What a Weekend at #GC78!

GC Recap June 27, 2015

The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, Elected as the 27th Presiding Bishop
Bishop Curry of NC was elected as the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Saturday by an overwhelming majority in the House of Bishops. He is the first Presiding Bishop to be elected by one ballot in the House of Bishops. The House of Deputies voted to skip lunch to await Committee 19's confirmation of the bishops' election. The House of Deputies then voted - 800 For, 12 Against. Again, the people chose to forgo lunch until their new PB Elect arrived with his family to be welcomed by the House of Deputies. There was clapping and singing, and there were tears of joy. Arriving at the podium to speak to his willingness to serve, Bishop Curry promised no sermons right that minute because he knew all were hungry. He expressed the great honor he feels to be called. As he left the House of Deputies, the people spontaneously broke into singing the Doxology. 

A PB, Bishop Curry will identify himself as a follower of Jesus Christ and the dual CEO of The Episcopal Church - Chief Executive Officer and Chief Evangelical Officer. Although he is the first African American Presiding Bishop Elect of The Episcopal Church, The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry is a unifier of ALL people. He preaches that ALL LIVES MATTER.

K

Bishop Curry at a Press Conference in Salt Lake City Following His Election as the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Saturday

Our Bishops- PB Elect and Diocesan

A link to national Episcopal news stories on the election

Link to local coverage on Fox 13, Salt Lake City

Sunday, June 28

ECW Triennial 5k Run Benefits Homeless Youth Resource Center in Salt

Lake City and EDUSC Takes Second Place - Twice! - 6:30 am MDT

The Rev. Fleischer (L), Meredith Blocker (R)

Meredith Blocker of St. John's, Columbia and Diocesan ECW Board Secretary, as well as The Rev. Scott Fleischer, Assistant Priest at St. John's, Columbia, participated in the race. The Rev. Fleischer won men's second place and Meredith won second place in the women's competition. Congratulations to Scott and Meredith. Many thanks to all who participated to help the homeless in Salt Lake City. As we spend time in comfort here in Salt Lake City, we are confronted with the homeless on every corner. Please keep this large population of people in Salt Lake City in your prayers.

Claiming Common Ground Against Gun Violence - 7:15 am MDT
Sponsored by Bishops United Against Gun Violence, news sources estimate that 1,500 people and more than 60 bishops participated in a Bishops March Against Gun Violence this morning. Singing prayerfully, all marched to the park in downtown Salt Lake City where we gathered to hear speakers. This video produced by Katie Forsyth of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan captures the spirit of the march and will give you a feel for our Presiding Bishop Elect's powerful preaching.
(3 minutes long)

Canon d'Rue Hazel, The Reverend Susan Heath, The Rev. Grant Wiseman
and The Rev. Alan Leonard Gathered to Walk

For a longer (14 minute) video on the March featuring Bishop Hayashi of Utah, a victim of gun violence himself, and Caroline Tuft, a resident of Salt Lake City whose life was literally blown apart by gun violence, please watch https://youtu.be/xr6gFyDaz8Y. This video was produced by the Diocese of Utah. Many thanks to the wonderful team in Salt Lake City.

Bishops Marching in Salt Lake City

Heading Down the Streets of Salt Lake City

Our Charleston Friends at the March. They Designed Beautiful T-Shirts for the Day. You May Have Seen the Image on Facebook this week. It is a Palmetto Tree Transforming
Into Nine Rising Doves

Bishop Waldo Just Before the March

Province IV Raises Most Money for UTO

Sunday's Convention Eucharist included the United Thank Offering Ingathering. We are happy to announce that Province IV raised the most money in the past three years, $882,000. We are the largest Province in The Episcopal Church. Within Province IV, EDUSC raised the most money. Let's keep it up. UTO grants provide much needed aid of all kinds across the globe.

Regina Ratterree Receives ECW Triennial Most Distinguished Woman 
Award

Every three years, the ECW of each diocese nominates a woman of distinction in the Church. This Triennial, our ECW voted Regina Ratterree of All Saints', Cayce our Most Distinguished Woman in the Church. Bishop Waldo escorted Regina to a luncheon honoring the distinguished woman, as is the tradition. We are so proud of you, Regina, and so grateful for your service. Keep up the good work!

Regina is serving as an alternate deputy to the 78th General Convention. Her biography and some of the boundless work she has done in the Church can be found on the "Meet Your Deputation" post of this blog.

Diocesan ECW Board Members Preparing to Attend the Most Distinguished Woman Luncheon June 28tth. Pictured left to right are Kathy Siegel, Regina Ratterree, Andrew Waldo, Whitney Evans, Delores Goodwin and Meredith Blocker

Cai Armstrong Named National Church Periodical Club President

 Cai Armstrong addressing
ECW June 29th as CPC President

Cai Armstrong of St. Simon and St. Jude, Irmo, has been named national president of the Church Periodical Club. Cai has extensive experience with CPC, which is an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to the worldwide Ministry of the Printed Word and to the Promotion of Christian Mission. It is the only organization in the Episcopal Church dedicated solely to providing free literature and related materials, both religious and secular, to people all over the world who need and request them and who have no other source for obtaining them. Prayer Books, books for seminarians, educational materials, medical textbooks, agricultural manuals and books for those in local and global mission are some of the publications The Church Periodical Club supplies. 

EDUSC Celebrates - 6:30 pm MDT

Bishop Waldo Begins Dinner with a Prayer

Sunday evening, our deputation, staff, ECW Board Members and Kayla Massey celebrated our work together over a joyous meal. With many long days and much work yet to be done at General Convention, a time of fellowship and community was served a as needed break. Bishop Waldo expressed his gratitude to be the bishop of a diocese with so many dedicated people. Among the attendees were Regina Ratterree (Most Distinguished Woman) from EDUSC for the ECW Triennial); Cai Armstrong (National Church Periodical Club President); Kayla Massey (first-ever UTO/YASC Intern); The Rev. Canon d'Rue Hazel (Facilitator for Province IV Transition Ministry); Whitney Evans (youngest diocesan ECW President) and Angela Daniel (Province IV President). We are a group of leaders who love to serve the Church. Please keep all in your prayers.

The Most Beautiful Song

GC Recap for June 26 2015

A Powerful and Emotional Day

We woke up in Salt Lake City Friday to see the President of the United States speaking at the White House, letting us know that the Supreme Court of the United States had ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. Given that this topic will be one of large presence at this General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the timing was profound. 

At the same time, wasn't Barack Obama supposed to be in Charleston? We South Carolinians were already emotionally waiting to see what the day would be like in our own state. What else could happen? Could it be more emotional?

It turns out it could. Bishop Waldo attended a luncheon to celebrate Episcopal HBCUs. Our own Voorhees College was one of two schools represented. Voorhees President Cleveland Sellers was on the panel. As attendees were arriving, President Barack Obama nearing the end of his eulogy for The Reverend Senator Clementa Pinckney’s (Mountain Time made this possible). As folks gathered and settled in, several pulled up the  service on computers and phones. The President was singing the most beautiful song, Amazing Grace, singing the victims of the Charleston shooting in heaven with all gathered there and watching from afar.

A group, including The Reverend Michael Wright of Grace Church, Charleston, watches intently as President Obama sings of the grace of the victims of last week's shooting at Mother Emanuel AME.

Dr. Sellers arrived just a little late for the forum that he might finish watching the service in Charleston. When he stood up to speak about Voorhees and the special call of Episcopal HBCUs, he was too emotional to do so. Dr. Sellers was deeply involved in the Civil Rights movement. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His hope is that the Charleston deaths are not yet another tragedy (he has witnessed so many) but a catalyst for true change.

Student Darryl Harper gave testimony to what Voorhees has meant to him. Darryl told his story. As an 18-year-old he was left by his sister to raise his nephew. He had planned to play football at a school in Florida, but his scholarship was canceled when he couldn’t find a way to go to college and be a father.

He gave up on the idea of attending college, thinking all he could do was play football and knowing that wasn't going to happen. A mentor who recognized his talent and intelligence drove him from Buffalo, NY (one of the most destitute cities in the US and where he lived and grew up) to Denmark, SC. He was taken on a tour, interviewed, provided a room in which to spend the night and as he tells it, “woke up a student at Voorhees College.”

Darryl is grateful for the movement of the spirit in his life. He is grateful that he did not attend a traditional school, where he might’ve dropped out without notice. At Voorhees he says he learned who he was in a diverse community of healthy and positive young black students. He learned about his history in a school where a majority of students came from situations where they had no idea whether they’d be able to attend college at all.

Darryl was mentored by people like Dr. Sellers, who spoke to Darryl’s freshman class, telling them his own life’s story. Dr. Sellers served as a father figure for Darryl, something he’d never had before. Darryl knows that Voorhees would never let him go, even if he were to try. They would never give up on him. The slogan his classmates came up with about their beloved school? "Voorhess College attracts broken souls but builds leaders."

Joint Session on Governance and Restructuring

Friday morning began with a joint brainstorming session of the structure of the Church. Deputies and bishops were asked to break into groups and answer the same question in several different ways: "Name up to five structures, programs and activities of GC that support or enable your congregation (or executive council and Church-wide staff; congregation; province, diocese) to more fully participate in God’s Mission of restoring all people to unity with God and one another in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. In keeping with General Convention's attempt to be more eco-friendly, groups were asked to tweet or email answers beginning with the words “Keep” or “Change” before mentioning the structures. GC was able to keep track of the answers and will compile the information.

Our deputation and bishop enjoying discussion and working hard in the joint session of House of Bishops and House of Deputies Friday, June 26th.

President Gay Clark Jennings Re-Elected as President of the House of Deputies 

Gay Clark Jennings Presiding 

Other business in the House of Deputies yesterday - The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings from the Diocese of Southern Ohio was re-elected as president of the House of Deputies, which is celebrating its 230th anniversary this year. 1970 was the first year women were allowed to sit as deputies at GC. EDUSC's own Sarah McCrory of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia, was the first woman from our diocese to serve as a deputy to General Convention.

ECCC Day at GC Friday! 

Friday was Episcopal Camp and Conference Center day at General Convention. Our deputation, staff and ECW Board (of which the bishop is a member!) wore our Camp Gravatt shirts proudly today. It was fun to see T-shirts from Episcopal camps all over the country.  While most bishops that day were wearing purple clericals. Our bishop was wearing a purple Gravatt shirt!

The EDUSC ECW Executive Board delegates have arrived! ECW members are delegates to their Triennial meeting, which happens in conjunction with General Convention.

Where's Waldo - An Old Joke Still Applies

GC Recap of June 25

Business has begun!

Business began yesterday morning in the House of Deputies. Pictured left is your deputation's row of seats, complete with a "Where's Waldo" hat from the 2012 General Convention. The day began with voting on a few of the more than 500 resolutions the deputation will consider. Legislative sessions go on from early morning to late at night. We discovered working Convention is like having a baby - you sleep and eat any moment you can!

Opening Eucharist – literal feeding of the 5,000?

The opening Eucharist for General Convention took place at 9:30 am, Mountain Time, following the opening sessions of House of Deputies and House of Bishops. The service was conducted partly in Spanish and partly in English. Several thousand were in attendance and all were communicated in the same amount of time (or possibly less) than we can serve communion in our own parishes. It was a miracle! Bishop Katharine opened her sermon mentioning Charleston. The full text is available here.

James G. Ellison and Howard Maltby mentioned in HoD Necrology

Part of yesterday's business in House of Deputies was the reading of a necrology of deputies lost since our last General Convention. We were touched to hear the names of Jim Ellison (charter member of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia, proponent in the church for civil rights, and General Convention deputy many times) and Howard Maltby.

The Reverend Howard Maltby was the rector of St. Alban's, Lexington and dearly loved by many. His loss in this past year was a big one for our diocese. The floor of the House of Deputies for our worldwide Church joined in prayer for those we've lost. #Prayersof

A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Waldo 

In case you missed it yesterday, Bishop Waldo has sent you a pastoral letter concerning General Convention. Please read it here and keep your bishop and your deputation in your prayers.

The Reverend Jordan Hylden Reporting for The Living Church

EDUSC's own Jordan Hylden is blogging for Covenant, a component of The Living Church magazine. Follow his witty and intelligent reports on the blog here! Jordan's wife is The Reverend Canon Emily Hylden of Trinity Cathedral, Columbia.

Committee 8 on Social Justice and US Policy presents resolution A302 for Mother Emanuel

Our worldwide Episcopal Church has voted to write a letter of condolence to Emanuel AME Church, Charleston. We are deeply moved by the overwhelming support by The Episcopal Church for our state.

The Last Pre-Convention Day - Bishop "Trivial Pursuit," SC Bishops' Public Ed and More!

GC Recap June 24, 2015

Susan Heath and her fellow Fellows

Today at 12:15 Mountain Time, The Reverend Susan Heath participated in a panel with her fellow Mark IV and Mark V Fellows. Susan's work as the coordinator of the SC Bishops' Public Education Initiative is funded in part by a Mark IV Fellowship. (read about the Five Marks of Mission here). 

Mark Stevenson, Domestic Poverty Missioner of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is in charge of Justice and Advocacy Scholarahips for Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Stewardship (Mark IV and Mark V). The Rev. Canon Stevenson interviewed the fellows. All of the ministries, both on environmentally and poverty-based issues, connected in synchronistic ways

throughout the panel. Susan was able to relate the nature-focused education
initiative of one fellow with the Environmental program at our own Gravatt Camp and Conference Center. Students at Camp AIR (Adventures in Reading) earlier this month were able to participate in the environmental program at Gravatt. Camp AIR was co-sponsored by Camp Gravatt and the SC Bishops' Public Education Initiative. Students not reading at grade level were able to learn and get up to speed in a fun camp setting. The importance of being in nature was an important part of this experience. Click here to see video of Susan on the panel.

So How Big is General Convention Anyway?

Never been to General Convention? Ever wondered what it's like? Take a look at this joint session of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies where the nominees for Presiding Bishop were presented this afternoon. It's a big group ofpeople (some report that 4,500 people are registered for at least one day during the Convention) and visitors and media were allowed, making it even bigger. You've probably seen Mick Jagger more closely at some point in your life than you would've seen these nominees from the floor today!

PB Nominees play "Trivial Pursuit"

PB Nominees played “Trivial Pursuit” on very non-trivial issues in front of a joint session of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies. Part of the presentation of the nominees for PB was a round of questions from the bishops and the deputations. The nominees were advised of the categories before the session, but not the questions, which were collected beforehand. They were asked to draw from color categories for each other. The Categories ranged from governance to theological education. Unlike Trivial Pursuit, there were no right or wrong answers. What was in the bishops' hearts was what mattered. Bishop Michael Curry of the Diocese of North Carolina (our closest neighbor, pictured left on the big screen, and familiar to many of you) had one of his usual fun and to-the-point answers to a reconciliation question: "When God said, 'All Ye,' he meant Ya'll and that means All!"

Meet Your Deputation

Dear Communicants of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina,

Here we go. The Presiding Bishop and the president of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings are presenting to the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies right now.

We are pleased to introduce your deputation for General Convention. Please keep them, Bishop Waldo, and all involved in your prayers, as well as the well-being and future of The Episcopal Church.

Clergy Deputation:

The Rev. Mike Flanagan, Rector, Holy Cross, Simpsonville
Ordained in 1991, Mike served as assistant rector at St. Michael and All Angels in Columbia, SC, and came to Simpsonville as Rector of Holy Cross in January of 1995. Mike has served on the Total Ministry Committee, Standing Committee, Building and Renovation Finance Committee, Chair of the Bishop’s Interview and Discernment Committee and a Spiritual Director on Cursillo Council. Currently Mike is serving as a Deputy to General Convention and is Chair of the Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

The Rev. Grant Wiseman, Rector, St. Thaddeus, Aiken
Grant moved to the Diocese of Upper South Carolina in 2009. He was nominated Standing Commission for Stewardship and Development (part of the interim body that meets between General Conventions) where he served as Chairman 2009-2012, and currently serves as Secretary. He is also a member of the Gravatt Camp and Conference Center board of trustees. Grant serves as Dean of the Gravatt Convocation. He has served on several committees in the diocese, and as a board member for York Place. He served churches in Nebraska and Ohio prior to becoming rector of St Thaddeus and President of Mead Hall. While in Nebraska, he was a deputy to General Convention 2006, Vice Chair of the Executive Commission of the Diocese of Nebraska, and Chaplain to Brownell-Talbot School. His wife, Heather is a Spanish Teacher and Coach at Mead Hall, Aiken Technical College and a Paralegal, and his twin daughters, Audrey and Abby attend Mead Hall. Prior to becoming a priest, Grant worked in boarding schools, owned a legal services firm, and was an Arabic Linguist in the Army. He attended college at the University of Cincinnati and Bethel College. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

The Rev. Dr. Susan Prinz, Associate Priest, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia
The Reverend Dr. Susan Prinz, a first time deputy to General Convention, serves as priest associate St. Martin-in-the-Fields.  Susan received her Master's of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2010, and has a background in college administration, earning a doctorate in Educational Administration in 1998. She is also a graduate of the Sursum Corda Spiritual Direction Training program and has a private spiritual direction practice. Susan is married to Ron Prinz, a professor at the University of South Carolina, and they are parents to Elizabeth, who works for Network for Africa, a NGO based in London.

The Rev. Scott Fleischer, Assistant Priest, St. John's (Shandon), Columbia
The Rev. Scott Fleischer is a life-long Episcopalian. Following his graduation from college in 1993, he attended Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry for two years.  After receiving a lay degree in Mission and Evangelism, he served as a full-time youth minister in the Diocese of Central Florida. He later returned to Trinity for a Master of Divinity degree, which he received in 2002. Scott began his ordained ministry serving as the Curate at Prince George Episcopal Church, Winyah, in Georgetown. Following his curacy, he served as the full-time Chaplain at York Place, Episcopal Church Home for Children, in York. Since January 2011, he has served as the Assistant Priest at St. John's Episcopal Church, Shandon, in Columbia. He is an elected member of the Diocesan Executive Council. As the secretary, he also serves on the Executive Committee. Scott and his wife Victoria have three above average children. In his free time, he enjoys long-distance running and working out with his F3 Columbia brothers.

The Rev. Alan Leonard, Rector, St. Margaret's, Boiling Springs - 1st Alternate
The Rev. Alan Leonard has been rector of St. Margaret’s, Boiling Springs since December 2005.  Previously, he was an Army Chaplain serving in the United States, Germany and Iraq.  Alan currently serves on the Bishop’s Task Force for Unity.  In the community he serves as chaplain for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9539, is on the advisory board of Harvest Family Ministries, a nonprofit organization that assists people in need in the Boiling Springs area, and the advisory board of Senior’s Take Charge, an organization that provides educational programs for senior citizens in Spartanburg County.  Before his military service, he was Assistant Rector of Holy Spirit Parish in Missoula, Montana.  Alan graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1996. He is married to the former Brenda Heidhoff and they have one son, Tim who was born in 1996. Brenda is a Cellist and Tim dances ballet.

Lay Deputation:

Ms. Scooty Burch
As a member of Holy Trinity, Clemson, Scooty Burch is a graduate of EFM and has served on the vestry and the Christian Formation Committee. Scooty has been a youth leader and is a Lay Eucharistic Visitor. She has served as Diocesan Coordinator for Episcopal Relief & Development and was on the Commission for the Anglican Communion and the Diocesan Executive Council. Scooty is serving on General Convention’s World Mission Committee. This is her fourth General Convention.  

Ms. Angela Daniel
Angela Daniel is the current President of Province IV, of which our diocese is a part. She is a member of St. John's, Columbia and has served in numerous parish and diocesan ministries, including working with the Millennium Development Goals and Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. Angela serves on the diocesan Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

Dr. Norah Grimball
Norah Grimball is a member of Trinity Episcopal Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina, where she serves as Junior Warden, Chair of the Eucharistic Ministers, and Worship Leader. Previous Cathedral service includes Vestry, Finance Committee,
Diocesan Convention Delegate, Pastoral Care Team Chair, and Eucharistic Visitor.  
On the diocesan level, Norah is serving as a Deputy to General Convention (L3) and member of the Commission on The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. She has previously served on Standing Committee; as Chair of the Commission on Ministry, the Bishop’s Interview and Discernment Committee and Commission on Ministry of the Baptized; and as Communications Chair of the Bishop Search Committee.  

Ms. Mary Anne Park
Mary Anne Park, RN, MSN, CCRC is Manager of the Clinical Trials Office at Georgia Regents University. She also serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Medical College of Georgia, Departments of Surgery and Neurology, and as a Clinical Instructor in the College of Nursing.  She holds Bachelor’s (1974) and Master’s (1979) degrees in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing, now known as Georgia Regents University College of Nursing. 

Mary Anne is a life-long, active member of Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, North Augusta, South Carolina where she has served on the vestry for 3 different 3-year terms.  She has served as Junior and Senior Warden twice each in the past, is a past-president of the Daughters of the King on two occasions, and is the current present of the DOK.  She is an active Eucharistic Minister, Lay Reader, Lector, Service Schedule Coordinator, and Missions Committee Member.  She has coordinated the Angel Tree at Christmas for the last eoghteen years, has served as an usher, Altar Guild member, Stephen Ministry Leader, member of the Aids Care Team, Worship Committee, Personnel Committee, Wednesday Night Ministry Committee, Lay Eucharistic Visitor, and is past Chairman of the Missions Committee and the Parish Life Committee.  She has served on search committees for both an assistant rector and youth minister.  Mrs. Park has been a delegate to Diocesan Convention on eleven occasions. 

Within the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Mary Anne served as an elected member of the Diocesan Executive Committee and Standing Committee for three years, on the Commission on the Ministry of the Baptized in 2007, served initially as part of the Diocesan Young Vocations Task Force (DYVT) and as part of the leadership group for the Diocesan Recruitment of Young Vocations (DRYV) group, the program that grew out of DYVT.  She served on the Long Range Planning Committee for the Diocese since 2010, served 3 years as secretary for the Gravatt Convocation, and as the Lay Warden of the Gravatt Convocation. As Lay Warden, she served on the Commission on Convocations for two years.  Mary Anne also represented the Diocese as a deputy to General Convention in 2012, and is a deputy to General Convention in 2015. 

Ms. Regina Ratterree  -  1st Alternate
Regina is a communicant of All Saints' Cayce, where she currently serves as chalice bearer, lay reader, teller, member of the choir and a delegate to Diocesan Convention. She has served on vestry and as Jr. Warden and Sr. Warden (four times).

At the diocesan level she serves on The Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion and as Lay Alternate to General Convention 2015. Previously, she has served on your Diocesan Executive Council, Standing Committee, and as a Deputy to General Convention 2000. She has also served as  Chair of Total Ministry and of the Resolutions Committee for DC. In addition, Regina has served on the United Thank Offering Committee as ProvinceIV Rep, Member at Large, Vice President and then President during a 6-year term.She is a Past Diocesan President of the Episcopal Church Women and has attended their Triennial Meeting six times. Finally, Regina is Chairperson of the Overseas Bishops Dinner 2015 in Salt Lake City, sponsored by Church Periodical Club.