“Thank you for a wonderful year of ministry together.”
By the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, May 2002

A year ago, on April 28, 2001, we gathered in Shapiro Field House at Norwich University to give thanks to God, to celebrate our life in Christ and to mark a new chapter in the life of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. Nearly 1,500 people from Vermont, Connecticut, New England and beyond gathered in the huge field house, transformed into a place of worship and celebration by banners, flowers, festive garments, incense, lights, staging, dancers, musicians, and a magnificent choir. The memories are still so vivid for me of that joyous liturgy.

We gathered as friends and family and pilgrims on the journey to raise our voices in praise to God, to hear and proclaim God’s Word, to renew the promises of our baptism, to share communion and then to enjoy the company of one another in a magnificent reception. Somewhere in the midst of all that I was ordained and consecrated as your bishop, and our journey together began to unfold.
One of the questions Bishop Theuner asked the assembly that day was this: “Will you uphold Thomas as bishop?” You responded with great resonance, “We will.” I remember thinking at the time, God I hope they mean that because I’ll need all the “upholding” I can get. A year later I want to thank you for keeping your promise.

This year has been a year of incredible learning and grace for me, and I have certainly felt “upheld.” Living at Rock Point, traveling throughout the diocese, learning about Vermont, visiting the congregations, hearing about your ministries, working with diocesan leaders and the Diocesan Ministry Support Team, facing challenges and opportunities together and all the other things that are part of this ministry makes being among you as bishop a true joy, blessing and privilege
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There are so many things that make me proud to be your Bishop. I can sum them up in three words: hospitality, faithfulness and generosity. Perhaps you don’t notice these things about yourselves in the same way that a “newcomer” does, and perhaps they are so much a part of who you are that any other way of being would seem odd. Whatever the case may be, these biblical virtues are very evident to me as I go about the ministry to which you have called me.

As just one vivid example among so many I could cite, all three of these virtues were in full evidence in the wake of September 11. You responded to that crisis by opening the doors of our churches for prayer and worship, by helping people to cope with their fear, grief and anger, by donating blood, money, time and other resources to aid the relief effort and by seeking a deeper awareness of other cultures and faiths and the “root causes” of terrorism throughout the world.

We did not know on April 28, 2001, in the midst of that glorious celebration, that we would be facing the crisis and challenges that September 11th brought to our lives and to the world. We don’t know now what crises or challenges lie ahead. We don’t know how we will be called upon to practice hospitality, faithfulness and generosity in the months and years to come, and yet I am most confident that by God’s grace and with God’s help we will remain true to these things that help fashion the fabric of our common life in this diocese.

The liturgy on April 28, 2001 was an occasion to celebrate our participation in the reconciling life and ministry of God in Christ. For me, the heart of that celebration was the renewal of our Baptismal Covenant. Living into the promises of that covenant with hospitality, faithfulness and generosity is a high and holy calling. That we share that high and holy calling together is a source of great comfort, joy, strength and hope for me. Thank you for a wonderful year of ministry together.

In Thanksgiving,
+Thomas

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