From SCVD
Draft
Diocese of El Camino Real, Santa Clara Valley Deanery
- March 7, 2009
- St. Timothy’s, Mountain View
1) The meeting opened with prayer by The Rev. Deacon Michael Ridgway at 9:35am. We then spent time introducing ourselves around our respective tables. There were 65 in attendance with 15/19 churches represented.
Linda Morris, Convener, reported as follows:
- The Bishop met with the Deanery Conveners. They decided the Deaneries did not need to meet just to meet but to link the meetings with what’s going on in the diocese.
- Meetings this year include Church Without Walls Conference, Pre-General Convention Presentation and Diocesan Convention & Budget Presentation.
2) The Agenda was presented. A motion was moved and seconded to accept the Agenda. Motion carried.
- The Minutes from the September 30, 2008 meeting were presented with corrections. It was moved and seconded to accept as corrected. Motion carried.
3) Elections: Positions up for election include Convener, Co-Convener, Secretary, Treasurer, Nominating Committee (two)
- Convener: Linda Morris agreed to continue in this position and was elected by Acclamation.
- Co-Convener: Joanna Shreve agreed to continue and was elected by Acclamation.
- Secretary: Judi Sato agreed to continue (after no one volunteered) and was elected by Acclamation.
- Treasurer: Joanna Shreve agreed to continue and was elected by Acclamation.
- Diocesan Nominating Committee: The Rev. David Breuer and Barbara Rice agreed to continue as Deanery Representatives and were elected by Acclamation.
It was moved to change the schedule of the Agenda to allow Roger Wharton of Campus Ministry to speak first.
4a) Campus Ministry
- The Episcopal Church is the last Mainline Denomination left at San Jose State University (SJSU). The budget is 50% of last year’s. If any church would like to conduct a fundraiser on their behalf, contact The Rev. Roger Wharton at chaplain@sjspirit.org.
- Their service on Ash Wednesday was the most successful ever.
4b) Capernaum Fellowship:
Bishop Mary is interested in Prison Ministry. Our Diocese has the highest percentage of prisoners in the country. Currently the San Jose Jails house 4343 men and women; average stay is 121 days (long enough to lose jobs and family). There are 892 aged 18-24 (25%); 1402 aged 25-34 (32%); 1222 aged 35-44 (24%); 645 aged 45-54; and 182 aged 55+. They need a community, a place to land when released.
Joanna Shreve, Lawrence Robles, and Chaplain Evelyn Vigil presented the new ministry called Capernaum Fellowship. This is a re-entry program for ex-offenders and their families to be held at Trinity Cathedral, chosen for its central location with good public transport options. We expect it to be a weekly program having three parts: 1) a time for worship (liturgies may be as structured as a Eucharist or as open and spontaneous as an extemporaneous "Prayers of the People; " 2) a fellowship time (a meal shared by our guests as well as those preparing the meal); and 3) a "resource time" for training and/or discussion of topics which help individuals to become more self-sustaining. We will be providing a program for children during the "resource time" for adults.
The focus of this program will be to provide a Christian community for families, supporting them as they make the very difficult adjustment of re-entering the outside world and their families after being incarcerated in our jail system. We will have information on where to refer people for different services such as food pantries, clothes closets, free meals, various trainings for jobs, etc. but Capernaum Fellowship will not be providing those types of services itself. Instead, our program will encourage volunteers to serve the Capernaum Fellowship community in ways similar to being in their home parishes, where families and individuals experience a sense of love, acceptance and support.
We have identified five areas where we need people to volunteer:
- 1) people interested in developing and/or providing meaningful liturgy;
- 2) people willing to help with the meal that we will provide (we have money for the first year and have some ideas on how to do this very simply, cheaply and easily);
- 3) people willing to work on short programs to help strengthen life skills, etc.;
- 4) people willing to help with short programs for children and teens (Godly Play, etc.)
- 5) several people to work on communications, helping with publicity, developing flyers, etc.
We hope to develop a large roster of people who feel called to this new ministry, developing a rota system whereby most people will only serve once a month or even bi-monthly. An opportunity was available for interested parties to sign up. Information will be sent to each parish to solicit interested parties. Those who feel called to this ministry, or would like to learn more about this program can email Joanna Shreve (jrshreve@aol.com) or Linda Morris (lindamorris24@yahoo.com). We would also like to have your phone number. An organizational meeting for this new ministry will be held on Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30 p.m., place to be determined.
There will be training for those interested in this exciting ministry.
6) Communications: A new Deanery website was created by John Plocher. It is a wiki website which allows it to be edited. The address is: www.scvd.org
7) Announcements:
- Diocesan Events Calendar was distributed.
- Next Deanery Meetings:
- Late May or June for pre-General Convention
- August 29th @ St. Andrews for Budget presentation. There will also be a time to network with the Bishop and follow up on Church Without Walls.
- Province VIII Conference in San Diego, May 15-16. Cost is $245 (including meals), Rooms are $100 each. Keynote speakers are The Rt. Rev. Douglas Hambidge (Stewardship Nuts & Bolts), The Rev. Stephanie Spellers (Radical Welcome), and The Rev. Bob Honeychurch (National Church Officer of Congregational Vitality). Registration is due by April 1st. Contact Joanna Shreve for more information.
- World Mission Network: Next meeting is Sat. 3/14 with Canon Jesús Reyes.
- Companion Dioceses. Bishop Mary goes to Tanganyika at the end of March and the other two bishops will be here in September. There will be a Diocesan-wide Eucharistic Celebration on Sept. 19th or 20th.
- UTO – Edy Unthank is our Diocesan United Thank Offering (UTO) Rep. There are two in-gatherings each year. The next one is May 30th at St. Philips, Scotts Valley. Grant proposals need to be in to New York by Jan. 31st each year and they go through the Bishop. For more information or supplies, contact Edy at edyunthank@yahoo.com.
- Women’s Day is March 21st at St. Paul’s, Salinas from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Cost is $15 for the session and lunch. Registration is due by March 14th.
- St. Timothy’s will host the Stanford Blood Bank on April 19th from 8:30am to 12:30pm.
- The Rev. Deacon Kathey Crowe, Holy Spirit, Campbell runs a Restorative Justice program for marginalized youth where they serve community hours lieu of lockup. There are 14 kids, aged 13-18 available to work around your church or help at Parishioner’s homes; contact her at 408-506-3554.
- Cursillo is in danger of dying. An Ultreya will be held on Sat., March 14th at 5:00pm at St. Jude’s.
- The Rev. Ed McNeill and many of St. Edward’s parishioners are leaving the Episcopal Church. Those that are remaining are in the process of reorganization. The Rev. John Buenz will be the Supply Priest at St. Edward’s until an Interim Priest is called. A moment of silent prayer was held for them all.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am, followed by sign-ups for Capernaum Fellowship and an orientation for new Delegates and Alternates.
Respectfully submitted,
- Judi Sato,
- Secretary