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2000-006

Clear Vision conference catches imagination and fuels positive 
changes for Church 

by Carol E. Barnwell

     (ENS) Camp Allen, situated in the piney woods of the Texas 
hill country, again played host to bishops and their staffs 
seeking a new, revitalized vision for their dioceses. "Encore, A 

Clear Vision of One Church," drew more than 250 participants for
the pre-Thanksgiving conference hosted by the Dioceses of Texas, 
Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee.

     Sessions on visioning and church planting were augmented by 
16 workshops and interactive panel discussions.  "This year's 
conference was primarily a 'how to'," building on the "big 
picture view" from last year's conference said Carolyn Dicer of 
East Tennessee.

     Stuart Entwistle, director of financial development from the 
Diocese of Maryland, was delighted at the "cross section of 
church leadership" present at the conference.  "It's critical to 
have insights about the strength of the church--to get a more 
global view," he said.  "It's also rewarding to have the 
opportunity to share my ministry with a different group and get 
feedback--to know what I have can be of help to others." 

     "We plan to plant a new church every year," said the Bishop 
of Spain, Carlos Lopez, who brought four clergy and four lay 
leaders with him. For 40 years, the Anglican Church in Spain was 
forced underground by the government, he explained. "This 
conference has helped us identify our maintenance mentality and 
systemized our thoughts about what we must to do to transform the 
culture of our Church." 

     During a panel discussion on leadership, the Rev. Hugh 
Magers, Evangelism Officer for the Episcopal Church, called for 
Commissions on Ministry to become proactive in seeking younger 
postulants.  Calling the clergy shortage "a crisis," he said a 
bias against those younger than 35 has caused the problem. The 
dichotomy between clergy and lay leadership was also raised. 

     The Very Rev. Jim Lemler, President and Dean of Seabury 
Western, called for more leadership education.  "Theological 
education must equip leaders," he said, a sentiment echoed by the 
Rev. Kevin  Martin, Canon for Mission and Congregational 
Development in the Diocese of Texas.   "If ordination isn't about 
leadership, then what is it about?" Martin asked, pointing out 
that much of the current leadership in the Church is frozen in 
place by a maintenance culture.  "If you look behind and no one 
is following you, you're just out taking a walk," quipped Magers 
in his characteristic dry humor.  

     "We are delighted so many people were able to join us in 
this most important work," said the Bishop Claude E. Payne, of 
Texas.  "In this time of terrific spiritual hunger, we must move 
into the future, united in our focus on mission and in reaching 
those who are currently outside the Church." Payne's presentation 
demonstrated how his "vision" has touched every aspect of church 
life in the Diocese of Texas. Bishops Peter J. Lee and David C. 

Jones of Virginia addressed church planting.  Bishops Robert Ihloff 
of Maryland and Bertram Herlong of Tennessee led panel 
discussions.

     Participants from 39 dioceses included four foreign 
countries, Mexico, Uruguay, Spain and Honduras. Representatives 
from the national Episcopal Church Center also attended. 

-Carol E. Barnwell is editor of the Texas Episcopalian, the 
newspaper of the Diocese of Texas.