Diocese of Oregon prepares to elect new bishop

On Friday, November 20th at diocesan convention, Eugene OR, the Diocese of Oregon will elect a new bishop. You can follow the balloting at the diocesan website here: http://www.diocese-oregon.org/

If you want more information on how the search progressed and who the candidates are, you can visit the Search Committee website at http://www.diocese-oregon.org/bishopsearch/bishopsearch.htm

Please pray for our clergy and lay delegates that they may choose the person most suited to our diocese and its needs, that all wrangling would be laid aside. There is one woman and two men as candidates. There will be a prayer vigil held that day beginning at 8 am for the election at every parish church in the diocese. Please take a moment in your day and join us as we make this historic decision according to God's will and the good sense He/She gave us.

Catherine

Paritial DPA Forgiveness: A year of Jubilee in Oregon

Forgiveness. It comes in many forms. The wisdom of our Standing Committee and interim bishop stands like a light in the darkness of these economic times for the parishes--large and small--within this diocese, from shore to mountains, from the Columbia to the southern valleys. We thank you.

Partial DPA Debt Forgiveness Approved by Diocesan Council

From: Standing Committee, Oregon Diocesan Council

To: Members of the Diocesan Community

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009

At its February meeting, the Diocesan Council unanimously approved a proposal by the Standing Committee to cancel all DPA debt delinquent for the years ending on or prior to December 31, 2006. The resolution also forgave the filing of all delinquent required statements of General Purpose Income for those years. This proposal was made to act upon the Standing Committee’s designation of 2009 as a year of Jubilee (“Jubilee” is the theme of the upcoming 121 st annual diocesan convention in which a bishop diocesan will be elected).

Theologically, a jubilee year comes from the Hebrew Bible’s prescription of a year of jubilee every 50 years, a year in which liberty was proclaimed “throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (Leviticus 25: 10) through the liberation of slaves and the cancellation of debt. The modern jubilee year is a metaphor for Christians today to create, to the extent it is within our power, economic and environmental stewardship and justice and peace for the weakest in our midst.

The Diocese is acting on its beliefs in liberating its churches from a burden of debt. More than a dozen of the 75 churches in the diocese have been unable to consistently pay their mandated share of diocesan expenses. By action of the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council, all debt more than two years old—an amount estimated at about $860,000—has been cancelled. The Diocesan Council, the policy-making body of the diocese which must approve such a measure, unanimously agreed with the Standing Committee’s proposal to cancel this debt at their February 27th meeting in Salem.

The Diocesan Council was able to act immediately on the Standing Committee’s request because it had already formed a task force to look at DPA issues, including the problem of the large amount of DPA in arrearages. The work of that task force is not completed. This specific decision covers years prior to 2007; years after that will be considered as part of the task force’s work. “Canonically, Diocesan Council has authority to cancel only DPA that has been delinquent for more than two years,” said the Rev. Jaime Sanders, the DPA task force convener. “The task force is charged with developing a fair and consistent policy for DPA shortfalls for years after 2006. We welcome, and will be looking for ways to facilitate, conversation with all interested persons in the diocese.”

During the discussion at the Diocesan Council meeting, concern was expressed about congregations that have made sacrifices to stay current on DPA or to catch up past arrearages.

Was it fair, someone wondered, to cancel debt for some congregations when others had made such sacrifices? The conversation became theological as Council members reflected on the concept of jubilee. “Jubilee isn’t about fairness, it’s about maintaining community. It’s about recognizing the different needs of people in community and sharing the resources so everyone can thrive,” said the Rev. Raggs Ragan, diocesan council member.

Some of this debt is more than ten years old. “In the judgment of the Standing Committee, this burden impairs the mission of the church at this time of global economic hardship and looking toward the future in faith and hope,” said the Rev. Shannon Leach, president of the diocesan Standing Committee. “In keeping with the biblical injunction to observe an occasional jubilee year, in which all debts are forgiven and people are given a clean slate on which to go forward, we are thrilled that our motion has been accepted by the Diocesan Council and that we can move forward into the future.

“It is the Standing Committee's hope that relieving the burden of crushing debt, under which many of our congregations have lived for many years, will free them to use the resources at their disposal to more effectively carry out the ministries they feel called to do,” he concluded.

Deirdre Steinberg

Director of Communications

Episcopal Diocese of Oregon

11800 SW Military Lane, Portland, Oregon 97219

Direct: 971-204-4108, Mobile: 503-890-1542

www.diocese-oregon.org

Flash: Statement of the Convocation Presidents, Diocese of Oregon

This just in from multiple, unimpeachable sources --BKM & C+

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Statement of the Presidents of the Convocations of the Diocese of Oregon

Saturday, February 9, 2008


The Presidents of the Convocations of the Diocese of Oregon, which Convocations include all of the churches of the Diocese of Oregon, meeting in the City of Eugene, this Saturday, February 9, 2008, adopt the following:

1. We believe it is important to recognize and support the fact that the governance of the Diocese is conducted through its canonically created institutions, including its Convocations, its Council, its Trustees, its Standing Committee, and its Convention, and

2. We appreciate the service of the current Bishop of Oregon and wish him well in his future endeavors, and

3. We support and applaud the work and decisions of the Diocesan Standing Committee in its handling of the issues relating to the Bishop of Oregon necessitated by his decision three months ago that the process to select his successor should be initiated with the assistance of the Office of Pastoral Development of the US House of Bishops, and

4. We appreciate our consultations to date with the members of the Standing Committee, the Committee’s offer for future consultations, and its timely and informative communications regarding the succession matters properly placed before it, and

5. We note that one reason for an extended period of time for a transition between two Bishops is to allow for reflection and that this process can include the selection of an interim at the beginning of that transition process. In this context we appreciate the current Bishop’s decision both to agree to:

a) an early and certain date on which to depart from the Diocese and b) his willingness to continue to fulfill certain agreed upon roles including the retention of the title of Bishop of Oregon through the end of 2008.

We believe this mechanism will best facilitate the independence of action of the institutions of the Diocese as they work with the clergy and laity of the Diocese to select the successor Bishop of Oregon. We applaud the incumbent Bishop’s appreciation of this approach and the work of the Standing Committee and the Office of Pastoral Development of the House of Bishops in achieving a global agreement that included the specific departure date.

6. Finally, the Presidents believe that the financial terms of the agreement that the Standing Committee and the incumbent Bishop arrived at with the assistance of the national church are quite generous.

While we don’t wish to substitute our judgment for that of the Standing Committee as this matter is exclusively within its purview and as agreement on the terms have already been reached, we do urge that if either party seeks to renegotiate fundamental elements of the agreement that all elements of the agreement be considered anew, including the financial package which we respectfully submit might be adjusted to more closely approach the common experiences of Oregonians in like situations.

Presidents:

Central: Sharon Rodgers
Columbia: James Baxendale
Metro-East: Melissa Parkhurst
South Coast: Frank Smith
Southern: Pete Benham
Sunset: Cynthia Reynolds
Willamette: Richard Van Orman

An Open Letter: Oregon Standing Committee Statement Released

Hat tip to Bruce K Mason at IntegrityTalk-West for speedy access to this release for dissemination to Episcopal Oregonians as well as our brothers and sisters who are looking to our diocese in observation of this transition.

_____________________________

An Open Letter to the Diocese of Oregon From the Standing Committee February 7, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At our annual Diocesan Convention last fall Bishop Itty announced the ending of his Episcopal ministry among us and called for the beginning of the transition towards the election of a new Bishop. No details or timetable were presented at Convention and so the last few months have been a time of trying to discern the next steps for us all.

Faced with this uncertain situation the Standing Committee met On January 16th of this year with Bishop Clay Matthews, who is the Bishop in charge of Pastoral Development for the National Church and assigned to our Diocese by the Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts-Schori. Bishop Matthews has met with Bishop Itty privately and also with the Standing Committee and Bishop Itty together. At those meetings the Standing Committee engaged with Bishop Matthews and Bishop Itty in the task of negotiating a grace filled transition. With Bishop Matthew’s guidance, a proposal was presented to Bishop Itty that would allow him to move to Long Island to be with his wife and family, where they have resided since Christmas Day, 2007.

The agreement includes the Bishop’s full salary and housing allowance for the remainder of 2008, his family health and life insurance as well as a generous portion of his travel budget for the remainder of this calendar year. This will allow Bishop Itty to represent the Diocese as the Bishop of Oregon at the Lambeth Conference this summer, and to keep the official title of Bishop of Oregon through 2008. The intent of this paid sabbatical is to provide Bishop Itty with undistracted time to discern his next ministry, and to devote himself to his considerable volunteer commitments as President of Church World Services and Vice President of the National Council of Churches.

This proposal was made by the Standing Committee with the advice of Bishop Matthews. After reflection, Bishop Itty agreed to this proposal without changes on January 24th. A joint communication from Bishop Itty and the Standing Committee was sent to the leaders of the diocese on January 25th. In accordance with the Canons of the Church, the Bishop will transfer his Ecclesiastical Authority to the Standing Committee of this Diocese on
March 23, 2008.

So, what is next?

The members of the Standing Committee have begun meeting or communicating with the Diocesan Finance Committee, the Board of Trustees, Diocesan Council, the Deans and Presidents of the Convocations and the paid staff at the Close to begin the process of discerning our next steps together as a Diocese. This is the immediate priority of the Standing Committee.

Our prayer and hope is that we can work together and support each other through this time of transition. We will make every effort to keep you informed of news and developments as matters evolve and become clearer. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter. If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact any one of us.

In Christ’s love,

The Standing Committee


The Diocese of Oregon Standing Committee Members are:

THE REV. ALCENA BOOZER

120 NE Knott Street

Portland, OR 97212

Email: alcena1@comcast.net; rector@stphildcn.org


MARY CRAMER (President)

1221 SW 10th Avenue #413

Portland, OR 97205

Email: m.m.cramer@comcast.net


THE REV. ANNE BARTLETT

467 Holly Street

Ashland, OR 97520

Email: rector@trinitychurchashland.org


CHARLES (“CHUCK”) MARTIN

944 SE Sellwood Blvd.

Portland, OR 97202

Email: chuckmartin1@comcast.net


THE REV. SHANNON LEACH (VP)

13906 Majestic Court

Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Email: spleach@ccparish.org


DAN MARTIN

49180 McKenzie Highway

Vida, OR 97488

Email: martins@nimrod.us; dmartin@ppnw.net


THE REV. SIMON JUSTICE

445 NW Elizabeth Drive

Corvallis, OR 97330

Email: simon.justice@googlemail.com


SHARON RODGERS (Secretary)

2673 Chad Drive

Eugene, OR 97408

Email: slrodgers@comcast.net

__________________________

FACT SHEET – FEBRUARY 7, 2008

The Standing Committee met at its regular meeting on February 7, 2008 at St. Paul, Salem. We hope this fact sheet answers questions you may have.

What is the Standing Committee?

The Standing Committee is the council of advice to the Bishop. There are eight members on the committee, with one clergy member and one lay member elected at each Diocesan Convention for a term of four years. According to the Canons of the church, it becomes the Ecclesiastical Authority in a diocese when a bishop leaves.

What Episcopal ministry will be offered after Bishop Itty leaves?

The Standing Committee will be working for the continuation of Episcopal ministries (confirmations, ordinations, installations) . A team of retired bishops have offered their help. The Deans will continue to assist in the celebration of these occasions.

What happens after Bishop Itty leaves?

The Standing Committee wants us to have some time and space to have unhurried conversations about our Diocese and our future together. Therefore, we are proposing that we appoint an assisting (interim) bishop. We are working with the office of Pastoral Development of the National
Church on this matter.

What is the status of the current Diocesan staff?

The ministries of the Diocesan staff are valued and appreciated. We are searching for a mutually agreeable date for a meeting with the staff.

How can we celebrate the ministry of Bishop Itty?

The Standing Committee regrets that Bishop Itty feels that time does not allow for regional celebrations. We are asking the Deans to help us create opportunities to say goodbye.

The Standing Committee will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis. Please include the Bishop, his family, and the Diocesan leadership in your daily prayers.

__________________________

DISCLAIMER: The names, addresses, email addresses of the Standing Committee members are original to the Open Letter and have not been included by me independently. I have however with the insight of Lisa Fox, deleted the phone numbers of the members.

Catherine+

Message from Oregon Bishop re: Virginia Tech Tragedy

The following message was received today throughout the Diocese of Oregon [from the Cascade Mountain Range and west to the Oregon coast] regarding our Bishop's reaction and his message to all in our diocese. I share it with you here:

Prayers for Virginia Tech Families and for Our Nation

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During this time of national mourning for the innocent victims of the campus shooting in Virginia, may we reflect upon the words of Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;

Though its waters rage and foam and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; God shall help her at the break of day,

Be still, then, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

(Psalm 46:1-6; 11, 12)

Please read the rest of his message on our diocesan website.