The Desert Shall Rejoice

And so, the end

2007-10-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, we have come to the end of our journey in the search for the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. It has been my privilege to serve you by providing information about the candidates, their positions on the issues facing our diocese as well as those affecting the Church at large, and to impart in some small way the beauty and uniqueness of the place we call home. All good things must come to an end, and therefore this will be the final post here. The consecration of The Rev. Dan Edwards is tentatively scheduled for January 5th pending the required consents. This event will be covered on the diocesan web site.

I leave you with some final thoughts:

We have been truly blessed that so many gifted and thoughtful people were willing to put themselves forward for consideration in this search. Although the final six candidates undoubtedly had the most grueling work, and five of those six suffered the most disappointment, the Search Committee heard from a number of fine priests who responded to our call. Even though they didn't make the final slate, we were blessed by their interest and attention. When we look at our own faith communities, especially the small struggling ones in rural areas, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that we are blessed by a God of infinite abundance. The process of searching for a new chief pastor can serve as a reminder to us all that we truly serve a generous Lord.

Lastly, I note that in the wider Church blogosphere there have already been expressions of cynicism and, at times, critical comments of a personal nature about our diocese, our bishop-elect, and our former (and now Presiding) bishop. While this is unfortunate, let us always remember that the Episcopal Church in Nevada is comprised of hard-working, faithful, and visionary people who struggle against the challenges of geography, population depletion in vast areas, and financial worries. We have elected a gifted leader to help us expand our vision of stewardship, evangelism, and faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ, and we will do it in our own way: Nevada style, with God's help.

And now, go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord!

Blessings,
Karen+
The Reverend Reporter

Acceptance Speech

2007-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

With deep joy and profound gratitude
I accept your call.
The sad part of today is that you were not able
to extend this call to five other candidates – each with much to offer.
I want to acknowledge that,
to say it has been a privilege travel this journey with them,
and to say to their supporters,
I respect your support for my friends and fellow candidates.
They are good people – every one.

The Diocese of Nevada is known and honored
far and wide
for innovation, creativity, and boldness to do a new thing for God.
To serve as a minister in this diocese
is the most exciting mission opportunity I can imagine.
I did not say "to serve as bishop" but "to serve as minister."
We are all minsters, lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons, alike.
Today, we are all called together into a shared mission.

My special joy this day is being invited to join you
in the ministry you are already doing so well.
It will take time for me to learn my way,
and you are the only ones who can teach me.
I will do my best to be a good student,
and I know you will be faithful teachers.
I hope that, as you show me the lay of your land,
you will deepen your knowledge of yourselves and each other,
that you will sharpen the focus of your vision for this diocese,
and that you will enjoy, savor, and celebrate
God's gift of this holy human church in the West.

I know that sometimes, some members of the diocese
have felt discouraged by the seeming scarcity of resources,
and by conflicts – especially conflicts over resources.
Feeling discouraged now and then goes with the turf of doing mission.
Elijah felt that way at times. So did Jesus. So did St. Paul.
But underneath those feelings which come and go like the clouds,
we have an abiding bedrock of faith.
Faith says: God has already given each community the resources
it needs to do its mission.//
It doesn't always look that way, but that's how it is.
I've seen it happen over and over as a priest.
If God gives us five loaves and two fish,
then we bless, break, and share them.
God makes it enough.

As for conflict, we don't have to be afraid of that either.
Nevada is diverse enough to generate a lot of different ideas.
The people of Nevada are feisty enough to express those ideas
with some emphasis.
That's part of what makes this an exciting diocese.
We can afford to have our differences.
God is big enough to supply the unity.
As long as we keep focused on God's mission,
we can work out the details.

Nothing would please me more
than to take the next plane to be with you tomorrow.
But I have a congregation here who are going to need me
to look them in the eye to say I'm leaving after 14 years.
They don't need to read this in the newspaper and find me gone.
But I will be coming to you as soon as I can.
I will begin meeting with some of you right away.
Don't think the people I see first are necessarily the most important people.
Everyone in this diocese is important.
I will be seeing first the people who know about the issues that are most urgent.
After that, I will be making my way around the diocese
learning your stories.

Bishop Kiminjari said, "The stories of the people are the wings of the Gospel."
Your stories will make the Gospel fly over Nevada like a Coopers Hawk.
I cannot wait to hear them.
God bless you and keep you.
God make his face to shine upon you
God give you peace and empower you for mission.

Ballot 2: We have an Election!

2007-10-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Moments ago, Jim Kelly announced "we have an election." Receiving 38 clery votes and 78 lay votes....

Dan Edwards will be the 10th Bishop of Nevada!

Ballot 2 standings for the first 3 candidates were identical for clergy and lay.
1. Dan Edwards
2. Susan Burns
3. Jeff Paul

The next 3 results for clergy were
4. Tie between Al Keeney and Eric Funston
5. Cathy Deats

The next 3 results for lay were
4. Al Keeney
5. Cathy Deats
6. Eric Funston

There is a story about the election and Dan on Episcopal Life Online at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90927_ENG_HTM.htm

First Ballot, High Noon

2007-10-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Clergy and lay results are identical for the first four candidates, in order:

1. Dan Edwards
2. Susan Burns
3. Jeff Paul
4. Al Keeney

The next two results by Clergy:
5. Eric Funston
6. Cathy Deats

The next two results by Lay:
5. Cathy Deats
6. Eric Funston

Friday Morning

2007-10-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

We opened this morning with A Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit and hymn #531, Like the Murmer of the Dove’s Song. Assisting Bishop Jerry Lamb asked that we be open to the Holy Spirit, to ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9-13) and find God’s will.

After Eucharist, Jim Kelly gave instructions regarding the election process, and JoAnn Roberts Armstead reported on attendance: of 151 lay delegates, 145 are present, and of 67 clergy delegates, 65 are present. A quorum was declared, and Jill Beesley introduced the candidates.

The floor opened for the first ballot at 10:56 am. To be elected, a candidate must receive 33 votes from clergy delegates and 73 votes from lay delegates.

Catastrophe Averted: Live Blogging to Commence!

2007-10-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, for awhile it looked as if live blogging of the bishop election would not happen due to Technological Misunderstandings. However, the intrepid Diocesan Communications Commission has figured out a brilliant plan that involves the indomitable Desert Spirit editor Hallie Murphy, a hotel room away from the convention floor, a wireless connection, and a cell phone. All is right with the world!

The convention will open with Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am on Friday followed by instructions to the delegates and the casting of the first ballot. The results of each ballot will be posted after each candidate has been contacted and notified of their standing in the voting. There is no way to predict what time the voting will begin and how many ballots will be required, so you might want to check in periodically if you are curious about how the vote is proceeding.

The name of the next bishop of Nevada will be posted here after he or she has been formally notified. Stay tuned, and please keep the delegates, candidates, and their families in your prayers.

Last Post Before Convention: Ministry to Youth

2007-10-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Our electing convention will begin on Friday, and The Reverend Reporter has time for one last informational post: the all-important subject of ministry to and with youth, which was a topic raised at all walkabout stops except one:

Al Keeney believes that the bishop will need to take a serious look at what the needs of the different congregations are with respect to programs for children and teens. Ministries to youth must have the ability to draw in kids from the local community; not only should ministry to youth be relevant, they must ultimately function as evangelism tools and not be just programs to keep kids occupied.

Jeff Paul notes that there has been a lack of consistency in the dicoese's approach to youth ministry, and he sees developing consistency as a key to success. Ultimately, Jeff believes that adult leaders must be able to sacrifice time, resources, and "room" in leadership so that youth can be full participants in their own ministries.

Susan Burns advocates for placing children and youth at the very center of our worshipping communities, and that the best youth and children's ministry is done intergenerationally - we do "with" young people, not "to" them.

Dan Edwards believes that youth ministry must be something that is one of the highest priorities of the bishop, but he also believes that no single program is a magic fix that is guaranteed to reach all the youth of the diocese. He noted that "programs don't change people. People change people."

Eric Funston sees young people as inhabiting a central place in the life of the church, and that we need to see them as full and equal members as they are, not as they will be when they reach adulthood. Coordination of diocesan programs for youth is important, and as bishop he would examine the best ways for this to happen.

Cathy Deats believes that ministry to children and youth needs to be done in the context of the individual church community, but that the job of diocesan leadership is to assist the churches with exploring programs and assisting teachers and youth workers in their ministries.

So there you have it. My notes are exhausted, but our delegates now have access to more information than they would have had if they had gone to just one session. My hope is that I have been successful in highlighting both the major issues raised during the candidate visits and to also provide a window into their thinking on a whole range of issues. Please pray for those of us who will be gathering at the end of this week:

Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever: Bless, we pray, the clergy and the laity soon to be assembled in your Name that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of Him who loved it and gave Himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

- For a Church Convention
Book of Common Prayer, 1979

More on church growth

2007-10-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Reverend Reporter has gone through my notes once again and found scrawls that contain more of the candidate's answers to the question how can the Episcopal Church grow in Nevada?

Eric Funston related that when he moved away from the diocese nearly 13 years ago there were 6,000 Episcopalians in Nevada and that he was disappointed to read that these numbers hadn't changed. He believes that it is important for us to re-direct our energies away from fighting amongst ourselves and make an effort to spread the Gospel in our communities. Eric also noted that in his experience, the local church grows through vibrancy of worship and a focus on mission.

Update: Eric and his family left Nevada over 14 years ago, not the "nearly 13 years" stated above. The Reverend Reporter regrets the error.

Susan Burns stated that "there must be at least 1,000 people in Nevada who want to be Episcopalian," but they might never find out about us if we don't create excitement around who we are and the good news we have to offer. Susan believes that the larger church grows as parishes grow, and that the best evangelism is the direct invitation: invite your friends and neighbors to church! She further stated that we must treat our church's commitment to tolerance and diversity of views as an asset.

Al Keeney observed that our churches have little visibility beyond our small blue "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" signs. He believes that the Episcopal Church in Nevada needs more visibility and that we must be clearer in getting our message out. The bishop, according to Al, needs to take a leading role in promoting evangelism.

Dan Edwards believes in the importance of direct evangelism - there is no substitute for going out into the community. The church in Nevada must embrace a spirit of abundance, not scarcity, a trait that he sees as contributing to static numbers. A church which is always worried about it itself is not a church people want to join.

Jeff Paul advocates for a leading role for the bishop in the field of evangelism. Knocking on doors, inviting people to church, inviting back those who have left, and taking time to be in residence in different parts of the diocese building up the church are all things that the bishop needs to both do, and teach others to do.

Cathy Deats observed that the heart of evangelism is mission, and that each local church needs to find out what there unique mission is in the communities they find themselves in so that they can serve the needs of the people in their midst. The role of the bishop is to help congregations find this "big picture" and to assist them in figuring out the most effective use of their resources.

Q&A's on Total Ministry

2007-09-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

The Reverend Reporter now realizes that I have been somewhat remiss in not devoting more blog space to the issues of "total ministry," especially since it was a question that came up repeatedly during the candidate visits. I have gone back through my notes (no mean feat since much of it looks like the writings of a chicken walking on paper with inked feet) and have attempted a compilation of answers by each candidate:

Susan Burns understands the concept of total ministry to be "the ministry of all the baptized and the raising up of people with certain gifts to be trained to serve the church in a particular role. It is also the call to everyone in the church to use all their gifts for the mission and ministry of the church... when all members are empowered to use our gifts, our whole lives become a sacramental presence to each other." At another venue Susan also cautioned against the high burnout rates that happen when total ministry comes to mean "free priests" for a congregation. Expecting anyone to work a full-time secular job and then be available to minister to a congregation is not necessarily a good model of total ministry and does not support the concept of clergy wellness. Instead, the idea of total ministry must be regularly re-visited so that its implementation supports ministry and mission.

Cathy Deats noted that total ministry has some different interpretations throughout the diocese, but at its base it is identifying the gifts of all the baptized and empowering them to do their ministry. Right now it seems to be mostly about addressing the sacramental needs of small isolated churches by focusing on the raising up and training of clergy, but that total ministry needs to become what was originally intended: to train all people for their ministries.

Dan Edwards sees total ministry as an authentic way of living out the gospel and that Nevada has long been a leader in advocating it. However, other dioceses are now practicing total ministry and that it can be lived out fully in all churches only if it is practiced as a ministry of all the baptized and not just as a way of training the clergy.

Eric Funston views total ministry as a way that all the baptized are called to do their ministries at God's behest. He believes that baptism is the sacrament of priesthood and that the practice of total ministry is the logical way of recognizing this fact. Eric also believes that in the diocese of Nevada it is also a way of providing sacramental ministry to congregations that can’t afford a professional clergyperson. Eric believes in total ministry as a model for the church and believes that it's practice should be strengthened.

Al Keeney also believes that total ministry, at its best, to be a method by which all members of the Body of Christ are empowered in mission and ministry. He has seen it partially at work in the diocese of Rochester and would like to experience it more fully. To Al, total ministry means that we’re all in this together and we all help each other in their mission and ministry. He also noted that ministry is not just done by the ordained person, but by all the baptized.

Jeff Paul understands total ministry to be "a process of growing toward the fullness of Christ and the totality of ourselves." It’s not a program, it’s a vision for claiming the ministry of all baptized people. Jeff also believes that we need standards for formation and training of both lay people and those in process of ordination, and that we need to re-visit what we mean by "total ministry." Only when we understand what it is we have embraced and can practice it consistently can we offer this gift to the wider church.

Slideshow

2007-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of putting together a slideshow of our travels, but Russ Worthington, the webmaster at Cathy Deat's parish, has also put together a little something. You can enjoy his while I'm still fussing with mine.

Blessings,
RR+

A leftover warmup question: liturgical seasons

2007-09-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

In response to commenter Nikki's question about favorite liturgical seasons I did a poll on the bus, and here are the answers I received:

Susan Burns' favorite liturgical season is always the one we currently find ourselves in, so right now she finds herself absorbed in the season of Pentecost. She explained that after we've moved through the great cycles of Lent and Easter it's good to "get basic" and go back to the teachings of the Church through the Gospel readings, which become more challenging as the season progresses. In the late season of Pentecost the Gospels contain many of the more difficult teachings of Jesus and removes from us the delusion that the Christian life is an easy one.

Cathy Deats loves the period beginning on Passion Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday because contained within this very short period is the great story of our faith: death and resurrection.

Dan Edwards' favorite season is Advent because it is a season of hope both in the life of the Church and in our experience as individuals. There are times that things are hard and feel scarce, but that's when the hope of grace is waiting just around the corner to give us the courage to step boldly into the future.

Jeff Paul's favorite season is Lent because it is the season that leads us into the heart of our faith, the season of Easter. It is a time of tension between service and Sabbath, darkness and light, winter and spring. For this reason it is the richest season of the Church year.

Al Keeney loves the Triduum, the great three days comprising Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter. This time starts with the subdued joyousness of the celebration of the institution of the Eucharist and then moves into darkness. Al loves the solemn prayers of the Good Friday liturgy because they reflect the human condition. Finally, the lighting to the Paschal candle at the Vigil service creates light in the darkness, and the chanting of the Exsultet is the great aha! of the season. In the Triduum liturgies everything comes together in one tight, flowing narrative.

Eric Funston's favorite season is Advent because it is the time when the Church is intentionally living into expectation. There is a sense of quivering, and that something new is coming. We know what has already come, and what we expect will come will be even greater: the best is yet to come and isn't it grand! Advent is also the season when we appreciate and celebrate the Incarnation even more than at Christmas. Because we observe Advent when the rest of the world is deeply enmeshed in the commercialism of Christmas, it is a time when the Church is at its most counter-cultural.

Journey's end, some thoughts, and an unmasking

2007-09-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Now that the walkabout process for the election of the next Bishop of Nevada has come to an end, I would like to share some closing thoughts with my readers.

Chronicling this journey has been an incredibly informative and deeply spiritual experience. As a native Easterner and a long-time San Franciscan who only moved to Nevada last year, I have learned as much about the land, the church, and the people of Nevada as the candidates did. I have also come away from the tour with a realistic portrait of the state of our diocese, its strengths, and the work that still needs doing. I feel more committed than ever to being a part of this exciting and challenging place, and God willing, will be here for a long time doing ministry alongside our next bishop.

I have also gained an enormous respect for both the candidates and the process they engaged in. It was a strenuous trip with many stops and little rest, and in many ways it was also a pilgrimage. The daily rounds of morning and evening prayer, either with the communities we visited or on the bus, the discussions we had, the times of rest and silence as we traveled, and the way that everyone conducted themselves was indicative of the fact that this is in fact a spiritual process of discernment and not an election campaign. I have nothing but admiration for these wonderful priests and their spouses who seek to work alongside the clergy and laity of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. In Nevada there is often talk of luck, but we are not lucky – we are blessed. The title of this blog, The Desert Shall Rejoice, is a verse from the writings of Isaiah the prophet, and I believe that the desert, along with the rest of God’s creation, rejoices this day and continues to do so in response to God’s abundant love.

This is not goodbye for there is more to come in the next couple of weeks. I will not be posting daily any longer, but I still have material that I have not yet had time to organize and report. I will also be blogging live during the election process so that those of you who are not present at convention will be able to follow the proceedings on October 12th.

Finally, I have had a great deal of fun in the guise of The Reverend Reporter. Anonymity kept the focus of the blog on the candidates, although I do confess to occasionally slipping in my own reflections. Now it is time to be unmasked, and to invite you all to return as we move closer to the election. I ask your prayers for the candidates and their families, and for the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada.

And so we end our walkabouts where we began, with this prayer:

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessings,
Karen+

Karen Johanns is Associate for youth and young adult ministries at Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno, NV.

Day 8: Elko to Las Vegas

2007-09-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today was the last, and longest, ride of the trip. As we boarded the bus in the early morning all were conscious of both the sheer mileage of today's journey and the fact that upon arrival in Las Vegas we would begin the process of saying goodbye to each other. The Reverend Reporter was feeling a little melancholy because I have become so fond of all the candidates and their spouses, and was beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable in the knowledge that as a delegate to our upcoming convention I will be one of the people called upon to help choose which of these fine priests should be our next bishop. As the miles and hours rolled by I spent a great deal of time staring out the window struggling with these issues.

Eventually our bus left the monotonous landscape of Interstate 80 and turned onto highway 93 toward Ely. Brown, scrub-covered plains soon turned into fields of golden mustard and flowering sage broken up here and there by irrigated fields. The hills turned into a seemingly-endless array of crags, mesas, and sheer rock walls that pierced a sky that grew increasingly cloudy. The play of shadows between light and darkness changed the colors of the rock, so that while some glowed a burnt red, others displayed cobalt and green tones. At this point The Reverend Reporter put away the computer and spent more time staring out the window in awe. By the time the bus hit the outskirts of Ely I felt drunk on scenery.

St. Batholomew's Episcopal Church is one of the larger congregations on the frontier, and although their priest Richard "Red" Sims was unable to be present we were greeted by members of the congregations and led to the downstairs parish hall for an abundant lunch of soup, salad, and homemade bread. The Reverend Reporter adores chicken soup and good conversation, and enjoyed both with the friendly people of St. Bart's. Following lunch there was an informal question and answer session, and although several excellent questions were asked of the candidates I will post the one which was unique. In reference to the current problem of congregations breaking away from The Episcopal Church in order to join African Anglican provinces, someone asked what would you as bishop do to keep congregations from leaving? Here are the candidate's responses:

Dan Edwards believes that churches should model the Great Commandment of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us, but this doesn't mean that we will always agree. Dan remarked that if we loved only those with whom we agree what we are really doing is simply loving a reflection of our own selves. He believes that all of us need to work harder to remain at the table of God and to carry out the mission of the Church despite our differences.

Al Keeney believes that we need to move beyond our own comfort zones in order to allow people to become part of the larger community. He remarked that true inclusivity had little to do with being liberal and everything to do with making room for people who are different from us and with whom we disagree.

Cathy Deats concurred with what Al and Dan had already said, emphasizing that all Christians are called to bring about the Kingdom of God despite their differences.

Jeff Paul believes that we all need to unify around a vision and pointed to the vision statement in the diocesan profile as an ideal around which people and congregations with differing points of view might embrace. He also remarked that it was necessary for Christians to unify around our mission, not our opinions.

Eric Funston pointed out that the current divisions in The Episcopal Church distracted us from our task of evangelism, noting that people are not going to check out a church which is known primarily for its fighting. He recommends withdrawing from public battles with those congregations determined to leave The Episcopal Church and to concentrate on mission and evangelism instead.

Susan Burns talked about the importance of deep listening, noting that in her experience conflicts arose in communities where people had not felt heard. She believes that the current controversies over sexuality are rooted in earlier conflicts over women's ordination, and while she was clear that she believes that the ordination of women was a positive step, perhaps not enough care was taken to listen more deeply to those with concerns over this change, and that the consecration of an openly gay man to the episcopate was "the last straw" for these same people. She recommended a process of deeper listening and inquiry as a way to keep those who disagree at the same table.

Our time at St. Bart's was all too short, but before boarding the bus The Reverend Reporter took a few minutes to walk around the lovely sanctuary and admire the stained glass windows. We were running a bit late, so we regretfully passed by the local drugstore, which offered an old-fashioned soda fountain and homemade malts. Sigh.

As our bus rolled on toward our final walkabout stop the breathtaking scenery continued unabated, passing by Cathedral Gorge State Park and its bentonite spires. Eventually we reached the old mining town of Pioche and our final stop, Christ Church. There we toured a tiny church that looked and felt straight out of the Old West and chatted with several parishioners. I had the privilege of meeting Jean Orr, Christ Church's priest and still going strong at age 90! The Reverend Reporter sincerely hopes that if God is gracious enough to allow me to live that long that I will be as eager to serve at the altar as Jean is. Although this congregation is quite small its spirit is mighty, and it was a blessing to be there.

Finally the bus pointed us toward the southwest and the bright lights of Las Vegas, where our journey finally came to an end at the same hotel where we started. There the goodbyes began as we left Cathy Deats and her husband so that they could leave for the airport. After a merry final dinner during a rare Las Vegas downpour we laughed, talked, and shared some funny stories. Aftewards we said farewell to Al and Linda Keeney as they too left for their redeye back to New York, and then it was time for The Reverend Reporter to prepare for her own journey home in the morning and a full weekend schedule.

Blessings,
RR+

Frontier hospitality at St. Paul's, Elko

2007-09-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening brought us to the end of a long day's journey when we stopped in Elko, home of cowboy poetry and the National Basque festival. We were greeted by members of the congregation, the vestry, their priest Jody Lediard, and Sami the Church Dog. When we came into the parish hall there was a veritable groaning board of beautifully prepared food, and The Reverend Reporter groaned inwardly as I had not yet overcome the effect of the enormous Basque lunch we had eaten in Winnemucca. Still, The Reverend Reporter believes in the importance of politeness, so I managed a few bites and decided that I needed to celebrate the oncoming autumn with a slice of homemade pumpkin pie.

After the plates had been cleared and coffee poured everyone settled in to hear from the candidates, and our Moderator asked the "warmup" question: Other than Nevada, where have you travelled that you would like to return someday, or where have you always wanted to go?

Al Keeney loves to go on pilgrimage, and has travelled to Canterbury, Norwich, and Lindisfarne to do so. He related the story of his most recent pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland, how he injured his foot and could not complete the pilgrimage trek, and how he found himself being ministered to in that moment of sadness.

Eric Funston loves Ireland and its many green hills, and journeyed there with his wife this past May.

Susan Burns wants to return to Abu Ghosh, a settlement east of Jerusalem, where she explored a convent, a monastery, and a hospital where both Arab and Israeli children with chronic illnesses and birth defects are lovingly cared for.

Cathy Deats likes visiting Tulare, California, where her son and his wife live and run a farm.

Dan Edwards regards the Jerome Priory in the potato country of Idaho as a place of spiritual discovery.

Jeff Paul loves New Zealand, where he spent time living and worshipping with the Maori people.

After this question had been thoroughly explored we went off to our different rooms for group sessions. Once again The Reverend Reporter was in a group where not every candidate answered each question, so I will post a representitive sample of questions and answers.

In answer to the question how would you grow our diocese?, Jeff Paul replied that he would make it a priority to build solid youth and young adult programs, and to make sure that this vision of bringing the youth and young adults to a central place in church life was done with appropriate resources and consistency. He believes that as we dedicate our resources to this ministry we cannot help but grow.

Dan Edwards would begin with steps to unify the diocese and reclaim the original concept of total ministry, which is the church as the ministering community, and that each individual is called to recognize and appreciate their own and each other’s gifts. Doing so makes churches exciting, energetic places to be. Dan also emphasized that is important that we engage our ministries with an attitude of abundance as opposed to the model of scarcity in which churches often function. He believes that the question is not how to fill the church, but to ask who needs Jesus and take steps to answer that need.

Al Keeney would begin by paying close attention to those churches that really feel neglected by doing residential visitations. This would entail the bishop being present in one place for a longer period of time, getting to know the congregation and helping them to address the challenges that are getting in the way of growth.

Cathy Deats would get to know each congregation and how they function in order identify the mission of the different churches in their local communities. She believes that when a congregation can identify its mission this is the beginning of growth. We all also need to get in the habit of regularly inviting our friends and neighbors to church, but our church needs to be something we’re excited about.

In answer to the question as bishop, how would you guide us so that we can be more connected to our ministries and to the greater church?, Susan Burns responded that she would come into our communities and stay awhile. She believes that it’s important for the bishop to know what’s going on and what is not going well in the church. The bishop needs to address issues of alienation and estrangement between the northern and southern parts of the diocese and to pay more attention to the issues facing the churches in the frontier. Susan believes that there’s currently a sense of scarcity in the diocese, so issues dealing with the stewardship of resources need to be addressed. She sees a tremendous strength in the diocese of Nevada along with a sense of hope and spirit, especially in the small struggling churches. She asserted that we need to know each other better so that we are better able to draw strength from each other. This should be a missionary diocese to the community at large.

Eric Funston answered the same question by asserting the importance of relationships -building relationships with God, with each other, and between parishes. The bishop needs to set the model of how these relationships function. This requires a ministry of presence, where the bishop and his/her clergy and congregations getto know each other over meals, study and conversation.

It seems as though we could have chatted all night, but the evening was over all too soon. Before we concluded the evening's work we all filed into the sanctuary to recite Evening Prayer, asking God especially for blessings upon this community. Then it was time to board the bus and get some rest before beginning the long journey to Ely, Pioche, and back to Las Vegas.

Blessings,

RR+

Day 7: Fallon to Elko

2007-09-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

Photos are back! Pictures will be inserted into older entries as I have time.

After spending the night in Fallon we boarded the bus and resumed our journey to our next stop, Grace-St. Francis church in Lovelock, a tidy agricultural town in Pershing County. When we pulled up outside the pretty clapboard church all of us immediately piled out to take pictures, but The Reverend Reporter noticed that the church was locked up tight and that there was no one to greet us. Our Moderator whipped out her cell phone and soon announced that the church building we were standing in front of was no longer in use, so we all got back on the bus and rode the short distance to the local Methodist church, where the congregation of St. Francis now worshipped.

Once inside the church we met several members of this small congregation, including it's oldest and youngest members. There was no formal question and answer period scheduled, so the candidates and their spouses chatted over cake and coffee for about an hour. The Reverend Reporter, who is a youth minister when not acting as a road blogger, was delighted to find that this church helped to support a youth minister, and I immediately got out my trusty yellow pad and wrote down all the pertinent information. John and Blake, if you're reading this expect to hear from me soon!

Soon it was time to get back on the bus and begin the long ride to Winnemucca. We were deep in cattle and mining country now, as the grazing herds by the road and the mine tailings began to multiply. As we settled in for the long ride The Reverend Reporter thought of the scriptures in Isaiah equating the good news of the coming Messiah with springs in the desert. The parched land surrounding us on all sides was a vivid example of what Isaiah must have been gazing upon such a long time ago.

We finally came to Winnemucca and met with members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church at a local Basque restaurant. The Basque cultural influence is strong in Nevada and The Reverend Reporter was pleased that our candidates would get a taste of a Basque family-style dinner, which consists of mountains of food served in many courses over many hours. We didn't have the time nor the stomach space for the full treatment, so we enjoyed a modified version for our lunch. The congregation of St. Mary's no longer have their own building, and the candidates listened intently to the issues and concerns raised by the parishioners and Peg Fuller, their priest. After too short a time we had to say our goodbyes, but we all noted that we had just visited yet another frontier congregation which desperately needs the help and support of the rest of us in the diocese of Nevada. In The Reverend Reporter's humble opinion, the candidates for our next bishop will need to spend a lot of time out here in the Cow Counties in order to even begin to put things right.

The last leg of this long stretch of road brought us to St. Paul's church in Elko, but alas, the bus awaits. I will report in later on our time at St. Paul's, along with our experiences on this last day of touring the diocese.

Blessings,
RR+

Day 6: Reno to Fallon

2007-09-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Today was a busy day with many stops. We bid goodbye to Reno and made the short journey to Sparks and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, a dynamic congregation with a strong commitment to youth ministry and social outreach. We were greeted with a warm welcome and hearty breakfast, and the candidates and their spouses had an opportunity to tour the facility, complete with beautiful desert garden, bubbling fountain, and lych-gate. We spend about 2 hours at St. Paul's, and the candidates chatted with parishioners and spent some time answering questions. Since the questions and answers in the open forum have already been covered in earlier postings I'll not cover them again except to say that the candidates' answers were, as usual, clear and informative.

After our visit was over we waved goodbye to the people of St. Paul's and headed east towards Wadsworth and the congregation of St. Michael and All Angels. By the time our bus rolled into Wadsworth the scenery had substantially changed to deep hues of brown, and the scent of sage was heavy in the air. Thick clouds brooded over the hills, casting shadows that hinted at rain.

Wadsworth is located on the Paiute reservation, so naturally this church is deeply involved with Native American ministries. As we made our way down the highway our visitors learned about Pyramid Lake and its importance as a sacred place to the Paiute people. The Reverend Reporter has visited the lake and never ceases to be awed by its eerie beauty and serenity. It is a special place indeed.

Upon arriving at St. Michael's we were greeted by Eric Lawrence, who serves the congregation as its priest, his wife Robyn, and members of both St. Michael's and St. Mary the Virgin in nearby Nixon. Several women in the congregation had prepared a delicious lunch of fry bread with an abundance of toppings, and while we ate the candidates listened to the parish's concern for increased outreach to youth and to Native American ministries. The Reverend Reporter ate with one hand and took notes with the other, and although my notes are slightly stained with salsa I was able to read well enough to report the candidates' conversation about Native American ministries:

All candidates agreed that ministries to and with Native American people were absolutely key to the mission of the diocese and the Church at large. They also agreed that they needed to learn more about the specific issues facing Native American Episcopalians and to explore creative ways to expand this work. Jeff Paul described some of his knowledge of Native issues through his work with the Commission on Ministry and said that he thought a return to "circuit riding clergy" whose mission was to provide ministry development in small rural congregations would be of great benefit to parishes such as St. Michael's. Eric Funston strongly advocated a ministry of presence by the bishop, who would spend time among Native congregations in order to learn and share. Dan Edwards referred to his time as director of a Native American law unit in Idaho and southern Colorado and talked about the importance of Native spirituality to his own devotional life. Cathy Deats described her exposure to Native American concerns and spirituality through her work with Carole Gallagher, the first Native woman bishop in the Episcopal Church who served as an assisting bishop in the diocese of Newark. Both Susan Burns and Al Keeney emphasized their commitment to Native American ministries and their willingness to learn through a "ministry of presence."

When the candidates' finished answering questions we all heard a heartfelt plea from Ed Ely of St. Mary the Virgin parish in Nixon. Both St. Michael's and St. Mary's are small churches served by nonstipendiary supply priests, and Ed described how the congregations are shrinking due to the lack of regular, consistent, clergy presence. His voice began to break as he described once-vibrant churches filled with the laughter of children and the many services offered to the surrounding community. Without a minister, Ed asserted, these ministries can no longer take place, resulting in the disappearance of children and youth along with dwindling numbers. "We are becoming caretakers of a museum," Ed told us. "Please remember: the body is here, but we need a head in order to survive."

The ride to Nixon was a quiet one as all of us reflected on Ed's words. After a short drive we were at St. Mary the Virgin, a little church with one of the most beautiful sanctuary spaces The Reverend Reporter has ever encountered. The altar and baptismal font are both made from the tufa rock that builds along the shores of Pyramid Lake, and a traditional Paiute pipe is hung prominently from the sanctuary wall. Fresh flowers, polished candlesticks, and fading stained glass windows combined to give the effect of a small band determined to survive and worship in the beauty of holiness. Before we left Ed stood in front of the altar and chanted the Lord's Prayer in Winnebago, and we all left in quiet admiration of this worshiping community that is still hanging on and needs the help of a strong and dedicated bishop. For a moment The Reverend Reporter wanted to give up all she had to practice ministry in this place, and I suspect I was not alone. As we left Native country we stopped briefly on the shores of Pyramid Lake to pay our respects, and then it was on to Fallon.

In the late afternoon we arrived in Fallon, one of the larger towns in eastern Nevada with a strong ranching and farming base along with the presence of a nearby naval air station complete with a "top gun" school. Upon arriving at Holy Trinity parish we were greeted by a large group of clergy and lay parishioners and treated to a dinner of comfort food: roast chicken, mac 'n cheese, fresh veggies, and rolls. Homemade pumpkin and apple pies tempted those of us with room for dessert, and after dinner was over we all settled in for an evening of conversation. The Reverend Reporter realized that such a dinner was a perscription for drowsiness, and hastened to grab a cup of coffee in order to prevent snoozing.

The evening began on a humorous note when the candidates were asked to name their favorite movie or TV show and to explain why. Al Keeney began on a daring note by naming Monty Python's Life of Brian as his favorite because it poked fun at how pretentious religion can be. Susan Burns loves Groundhog Day not only because it's funny, it's also very deep. She sees the movie as a story about resurrection, and about getting second chances.

Jeff Paul likes the movie Stranger then Fiction because it reminds him of the story of Jesus: if we were faced with knowing all about our death, what would we do? Eric Funston loves My Fair Lady, describing the plot as the story of transformation of Henry Higgins from a person without much humanity to one of compassion and caring.

Dan Edwards' favorite movie is The Horse Whisperer. The main character reminds him of Jesus, who shows up with confidence and assurance to heal our wounds and to bring us back to ourselves. Cathy Deats says that The Wizard of Oz reminds her of total ministry, because the characters look to the wizard for help and then discovered that they possessed within themselves the things they needed all along.

When question time became more serious the two main questions that were asked concerned the candidates' commitment to total ministry and the issue of same-sex blessings. All the candidates re-affirmed their commitment to total ministry and expressed a desire to return it to its roots in the theology of Wes Frensdorff, which means that in places where total ministry isn't functioning well it must be studied and re-envisioned. Since this question has been asked at nearly every stop I won't repeat all the answers here. You can find the candidates' ideas about total ministry on earlier postings in this space.

It was clear to The Reverend Reporter that the issue of same-sex blessings (SSB's) was a topic of major concern to this congregation because the Moderator noted the many questions about SSB's that had been submitted. Each candidate answered this question in the same way they did in earlier stops, although for the sake of accuracy I want to parse Dan Edwards' answer a little bit and note that his position is that while we are not authorized by General Convention to perform a blessing on same-sex relationships in the name of the Church, he believes that it is permissible to allow people to come together to ask God to bless a relationship. It is a fine yet important distinction, and The Reverend Reporter regrets not reporting Dan's answer accurately in previous postings. Every candidate assured those present that they would love, care for, and honor those people and congregations that disagree with their position on this subject and would not force any member of the clergy or any congregation to perform same-sex blessings. They also emphasized the need for mutual respect and continuing dialogue as brothers and sister in Christ.

Now it time for us to move deeper into the frontier. Please pray for us as we continue our journey.

Blessings,
RR+

Coffee and questions at Trinity, Reno

2007-09-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

As our bus rolled down the mountain and headed towards Reno it quickly became apparent that we were heading toward the city again. Forests and fields gave way to Costcos and shopping centers, and traffic thickened noticeably along highway 395. Soon we were in Reno and made a quick stop at the northern diocesan office located in St. Stephen's and said hello to Jim McGrew, who manages diocesan affairs there. After a brief tour it was time to move on to Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Reno, one of the two largest congregations in Nevada.

Trinity might be one of our "churchiest" churches, a neo-Gothic and stained-glass affair on the banks of the Truckee River. We were greeted by interim rector John Goddard and members of the vestry, who had arranged a delicious dinner for us. The Reverend Reporter is beginning to fear what the scale will say when I return home on Saturday, but the hospitality along our route has been tremendous and it is safe to say that all of us are grateful.

After a panel presentation the crowd retired to their assigned rooms to ask questions of the candidates. Most of the questions that were asked in the room I was in have already been highlighted in previous postings, but there was one fairly unique one:

How would you as bishop help people make the connection between what goes on on Sunday morning and what happens in our life the rest of the week:

Susan Burns first wants to learn what it means to be a bishop so that she can apply that connection in her own life and work. She believes that it's critical to examine the role of faith in the workplace and to encourage others to examine what it is about their jobs that makes their work a ministry. Susan cited her own work as a Legal Aid attorney as an example of ministry and outreach to those who didn't have the resources to defend themselves. She also believes that the connection between what we do on Sunday and the rest of the week is inseparable. Al Keeney substantially agreed with Susan's observations and believes that it is critical to educate everyone in the church about the connection between their daily life and their faith.

Dan Edwards is convinced that the teaching and preaching that happens on Sunday mornings must address people in their real life. He sees a need for the bishop be out there with people the other 6 days of the week, to be involved with people in the workplace, and to develop workplace ministries. Cathy Deats would find ways to help people to envision their daily work as their vocation and to hold that up as a model of ministry. The bishop should model this by being involved in the daily life of people in the community, knowing what their issues or struggles are. The office of bishop, especially in Nevada, is a working position, is not one where the bishop is separate from the clergy and people.

Eric Funston also holds up the model of the working bishop involved with the life of the people in the church, and he holds up the diaconate as a model of integrated daily work and ministry. To raise up the diaconate in this way is to use another teaching tool that models the servanthood of all people in the Church in our life and work.

After questions had been asked and answered everyone gathered in the church for evening prayer. It was then time for some rest, and The Reverend Reporter went back home for the night.

Next stop: Sparks, Wadsworth, Nixon, and Fallon.

Blessings,
RR+

Thin mountain air and a warm welcome at St. Patrick's, Incline Village

2007-09-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

After leaving Galilee the Magical Ministry Tour bus drove on to St.Pat's through a forest of Jeffrey pines. The road hugs Lake Tahoe along the way and we had a lovely view the water and the towering Sierra Nevadas on the California side. This is a view that The Reverend Reporter never tires of seeing, and it was clear that our out-of-town visitors were equally awed. Finally we pulled up to the church, a lovely wood-and-glass structure and were greeted by rector Jim Beebe, the associate clergy, and members of the congregation. After a lovely lunch on their deck we moved into the church for questions and answers.

The question I'll highlight is one that hadn't yet come up: what would you do to support the permanent diaconate?

Dan Edwards is fully committed to the ministry of vocational deacons. He sees their ministry as leading the people of God "to an outward-looking place." He emphasized that while it is often expected that priests be paid, deacons are expected to do enormous amounts of work without any kind of compensation and thinks that this needs to be changed as much as possible.

Cathy Deats is serving in a diocese which didn't have vocational deacons for a long time, and as a member of the Commission on Ministry was asked to develop guidelines for calling and training vocational deacons once her new bishop indicated his support. From this experience she believes that congregations need to be educated about what the ministry of the deacon actually is, and pointed to the deacon's role in our liturgy as a good way to learn about the deacon's call to proclaiming the Gospel, to servanthood, and to send us out "to love and serve the Lord."

Eric Funston believes in the unique role of the vocational diaconate and suggested that perhaps those called to the priesthood be ordained to that role directly instead of serving the customary 6 months as a transitional deacon. This would allow the uniqueness of the vocational diaconate to be stand on its own.

Susan Burns believes that deacons not only model the servant ministries of the Church, but they teach the rest of us how to serve. She disagreed with Eric (gasp! a milestone!) about the elimination of the transitional diaconate because it reminds all priests about the servant aspect of their own ministries.

Jeff Paul, the chair of the Commission on Ministry in Nevada, is supportive of the role of the vocational deacon and suggested that they keep the rest of us mindful of how to transform the world through our baptismal vows.

Al Keeney believes that the vocational diaconate is an "incredible sign" of sacramental ministry. Deacons are "the nags of the Church," constantly reminding us of the people who live beyond our vision.

Blessings,
RR+

Belated report from St. Peter's, Carson City

2007-09-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

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+

Day 5: Lake Tahoe to Reno

2007-09-18T10:00:00.001-07:00

The Reverend Reporter is enjoying the cool breezes and stunning scenery at Camp Galilee, Nevada's "cathedral in the pines," but one consequence of the rustic surroundings is an inability to get an Internet connection on my trusty laptop. I am using the Camp Director's computer at the moment, and this means that I cannot access my notes from the session at St. Peter's last night, and I cannot hog Stuart's computer for very long. We have a long day ahead of us and my ability to report in will be extremely limited, so this entry may be all you see today. Since The Reverend Reporter's mental acuity is not what it once was I will wait to report on the session at St. Peter's and instead give some highlights of our time at St. John's in the Wilderness this morning.

Very early this morning the bus began its climb from the valley floor and pushed on up the pass towards Lake Tahoe. If we had been able to open the windows we would no doubt have caught the delicious scent of pine that The Reverend Reporter always associates with going to a happy place like Galilee Camp and Conference Center. As we crested the top of the pass the first stunning blue glimpse of the lake came into view as the sun began to rise higher in the crispest of fall mountain skies.

Soon our trusty driver was negotiating the short steep road into the camp and the pretty stone building housing the congregation of St. John's. There we were met by Stuart Campbell, the new camp director, members of the Galilee Board, and Jerry Lamb, our faithful Assisting Bishop. After a typically delicious and massive breakfast served up by Chef Mitch we all waddled over to the church for a short question and answer session. Several great questions were asked of the candidates, but in the interest of brevity and so that I can give Stuart his computer back I will post the one which was the most unique of the questions that have been asked so far. It concerns the meeting of the House of Bishops, which is meeting in New Orleans this week to consider, among other things, the demands placed on the Episcopal Church as contained in a proposed Anglican Covenant. The questioner asked each candidate how as bishop they would approach such a meeting:

First, there were several common points of agreement amongst all the candidates. First, they would approach any such gathering in a spirit of prayerfulness and humility, keeping in mind the impact that any decision emanating from the House of Bishops would have on the church at home and abroad. All the candidates would also hope that any meeting such as this would keep its focus on the mission of the Church, which is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, keep focused on issues affecting our common life, and on social justice for all people.

Dan Edwards expressed his desire that all in the Anglican Communion would remain at the table, but he also observed that "we can't tie them to the table either." He sees the proposed Covenant as a work in progress, and if there was any way the bishops could sign off on it he would support doing so, but in its present form the proposed Covenant is not something that The Episcopal Church can agree to support as the conditions and terms of the Covenant violates much of what we have decided upon as a community of faith over the years. He also pointed out that the Covenant's call for adherence to the Thirty Nine Articles and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer as the normative standard for worship have never been something that The Episcopal Church has historically understood as our practice.

Eric Funston and Jeff Paul agreed with all of Dan's points, and Eric pointed out that this proposed Covenant is a document which was not a part of the original Primate's Communique issued earlier this year in Tanzania. He is not convinced that a covenant process is necessary, and that our foundational covenants are contained in the New Testament and in our practice of making decisions through the use of Scripture, tradition, and reason. Jeff asked us to consider whether "peace at any price," which adherence to the Covenant would represent, is something we want to agree to when so much of what we would be asked to change would have a direct, negative impact on the lives of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgenderd (LGBT) in our churches and communities. Jeff also cited some of the infammatory language emanating from leaders in African churches as an example of what "peace at any price" would cost us.

Susan Burns was in agreement with all the preceding comments that were made and remarked that the House of Bishops had already responded to the Primates after the Tanzania meeting when they declared that they did not have the authority to change the decisions made at General Convention. Cathy Deats is not convinced that setting a Covenant down on paper is the way to go - God's law is, after all, already written on our hearts. She is concerned that the angry rhetoric and controversy has already distracted us from our ministry and mission in the world, and that we need to re-focus our energies. Al Keeney's response is that we must always speak the truth in love and to reiterate our love and support for LGBT in the life of the Church, and to keep on clarifying our mission, which is to spread the Gospel in a hurting world. Like Cathy, he also expressed concern that our work is being hampered by angry rhetoric and division.

All in all, it was an excellent session with great questions and thoughtful responses. Now I must go and spend a little time enjoying the wonders of God's creation in this beautiful place along with the rest of the group. This has been good but hard work and there has been precious little time for exercise, so now it's time for The Reverend Reporter to take a hike.

Blessings,
RR+

Day 4: Hawthorne to Carson City

2007-09-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

We’re in high desert country now as we roll out of Hawthorne and skirt Walker Lake, shining like a jewel in the midst of the sagebrush. The air is cooler, the foliage is greener, and both trees and cattle begin to dot the landscape. After the heat of the Las Vegas valley The Reverend Reporter (a northern Nevadan) is relieved to finally return to higher altitude and cooler climate. We spent the morning cruising through Pauite country, then rolled passed lush alfalfa fields before driving through the small tidy town of Yerington before dropping down into the Carson Valley and into Carson City, capital of Nevada.

We're back in the city (well, sort of) after getting a taste of rural Nevada, and our first stop after lunch was the State Legislature building, where the candidates meet with representatives of the Religious Alliance in Nevada, an ecumenical advocacy group that "addresses issues of social justice in the state legislature and the public arena." One of the most powerful presentations was by The Rev. Jane Foraker-Thompson, a prison chaplain, who described the crisis conditions inside Nevada prisons and told us about her work in prison reform. Afterwards the candidates met with Justice James Hardesty of the Nevada Supreme Court, and at this point The Reverend Reporter slipped away for a needed caffeine break and to fetch my laptop for this evening's walkabout, which I must hasten away to attend.

Candidate links

2007-09-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

In case you'd like to learn more about the parishes where our candidates currently serve, here's a point-and-click list:

Church of the Redeemer, Bethesda MD (Susan Burns)
St. James' Episcopal Church, Hackettstown NJ (Cathy Deats)
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Macon GA (Dan Edwards)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Medina OH (Eric Funston)
St. John's Episcopal Church, Canindaigua NY (Al Keeney)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Carson City NV (Jeff Paul)

So many questions

2007-09-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

The Reverend Reporter is in awe of the candidates ability to field such a large and diverse number of questions at our different stops. It must be exhausting, and on occasion I've wondered whether they sometimes feel like this:

Day 3: Gone from the City - Pahrump to Hawthorne

2007-09-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

Early this morning the Magical Ministry Tour left Las Vegas and began our ride out into rural, small town Nevada. The Reverend Reporter, who until this time had never before encountered the grandeur of early morning in the southern Nevada desert, stared out the window in wonder at the razor-sharp mountain ranges that framed the valley around us. It felt very much like being in a cathedral painted with subtle colors as though etched by the very finger of God. Joshua trees dotted the landscape and broken rocks cast shadows on the sand. Then we began to climb "over the hump to Pahrump," climbing from the valley floor into the Red Rocks canyon.

After about an hour's drive we entered the town of Pahrump and met the people of St. Martin's in the Desert Episcopal Church. The spread that had been laid out for us was so abundant that I sincerely wished I hadn't eaten breakfast at the hotel. As The Entourage stood in the frame of their new-church-in-progress and met the people of this dynamic and growing church we heard stories of excitement and anticipation as their community expands and seeks new ways to serve.

On this leg of the journey I met someone amazing: Joan Kennedy, founder of the Knitting Nancys. This group of approximately 15 people started when one of the younger parishioners asked Joan to teach her to crochet, and interest in yarnwork began increasing in the parish. The Knitting Nancys now meet every week and have created blankets for newborns at the local hospital and clinic, donated handmade caps for sailors, and have made lap blankets for hospital patients. Talking with Joan was a wonderful reminder of how God uses what gifts and talents we already have in order to serve and love others as Jesus did for us.

After coffee and questions (which I shall post in more detail tomorrow) all went to the small church for a spirited time of worship. The Spirit is clearly at work in this wonderful community and it was a true blessing to participate in the Holy Eucharist here. After too short a time we were back on the bus for the very long trip to Tonopah.

Cathy Deats finds a fellow ASL signer

Dan and Linda Edwards

Our next stop was in Tonopah, an old mining town. The congregation of St. Mark's Episcopal Church is a very small one and they have not had a priest for some time. There we were hosted by 4 active members of the parish and heard clearly their pain and distress at not being able to participate in the Holy Eucharist very often. The candidates listened carefully to the community's fears of being closed or fading away and offered as much assurance as they could that they would not be forgotten. Their determination to survive and their acute need for a spiritual leader made our drive toward Hawthorne a sober and reflective one. The Reverend Reporter does not exaggerate when I say that this community will be in the thoughts and prayers of all of us who visited there today.

Finally we came to Hawthorne, a very small town located near Walker Lake. This town has been a center of military activity for a long time, but that presence has been cut back significantly over the years, leaving behind a shrinking economy and population. Although the Episcopal parish in Hawthorne is now closed we were able to enjoy dinner with Mildred Springer, a longtime resident of Hawthorne and an active member of the diocese. The candidates listened to her reminisce about the days of Bishop Frensdorff and her many years involvement with Total Ministry and answered questions she put to them. It was a pleasant end to a very long day.

Tomorrow we move on to Carson City, and it is time for The Reverend Reporter to get some sleep. But first, a prayer from the Compline service:

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

Blessings,
RR+

More from All Saints

2007-09-16T21:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday evening we were treated to an abundance of hospitality at All Saints parish in Las Vegas. We were welcomed by Rector Ed Lovelady and members of the parish, and during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist we had some phenomenal preaching by a member of the congregation whose name I am ashamed to say I didn’t catch. After a delicious dinner served by member and caterer Beth Pokorny and her son Matthew we proceed to a lively question and answer session with the candidates. The panel question asked each candidate to name two highlights of their current ministry, and here are their responses:

St. Francis parish in Macon, where Dan Edwards is Rector, is one of the largest financial supporters of Diversity House, a residence for persons living with AIDS. Dan is also committed to a ministry of reconciliation, working to heal those people who have suffered spiritual injury by their churches.

Eric Funston, a former lawyer, began a Red Mass in his community of Medina, Ohio. The Red Mass is an annual worship and charitable event for members of a local court and legal community, and the Red Mass in Medina has been raising funds for Blue Coats, an organization aiding first responders (firefighters, police officers, etc.) injured in the line of duty. Eric and his parish also began a music ministry, opening the doors of their church for Brown Bag Concerts performed by students from the music departments of the local colleges. All proceeds from the freewill offering taken during the concerts are donated to music programs in the community.

Al Keeney’s community, St. John’s Church in the diocese of Rochester, has been transformed from what he decribed as a “cold and troubled congregation” to one that is hospitable, welcoming, and dedicated to outreach. St. John’s operates a soup kitchen and an outreach ministry to patients discharged from the local VA hospital. Al has also led participation in the healing and restoration of the church’s youth group, which had dissolved in the wake of sexual misconduct by one of the group leaders. Today St. John’s enjoys a large youth group with a strong Journey to Adulthood program.

Jeff Paul has transformed a congregation which had developed a reputation as being hostile to the presence of children and youth to one where people of all ages are full participants in worship, education, and parish leadership. St. Peter’s is also involved with Circles of Support, a coalition of interfaith leaders, business people, local government officials, and law enforcement personnel in the Carson City area who are dedicated to ending poverty in Nevada.

Susan Burns worked with parishioners in memorizing the Passion Gospel and presented a re-enactment during Holy Week, which brought home all the drama and meaning of one of our most sacred narratives to her congregation. The following year members of Redeemer did the same with the Gospel for the Easter Vigil. Susan believes that by “inwardly digesting” Scripture members of the congregation were literally able to embody the sacred stories. She and members of her congregation are also supporters and participants in Street Church, a weekly outdoor Holy Eucharist and lunch for the homeless which is held in a park in Washington D.C. Worshipping with those who are poor and marginalized has had a profound impact on Susan’s understanding of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Cathy Deats once again highlighted St. James’ ministry to the deaf, and also described an “accidental” ministry to a group of teenagers. Upon opening the church doors for an early morning Ash Wednesday service she found a group of young people hanging out on the church steps while waiting for the bus to take them to school. She and a group of parishioners supplied them coffee and company once a week, and this outreach continued until the city moved the bus stop to another location.

Isn’t it interesting how all these stories, although different, highlight the importance of serving not just our own needs but those of the community around us?

Blessings,
RR+

Care of the Self: An Excerpt from Session at All Saints

2007-09-16T06:37:00.001-07:00

The question(s) was asked: what do you do to relax and rejuvenate, and how do you keep fit?

Cathy Deats swims, kayaks, walks, throws pots, and studied the cello for about 8 years. She has competed in a triathalon and in the Senior Olympics.

Susan Burns runs marathons, goes walking, reads, and walks her two dogs.

Jeff Paul walks and works out with light weights, and loves spending time hiking in the mountains and being with his family.

Al Keeney works out at a local gym, likes to read, watch movies, and loves to travel. He is serious about keeping his day off sacred and always takes his vacation.

Eric Funston has a daily walking routine and does carpentry.

Dan Edwards works out at a gym, likes to walk, writes poetry, reads novels, and enjoys the theater.

Goodnight, Nevada

2007-09-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a very long day and we are hitting the road very early tomorrow, so rather than blog sloppily and inaccurately tonight I will get some rest and be back sometime tomorrow. Until then:

We give thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Creampuffs and Questions at Grace in the Desert

2007-09-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Reverend Reporter has a confession to make: upon arriving at the lovely parish of Grace in the Desert I slipped away to have a long-awaited meeting with a youth ministry counterpart. Although I returned towards the end of the session the discussion was brisk and there was lots of good energy.

The table laden with goodies was memorable, as was sitting in the sanctuary and meditating on the plain cross framed by the enormous glass window behind the altar. Oh yes, the chocolate-dipped creampuffs were delightful, and even though I didn't quite earn them by sitting through the entire meeting I did pop one (well, maybe two) into my mouth as I was leaving.

Day 2: Southern Nevada continued

2007-09-15T16:29:00.001-07:00

Today began with a lively and well-attended session at Church of the Epiphany. The candidates all had a chance to answer questions that were already familiar as well as some new ones. The ever-popular topic of same-sex blessings came up again, and although their answers were substantially the same as the ones they gave yesterday evening, all reiterated their commitment to respecting and honoring the opinions of those who disagree with them and with those for whom this issue is still undecided. All the candidates emphasized the need for mutual respect, continuing dialogue, and mutual learning.

Without a doubt the question that provoked the most original and hilarious responses was the question posed by The Rev. Helen McPeak: describe a time when you have been able to be playful in your ministry. Here's a sample of the answers:

Cathy Deats talked about an incident during a children's sermon when she gave the kids cards with the different names for Jesus on them and asked them to stick them on various surfaces inside the church. At one point she said to one of the children, "which name do you have? Oh...Christ." She then felt compelled to assure her amused congregation that she didn't mean to say "Oh...Christ" in a swearing kind of way.

Eric Funston described the Good News Box that he used during his sermons. The Good News Box was given to a different family each week and they would place an item in it, and the item would have to be referenced by the preacher during the sermon. On this particular Sunday Eric opened the box to find a live chicken inside.

On the topic of diocesan growth Susan Burns explained that there needed to be "a buzz" about a church. Church needs to be exciting in order to attract people inside, where they can then learn more about our mission, our traditions, and our people. Al Keeney reminded us that the church is in a new phase of its life - we can't build the big churches that we used to, and this may be a good thing since there is so much more to being church than having a building. We need to find places of growth and find ways to plant churches that are willing to be less tied to property and more tied to mission. He cited the place where we sat (Epiphany meets in rented space in an industrial park) as a way of growing church in non-traditional ways.

Whoops! It's time to be off to All Saints. More later from that meeting and from the session at Grace in the Desert.

Blessings.
RR+

Day 2: Images from Church of the Epiphany

2007-09-15T16:14:00.001-07:00

Day 2 began with a great turnout and good snacks at Epiphany in Henderson, a thriving new faith community. Below are some images of today's session:

Cathy Deats hanging out with camera-conscious young parishioner.

Dan Edwards (sans hat!)

Helen McPeak, one of Epiphany's clergy

Susan Burns

Kay Rohde of St. Christopher's, Boulder City

The Big Issues

2007-09-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening at Christ Church the candidates had the opportunity to present their views on a wide-range of issues. Some questions were more personal, while others were specific to local concerns or addressed wider questions facing the larger Church. Below is a synopsis of responses given to several important questions:

On the topic of same-sex blessings all the candidates affirmed their support for the full inclusion of all persons in the life of the Church, including those who are identify as gay or lesbian. Cathy Deats, Susan Burns, and Al Keeney support blessings for same-sex couples without reservation as long as the canons and regulations governing marriage are observed. Jeff Paul cited the lack of venue for same-sex blessings in the Book of Common Prayer as a barrier to performing ceremonies to bless same-sex relationships and believes that the Church should engage in a "season of fasting" while the issue is studied more completely. Both Dan Edwards and Eric Funston support some rite of blessing for committed same-sex couples but pointed out that since the Marriage Rite has already pretty well defined "marriage" as blessing the union between a man and a woman that an alternative rite needs to be approved.

Diversity was another issue that arose, and all candidates pledged their support of programs that increased diversity of all kinds. While not all the candidates are currently serving in parishes where there was racial diversity, almost all were able to point to instances where issues of class and wealth, disability, and age were present and how they continued to work for justice and inclusion in there situations.

On the local/diocesan front, matters such as divisions between the northern and southern parts of the state arose as well as a discussion of the fact that most diocesan clergy were not seminary trained. All the candidates were aware of these issues but were not able to speak to the north-south problem at length since they are unfamiliar with the history and ongoing tensions, but all agreed that any division between persons and congregations interfered with the mission of the Church to bring the Good News into the world and that steps would need to be taken to, in the words of Dan Edwards, "repair the covenant." All the candidates are aware that most diocesan clergy are locally trained and agreed that it would be imperative for the bishop to immediately review the history, resources, policies, and issues facing locally trained candidates so that all former "Canon 9" priests received the best training possible in order to serve the wider Church.

And finally, ministry to youth was a hot topic. Various questions such as "what programs do you support?," and "how do we get more youth in our churches?" were among the youth-related questions asked of the candidates. While all the candidates have active youth ministries in their own parishes and use a variety of programs and methods in their ministry settings, there were some specific answers. Cathy Deats cited the difference between just having youth programs and the full inclusion of youth in the life of the parish. Youth who are fully included in all aspects of parish life (liturgy, outreach and service, etc.) tend to relate to the church community on a more full and equal basis. Susan Burns also advocates for full inclusion of youth so that they may be more fully informed (and therefore more invested) in what is going on in the local and larger Church. Jeff Paul talked about bringing youth into the core of parish life, and reminded his listeners that there will be some sacrifice in money, time, and attitudes in order to accomplish this. Al Keeney believes that youth ministry is related to congregational growth when churches focus on youth and young adults the unchurched adults invariably follow them. Eric Funston believes that the bishop must be personally involved with youth and their concerns, and cited the importance of good diocesan programming such as camps, and noted that programs for youth have to be contextual and workable models for different congregations. Dan Edwards stated that there is nothing more important than imparting the faith to our young people and that the bishop must be fully involved in that process.

There you have it, friends. There was much more but no time to write it all. More to follow today as we begin our second days of visits to the Las Vegas area.

Blessings,
RR+

Uniqueness

2007-09-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the candidates were asked, "What is unique about you and your ministry?" Here's a sample of their replies:

Cathy Deats is fluent in American Sign Language and has a deaf deacon on the staff of her parish in New Jersey. The ministry to the deaf at St. James has prompted not only deaf people to join the congregation, but to inspire hearing parishioners to learn some ASL in order to converse with the deaf members of their faith community.

Al Keeney feels called to help congregations which are suffering significant setbacks become healthy again, to develop outreach-based programs, and to establish meaningful Christian education and formation programs for both youth and adults. Al cited the founding of a soup kitchen at his present parish and support for a community rape crisis center as examples of bringing a local faith community through a period of difficulty to one where the parish is now living out the Gospel in a concrete way.

Dan Edwards couldn't help mentioning his fondness for silly hats (!), but then talked about how much he loved going to aquariums and spending time in awe of the amazing diversity of the the fish he was observing. He brings this love of aquatic difference into his life and ministry. He is comfortable living with difference and is not afraid of conflict and finds it natural to bring these traits into a ministry of reconciliation to conflicted congregations.

Susan Burns believes that her uniqueness is found in the way that she has been able to integrate her gifts, talents, and life experiences into a holistic sense of herself. She has accomplished this through a disciplined life of prayer and meditation and careful listening to God. She has a passion for justice and reconciliation and a love of difference which has manifested itself in various ways, including her legal work, in interfaith dialogue, and in ministry to the homeless.

Jeff Paul loves preaching discussion-based sermons, where members of a congregation become involved in the give-and-take of ideas. He has a passion for ministry to youth and young adults and seeks ways of transforming these types of ministries into a more intergenerational setting with the needs of youth at their core.

Eric Funston has a passion for developing and supporting ministries that take place outside the four walls of the church building, such as outreach to the elderly and homeless.

Day 1 continued: a few photos

2007-09-15T06:26:00.001-07:00

Since The Reverend Reporter is just a poor curate s/he does not have access to a fine, high-resolution digital camera, so please excuse the somewhat grainy photos. All pictures were taken yesterday at Holy Spirit, Bullhead City.

Al Keeney answers a question.

Cathy Deats talks with parishioners. Jon Davidson of the Search Committee and Allen Burns (husband of candidate Susan Burns) in the background.

Eric Funston (left) and Jeff Paul

Day 1: Southern Nevada

2007-09-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a long and busy day for the bishop candidates and it was a very long day for The Reverend Reporter as well. Since I am so exhausted I can barely see straight I will post just the highlights of the day and promise a lengthier report in the morning.

This first day featured short and informal stops in Boulder City and Bullhead City AZ and a longer question-and-answer session at Christ Church in Las Vegas. At St. Christopher's the candidates spent their time introducing themselves and talking about the ministries their parishes are currently engaged in. Their presentations put flesh on their biographies and gave us a chance to get to know everyone better.

The lunchtime session at Holy Spirit focused more on questions dealing with local ministry issues, training of lay ministers, and how to bring our only out-of-state parish into closer partnership with the rest of the diocese. The question and answer period was filled with thoughtful exchanges that brought into sharp focus the needs of small, local churches in need of care and attention.

The evening session at Christ Church was much more exhaustive and I do have detailed notes of the candidates' responses to a variety of questions. In the interests of clarity and good reporting I shall continue tomorrow after I've had some sleep.

The Reverend Reporter once again urges all Nevada Episcopalians to attend one of these sessions if you can. They are important, informative, and in an odd way, a lot of fun.

More tomorrow...plus photos.

Blessings,
RR+

Walkabouts begin Friday

2007-09-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

Our candidates for bishop will be arriving in Nevada very shortly, and the walkabouts will offer us all a great opportunity to meet them and find out more about who they are. In turn, they will get to tour the length and breadth of the Silver State, and I'm sure that they'll be both surprised and impressed with the beauty and diversity of this place as well as its vast size.

I am privileged to be able to accompany this wonderful group of people on their journey, and it will be educational for me as well since I have not been able to spend much time getting to know the state. Here's what you can expect from this blog over the next week, and what you will not see:

I will report on the walkabouts to the best of my ability and post as soon as possible after the event is finished. In places where there is no Internet access I may not be able to report in right away, but I will do so as soon as I can find somewhere to get connected.
I will report my general impressions of the setting we find ourselves in.

Now here's what's not going to be reported:

I will only blog the proceeds of the walkabout visits. Anything that happens on the bus, at meals, during prayers, and in hotels is strictly off limits. Not only do the candidates and their spouses deserve privacy, I don't want to spend a week on a bus with everyone being afraid to talk to me. In other words, if you're looking for gossip, you ain't gonna get any.
I will not offer my opinion on how the visits went, the theological finesse of the candidate's answers, or who I think would be the best person for the job of Bishop of Nevada. My opinion doesn't matter: yours does.
I will only say nice things about the food and coffee at each stop.

Let's all remember to pray for the candidates, their spouses, those who travel, and all those who will choose our next bishop. See you soon!

Blessings,
RR+

About our congregations

2007-09-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

As anyone who lives in Nevada knows, we live in a very large and diverse place in terms of geography, terrain, weather, and history. All these factors shape who we are and the stories of the places we find ourselves in. I would like to encourage those readers who are members of Nevada congregations to spend a little time telling the rest of us about your church. This space averages about 30-40 hits per day right now, and I think it would be interesting for the rest of us to learn more about the vast place we call the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. If you feel so inclined, please use the comment box option, and no, you don't have to leave your name. There's only one rule: be kind.

As much as The Reverend Reporter would dearly love to start off the storytelling, to do so would blow cover, so to speak. So, the floor is all yours, dear readers.

Blessings,
RR+

Trivia question answer

2007-09-04T07:36:00.001-07:00

There are 14 women currently in the House of Bishops, one of whom is our former bishop and now Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Hat tip to Louie Crew for the stats.

Another trivia question

2007-09-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

Soon there will be more real news for me to publish, but in the meantime here's another trivia question for you:

How many women are members of the House of Bishops?

The answer will be posted on Tuesday.

Blessings,

RR+

Update: Final walkabout schedule set!

2007-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Everything is ready for the Magical Episcopal Tour coming to a church near you. The Reverend Reporter hopes that Episcopalians all over the state of Nevada will make the time to attend one of these important sessions. If the prospect of meeting a bunch of priests doesn't excite you, you can always pretend that we're rock stars on tour.

Friday, 9/14:
St. Christopher's, Boulder City. 8:45-10:00 am.
Holy Spirit, Bullhead City AZ, 12:30-2:30 pm
Christ Church, Las Vegas. 6:00-10:00 pm (including Holy Eucharist).

Saturday, 9/15:
Epiphany, Henderson, 9-10:30 am;
Grace in the Desert, Las Vegas. 12:15-2:15 pm.
All Saints, Las Vegas, 7:00-10:00 pm

Sunday, 9/16:
St. Martin's, Pahrump. 9:00-11:30 am (including Holy Eucharist).
St. Mark's, Tonopah, 3:00-4:00 pm.

Monday, 9/17:
RAIN & prison ministries, Carson City, 2:45-4:45 pm
St. Peter's, Carson City, 5:00-9:00 pm.

Tuesday, 9/18:
Camp Galilee/St. John's in the Wilderness. 8-10 am.
St. Patrick's, Incline Village, 12:45-2:45 pm.
Trinity, Reno. 6:30-10:00 pm.

Wednesday, 9/19:
St. Paul's, Sparks. 9:00-10:30 am.
St. Michael and All Angels, Wadsworth. 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
St. Mary the Virgin, Nixon, 2:00-2:30 pm.
Holy Trinity, Fallon. 5:00-9:00 pm.

Thursday, 9/20:
Grace-St. Francis, Lovelock, 10:30-11:30 am
St. Mary's Winnemucca. 12:30-2:00 pm.
St. Paul's, Elko. 5:00-9:00 pm.

Friday, 9/21:
St. Bartholomew's, Ely. 11:30 am-1:00 pm.
Christ Church, Pioche. 3:00-4:00 pm.

How many miles do you think we'll be travelling? Any guesses?

Your Turn to Talk: Youth Ministry in Nevada

2007-08-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

Our new bishop will come to his/her new office facing a number of different challenges. One of them will undoubtedly be the current state of ministry to youth in the diocese of Nevada. I now humbly ask those of you reading this blog to think about how this ministry might be strengthened so that our youth might be best served by our church.

Naturally, the opinions of the youth of the diocese are very important, and I hope that those of you who are youth will take the time to comment.

Blessings,
RR+

Bishop Candidates Answers to Essay Questions Now Available

2007-08-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

It's a busy news day in the diocese of Nevada!

As part of the application process each candidate was asked to submit answers to three questions. Their answers have now been posted on the diocesan web site.To access the essays for each candidate please click on the following links:

Susan Burns
Cathy Deats
Dan Edwards
Eric Funston
Al Keeney
Jeff Paul

Petition Candidate Announced

2007-08-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Jeffrey Paul, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Carson City, has been added to the list of candidates being considered for Bishop of Nevada. A link to more information about the Rev. Paul will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Update: More information is here.

Was church like this for you today?

2007-08-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Cartoon courtesy of Dave Walker and his Cartoon Church site.

Nevada Episcopal Church Trivia Question

2007-08-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

What are the oldest and newest Episcopal congregations in the Silver State?
(Answer will be posted on Sunday).

Answer to trivia question

2007-08-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

None of our readers gave this question a shot, so here's the answer:

Bishop-elect Sean Rowe of the diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania was 32 years old at the time of his election this past May. He will be consecrated on September 8th.

...and now for something completely different.

2007-08-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'll probably get in trouble for posting this, but I just couldn't help myself. Enjoy (or not, as the case may be)!

RR+

Bishop Trivia: Question 2

2007-08-16T15:22:00.001-07:00

Who is the youngest member of the House of Bishops?

Try to find the answer and leave it in the comments section. I'll confirm the correct answer or post the answer on Sunday.

Welcome from the Search Committee

2007-08-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the blog designed to provide instant access to information about the Bishop candidates and our scheduled September trek around the Diocese! We are definitely on the cutting edge with this technology and are very grateful to our Reverend Reporter who is skilled in this area and is eager to keep us informed.

In addition to providing Nevada Episcopalians with up-to-date quips and quotes, this blog will also present the various media venues at each walkabout stop with photos and press releases for their use. We are very hopeful that easy access to this information will result in additional positive press for the Episcopal Church in our diocese.

The Search Committee has been hard at work for the past nine months to fulfill the charge given to us by the Standing Committee. The walkabouts will be the final leg of this lengthy journey and we are very excited for you to meet and greet the candidates, ask questions and be as informed as possible prior to the beginning of balloting on Friday, October 12, 2007. Please be sure to attend the walkabout scheduled in your area and read this blog for additional up-to-date information as the walkabouts proceed.

We look forward to seeing you!

- Candi Jones
Chair, Search Committee

Convention reminders

2007-08-07T11:03:00.001-07:00

In addition to being a newshound and blogger, The Reverend Reporter is also a first-class nag (just ask the Rector at the parish where s/he works). Have you made your arrangements to attend diocesan convention yet? Well, if not, here are the details and info for you to download:

Diocesan Convention takes place on October 12-14 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. For information about reserving a room at the special group rate, go here. The deadline for reserving a room at the special rate is September 25th.

All diocesan clergy, adult lay delegates, youth delegates, and visitors wishing to attend convention need to register. Information about that is here. The actual registration form is here. Be sure to register before August 24th, because if you register later you'll have to pay more, and who wants to do that?

Did you know that there will be a party on Saturday? Wow! Time for fancy clothes (what are fancy clothes in Nevada, anyway?). You'll need to order a dinner if you'll be attending, and that info is on the registration form.

This has been a public service announcement designed to save you money, time, and aggravation.

God bless!
RR+

Episcopal Church Trivia

2007-08-03T13:43:00.002-07:00

True or false? You can answer below in the comment box:

No one shall be ordained and consecrated bishop until the attainment of 30 years of age.

From the Standing Committee

2007-08-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

As President of the Standing Committee I welcome you to this space. I am excited about this new resource to keep everyone informed as we continue on our journey of prayerful discernment in the selection of a new Bishop. I invite you to visit this new venue often to keep abreast of developments. God’s continued blessings!

- The Rev Jim Kelly

Greetings from the Great Basin

2007-08-02T10:41:00.001-07:00

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Welcome to the official newsblog for the bishop search in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. News, updates, links to the diocesan website, and liveblogging during the walkabout process will be posted here regularly, and I will also post questions from time to time in order to elicit the comments of those of us who live and worship in the diocese. You will also see guest postings from members of the Standing, Search, and Transition Committees in order to explain and clarify the process of electing a bishop.

First, it's important to understand what this blog is for:

It is primarily a source of news and information for people in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, especially those living in the more isolated areas of the state who may not be able to attend the walkabouts.
It is a place to leave general comments and observations in response to posted questions.

...and this is what this blog is not intended to be:

a forum from which the bishop candidates can "campaign." The candidates will be made aware of the existence of this site, which is only fair since it's about them, but the walkabouts are the appropriate place for them to address Nevada Episcopalians.
a place to ask questions of the candidates. Again, the walkabouts are the place to do that.
a forum to debate the policies of the national Church. There are plenty of blogs around representing every conceivable point of view, and it won't be hard for you to find them if that's what you're looking for. This blog will not provide or maintain links to such sites.

... and the Reverend Reporter's role is:

to maintain this site by posting updates and links whenever they are provided by diocesan officials.
to pose the occasional questions for your comments.
to moderate comments by keeping discussions on track, and if necessary, deleting comments that are abusive, consistently off-topic, or which persist in engaging in debates about the national church.
to travel with the candidates during the walkabouts and either liveblog or post a report as soon as possible after the forum is adjourned.
Live blog during the diocesan convention and post ballot results.

This site is for you, Nevada Episcopalians. God bless!