With The Episcopal Church’s senior officer for ministry redevelopment as guest preacher at the opening Eucharist, the 138th Annual Diocesan Convention will launch a diocese-wide focus on mission issues under the theme Living Into Christ's Mission.
The convention will be at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28, 2012. In addition to the usual and necessary business of running the diocese – passing the annual budget, presenting reports, electing officers, and voting on resolutions – the January Convention will also lay the groundwork for a “season of mission.”
A special Convention on June 9, 2012 will provide an opportunity to continue the exploration of mission issues, and will address the diocese's implementation of the Denominational Health Plan mandate passed by General Convention 2009.
According to Michael Francaviglia, the Secretary of Convention, the theme was selected based upon the groundwork laid in the previous convention. He said, "While it is not an exact quote from the diocesan vision, the sense of it comes from this statement. It allows individuals and congregations to discern for themselves how they as individuals and as organizations are living into Christ's mission."
Similar format to 2011
This year's convention will continue the two-day format by opening its doors at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 27. The hotel's atrium will house registration. An orientation for deputies and alternates will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the candidates' forum will follow at 10 a.m.
A variety of workshops will be offered Friday morning and Friday afternoon, as well as during lunchtime Saturday. The opening Eucharist will be held at 1 p.m., and the business session of convention will commence at 2:30 p.m.
The dinner on Friday evening is designed to be a celebratory event, which will include recognition of four organizations which focus on children’s justice issues: North Porch Women & Infant Centers, St. Philip's Academy, Apostles' House and Youth Consultation Service. The featured speakers will be interns from NEWARK ACTS, the diocesan service-learning program for young adults, which emphasizes social justice, spiritual formation and communal living.
Bishop Mark Beckwith will deliver his State of the Diocese address during the service of Morning Prayer on Saturday, followed by the remaining business sessions. The convention will be adjourned at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. (See Bishop Beckwith's message in The VOICE about Convention, in English and Spanish.)
Mission Minutes to echo theme
For the fifth consecutive year, the convention will present a series of multimedia "Mission Minutes," which will illustrate several inspiring ministry efforts recently launched throughout the diocese.
Francaviglia explains, "When deciding on the mission minutes, we asked people to self-identify and share with us their own story of living into Christ's mission. That led to over a half dozen congregations to speak up and tell what they were doing in a variety of ministries – local and beyond – that were important to them."
Welcoming new ministry
Convention will also be an opportunity to welcome the new ministry of St. Peter’s Korean Episcopal Church. Previously located in North Bergen, the congregation has moved into the building of All Saints’ Church in Bergenfield and is adopting a new name, which they will ask convention deputies to officially approve: All Saints’ Episcopal Korean Church.
According to the Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs, Canon to the Ordinary, “This relocation will give the rest of the diocese an opportunity to work with them as they discern their ministry in this new place,” and notes that the congregation is already working with a consultant on a plan to expand their ministries.
Special guest preacher
The Rev. Thomas L. Brackett
The Rev. Thomas L. Brackett, Officer for Church Planting and Ministry Redevelopment at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan, will be the guest preacher at the opening Eucharist. Brackett has been a passionate advocate of lively communities of faith for his 27 years of ordained life. Originally ordained as a Baptist, he worked with cell group ministries early in his career and later explored liturgical renewal and culturally-sensitive evangelism in places such as Korea and Japan.
Since his ordination in the Episcopal Church, Brackett has revitalized a campus ministry, served as a rector in three parishes, led a turn-around process in a rural Maine ambulance service, and served as vicar of a homeless ministry in North Carolina. He consults with diocesan leaders across The Episcopal Church in the areas of congregational re-development, new ministry development, and fresh expressions of ministry.
This year's Annual Convention promises to showcase a rich spectrum of diverse ministries from around the corner to around the world. Yet, each ministry shares the same mission and vision – to inspire every participant to move beyond the boundaries of “status quo” church in order to live more fully into the mission of Christ.
