Last weekend, a delegation of lay people and clergy represented our parish at the 243rd Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Lay delegates included myself, John Pachkowski, Glenn Wikel and Jan Myers Knight, and Clergy delegates included Rev. Jill, Deacon Elizabeth and Rev. Michael Knight.

A personal highlight was Friday’s Evensong, where our own Deacon Elizabeth read the Gospel during a wonderful service with truly beautiful music. Bishop Gutiérrez announced that the new Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Sarah Mullally, is planning to visit our diocese next year.

During Saturday’s business session:

• We passed the 2027 diocesan budget,
• We elected candidates to various leadership positions, 
• We formally repudiated the historic Doctrine of Discovery, acknowledging the role of this diocese in establishing and supporting Native American boarding schools,
• We recommended Father Thomas Logan, longtime Vicar of Calvary Episcopal, for the calendar of saints in The Episcopal Church,
• We passed a resolution addressing the challenge of problem gambling, especially in light of the growing popularity of online prediction markets,
• And in response to recently announced plans by the Pentagon, convention delegates strongly condemned the public broadcasting of executions.

I think it was a productive convention, and on behalf of our delegation, thank you so much for allowing us the privilege of representing our parish family!

Respectfully submitted,

Phil Thompsen

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In Case You Missed It:

here is Rev. Jill's sermon from October 18