2017 Reports to Convention Camp Henry

To define Camp Henry in a single word is almost impossible, but if forced, the word I would use for Camp Henry 2017 is AWESOME. Everything about it was awesome!

The staff, chaplains and nurses gave their all to the kids! They kept them safe, nurtured their spiritual and personal souls and helped them see God in the neighbors and themselves. We continued our trend of growth and added a few new positions to staff, the Program Coordinator and the Media Specialist. The Program Coordinator worked behind the scenes to help the chaplains and staff create and execute fun activities and powerful spiritual explorations. And the Media Specialist helped us capture all of the fun and love on film so that we can revisit our memories as often as desired, as well as help us share the joy of camp with the world.

When it came to the chaplains, we had some who had been with us for several years, some who were brand new, and more than one who used to be the Camp Henry Director (not intimidating at all). And all were amazing! The theme of the 2017 was “Catching Fire and Sharing the Light.” And week after week, the chaplains helped us to see God’s gifts and light burning brightly in ourselves and each other and to determine how we can best serve each other and the world. Slight side story: On the last night of every session, we share in the Eucharist. This is always a particularly moving part of the week because it becomes for us a celebration of God’s love and of the week we have had together. The campers have a huge hand it putting it together, from acting out readings to helping with the sermons. It’s beautiful. During the Eucharist for our 7th-9th Grade Session, we did something we don’t always do; we had an offering. But they didn’t offer any money or material possessions, they offered themselves. One by one, every camper went up to the altar, placed their hand upon it and offered their gifts to God and shared, silently or aloud, how they were going to use those gifts to make the world a better place. And I have to tell you, at the end, the air was full of not just love, but also hope. Hope and belief that we can share the love of Christ with all.

Which leads me to my next point, the campers were awesome! Although we did see a drop in numbers for our younger sessions, such as Parents and First Timers and Mini Camp, the popularity of our middle school sessions remains consistently high. Additionally we had a strong representation for the high school sessions. LAMP (Leadership, Adventure, Mission and Program) continues to impress! With nearly full sessions of 10th-12th Graders, our LAMP participants grew in their strengths as young leaders working with the kids and continued to give back to the community assisting with outreach programs at Grace Church in the Mountains and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. Overall, the trend we have been experiencing for the past couple of years in regards to gender breakdown remains the same. The younger age groups see a more equal balance, but with every increase in age group, we see more females than males. While we did experience an 8% decrease in overall numbers from 2016, Camp Henry still enjoyed the company of 413 wonderful individuals, and for those present, we had an amazing time, playing games until our legs gave out, dancing like no one’s watching, singing like angels to God, laughing so hard our bellies ached, and loving so much it brought us to tears.

The Camp Henry Outdoor School, affectionately known as CHOS, was, in the words of the campers, CHOS-ome (CHOS + awesome)! As they explored a variety of trails, through the Pisgah National Forest and parts of the Art Lobe, the CHOS participants saw God’s creation in all of its glory and splendor. The

CHOS program flourished under the leadership of the CHOS Assistant Director and Instructors, who focused on helping the kids grow in their knowledge of the outdoor world and how to explore it, while gaining a new appreciation for their own strengths and those of their fellow participants as they came together as a team. The trend of growth for the CHOS program persisted; 5 out of 6 sessions were full or over capacity, and we are already excited about the possibility of this trend continuing in 2018 prompting the addition of offered sessions.

Speaking of new sessions, Camp Henry had the joy of hosting its first Family Camp! With 17 participants, we enjoyed relaxing afternoons on the lake and adventures on the climbing tower, sang around the camp fire, discussed peace in the world, competed in Family Olympics, and, most of all, shared God’s love with all.

Between parishes and camp, at least 230 scholarships/camperships were given to 157 campers, meaning 38% of our campers received financial aid from either camp, their parish, or both. $72,725.95 was given in financial assistance; $37,205.96 of that total sum came from parish support, and the remaining $35,519.99 was provided by individuals, organizations, and the diocese. Camp Henry continues to be as fiscally responsible as possible, while providing the safest and best quality programs that we can. Our policy is that no child will ever be turned away because of financial constraints. All children deserve to experience the unconditional love and acceptance of God. This would not be possible without considerable and impressive assistance from the churches, the diocese, individuals, as well as from the Helen Porter Trust, the Chancellor’s Fund, St. Mary of the Hill’s Tour of Homes Grant, the John and Darlene McNabb Charitable Foundation, MAST General, the McKenzie Foundation, and others. On behalf of the Camp Henry community, from the bottom of our hearts, we are incredibly grateful for all of the support. Thank you!!

As our first full year as the new Lake Logan and Conference Center and Camp Henry, Inc, comes to a close, we are overjoyed to announce that the new board structure implemented last year was a success! With lots of willing and eager board members to help us (the Conference Center and Camp Henry) grow, we have seen the fruits of their labors. After only one summer with Lauri SoJourner as the Executive Director of Lake Logan Conference Center, we can’t help but sing her praises, but to be perfectly honest, we felt that way after only one day with her and look forward to seeing what the future holds. Additionally, a lot of the property has seen great improvements, including new paint, roofs, and floors to many of our well-loved buildings and structures. Thank you to all the gifts and the volunteers and individuals who have worked tirelessly to make these improvements possible.

What’s more, Lake Logan Conference Center and Camp Henry successfully hosted our first annual Cold Mountain Music festival! Held on the first weekend of June, over a thousand people came out to enjoy perfect weather, delicious food and wonderful blue grass music. Overall we raised a little over $40,000 to help fund scholarships, operations, maintenance, and more. With such a great success our first year, we look forward to turning this into a new tradition and expanding its offerings. To learn more about what’s coming in 2018, check out coldmountainmusic.org.

When I think of the future of Camp Henry, I can’t help but smile with excitement and anticipation. We look forward to pushing ourselves to be better with every passing year, focusing on our strengths and adapting to meet the changing needs of families, young people, the churches and the community, by adjusting and adding programs as well as offering additional services. For more information on Camp Henry and our 2018 Dates and Rates or to register for 2018, please go to camphenry.net! To stay

involved with Camp Henry, like us on Facebook @CampHenryWNC or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Indeed Camp Henry 2017 was awesome (even the weather was near perfect)! And we can’t wait to see what adventures and excitement 2018 holds. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this summer amazing! Thank you to the campers, families, staff, chaplains, nurses/doctors, Lake Logan Staff, board, friends, and supporters! Thank you God for your continued blessings! Thank you!

Kathryn Florack Camp Henry Director

Campus Ministries

Episcopal Diocese of WNC – Episcopal Campus Ministries Report to 2017 Annual Convention

Students create a rag quilt for the John L. Dart Library in Charleston

The Rev. Pattie Curtis reporting on Episcopal Ministries at Western Carolina University:

Episcopal Campus Ministry @WCU continues with a small group of students this year. I have 4 students with whom I am regularly in touch. We also continue to partner with our Lutheran and Presbyterian brothers and sisters and this year we are also working with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship group at Cullowhee Baptist Church.

The challenge for our campus ministry is fostering a sense of community among students with very busy class and work schedules. Finding a common time to gather has always been a challenge and given that I, as campus chaplain, do not have an office on campus, we have utilized meal times in the dining hall to gather together.

This year, I have been partnering with the Society of St. John the Evangelist in two projects to reach out to these young adults. First, I am sending SSJE’s daily “Brother, Give us a Word” (which is sent as an email to subscribers) to my students via GroupMe so that they can read at their leisure and share their thoughts on the daily word with each other. I have also provided this to my fellow campus ministers at UNC-A and App State for them to use if it works in their context. Additionally, I have shared this resource with Lutheran and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship counterparts for them to also share with their students. We will examine this program at the end of the semester, and with feedback from our students decide whether to continue.

The second project with SSJE is a Lenten program entitled “Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.” SSJE has developed a beautiful journal to accompany this Lenten program which will include a daily email message and video. Because college-aged students rarely email anymore, we are hoping to continue to utilize our GroupMe apps to foster discussion and questions among our participants.

If you have students who are attending WCU or are planning to attend in the future, please send me names and contact information so that I can be in touch with them. We want all our students to know they have a church family nearby!

Faithfully,

The Rev. Pattie Curtis, Chaplain Episcopal Campus Ministry @WCU saintjohnssylva@gmail.com

The Rev. Robert Lundquist reporting on Episcopal Ministries at UNC-Asheville: Since this time last year, the UNC-Asheville Canterbury student group has met each Thursday during the academic year for the Holy Eucharist, an evening meal, and a meeting. Canterbury evenings in the past

year have included monthly board game nights, a late October amateur pumpkin surgery event, a presentation on the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) by Will Bryant and Megan Cox, movie nights – viewing & discussing. Canterbury president and ministry intern Jenna Sharrits walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago this summer, so we previewed the trip with her in the spring and got her after-report this fall. The Rev David Henson led a conversation around the ten bridesmaids of

Matthew 25, and Canterbury attended the Church of the Advocate dinner this fall. Worship life included a Stations of the Cross presentation with Brother John Huebner, who also led an evening conversation around the new monasticism movement in the US. Canterbury led an Ash Wednesday service and “Ashes To Go” on the quad last spring. Students fulfilled some of their service hours through working with Kairos West in Asheville. And Bishop McLoughlin included Canterbury Asheville in the Road Trip in October, leading worship, sharing dinner, and having conversation with students. For the 3rd year Canterbury has shared office & meeting space with the Asheville Catholic Campus Ministry and Baptist Student Fellowship @ UNCA. Our groups work together to provide a free lunch every Thursday, and offering special events such as Thanksgiving & Christmas meals, a pre-finals brunch, and picnics. Beginning last fall we’ve worked together to offer a Justice Café to students and staff. This series, developed by the Roman Catholics, is a coffeehouse-type gathering, with student-led foci on topics such as “Interfaith Relationships” and “Responding to Mass Violence.” The program has given non-church folks a venue for discussing issues of the heart and spirit without an overt religious overlay.

My sincere thanks to the folks who have provided & served lunch to the 2 dozen or so we see each Thursday – The Calvary (Fletcher) Crafters, Grace Episcopal, St. John’s – Haw Creek, and Trinity Asheville, especially Debbie Cox.

Special guest speakers in the past year have included Gareth Higgins (presenting a program entitled “Seeing in the Dark”) and the Rev Becca Stevens, providing students an opportunity to interact with folks outside the immediate community sharing on what it means to be community.

I remain most grateful for the ministry of volunteer Jill Meares, whose weekly presence has magnified the work we share. Our faculty advisor since the very beginning – Dr. Sophie Mills – continues to provide key support to the ministry in our relationship with the administration. Please continue to pray for the ministry of Canterbury Asheville. You are always welcome to lunch any Thursday at noon, and to worship any Thursday at 5:15 pm. Faithfully submitted, The Rev. Rob Lundquist, Chaplain UNC-Asheville Canterbury Rlundquist56@gmail.com

Jim Banks reporting on Episcopal Ministries at Appalachian State University: The Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry (PECM) at ASU has continued to grow in the past year, drawing not only Episcopal and Presbyterian students, but also students from other denominations and others who are simply spiritual seekers. We currently have about 35 students who regularly attend our Tuesday evening programs.

Our programs vary each week, rotating between offsite “Moveable Feasts”, student-led TED talks, service projects and worship nights. A meal is always served. Some of the highlights during the year

include participation at the annual suicide prevention event, doing yard work for the Western Youth Network and making and distributing valentines for the residents of Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living. We also hosted a Men’s Movie Night to watch and discuss The Mask You Live In, a documentary about the ways in which cultural views of masculinity are harmful.

In February, we conducted a multi-faith worship service with participation from Hillel, the Jewish student organization, and the Muslim Student Association. Service Project with the Western Youth Network in Boone

In addition to weekly meetings and other regular events, this fall we held a retreat at the Valle Crucis Conference Center and took a four-day service trip to Charleston, SC. Highlights of this trip included working at the Lowcountry Food Bank, working to bag oyster shells for the South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program, and joining Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, our host parish, during their service day. We also helped create an indigo-dyed rag quilt for the 90th anniversary celebration of the John L. Dart library, which was founded to create library services for the African American population of Charleston. Most recently, several students spent the morning at the Valle Country Fair making apple butter and Brunswick Stew.

We are very appreciative of the support we receive from the Diocese as well as the support from local Episcopal churches—St. Luke’s, Holy Cross and St. Mary of the Hills—who help fund our programs and cook our Tuesday dinners. Thank you to our two faculty sponsors, Dr. Lynne Getz and Dr. Lynn Searfoss, for their continued support. I also wish to thank the Rev. Allan McCaslin, the Rev. Rick Lawler, the Rev. Sam Tallman and the Rev. Cyndi Banks for leading programs and worship events during the past year. Lastly, let me say how much I appreciate the dedication and leadership of the Rev. Stephanie Hankins, the Presbyterian co-leader of PECM.

If you know of students coming to ASU, WCU or UNC-Asheville, please let us know. Becoming aware of incoming Episcopal students is always a challenge since public universities do not provide student information to outside groups. The chaplains all very much appreciate receiving contact information for students at our schools so we can invite them to be a part of our campus ministries.

Please continue to keep our students, faculty, staff, college chaplains and many volunteers in your prayers. Our campus ministries are often the principal place of worship for college students and provide a safe place to explore deep questions of meaning and experience a healthy supportive community.

Faithfully submitted,

Jim Banks, Episcopal Campus Minister Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry at ASU jdrbanks@gmail.com

Volunteering at the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a contemplative approach to formation for young and old alike. Developed to engage children and adults in a shared religious journey this method invites all ages into a profound engagement with our Baptismal Covenant. As people of the Way we are called to share in the apostle’s teaching, to remain devoted to study and to engage, encourage, and transform community through our study and service.

According to Montessori practice and pedagogy, the work of the Catechesis is divided into three groups considerate of particular developmental stages of children: Level I (ages 3-6), Level II (ages 6-8) and Level III (ages 9-12).

In the Diocese of Western NC, we have a small and devoted community of catechists who are trained in the method and several parishes that have adopted this method as their primary formation for children. From across the diocese we reach out to nurture one another in community by gathering for material making and a sharing of concerns, celebrations, and theological reflections.

As adults seek to address each stage of the child’s spiritual development it seems many are blessed to revisit the spiritual development of their own inner child. It is in God’s way that as we learn to companion the smallest we also come to realize a deepening of our own faith. Perhaps this is one reason Jesus reminded us to follow the child.

The Cathedral of All Souls offers ongoing formation courses. Level I training occurs on a continuous yearly cycle. There are plans to host a Level II course in the summer of 2018 and Level III beginning in 2019. This ongoing formation, in many ways, follows a catechumenal process inviting one into a fuller participation in the life of the Church. Each level of training is dependent upon the prior level. A fully trained Level III catechist will have received over 300 hours concentrating on Scripture and the liturgy of the Episcopal Church.

If you are interested in exploring this method for your parish and/or for your own personal formation please contact Micki Hill at (828) 274-2681 or email at micki@allsoulscathedral.org

In peace,

Micki Hill Dean’s Assistant for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd The Cathedral of All Souls

Church of the Advocate

Church of the Advocate began in 1997 taking Eucharist to those who gathered in Pritchard Park, particularly homeless, marginalized, the least of these. Eventually moving into the undercroft of Trinity Church, we continue to serve downtown Asheville with worship, safe space, prayer, and healing, as well as food, shoes, fellowship, art, counseling, and more. In short, a busy place. We welcome homeless, mentally ill, addicted, marginalized, and a wide variety of souls. Our doors open for quiet time (which includes opportunities for art and rest) at 12 noon on Sundays. Holy Eucharist begins at 1:30 and lunch follows. The Sole Mate Shoe closet, Supply Closet (with personal hygiene items, sleeping bags (when we have them), socks, and other things. Mondays begin at 9:30 with our Prayer Bible Circle which employs the ancient practice of Lectio divina. And breakfast follows with fellowship. The Good Works Crew puts folk to work several days per week with various jobs such as landscaping and housekeeping at Lake Logan Conference Center, stocking and cleaning at CarePartners Foundation Hospice Thrift Store, food pantry at Calvary Church, Fletcher, and Creative Peacemakers at St.George’s, Asheville, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore and build projects among other work and sites. On Thursdays, facilitated healing art activities are offered along with free onsite counseling with a Licensed Professional Counselor from All Souls’ Counseling Center. We are also connected to community helping agencies through the Asheville Homeless Coalition, the Asheville Sex Workers Outreach Project, and informal conversations with BeLoved House, the Haywood Street Congregation, and others. We operate our worshipping community and offer programs through support from our diocese and its parishes, corporate and individual contributions, and grant funding. We also graciously receive the use of the undercroft and office space as a gift in kind from Trinity Episcopal Church. Our total 2017 Operating Budget is set for $82,000. Church of the Advocate has received $63,774 in contributions. Thus far in 2017, we have given $17,726 in outreach for our parishioners and the community which supports them. Church of the Advocate has received $10,300.00 in grant funding for counseling and work programs this calendar year and has disbursed a total of $19,891 (joined with some remaining 2016

funds) in restricted expenses through payments for counseling and Good Works! Crew payroll. The Advocate, known on the street as the Red Door, is not an agency, though we sometimes act in helping-agency ways. We are not the standard neighborhood parish, but we are an Episcopal worshipping community. Over the next year, we will discerning our path into the future in terms of leadership, structure, and where God is calling us. In the meantime, we continue to serve faithfully and look forward to engaging the community for a time of sanctuary, nourishment, creativity, and worship. See You Soon at The Red Door where All Are Welcome and All Are Worthy. Yours in Christ, The Reverend Victor Mansfield, Interim Vicar Rhonda Candler Kilby, Managing Director Church of the Advocate 60 Church Street Asheville, North Carolina 28801 828-253-9361 x 227 advocatechurchasheville.org The Cathedral of All Souls

2017 Convention Report of The Cathedral of All Souls From the Covenant of The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and The Cathedral of All Souls ARTICLE 3 PURPOSE OF THE CATHEDRAL The Cathedral shall be a tangible symbol of The Episcopal Church centered around an altar. It will act as a unifying force for the diocesan family and will increase the visibility and strengthen the ecumenical witness of The Episcopal Church in western North Carolina. The Cathedral will be a center of worship for The Diocese, committed to servant ministry and encouraging the development of such ministries, programs, and worship as are appropriate to parishes, institutions, and communities throughout The Diocese. The Cathedral will provide the seat for The Bishop and a house of prayer for all people.

Included among the ‘tangible symbols’ of the Church centered around an altar in 2017 were the ordination of vocational deacons and the annual Renewal of Vows by clergy and lay persons service in Lent.

Among offerings of servant ministry was sponsorship of Self-Help Credit Union’s “Bringing it Home” conference in Asheville. The event brought together a diverse set of

community advocates and entrepreneurs focused on building a local economy that works for all everyone. Panels included creation of land trusts to protect in town land for current residents, challenges and successes of entrepreneurs who are also people of color, project funding, the results of a local economic development study, as well as the role of youth in economic development. The keynote speaker, Deena Hayes Greene, of The Racial Equity Institute, presented an overview of the racial inequities embedded in our societal structures and systems.

Other offerings of servant ministries is the continued support of Kairos West, a community center in West Asheville which provides gathering/meeting space for many community agencies and support groups, an open table meal called “12 Baskets”, as well as office space for community agencies. Based on the Community Asset Model it upholds that the strength of communities is found in the people of the community versus one group determining what another group needs.

The Cathedral serves as a house of prayer for all people through its space usage by many varying communities of faith throughout the year. The space is used by these groups free of charge and serves to support their work as well as serving witness to the hospitality of the Episcopal Church toward them.

Commission on Ministry

To: Diocese of Western North Carolina – Annual Convention From: The Rev. Pattie Curtis/Chair, Commission on Ministry Date: 25 October 2017 Re: Annual Convention Report Title III, Canon 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church provides that each Diocese shall have a Commission on Ministry made up of Priests, Deacons and Lay Persons to advise and assist the Bishop in the implementation of Title III; in the determination of present and future opportunities and needs for the ministry of all baptized persons; and in the design and oversight of the process for recruitment, discernment, formation for ministry, and assessment of readiness therefor. The Commission on Ministry (COM) in this diocese continues to fulfill its canonical duties by: In 2014/2015, the COM completed a major restructuring of our process for discernment of people called to Holy Orders. In 2017, we have continued to fine tune that process. To better meet our canonical responsibility as a recommending body, we now require Aspirants to write and discuss their spiritual autobiography with their Rector/Priest-in-Charge. Moving this requirement to the earliest step in discernment has two benefits: (1) it provides the Rector/Priest-in-Charge, and subsequently the Bishop, with a broader picture of the Aspirant’s life experience, and (2) it enables the Bishop to better prepare the diocesan psychologist for individualized testing. In 2017, the COM also increased the documentation to be provided to the COM and, subsequently, the Standing Committee to better enable both bodies to make faithful recommendations for candidacy and ordination to the Bishop. Prior to making their required

recommendations to the Bishop, the COM and the SC will now review (1) middler reports from seminary or diaconal training program; (2) CPE evaluation, if applicable; (3) academic reports from the seminary or diaconal training program; and (4) an updated spiritual autobiography. In 2017, six (6) Aspirants appeared before the COM during the May and October meetings. Three (3) of these Aspirants were recommended for postulancy. The COM also recommended to the Standing Committee and the Bishop the approval of three (3) Postulants for candidacy and subsequently for ordination. Looking ahead to 2018, the COM will continue to explore Shared Ministry and how it can best be adapted to meet the needs of parishes in our diocese. Educational opportunities for bi-vocational Priests will need to be developed as will education and training for vocational Deacons. At the end of 2017, I will complete my term as a member of the COM and as its Chairperson. It has been a gift and a blessing to have walked alongside those discerning God’s call in their lives. It has also been a gift and a blessing to have worked with the faithful members of the COM as we assist those God has brought before us. It has been holy and sacred work that has enriched my life and ministry beyond measure. Faithfully, The Rev. Pattie Curtis, Chair Commission on Ministry/DWNC

Congregational Vitality Ministry

Report of Congregational Vitality Ministry to The

2017 Diocesan Convention of Western North Carolina

As we approach the end of the year, Innovation Grants have been slow in being submitted. Because of the incompleteness of applications no award decisions have been made to date. CVM has completed its two year phasing plan of moving from “maintenance” to mission and has phased out automatic renewal of funding to congregations for 2017. With the arrival of our new bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin has indicated a desire to journey along a path of CVM being a threefold ministry: 1) Providing Consultants and mentors to work with congregations who request or have been identified as good candidates for assistance and vitality insight; 2) Identification and certification of outside consultants, programs and initiatives that would assist parishes in the diocese; and, 3) the awarding of innovation grant dollars to parishes that submit qualified initiatives according to standards set up and advertised on the diocesan website. It is the intent of CVM to be available to assist any and all parishes

of the diocese that exhibit a desire to become more vital in the ministry they have been called. Additionally, Bp. José is in full support of the use of the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) from Holy Cow Consulting. This respected church-wide analysis tool helps congregations in times of transition as well as at other significant times in their lifecycle. This year the following congregations have used the CAT: St. John’s, Sylva; St. Luke’s, Lincolnton; All Saints, Franklin; Redeemer, Shelby; St. James, Black Mountain; and Transfiguration, Saluda. We are excited about the support and the valuable data that is revealed through these tools. Members of the CVM team have recently attended the Fierce Conversations training offered by the Diocese of Chicago and will offer workshops sometime in 2018. Initiatives for the upcoming 12 months are to assist the Bp. in procuring funding and identifying the right person to come on board the diocesan staff as Canon Missioner for Congregational Vitality. The CVM team is thankful to Bishop José for giving us the opportunity to be involved in this new initiative in the Diocese of Western North Carolina, and grateful to the Executive Council for the funding of this important work. Respectfully submitted,

Gary + The Rev. Dr. Gary Butterworth Chairs, Congregational Vitality Ministry

Deanery Reports

Asheville Deanery The clergy of the Asheville Deanery meet monthly for biblical reflection, support of each other’s ministries, communication and opportunities for shared ministry. In 2017 the Deanery completed its 12th shared construction of a house through Habitat for Humanity. This work brings together lay and ordained people in the deanery for the shared work of constructing not simply a house but a home for Amara McCarson and her two children. The Deanery participates in Habitat construction every other year. A group has begun meeting to pursue a shared youth ministry vision among the churches in the deanery. For more information on this work please bring your questions to the monthly deanery meeting. Foothills Deanery The ministry of Jesus in the Diocese of Western North Carolina is alive and well—and that is particularly true in our corner of the garden in the Foothills Deanery. The churches that make up the Deanery are St. John’s, Marion; St. Paul’s, Wilkesboro; St. James,

Lenoir; St. Mary & St. Stephen’s, Morganton; Grace, Morganton; St. Paul’s, Morganton (Lake James); Ascension, Hickory; St. Alban’s, Hickory; and Epiphany, Newton. Two churches in the Deanery have transitioned since the last convention. St. James, Lenoir said a fond farewell to Interim Rector Kathryn Costas in July, and welcomed their new rector, The Rev. Susan Buchanan August 1st. The Discernment Committee is grateful for the good support and guidance provided by Diocesan staff and consultant, and the whole parish is entering this new time with much joy. The “We, the People” series of conversations geared toward dismantling racism in the community, is thriving, and moving the congregation to build bridges with historically black congregations in Lenoir. Mother Susan is also pursuing more ecumenical connections in our community. The parish continues its involvement with local feeding programs, backpack ministries, and homeless shelters. St. John’s, Marion, also underwent a transition as The Rev. Richard Rowe departed, and The Rev. Mike Cogsdale began his work as the interim rector. Lay leadership is strong and the parish as a whole is vibrant and active. The upcoming months will be spent in discernment as to the type of clerical leadership that will be needed in order for St. John’s to fulfill their dreams for the parish during the next stage of the parish’s life. The three Episcopal parishes in Morganton remain strong. St. Mary’s & St. Stephen’s has undertaken a new role cooking lunch at the local soup kitchen, Burke United Christian Ministries. Newcomers continue to flock to the parish, and the parish continues to live into its mission, which is: “We are a welcoming diverse community, genuinely sharing life’s ups and downs while faithfully worshipping God;” and its vision, which is: “To be a beacon of racial reconciliation while working against oppression in all its forms.” The parish is well aware that such bold mission and vision takes time and effort, but they report joyfully that they are well on their way! Grace Episcopal Church saw a year of growth. Grace has long been a hub for a large backpack ministry that provides more than 2,000 pounds of food per month to Burke County’s poorest elementary school. A $65,000 campaign was recently completed to refurbish a long-unused portion of the parish hall to become the permanent home of the backpack ministry. Grace also installed a “tiny pantry” on its campus, where nonperishable food and toiletry items are regularly stocked by the parish and community in a 2-foot by 3-foot cubby, for any of our neighbors who are in need. We continue to look for new and innovative ways to live out our identity as a community of Christ the Servant. St. Paul’s at Lake James, Morganton, continues to gather with joy and delight to praise and worship God. As a spiritual center in the community, they have reached out into the community with love and compassion, sharing what they have in common with their neighbors. They continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In Wilkesboro, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church continues its ministry to the community through Crisis Assistance and Step Ahead ministries. They provide emergency assistance, longer term counseling with financial grants, and weekly meals and a clothing bank. Their youth are active in outreach, fellowship, and formation. They have begun big projects this year with renovation work on our historic chapel and will begin upgrading their facilities with more handicapped accessible bathroom and access to our buildings. In Catawba County, life is full at Church of the Ascension. At St. Alban’s, the faithful continue to live into their vision: “We are called to care for those around us with reckless abandon.” The church is active in soup kitchens, community gardens, and ministries with

the homeless. Several fundraisers take place throughout the year to support these vital ministries.

Church of the Epiphany in Newton is celebrating its 61st year of mission and ministry. They continue to be involved in soup kitchens, transitional housing, and hospice ministries. Adult Formation is thriving, the local chapter of Daughters of the King is active, and many other important ministries continue to add vitality to the parish and its people.

--The Rev. Marshall A. Jolly Rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Morganton

Dean, Foothills Deanery Mountain Deanery Things to note: St. Luke's, Boone – work in outreach and social justice ministry, as well as college ministry at Appalachian State. Holy Communion, Glendale Springs – the churches of the Frescoes continue their ministries between the two congregations. Trinity, Spruce Pine – a weekly Spanish Eucharist and bible study are added to the regular schedule. Fr. Miguel Alvarez presides over these. Savior, Newland – Rev. Tom Rightmeyer is the priest in charge. Fr. Miguel Alvarez presides at a Sunday Spanish service begins in November and leads a mid-week bible study. St. Mary's of the Hills, Blowing Rock – Rev. Linda Wofford Hawkins is interim rector. Holy Cross, Valle Crucis – recently completed the 39th consecutive year of Valle County Fair. Christ Church, Sparta – host a Red Door Pantry enabling people to gain easy access for food and needed supplies St. Thomas, Burnsville – initiated “The Abbey at St. Thomas”, an outreach ministry that maintains a connection within the broader community. Respectfully submitted, Richard Biega Western Deanery

Our time since the last diocesan convention has been a time of transitions and milestones. We welcomed many new clergy colleagues. Rev. Joslyn Schafer became rector at Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville; Rev. David Webb (ELCA) became interim at All Saints Episcopal Church, Franklin; Rev. Maggie Rourk (ELCA) joined Church of the Messiah, Murphy as pastor-in-charge; Rev. George Choyce became assisting priest at Church of the Good Shepherd,

Hayesville; and Rev. Erin Maxfield-Steele was called as curate to Church of the Good Shepherd, Cashiers. Rev. Nathan Bourne, sponsored out of the Western Deanery, was ordained to the priesthood by The Rt. Rev. Rob Hirschfeld and was called to serve as curate at St John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH. Rev. Michael Hudson celebrated twenty five years of service at St David’s Episcopal Church, Cullowhee. Along with that milestone, the people of St David’s celebrated their parish’s 125th anniversary.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Bill Breedlove

Ecumenical Officer

Ecumenical Officer Report to Diocesan Convention 2017

The big news this year in the ecumenical world is the publication by the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church of A Gift to the World, Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness. This document lays out the plan by which the Episcopal Church and United Methodist Church could enter into full communion in the same way the Episcopal Church is already in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Moravian Church.

In October the United Methodist District Superintendent and I worked together to offer the clergy in our respective jurisdictions the opportunity to come together for worship and fellowship. Our goal was to begin making connections between our traditions so that our conversations about the full communion proposal could be grounded in existing relationships. Our liturgy for the service of Holy Communion was one that is shared by both traditions. The United Methodists know is as Setting Seven, the Episcopalians know it as Rite I. Bishop José and the United Methodist Bishop, The Rev. Paul Leeland, both presided at the Table.

This full communion proposal must be approved by both the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist General Conference. While discussions are beginning now it will be several years before we come to the point of an official vote by either party.

In the diocese this year two grants were given to congregations to support their work with ecumenical partners. Trinity Church, Spruce Pine was awarded a $300 grant to support their work with their United Methodist neighbors for advocacy and outreach to the Latino/a community. Holy Family, Mills River received a $300 grant to provide publicity materials for their work with several other traditions in Path to College which mentors immigrant students toward furthering their education.

The parishes and worshipping communities of this diocese are doing great work in cooperation with other Christians and even sometimes those of other faiths. In a time with division seems to be all too common this preference for working together is in itself a strong witness to the Gospel.

Respectfully submitted

The Rev. Dr. Brent Norris Diocesan Ecumenical Officer

Episcopal Church Women

2017 Episcopal Church Women Diocesan Report for Convention This year’s report reflects some of our ministry and mission we have supported. Our women continue to serve others in the name of Christ within their parishes and communities. Our report this year comes from our ECW Diocesan Treasurer, Diane Mance. We appreciate the support from everyone. We have been strong supporters of and giving yearly to the following:

1. Camp Henry 2. Lake Logan Conference Center 3. Valle Crucis Conference Center 4. Towel Ministry 5. Church of the Advocate 6. Kanuga Conference Center 7. Thompson Child & Family Focus 8. Ministry of Hope- since 2011 9. St. Augustine College- Raleigh

Our organization has also given to the seminarians fund, Freed for Ministry Campaign and Lake Logan Capital Campaign in addition to meeting our national obligations. For the past 10 years we have given out 12 scholarships ranging from $250. to $500., to women of our diocese. This fund is set up to help women of the diocese who would like to attend EFM, those needing help in defraying the cost of the diaconate process and for those interested in taking courses to benefit their church or the diocese. We also have collected the ASDMO-All Saints Day Memorial offerings through the years. These funds help churches or programs with small projects. Some of the receipts have been: Clean Slate, Cullowhee, a women’s half way house; La Capilla de

Santa Maria, Hendersonville, Church of the Advocate. These are just a few of the churches or programs through your generosity we have been able to help. Most recently we have contributed $300 to The Hope Chest for Women. This is a program which supports women with breast and gynecological cancers. One of our ongoing projects is to supply dinners for the people of Church of the Advocate and to help by donating items for their yearly fund raiser. As an added note we have also a Lambeth Fund. This is a fund that was set up many years ago to help defray the cost of the bishop’s wife to attend Lambeth with him. The Lambeth Conference occurs every 10 years. At the last conference we gave $1900, to the diocese for this event. Since approximately 2011 we have given over $25,000 in donations to programs, scholarships, ASDMO. The generosity of ECW’s in our diocese and our own fund raising effort, all of this has been possible in the name our Episcopal Church Women of Western North Carolina. Peace and Blessings, Mary Ann Ransom, president

Executive Council

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REFLECTIONS FOR 2017 By Jim Steckel, Vice President, Executive Council

and Sr. Warden, Transfiguration, Saluda

Since I was asked to offer a report for the General Convention on the achievements of your Executive Council this past year, I sit here in quiet reflection of where to begin. Without question, I give God all the glory for His gifts of life and a deeper and abiding faith as I have had the privilege of serving on the Executive Council these past three years. I’m also writing this at a time which my wife and I have experienced an F1 tornado in Tryon, yes, the locomotive having passed through our yard and over the house with some damaging results, “shaken, not stirred”, and safe!

Tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires have all taken their toll in several areas of our country and beyond, and in our own ways we offer our prayers and assistance to our families, friends, and strangers affected by these tragedies.

This year began with our ‘new’ Bishop José bringing the Executive Council together at Lake Logan for a retreat and to offer his vision for the Diocese of Western North Carolina. But more than that, to challenge each member on the council to step out and deeper into their faith and come together as a cohesive ministry for the good of our diocese.

The mission statement for our diocese, “WALK IN THE WAY, WIDEN THE WALLS, WAKE UP THE WORLD” continues to be a significant approach to discipleship and evangelism of our faith.

Together Bishop José and Canon Augusta have created a dynamic vision for the diocese to oversee a greater focus on fiscal responsibility vs shared mission/ministry, and to cultivate a greater awareness of how all churches are mutually supportive of each other.

Bishop José is fully and completely committed to the success of Lake Logan and Camp Henry and with that has created a dynamic organization and culture to focus on the future of this beautiful facility by bringing together both of these entities in a collegial partnership.

He has a vision for embracing more emphasis on Lay Leadership and Lay Ministry throughout the diocese, a greater focus on the Diaconate through the development of a robust deacon formation program.

Stronger and more efficient and effective communication throughout the diocese is essential in sharing information from the diocese to the parishes and from parishes to the dioceses. Communication back and forth should be as easy as rolling a marble across a table and not like a salmon swimming upstream!

We spoke of congregational support and vitality, equipping and supporting small churches, developing strong interim periods and exploring shared ministry needs. Does a large congregation mean it’s healthy and doing all it can do to ‘Walk in the Way, Widen the Walls, and Wake up the World’? Explore options for developing a stronger lay leadership at the parish level serving as spiritual leaders.

Bishop José’s vision for mission projects going forward has been to and will be to create a strong staff with very specific rolls and responsibilities, placing stronger emphasis on Latino and Native communities, efficiencies in grant application processes and property transactions, reviewing, refining, with perhaps some modifications of the Constitution and Canon of the Diocese of WNC, redeveloping the formation process of lay and ordained leadership, providing a robust local formation program for both deacons and bi-vocational priests, re-establishing a curacy program to retain newly ordained called from this diocese, partnering newly ordained clergy with a mentor, mentoring parishes around ministry areas, and exploring and developing new paths for generating fiscal support for diocese ministry.

The future for the Diocese of Western North Carolina is very bright with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, change for growth, deepening the faith of our church, building our missions and ministry, showing ways to move outside our ‘comfort zones’ to WALK IN THE WAY, WIDEN THE WALLS, and WAKE UP THE WORLD!

Fiscal Ministries

FISCAL MINISTRIES

Membership: Bishop Jose McLoughlin Jo Ann Hasskamp - Foundation Sue Schwein - Chief Financial Officer Karen Walker - Fiscal Ministries chair Harold Cole - Treasurer Rev. Toby Summerour - Lake Logan Larry Byerly Sandra Miller Camp Chad Hardy Rev. Sam Tallman James Hogan Jodi Sundeen Bill Hartman

Oversight for financial matters in the diocese is central to the work of Fiscal Ministries. This has been a year of change in at least three areas: Stewardship; Process; and Sustainability.

● In an advisory and review role with the Episcopal Foundation, Fiscal Ministries supported grants and/or loaned funds in 2017 to: St. James, Black Mountain; Ascension, Hickory; Center for Spiritual Wisdom, Brevard; Redeemer, Shelby; Grace, Morganton; St. Gabriel’s, Rutherfordton; Good Shepherd, Tryon; Holy Family, Mills River; Church of the Transfiguration, Bat Cave; and St. Peter’s By-the-Lake, Denver.

● In addition, Global Missions Grant requests (now Sustainable Development Goals), Human Hurt and Hope grants, and New Congregation grants were approved.

● The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) requires a change in asset reporting. Net assets (formerly unrestricted, temporarily restricted, or permanently restricted) will now be two asset categories--net assets without donor restrictions or net assets with donor restrictions. Each has specific guidelines for allocation and use.

● Fiscal Ministries reviewed financial statements in February, April, June, August and September. We recommended adjustments to the 2018 budget draft in August and October. We also reviewed the diocesan investment report with David Kelly of Bowen Hanes in June and the diocesan audit with Bill Smith of Dixon Hughes in August. In October, we reviewed and approved convention resolutions on Parish Pledging and Minimum Clergy Compensation.

● The overlap between stewardship and process has been a critical conversation in Fiscal Ministries. In particular, emphasis on “how we do things” rather than “what we do” has resulted in new software initiatives to streamline the task of our Chief Financial Officer, Sue Schwein. We have initiated pilot programs for a common parish accounting software; a decision will be made next year. A second pilot program evaluates parish pledges based on the current year and as a percentage of the current month, rather than the prior-two-year-basis in use. With a focus on mutual ministry

support this change will assist parish budgeting, providing a more real-time view of diocesan health.

● The diocesan staff initiated a project to reduce administration expense. With hard work and the assistance of summer interns, they have reduced costs substantially. The addition of Kelly Stephenson, Assistant for Finance and Diocesan Life, and changes in responsibility for Canon Augusta Anderson have improved staff effectiveness within budget guidelines.

● Sustainability should be a partner with stewardship and process. To that end, Fiscal Ministries is exploring ways in which we can work more closely with the Foundation Board. Our mutual intent is to use resources appropriately, identify unnecessary procedures, and create a more sustainable ministry going forward.

● Throughout the year, our relationship to Lake Logan Conference Center has increased, and our conversation has become more focused. While Fiscal Ministries retains a role in the ongoing financial health of LLCC, our energies are focused on sustainability and cooperation. With new effective leadership at Lake Logan, a healthy Camp Henry program, successful new development initiatives, and a growing community of visitors and programs, this has been a very good year.

● Finally, a Grants Process Group has been working this year to improve the application process and the sustainability of the diocesan grant/loan functions. Representatives of Fiscal Ministry, the Episcopal Foundation, the Architectural Review Committee, and others are coordinating to improve the application process, clarify the granting intent, and coordinate the various granting and support resources. We look forward to having a better product in place in 2018.

Karen Walker, Fiscal Ministries chair

Foundation

Episcopal Foundation of Western North Carolina 2017 Report to the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Western North Carolina

November 10-11, 2017

Established in 1962 by Bishop Henry as a non-profit corporation, the Foundation’s funds are used “to foster, develop and contribute to the support of the religious, educational and charitable work of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of WNC, or elsewhere, by making gifts, grants, loans and advances solely and exclusively for religious, educational and charitable purposes to any individual, organization, institution, agency or other body within the Church or associated or affiliated in any way with the Church.” Under current policy, the Foundation restricts fund distribution solely to grants up to $20,000 with the annual distribution no greater than 4% of the total fund.

Total Assets as August 31, 2017: $2,474,286 Funds available for distribution in 2017: $ 74,770 Balance for remainder of 2017: $10,810 2017 Board Members: Bishop Jose McLoughlin – Chair, Jo Ann Hasskamp - President, Irv Welling - Vice President, Albert Gooch - Secretary, Marti Smith –Treasurer, Larry Burda, Steve Nesbitt, Grace Pless, Becca Pullease, Judy Teele – Directors, and Sue Schwein (Ex Officio, CFO, Diocese of WNC) 2017 Grant Dispositions: February 7, 2017

Church of the Ascension, Hickory, $10,000 toward commercial kitchen appliances Grace, Morganton, $10,000 toward renovate undercroft to expand food program Church of the Redeemer, Shelby, $10,000 toward Rectory refurbishment

June 13, 2017 St. Gabriel’s, Rutherfordton, $12,000 for mini-split AC/Heating and landscaping October 3, 2017 St. Peter-by-the-Lake, Denver, $20,000 over two years for building expansion Holy Family, Mills River, $12,000 to pave a gravel parking lot Other 2017 Business: In May, Bishop Jose formed a joint committee with representatives from Fiscal Ministries and the Foundation to improve the process and coordination of all Diocesan grants and eliminate redundant presentations and meetings. Foundation representatives Jo Ann Hasskamp and Irv Welling participated in three meetings and several committee dialogues via email. In November, at Diocesan annual convention, three directors are nominated for their second, three year term: Larry Burda, Grace Pless and Judy Teele. Sherree Brady is nominated for her first term of three years. Terms start in 2018. At the December 12, 2017 meeting, directors Becca Pullease and Marti Smith will retire after two consecutive, three year terms of service to the Foundation. Their wisdom and experience will be missed. Respectfully submitted, Jo Ann Hasskamp - President, Episcopal Foundation of Western North Carolina

Global Missions

Global Mission 2017 Report

The Global Mission Committee recommended the following grants for approval by Executive Council and Fiscal Ministries. With much gratitude to the Diocese of Western North Carolina for supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were passed by the United Nations in 2015 and replace the Millennium Development Goals. The SDGs work to combat domestic and global poverty.

1. Our Little Roses Ministries English Language Instruction- This ministry serves 30 formerly abused and abandoned girls who live at Our Little Roses in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It has been found that bilingual speaking empowers a girl to find a job. Funds will go towards paying the salary of an English instructor. La Capilla de Santa Maria and St. James -Hendersonville are committed to an ongoing relationship with Our Little Roses. Grant amount: $1800.

2. Consider Haiti Community Health Agent Nutrition Project- This ministry assists Haitian families in Montrous, Fond Baptiste and Ivoire, Haiti. It will directly impact 20 additional families in the remote mountain village of Fond Baptiste bringing the total number of families to 130 families a year. The family of each child in the program receives a goat for milk and meat, a water filtration system and monitoring by Community Health Agents. Grace, Asheville is associated with this project. Grant amount: $2,950.

3. Transfiguration Chicken Project- This program is designed to improve the health of the Transfiguration Episcopal School in Tierra Muscady, Haiti. The project will raise funds to provide a morning snack of a boiled egg and banana to 400 students three days a week, adding vitamins and protein to their diet. Most students come to school having little to nothing to eat before school. This ministry will purchase 400 hens and will be done in conjunction with the Church of the Incarnation, Highlands. Grant amount: $3,000.

4. The LAMB Institute Anti-Trafficking Initiatives- These initiatives aid hundreds in Tegucigalpa, Honduras through anti-trafficking programs, which include: La Vida Nueva (The New Life) a safe house for 6 girls aged 8-18, and Allianzas de Vida (Alliances for Life), a community trafficking education program designed for over 2,200 school-aged children developed and implemented by LAMB’s safe house staff. Good Shepherd, Hayesville is associated with this program. Grant amount: $3,000.

5. Backpacks of Love- This ministry serves 50 homeless/hungry students and their families at Meadowbrook Elementary School and Pisgah High School in Haywood County, North Carolina. The program will impact the community by providing nutritious and well balanced meals for students and their families, when applicable, over the weekends. St. Andrews Church, Canton is associated with this request. Grant amount: $3,241.46.

6. Good Shepherd Eye Clinic of Durgapur, India Eye Clinic and Surgical Treatment. This ministry seeks to expand Eye Clinic to serve an additional 12,000 poor and tribal people who cannot afford to pay for eye exams and treatment. Eye surgeries can expand by 12,000 or more patients annually. The grant will help purchase equipment which will provide sight to all ages of patients at no fee to them. Eye health improves the possibility for literacy and education for the poor. Ultimately, the whole community benefits economically and socially from increased eye health. St. James, Hendersonville supports this grant. Grant amount: $2,000.

7. Building Infrastructure at Holy Spirit Church and School, Gros Mangles, Haiti. This ministry seeks support for four projects for long term infrastructure needs: A. Building out the cistern for the community and providing for water buckets and chlorine treatment for the community. B. Providing funds for the development of a reading library for the children at the school. C. Providing funds for the roadside sign for the Holy Spirit Church and School. D. Providing funds for community workers to flatten out grounds for the church/school so that 100 children can play, sit outdoors and walk comfortably. St. Albans, Hickory is associated with this grant. Grant amount: $1,250. Total Amount originally requested: $29,085 Global Mission Diocesan budget: $17,241.46 Difference ($11,843.54)

- The Rev. Deacon Clare Barry, Global Mission Committee Chair

Human Hurt and Hope

2017 Human Hurt and Hope Fund Report

Freed for ministry. This is the vision of Episcopalians in Western North Carolina. Funded from contributions throughout the Diocese of Western North Carolina, in conjunction with the Centennial Witness Program, the Human Hurt & Hope Fund is a hallmark of this vision. Established to support new initiatives and innovative ministries, the Human Hurt & Hope Fund empowers Episcopalians to address human need and suffering through hands-on ministries right here at home. Taking seriously our baptismal vow of serving Christ in all persons, since 2005, the Human Hurt & Hope Fund has awarded over $1,457,081 in parish grants that address issues of justice, poverty and marginalization.

This year the Diocese approved $151,600 in HHH grant funds to be distributed to 19 programs sponsored by 17 parishes and their collaborative partners in Western North Carolina.

2017 HHH Grantees

Catawba Episcopal Outreach Committee Habitat for Humanity House Grace Morgan Backpack Ministry Expansion St. Giles Deerfield Episcopal HHHouse XII St. James Black Mountain Bounty & Soul Latino Engagement Program Good Shepherd Hayesville Mom’s Connection

Matt’s Ministry St. Philips Brevard Wash Day Good Shepherd/St. Mary of the Hills Blowing Rock Creative Peacemakers Bradford Park Center St. John’s Marion Family Literacy Program

Food Pantry & Community Garden Church of the Advocate Asheville Good Works Crew Cathedral of All Souls Kairos West/The Network/12 Baskets Café St. Mary’s Asheville Homeward Bound of WNC AHOPE Center St. Andrews Canton Backpacks of Love St. George Asheville Creative Peacemakers Afterschool Program St. Mark’s Gastonia Pastoral Care Ministry St. Albans and Ascension/Greater Hickory CCM NETworX Catawba St. James Hendersonville Homes for Youth Saluda Church of the Transfiguration Brown Bag Brigade

2017 HHH Fund Committee Frank Byrd (St. James Hendersonville); Mary Anne Caplinger (St. Paul’s Wilkesboro); Ellen Clarke, Co- Chair (Cathedral of All Souls); Paul Dismukes (Trinity Asheville); Claudette Forbes (All Saints Gastonia); Maleah Pusz (St. David’s Cullowhee); Tim Rhodes (St. John’s Asheville); Ann Ives (St. Phillip’s Brevard); Ron Rios Co-Chair (St. James Black Mountain); Ruth Siminski (Church of the Good Shepherd Cashiers).

Justice and Outreach

2017 Funding Justice and Outreach Funding has contributed financial to support the following in 2016:

● $3,000 for Catawba Episcopal Outreach Committee (Ascension, St. Albans and Epiphany) to provide computer work stations for the Houston Transitional Living Center in Newton, NC.

History of Justice and Outreach Committee In the Spring of 2010 The Rev. Deacon Eugenia Dowdeswell and The Rev. Deacon Bill Jameson met with folks across our diocese about the need to empower parishioners to engage in Justice and Outreach work. Their vision was to find ways to bring people together to change the world. At the request of Eugenia and Bill several deacons and lay persons began meeting at St. James in Black Mountain to establish a Justice and Outreach Committee charged with creating a vision for Justice and Outreach work in our diocese, and to figure out how to leverage Diocesan funding to support parish ministry efforts. Over the course of a year and half this committee worked to develop a Justice and Outreach mission statement, to establish committee goals, and to establish funding criteria to distribute Diocesan Justice and Outreach funding to engage parishes across our diocese in justice and outreach work with members of their community. The committee’s work was distributed at the 2012 Diocesan Convention. The following original mission statement was established for the Justice and

Outreach Committee: To link people in parishes across the diocese engaged in justice and outreach ministry offering support, education, and funding as we heed God's call to transform ourselves, our diocese, our communities and the world.

The following original goals were established for the Justice and Outreach Committee:

1) To increase communication with lay outreach leaders and permanent deacons throughout the Diocese of Western North Carolina.

2) To work with lay outreach leaders and permanent deacons throughout the Diocese of Western North Carolina to collaborate on outreach projects in regions.

3) To provide support and assistance as needed when outreach projects are interested in requesting funds from the Human Hope and Hurt Fund.

4) To establish outreach “regions” in the Western North Carolina Diocese to increase the communication and collaboration with lay outreach leaders and permanent deacons.

5) To provide education and support to congregations discerning their call to ministry.

6) To inform the outreach regions and the diocese of successful collaborative projects that serve as inspiration and opportunity for duplication/learning

The Justice and Outreach Committee encouraged parishes to submit grant proposals for initiatives that met the following funding criteria:

● Engages people in ministry that is focused on a justice and outreach issue

● Builds capacity in the local community and/or across the diocese to improve the quality of life for the poor, lonely, and/or disenfranchised through collaboration

● Has an end result that transforms the community and/or the diocese

The original committee membership for the Justice and Outreach Committee included:

The Rev. Dn. Tim Jones (St. James-Hendersonville), Co-Chair The Rev. Dn. Pam Bright (Redeemer- Shelby), Co-Chair The Rev. Dn. Anita Ware (All Saints -Gastonia), Co-Chair The Rev. Dn. Susan Whittington (St. Pauls-Wilkesboro), Financial Advisor Jane Kniffen (Calvary- Fletcher) Karen Bolton (Redeemer- Shelby) George Sowersby (All Saints -Gastonia) The Rev. Dn. Mike Jenkins (St. Mary’s- Morganton) The Rev. Dn. Alice Mason (St. Davids-Cullowhee) Nancie Wilson (St. Davids-Cullowhee) Committee membership has varied since 2012, with 4-5 meetings per year at St. James-Black Mountain where grant proposals were considered. In 2015 a grant committee was formed to consider grant proposals virtually to eliminate face to face meetings. This committee has distributed over $111,000 since 2012.

In the summer of 2016 a work group formed to clarify the relationship between Justice and Outreach, and the Human Hurt and Hope Fund (HHH), and the role of the Justice and Outreach Committee (J & O) moving forward in our diocese. This work group met multiple times between June and October to engage in meaningful conversations about the work for justice in our diocese. We hope that under the leadership of our new bishop this group can be reorganized to better support the many justice and outreach efforts across Western North Carolina.

Justice and Outreach Work Group On June 11, 2016 a work group was formed to clarify the relationship between J & O and HHH, and also to determine the mission of Justice and Outreach in our diocese moving forward. This group met again July 30th in Black Mountain, and on October 3rd in Hickory, Our work together was focused on identifying the mission, core values and resources of the Justice and Outreach Committee in our diocese.

Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina Apostolic Outreach & Justice Ministries

We believe the historical structure of justice and outreach has been ineffective in supporting parishes in their effort to work in their communities to build the Kingdom of God. We believe at this time attention should be given to how diocesan efforts are organized, to be a catalyst for parishes across our diocese to roll up their sleeves to be the hands and feet of Christ in our communities, our region, our state, our country and the world.

Kairos West

Kairos West Community Center This past year has been a year of growth and expansion for this 4 year old social justice ministry begun through All Souls. Kairos West moved from a little space on Haywood Rd in West Asheville to a larger space just down the street where we can accommodate the growing number of guests and collaborative partners. 12 Baskets Café – which was serving one meal a week in our old location – is now serving 6 rescued-food hot and healthy meals a week and feeds over 75 plates a day from our new location! Kairos continues to host over 15 ministries; from open art studios to Brass Your Heart activist band to transgender support groups, civic meetings and racial justice ministries. Our collaborative partners continue to grow and we have working relationships with many non-profits and social justice groups throughout Western North Carolina. We do all of this on a minimal budget of around $50,000 a year. That money goes to rent and utilities and support for our partner organizations and our community building organizing. We couldn’t be more grateful for the work we are about and the support the Diocese gives us to do this work

Apostolic Mission Team Outreach Team Justice Team

● HHH ● Disaster Relief ● Prison Ministry ● Latino Ministry ● Global Ministry ● Dismantling Racism ● Church Vitality ● Church of the Advocate ● Recovery Ministry ● Christian Formation ● LGBTQ Ministry

and be who we are in the community. Thank you and please visit and volunteer.

Kairos West Community Center @ 610 Haywood Rd

Holds the purpose of reducing the isolation of individuals and groups by increasing opportunities for connection; reducing competition between people and organizations for resources by increasing opportunities for collaborative justice seeking and relationship building and we aim to reduce the barrier of commerce and capital trade in that our space is accessible to all – open, free and public. ALL ARE Welcome.

Interested in Becoming a Volunteer Host?

Being a volunteer host at Kairos West means you serve as a host of racial hospitality! As a Kairos West Host, one opens the building, makes fresh coffee and greets people or groups as they stop by for companionship, connection, free Internet access, a comfy couch or warm place to rest. The host makes sure the space is safe and welcoming for all who enter and is available to the community for conversation, prayer or networking. Kairos West currently hosts over 15 groups monthly and over 75 people daily.

Lake Logan (next page)

Recovery Commission

The Recovery Commission has just completed several months of critical work in establishing a communications program. A website, WNCRecovery.org is now available on line and will soon be linked to the Diocesan site as the Recovery Commission. It will be also be available to link to all parishes. There is a substantial amount of resources and information that will be added as we continue to build to the site. It is recommended that the individual parishes establish a committee of people in Recovery to add the local events and “where and when” list of meetings in their towns. Any questions concerning the website can be directed to the site architect, Paul Hundredmark at ccmark100@gmail.com, Chris Goldman, or Deacon Priscilla Wodehouse. The national Gathering for Recovery people and their friends and families, will be in Asheville at the Cathedral, October 11-13. More details to come. We encourage those involved in a 12 Step Program or needing more information on recovery to plan on joining us. The Recovery Commission is reorganizing its structure to include a representative from each Deanery. Those interested in serving may communicate through the WNCRecovery@gmail.com email. Anyone in a 12 Step Recovery Program who is interested in serving on the Commission, planning the Gathering next Fall or seeking any information can contact Deacon Priscilla Wodehouse a PDWodehouse@icloud.com or the Recovery email. Deacon Priscilla Wodehouse, Chairperson Recovery Commission

Retired Clergy

The Chaplains to the Retired Clergy and Spouses have followed the meeting pattern of recent years. There was a small gathering for a Dutch lunch at the Renaissance Hotel in July. This is a meeting with no real agenda except what we would like to share with the group. Then in November we have a larger gathering at Deerfield with lunch and a program. This is being written before this year’s gathering when Bob Haden will address us. Last year it was Bishop McLoughlin and was very successful. We thank Deerfield for its support of this. For over a year now we have begun to send birthday cards to all retired clergy and their spouses in this Diocese. It is difficult to evaluate the response to this, but it is one of the few personal contacts that we have with most of them. We seem to be receiving more requests from non-Asheville retired clergy for hospital visits to themselves or friends. We credit the birthday cards as partly responsible for that. Several of our number have died since our last report. I am not always able to attend the funerals, but hope we have let the survivors know we join them in their mourning. Gwin and I went to Alabama in May for the Province IV meeting of Chaplains to the Retired, sponsored by our Pension Fund. It was good to share experiences and practices. We are grateful to the Diocese (both Bishop and staff) for its support and cooperation. Our numbers continue to inch upward each year, but a good many of that number also continue to be active and

some even in charge of congregations. The definition of “retired” is somewhat in doubt. Retirees are a valuable resource for the Diocese.

- The Rev. Ross Jones

Spanish-speaking Ministries

SPANISH SPEAKING MINISTRY 2017 2017 was a year of many blessings for our diocese, especially for our expanding work in Spanish speaking ministries.

The congregation at La Capilla de Santa Maria, Hendersonville, keeps growing and building bridges between Anglo and Latino/Hispanic people.

Our regional missioner, the Rev. Miguel Alvarez, has been working diligently in the eastern part of the diocese where Spanish-language services are held each Sunday at Trinity Spruce Pine, St. Mary’s Morganton, and St. John’s Marion. On November 5th we will start a new service at Church of the Savior, Newland. These services are a source hope for our mostly immigrant congregations and bring together several local churches for shared ministry.

Elsewhere In the diocese we have Spanish language services every Sunday at Grace in the Mountains, Waynesville. Good Shepherd in Cashiers is considering the possibly expanding into a Spanish service. We thank the Senior Wardens and Rectors of these parishes for their friendship and support.

Our worshipping communities are very diverse, coming from many different backgrounds, each with their own unique cultural identity and unique social and political issues. These rich cultural traditions enrich the Episcopal Church.

Our work includes:

Celebrating baptisms, weddings, confirmations and events of special cultural importance such as quinciñeras; the feast days of Our Lady of Guadalupe; Las Posadas; Los Tres Reyes; and Mexican Independence Day.

Celebrating in the face of fear as a voice of hope. Many of our families are undocumented but we celebrate in spite of economic insecurity, police check points, and the threat of deportation.

Celebrating our youth. Some of our young people enjoyed the fall conference, MidBeginnings. More will attend High School Fall Conference. We work with volunteers from St. James Hendersonville, Holy Family Episcopal Church and First Congregational to offer a summer tutoring program in reading, math, and computers. We want to open La Capilla’s parish house for programs such as college prep and career counseling for high school youth.

Sharing our spiritual journey through partnership with non-Hispanic churches as we share services and special events with nearby Episcopal churches and a largely African-American AME church.

In the coming year we hope to develop training for Hispanic/Latino lay leadership and to provide counseling for Hispanic/Latino high school students for the transition into college and careers.

Please pray for us and our ministry. Thank you for your continued support.

The Rev. Hilario Cisneros The Rev. Michael Alvarez

Standing Committee

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western North Carolina The Standing Committee has had three primary functions this past year. The first has been to consent to the elections of bishops throughout the Episcopal Church. We have consented to the elections of new bishops in the following dioceses: Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, West Texas, North Carolina, San Joaquin, Delaware and East Tennessee. In 2017, there were not any bishop elections to which we did not consent. The Standing Committee also had the responsibility and privilege to approve for ordination four persons from the Diocese of Western North Carolina: Nathan Bourne and J. Clarkson (Deacon and Priest); and Anna Shine and Jonathan Stepp (Candidate and Deacon; Priesthood pending). We grateful for all four and excited about their vocations. The second primary function of the Standing Committee has been to approve of all real estate transactions in our diocese. We have received many proposals this year (or are currently considering) from St. Philip's, Brevard; St. Mary’s and St. Stephen’s, Morganton; St. Peter By-the-Lake, Denver; Church of the Holy Family, Mills River; the Barker House at Valle Crucis; tracts C and B at Lake Logan; and St. Francis, Cherokee. All transactions were initiated by the parishes or most immediate governing parties and were overseen by Bishop José A. McLoughlin and Greg Hilderbran, Chancellor of the Diocese. And the third function of the Standing Committee has been to offer counsel to Bishop McLoughlin. This is perhaps the role that we as a committee find the most gratifying. In Bishop McLoughlin's first full year leading the Diocese, we trust that we have assisted him in navigating both the inevitable difficult situations concerning parishes and priests, and the many achievements we have also been blessed to witness – success that we strongly believe has outweighed any struggles and which we are certain will only increase in the future. We as a Diocese have much to celebrate in being given Bishop

José as our pastor, chief priest and proclaimer of all that is honorable and just, pure and pleasing to our God. Faithfully, Lin Walton The Rev. Richard “Lin” Walton Standing Committee President 2017

Towel Ministry

This year was a year of review and redirection for Towel Ministry. Although we did not hold a week long camp in the diocese this year (one was held, with our help, in East Carolina), we did a number of weekend projects and a “mini camp”, consisting of 4 days of work, worship, fun and fellowship with a group of youth from Alabama.

Towel Ministry has been an ongoing ministry in this diocese for over 40 years and has “reinvented” itself a number of times to keep current with the demands of those in need along with the resources available to us in terms of infrastructure (housing, transportation, hosts of camps, etc.) and people involved (youth, adult leaders, skill levels, etc.). This year we concentrated on weekend (or sometimes multi-weekend) projects with youth and adults. We held several projects with youth who were involved with confirmation training and two projects for adults interested in training to be leaders in Towel Ministry.

There are presently 7 congregations that are active in Towel Ministry in one form or another. I attempt to act as an information clearing house and coordination of available resources to all who avail themselves of this. As the “director” of TM, I sometimes feel that this is akin to “herding cats” as our ministry is decentralized and each parish runs their own operation. Still, we have been fairly successful in advising all parishes interested in the resources available within the TM network.

The churches in Burke County have worked together to complete 10 `projects in 2017. As our van is not used to its fullest extent except during camp weeks, we have offered it to Vic Mansfield at the Church of the Advocate while their van is down for repairs. We have also coordinated with the TM group at Holy Cross at Valle Crucis and the conference center there to schedule a full week-long camp there June 10 thru 16, 2018.

We look forward to an exciting year of service in helping those elderly and disabled in our diocese with housing repairs and refurbishing. We realize that this ministry has a lot more to do with fighting isolation, loneliness and that feeling that “no one cares or even remembers me” than it does with the wood and nails and paint. We continue to follow the belief that “We are disciples of Jesus Christ. By serving those in need we are serving Him”.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Dn. Michael L. Jenkins towelministry@gmail.com 828-205-4014

United Thank Offering

DIOCESE OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA UNITED THANK OFFERING

ANNUAL REPORT NOVEMBER 2017

“OUR CHANGE CHANGES LIVES”

During the period January 1, 2017 to October 30, 2017, thirteen (13) churches in the Diocese of Western North Carolina participated in United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingatherings. These churches contributed their thanksgivings in the amount of $6,773.40. All Episcopal Churches throughout the world send their Ingatherings to the national office. The National United Thank Offering Board awards the total amount each year to churches that are selected by the board in recognition of their project grant applications. These monetary awards allow the churches to continue in their ministry to serve God. Listed below are the churches in our diocese that participated in the twice-yearly Ingatherings.

Cathedral of All Souls, Asheville Church of the Holy Cross, Valle Crucis

Grace Church, Morganton (2) Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville

Holy Cross Church, Tryon St. Gabriel’s Church, Rutherfordton St. James Church, Hendersonville

St. Philips Church, Brevard St. Johns in the Wilderness Church, Flat Rock

St. Paul’s Church, Morganton St. Paul’s, Church Wilkesboro Trinity Church, Spruce Pine

Church of the Transfiguration, Bat Cave

Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Stecher Diocesan Coordinator, United Thank Offering

Valle Crucis Conference Center (next page)

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Events Held 2016/2017:

Province IV Youth Leaders Gathering at Lake Logan, Dec 1 - 4, 2016: The Diocese hosted the annual Prov. IV Youth Leaders Gathering at Lake Logan. Adult leaders and youth council from the Diocese welcomed adult and youth leadership from all over Prov. IV for a long weekend of fellowship and leadership training.

Ski Day in February: Attendance was around 60 and took place at Cataloochee.

Spring Conference, March 3-5, 2017: Great gathering of youth in grades 8-12. During this event the Bishop meet individually with the youth council and the adult leaders to discuss their vision and desires for youth ministry in the Diocese.

EYE 2017: In July a group from the Diocese attended the triennial national church youth event known as EYE in Oklahoma. Those in attendance were Socarro Turner, Emilee Drake, Carolyn Walker, Sophia Varriale, Crystal de la Cruz, Wendy Curley, Beth Curley, Hilario Cisneros, Ruth A. Flores, Daniel Martinez, Ninethe Martinez, Katie Mac Knight, Alice Knight, Jenny Allen, and Debbie Cox. Splash: In August the youth had a great day of fun and fellowship.

Beginning in the Middle (midBEGINNINGdle), September 29- Oct 1, 2017: A wonderful middle school event that was led by the youth conference staff (STEAM) and the adult leaders, Eden Lewis, Debbie Cox and Rev. Glenda McDowell. We had 65 youth in attendance and 7 adult chaperones. High School Fall Conference, October 27-29, 2017: The theme was Be in the Moment with God and we explored how to deal with stress through spiritual practices. Attendance was smaller than the previous year with 30 youth participating in the event. Due to the smaller numbers we had a more intimate event which allowed the youth to connect on a more personal level with each other.

Reflections on the year: In March of 2017, Youth ministry in the Diocese entered a period of transition due to the departure of Rev. Jonathan Myers. During this time of transition, the members of the Youth Council along with the adult advisors led the youth ministry programs from March to August. Their leadership and commitment to the Diocese was and is a gift to all those involved. In August, Eden Lewis was hired as the full time Youth and Young Adult Missioner. Since August we have held two successful conferences, Beginning in the Middle and High School Fall Conference. In the Future: Over the next several months we will be in discerning the needs of college and young adult ministry and Eden will begin working with a group of young adults to plan a Young Adult Retreat for May 26-27, 2018 at Lake Logan. Planning is also taking place for the Middle School Mission Trip which will take place Aug 5-10, 2018. We are in discernment around mission opportunities for high school and young adults.