VERY year, clergy and lay delegates and alternates travel to some city in the Diocese of the West (DOW) to hold a meeting to conduct diocesan business. This year we traveled to Phoenix Arizona for meetings from Tuesday October 24th through Friday the 27th with Saturday the 28th held in reserve if needed. The Archdeacon, The Venerable Canon Fred Rivers and the Church of the Epiphany were the hosts of the 2006 DOW Synod.

THE ELECTION OF A NEW BISHOP ORDINARY
Since our current Bishop Ordinary, James Stewart, announced earlier this year that he would indeed retire in 2006.

The 2005 Synod approved the formation of a Search Committee to prepare the way for Bishop Stewart’s eventual retirement. This was fortunate because when Bishop Stewart announced his retirement the process was under way. The Search Committee reviewed many candidates and presented The Very Reverend Peter D. Robinson, Rector of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Prescott Arizona and Dean of Arizona and The Reverend Daren Williams, Rector of the Church of the Incarnation, Williamsport Pennsylvania.

At the Synod meetings of the House of Clergy and House of Laity, David Smith, Chancellor, explained the procedure for choosing the next Ordinary. Fr. Robinson and Fr. Williams were each, in turn, interviewed by the House of Clergy and the House of Laity on Wednesday the 26th in their respective sessions. The DOW Synod Business Meeting was held on Friday. Just before lunch Fr. Williams became Bishop-Elect to be the fourth Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the West. His first action was to thank everyone for the honor and to ask for all our prayers in his success. After lunch it was announced by Bishop Stewart that Bishop-Elect Daren Williams would also become the new Rector of All Saint’s Anglican Church in Fountain Valley.

OTHER BUSINESS
The St. Mark delegates at Synod were Rob P, Stephanie L, Betty Ann S, Greg S, Scott F and Gil Miller. Alternates were Judy and Michael G, and Arlene P. Fathers Lillegard and Herb were the clerical delegates. Also attending were Dave Smith, Esq., DOW Chancellor and Gil Miller, DOW treasurer. The flow of business conducted by and approved by Synod is given below.

QUORUM
David Smith announced we had a quorum of parishes and missions, clergy and lay delegates thus allowing the Synod to continue.

TREASURY
Gil Miller, Treasurer, presented the financial report and the 2007 budget which was not complete because of the uncertainty of who would be the next bishop and the financial requirements of the new Ordinary. Bishop Stewart explained that he has received no wage during his tenure instead using the money for theological education. The Bishop also explained that the DOW pays the National Church Assessment early which allows the National Church to conduct business until the other Dioceses are able to remit their share.

CANONS
David Smith, Chancelor, presented the changes to the canon which involved the requirement that all parishes and missions have by-laws, and allowing incumbents to be nominated for re-election to the Board of Examining Chaplains. The Synod approved all changes to the DOW Canons.

CANON MISSIONER
The Canon Missioner, The Very Reverend Canon William D. Bower, SSC, Rector of St. Columba’s Parish in Lancaster California, gave a multi-media presentation that included a skit by Tim B and Lois M on things best not done when building a mission. He then went on to welcome new missions created since 2005: All Saint’s in Tubac Arizona, St. Augustine in Victor, Idaho, St. Barnabas in Sun Land California, Dayspring Anglican Church in Fillmore Caifornia, St. Erasamus Mission in Burley Washington, San Pedro and San Pablo Mission (La Iglesia de San Pedro y San Pablo) in Peoria Arizona and Holy Cross Church in Honolulu Hawaii (Japanese speaking). One mission has dissolved and two are attempting to form.

The budget for this work is managed by Fr. Bower and reported to the Diocese three times a year. The 2007 retreat will have the theme of Recovering Lost Sheep and will be held in Arizona. Fr. Scott Kingsbury will aid Fr. Bower in planning this retreat.

BOARD OF EXAMINING CHAPLAINS
Canon Rivers explained that the canonical change allowing the Bishop Ordinary to reappoint board members was a good thing because of the time it takes to become proficient in the process. He further outlined that while attending seminary is the best way we have nevertheless had success with the Reading for Orders program. There are two types of examination. The written take home examination allows as much time as needed to answer the question which have been compiled from various sources and the other is the General Canonical Examination which includes a verbal section.

If you pass the written examination you may be ordained a Deacon in approved by the Board of Examining Chaplains . To be approved for ordination to the priesthood you must pass the General Canonical Examination (GCE). If you pass the GCE before ordination to the Deaconate you need no other examination and only need experience as a Deacon and approval of your Vestry, the Board of Examining Chaplains and the Standing Committee to be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests.

Two men have been approved as postulants: Shaw Kinsley and Timothy Blunck. Deacon Gene Smith has been approved for ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Sanchez was accepted into the ACA from The Episcopal Church.

OFFICERS
John C from the Church of the Epiphany was elected to the Standing Committee as lay member and Fr. Gregory from All Saint’s Tubac as the clerical member.

Deacon Carl Knapp was elected to the office of Secretary of Synod.

Gil Miller was re-elected to the office of Treasurer of the Diocese of the West.

Karen E was elected to a six year term as the lay member of the Executive Council of the National Church.

David Smith was re-elected to the office of the Chancellor of the Diocese of the West.

Linda G of All Saint’s Fountain Valley was elected as lay member of the Ecclesiastic Court and Fr. Lowell Andrews, Church of the Nativity Payson Arizona as the clerical member.

 LAKOTA MISSION
Joan J of St. Barnabas, Sun Valley, California, gave a stirring presentation about the Kyle South Dakota Pine Ridge Reservation Lakota mission of Fr. Apple’s. Fr. Kingsbury presented the offering from the Synod Mass of $2,720.
 

 
“THE TIES THAT BIND”
This publication has resumed publication and the editor is asking all churches and missions to submit a history of the parish and clergy, photographs and anything else for publication. The Messenger has resumed publication as a separate publication. The Bishop presented to each parish and mission copies of The Messenger in its new magazine format so that everyone would have a chance to see several issues and hopefully subscribe.

YOUTH PROGRAM
Linda G and Shawana R presented plans for the reintroduction of the Youth Camp. St. Mary’s Los Angeles will host and run the program at Biltmore California in two sessions, 29 July to 4 August and 5 August through 11 August. The camp is for 8-18 year olds and the cost is $330 per person per week. The staff fee is $224. The camp will be held at Tonto Rim in Payson Arizona.

BISHOP’S JOURNAL
Bishop Stewart presented a few facts about his five years as the Ordinary. There have been 11 new parishes in the last 10 years, 23 new clergy and 6 postulants in process. We are still the largest diocese but the Diocese of the East is catching up. We need to continue to replace clergy faster than they retire.

NEXT SYNOD
St. Mark’s Portland Oregon will be the location of the next Synod. Work has already begun by the Rector and delegates on this. St. Mark’s will also host the next Standing Committee in January 2007. You may rest assured that we will all have a part to play in the success of these hosting assignments.

Last change Thursday, May 15, 2008 01:11