[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JULY 30, 2008

*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ON DIOCESAN HEALTH INSURANCE
In the coming weeks, there will be six informational sessions around the diocese to address possible changes in the structure of health benefits available through the diocese. The Diocesan Human Resources Committee and the Diocesan Council strongly urge you to attend one of these sessions.

For many years, the diocese has operated its own self-insured health plan for clergy and lay employees. Although the plan has worked well in some respects, the cost has become a financial burden for many parishes. Almost 75 percent of dioceses in the Episcopal Church currently provide health coverage through the Episcopal Church Medical Trust, an affiliate of the Church Pension Group. A study currently is under way to consider the possibility of making the Medical Trust the official denominational health plan for the Episcopal Church.

In July, the Diocesan Council received a detailed preliminary briefing on a Medical Trust proposal to provide health coverage to the Diocese of Washington beginning January 1, 2009. A decision on whether to accept this proposal is expected to be made at the council's October meeting. Council members have asked that informational sessions be held around the diocese to obtain input from health plan participants and other clergy and lay leaders. Representatives from the Medical Trust will be present at the sessions, which are designed to provide information and to obtain input. This feedback will be considered by the council when it makes its decision in October.

The Diocesan Human Resources Committee and Diocesan Council strongly urge you to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the Medical Trust proposal. Further information is available at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/benefits/2008-health-forums.html Please contact Kathleen Hall, Human Resources Administrator at 202/537-6522 or khall at edow.org with any questions.

Informational sessions are as follows:
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. George's Glenn, Dale (7010 Glenn Dale Rd., Glenn Dale)
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. Luke's, Bethesda (6030 Grosvenor Ln., Bethesda)
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at All Soul's (2300 Cathedral Ave, NW, Washington, D.C.)
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at St. Paul's, Piney (4535 Piney Church Rd.,Waldorf)
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. Paul's, Baden (13500 Baden Westwood Rd., Brandywine) 
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. John's, Olney [church library] (3427 Olney Laytonsville Rd., Olney) 

RENEWAL OF MARRIAGE VOWS - SERVICE AND RECEPTION
Episcopal Senior Ministries will hold a special Eucharist and renewal of vows ceremony for couples throughout the diocese who have been married 25 years or more. The service is set for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Washington National Cathedral, with a reception immediately following at Satterlee Hall, St. Alban's. Registration fee for couples is $50. Additional guests are welcomed to the reception for an additional cost of $25 per person. A flyer, registration form and fact sheet are available at www.esm.org or by calling 202/414-6314. Registration by Sept. 10 is essential to ensure the certificate of the Renewal of Marriage Vows is prepared and for catering arrangements. Administrators and others should call 202/414-6314 for additional information. 

FALL 2008 SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAININGS
Trainings for Safeguarding God's Children (prevention of child abuse) will resume in September. This training is required for all paid full-time staff and any volunteers who work with children and youth, including Christian Education leaders and Sunday School teachers. All training sessions are on Saturday unless otherwise indicated. 
* Sept. 13 (9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.); St. Andrew's, Leonardtown
* Sept. 27 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. John's, Beltsville
* Oct. 4 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Stephen and the Incarnation, D.C. 
* Oct. 25 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Peter's, Poolesville
* Nov. 8 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); Transfiguration, Silver Spring
* Dec. 2 (Tuesday: 6 to 10 p.m., with dinner); St. Columba's, D.C.
* Dec. 13 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Mary's, D.C. 
Registration will be available soon at www.edow.org/prevention 
		
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week: 
* Kathy Corbett-Welch - recovery from surgery 
* Sarah Duggin (seminarian) - personal health 
* Jack Chamblin - personal health 
* Lynn Lundelius - personal health 
* Susan Keller - father's health (Thomas) 
* Rip Coffin - personal health 
* Karen Johnson - daughter's personal health (Susan)   
* Travers Koerner - personal health 
* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh)   
* Michael Marrett - personal health
 
>>> REMINDERS:

THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE CONTINUES
The Lambeth Conference is now under way at the University of Kent in Canterbury. The following sources offer special coverage and regular updates:
* Episcopal Life Online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife/
* Episcopal Café at http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead 
* EpiScope at http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/episcope/ (roundup of news articles).
* Lambeth Journal at http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/lambethjournal/ (bishops from the ECUSA are blogging about their experience).
 
BLACK MINISTRIES 8TH TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE
The Black Ministries 8th Triennial Conference, set for Oct. 19-23 at the Intercontinental New Orleans Hotel, will bring diverse groups together to explore both the challenges and best practices in black and multicultural congregations, and for blacks in predominantly white congregations. This year, participation has been expanded to include the voices of lay leaders, young adults, women, Anglicans from other provinces and ecumenical colleagues. Conference cost is $650, and the Episcopal Church Center is subsidizing attendance. Registration is limited to the first 150. To register, visit http://www.conference.com/eventmanager/OnlineRegistration.asp?eventcode=H1S
 
THE 2009 JOHN HINES PREACHING AWARD
All preachers - bishops, priests, deacons and laypersons - are invited to submit one sermon for Virginia Theological Seminary's John Hines Preaching Award. Sermons should reflect the prophetic voice that characterized the sermons of John Hines, Presiding Bishop 1965-1974. The sermon must have been delivered in the Episcopal Church to a congregation between I Advent 2007 and the last Sunday after Pentecost 2008. The sermon must be received by the John Hines Preaching Award Committee by Dec. 15. The recipient of the John Hines preaching Award will receive $2,000. For further information, contact the Rev. Pamela Webb at pwebb at vts.edu or 800/941-0083.

SABBATICAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 
The Louisville Institute is holding its 15th annual competition for sabbatical grants for pastoral leaders. Awards are made for either eight or 12-week sabbaticals, to be taken in a continuous single period. Applicants choose whether to apply for an eight-week sabbatical, with a $10,000 award, or for a 12-week sabbatical; $15,000 award. Applications are due no later than Sept. 15. Award announcements will be made by Dec. 15, and sabbaticals must be taken between March 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. Full program information and application materials are available at 
www.louisville-institute.org 

BEGINNERS SPANISH CLASS AT ST. PAUL'S, K STREET
St. Paul's, K Street will hold a beginners Spanish class, "Spanish for Christian Ministry," on Monday nights from 6:30 (or immediately after the evening Mass) to 8:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 8. There is no fee, but participants must purchase a book: "Easy Spanish Step-by-Step," by Barbara Bregstein (McGraw-Hill, 2006), available at bookstores or online. Students also will need a 3-ring binder for handouts. The class is for people who have never taken Spanish, as well as for those who want a refresher. If interested, please contact David Allen White at dawh1 at msn.com.

SAMARITAN MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
> Next Step Experience - Find out how homeless people and others make changes in their lives through Samaritan Ministry's Next Step Program at a free one-hour come-and-see event.
> GoodSearch - Donate to Samaritan Ministry every time you search the web.
> Urban Experience - An introduction to issues of diversity, homelessness, poverty, and hunger for middle and high school students.
> Round-Up Dinners - Provide dinner for a support group of about 15 who have attended one of Samaritan Ministry's HIV/AIDS spiritual retreats.
> Volunteer Jobs - Find out about being a casework associate, resume writer, front office coordinator, computer mentor, meal program volunteer or Samaritan Ministry's historian, food safety inspector, handyperson or window washer!
> Help the Homeless Walkathon - Walk in Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walkathon on the National Mall, Nov. 22, or in a mini-walk at your parish.
> Make a Wish Come True - Find out about Samaritan Ministry's wish list and how you can make a wish come true.
Find out more at www.samaritanministry.org or contact Dianne Lewis at dlewis at samaritanminstry.org or 202/722-2280, ext. 319.

EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR LAY EMPLOYEES
Employment Policies and Guidelines for Lay Employees have been updated by the Committee on Human Resources and approved by the Diocesan Council. Rectors, senior wardens and junior wardens were mailed copies of the 2008 version this week. These will be available at www.edow.org by Aug. 1. For additional information contact Kathleen Hall, khall at edow.org or 202-537-6522.

'LAND AND PROMISE' CONFERENCE SET FOR SEPT. 7
"Land and Promise" a conference co-sponsored by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, Metro DC Synod ELCA and the Washington Chapter of the American Jewish Committee is set for 2 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Cafritz Conference Center, Marvin Center, George Washington University. Register at jewishlutheranconference at gmail.com.

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL
St. Timothy's, D.C., will hold its Hot Fun in the Summertime Festival and fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 23. St. Timothy's is located at 3601 Alabama Avenue, SE. For more information, please call 202/582-7740. 

WOMEN'S PRAYERS FOR ANGLICAN ANTHOLOGY
Anglican women and girls are invited to submit a prayer for possible inclusion in "Lifting Women's Voices: Ending Poverty through Prayer and Action," a new book from Morehouse Publishing. Royalties will benefit the International Anglican Women's Network and Episcopal Relief and Development. Submissions should be sent to ecw at edow.org no later than Sept. 8 to be considered for the ECW-EDOW submission to Morehouse. For more information, contact Sarah S. Shapley at ssshap at rcn.com.

NEW EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY GROUPS FORMING FOR THE FALL
New Education for Ministry groups are forming for September 2008. EfM is a program of theological education-at-a-distance of the School of Theology of the University of the South. Its intent is to teach lay people to think theologically in order to better relate and interpret the richness of our Christian heritage to the world and carry out the ministry of the baptized more effectively. EDOW is a sponsoring diocese for this program. For more information, and to locate and contact groups that are forming, visit EfM in the Diocese of Washington at www.edowefm.org or contact barbaramiles07 at comcast.net.

WALKER SCHOOL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEER HELP
The Bishop John T. Walker School, set to open its doors in September, is in need of some volunteer administrative assistance. Particularly needed are people who can answer the telephone, assist with assembling informational packets and performing a variety of tasks around the office. If you are able to offer some time to this endeavor, please contact Project Director James Woody at 202/257-9020 or jwoody at edow.org.

COMMUNITY DAY AT EPIPHANY, FORESTVILLE
Epiphany, Forestville will hold a Community Day from 1 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at 3125 Ritchie Road, Forestville. There is ample parking at this family friendly event. For more information, call 301/735-7717.
  
PILGRIMAGE TO ETHIOPIA: ANCIENT LAND OF FAITH 
All Saints Company offers a pilgrimage to Ethiopia from January 16-29. A full description of this trip is available at http://www.allsaintscompany.org/index.php/events/view/liturgical_ethiopia/ For further information, contact Daniel Simons at info at allsaintscompany.org

PILGRIMAGE TO CHINA 
>From April 14-30, 2009, All Saints Company will lead a pilgrimage to China. To learn more about this pilgrimage, visit: http://www.allsaintscompany.org/events/view/china/ For further information, contact Daniel Simons at info at allsaintscompany.org
 
ARC CALLS ON CHURCHES TO SPONSOR A BLOOD DRIVE
The American Red Cross (Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region) is calling for parishes in the Diocese of Washington to help increase the area's blood supply by sponsoring a summer blood drive. To learn more about sponsoring a blood drive, call Tina Baccante of the American Red Cross at 703/655-2979.  

12-STEP EUCHARIST
The Hope for Recovery ministry team at St. Alban's, D.C., will not be having its 12-Step Eucharist in July, August and September. Please contact Sally Craig at sallybcraig at aol.com with any questions.
 
DAY-RETREAT SPACE
If your vestry, committee, parish or community group needs space (10-30 people) for a day retreat or meeting this summer, please consider the University of Maryland Episcopal Student Center, College Park. The center is Metro accessible. For further information and to reserve space, please contact the chaplain, the Rev.  Peter Antoci, at pantoci at umd.edu
  
CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
Contributions for the planned Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys can be sent to: The Bishop John T. Walker School, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban Washington, D.C. 20016 or visit www.bishopwalkerschool.org

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