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Diocese Holds its First Online Convention
Delegates pass budget, resolutions, and hold elections
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Meeting virtually for the first time in its history, the annual convention of the Diocese of Vermont passed a $993,000 budget, requested a plan to move diocesan parishes and properties to renewable energy by 2030, and took steps to ensure all clergy have access to the benefits of the Church Pension Fund.
The convention also granted parish status to St. Paul’s, Wells, and encouraged the diocese and its congregations “to learn the history of our land” as a way of understanding the complicity of the Episcopal Church and its members “in systems that oppress persons of color” in Vermont.
166 delegates and clergy also heard reports from the Anti-Racism Committee and the recently-constituted Visioning Team, which is exploring the diocese’s viability and its future.
Bishop Shannon delivered her annual address in the context of Morning Prayer during the opening session before presiding over an afternoon business meeting. Both sessions were held using Zoom videoconferencing software. The morning session was streamed live on Facebook, and the afternoon session on YouTube.
“At the beginning of the pandemic I often remarked how we are like the early church finding it necessary to reimagine and reorganize ourselves because so much has changed and so much will never be the same,” Bishop Shannon said in her address, a sermon on the gospel passage in which Jesus walks on water. “After months of civil unrest around the plague of racism, the disorientation of COVID restrictions, grief over the loss of people and continued uncertainty, the disciples' excursion to Gennesaret also reminds me of the times in which we find ourselves.
“My friends, our life right now is like being on a boat in the storm. We are catching it from every side.”
Following Morning Prayer, the convention heard from the diocese’s new Visioning Team, which will be holding town hall-style Zoom meetings with members of the diocese in the coming weeks as it develops recommendations regarding the diocese’s future.
Gerry Davis, the diocesan treasurer, reported that membership in diocesan parishes and attendance at Sunday services has decreased 24 percent in the last decade, while giving has remained steady, but not kept up with inflation.
Only 17 of the diocese’s 45 parishes have youth formation programs, and only 21 are served by paid clergy, eight of whom are full-time. To avert continuing decline that would threaten the diocese’s viability, Davis, who is a member of the team, suggested parishes emphasize recruiting new members to bolster both attendance and budgets.
The Rev. Lisa Ransom, another member of the team, suggested that community engagement is central to the diocese’s future.
“Could this time of exile from our building be a time for us to take inventory of the abundance of resources we may be overlooking and share our resources freely and with gratitude?” asked Ransom, who is executive director of Mission Farm and vicar of Church of Our Saviour, Killington. “Who we are as the church will necessarily emerge as a new identity of Church because we are a new people…and it is God who is doing this new thing.”
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"Step Out of the Boat and Go"
Bishop Shannon's Convention Sermon
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In her convention sermon, Bishop Shannon preached on Matthew 14:22-34. "Now is the time for us in the Diocese of Vermont to step out of the boat and go closer to Jesus," she said. "I pray that we will allow Jesus to terrify us with his power working in us! May we feel the water undulating under our feet and lapping around our ankles. May we feel the wind blowing in our faces and causing us to feel unsteady, and when this happens, I pray that we will reach out, call out to Jesus to steady us. His hand is always there, ready to hold us up." Watch the sermon on YouTube:
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Save the Dates: Diocese Launches New Initiatives |
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The diocese promoted three new initiatives at its annual convention, and all members are invited to participate.
The Visioning Team is holding town halls next week to gather input that will help shape recommendations regarding the diocese’s future and its viability. Meetings will be held on November 10, 11, 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Registration is not required. Join each Zoom meeting by clicking this link. Join by phone by dialing 646.558.8656 and using ID 843.0185.1019. Use 770584 if prompted for a password.
Sign up for A Year of Living Generously, a free monthly online program from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS). Each month's program will be offered twice: you can join either on the first Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) or the first Saturday (11 a.m.) of each month throughout 2021. The diocese requests that participants commit to the entire program, understanding that not all participants will make every session. Find dates and register for the web series on Eventbrite.
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Convention Elections and Appointments |
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The diocese held nine uncontested elections at its annual convention, and Bishop Shannon made numerous appointments.
Elections
Alternate deputies to General Convention in the lay order: Canon Lynn Bates, Lucas Krueger and Jenny Ogelby
Alternate deputies to General Convention in the clergy order: the Revs. Jennie Anderson, Titus Presler and John Robert Spainhour
Financial Oversight and Audit Committee: the Very Rev. Greta Getlein and the Rev. Susan McGarry
Provincial Synod: the Rev. Bob Wilson, Eric Davis and the Rev. Dr. Linda Maloney
Rock Point Board: Elizabeth Ferries
Rock Point School Trustees: Harry Frank, Robin Lloyd-Miller, Barton Merle-Smith, Mo Reilly and Scott Sheavly
Standing Committee: the Rev. Stannard Baker and Maggie Thompson.
Title IV Disciplinary Board: the Very Rev. Greta Getlein
Trustees of the Diocese: Christopher Chapman
Appointments
Chancellor: Tom Little
Commission on Ministry: Beverly Barton, the Rev. Titus Presler,
Lisa Schnell
Resolutions Committee: Mike Austin, the Rev. Stannard Baker, Anne Brown, Eric Davis and Nanci Gordon
Grants and Loans Committee: Paul Horn and the Rev. Christine Jones
Positions remain to be filled on the Canons Committee, the Rock Point Board, the Grants and Loans Committee and the Resolutions Committee.
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5 Rock Point Road | Burlington, VT 05408
Tel: (802) 863-3431 | In Vermont (800) 286-3437
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