Convention 2002

Click here to read Bishop Ely's Convention Address

Click here to view Resolutions

Click here to view results of Mountain Echo Newsletter and Website Awards Program

Convention challenged to "wade in the water" of baptismal ministry
by Anne Clarke Brown
Mountain Echo, December 2002

Members and friends of Vermont’s Episcopal congregations met at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington November 15-16, for the 169th annual Convention of the Diocese of Vermont. They met not only to set policy and goals and to adopt a budget for the coming year, but also to worship together and celebrate many shared ministries. “Wade in the Water: Living More Deeply in the Baptismal Covenant” was the focusing theme for this year’s gathering.

Friday afternoon was devoted to hearings on proposed resolutions and a series of workshops on topics such as Dismantling Racism, Vermont Interfaith Action, and the Safer Church. A festive choral evensong, at which Bishop Thomas Ely gave his annual address to the diocese, concluded with prayers for the calling and sending forth of the Diocesan Ministry Support Team.

The convention banquet featured presentation of the first annual Mountain Echo Congregation Newsletter and Website Awards [see below] and an enthusiastically received performance by a choir of young men from Sudan, many of whom worship with Vermont congregations. The offering taken at the convention Eucharist will go to the Sudanese Education Fund.

Bishop’s address
Bishop Ely spoke of himself as an “advanced beginner” as a bishop and said, “Thinking about our life together as a diocese and the theme of our Convention…I can imagine us as a group of advanced beginners. In my imagination’s picture we love the water of baptismal living. We are eager to learn more. We are open to new experiences, and we have placed our trust and confidence in one another.…We know that we need to go deeper into the water. And we are willing to do all those things because we love the water of baptismal living, and know that going deeper holds the promise of greater joy.”

The bishop described the reconstituted Spiritual Life Committee, the revised Diocesan Study Program, and several outreach initiatives as ways the diocese is wading into the water of baptismal ministry and living into the diocesan mission of praying the prayer of Christ, learning the mind of Christ and doing the deeds of Christ. He challenged the diocese to wade even more deeply by passing a resolution to work toward dismantling racism, by being peacemakers, by embracing “the ministry to, with, for and by young people,” and by participating in a long-range planning process for the diocese.

Bishop Ely concluded, “Thanks for helping this advanced beginner get his feet wet and for wading together as baptized sisters and brothers in Christ into the deep and cleansing water of God’s love and grace.” (Click here for the full text of the Bishop's address.)

“Delicious Dish” interviews
In place of a homily at Saturday morning’s Eucharist, members of the delegation to last summer’s Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) staged an “NPR” interview show, “The Delicious Dish.” Liz Hall and Gretchen Calcagni drew many laughs as they interviewed Nathaniel Broughton, Ian and Heather Ogelby and Bishop Ely about their experiences at EYE.

Nathaniel Broughton spoke about the joy of the music, and Ian Ogelby said the most meaningful part of EYE was the healing service. “It helped me heal from September 11.” Heather Ogelby spoke of her role on the EYE design team: “I helped plan and organize an event. I’m a leader. Wow!” Bishop Ely told his interviewers that he felt much joy at EYE. “That’s my hope for youth ministry—joy!”

Convention business
Delegates elected the Rev. Diane Root to serve as a deputy to General Convention and chose Elizabeth Hall and the Rev. John Morris to be first lay and clergy alternates. (Click here for full election results.)

The resolution establishing a Commission on Dismantling Racism passed with no dissenting votes, and the delegates approved the proposed budget for 2003. For the first time, the budget exceeds one million dollars.

With only a handful of dissenting votes, the nearly 200 delegates adopted “A Resolution to Build Peace” sponsored by delegates from Hardwick and Chester. It commends the multilateral negotiations that resulted in United Nations Resolution Number 1441, and it asks that the President of the United States be informed that, “We do not believe that a war with Iraq can be justified at this time, since we have not exhausted the possibilities for a peaceful solution to the present problem.”

The resolution urges congregations “to pray for peace and to pursue ways of building peace in the world through forums that examine the conditions that foster war and oppression.” It further urges congregations to work “through local, national, and international efforts to ameliorate these conditions.”

An amendment offered by the Rev. Canon Thad Bennett asks individuals and congregations to “pray for and support those Christians who, exercising their right of conscientious objection, refuse to support war through war tax resistance or through funding an alternative to military service.” (Click here for resolutions.)

A series of courtesy resolutions commended the bishop “for his uplifting address,” the diocesan staff for surviving the temporary office quarters, and the young men from Sudan “for enriching our lives.” Good wishes were offered to Bishop Douglas Theuner and the Diocese of New Hampshire in their bicentennial year, to Bishop Barbara Harris on her retirement, and to clergy who have retired or moved from the diocese.