Episcopal Diocese of Albany - Priests and Deacons Update

Business Office: 68 South Swan Street - Albany, NY 12210 - (518) 465-4737
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center: 575 Burton Road - Greenwich, NY 12834 - (518) 692-9550

May 13th, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday Bishop Dave and I used our day off to drive to Groton, Ct to Bishop Seabury Church for a Eucharist of Solidarity celebrated by the Connecticut Six. Several clergy from Albany joined in the procession and laity were in the congregation which overflowed the large church into the parish hall. The Rev'd Martyn Minns of Truro Church, Virginia delivered a biblical and stirring address. Saw several clergy who were originally ordained and/or served in our diocese all of whom spoke warmly of what is happening here in the service of the kingdom. We headed home after the Mass, getting back about 1:30 a.m. Short night.

I received my pre-convention packet with proposed resolutions. Generally, I think that resolutions don't help a lot (especially since the Episcopal Church trial court held that resolutions possess no authority). Organizations that obsess on 'issues' don't seem to go very far.

Among the resolutions, however, is a proposed canonical change (Canon 7.5). This was prepared and submitted while Carol and I were away. I have gone over it a number of times now and prayed about it.

My sense is that it is not especially useful at this time and I am hoping to have it withdrawn. Should it go forward, and be adopted, I will veto it.

Our Diocese has managed to stand in the center of Anglican tradition and biblical values in an atmosphere of generosity and grace. We are not going to abandon the historic teaching of the Church. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, to look around and see what the Lord is blessing and get with the Lord's move.

Appointments:

The Albany hospital chaplaincy will be shared by the Rev'd Dennis Pressley and the Rev'd Dr. Carola vonWrangle. Fr Pressley will continue as part-time chaplain to the Sisters of St Mary and Sunday supply priest. Mother Carola will continue as half-time rector of Waterford.

The Rev'd Patricia LaVine is appointed Deacon-vicar of Zion Church, Colton, effective May 15. I am very grateful to Canon Curtis Denney for his pastoral care provided at Zion for the past couple of years.

Joan Ecker asks the clergy to wrap up their Parochial Reports for 2004. Please give a day this week and get them submitted. They can be done online by clicking here. Your User I. D. Number is in the packet you received from 815. Your password number is also in the packet letter. If you have misplaced your number you may call Joan at extension 206.

Tomorrow: Christian Education Conference, beginning at 9am at the SLC.

The New Clergy orientation final meeting will be Tuesday at the Spiritual Life Center beginning at 10. Pentecost will find Bp Dave at Christ Church, Schenectady; and I will be at Christ's Church, Duanesburg.

Vocation Meeting: Individuals interested in a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate are welcome to come to an explanatory meeting on Saturday, May 21, at the SLC from 3 - 4pm.

The Dedication of the Healing Ministry Center and the Oratory of the Nativity of the Holy Child Jesus at the SLC will be at 5pm on Sunday, May 22. The Liturgy will begin in the main Chapel of Christ the King. A reception fill follow in the Great Hall.

Convention 2005: Over 780 registrations have been received so far. Way ahead of previous years. Rooms are being taken quickly. Do not delay in making your reservations.

PENTECOST is the great feast of the massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit to launch the infant Church into mission. It was the fulfillment of the Father's promise, to clothe the disciples with "Power from on High". It was an audacious message: to call Jews and Gentiles to put their faith in Jesus, to repent of their sins, to be baptized and to filled with the Holy Spirit. In a cruel and merciless world the Apostles would call folks to live lives of charity, purity, generosity and commitment. They would be invited to receive hope when there was no optimism. They did all this because they knew that Jesus had been bodily raised from the dead, had ascended into heaven and poured out the Spirit. It was a whole new world, even if that world was invisible to the unbelievers around them.

LORD JESUS, we ask you to baptize us in your Holy Spirit, to replenish us over and over; to give us deepened repentance for our sins, to give us a more vibrant faith, and to enable us to surrender our lives and our wills to you. renew your Church in our time and begin in our hearts. Give us such holy discomfort that we may long for your restoring grace. Amen.

In Christ,
+ Dan

The Diocese of Albany as One Church:
organized around the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,
moving from membership to discipleship,
rooted in the catholic structure of Anglicanism,
and
equipping ever disciples to make disciples.

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