“Living the Covenant: the road to Diocesan Convention and beyond”
By the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, July/August 2001
The Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer (pages 304-305) begins with an affirmation of our belief in God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and continues with five questions which focus on living out our faith as baptized members of the Body of Christ:
“Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?
“Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
“Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
“Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?”
Our answer to each question is the same: “I will, with God’s help.”
I think asking ourselves these five questions each day is a great way to focus our days, and I invite you to include these questions in your daily pattern of prayer. Perhaps some of you already are doing so. Ponder each question for a moment and think about how, with God’s help, you kept that promise the day before and how, with God’s help, you might keep that promise on this new day. Remember the “I will, with God’s help” part as well.
I think this covenant is so important for our life together as the Church that I have asked that “Living the Covenant” be the theme of my first Diocesan Convention with you on November 2-3, 2001. I want to share with you here two of the special ways we plan to focus on that theme.
The first will involve a series of three Regional Gatherings prior to Convention, on the first three Saturdays in October. Every member of the diocese is invited to participate in one of these Regional Gatherings, which will run from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
There will be three parts to each of the days. The morning will be devoted to practical seminars that will help local parish leaders involved in local parish ministries. Seminars for treasurers, secretaries, parish communicators, youth leaders, and others will be offered. Seminars focused on parish outreach, worship and music, and how to talk about controversial issues at the local level will also be included.
The mid-afternoon will include a Eucharist and homily by the Bishop, lunch, and a presentation on diocesan ministries. The balance of the afternoon will be devoted to pre-convention matters, including resolutions, the budget and an opportunity to meet some of the nominees standing for election to General Convention and other elected ministries. We are still completing plans for these Regional Gatherings and will send further information about them to parishes over the summer. The next edition of the Mountain Echo will have more details.
A second way we plan to emphasize baptismal ministry is by offering a series of workshops on Friday afternoon at Convention. These workshops will be offered by members of our diocese, and each will highlight a ministry which expresses a “living out” of one of the Baptismal Covenant promises. The workshops are open to all members of the diocese and will be conducted from 2:15 to 4:30 on Friday, November 2. Again, watch for more information in the Mountain Echo and in mailings to Convention Delegates.
Baptismal ministry will be celebrated in others ways as well during Convention and then beyond as we live out our mutual and common commitment to be the Church. It is my hope that this emphasis will be an ongoing focus for our life and ministry together as we faithfully seek to pray the prayer of Christ, learn the mind of Christ and do the deeds of Christ.
Living the Covenant with you,
Thomas
Copyright ® 2001, The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. All rights Reserved.