From Bishop Warner
Dear Friends,
This letter comes following the actions of General Convention and the various media statements about the Episcopal Church, from numerous perspectives. I have one aim in this communication and that is to call us to stay focused on the Gospel message of reconciliation. The issues we struggle with engage differing opinions and beliefs about the way we live out the Gospel. Sometimes, in the storm of words and feelings, we lose the focus of the Gospel message. Christ came to reconcile each of us to God. He called us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to stay in relationship with God and one another.
I want to begin by acknowledging the great achievements of the General Convention, especially in the field of evangelism. Everyone in Minneapolis was on board the 2020 vision of growing the church not just in numbers but in diversity and inclusiveness. The changes in how we recognize the ministry of all the baptized fully empowers everyone in the church for the work of reconciliation and evangelism. Even the issue of Canon Robinson's election as bishop and the blessing of same-sex unions are best seen in the light of proclaiming that the Gospel message reaches to the ends of the earth, a message of love for absolutely everyone.
Regardless of where we find ourselves on the spectrum in relationship to the actions of General Convention we must work to hear each other, to listen to God's voice and to remind ourselves of our baptismal promises. It is the genius of Anglicanism that we are able to hold together pluralities of truth and varieties of opinion. We are called to respect the dignity of every human being.
It is my hope that we will behave together in this diocese in ways that acknowledge and honor differences yet respect each other's dignity. Will there be movements to separate us and so lessen the work we are doing in Christ's name? Will we work together for the great commission to care for the homeless and the hungry? I trust we will continue on mission as we listen to each other and know that we are all striving to be faithful to God's call.
There are those who are deeply disturbed by some of the decisions made at General Convention. Some will want to take a stand that will show their displeasure. I believe it is important that neither individuals nor congregations take such a stand out of concern for their own spiritual health and for the good of the congregation as well as the diocese. Jesus has clearly taught us compassion and forgiveness. The clearest statement that Christ ever made was love your enemies and those who differ from you. If you need to have a listening ear, deputation members as well as Bishop Hampton and myself will be available to listen and respond to your concerns.
Let us find ways to be reconciled, one with another, and with God. I urge us to focus our energy and our resources on the ministry that is ours, in order to show the world that the Gospel message is alive and well in the Episcopal Church in western Washington.
Let's keep the main thing the main thing: go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.
Faithfully,
Vincent W. Warner
Episcopalians: An enriched debate
of homosexuality
The Anglican churches were born 470 years ago in social controversy over a king's divorce and a pope's authority. So perhaps it's natural that the American branch continues to reflect so vividly the turbulence of the wider secular culture -- most recently on homosexuality.
It's a topic that many religious Americans would rather not confront, either because they see it so clearly as a sin, or because they're embarrassed by the discussion. But the Episcopal Church, to its credit, has courageously faced up to a question that carries considerable risk to its temporal well-being.
Episcopalians have declined in number by nearly one-third since 1970. A split over the affirmation of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop of a major Christian denomination, may cause further erosion. Already it has widened the gap between conservative, rapidly growing Anglican churches in the developing world and their fractious cousins in the West.
Our point is not to comment on the propriety of a religious body's beliefs, but to express admiration for the American church's robust discussion on a topic so concurrent with secular strains.
Episcopalians are no strangers to this. Their decisions to ordain women priests in 1976, to adopt popular liturgical language in 1979 and to allow women bishops in 1989 were important demonstrations -- not just for religious Americans, but for a wider society hotly engaged in cultural warfare over matters of race, gender, abortion, genetics and, now, homosexuality. Without the Episcopal Church, it would be harder for Americans, religious or not, to explain the possibility of being both liberal and moral. This is the church's gift to a nation that too often hears only the roar of contempt from the right-wing commentators who dominate the airwaves.
Increasingly we are a country uncomfortable with complexity. The most popular brands of politics and religion preach simple absolutes. Words like "Christian" and "patriot" have been appropriated by conservatives as theirs alone. Those who disagree are portrayed as neither.
In contrast, the Episcopal Church has been able to hold together people, often in the same pews, who disagree fundamentally because the church is, by definition, complex. From its birth it has been both Catholic and Protestant, hierarchical and democratic, traditional and modern - and now happy and unhappy about New Hampshire's new bishop. It's a cliché to say it, but this church's strength, like America's, lies in its diversity and complexity. That's one reason that its influence in American life reaches beyond its dwindling numbers.
Last week's convention in Minneapolis showed something else, too: that religion isn't always about exclusion and intolerance, an assumption many onlookers hold. Rather, Episcopalians exposed a painful, ongoing discussion within Christianity about the nature of its gospel. Is the Bible to be taken mainly as a timeless text with rules for life not to be violated? ("Gays in my parish are nice people, but they're living in
sin," said a Virginia woman.) Or perhaps the Bible is an evolving force that reveals Jesus as a radical figure who broke barriers and continues to break them -- "a disrupter of comfort," as a Pennsylvania bishop said, "a real irritant to good people who were sincerely trying to play by the rules they knew."
It is a momentous, core question for Episcopalians. But the wider society also benefits from its glimpse into a vigorous, thoughtful discussion that runs parallel to secular argument now underway.
Source: Submitted by Bishop Sandy Hampton:
Editorial Published August 10, 2003
Minneapolis Star Tribune ED10
Notes from the Sr. Warden….
Last week I was immersed in training for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation program. It was a week, eight days actually, of instruction and materials preparation. It was eight days of spiritual formation, eight days of team building and eight days of visioning for the future. It was eight long days (most nights we didn't make it to bed before 1 a.m.) of intense, thought-
provoking, hard work!
Each summer, for four years now, Ann Horn, Honi Matchell and I have traveled to Vancouver, Washington, to Church of the Good Shepherd, to add another level of understanding to what it means to be a catechist. Do you wonder what draws us? Why do we leave our families, rearrange our work and vacation schedules and give eight days of our lives (ten counting the weekend we spend in Vancouver each October) every year to learn how to offer this particular formation vehicle to the children of St. Paul's family?
For me, it's simply selfish. I truly can't imagine not going. What if I had never seen demonstrated this unique method of sharing scripture with children? A method whose very credo - "help me discover God by myself" - respects not only the child, but the journey they're on? What if I had never come to understand that children are born in relationship with God and, as a parent, adult or catechist, I need only foster that already existing relationship and get out of the way of its growth?
I listen, with a child's wonder, when our trainer offers presentations from scripture; Biblical history, parables and psalms that, in the same moment, inspire, evoke thought and prompt discovery. I've learned how scripture and our liturgy are woven together in an exquisite, inseparable dance. I've seen familiar Bible stories "come to life" as the tiny figures of a diorama give wings to my imagination. I've learned more about "the gifts of God, for the people of God" than I would have believed my mind and heart could hold and I come to understand, with new depth, my own responsibilities in accepting the wondrous, bounty of this world as gifts from God.
But the absolute best part is: I get to share all that I've seen, all I've heard, and all I've learned with the children! In return, I'm privileged to witness their wonder, hear their wisdom and marvel at their discoveries. Can there be a better bargain?
This formation vehicle, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, is a gift to my life; I'm richer for having explored its vistas. Thank you for your faith and trust in allowing my partners and me to make this incredible journey of discovery. Thank you for your continued support of the program. We invite you and the children to join us in the dance, beginning Sept. 14, 9:00 a.m., in the atrium. You won't be disappointed!
Myra Battin
Christian Formation News
Mark your calendar for Sept. 14, when the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd starts its new program year for children ages 3 though sixth-grade. The Montessori-influenced program will be beginning its fourth year of operation at St. Paul's. Each level builds on the belief that children are on their own individual spiritual journey and are in a special relationship with the Good Shepherd.
The catechists, Myra Battin, Honi Matchell and Ann Horn, just recently returned from eight days of regional training at Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver, Wash., and will complete their Level 2 certification program in mid-October. This will complete (40 days/nights of) training that these women have received from Marty O'Brian and Linda Kaiel, national trainers from Phoenix, Ariz., and Portland, Ore., over the last four years. They will begin Level III two-year training in the summer of 2004.
In Level I, children ages 3 through kindergarten will learn about the Good Shepherd's love for each of us. Myra is the Catechist.
In Level II, Ann Horn will work with the children in first through third grade. This group will examine the History of the Kingdom of God through time and creation.
Honi Matchell will join the older group in Level III as they explore the History of the Kingdom of God and the Gifts that have been planned for and are provided to each of us through the Eucharist, and how we respond to the abundance of God's gifts for each of us.
Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Please contact Myra Battin or Ann Horn in the church office (377-0106) for information or to volunteer to assist in this unique and inspiring program.
Teen-agers will be using the 'Rite 13' and 'Journey to Adulthood' curricula and meeting in the Youth Room downstairs. The Lectionary Bible Study class will continue to meet in the Oliver Room with the preacher of the day (starting at 9:00 instead of the 9:15 summer time).
Wednesday night classes, beginning with the four-part Welcome to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which features classes by ordained and other leaders of the parish presenting on a variety of topics of special interest to new members will resume on October 1 (going from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.).
Randy continues to teach gentle yoga classes on Saturday mornings from 8:30 until about 9:15 in the Nave. Bring a mat or blanket, wear loose comfortable clothing and come join in the fun. All ages and fitness levels are welcome.
On Thursday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Oxford Room of Canterbury Manor the Rector leads a weekly Bible study. The exploration of the Gospel of John continues this week. All are welcome at any time.
And… Fall Cell Group sign-up sheets are on the table by the door to the narthex… Description of the three groups and contact information are on the top of each sheet as well as in the August issue of the Good Word. Also, if you want to start a group and be trained there is a sign up sheet.
Youth Group Start-up!
The St. Paul's Youth Group starts up again on Sunday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on September 14! Contact Alexandria Nichandros , Emily Battin , Randy Lord-Wilkinson , or Rusty Holland for up to date news, and watch the Sunday bulletins, too.
Annual Picnic
Mark your calendars for the annual worship service and church picnic on September 7 at 10:15 at Evergreen Park (on Park Ave. near CenCom, in Bremerton). The vestry is sponsoring the event. The meat (& meat alternatives) will be provided, so bring along a salad, side dish or dessert to share. Throw in a lawn chair, just in case. Come and spend time with your parish community worshipping, having fun, food and fellowship. Contact Myra Battin or Don Vanlue for more information.
Jubilee Council Meeting
8:30-9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Represented: St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Myra Battin, Larry Dugan, Carl Glaser, Stanley Hess (also OUTKitsap), Ann Horn, Randy Lord-Wilkinson; OUTKitsap: Rhonda Boothe, Michael Goodnow; Lord' Neighborhood Diner: Delsie Peebles; and Olympic College Early Head Start: Donna Galano.
Agenda for the meeting:
Check-in
Kitchen upgrade project follow-up
Social justice/empowerment continuum handout
In the context of the check-in members of the OUTKitsap Board, announced the upcoming Pride Picnic. Delsie Peebles is observing that the numbers of people coming to the Diner for meals and other kinds of material support is now just as great at the beginning of the month as at the end. Donna Galano reported that the repairs of the water damage caused by a faulty toilet seal on the floor above them was being completed in a more or less timely fashion by Balfor Construction.
Randy reported that in follow up correspondence with Laura Hilton of Windermere Real Estate about procuring funds to apply to the church's parish hall kitchen, he learned that the maximum gift the agency had made was $5000, and that the amount set aside accumulated from month to month. We won't hear about the status of our particular request until later in the fall.
Randy has gotten the names of the Community Reinvestment Act contacts at Westsound and Kitsap Banks from Don Vanlue. A Washington Mutual employee who is a member of St. Paul's will get him the name of their CRA officer. Banks are required by law to put money back into the communities they serve.
While having a kitchen plan and fund raising goal will help grantors make decisions about how much to award applicants, all agreed that sending and exploratory letter to the CRA officers now would not be inappropriate. Myra added that other realtors and community service groups ought to be approached as well.
Carl and Michael have contacts with kitchen designers/architects that could meet with them and Delsie Peebles to sketch out a prospectus by the September 17 Jubilee Council meeting. While the mission of the Diner will be the guiding force behind upgrading the essentially residential scale kitchen to one that can handle the numbers of people the Diner feeds every weekend, all will benefit by the improvements.
Larry reminded the group that Episcopal Charities Appeals monies that St. Paul's had received for the Diner could not be used for capital projects that did not go to support the ministry of the Diner. Randy also remembered, in that connection, that the monies are also not intended to help sponsoring agencies/churches underwrite increased overhead due to outreach projects they'd taken on.
Rhonda reported a concern about what the policies of Kitsap Bank were toward sexual minorities, as a branch she's visited displayed a decal showing their support of the Boy Scouts of America, whose rulings about homosexuality and scouting have been newsworthy recently. There was some discussion about this and whether OUTKitsap and St. Paul's ought to co-author a letter inquiring about the bank's policies and procedures in this area. Randy said he'd talk with the vestry of St. Paul's about this and report back.
There was also some spirited debate about Kitsap Bank possibly eliminating fees for non-profits, and also whether our organizations (St. Paul's and OUTKitsap, both of whom are customers of Kitsap Bank) ought to bank with or accept money from a bank whose values are at odds with ours.
After some reflection on an article about empowering the disenfranchised and marginalized that Randy handed out, the meeting ended.
There will be no meeting in August. The next meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17. The group will continue to meet on the third Wednesday of the month.
OUTKitsap: Who and what we are
OUTKITSAP is a health and social welfare nonprofit organization that serves the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual communities of the greater Kitsap Peninsula.
Founded in 1997 by Steve Parsons, at that time a professional counselor with the Kitsap County Health District, OUTKITSAP's mission is "to promote the health and social welfare of the GLBTQ population of Kitsap County through building community, fostering communications, and nurturing self-esteem."
Until the last few years the GLBTQ community in central Puget Sound has been practically invisible. Vocal religious conservatives and a strong military presence have kept and continue to keep many community members feeling isolated and unsafe. In the late 1980s loosely organized groups began to coalesce to promote social activities and address health issues. One of these ancestral groups was West Sound Family. It was superceded by Gay County in 1997, which became OUTKitsap in 1999. The organization was born after Parsons had a cross placed on his and his partner's lawn following a profile of their garden in a local newspaper. Instead of remaining silent and fearful, community members chose to form an affirming organization.
In 1998 we received funding from the Bremerton-Kitsap County Health District for an outreach program designed to help prevent the spread of AIDS among gay and bisexual men. In 1999, we broadened our mission to address the larger Kitsap GLBT community and issues of isolation among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The group incorporated as Gay County and in early 2000 received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Gay County became OUTKITSAP and increased the size of the board to reflect its broadened mission.
By building a strong GLBT community we help create strong support networks for each individual and promote the celebration of diversity in the larger community. By letting GLBTQ folks know they are not alone and raising our collective voice against the forces of intolerance, we help make it possible for people to be out and proud on the Kitsap Peninsula. We have already seen a change in local attitudes and awareness, and we believe that OUTKitsap has played a key role in this transformation. The Human Rights Commission of Kitsap County recognized this in December 2000 when they awarded OUTKitsap a Wall of Fame Award for Achievements in Human Rights in Kitsap County. Another dramatic example of the attitude shift was a series of ten articles published Sunday, June 25, 2000, by The Bremerton Sun. A front-page profile of our founder led the series, which covered a variety of GLBT community members. The positive tone of the articles and their prominent placement in the paper was unprecedented.
As part of our mission, OUTKitsap is working with other organizations that believe in and support and affirm our mission. Earlier this year, Randy asked me to represent St. Paul's at a workshop in New Jersey held by the Episcopal Church's Jubilee Ministry. This gave me the opportunity to return and share with the parish and community something of the program of building dialogue and support between local congregations and the underserved and rejected members of the local community and the community at large. Just this year a "Jubilee Council" has formed at St. Paul's of representatives of our parish and its partner organizations (See the Prayers of the People, prayer for Jubilee Ministry). As this committee becomes more comfortable in its role, the parish will begin to see how important this interaction is. St. Paul's is in a unique place in time.
As a member of the GLBT community, I have watched with interest the reports from the National Triennial Conference of the Episcopal Church. I hope that we here at St. Paul's can set an example of nurturing and affirming diverse communities that will be accepted by other communities of faith, and that these diverse communities can give back to the communities of faith.
Stanley W. Hess
Jubilee Council Member &
Board Member, OUTKitsap
The "Laramie Project"
On Saturday, October 11th, at 8:00 p.m., the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is hosting a Theater Night at the Jewel Box Theater in Poulsbo for a special performance of "The Laramie Project." "The Laramie Project" is the dramatization of a true story. In October 1998, on a cold night, a young University of Wyoming student was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie. His bloody, bruised and battered body was discovered the next day. Matthew Shepard died, the victim of an assault, because he was gay. Moises Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theatre Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shephard. More than 200 interviews were conducted with citizens of Laramie, some of whom were directly connected to the case. Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical collage from these interviews and their own experiences. Members of KUUF, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bainbridge and North Kitsap, St. Paul's Episcopal, PFLAG, and Outkitsap are cordially invited to attend both the performance and the facilitated discussion afterward. The Jewel Box Theatre is at 225 Iverson, Poulsbo, across from the Poulsbo Post Office (north of the four-way stop at the west end of downtown Poulsbo). Tickets are available for $20.00 each (this is also a fund raiser to support KUUF in its liberal religious ministry) before and after the 11:00 a.m. KUUF service beginning Sunday, September 7th, or by special arrangement (call Sherry at 377-4724 Wednesdays and Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., or send checks payable to KUUF to: Laramie Project, c/o KUUF, P.O. Box 2015, Bremerton, WA 98310).
Church Quiz - September 2003
1. What is a Diocese?
a. The seat of a Bishop
b. A geographical unit
c. Location of a Cathedral Church
2. A Bishop may not change Dioceses until having served the present one for how long?
a. 5 years
b. 8 years
c. 10 years
3. Who are the Apostles?
a. The disciples of Jesus
b. The 12 followers of Jesus
c. The saints of the Church
4. What are the Y-shaped stripes often decorating a chasuble?
a. Amice
b. Maniple
c. Orphreys
5. Who compiled the first Book of Common Prayer?
a. King Henry VIII
b. Thomas Cranmer
c. King James
d. John Calvin
Answers to "Church Quiz"
1 b; 2 a; 3 b; 4 c; 5 b
Acolytes
Attention all acolytes and those interested in becoming acolytes!! There will be a training session on Sunday, September 21st following the 10:15 a.m. service led by the Rector and myself. The meeting will last about an hour or so and it is important that all acolytes attend so everyone mark your calendars! Remember the only requirement is that you are nine years old so you adults can join this exciting servant ministry as well! If you have any questions or are unable to attend please contact me at bjagduenas@comcast.net .
Jennifer Dueñas
Acolyte Director
Fishes and Loaves
We give thanks for the parish's generous support of the "Fishes and Loaves" food drive outreach program. Your donations of food were delivered to the Bremerton Food Bank through Northwest Harvest on August 2. We have collected nearly 400 pounds of non-perishable food items since we began this outreach in late Spring.
The entire Episcopal Diocese is participating in the food drive in honor of their 150th anniversary. The next delivery date will be September 5. Food donations can be placed in the large bin the Nave. Please check the date of expiration on each food item. For more information please contact Alexandria Nichandros or Lisa Kidd. Keep up the good work!
Opportunities for Community Service
at St. Paul's Church
The Lord's Neighborhood Diner is always looking for people to serve hot meals with a generous portion of respect every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in our Parish Hall. Contact Delsie Peebles if you are interested at 349-1455 or delsiep@aol.com.
Thank You St. Paul's
July 2003
Dear Ann,
A real battered box from Reid arrived on our front porch today. He doesn't have room to store many things, so periodically, he sends important things here. The box included things that the people of St. Paul's had sent to him! This mom just really wants to thank you all for doing that. This deployment is particularly long and mail means a lot to Reid.
God Bless,
Molly Lundie
Editor's note: Amid all the global tension this past spring, the parish came together during Lent to write notes of encouragement and support to our military that were included in care packages from the church. Reid Lundie has worshipped at St. Paul's for several years while stationed on the USS Carl Vinson. When this was written, his ship was sailing in the waters off the Korean coast.
He was one of our four sailors, including Kristen Fabry and Carolyn McIntyre stationed with the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Garrett Fisher on the USS Bridge, that received the packages. Many thanks to Joy Brydon, Richard Horn and Alexandria Nichandros who helped with the project.
"Total Income" is defined as Congregational Income, Other Fund Income, and Fund Transfers/Deposits
The Growth sub reviewed what growth milestones we've accomplished recently, how we grow, and the exciting ministries that are reaching out in an effort to grow St. Paul's. Some of the growth areas discussed were the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum for the Church School, Jubilee Council, the Lord's Diner, OUTKitsap, our music ministries, the new cell groups, yoga class, and the peace vigil, just to name a few. The sub group also discussed reviewing additional programs such as Alpha.
In an overwhelming consensus, the Growth sub agreed that by continuing to focus in these directions, our family would grow naturally, as a socially diverse Christian community in unity, dedicated to and inspired by its vision.
