The Reverend Reporter has two apologies to make before proceeding to a report about the session at St. Peter's. First, it is late and therefore out of sequence, and secondly, I still cannot post any photos, which is a shame because I took a few good pictures of the festivities.
St. Peter's, which is candidate Jeff Paul's parish, is a dynamic and thriving congregation in the historic section of Carson City. After a whirlwind tour of the state legislature building we made the short trip to the church, which was decorated with colorful prayer flags and had a large and welcoming contingent waiting to greet the candidates and their spouses. After a delicious spread put on by Episcopal Church Women we proceeded to introductions and then retired to our various rooms for questions and answers.
Because The Reverend Reporter uses a laptop during these sessions it is impractical to float from group to group, so I usually stay put and report on the questions asked by members of the one group I'm in. This time not every candidate was asked every question, so I'm going to depart from my usual habit of picking one or two questions and reporting on the answer given by every candidate and instead blog a random sampling of questions and responses.
In response to the question what needs of the diocese would you first seek to address Dan Edwards replied that keeping small churches alive would be a high priority, but that the larger and overarching need is to heal divisions by keeping focused on the mission of reconciling all people to each other and to God in Christ. Jeff Paul answered that he would concentrate on ministry among youth and young adults, but would do so in a way that hasn't yet happened in our diocese,which is to provide consistency and ongoing commitment to these ministries. Once again Jeff asked his listeners what we adults are we willing to sacrifice in order to bring youth and young adults into the center of our common life.
Several candidates were also asked about their position on inviting to communion those persons who have not yet been baptized. Cathy Deats is a strong supporter of open communion because she believes that sharing the sacred meal is a way of providing a welcome and hospitality that is more important than the fear of “watering down the sacrament.” Nonetheless, she doesn't believe that any attempt should be made to change the canons because we are still in the midst of dealing with other controversial issues. Susan Burns also supports the practice of giving communion to the unbaptized, and this decision arises from several significant experiences of pastoral care. Al Keeney has practiced it in his congregation, and he believes that the effect of the gift of the sacrament is more important than whether or not we understand it. Each candidate also emphasized that they see their job as not just encouraging unbaptized persons to receive communion, but to provide opportunities for faith formation that will ultimately lead to baptism. Additionally, each candidate has made their bishop aware of what they are doing.
In answer to the question how would you build a relationship with churches in Nevada, Eric Funston, a native Nevadan, remarked that he already knows many people here from his time as Diocesan Chancellor, and that he would like to spend several days in each parish getting to know the issues and needs of the different people in different parts of the state.
At the conclusion of the evening all retired to the church for an evening prayer service and a short bus trip back to the hotel. Now it is late and The Reverend Reporter is back at home for one brief night before hitting the road again. Today we also visited St. Patrick's in Incline Village and Trinity in Reno, and I will report in again tomorrow about those visits.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Blessings,
RR+
St. Peter's, which is candidate Jeff Paul's parish, is a dynamic and thriving congregation in the historic section of Carson City. After a whirlwind tour of the state legislature building we made the short trip to the church, which was decorated with colorful prayer flags and had a large and welcoming contingent waiting to greet the candidates and their spouses. After a delicious spread put on by Episcopal Church Women we proceeded to introductions and then retired to our various rooms for questions and answers.
Because The Reverend Reporter uses a laptop during these sessions it is impractical to float from group to group, so I usually stay put and report on the questions asked by members of the one group I'm in. This time not every candidate was asked every question, so I'm going to depart from my usual habit of picking one or two questions and reporting on the answer given by every candidate and instead blog a random sampling of questions and responses.
In response to the question what needs of the diocese would you first seek to address Dan Edwards replied that keeping small churches alive would be a high priority, but that the larger and overarching need is to heal divisions by keeping focused on the mission of reconciling all people to each other and to God in Christ. Jeff Paul answered that he would concentrate on ministry among youth and young adults, but would do so in a way that hasn't yet happened in our diocese,which is to provide consistency and ongoing commitment to these ministries. Once again Jeff asked his listeners what we adults are we willing to sacrifice in order to bring youth and young adults into the center of our common life.
Several candidates were also asked about their position on inviting to communion those persons who have not yet been baptized. Cathy Deats is a strong supporter of open communion because she believes that sharing the sacred meal is a way of providing a welcome and hospitality that is more important than the fear of “watering down the sacrament.” Nonetheless, she doesn't believe that any attempt should be made to change the canons because we are still in the midst of dealing with other controversial issues. Susan Burns also supports the practice of giving communion to the unbaptized, and this decision arises from several significant experiences of pastoral care. Al Keeney has practiced it in his congregation, and he believes that the effect of the gift of the sacrament is more important than whether or not we understand it. Each candidate also emphasized that they see their job as not just encouraging unbaptized persons to receive communion, but to provide opportunities for faith formation that will ultimately lead to baptism. Additionally, each candidate has made their bishop aware of what they are doing.
In answer to the question how would you build a relationship with churches in Nevada, Eric Funston, a native Nevadan, remarked that he already knows many people here from his time as Diocesan Chancellor, and that he would like to spend several days in each parish getting to know the issues and needs of the different people in different parts of the state.
At the conclusion of the evening all retired to the church for an evening prayer service and a short bus trip back to the hotel. Now it is late and The Reverend Reporter is back at home for one brief night before hitting the road again. Today we also visited St. Patrick's in Incline Village and Trinity in Reno, and I will report in again tomorrow about those visits.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Blessings,
RR+
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