The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
November 2007

Province 8: There's a Lot Going On

By Dick Snyder

"There's a lot going on in Province 8," declared Miller Adams at the provincial leadership conference.

Adams is from the Diocese of Olympia and serves as chancellor of the province and presided at the business session of the conference, which was held Oct. 9-11 in Burlingame, Calif.

The annual leadership conference, which brings together coordinators of the provincial programs, "is a gathering place for ideas for a very diverse province," he added.

The Rev. Brian Nordwick, from the Diocese of El Camino Real and treasurer of the province, noted that the executive committee had instituted several procedures over the past two years.

Prior to that, there was "not enough oversight" by the board. The procedures make sure that "we are holding people accountable," he said.

As part of the improved situation, he noted that at last year's meeting, the board was looking at a deficit of $50,000.

"This year there is money in the bank," said Nordwick. "That's because of very intentional actions. There is a night and day difference from where we were."

"We are in a good place now," agreed the Rev. Butch Gamarra, a member of the provincial executive committee and member of Executive Council.

One positive development, he noted, was the hiring a half time coordinator, Patricia Erskine of the Diocese of Olympia.

"There was a new energy for stewardship, adult education and faith and the environment" among 26 clergy and lay leaders, said Erskine.

"There is new excitement about the direction we are taking," she added.

That direction includes greater sharing of resources and information among the program networks.

Because of that, "Province 8 is the strongest province in the church," noted the Rev. Canon Jenny Vervynck of San Diego, coordinator of the commission on ministry network.

There is also the holding of successful events, such as last year's stewardship conference.

The Rev. David Abernathy- Deppe of the Diocese of California, chair of the stewardship network, noted that the event was originally planned to attract 100 people. More than 220 registered, and from almost every diocese within the province, he noted.

"It has created enough energy and interest to become an annual event," he added.

This year's event, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," will be held June 26-28 in Portland.

Nordwick encouraged the program networks to hold at least one such "splash" event each year to attract a large number of participants.

Another such event was the Provincial Youth Event, which was hosted by the Diocese of Utah during July at Westminster College, noted the Rev. Brian Pryor of Spokane, coordinator of the youth ministry network.

More than 100 youth from throughout the province, including Hawaii and Navajoland, participated in the event.

In terms of specific programs, The Rev. Dr. Glenn Libby, coordinator of the higher education network, recommended provincial participation in a program "to mobilize young people to tackle the issues of HIV/Aids in Honduras.

He explained that the national church's young adult and high education ministries are sponsoring an effort to reach more than 4,500 students there with educational programs and pastoral support at the University of Honduras.

"This is an important project, and Province 8 needs to be a leader in it," said Libby.

The proposal drew unanimous support from those in attendance. Gamarra noted that the $3,000 for this year and next year would meet the province's goal for meeting Millennium Development Goal donations.

The Rev. Canon Carmen Guerrero, of the Diocese of Arizona and coordinator of the peace and justice network, spoke in favor of the proposal. She noted that she had formerly lived in Honduras and believed the program would be very helpful.

She pledged some of her network's funds for the project.

In other program news, Sally Nichols of San Diego noted that the women's ministries "have begun coordinating and combining efforts," including production of a combined newsletter for Episcopal Church Women, United Thank Offering, and Altar Guild.

She is provincial ECW coordinator and a member of the executive board.

Kathy Funk of Nevada noted that several chapters of Daughters of the King have been formed in the past year, including three in Utah. There are also three new Spanish speaking chapters, two in Arizona and one in Los Angeles.

"There is more connecting going on than I realized," said Guerrero.

The networking has always been a strength of the province, said Prior. He also serves as vice president of the House of Deputies.

"We are doing more than ever before," he said.

He encouraged the efforts of Mimi Wu of Hawaii, coordinator of the Asian ministries network, to continue her efforts to participate in events in the Diocese of Taiwan, which is also a member of Province 8.

"I hope that we can establish programmatic ties with Taiwan. We need them," said Prior.

Provincial program networks consist of African-American, Asian, Peace and Justice, Hispanic, Indigenous including Alaska and Hawaii Native; cognate groups consisting of adult provincial educations, Christian education, Commission on Ministry, Health ministries, higher education, youth, stewardship, and environment and spirituality.

The province operates on an annual budget of approximately $185,000 which is based on assessments from the member dioceses.

The provincial board approves the budget after reviewing actual assessment figures later this year.

The board could take no formal action during the conference because either the president or the vice president of the province must be present, said chancellor Adams.

The Rev. Jack Eastwood of the Diocese of California, president of the province, was not able to attend because he was recuperating from the flu, said Adams. The vice president of the province, Bishop Harry Bainbridge of Idaho, is being treated for lung cancer, Adams added.

The draft 2008 budget represents an overall decrease from 2007 of about $63,000, but provides for increases in ministries for various ethnic and indigenous peoples, faith and the environment; and peace and justice work.

The 18 member dioceses of Province 8 are Alaska, Arizona, California, Eastern Oregon, El Camino Real, Hawaii, Idaho, Los Angeles, Navajoland Area Mission, Nevada, Northern California, Olympia, Oregon, San Diego, San Joaquin, Spokane, Taiwan and Utah.

More information is available at the provincial website: www.provinceviii.org

The Rev. Dick Snyder is editor of the Diocesan Dialogue and is serving as coordinator of the provincial communications network.

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