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Reflections on Haiti and Ministry Support Team reconfiguration
by the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, March 2010

Since December, I have known that my column in this edition of the Mountain Echo would need to address the recent reconfiguration of the diocesan Ministry Support Team—and some its implications for our future ministry as a diocese—brought about by the economic crisis and budget realities facing all of us. Then, on January 12, 2010, the earth shook in Haiti, and a violent earthquake of immense magnitude drew our attention away from ourselves. Our thoughts, concerns, prayers, hearts and financial resources as people of faith suddenly turned to the people of Haiti.

And so, before addressing any of the details and implications of our diocesan Ministry Support Team reconfiguration, I want to express my profound gratitude and joy at the overwhelming response the congregations and people of our diocese are making to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

I have witnessed, read and in other ways heard story after story of the generous outpouring of prayer and financial support from around our diocese following the devastating earthquake on January 12. Most of that financial support has been in the form of individual contributions and congregational offerings sent through Episcopal Relief and Development (www.er-d.org). They report an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from Vermont and throughout the country in support of our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Haiti.

Others among us have sent support through Pure Water for the World, a Vermont based organization led by Carolyn Meub of Trinity, Rutland. Pure Water for the World (www.purewaterfortheworld.org) has a special relationship with Haiti and is well positioned to aid in the relief effort. I’m sure there are other connections and places where some of you have made your gifts. Please maintain your prayers and your financial contributions in the months ahead. The road to recovery is long, and our support is critical. I am confident and proud that the Episcopal Church in Vermont is doing its very best in response to this crisis. Thank you!

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Now, some thoughts about our life together in light of changes made at the diocesan level in response to the economic crisis and the budget realities we are facing. In order to help balance the diocesan budget for 2010, I agreed to make reductions in the salary and benefit budget lines for our diocesan employees. I was also mindful that in 2011, we would need to make additional adjustments in order to bring the position of minister of stewardship development fully into the budget following three years of “off budget” funding. I took counsel with many throughout our diocese, including the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Ministry Support Team, in an effort to re-imagine how I could continue my vision of a collaborative episcopate in which members of the Ministry Support Team would live and work throughout the diocese and together share in the bishop’s administrative and pastoral oversight.

At the end of the day, and in order to meet the target numbers for our 2010 and 2011 diocesan budgets, I settled on a reconfiguration of the Ministry Support Team that eliminates the four part-time ministry developer positions, creates one full-time ministry developer position, leaves in place all other positions, and places the work of transition ministry in the office of Lynn Bates, canon to the ordinary. In addition, this new approach calls for an enhanced role by our diocesan Companions in support of congregations during times of clergy leadership transition and in some other circumstances where the ministry developers previously played a more active role.

Sadly, this reconfiguration meant the loss from our team of two wonderful colleagues, Jeanette Tweedy and Connie Saeger-Proctor, as of December 31, 2009. It will also mean the loss of another gifted colleague, Thad Bennett, when he takes the “early retirement” option available through the Church Pension Fund starting July 1, 2010. Susan Ohlidal will assume added responsibilities as a full-time ministry developer starting July 1, 2010. I wrote about this in more detail in a letter sent to clergy and congregational and diocesan leaders on December 13, 2009.

We are just beginning to experience some of the implications of this reconfiguration, and more will unfold in the months ahead. Noticeably, the remaining members of the Ministry Support Team will need to clarify our priorities in serving the congregations of our diocese, since it will be impossible with fewer team members to continue everything we were doing. Your understanding and patience with us through this transition is much appreciated. Thankfully, our diocesan Companions Ministry Program is at a point where the Companions will be able to take on additional responsibilities. One of Susan’s principle ministries is to work closely with the Companions. In this new configuration most of the work they do will be paid for with diocesan funds, either through the budget or through grants we have received for this program. Arguably, the most challenging part of this transition will be adding the responsibility for transition ministries to Lynn’s portfolio. Obviously, some of her responsibilities will need to shift to others in order to take on this important work, and we are thoughtfully working through all that in anticipation of Thad’s retirement at the end of June.

At the same time all of this is going on, the Diocesan Council Strategic Communications Task Force is working on a full review of our communications ministry and will make recommendations for this area of our common life and ministry for the next 5-10 years. Anne Brown will take sabbatical time from February 20 to March 20, 2010, to strengthen her skills in Web design, and then she will conclude her sabbatical time with three months during the summer. The Mountain Echo will be published four times in 2010 (March, June, October and December) and the new Mountain E-News will keep you up to date.

Meanwhile, Angie Emerson continues her valuable stewardship ministry among us; Julie Giguere continues to serve us with incredible skill and knowledge as our financial administrator; Patrick Sims juggles calendars and supports our congregations as well as Lynn and me as our executive assistant; Jan Lawrence continues to serve as our receptionist; Elizabeth Allison maintains her watchful eye over the history of our diocese; and Iris Darling has joined us as a part-time administrative assistant following Jackie Risen’s departure.

None of us is fond of change all that much, and certainly not when it includes the loss of colleagues. At the same time, I think there is something good that will come from all of this transition and reconfiguration for us as a diocese as we seek new ways to serve our congregations and the mission we have to proclaim Christ’s love to the world. One of the incredible realities in the Diocese of Vermont is that we do all this in a context where the congregations of the diocese have demonstrated year after year their collegial and financial commitment to our common life and ministry. There is no greater feeling than that we are pulling together for a common mission, and that is what I feel here in the Diocese of Vermont. My pledge to you is that we will continue to serve to the fullest in the knowledge of your confidence and support.

Faithfully,
+Thomas