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 | Oregon Trail Evangelist | General Convention | Spring 2006 Ordinations |
 | Past Diocesan Council Minutes |
| Rag Dolls 2 Love|
| The Rev. Bob Adam's Poem |
 | Gift to Presiding Bishop of Staff from EDEO |
| Presiding Bishop's visit to Eastern Oregon |
 

Past Issues of Oregon Trail Evangelist Newspaper

Oct. 2007; Nov. 2007

Summary of the Actions of the 75^th General Convention

The following brief summary of the actions of General Convention was submitted by Kathy Gregg.  A more complete, though unofficial, summary of actions of General Convention may be found at the Diocese of Chicago website:

http://www.epischicago.org/DownloadResource.cfm?RecID=496

Full legislation can be read or downloaded at http://gc2006.org/legislation/

Bishop Gregg's reflections on General Convention and the reflections of members of the Eastern Oregon deputation may be found here.

Columbus Convention Update

The Episcopal Church of the United States of America made headlines in the recent election of its twenty-sixth Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori.  That is not the only thing that happened in Columbus, however.  The seventy fifth General Convention made a number of other decisions that will affect its mission and ministry for the next three years and beyond.  The Convention took stands on social policy issues facing the USA and world, including the war in Iraq, human rights and the church’s role in slavery as well as how the church benefited from slavery.

In what became a major mission and evangelism emphasis of this General Convention, bishops and deputies gave their official support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) supporting and urged parishes, missions, congregations and dioceses across the church to work for their implementation.  The MDGs are an eight-pronged mission to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015.  Each diocese in ECUSA (Episcopal Church in the United States of America) is urged to give 0.7 percent toward MDGs by July 7, 2007 (7/7/07).  The Last Sunday after Pentecost is designated as a special day of prayer, fasting and giving toward global reconciliation and the Millennium Development Goals.

Each diocese is asked to establish a global reconciliation commission to work toward achieving the goals of the MDGs.

The ONE Episcopalian campaign calls on the U.S. government to spend an additional one percent of its budget to combat global poverty.

Slavery

The Convention’s statements on slavery and racism grew out of a call for the church to live more fully into its mission of reconciling all people to God and to one another.  The church expressed regret for supporting and justifying slavery and endorsed the principles of restorative justice, “an important tool in implementing a neutral articulation of the self-examination and amendment of life that is required to fulfill our baptismal covenant.”

In a related resolution, the Convention reaffirmed the New Jamestown Covenant and the church’s indigenous people, designating the decade 2007-2017 as the Second Decade of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation.    The 400^th anniversary of the 1607 settlement and Eucharist will be commemorated next year in a series of Virginia and Washington D.C. events.

War in Iraq

The Convention reiterated its opposition to the war in Iraq and called on Congress and the President to immediately develop a plan to stabilize Iraq that will allow U.S. troops to come home.  The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music is asked to commission prayers and liturgies for use in the time of war.  The church is called “to honor and support, through prayers and actions, the armed service men and women.”  The resolution also asks the church’s ecumenical officer to set up a dialogue with Iraqi Muslims and Christians about nonviolent resolution of conflicts.

Civil Rights and Equality

The Convention went on record opposing the criminalization of homosexuality.  The Episcopal Church supports gay and lesbian people as “children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the Church.” 

Ecumenical Relations

The Convention agreed to begin interim Eucharist sharing with the United Methodist Church and recognizes the UMC as a member of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church in which the Gospel is rightly preached and taught and encourages the development of a common life between the two churches as well as joint Eucharists between the two.

Liturgical Changes

A Revised Common Lectionary will replace the Book of Common Prayer lectionary effective First Sunday of Advent 2007.  An orderly transition will exist until 2010.

Budget for Mission

Spanning the spectrum from theology and liturgy to economy, the Convention passed a budget of just over $152 million for the next three years.  Included are five priorities of: justice and peace with emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals; young adults, youth and children; reconciliation and evangelism, congregational transformation; and partnerships within the Anglican Communion, and with ecumenical and interfaith entities. 

A special missionary project is directed at the parts of Louisiana and possibly the state of Mississippi after the devastation of Katrina and Rita in 2005. 

Windsor Report

General Convention approved a resolution that calls on Bishop and the Standing Committee to “exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on the communion”.

Convention 2009 – Anaheim, CA, July 8-17, 2009

Convention planners were directed to provide child-care facilities at the 2009 convention.    Passed a living wage legislation and agreed to contract solely with union hotels that offer living wages to employees

Submitted by Kathy Gregg

Eastern Oregon Delegation

The Diocese of Eastern Oregon was represented in the House of Deputies by the Rev. Bill Ellis, Trinity, Bend; the Rev. Mary Royes, St. Mark's, Hood River; the Rev. Sarah Stanton, St. Peter's, La Grande; the Rev. Canon Karen Lewis; John Adams, St. Paul's, The Dalles; Jim Foster, St. Paul's, The Dalles; Jean Gillespie, Trinity, Bend; and Amy Martinez, St. Paul's, Nyssa.  The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg represented the Diocese of Eastern Oregon in the House of Bishops.

Also attending General Convention from Eastern Oregon for all or part of the Convention period were the Ven. Jim Mosier, the Rev. Janet Warner, Susan Powers, and the Rev. Alison Dingley.  Susan Powers is an alternate deputy.  The Rev. Janet Warner, Deacon, St. Andrew's, Prineville attended her first General Convention as a visitor.  Archdeacon Jim Mosier attended as a visitor and assisted with the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf booth in the display hall.  The Rev. Alison Dingley, Interim Rector, St. Paul's, The Dalles, attended General Convention as an alternate clergy deputy for the Diocese of Hawaii, her canonical residence.  The Rt. Rev. Rustin and Gretchen Kimsey represented Navajoland Area Mission.

Ordinations

Martha Hurlburt was ordained to the Diaconate by the Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg on Saturday, June 24 at 5:30 pm at St. Paul's, Klamath Falls.  Friends, family and the congregations of St. Paul's and St. Barnabas joined the celebration.  The Rev. Dr. Ivor Hughes, interim rector, presented Martha for ordination.  Martha will serve both St. Paul's and St. Barnabas'.  An "old fashioned church picnic" topped off the celebration.

Roger Fairfield of Sisters and Rebecca Hendricks of Milton-Freewater were ordained to the Diaconate at St. Paul's, The Dalles, on June 10 at 7:00 pm.  The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg celebrated and preached at the ordination.  Friends and family gathered in a full church for the ordination and reception following.  Presenters of the ordinands included the Rev. Larry Harrelson, previous Rector of Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters, who now lives in Boise, Idaho; and the Rev. Chotard Doll, former Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in La Grande, now living in Walla Walla, Washington.  A reception following the service was hosted by St. Paul's.

The Rev. Janet C. Schiering, Deacon, was ordained to the Priesthood by the Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg on May 9, 2006, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hood River.  Bishop Gregg served as Celebrant and the Rev. Stephen Lusk, Chaplain for Hospice of the Gorge, was  preacher.  Bishop Paul Swanson, Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, assisted.  Episcopal and Lutheran clergy of Hood River and The Dalles were well represented, along with Hood River clergy of other denominations.  Representatives of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hospice of the Gorge, and friends and family filled the congregation.  Jan's assignment as priest in the Diocese of Eastern Oregon is Chaplain for Hospice of the Gorge, serving Hood River, Klickitat, Wasco and Sherman Counties.

RAG DOLLS 2 LOVE

Rag dolls for children in war torn countries or for children in orphanages, isolated villages, or affected by HIV/AIDS.  This was the project that was brought to the attention of people at St. Paul's, The Dalles, by Gretchen Kimsey and Kathy Gregg.   As a result, at least 36 dolls were blessed on Sunday, April 10, at St. Paul's and sent on their way to Mary Page Jones, the founder of Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc., for distribution to children in need of a comfort toy.

Mary Page Jones is the spouse of the Rt. Rev. Bob G. Jones, retired Bishop of Wyoming. Through articles in Episcopal Life and other publications, churchwide and secular, this ministry of doll making has been picked up by people around the world to make dolls or to make contributions for the making and mailing of the dolls.  The dolls are specifically designed to be ethnically sensitive to the cultures where the dolls are sent.  Specifications for fabric, features, etc. are critical to the making of these dolls.  At this time over 5000 dolls have been sent to children in ten countries: Palestine, Israel; Haiti; The Sudan; Iraq; South Africa; Belarus; Mexico; Honduras; China and Afghanistan. For more information about this ministry or to download patterns, visit www.ragdolls2love.org or contact Gretchen Kimsey or Kathy Gregg.

Update from June, 2005 issue of episcopallife:  Rag Dolls 2 Love recently sent off its 500th doll.  Mary-Page Jones sends her thanks to all who help with this ministry and to God, in whose hands this ministry lies.  Dolls are in the hands of tsunami victims and children who have been sold into prostitution or for work in factories.  A shipment will also soon be on its way to Cambodia. 

Bishop Robert Jones, retired, is filling an interim position in Geneva, Switzerland.   Ida Harris of Wapiti, WY is taking over the receiving and the shipping of the dolls while the Joneses are in Switzerland.

A request has been received from the Zambia arm of a worldwide organization for a 40-foot container full of these special dolls to be distributed to hurting children.  Volunteers continue to come forward to provide dolls, prayers and financial support.  The Internal Revenue Service has granted Rag Dolls 2 Love nonprofit status.  Contributions of dolls or financial support may be sent to: 
                              Mary-Page Jones, president
                              Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc.
                              P.O. Box 292
                              Wapiti, WY 82450

"Receive You Unto Myself"

Oh, go, announce the coming,
The coming of the Lord.
A coming of reception
And a promise of redemption.

In hope, Christ will receive us,
Through faith, Christ will mature us,
And love is where He hosts us,
As He dwells within our souls.

Are we searching for a system
That will comfort or uphold?
Reaching toward a spirit
That brings hope among our own?

Calling for safe portal
In a wild and choppy sea,
Looking for a fortress
To protect the wild from me?

Do not run to find the comfort
Or resist the blowing wind.
Stand firm in hope of substance
And call the world to thee.

Release the bonds of 'ism',
Walk freely in the trust.
The god of all creation,
In love, remains the just.

The Rev. Bob Adams
April, 2005

Diocesan Response to Tsunami Disaster

70% of the Households of the Diocese are known to have responded to Bishop Gregg's invitation to designate one Sunday in January for a special ingathering for the Episcopal Relief and Development tsunami relief effort.  16 of the 23 Houses of the Diocese sent the proceeds of their special ingathering to the Diocesan Office or have notified the Diocesan Office of the amount that they sent directly to ERD.  As a result of those ingatherings, the Diocese of Eastern Oregon sent over $14,000 to Episcopal Relief and Development for Tsunami Relief Efforts.  In addition to this collection of offerings, it is known that a number of individuals have sent their offerings directly to ERD.  Many thanks to the people of the Diocese for your generosity to those affected by this devastating natural disaster.

For more information on Episcopal Relief and Development, their work and use of donations, talk to your parish ERD Representative, or visit the ERD website.

Presiding Bishop Receives
Primatial Staff
from the
Diocese of Eastern Oregon

During the House of Bishops meeting in March, the Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, III was presented with a hand-crafted primatial staff from the Diocese of Eastern Oregon. The primatial staff is the work of Bob DeSpain, communicant of All Saints, Heppner. The Bishop of Eastern Oregon, the Right Reverend William O. Gregg, Ph.D., presented the staff to Presiding Bishop Griswold at the close of the Eucharist at which the Presiding Bishop had presided. Bishop Griswold’s face lit up with great joy and appreciation, as well as thanks, when he received the beautiful juniper staff. He expressed his thanks to the Diocese and to Bob for the exquisite craftsmanship. Bob had described the wood in a note to Bishop Griswold as sometimes being cantankerous to work with.

During his Visitation to our Diocese in September, 2003, the Presiding Bishop asked DeSpain if he would craft a primatial staff for him after admiring the crozier that DeSpain had made for Bishop Gregg. With his usual graciousness and superb craftsmanship, DeSpain got the specifications and went to work. The staff was also greatly admired by many of the Bishops present. This led to the suggestion that DeSpain could have enough work for the rest of his life crafting croziers.

Bishop Gregg said, “It was a great honor to present this beautiful primatial staff made by Bob to the Presiding Bishop. Bishop Griswold was really delighted with both the staff and with the excellent woodworking that produced it. It was an important opportunity for the Diocese to express its support and affection for our Presiding Bishop. I am grateful to Bob DeSpain for his willingness to create the primatial staff, and thankful for his gift of craftsmanship with wood.” The Bishop also noted that the Presiding Bishop sported his Diocese of Eastern Oregon buckle every day at the House of Bishops meeting.
 

Diocesan Council Minutes Archives   PDF files