Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning addressed the convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee when delegates convened in Knoxville, Dec. 12-14. Bishop Browning preached at the opening service at Church of the Ascension, addressing the convention theme, "The Church in the World, Living in Community." He stressed the importance of community, saying people are not meant to be alone. Bishop Browning carried on the theme of community the next day when he addressed convention delegates.

"Life in community is always something that is moving out," he said. "It is not something that is held as some precious thing within itself, but for the world in which we live."

On Saturday morning, the Presiding Bishop led more than 130 young persons and 40 youth advisors onto the convention floor, drawing a standing ovation from delegates. The young persons were participants in a two-day diocesan youth event in conjunction with the convention. Bishop Browning preached at that event and engaged in information dialogue with participants for two hours, fielding questions ranging from his hobbies to his - and the church's - feelings on homosexuality.

Delegates adopted a new process for determining the diocesan budget that is based not on line items but upon what areas of diocesan mission should be given priority. The priorities and their assigned percentage of the total budget were: support for congregations, 44 percent; support for clergy, 14 percent; support for diocesan operations, 25 percent; outside the diocese, 15.6 percent, and contingencies, 1.4 percent. The only line item figures shown on the proposed 1997 budget were salaries for mission clergy and diocesan staff. Not only does the new budget process determine mission priorities but it also gives the responsibility of fund allocation to the people doing the work.

"When the final budget income figure is in, the program areas and the missions will be told how much money they have," said Jim Shearhouse, chair of the finance and budget committee. "It will be up to the people involved to decide how the money will be divided up instead of having Bishop and Council dictate it to them."

Priests serving cluster ministries face a variety of challenges. The distinctive environment of the Diocese of Northwest Texas, with its vast open spaces and abundance of small towns, was a natural setting for this innovative chain of ministries. The clusters allow for effective sharing of fellowship and ministry. Alice Clayton

Within the diocese, three cluster ministries exist. The Sandhills Episcopal Ministry includes Andrews, Kermit and Monahans; the Llano Estacado cluster encompasses Brownfield, Lamesa and Levelland; and the Copper Breaks Mission covers Childress, Vernon and Quanah.

Traveling between towns within each mission proves to be no small chore. The Rev. Ted W. Harris, vicar for the Sandhills ministry, reflected recently on the rigors of the road.

"The driving can sometimes be tiresome," he said. "I travel at least 100 miles every day. That equals about 2,600 miles a month. It comes with the territory."

The Sandhills ministry is located on the sparsely populated western edge of the Permian Basin. It was established in June 1995.

Distance is just one of the issues which Fr. Harris contends with in his quest to support the needs of Episcopalians in the Sandhills.

"Christian education is a problem, simply because we don't have the people," he said. "We live in the midst of a Baptist culture. It is the predominant culture here. We have to work to acknowledge our Anglican ways while existing in this culture."

Other cluster missions pose their own unique challenges. The Rev. James Haney V, vicar for the Copper Breaks Mission, commented on a recent experience.

"The other day, I was stopped by a herd of wild pigs," he said. "They were slowly crossing the road."

Fr. Haney, a recent graduate of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, finds the change of scenery refreshing. "The grandeur of this part of Northwest Texas is really wonderful," he said. "The rolling hills are beautiful."

Moving among towns allows Fr. Haney time to commune while he commutes.

"I have lots of time for prayer and reflection," he said.

According to Fr. Haney, the foremost issue in the success of the Copper Breaks Mission is achieving self-sufficiency. The mission depends a good deal on lay ministry, which is considered a radical change for the church.

Another important development toward self-sufficiency is the ordination of Canon 9 priests, who are ordained with the intention of serving their local communities. Candidates are trained at St. Christopher's Church, Lubbock. Mary Dean Whitfield, a parishioner of Trinity Church, Quanah, is currently training for consideration of Canon 9 priesthood.

"I'd like to see more Canon 9 priests here," Fr. Haney said. "If there were a few more, I might not be needed here."

The challenge of cluster ministries creates rich rewards for those involved.

"I really like this part of Texas," Fr. Harris said. "I like working with people and I enjoy teaching and the services."

The Rt. Rev. Sam Hulsey, Bishop of Northwest Texas, is pleased with the success of the program and the effort put forth by the clergy involved.

"This program is new and different," Bishop Hulsey said. "We need to be open to healthy change. It is the best way to manage the mission of the church."