EYE, Rock Point Conferences, and a new youth minister
By the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, September 2002
• Five days with over 1400 teenagers and advisors at the Episcopal Youth Event in Wyoming!
• One morning each week with the campers and staff at the Rock Point Summer Conferences!
• The calling of a full-time Canon for Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Vermont!
This definitely has been a summer full of activity and exciting news about youth ministry in the Diocese of Vermont and I have enjoyed every minute of it. In my column this month I want to share a word about each of these things.
It has been twelve years since I attended a National Episcopal Youth Event (EYE), and the joy, excitement, power and spirit that I remember from years gone by was definitely present on the campus of the University of Wyoming, July 23-28. Along with Stephanie, Matt, Liz, Mike, Mary, Ian, Katie, Matt, Abby, Nate, Gretchen, Brenton, Heather, Berkeley, Keri and Alden, I proudly took my place as part of the great delegation from Vermont at the 2002 EYE. I was one of twenty-three Bishops present at this event, the most ever at an EYE.
Without a doubt, every Episcopalian in Vermont can be proud of the wonderful way our delegation represented our diocese. Their enthusiasm, commitment, spirit of adventure and faith was present throughout. As the presiding bishop said in a letter sent to all bishops following the event, “If you have any doubts about the Millennial Generation, you can set them aside. They love Jesus and are concerned about the world and want the church to be an authentic sign of and force for reconciliation.” Please read the account of this experience written by some of our delegation in this edition of the Mountain Echo.
This was my second summer at the Rock Point Summer Conferences, so I had a bit more of an idea about what to expect. None the less, the experience of talking with and listening to the children, youth and adults who attended, and joining with them in the Eucharist during each camp, was as special as last year. Thanks to all of you who support the Rock Point Summer Conferences with your prayers and financial contributions and a special thanks to all the volunteer staff and the great summer staff who work together to offer such a high quality experience of Christian community. The last group—All Ages—left this morning, and already I miss the presence of the campers and staff on the Point. The good news is that I know they will be back, because here they have experienced friendships, community, the church, the beauty of God’s world, and the love and grace of God in a way that will forever be part of who they are.
Finally, it was with great joy that I announced this summer the calling and appointment of Connie Saeger-Proctor to be Canon for Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Vermont. You can read more about her in this edition of the Mountain Echo [Page D]. Connie comes to Vermont from the Diocese of Easton (Eastern Maryland) where she has been serving as Family and Youth Minister at Trinity Cathedral. Her selection followed a nation-wide search made possible in part when Holy Trinity, Swanton, offered to help fund the position as a full time ministry.
In joining our Diocesan Ministry Support Team, Connie brings a wealth of knowledge, resources and experience with her, plus a deep commitment to Christ, to young people and their ministry as the Church of Today! A fantastic committee of young people and adults worked with me in developing the position description and in the calling process. In the end, we were in complete agreement that Connie is the person we wanted to join us in this important ministry of our Diocese. I hope you will welcome her with great hospitality and support to her new ministry among us.
There you have it! A summer filled with exciting news and wonderful memories of ministry to and with young people in the Diocese of Vermont. Truly a summer of joy, hope, fun and grace.
Thanks be to God,
+Thomas
Copyright ® 2002, The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. All rights Reserved.