To: the People and Clergy of the Diocese of El Camino Real
Preliminary Report on the Lay Conference
The following Update was compiled from reports by the four lay members of the Standing Committee: Dr. Gordon Gritter, Ms. Ginger Redman, Ms. Joanna Shreve, and Ms. Ann Wright.
The Lay Conference was successful beyond our greatest expectations! At the final briefing following the Conference, the members of the Standing Committee and the Facilitators all felt that the Conference had gone very, very well.
About 270+ people registered, representing almost every parish and mission of the Diocese. St. Stephen’s-in-the-Fields was literally packed to the doors. St. Stephen’s Vicar, Ken Wratten, and crew, led by Edy Unthank, responded with great resourcefulness: they got everybody registered promptly; they found enough chairs for everyone in the sanctuary; they set up 15 tables, with chairs, for small group discussions under large tents placed around their spacious grounds; they fed the throng; they had a good sound system. Nothing was lacking!
Every registrant got a packet containing the agenda, questions for small group discussions, a copy of the Open Letter to the Presiding Bishop, a roster of the Standing Committee, a statement of Bishop Shimpfky’s Settlement Package and debts to be paid out of the sale of the Episcopal Residence, and an Evaluation form.
After introductions by Ann Wright, Gordon Gritter made some comments and suggestions.
(1) Where have we come from? We have come from a time of increasing conflict, anger, fear, disorganization, and confusion; a time when laity have been insufficiently informed and involved; a time of very little growth, even as the population has increased and resources have been far beyond expectations; a time of cautiously but increasingly demanding fundamental changes.
(2) Where are we now? We are at a crucial evolutionary point: the Bishop has resigned; the Standing Committee has become the Ecclesiastical Authority and has occupied the necessary Diocesan tasks and positions, and is already making needed changes; a new bishop and other new leaders are to be chosen. This meeting is a new opportunity for lay people to ask for clarifications, to make personal statements and to express differences, to express anger and dismay, approval and hope. Some of us now want to put away the past and not talk about it any more. There are three reasons why we must not yet do so: if we put it away, we cannot learn from it; if we put it away, we are left with our own individual internal struggles unresolved; if we put it away before justice is done, we become complicit in injustice. In our present situation, justice is not yet done.
(3) Where do we hope to go ? We hope not to retreat into old diocesan patterns of hidden conflict and poor communication, but into new recognition that the life of the Church moves forward by leadership of all kinds, balanced and coordinated, mutually recognized and respected. We hope to move into new openness, transparency, positives and negatives put before us in order to come to our best understanding and judgment.
Joanna Shreve then presented the financial material, sketched the situation as seen by the auditors last year, and described the great improvements that are already in place, and the encouraging prospects for the future. Details of this report will be in the June Mission Bell, and are already posted on the diocesan web site.
Conference facilitators Ron Reed and Dale Simison commented about issues and dilemmas which have become increasingly characteristic of the Episcopal Church and other churches during recent decades: The demographics have changed; American and Western culture has changed and has carried the church with it; our bishops conferred nationally and recently reported that they have become exhausted and have lost their sense of episcopal identity; and many members of the church find themselves confused and frustrated. Reed and Simison commented that they see these issues as prominent in El Camino Real, but they also see ECR as, in general, much better prepared than most dioceses to take a leading role.
Each small group (15 - 20 people ) was equipped with lunches and a newsprint easel, and was given an hour and a half to come up with ideas, questions, and directions.
When all returned to summarize their thoughts for the whole gathering, two things became evident: The groups had indeed discussed widely and deeply, and they had generated a pervasive feeling of energy and hope for the Diocese. ( Several people who have recently been expressing their opposition to the work of the Standing Committee were amongst the registrants, and they participated in the groups, but none of their criticisms were heard in the group reports.)
There were few references to issues in the departure of Bishop Shimpfky, other than brief observations that the grievances of some members of the Diocese, and the griefs of others, are recognized and call for response.
At the end of the day, participants asked for the following things: to learn more about the Episcopal Church and its structures; to improve communication and build relationships; to learn out to reach out to young adults; to strengthen the Deaneries; to train lay leaders; to take time for healing; to be recognized and valued by clergy for their contributions; to support their clergy.
Finally, it was unmistakably clear that the laity of ECR had accepted the invitation to make themselves heard, they appreciated the opportunity (which many regarded as long overdue), they look forward to hearing from the Clergy Conference, and they want more of these conferences!
