GENERAL CONVENTION, 2006

Once again the General Convention Episcopal Church appears to have shown it would rather be a protestant sect than part of the Anglican Communion, much less the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.  The apparent refusal of this convention to respond adequately to the Windsor Report by failing to adopt stronger resolutions regarding our repentance for consecrating a man in a same sex relationship as bishop, and the failure to adopt moratoria on such further elections -- as well as same sex weddings -- will likely be seen by the majority of the Anglican Communion as evidence of the Convention's desire to "walk apart" from the rest of the Communion.

Further, the new Presiding Bishop, apart from being the most liberal of the seven candidates, has never been a vicar or rector of a congregation.  The fact that she is a woman, when the majority of the provinces within the Communion do not recognize women as bishops, and that she supported the consecration of Gene Robinson Bishop of New Hampshire, can only place a further strain on the "bonds of affection" which hold us together with those other provinces of the Communion.

Precisely how the rest of the Communion, through the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates, the Anglican Consultative Counsel, and the Lambeth Conference of Bishops respond to us (at the time of my writing this) remains to be seen.  In the meantime, we need to keep several things in mind:

1. In the words of one friend, General Convention has legislated itself into irrelevance if not oblivion, dragging the Episcopal Church down with it into further division and strife.  It is so out of touch with the people in the pews it deserves ridicule, more than the energy of our anger and scorn.

2. Most likely some sort of action in the future will be required of any parish or diocese which wants to remain part of the Anglican Communion.  Precisely what such action means at this time simply is not clear.  (See #5 below)

3. General Convention is an organization.  It is not the Episcopal Church, as its resolutions and actions have shown its desire to be something else.  The Church resides at 443 South Hansell Street, not at General Convention in Columbus or wherever it decides to meet.

4. What it did and what it failed to do does not prevent us at this time from continuing as we are in communion with Bishop Louttit and through him with the Archbishop of Canterbury and rest of the Anglican Communion.

5. For those anxious to "leave", there is to the best of my knowledge at this time, "nowhere to go".  This is very important.  The great majority of the other so-called "conservatives" continue to want to place themselves under the theological and liturgical formularies of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, automatically making them less "orthodox" than we.  For a parish like ours founded in order to propagate the faith of the 1549-1928 BCP, such a move now would be unacceptable and self-defeating at best.  Parishes like ours simply must hang together until greater theological and liturgical clarity and orthodoxy emerge in the Church -- and in time it will.

6. If All Saints should reach a point where some decision or action becomes necessary, we will act -- but only when we understand what such action means and what we intend to accomplish.

7. Our mission for now, as always, is to be truthful to Scripture, Tradition, Reason, the Anglican Tradition, and the Anglican Communion.  We do that best -- in my opinion -- by staying where we are and continuing to pray as we do with the historic and orthodox liturgy.  What one prays is what one believes.

8. Your Wardens and several other vestrymen with whom I've been able to speak are of one mind regarding this.  (See Senior Warden Tom Simmons letter elsewhere in the newsletter, which  was written without our consultation with each other)

Finally, although small consolation, what the Presbyterian Church did last week is far worse than anything accomplished by the General Convention.  That is, the PCUSA adopted for alternate use different ways to refer to the Holy Trinity.  Some of these options include but are not limited to:  "Lover, Beloved, Love"; "Rock, Redeemer, Friend"; and "Mother, Daughter, Womb".

I ask your most fervent prayers for Bishop Louttit, Bishop Keyser, and our diocese -- as well as for the Episcopal Church, our Wardens, Vestry, and clergy, our congregation, and the Anglican Communion.  Please do not hesitate to speak to me or any vestryman regarding your concerns.  FAB

FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

I have read with great interest the many articles, commentaries and diatribes related to the General Convention in Columbus, including the Bishops' official response to the Windsor Report, the election of an extremely liberal, pro Gene Robinson voter as Presiding Bishop, and the general side stepping of the issues by the majority of the Church's House of Deputies (that the conservative minority hoped would be addressed more directly even if the outcome might still have been the same). 

One reads what Bishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Communion Network has to say, and one might feel it's time to pack up the tent before the river washes the campsite away.  However, the Diocese of Georgia is different than the national church.   I fervently believe at this time that Bishop Louttit's respectful method and way with Fr. Buechner and our parish must be honored. I do not know how he voted this past week. It's almost unimportant in view of the politics that must go on, unless he suddenly strays from his direction of the last few years. 

I think that we will officially have to voice our dissatisfaction with the Convention, its actions and inactions, to the Diocese.  This will certainly be in keeping with our stance heretofore, and echo our opinion and position held since the confirmation of Gene Robinson.

Separately, I believe that by taking care of our church's business in the way we do, we can act nimbly, if  necessary,  to align ourselves with true and correct authority when and if Bishop Louttit is no longer here to support us. Unless folks on the Vestry and in the congregation think otherwise, I still do not believe it is necessary to pursue the Anglican Communion Network or other conservative organizations at this time until it is more plainly evident that we are backed into a corner. However, I do believe that it would be a miracle if we got a bishop as good and true as Henry Louttit in a few years.

To date, my response when asked about All Saints' position related to the recent ECUSA problems has been:  "Our church uses the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. As such and not coincidentally, our church supports biblical authority and theological orthodoxy.  We are very strong and growing. Our Rector and Vestry do not support the election of persons living in non-celibate relationships to the priesthood /episcopate, or the blessing of same sex marriages."

We all do need to actively keep ourselves abreast of the Anglican Communion's response to the General Convention and anticipate any actions we may need to carry out at All Saints' vis-a-vis the diocese and national church.  Should that time come, we know the direction we will take. It does not deviate from the path set forth by our founders, fervently maintained by a diligent congregation and rector, and rooted in the strength of the historic Book of Common Prayer.   

Faithfully,
Tom Simmons

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

What follows are the minutes from our Sunday School Meeting on June 21st.

All Saints Episcopal Church
Sunday School Meeting
June 21, 2006

Attendance:
The Rev. Rick Buechner             
Kathleen Kelly
Jenny Ladson: Coordinator         
Laurie Simmons
Ashley Jackson                        
Tom Simmons
Elizabeth Young                       
Alston Watt
Nan Myers                              
Philip Watt
Dale Gurley

Background

Father Buechner explained that the Church is currently searching for an Associate Rector who would share most responsibilities in the church but emphasizing Christian Education.  He is currently in discussions with a candidate for this position who would be available after graduating from Seminary in June 2007. 

The Vestry has asked Jenny Ladson to coordinate the volunteer effort for Sunday School for the 2006-2007 year.  This effort will only be successful for the Christian education of the children of our parish if the Sunday School is a church wide volunteer effort.   After excellent discussion, the outcomes of the meeting are as follows:

1. Calendar:  The Sunday school program will begin the first Sunday after Labor Day. Liz Young created a master calendar in which all the Sundays when Sunday school will be "in session" were identified.

2. Time: The Sunday school classes will continue to be held from 9:30 to 10:30 in the morning.  On the Sundays when the children's choirs sings, in lieu of Sunday School, there will be a service/lesson in the Children's Chapel from 9:30-10:00 and a movie shown from 10:00-10:30 for non-choir students.

3. Organization:  It was decided that we would keep the rotation rooms with some modifications.  Jenny asked for volunteers to be Team Leaders for each rotation room/section.  These volunteers have the following responsibilities:

a. Sit on Curriculum committee to help decide the curriculum.
b. Create lesson plans/activities for each Sunday in accordance with the curriculum.
c. Recruit volunteers to be the teachers for your room for all Sunday school days.
d. Be a champion for the Sunday school Program

4. Team Leaders: The following individuals volunteered to be team leaders:
  Art:   Nan Myers/Ashley Jackson
  Kitchen:  Dale Gurley/Elizabeth Young
  Movie/Drama:  Sandra Hall will be asked if she will volunteer
  Computer:  Kathleen Kelly/Kim Bragg
  Children’s Church: Alston Watt
  Children’s Chapel: Louise Muenz will be asked to volunteer
  Preschool:  Jenny Ladson/Madeline Rollins
  Middle School:  Debbie Beeson/Ashley Harper
  Senior High:  Father Buechner/Louise Muenz
 Other interested volunteers were Lee Todd, Liz Parvey & Margaret  Brinson

Curriculum was discussed.  A curriculum meeting was set for July, 13th at 10:00am.  All the team leaders and any other interested volunteers are asked to attend.


USHERS FOR JULY

July 2     
Charles Sanders   
John Hand

July 9
Chip Hancock
Raleigh Rollins

July 16     
Doug Harper    
Don Bruhn

July 23
Bob Jackson
Bill Ladson

July 30
Bernie Lanigan
Denny Lewin

_________________________________________________________

NO EVENING SERVICE ON
SUNDAY, JULY 2

OFFICE CLOSED
MONDAY, JULY 3
AND
TUESDAY, JULY 4
FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

_______________________________________________________

GUEST CELEBRANT AND PREACHER

It will be our pleasure to welcome back to All Saints the Rev. Curtis Mears on July 9 and July 16, while Fr. Buechner takes a portion of his vacation.  Fr. Bennett will celebrate the evening Holy Eucharist on July 9.

Tom Simmons
Senior Warden

TRANSITIONS:

Happy Birthday in July to:

Elizabeth Mason   7-1-88
Mary Catherine Lanigan  7-7-85
Michael Mirocha   7-21-91
Madeline Claire Bruhn   7-22-98
Henry Simmons Ladson   7-30-02

Happy Birthday in the month of August to:

Chadwick Kelly   8-1-93
Anthony Pistelli   8-6-93
Deliliah Cureton   8-7-85
Parker Hayden McCollum  8-7-04
Catherine Campbell   8-17-86
Jacob A. Bruhn    8-21-96
Haven Shea    8-26-88
Lily Bradford Jackson   8-30-02

_________________________________________________
It is not too late to volunteer for Sunday School.

Sunday School will start the Sunday after Labor Day.

Please speak to Jenny Ladson or Nan Myers
if you would like to teach.

No age limit or experience necessary.
                                                     Jenny Ladson
                                                  Nan Myers

_________________________________________________

PRIVATE PRAYERS BEFORE PUBLIC WORSHIP

(with the head bowed and back bent, according to the uncomfortable tradition of Nonconformist piety)

                                                      1

So I'm not late after all thank goodness I was afraid when I saw Mrs. Goodbody in front of me that I was all behind she is notorious for arriving during the last verse of the first hymn if only I hadn't been quite so long out with the dog everything would have been all right and then what with getting home late from the dance last night the shoes hadn't been cleaned and then I discovered I hadn't anything under the half-a-crown for the collection and after all that Jack coughed up for the drinks last night I couldn't possibly put in all that it's funny how impossible it is to ask the next door neighbor for change without being caught up in conversation about the weather and baby's teeth and what Mrs. Green thought Mrs. Brown said to Mrs. Black I wonder if Mrs. Brown really said such a thing I wouldn't put it past her anyway I've managed to get here on time even if the choir are just going to begin after all it does look so irreverent to come rushing into church after everything has started.  Amen

                                                      2

O God, I hope the sermon doesn't last more than fifteen minutes.

                                                      3

Please Lord, grant that I did turn the oven down.

                                                     4

If I'd known he was preaching, I'd have come this evening instead.

                                                    5

Lord, give us all a nice feeling this morning.  May Thy special blessing be with those who will be active in this service while the rest of us sit still, listen and do nothing.  We pray that we may enjoy the preliminaries, and that the sermon may give us all a glow.  I know I have offended at least two people this week with my horrible temper, but please do no let the thought of that peccadillo intrude upon this wonderful spiritual feast.  Praise God.  Amen.

                                                                            from He Sent Leanness
                                                                            by David Head