Diocesan Synod Address

DEUS Synod Report and Address July 2011
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, D.D., Diocesan and Presiding Bishop

Welcome

To our Bishops, Priests, Deacons and all lay delegates and observers, invited guests and visitors, we extend a warm St. Barnabas' Anglican Church Atlanta, Georgia welcome to the 43rd Synod of the Diocese of the Eastern United States (DEUS) of the Anglican Province of America (APA). We are gathered as a family at our annual Synod to conduct necessary business. Being together has other benefits such as renewing and forging new friendships. It can be a time of spiritual renewal either through our worship or some of the other events during the course of this week as our hearts are open. I have chosen the theme for this Synod, "Renewing our Vision." I pray that corporately and individually through our time together in the various events of the week, we will make this theme something that goes with us as we return to the "valley of service."

I want to welcome our special invited guests who have travelled long distances to be with us at this Synod. First of all, I want to welcome our Archbishop in the Philippines, the Most Rev. Frederick Belmonte and his wife, Eros. Next, I want us to welcome from the Anglican Church in America (ACA), the Rt. Rev. Brian Marsh, Bishop Ordinary of their Diocese of the Northeast, and recently elected President of the ACA House of Bishops, the Rt. Rev. Steven Strawn, Bishop Ordinary of their Diocese of the Missouri Valley, the Rt. Rev. Daren Williams, Bishop Ordinary of their Diocese of the West and his wife Joy, and the Very Rev. John Vaughan, Vicar General of their Diocese of the East. We will give them the opportunity to bring greetings to our Synod later and Bishop Marsh will be our Synod Banquet speaker on Thursday evening.

Each year as we come together, we witness how the Lord has worked in the midst of our Diocese. Over the next several days we will hear reports that reveal God's presence with us as we move into the future. As with all of God's people we have times of disappointment and sadness. Especially note-worthy since our last Synod were the deaths of two of our beloved priests, the death of Fathers Douglas King and Rufus Kite-Powell. Both were men of enormous talent and devotion to our Lord and his church. Fr. King fought a battle with a disease that eventually took his life but in the process he demonstrated his Faith and Christian courage in this struggle and died with grace. Fr. Kite-Powell served as Canon to the Ordinary and was the founder of St. Paul's Church, Melbourne, Florida. Canon Kite-Powell died under a different circumstance, after a long and lingering time in a nursing home. He was a man of enormous energy and he as well as Fr. King shall be greatly missed.

Before I go farther, I want to acknowledge and thank the Synod Committee of St. Barnabas' Anglican Church under the leadership of the Rector and our Suffragan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Chandler (Chad) Jones, for hosting this year's Synod. The Synod Committee under the direction of Mr. Rette Ledbetter and Mr. Al Duncan, has done a tremendous job of organizing and executing the plan. (Please stand) Each year, I am amazed at the talent of our parish churches as they come together to make the Synods flow so smoothly. No one, unless you have done it, really knows what a job it is getting all this organized. May you have a special place in the Kingdom.

I will begin my address by giving a report of my activities of the past 12 months. Our Suffragan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Chad Jones will give his report on his Episcopal activities later. It seems that it was just yesterday when we were holding the election of the Suffragan and now it is actually over a year. It has been an eventful year for our new Suffragan as it has been for all of us.

Diocesan Bishop's Activities:
• Episcopal visitations: 40
• New/Potential congregations visits: 2
• Confirmations: 102
• Ordinations: 4
• Installations: 7
• Consecrations: 2
• Prospective clergy meetings: 1
• New clergy received: 1
• Ecumenical meetings: 11
• Standing Committee meetings: 3
• Provincial Council meetings: 1
• Deanery meetings: 1
• Building Dedications: 1
• Clergy meetings/conferences: 5
• Miscellaneous: 12 (includes receiving Missions, meetings with Vestries and Mission Committees, funerals of clergy)

Suffragan Bishop's Activities
• Episcopal visitations: 5
• Confirmations: 25
• Ecumenical meetings: 4
• Standing Committee meetings: 1
• Deanery meetings: 2
• Clergy meetings/conferences: 1
• Miscellaneous: 13 (includes reception of new members attending BEC meetings)

Statistics for our Diocesan Year End 2010 are as follows:
• No. of Congregations: 42 (45 YTD 2011)
• No. of Communicants: 3388
• Total Membership: 3762
• Bishops: 6 (7 YTD 2011)
• Priests: 68 (68 YTD 2011)
• Deacons: 10 (9 YTD 2011)
• Total Clergy: 84 (81 or 84 YTD 2011)
• Deaconesses: 4 (4 YTD 2011)

Changes in the Diocese

I want to welcome all new clergy who have either been received or been ordained in this Diocese and Province since our last Synod in June 2010. I would ask them to please stand and be recognized as their names are called. Those who were ordained to the sacred priesthood since last Synod are: the Rev. Paul Rivard, St. Barnabas’ Anglican Church, Dunwoody, Georgia and the Rev. Donald Sackett, the Deanery of Appalachia. Received into the APA/DEUS was the Rt. Rev. Arthur Rushlow, rector of St. George's Anglican Church, Ocala, Florida and the Rev. Nicholas Henderson, St. Patrick's Anglican Church, Brevard, North Carolina.

At the Board of Examining Chaplains meeting on Monday and Tuesday of this week the Board and then the Standing Committee we officially received into the APA the Rev. Michael Bowhay, rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fernandina Beach, Florida and the Rev. Frank O’Donnell, assisting priest at St. Matthew's, Weaverville, North Carolina. Additionally, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Burr of St. Aidan's on the Eastern Shore, Chestertown, Maryland was approved for ordination to the Sacred Priesthood and Mr. Richard Hitchcock of St. Barnabas Church, Dunwoody, Georgia and Mr. Matthew Harlow of St. Michael's Church, in Matthews, North Carolina were approved for ordination to the Diaconate. (Please Stand)

I want to welcome the new parishes and missions to our Diocese. St. George's Anglican Church, Ocala, Florida, their clergy and delegates; Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fernandina Beach, Florida, their clergy and delegates; St. Anthony's Anglican Church, Crab Orchard, Tennessee, Fr. Ernest Pinto assisted by Deacon the Rev. John Houck of the Reformed Episcopal Church who will be transferring to the APA, and their delegates. I say on behalf of all the Diocese and Province to each of you, welcome aboard!

Again, the theme of this year's Synod is, "Renewing our Vision." I have three points to make in this regard. This theme was inspired in part by a number of our clergy who have witnessed a renewed spiritual health and energy in their parishes. This in turn has generated a ripple effect to other parishes and missions as clergy communicate with each other and share ideas. What I have witnessed in my travels visiting our parishes are people learning to love, work and help each other within their Christian Community, taking on parish projects and outreach into the world around us. Being part of the "continuing Anglican Church movement" during the developmental years, many of us witnessed churches beleaguered with anger, resentment and an unhealthy attachment to icons of their former jurisdiction. These attitudes have in many cases influenced and infected every aspect of continuing church life and created a "movement" rather than a church. For so long the continuing church has been defined by what it is against rather than what it is. It has been a struggle to overcome the grievances, anger and resentment of past loyalties but for the churches that have managed to get beyond this, they have moved on to become the church Christ has called us to be. Rather than holding on to the BCP 1928 with a protectionist attitude, it becomes the liturgy that is loved for what it is. This healthy parish attitude is expressed, in my observation, in parishioners actually getting to know one another and enjoying each other's company. This includes interactive study groups, learning through the scriptures and church history, what the role of the church is in the 21st century. In large part, the primary catalyst in building a healthy parish is the parish priest. But, he cannot do it alone; he must have willing souls to support him. We have a number of examples of clergy who are well-formed in their priestly ministry, and also have a flexible personality that is positive in order that God can work his wonders as the people offer their "charismata" for the building of the local congregation. It is the essence of our Eucharistic worship. I often hear people in our churches complain that we cannot seem to attract younger people to our parish. If we keep going the way we are in many cases the congregation will eventually vanish. The other concern is with our own young people who grow up in our parish, then go off to college and in many cases end up not in an Anglican Church but a Roman Catholic or a mega church. While most of us do not understand the attraction, it is nevertheless what we deal with. It goes again back to what I said, building our own congregations into healthy vibrant congregations and providing an atmosphere which is attractive, warm and welcoming will be a congregation that will attract younger people and all people for that matter. One of our Breakout Sessions, to be held on Thursday morning, will be an interactive time led by Fr. Glenn Spencer of All Saint's Anglican Church, Charlottesville, VA on the subject of parish growth and renewal.

As another outgrowth of the vitality we have experienced in a number of our parishes of this Diocese, is the renewed commitment to "missions foreign and domestic." I will give a more detailed report along with the acting Vicar General Fr. David Haines at our Provincial Synod on Friday morning. But let me say this, through the efforts and the contacts initiated by our Vicar General Fr. Johann Vanderbijl, we were challenged to raise the necessary funds this past 6 months to build a Christian English Medium School in our Diocese of Kadapa South India. In the final analysis, we did miraculously raise the necessary funds and we will be presenting the check to the Operation Mobilization representative who will be here on Friday. One of the exciting things in all of this was the competition generated between parishes to raise the most money for the Dalit School. There is still much to do and the monthly needs of our Global Partners go on with or without a special project.

Let me digress for a moment. I think I can safely say that in most of us there is a desire to see the dispersed traditional Anglican churches reunite. This has been a personal desire of mine over the years of my episcopacy. In some cases this desire has been realized, as in the case of Bishop Robert Loiselle with his clergy and churches becoming part of the APA/DEUS earlier this decade. Bishop Shaver and his churches and clergy came to us close to the same time. We have also worked with the Reformed Episcopal Church over the past 12 years and developed a "joint theological statement" upon which we could agree. We continue to have a good and friendly relationship with the REC but due to cultural issues the planned merger has stalled. There are a number of areas in which we will continue cooperation with the REC including the Clergy Pension Plan, transfer of clergy and missionary efforts. We thank God for the level of unity that we have achieved with our brothers in the REC and I believe the relationship will continue to be a warm one. Out of this relationship, the REC and APA created the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas. This organization has brought together a number of traditional Anglicans who were not really communicating with one another. The body meets for discussion and prayer every six months and it keeps the door open to further developments in each other's churches. We have also attempted closer relations with the emerging Anglican Church in North America but unresolved issues of ecclesiology have postponed a closer relationship until such issues are resolved.

Happily, we have since our last Synod had the door opened to wider relations with the leadership of our former jurisdiction. The Anglican Church in America diocesan bishops along with our diocesan bishops of the APA met together in St. Louis, Missouri last August to get to know each other and to share our experiences and the possibility official Intercommunion. The former leadership of the ACA have either retired or decided to go into the Roman Ordinariate. They now have all new leadership from the time we were together. Our Diocese which parted from the ACA in 1995, following the resignation of our former bishop and then my subsequent election, continued and along with a group of Anglicans in the West together later formed the Anglican Province of America. Some of those churches and clergy have now parted from us to join the ACNA. After this series of upheavals and changes on both sides (ACA and APA), we have discovered the possibility of reconciliation with each other. We pray that we can continue that reconciliation this week in our Synods. The Provincial Council, House of Bishops, and the Diocese of the West along with the ACA Diocese of the Northeast, the Diocese of the West and Missouri Valley have all approved the Intercommunion Agreement. Today, I would like for both our DEUS and DMA to give their approval to the Agreement. On Friday, at the Provincial Synod, I would like to make it official and have the entire Province give its approval. The ACA General Synod meeting in September 2011 will be presented with the same Agreement for its approval. Let us all pray that the Lord will give us grace to take this next step of working together to bring this portion of his Kingdom into unity.

Final Thoughts

I want to thank our Standing Committee of the Diocese for their work and assistance over the past year. Special thanks to Fr. David Haines who has served as the president along with his many other responsibilities. I would like to ask Fr. David and all the members to stand at this time. Many thanks to Mrs. Betty Royer of St. Paul's Church, Crownsville, MD for her service as she rotates of the Committee and Fr. Ralph Waterhouse who is filling the unexpired term of Fr. Douglas King which was due to end this Synod. Fr. Waterhouse will be eligible to be elected to his own term at this Synod. I am grateful for the assistance and support of Lisa Ulrich, Executive Secretary of the Diocese and Province. I would like to give a special thanks to Deaconess Sister Linda Burns who assists me in so many ways, but especially in carefully preparing my vestments for travel. I want to extend my gratitude to Bishop Chad Jones our Suffragan who is helpful in assisting with administrative duties, and providing Episcopal visits and confirmations and being available for counsel and advice. I want to make special mention of Fr. Rich Bakley who is in the midst of his cancer treatment and unable to be here, for the tremendous efforts he puts forth each year in the planning and organizing of the Anglican Life Adventure Camp. This was his dream and it has become an exciting part of this Diocese and beyond. Each year the camp grows larger and we look forward to the report by Deaconess Tina Jenkins later.

Incidentally, we have four get well cards we would like for each of you to sign. They are for Bishop Larry Shaver, Fr. Johann Vanderbijl, Fr. John Poole, and Fr. Richard Bakely. Mary will have them at her table set up with the Cathedral Cookbooks.

There are so many individuals who give of their time and energy to make our Diocese work and forgive me for not mentioning everyone at this time. In particular I want to mention our Archdeacon, Erich Zwingert who manages our background checks and follow-up on candidates for ministry in our Diocese and Province along with his other duties as Archdeacon. I want to thank Fr. Michael Ward who serves as Chairman of our Board of Examining Chaplains who shepherds our men through the ordination process. I would like Fr. Mike and the entire Board of Examining Chaplains to stand at this time. For all those who work often behind the scenes and are absolutely critical in what we do, like D.J. Fulton, treasurer, Glen Wieland, Chancellor, our webmaster Gene O'Hara, and David Arnott of the Cathedral who provides technical assistance to the Diocesan/Provincial Office, I am most grateful. I want to thank our Vicar General, Johann Vanderbijl who has done so much to organize our efforts in our overseas Global Partnerships and his assistant Fr. David Haines. Fr. Johann is unable to be with us this Synod due to health issues for which we pray he will soon recover. Many thanks to Fr. Haines who is representing our Global Partnerships and will be doing the breakout session along with my wife, Mary, and Bishop Belmonte later in the Synod. Working closely with our Missions is Deaconess Tina Jenkins, who personally supports and monitors the financial aid of those who are counting on our help. To all of these generous folks who volunteer their time, talent and effort in doing the vital work of our Diocese, to all of you here today, who are in most cases the backbone of our local parishes and missions, you are most appreciated.

A special thanks to Rick Watson, our Synod organist, who volunteers driving to the DEUS Synod each year and to the Provincial Synod "trailering" the organ which he plays so beautifully. Rick is officially a member of our Diocese Mid-America but as I said last year is an honorary member for life of the DEUS. God bless you Rick for your service to our Lord and His Church. I want to thank my wife Mary for her love of our church, and her support, companionship and encouragement in the work I do as your Bishop. Each year brings ebb and flow in this Diocese and Church. We have added a number of congregations this year for which we give thanks. May the Lord continue to bless and prosper our church and diocese as we keep our faith and commitment to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Respectfully submitted,
+Walter

A Microsoft Word version of Presiding Bishop Grundorf's Diocesan Synod addres may be downloaded here.