Episcopal Life Online Newslink October 23, 2007
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's ELO Newslink includes:
* TOP STORY - Executive Council to meet October 26-28 in Dearborn, Michigan * TOP STORY - San Diego diocese shelters evacuees from raging wildfires * TOP STORY - October 28 bulletin insert highlights Native American ministries, upcoming gathering * DIOCESAN DIGEST - CENTRAL FLORIDA: Howe letter quotes Canterbury; Lambeth issues clarification * DIOCESAN DIGEST - NEVADA: Diocesan convention stays 'open to the Spirit' * DIOCESAN DIGEST - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: New bishop calls for emphasis on mission, outreach * DIOCESAN DIGEST - SPOKANE: Convention hears bishop, Bonnie Anderson issue call to mission * WORLD REPORT - CANADA: Montreal diocese becomes second to urge same-gender blessings * OPINION - Holy simplicity: Contemplating lives of service and worship in a Shaker cemetery
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TOP STORIES
Executive Council to meet October 26-28 in Dearborn, Michigan Mission and ministry structures, relationships with Anglican Communion partners on agenda
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church's structures for mission and ministry, as well as its relationships in the wider Anglican Communion will be on the agenda when the Executive Council gathers for its fall meeting October 26-28 in Dearborn, Michigan, near Detroit, in the Diocese of Michigan.
The council, the church's governing body between meetings of General Convention, is due to release a response to the first draft of a proposed Anglican covenant, meet with representatives of a number of its partners from around the communion, respond to plans to reorganize the staff at the Church Center in New York City and hear reports from a number of its task forces, including ones dealing with budget processes and the Archives of the Episcopal Church.
The first two days of the meeting, which takes place at the Hyatt Regency hotel, will begin with committee time in the mornings, followed by plenary sessions in the afternoons.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, president of the Council, and House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson, vice president, will travel to Lansing, Michigan the evening of the 26th for the opening dinner of the Diocese of Michigan's annual convention. Anderson, who is a General Convention deputy from the diocese, will attend the convention during the day on October 27.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91267_ENG_HTM.htm
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San Diego diocese shelters evacuees from raging wildfires At least four homes lost; others in jeopardy
By Pat McCaughan
[Episcopal News Service, Orange County, California] At least eight congregations within the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego have opened their doors to shelter evacuees as 250,000 residents fled raging wildfires and one clergyperson lost his home.
Santa Ana winds, a record low rainfall, and 90-degree temperatures in some areas were blamed for firefighters' inability to control a dozen or more separate fires, raging throughout California, from Lake Arrowhead to Malibu, and further south to Irvine and San Diego. Thus far, one person has been reported dead, 20 injured and at least 90,000 acres burned.
"Our first response should be prayer," San Diego Bishop James Mathes says in a letter on the diocesan website. "Yet, prayer also follows action. Our diocesan staff, clergy, and lay leaders are working to provide shelter and pastoral care to those affected by the fires."
The Rev. Leland Jones, vicar of St. Mary's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Ramona, and his wife, Shirley, lost their home in the blaze and were staying with family members. At least three families in Jones' parish have lost their homes. "We lost the tangibles but not the memories," Jones said in a telephone interview. Ultimately, he said they had about 10 minutes to gather belongings and go.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91221_ENG_HTM.htm
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October 28 bulletin insert highlights Native American ministries, upcoming gathering
[Episcopal Life This Week] A Native American Gathering is planned for November 1-3, topping the Decade of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation.
Learn more in the October 28 Episcopal Life bulletin insert, available http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_8852_ENG_HTM.htm.
The Episcopal Church's Office of Native American Ministries is sponsoring an All Saints' Day Commemorative Service at the Historical Jamestown Memorial Church on Thursday, November 1. The observance continues on Friday and Saturday, November 2-3, with a conference for Native and Non-Native participants from across the country. Events will be held at Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown, Bruton Parish, and St. Martin's Church, Williamsburg. Further information is available http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6057_86526_ENG_HTM.htm.
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
CENTRAL FLORIDA: Howe letter quotes Canterbury; Lambeth issues clarification http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_91268_ENG_HTM.htm
NEVADA: Diocesan convention stays 'open to the Spirit' http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_91229_ENG_HTM.htm
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: New bishop calls for emphasis on mission, outreach http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_91228_ENG_HTM.htm
SPOKANE: Convention hears bishop, Bonnie Anderson issue call to mission http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_91230_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
CANADA: Montreal diocese becomes second to urge same-gender blessings http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_91274_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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OPINION
Holy simplicity
Contemplating lives of service and worship in a Shaker cemetery
By Ron Beathard
[Episcopal Life] Not far from the asphalt and the iron-clad buildings of downtown Cincinnati, in a westerly direction, there is a Shaker village. A few houses still stand, and barns. Some are in original condition and are vacant and stoutly boarded. A few have been brought into the 21st century and are homes.
And there is the Shaker cemetery, an acre or two. A two-lane county road divides, sometimes noisily, the open fields. There are low hills in the distance.
I sit on the ground as my dog runs along the fence at the rear of the cemetery -- an iron fence bent and overwhelmed by age and sanctity and brambles. The cemetery is neat and clean in the Shaker spirit. It is nearly marker-less, and the remaining markers are illegible and probably moved from their chosen place.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_91260_ENG_HTM.htm