GRACE AND JOY

DioET Connectionsfall/winter 2017 t vol 4, issue 3

From Bishop George 2

Letter From Bishop-Elect Brian 5

SUMMA Debate Camp - ‘Don’t Go to Win’ 6

Pilgrimage to Kondoa, Tanzania 8

From Our Head to Our Heart 11

Bringing EYE Home 12

Around the Diocese 14

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It sounds cliché, but one of the constants in all of our lives is change. And usually there are some life-giving things about change, and some things that are marked by loss. This is certainly one of those occasions for me, because as I journey through this transition – some of it is wonderfully life-giving, and some is truly loss.

The parts I like are moving back home to Florida where most of my family is, living with my beloved Kammy every single day, having time and space for a slower pace of life, and ending my love/hate relationship with my car with which I’ve spent countless hours and miles over these years.

The parts characterized by loss are all about leaving you. I have loved you, and you have loved me. I love you now, and I will always love you. From the time I was elected, and especially after I arrived in East Tennessee, you have been kind, supportive, encouraging, cooperating, fun, honest, and real with me. You have been patient and understanding and creative and faithful and we have done some wonderful Jesus living and serving together. And I am grateful. So, so grateful!

I have said on many occasions that one of the greatest gifts of the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee is that we are young, only being born in 1985. And that is a tremendous gift. We don’t have the burden of heavy traditions (“we’ve always done it that way”), and instead we have the lightness of being that brings flexibility and openness and light-heartedness. Incredible! We have very healthy and faithful clergy, strong and committed lay leaders, and diocesan structures that aren’t overbearing but are nimble. And overall, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. That’s a good thing; a dang good thing!

So many relationships and experiences in my years with you have brought me such tremendous joy. Things like:

n The outstanding diocesan staff I’ve been privileged to serve with

n The pure joy and fun it is to spend Sundays and other days worshipping with you

MY DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS,

DioET Connections is a publication of:

The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee 814 Episcopal School Way Knoxville TN 37932 65.966.2110 http://dioet.org

DioET Connections is published four times a year by the Office of Communications of The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee.

Publisher: The Rt. Rev. George D. Young, III

Editor : Vikki M:yers

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News & Inspiration is our monthly eNewsletter, which features events around the diocese or of interest to our folks, news, pictures, and stories of interest in addition to loads of inspiration to be found in the stories of our churches. If you have an item you’d like to share in our eNews, please send it to Vikki Myers, editor@dioet.org.

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FROM THE BISHOP | THE RT. REV. GEORGE D. YOUNG, III

baptizing, confirming, receiving, and reaffirming your people; eating meals with you; meeting with your vestries; celebrating new beginnings and grieving losses

n Discerning the shapes of calls to ministry, especially to ordained ministry with so many incredibly gifted and capable people who have and will become priests and deacons, and ordaining so many of them

n My lifelong love for camp has been rejuvenated at Grace Point, where children, youth, and adults can go to be formed as Christians: to learn, grow, be accepted and renewed and loved; where they know they belong and are somebody. We all know that God is everywhere; what you maybe didn’t know is that God gets the mail at Grace Point.

n Restarting the college ministry in Chattanooga under the Project Canterbury title, and the birth of Southside Abbey, as well as the ongoing powerful college ministries at Tyson House (UTK) and Emmaus House (ETSU)

n The recent beginning of Living Local: Joining God is an initiative that has so much promise and invitation for us to learn new (to us) and helpful and necessary ways to be followers of Jesus in our neighborhoods, churches, and the world

n Working with Knox County faith leaders to build Justice Knox: a gathering of people of all faiths to address and respond powerfully to problems in our community

n My annual meetings with Senior Wardens in each region, and Youth Leaders in each region, and Retired Clergy in each region. These have been occasions of networking and honest conversation, informal time together and deep hospitality.

n Our Diocesan Conventions. (I know – you love to go to conventions.) Honestly, we have been blessed by a great number of presenters: Eric Law and Dwight Zscheile and Stephanie Spellers and others – who have celebrated and inspired and equipped us to be the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement in East Tennessee.

One of the particularly significant experiences for me has been inviting you on my visitations to make a Reaffirmation of your Baptismal Vows. In addition to those who have prepared for the day to be baptized or confirmed or received, you have come forward –

sometimes just a few of you, and other times almost the whole congregation – to reaffirm your intention to follow Jesus. I have seen the power of that in your faces, and in the congregations, and that brings me not only great joy, but hope. And hope, after all, is what it’s all about.

If you’ve ever attended a service at which I have presided, you’ve heard me say:

Sometimes, when people think of “the diocese,” they think of those of us who work in that building in Knoxville. But we’re not the diocese, YOU and the people of the other fifty or so parishes and worshipping communities in this part of the state – YOU are the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee.

And when I’ve asked you that question in the Baptism and Confirmation liturgies, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” you have shouted, “WE WILL!” I hope you’ll keep that promise, and that you’ll BE the church, you’ll BE the accepting, encouraging, reconciling followers of Jesus our communities and world so desperately need. You have shown yourselves to be those things to me; please, please keep it up!

In December, Kammy and I will move into a small home we’ve built in Pensacola, Florida. Our son George and daughter Lucy and son-in-law Rob all live in Pensacola, and the beach is not too far away. And, the Florida State Seminoles are not too far away. We’re training to be grandparents. Kammy will do some work with the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast as well as groundwork for a justice ministry like Justice Knox. I’m planning to take some time off, and then discern where the Spirit may lead me. I feel drawn to spend time and energy for a season engaging people outside of the traditional parochial church, getting out in the neighborhood. I might drive a school bus, or substitute teach, or do income taxes, or maybe even be an ice cream man. Who knows what adventures will present themselves to me and to us? I have no doubt that you have prepared me well to continue living into God’s dream.

And wherever I go, and whatever I do, I will always be inspired and held up by the unbelievable love and joy and affection that you have so freely and playfully shared with me over these years. I am eternally blessed. I am forever grateful. I love you very much. Thank you, and God bless you!

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DEAR EAST TENNESSEE PEOPLE,Grace, mercy, and peace to you from Christ Jesus, our Risen Lord.

Susan and I headed north to Wisconsin for two weeks of vacation in August hoping to catch our breath before stepping back into the whirlwind of leave taking from Good Shepherd and moving to Knoxville and new life in East Tennessee. We thank you for your prayers then and now as we continue to pray for you and the shared ministry ahead.

While lay and clergy delegates gathered at St. John’s Cathedral on July 28th, Susan and I (and our dog, Jerry Lee) were home at 136 Forest Avenue. We remembered the delegates in our prayers that day, and continued to pray for the band of pilgrims from the Walkabout Bus.

I have run only one marathon in my life. At the end of the 26.2 miles, I found myself moved to tears. Months

of preparation and plans all culminated in one moment as I crossed the finish line, right behind the friend who had trained with me. Even before the first ballot results, I found myself with tears again. Hendree, Frank, Marty, Lance, and I were completing a discernment journey we had traveled together for months.

I was upstairs in my study when Bishop George called to tell us the news that there had been an election and that you all had chosen us to join you. Susan was with me and reminded me I had to actually say I accepted the election results! She is quite good with the details.

Along with saying yes to the election, the conversation with George allowed me to express my thanks to Hendree and his friendship in this process. We are fortunate that he is a priest in The Episcopal Church and in the Diocese of East Tennessee. I have already learned much from him.

Throughout that day, I got in my 10,000 steps without even leaving the house. Up and down, to and fro, pacing and praying. At the end of the day, Susan and I joined with two neighbors (and Jerry Lee) to have a meal together and to give thanks for the day.

The next morning, I called Bishop Bob Johnson, the bishop who had ordained me years ago. It is my hope that he will be present with us on December 2nd, at Church of the Ascension for the ordination. Talking to him the day after the election was a chance for me to express my thanks to him, for his encouragement and support of me over the years, in moments of joy and sorrow. He remains my bishop, forever my pastor.

My prayer is that, through the grace of God, I will inhabit the work of a bishop with as much grace and joy as I have seen in Bishop Johnson’s life. He has found deep joy in the work.

I hope to see you soon, somewhere in the sacred landscape of East Tennessee.

Peace,

Brian +

A LETTER FROM OUR BISHOP-ELECT

Bishop-elect Brian Cole wrote this letter shortly after his election as the 5th bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee.

Bishop-elect Cole and his wife, Susan Weatherford, pose for a picture with their shepherd and friend, Walter Puckett, at Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center. The three posed for a picture during the walkabouts prior to the bishop election in July.

Photo by Jennifer Dunn

DioET Connections JAN-FEB 2016

Anna Ervin, a high school freshman from St. Raphael, Crossville, found new friends and reveled in the

experience of debate at a week-long SUMMA Debate Camp on the Sewanee campus this year. Ervin, a first-time debater ended the week as an Undefeated Debater and a Tournament Champion.

Ervin said, “Before I went to SUMMA, I had never debated anything – maybe with my mom, but never, like, actual debates.”

The debate topic this year, or resolution, as it’s called in debate, was “In Christ, there is hope for Cruella de Vil.”

The Rev. Cindy Fribourgh, Summa’s program director explained that although it might sound silly debating the eternal fate of a villain in 101 Dalmatians, the topic was not chosen lightly. Its purpose was to encourage debaters to consider our hope in Christ and the nature of evil without the baggage that would be attached to a real person in history, a political figure, or a current event. Previous resolutions have covered a variety of theological, social and ethical topics including, “Christians, Muslims and Jews all worship the same God,” and “Euthanasia is morally justified.”

A camp manual says, “In SUMMA, we strive toward

comprehensive understanding of Christian faith by probing and debating important questions with skill and intellectual distinction. We also know that intellectual rigor in the search for truth goes hand-in-hand with love of neighbor.”

The practice of speaking the truth in love is followed throughout the camp. “Campers are required to debate both the affirmative and negative in the end-of-camp tournament, regardless of their individual stance,” said Fribourgh. “We do this not to change anybody’s mind. With this approach, the campers must thoroughly research both sides of the resolution, which may potentially lead to insights about their own convictions as well as an appreciation of the convictions of others,” she said.

“I liked doing the negative better because it gave me a challenge. Because the affirmative is super easy to back up. Everyone can get forgiveness,” Ervin said. “It was just more of a challenge and I like being challenged. It was more fun to work through and research all your information so you can back it up.”

So, is there hope for Cruella de Vil?

Ervin said, “Well, there is and there isn’t. Right now, there is no hope for Cruella de Vil, but in

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by vikki myers

SUMMA: ‘DON’T GO TO WIN’ SAYS DEBATE CHAMP ANNA ERVIN

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the future there is hope for Cruella de Vil. There’s always forgiveness from God and forgiveness from people. It’s kind of both. Like eventually, you will have to forgive them ... I mean, you don’t have to but there’s potential for it.”

“I definitely was not sure about going to this, I was really nervous about it. But everyone was incredibly awesome, like they’re just all awesome people. For me, I was nervous at first, but then you just immediately come out of that. Everyone signs in and they’re friends almost immediately,” said Ervin.

Ervin has been keeping in touch with her SUMMA friends and received letters from them on her birthday. “We decided that writing and getting letters was more fun than texting.”

She learned about SUMMA at dicesan convention. She said, “I was the youth delegate at one of the conventions and I met a worker at a little booth and he explained it to me and invited me to go.”

The debates are Lincoln-Douglas style and are structured so all participate in the debates and all

have the same amount of time throughout. Ervin explains it this way, “Each debate is about 45 minutes. So basically, when it starts out – the affirmative gets six minutes to make their point and back it up and lay down all the evidence. The negative side gets to ask questions for three minutes. Then the negative lays all their information down. That takes about seven minutes. The affirmative gets to ask them questions. Then you have a rebuttal for the affirmative, just proving the point. Then the negative has a rebuttal so they can disprove whatever the affirmative said. Then the affirmative gets the last words.”

SUMMA participants attend daily class lectures from Sewanee faculty and guest theologians, followed by study groups. The days are also structured so there is plenty of time for other activities such as sports, games, movies, music and bowling. Each day is framed with worship, beginning and ending with prayer and reflection in the chapel.

Ervin said, “You didn’t want to have to stay up the night before, so you’re ready. They give you around two

hours every day to work on your argument. It was like balancing between having fun and also working.”

One of Ervin’s favorite experiences was visiting St. Mary’s Sewanee and spending time with Sister Hannah. “I didn’t know nuns were so awesome,” Ervin said.

Fribourgh said, “I’m so proud of Anna’s accomplishments at SUMMA Camp! She came to SUMMA with no formal debate experience, yet she was undefeated in her individual debates and her group was one of two Tournament Champions. She showed a great deal of thoughtfulness and maturity in expressing herself, and remarkable ability to speak on her feet.”

Asked if she would like to go to SUMMA again, Ervin said, “Definitely!” And she added for others who might be thinking about the camp, “Don’t go to win; it’s not about winning. It’s about learning how to think about a topic, and express a point of view. You find your voice. Your own opinions may change in the process.” n

Photos courtesy of Anna Ervin

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Wow! as fellow pilgrim Ron Webster summed up our pilgrimage to Kondoa, Tanzania, in

early May 2017. At the invitation of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Given Gaula and his wife, the Rev. Lillian Gaula, we were there to meet the people of the Anglican Diocese of Kondoa. The congregations we met were so wonderfully welcoming, show-ering us with abundant joy and spirit, song and dance.

We were a group of 10 Episcopalians representing six different parishes in East Tennessee. Led by the Rev. Dorrie Pratt and prior pilgrim Nathan Officer of the Church of the Good Shepherd, we were moved by the Spirit in different ways: to fulfill a dream of a lifetime; to return to friends from prior pilgrimages; to be an inspiration to the women of Kondoa, to be inspired.

Bishop Gaula’s two principal goals are education and women’s empowerment, so we participated in a dedication ceremony for the founding of a new vocational school in Chemba, where our Diocesan donations were already reaping rewards. The seven women in our group met twice with the Women’s Union, specifically wives of the priests in the cathedral in Kondoa, learning of their concerns and praying with them in a deeply touching Tanzanian prayer tradition.

Our group visited a different parish every day, often three hours’ drive one way on washed out dirt roads. The church venues widely varied, including a Masai “boma” or livestock corral, a sunflower field, and an area severely impacted by the recent drought. Yet the receptions were always incredible – parading in song and dance alongside our caravan, choirs performing spirited dances, and excited awe-struck faces of curious children.

Bishop Gaula encourages us, the people of the Diocese of East Tennessee, to continue to grow ever stronger in our relationship with his people. He invited us back to Kondoa again next year, when he will ordain the first female priest in his diocese. nmoved by the spirit

PILGRIMAGE TO KONDOA, TANZANIAby bruce haas

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Dwelling in the Word with Our Neighbors in Kondoa

grace and joy

The Missional Network says that Dwelling in the Word is a

variation on the ancient Christian practice of lectio divina which is a form of reading the Scripture in ways that assists us to allow God to shape us in and through the text.

In this practice, two people are asked to read the text out loud. A period of silence follows each reading. Participants are invited to be open to the Spirit through these questions: where do you stop; are there words, phrases or ideas that grasp you; how do you think the Spirit of God might be nudging you? Participants may share their thoughts with the others in the group, as the others listen attentively. The group may then wonder together if there might be any specific ways the Spirit was speaking to the group through the text.

Instead of trying to use the text for some new thought or as a means of encouragement and fortification for the day, with Dwelling in the Word, we seek to allow it to be the means whereby God encounters us.

Lectio divina is a way of overcoming our barriers so that we become more open to God before Scripture. Lectio divina helps us learn how to listen to God again, rather than use the Scripture as some tool for meeting our own needs or justifying our biases.

God is deeply engaged in our churches, in our lives, and in our world – and lectio divina invites the Holy Spirit to enliven the Bible texts in our lives so that we become more aware of, and responsive to, what God is doing.

We practice Dwelling in the Word regularly in the effort to recover the capacity as the ordinary people of our church to listen and discern God’s activities through Scripture.

At the time of the Kondoa trip, Living Local: Joining God was dwelling in Luke 10:1-12.

Bruce Haas was inspired to frame the scripture in the context of the Kondoa pilgrimage. We’ve created a video of Bruce’s translation of the passage to the local context in which he found himself. Watch it at https://vimeo.com/user12765540. n

LUKE 10: 1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

If you’d like to join LL:JG now, we’re dwelling in ACTS 16:6-15,

To see updates and “Local Voices” videos, follow Living Local: Joining God in East Tennessee on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/LLJGEastTN/.

Photos by Bruce Haas

listen and discern God’s activities through Scripture

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Our 2018 convention is only a few months away and plans are well underway for our February 9

& 10 gathering with our newly ordained bishop. Our theme this year is “Being Disciples Now.”

Read Along With Us!

We’ll be reading two short, engaging, thoughtful books in preparation for the convention: Being Christian and Being Disciples, both written by the Most. Revd. Rowan Williams.

Highlights of the Convention:

� Elections of diocesan leaders

Are you called to serve? See nomination information on the convention website.

� Photography Exhibit & Competition

� Exhibits

� Ordinations of three transitional deacons!Claire Brown, St. Luke, Cleveland Spencer Cantrell, Southside Abbey Elizabeth Farr, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain

� Saturday procession in downtown Knoxville

Parish Choir Members Invited to Join the Choir

All parish choir members are invited to participate in the choir at the closing Eucharist at St. John’s Cathedral on Feb. 10. All interested should contact Laura Nichols, lnichols@dioet.org.

Follow the convention at #ETConv2017

Find out more on our convention website! http://bit.ly/2018DioETConvention

cozy up to

WINTER SESSIONfor high-schoolers

January 12-15, 2018

introducing

register online at gracepointcamp.org

JUNIOR WINTER SESSIONfor middle-schoolers February 2-4, 2018

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East Tennessee’s chapter of Living Local:

Joining God met the last Saturday in September at St. Nicholas School in Chattanooga to discuss the incubation phases of the diocese’s new initiative—joining communities and neighborhoods to see where God is already at work. In fact, initiative or project are words the group is attempting to stray from because they denote a sort of beginning and end—when in actuality, LL:JG is something deeper yet simpler. Because there are only a few chapters of LL:JG around the country, East Tennessee is blazing somewhat of a new trail.

Representatives from churches around the Diocese of East Tennessee met to review their first steps. The first mission was for church members to walk their communities, observe, reflect, and simply be aware of what their surrounding neighbors were already doing. For assignment-minded people, this proved to be a challenging task.

“We have to shift from our head to our heart,” said Dwight Zscheile, one of the meeting’s facilitators. This was a common theme in this gathering. Living Local: Joining God is not about

ingenuity. It’s about trusting another source of inspiration—one that can’t be created with programs, but one that is sought. Seeing the hope that already exists is the crux of LL:JG.

Overcoming that “fixer” mentality is hard for many people involved in church work because ministry usually revolves around the concept of meeting a need. Instead of meeting needs, though, LL:JG is about meeting people — meeting people where they are. That’s tough. Robert Hartmans, priest at St. Albans in Hixson, expressed a deeper truth about the concept of LL:JG. “It’s hard to find and focus on the hope when you’re asking, ‘what’s the real issue here?’ ” And he’s right. Looking past social injustices, poverty, classism,

and other “isms” that arise when going out into a community is difficult. As justice-seekers in the church, we often want to crusade for cause. But Living Local: Joining God requires

its participants to practice discernment. Discernment,

in its simpler form, is being able to name the ways God is at work. Whether it is personally or communally, it involves a person to look for spiritual direction—not create his or her own.

As As the afternoon progressed, small groups branched off to

discuss ways their team and parish could enact this concept of joining God alongside a community. The groups discussed their hang-ups, admitting that merely explaining the concept of LL:JG was difficult. Once groups navigated around this initial stumbling block, they began to discuss experiments that would allow their congregations to focus externally. Each group was given a time to share their ideas and objectives for the coming months, and the meeting adjourned with a renewed sense of excitement and enthusiasm for all those involved. Participants in LL:JG will gather again April 21, 2018 in Knoxville to discuss their experiments and prepare for the final phase of the process. n

by meredith garrett LIVING LOCAL: JOINING GOD

... shift from our head

to our HEART

Photo by Meredith Garrett

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From July 10-14, a delegation of nine youth from the Diocese of East Tennessee joined more than 1,200

Episcopal youth and youth leaders at the University of Central Oklahoma for the triennial Episcopal Youth Event established by General Convention.

The event celebrates our church’s diversity and welcomes youth from all nine provinces of the church – including our international dioceses. It is the second largest gathering of Episcopalians, exceeded only by General Convention itself.

The theme of the week was “Path to Peace,” which was explored through worship, speakers, and workshops. After returning home, our youth were asked “What was your favorite part of EYE?” Here are their answers:

What I really saw in EYE, was a community of believers who really embraced multiculturalism, energy, but most of all youthfulness. A lot of the time in our diocese especially, there’s kind of a lacking youth presence or contemporary energy. That’s really prevalent in EYE. I

think it’s strengthened my resolve to bring that back here for younger generations. ~ Parker Chadwell, Church of the Ascension, Knoxville

I feel like EYE can really open you up as a person. You don’t get judged for being who you really are. ~ Maddie Foster, St. James, Greeneville

I’ve not experienced anything like it before. I used it mainly as a time of recovery. I experience a lot for myself, spiritual growth and lots of other things. I’m glad I got to go and I want to go again. ~ Wilson Ervin, St. Raphael, Crossville

At EYE it was so easy and simple. Everyone wanted to talk about all of these hard topics. It made people uncomfortable. We need to start doing that in our own churches because unless people get uncomfortable with these topics and talk about it, nothing is going to get any better for them. ~ Laura Kirk, St. Elizabeth, Knoxville

EYE really showed me how much youth

BRINGING EYE HOME

Pictured above are back row: Laura Kirk, St. Elizabeth, Knoxville; Wilson Ervin, St. Raphael, Crossville; Charlie Kirk, St. Elizabeth, Knoxville; Parker Chadwell, Ascension, Knoxville; Sinead Doherty, Good

Samaritan, Knoxville; Lee Thompson, Grace Church, Chattanooga; Bailey White, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain; Maddie Foster, St. James,Greeneville. Front Row: Lala Hilizah, Good Samaritan, Knoxville, and

Ashton Mayo-Beavers, St. Luke, Knoxville. Not pictured is the Rev. Zack Nyein,Grace Church, Chattanooga.

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DioET Connections JAN-FEB 2016have a voice in the controversial topics, that a lot of people in our diocese are too scared to get uncomfortable to talk about. I think it’s very important to get uncomfortable and start talking about these topics. Because when we get uncomfortable, we start thinking these new ideas. Especially, youth, they bring new ideas to the table. ~ Ashton Mayo-Beavers, St. Luke Knoxville

Especially, there are so many topics that we don’t talk about. Race, sex, sexism specifically. Gender identity, so many things. We need that conversation to happen in the church. The church is who needs to facilitate that. Youth not only need to be a part of that, but leaders in this conversation, because we’re not the future of this world. We are the present of it. ~ Bailey White, Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain

At EYE we did a social gathering for minorities in the Episcopal church, so we had luncheon. It was really interesting seeing everyone come together and talking about our differences, our similarities. Knowing that the Episcopal church cares about our issues was something that I could take away. Makes me proud to be an Episcopalian. ~ Lala Hilizah, Good Samaritan, Knoxville

EYE was just such an amazing experience for me to meet other Christians my age. Especially LGBT+ Christians as we had a large meet up. There over 90 of us. It was nice to talk about our identify and relating to the church. How sometimes it’s hard to be the only Christian among your queer friends and vice versa. Overall, it was just such an amazing experience to just talk about issues that affect us as youth and people. ~ Lee Thompson, Grace Church, Chattanooga

EYE really taught me just how much presence youth has in dioceses, in the Episcopal church. How we can affect what’s happening around us, how we can grow it but so much of it is not recognized by so much of the youth that nothing happens. It showed us how we can use that presence to grow and change stuff for the better. ~ Charlie Kirk, St. Elizabeth, Knoxville

Watch "Bringing EYE Home” on video: https://vimeo.com/226232143 n

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Below are clergy who have come into the diocese in the last quarter, changed churches, started working after

being ordained a deacon or priest, or decided it’s time to retire. We’re also letting you know about those who have died. The list below is in order by date, and, folks who are Licensed or Officiate or Licensed to Serve here have the diocese to which they are connected listed next to their name.

The Rev. Amy Morehous will be serving as Deacon-in-charge at Church of the Resurrection, Loudon, effective December 1.

The Rev. Larry Minter will be serving as Interim Rector at St. Stephen, Oak Ridge, beginning Dec. 2. Larry most recently served in the Diocese of Indiana.

The Rev. April Berends will be serving as Rector of Grace Church, Chattanooga, effective December 14.

The Rev. Erik Broeren is serving as Priest-in-Charge at St. Mark, Copperhill, and Vicar of Southside Abbey, Chattanooga.

The Rev. Jon Hermes is serving as Vicar of St. Timothy, Kingsport ordination.

The Rev. Isaac Blevins is serving as Vicar of St. John the Baptist, Battle Creek.

The Rev. Anna Brawley is serving as Interim Rector at St. Paul, Kingsport.

The Rev. Joe Woodfin is serving as Associate Rector at St. Paul, Chattanooga.

The Rev. Matt Farr is serving with STEM (Southern Tennessee Episcopal Ministries) churches in Winchester, Sherwood, Tracy City, Monteagle, and Alto.

The Rev. Jason Emerson is serving as Rector of Nativity, Ft. Oglethorpe.

Calls Outside Our Diocese

The Rev. Liz Embler is serving as Associate for Congregational Development at St. Paul, New Orleans, La.

The Rev. Ben Thomas is serving as Assistant Rector at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, Florida.

Retired/Retiring

The Rev. Hal Hutchison will be retiring as Rector of St. John, Johnson City, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

The Rev. David Hackett has retired as Rector of St. Thaddeus, Chattanooga.

Rest in Peace

The Rev. Jeffrey Batkin

Richard (Dick) Brown

CLERGY CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS

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grace and joy

AROUND THE DIOCESE

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Seen around the diocese - at events and on social media.

1 The Rev. Quinn Parman shares a blessing at St. Peter’s, Chattanooga, Oct. 1 Blessing of the Animals. 2 St. James parishioners Renee Smith and Pam Morris pose with the Rev. RJ Powell at the Knoxville Stands Against Hate Rally on Aug. 13 in downtown Knoxville. 3 The Rev. Erik Broeren stands before Bishop George during his ordination as a priest at Grace Church, Chattanooga, on Oct. 1. 4 Newly ordained the Rev. Jon Hermes holds a handmade vestment given to him at his ordination on Oct. 21 by Bobby Morrow, a parishioner of Saint Christopher, Kingsport. 5 On the summer pilgrimage with the bishop, this picture was taken at the Hosanna Community in Hixson - a residential community that fosters independence for adults with disabilities. Other stops on the pilgrimage were Family Promise of Knoxville and

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grace and joy

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The Refuge in Cleveland. Family Promise unites with the interfaith community to provide non-emergency housing to families with children who have lost their homes. The refuge is a Human/Social Services agency that provides life skills, job skills, literacy, and resources to build hope and offer the possibility of a better life to as many as they can. Pilgrims posed for a photo at the Hosanna Community. Pictured L-R are: Ron Webster, Good Shepherd, Knoxville; Susan DiStefano, Executive Director; Bishop George; Lola Ester, St. Stephen, Oak Ridge; Alan Douglass, Ascension, Knoxville; the Rev. Lee Ragsdale, Resurrection, Loudon; Ben Holt, St. Alban, Hixson, and Eric Haralson, St. John’s Cathedral. 6 Newly ordained the Rev. Isaac Blevins leads the way to outdoor communion during his ordination service at St. John the Baptist, Battle Creek, on Oct. 22. 7 Roy Cochrum and Bishop Young pose beside the new bell at Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center. Roy Cochrum, a generous supporter of Grace Point, donated the bell and rang it for the first time at Bishop Young’s Retirement Celebration on Oct. 28. 8 Ron Webster of Good Shepherd, Knoxville, poses with a friend at the Greater Knoxville Kindness Rally in downtown Knoxville on August 26. Deacon Jerry Askew was a rally co-organizer and speaker of the event. 9 Episcopalians were well represented at the Aug. 28 March for Justice in Washington, DC, including a contingent from the Diocese of East Tennessee. Participating were the Rev. Timothy Holder, St. Thomas, Elizabethton; Canon for Canon for Mission and Lay Ministry Beverly Hurley Hill; the Rev. Maggie Zeller, St. Christopher, Kingsport; the Rev. Taylor Dinsmore, St. Timothy, Signal Mountain, and the Rev. RJ Powell, St. James Knoxville. 10 Tyson House Student Foundation on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville held a Vigil for Peace and an End to Racism on Aug. 26. 11 Parishioners at St. Stephen, Oak Ridge prepare for the 9 am service on Social Media Sunday. 12 St. Luke Knoxville, shared the passing the peace on Social Media Sunday. 13 Social Media Sunday was a day for a picnic on the deck at Good Samaritan, Knoxville. 14 The Rev. Lou Parsons and parishioner Jeannie Snyder posed for a selfie with the congregation at St. Francis, Ooltewah, on Social Media Sunday. 15 St. Alban, Hixson enticed us with a Social Media Sunday outdoor picnic.

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BISHOP’S VISITATION AND PRAYER CALENDAR t Visitations are by date in bold; prayers are below

If you send us a picture from the bishop’s visit at your church, we’ll share it on our Facebook page - or - maybe it will appear here. You take awesome photos and we look forward to sharing them! Send your photo to editor@dioet.org. Here Bishop George and Bishop-elect Brian pose with 15 new members of The Episcopal Church with the combined congregations of St. Thomas, Elizabethton and St. Paul, Kingsport, gathered at St. Paul’s church.

Sun., December 3 – No VisitationSeating of our Fifth Bishop at St. John’s CathedralSt. Timothy, Kingsport Grace Church, Huron, SD Sun., December 10 – All Saints, MorristownAll Saints, MorristownAll Saints Episcopal School, Morristown St. Elizabeth, Wakpala, SDSt. Paul’s, Little EagleSD St. James, MobridgeSD St. John, Bullhead, SD

Sun., December 17 – Thankful Memorial, Chatt.Thankful Memorial, Chattanooga St. Peter, McLaughlin, SDSt. Elmo Neighborhood Reading Center, Chattanooga (Diocesan Jubilee Center)

Sun., December 24 – No VisitationRenewal of Life (BCP, p. 213)

Sun., December 31 – No VisitationA New Light in Our Heart (BCP, p. 213)

Sun., January 7 – St. Christopher, KingsportSt. Christopher, Kingsport All Saints, Hervick, SDWoniya, Wakan (Holy Spirit), Wagner, SD

Sun., January 14 – Christ Church, ChattanoogaChrist Church, ChattanoogaProject Canterbury, Chattanooga St. Andrew, Cherry Creek, SD St. Philip, Dupree, SDSt. James, Bear Creek, SD St. Peter, Thunder Butte, SD St. Luke, Iron Lightning, SD

Sun., January 21 – St. Paul, AthensSt. Paul, AthensSt. Paul, Brookings, SD

Sun., January 28 – St. Timothy, Signal MountainSt. Timothy, Signal Mountain Holy Apostles, Sioux Falls, SDCommunity Kitchen, Chattanooga (Diocesan Jubilee Ctr)

Sun., February 4 – St. Martin, ChattanoogaSt. Martin, ChattanoogaSt. Martin Preschool, Chattanooga St. James, Enemy Swim, SDThe 34th Annual Diocesan Convention Diocesan Staff

Sun., February 11 – No VisitationStanding Committee of our Diocese Bishop and Council of our Diocese

Sun., February 18 – St. Luke, KnoxvilleSt. Luke, KnoxvilleSt. John the Baptist, Battle Creek St. Julia Station, Porcupine, SD

Sun., February 25 – St. Peter, ChattanoogaSt. Peter, ChattanoogaSt. Peter Preschool, Chattanooga St. Mary, Mitchell, SD Incarnation, Gregory, SD

Sun., March 4 – St. Joseph - SeviervilleSt. Joseph, Sevierville Advent Station, Calico, SD

Sun., March 11 – St. Alban, HixsonSt. Alban, HixsonSouthside Abbey, Chattanooga Christ Church, Lead, SDSt. Mary and Our Blessed Redeemer, Flandreau, SDHosanna Community, Hixson (Diocesan Jubilee Center)

Sun., March 18 – No visitationSt. Stephen, Oak Ridge St. John, Deadwood, SD

Sun., March 25, Palm Sunday – Annunciation – NewportAnnunciation, Newport Deacons of East TennesseeSt. Luke, Hot Springs, SDGood Shepherd, Little Oak Creek, SD

Sun., April 1, Easter – No VisitationDiocese of East TennesseeFor the Mission of the Church (BCP, p. 838)

Sun., April 8 – St. Luke, ClevelandSt. Luke, ClevelandSt. John, Browns Valley, SDFamily Cornerstone, Cleveland (Diocesan Jubilee Center)

Sun., April 15 – St. John, Johnson CitySt. John, Johnson City Christ Church, Yankton, SD

Sun., April 22 – Good Shepherd, Lookout MountainGood Shepherd, Lookout Mountain St. Mark, Aberdeen, SD

Sun., April 29 – Good Samaritan, KnoxvilleGood Samaritan, Knoxville Trinity, Pierre, SDFor Joy in God’s Creation (BCP p. 814)

Sun., May 6 – St. Paul, ChattanoogaSt. Paul, ChattanoogaSt. Andrew, Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Ministries, Chattanooga, TN (Diocesan Jubilee Center)

Sun., May 13 – St. Paul, SeymourSt. Paul, SeymourFor all Parish Staffs in our Diocese

Sun., May 20 – St. Thomas, Elizabethton (11:00 am)St. Columba – Bristol (9:00 am) St. Thomas, Elizabethton St. Columba, BristolHoly Innocents, Parmalee, SD Grace Church, Madison, SDFood for the Multitude, Elizabethton (Diocesan Jubilee Ctr)

Sun., May 27 – St. Andrew, MaryvilleSt. Andrew, MaryvilleBlessed Redeemer, Howe Creek, SD Out Most Merciful Savior, Santee, SD St. Paul, Vermillion, SDFor Campers and Staff at Grace Point

Sun., June 3 – Ascension, KnoxvilleAscension, Knoxville Emmanuel, Rapid City, SDSt. Matthew, Rapid City, SD