Good Shepherd sent four lay delegates to the Diocesan virtual convention, themed A Future With Hope, based on Jeremiah 29: Becky Beall-Moore, Nan Behringer, Donna White, and Karin Elsen as the Vestry representative. Jim Wolfe attended as outgoing member of the Standing Committee and Fr. Gary as a clergy delegate. Here are our observations:
Convention began the first evening with Opening Worship, a Litany of Reality. We were taken on a truly spiritual and beautiful virtual tour throughout the Church in Colorado, as we viewed and listened to fellow Episcopalians sing and pray as one!
The following evening, we were treated to the words of The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop of Atlanta. He spoke of A Future of Hope as God having a Plan, a Future, and a Hope! God does not need us; God wants us, and we are in oneness with God. The Church needs to speak about God in the present tense, with detail, affection, and "bold gentleness" as His aliveness is in our midst. God's Plan is merciful, sharing, and redemptive. If God is the only unchanging thing, and "wholly" as well, then God's Plan is revealed in who God has been and who God is now.
God's Plan will deliver a future. Bp. Wright stated that "the way forward of God's people is always downward.” There will be down times, like what we are experiencing now. Those down times, however, move us forward, toward the future of God's Plan.
We are to hope in God, as Bp. Wright said, with a "Bible Hope!" "Hope is not absent, because God is not absent!" Hope is a team sport; we need community! In this time of change, our "church time" has also changed. We are now called to leave the "walls" of our church to find church. We must go deeper into our gifts in order to evangelize to the world: we are called to love, find redemption, and do justice, "in our street clothes!”
The evening ended with a moving Compline of Lamentation, mourning lives lost to COVID, joining the whole Episcopal Church in Colorado in song and meditation.
Finances were taken up on the final morning. At the High Plains Region Convocation, held two weeks prior, it was reported that budget for 2021 is somewhat less than 2020. Income from parishes is expected to drop $30K from $130K to $100K. The biggest change in expenses relates to grants with the Latino Ministry grant of $30K being eliminated since the Diocese will be funding that ministry directly.
The Diocesan Treasurer, Jay Swope reported at Convention that 2020 financials should end fairly well, despite the pandemic, owing to many parishes and the Diocese obtaining Payroll Protection Program loans which are anticipated to be forgiven. Net savings from cancelling events and programs further reduces total expenses. These dynamics are expected to produce a small surplus or carryover funds to next year.
The proposed 2021 budget assumes that pledge income from parishes will decline 10% with total revenues reduced by 15% from the prior year. The Office of the Bishop has been restructured with staff reductions that eliminate much of the Stewardship and Latino Ministry functions. Latino Ministry has shifted to ½ person and renamed as Multicultural Ministry. No meetings will be conducted in person and, if not virtual, the meeting must be budget neutral with no reimbursement for travel or meals. In fact, both the 2021 Clergy Retreat and Diocesan Convention will be virtual. The National Church pledge is required to be 15% and the Diocese is currently at 12% in 2020 with moving to 13.5% in 2021 and 15% in 2022 in accordance with the approved three-year plan. Being at the required 15% level allows the Diocese to apply and get grants from the National Church. The 2021 budget shows a total deficit of approximately ($85K) which is considered acceptable since there will probably be carryover from 2020 savings. Reserves could also be tapped for this relatively small amount. Income in 2021 is uncertain and will be reviewed quarterly throughout the year to inform whether further expense adjustment is needed.
The Treasurer concluded his report by stating his hope that we “build back better” as his expectation is 2022 will not look like 2019 and the budget will be different, too.
On the final day, the Church worshipped together with A Morning Prayer of Hope, as an intentional transition from lament to confident expectation for the future of the Church. After the Call to Order, the business of the diocese was conducted with reports and budgets, clergy transitions, commission and board memberships, and the election of alternative deputy delegates to The Episcopal Church’s General Convention in 2021. During this time, Jim Wolfe was thanked by Bp. Kym for his service as Secretary of Standing Committee. Also, at the September High Plains Convocation, Shelley Hitt was elected to be a lay representative to the High Plains Executive Committee.
We were delighted to learn that the recipient of the Bishop’s Cross this year is The Rev. Sandy Boyd. Many of us at Good Shepherd know Sandy as Celebrant at the 6:00 pm service and as a parishioner. This highest diocesan honor is awarded yearly for outstanding ministry and service in Colorado, and certainly in Sandy’s case, to the wider church. Sometime earlier, Bp. Kym, in purple cassock, appeared at Sandy’s door and the presentation, along with Sandy’s reaction, was filmed for our viewing at Convention. Congratulations and many blessings to Sandy!
Bp. Kym gave a wonderful closing address, punctuated, as always by personal experiences, and examples from her family life and her humor. She reminded us that it was just two years since she was on her walkabout prior to her election, and talked about how she had prayed over her decision and came to love the people of Colorado during that experience. She went on to make a comparison between politics and religion, that we need not be like-minded, but we are all called to follow the politics of the Gospel. The politics of Jesus as we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God should be our compass in all we do. She reminded us that we are called to live as a people who can transform the world as we endure the hardships of COVID time. This is our time of trial and like many in the past, it is by centering on Jesus and following in his way that we, too, will get through these rough times and find our place of peace at the end.
The proceedings, including addresses, financial statements, and commentary, are viewable through links on the Diocese’s website: https://episcopalcolorado.org/diocesan-resources/governance/annual-convention/133rd-annual-convention/