St. John the Baptist, Portland
Those in attendance:
Christ Church: Harriet Bennett, JoAnn Leach, Ken Russell, Jackie Wilhelm
St. Barnabas: Sheila Dougherty, Cynthia Reynolds, Ted Rodrigues, Pam Zollman
St. Bartholomew: Janet Roth
St. Bede: Jim Caldwell, Mies Monsantofils, Scott Richards
St. Catherine: Bonnie Conger, Vicki Melton, Betty Powers
St. Francis: Koko Sutton
St. Gabriel: Deby Falconer
St. James: Bill Greeley, Chuck Humble
St. John the Baptist: Val Ambrose, Kimberly Beck, Mary Dorscheimer, Bud Furber, Miki Grove, Pat Morris, Alice Speers
St. Michael/San Miguel: George Hemmingway, Linda Seelye
The Meeting was opened with prayer at 2:10 p.m. by President Cynthia Reynolds. Introductions were made, and new delegates were welcomed.
Role was called, and representatives from all parishes and missions were present, with the exception of St. Alban, Tillamook.
Parish sharing (one person/parish):
All Saints: celebrating the ministry of their new priest, Chris Cole; will host a women’s Cursillo in May; having a rummage sale in August; has a parishioner (Christina vanLiew) approved for candidacy and attending seminary; Sunday school is growing; will celebrate 150 years in September.
Christ Church: parish nursing program going well – doing health screening.
St. Barnabas: held Lenten soup suppers, with Lenten series on the early church history; expanding youth program to include community service projects.
St. Bartholomew: conducting an Alpha program.
St. Bede: had a wonderful Holy Week – something every evening.
St. Catherine: celebrating the ministry of their new vicar, Paul Barthelemy; will
honor their interim vicar, Chet Falby, with a party.
St. Francis: has begun a new ministry to teach quilting to inmates at the Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Center.
St. Gabriel: using the “Gordon Plan” for their year-round stewardship; will conduct week-long youth summer camp,; planning a parish nursing program; has developed an intergenerational ministry program.
St. James: using a visioning process called “Precepts”; conducting an Alpha Program; has developed a discernment process for obtaining vestry and staff positions.
St. John the Baptist: Bishop Ladehoff celebrated and preached at Easter Vigil; the Parish Profile is completed for the new rector search process; has begun services to a senior community on Sunday afternoons; Greenfield Lecture Series in May, with Dean Colin Jones from South Africa.
St. Michael/San Miguel: three Hispanic members on vestry; will host Sexual Boundaries Workshop on April 20 for Diocese; has a pastoral care team; using the Alpha program; looking at purchasing a Baptist church next door to the parish.
MINISTRY TO END RACISM
Cynthia distributed a letter from above commission to each delegate. The commission would like each congregation to submit a statement on what is being done by them to eradicate racism, and how they feel about it. This is due back to the diocese in August, so that a statement may be made at convention in November. Statements from each parish must be in to the convocation by the June meeting. (See attached.)
DEPARTMENT OF CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Cynthia handed out a report from the department from a meeting she attended on February 23. The report deals with how parishes can become more mission oriented. (see attached)
CONVOCATION MISSION STATEMENT
We were given instructions from the Diocese on the work of convocations, their purpose, etc. We decided to suspend work on our own particular convocation mission statement for the time being, because the instructions state what convocations are about, including suggestions as to carrying out that work. (See attached.) However, we will discuss this again at a later date, whether or not we still want to work on developing a mission statement.
DIOCESAN NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Representatives (one clergy, one lay) are needed from each convocation for this committee. Mary Dorscheimer (St. John the Baptist) and The Rev. Ted Rodrigues (St. Barnabas, Portland) volunteered for this work, and were affirmed by the convocation members.
ELECTION OF CONVOCATION PRESIDENT
Cynthia Reynolds was nominated and elected to serve another term (one year).
BISHOP SEARCH COMMITTEE
Deacon Ken Russell (Christ Church) presented an update on the search process for our new bishop. The election will take place at Trinity Cathedral in May 2003. A survey for all parishioners will appear in the May Diocesan newsletter. Ken stressed the importance of each person completing the survey, and for each parish to hold conversations about the process. He discussed the timetable for what needs to be done by election time. Open nominations were discussed. Search Committee members are available to come speak to the parishes during adult forums, etc. Ken gave packets to each parish with basic information on process.
REPORT FROM DIOCESAN COUNCIL
The Rev. JoAnn Leach (Christ Church) and Kimberly Beck (St. John the Baptist) reported that Council is in a “holding” stage – listening to program groups and preparing the diocesan budget, looking at income and how it is being spent. Members will be visiting vestries and explaining the bishop search process.
DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS:
June 2 – St. Bede’s, Forest Grove – 2:00 p.m.
August 11 – St. Bartholomew’s --- 2:00 p.m.
September 29 – St. Michael’s/San Miguel – 2:00 p.m. (followed by their celebration in honor of their patron, St. Michael the Archangel).
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. with Val Ambrose leading the singing of the Doxology.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Dorscheimer, St. John the Baptist.