Last month, four representatives from St. John’s attended the 19th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. Over two days, Fr. Daniel, Lucas Curell, Mark Mahlberg, Ellen Redifeld and Amy Simons were able to attend workshops about communications, grant writing and social advocacy. They were able to cast a vote regarding revising the lectionary and to hear a great deal about other news within the diocese. Our own Ellen Redfield was elected out of a field of five candidates by the convention as one of three members of the new diocesan council.
Vestry member and convention delegate, Lucas Curell, describes his experience this way.
Jesus said, “…anyone who comes to me I will never drive away…”
Sometimes it is easy to forget that, among the seven billion people in this world, there will be differences of opinions – and that’s OK. It is, in truth, these differences that make each of us so very special and so very interesting. Unfortunately, it is also in these differences that we so often persecute one another.
As I participated in fellowship, workshops and worship, I had cause to talk with many different people and was reminded of just how broad are our convictions.
From political (displayed in the lively discussion on gun violence in the Advocacy Workshop) to cultural (seen in the spirited gospel choir that performed for Holy Eucharist) to spiritual (I think of the young woman who gave the sermon while encouraging hearty AMENs from the crowed) – each of these showcased a great strength of our church.
- We make room for everyone.
- You don’t have to prove your faith .
- You don’t have to wear your good works on your sleeve.
- You don’t have to dress in fancy clothes.
- You don’t have to know all the right times to bow .
- You don’t have to be rich.
- You don’t have to be perfect .
- You don’t have to…
- You don’t have to…
In fact, just about the only thing you do have to do is show up.
Before I walked through the doors of St. John’s some four years ago, I never imagined there was a church that had room for me and to this day, I am still astonished at just how wrong I was.
So the first thing that jumped out at me at Convention was the openness and acceptance of our church. And this brings me to a second ministry that is part and parcel to our church.
Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”
In nearly every discussion and workshop there was a shared theme – helping those less fortunate. Indeed, the mission statement of the convention itself embodied this theme; Let us go forth into the public square, using our voices to speak for the good of all.
There is so much our church family is doing to help those in need. Most of the business of the convention consisted of reports on a variety of ministries within the diocese including:
- Reading Camp (http://readingcamprocks.org/)
- Christ Enrichment Center (http://www.christenrichmentcenter.org/index.html)
- Camp Chickagami (http://www.campchickagami.org/)
- Grace Center (http://www.gracecentergrayling.org/)
This doesn’t even begin to report on the countless programs in each of the 47 churches that makeup our diocese – like our own Lunch Bag program, Old Town Christian Outreach or Christmas baskets.
This attitude of selfless giving must surely be what Christ called us to do when He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And it makes me proud to be a part of it.
In closing, I will share the challenge given to those of us at convention by Bishop Ousley.
“I challenge you to join me in solidarity with our brothers and sisters below the poverty line and on food stamps, to spend a week using just $31.15 per person for our food.”
As we consider this challenge, let us not forget that for us, it is a choice but for them, it is their every day.
St. John’s also has a year-round commitment to serving the diocese thanks these individuals who are willing to serve; Fr. Daniel Cannon (Diocesan Commission of Ministry), Barb Ilkka (Diocesan Discernment Committee), Ellen Redfield (Diocesan Council member) and Amy Simons (Diocesan Resolutions Committee member).
What do keep up with news at the diocesan level? Check out the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan website or Facebook page!