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THE JOURNAL OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARYLAND

www.episcopalmaryland.org | SPRING 2012 | MARYLAND CHURCH NEWS

Spring2012

MCN Spring 12_MCN Spring11 3/5/12 3:30 PM

Deadlines for next issue: ARTICLES: April 27 ADVERTISING SPACE: April 27 ADVERTISING MATERIALS:May 7DELIVERY: June 6

Sharon Tillman, EditorVal & Don Hymes, Contributing EditorsJason Hoffman, Photo EditorDan Taylor, Graphic Designer

THE JOURNAL OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARYLAND

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland4 E. University ParkwayBaltimore, MD 21218-2437410-467-1399 800-443-1399Fax: 410-554-6387E-mail: mcn@episcopalmaryland.orgwww.episcopalmaryland.orgwww.marylandchurchnews.org

The Episcopal ChurchTHE ANGLICAN COMMUNION is a global community of 77 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces(http://anglicancommunion.org), The Most Rev. RowanWilliams, Archbishop of Canterbury.THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH is a community of 2.4 millionmembers in 100 nationwide dioceses, 10 overseas dioceses and six extra-provincial territories (http://episcopalchurch.org). The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop.THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARYLAND is a Christiancommunity of 22,000 households in 113 congregations cover-ing 10 counties and Baltimore City (episcopalmaryland.org). The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of Maryland; TheRt. Rev. Joe Goodwin Burnett, Assistant Bishop of Maryland.MARYLAND CHURCH NEWS is published quarterly bythe Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Opinions expressed inthis publication are not necessarily those of the bishopsor editorial staff. All inquiries, news or letters should bedirected to Maryland Church News as noted above. Wereserve the right to select and edit material offered forpublication. All submissions must include name, addressand phone or e-mail address for verification. To reviewour Submission Guide & Style Manual, please visit marylandchurchnews.org or contact the editor at theDiocesan Center.Please submit address changes to the Diocesan Center, or by e-mail to [email protected]. The accept-ance of advertising in this publication does not indicate endorsement of a particular product or service.All articles published in the Maryland Church Newsbecome the property of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, and may not be reprinted without permission and credit.

MARYLAND CHURCH NEWS | SPRING 2012 | www.episcopalmaryland.org2

The 228th Convention of the Diocese of MarylandMay 4-5, Hunt Valley MarriottTHE THEME for this year’s Dioce-san Convention is Planning forVitality Today and Beyond, featur-ing keynote speaker Diana But-ler Bass (see MCN winter 2011/12for a biography).Diocesan Convention is a time

when representatives from around our diocesegather to share in the polity of the Church, uphold-ing the common mission and ministry of our LordJesus Christ. While voting representatives and alter-nates must preregister and pay to attend Conven-tion, anyone is welcome to attend as an observer forfree or to pay the registration fee. Registered atten-dees receive packets of information, including thePre-Convention Journal, plus meals during the two-day meeting.The registration fee is $190 per person on or

before April 16 ($240 after), which includes bothdays and the following meals: lunch and dinner Fri-day and lunch Saturday. Guest tickets for dinnerFriday are $50. Online registration is now availableon the Convention page of the diocesan website,episcopalmaryland.org. Please watch for notices, news and information

about Convention in the Parish Emailing. To sign upfor the Parish Emailing (e-newsletter), visit thediocesan homepage and sign up on the right-handside, episcopalmaryland.org.

� 228th diocesan convention

ON THE COVER: Springtime in Buckeystown. Thelane leading to the Bishop Claggett Center is linedwith blossoming trees. Photo: Donna Kerner

Important Convention DatesFeb. 21• Lay and youth delegate certification• Nominations

March 5• Resolutions

March 12Reports for the Pre-Convention Journal

April 3Hotel reservations

April 16Convention registration

To learn more about Diocesan Convention or General Convention, visit

episcopalmaryland.org/convention.php.


www.episcopalmaryland.org | SPRING 2012 | MARYLAND CHURCH NEWS 3

� 228th diocesan convention

2012 Pre-Convention MeetingsPRE-CONVENTION MEETINGS are held aroundthe diocese to give individuals a chance tomeet nominees up for election to variousoffice and committees; learn about the resolu-tions before Convention, and for first-timedelegates, learn what to expect.

All meetingsbegin with a 30-minute orientationsession for new dele-gates only, followedby a 90-minute ses-sion for all delegatesin which rules oforder are reviewed, aswell as conventionschedule, nominees,and resolutions. Allmeetings are from 7-9 p.m. unless other-wise noted.

General Conven-tion DeputationMembers of theGeneral Convention

deputation will also be on handto introduce themselves and togive an overview of the work-ings of convention, as well assome of the legislation that maybe considered this summer in Indianapolis. Iftime permits there will be an opportunity forquestions and conversation around specifictopics such as the current status of The Angli-can Communion Covenant, anglicancommu-nion.org/commission/covenant/index.cfm,and Rites for Blessing of same-sex couples,gc2009.org/viewlegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=898&type=Final.

If you would like to express thoughts orconcerns about these topics to the deputationfrom this diocese, you may do so at one of thepre-convention meetings or forward your com-ments to the Rev. Scott Bellows, chair of thedeputation, [email protected], whowill forward them to the rest of the deputation.Any questions regarding these meetings should be directed to Dawn Kline, diocesan staff,[email protected], 410-467-1399, 800-443-1399.

Wednesday, April 11Diocesan Center, 4 E. University Parkway, Baltimore (recorded)

Saturday, April 14, 3-5 p.m.St. Stephen’s, Severn Parish,1110 St. Stephen’s Church Rd.,Crownsville

Tuesday, April 17St. Thomas’ Church, 2 East High St., Hancock

Thursday, April 19St. James’ Parish, 5757Solomons Island Rd., Lothian

Tuesday, April 24Grace Church, 5740 Green Valley Rd., New Market

Thursday, April 26St. Mary’s Church, 1 SaintMary’s Church Rd., Emmorton



� message from bishop sutton

N JANUARY we reached a settlementwith Mount Calvary Church, Baltimore,on the issues of property and use ofthose buildings. Since 1842, the peopleof that parish have witnessed faithfullyas members of this diocese. On Jan. 22

they were officially received into the RomanCatholic Church. Twenty-four of the 28 mem-bers present (out of a congregation of 45)voted last year to make this move. They leftwith our prayers and very best wishes for theirfuture ministry.I had been praying for our departing broth-

ers and sisters since they made their decision,while at the same time working with our Stand-ing Committee and chancellor as responsiblestewards of all that has been given to this Epis-copal congregation and this diocese. I amgrateful that we were able to arrive at a fair andjust settlement, enabling our brothers and sis-ters to respond to the call they have heard.Worldwide, Episcopalians, Anglicans, and

our Eastern Orthodox sisters and brothers, seeourselves as fully part of Christ’s one, holy,catholic and apostolic church. We know ourroots. Theologically and liturgically the Roman,Anglican and Orthodox traditions hold muchmore in common than there are differences. Ourpolities – the way we govern ourselves – differ, buttogether we are members of the Body of Christ. For instance, the Episcopal Church’s polity

is more democratic in practice. We elect vestrymembers, rectors, bishops and the presidingbishop. We vote on resolutions at DiocesanConvention and the Church’s trienniel General Convention, believing that we canbest discern the will of God when all voices areheard and participate in the decision-makingprocess. So when Episcopalians at Mount Calvary gathered to discern their future as ser-vants of our Lord, Jesus Christ, they naturallyfollowed the democratic process that has beenpart of their 170-year history and the charismof our communion since we formed ourselvesin 1785 out of the Church of England.Since the beginnings of the Anglican tradi-

tion more than 450 years ago, many Anglicansand Episcopalians have chosen to continue their

spiritual journeys in the Roman CatholicChurch. And, a great many Roman Catholicshave chosen to become Episcopalians, as we canreadily see here in our parishes. I have often saidwe are “one spiritual family living in two houses.”There are more than 400 former RomanCatholic priests and deacons now serving in theEpiscopal Church, including the dean of ourCathedral of the Incarnation. We have severalRoman Catholic priests who are discerning asimilar move, and two former Roman Catholicdeacons are now serving in our parishes.The bottom line for me is not which

denomination is winning members from theother, but rather whether we are doing thework that Jesus called us to do. I’m an Episco-palian in no small part because the BaptismalCovenant in The Book of Common Prayer is allabout living out the “good news” of the gospelin all aspects of life. When I was confirmedinto the Episcopal Church, I was asked if Iwould seek and serve Christ in all persons, lov-ing my neighbor as myself, and would I respectthe dignity of every human being. I have foundI can best do that work in our beloved Episco-pal Church, while others have found anotherdenomination is better suited for them.Our brothers and sisters at Mount Calvary

have not “converted” to Roman Catholicism.Rather, they have chosen to walk with differ-ent friends in the same one, holy, catholic andapostolic church of which they have alwaysbeen a part. Let us pray for them on their jour-ney. Let us hope that their work in the futurewill continue to seek and serve Christ in allpersons, to respect the dignity of every humanbeing, and help build up the Kingdom of Godhere on earth. And let us feel proud that theEpiscopal Church provided the spiritualgrounding for their journey, and lives out thegrace to wish God’s blessing upon them.

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor SuttonBishop of Maryland

For settlement details see Jan. 18 press release, episcopalmaryland.org/press

“Episcopalians and RomanCatholics: One Spiritual FamilyLiving in Two Houses”

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� message from bishop burnett

ER FIRST QUESTION TO ME was,“What was it like to be abishop?” “Carol,” I replied, “I’mstill a bishop.” “Oh, I know,” shesaid, “but what was it like to be abishop before you retired?”

Since coming to the diocese of Maryland inApril of last year I have often been referred toin parish newsletters, or introduced inchurches, as our new retired assisting bishop.So, just to set the record straight I thought itmight be helpful to say a clarifying word aboutmy status, title, and role.

First of all, I am not retired. I draw no pen-sions, and I am not old enough to enroll inMedicare. After eight years as diocesan bishopof Nebraska, I chose to come here to serve asfull-time assistant bishop for a period of two ormore years. While this may at some point leadto retirement, I’m not there yet!

Second, I am the assistant bishop, not anassisting bishop. There is a fairly significantcanonical difference in the two positions andtitles. An assisting bishop is an informal title

created someyears ago by theHouse of Bishopsto describe thosebishops who arefor the most partretired and work-ing part-time invarious capacitiesin dioceses. Anassistant bishop isa formal canoni-cal office andtitle, as describedin various sec-tions of Title III,Canon 12, of theConstitution andCanons of the Epis-copal Church.

In part the canon reads, “When a Diocese,in the opinion of its Bishop, requires addi-tional Episcopal services, the Bishop may, withthe consent of the Standing Committee of theDiocese, ask the Convention of the Diocese toapprove the creation of the position of Assis-tant Bishop and to authorize the Bishop toappoint a Bishop for the position, with theconsent of the Standing Committee of theDiocese, and under such conditions as theBishop may determine.”

When I came to Maryland early in 2011 thediocese had long since created such a positionmany years ago, and though long vacant, it stillexisted. So, all that was needed was for thebishop to appoint, and the standing commit-tee to consent, and announce it to the diocese.

As an assistant bishop I have a seat, voice,and vote in the House of Bishops, and I partic-ipate fully in the life and work of the Houseand the wider church. In the diocese I serve atthe pleasure and under the supervision of thediocesan bishop. Bishop Sutton and I regularlyreflect on diocesan needs and missionary strat-egy, and on that basis seek to deploy our ener-gies in ways best suited to our gifts and talents.At present, among other duties, I do regularvisitations, oversee the commission on min-istry and the ordination process, work withclergy and congregations as needed, and servewith staff in a variety of diocesan and program-matic ministries.

Oh, and last but not least, as much as I lovemy youngest son – Joseph Goodwin Burnett,who is a relatively new Episcopal priest – I amstill quite happy with my own given name atbirth, which is Joe Goodwin Burnett. That’sme – just Joe – happily serving in the diocese ofMaryland as the full-time assistant bishop!

The Rt. Rev. Joe Goodwin BurnettAssistant Bishop of Maryland

“Pass the roles, please!” Or, why I’m an “ant,” not an “ing” — and “just Joe”

Some weeks ago, my niece – an ordained UnitedMethodist minister in Mississippi – was in Baltimorefor a meeting. We had not visited in some time, so itwas a treat to meet her for dinner.

H

I chose to comehere to serve as full-timeassistant bishopfor a period oftwo or moreyears. While thismay at somepoint lead toretirement, I’mnot there yet!



The Inn at Claggett: A Place to GrowBy Joe Kerner

As we grow in our faith and in our relationship with God, we naturally begin tovalue those places where the growth takes place. They become for us “HolyGround” because it is there that we encountered the Living God. For the Dio-cese of Maryland, one such place is the Bishop Claggett Center, affectionatelyreferred to as “Claggett.”

CLAGGETT HAS BEEN OUR DIOCE-SAN HOME away from home for61 years. Given by the Baker Fam-ily in 1951, the only significantaddition to the facilities in itsfirst 50 years was the construc-

tion of North and Doll Cottages in the late’70s. That situation changed dramatically in2007 with the completion of the lovely newdining and meeting complex. From St.Thomas’ Chapel in the converted silo at oneend to the 250-seat dining facility on the other,the complex is magnificent. As one person putit after their first meal in Sugarloaf DiningHall, “This is not my Claggett…but this couldbecome my Claggett!”

For this to become “our Claggett,” wemust now finish the job commissioned by theDiocesan Special Convention of 2001 by con-structing the Inn at Claggett. The inn will have20 double rooms and 43 single rooms, all withqueen beds and a private bath. The buildingwill be fully accessible, modern and comfort-able, and it will complete the transformationbegun in 2007.

Completion of the inn will dramaticallyshift the horizon for Claggett. For example, theWomen’s Weekend in mid-January was limitedto about 100 women, and of those, 30 werehoused in Powell Hall, our youth facility. Noneof the women had a handicap and yet manystruggled moving between buildings. With theinn, it will be possible to envision an expandedweekend with a noted guest speaker and 150 ormore participants. Those with handicaps orphysical limitations could occupy the inn andthe other more robust participants could stayin the cottages. Powell Hall could remain avail-able for concurrent youth activities.

F i n a n c i a lanalysis of theproject was per-formed by RevParIn te r n a t i on a l ,which concludedthat constructionof the inn willlikely increase netoperating rev-enues by $200,000 to $300,000 a year. This isa very important consideration for several rea-sons: • Maintaining our older buildings like PowellHall will require considerable resources as wecontinue to address building systems thathave surpassed their useful life, such as thePowell Hall heating system that will require acomplete overhaul in the next five years.• As we pursue the vision for Claggett to be a“program rich” center, we will need to investsome of our cash to make it happen. Betweenscholarship expense, the cost of noted speak-ers, publicity and other costs, programsalmost always need to be subsidized.• Finally, we expect that addition of the inn willhelp to attract some Episcopal Churchevents to Claggett. Several of these eventsalready take place in Baltimore because it is ahub for several major airlines, includingSouthwest. As one member of the Board of Trustees

said, once the inn is finished Claggett has thepotential to become the premier Episcopalconference and retreat center in the mid-Atlantic region.Joe Kerner is the director of the Bishop ClaggettCenter, [email protected].

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� the inn at claggett



A Claggett Reflection: Journey to the PriesthoodBy the Rev. Ron Fisher

The current campaign to build new adult lodging at the Bishop Claggett Center has brought back a very special memory. As many people in the diocese know, I came into the Episcopal Church after a number of years in the Methodist ministry. The process of answering that deeper call to a priestlyministry that I could not fulfill in the Methodist Church took some years, butthe door finally opened and I was ready to be ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. Recognizing the efficacy of my prior pastoral ministry,Bishop David Leighton suggested that my diaconal ordination take place at the closing Eucharist of that year’s clergy conference.

N THOSE DAYS, the clergy conferenceswere held at the Bishop ClaggettCenter, and the closing Eucharist washeld in St. Andrew’s Chapel. I remem-ber my trip in the car to Claggett thatmorning. Although I was clear

enough about my calling, there was still thatlittle bit of doubt somewhere inside; and Iprayed, “Lord give me some sign. I know Ishouldn’t ask, but…” Well, the Lord reallycame through! After my ordination and justafter I performed my first diaconal act by set-ting the Altar, during the singing of Alleluia!Sing to Jesus, I experienced the presence andpower of the Risen Lord as I never had beforein my life. I remember thinking, “Jesus could-n’t be any more real if I saw him face to face!”As far as I know, mine is the only ordinationever to have taken place at the BishopClaggett Center.

I have sincehad many otherexperiences atC l a g g e t t ,including Cur-sillo Weekends,Seabury Insti-tute studies,personal andc o m m u n i t yretreats. I havealso served as acamp counselor

on a couple of occasions. Through these expe-riences, Claggett has become an important“place apart” for me where it is easy to meetGod. The new Inn at Claggett will make suchan experience available to many more people –especially to those who cannot use the currentfacilities because of their lack of accessibility.And it will eliminate the blocks to that Godly

focus posed by the challenges of the currentantiquated and, for many groups, inappropri-ate facilities. Hospitality is a special charism ofthe Episcopal Church, I believe, and it will bewonderful to see that more fully offered at theBishop Claggett Center. The Rev. Ron Fisher is the rector of the Church of the Ascension, Westminster,[email protected].

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A Long, Winding RoadBy Johnna Stein

Driving up the winding road that leads to the Bishop Claggett Center never fails to make my heart flutter with delight. Just themention of the name Claggett brings smiles to my family’s faces andconjures up years of treasured memories. Our family of four movedaway from Maryland 15 years ago, but we still maintain strong ties tothis wonderful, peaceful oasis.

Y HUSBAND AND Ifirst experiencedthe power of Godat Claggett duringour Cursillo week-end, when we both

gave ours lives to Jesus. A fewmonths after that amazing week-end, we moved to Pennsylvaniawhere we lived for two years withour preschoolers. During thoseyears, we visited several times toreunite with friends and cursillis-tas. I also volunteered one weekeach summer at camp, bringingalong friends’ kids to experiencethe magic of Claggett.

Then the Lord moved us to myhusband’s homeland, Holland. A few yearslater our daughter, Olivia, reached the age toattend camp. I signed us up and booked our

tickets. It wasexciting towatch herenjoy the beau-tiful surround-ings, funactivities, butmost of all,Christ’s loveshown by thecounselors.

After wait-ing three longyears, our son,Jan, finallycould go tocamp withOlivia, hiscousin Zacharyand me. Then,four years ago,when we immi-

grated back to America, our kids joined bothof their cousins for a week of camp beforemoving to our new home in Georgia. What ajoy to join them worshiping the Lord togetherand engaging in Christian community andservice at camp.

Two summers ago, our teenagers finallyreached the moment they’d longed for — serv-ing as junior camp counselors. We waved good-bye as they took their first 13-hour train tripfrom Atlanta to Baltimore.

Five weeks later, we drove to Claggett tofind two teens who had grown emotionally andspiritually. This new maturity resulted fromthe unexpected call to lead daily worship eachweek at camp. That experience solidifiedOlivia’s calling to major in music in college andshaped her as a worship leader. It helped Janbecome a more confident musician and leader.

For our family, Claggett will always be a spe-cial place where we know we will encounter God,where we can draw nearer to Jesus, and wherewe’ll always be accepted and loved just as we are. Johnna Stein can be reached at [email protected].


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Five weeks later,we drove toClaggett to findtwo teens who hadgrown emotionallyand spiritually. This new maturityresulted from theunexpected call tolead daily worshipeach week atcamp.



Alternative Ways to GiveBy the Rev. Charles Cloughen Jr. with Karen Stewart

Giving to the Church is a way of participating God’s ministry beyond ourselves.There are many ways to give to the Church. A person may continue to honorstewardship pledges and make other gifts by putting cash and checks inenvelopes and placing them in offering plates; however, giving opportunities donot stop with this method of payment. Here are a few examples of alternativeways to give monetary gifts to your congregation, the Bishops’ Appeal, or theInn at Claggett Campaign.

Check by mail: You may mail your check payments to yourchurch, the Diocese of Maryland, or theBishop Claggett Center specifying the reasonfor the gift in the memo line of the check. Thiswill ensure that the receiving entity will under-stand and apply your gift to the pledge or pro-gram for which it is intended. Plus, a copy ofthe cleared check will serve to support yourcharitable deduction on your tax return.

Payroll deduction: You may decide on a fixed amount to bededucted from each pay period to be paid toyour pledge or program of your choice. Youremployer would, in turn, send a regular pay-ment to your congregation or other programof your choice. Any charitable giving will bereported on your paystub and be accumulatedin a “Year to Date” category allowing you touse your final check stub to support your char-itable deduction on your tax return. Pleasecheck with your employer to ensure that this type ofdeduction is supported by their payroll system.

Direct Debit: You may decide to set up a direct debit fromyour checking account via your bank’s onlinebill paying system. Handling your giving in thisfashion will ensure that your pledge paymentsare made on a recurring basis, thus ensuringthat your congregation continues to receiveyour stewardship on those occasional timeswhen you are unable to attend a church serv-ice. Your congregation may give you a specialenvelope to put in the offering plate where youmay check a box stating “My gift is paid viaDirect Debit” to eliminate the awkward feel-ing of putting nothing in the plate.

Stock Gifts: You may chose to give a gift of stock to yourchurch or other diocesan program. Please askyour church, and don’t hesitate to contact

either the development director or comptrollerfor information on making such transaction.

Remember no gift is too large for God’s work!

The Rev. Charles Cloughen Jr. is the director ofdevelopment, stewardship and planned giving forthe diocese, [email protected],410-467-1399, 800-443-1399.Ms. Karen Stewart is the comptroller for the diocese, [email protected], 410-467-1399, 800-443-1399.



AIDS: Africa Is Destined to Survive Kenya Connect Mission Trip 2012By Tara Hyde

“We will take the gifts you have given us, and wewill use them for your good. We will work togetherthe way the sun and the rain work together togrow the trees.” – The Book of UncommonPrayer: Contemplative and CelebratoryPrayers and Worship Services for Youth Ministry by Steve L. Case

THIS JANUARY, 11 UNIVERSITY STUDENTSfrom St. John’s Parish, Ellicott City, traveled toKenya to share their gifts and talents. Accom-panied by six adult leaders, the students wereprepared to strengthen their spirituality andaccomplish the five marks of mission (see side-bar), all in 10 days.

Their journey began in Karen, where theyvisited the Elephant Orphanage and GiraffePark. The students were able to make dona-tions, as well as to admire all of God’s creationsup close and personal. The team then traveledto Machakos, where they would settle for therest of the trip.

Once in Machakos, the group met with AllSouls’ Cathedral parish and youth. Theyreceived a tour of the grounds and helped outwith church maintenance. In the afternoon theuniversity students had an open discussionwith the youth about the different challengesadolescents face. After finding similarities, rela-tionships were quick to form. They laughedtogether, they danced together and they wor-shiped the Lord together. After the service thenext day it was hard for them to say goodbye.

The rest of theweek the group trav-eled to schools inWamunyu that part-ner with KenyaConnect.

Kenya Connectis a nonprofit organ-ization that pro-motes cross-culturalexchange and grass-roots communitydevelopment, keny-aconnect.org. Theschools greeted theteam enthusiasti-

cally with a welcom-ing ceremony. Afterintroductions, theuniversity studentstaught a lesson ineach of the class-rooms. The lessonsincluded an art proj-ect, photography,reading and wordgames. The childrenwere very attentiveand eager to learn.

Another projectthe team worked on throughout the week wasbreaking ground for the foundation of theLearning Resource Center. The LearningResource Center, funded by Kenya Connect,will provide books, computers and otherresources for the community. The group had touse shovels and pickaxes to level out the ground.

The team also experienced the local cul-ture and helped the economy by visitinghomesteads and wood carving co-ops. At theend of the day the group would come togetherfor reflection. They would pray and discussspiritual journeys and individual growth.

“God, we are still here! We survived. We are yourservants. We have accomplished so much with ourhands and hearts. We have shown the world thatyou are who you say you are: the giver of everlast-ing love.” – The Book of Uncommon Prayer

When it was time to depart Nairobi, theuniversity students realized that their lives hadforever changed. Impacted by the love andspirituality of the Kenyan community, theywere excited to share their experience withthose back home. Although they have now set-tled back into their daily routines, Kenya willforever be in their hearts. Tara Hyde is a junior at Towson University whoattended the trip. She is studying mass communica-tions and film, [email protected]. Read more about the Kenya trip and view photosat: http://stjohnskenyaconnect.wordpress.com/. The trip was funded in part by an EndowmentGrant for Ministry totaling $10,000.


The Five Marks of Mission1. To proclaim the Good

News of the Kingdom2. To teach, baptize and

nurture new believers3. To respond to human

need by loving service4. To seek to transform

unjust structures of society

5. To strive to safeguardthe integrity of creationand sustain and renewthe life of the earth.

At ABC Primary School,Wamunyu, Tara Hyde(pictured with the stu-dents) and Julia Millard,taught an art project tothe younger kids at theschool.


20 Years of HospitalityBy Fran Brown

In 2011, as the cathedral celebrated its 100th anniversary, the Diocesan Centermarked its 20th year at 4 East University Parkway. More than 20 years ago, a group of people had a vision of what it might look like to move the bishops’ officesto the site of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, the bishop’s seat. They envisioned a center that not only provided office and worship space but also hospitality. Thevision has been realized and the mission, “…to provide worship and hospitality that all who enter here may know the love of the Lord” has been fulfilled.

THE DIOCESAN CENTER hosts more than 900events annually, not counting cathedral serv-ices that include ordinations, Integrity meet-ings, Tuesday Eucharist and Centering Prayer,Urban Missioner commissioning as well as thefrequent use of the Peace Chapel by commit-tees and parishes. The cathedral columbariumis open to all in the diocese. St. Bede’s BookStore and the Diocesan Resource Center arelocated here.

From the beginning the center has beenavailable for no fee to diocesan committees,parish retreats, vestries, and workshops: OldSt. Paul’s vestry, St. Bartholomew’s staff retreat,the Standing Committee, the Bragg Fund, theTruth & Reconciliation Commission, theUnion of Black Episcopalians, the Inn atClaggett campaign, Absalom Jones celebration,the Christian Formation Committee and theCommission on Ministry, to name a few.

“The space was lovely and the proximity ofthe small kitchen helped immensely with prepa-ration and cleanup. The diocesan staff was veryhelpful and accommodating with the planningand setup,” said Kim Peabody, project coordina-tor, Chesapeake Covenant Community.

We have extended hospitality on a slidingfee scale to groups from the community, includ-ing Martin Luther King Early Head Start,Johns Hopkins Experience Corps, Health Carefor All, English as a Second Language, theCoalition for Homeless Families and Childrenand the Chesapeake Covenant Community.We welcome the ecumenical community suchas Church Women United, Fountain BaptistChurch, the Church of Power and Light andthe Ecumenical Leaders Group.

“Over the years, use of the diocesan meet-ing facilities has been critical to the effectiveworking of our board and coalition for meet-ings and press conferences,” said VincentDeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens’

Health Initiative. “Fran Brown has been ter-rific in helping us schedule these events andmaking sure everything is set up correctly. Wealso greatly appreciate the critical support thatthe Episcopal Church and the broader Mary-land faith community have given to our suc-cessful public health advocacy campaigns.”

The Center opens as early as 7 a.m. onsome days and closes no later than 10 p.m. Weprovide hospitality, security, setup and clean-ing. It is a major part of my job to coordinateall of these events and groups in our four con-ference rooms and one large meeting room –sometimes a challenge; always a joy! I love tosee the building in full use, serving our dioceseand the larger community just as the earlyplanners had envisioned. If you would like to reserve a room for an event or meeting, contact Fran Brown at [email protected].




Ecumenism & the 19th Century Episcopal ChurchSecond in a four-part seriesBy Bruce F. George

The defensive stance maintained by the Episcopal Church in the early 19th century inhibited evangelism and ecumenism. Our church had an Episcopalhierarchy, i.e., bishops. Such a hierarchy dated from antiquity and has beenretained within Anglicanism and some other denominations from before theReformation. Our church also had an educated clergy, examined and ordained by its bishops. We also had fixed liturgies defined in The Book of Common Prayer.

HE BISHOPS BELIEVED theyneeded to defend these EpiscopalChurch markers. Their approachto evangelism and ecumenismwas simple: “Our way is The Way;join us if you will.” Despite their

inflexibility, the Episcopal Church continued amodest expansion.By mid-century, there was unease within the

Church over the bishops’ conservatism. Theoccasional exchange of pulpits by parish priestswith neighboring churches was prohibited bythe bishops in 1820. Also questioned was the1789 canon requiring a three-year wait beforeordination. This was a difficult requirement forthose ministering in other traditions but seek-ing ordination in the Episcopal Church. It wasdiscussed and revised at General Conventionsbetween 1826 until 1853. By 1839, the requiredwait had been reduced to six months.In 1836, William Augustus Muhlenberg, a

New York City priest, published “Hints onCatholic Union.” The pamphlet asserts thatmost Christians proclaim the same faith, butdisunity detracts from their message. It advo-cates a confederacy of Protestant denomina-tions — a conceptual precursor to the WorldCouncil of Churches. He said, “union of doc-trines would be easy,” that “union of ministry”was possible – he outlines a process – and that“union of worship” was not necessary. Individ-uals should worship in the manner that bringsthem closest to God. He suggested that all churches read the

same scripture on a given day. (A common lec-tionary was finally published in1992 by a work-ing group from 17 Protestant and RomanCatholic traditions. The Revised CommonLectionary was accepted by the EpiscopalChurch in 2006.) Though prophetic and influ-ential, Muhlenberg’s pamphlet had littleimmediate impact.

In 1853, Muhlenberg and friends stirred upthe bishops with a controversial “memorial.”The memorial’s basic tenet was that the Epis-copal Church, as bound, was not addressingthe “moral and social necessities of the day.” The 1856 House of Bishops responded by

relaxing liturgical strictures and establishing aCommission on Church Unity. Also in 1853,William Reed Huntington, another New YorkCity priest, published a book, The Church-Idea,an Essay on Unity. He enumerated four princi-ples as the basis for true Christian belief:

1. The Holy Scriptures as the Word of God.2. The Primitive Creeds as the Rule of Faith.3. The two Sacraments ordained by ChristHimself.

4. The Episcopate as the keystone of Governmental Unity.

The Civil War preempted further ecu-menical discussion.After the war and restoration of Episcopal

Church unity, the Commission on Church Unitywas re-established in 1868 and renamed theCommittee on Ecclesiastical Relations in 1880.No reports were forthcoming. The 1886 GeneralConvention received a memorial signed by morethan 1,100 clergy complaining about the lack ofecumenical progress. The bishops reacted bypublishing the Chicago Quadrilateral, a generalcall for Christian unity and a declaration of ourchurch’s willingness to confer with any otherchurch seeking the restoration of unity. Hunt-ington’s four points from 1853 were included asthe basis for discussion. (See The Book of Com-mon Prayer, page 876.)By century’s end the bishops had recog-

nized the hubris of their predecessors and wereno longer complacent with the status quo.Bruce F. George is a 2010 graduate of the Ecumeni-cal Institute, Baltimore, with an MA in Theology,[email protected].

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Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday: the Reversal of the Easter VigilBy Canon Scott Slater

My wife and I lived in New Orleans for a year back in the early 90s, whichmeant we experienced one full season of Carnival. We attended numerousparades, collected lots of beads and doubloons, and ate too much King Cake,which our church had every Sunday throughout Epiphanytide. Even though“mardi gras,” or “Fat Tuesday,” is technically only one day, New Orleans cele-brates for 10 days with continuous parades, parties and krewe balls. Then it alljust stops. Ash Wednesday arrives and all the trinkets and detritus are sweptaway. Lent begins with a vengeance.

HEN WE MOVED to Balti-more in 2001, my first weekas rector of Church of theGood Shepherd, Towson, wasthe last week of Epiphany sea-son. The parish had scheduled its

annual Mardi Gras dinner (no pancakes, butjambalaya and etouffee) as a newcomers’ wel-come event. Since we were among the new-comers, we were the celebrities. It was a grandevening in which we ate well and were welcomed well.But the most memorable part of the

evening occurred after dinner ended. A“Farewell to Alleluia” service had been plannedin the church. We marched down the long hallfrom the Parish Hall to the Nave singing“When the Saints Go Marching In.” We hadnoisemakers and beads. We sang an “Alleluia”song and got all the alleluias out of our systems.We brought forward our dried palms from theprevious year’s Palm Sunday liturgy and burnedthem in preparation for receiving ashes thenext day.As the small pile of palms turned to dust,

we sang a quieter song, a Lenten song. As wesang, the associate priest, who planned theliturgy, took off her beads as the palms burned,and laid them on the floor in front. Instinc-

tively and without invita-tion, children started com-ing forward to do thesame, removing strings ofbeads that they had clam-ored over less than an hourearlier, and setting downnoisemakers. Lent hadbegun.As a new rector in a new place, I caught a

first glimpse of a faith community that wouldcontinue to teach me things about liturgy as“work of the people.” We said our goodbyes to“Alleluia” to better welcome Lent with an openheart. As I subsequently led this service infuture years, I became more and more aware ofhow it was, in many ways, a reversal of theEaster Vigil, which begins in darkness and endsin light and joy.As each of us maneuvers through this sea-

son of Lent, may we appreciate the opportuni-ties it presents to jar us with contrasts:darkness and light, ashes and palms, noise andsilence, clamor and quiet. It is within theseextremes that God encounters us, and that weare made new.The Rev. Scott Slater is the canon to the ordinary of the Diocese of Maryland. [email protected].

Canon Scott Slater

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Respect, Hope and HealingBy Peter Dunn

The Samaritan Community provides assistance to meet the needs of familiesand individuals who are in crisis and wish to improve their lives. Our program is rooted in respect, hope and healing. Located in the basement of MemorialChurch in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, the Samaritan Community has been in operation for more than 40 years.

S SAMARITAN HAS GROWN over thedecades, we have come to under-

stand the complexity of povertyand the hardships that it causes.

Poverty represents a broaderrange of hardship than what is

measured by a dollar figure. It means littlehope and limited options, chronic worry, inad-equate housing and minimal neighborhoodsolidarity. The Samaritan Community pro-vides a place where people are sustained emo-tionally and materially as they work to buildbetter lives.

In 2011, Samaritan Community distrib-uted more than 5,400 bags of groceries to 622different individuals, as well as emergencyassistance and counseling to about 100 others.This was a 70-percent increase from just twoyears before. During this recession we are find-ing that our clients are coming from a broaderrange of backgrounds. Many of our new clientswere solidly working or even middle classbefore the economic downturn. Anotherchange in our demographics is that manyclients now require much more time to getback on their feet, as it can take up to a year orlonger to find employment. We have neverseen circumstances like this before.

The Samaritan Community’s mission is topromote self-sufficiency, and we have a historyof successful clients. Sharon Krieger, program

director, believes that,“the client is the pro-gram.” By this she meansthat we work closelywith our clients, estab-lish a bond of trust andthen tailor our servicesto each client and pro-vide them with all theservices needed to helpthem transform theirlives.

Samaritan Commu-nity works with clientsto address issues of men-

tal health, substanceabuse, employment,education and otherissues that may bekeeping them fromcreating better livesfor themselves. Wecollaborate withother organizationsto provide whatservices our clientsneed that we do notprovide directly,such as medical andlegal aid.

One of the thingsthat makes Samaritan Community so special ishow hard we work to create real community forour clients where they can connect with othersand help each other build better lives. Buildinga more just and caring community is at the coreof the Episcopal Church’s mission, and it is thelife’s work of Samaritan Community.

Every year Samaritan Community touchesand transforms hundreds of lives, includingthe lives of those who volunteer with us, tohelp those in need. Because we receive no gov-ernment funding, we rely on the generosity ofindividuals to enable us to do the work that wedo. More than 80 percent of our fundingcomes from individuals and foundations out-side of the Episcopal Church. We areimmensely grateful for this support and areproud of the fact that we have such a diversegroup of donors who share our vision of a morejust and merciful society.

If you would like to learn more about thedynamic work that Samaritan Communitydoes, visit samaritancommunity.org. Dona-tions can be sent to Samaritan Community,1407 Bolton St., Baltimore 21217.Peter Dunn is the development director for Samaritan Community and a member of Memorial Church, Baltimore, [email protected] or 410-435-0913.

AChris Malanga, a volunteer for Samaritan Community, works in the food pantry. Samari-tan Community photo.

Another change inour demographics isthat many clientsnow require muchmore time to getback on their feet,as it can take up toa year or longer tofind employment. We have never seencircumstances likethis before.



Yearning for Wholeness: The Spirit at WorkWell for the Journey Celebrates 10 YearsBy Mabeth Hudson

Amazing things can happen when a small group of people comes together to listen for God. The Spirit has been at work in the life of Well for the Journey, a grassroots nonprofit that was partially seeded at Church of the Good Shepherd, Towson. As The Well celebrates 10 years, this is a grace-filled time to reflect on the Spirit’s work and to listen for how we are being called to reachout to others who seek spiritual wholeness and wellness.

HE WELL BEGAN with a spiritualyearning that I recognized in myown life. I sensed a call to some-thing new, and I wanted to listen forGod’s invitation. Believing thatthere were others who were experi-

encing a similar desire to listen for God, weformed a “Mission Discernment Group” at GoodShepherd to listen for God’s call. Meeting twice amonth, we committed to spiritual practices.

During the next two years, this intentionallistening led me to resign as a partner at my lawfirm to take on projects to serve the materiallypoor. However, I became increasingly aware ofspiritual needs all around me. Others were alsoexperiencing a spiritual yearning. Althoughsome people expressed a desire to discover Godin everyday life, most had difficulty puttingwords around this longing for something more.

A recurring image appeared on my journal-ing pages…an ecumenical spiritual center thatoffered varied, accessible programs for ordi-nary people. I shared this vision with othersand there was energy and excitement. Asmaller group comprised of lay and clergyformed to listen for this call. Four were fromGood Shepherd, including Canon Scott Slater,who was then serving as the church’s rector.Others were from other denominations andfaith communities. The mission, vision andinitial programs emerged out of this discern-ment process. There were no roadmaps forthis endeavor; the Spirit was our guide.

Since The Well officially formed in July 2002,it has provided spiritual nourishment for dailyliving to countless men and women through itsinnovative small group programs and resources.

Dr. Franklin Adkinson, a current boardmember and leader of The Well’s Group Spiri-tual Direction program, said, “I came to TheWell to find others who were serious about livinga meaningful life. Spiritual nourishment is hard

to find these days, but in small group activitieswith like-minded people from many faith back-grounds, The Well has given me the courage totry to live life from the center. It’s a joy to be withothers who pay attention to the yearnings andmysteries of the spirit—the things that last.”

Joan Partridge, who has been a part of Wellprograms for more than seven years said, “TheWell has given me an opportunity to digdeeper into my faith and explore the innumer-able questions that crop up every day – bigquestions and small ones too.”

According to Executive Director GregCochran, “The Well provides sacred space forthe spiritual life that isn’t available elsewhere.”

The Rev. Thelma Smullen agrees, “TheWell is able to do what individual congrega-tions cannot always do: offer a wide range ofopportunities for spiritual enrichment with abroad range of people. It fills a void.”

Support from the Episcopal communityhas been critical to this ecumenical undertak-ing. Good Shepherd provided seed moneythrough its outreach committee. Numerouschurches have graciously extended hospitalityfor programs. The Rev. Ben Smith, CanonSlater and the Rev. Jim Ransom served termson the board and led programs. Other clergy,including Bishop Sutton, the Rev. Adrien Daw-son, the Rev. Thelma Smullen, the Rev. LeeAnn Tolzmann and the Rev. Rebekah Hatch,served as program leaders.

As it enters the next decade of service tothe community, The Well is listening for newways to encourage spiritual wellness both forindividuals and organizations. May the Spiritcontinue to guide, inspire and bless the journey. Mabeth Hudson is co-founder of Well for the Journey and she can be reached at [email protected]. To learn more about The Well visit wellforjourney.org or call 410-296-WELL (9355) for a catalog.

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� horizons 2015

Looking Back, Moving Forward

The five Horizons 2015 priorities are a result of listening and reflecting in thediocese over the course of more than a year. Now that we have been living into these priorities for over a year through the establishment of task forces to discern what directions each of these priorities should take us, it is time to learn more about what is currently happening in churches in the diocese. We hope to celebrate those ministries in local congregations that reflect thesepriorities. We want to help build and strengthen relationships among churchesand to share resources and great ideas. We desire to assist churches who mightbe looking for some new ideas and provide resources to support your ministries as we work together.

WE HAVE CREATED VISITING TEAMS that havebeen trained to help congregations assessparish life. These are not “secret shopper” vis-its and no team will visit a church without aninvitation. However, this program is designedto help churches gain a new perspective oneverything from how it welcomes newcomersto its communications and its ministry offer-ings, especially those items specific to theHorizons 2015 priorities. This is intended tobe a non-threatening, affirming, helpful andsupportive process with mutual benefit to thecongregation and the diocese.

Several churches in the diocese have begun“beta testing” this program with the Horizonsvisiting teams, comprised typically of threelaypeople and a clergy resource person. Theyhave scheduled their visits and members of thechurches are completing a three-part survey.Together the visitors and the church memberswill report, review and discuss the finding, andhave a conversation about the future.

To help congregations and visiting teamsprepare for their time together, a survey has been

created that prompts both church and visitors toconsider programs, ministries and missions ofthe church as they relate to Horizons 2015.

The information provided by the churchleaders on the survey, together with the face-to-face meeting, will allow the visitors to producea summary for the congregation. The Horizonsvisitors will help link the church with resourcesto support and strengthen ministries, and/orhelp share resources with others. All conversa-tions will be confined to the congregation, theteam members, and the diocesan staff.

About the surveyThe first section provides Basic Informationabout the specific congregation. It helps tocreate a file for the church. It can be quicklycompleted by a staff member or vestry officer.

The second section is Getting Ready. It is amore detailed questionnaire specific to theHorizons 2015 priorities and the congrega-tion’s ministries and mission. Collecting thisinformation ahead of the visit allows the Hori-zons visitors to become familiar with the con-

The Horizons 2015 PrioritiesBy Sharon Tillman, with Canon Scott Slater


� horizons 2015

17

gregation, and allows the timetogether to be more of a conver-sation about celebrations anddreams rather than simply a fact-finding mission.

The last section is named Let’sTalk. It asks some “big picture”questions. It is designed to helpthe congregation reflect on thebasic themes and topics that willbe discussed with the visiting team.

All of the task forces areinvolved in the visitations. Eachtask force has also been movingforward on individual projects.An update from each co-chair isavailable here:

Proclamation By 2015, in response to the call toproclaim the Good News andmake disciples of all nations, thediocese will grow its average wor-ship attendance by 10 percent.

The Proclamation TaskForce has had some accomplish-ments and set more plans inmotion. At the Christian Forma-tion Festival in 2011, we offered anumber of practical workshopsdesigned both to help congrega-tions analyze themselves and toprovide some helpful and spe-cific suggestions. As 2012 dawns,we are taking part in the dioce-san-wide series of congregationalvisitations with an end of fur-thering the self-analyticalprocess. Coupled with that, wewill begin to identify more waysin which congregations canbecome more welcoming andinclusive. As all this moves along,we will also begin exploring chal-lenges such as outreach to youngfamilies and youth, who are boththe present and future of thechurch and key to our Horizons2015 goal.

Evangelism By 2015, the diocese will have equipped everymember of the diocese to express his or herfaith story by words and actions.

During the past year, the Evangelism TaskForce has discussed spiritual journeys and howwe all have a unique faith story to tell, but howmany of us are comfortable sharing it? The

group is assembling a resourcepamphlet for Diocesan Conven-tion and the website on a varietyof ideas for telling our story.These range from inward reflec-tion on the question “What doesmy church mean to me?” to otherless conventional methods usingart, music, photos, nature, writ-ten reflections, or even mime ordigital storytelling. The taskforce hopes to provide at leastone way each person, whetherquiet or outgoing, will be com-fortable trying, at least in safe set-tings, such as one-on-one or smallgroups at church.

During the next year, thegroup hopes to move the focus totelling our stories out in theworld. The task force is availablefor regional councils or congre-gations that would like moreinformation, to hold a workshop,or to share storytelling methods.

Action By 2015, the diocese will be anagent for transformationalchange in the State of Marylandand local communities and berecognized as such.

In the past year members ofthe Action Task Force read anddiscussed the book Doing Justice:Congregations and CommunityOrganizing by Dennis A. Jacob-sen. In addition we were giventhe resource Effective Organizingfor Congregational Renewal byMichael Green. We also lookedat the grid of social ministry thatdescribes social ministry as advo-cacy, organizing, charity and soli-darity in the book Becoming aCommunity of Salt and Light byPeggy Prevoznik Heins. We dis-cussed what the Action TaskForce means to our members and

came up with this definition: Action includestransforming systems and engaging peopleregionally and/or globally, paying particularattention to where our God-given gifts meetcommunity needs. We participated in theChristian Formation Festival at Conventionby giving four workshops: two on faith-based

Task Force Co-chairsProclamation- The Rev. Bo Chapman,[email protected]

Evangelism- The Rev. Paul Tunkle,[email protected],410-435-7333

- Marjie Mack, [email protected] , 410-956-4351

Action- Dr. Raymond T. Terry Sr., [email protected]

- The Rev. Margaret VanAuker,[email protected]

Christian Formation- Rich Johnson, [email protected]

- The Rev. Nancy Dilliplane,[email protected]

Education - Dr. Patricia Daniel,[email protected]

- The Rev. Doris Johnson, [email protected]

Communications - The Rev. Dr. Chip Lee, 301-334-2510

- Sharon Tillman, [email protected]

For questions about Horizons 2015, contact the Rev. Canon Scott Slater,[email protected],or visit episcopalmaryland.org/horizons/index.php.

(see Horizons, page 31)

www.episcopalmaryland.org | SPRING 2012 | MARYLAND CHURCH NEWS



� mission

Truth and Reconciliation Commission:Research and Pilgrimage By the Rev. Canon Angela Shepherd

The 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church called oneach diocese to continue gathering information about the history ofslavery, segregation and discrimination. We are one of a few diocesesto take this seriously. Although we have made progress, there aremore stories to tell and facts to be revealed.

HE DIOCESE’S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION RESEARCH andPilgrimage working group enlistsyour help as plans are made tolaunch a pilgrimage in 2014. Cur-rent sites include the slave

gravesite at the Bishop Claggett Center,Underground Railroad tunnels at EmmanuelChurch, Cumberland, as well as others. Weinvite all Episcopalians to engage in tellingtheir stories or experiences of their journeytoward truth and reconciliation embodied inpilgrimage sites located within their geo-graphic region as well.

Follow the example of St. Mark’s Church,Lappans, and St. Paul’s Church, Prince Freder-ick, whose research unveiled a remarkablestory connecting significant pieces of slavery,freedom and reconciliation in their respectiveparish histories. These stories craft a new syn-thesis of our diocesan history. Although chal-lenging, they empower us to understand ourpast and offer new insights as we continue tomove toward better tomorrows.

Does your parish orchurch family have a storyto tell from the 17th centuryto the present? We welcomeyou to be a part of the jour-ney for truth and reconcilia-tion by assisting us withadditional pilgrimage sitesor becoming a pilgrim.Embark on a journey withus as we open the doors ofour hearts to the possibili-

ties of truth and reconciliation.You may want to make this a special

Lenten project. At a minimum please desig-nate a person or small committee to spearheadthis project.

Please send your stories and informationto Adam Barner, administrative assistant to the canons, by March 15, 2012 –[email protected]. Please directany questions regarding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the Rev. AngelaShepherd, canon for mission.

TThe Rev. Angela ShepherdDiocesan Canon for Mission and Outreach410-467-1399 :: [email protected]

Canon AngelaShepherd


� christian formation


Events, Resources Not Just for Christian Formation MinistersBy Randi Hicks-Rowe

THE DIOCESAN CHRISTIAN FORMATION COUNCILwill be holding a number of events to helpparish volunteers and staff in their ministry ofChristian formation.April 21Coffee, Croissants and Colleagues 10 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Margaret’s Church, Annapolis The event will provide an opportunity forChristian formation ministers (lay orordained, volunteer or paid) to meet otherswho are facing the same issues. The event willinclude an informal breakfast and informaltime for networking and conversation, as wellas structured discussions around issues relatedto summer programming such as inexpensiveVBS options, training or recruiting of volun-teers, and adapting programs to meet theneeds of smaller parishes. The diocesanResource Center’s ResourceMobile also willbe available and provide books, DVDs andvideos for borrowing, as well as curricula to

review. The event is free and everyone who isinvolved in the ministry of Christian forma-tion is invited.Oct. 27 Diocesan Ministry Fair, St. Timothy’s School, Stevenson The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel, bishop ofOlympia, will be the keynote speaker. Work-shops on a variety of topics, including tradi-tional formation topics as well as stewardship,parish leadership and outreach, will be offered.

The CFC is working on other events, as wellas other ways in which formation resources canbe made accessible throughout the diocese. TheCFC launched a new website last year, episcopalmaryland.org/cf/, which includes sev-eral resources as well as a blog about Christianformation, cf.episcopalmaryland.org. Randi Hicks Rowe is the missioner for Christianformation and the Resource Center director for the diocese, [email protected],410-467-1399, 800-443-1399.



� evangelism

Clear Signage HelpsWe often test the resolve of first-time visitorsBy the Rev. Canon Dan Webster

HE 12:15 PM TUESDAY HOLYEUCHARIST had just finished. Wewere about to start our regularcentering prayer sit when a youngman walked through the rarelyused glass doors at the front of the

Cathedral of the Incarnation. He walked up thecenter aisle with the gait of someone on a mis-sion. He was.

“Excuse me, but there’s a man in a wheel-chair at the bottom of the steps who wouldlike to come in,” he said.

That’s all I needed to hear. Up I stood andwalked with him to the main entrance of thecathedral. I thanked him and he was on his way.

A man sat in his motorized wheelchair onthe sidewalk 28 steps below, staring up. Hisname was Michael and he wanted to visit thecathedral. He had just come from our neigh-boring medical center where he was receivingtreatment for cancer.

We had a long time to chat, given our journeyaround the corner and across the parking lotbefore getting to the ramp to the Bride’s Porchand side entrance to the narthex. Most memberscome in through the office entrance just off theparking lot. They know to do that. First timerslike Michael wouldn’t know that or where to findthe accessible entrance. Inadequate signage.

Most parishes I’ve visited over the years donot have adequate signage. It’s difficult to findwheelchair entrances or the parish hall orchurch office. If they do have signs, and manydo not, they’re small and placed neither logi-cally nor strategically for strangers.

It’s as though we’re testing the resolve ofthose visiting for the first time. If they can findtheir way in, they must really want to be there.If we welcome them in a way that does not putthem off they might stick around awhile.

Here’s a thought. Visit your church asthough you were a first-timer. See what guidesyou to the worship space, fellowship hall, class-rooms, offices and, most important, the rest-rooms. Nothing says “welcome to our church”like signage you can read from a distance. AndI’m not talking about predictable signage abouthow the “Episcopal Church Welcomes You.”

Michael’s visit opened my eyes and my

heart. He had grown up an Episcopalian in Bal-timore but hadn’t been to church in manyyears. He had never been in the cathedral. Weentered through the Bride’s Porch. We sat halfway back down the nave where there’s space fora wheelchair at the end of a pew. The centeringprayer group was sitting in silence. We did too.

Each day I wear the black wooden crossgiven to me when I was received as an associateof the Order of the Holy Cross. That Angli-can/Episcopal order of brothers based in WestPark, New York, follows the Rule of St. Bene-dict in which we’re instructed to receive all whocome to us as Christ himself. That’s one reasonwhy I stood up so quickly to greet the stranger,and also because it was the right thing to do.

Jesus tells us if we welcome the stranger weare welcoming him. The author of the Letter tothe Hebrews says we may be entertaining angels.

Michael came back a few weeks later. Hetold me he’d attended a couple Sunday servicesat the cathedral.

And, I’m pleased to report, a ramp from thesidewalk to the parking lot now replaces steps.It will cut the journey from the front steps bynearly half. It will be a blessing for those whoneed wheelchair access. And those worshipperswill be a blessing to those who already knowtheir way into the cathedral without signage.The Rev. Dan Webster, AHC, is canon for evangel-ism and ministry development in the Diocese ofMaryland. A version of this article appeared inthe January 2012 issue of Episcopal Journal, [email protected], 410-467-1399.

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The new concrete ramp to the Cathedral parkinglot from E. University Parkway.



� mutual ministry

Boarding the Circus Plane for Mutual MinistryBy the Rev. Theresa Brion

Although it may sound paradoxical at some level, a four-person delegation from the diocese met at Circus Circus Las Vegas, Feb. 4-7, to attend the annual Living Stones Partnership meeting of dioceses and seminaries involvedin baptismal and mutual ministry endeavors.

NEXPENSIVE FLIGHTS for our AnglicanChurch of Canada partners and lessexpensive rooms may have accountedfor the location, but in actuality, thesimultaneous activity of a three-ringcircus greatly approximates the milieuof activity of this annual meeting.

Nineteen delegations converged for discus-sions in five clusters of three or four as theypresented a case study of a project, situation orconcern for comment and discussion by theother members. Thus, the delegations spreadover five or six rooms as the individual clustersmet, shared, listened, and supported eachother. Full partnership meals and addressesallowed for the further sharing of stories,catching up with old friends and making newfriends across the U.S. and Canada. Partner, visitor, and observer delegations

generally consist of a bishop, a coordinatorwho is deeply involved in ministry develop-ment work, and one to three others. The 2012Maryland delegation consists of: the Rt. Rev.Joe Goodwin Burnett, assistant bishop ofMaryland, who was involved in mutual min-istry through his former Diocese of Nebraskaand has direct oversight for mutual ministryand Western Maryland; the Rev. TheresaBrion, bishops’ deputy for Western Marylandwho first attended a Living Stones meeting in

2009; Mary Bourdeau, deacon and member ofthe mutual ministry support team for St.Peter’s Church, Lonaconing; and DeNomaStallings, vestry member (and a host of otherroles) with St. George’s Church, Mt. Savage. The Maryland delegation presented a case

study on the discernment and formation pro-gram that the bishops and the mutual ministrycommittee rolled out in fall 2010 for use inWestern Maryland. With 16 months’ experi-ence with the operation of the new formationand discernment program from which to gleannew learnings, the Maryland delegation askedthose in their cluster (Rupert’s Land and WestVirginia) for insights on what we are doingright, where we can improve, and what istransferable for use within the other regions ofthe diocese. The comments received always prove help-

ful in continuing to tweak our ministries, butthe sharing that occurs in the larger meetingsand through reading the other presentations iseven more important to the life and vitality ofmutual ministry both here and elsewhere. Each case study, called a BMER for Bap-

tismal Ministry Experience and Reflection,reflects many months of preparation as eachdelegation determines what to celebrate andwhere the members need feedback. BMERs

Mutual Ministry Defined According to Armentrout and Slocum, “Mutual Ministry” is a term given to the concept of shared ministry and leader-ship in a congregation. Mutual ministry is an approach to Christian ministry that is lived out of the promises made inbaptism. It sees the ministry of the whole congregation as the primary ministry. All members of the congregation aredoers of ministry. Deacons and priests serve as resource and support persons to the congregation, and perform theother duties appropriate to their orders. The work of Roland Allen (1868-1947), an English missionary and parish priest,is the background of mutual ministry. Allen emphasized the training and empowerment of local leadership in thechurch, the importance of the laity, and the use of voluntary clergy. Leaders in mutual ministry in the Episcopal Churchwere Wesley Frensdorff, William Gordon, Charles Long, and H. Boone Porter. The dioceses of Nevada and NorthernMichigan were forerunners in mutual ministry. The dioceses of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota used itin certain areas. See Allen, Roland.

Reprinted from episcpalchurch.org: Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY, (All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.

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(see Circus, page 24)



� bishop claggett center

An Invitation to Summer CampBy the Rev. Dina van Klaveren

I am excited to be the director of summer camp for 2012, and I warmly inviteyou (and/or your child) to consider joining me and the other members of thesummer camp staff at the Bishop Claggett Center for a time of outdoor exploration, personal and spiritual growth, and making friendships that last.

S A MOTHER OF TWO elementaryschool children and a full-time rec-

tor, I am aware of how busy house-hold schedules become during the

school year! This is a perfect wayfor children and youth to take a

real break. Summer camp at Claggett giveschildren and youth time set apart from usualhectic patterns and allows them to relax into anew pattern—one that includes ropes courseadventure, swimming, crafts, hiking, canoeing,serving in the community, creating new friend-ships, sharing stories, singing, daily worshipand reflection, and joy-filled meal times.

It has been said that “a week of Christiansummer camp is equal to a year of SundaySchool.” Perhaps that it is because summercamp creates fast bonds with new friends fromother parts of the state. Perhaps that is due tothe competent counselors and volunteer staffmembers who model their Christian faith andtheir love for others. Perhaps camp is so valu-

able because we break from usual routines andfind God in fresh, new ways. Whatever thereasons, camp is a great way to continue form-ing the next generation of Christian leaders.

This year’s theme is Leap of Faith, and therewill be many opportunities to learn about howto take a leap of faith-filled commitment toGod based on examples from the Bible and theexperiences that camp offers us to grow andstretch ourselves.

I pray that your child will join us for a timeaway at Claggett this summer, and that theywill return to you refreshed, spiritually nour-ished, and excited about their faith and theirnew friends.The Rev. Dina van Klaveren is the rector of St.Andrew’s Church, Glenwood, [email protected],410-489-4035. Camp information and registrationat bishopclaggett.org.

Curious about camp at Claggett? Interested, but not quitesure about signing up because you’ve not experiencedClaggett before? We have just the opportunity for you! On Sunday, April 29, from 3 to 5 pm, we will host aSummer Camp Open House at the Bishop Claggett Center. Bring any potential campers and get a feel for thecamp experience. Sit on a bunk bed in Powell Hall. Trya fun, new activity with a ropes course instructor. Tourthe dining hall, the chapel, and see the swimmingpool. I’ll be there, along with Spencer Hatcher, theactivities director, and a few of the 2012 camp coun-selors. We’ll show you around, answer questions,give you ideas for what to pack, and spend some timegetting to know you and the other curious campers. Let us know that you plan to join us by calling 301-874-5147.

Camp Open House – April 29

A



� bishop claggett center

New SummerCamp DirectorTHE REV. DINA VAN KLAVEREN has been apriest in the EpiscopalChurch for five years andserves as rector of St.Andrew’s Church, Glen-wood, standrewsglen-wood.org, in westernHoward County. In 2011Dina served as chaplain forMiddle School Camp, and in previous years shehas assisted with Claggett camps such as Fam-ily Weekend, Mini Camp, and various retreats.Dina grew up going to Christian camps andretreats in Southern California. She feelsblessed to spend time with the youth and chil-dren of her parish and the diocese, especiallywhen that time includes travel for interna-tional mission trips and domestic pilgrimages.

The Rev. Dina Van Klaveren

MCN Spring 12_MCN Spring11 3/7/12 10:37 AM


� development

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you. By the Rev. Charles Cloughen Jr., Director of Planned Giving, Stewardship and Development

THANK YOU TO THE 874 DONORS to the 2011Bishops’ Annual Appeal. Through their gen-erosity we gathered $187,884 for the ministriesof the diocese that are listed below. We haveincreased the number of donors by 33 percentover 2010. These gifts have made a differenceand changed lives in our beloved diocese.

Bishop Claggett Center Provided scholarships for campers and adultparticipants in retreats, and supported MusicMinistry Weekend, Family Weekend, and Spe-cial Challenge Camp

Youth Supported Camp Amazing Grace, CampExcel, Rainbow Camp, Copley Kids, Home-work Club, and youth mission trips

Outreach Supported Baltimore International Seafarers’Center, ERICA, parish grants, Johns HopkinsHospital Chaplaincy, Episcopal Service Corps,

Ethnic Ministries, Harford Family House,Urban Ministry, St. Mary’s Outreach Center,and Campus Ministries at Morgan State Uni-versity, Towson University and UMBC

Mission Supported Archives of the Diocese of Maryland,Committee on Older Adult Ministry, parish grants,Truth and Reconciliation Commission, GlobalMission Links, and the urban education projectContact the development director at 410-467-1399, 800-443-1399, or [email protected].

The Diocese of Maryland’s Stewardshipand Planning Giving Conference June 16, 9 am-3 pm, St. John’s Church, Ellicott CityThe Rev. Laurel Johnston, stewardship missioner forthe Episcopal Church, James Murphy, vice president ofthe Episcopal Church Foundation, and Bishop Suttonwill speak. There will be a separate track for clergy.

(Circus, cont’d from pg. 21)vary greatlyfrom cluster to cluster, partner to partner. Butthe commonality is that all present have aninterest in fostering and growing the baptismalministry to which each person is called andvalue the experiences that others might sharein fostering that growth. The Maryland delegation left Circus

Circus exhausted mentally and physically fromthe rings of activity converging to make LivingStones what it truly is, but filled with thewaters of our baptisms to continue to do God’swork in the world, within our regions. To read more about the musings of the Living Stones Partnership, see the partnership websites livingstonespartnership.net and ministrydevelopment.ning.com and Theresa Brion’sblog at ministrydeveloper.blogspot.com. She can also be reached at [email protected].

Are you receiving the Parish Emailing? Sign up for the diocese’s e-newsletter online at EpiscopalMaryland.org.



� youth ministry

A Gift for the WorldBy the Rev. Canon Wes Wubbenhorst

THE DIOCESAN MISSION TEAMS are offering awonderful way to give a gift and support theirmissions, both domestically and abroad, all atthe same time.

The Array gift card is a unique gift that canbe used by the recipient for the things theytruly want. It is a gift card for gift cards. Yousimply go online and register your uniqueArray gift card, select the amount and give it.The recipient then goes online and chooses agift card from more than 500 stores, restau-rants, shops and services for the amount youhave pre-selected. The person gets what theywant and you have helped send youth on a mis-sion trip.

A percentage of the purchase of each Arraygift card supports our mission work in Honduras, Appalachia and here in the diocese.These gift cards are great for birthdays, graduations, celebrations and just because. The more cards you give the more the

missioners earn.Gift cards are available by request from the

Rev. Wes Wubbenhorst, canon for youth andcoordinator of the diocesan mission teams.Each card is pre-registered with Array todirect funds earned to diocesan youth missionteams. There are plenty of gift cards available.Request a few or challenge your congregationto see who can give the most. The cards arefree from the diocese; you only pay for theones you give. For more information or to request gift cards pleasecontact The Rev. Canon Wes Wubbenhorst. Learnmore about Array Gift at arraygift.com.

The Rev. Wes WubbenhorstCanon for Youth Ministry and Province III Youth Coordinator410-467-1399 :: [email protected]

Upcoming Youth Ministry Events

Bishops’ BashSaturday, March 31St. John’s Church, 9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City6-10 pm

Live band, games, fun, food. Third annualbishops’ event and youth leader recognition.Bring your youth leaders for dinner and music,featuring Bishop Sutton on lead guitar. A greattime to give thanks to your youth leaders.Plus, enjoy an evening with other youth of theDiocese of Maryland. Casual dress this year.Features Maryland Cup Drill Team and morefun and games! Cost: $10 and a contributionto the Howard County Food Bank.

For more information contact the Rev. Canon Wes Wubbenhorst.

Senior High NightwatchApril 13-15 Cathedral of St. John the Divine, N.Y.C. This event is for youth in 9th grade andabove.

$80 (includes bus fare, Friday and Saturdaydinner, Saturday and Sunday breakfast)A special two-night trip with a fantastic High Tour Saturday night.

Each participant will need:• Sleeping bag• Toiletries (no showers)• Money for lunches Saturday and Sunday• Warm clothes

We will supply Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast (bagels), Saturday dinner (pizza) and Sunday breakfast (warm bagels).



SUMMER CAMP AT ST. JOHN’SWE’LL DE L IVER M ORE THAN J UST V ITAM I N D

7 Weeks Of Spectacular Summer Fun

Designed Specifically For Campers Ages 4-8

Partial & Full-Day Options Plus Before & After Care

Special Program For English Language LearnersREGISTER TODAYWWW.STJOHNSPDS.ORG/COMMUN ITY/SUMMER-CAMP

H I G H - Q UA L I T Y E P I S CO PA L E D U C AT I O N9130 Freder i ck Road , E l l i cott C ity , Mary land 21042

410-465-7644 | www.st johnspds .org

� around the diocese

‘Sacred Ground’ Slave Stories Come Alive on New DVDBy Val Hymes

THE BISHOP CLAGGETT CENTER sits on landthat in the 1700s was known as BuckinghamHouse and Plantation where the Hasselbachand Cunningham families and their slaveslived and died.A dirt road leads down to a family ceme-

tery located about a half-mile into the valleywhere the remains of both slaves and slaveowners are buried. An archeological dig in 1979revealed the bones of an African Americanmale, about 60 years old, buried before 1840. Intrigued by that fact, a half dozen clergy

and lay members of the diocese began in 2008to research information about the families.They found that the lives of three slave fami-lies and two individuals were entwined withthose of the land owners.

Now, four years later, fictional historybased on research about the slave families andtheir owners at Buckingham Plantation comesalive in a new DVD. Fifteen of the personalstories are told through amateur re-enactorsfrom four parishes in our diocese.“A sadness clings to Buckingham...” said

plantation owner John Hasselbach as he lay onhis deathbed. Only two of his 10 children wereliving at the time of his death. Two daughtersdied in childbirth on a Christmas day. At thesame time, research shows he planned to freeall 34 slaves and their children when thewomen reached 27 and the men became 30. Hewrote in his will that “Old Jim,” his personalservant, “will join me in the family cemetery.”The stories were written and produced by




the Rev. William H. Fallowfield of St. Michaeland all Angels, Baltimore, a former teacher andlongtime director of the Bishop Claggett Cen-ter. The music is an old spiritual, “Hold On,”sung by members of the choir of HolyCovenant Church, Baltimore. The set was theFallowfield-Faye Houston home and yard. Thebasement played the role of slave quarters andupstairs, the big house; an old fence portrayedthe front of a farm building.

The stories tell about the work, recreation,and religious practices of the enslaved parentsand their children as well as their hopes, fearsand joys. One tells the story of two youngbrothers who ran away to freedom on theUnderground Railroad.

The DVD also includes suggested ques-

tions for discussion of each monologue. One,for example, asks viewers why a Maryland leg-islator proposed a failed law in the 1850s to re-enslave free African Americans.

“It’s an amateur production,” said the Fal-lowfield, “designed to spark discussion.”

The DVD, “Sacred Ground, Sacred Sto-ries,” is an educational resource of the SlaveGravesite Committee — to be available for $25in mid-March at St. Bede’s Bookstore. Theproceeds will be used to rebuild the cemeterywall as part of the restoration and preservationproject.

Donations may be made to the BishopClaggett Center marked “Slave Gravesite,”episcopalmaryland.org/committees/sgtf.php.



Christian Community Amid Cultural Chaos

June 5-7, 2012 College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore

Save with Early Bird Registration by April 30th!

2 0 1 2 C O N F E R E N C E

An emerging movement seeking the transformation of theological practice through the application of mimetic theory.

THEOLOGY PEACE

Richard Beck – Purity and Pollution: The Psychology of Sacrifice & Scapegoating

Cheryl Kirk-Duggan – Black Pop Culture & Christianity

Over a dozen new workshops, plus free Introduction to Mimetic Theory session

FEATURING

To learn more and register today, visit TheologyandPeace.org

&

All God’s PEEPS®

Evangelism illustrated in PEEPS THIS EXCLUSIVE DIOCESE OF MARYLAND proj-ect invites anyone with a shoe box, leftoverPEEPS and some imagination to create a dio-rama of a Bible story, parable or Psalm illus-trating Evangelism, featuring PEEPS brandcandies. These beloved marshmal-low creations that havebecome a mainstay ofEaster baskets can nowbecome the centralcharacters in entries tothe diocese’s All God’sPEEPS contest. The goal of this

Easter season project is toinspire people to read the Bible andprovide a fun and educational activity for indi-viduals, groups and families. We present thiscontest with the blessing of Just Born, Inc.,makers of PEEPS.

You can’t have a contest without rules• Visit the Christian Formation website, episcopalmaryland.org/cf, for updates and allthings PEEPS. • Entrants illustrate the Horizons 2015 priority

Evangelism through a Bible pas-sage, parable, or Psalm orother scene depictingEvangelism that featuresPEEPS, in a standard-size shoe box. Othermaterials may includenon-perishable food

items, candies and craftssupplies (PEEPS from other

holidays are permissible). • Entrants submit no more than two high-resolu-tion digital photos (300 dpi or greater) as JPEG attachments for judging and review [email protected]. In the message,




include: project title, your name and age orgroup name, parish/location, daytime phonenumber, the Bible passage, parable or Psalm,and a brief description including how it relatesto Evangelism.

CategoriesPlease specify the category in the subject line of yourentry e-mail.• Individual Children and Youth: K-5th grade;6th-8th grade; or 9th-12th grade• Individual Adult: age 18 and older• Group Effort: any project created by multiplepeople (Sunday School classes, youth groups,Bible study groups, Altar Guilds, families, etc.)• Photo Entries due by April 16; winnersannounced at Diocesan Convention, May 4-5(visit the home page for Convention details). • Entrants are invited to display their dioramasat Diocesan Convention. Just let us know if

you want to bring yours orsend it with your delegate.Photos will be shown in aPEEPS slideshow.• Winners’ dioramas will be featured in the summer issueof Maryland Church News. • Diocesan Staff are not eligible to win but may enter anexhibition diorama.

Prizes• PEEPS prize packages for first and secondplace Bishops’ Choice overall award winners.• Each Category Winner will receive a Dioce-san prize pack.• Categories may be adjusted depending on thenumber of entries received.

Peeps® is a registered trademark of Just Born.justborn.com




Camp Amazing Grace 2012;Campers HonoredCAMP AMAZING GRACE 2012 for children with parents in prison will be held Aug. 12-17 at the BishopClaggett Center. Executive Director Maria Robinson-Conaway and program director Spencer Hatcher welcomeinterested volunteers to attend monthly Saturday planningmeetings at the Diocesan Center.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 21, 10 am-12 noon.This year’s theme will be based on two songs by SweetHoney in the Rock: “The Best I Can Be” and “Education Isthe Key.”

Twenty-four children attended Camp Amazing Grace lastyear; five graduates moved up to Claggett camps. Two ofthe younger campers were selected as Student People toPeople ambassadors. Durand Brown, 9, and Damiya Hope,12, both of Baltimore, were nominated by their teachers as “outstanding students.”

Camp Amazing Grace, founded in 2006, is sponsored bythe Prison Ministry Task Force. For more information,[email protected], 410-523-0191 – Val Hymes

Someone Important Is Missing! Age 16-25An important voice is not being heard right nowon our Diocesan Council: that of youth. Dioce-san Council seeks a youth member (or two)who can meet one Saturday every othermonth. Youth participation can help thediocese support its parishes, provideresources for the individual ministries of ourpeople, and participate in the work and wit-ness of the whole Church in our nation andaround the world as we plan, budget andprovide oversight of many aspects of dioce-san life.

Learn about Church governance andmake the valuable contribution of your timeand voice.

If you or someone you know can fill thismissing piece, please contact the Rev. WesWubbenhorst, diocesan canon for youth,[email protected],410-467-1399 or 800-443-1399.




(Horizons, cont’d from pg. 17)organiz-ing, one on grant writing, and one on whatother congregations have done.

Christian Formation By 2015, every congregation will have 40 per-cent of worship attendees of all ages partici-pating in a Christian formation program.The first year of work of the Christian

Formation Task Force resulted in the birth ofthe Horizons Visiting Team process for gather-ing and sharing resources within the dioceseand strengthening relationships amongparishes. We helped develop an online surveyto enhance the visitation process and weoffered a training session for visitors using anactive listening and appreciative inquiryapproach. We are hopeful that the visiting teams, the

celebration of our ministries, and the sharing ofour resources will build and strengthen relation-ships among the many and unique congrega-tions in the diocese. The process itself is whatChristian Formation is all about. We are also thebeneficiaries of the ongoing hard work of thediocesan Christian Formation Commission andthe Diocesan Resource Center. There arealready many materials available to support con-gregations in developing resources for ChristianFormation for all ages. ang-md.org/resource.phpand episcopalmaryland.org/cf/.

Education By 2015, provide every region in the diocesetraining and strategies for advocating for thepoor in education.The Education Task Force of Horizons

2015 has been moving forward on four fronts.First, following much study and visiting ofschools in Baltimore and Washington that pro-vide quality education for disadvantagedinner-city children, the committee’s under-standing of what constitutes a quality programfor this target population has become moredefined and focused. Second, the committeehas researched what other dioceses (e.g. Dal-las) are doing to enable parishes to relate tolocal public schools. St. John’s Parish, Hager-stown; the Church of the Redeemer, Balti-more; St. Andrew’s Church, Clear Spring; andseveral other congregations have firmly estab-lished successful programs or are investigatingoptions. Research results are being craftedinto a “tool box” and will be available on thediocesan resource site, WikEpalian. Third, thetask force is holding a series of meetings withexperts on questions of church/public school

legalities, financial resources, and similar top-ics where professional advice is essential.Finally, the Education Task Force is following astrategic plan and meets several times in-between designated Horizons gatherings.

CommunicationsThis work of this task force is in answer tonumber three of the seven articulated guide-lines for achieving the five priorities (see“efforts” below).During the past year, the Communica-

tions Task Force has been tasked with devel-oping ways to not only communicate the workof Horizons 2015, but also develop concreteways to move the diocese forward in its com-munications among its churches, missions,schools and ministries. One of the keys to thisis resource sharing. The group, made up ofcommunications professionals from a varietyof disciplines, has developed a Wiki page forsharing documents, images, event planning,curricula and other resources that are yours toshare. Officially established as WikEpalian,this resource sharing site will allow anyone tosearch for and take one church’s successfulstewardship campaign, for example, and adaptit to their congregation’s needs. The possibili-ties are endless. Uploading information willrequire the sharer to create a user name andpassword, and certify that the information orimage is theirs to share. WikEpalian will beofficially launched at Diocesan Convention.

In our efforts to fulfill the mission and ministry articulated in these priorities,we will…- Build in benchmarks and accountabilityto measure progress towards the task.- Include youth and young adults as inte-gral parts of the decision-making processat all levels surrounding the tasks.- Develop methods of communicationusing available technology to link localmembers to diocesan tasks.- Raise up and train leaders to direct the tasks.- Develop funding sources and budgets tosupport the tasks.- Use existing diocesan resources (e.g.,Claggett Center, Cathedral, DiocesanCenter) to support task development.- Be mindful of diversity at all levels,including ethnicity, geography, etc…

The Horizons 2015 Priorities were affirmed byDiocesan Convention, May 1, 2010


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Save the Date!The Episcopal Church Women of St. Katherine of Alexandria AnnualPrayer Breakfast Saturday, April 14 from 9 am-12 noon inour Undercroft. St. Katherine’s islocated at 2001 Division St. The Rev. Canon Angela Shepherd is the guest speaker, adult tickets are $25 and children age 12 and under tickets are $10. For further information or to request tickets, please contact ourchurch office at 410-523-2207.

St. Barnabas’ Laugh Out Loud Comedy NightSaturday, April 28, 7-11 pmGamber Fire Hall, Route 32 and Niner Road, Finksburg$35 for Dinner and Comedy Show featuring:Joyce Rebar, Mike Shader, Al RomasAdvanced Ticket Sales OnlySilent Auction, Money Wheel, 50/50 Raffle, Cash BarFor Tickets and Inquiries, please contact the Parish Administratorat 410-795-0767, stbarnabas.ang-md.org.

Nets for Life Campaign Gets Local Boost By the Rev. Tony Hollis

THE REV. ELLEN S. HURWITZ, a deacon at the Church ofthe Transfiguration, Braddock Heights, held afundraiser to celebrate her 60th birthday and raised$2,449 for the work of Episcopal Relief and Develop-ment’s Nets for Life program. What a wonderful wayto celebrate a birthday.

Hurwitz said, “…I [was able to] turn somethingthat could have been problematic [turning 60] intosomething to help others… I may even do [thefundraiser] again next year… I also would be willing tohelp others who might wish to do something similar.”She added that the funds raised translate into help for612 people for five years! As an added bonus, the parishcollected 118 cans for food.

If you would like to develop a project in yourparish, a church school event, a young people’s pro-gram, or a total parish outreach project, please contactus, call Hurwitz, or contact Episcopal Relief andDevelopment through inspirationfund.org. Nets forLife supplies mosquito nets to African villages to helpprevent malaria.

World Mission Sunday was celebrated on Feb. 19,putting special emphasis on ER-D and the Nets forLife project here in the diocese. The Revs. Linda and Anthony Hollis are the diocesan coordinators for Episcopal Relief and Development,[email protected] or [email protected].


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