SCLM issues report on blessing of same-gender unions

The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) of the Episcopal Church has forwarded to the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies excerpts from its report, "I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing": Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships.The report, nearly three years in the making, was prepared by the SCLM in compliance 2009-C056, "Liturgies for Blessings,"  a resolution  approved by the General Convention (GC) of the Episcopal Church in 2009 which directed the SCLM to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same-gender relationships through an open process. Excerpts from the report are being made available for discussion at the upcoming House of Bishops (HOB) meeting in March. Members of the House of Deputies (HOD) will discuss the excerpts in the online forum on the website of Bonnie Anderson, HOD President, http://houseofdeputies.org/deputy-online-forum/.  The discussion on the Deputy Online Forum will take place March 16-23 and is available to the public for viewing. In addition, excerpts are also being made available to the wider church on Anderson's website:http://houseofdeputies.org/blessingexcerpts.  

"Since 2009, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has consulted widely throughout the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion," said the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and chair of the SCLM. "Providing our report to the church's two legislative houses, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, is the next step in our open process. We look forward to their discussions and to presenting our report to General Convention in July." 

The excerpts released March 8 include a theological reflection on blessing same-gender relationships, a proposed liturgical rite, and the legislative resolutions that the SCLM will recommend to GC12 in Indianapolis July 5-12.  

Presiding Bishop to address Province III Synod

The Province III Synod will convene in Martinsburg, West Virginia April 30-May 1. The gathering will include an address from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and General Convention deputy orientation in addition to the Province III business meeting and elections. Following the adjournment of the meeting, the Province III Ministries on Evangelism will present "Communications as Evangelism: Using the Media, Social Media and Common Sense to Draw People to Your Church." The workshop will be led by Jim Naughton of Canticle Communications and founder of the blog Episcopal Cafe. For more information and registration for the Synod and communications workshop, go to the "Workshops, Training & Events" page of www.diosova.org.

Episcopal Church launches blog for comments on the draft 2013-2015 budget

The Episcopal Church Joint Committee on Program, Budget and Finance (PB&F) has established a blog for comments on the draft budget approved by Executive Council in January. The blog can be found at http://jscpbf.blogspot.com. "PB&F offers this blog as a place for the Church to comment on the Executive Council draft budget," explained Diane Pollard, PB&F chair. "Concurrently, the purpose of the blog is also to give PB&F an additional way to hear the comments on the Draft Budget." Pollard, a deputy from the Diocese of New York, stressed that the blog is open to all: bishops, deputies, alternates, clergy and lay people. The blog was launched on Thursday, March 8 and will be monitored by PB&F members. Following the approval by Executive Council, the draft budget of $104.9 million was sent to PB&F for review.  In July the information shared on the blog as well as the testimony received at three General Convention hearings will help to inform the budget that is presented to General Convention for approval. PB&F will prepare a proposed budget which then will be presented at a joint session of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops on July 10.  The final triennial budget will be approved by General Convention.

Upcoming events for clergy

Clergy Holy Week Eucharist & Renewal of Ordination Vows

Wednesday, April 4

9:30 a.m. at St. Cyprian's, Hampton 

2:30 p.m. at Manakin, Midlothian   

Spring Clergy Day

Tuesday, May 8 at Chanco on the James

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A review of Title IV. Details and registration coming soon.

Safe Church webinar on the use of social media

Many congregations have posed questions on guidelines for social media use in a church, school or camp setting. In response to these requests, Church Pension Group and Praesidium, their partner in the development of misconduct materials, will host a webinar, Social Media and Sexual Abuse: Establishing Healthy Boundaries, on Tuesday, March 13, at 2 p.m. Click here to register. The webinar will deal with the most common uses of social media in these settings; the risks for adult to adult, adult to youth, and youth to youth interactions; and suggestions for developing controls over  the various social media options available to you. Britt Darwin-Looney, the director of Youth Development Services for Praesidium will conduct the webinar.  Questions will be taken during the last 10 minutes of the session and Britt will answer questions by e-mail or phone after the webinar.

ECBF hosts "Buildings for Tomorrow" symposium

The Episcopal Church Building Fund is more than a loan fund. ECBF is hosting a national symposium, 'Buildings for a New Tomorrow,' April 15-17 in Baltimore to bring people together to discuss the complex issues of church buildings, in an open, honest and realistic forum. It will challenge people to think differently--about their buildings, what they represented, how they supported ministry (or do they?), how to use them for revenue, and when to close them. Participants and presenters come from across the country to challenge themselves and each other to think differently, to "Go big or go home". Click here for more information. Learn more about ECBF at www.ecbf.org.

Good Friday Offering for Jerusalem & the Middle East

Marking the 90th anniversary of the annual Good Friday Offering, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has written to all congregations asking them to consider assistance for Jerusalem and the Middle East. "This annual appeal is a unique spiritual opportunity to continue Jesus' work in the land of his birth and early ministry," the Presiding Bishop writes. "Please join me in continuing that incarnate presence of love and healing." Funds collected from the Good Friday Offering are gathered and distributed to the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East which includes the Dioceses of Jerusalem and Cyprus and the Gulf, all members of the Anglican Communion. Among the many projects assisted by past Good Friday offerings are: Diocese of Jerusalem's St. Peter's Elderly Home for Christian seniors, St. Andrew's Clinic for diabetes, educational scholarships, and St Andrew's Housing Projects for young Christian couples; and in the diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, the many medical ministries of Ras Morbat Clinic based at Christ Church in Aden, Yemen, such as a clinic for mothers and babies, eye care, a vocational school, and ministry to seafarers. Information and resources for the Good Friday Offering are available here.