 Clergy E-Mailing
February 16, 2012 |
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MECA News
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Lenten Retreat Day
MECA is sponsoring a Lenten Retreat Day for Clergy at the Bishop Claggett Center on Saturday, March 10, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The retreat will be led by Bishop Rabb, retired bishop suffragan. Please see attached flyer for further details.
Check your inbox for more Lenten Resources in the days ahead.
Save the Date!
On Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Peabody Room of the Diocesan Center, the Rev. Bruce McPherson will lead a forum on church leadership based on his in-depth interviews with more than 20 rectors of Episcopal Churches in the dioceses of Washington D.C. and Virginia, whose bishops identified them as leaders of growing parishes. Bruce initially worked with faculty members of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, who identified the three defining characteristics of successful business leaders, and his research shows how those characteristics translate to parish leadership, often with surprising results. The evening will begin with light refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and will end by 9:00 p.m. Please make a note to come and participate in what is sure to be a stimulating presentation and discussion.
Support MECA
MECA depends on your financial support to offer educational programs and social events to clergy in the diocese that are free or greatly subsidized. Annual dues are $25 and may be sent to Karen Stewart, Assistant Treasurer, Diocese of Maryland, 4 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218. Please make your check payable to the diocese and write "MECA dues" in the memo line. Thank you!
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Claggett: A Place to Grow
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The "Claggett: A Place to Grow" capital campaign to build the Inn at Claggett is here. Please ensure that every family in your parish receives a campaign brochure. Here are bulletin inserts for you to use on a Sunday. Everyone is invited to three open houses at Claggett to see the campus and look at the plans for the Inn. Here is a flyer to post on bulletin boards to encourage all to take a field trip to Claggett.
Field Trip Dates:Sunday, Feb. 19, 1:30-4 pm Sunday, March 11, 2-5 pm Sunday, April 29, 3-5 pm No reservations are necessary. The Rev. Charles Cloughen Jr., Inn at Claggett campaign committee |
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Cancelled: General Convention Education Day
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Event Cancelled General Convention Diocese Day of Education Saturday March 3, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST Due to low sign-up, this event has been cancelled. If you would like to express thoughts or concerns to the deputation from this diocese, you may do so at one of the Pre-Convention meetings or forward your comments to the Rev. Scott Bellows, chair of the deputation, at s.bellows@stdavidsbalt.com who will forward them to the rest of the deputation.
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Building Fund Symposium
April 15-17, Maritime Institute, Linthicum Heights near BWI airport
"Buildings for a New Tomorrow" is the Episcopal Church Building Fund's annual symposium. Ideas on how to utilize your buildings better, get the most out of your building, or get out of your building were all shared among rectors, wardens, bishops and other interested ministers there. Learn more or register at: http://www.ecbf.org/symposium.html.
For additional information contact the Rev. Dan Webster, 410-467-1399 or dwebster@episcopalmaryland.org. canon for evangelism and ministry development.
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COAM Survey
The Committee on Older Adult Ministries invites you to take its survey on ministering to older adults. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LPRMS6M
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Province III Small Church Conference
May 28-31, Shrine Mont Retreat Center, Orkney Springs, VA
Networking, workshops, exhibits. Click here for the flyer .
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Evangelism
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Ashes to Go
Thank you for providing your Ash Wednesday plans for Ashes to Go. Look for a special e-newsletter with Lenten Resources early next week.
Diocesan Night at Camden Yards
June 23, 7:15 pm, Orioles vs. Nationals
Mark your calendars for this wonderful night of baseball, fellowship and fun. Tickets still just $6 each. Order form available soon.
Does your choir have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at the ball game? Contact Sharon Tillman for information on how to audition for the O's.
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Action
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In the News
The Rev. Mary H.T. Davisson in a NY Times article about ocean dumping. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/us/whistle-blowers-help-us-fight-ocean-dumping.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=emery&st=cse
On the Feast of Absalom Jones
Feb 18, Cathedral of the Incarnation, 9 am-1:30 pm
Breakfast, music and Holy Eucharist to celebrate his life and ministry. Learn more at:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/?s=absalom+jones http://www.washingtonube.org/jones.html World Mission Sunday: Feb 19 Please include the vital work of Episcopal Relief & Development in prayers on the last Sunday of Epiphany, designated World Mission Sunday. ER&D provides help to alleviate the suffering of many in our world. A full account of their work is included in the ER&D report: Moving Forward: Disaster Response 2011. The report is online at www.er-d.org/2011DisasterResponse. Energy Assistance Summit: Feb 28 10 am-2 pm, St. John's Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Dr, Columbia. Sponsored by the Maryland Office of the People's Council. Details here. Honduras Missions for 2012 Registration is now open, and I am hoping you or high-school-age members of your church will be joining us this year. There are openings for 120 missioners for well-established trips and several new sites. Follow this link for more information and dates. |
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Christian Formation
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Regional Confirmations
April 7, 7 pm, Cathedral of the Incarnation - Easter Vigil (Bishop Burnett) April 28, 5 pm, St John's, Ellicott City (Bishop Rabb) May 20, 4 pm, Cathedral of the Incarnation (Bishop Sutton) TBA, Washington County
Save the Date The Diocesan Ministry Fair, which will feature workshops on all aspects of Christian ministry, will be held on Oct. 27, 2012. The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel, bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, will be the keynote speaker.
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Education
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Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
March 19-23 at Grace Episcopal Church in Wilmington, DE. Continuing education credit available. Learn more and register at http://www.lmpeacecenter.org
Offered by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center: 630-627-0507
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Transition Ministry News
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Rectors who are looking to hire a new associate or assistant are welcome to use the resources of the Transition Ministry office. I can help with advertising, posting on the OTM Portfolio site, and identifying qualified candidates who are looking to move to Maryland.
Transition Ministries Conference
The Transition Ministries Conference is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers from about 40 northeastern dioceses specifically to share information about congregations that are searching for clergy and clergy who are looking for new congregations. Diocesan transition ministers present summaries of congregational profiles and pertinent information about potential clergy candidates in search of the best match between talent and need.
The conference occurs twice a year, and the next meeting is March 12-16. If you are exploring another call, or are in the early stages of the discernment process, this is a chance for you to test that out.
The first step is to fill out the TMC Confidential Information form (attached) and send it back to me (by email at swright@episcopalmaryland.org). You can copy it into your word processor, fill it out there, save it, and attach it to the e-mail back to me. Please also take the time to update your OTM Portfolio, which can be done online. The deadline for submitting your material is Wed, Feb 29.
Knowing that the decision to explore new ministry possibilities is a sensitive one, please rest assured that the names shared at the TMC are kept in strictest confidence; only I will know who has asked to be presented. There is a high trust level between TMC transitions ministers, and we honor the delicate nature of this sort of discernment.
The Transition Ministries Conference also maintains a website listing of congregations in search of new leadership: http://tmn.edow.org. This is in addition to the information you can find at www.otmportfolio.org.
Please contact Canon Stuart Wright with any questions about the TMC or the process. I look forward to working with you.
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Trainings Schedule Now Online
Facilitator training offered
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Come be trained to lead the workshops. Register for each class with Adam Barner, abarner@episcopalmaryland.org.
April 21 Facilitator Training: Safeguarding God's People 9 am-12 noon at the Diocesan Center. _________________________________ Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Anti-Racism Workshop Breaking the Silence: Domestic Violence: Awareness & Response Safeguarding God's Children Safeguarding God's People There is a full schedule of training workshops on the website, http://www.episcopalmaryland.org/clergy-resources/workshops.php. To register for any of these workshops, please contact Adam Barner, 410-467-1399 or abarner@episcopalmaryland.org. |
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Regional Clergy Gatherings
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 Bishop Sutton and Bishop Burnett are meeting with all active clergy - priests and deacons - in each region of the diocese. These Regional Gatherings will take place monthly from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursdays unless otherwise noted. The next meeting is:
Contact Caroline Bomgardner, 410-467-1399 or cbomgardner@episcopalmaryland.org, with questions. |
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Clergy Movement & News
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Monthly Lunch for Retired Clergy and their Families
March 7
12 noon, Church of the Redeemer. Noon Eucharist followed by bagged lunch. Guest speaker: The Rev. Bill Fallowfield presents Sacred Ground, Sacred Stories, a 30-minute DVD showing the daily life of enslaved people at Buckingham Plantation.
Tax Guide Available
The Church Pension Fund is now providing the 2012 Tax Guide for Episcopal Ministers (For 2011 Tax Returns) online in a downloadable, searchable PDF file. The PDF file has been posted on the CPG website. Go to www.cpg.org/taxpubs. Your accountant or tax advisor can access this publication here, too.
Given the possibility that Congress will make further changes to the Tax Code during this current legislative season, you are encouraged to use the online version, which will be updated on an ongoing basis to reflect any subsequent changes. However, if you prefer to have a printed copy, it will be available in a print-on-demand format starting in late February. To order a copy, go to www.cpg.org/taxpubs and follow the prompts. Please note that the printed version reflects the PDF as it is posted today, and will not be updated.
Diocesan Staff Supply Clergy
As you begin to make your summer travel plans, don't forget that diocesan staff clergy are available for supply work-at no cost to your congregation. To make ourselves as broadly available as possible, we intend to limit each congregation to one request for staff supply. Preference will be given to parishes that do not have more than one clergy. To request one of the diocesan clergy staff, contact them directly (if you have a preference), or send a request to Adam Barner at abarner@EpiscopalMaryland.org.
Charles Mercer is the priest-in-charge at St. Mary the Virgin, Baltimore.
Herb Lodder has been appointed to the Alzheimer's Commission for the State of Maryland. |
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Editors' Note:
The next Clergy Mailing will be on or about Feb 29. Please send submissions for the Clery Mailing to the Communications Office. The deadline for the next mailing is Friday, Feb 24.
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