ALABAMA: Environmental stewardship focus of diocesan convention
Episcopal News Service. March 7, 2008 [030708-05]
Dave Drachlis, Co-chair of the Diocese of Alabama's Companion Diocese Commission, Rob Morpeth, Administrator for the Diocese of Alabama
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, meeting for its 177th Diocesan Convention February 21-23 in Birmingham, heard Bishop Henry N. Parsley Jr. uphold the world's "environmental crisis" as the greatest challenge for 2008.
"Tending the Garden: Our Stewardship of Creation" was the theme of the convention, held at the Sheraton Civic Center in Birmingham and hosted by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
"In 2008 we find ourselves in a world of enormous challenges...but none is greater than the world environmental crisis our generation is facing," Parsley said during his convention address.
Parsley acknowledged a report listing the Tennessee River-Mobile Bay basin as one of the 19 places in the world most critically in need of environmental preservation and conservation. He also spoke of the need to reclaim the spiritual vision of Christian heritage that sees the earth as divine gift and all living creatures as holy and sacred to God.
Parsley urged the diocese to look carefully at the carbon footprint of diocesan and parish facilities and to find ways to reduce consumption, waste and pollution.
The bishop appointed the last Sunday in April to be Stewardship of Creation Sunday, which he hopes will engender year-round ecological awareness and action. A special liturgy will be provided for use in parishes.
Navajoland Area Mission Bishop Mark MacDonald, who is also the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop for Canada, further developed the theme of stewardship of creation in his keynote address (available as audio here).
Parsley spoke about the many gifts the diocese celebrates this year, including new Bishop Suffragan John McKee Sloan, the recent visit of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and new diocesan staff members. The bishop also praised the continuing success of the diocese's ACTS 2 capital funds campaign, which has raised $6.3 million to date for six projects: a new chapel at the diocesan camp and conference center; a campus ministry center at the University of Montevallo; projects in the areas of lay training and certification, increasing ethnic diversity; campus ministry center at the University of Montevallo; projects in the areas of lay training and certification, increasing ethnic diversity; to purchase land for new congregations; and expand communication capabilities.
The bishop also spoke of the recent dedication of Trinity Commons; the Episcopal Student Center in Birmingham; the companion relationship with Haiti; the Hispanic, anti-racism, and urban ministries; and the Sesquicentennial of the University of the South, Sewanee, of which the Diocese of Alabama is an owning diocese. Parsley currently serves as Chancellor.
During the convention Festival Eucharist at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Sloan preached his first sermon to the diocese, "God Loves You More Than Your Mama," on God's abundant unconditional love for his children.
In remarks on the final day of the convention, Sloan spoke of his election and ordination and thanked the people of the diocese for their support. "It is an amazing privilege for me to stand here as your bishop suffragan," Sloan said. Speaking of the power of God, he quipped, "As a bishop in your church I am living proof that God can do anything."
Sloan emphasized the importance of college ministry as "an essential part of the Church today and an essential investment in the Church tomorrow." He noted that 15% of the 2008 diocesan operating budget is designated for support of campus ministries, including compensation for four full-time and four part-time chaplains. Sloan encouraged the Diocese of Alabama to continue its work in this important area.
Sloan also encouraged continued support for Special Session, the diocesan summer camp for mentally and physically challenged adults and young people.
He spoke of the inevitability of disagreement at times. "By all means, let us disagree," he said. "But let us disagree in love, and grace, and help each other move more and more closely to the truth of God in Jesus Christ our Lord."
During the three-day assembly, delegates passed 18 resolutions on a variety of topics including a prayer for peace; the budget; urging the state legislature to end the death penalty and support DNA testing for those awaiting execution for a capital offense; admission of a new parish -- Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Tallassee, Alabama; and repentance for condoning slavery, segregation and discrimination.
The 2008 budget is $2,729,557, which is an increase of $130,000 over 2007.
Delegates heard reports on the many ministries of the diocese, participated in workshops, and elected officers of the diocese and delegates to the next General Convention.
The 178th Convention of the diocese will be held in Montgomery February 19-21, 2009, at the invitation of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.
The Diocese of Alabama is a community of 90 parishes with more than 30,000 members. It is located in central and northern Alabama.