Looking Towards the Future
"“The listening sessions were enlightening and challenging,” Bishop Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania said of the gatherings held between January 31 and March 20. “There is a great deal of enthusiasm for a partnership between our two dioceses, but also some skepticism about why we should change the way we’re doing things now."" ("What's Next" from Rust Belt Episcopal)
Last month, on Monday March 19th, St. John's was host to one of the Listening Sessions for the proposed partnership between the Diocese of Western New York and the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. All told there were eight listening sessions throughout both dioceses in the last couple of months. This week, on the Rust Belt Episcopal website, an article was published about what is coming next in the process. As it stands now, the next step is for each of the Standing Committees of both dioceses to meet separately and vote on whether the process will move forward. Both votes will happen in May, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western New York voting on whether to nominate Bishop Sean as their provisional Bishop and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania voting on whether to give permission for Bishop Sean to stand for election in the Diocese of Western New York. More information can be found in the article on the website linked above.
I was very grateful for the number of St. John's members who turned up at the listening session here. We know better than most the benefits and difficulties of working together in community with other Christians. Through fellowship and worship with Grace Lutheran Church, working with other community churches for Shepherd's Green Community Food Pantry, and other Franklin Ministerium events, collaboration offers gifts of diversity, perspective, and strength which might not otherwise be possible. While the proposed partnership between the Dioceses is still in discernment, take the time to talk to one of the Standing Committee members about your thoughts about the proposed partnership.
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania
The Rev. Mary Norton, Kaycee Reib, The Rev. Stacey Fussell, Anne Bardol, The Very Rev. Dr. John Downey, Donna Billioni, The Rev. Jason Shank, Jack Malovich
Last month, on Monday March 19th, St. John's was host to one of the Listening Sessions for the proposed partnership between the Diocese of Western New York and the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. All told there were eight listening sessions throughout both dioceses in the last couple of months. This week, on the Rust Belt Episcopal website, an article was published about what is coming next in the process. As it stands now, the next step is for each of the Standing Committees of both dioceses to meet separately and vote on whether the process will move forward. Both votes will happen in May, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western New York voting on whether to nominate Bishop Sean as their provisional Bishop and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania voting on whether to give permission for Bishop Sean to stand for election in the Diocese of Western New York. More information can be found in the article on the website linked above.
I was very grateful for the number of St. John's members who turned up at the listening session here. We know better than most the benefits and difficulties of working together in community with other Christians. Through fellowship and worship with Grace Lutheran Church, working with other community churches for Shepherd's Green Community Food Pantry, and other Franklin Ministerium events, collaboration offers gifts of diversity, perspective, and strength which might not otherwise be possible. While the proposed partnership between the Dioceses is still in discernment, take the time to talk to one of the Standing Committee members about your thoughts about the proposed partnership.
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania
The Rev. Mary Norton, Kaycee Reib, The Rev. Stacey Fussell, Anne Bardol, The Very Rev. Dr. John Downey, Donna Billioni, The Rev. Jason Shank, Jack Malovich
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