How would the world be transformed if we understood ourselves as being called and sent out to join God in God’s mission? With the theme Daring to be Disciples of Jesus, the 2014 Diocesan Convention seeks to provide innovative answers to this question, which is central to Christians and to the missional church.
The Diocese of Newark’s 140th Annual Convention will take place January 24-25 at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany. Participants will encounter spirit-filled worship, inspiring presentations, and a large variety of workshops – along with the responsibility of deciding important issues, including the 2014 budget and the election of deputies to General Convention 2015.
One the Episcopal Church’s most influential speakers and authors, the Rev. Dwight J. Zscheile, will lead several important workshops on discipleship, and will preach at the Friday Eucharist and speak at the Friday evening banquet.
The two-day Convention begins on Friday at 9 a.m. with registration in the Hilton’s atrium, followed at 9:30 by an orientation for the new deputies in the adjacent function room. Convention is slated to conclude at 4 p.m. Saturday. (See the full agenda.)
A Continuing Focus on Mission and Discipleship
“Renewing Episcopal identity after the era of establishment involves recovering deeper theological and spiritual roots... We need to discover what it might mean for us to claim the identity of disciples, not mere members of an institutional church, in ways that resonate with our values, commitments and gifts.” So writes Convention keynoter Dwight Zscheile (pronounced “SHY-lee”) in People of the Way, Renewing Episcopal Identity, a seminal work that has brought clarity to the missional conversation for Episcopalians and clues to what Anglicanism offers to these conversations.
Bishop Beckwith has chosen the book as the subject of an online book discussion throughout the season of Epiphany. The discussion is under way on the Bishop’s blog, Sign’s of God’s Grace, where a number of readers have already posted thoughtful contributions.
“The theme of discipleship arose out of our Mission Strategy Committee’s work on identifying the primary characteristic of missional church,” said the Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs, Canon to the Ordinary. “Discipleship is the first step toward creating a missional church. It is all about modeling, proclaiming, and living the mission,” Jacobs continued. “This will mean different things for different congregations and for individual Christians, but I can’t think of a better person than Dwight Zscheile to get the conversation on discipleship started and to help us discern what God is up to in each of our lives and ministry settings.”
“Over the past year our continuing discernment about mission has resulted in several positive initiatives throughout the diocese,” said the Rev. Ginny Dinsmore, Coordinator of Missional Church Strategy. “Our missional journey is well underway and is being embraced in significant ways.”
Dinsmore and Jacobs report that this Convention will be presented with an exciting ministry plan from the Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City – one that was warmly received by Diocesan Council and was endorsed by the congregations of the Jersey City Area Ministry. Additionally, Convention deputies will consider a resolution endorsing the unification of St. Andrew’s Church, Lincoln Park and Church of the Transfiguration, Towaco. These innovative developments will result in a greatly enhanced missional presence in both the Montville and Jersey City areas.
The discipleship theme will also be reflected in five "Mission Minutes" videos, in which individuals from ten congregations, the Education for Ministry program and Cross Roads Camp will share stories of growing in discipleship through studying scripture and responding to God’s call to go out into their communities.
Worship Highlights
Bishop Beckwith will preside at Friday’s Eucharist at 12:30 p.m., at which Zscheile will preach, and which will include the annual United Thank Offering ingathering.
As anyone who has attended Convention knows, the exuberant singing during worship is an inspiration to everyone. Diocesan Director of Resources & Training Kitty Kawecki reports that there again will be a “pick-up” choir of volunteers, under the direction of Mark Trautman, Director of Music at St. Paul’s Church, Englewood. A brief rehearsal is planned for 11 a.m. Friday.
The Morning Worship on Saturday will include Bishop Beckwith’s address, and worshippers will participate in a special rite of anointing. Moments of prayer will take place throughout Convention, most often led by one of the four specially appointed chaplains.
Workshops Offer Inspiration and Learning
Zscheile’s workshop Going Deeper: Practices of Discipleship for a New Era of Mission will be given twice, at 11 a.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, so there will be two opportunities to attend. Zscheile will also offer a second workshop, Leading Learning Communities, at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Latino/Hispanic Ministry: An Emergent Growing Movement in the USA will be offered in the same two time slots, at 11 a.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The Commission on Hispanic/Latino Ministry will lead an exploration of the great potential this ministry represents.
Dinsmore will present two workshops addressing discipleship issues: Discovering Your Spiritual Fingerprint at 10 a.m. Friday, and Joining God in Changing the World at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Open Table Task Force, commissioned by Bishop Beckwith to examine the practice of offering Holy Eucharist to those who are unbaptized, will present, and open for discussion, the issues of "Open Table" at a workshop at 11 AM on Friday, Open Table and the Episcopal Church: Reflections of a 2013 Task Force. They will also make a presentation to Convention Saturday afternoon. (See the Open Table Task Force report.)
Other workshops include presentations on youth and children’s ministries, planned giving, and even a workshop on the spiritual benefits of humor entitled, “A Ministry of Mirth.” Over twenty innovative workshops in all are being offered – a wonderful opportunity to share with others and further your own discipleship. (See the full workshop schedule.)
2014 Budget Notes
Paul Shackford, CFO of the diocese, will report that the year 2013 will end up with an excess of income over expenses. “This is particularly gratifying,” said Shackford, “as the budget not only continued the programs and projects that provide support to our congregations, but also funded our efforts to become more of a missional diocese.” Missional workshops were held in 2013 that were attended by leaders from over half of all the congregations in the diocese, and the budget funded Dinsmore’s part-time position as Coordinator for Missional Church Strategy.
As in 2013, Convention will be presented with a balanced budget for 2014. With a final vote slated for Saturday, the 2014 budget is again aimed squarely at supporting the missional focus of all the diocese’s core programs. The budget will also reflect a modest increase in pledge income. “Pledge income accounts for three-quarters of total revenue, and thus far half of the congregations have pledged increases for 2014 as compared with 2013,” said Shackford. (See the 2014 Pledge Report.)
As a result, outreach spending will again increase in 2014. The 2014 budget earmarks $171,000 for outreach, over 60% of which is provided by contributions to the Alleluia Fund for Outreach. “In 2009, before the Alleluia Fund was started, our total outreach was $92,000,” said Shackford, “and the 2014 amount represents an 86% increase in just five years.” The balance will come from congregational pledges to the diocese, as well as other sources.
“Every effort is made during the budget creation process to insure the highest level of support for mission by equipping congregations, empowering people, and engaging the world,” said Shackford. “All this is aimed at helping us become the missional diocese we discern God is calling us to be.”
Convention Challenges and Streamlining Solutions
In his first year as Convention Secretary, John King is quick to thank his predecessor Michael Francaviglia for a smooth transition this past spring. “As always though, our Diocesan Convention had a number of brand new issues to deal with this year,” said King, “including a major hotel renovation and issues with dates and deadlines that conflicted with the reality of the available time frame.”
“Moreover, we spent a great deal of time building the database and streamlining software solutions,” said King. “Considering the cyclical nature of the event, this will enhance efficiencies not only now but in future years.” Already these efforts have resulted in an increased level of sharing between Episcopal House and local congregations. The Certification of Deputies was completed nearly two weeks ahead of when it was accomplished last year – relieving pressure on Convention planners considerably.
Our Annual Diocesan Convention represents a tremendously collaborative effort between staff and volunteers from throughout the diocese. The result is a unique and spirit-filled event in the life of the diocese. It’s all happening this Friday and Saturday, January 24 and 25. See you in Parsippany!
