News

Four congregations awarded MDG grants; another round available

Jul 17, 2008 – 5:43 pm

Four congregations each received the maximum $400 matching grant from the 2008 diocesan budget’s MDG allocation to further their Millennium Development Goal projects. Those awarded are: St. James’, Pullman, to supply vitamins to under-nourished school children in Belize (MDG #1 & 2); Church of the Resurrection, Spokane Valley, for general support of Christ the King School in Belize (MDG #2 ); St. Luke’s, Coeur d’Alene, for the Waters of Hope project to ensure clean water in Saharan countries of Africa (MDG #4 & 6); and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Spokane, to support a primary school in Haiti (MDG #2).

Remaining funds totaling $2400 will be awarded to additional local congregations in a second round of matching grants. To be eligible, a congregation need only have approved its own MDG Resolution and have committed to a project for which MDG matching funds can be of help.  The application deadline is Friday, September 26.

As of mid-July, 16 vestries and bishop’s committees had made the commitment to spend 0.7% of their congregation’s budget on MDG work. Two others contribute to the MDGs through Episcopal Relief and Development, but have not yet adopted the resolution.

The sample resolution and simple application form are available under the Social Justice and Outreach option on the diocesan website. For more information, email Char Mills.

St. Mark’s, Moscow calls new rector

Jul 17, 2008 – 5:24 pm

The Rev. Robin BiffleThe Rev. Robin Biffle, a May 2008 graduate of the School of Theology at the University of South (Sewanee), will be the next rector of St. Mark’s, Moscow. Ordained deacon in Montana, she will serve in that capacity until her ordination to the priesthood expected later this year. Ms. Biffle graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla. Working first as a journalist and investigative reporter, she specialized in issues relating to at-risk and marginalized women and children. She subsequently worked 17 years in law enforcement. While preparing for seminary, she managed the retreat center for the Diocese of Montana and served as chaplain intern and hospice volunteer at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena. Ms. Biffle is a mountain-bike rider, hiker, jogger and sometimes long-distance runner. She will take up her new duties August 1.

Lambeth Conference Resources

Jul 15, 2008 – 11:29 am

What is Lambeth?

The Lambeth Conference is a periodic gathering of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  The conference is not intended to be a formal synod or legislative meeting, but brings bishops together to discuss issues of common interest,  worship, study and pray together.  This year’s conference will meet July 16-Aug. 3 in Canterbury at the University of Kent.

Lambeth Conference Prayer

Pour down on us, O God, the gifts of your Holy Spirit that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference may  be filled with wisdom and understanding.  May they know at work within them that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity, made in your image and redeemed by your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Links for Lambeth Conference News

News and information about the Lambeth Conference will be available from several sources.

The Lambeth Conference
This offers general information and scripture resources.

The Anglican Communion
This site describes the work of various ministries of the Anglican Communion

Anglican Communion News Service
This news service posts stories from the Anglican Communion around the world.

Episcopal News Service
The Episcopal Church’s news agency posts information daily.

Episcope
This blog is maintained by the Episcopal Church Center staff and is updated daily.

Letter from Bishop Waggoner regarding Lambeth Conference

Jul 15, 2008 – 11:24 am

Dear Friends in Christ,

This evening Gloria and I fly out for the Lambeth Conference to be held in Canterbury, England from July 16-August 3. Before leaving, I want to offer a brief preview of the conference and thoughts about the design which I believe holds profound potential.

About Lambeth

The first Lambeth Conference was convened in February 1867 by Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley. Seventy-six bishops attended. Not all bishops were invited; not all invited chose to attend, the Archbishop of York being one of those who declined to attend.

It is worth noting that according to Graham James, the first Lambeth Conference was convened in a spirit of “Resolving to Confer and Conferring to Resolve: the Anglican Way.” The intention, though it has shifted - especially at the 1998 conference - was not to legislate for the Communion nor to function as a governing body. The invitation was to pray, study, and build relationships across the Communion for the sake of God’s mission. There is much more to read and the details really are interesting and incredibly enlightening.

Repeating History, Recurring Tensions

A review of past conferences reveals that two fundamental tensions have occupied attention of the attendees from 1867 until today:

  • The unique calling of the Anglican Communion to be comprehensive (inclusive) in tension with the need to define and hold what is Orthodox in belief and practice.
  • The question about whether there should be some governing principles, not unlike the work we are doing now on an Anglican Covenant draft, to which all Provinces of the Communion would subscribe in order to be considered a member of the Communion.

Conference Design

I am delighted and encouraged that the bishops will begin with three days retreat led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The topic is “God’s mission and a bishop’s discipleship.” I cannot think of a better way to begin and Archbishop Rowan is a gifted retreat leader and teacher.

The overall design of the conference allows for table groups for Bible study and conversation on specific items, and is focused much more on conversation, listening, and relationship building than on plenary sessions for legislation.

Gloria and I will have some interesting opportunities before, during and after the conference.

Gloria will be facilitating a session on the environment and care of creation for the spouses and I have been asked to lead/facilitate the daily Bible study for my group.

I encourage you to visit the Lambeth Conference website to participate in the daily Bible study, and other links available for news.

I note as well that as part of the Lambeth Hospitality Initiative extended to all bishops and spouses, Gloria and I will be in the Diocese of Chichester from July 11-15 and will visit churches in the Uckfield Deanery, engage in open conversation, and share in formal events with Bishop John Hind and numerous others in the brief four days. I will be the guest preacher in Holy Cross Church this coming Sunday, July 13.

Though by choice I’ve avoided becoming a ‘blogging bishop,’ I am committed to frequent communication via email while at the conference and will strive to keep you informed on the most interesting and relevant developments. You can be sure there will be sessions in our diocese for sharing of information we bring back.

Know that your prayers for all attending the conference will be much appreciated and that you shall surely be in ours.

Faithfully yours,

+Jim

James E. Waggoner

Bishop Jim and Gloria Waggoner leave for the Lambeth Conference

Jul 12, 2008 – 8:49 pm

We ask your prayers for their safe travel and for their ministries, and for all who join them for reflection, prayer, discussion and fellowship in the coming weeks. We ask your prayers for those who are absent, and we pray with the Archbishop of Canterbury that this time together “will bear fruit in the life of the entire Communion in which God has called us to minister.” This is the 14th Lambeth Conference; more than 650 of the Communion’s 800+ bishops are expected, compared to the seventy-six bishops present at the first Lambeth Conference in 1867.

For more information, and to participate fin the Conference’s study of St. John’s Gospel through “Signs on the Way,” go to www.lambethconference.org.

Passover Seder brings community together in Bonners Ferry

Jun 1, 2008 – 12:03 pm

Members and friends of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, gathered  for the sacred Passover Seder feast prior to Easter Sunday.  The annual event was hosted by Al and Mary Brackenbusch, near Mount Hall, close to the Canadian border.  The home is located in the middle of their wheat farm overlooking the Kootenai Valley, perhaps similar to some of the rolling hills of Israel, where long ago the Jewish people celebrated their release from the bondage of Egypt and their return to their homeland as promised in the Book of Exodus in the Bible’s Hebrew Scriptures.

Guests brought delicious dishes to accompany the ceremonial meal of fresh roasted lamb and traditional Seder plates, prepared by Mary and Al.  The stacks of unleavened bread were hand made and baked by the hosts.

Special guests and co-hosts were the the Rev. and Mrs. Norman Braatz, the Lutheran pastor who leads services part-time at St. Mary’s.  Among other honored guests were retired Episcopal priests, the Rev. and Mrs. Todd Trefts and the Rev. Marge Stanley, both of whom have assisted at St. Mary’s in the absence of a full-time vicar.

Everyone had a delightful time around the candlelit, decorated tables while recalling the events of the Exodus, and raising glasses of wine or cider to toast freedom, prosperity, health, happiness and peace.

Mary and Al have hosted other dinners for the congregation among their many other services that help keep the life blood flowing at the small mission church.  Is it any wonder that, just prior to Passover, a tornado or cyclonic wind took down Al and Mary’s barn, just a few feet from their bedroom where they were sleeping, but the house was not touched?

Young adults evangelize in Salt Lake City

May 29, 2008 – 12:05 pm

In late March, something strange happened in Salt Lake City, Utah: young Episcopal adults from all over Province VIII converged on the city.  It was a time for evangelism.  Before you begin to imagine some type of reverse mission - with bike-riding liturgically minded Episcopal students preaching the benefits of the latest Lambeth pronouncements with Book of Common Prayer in hand - I should warn you that our good news was for our fellow Episcopal young adults: you are not alone and you are a part of this world.  We spent our weekend learning more about the roles we can play in our churches, our faith system and in our world.

The first speaker awakened us to our increased social responsibility for our fragile environment.  Our generation is inheriting a world on the precipice of natural disaster and thoughtfulness is necessary for the road ahead.  From the second speaker, we learned about a fantastic interfaith organization called “Utah Power and Light” that is encouraging churches to begin following responsible “green” policies in their building plans and energy usage.  Our final keynote address was from some special guests from Province VII, who talked about their campus ministry in Honduras.  They told of the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Honduras. Currently, the country has around 18,000 people suffering from this tragic disease with only enough funding to treat 5,000 people.  The speakers were very frank about the problems they face teaching sex education in their cities.  Unfortunately, most of their resistance has come from other churches.

Students were able to attend many different workshops encompassing a variety of areas of religious and world awareness.  There were workshops on understanding U.N. Millennium Development Goals and religious fundamentalism, as well as our location-specific event: understanding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

But for me, the greatest benefit came from sharing time with others.  Six of us traveled from Washington State University (WSU) to Salt Lake.  We all got the benefit of learning and seeing other peoples’ walks of faith and how they were tackling the difficult issues of trying to understand our faith in the context of being members of the world.

My greatest blessing came from hearing how another student’s life had led her to where she is right now.  The Episcopal Church is not unique in the fact that it encompasses people from many backgrounds, but I have found that it is a church that does not erase our history once we come in the doors.  These experiences are what make us who we are and can help encourage us to grow towards the perfection we are drawn to in Christ.  These experiences are the evangelism that has encouraged me and shown me, as always, that the Episcopal Church does indeed allow many to come to Christ’s table and say “Though we are many, we are one.”

Foundation reports on endowment campaign results

May 29, 2008 – 12:01 pm

The 2007 Convention celebrated the conclusion of the initial phase of the Diocese’s first Endowment Campaign. We are delighted to report the results of this ambitious project through the first quarter of 2008.

The following congregations participated in Campaigns to raise funds for their own programs and needs: St. Paul’s - Kennewick, Nativity - Lewiston, St. Martin’s - Moses Lake, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist - Spokane, St. Andrew’s - Spokane, St. Stephen’s - Spokane, St. Luke’s - Wenatchee, and St. Michael’s - Yakima.

The Diocese underwrote much of the campaign costs to the congregations, which has been repaid by tithes from the participating churches. Less those tithes, the total pledged to these congregations is approximately $3 million.

At the same time, the Renewing Our Mission Campaign raised an additional $1.26 million for the Diocese, to be distributed to two endowments within the Foundation. These funds are designated to endow the Episcopate and to endow church growth and development.

Tithes accounted for approximately 24% of the total funds received by the Diocese, while other congregations held fund raising activities specifically to directly benefit the Diocesan campaign.

Foundation sets goal of five million

May 29, 2008 – 11:54 am

The “Renewing our Mission” endowment campaign began the process of establishing two endowed funds, one for congregational growth and development and the other to help underwrite the episcopacy.  These, and other endowment funds of the Diocese, are held by the Foundation of the Diocese of Spokane that is governed by a board of trustees made up of Episcopalians from throughout the Diocese.  The trustees have engaged Washington Trust to manage our investments according to an agreed upon investment policy that seeks long term growth while avoiding inappropriate risks.  Your contributions and pledges to the endowment campaign have been divided equally between the two funds, unless you directed otherwise.

The fund to endow the episcopacy currently has about $460,000 in it, of which half came from a previous fund for the bishop that had been around for several years.  Currently invested in money market accounts, it will soon be in a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed income funds.  Accordingly, it is already being drawn down at an annual rate of 4.5% to help underwrite the episcopacy.  We look forward to its continued growth through fulfilled pledges, additional gifts, and market growth so that, in time, it can lead to a significant reduction in the asking.

The fund for congregational growth and development has about $170,000.  It will need to grow to at least $500,000 before we can begin to use it to make grants to local congregations, but we are well on the way.  It also will continue to grow through fulfilled pledges, additional gifts and market growth.

A third fund has recently been added to the endowment through a single gift of $5,000 dedicated to Camp Cross.  As an endowment fund rather than a capital fund, it will not be spent but invested along with other gifts dedicated to the long term needs of Camp Cross.  In time it also will be able to help underwrite the continuation and improvement of that valuable ministry, but it has a long way to go to get there.

Our hope and prayer-filled intention is to build our funds to at least $5 million or more within five years.  Then we can really begin to do some exciting work for the Glory of God and the good of our congregations.  What can you do to help?  If you have not yet made a five-year pledge to Renewing our Mission, consider doing so today.  Perhaps you’ve made a pledge and now realize how easy it is.  Consider raising it by some substantial amount.  If you are involved in a donor advised or donor directed fund of your own, consider making Renewing our Mission a principal beneficiary. And by all means, remember the church in your will.

For more information, or to make a pledge, contact Teri Mathis, Director of the Foundation, at terimathis@mac.com or 509-954-3951

MDG Matching Grant Application packet available

Apr 30, 2008 – 4:39 pm

Additional matching grant funds are available for local congregations from the MDG allocation in the 2008 diocesan budget. Congregations may apply for up to $400 to match their own investment in MDG-related projects. You can review the packet for more information or contact Char Mills, co-chair of the MDG subcommittee.