Koinonia
Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia
March — June 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Money. One cannot help but open the paper, read a current magazine,
or turn on the television without hearing about money.
Over the past year we have heard of vast fortunes being lost because of
greed, ‘sub-prime mortgages,’ short term returns, and inexcusably high salaries
for those who helped to bring this crisis upon us.
The television evangelists have declared that if one is wealthy, God is
pleased with them and blesses them. If one is not rich, it’s obviously because of
God’s disfavor with them. We have always known this kind of theology to be
wrong, but it does seem to crawl into our own existence. Wealth somehow
seems to equate with personal value. (We see this in a variety of ways –
wealth, health, job status. Remember when the people asked Jesus about the
blind man: “Who sinned, this man or his parents?”) It equates with blessings
for the good and punishment for the evil. It needs to go without saying that this
kind of theology has no place in our lives. It is wrong, and it is demeaning to
those who live in less than the picture perfect image of wealth.
But for many – in various ways, through our home, car, clothing, or schooling ‘pedigree,’ –
money is the way by which we declare our own value. We do feel blessed when we have more
money in our pockets. We feel like we may have failed if we don’t. Money becomes a sacrament of
our worth.
In truth, I believe that money is a Sacrament of our lives. It is an outward and visible sign of
what we value…not how we are valued, but rather what we value. Jesus says, “Where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also.” He does not say, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be,
also.” Interesting twist of words, isn’t it? Put your money there, and your heart will follow. Hold
back your treasure, and your heart will be held back also. Our hearts follow.
As much as our money becomes important to us, and it reveals much about our priorities,
money is not a solution.
Many years ago the Alban Institute did a study and found that when congregations applied
for grants and were turned down, the projects for which they were requesting the grants were up
and running within a year – WITHOUT THE FUNDING. Money certainly would have made the
projects easier and perhaps have enhanced what they wanted to do, but money did not make or
break the programs, per se.
The same is true today for our congregations around the Church. Ultimately money is not
the answer.
During this economic crisis (it’s not the first, and certainly won’t be the last) it is time for the
Church to step up and be the Church more boldly and proudly. It is time to be creative and
resourceful. It is time for the Church to proclaim the problems of this world, and to proclaim the
promises made by God through Christ.
May we have the courage to take advantage of this economic crisis and creatively be the
Church – that Body of faithful people who follow Jesus Christ, and proclaim Him as Lord and
Saviour.
In Christ,
Bishop Mike
News Around the Diocese
Newsmakers and Events
Save the date: September 11-12, 2009: The sixth annual Mountain Grace Conference. This year’s conference, called Keeping the Faith in Hard Times, will be held at St. John’s, Huntington. The enclosed flyer has
more information.
An exciting discovery has been made at one of our churches! As paint was removed from the walls of
Morgan’s Chapel, Bunker Hill, they uncovered writings and drawings dating back to the Civil War. Some of
the messages were signed and dated. Bishop Klusmeyer has been in consultation with historians to learn how
to best preserve this historic discovery. A brochure with more information can be found in the NEWS section
of the Diocesan website at www.wvdiocese.org.
Photos: Bishop Klusmeyer visited St. Christopher,
Charleston, for Christmas Eve 2008. Something
obviously caught his attention in the photo at right!
At left, parishioner Sandy Pile is pictured with the
bishop.
(Photos submitted by Jane Walker)
Hollie Mitchell, Altar Guild Directress, reports that the Acolyte Festival at the National Cathedral will be Saturday, October 10. Holy Eucharist, with rededication of the Acolytes, begins at 10:00, followed by a luncheon.
Tours and workshops are offered to those interested. For additional information, please contact Hollie at
[email protected] or 304-776-8315.
The weekend of April 24-26 was a busy weekend for Lawrencefield Parish, Wheeling. A Book Sale was held
at St. John’s in Woodsdale on Saturday, and Sunday was a reprise of their ‘Bring a Friend to Church’ day.
Photo Below: Ministry Developers from all over the U.S. and Canada gathered at Sandcrest April 18-23 for a
pilot project sponsored by Livings Stones and the Ministry Developers Collaborative. In the photo below, they
are (front row, l to r) Manuel Padilla (N. Mich), Jo Gantzer (Michigan), Holladay Sanderson (Spokane), Fran
Gardner (New Hampshire), Fredrica Thompsett (Episcopal Divinity School), Sandi Holmberg (MN), Betty Kirkley
(E. Mich), and Tammy Jones ( Idaho); (back row, l to r) David Fletcher (Nova Scotia/PEI), Brian Thom (Idaho),
Steve Brill (Olympia), Rick Condo (Rupertsland), Dan Hines (Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior), Chuck
McCray (Nevada), and Jeunee Cunningham (Southern VA). The Very Rev. Theresa Kelley (Living Stones
Coordinator for WV), the Rev. Deacon Jim Kelley, and Archdeacon Faith Perrizo welcomed the group and helped
with travel to and from the Pittsburgh airport. Theresa and Faith were on the initial design team that
developed the program, which is funded by a grant from the Diocese of Wyoming.
A Tip from Health Ministries
Many of us will pick up a yogurt-covered
snack and be so happy that it is not a
chocolate bar or a cookie. The thing for
us to
remember when we do this, is
that
the
yogurt
coating
contains
predominately sugar and fat. One b r a n d
of
yogurt-covered
pretzels
contains
a whopping 7 grams of saturated fat for a
1.4 ounce serving! This is more than a
third of what most people should eat in a
day! A better choice is fat free or low fat
yogurt, plain raisins, plain pretzels or
fresh fruit.
Ministry Developers
(From
the
Un iversity
of
California,
Berkeley, Wellness Letter, April 2009)
St. John’s, Harpers Ferry, Featured in National Calendar
St. John’s, Harper’s Ferry, has been notified that it has been chosen to be in the national “Historical Episcopal Church
Calendar” for the year 2010. It was nominated
by the Rev. Larry Jackson and chosen from all
Episcopal churches in West Virginia because of
its vibrant and interesting history.
The original St. John’s was built in 1849 on the
highest point of land in the town. The large
stone ruins you see now looming over the town
are what is left of the original church.
1890’s church: The closed St.
John’s is at the top, still looming
over the Catholic Church, but
sadly long closed.
When this
picture was taken the former
church was a skating rink.
The vibrant spirit of this little church continues
today under the leadership of the Rev. Georgia
DuBose, a team ministry sparked by its Vestry,
Senior Warden Shirley Caniford, Junior Warden
Robbie Sampsell, and devoted work by all
congregants, especially the devoted hands of the
children.
(Adapted from article submitted by Bob DuBose.)
The
vibrant
little
church
today. Its front is on the main
street, which is actually the
Appalachian Trail.
Its back
slopes steeply down through
acres of woods to the Potomac
River.
Easter Vigil at Lawrencefield Parish
with the Wheeling Cluster Churches
The Rev. Cynthia Walter, Bishop Mike,
Lawrencefield member David Duymich, and the Rev.
Richard L. Skaggs of St. Matthew's
Left:
Right: Bishop
Mike, David Duymich, and the Rev.
Theresa Kelley of St. Luke's and St. Paul's
Acolytes (Finally!) for Christ Church, Wellsburg
On
Sunday,
March
29th,
the
Brooke Hancock Episcopal Ministries (Christ, Wellsburg;
Olde St. John's Colliers; and St. Thomas,
Weirton) held a joint worship service at Christ
Church. This day was very special for Christ Church,
as they commissioned and debuted their nine newly
trained acolytes after many, many years of having
none.
The photos below, taken by Renee Stock of
Christ Church, shows Christ Church acolytes and one
veteran acolyte from Olde St. John's.
Front row, left to right: KaeLeigh Patterson, Caitlyn Shorts
(Olde St. John's), Robert Foresha, Will Stock, Kendra
Mitchell; Back row: Matthew Harvey, Samantha Foresha,
Shayna Baker, Caitlin Watts, and Damian Campbell. The
Rev. Gene Sheppard, Missioner of BHEM, is in the rear.
Bishop Mike is shown
with Louise Hess and
the Rev. Adeeb Khalil
during his annual
visit to St. Andrew’s,
Mullens, in December
2008.
Below are several
members
of
the
congregation during
Communion.
Some Church Statistics for 2009
By Canon Donald Vinson
Kirk Hadaway has prepared some statistics for the Evangelism and Church Life Center
that some in the Diocese may find interesting. It turns out that we in West Virginia are, perhaps,
more like the Church in the rest of the U. S. than we sometimes think.
For example, we Episcopalians in West Virginia are a diocese of small to very small
congregations in small-city to rural settings. But so is the majority of the church at large: 52%
are located in communities of under 50,000 population, and 28% are in communities under
10,000 in population. Larger cities contain 40% of congregations nationally, but none for us.
Our congregations’ age mirrors the nation’s, too. Nationally, 53% were founded before
1901. There was a burst of new congregations during the “baby boom” years (1946-1965),
adding 19% of congregations. But only 4 % have been founded since 1990. Our experience is
similar.
Sixty-five percent of Episcopal congregations offer two or more worship services on a
weekend, and they typically vary somewhat in style. Of those that offer only one service, three
quarters report attendance at only 40% of capacity, indicating that they are the congregations in
decline. Of those that offer multiple services, only one quarter report a total of 40% or less
occupied seating capacity, but 11% say their total attendance meets or exceeds their capacity.
High percentages report weekly Eucharist (99%), printed bulletins, kneeling, choirs, and prayers
for healing; very small percentages employ visual projection equipment, percussion instruments,
or incense. Most say their worship has changed little to moderately in the past five years.
Congregations were most likely to describe their worship as: “filled with a sense of God’s
presence,” “welcoming to newcomers,” and “joyful.” They were least likely to say their worship
was: “contemporary,” “thought-provoking,” or “predictable.”
We are still a “whiter” denomination than the nation as a whole, at 87%. We are 60%
female. We are notably older than the general population, with 27% of us over age 65. Interestingly, the smaller a congregation, the older its members; conversely, the larger the congregation,
the younger its membership.
We are still not very involved in recruiting new members (32% say “a little,” and 41%
say “some”), but the 21% that report “quite a bit” or “ a lot” of involvement are more likely to
have experienced growth in worship attendance. Churches that have few visitors or which do not
contact visitors tend to decline. Congregations that hold special events or programs to attract
people in the community are more likely to grow.
Most small congregations say they are “like a close-knit family,” but that has no impact
on growth. Those that “have a hard time accepting newcomers,” and “are not that different from
other congregations” were more likely to decline. Those that have “a clear mission and purpose,”
that “are a force for positive change in their community, and are “spiritually vital and alive,” are
likely to grow.
Reading statistics may not be the most exciting pastime for many of us, but it seems to
me that there is material here worthy to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest.”
Diocesan Convention
October 2-4, 2009
Charleston Marriott
Koinonia, Diocese of WV, PO Box 5400, Charleston, WV 25361
Phone: 304-344-3597; Email: [email protected].; Fax: 304-343-3295
Deadline for the July/August 2009 issue is July 15.