Ordination of Deacons, October 23
Bishop Paul V. Marshall will ordain two women and
two men to the sacred order of deacons on Tuesday, October 23, at
the St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, 7:00 pm.
The Rev. Elizabeth Diely of St. Margaret's, Emmaus,
completed an internship at Trinity Church, Pottsville. Aspiring to
the missionary priesthood, she will serve as a deacon at St. Margaret's
Church.
The Rev. John Heffner of St. Luke's, Lebanon, has
completed his studies at General Seminary, NYC. Aspiring to the priesthood,
he will serve as a deacon at Trinity Church, Pottsville, and St. James
Church, Schuylkill Haven.
The Rev. Gregory Malia of Holy Cross, Wilkes-Barre,
an aspirant to the missionary priesthood, will serve as a deacon at
Trinity Church, West Pittston.
The Rev. Hazel Hunt of Trinity, Athens, has completed
an internship at Redeemer, Sayre, and will continue her ministry at
Christ Church, Towanda. She will be a vocational deacon.
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Make a Pilgrimage with a Film
By R. Jane Williams
This spring I went on pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedral,
one of many medieval cathedrals built in the 12th and 13th centuries
and the only one to retain an original labyrinth in its floor. Although
I was fortunate to have some time to do the tourist thing after my
visit to Chartres, my trip was primarily a pilgrimage.
Before my journey to Chartres, pilgrimage was a dusty,
antique word. Now, it glows numinously and is as contemporary as my
upcoming visit to a former hometown.
Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage,
writes that pilgrimage is "a transformative journey to a sacred center...
a spiritual exercise, an act of devotion to find a source of healing,
or even to perform a penance. Always, it is a journey of risk and
renewal."
Many of us journey somewhere, not knowing until we
have arrived that our travels have been a pilgrimage. Sometimes it
is the journey itself that helps clear the cobwebs from our eyes so
that we may see the Holy around us. On pilgrimage we wake up to life,
become mindful of what before was mundane, and experience a depth
of soul and meaning previously unavailable to us.
Films allow us to participate in characters' journeys
as they become pilgrimages. The Straight Story tells a tender (and
true) tale about an old man seeking healing for his broken relationship
with his brother.
Alvin has been estranged from his brother for more
years than he can count, yet he cannot remember what stopped the two
from talking.
They live several states away from each other, and
Alvin has just learned that his brother is dying. He can no longer
ignore the internal longing to "sit with [my brother] and look up
at the stars, like we used to, so long ago." But Alvin has severe
heart disease... and is nearly blind so cannot drive.
His urgent need to complete his pilgrimage drives
Alvin to rig up his lawn tractor and drive it to see his brother -
remember, this is a true story. Alvin seeks his own healing, but his
journey is also a vehicle for healing for others. You'll need tissues
for this one.
Contact, a film about humankind's response to the
possibility of extraterrestrial life, portrays the main female character,
Ellie, embarking on a pilgrimage that is an inner journey rather than
an outward, visible one.
Orphaned when her father died during her childhood
- her mother had died in childbirth - Ellie gave up belief in God
and substituted a belief in science as a way to explain everything.
The pain of loss made her decide to deny any vulnerability
to emotional pain or joy. A brief relationship and a longing to experience
the "alternate reality" of extraterrestrial result in an unexpected
healing encounter with a being who comes to her in a recognizable
human form but who is beyond human form.
Ellie is transformed by the reality of experiencing
something she cannot explain through reason. On her return, the reality
of her pilgrimage is denied by scientist colleagues who try to humiliate
her. Yet, her transformation holds.
For other films of pilgrimage, check out The Sixth
Sense about Malcolm's pilgrimage to find out who he is, to let go
of his earthly life and to say goodbye to his wife.
The recently released, incredibly animated Shrek
portrays a pilgrimage, originally undertaken to ask for a favor, that
ends up as a vehicle of transformation not only of Shrek but of his
journeying companions as well.
And when it comes to your video store, view the 25th-anniversary
edition of Apocalypse Now through the lens of pilgrimage.
May your next film adventure be a part of your pilgrimage
as you become more mindful of the numinous presence of the Holy in
all the places where you journey.
[A licensed psychologist in private practice, The
Rev. R. Jane Williams, M.Div., Ph.D., is priest associate at Christ
Church, Reading.]
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AWE
- Child Advocacy - What's That?
Leave no child behind.
By Debra J. Kissinger
"Child Advocacy...what's that??" More often than
not, as I travel about and meet new people both within and out of
the church, this is the response I'm greeted by when I begin to explain
who I am and what I'm about.
Advocacy has its root in "Advocate," from the Latin
word advocare (to summon).
Essentially, an "Advocate" is one who pleads the
cause of another.
"Advocate" (as in "advocate and guide") is one of
the attributes of the Holy Spirit as illuminated by the Te Deum laudamus
(BCP 95).
Child Advocacy is standing up for children. It is
an attitude, a process you go through, and all the steps along the
way that bring about changes to help children grow and develop physically,
mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Churches that advocate for children make sure that
children are not only included in worship, but also fully participating.
They not only operate Sunday Schools, but also sponsor after school
programs or day care programs.
Churches that advocate for children offer feeding
programs, collect clothes or collect school supplies.
They even train parents, raise community consciousness,
and participate with other groups to effect positive legislative and
policy changes.
Child Advocacy work can be almost anything that has
a positive impact on children's lives.
Any church can have a big voice if it is creative
and capitalizes on oppor-tunities within its local community, the
state or our nation.
Within our Diocese there are several opportunities
for your parish to get involved in the ministry of Child Advocacy.
The National Observance of Children's Sabbaths takes
place on October 21! Children's Sabbath is an opportunity for people
of all ages and faiths to learn about the urgent needs of children
(such as poverty, lack of health care, and violence) and to commit
to respond to them.
Several months ago, each parish received a study
guide and worship service planner to assist in planning a Children's
Sabbaths celebration. Contents included: worship suggestions, study
guides for adults and children, an intergenerational event for your
whole parish and more!
If you don't see a Children's Sabbaths observation
on your parish calendar, why not use that same manual and help plan
an observation for later in November and start raising conscious-ness
right where you are?
Another opportunity to become a public policy advocate
for children is to get involved in Every Kid Counts - Good Schools
Pennsylvania (GSPA).
GSPA is a statewide grassroots organization that
seeks to mobilize parents, students and concerned citizens to advocate
for improved public education. We all know that getting a good education
is key to our children's future, yet Pennsylvania is one of only 14
states that does not offer full day kindergarten.
The state government's share of education expenses
for public schools dropped from 55 percent to 35 percent in the last
25 years. With a $9,000 gap per child between the highest and the
lowest-spending district it is apparent that children across our state
and across our Diocese experience a great inequity in educational
funding.
There are national opportunities to take action as
well. Our National Church stands behind the Act To Leave No Child
Behind (S. 940/H.R. 1990). It is my hope that we also will embrace
this legislation as a Diocese at our upcoming Convention.
Over 12 million American children (one out of every
six) remain in poverty. Some 26% of poor children live in extreme
poverty, with family incomes below half of the federal poverty line.
Three out of four poor children live in families where someone works.
The Act to Leave No Child Behind encourages effective
education, training, and job placement programs so parents can compete
for better jobs. It ensures that families receive the support they
need and are entitled to, such as food stamps, Medicaid, and child
care assistance. It also provides health coverage to all of America's
nearly 11 million uninsured children and has provisions to afford
young people with the opportunities they need to learn, serve, work,
and stay out of trouble.
In the Book of Micah we read: And what does the Lord
require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God?
As faithful people committed to justice, we need
to work to provide a quality education that is adequately funded for
every Pennsylvania child. Just as Christ's model of ministry sought
justice for the most vulnerable and marginalized, so must we minister
with compassion and seek justice for the most vulnerable and marginalized
children, until each has the opportunity to develop to her or his
God-given potential.
I ask you to join with me and millions of people
of faith on this journey of celebrating and loving our own, our congregation's,
our diocese's, our state's and nation's, and all of God's children.
Let us Leave No Child Behind - no, not even one.
The Rev. Debra J. Kissinger is Missioner to Children
and Child Advocate for the Diocese of Bethlehem. You may speak with
her at 610-691-5655 x237 or email dkissinger@diobeth.org..
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN "GOOD SCHOOLS PA" * Attend
a monthly Prayer Vigil on the state Capitol steps. * Form a study
group for Good School Pennsylvania in your parish. * Write a letter
to one of your legislators or pay them a visit. * Sign up to be on
the Diocesan email list serve and receive updates on how you can take
action. * Attend the "kick-off" March on Washington for Leave No Child
Bhind, November 14.
More information is available about all of these
opportunities through the Diocesan Office.
Prayer Vigils are held on the second Wednesday of
each month. There is an opportunity to speak with one of our legislators
following the Vigil. If 10 members of your parish will commit two
hours once a month for eight months you can become one of the 17 groups
that Bishop Paul has committed, on behalf of our Diocese, to the GSPA
effort! Training for group leaders and an engaging curriculum are
provided by GSPA.
Six churches have already stepped up to the plate:
St. Andrew, Allentown Grace, Allentown St. Margaret's, Emmaus Trinity,
Bethlehem Nativity, Bethlehem Christ Church, Stroudsburg
Won't you be one, too?
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Visit http://www.filmclipsonline.com/
Free Resources for Film Discussion
Film Clips is a free 30-minute VHS cassette of a
few short scenes from 3-5 current major motion pictures for use in
junior and senior high school classrooms, community groups, and religious
congregations.
How does it work? Each scene has been selected
for its ability to kick-start exciting discussions on themes ranging
from human values, English, social studies and history. A brief moment
of black follows each clip so discussion leaders can stop the video
and launch a lesson plan related discussion inspired by the clip.
A focus question is appended to each scene after the brief moment
of black, allowing educators to choose whether to use this question
as a starting point or stop the video before the focus question appears,
depending on the educator's agenda.
Picking the clips - A study guide is provided
with each cassette. Study guides can also be down-loaded in pdf format
and printed. Included in the guides are brief synopses of each film
as well as a list of themes, discussion questions, and research references.
Study Guides - Though the clips are the same,
customized study guides are available: one for junior and senior high
school students, and a separate guide for use by Christian churches.
Guides designed for primary school, higher education, and for Jewish,
Muslim and Buddhist studies are in the works.
Is this an advertising ploy? Yes and no. Film
Clips will benefit studios who want to reach our audience. However,
Film Clips has insisted on the right to select movies based on their
value to educators. Educators will be able to collect hundreds of
scenes from great major movies loaded with exceptional informative
and inspiring "teachable moments." Film Clips will feature a database
of all the scenes from all the episodes. Film Clips seems to be a
win/win for the studios, for students and for educators.
How can I get Film Clips? Episode One was
scheduled to be available in September. New episodes will be available
every two to three months during the school year. Subscribe at the
Film Clips website.
The Inspiration -- The Problem -- A Simple Answer
The idea for Film Clips came to Hollywood filmmaker Michael R.
Rhodes in 1998, during a church service where a clip from Saving Private
Ryan was shown to illustrate a point about courage in the face of
pain and ambiguity. Rhodes was impressed, and began to wonder, Is
there a place for popular culture in thoughtful and sacred spaces?
He shared his experience with his daughter, Sara Rhodes, a middle-school
teacher, who concurred that short scenes from popular motion pictures
are an effective resource for education and inspiration. She informed
him that many teachers had been using film clips for years with great
success. Only one thing prevented them from using this powerful educational
tool more often. It takes a lot of time to select and prepare film
clips for use in a great lesson plan.
A light bulb exploded. What if people in the entertainment
industry worked with educators to create a collection of film clips,
selected for their ability to inform, enlighten and inspire? By packaging
the powerful force of cinema with well-written, topic-specific study
guides, Film Clips could become a powerful, accessible educational
tool for both secular and religious educators.
[This information was adapted by Bill Lewellis from
the Film Clips website.]
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In Bethlehem, September 29
Bishop Paul Ordained Three and Received One as Priests
[The text
of Bishop Paul's sermon is available on site]
Bishop Paul V. Marshall ordained The Rev. Jeffrey
L. Funk, The Rev. Alba Hazen and The Rev. Patrick Malloy to priesthood
and received The Rev. William J. McGinty as a priest of the Episcopal
Church on September 29 at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 11:00
am.
 |
Funk has been called to be rector
at St. Mary's Church, Reading. He has been there since Aug. 1.
Born in 1955 and ordained a deacon in 1986, he served until this
year as an assistant a St. George Church, Hempstead, NY, in the
Diocese of Long Island. |
 |
Hazen, a recent graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, has
been called as assistant rector at St. Luke's Church in Bethesda,
MD. He was ordained a deacon earlier this year. Before entering
the seminary, he was program coordinator and case manager for
an alcohol treatment program. He is a certified addictions counselor.
He served as on-call chaplain at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown,
and at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
He served also as seminarian assistant at churches in McLean,
Virginia, and in the District of Columbia. He has been a parishioner
at Grace Church, Honesdale, and Grace Church, Allentown. He is
married to The Rev. Susan Hazen who serves at a church in Virginia.
|
 |
Malloy has been called to be priest-in-charge
at Grace Church, Allentown. A former member of the theology faculty
of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, he has worked for the past
few years as National Leadership Development officer for PCF,
a marketing, distribution and customer care corporation associated
with the New York Times and other national publications. He holds
a Ph.D. in liturgy from the Department of Theology at the University
of Notre Dame and studied as well at La Salle University and Temple
University, Philadelphia. At Notre Dame, his research focused
on the role of popular prayer and devotional practices in the
Christian life, and their relationship to official liturgy. Ordained
a deacon in the Roman Church, he has served in parishes in Connecticut
as well as at the Basilica on the Notre Dame campus. |
During his time in Pittsburgh, Malloy was a member
of the Church of the Redeemer where he was the pastoral associate.
He taught in the deacon and lay minister formation program in the
Diocese of Pittsburgh and conducted numerous parish education programs
and facilitated vestry retreats and development programs throughout
the diocese. He is president of the Western PA Chapter of the Association
for Psychological Type and serves as well on the APT board for the
NE region of the US. In 1999, he was appointed by the Presiding Bishop
to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music for the Episcopal
Church USA.
McGinty, was born in Derry City, Northern
Ireland in 1948. He was brought up in England and graduated as a teacher
from Manchester University in 1971.
He spent his early career in the classroom before
pursuing theological studies at London University. He graduated in
1979 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in June 1980. Subsequently,
he returned to teaching and was awarded Masters Degrees in Religious
Studies and Education.
In 1994, he moved to the United States and now resides
near Milford, PA, with his wife Maryann and his son. They are members
of the parish of Good Shepherd and St. John the Evangelist in Milford.
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At St. Stephen's, Wilkes-Barre, October 19-20
Diocesan Convention will consider New Basis for Assessment
Diocesan Life, October 2001
Among the proposed
resolutions when the 130th Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem
meets on October 21-22 at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral will be one
that would use a new basis for calculating parish assessments.
Parish assessments would be based on parish operating
income rather than operating expense as reported on the annual Parochial
Report for each parish.
Currently, the Diocese of Bethlehem is the only diocese
in the Episcopal Church that bases parish assessments on parish expense.
Even in the national church budget, the apportionment for each diocese
is based solely on operating income.
The experience of dioceses throughout the country
is that basing parish assessments on parish income rather than expense
has brought a new equity and a new stability to parish participation
in the diocesan budget.
Delegates who wish to hear more about this and express
their thoughts may attend one of the Pre-Convention meetings: October
3 (St. Alban's, Sinking Spring), October 4 (Epiphany Glenburn) and
October 9 (Cathedral, Bethlehem). All begin at 7:00 pm.
Our diocesan website includes an information
center for Convention where you will find online registration
for delegates, alternates and visitors, online registration for exhibitors,
the complete convention preprint, both online and in pdf format, and
the 2002 proposed budget.
The page for the proposed budget is large, as web
pages go, and may take a few minutes to load. The proposed budget
is also available within the preprint page, the preprint pdf file,
as a downloadable Excel file. You may be asked for a password when
you download it, but one isn't necessary; choose "OK" and it should
download without any problem.
Friday, October 19
Registration: 11:00 to 4:00
1:00 Business Session & First Ballot
2:30 Bishop's Address
3:00 Hearings
5:00 Evensong
6:30 Social Hour at Genetti's
7:30 Dinner at Genetti's
Saturday, October 20
Breakfast on your own, 6:45 to 8:15
9:00 Convention Eucharist
11:00 Business Session
Noon Noonday Prayers
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Business Session
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Enfolding Gays and Lesbians
into the Life of the Congregation
Three locations will host a three-session workshop
to empower individuals and congregations who are seeking to welcome,
accept and affirm our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. All are
on Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:30 pm.
In the Lehigh Valley: Sept. 27, Oct. 4 and 11 at
Moravian Seminary, 60 W. Locust Street, Bethlehem.
In the Hazleton Area: Oct. 4, 11, 18 at Penn State
Hazleton Campus.
In the Reading Area: Oct. 11, 18, 25 at Penn State
Berks Campus, Janssen Center, Reading.
Register for any location at The Office of Continuing
Education at Moravian Seminary -- 610-861-1519 or email seminaryOCE@moravian.edu.
Fee: $5 per session, $15 for series.
Sponsored by a task force of the Ecumenical Continuing
Education Council, including clergy and lay people from the Episcopal
Church, Lutheran Church, Metropolitan Community Church, Moravian Church,
United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.
Session 1: (A) Perspectives on Homosexuality &
How They Shape Belief, Peter Pettit, Director, Institute for Jewish/Christian
Understanding, Muhlenberg College. (B) A Parent's Story (C) Small
Group Discussion Options: Supporting family and friends/maintaining
the welcoming and affirming support. Challenge to traditional beliefs
and church practice.
Session 2: The Bible and the Dilemma of Interpretation,
Jan Elsasser, Agency Resource Manager, Lutheran Brotherhood, Allentown.
(B) My Story, (C) Small Group Discussion: When beliefs are challenged/the
impact on personal faith. Pastoral and spiritual care of people who
are gay and lesbian.
Session 3: (A) The Hospitality of the Church -- a
Biblical and Theological Perspective, Frank Crouch, Dean, Moravian
Theological Seminary. (B) The Story of a Welcoming and Affirming Congregation.
(C) Small Group Discussion Options: Moving from welcoming to affirming:
what does that really mean, and how does it look in the congregation?
Hurdles that are out there in congregations and the hurdles within
us as we look to broaden the hospitality of the Church.
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Especially for parish musicians, but all are invited
to
Share the Beauty - Share the Praise
Saturday, October 27, at St. Luke's, Scranton
Diocesan Life, October 2001
Bishop Paul invites all, especially choirs and musicians,
to this special musical treat at St. Luke's Church, 232 Wyoming Street,
Scranton, on Saturday, October 27, to honor and thank our professionals
and volunteers who sing, play and plan our music in parishes of the
Diocese of Bethlehem.
The event will be a day filled with music, an offering
of prayer and praise through music you can receive and use in contemplation.
Music will be provided by the Voci da Camera, under
the direction of Kathleen Blixt, accompanied by Frederick Backhaus,
organist and choirmaster, Christ Episcopal Church, Oyster Bay, NY.
Based at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY, Voci da Camera is
a choir comprised of professional singers from the New York metropolitan
region.
The day will begin with Morning Prayer at 9:15 and
conclude with Evensong at 4:00. It comes as Bishop Paul's gift, with
no cost to anyone attending.
There is nothing to rehearse, nothing to perform.
There will be quiet time between events for reflection.
Everyone is welcome, musicians or not, but some idea
of your attendance is needed so lunch can be planned. Parishes have
been asked to respond by October 15 on a parish basis to let us know
how many to plan for.
This is a day to enjoy music and to let it lead your
heart. No name tags, no singing unless you join the hymns, no stress.
Just worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and the holiness of
beauty.
8:30 - Gathering, coffee, etc.
9:15 - Morning Prayer/Gregorian Chant
Mid-morning: Sit in on rehearsal for Haydn's Little Organ Mass.
Noon: Holy Eucharist, Haydn
Lunch, on the bishop
Afternoon: Organ recital at St. Peter's RC Cathedral (across the street)
Sherry, tea, cucumber sandwiches, bread-and-butter
4:00 - Evensong/Anglican Chant, with a grand Edwardian anthem
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Are you Growing
Spiritual as a Result of your Giving?
By Dan Charney, Missioner for Stewardship
Why is the church always asking for money? Permit
me to answer that question with another. Are you giving based on what
you think the church needs to meet its budget - "paying your dues"
as one might say? Or are you experiencing something "inside" as a
result of your giving? Are you growing spiritually as a result of
your giving?
While growth in giving is important to maintaining
growth in mission, it is only one reason a congregation needs an annual
Stewardship appeal. Of equal, or perhaps even greater importance,
is the need to encourage the spiritual growth of all parish family
members. Jesus consistently met the physical needs of those around
him. He cared for the poor, the physically impaired, and the social
outcasts, and as His disciples, we are to continue the mission He
started. We are asked to use our abilities and resources, and give
our time to carry out His ministry. But Jesus primarily cared about
each person's relationship with God. His major concern was the spiritual
welfare of people.
The next comment is probably something like, "We
give what we think Is a generous amount to the church, we serve on
its committees, and we give to various charities. Why does the church
still ask that we give an additional 1%, or even tithe?"
Certainly giving to charities outside the church
is a worthy response, but it is basically a financial one. Stewardship
is primarily a spiritual matter.
Fund-raising is concerned with raising money for
the budget. Stewardship relates to how we live out our commitment
to Jesus Christ.
To use a familiar image, let's for the purpose of
considering our church giving, think of our increase to God's work
as an opportunity to apply some fertilizer to our spiritual garden
to encourage strong, vital spiritual growth!
When we give proportionately of our income, and increase
our giving 1%, we can move into an expanded relationship with our
Creator and Redeemer. We must not be afraid, but look forward to the
journey. God loves a joyful giver who is willing to make a sacrifice
and trust in the Lord. And we should be alert to what happens in our
lives as a result of this giving, and willing to share the blessings
we have experienced with others.
If you will, another common image: Many are concerned
about their physical health, and will do certain things to maintain
or improve it: watching what they eat, exercising daily, getting proper
sleep, etc. Our spiritual health is equally important (maybe even
more so!) St. Paul told Timothy that physical training is of some
value, but, "Godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise ...
for Life to come." So we need to do the things that are going to help
us grow spiritually too,. .daily prayer, study, showing concern for
those in need, and giving of our resources, abilities, and time to
do God's will. Who knows bow these spiritual exercises-like taking
a three-mile walk daily to lose weight and improve our cardiovascular
system-will benefit our overall health and life?
I pray that all of you will pray seriously about
your increase of 1%, and that this spiritual exercise will help you
to catch the excitement of being generous people!
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United Thank Offering Grants
The United Thank Offering, a program of the Episcopal
Church USA for the mission of the whole Church, founded by and administered
by women since 1889, invites through dioceses a limited number of
applications for grants.
Application forms, due at Diocesan House by December
1, may be downloaded in pdf format.
You will need
Acrobat Reader, a free program, to view and print the document.
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World Mission
Bethlehem Partners with Kajo-Keji
The Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Kajo-Keji
in the Episcopal Church of Sudan have created a formal partnership
relationship. These are the terms of that relationship signed by Bishop
Paul V. Marshall and Bishop Manasseh B. Dawidi.
A. The relationship will be characterized by mutuality
and true partnership at every level.
B. The relationship will officially begin on January
1, 2001, and run for five years. It can be renewed by mutual consent.
C. We agree to uphold each other in prayer. Someone
in Kajo-Keji will notify Bethlehem of the various communities and
clergy of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji to pray for. The Diocese of Bethlehem
has given the bishop of Kajo-Keji the diocesan directory and prayer
calendar directory and will keep him informed of updates.
D. Communication is vital. Bethlehem will add Bishop
Manasseh and other appropriate people from Kajo-Keji to the Internet
list and to the on-line Bethlehem news group, and will mail copies
of Diocesan Life. Someone from Kajo-Keji will give us a monthly update
on the life of their diocese.
E. During the relationship there will be at least
one more exchange of visits each way to include a trip to Bethlehem
for Diocesan Convention and a trip to Kam-pala to the office of the
Episcopal Church of the Sudan there. It is desirable that lay people
be included among the visitors. In addition, the bishops have agreed
to exchange visits with Bishop Paul and Diana Marshall planning to
go in 2001.
F. As much as present circumstances allow, parishes
and groups in Bethlehem would link with similar parishes and groups
of Kajo-Keji, e.g., congregations, clergy, clergy spouses, youth groups/organizations,
Mother's Union, Episcopal Church Women, etc.
G. Bethlehem hopes to receive from Kajo-Keji:
a. Zeal and fire for the gospel and its spread.
b. Appropriate models for helping people in depressed
areas and situation: e.g., Learn about community-based approaches
to challenges such as having Susan from the Amazing Grace center
bring the widow/orphan model to the US.
c. Education about developments in African theology
for Bethlehem. Possibly through Henry and others at the Bible College.
H. Kajo-Keji hopes to receive from Bethlehem:
a. Constant, unrelenting, and focused advocacy
for peace in the Sudan.
b. Support for the Bible College through people,
money and supplies (including books).
c. Assistance with medical needs and providing
medical supplies such as cholera kits. St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral
in Wilkes-Barre has already expressed interest in this area of work.
d. Support by parishes for specific points in Kajo-Keji's
development plan.
Kajo-Keji is the southernmost diocese in the Episcopal
Church of the Sudan
The Diocese of Kajo-Keji, is one of 24 dioceses of
the persecuted Episcopal Church of the Sudan. Until 1974, Sudan was
a single diocese under the archbishop in Jerusalem.
Northern Sudan, once known as Nubia, was converted
to Coptic Christianity in the 6th century. Arab conquests brought
Islam in the 15th century.
The Church Missionary Society arrived in 1899, in
Omdurman in Northern Sudan, to find an over-whelmingly Muslim population.
Through their ministry, Christianity spread rapidly among the black
Africans of the South but in the north there was no such success.
Since 1956 when Sudan became independent, the country
and the church have suffered through a series of civil wars, violent
persecutions of Christians and, in this decade, dis-placement of almost
5 million people.
More than 1.5 million people were killed during the
1990s. Yet the church experiences explosive growth.
Dominant throughout the south, the Anglican Church
has grown with amazing speed during the period of persecution. Since
all other institutions have been destroyed, the church now will have
a crucial role in helping to rebuild.
Geographical area of the Republic of the Sudan: 966,757
square miles. Population: 30,120,420 of which 5,000,000 are Anglicans.
Other faiths: Muslims, 70-plus percent; traditional belief, 10 percent.
Number of clergy: 22 bishops, 2,923 clergy.
The people of the Diocese of Kajo-Kejio need our
help. Daily life for them as refugees from war and now drought has
been devastating.
How you can help
Pray for relief from the suffering of famine, genocide
and persecution faced by the people of Kajo-Keji.
Write, email or call your Congressman and Senator
to ask for an end to the civil war in a way that ensures the safety
of the southern Sudanese and ends slavery and other human rights violations.
Make a monetary offering for immediate food relief
to the Diocese of Bethlehem in the name of "The Kajo-Keji Fund."
Consider a gift of $100 to purchase a bicycle for
a student to use in getting to school.
Give a portion or all of your tax rebate to Kajo-Keji.
The World Mission Committee of the Diocese of Bethlehem
is also considering sending medical and religious education teaching
teams to aid the Diocese of Kajo-Keji. If you feel called to this
special ministry, contact Diocesan House.
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Childcare at
Diocesan Convention
[cancelled due to lack of
requests]
Childcare will be provided at Diocesan Convention,
October 19-20, for children up to age 10.
Call Diocesan House, 800-358-5655 x232 and give names
and ages of children or send an email note with that information to
childcare@diobeth.org.
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