diocesan Elections: Elections were held for various open positions. No St. David’s
members were contending this year.
k. Bishop Gayle Harris’s introductory comments on the Diocese of Jerusalem:
i. The diocese includes Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. There are 27
parishes, 29 clergy, and 7000 members.
ii. There are a wide variety of diocesan projects, including schools, medical sites,
and homes for the elderly or disabled.
iii. A diocesan trip to Israel and Palestine is planned for this coming June 10 to 20,
including four pre-trip meetings with Bishop Harris. The all-inclusive cost per person
will be about $3500. Included will be both visits to many religious sites and
opportunities to participate in several local projects.
l. Veterans Ministry: The Rev. Rob Bacon (past SEAL and recent diocesan youth minister)
has initiated a ministry to Massachusetts war veterans. Post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic
brain injury, depression, and substance abuse affect many veterans.
m. Clergy Compensation:
i. About one-third of parishes fail to meet the minimum standard for clergy pay
and benefits.
ii. In place of the spectrum of available plans throughout the national church, the
2009 General Convention is likely to approve a comprehensive “Denominational Health
Plan” administered by a Medical Trust. Coverage in this diocese will be comparable to
that currently provided by the Tufts plan.
iii. Some parishes have not yet responded to the diocesan survey on lay staff
compensation.
iv. A 4% pay raise has been suggested.
v. This year’s resolution on Total Clergy Compensation was passed. (Details are
available from the material provided at the convention.)
n. Presentation of Convention Resolutions: Seven resolutions were presented and
discussed on Friday, with further discussion, various amendments, and final voting on Saturday
(see below).
o. Friday Benefit Dinner. A Middle Eastern theme set the tone for the dinner at which
support was garnered for the Home for the Elderly in Bier Zeit, run by the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Congregations had taken up special collections and part of the ticket price went as a contribution.
There was an auction of desirable items, including a dinner prepared by Bishop Shaw, a bat
signed by Jacoby Ellsbury, and numerous items from Israel. Over $16,000 was raised.
5. Order of Business, Saturday:
p. Anglican Communion Panel: The bishops responded to questions about developments
within the Anglican Communion. Bishop Shaw is confident that the Communion is not at the
breaking point. All three bishops commented on the ten days of respectful listening which took
place at this year’s Lambeth Conference, and on the personal relationships which were fostered.
It’s important for all to keep perspective on the relative importance of who falls in love with
whom compared with global issues of poverty, AIDS, environmental change, lack of educational
opportunities, suppression of women, etc.
q. Address by the Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, Bishop of Jerusalem:
i. Political and social pressures have resulted in the percentage of Christians in the
region dropping from 28% perhaps twenty years ago to the current 2%.
ii. The diocese has three broad areas of ministry, including pastoral care, health
and educational institutions, and the building of bridges toward reconciliation and peace.
iii. The political leadership in Jordan and Syria has been supportive. King
Abdullah of Jordan, for example, has granted land to the diocese on the Jordan River for
the construction of a church center for reconciliation.
r. Convention Resolutions (details are available from those who attended the convention):
i. Creating a diocesan policy on immigration. Passed. This resolution will result
in the creation of educational materials for use by parishes in crating understanding of
local immigrant issues.
ii. In support of transgender civil rights and inclusion in the ministry of the
baptized. Passed. The diocese will support enactment of laws prohibiting discrimination
based on gender identity and will submit a resolution to the General Convention to
include “gender identity and expression” into the Canon addressing non-discrimination.
iii. Affirming actions of the 75th General Convention on slavery and reconciliation.
Passed. The diocese supports this General Convention action and joins in expressing
most profound regret for complicity in Massachusetts. Parishes are called upon to
engage in inquiry into local historical support, passive or active, for the slave trade, and
to provide a report back to next year’s diocesan convention.
iv. On Christian formation/education regarding the spirituality, history, and
practice of nonviolence in the Christian tradition. Passed with amendment. This
resolution will result in the formation of a “community of practice” at the cathedral to
focus on peace-making and nonviolence. A report will be provided to next year’s
convention.
v. For General Convention endorsing a Feast Day on May 17 for Saints
Andronicus and Junia. Passed with amendment. A resolution will be submitted to the
General Convention to add this day to the calendar. Of note, Junia is the only woman
called an Apostle in scripture.
vi. For continued trial use in the Diocese of Massachusetts of the Feast Day on
May 17 for Saints Andronicus and Junia. Passed. This will allow continued local
recognition of these saints until the General Convention has acted.
vii. Confirming the support of the Diocese of Massachusetts for the work of the
Diocese of Jerusalem. Passed with amendment. The diocese supports the Diocese of
Jerusalem and will continue dialogue with local Jewish and Muslim religious leaders to
arrive at a shared statement of principles on the future of Israel and Palestine.
s. Bishop Shaw’s Eucharist meditation: Each morning the bishop prays (with variable
success!) that the Holy Spirit will flood the dark corners of his life with cheerful beams, filling
him with the Spirit’s joy and warmth. The Holy Spirit helps us become open and vulnerable so
that we can best receive Christ … becoming “living Christs” in the world. He urged that all pray
to be filled with the seven-fold gifts and the nine-fold fruits of the Spirit.
t. Luncheon Discussion. An informal discussion was led by Bishop Cederholm at which
the following items were raised:
i. Parishes have reduced energy use by use of separate boilers to heat separate
portions of their facilities and by use of ceiling fans during off-use hours to keep heat
from rising through the roof.
ii. Between November 23 and 30, an effort is being made to have 350 churches
ring their bell 350 times (on a single occasion) to promote awareness that a carbon
dioxide level of greater than 350 parts per million in the atmosphere will substantially
alter our world – and that levels have risen to over 380 recently. More information is
available at www.350.org.
iii. Several books were recommended, including “Low Carbon Diet” and “The
Creation” (by Edward O. Wilson).
iv. One parish has tripled its food pantry donations by sending out e-mails (with
goofy poems!) on Mondays to remind parishioners of the focus for each week’s
donations.
u. The newly aggregated Parish of the Holy Spirit on New Bedford was approved. Three
struggling small parishes have merged into a single lively congregation.
v. Approval of the 2009 Diocesan Budget: Diocesan assessments totaling over $ 5 million
were approved. (The assessment for St. David’s will be $33,301.) The diocesan budget of nearly
$7 million was also approved. It is a “flat” budget for the first time in many years, with no
increase, and several cuts in diocesan staff and programs.
w. Bishop Shaw announced that on the last weekend in February the Presiding Bishop will
be visiting the diocese for a commemoration of the consecration of Bishop Barbara Harris.
x. Report of the Committee on Constitution and Canons. Two constitutional amendments
were given the required second vote of approval and have thus become effective:
i. The first clarifies when amendments become effective – instead of the vague
“immediately,” such amendments will become effective “at the adjournment of the
current Diocesan Convention unless otherwise directed by the Convention.”
ii. The second gives lay members of the Diocesan Council voting privileges at the
Convention.
6. Final Comments. Our bishops are full of enthusiasm and good humor – and their profound faith is evident
to all. The business of the diocese is most interesting to observe and was conducted with efficiency and
respect. One of the benefits of attending the convention was the opportunity to visit a wide variety of
displays. These provided information on such areas as the environment, the Order of Saint Luke, several
seminaries, our own deanery activities, the Jubilee Ministry of the diocese, and many more. There was also
a book store available. Whether as an official (voting) parish delegate or as simply a visitor to observe the
action, attendance at the Convention is something all should try to experience at some point.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Parke
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