Standing Committee releases Holy Conversations II data. The data from Holy Conversation II is being electronically distributed to the Diocesan Council and Convocation Deans and Presidents. Should you wish an electronic copy, please contact your Convocation President. Email addresses for Convocation Presidents are available on the diocesan website.

Summit Meeting on Governance. Your Board of Trustees, Diocesan Council and Standing Committee will meet on June 28th at St. Thomas, Eugene with our Chancellor, Paul Dakopolos. The goals of the meeting are to discuss the canonical role of each group during this transition time, identify common concerns about our relationships, identifying major challenges facing us and to clarify the role of the chancellor.

Bishop Hampton to meet with Diocesan Deacons. Bishop Hampton would like to meet with all deacons of the diocese. He is suggesting that two meetings be held one in the southern part of the diocese on August 2nd and one in the greater Portland on September 6 area to make it as easy as possible for all deacons to attend one meeting or the other. He wants to hear about the ministry of each deacon, find out how the diocese can help and support them and ask for suggestions for diaconal formation. Plans are being developed and invitations will be extended when they are completed.

Standing Committee meets with National Church Consultant. This event kicked off the planning process for the election of a diocesan bishop at convention 2009. Standing Committee members spent a full day with the consultant in order to gain a thorough knowledge of the search and transition process. Through the summer, the committee will draft a theological statement, finalize a timeline, review the Constitution and Canons for procedural guidelines, draft a proposed budget and set up qualifications and a selection process for members of a Search Committee and a Transition Committee. In order to accomplish these steps Standing Committee will need to meet with Diocesan Council and the Board of Trustees. Hopefully, the preliminary steps can be accomplished during the summer and early fall so that the committees may be commissioned at convention 2008. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Presiding Officer at Convention 2008. The Constitution and Canons require that a clergy person be elected to preside at Convention in the absence of a bishop. The Standing Committee has asked the Nominating Committee to receive nominations for this position. The due date for nominations to the committee is June 27, 2008. Anyone who becomes a nominee will have to meet with the Parlimentarian and the Dispatch of Business person so they are prepared to preside. The election will be held after the opening Eucharist. The Standing Committee has submitted the name of our Vice-President, The Rev. Shannon Leach, to the Nominating Committee for this role at Convention 2008.

A Reminder! Sign up for the Appreciative Inquiry training session at St. Thomas, Eugene on July 18th and 19th. This process will be a foundational element of our profile for the search. The Rev. Rob Voyle will lead us as we begin to catch the essence of who we are now and our hopes for the future. Contact Janice Lusk at 1-800-452-2562 to register. Cost is $40.00 which will pay for Friday night’s dinner and Saturday’s lunch. Hotel/motel accommodations are on your own.