The 177th Diocesan Convention
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"Tending the Garden" Convention Summary Report
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| Convention Slide Show |
| Photos by the Rev. Polk VanZandt |
The 177th Convention of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama took place at the Sheraton Civic Center in Birmingham Feb. 21 - 23, 2008. The Convention was hosted by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Birmingham.
"Tending the Garden - Our Stewardship of Creation," was the theme for this year's gathering.
"In 2008 we find ourselves in a world of enormous challenges ...but none is greater than the world environmental crisis our generation is facing," said the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley Jr., Bishop of Alabama, during his convention address (read).
He pointed to a report listing the Tennessee River-Mobile Bay basin as one of the 19 places in the world most critically in need of environmental preservation and conservation. And he spoke of our need to reclaim the spiritual vision of Christian heritage that sees the earth as divine gift and all living creatures as holy and sacred to God.
He also committed the diocese to look carefully at the "carbon footprint" of our facilities and of our lives to see how we can reduce consumption, waste and pollution.
Bishop Parsley appointed the last Sunday in April, to be Stewardship of Creation Sunday, which he hopes will engender year-round ecological awareness and action. A special liturgy will be provided for use in parishes.
The theme of stewardship of creation was further developed in the convention's keynote address by the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop for Canada (listen).
Bishop Parsley also spoke of the many gifts to and achievements which the diocese celebrates this year, including our new Bishop Suffragan, the recent visit of our Presiding Bishop, our new staff members, the continuing success of our ACTS 2 capital funds campaign which has raised $6.3 million to date, the dedication of Trinity Commons, the Episcopal Student Center in Birmingham, our companion diocese relationship with Haiti, our Hispanic, anti-racism, and urban ministries, and the Sesquicentennial of the University of the South, Sewanee.
During the convention Festival Eucharist at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, Alabama's new Bishop Suffragan preached his first sermon (read) (listen), "God Loves You More Than Your Mama," to the diocese assembled. He preached on God's abundant unconditional love for his children.
In brief remarks on the final day of the convention, Bishop Sloan spoke of his election and ordination and thanked the people of the diocese for their support (listen).
"It is an amazing privilege for me to stand here as your Bishop Suffragan," he said. Speaking of the power of God, he quipped, "As a bishop in your church I am living proof that God can do anything."
He emphasized the importance of college ministry as "an essential part of the Church today and an essential investment in the Church tomorrow." He spoke of the good support for the good work being done throughout our diocese, as other dioceses are cutting support as they face tight budgets. And he encouraged the Diocese of Alabama to continue its work in this important area.
Bishop Sloan also encouraged continued support for Special Session, the diocesan summer camp for mentally and physically challenged adults and young people.
He spoke of the inevitability of disagreement at times. "By all means, let us disagree," he said. "But let us disagree in love, and grace, and help each other move more and more closely to the truth of God in Jesus Christ our Lord."
During the three day assembly, delegates passed 18 resolutions (read) on a variety of topics including, prayer for peace, the budget, the death penalty and DNA testing, admission of a new church to the diocese, repentance for condoning slavery, segregation and discrimination and several in the area of customs and courtesy.
Delegates heard reports (read) on the many ministries of the diocese, participated in workshops, and elected officers of the diocese and delegates to the next General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
The 178th Convention of the Diocese will be held in Montgomery Feb. 19 - 21, 2009, at the invitation of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.
Bishop MacDonald's Keynote Address (Listen)
Bishop Sloan's Remarks (Listen)
Resolutiions (Read)
Reports (Read)
Convention Schedule (View)
Summary Report Archive:
176th Convention Summary Report
