It is my hope that in our ministry together
as a Diocese, we will all work in concert
to accomplish those tasks which encourage
the transformation of mind, body, and spirit.
In this regard, I invite our churches to
focus on these key areas of mission so that
they may be directly integrated into our
teaching and educational ministries within
the course of the next calendar year.
Indeed, as a missionary community in Oregon,
we are called to be incarnational,
relational, and transformational
in all aspects of our ministry2.
As a missionary community we are incarnational
when we are both open and responsive
to the work of the Holy Spirit in
our communities. This demands both clear
and focused attention to population trends,
demographics, and a stronger commitment
to multiculturalism in the contexts in which
we live and worship.
As missionary community we are relational
as we understand that we are all part
of one church and that none of stand
as discreet independent entities. A relational
community takes seriously our responsibilities
toward Christian hospitality, welcome, and
intentional engagement with people who may
have no faith tradition at all. The strength
drawn in a relational missionary community
is in the networks of interdependent relationships
that emerge through sharing the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
As a missionary community we are transformational
as we focus on Jesus and the kingdom of
God as our goal. A transformational community
is one that works with other institutional
structures to actively change minds, hearts,
and circumstances in ways that allow the
Holy Spirit to convey the power of Christ’s
love. The goal of a transformational community
is not to be self-absorbed but to be clearly
focused on changing lives through
teaching, sharing, and ministering
to those who are searching for meaning and
purpose in their lives.
By the grace of Almighty God our ministry
together in Oregon is gradually reaping
wonderful fruits of our labors.
The new format of our convention with a
focus on sharing and celebrating our common
ministries together as a diocese is an example
of our efforts to re-organize ourselves
as a missionary church focused on transforming
human lives through the power of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
As mentioned on previous occasions, it
is my prayer that we organize our common
life together on three principles that seek
to produce transformation and renewal in
the personal and corporate sphere of our
lives. These themes are: Christian Discipleship,
Mission, and Evangelism.
Christian Discipleship demands that we
commit our lives to being a follower of
Jesus Christ and that we develop a personal
and corporate rule of life that governs
our behavior as disciples of Jesus. In more
significant terms, Christian discipleship
requires that we model our life in ways
that draw new disciples to Jesus.
The Mission of the Church is to recognize
the Christ in others and to make Christ
known to all people. We are reminded that
we are first and foremost, a missionary
people and a missionary community entrusted
with the responsibility for bringing the
presence of Christ into the world both locally
and globally. As a church we are both local
and global and our focus on mission needs
to reflect this balance and mutual interdependence.
As a missionary people we are called to
sacrificially and selflessly share the joy
of Christ within us, with others who may
be searching for Christ’s love in
their lives.
Evangelism involves an intentional means
through which we share our Christian faith
with others, especially with those who may
have no faith tradition at all. Evangelism
involves equipping Christians with tools
to share their own personal stories and
experiences. As a community of story-tellers
we are asked to share our own life experiences
and share news of spiritually transformative
events that have drawn us closer to Christ
and enabled us to become committed Christians.
Evangelism promotes a climate of joy and
enthusiasm in living as a disciple of Christ
and finding ways to share this joy with
others in a proactive way.
In order to facilitate our conversations
around these themes, I am inviting our Christian
formation programs throughout our churches
to focus on three basic questions at some
point during the next year:
Discipleship: What does it mean to follow
Jesus?
Mission: What is the work of the Church?
Evangelism: How do we proclaim the Good
News?
These questions may be raised in adult
educational forums, Sunday school or confirmation
classes, or other forums related to some
aspect of Christian formation.
As One Church, we are called to live in
communion, in mutual relationship, and interdependence.
We are called both as individuals and as
worshipping communities to be intentional
in our support of our churches and our clergy
who labor so faithfully in service to our
Lord. In this context, I invite all our
churches during the course of the coming
year, to intentionally study and faithfully
respond to our Christian responsibilities
around tithing and giving to the Lord and
for the Lord’s work, the “first
fruits” of our lives and our labor.
We are called to revisit the importance
of Christian stewardship in our corporate
lives and teach and equip one another to
fulfill our Christian responsibility to
support our churches as they minister in
our communities.
These perspectives offer us a fundamentally
unique and transformative way of working,
praying, and worshipping together. At the
heart of this is a commitment to mission
and living out The Great Commission of Jesus,
in all fabrics of our being.
One of the high points of our common life
together is the creation and development
of a companion diocese relationship with
the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church
of South India. I am so very pleased and
appreciative of the wonderful reception
that members of our own delegation from
Oregon received when we visited the Diocese
of Madhya Kerala earlier this year. I am
particularly pleased to welcome and honor
The Right Reverend Thomas Samuel, Bishop
of the Diocese of Madhya Kerala and his
wife Lilly; The Reverends Sam Matthew, Shaji
George Jacob, and Oommen George, Mrs. Mercy
Jacob, and Mr. Babu Philip. These persons
are active leaders in the CSI congregations
in India and in the U.S., and we are honored
to have them with us at our Diocesan Convention
today. They have traveled the length and
breadth of our diocese during the past week.
They have visited many churches, institutions,
and significant ministries throughout our
diocese. I am especially appreciative and
thankful for the able and dedicated efforts
of our Companion Diocese Committee, guided
by Mrs. Anne McCollom, and The Very Rev’d
Bill Lupfer, co-Chairs and The Reverends
Barbara Mudge and Sherman Hesselgrave, Mr.
Buzz Braeley, and Mrs. Kate Moleneux.
This past year has been a time of tremendous
difficulties for our brothers and sisters
around the world. In the earlier part of
the year we have joined forces with Church
World Service and Episcopal Relief and Development
in responding to the destructive tsunami
which took the lives of hundreds of thousands
throughout Southern Asia. Just recently
a major earthquake in Pakistan and hurricanes
throughout the Caribbean basin has wrought
great suffering and destruction.
Hurricane Katrina has had an especially
notable impact on our national consciousness.
As a nation, we are troubled not simply
by the physical damage which the storms
inflicted, but we are also appalled to witness
again the suffering of the poor and marginalized
in New Orleans, Mississippi, and neighboring
areas. Indeed, the public media has brought
to the forefront of our attention, a reality
that that many have known and noticed for
decades; conditions of poverty and suffering
for so many people in the urban and rural
areas throughout our country. While many
in the political realm continue to shift
blame and responsibility, our tasks as Christians
is to explore ways in which we can contribute
to a process of national rebuilding and
healing. Both the civic and social reconstruction
that is to take place must clearly address
the needs of the poor and most vulnerable.
The damage caused by recent storms will
dramatically reconfigure population centers
and most likely create new centers of economic
enterprise. In the wake of this national
tragedy we have an opportunity to revamp
social institutions and re-invest in human
capital and respond to human needs in ways
never previously considered. We have an
opportunity to more proactively address
issues of poverty, racism, social class,
education, hunger, education, and a multitude
of other issues within the legislative and
political structures within our government.
Indeed, in times of adversity, as we need
to correct injustices and the shortcomings
of the past, we must also take time to recognize,
appreciate, and celebrate many acts of love
and random kindness that are offered to
those in need. I am so proud and thankful
of the prayers and support of the many members
and institutions of our diocese who continue
to reach out to the victims of hurricane
Katrina and others in need. I am especially
grateful for the ongoing work of Church
World Service, Episcopal Relief and Development,
and many other humanitarian relief agencies
that continue to work on the field to support
those in need, long after they lose media
attention and are far removed from public
discourse. I pray that we will be mindful
that the relief efforts underway are part
of a longer process of reconstruction and
redevelopment.
St. Catherine’s of Alexandria,
Manzanita, Oregon
Another significant sign of new life and
vitality in our diocese is brought to light
through our church, St. Catherine’s
of Alexandria in Manzanita. The have achieved
a phenomenal accomplishment through prayers,
petitions, and faithful determination. From
dust and dirt and seemingly insurmountable
logistical and financial challenges, we
now celebrate the construction of a new
church building that has been dedicated
to the Glory of God and the service of God’s
people. I want to especially acknowledge
the hard work of Father Paul Barthelemy,
our congregation in Manzanita, the lay leadership,
and other congregations throughout our diocese
who have helped to this vision and dream
into reality. The Lord has blessed us indeed!
Convocations asked to begin preparing
the foundation for new church plants
During the course of the coming year, I
am asking that the convocations in our diocese
begin conversations around planting new
churches and worshipping communities. It
is my hope that the various convocations
in our diocese will begin preparing the
foundation for new church plants in those
areas where such activity may bear fruit.
Our Sudanese congregation worshipping at
St. David’s is an example of what
we can achieve through the power of the
Holy Spirit. It is my hope that in our diocese,
every convocation will work to lay the foundations
for a new church plant in their own areas.
A new church plant is not necessarily defined
in terms of a building or structure but
around a community of God’s people
who gather together to pray and worship
in homes, schools, or other settings in
which they engage their lives more fully.
People of faith or people in search of God
who have no faith tradition at all may feel
welcomed at our invitation. I invite us
all to study the book of Acts and how our
church emerged and thrived from its humble
origins as small faith communities who gathered
together to learn, teach, and experience
the presence of God through Jesus Christ.
Supporting the work of the Church
through Development:
At last month's clergy conference Bishop
Claude Paine proclaimed a vision of renewal
for the church. It is a vision for all of
us - clergy and laity alike, in every parish,
mission, and institution of our diocese
- reclaiming the great commission that is
ours: to be faithful disciples, zealous
missioners, and bold advocates for Jesus
Christ's power to transform lives. We are
the most potent and valuable resource for
this great work. To enable this vision to
succeed and thrive in our diocese we must
provide not only the human resources - that's
us - but also the means to support and sustain
it for years to come. To do so we are re-commissioning
Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of Oregon,
a diocesan corporation founded in 1991,
to be the principal development arm of our
diocese. Episcopal Charities' principal
mission will be to expand the financial
resources available for parishes and missions
in our diocese - both for pressing needs
in established congregations and for new
church plants - and to provide development
counsel to them so that they may more freely
and effectively pursue mission and discipleship
in their communities. Episcopal Charities
may also serve as a principal channel for
our diocese's responses to charitable and
humanitarian needs - within our diocese
and state, but also regionally, nationally,
and internationally.
Additionally, within the next few months,
I will be inviting your prayerful and active
support for Episcopal Charities and more
specifically about some development initiatives
that will be designed to specifically respond
to the capital project needs of some churches
in our diocese.
New Building Initiative for Prince
of Peace, Salem:
One of the joys that we share is in our
growth is the opportunity that God gives
us to live and work in community. Prince
of Peace is one of our Episcopal Churches
in the city of Salem. Over the years the
increase in congregational membership has
necessitated the construction of a new church
facility. It is my joy to share with you
a brief video introduction of this good
news of congregational development in Salem
and invite your active response and support.
In very specific terms, I am asking that
all the members of our diocesan family pray
and work earnestly to support our church
in Salem, Prince of Peace, to develop a
new church building for worship to the Glory
of Almighty God. (Video Presentation)
Congregational Development:
Our work in the area of mission is blessed
indeed with the energy and hard work of
The Reverend Canon George Hemingway who
also serves our congregation in Newberg.
The missioner has met with several vestries
or rectors this year to discuss mission
strategy. The Vestry at St. George, Roseburg
has developed a new mission plan that includes
Hispanic Ministry. First steps include ESL
classes. ESL classes are due to begin at
St. Bartholomew in Beaverton in January.
Misión Santa Cruz has opened up a
mission extension at St. Aidan in Gresham
on Wednesday nights. These three initiatives
indicate a growing awareness of both mission
possibilities and missional responsibility
at all levels in the diocese.
Percept planning tools have been
used by 166 persons in 56 congregations.
Eleven congregations have 5 or more users,
suggesting a critical mass for mission strategy
development in those congregations. Several
entire vestries have signed on and used
the data and leadership tools to influence
their mission plans. Deacon Janis Hanson
has used Percept planning tools in her consultations
with three congregations and the missioner
has used these tools with several others.
These tools are being used also at regional
or diocesan levels by the data committee
of the Holy Conversation processes of Diocesan
Council.
Conversations with a variety of persons
in the Damascus and Happy Valley area suggest
that the region is ripe for a new missional
initiative. About 25,000 new homes and 45,000
new jobs are envisioned in the Damascus-Happy
valley Concept Plan. Construction is evident
everywhere we look! Next steps will include
starting a conversation among representatives
of the surrounding parishes, along with
other mission partners, such as the Episcopal
Church Center and ELCA staff representatives
and the creation of an ad hoc mission strategy
team
New Opportunities for Asian American
Ministries:
Earlier this year, myself, along with Deacon
Hagan, Dean Lupfer and Canon Hemingway,
our missioner attended the Episcopal Asian
Ministries meeting in Seattle. We are actively
involved with Episcopal Asian Ministries
(EAM) to explore new opportunities to reach
the thousands of unchurched Asians living
in our diocese, to determine where existing
leadership might be found, and to network
with other mission-minded persons with experience
in Asian ministries. The Cathedral and the
Close were also privileged to host the EAM
Board October 28 and 29, so that “the
bonds of our common affection” may
be renewed, and we may be encouraged in
our hope for new missional outreach among
the Asian communities of our diocese.
Renewed Leadership in Hispanic Ministries
In the area of Hispanic ministries, a number
of our clergy have attended language classes,
preaching events, and evangelism workshops.
Our Diocese, in consultation with the Hispanic
Missioner’s Office at the Episcopal
Church Center, hosted the Mujeres Unidas
en el Liderazgo (Women United in Leadership)
Conference at Menucha. Start-up resources
and supplies were purchased for new Hispanic
ministries at Roseburg, Beaverton and Gresham.
Celebrating the Institutions of our
Diocesan family
As a Diocese, along with our churches and
congregations, we are blessed with a number
of institutions that play an important role
in our common witness and life together
in Christ. Our school, hospital systems,
and social service agencies continue to
produce transformations of the heart, body,
mind and spirit.
Oregon Episcopal School
Oregon Episcopal School continues to be
a tremendous source of inspiration and blessing
as we minister to hundreds of school age
children in the Portland metropolitan area.
This ministry of education and mentoring
transforms the lives of children and parents
in a wonderful way. Though our diocesan
school, we continue to be ministers of encouragement
and support for children with the superb
leadership of administrators, faculty, staff,
and parent volunteers.
Some significant achievements include the
fact that our school is committed to community
service. It is impressive to note that at
least 57 of our graduating seniors gave
over 6800 hours of service to the community.
The theme for the year’s Service Learning
component was “Imagine the possibilities;
Embrace the opportunities”.
Legacy Health System
Portland’s Legacy Good Samaritan
Hospital shares a long and rich history
with the Episcopal Church. The hospital/orphanage
was opened 130 years ago by Benjamin Wistar
Morris, then Bishop of the Oregon and Washington
Territory. It was founded as an extension
of the work and ministry of Bishop Morris
and the people of the Episcopal Church to
serve everyone in the community “…
regardless of race, color, creed or religion,”
asserted the bishop at the opening ceremony
October 9th, 1875.
To sustain and emphasize those intentions,
Legacy Health System implemented the “Episcopal
Church Initiative” in 2000 based on
recommendations from the Episcopal Diocese,
Legacy’s Administration, and the hospital’s
Department of Spiritual Care. Early initiatives
included: spiritual quotations displayed
in patient rooms and in hospital waiting
and meeting areas; designating parking spaces
and office space for visiting clergy; spiritual
care information included in the Patient
Guide, which is available to all patients;
acquainting parishes to availability of
meeting-room space available for Episcopal
congregations to use; and the initiation
of pilot projects with Grace Memorial, St.
John the Baptist, and Oregon Episcopal School
to undertake activities that strengthen
the hospital’s relationship with the
Episcopal Church.
In addition, our diocese which participates
in the Legacy Community Health Fund, established
in 1998, provides grants totaling $500,000
annually for major community-based initiatives
that focus on children and youth in the
areas of education and literacy, early childhood
emotional and behavioral development, and
mental health issues affecting the community’s
youth.
For years, Legacy Good Samaritan has maintained
a close relationship with NW Portland Ministries.
NW Portland Ministries is an interfaith
organization dedicated to meeting needs
of NW Portland residents. In 2004, Legacy
strengthened this relationship by donating
in-kind office space on the Good Samaritan
campus at no cost. This enables them to
focus on provided needed services to the
community rather than fund-raising for administrative
expenses. In addition, Legacy donates $5,000
per year to assist in NW Portland Ministries’
transportation program for seniors and the
disabled.
And lastly, Trinity Place Adult Daycare
is a 11 year old cooperative effort between
Legacy and Trinity Cathedral, providing
a caring and stimulating environment for
adults with dementia held at the Cathedral.
The Episcopal Church’s founding of
Good Samaritan Hospital and our enduring
association continues to influence the Legacy
Health System in many ways. This is an important
and dynamic relationship that we are committed
to sustain and nourish, now, and throughout
the years ahead.
Good Samaritan Health Services /
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center,
Corvalis, OR:
As the flagship for the five-hospital network
comprising Samaritan Health Services, Good
Samaritan continues to play a vital role
in our service area of Linn, Benton and
Lincoln counties. The past year has seen
strong growth and excellent clinical outcomes
in our regional cardiac program (for both
surgery and cardiology services), as well
as in our comprehensive cancer program,
inpatient psychiatric hospital, and trauma
program (one of only three Level II trauma
centers in Oregon). In addition, components
of our orthopedics and vascular surgery
programs earned the highest “five
star” ratings based on the past three
years of clinical outcomes.|
New and expanded projects this year include:
In addition, system-wide initiatives include
major investments in information technology
to help with our quality improvement efforts
and to transmit health information electronically,
and the development of new health plans
to serve area Medicare recipients (called
Samaritan Advantage Health Plan) and public
employees (called Samaritan Select). The
hospital system has also created a new company,
Strategic Resource Partners, which works
in partnership with Amerinet to provide
group purchasing and related services to
health care organizations in Oregon and
beyond.
William Temple House: Episcopal Mission
Society
During the last 12 months, William Temple
House has served 1,039 people through our
mental health counseling program and 7,856
people through our emergency social services
program—a total of 13,398 primary
clients.
Because the services are aimed at helping
working poor families, it is remarkable
to note that William Temple House’s
ministry of counseling, food, clothing,
health and hygiene services impact 23,751
family members in the course of one year.
For those clients who can afford to pay
something toward the cost of these services,
they pay 5% (at most) of the true value
of what they receive. If clients cannot
pay, our services are free. Virtually all
of what we give to the community is made
possible through private donations of dollars
and goods—$2.25 million annually.
The mental health counseling program provides
individual and couples counseling, along
with psycho-educational groups for adults
and adolescents. Our emergency social services
program provides food baskets, health and
hygiene services, medication assistance,
and clothing for children and adults, public
transportation tickets, household goods,
job finding assistance, money management
assistance, as well as information and referral.
Highlights of the past year include: (1)
continuing to train our counseling staff
in addictions counseling, to complement
their mental health counseling skills; (2)
completing our first year of social services
at William Temple House West, a partnership
with All Saints Episcopal Church in Hillsboro;
(3) completing our third year of social
services in North Portland, in partnership
with Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church;
(4) expanding our children’s clothing
center which provides complete wardrobes
for needy school children; (5) exploring
a new social services partnership with Saints
Peter and Paul Episcopal Church in East
Portland; and (6) staging our second successful
croquet and wine benefit at the Bishop’s
Close, called Wickets & Wine.
The current year marks our 40th year of
service to the community. During our first
40 years, we have served more than 275,000
people.
Trinity Cathedral
Our Cathedral continues to serve our diocese
as the nexus of our common life together.
Trinity Cathedral has just completed a
new vision to guide it’s ministry.
The emphasis is upon working together to
be a place of spiritual transformation for
our diocese, our parish and our selves as
we live in the world. To live into the vision
Trinity Cathedral has developed many new
initiatives and strengthened continuing
ministries. These include: our middle school
taking over the Food Pantry duties (which
will deliver more than 15,000 meals this
year); high school students leading a mission
trip to Mexico; our Center for Spiritual
Development offers many opportunities to
engage national leaders on a whole host
of topics – all centered upon transformative
spiritual practice. Our Cathedral’s
music involves more than 160 people in proclaiming
the power of the Gospel through the gift
of liturgy and music; new this year is a
contemplative vespers service and a new
Eucharistic liturgy that includes jazz music
and contemplative spaces; calling a new
Canon Pastor and beginning an extensive
Elderwise ministry to our members who are
65 years and older; our Cathedral Arts Program
running summer arts camps, art opportunities
on school vacation days and many classes
and gallery showings for adults; our bookstore
continuing to stock important books and
Christian resources and our outreach ministry
reaching deep into Portland and the larger
world, seeking to be the hands and feet
of Christ. Finally, in liturgy, our Cathedral
welcomes preachers of national interest
to our pulpit in the effort to be a strong
moral voice for Portland and beyond.
Good Samaritan Village
Good Samaritan Village is an important
diocesan ministry that provides housing
for elderly persons of little financial
means. Begun in 1960 and sustained through
the leadership of Good Samaritan Church
in Corvallis, this ministry provides spiritual,
pastoral, and temporal care to support the
housing needs of elderly guests of the facility.
I am most impressed by the care and compassionate
ministry of Good Samaritan Church which
actively supports this work on our behalf
as a diocese, and I am especially thankful
for the clergy and lay leadership of the
church which makes this ministry possible.
Center for Community Counseling (a
Ministry of St Thomas Church, Eugene)
The Center for Community Counseling is
an important ministry of St. Thomas Church,
Eugene which provide counseling to low-income
adults by referring them with professional
counselors who volunteer their time and
expertise. Each year, about 80 to 90 trained
therapist volunteer at the Center for Community
Counseling. These social workers, counselors,
and a licensed psychologist, contribute
about 3,000 clinical hours annually to individuals
and families in the community. St. Thomas
Church actively supports this diocesan ministry
as part of its outreach and many lives and
families are transformed in a positive manner
as a result of its dedicated work. As a
diocese we are most appreciative and thankful
for such gifts of service.
By the Grace of Almighty God we are all
blessed indeed! The word of God conveyed
to us from the book of Jeremiah 31:3 “I
have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving kindness,”
have wonderful new meaning for all of us.
I am so very thankful and grateful for the
many members of our diocesan family as we
diligently seek to accomplish the tasks
our Lord has entrusted to us and the people
charged to our care.
In closing I invite you to join me as we
celebrate our accomplishments made possible
through the work of the Holy Spirit! Be
thankful for the mind of Christ which continues
to direct our hearts and our minds and our
vision for proclaiming the Good News! And
be joyful, knowing that the sacrifices of
our life and labor for the Lord will produce
and yield wonderful fruits of renewal and
transformation in the lives of people around
us!
As we seek God’s blessings on our
new endeavors for the years to come, I commend
to you these words of scripture from Philippians:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
– think about such things.”
(Philippians 4:4-8)
Amen.
