Diocesan Convention – 2nd Day (Salinas, CA)

Today was the second and last day of the annual convention of the
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
(ECR) at Sherwood Hall in Salinas, California. I am a convention delegate
but this is also my last day as Convener of

DIEM, the Department of Intercultural Evangelism and Mission
(diocesan Department of Missions). I have served as DIEM Convener
since 2003.

Today, we approved the budget and voted in the new diocesan officers and
committee members. Since ECR has just finished several years of
restructuring (resulting in new boards which had to be filled for the first
time), the voting and ballot counting took most of the day. Bishop-Elect
Mary Gray-Reeves, who came to us from Florida, kept making jokes about

how voting was done there.

This was a joyous day for me because two of the 13 missions with which I
have been working for the last five years were promoted.

St. Stephen’s in the Field of San Jose was promoted to parish status.
Cristo Rey
of Watsonville was promoted to Mission status. I am very proud of both!
I was honored to process with the banner for Cristo Rey around the
convention hall.

In between votes, we heard reports on a variety of topics:

• Ms. Robin Denney (of the Episcopal
  
  Young Adult Service) told us about her experience being a
  missionary in Liberia.
• Bruce Friesen, Parish Administrator for
  St. Andrew’s
  in Saratoga, gave us an update on Episcopal Relief and Development with which he has been working for 5 years. ERD provides emergency assistance in times of disaster; rebuilds devastated communities and offers long-term program development solutions to fight poverty. Bruce said that
  ERD gave 97% of its funding to programs. He also recommended that we consider
  giving presents from the ERD “Gifts for Life” catalog. He said: “There
  is no greater look of joy on the face of your loved one when on Christmas
  morning they find that you have given them a pig.”
• Rev. Mary Morrison of
  St. Luke’s Los Gatos spoke of arrangements for Bishop Mary’s
  ordination at St. Andrew’s
  in two weeks. She said in passing that Anglicanism was a
  system of salvation by haberdashery and told the clergy the dress
  code and colors for the day.
• Rev. Lorenzo Robles of
  Santa Maria Urban Ministry (the official diocesan charity) spoke about their current programs and needs. SMUM provides basic services in the inner city of San Jose, CA: both short-term needs such as food, clothing and transportation, and long-term transformation through education, counseling, and after-school and seasonal programs.

In her ending remarks, Bishop Mary asked us to make our first year
together a Year of Wonder. Sherwood Hall was a good meeting space.
I particularly enjoyed its artwork. On the landing of the stairs is
a huge tapestry illustrating the words: “To Plow is to Pray – To
Plant is to Prophesy – And the Harvest Answers – And Fulfills”.
Good sentiments for both an agricultural town and a diocese starting
a new life with a new Bishop.
Here are some of John’s and my photos from the convention:

Bishop-elect Mary Gray-Reeves:

Bishop Ernest Shalita Muhabura, Uganda speaks:

Living Waters band:

Cristo Rey’s promotion:

Cristo Rey’s banner:

St. Stephen’s banner:

Resolution on the Year of Wonder:

Roby’s “Field Workers” Sherwood Hall painting:

Sherwood Hall tapestry:

Images Copyright 2007 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher