News for Week Ending 7/29/2013

Total Politics publishes interview with Justin Welby

The British magazine Total Politics has published a long interview of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Titled “Archbishop’s Move: Can Welby restore faith in the church?” the emphasis is on Welby’s background and his challenges in the Church of England and British politics. The article has almost nothing to say about the Anglican Communion, but those who are trying to get a better sense of the man in Lambeth Palace may want to take the time to read the Total Politics piece.

DFMS staff appointments, program announced

Bishop Stacy Sauls, Episcopal Church Chief Operating Officer, has made eight full-time appointments to the staff of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS), the corporate identity of The Episcopal Church. According to a July 22, 2013, story from Episcopal News Service, the appointments “reflect the priorities of Episcopal Church General Convention 2012 and focus on the Five Marks of Mission.” The new positions are:

1. Development Research Analyst for the Episcopal Church Development Office
2. Co-Sponsorship and Church Relations Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries
3. Web Development Lead
4. Domestic Policy Analyst
5. Development Director
6. Network Officer for Mission Personnel and Africa
7. Coordinator for the United Thank Offering
8. Program Associate—Processing for Episcopal Migration Ministries

Bishop Sauls has also announced the Diocesan Partnership Program that will begin in September. The program seeks to connect dioceses and members of the church staff. A July 25 ENS story describes the purpose of the program this way:

The purpose and goals of the Diocesan Partnership Program are twofold: to make resources available at the local level; and to build networks and partnerships to connect people across geography.

Additional details can be found in the ENS report.

Episcopal Church committee structure likely to change

In an interview with The Living Church, the President of the House of Deputies, the Rev. Gay Jennings, said that the current structure of church committees and commissions is likely to change as the church streamlines its operations. According to Jennings, we “need to begin imagining new ways of bringing together laypeople, clergy, and bishops to accomplish the work of General Convention.” Those new ways include Web-based audio and video sessions.

The passage of Resolution C095 by the 2012 General Convention created the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church, and Jennings’ remarks must be read in this context. (See background here.) The work of the Task Force can be followed on its Web site, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.

Litigation schedule in South Carolina announced

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina has posted “Timetable announced for court proceedings.” A hearing is scheduled for August 8, 2013, in the federal court case. In the state court case, Judge Diane S. Goodstein has allowed 90 days from July 11 for discovery. Following that, 120 days will be allowed for the taking of depositions, after which, a trial date will be set. Additional details are given in the timetable post.

St. Paul’s, Bakersfield, celebrates its return

As scheduled—see Pittsburgh Update story here—St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Bakersfield, California, held a Festival Welcoming Eucharist July 28, 2013, to celebrate the return of an Episcopal congregation to the church. The congregation of St. Paul’s left The Episcopal Church when the Diocese of San Joaquin split in 2007. Loyal Episcopalians from Bakersfield congregations eventually formed Grace Episcopal Church and met elsewhere until a court order returned the St. Paul’s property to the Episcopal diocese. The Bakersfield Californian covered the celebration and offered background information here.