The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee



The Rt. Rev. John Bauerschmidt: Bishop’s Convention Address , Diocese of Tennessee, January 21, 2012, St. Andrew's-Sewanee School

Introduction.

Welcome to the 180th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee, held for the first time in almost a quarter of a century in this important part of our diocese. Today we greet each other as delegates elected by our parishes and missions, clergy ordained and called to serve in this diocese, representatives of other institutions and friends of all sorts. It is good for us to be together this weekend, not only for the business of this Convention but for the mission and ministry of the Church.

Our Convention exists for this purpose: to advance God’s work and the ministry of Jesus Christ himself, who calls us to his service. Don’t be taken in by rules of order, parliamentary procedure, or the presence of a budget or elections on our agenda. All of these without exception are the necessary accoutrements of moving forward the mission of the Church in this place and at this time here among these people: the People of God in Middle Tennessee. So it is good for us to be together for this high purpose, and to acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

We’re gathered in one of the historic centers of the Diocese of Tennessee, on the Cumberland Plateau near the University of the South, at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. Though the origins of our diocese lie a little farther West, in Franklin and Nashville and Columbia, this place is special to us as the site of the greatest cooperative effort ever undertaken in the Episcopal Church by a group of dioceses, the founding of the University of the South, in which the bishops of Tennessee played a pivotal role. The ideals of a liberal education, having been birthed by the Church in the Middle Ages, continue to be a part of the Church’s commitment in this present age.

We meet at a college preparatory school that is the heir to three different schools that were founded in Sewanee to educate young men and women from throughout the South, but with a particular focus on students from the local community and especially from underprivileged backgrounds. St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School carries forward this educational mission in the twenty-first century, with students from all over our nation and all over the world, as well as with folks from just down the road, and this Convention is a great opportunity to learn more about their work.

Two religious orders of our Church, the Order of the Holy Cross and the Community of St. Mary, were instrumental in founding these schools, and have left their own legacy of prayer and devotion in this place. It’s a particular joy that members of the Community of St. Mary continue their ministry in our diocese just down the road at their convent near St. Mary’s Center, which helps to carry on their work.

I am grateful to the churches and other institutions in this part of the diocese that have jointly sponsored this 180th Convention. Thank you for bringing us back after a quarter of a century! It is good for us to be together here in this place.

We are honored to welcome among us as our distinguished guests the Rt. Rev’d Geralyn Wolf, the Bishop of Rhode Island, and her husband Tom Bair. We are extremely grateful for their presence with us in Tennessee in the midst of their busy lives and very full ministries in their own diocese. We thank the Diocese of Rhode Island for loaning you to us for the weekend. I look forward to the opportunity to return the favor by going to Rhode Island and giving them a piece of my mind! Once again (as we were last year) we are called by our Convention by way of St. Paul to the great theme of the Gospel: the connection and community that are made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This emphasis is intentional. For the Diocese of Tennessee is one Eucharistic fellowship, united (as each diocese is) through the common ministry of the bishop, who symbolizes and makes real the connection that exists throughout our diocese between people in different communities and in different contexts, and also the connection that ties us in Tennessee to the Church Universal in other places far beyond the confines of our diocese. All this comes together at the altar of God where we gather as the Church to celebrate the Eucharist, as bishop, clergy, and people. We are “One Bread, One Body,” gathered today and tomorrow at one altar to receive the grace we need to become the People we are called to be. Once again, it is good for us to be together.

Transition

This has been a year of transition, in many ways epitomized by the death this fall of the Tenth Bishop of Tennessee, my predecessor Bertram Herlong. We continue to give thanks for his ministry, and continue to pray for his wife Vickie and the members of their family. In October the diocese celebrated the Burial Liturgy at St. George’s Church for Bishop Herlong, a significant gathering of the people and especially the clergy of the Diocese of Tennessee. I am grateful for the outpouring of prayer, hospitality, and good will that were manifested on this occasion, extended to Vickie Herlong and her family by the People of our diocese. It was also a time in which we ministered to each other and built up our common life, marking the significant passing of a bishop who had helped to lead the Diocese of Tennessee and who had ministered faithfully to it. Bertram Herlong brought vision, experience, and energy to his episcopate, and I continue to be grateful for his ministry to me.

I’m also mindful that this next weekend will see the fifth anniversary of the weekend of my consecration as Bishop of Tennessee. It seems incredible to me that these five years have passed so very quickly. Somewhat incautiously, I told people in the early days of my episcopate that they should not expect me to say anything intelligent about the ministry of bishop until at least five years had passed. Now that this day approaches I cannot guarantee that I have gained any wisdom, or will be able to speak an authoritative word about this ministry, but I have come in this time to appreciate more fully the great gifts for ministry that are present in our diocese, and the quality of our common life together. I treasure these things, which are your gift to me. Whatever I’ve learned, I’ve learned from you.

Common Vision

Over the past year or so, in visiting congregations and small groups within our diocese I’ve had the opportunity to articulate some of the things I have learned about the Diocese of Tennessee over the past five years. At our last Convention I shared with you four words that describe the mission and ministry of the Church in Middle Tennessee. These are not words that I brought with me from south Louisiana, but it’s fallen to me to give voice to the shape of our common life, the values that characterize our life together, and I’ve been attempting to do so.

First, “Open.” In the Diocese of Tennessee we are open to the power of God. When we gather we’re expecting God to show up, and to do mighty things in our midst. In this diocese we know that the power does not lie within us but within God, and that when we gather as his People God the Holy Spirit will do things that go far beyond our frail power to accomplish. That’s our stance: we’re open and expectant and relying on the power of God.

Second, “Obedient.” In the Diocese of Tennessee we are obedient to Jesus’ command to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching; and indeed proclaiming the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. One of the most significant moments of our Eucharistic liturgy takes place at the very end when we are sent out into the world, out through the doors of the church into the mission field, to do the work of proclamation and evangelization and formation. That’s where it’s all happening. We seek to be obedient to that command.

Third, “Responsive.” In the Diocese of Tennessee we are responsive to the needs of the world, because it is the world that God created and for which Jesus gave his life; that world, and no other. We seek to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for others, who reconciled us to himself, and who calls us to the ministry of reconciliation. We seek to be responsive to the needs of a world that is hurting and is in need of healing, and in need of the ministry of the Church.

Fourth, “Committed.” In the Diocese of Tennessee we are committed to our life together as a community of faith, for the sake of the life of the world. Over the past decade or so it seems like we have had moments where we could no longer take our common life as a diocese for granted. It’s a good news/bad news sort of thing: bad, because there was the real possibility that we would not go forward together; good, because we had the opportunity to re-commit to our life together. We elected a bishop and turned to face the multiple challenges before us together as the Diocese of Tennessee.

Open to the power of God, obedient to Jesus’ command, responsive to the needs of the world, committed to our life together as a Church: we’ve been doing this for over 175 years, yet the vision is fresh and calls us to the work that lies before us today.

Faithful & Focused

In 2010 we began “Faithful & Focused,” an annual fund for the Diocese of Tennessee, as a means of telling the compelling stories of the ministry of the diocese and of inviting people to support this work directly.

In our November issue of Connections we told three new stories of ministry: the story of STEM, the Southeastern Tennessee Episcopal Ministry, which brings together four churches here in the Sewanee area in a regional and cooperative ministry that helps strengthen the witness of the Episcopal Church in this important corner of the diocese; the story of ministry in Higher Education that takes place through our work on the Vanderbilt and Belmont campuses centered on St Augustine’s Chapel; and the story of the rebirth of All Saints’ Church Smyrna, through the presence and ministry of refugee Karen people from Burma. These ministries are made possible through the annual budget of the Diocese of Tennessee, which is supported directly by contributions to Faithful & Focused.

We are doing creative and life-giving ministry in the Diocese of Tennessee. The good news is that there are so many stories to tell. You will have to indulge me in just one. When I visited All Saints’ Church in Smyrna on the Sunday following All Saints’ Day this year I was not really prepared for the service of baptism and confirmation that awaited me. In a liturgy that blended English and Karen I baptized over ten adult and teenaged converts to Christianity, as well as a number of younger children, all refugees. Fr. Bu Christ, the Karen priest who assists the Rev. Randy Hoover-Dempsey, the Vicar, told me that a number of the adults were converts from animism; that is, the worship of ancestors and the forces of nature. This is an unbelievable story, taken right out of the pages of the Early Church, and it’s happening in Middle Tennessee, in the very beginning of the twenty-first century. No work could be more basic than this apostolic work that we are doing right down the road in Rutherford County, and it is made possible (along with so much else) by Faithful & Focused. 

Two hundred, seventy-nine distinct gifts have been made through the end of December, 2011, for a total of $100,368. I am grateful to all who have contributed to this effort. We are engaged in work in Middle Tennessee that goes beyond the scope of any single congregation, and which we can do most effectively and credibly together as a diocese. This annual fund is ongoing, as 2011 turns into 2012. There are prayer and pledge cards and envelopes for contributions as well as other materials, including a list of contributors to date, in a folder before you, as well as a place to turn them in at the front desk. We continue to receive contributions for this year while we continue to tell the story of the ministry of the Diocese of Tennessee. You know how I forget to pray, so please join me now in praying for our Diocese, using the prayer from the folder:

“Almighty God, you give gifts generously to your people, and call us to service in the name of your Son: keep us faithful and focused in all that we do, and as we respond to your call, make us thankful for your ever present guidance and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”

Continuing work as a Diocese.

In this past year we have continued to put resources into congregational life, especially in re-developing congregations planted in the past fifteen years where we have a capital investment. I’ve already mentioned All Saints’ Smyrna, and I’ll also mention Church of the Holy Cross Murfreesboro. At the same time we have begun to flesh out our diocesan infrastructure, relying upon the volunteer efforts of clergy and lay leaders in the diocese in particular areas.

This past year has been a great one for the Diocese of Tennessee. Our Diocesan Evangelism and Congregational Development Committee, under the leadership of Fr. Richard Zalesak, has sponsored a couple of fine events, drawing upon our own people as a resource for us in this area along with some outside expertise. On a parallel track spearheaded by Canon Snare we have continued to be involved in a regional gathering that is helping to train folks from a number of diocese in congregational development through a more intensive residential program. In addition we will have the first of a new series of annual day Conferences for Wardens and Treasurers on March 31st, to raise our competency as parish leaders.

Also during this past year a new Diocesan Stewardship Committee, chaired by the Rev. Polk Van Zandt, sponsored a day workshop that was well attended and well received. There’s a desire for us to move ahead here, and this year the Bishop & Council re-committed itself and our diocese to the tithe as the minimum standard of Christian giving. Finally, our Diocesan Youth Committee under the leadership of Fr. Dixon Kinser held a training event for those involved in youth ministry, which helped to resource our valuable network of parish youth ministers. Again, this event drew upon our own resources of leadership and expertise for staff, and continues to build the network.

A new event this spring that celebrated liturgical ministries was sponsored at Christ Church Cathedral by the Cathedral Chapter, a new venture for the Chapter ably implemented led by Dean Kimbrough and the Rev. John Bender. Another is planned in March. This year as well the Episcopal Church Women and the Daughters of the King are co-sponsoring a Quiet Day for the entire diocese. This will take place on February 25th, during Lent, reminding us of the inestimable value of being together for reflection and prayer. It’s good for us to be together, involved in a common mission and ministry.

Conclusion

I’d like to thank the members of our Diocesan Staff who help to resource my own ministry as bishop: Canon Pamela Snare, who serves as Canon to the Ordinary; Canon Fred Dettwiller, who serves pro bono as Canon for Finance, Administration and Development; Jan Pate, who serves as Chief Financial Officer; Mitzi Kirby who provides administrative support; and Cathy Hendrix who works on Communications. This Convention itself represents a considerable part of their work, and I am grateful for their work on this and a multitude of other projects.

I also thank our clergy in the Diocese of Tennessee, who have provided leadership and vision for the ministry that we are engaged in together here in Middle Tennessee. You know the value of their work in your congregations and institutions. They are our chief resource, and I’m grateful for the good work they have done in challenging circumstances. We are also blessed to have great lay leaders in the Diocese of Tennessee, engaged in diocesan and congregational work, moving us forward in mission and ministry. People are faithfully serving as Wardens and Vestry members, Chancellors and Treasurers, Sunday School Teachers and Cursillio Rectors, Daughters of the King and Youth Group leaders, throughout our diocese, and God is blessing this ministry.

Finally, without the good will, prayer, and graceful efforts of our parishioners all of this would be for naught. God is working through you to accomplish his perfect will. Because there is One Bread, Christ Jesus himself who came down from heaven, we are One Body. I am grateful to you for all your support, and above all for being open, obedient, responsive, and committed. Thank you for calling me to be here as your bishop. This has been a great year for ministry in the Diocese of Tennessee, and there are great years ahead for us.

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