Texas Episcopalian • November 2010

Volume 113, No. 9 Houston, Texas November 2010

INSIDE

Bishops’ Calendars ........................20Bishop’s Column .............................2Calendar of Events ........................10 National & International ....14-18Parish News ...........................4-9Sam Todd’s Column .................19

Features:

Human Trafcking .................................5Sport, Obsession or Secret ....................12

See

St. James’, Austin

, page 11

St. James’ leaders share stories in oral history project. Pictured are (l-r): Ora Houston, Mary Lou Adams, Reuben McDaniel,Georgetta Maderas-Bryant and Catherine Thomas-Petite. Steven Tomlinson not pictured. Photo: Bob Kinney

By Bob Kinney

ter 16 Arican-American students and aculty rom Huston-Tillotson College in Austin could not fnd ahospitable Episcopal church in which to worship during the 1940s, they decided to start their own.Sixty-some years later, several parishioners shared stories o how St. James’ grew or an oral history/videoproject envisioned by the Rev. Reggie Payne-Wiens, St. James’ rector. Karen Hartwell, an active member o the450-member East Austin church, organized the video project.“At St. James’ it is important or us to share our heritage with all who come ater us,” Payne-Wiens said. “We believethis is one o the primary ways that we can extend our mission o being a church community that will always welcomethose who are not welcomed anywhere else.”e interviewees recalled stories stretching back to the 1950s, shared how they eel about their parish and recapped what they have done over the years to grow their church.Remembering the discrimination they once experienced, parishioners opened their church doors to all rom thebeginning. “We who were once rejected will reject no one, not even those who have rejected us,” recalled Ora Houston,

St. James’, Austin, Living a “Sticky” Gospel

who frst joined St. James’ in1959. “Here at St. James’ we havea our-legged Episcopal stool –hospitality, ministry, liturgy/musicand healing,” said Houston, whohas been active in parish, diocesanand General Convention work ordecades.“At St. James’ there are very rich people and there are very poorpeople and there are people o allcolors and all languages. ereare gay, straight, Republicans andDemocrats. It is not a very stablemix o people, but somehow thething that brings us there is very sticky, and so we stay,” said StevenTomlinson, a graduate schoolproessor and playwright. WhenTomlinson frst came to St. James’in 1991, he describes that sticky orce he elt – “is eels like thegospel to me. is eels like God’slove in action. I want to be part o this.”St. James’ members “havereached out to all because they have been touched. e Arican- American roots o their churchare a source o compassion, welcome and ellowship. Aboveall, it provides a sense o home toshare with all,” said Dr. ReubenMcDaniel, University o Texasproessor and chair o health caremanagement. He credited hisspouse Myra, who died earlierthis year, with being the amily member who contributed mightily to her parish or 35 years. Wishing to honor the work

Bishop RayfordHigh announces hisretirement, page 2.

Texas Episcopalian •

November 2010

The Texas Episcopalian

(since 1897) is an officialpublication of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Mission: In the name of Jesus Christ, the

Texas Episcopalian

seeks to inform the people in the diocese of events andphilosophies which affect the mission and life of the Church.

Publisher: The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew DoyleEditor: Carol E. Barnwell, cbarnwell@epicenter.orgLayout: LaShane K. Eaglin, leaglin@epicenter.org

The Texas Episcopalian (ISSN# 1074-441X) ispublished monthly except July and August for $15 a yearby the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas Ave.,Houston, TX 77002-3504. Periodical postage paid atHouston, Texas. Deadline is the 10th of the monthpreceding publication. Articles, editorials and photosshould be submitted to the editor at the above e-mailaddress. Photos will not be returned. Address changescan be made at www.epicenter.org/infochange.

Postmaster: Address changes: THE TEXAS EPISCOPALIAN,1225 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-3504

For more than thirty years Episcopalians havebeen regularly answeringthis question rom e BaptismalCovenant with the response, “I will, with God’s help.”In the matter o at least theapostles’ teaching, it would appearthat even God’s help has not beensucient to motivate many Episcopaliansto become conversant with their own aithtradition.e Pew Research Center’s Forum onReligion and Public Lie recently issued theresults o its frst U. S. Religious Knowledgesurvey. is survey measured a number o aspects o religious lie, including Americans’knowledge o their own belie systems anddenominations.e amazing fnding o this study is that“atheists and agnostics know more about religionthan the average American.” Next are Jews,Mormons, evangelical Protestants, Catholics,and then main-line Protestant denominations.e researchers’ conclusions about theseresults ocus on the act that atheists andagnostics have come to their decisions ater serious study o the various orms o religious belie and practice. osescoring lower are not so intentional about study and on-going aith development. Any parish priest can outline the diculties o attractingadult learners to ongoing Christian ormation. e actseems to be that or many people graduation rom Sunday School as a child, or the reception o Confrmation, meantgraduation rom the study o scripture, theology, history, orany o the other disciplines that shape our aith. As an antidote to this situation, I invite you to spendsome time with a document called “e Charter or LielongChristian Formation.” You can fnd the entire documentonline at http://www.ormationcharter.com/Services.html.e Charter is the work o Christian ormation proessionalsrom around e Episcopal Church, including our own Janie Stevens, Missioner or Christian Formation, and hasbeen adopted by the General Convention o e EpiscopalChurch.It is a very rich resource built around the convictionthat God invites, inspires and transorms all people. It defneslielong Christian aith ormation as “lielong growth in theknowledge, service and love o God as ollowers o Christ. . .inormed by Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.”It arms the premise o e Baptismal Covenant thatthe apostles’ teaching is embedded in prayer and worship within the community.It is not only study andlearning which orm us,but also our worship,our service to the worldand our personal prayerand reection about ourChristian lives.It is no accidentthat Jesus was known as“Rabbi” or “Teacher” tohis frst ollowers. eoundation o teaching which he oered them made it possible or God to be at work within them and through them. ey understood no aith which existed apart rom this ongoing learning, worship, andellowship.Growth in aith and wisdom is always the git o God.Growth in knowledge is something we can seek, trusting thatGod will use our study to open us to new dimensions o aithand service.

Atheists & the Apostles’ Teaching

Bishop Suragan Dena Harrison

The Rt. Rev. Dena A. HarrisionBishop Suragan o Texas

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?

(Bk f Cmm Pay, pag 304)

The Rt. Rev. Rayord B. High, Jr., announced his retirement at the annualdiocesan clergy conerence October 25 at Camp Allen. Bishop High, who will be 70 in April 2011, told the more than 300 clergy gathered that hisdecision had been diicult and that his 44 years o ministry in the Dioceseo Texas held many blessings or both he and his wie Pat. He has served asbishop suragan or seven years.“Each day I oer thanks to the Lord or calling me into ministry, irstas deacon, then priest, and now as bishop. I am deeply humbled by God’s calland God’s continuing strength and presence in my lie and ministry. Whata blessing it has been or me, Pat and my amily to service Christ and Christ’sChurch and people,” Bishop High said.There will be no election or a new suragan bishop ollowing BishopHigh’s retirement April 30, 2011, Bishop Andy Doyle said. “I have asked theStanding Committee to allow me to appoint an assisting bishop and havereceived their consent. I will ask Council delegates to approve the request inFebruary,” he said.“We have been blessed by Rayord and Pat’s ministry among us and we will celebrate that at Council at a specialreception ollowing the opening Eucharist, February 11,” Bishop Doyle said.”Registration or the reception will be separate rom Diocesan Council registration. Details will be included inthe Diolog, the diocesan enews.

Bishop High Announces Retirement

Texas Episcopalian • November 2010

COUNCIL INFORMATION

Nmnatns

Please download (rom www.epicenter.org) and complete thenomination orm at right and mail to the ollowing address by

November 6, 2010

: e Rev. Janice Jones, Grace Episcopal Church,1314 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626. All nominationsmust be received by mail as they require original signatures. Additionally, please e-mail a recent photograph and a 50-75 word biographical sketch or publication online, highlighting why you would like the position and believe you are qualifed to:nominations@epicenter.org.

Treasurer of the DioceseSecretary of the DioceseStanding Committee (1 lay, 1 clergy)Executive Board (3 lay, 2 clergy)Trustee of the Church Corporation (1 lay or clergy)Trustee of the University of the South (1 clergy)

e year beore each National Convention the ollowingare elected (Convention occurs every three years. e nextConvention will be held in 2012.)

Provincial Synod Delegates - clergy (4 delegates, 4 alternates)Provincial Synod Delegates - lay (4 delegates, 4 alternates)National Convention Deputies - clergy (4 delegates, 4 alternates)National Convention Deputies - lay (4 delegates, 4 alternates)

Cnstttn & Canns

Any delegate to the 2011 Diocesan Council wishing to proposean amendment to the Constitution or Canons o the Diocese o Texas should submit a written copy o the proposed amendmentby e-mail or acsimile, on or beore

November 15, 2010

, to Maria Wycko Boyce, chair o Constitution and Canons Committee.E-mail address is maria.boyce@bakerbotts.com; ax number is713.229.2722.

Rstns

Resolutions or the 162nd Council o the Diocese o Texasmust be received in the mail by the Rev. Bert Baetz no later thanNovember 15, 2010. Please mail all resolutions to: e Rev. BertBaetz, 2128 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, Texas 78704.e original resolution must be signed by an ocial delegateor alternate to either the 161st or 162nd Councils o the Diocese o Texas. Please include three copies o the resolution with the original.Note that the committee or Resolutions can make changes to theorm (not content) o a resolution received so that all resolutionsmeet the standard orm. e mover o the resolution will be notifedi changes are made. For more inormation about the committeeor Resolutions or the resolution process, please reer to Canon 2,Section 1 o the Constitution and Canons o the Diocese o Texasor contact Baetz at 512.444.1449.

Nmnatns Frm

162nd Diocesan Council, The Woodlands Texas, February 11-12, 2011 The Episcopal Diocese of Texas

(Pas prnt r typ)

Full Name:_____________________________________________________________ Position Sought:_________________________________________________________ Address (city and zip):_____________________________________________________ Phone (home):_________________________(work):_____________________________ Fax:___________________________E-mail:__________________________________ Congregation:__________________________________________________________ Education and Employment:_________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Church (local and diocesan) and Community Service:_______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Other (anything you would like to add):_________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Signature of Nominee:_____________________________________________________ Nominated by:__________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT: Please complete this orm and mail to the ollowing address by November 6, 2010:e Rev. Janice Jones, Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626. All nominations

must be received by mail

as they require original signatures. Additionally,

e-mail

a recent photograph and a

50-75 word biographical sketch

, written in theirst person, highlighting why you would like the position and believe you are qualiied to ill it.E-mail to: nominations@epicenter.org. These will be used online and at pre-council meetings.

162

Diocesan

Cnc