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2017 Full-Time Priest Salary Survey  A survey of the compensation for priests serving in full-time positions his now online as a working document for vestries to have in hand as we enter the time of year to plan congregation budgets. This is the seventh year in a row that the salary survey has been published by the Diocese.
For the third year, the survey breaks out the compensation for priests working full time, by whatever title or duties, who are not in charge of a congregation. These nine Associate Rectors, Curates, and other priests are a sufficient sized pool to be surveyed on their own.
The 41 priests on the two charts are only a portion of those serving our 68 congregations. This reflects the many congregations served by part-time priests, who are often bi-vocational or retired. For comparison purposes, the archived surveys from 2011-2016 each remain online in the Reference Library at the diocesan website.
A Note on Priest's Salaries  The compensation data in the chart reflects the combined total of salary, housing, and an offset for SECA (the self-employment version of FICA or Social Security). Priests pay this 15% tax out of the listed compensation. For clergy in a rectory or vicarage, the value of that provided housing is included in the compensation figure. To assist in setting salaries, the diocesan staff works with vestries in a new call to consider salaries in neighboring dioceses, around the Diocese of Georgia. We also consider other salaries in the town by looking to the school system. Depending on the complexity of the congregation, the salaries of teachers, assistant principals, and principals with a masters degree is instructive as these are local salaries with similar benefits.
A Note on Benefits A large factor in determining a congregation's ability to pay a full-time priest is the cost of health insurance and other benefits. The clergy salary survey does not reflect the great range from a priest whose insurance is covered fully by the spouse's employer to those receiving full family coverage through the congregation. The Diocese moved to a standard of a high deductible insurance plan with a Health Savings Account to contain costs as much as possible.
Here are the charts showing this year's survey: Full-time priest salary survey 2017 Full-time assisting priest salary survey 2017
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This Sunday's Lections
Eighth Sunday After
Pentecost
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Go
here
for the full text.
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Varner to Serve as Canon Missioner for Children and Youth
Bishop Benhase has annou
nced that he is calling the Rev. Joshua Varner to serv
e f
ull time as Canon Missioner for Children and Yo
uth.
Bish
op
Benhase said, "Joshua brings the right balance of skills and experience that will assist the Diocese in making disciples a
s we support congregations in their ministry with children and youth."
Varner has served as the Vicar of St. Patrick's, Pooler since March 2012. In 2015, he began to divide his time with the church to serve the Diocese as Missioner for Youth, while continuing part time as Vicar of St. Patrick's.
Varner grew up in Chapel Hill, NC, and is a lifelong Episcopalian. He attended Sewanee-The University of the South, majoring in religion and music, and then earned an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children, Benjamin and Laura. Elizabeth grew up at Trinity, Statesboro, and was active in the Diocese as a teen including serving on Summer Camp staff.
 Prior to moving to Georgia, Varner served for ten years in two churches in the Diocese of North Carolina where he had particular responsibility for ministry with children, youth, and their families. In the Diocese of Georgia, Varner has served as a spiritual director to summer camp sessions and led youth mission trips both in the U.S. and to our Companion Diocese of the Dominican Republic. This summer he led our youth to the Episcopal Youth Event in Oklahoma.
 "I look forward to working with individual congregations as they develop and nurture ministries with children and youth, to continuing to support and lead Diocesan programs, and to encouraging and supporting adults who work with children and youth across the Diocese," said Varner.
Varner will take on his full time position at the Diocese beginning in September. To contact him about youth and children's programs, please call the Diocesan office or email him at
[email protected].
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Youth Return from E.Y.E. 2017
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| Wednesday Evening Prayer at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. |
Just over two weeks ago 12 youth and three adults from the Diocese of Georgia began their trip to E.Y.E. 2017. The Episcopal Youth Event is held every three years and this year it was held at University of Central Oklahoma, just north of Oklahoma City. More than 1200 young people and adults from across The Episcopal Church, both in and beyond the U.S. gathered for worship, learning, reflection, and community. Our youth met other Episcopalians from Haiti, Alaska, the Dominican Republic, and even from the Diocese of Atlanta!
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Kate Templeton, Ethan White and Jay White singing at the outdoor open mic
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The Opening Eucharist included a renewal of Baptismal Vows, and an electrifying sermon by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
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Caroline Brewer, the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Gracie Johnson.
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"Worship and music with 1300 other Episcopalians from all over was a unique experience," wrote Caroline Brewer from St. Luke's, Hawkinsville. Other aspects of E.Y.E. itself included workshops on everything from the polity and governance of the Episcopal Church to an Introduction to Peer Ministry, to a presentation on the Jesus Movement by Bishop Curry. One entire day was spent visiting various sites in Oklahoma, and ending with an evening worship service including prayers and songs for peace at the National Memorial of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
After E.Y.E. ended, the group spent several days working and learning with St. Michael's Episcopal Church, in Norman, Okla., where the Rev. Jason Haddox, formerly of the Diocese of Georgia, is the Rector. St. Michael's offered an overwhelming experience of love shown in hospitality, and helped bring the theme of E.Y.E., Path to Peace, home on an intimate level.
"E.Y.E. really brought me out of my shell, and brought me closer to God," wrote Jason Stockstill, of St. Thomas, Thomasville. "I loved hanging out with all of our group, and with other Episcopalians like myself." Faith James, from Christ the King in Valdosta called the trip, "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
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Small group worship for the Diocese of Georgia contingent.
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New Clergy Appointments
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The Rev. Nicholas Roosevelt
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The vestry of St. Patrick's, Albany announce calling the Rev. Nicholas Roosevelt as Rector. The church is also home to the the Lutheran Church of Our Savior which he will serve as Pastor by agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
A lifelong Episcopalian from the Upstate of South Carolina, Roosevelt graduated from Presbyterian College with a BS in Physics and a Minor in Music. He worked as Assistant Manager of a bookstore prior to beginning the ordination process. In the summer of 2009, Roosevelt served as a summer intern at St. Paul's Albany as part of a Lily program. He graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained Deacon and Priest in 2013. That same year, he started as Associate Priest at St. Barnabas on the Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In Spring 2017, he married Kresta Hansen of Phoenix and is in the process of adopting her daughter, Bronwen (Brownie). He also has a daughter Lillian (Lily) from a previous marriage. Roosevelt will start serving in Albany on October 1.
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From left, Brownie, Kresta, Nicholas, and Lily.
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The Rev. Melanie Lemburg
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The vestry of St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah, announce calling the Rev. Melanie Lemburg as Rector. Her first Sunday will be August 6.
Lemburg earned a BA in English Literature from Rhodes College in 1998. On graduation she worked for Stewpot Community Services, where she created and directed an adult enrichment day program for senior citizens and adults with mental disabilities in Jackson, Mississippi.
A lifelong Episcopalian, she earned an M.Div. from General Theological Seminary in 2004. Since then she has served in the Diocese of Mississippi as Rector of Mediator-Redeemer in Magnolia and McComb; Rector of St. Peter's by the Sea in Gulfport; and Priest in Charge of St. Columb's in Ridgeland.
Married to the Rev. David Lemburg in August 2003, they have two children Mary Margaret (13) and Jack (9). She follows the Rev. Richard Nelson who retired earlier this year.
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| The Lemburgs: Mary Margaret, Melanie, David and Jack. |
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St. Thomas' Isle of Hope will hold the Third Annual Holy Crab Community Crabbing Competition on Saturday, August 19th. Register as a team or an individual, bring your own equipment and go crabbing on one of several docks or on your own boat. Teams or individuals can register by going
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Icon Writing Workshop
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| These are the two icons selected for the workshop. |
Christ Church Frederica will hold an icon writing workshop August 20-26 in Church Parish Hall from 5 to 8 PM on Sunday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 5 PM on Friday and 8:30 AM - 12 PM on Saturday.
On Sunday, August 27, the icons will be blessed during Sunday morning services.
The Rev. David Holland, who has been teaching icon writing for 24 years, is the instructor.
Orthodox Christians consider making icons more a form of prayer than art, and believe the writer's hand is guided by God as s/he writes in paint. Each brush stroke is a meditative act. Those who have painted icons describe the experience as deeply spiritual and faith-enhancing.
No previous artistic ability is needed.
All materials will be provided. and instruction. The cost for the workshop is $425. To register, call the church office at 912-638-8683. For more information, contact the Rev. Deacon Rebecca Rowell at [email protected].
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The Rev. Paschal Mingledorff Retires
"Today the dichotomy of faith is at work: I am feeling humble and important at the same time!" said the Rev. Paschal "Patty" Mingledorff following her final celebration of Eucharist at St. Peter's Savannah where she has been Priest Associate since 2001.
While at St. Peter's, Mingledorff also served as a Supply Priest around the diocese, preaching and presiding at the Eucharist in our congregations in Douglas, Baxley, Swainsboro, Pooler, Tybee Island, and Hinesville.
She was ordained to the diaconate in 1995 and to the priesthood in 1999. Prior to her ordination, Patty and her husband Fred were founding members of St. Philip's in Hinesville, where they both served in various leadership roles.
The Rev. Douglas Renegar Retires to North Carolina
Senior Warden Gladys Martin-Lyde presented the Rev. Canon Douglas M. Renegar gifts in appreciation of his faithful service to St. Athanasius Episcopal Church, Brunswick, on his retirement to North Carolina. Renegar served the church as an Interim Rector prior to the current Rector, the Rev. Iane Sastre's call. He has also served frequently as a supply priest and worked with the church when he served as Rector of Christ Church Frederica.
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The Administrator's Corner
2018 Congregational Tithes
Letters for the 2018 Congregational Tithe will be mailed this week to all congregations. Upon request, letters can be sent electronically via email. Please let us know if you do not receive your letter by the end of next week.
As a reminder, letters should be reviewed and the attached tithe commitment forms should be submitted to the Diocese by September 1. The Diocesan Canon that governs how the Diocese is funded (I.19) also provides for an appeals process for those congregations who believe they cannot meet the tithe in the coming year. This canon requires those congregations who wish to appeal to do so in writing to Diocesan Council by September 15 of each year. If you'd like to request materials for the process, please email me at
[email protected].
Katie Willoughby
Canon for Administration
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Telephones Still Out at Honey Creek
Work continues on rebuilding the phone and internet connections for our Retreat Center following a lightning strike. Unfortunately, this means Honey Creek can still not be reached by phone. Our staff is still hard at work and can receive emails on their cell phones. Contact Executive Director Dade Brantley at [email protected] and Office Manager Carolyn Middleton [email protected]
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In the Field
At St. Augustine of Canterbury, Augusta, Camp Change the World integrated the Rev. Amy Bradley's new ministry with activities that included helping her to move into the Rectory, baking bread for her first Eucharist with the Community and leading that service with song and the sermon. Bradley, the curate, is shown at right with the Rev. Jim Said, Rector of St. Augustine's. Campers are shown below.
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The Very Rev. William Willoughby (left) with the Rt. Rev. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of West Virginia at the Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia where both served as chaplains.
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Diocese Seeks Office Administrator
The Diocese of Georgia seeks a motivated individual to serve as its office administrator. This position requires a courteous and competent individual with strong communication skills, experience managing office and IT operations, events, and databases, and the ability to thrive in a self-directed environment.
Located on Bay Street in Savannah, the Diocese supports over 68 congregations and ministries across the state. Given the fast-paced nature of our work, the Diocese is looking for an individual that can help continue to advance and improve our work and ministry to our community.
For a full job description, please go here.
Please direct any questions or applications to Canon Katie Willoughby at
[email protected].
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Deacon Lynn Anderson Fund for Deacon Formation
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| The Rev. Deacon Lynn Anderson |
The Diocese is creating an Endowment Fund to support those training to be ordained deacons in the Church. The fund is named for Deacon Lynn Anderson who died earlier this month.
Deacon Anderson had a servant's heart and those are the kind of people the Church is looking for to be deacons in the Church. The deacon's primary ministry is outside the church walls and property. It is in the community where the deacon serves those who are lonely, lost, or left out. Those training for the diaconate are required to complete many accomplishments before ordination. In addition to the basic academic work around Scripture, the Church's theology and ministry, and the role of the deacon in the life of the Church, those in the process get contextual training in the community. All these training programs cost money and not all candidates for the diaconate can afford these costs.
"The Diocese has limited funds from its operating budget to meet the demands for this training," Bishop Benhase said. "For people to be generous in this way, it will be a wonderful avenue for people to honor Deacon Anderson, indeed, all deacons who have served our Lord in this Diocese."
The Deacon Lynn Anderson Fund for Deacon Formation will provide an annual disbursement of funds to provide for the expenses of those training for the diaconate. Contributions to get this Fund going should be made to the "Bishop's Fund" and he will track these contributions until they exceed a total of $5,000. Once that total is exceeded, those funds will be transferred to create a special sub-fund among the Diocesan Endowment and begin providing annual disbursement (the current spending rate for Diocesan Endowment funds is 4%/year). Contributions should be sent to:
Bishop's Fund
Diocese of Georgia
611 E Bay Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Please be sure to memo your check to the "Deacon Lynn Anderson Fund for Deacon Formation."
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Deaconess Anna Alexander Study Guide Available
 Bishop Benhase has developed a Bible Study Guide for Individuals and Groups that reflects on Deaconess Anna Alexander's life and ministry. Utilizing the collect for her Feast Day along with the Bible readings appointed to be read on that day, the guide is designed to prepare attendees for the Faithless Fear, Boundless Faith Revival on September 17th and offer a deeper understanding of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia's first African-American Deaconess. The guide is available to download
here
.
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Prayers for Weekly Liturgies
Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic. The 52 weekly prayers are available in one document
found here.
July 23 - 29
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in St. Marys, Christ Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in St. Marys, especially Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Puerto Plata -
Jesús Mesías (Jesus the Messiah) and
San Francisco de Asís (St. Francis of Assisi).
July 30-August 5
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation on St. Simons Island, Christ Church and Holy Nativity. We also pray for our ecumenical partners on the island, especially Lord of Life Lutheran Church and St. William's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for La Iglesia de la Natividad (the Church of the Nativity) Salcedo.
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Benhase traveled to Puerto Rico this past weekend to participate in the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Rafael Morales as the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Rico.
Bishop Benhase's full schedule is available
here.
Canon Logue will preside and preach this Sunday at St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah.
Canon Logue will officiate at the 12 noon Thursday service in the Chapel of St. George at Diocesan House.
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Share your news in From the Field
Send your news, events and photos to
so we can feature them in upcoming issues of From the Field. Deadline for submissions each week is Monday at 4:30 PM.
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Joy!
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| The joy of ringing the church bell at St. Athanasius' Church! |
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Ordination of Ashton K. Williston
Saturday, August 5 at 10:30 am
Christ Church, Frederica
Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 9, 10 AM
Diocesan House
Deacons School
3 PM Friday, August 25 to Saturday, August 26 at 1 PM
Honey Creek
Go
here to register
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
August 26, 9:30 AM to noon
Annunciation, Vidalia
Register
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
September 9, 9:30 AM to noon
St. George's, Savannah
Register
here.
Revival: Boundless Love Fearless Faith
September 17
Fall Clergy Conference
September 17-19
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Cursillo #123
October 12-15
Honey Creek Retreat Center
For more information, go here.
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 21, 9:30 AM to noon
Holy Comforter Martinez
Register
here.
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 28, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Paul's, Albany
Register
here.
Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee Meeting
1:30 PM Friday, November 3 until noon Saturday, November 4
Trinity Church, Statesboro
Diocesan Convention
November 8-10
Christ the King Church, Valdosta
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