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"I always look forward to Diocesan Convention"
by the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, October 2010

I always look forward to Diocesan Convention, and this year—my tenth in Vermont—is no exception. The theme we have chosen is Praying Our Life, Living Our Prayer. A creative Program Planning Committee has been, and continues to be, hard at work preparing for the convention program as well as for the Ministry Fair Workshops. In addition, the Dispatch of Business Committee is doing its annual good work of preparing for our gathering and all the various components and details of Convention: from reports to resolutions; from Eucharist to elections; from canons to coffee; from displays to delegate registration; from legislation to lunch; and from ballots to balloons (did somebody mention balloons?).

This edition of the Mountain Echo [download pdf] is filled with information about our convention program and business. I hope many of you will participate in some aspect of the convention experience and if you are not able to join us for one of the Ministry Fairs, or at Diocesan Convention itself, please do participate by praying for our diocese and all the clergy and delegates and other members involved. [General information on the Convention schedule and workshops is here.]

As you read more through this edition of the Mountain Echo, I especially draw your attention to the Ministry Fairs taking place on three different Saturdays in October at three different locations around our diocese. All are welcome to attend and participate in the morning workshops, which will be led by gifted members of our diocese. After worship and lunch the focus will shift to the prayer-filled work related to the many matters concerning our common life and mission as a diocese that will be part of our convention business: elections, the diocesan budget, resolutions and canonical changes.

I also draw your attention to the workshops, forum and sacred meal experience that will all take place on the Friday of Diocesan Convention (November 5th). There are morning workshops scheduled at both the Cathedral and at Rock Point, an afternoon music workshop at the Cathedral, the always popular Convention 101 workshop and several hearings to discuss the diocesan budget, canonical changes, resolutions, and an opportunity to meet candidates standing for election to the 2012 General Convention.

We then move to the Hilton Hotel for an afternoon forum featuring Emily Scott and the ministry of Saint Lydia’s in New York City. Friday ends with our evening worship and dinner, which will take the form of a Sacred Meal modeled on the Saint Lydia’s “dinner church” experience.

Convention is such an important event in the life of a diocese for many reasons. Chief among them is the opportunity it provides for clergy and delegates from around the diocese to gather for worship, learning, fellowship and fun. Likewise it provides an opportunity for the bishop and other diocesan leaders to share some of the exciting ministry going on in our diocese and to focus our attention on the future. Convention is also that time together when we attend to the sacred responsibility of decision-making for our common life and ministry.

Our Diocesan Convention business this year features, among other things: the election of our next General Convention deputation [information on nominees]; the presentation of an updated and forward looking strategic vision and plan prepared by the Diocesan Council; a progress report on our discernment regarding the prospect of a diocesan capital campaign; several important canonical changes, including the restructuring of our process for electing members of the Diocesan Council; and a diocesan budget proposal that includes a bold initiative to launch an Annual Appeal throughout our diocese to help fund the mission and ministry your bishop and Diocesan Council believe we are called to live out.

Praying our Life, Living Our Prayer: There is a profound rhythm of connection and relationship in that theme. We move from the altar to our daily life and living and from our daily life and living to the altar in a sacred pattern of connection and relationship with God, one another, and all of creation. We are bound together in Christian community by the Holy Spirit, forever breathing new life into our personal and corporate life. You are part of that sacred circle of relationship and connection. Thanks be to God!

Faithfully,
+Thomas