Bishop Shannon Johnston: "The future is absolutely bristling with possibilities"

Bishop Shannon Johnston
addressing the Diocesan Council
on Friday

RESTON -- This has been a memorable diocesan convention, or “Council” as it is called it here.

There were no resolutions -- none -- for the first time in recorded history in Virginia.

It was the farewell Council for Suffragan Bishop David Jones, who in a formal retirement ceremony Friday declared that he would cease to be the Bishop Suffragan at the conclusion of the Holy Eucharist that evening.

And it was marked by a remarkable address from Diocesan Bishop Shannon Johnston in which he said the bigness of this diocese allows us to do many things and lead on many fronts.

“The future is absolutely bristling with possibilities,” he said.

The Diocese of Virginia, with 181 congregations and 82,000 members on the rolls, is the largest domestic diocese in The Episcopal Church.

“As we look at ourselves,” he said, “we must never forget that from those to whom much has been given, much is expected. Precisely because of the great gifts entrusted to us, the Diocese of Virginia must lead in being productive stewards of such bounteous resources, making wise use of all that we have in order to nurture growth for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.”

The bishop talked of the reach of the diocese, with relationships in 20 of the 34 provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion. He challenged us to have a significant mission relationship in all of those provinces.

“We are the most 'outward' looking diocese that I know of. The Diocese of Virginia quite probably has more links, companionships and personal relationships beyond its own borders than any other Anglican diocese anywhere. The numbers tell a very compelling story. We currently have ministries with 40 international dioceses involving 75 of our congregations!

“Within the United States, Diocese of Virginia churches made 102 domestic mission trips over an 18-month span during 2010-2011, including ministries in Appalachia, Louisiana and Mississippi, Iowa, Native American Reservations and various urban areas of the country.”

He called upon the diocese to have an impact not just across the seas or in other corners of the United States, but to use our influence to impact public policies particularly in Virginia. It was the strongest such statement any of us have heard from a bishop in Virginia.

“The simple formula of strength-in-numbers means that we can be real leaders in local and state-wide advocacy,” the bishop said. “We are blessed with a big voice–a constituency that is too large to ignore–and we are also blessed with a history that lends true 'gravitas' to our witness. Again, we find ourselves to be stewards who are challenged to make a difference precisely because we are able to do so.

“We can make a true impact on the governor’s office and the General Assembly. Both from my own office and in our partnerships with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the Virginia Council of Churches and the LARCUM fellowship (Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Methodist) we have done and will continue to do just that. My own view of what is at stake right now is justice for the poor and the protection of funding for the “safety nets” that ensure care for them. This funding is now most imperiled and our voice must be heard–now. Get personally involved.”

Bishop Johnston also talked about the next chapter in the long saga of the Diocese of Virginia's legal attempt to regain church properties that had been claimed by congregations that broke away from the Episcopal Church in the aftermath of the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire. The Diocese of Virginia won a recent court ruling that the 9 church properties in dispute must be returned to the diocese.

“The future is absolutely bristling with possibilities,” the bishop said. “This is a truly historic time in the life of our diocese. It is not overstating the case to say that this is one of the most defining moments in all of our 400 year history. As such, this is no less a most exciting time! But, steady now: the next several months and, for some places, even years, will be a time for discernment before decision.”

Bishop Johnston said that no existing congregation will be evicted from its buildings, and he announced the formation of a team called “Dayspring" to guide the diocese as it discerns how to reincorporate such congregations back into the life of the The Episcopal Church.

“There must be a spirit of graciousness whenever and wherever possible,” he said. “On the purely practical level, this means that if and when the present ruling stands and we retain the disputed properties, no community of faith, no ministry program will be summarily thrown out of its current place. We will be as open as possible to creative agreements, generous provision, and true mutuality, while protecting the needs of our own ministries and the integrity of our witness.”

To read the full address by Bishop Johnston, click HERE.

Photo of Bishop Shannon Johnston at the 217th Diocesan Council, by Lori Korleski Richardson.

St. Paul's African Development Project wins Bishop's Outreach Award

Bishop Johnston, left; Sue Rainey, middle;
Wilma Bradbeer right;
receiving the award this morning

RESTON -- The big news for us as the annual Diocesan Council opened this morning is that our very own African Development Project won the Bishop's Award for Outreach, conferred by Bishop Shannon Johnston. Hundreds of people applauded as Sue Rainey and Wilma Bradbeer accepted the award on behalf of the dozens of volunteers here and in Kenya who have worked so hard on this project since 1985.

The certificate states: "The Bishop's Outreach Award honots an Episcopal church or related faith-based non-profite organization within the Diocese of Virginia whose mission and ministries for those in need give practical expression of exemplary Christian service and love of neighbor."

Here is more background on the African Development Project from the nomination forms:

+ + +

Begun in 1985 at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville, the African Development Project has supported specific, effective programs in East Africa that enable participants to grow more food, improve their heath, education, and income, and care for the sick and orphaned. ADP has direct links with the leaders of these programs, many of whom have visited Virginia over the years. This means that ADP’s supporters often feel a personal connection with those they are helping and are confident their donations are well used. ADP’s assistance goes directly to these programs and involves no overhead expenses.

Since its inception, ADP has worked with World Neighbors, an international development organization with several projects in Kenya, and the Oyani Christian Rural Services, directed by the Rev. Peter Indalo in western Kenya. Many guests from Kenya have spoken at events such as ADP’s fund-raising dinners called “Harambees.” They have taught ADP volunteers much about their needs and what works to bring lasting change. In 2007, Melanie Macdonald, the CEO of World Neighbors, discussed how communities are organized to solve problems in sustainable ways. Brief descriptions of these two projects follow:

World Neighbors program in Busia district, directed by Chris Macolo, teaches soil and crop improvement, goat and poultry management, and better nutrition for children and those with HIV/AIDS.

Oyani Christian Rural Services, led by the Rev. Peter Indalo, plants trees, provides clean water, teaches cabinetry and metal work, and provides school uniforms and fees for over 60 orphans.

Since 2005, when three women from ADP went Kenya, these projects have stretched its resources to help several additional organizations, including two that focus on helping AIDS orphans and their caregivers by creating new “families” in local communities:
Nyalwodep Project for Orphans, led by Rev. James Ouma, pairs orphans with widows who look out for their wellbeing, and provides meals and education.

The Kitui Development Center, led by Janet Mumo, enables thousands of villagers to meet their basic needs primarily through women’s groups and combats child labor and exploitation by teaching vocational skills. During the terrible unrest after the contested election in December 2007, the leaders asked for special contributions for their endangered participants; with generous donations from ADP supporters we sent emergency gifts that made a real difference.

The African Development Project holds an annual fund-raising dinner, the "Harambee," at St. Paul's Memorial Church, and sometimes at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Charlottesville. Since 1985, more than $600,000 has been raised for ADP through the Harambee dinners and with other gifts. The last fund-raiser, on September 30, 2011 had more than 100 people who attended. Those who attended heard inspiring, informative talks by two special guests from Kenya: Pastor James Ouma, and Kenya's Ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo.

Pastor Ouma, who with his wife Alice directs the Nyalwodep village, where 65 widows care for 120 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The pressing needs are for money for food, better shelter, school fees, and a better water source.

Ambassador Odembo is an old friend of ADP, who visited here twenty years ago when he worked with World Neighbors. He described numerous positive changes in Kenya that inspire hope for the future. He also met privately with ADP and church leaders, talking candidly about the challenges facing East Africa and how the Episcopal Church can strengthen its presence and partnerships in his country.

Please support diocesan funding for campus ministry

A core mission of St. Paul's Memorial Church is our ministry to the students of the University of Virginia. We have a vibrant Canterbury Fellowship and we've devoted a building entirely to that purpose along with the staff to support our students.

We receive a yearly subsidy from the Diocese of Virginia of $18,750 but spend considerably more than that on the upkeep of the Canterbury building and for staffing and programs. We also pay an assessment of $67,000 back to the diocese.

We will be doing student ministry no matter what. That is what we do and who we are.

I get frustrated, though, when I hear otherwise well-meaning people of my baby boomer generation say that we shouldn't spend much energy or money on ministry to young adults. The conversation usually goes something like this: "I left the Episcopal Church after high school and I came back in my 30s when I started having kids. It's natural. The teens now will do the same thing that we did."

Maybe. Maybe not. There's a couple problems with that.

First, the larger demographics: Fewer people in our country are going to church -- any church -- and only a tiny percentage are going to an Episcopal Church (maybe 1.5 percent if we squint). They aren't coming "back" to our church because they were never in our church in the first place. When they are in their 30s, they are likely gone for good or in someone else's church. If you are boomer, your experience is not likely to be repeated by a younger generation.

Second, and more disturbingly, by saying we shouldn't bother with young adults, we are saying they aren't important, that they have nothing to offer, that we don't need them, that the church is better off without them. Why would anyone come "back" to an institution with that attitude? We may not say that directly, but we say it in our attitudes, in our body language, and in our priorities reflected in parish and diocesan budgets.

Truthfully, we have a great deal to offer young adults and they have a great deal to offer us. We offer an experience of the Risen Christ without making people park their brain at the door. We are inclusive and open, and we don't insist that you must adhere to a strict doctrine to be with us. Bring your questions, bring your doubts, let's explore them together. We offer the depth of a long and rich liturgical tradition while inviting critical thinking and mature faith formation. We read books, we celebrate being with each other, and we practice contemplation and prayer.

In short, the Episcopal Church belongs on college campuses. We are a natural fit. For whatever reason, we may not have attracted this age group (or their parents) when they were young, but we get a chance with them when they go to college.

One chance, and that is probably it.

If we have any future as an Episcopal Church it will come from those young adults we cultivate as leaders from our college campuses. Put simply, we need them or we will die as a denomination -- and we will deserve to die as a denomination. If you care about nothing else, care about that.

A year ago, Bishop Shannon Johnston identified youth and young adult ministry as our top ministry priority in the Diocese of Virginia. He said we are doing "poorly" with young adults and we must do better. He is absolutely right.

Meanwhile, a series of "listening" meetings around the Diocese of Virginia a year ago also identified youth and young adult ministry as our top priority. Our people are absolutely right, they "get it."

Yet, the diocesan budget does not reflect that priority -- not by a mile.

Campus ministry only gets $135,000 out of an operating budget of $4.9 million, or a paltry 2.7 percent for what is supposed to be the "top" priority. The proposed budget for 2011 would cut the allocation for campus ministry by more than $4,000. The diocesan budget reflects a strategy for decline, not growth. It is going backwards, not forward.

It's time to reverse that and we need your support. We need it now, this week.

I have co-authored a resolution, BR-1, with The Rev. Laura Minnich Lockey, the campus missioner in Harrisionburg, that calls for doubling the amount we spend on campus ministry. Even if that funding were doubled, it would still reflect barely 6 percent of the diocesan budget for our supposedly "top" priority, and that is only a start for what we ought to be spending as a diocese for our future.

We need to do this while we still have the resources to do so. If we don't, we will wake up in ten years and wonder why we didn't, and we will have lost a generation.

The beauty of campus ministry is we get a big bang for the buck. We don't have to plant new churches, we don't have to build new buildings. The students are already on the campuses, and we have churches nearby. What we lack is the funding to pay for campus missioners, and guess what? Most of them are young and they are at the starting end of the salary scale. The students they reach will end up in your parish one day, and all you need to do is welcome them and get out of their way as they bring new energy and new ideas to ministry.

If you are a voting member of the Diocese of Virginia Council, I invite your support. And if you are a member of a parish in the Diocese of Virginia, please urge your delegates to support this measure.

Below is the resolution with background:

BR-1: Diocesan Financial Support for Campus Ministry

Resolved, that the 216th Council of the Diocese of Virginia fully supports Bishop Shannon Johnston’s top priority of supporting young adult formation especially on college and university campuses, as outlined in his pastoral address at the 215th Council of the Diocese of Virginia; and be it further

Resolved, that this Council requests that the diocesan budget for campus ministry be doubled from $135,000 to $270,000 in the 2011 budget year; and be it further

Resolved, that the additional funds for campus ministry would come from “Support of Our Greater Church Community” (Category A in the proposed 2011 budget); and be it further

Resolved, that the appropriate diocesan authorities determine how to allocate this additional campus ministry funding to take advantage of our many and abundant opportunities for young adult formation on our college and university campuses in our diocese.

Submitted by the Rev. James Richardson, Rector, St. Paul’s Memorial Church and Chaplain at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville; The Rev. Laura Minnich Lockey, Campus Missioner, Harrisonburg

Endorsed by the Vestry of St. Paul’s Memorial Church, Charlottesville

Background: In his pastoral address last year, Bishop Shannon Johnston declared that his top priority for ministry is youth and young adult formation in our diocese. He mentioned that we have generously supported Shrine Mont and other youth programs, but then noted:

“As well as we do for our youth, we do so relatively little (and dare I say “poorly?”) for young adults. With some notable exceptions, a great many of our churches are almost entirely lacking in ‘twenty- somethings.’ I believe that this is a critical shortcoming, not just for ministry opportunities today but also in leadership development for tomorrow in each and every one of our congregations.”

Bishop Johnston also noted in his address that youth and young adult formation was the top priority listed during a series of listening meetings in the diocese a year ago.

Yet our diocesan budget does not come close to reflecting this as our top priority for ministry. In the diocesan budget of 2010, totaling $4.885 million, barely 2.7 percent was devoted to developing young adult membership and leadership through campus ministry.

And, in fact, the proposed diocesan budget for 2011 would reduce those funds for campus ministry by $4,272.

Our greatest opportunity for young adult formation and developing young adult leadership is on our college and university campuses. We have many such opportunities in our diocese by being richly blessed with numerous leading institutions of higher education.

The 2010 budget for campus ministry in our diocese was $135,000, and was allocated thusly:

James Madison University $90,100
University of Virginia $18,750
Virginia Commonwealth University $12,650
Mary Washington, Canterbury $10,000
NOVA College Ministries (George Mason University) $3,000
Mary Washington, CCC $500

The diocesan budget supports only one full-time campus chaplain, in Harrisonburg serving students at James Madison University, Bridgewater College and Eastern Mennonite University. Our other existing campus ministries are badly under-funded by the Diocese, and are often subsidized by local congregations (which are not credited for such subsidies on their diocesan assessment). No diocesan financial support is given for ministry at the University of Richmond, Randolph Macon University and several other colleges and universities in our diocese. Ministry at the University of Richmond has been supported off-and-on entirely by a single parish, St. Stephen’s, Richmond.

The Episcopal Church benefits enormously from campus ministries because the students we reach go forth from their campuses to join and become leaders in congregations and missions all over the country and the world. The support of campus ministries is crucial for creating a growing and vibrant Church everywhere. Yet our proposed diocesan budget represents going backwards, not forward.

If our diocese seriously believes that we need young adults in our congregations then we need to significantly increase our funding for campus ministry. This resolution calls for a doubling of the total budget for campus ministry, with the appropriate diocesan authorities determining how it should be allocated.

We have also indicated where we believe these funds can be found in the diocesan budget by designating Category A, which has $847,874 designated for “Support of Our Greater Church Community” in the proposed 2011 budget. We have indicated transferring funds from Category A to campus ministry, complying with Rule 5D of the Council for submission of resolutions. But the authors of this resolution are open to better suggestions.