In the News
Opening Remarks to Cognate Chairs
May 9, 2012
This General Convention is a gathering of some of the family. We extend this on site gathering through webcasts, live streaming, blogs, photos and comments through social media. By the time resolutions come to the floor of each of our houses, they have been conceived and authorized by a proposer and supporters, in some cases these resolutions the have been carefully considered by large groups, such as provinces and diocesan convention. Once these resolutions come to General Convention, committees of 20 or more persons carefully consider them.
Forecasting the Future: We Must Face 'Adaptive Challenge' Carefully and Creatively
April 26, 2012
This article originally appeared in Episcopal Journal
Like many church leaders, I've been thinking about the need to reform/restructure the Episcopal Church.
The demographic reasons are clear: like other mainline denominations, our church's membership is declining. Since 2000 it has decreased by 16 percent, and we lose about 50,000 members each year.
Because, in large measure, it is the laity who fund the church, declining membership means declining revenue. The church's draft proposed budget for the 2013-2015 triennium includes $105 million in revenue available for operations, a reduction from the 2010-2012 forecast of $109 million.
Like so many crises, however, this one has provided the church with an opportunity. As the world around us changes, the church must also change.
Read more: Forecasting the Future: We Must Face 'Adaptive Challenge' Carefully and Creatively
Executive Council Closing Remarks - April 2012
April 20, 2012
We did a lot of good work this triennium. The budget process has been difficult. However, I have great faith in the collective wisdom of the people of this Church and I believe that General Convention can do what is necessary to begin our renewal. I know God can and will do it as God, and all that God creates, gives us life.
This morning in our worship we were asked to reflect on the question, "What enables us to give our lives for others?" Some at our table commented that the Holy Spirit enables us.
In my closing remarks to the Executive Council for this triennium I want to make an offering to you, it is offered in celebration of Earth Day and offered in thanksgiving for the Holy Spirit that dwells in all things including each of us.
Opening Remarks to Executive Council - April 2012
April 18, 2012
Like all of you, I've been thinking about the need to restructure The Episcopal Church. The demographic reasons are clear: like other mainline denominations, The Episcopal Church's membership is declining. Since 2000 our membership has declined by 16% and we lose about 50,000 members per year.
Because, in large measure, it is laypeople who fund the church, declining membership means declining revenue. As we are all aware, the church's draft proposed budget for the 2013-2015 triennium includes $105 million in revenue available for operations, a reduction from the 2010-2012 forecast of $109 million available for operations. That's 4 million dollars. For dioceses and people doing ministry "on the ground" that's a lot of money.
But nevertheless, we are fortunate. Like so many crises this one has provided the church with an opportunity. Isn't it just like God to do that? Provide us with these incredible challenges and then be with us as we figure them out.
Read more: Opening Remarks to Executive Council - April 2012
Tough Choices Ahead: Committee Seeks Your Views on Proposed 2013-15 Budget
April 5, 2012
This article orginally appeared in Episcopal Journal
We have entered the season of preparation for the 77th General Convention to be held in Indianapolis from July 5–12. As I write this column, many leaders across the church are having hard conversations about the draft budget proposed for 2013-15, available at http://generalconvention.org/gc/prepare.
At this stage the draft budget presupposes income of $105 million from dioceses, rental of facilities and other sources. Income from those same sources was $118 million in 2009-12, so obviously some tough choices have to be made.
Read more: Tough Choices Ahead: Committee Seeks Your Views on Proposed 2013-15 Budget
Daring Steps Needed: We Must Act Now to Free Our Church from an Ethic of Survival
March 2, 2012
This article originally appeared in Episcopal Journal.
At the end of January, my colleagues on the Executive Council and I spent several days working on a draft of the 2013-2015 budget.
As the council worked, I thought of William Stringfellow, who was a writer, prophet, and Episcopal layman. I think Stringfellow has something to say about our church’s future and our budget:
“Now that mark that verifies the integrity of the church as institution and sets the church apart from the other institutions—the state, the university, the Pentagon, General Electric—as the exemplary or pioneer or holy institution is the freedom of the church from primary and controlling concern about her own survival. Survival of the institution is the operative ethic of all institutions, in their fallenness."
Executive Council worked hard and faithfully during its meeting, but I think the $104.9 million draft budget that we passed is captive to an ethic of survival of the institutional church as we know it.
Read more: Daring Steps Needed: We Must Act Now to Free Our Church from an Ethic of Survival
Closing Remarks to Executive Council - January 2012
January 29, 2012
The writer and prophet William Stringfellow had something to say about the situation we now find ourselves in:
Now that mark that verifies the integrity of the church as institution and sets the church apart from the other institutions—the state, the university, the Pentagon, General Electric—as the exemplary or pioneer or holy institution is the freedom of the church from primary and controlling concern about her own survival. Survival of the institution is the operative ethic of all institutions, in their fallenness. The church is called into being in freedom from that ethic of survival and where renewal or reformation in the church happens for real, that very freedom is being exercised and the church is viable and faithful. (A Keeper of the Word, 147)
We have worked hard and faithfully during this meeting, but I think the budget we have passed is captive to an ethic of survival of the institutional church as we know it.
Read more: Closing Remarks to Executive Council - January 2012
Opening Remarks to Executive Council - January 2012
January 27, 2012
Good morning—
I am glad to be here with all of you. We have three days of hard work ahead of us, and I believe that, with courage and vision, we can make real progress toward a draft budget that will allow us to realize the future to which God is calling the Episcopal Church.
Yesterday was the feast of Lydia, Dorcas and Phoebe. The story of these women, three of the church's earliest disciples, comes down to us only through brief references in Paul's letters. We can't hear their voices, but we do know their work. As the collect in Holy Women, Holy Men says, they served God with the gifts each had been given: Lydia in business and stewardship, Dorcas in a life of charity, and Phoebe as what Paul called a "deacon who served many."
Read more: Opening Remarks to Executive Council - January 2012
Our Work Ahead: The Lives and Legacies of Two Women Can Help Guide Us
January 25, 2012
This article originally appeared in Episcopal Journal
This coming General Convention, to be held July 5–12 in Indianapolis, will be my first convention without my role model and mentor, Dr. Pamela Chinnis. Pam died last August, and I'm keenly aware of how I will miss her distinctive voice speaking truth with humor and wisdom to me when the going gets rough.
Pam was a tireless advocate for the full inclusion of women in the life and leadership of the Episcopal Church, and for that we owe her a debt of gratitude. She also was a champion of including the voices of all the baptized in the governance system she cherished and helped to lead. In the remainder of my current term as president of the House of Deputies, I want to recall and reclaim the ground on which she stood and from which she led.
I've also been thinking about the life and witness of another great laywoman of the church, Sister Margaret Hawk of the Church Army, to whose family I presented the President of the House of Deputies Award for Exemplary Service last September. Sister Margaret was a missionary on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota, and after retirement she continued her work in her home community of Red Shirt Table. She was also one of the first women seated in the House of Deputies in 1970.
Read more: Our Work Ahead: The Lives and Legacies of Two Women Can Help Guide Us
I Love to Tell the Story - Diocese of Vermont Convention
November 7, 2011
The theme for the Diocese of Vermont's 179th Convention "I love to tell the story" was a great match with Bonnie's style of preaching and keynoting. Invited by Bonnie into their own storytelling of life's definitive moments, convention participants engaged in conversation and storytelling about "why we do what we do".
More Articles...
- Executive Council Meeting Discusses Mission and Structure
- Bonnie Visits Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland
- ENS: House of Deputies president presents award to family of Church Army pioneer
- Episcopal Youth Event
- ENS: Bearing Witness to the Poor and Vulnerable
- Bonnie Calls for "Courageous Change"
- ENS: Bonnie calls church to "Courageous Change"
- Future Change Must Be True to Church's Heritage
- Executive Council Closing Remarks
- ENS: Questions of how church must change continue to challenge Executive Council members
