October, 2011 • Volume 136, Issue No. 10

[MSE] While most Episcopalians inMississippi are aware of the existence of college chaplains and ministries, probably onlya few could articulate the role of chaplaincyand its place in the wider church.

Currently, the diocese supports active col-lege ministries at Ole Miss, the University ofSouthern Mississippi, Jackson State University,and Mississippi State University. The chaplainsat those universities agree, in broad terms,about the role of college chaplaincy. As theRev. Seth Walley of the Episcopal Church atOle Miss (ECOM) put it, “A chaplain’s role is tohelp nurture spiritual growth for those who areseeking after God in Christ.” The Rev. WilliamNdishabandi, chaplain of the Absalom JonesAnglican Campus Ministry at JSU, echoed thatlargest of all roles, saying, “My mission is toassist people in an academic setting to discover and fulfill their vocationin Jesus Christ.”

Elizabeth Lentz, lay leader and faculty adviser for the EpiscopalChurch at USM, sees her task as to “create a place with our student lead-ers where Episcopal students, faculty, and staff can deepen their faithand become a community for our good and the good of the worldaround us.” Seth Walley added, “The chaplain is not a chaperone whoensures that students are coming to church and report such activity totheir parents. The chaplain is not at liberty to discuss how students aredoing, in spiritual or other matters.”

The Rev. Carol Mead at MSU said that she also hopes parents willcall in times of crisis; she became acutely aware of such a role last April,when deadly tornadoes struck Tuscaloosa. She said, “I kept thinkingthat parents must be frantic for someone local who might be able to tell

them what’s happening and to offer support to their students until theythemselves could get there.”

Chaplains keep students connected-to one another and to thechurch-primarily through worship opportunities such as regularEucharist, daily office, and compline. As Lentz said, “Having a commonliturgy to share with people they’ve never known prior to getting tocampus drives home just how much we all have in common.” Collegeministries also offer social gatherings and service projects-such asHabitat for Humanity, feeding ministries, and tutoring-to underline theneed to live out our faith actively.

Mississippi’s Episcopal chaplains have found that college studentsare keenly interested in deep spiritual exploration through Scripture

MSU’s Episcopal students often gather to share food, and food for thought, in their discussionson religion, theology, and spirituality.

By Kathryn McCormick

Elections for various diocesan positions will take place at the 185th AnnualCouncil to be held in Vicksburg, February 3-5, 2012. The office of Treasurer

is elected for a one-year term and may be re-elected to office. Mr. Ed Thurmond,St. Mary’s, Lexington is currently serving as Treasurer.

The Annual Council will also elect members to the Diocesan ExecutiveCommittee. Two members of the clergy and two members of the lay order willbe elected. The Rev. Margaret Ayers, St. James’, Port Gibson, and the Rev. LeeWinter, Resurrection, Starkville, have served a full term and are not eligible forre-election. The members of the clergy remaining on the Executive Committeeare: the Rev. Luther Ott, Jackson; the Rev. Jeff Reich, St. John’s, Laurel; the Rev.Matt Rowe, Nativity, Greenwood; and the Rev. Patrick Sanders, St. Timothy’s,Southaven. For the lay elections, Dr. Edwin Graham, St. Peter’s by-the-Sea,Gulfport, and Mrs. Hilda Povall, Calvary Cleveland, having served a full term,rotate off the Executive Committee and are not eligible for re-election. The fol-lowing lay persons remain on the Executive Committee: Mr. Steve McNair,Trinity, Pass Christian; Mrs. Alice Perry, St. James’, Jackson; Dr. Stephen Stray, St.Andrew’s Cathedral, Jackson; and Mr. Jim Wheeler, Redeemer, Biloxi. The fol-lowing persons were appointed by the bishop, served a one-year term and areeligible for election to a three year term: the Rev. Anne Harris, St. John’s, OceanSprings; the Rev. Bailey Norman, Calvary, Cleveland; and Mr. Charles Strange,Redeemer, Greenville.

Also to be elected to the Standing Committee are one presbyter and one layperson to serve full terms of four years. This committee is composed of fourpresbyters and four confirmed adult lay communicants, each of whom is elected

Nominations Requested For Diocesan Elected Positions

St. James’, Port Gibson shares

priest with UMC congregation

By Scott Lenoir

Small towns andcommunities acrossMississippi and thenation are finding it diffi-cult to afford full timeclergy across all denomi-national lines. Last April,a possible solution forPort Gibson UnitedMethodist began to takeshape with an ecumenical twist.

Port Gibson United Methodist recently issued a callto the Rev. Margaret Ayers, vicar of St. James’, PortGibson, to be the pastor of a United Methodist Churchwhile retaining her role as vicar at St. James’.

“As far as I can discover, the relationship betweenthe United Methodist Church, St. James’ EpiscopalChurch and the Rev. Margaret Ayers is unique in thiscountry,” said Bishop Duncan Gray III. “It is anotheroutward and visible sign of the ongoing world-wideecumenical progress between our two churches.”

the Rev. Margaret Ayers

Nominations, Continued on page 4

St. James’, Port GibsonContinued on page 2

Episcopal chaplains active at universities,Continued on page 4

Episcopal chaplains active at universities in the diocese

for a four-year term. The terms expiring are those of Mr. John Carrier II, St.Paul’s, Meridian who is ineligible for re-election; and the Very Rev. BruceMcMillan, Christ Church, Holly Springs who having served as unexpired term iseligible for re-election for a full four-year term. Those members remaining are:Mr. John Anderson, Jr., St. Andrew’s, Jackson; Ms. Sheri Cox, St. James’, Jackson;the Rev. David Knight, St. Patrick’s, Long Beach; the Rev. Kyle Seage, St. Philip’s,Jackson; Mr. David Sparks, All Saints’, Tupelo; and the Rev. Robert Wetherington,Redeemer, Biloxi.

Trustees of the Diocese, by state charter, is the Diocesan official corpora-tion. “The Bishop of the Diocese shall, ex officio, be the President of saidCorporation. The members composing said Corporation shall be five in number,all of whom shall be confirmed adult lay communicants and four of whom shallserve for a four year term or until their successors are elected, but no more thanthree consecutive terms. Four of said Trustees shall be elected by the DiocesanCouncil and the fifth Trustee shall be appointed by the Bishop for a one yearterm, for no more than four consecutive appointed terms.” The second electedterm of Mr. Mike Strojny, St. Mark’s, Gulfport, expires and he is eligible for re-election for another full four-year term. The elected trustees remaining in officeare Mr. Holmes Adams, St. Andrew’s, Jackson; Mr. John Davis, St. Peter’s,Columbus; and Mrs. Lynn Jenkins, St. Andrew’s, Jackson. Mr. Filo Coats, AllSaints’, Grenada is serving a one-year appointed term and is eligible for electionto a full term or re-appointment to a one year term. Council will elect onetrustee to serve a four-year term.

Gray Center News. . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6, 7

2011 Fall Offerings at Gray Center. . 10

Episcopalians Travel to Honduras . . . 4

Mission Ties to Uganda . . . . . . . . . . 12

Inside this issue

2 The Mississippi Episcopalian

OUR DIOCESE

Fall is definitely inthe air with coolertemps and fallingleaves. This is one ofmy favorite seasons,bringing to me a won-derful example ofGod’s artistry with theawesome splash of col-

ors across the landscape of our very beautifulstate. The cool and drier air has my blood surg-ing, pulling me out of the house to work in theyard and to visit with neighbors and friends whoare enjoying the fall season as well.

Parish newsletters, email updates, and web-sites all show a surge in parish activities, which Ihope to share with you this month. I feel this isa sign of God giving us renewed energy andexcitement to share our respective gifts, bothfinancial and physical, in carrying out His work.Yes, stewardship is the word of the month.Parishes are utilizing a wide variety of means topromote their stewardship campaigns. Pleasecarefully consider your stewardship commitmentfor the coming year.

The Rev. Susan Crawford, of St. James,Greenville loves the following definition ofstewardship: “Stewardship is what I do with allthat I am and all that I have after I say I believe.”Wrap your stewardship considerations with thisdefinition and pray that it will lead you in mak-ing that commitment to God.

Our own Janet Nail, who has so generouslycontributed of her talents as a writer to thispaper, is bidding us farewell as she and Jimmove to Alabama. She writes in the Trinity,Yazoo City newsletter, “We are bound togetherin love, dear friends; you will be a part of us aslong as we live and we will always rememberyou and pray for you and love you. And neverfear; our hearts will surely lead us home again.”

Thanks, Janet and God’s blessings to you andJim.

I continue to receive responses pertainingto the request for information on the Gourmetof the Delta cookbook. The latest is from GwinWheatley who said that the book began beingpublished in 1958. Wheatley indicated thatthere are copies available on eBay, Amazon andother individual sellers, as well as throughMcCormick’s in Greenville.

Many parishes have just held their annualBlessing of the Pets service, and I read a touch-ing testament to a pet in the newsletter fromGrace, Canton, where the Rev. Jud Meaderswrote about his old Lab.

“Our old Lab, Casey was with me the otherday. I wonder sometimes now just how muchshe is ‘with us.’ Today she responded to my call-ing her name, petting her and thanking her forstaying with me while I finished my work bywagging her tail. Tomorrow she may bark for anextended period for no apparent reason.

“Her easy walk beside me now belies herarthritic hips. Somehow the image reminds meof her as a young dog, lying beside me on thecouch, chewing a rawhide bone. She woulddrop the bone to the floor, look up at me andbark. When she was young she could swim allthe away across Madge’s pond. Of course, I’veseen her in all those intervening years too.

“I thought about that for a moment, howI’ve been graced to know her all her life. I sud-denly wondered what that must be like for God,to see all of us be born, mature, live, love, exult,struggle, age, die and be resurrected. And, sim-ply because God is God, is God then infinitelymore ‘dialed in’ as it were, to all that we’rethinking and feeling than I am to my dog Casey?At what points in that journey are we closest toGod” How much of that closeness depends onus” I tried to stay with that musing for a while:What must our dying and rising in Christ be likefor God?”

Between now and Nov. 6th, parishioners ofSt. Peter’s By-the-Lake, Brandon will be knit-

ting or crocheting special “Prayer Shawls” forour military soldiers who are about to bedeployed. These prayer shawls will be approxi-mately 6”x6” so they can be fitted inside theirhelmets as a reminder that someone back homeis praying for them.

St. Peter’s By-the-Lake will also host a QuietDay with Holy Eucharist on Saturday, November5, 9:00 to 11:30. Participants will gather insilence in the Sanctuary for directed reflectionon John 20: 1-18, Mary Magdalene’s experienceof the Risen Christ. After the service, many ofthe group will gather for lunch at Ferando’s inthe Fannin Market. For more information or tosign-up for the day, call 601-992-2691 or 662-403-9015.

On October 15, at 8:00 a.m., St. James’,Jackson will be the site for the beginning of theUpton Tire Pros 11th Annual Sun King 5K runand walk, along with a 1 Mile Fun Run. The runwas originally organized in 1999 in memory ofEarnest Davidson. All proceeds from the walkand run will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Artoberfest is on the calendar for Oct. 28-29by Redeemer, Brookhaven. This is an annualfundraising event for the MS School of the Arts.

The annual ECW Food Fest for All Saints’,Tupelo will be held in the Parish Hall onOctober 29, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Shopperswill be able to select from frozen foods, freshbaked goods, soups and casseroles, with pro-ceeds going to the ECW.

The eighth annual St. John’s, Laurel WineTasting and Silent Auction will be held on Oct.29, beginning at 6:00 P.M., in the home of Mr.and Mrs. Lex Lindsey, located in historic down-town Laurel. The funds raised by the event willbe utilized to help support the parish’s missionand ministries.

Oct. 29 is the date for the annual RedBeans and Rice Celebration at Trustmark Park inPearl. St. Andrew’s, Jackson is again sponsor-ing a team for the event which benefits Stewpotin Jackson.

Finally, St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Gulfport, isholding an Advent Quiet Day, Saturday, Dec. 3,9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Leader will be the Rev. BetsyBaumgarten, new chaplain at Coast EpiscopalSchool. More details will be coming in St. Peter’sNovember Key. All in the Coast Convocation (orfrom anywhere else) are welcomed to attend.

Notes & QuotesBy Jim Carrington

October 2011

Continually published for 132 years in the Diocese of Mississippi

Official news organ of the Bishop and the Diocese of Mississippi118 N. Congress Street - P.O. Box 23107

Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3107

The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray IIINinth Bishop of Mississippi

The Rev. Scott LenoirEditor

The Mississippi Episcopalian (USPS 024755) is published monthly by the Episcopal Diocese ofMississippi, 118 N. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201. Periodical postage paid at Jackson, MS.POSTMASTER: Send change of address to the Mississippi Episcopalian, P.O. Box 23107,Jackson, MS 39225-3107. In giving changes of address send the old address as well as thenew. We cannot be responsible for the return of manuscripts or photographs.

A date to remember: October 24-27, 2011

Clergy Conference — Gray CenterAll active clergy required to attend

St. James’, Port GibsonContinued from page 1

March 3, 2009, the Feast Day of John and Charles Wesley, a historic agreement was signedbetween the Mississippi United Methodist Conference and The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi byBishop Gray III and UMC Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. The document is entitled A Covenant ofCommon Life and details articles of ecumenical cooperation that the two bishops and their congrega-tions vow to live by.

“The Covenant of Common Life that Bishop Ward and I signed three years ago and our commit-ment to a joint celebration on the Feast of John and Charles Wesley (March 3) and the numerous localpartnerships are all part of our efforts to find our ultimate unity in Jesus who prayed that his disciples“might be one.” (John 17:20),” Gray said.

Ayers’s first official Sunday as pastor of the UMC congregation will be Nov. 27th, the first Sundayof Advent.

“It’s really exciting and challenging,” said Ayers, who has been at St. James’ for four years. “Thistype ecumenical sharing will give both Bishops (UMC Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Bishop Gray)flexibility in sustaining a church.”

Although her official start date is in November, Ayers is already doing three services a month atthe United Methodist Church.

“The service is very much like Morning Prayer with lay worship leaders who assist in the serviceand I preach,” said Ayers, who will not celebrate Holy Eucharist at the UMC congregation. On the firstSunday of the month, a UMC minister will celebrate Holy Eucharist.

The Rev. David Harrison, a Methodist minister who served the Port Gibson congregation for 14years and is now retiring, has agreed to provide Holy Eucharist to his former cure.

“It’s important to emphasize that each church will retain its identity. This is not a merger. Wewill share events and activities from time to time, but St. James’ is St. James’ and Port Gibson UMC isstill the same,” Ayers said.

Besides doing Sunday services, Ayers also will be responsible for pastoral care. Some of thatbegan during the flooding that hit the Port Gibson area earlier in the year.

She also says a Disciples Bible Study is ongoing between St. James’ and the UMC congregation.Currently the group is focusing on a study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer using The Cost of Discipleship and arecently published biography on the Lutheran pastor’s life as texts.

The size of the two churches is about the same, according to Ayers. “Both churches have about40 members each, St. James’ is a little larger, but not by much.”

ORDINARY CONCERNS

Sept. 1 - In Oxford, meet with Mr. Mike Stantonover coffee in the morning. Drive to Memphisfor personal business. Return to Southaven for abrief visit with the Rev. Patrick Sanders and atour of his family’s new home.

Conference call late in the afternoon withthe Standing Commission on Evangelism andDomestic Mission. At dinner, I meet with theMission Committee of Holy Cross, Olive Branch,to discuss a new mission initiative in DeSotoCounty that will, on a temporary basis deploythe two clergy at St. Timothy’s, Southaven, at thethree congregations of DeSoto County. Latermeet with the entire congregation to discuss thisproposal. Very positive response to this idea.

Overnight in Southaven.Sept. 2 - Drive to Oxford for a hospital visita-tion, then return to Southaven to meet with thevestry of St. Timothy’s to thank them for theirwillingness to support their rector and me inthis new cooperative mission endeavor betweenSt. Timothy’s, Holy Cross, Olive Branch andResurrection Mission Station in Hernando. Briefvisit with the Rev. Clélie McCandless.

Conference call with the Board of Directorsof the College for Bishops as I return to Jacksonin the afternoon.Sept. 3 - Free weekend. Our plans to travel toNew Orleans are cancelled due to the tropicalstorm brewing in the Gulf.Sept. 4 - Go to St. Andrew’s with my father.Lunch afterwards with him and a visit with mymother later.Sept. 5 - At home with family. Rain still domi-nates everything.Sept. 6 - Contractors begin extensive repair andrenovation work at the Bishop’s residence. Thiswill create some additional stresses in our familylife, but the repair work is long overdue.

Staff meetings in the morning. Afternoon ses-sion with the diocesan Sudanese Committee.Sept. 7 - In office much of the day. Conferencecall with the Gathering of Leaders SteeringCommittee. Drive to Gray Center to host twonational church groups: The StandingCommission on Small Churches and theDomestic Missionary Partnership. We haveworked hard to introduce Gray Center to thewider church and more and more groups fromoutside the diocese are using the facility andfinding that the serene and beautiful settingworks well for their groups.Sept. 8 - Gray Center with the DomesticMissionary Partnership and Standing

Commission on Small Churches (SCSC).Sept. 9 - Gray Center with the DomesticMissionary Partnership and StandingCommission on Small Churches.

Distressed to hear of the death of the Rev.Deacon Lonnie Herring. Lonnie was a memberof our first class of vocational deacons, con-tributed substantially to the prison ministry ofthis church and in his later years oversaw thecongregation of Grace Church, Rosedale. May he“go from strength to strength in the life of per-fect service.”Sept. 10 - Conclude meetings with the DMP andSCSC.Sept. 11 - Visitation at Trinity Church, YazooCity. At the morning Eucharist, I preach, cele-brate and confirm 12 young people.

Luncheon follows in parish hall. Today thecongregation is also saying goodbye to Jim andJanet Nail, long-time stalwarts of this parish.Janet was also, for many years, the director ofthe diocesan audio-visual library. They will bothbe missed as they take up their new residence inAlabama.Sept. 12 - Day off.Sept. 13 - Drive to Oxford for funeral of LaNellDavis, mother of Dawn Flannes. Afternoonappointments with clergy. Overnight in Oxford.Sept. 14 - Drive to Cleveland for funeral of theRev. Deacon Lonnie Herring at Calvary Church.I am the officiant and celebrant at the burialoffice and Eucharist. Very special moment withclergy and friends from around the diocese.

Home to Jackson in the afternoon.Sept. 15 - Work at home on sermons in themorning. Mississippi Religious LeadershipConference meeting at Fondren PresbyterianChurch. Afternoon in the office. Late afternoonconference call with the Gray Center ExecutiveCommittee.Sept. 16 - In office all day. Morning appoint-ment with Ms. Lynn Ronaldi. Afternoon sessionwith Mr. Raphiell Ashford.

My children and their families arrive inpreparation for surprise birthday party for myfather tomorrow.Sept. 17 - Preparation and execution of veryspecial surprise birthday party for my father onthe occasion of his 85th year of life. All of my sib-lings, most of their children and assorted familyand friends make it a wonderful day.Sept. 18 - Having made the decision not to trav-el to Ecuador for the House of Bishops meeting,I encounter a “free” Sunday. Kathy and I attend

St. Andrew’s then travel to Vicksburg to do a lit-tle research for the Spouse Luncheon at thisyear’s Diocesan Council.Sept. 19 - Drive to Memphis for personal busi-ness. Return home in the evening.Sept. 20 - Breakfast with Roman Catholic andUnited Methodist bishops. Staff meetings in themorning. In office all day.Sept. 21 - Canon Johnson and I began a two daytrip into the Delta to meet with clergy and select-ed leadership to discuss resources and alterna-tive models for ministry in this region of thestate.

Morning appointment with leadership at St.Stephen’s, Indianola. We then drive toGreenville for lunch and afternoon conversationwith clergy and wardens at St. James, Greenville.We return to Greenwood for our final conversa-tion of the day at Nativity, Greenwood. Dinnerwith the Rev. and Mrs. Craig Gates. Overnight inGreenwood.Sept. 22 - Canon Johnson and I conclude our 2day tour of the Delta with a morning stop inClarksdale and lunch with the dean of the DeltaConvocation, the Very Reverend Julia Moore. Inthe afternoon, we visit clergy and two lay leadersat Calvary Church, Cleveland and Trinity Church,Yazoo City.

Our trip has tried to confront the socio-eco-nomic and cultural challenges facing this part ofthe diocese while encouraging new models andnew approaches to being the Episcopal Churchin the Delta. Both Canon Johnson and I havebeen encouraged, even renewed, by the creativi-ty and willingness of all that we have met tothink outside of the box in an effort to be faith-ful to the call of Our Lord in this time and place.Sept. 23 - In the office all day. Morning appoint-ment with an aspirant for holy orders.

In the evening Kathy and I have a quiet cele-bration of my 62nd birthday.Sept. 24 - Morning meeting with the DiocesanMusic and Liturgy Committee as they begin theirplanning for this year’s diocesan council. I soappreciate the efforts of this group in helpingme thank through all the liturgical and musicalimplications of our time together at Council.

Sept. 25 - Up early to travel to Kosciusko forannual visitation to St. Matthew’s. Since I havebeen asked to teach a Sunday school class onSudan and our emerging diocesan relationshipwith the Diocese of Twic East in South Sudan,my foster daughter, Tabitha, decides to join mefor this trip. She assists me in my presentationon Sudan with her own history as an orphan ofSudan’s Civil War and her dream to one dayreturn to help her native land and peoplerebuild a new nation.

I preach and celebrate at the parish Eucharistand enjoy good food and fellowship afterwardswith the congregation.

We return home in the afternoon.In the evening, I join with the participants of

our post-ordination consultation (POC) at theirinaugural session of the year. We are hosted byCanon Johnson and his wife, Nora, in theirhome for dinner and discussion.Sept. 26 - Day off. Have my annual physical withmy internist. I get a passing grade, though a fewlifestyle changes are in order.Sept. 27 - Staff meetings in the morning. Meetwith Deacons Council over lunch and into theafternoon. Later meet with the Rev. Jane Wattsand Ms. Gay Yerger to discuss our ongoing anddeepening relationship with the Center forMinistry at Millsaps College. The Journey PartnerProgram, of which the diocese is an importantpartner, is an extraordinary formation programfor persons with the gift of spiritual direction.

Late afternoon meeting with my RomanCatholic and United Methodist bishop colleaguesto hear presentation on criminal justice reformand the death penalty in Mississippi.Sept. 28 - Work at home in the morning writingsermons and other presentations. Afternoonappointment with the Rev. Kathleen Potts. Meetwith Mr. Nick Torrence and Ms. Merry Barnes,our new chairs of the Stewardship of CreationTask Force.

In the evening I make a presentation to theparticipants of the new Disciples of Christ inCommunity (DOCC) at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

The Bishop’s Journal

October 2011

Raymond Joseph Woods, 81, communicant of St. Paul’s, Meridian, died September 3, 2011.

Frances (Fran) McBride Davis, 94, communicant of St. Matthew’s, Kosciusko, died August27, 2011.

Martin Anderson Kilpatrick, 67, communicant of St. James, Greenville, died September 5,2011.

The Reverend Deacon Lonnie Herring, 74, served, among other places, Advent, Sumner;Calvary, Cleveland; Grace, Rosedale; and St. Paul’s, Hollandale, in addition to his long-timework at the State Penitentiary at Parchman, died September 9, 2011.

Sandra Hood Pritchard Garvin, 73, communicant of St. Paul’s Meridian, died September 13,2011.

Chet Verdier Felts, Sr., 71, Communicant of Holy Cross, Olive Branch, died September 23,2011.

William Henry (Bill) Westmoreland, 77, communicant of St. Paul’s, Meridian, diedSeptember 28, 2011.

FAITHFUL DEPARTED

The Mississippi Episcopalian 3

MISSION ADMINISTRY

October 20114 The Mississippi Episcopalian

NominationsContinued from page 1

Episcopal chaplains active at universitiesContinued from page 1

Trustees of the University of the South serve staggered three-year terms. The Sewanee Trusteesare composed of one cleric and two lay members. At Council we will elect one lay member. Mrs.Margaret McLarty, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Jackson serves in this position and is eligible for re-election.The terms of Mr. Scott Davis, St. Patrick’s, Long Beach and The Rev. David Elliott, III, Christ Church,Vicksburg will continue.

Beginning with the 185th Council, expiring terms on the Disciplinary Board shall be filled by elec-tion of Council. Each member shall be elected for a three-year term; except, if a member is elected byCouncil to fill a vacancy, the term of such member shall be the unexpired term of the member beingreplaced. The following terms expire, but both are eligible for re-election: Mr. Les Alvis, All Saints’,Tupelo; and the Rev. Marian Fortner, Trinity, Hattiesburg. Those remaining on the Disciplinary Boardare: Ms. Leigh Jensen-Crawford, Resurrection, Starkville; the Rev. Luther Ott, Jackson; the Rev. AnnBenton Fraser, St. Paul’s, Corinth; Mr. Collier Graham, St. James’, Jackson; and the Rev. Paul Stephens,All Saints, Tupelo.

Each person nominated must have given his or her prior consent to serve in the position to whichhe or she is nominated. The nomination form must be received by the Secretary of the Diocese, P.O.Box 23107, Jackson, MS 39225-3107 no later than December 15, 2011 in order to be printed in theCouncil edition of The Mississippi Episcopalian and included in packets for Council delegates.Nominations will be accepted by the secretary until the week before Council. Additional nominationscan be made from the floor of Council on Friday night. The nomination form can be found on thewebsite of the Diocese of Mississippi (http://annualcouncil.dioms.org) or by calling the diocesan office(601-948-5954). The nominees are asked to also submit a black-and-white (high resolution) headshotphotograph for publication to Kathryn McCormick at kwmccormick@dioms.org.

study and theological/spiritual discussions. MSU’s Carol Mead said of her experience, “Our studentskeep requesting additional gatherings to discuss theology, spirituality, and the church. They ask ques-tions that people with a longer history in the church dare not ask, questions the church should be ask-ing.”

Ndishabandi agreed that college students today seek a deep connection; he said, “Although par-ents often worry about sons and daughters abandoning their roots, most are faithful to the core valuesinstilled by the family. However, along with those core values, new values are adopted that allow stu-dents to adapt to a changing world.”

Above all, Mississippi’s Episcopal college ministries seek-as do traditional church communities-tobe the body of Christ to the world. Seth Walley said it best when he said he wants ECOM to be“known as the place that takes everyone...because Christ welcomed all.”

New survey for Episcopalians to help disaster preparedness and response in Mississippi

By Scott LenoirA survey that will aid in gathering data to build a

strong foundation for the Diocese to respond more efficient-ly in the wake of a disaster has been uploaded to the inter-net. The Rev. Canon David Johnson created the surveymonkey at the request of the Diocese’s DisasterPreparedness and Response Team.

“The survey may be filled out by anyone and the datareceived will be used in addition to the work parishes andmissions are turning in from the blue book which the Teamhanded out at convocational meetings during the last fewmonths,” said the Rev. Deacon Carol Spencer, Coordinatorof diocesan team.

The link to the survey ishttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BVGDC38. The informa-tion on the survey is for use by the Diocese of Mississippiand local parish and mission leaders in disaster areas only.

“We are not trying to turn the Diocese of Mississippi into a disaster relief agency,” said Spencer,“but we should be able to help out where we can and to plug into the work that the usual disasterrelief agencies are doing in a prompt and efficient way. The more data we have regarding our peopleand resources, the better we will accomplish this goal.”

Almost all parishes and missions have received the blue book as team members have made theirway across the diocese to convocational meetings. The pink pages in the blue book need to bereturned to the diocesan office as soon as possible.

[MSE] The Rev. Patrick Skutch, rector of Christ Church, Bay St. Louis,has been appointed the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer by Bishop DuncanGray III.

Skutch takes the place of the Rev. Michael Nation who held the posi-tion for several years while rector of Trinity Church, Vicksburg. Nationrecently took a call to the Seaman’s Institute as a chaplain for the LowerMississippi River.

This is Skutch’s second year at Christ Church. He was ordained in2005 and came to the Diocese of Mississippi from the Diocese of Atlanta.

“Our relationship with the Mississippi United Methodist Conferencewill continue to be a priority,” said Skutch referring to the historic Covenant of Common Life signed byBishop Gray III and Methodist Bishop Hope Ward in 2009.

Skutch asks that parishes and mission across the Diocese of Mississippi contact him regarding ecu-menical events.

“I’m still new at this job and I’m gathering material together. It would be good to hear from oth-ers about the existing ecumenical events going on in their areas.”

Episcopalians Travel to Honduras onSalt & Light Ministries Mission Trip

By Wava PetersSix Mississippi Episcopalians were among the 31 members of various denominations traveling to

the Lake Yojoa region in Honduras, on a recent Salt and Light Mission trip. The team was lead byVictor Smith, one of the founders of Salt and Light Ministries, from Northminster Baptist Church inJackson. A large medical team came from Tuscaloosa, AL. The team worked in the cities of El Tigre,Pena Blanca, El Campanario, Agua Azul and El Eden.

The Rev. Sandra DePriest, from the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Columbus, MS,led one mission group of women in teaching knitting and crocheting to the local women. The goal isfor these native women to produce items to earn income for their families. This team has been work-ing with the women since 2005, and the skills being developed amaze the group each time they visit.The group worked with nearly 230 women and young girls and boys making blankets, baby clothing,purses, scarves, hats, etc. With the help of the Salt & Light Foundation, the next goal is for the womenin these communities to form micro-businesses to sell their products in the market place. This goalhas previously been achieved in several other locations.

Tom Boggess, a student at the University of Alabama and communicant of Good Shepherd,Columbus, split his time between the construction crews and the medical clinic. The constructioncrews built two homes to replace shanties with dirt floors. Over 1,000 patients were seen in the med-ical clinic. Kennedy Brown, a Junior at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, and amember of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, split her time between the Yarn Craft Team andthe vacation bible school, having the opportunity to teach over 250 local children, an experience shewill always treasure. Victor Smith led a prayer group and 25 persons gave their lives to Christ.

Seventeen teams throughout the year traveled to Honduras to build homes, administer medicaland dental care, install water purification systems, teach skills to the women, hold vacation bibleschool for the children, and conduct pastor conferences.

Salt & Light is an international partnership in faith that is based in Jackson, MS, and serves thepeople of the Lake Yojoa area in Honduras and in Uganda, Africa.

For more information on Salt & Light Ministries, please go to:http://www.saltandlighthonduras.org/

Wava Peters is a communicant of Good Shepherd in Terry.

Native Hondurans learn marketable skills during team visit

New ecumenical officer appointed

Salt & Light group members from the Diocese of Mississippi are pictured (l. to r.) Sunny Brownlee,Kennedy Brown, Nan Wycoff, the Rev. Sandra DePriest, Tom Boggess, Wava Peters, Elizabeth Carlyle,Mary Horrell.

GRAY CENTER news

The Mississippi Episcopalian 5

Reflections from the Road

October 2011

By Bishop Duncan Gray III

Two years ago, on my 60th birthday, something (dare I say, God) compelled me to make a per-sonal trip out to Gray Center on my day off. As I wandered this sacred space, I found myself reflecting,first on my own mortality and, secondly on how much the direction of my life over the previous 59years had been shaped and formed by experiences here. I recalled the family stories about the part mygrandfather (the real Bishop Gray) played in bringing to reality the vision of Bishops Bratton andGreen to have a permanent place for a camp for young people. I retold, in my mind, and imagined theefforts of several young college students, my father being one, who spent weeks clearing the land sothat the first cabins (post World War II army surplus buildings) could be brought to the property theycalled Rose Hill.

My own life didn’t so much flash before my eyes, but rather slowly meandered through my con-sciousness, as I gave thanks for the many clergy and lay people who so profoundly shaped my ownsoul in this place. And now my children, and increasingly, my grandchildren, make their way to thisspecial place to share their gifts and talents and to breathe in the grace so present in so many ways.One day, I will be buried in the cemetery at Gray Center and my own wanderings on this day led me tothe very plots where Kathy and I will be laid to rest a few years hence.

The direct result of this mystical journey on that transitional day two years ago was that I began toplant trees in partnership with my friend, and St. Philip’s parishioner, Lee Lewis. My first trees were inthanksgiving for my two granddaughters and their growing awareness of the holiness of this place. Butit was also a faith statement that generations to come, not just Grays, but Smiths and Johnsons andJoneses and “so great a multitude that no one could number” will make pilgrimage to this place and betouched by the living God as I have been.

This summer our camps welcomed more campers than ever before. All but two of our sessionshad waiting lists. As in the past no one was turned away because of their inability to pay the camp fees.This year more and more people from beyond his state have gathered for professional conferences and

personal retreats at the Conference Center. Just last month, I was with two groups with people from asfar away as Ecuador, Alaska, Navajoland, Idaho, New York, Oregon and the Virgin Islands. The all mar-veled at the beauty and serenity of the place. This year the Center for Formation and Mission, in part-nership with Millsaps College, is offering an increased variety of programs and conferences to stimulatethe mind and form the spirit.

The ministry of Gray Center, from its origins as a youth camping experience in the early part ofthe 20th century, to its multi-dimensional work in this generation, has been supported through thediocesan pledges of congregations and the gifts of individuals.

As one whose life would have been dramatically different without the ministry of this specialplace, I offer to this church my deepest and most heartfelt thanks.

By Bill Horne

If you haven’t really felt the current economic crunch please raise your hand. I’m not expecting a lot of readers to indicate in the affirmative.

Whatever we have bought or driven this year has probably cost us more than ayear ago and certainly more than two or three years ago. But this is not a time forwhining, is it? No, we have to move on, even if it is at a slower speed- eating more store brands and buying our clothes at more generic outlets. I join you in this, personally and corporately.

Our corporate body, as Gray Center, is holding its own, but I feel us losing our grip a bit more each month. Contributions, as a percentage of our total expenses, are as low as it has ever been. Groceries and gasoline are higher than ever. For-profit concerns are utilizing our facilities inever shrinking numbers. And our diocesan supporters are here less frequently. No whining, like I said. We’re moving on, undaunted by the current situation. But, never doubt this: we will not make it without your help. When a savings account earns less than 1% and the markets are just plain scary, where can you invest?

You’re ahead of me, aren’t you? Yes, invest in Gray Center. We can make a dollar go farther than just about any business concern I have ever managed. We survive on less and less by working harder and smarter. Everybody checks thermostats. Kitchen freezer and coolers are turned off between camp uses. Incandescent bulbs are now those fluorescent pig-tail things. We use both sides of every piece of office paper. Your dollars will never be wasted at Gray Center. And ROI, (Return On Investment) can’t be beat anywhere!

We just want you to join us with a small but continuous monthly investment check. You can instruct your bank to send us a check each month or we can draft your account each month. Make it easy on yourself and make a big difference for this wonderful place in which you are already a stockholder. Join our Annual Fund’s Group today. Here are ways you can contribute:

1. Pay Pal: Go to the GC website and near the bottom of the homepage is a button marked “How to Contribute to GC”2. Automatic Bank Draft: use the same button above, and select Bank Draft as an option3. Instruct your bank to send periodic electronic payments to GC4. Mail check or money order to The Gray Center, Annual Fund, 1530 Way Rd., Canton, ms, 390465. GC takes all major credit cards; mail information to address above or email to mail@graycenter.org, or call us at 601-859-1556

God bless you all and thank you for your support of Gray Center. Bill Horne is the Executive Director of Gray Center.

Invest in Gray Center

Sleep Pray Talk Be a Friend Lounge Wait Plan CreateEat Praise Greet Bring a Friend Slide Stir Study GenerateWade Rock Laugh Camp Dive Hide Draw ParticipateSwim Listen Cry See stars Chase Partake Paint StudyFish See Cook Fly a kite Stay Remember Sketch LearnHike Discover Dance Be interred Come back Forget Doodle TeachWalk Share Play Ball Contemplate Recover Envision Read DemonstrateRun Smile Throw discs Be quiet Relax Dream Write Perspire-rate?

Where else can you do all this and much more?

6 The Mississippi Episcopalian

GRAY CENTER news

October 2011

By Duncan Gray IV and John Dreyfus

For the first time in the history of Camp Bratton-Green, over 800 campers attended one of thevarious camp sessions offered either on site or off the premises.

John Dreyfus, Camp Coordinator for Bratton-Green, said that the preparation for the successful2011 summer began a year ago.

“At the end of the 2010 summer, Bill [Horne], asked me to create some goals for the upcomingsummer. We knew that we had been hovering around 750 campers on average over the last severalsummers, so we decided to increase the bar and aim for 800 campers. By the end of the summer, wehad 808 campers go through one of our various camping sessions.”

Dreyfus added that while the number of campers who came through was exciting, it was equallyexciting to know that there so many camp age children, 144 total, on the wait list for camp sessions,signifying that people were eager to get come or come back for a second session.

Bill Horne, the Executive Director at Gray Center, echoed Dreyfus’ thoughts.“It would be difficult to say too much good about a CBG summer camp season like the Summer

of ‘11. It was by all estimates one of the most successful most folks can remember. From theExecutive Director’s office it was exceptional - no serious physical injuries or epidemics, no serious lia-bility threats, the campers had a tremendous time and, once again, lives were dramatically changed.”

During the spring members of the 2011 Permanent Staff and Dreyfus toured the state, speaking tovarious adult and children Sunday School classes and then speaking about Camp during the churchservice announcements.

With only one regular session under 100 campers, the work put in by the Camp Coordinator andmembers of the Permanent Staff paid off. The groups visited five parishes in the diocese: St. Paul’sCorinth, St. John’s Laurel, All Saints Grenada, Calvary Cleveland, Mediator Meridian, and St. Tim’sSouthaven.

“The congregations were very welcoming and receptive, and I have no doubt that as we continueto make our tours, we will continue to round up more and more children and expose them to thisbeautiful place,” Dreyfus said.

The Rev. Patrick Sanders, rector at St. Timothy’s Southaven, noted that “not only did the parishvisit add to the number of St. Timothy kids who go to camp, it also allowed parents and their children

an opportunity to meet some of the Permanent Staff. I can’t say enough about how comfortable thatmade them about their first trip to CBG.”

Any congregation that is interested in having representatives from Camp Bratton-Green come andspeak to them should contact Gray Center to schedule an appointment.

Duncan Gray IV is a member of the Camp B.G. Alumni Association and a communicant at St. Peter’s,Oxford. John Dreyfus is the Camp Coordinator for Bratton Green.

By Bill Horne The pool’s color and clarity are perfect. This spring, the pool received a new paint job, I don’t remem-

ber ever seeing it more blue. The new paint was necessary for maintaining the pool’s integrity as well as aes-thetics. It is a task that must be done every few years.

Though the pool was a rebellious this summer, we have tamed it’s wild heart. The cloudiness is gone,and the system is running great. Leaks that have been plaguing its operation are all gone, reducing theamount of water that must be added, and helping us keep chemicals regulated. The sand in the filters wasthe main cause of our headaches this summer, and after 1400 pounds of new sand, the filters are workingperfectly. Removing the chlorine is better for our swimmers, our storage concerns and our lake (wherewaste water dumps). The new system has the pool as clear and beautiful as it has ever been.

You may not have noticed the new pump house at the pool. It was built to protect the pumps andother equipment, mostly. The added benefit is a quieter system, enclosing an area we felt should be moresecure, and Joe set up an “office” inside.

Prettiest camp pool you’ve ever seen

Bratton-Green reaches historic camper numbers in 2011

Campers take a breather after a pie eating contest.

Gray Center will be hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration once again! Come gather with usSaturday, December 31st to Sunday, January 1st to welcome 2012!

The cost of attendance is $100 a room which includes:• One Cottage, Inn, or Big House room• A New Year’s Eve dinner at 7:00 • A New Year’s Day brunch at 9:00• Live Music • A safe location for your New Year’s celebration

Rooms will go fast so please reserve your space early. We will once again offer live entertainmentfor our guests to enjoy. Feel free to bring any snacks, cards or board games you may want throughoutthe evening. Gray Center will not supply alcohol for this event so it is BYOB. For you football fans wewill have college bowl games playing in the lobby. Check in will be any time after 2:00 p.m. on Fridayand room checkout is 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Even though room checkout is 11:00 on Saturday feelfree to spend the day relaxing at Gray Center. We are asking for a $50 nonrefundable deposit due byDecember 20th to hold your room. This fee will be applied to the event balance.

To register for this event or if you have any questions please contact Grae Dickson or Linda Cainat (601) 859-1556 or email at grae@graycenter.org. If you are interested in a single room please con-tact Linda Cain for availability. We hope to see you here to celebrate the New Year with us at GrayCenter.

New Year’s Eve at Gray Center

October 2011 The Mississippi Episcopalian 7

GRAY CENTER news

By Joe GreenAt the four Gray Center Work Weekends we have each year, people from all over the diocese come

out to help with projects and improvements. So far this year, we have made a new trail entrance to theYellow Trail, completed the improvements to the Boat Dock, and made prepared for camp. We stillhave one left, though, so don’t feel like you’ve missed out; you have another chance.

The new Yellow Trail entrance bypasses the washed out area just beyond the original Shopentrance. This change was mostly for the safety of our guests, but also eliminates foot traffic in the shoparea.

The second Work Weekend made preparations for summer camp. Like most of the projects, thiswas a huge help to the Maintenance and Housekeeping Staff. Most of the work was simply repairingmalfunctioning fixtures, the stability of beds, and moving supplies to where they would best servecamp.

In our most recent Work Weekend, we completed some ongoing improvements to the boat dockarea. The new boardwalk constructed by the Alumni Assoc. needed some final touches, and the newfish cleaning table is up, thanks to our industrious friends.

The final Work Weekend of the year (Nov. 12-13) will focus on the Storage box at the RopesCourse. The current box is just too small. We will be expanding it to fit the backboard and makeenough space for ropes, harnesses, etc to be elevated and less likely to house mice. This will make thejob of our summer staff and other facilitators a lot easier, and protect our equipment.

Anyone and everyone is welcome for the Work Weekend. If you just want to come out forSaturday, that’s great. If you can’t actually do labor, we don’t mind, we’d love to see you.

A breakfast and lunch is provided on Saturday, but not Friday night dinner. If you plan on attend-ing, please contact Gray Center so that we can make arrangements for you. Joe Green is Gray Center’s Assistant Site Manager.

Work weekends get things done

By John DreyfusOur Adopt-a-Cabin program is for an individual parish or any combination of parishes to help

with the upkeep of Camp Bratton Green. Several groups have committed and come out to dowork. The new paint in Cabin 1 and Cabin 5 were due to this program. New screens on the eavesof many of the cabins that keep the wasp and birds out of the attics while allowing necessary airflow have been replaced. New A/C units for counselor rooms, cleaning, carpentry and more havealready made lasting improvements to our facilities and the quality of product available to ourguests.

Most of these tasks are scheduled to coincide with our Work Weekends so that they do notinterfere with Parish weekends and other events, but they can be scheduled for other times if yourchurch would like to help. If you would like to all of the details of the project and how your parishcould contribute, please contact John Dreyfus at the Camp Office (601) 859-1517.John Dreyfus is Gray Center’s Camp Coordinator.

Adopt-a-Cabin program making visible differences By Grae Dickson

For all you passionate barbecue enthusiasts or novices that want to have a good time cooking withyour friends, Gray Center is offering you the opportunity to show your stuff in our First Annual CampBratton-Green Bar-B-Q Cook-off on March 2 - 3, 2012. The cook off will be part of a Camp Bratton-Green open house held on March 3rd.

There will be four categories judged at this year’s competition: Pork Butts, St. Louis Style Ribs,Chicken, and Chef’s Choice. The Chef’s Choice can either be another meat or a smoked component toa dish but the smoked component needs to be the focal point. You can every category or select onethat is your specialty but to be awarded Grand Champion you must submit an entry in each category.

The entry fee for this event is $100 per team with an additional $50 per team (breakfast included)if you wish to stay in a cabin. Each team will consist of a head cook with a maximum of 4 other teammembers. The winner of the event will receive a trophy and a $250 cash prize. All proceeds from thisevent will go to the Camp Bratton-Green Scholarship Fund.

For more information or for a complete set of rules please contact Grae Dickson at 601-859-1556or grae@graycenter.org. Be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks.

Camp Bratton-Green Bar-B-Q Cook-off and Open House

Gray Center Cemetery: a final restingplace in the Heart of the Diocese

By Bill HorneIt was 2006 when I remarked to the clergy at that year’s Annual Clergy Conference:“The Gray Center Cemetery has scarcely been promoted since its inception and this is a shame. It

is nestled amongst the trees and beneath the blue skies of Gray Center - who could ask for anythingmore than that for a final resting place? But there is more - these sites are only for Episcopalians, theirimmediate families and those others who may have had a close relationship with Camp Bratton-Green,Gray Center, or Allison Wells. And best of all, today, sites are only $600. If we see sufficient demandwe are prepared to install a columbarium with niches at the same low price. We will be vigorously pro-moting the sale of the remaining ones in the coming months. There are only a limited number avail-able at this rate. Choice locations will go in a hurry and I’d suggest that you reserve yours as soon asyou can. As well, of course, we’d appreciate your helping us educate your parishes regarding this not-so-well-known offering of Gray Center and the diocese.”

Since then we’ve increased the designated plots by 30%, had several interments and many moredistributions of cremains. This, by the way, the distribution of ashes, is something we need to informothers of: for little more than the cost of a memorial plaque to be mounted at the cemetery, one cantake advantage of this feature of our cemetery offering.

It would be hard to find a more serene place, a more spiritual resting spot than our cemetery atGray Center. The morning sun bathes it in its warming glow and the shadows of the giant oaks glideacross the well-mown grass to be kissed by the evening’s dew. Simply, incomparable.

For the balance of this year plots at the Gray Center Cemetery will continue to be priced at theincredibly low price of $600. This compares to prices around Jackson from $750 - $1,300 and morewith the lesser ones very hard to find.

Gray Center orchard and herb project is comingBy Grae Dickson

Over the past years at Gray Center, numerous individuals have suggested that we start some sortof gardening venture on the property. That time has now come! Beginning in the fall of 2011, GrayCenter will begin making preparations to plant an orchard and an herb garden on the property.

In order to make this project a success, we are looking for individuals with a passion for garden-ing or individuals that may want to contribute to this project. We welcome any Parishes, church organi-zations, youth groups, or passionate gardeners to be a part of this project with us.

Gray Center will use the yield from each of these areas to share with our guests. Fruit from the

trees will be harvested to make preserves and herbs from the garden will be used in our kitchens foreveryone to enjoy. The hope is to start with fruit trees of specific varieties and specific sizes in order toproduce maximum yield.

If you have any questions about the Orchard and Herb Project or would like to offer some expert-ise, contact Grae Dickson at grae@graycenter.org or 601-859-1556. Please consider helping us makethis project something we can share and enjoy in the coming years. If you are able to contribute, indi-cate on any donations that they are specifically earmarked for The Orchard and Herb Project.Grae Dickson is Gray Center’s Food and Beverage Director.

A new walkway by the lake near the boat dock was constructed on one of the work weekends atGray Center.

CLERGY

8 The Mississippi Episcopalian

Ring Around the Collar

October 2011

Deployment ReportFor The Mississippi Episcopalian

October, 2011New Calls/AppointmentsThe Reverend Anne Matthews, from Priest-in-Charge, to be Rector, Church of the Redeemer,Brookhaven

ResignationsThe Reverend Karl Schaffenburg, announced resignation, Rector, Incarnation, West Point

In TransitionSt. Thomas’, BelzoniCreator, ClintonSt. Elizabeth’s, CollinsSt. Paul’s, ColumbusRedeemer, GreenvilleSt. Paul’s, HollandaleSt. Philip’s, JacksonSt. John’s, LelandSt. Mary’s, LexingtonHoly Cross, Olive BranchChapel of the Cross, Rolling ForkAdvent, SumnerHoly Trinity, Vicksburg

Bishop Gray is pictured with the Rev. Robert Wethering who pronounces the blessing at theCelebration of a New Ministry at Redeemer, Biloxi.

Modern day stress is a serious impediment to our spirituality. Whenwe are “stressed out” we find ourselves unable to function properly,frequently unable to function at all. Several years ago I receivedsome material from a group called OACES in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Theyadvertised themselves as “Opportunities for Adult Christian Educationand Spirituality.” A quick search of the internet indicated that theyare no longer operating, at least in that format. Among the things Ihave from them are some semi-tongue- in- cheek instructions called“Rules to follow when life’s tapestry seems to be unraveling. 1)Remember to breathe. 2) Remember this is about God and you, notabout you alone. 3) Pray! Pray for guidance, courage, humor, and

love. (Not necessarily in that order!) 4. Remember in adult ministry formation, as in basketballwhenever you have possession of “the ball” it’s okay to call “time out.” 5) When in doubt, ask! AskGod, ask others, ask yourself for wisdom and grace. Repeat 1 through 5 until the crisis passes. Elizabeth Wheatley-Jones, Priest-in-charge at All Saints, Grenada gave her take on our stressful livesthis month. I eagerly await more on “wazi-wazi”.

One of my favorite camp songs of late begins: “At a time like this...” and ends: “I need the Lord tohelp me.” What happens between the beginning and the end is a chaotic, rapid-firing series of physicalmotions which range from clapping hands to beating chests, from saying/motioning “Na-noo. Na-noo”to waving and saying “Hi, Mom.” As often is the case in life, the activity of the song begins with one ortwo tasks to accomplish and builds to a veritable frenzy which is nigh on impossible to follow or per-form.

Whether or not the song is familiar, it is likely you know the experience of over-scheduling, multi-tasking and something akin to juggling fiery batons. And, certainly, if you have ventured near All Saints’lately, you may have gotten swept up by the waves of activity or perhaps it felt more like being suckedinto a vortex. And, what a glorious-albeit at times exhausting- time it has been around here of late, withfolks popping in and out, preparing for festivities in conjunction with brunches, funerals, baby & wed-ding showers, birthdays and an Open House; engaging in plans for Sunday School, Inquirers’ Class,Nursery care and Stewardship events; training, renovating, reorganizing, weeding, digging, building,printing, folding, counseling, singing, rehearsing, praying and the list goes on!

We all have “times like this” - at home, at work, at church, around town, in our nation’s capitaland around the world. And what tends to happen, whether one experiences such times as energizingor angst-ridden, is that God gets lost in the shuffle and we find ourselves off-kilter or, as the Mbuti peo-ple of Zaire call it, “wazi wazi.” (more on wazi-wazi at another time). When “wazi wazi” happens, thesong cries out “I need the Lord to help me.” And so in life... Oh, that we might have the grace toremember that we are not alone even amidst of the whirlwind, the grace to take a few steps back andbreath deeply, the grace to follow Jesus up the mountain to pray and to find our center in God so thatwe might have strength, courage & wisdom to continue our journey with Christ and with one another!

By Denny Allman

A date to remember: November 11-12, 2011

ECW Fall Conference — Gray Center

October 2011

CIVIL WAR HISTORY

The Mississippi Episcopalian 9

By Scott Lenoir

As part of the observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Diocese ofMississippi co-sponsored a symposium held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez,Mississippi to explore a violent and little understood local episode in the history of AdamsCounty: an 1861slave uprising at the very beginning of the Civil War which resulted in vigi-lante trials and the hanging deaths of 40 slaves.

A panel of four history professors and one archeologist/historian presented papers forthe one day event entitled, No more Silence at Second Creek: Slave Resistance and theOnset of the Civil War. The initial research began with the 1993 book Tumult andSilence at Second Creek, by Dr. Winthrop Jordan. Since Jordan’s initial work at theUniversity of Mississippi, many other scholars have have researched slave resistance andrebellion in Mississippi.

Dr. Elizabeth Boggess, an archeologist/historian, and one of the presenters at thesymposium, says that the conspiracy began on April 14, 1861. On that day, Confederatetroops from Natchez left the city to join in the Civil War. It was only one day after Uniontroops surrendered Fort Sumter to the Confederacy in Charleston Harbor.

By July of 1861, after the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) white people began tolearn of the conspiracy according to Kathleen Jenkins, the Superintendent of the NatchezNational Park and member of Trinity Church in Natchez. Jenkins says that “talk began tospread among people in the plantations of the Second Creek area southeast of Natchez regardingenslaved men rising up to fight the white people and blacks who would not join them.”

It was at this point that James Surget, the great grandfather of two surviving sisters living inNatchez today, was caught up in vigilante justice that led to the first hangings of slave conspirators.

The first 10 hangings took place on September 24, 1861 at Cherry Grove and Brighton Woodsplantations. In the coming weeks, 30 more hangings took place on land owned by James Surgetwho, after the war, became a regular member of Trinity Church.

The two surviving Surget family members are Dr. Elizabeth Boggess, mentioned above, andAnne MacNeil, a member of Trinity Church. The two women are sisters and are both active in his-torical preservation efforts.

“My great grandfather, James Surget, would have been about 25 years old at the time of theuprising. He was the Captain of the Home Guard and it was his job to arrest the conspirators andexecute them,” said Boggess.

“This was not like a war situation where people are shot in the heat of battle. The hangingscompletely changed his life. He undoubtedly grew up with the same people he executed. Itshook his personal beliefs.”

After the war, Boggess says that Surget lost all his livestock and feed crops (he wasn’t a cottonfarmer), but he systematically restored his land as well as offering reparations for the wrongs hedid. “He also gave away tremendous amounts of land to the tenant farmers who worked on hisproperty,” said Boggess. “After the war, he became a devout Episcopalian at Trinity Church inNatchez.”

Boggess and her sister, Anne MacNeil, are not native Mississippians. Both grew up inPrinceton, New Jersey where their father was a career civil servant for the city. Their paternalgrandfather was an Episcopal priest serving small churches in upstate New York.

The two women often visited Natchez, which was the home of their mother, but neither wasexposed to ethics of Jim Crow South. Both women have lived in Natchez for many years and feel adeep love and commitment to the community.

The Second Creek slave uprising ended with 40 hangings; however, the incident was part of amuch larger reaction. It is estimated that by the time Union troops occupied Natchez in July of1863, as many as 200 slaves were killed.

“We know our history, and we do not believe in keeping it as secret,” said Dr. Boggess. “Wehope that our work, and the research of others, opens communications between people.”

MacNeil says she’s wrestled with the truth of her family’s involvement in the Second Creektragedy. She found spiritual nurture over the years through participating in EFM (Education forMinistry) and the DOCC program (Disciples of Christ in Community).

“For me, it’s all about how we treat each other as human beings. Do I respect the dignity ofall people? There is nothing I can do about my great grandfather’s actions, but I can do somethingabout how I live my daily life and my interactions with other people,” said MacNeil.

Another presenter at the symposium was Dr. Edward L. Bond. Bond is the editor of Anglicanand Episcopal History, the journal of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church. Bond said thiswas the third symposium held in regards to slavery and the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi.

As well as commemorating the 150th Civil War anniversary, the symposium’s work comes as aresponse to General Convention Resolution 2006-A123 which asks for the Church to explore waysit participated in the institution of racism. Bond is at the forefront of slavery research in the state.

“I think that the commitment of Trinity Episcopal Church, Natchez and the Diocese ofMississippi’s ongoing project to unearth the truth about church history and slavery, allows us tobegin the process of healing. There cannot be healing without truth-telling first,” said Jenkins.

Natchez Episcopal Church symposium explores slavery uprising and tragedy

Dr. Elizabeth Boggess presents her symposium paper.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESSilence, Scriptures, and Stitches:2011 Fall Offerings at Gray Center

A Day Apart: Day of Silence and PrayerNovember 4Spend a day at Gray Center in silence and prayer, gathering briefly with other participants at appointedtimes for worship in community. Bring whatever centers you in your silence - walking shoes, fishingpoles, art supplies, a journal...or just bring yourself and your desire to spend a day in quiet prayer.The cost is $20.

Silent Retreat: Who Are You, God, and Who Am I?November 17-19All are welcome - men and women, lay and clergy - to come away for a time of quiet solitude and com-munity, led by the Rev. Susannah Grubbs Carr and the Rev. Richard Robbins. We will make a graciousspace for reflection on our images of God, and under God’s loving gaze to receive God’s images of us.The cost is $210, single occupancy only.

Knitting and Needlework in Advent: Mary and MarthaDecember 2-4 The season of Advent pulls us in two directions, urging us to sit still and wait with eager anticipationfor the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-us, and pushing us to remember how many shopping days areleft before Christmas. We long to be Mary, but our to-do lists are Martha-sized.

Our annual Knitting and Needlework in Advent retreat is an opportunity for participants (all skill levelsare welcome, and beginners are encouraged!) to share their work with one another, learn new skills,and settle into a rhythm of stitching, study, and reflection. This year we will gently consider how weare like both Mary and Martha, and we will ask Jesus to help us “choose the better part.”

On Saturday of the retreat, we will offer an optional workshop entitled “Stitching with Mary andMartha.” Some cast-ons and stitch patterns are simple enough to satisfy the Mary in us; others are sodetailed they might baffle Martha! Learn new cast-on methods and stitch patterns that you can thenuse in the creation of dishcloths (wonderful Christmas gifts!), baby blankets, and prayer shawls.

Susan Nix and the Rev. Jennifer Deaton will again lead this annual event. The cost is $170 for doubleoccupancy, $185 for single occupancy, and $35 to participate only on Saturday.

For more information on all these events, or to register for them, please visit the Center forFormation and Mission website at http://cffm.dioms.org Scholarships are available upon request.

By Betsy BosticDr. David Hurd, one of the premier concert organists and

church musicians in the nation, will kick off the 2011-12 St. James’Concert Series Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13, in Greenville.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Hurd is a prolific composer and hasa long list of awards, prizes, honors and achievements to his credit.He has provided dozens of choral and organ works published by anumber of major houses, 13 of which are contained in our 1982Hymnal. He is currently the professor of church music at GeneralSeminary, a post he has held since 1976.

Hurd studied both at the Preparatory Division of the JuilliardSchool and at Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art. Later heattended Oberlin College in Ohio, graduating with a music degreein 1971, and went on for further study at the University of NorthCarolina and, back in New York, at the Manhattan School of Music.

“We are very excited to bring David to St. James’, The Delta,and the Diocese of Mississippi,” said the Rev. Susan K. Crawford, St. James’ rector. “There is none bet-ter when it comes to church music and pipe organs. It will be a concert to remember and cherish foryears to come.”

Hurd has been recognized as a major virtuoso and following his concert in Canada, The CalgaryHerald, reported he “gave arguably the finest organ recital to be heard in the city for some time . . .One can only hope he comes again soon.”

After a concert in Kansas City, The Kansas City Star reported, “It was an impressive display of vir-tuosity.”

The St. James’ concert will begin at 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. It is made possiblethrough the generous support of the Betty and Hodding Carter Foundation. St. James is located at1026 S. Washington Ave. For more information call 662 334-4582 or emailbetsy@stjamesgreenville.comBetsy Bostic is a communicant of St. James’, Greenville.

10 The Mississippi Episcopalian

Scholarships available from the Diocese of Mississippi

By Scott Lenoir

Education is expensive and that is why many people over the years gave generously to establishscholarships for students which are administrated through the Diocese of Mississippi.

Currently there are five scholarships available to college bound Episcopalians: Mistocos, Warren,Capers, Okalona, and Adams. Each scholarship has different qualifications. Applicants are encouragedto apply for the scholarship which best matches their qualifications and educational goals.

The scholarship criteria and application forms may be found on the diocesan website atwww.dioms.org. Click on the Mission and Outreach link found on the left sidebar of the index page.Then look for the link to “Diocesan Scholarships.”

All college scholarships applications for 2012 must be received by March 1.“We are trying to get the word out early because we want to give students plenty of time to

apply,” said Canon Kathryn McCormick. All applications should be accompanied by a high resolutionimage for publication purposes when the awards are announced.

McCormick also noted that there is a scholarship available in the name of the Most Rev. JohnMaury Allin which was established to fund Christian Education for laity in the Diocese of Mississippi.The Bishop Allin Lay Scholarship is administered by the Diocese of Mississippi. Applications may bereceived by contacting Chuck Rae at 601-693-2841.

Organist David Hurd to begin St. James’ Concert Series

October 2011

DIOCESAN CALENDAR

EVENTS

October 2011

OCTOBER• 19: Trustees of the Diocese of Mississippi - Allin House - 10:00 a.m.

• 20: Standing Committee - Allin House: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• 21: Diocesan Finance Committee, 11:00 a.m. conference call

• 21 - 22: Licensed Lay Ministry Conference - Gray Center

• 21 - 22: Lay Leadership Training Institute - Gray Center

• 21 - 23: Happening - All Saints, Tupelo

• 22: Day on the Diaconate South - Trinity, Hattiesburg

• 22: Daughters of the King - Resurrection, Starkville - 9:00 a.m.

• 23: Bishop Gray visits Church of the Nativity, Greenwood - 10:00 a.m.Bishop Gray visits Grace Church, Carrollton - 4:00 p.m.

• 24 - 27: Clergy Conference - Gray Center

• 30: Bishop Gray visits St. Peter’s, Oxford - 11:00 a.m.Bishop Gray visits Episcopal Church at Ole Miss, Oxford - 5:30 p.m.Bishop Gray visits St. Peter’s Hispanic service, Oxford - 7:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER

• 1: Bishop Gray visits All Saints, Jackson - 6:00 p.m.

• 4 - 5: Gray Center Work Weekend

• 4 - 6: Senior DOY - Camp Bratton Green

• 6: Bishop Gray visits All Saints, Grenada - 10:30 a.m.Bishop Gray visits All Saints, Inverness - 4:00 p.m.

• 8: Fresh Start South - Trinity, Hattiesburg - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• 10: Fresh Start North - All Saints, Grenada - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• 11: Deacons’ Council - Allin House: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• 11 - 12: ECW Fall Conference - Gray Center

• 11 - 13: Junior DOY - Camp Bratton Green

• 13: Bishop Gray visits St. Christopher’s, Jackson - 9:00 a.m.Celebration of a New Ministry for the Rev. Brian Ponder, St. Paul’s, Meridian -6:30 p.m.

• 15: Gray Center Executive Committee - Allin House - 5:00 p.m.

• 16: Bishop Gray visits St. Mark’s, Gulfport - 6:00 p.m.

• 17 - 19: Silent Retreat: Who are you, God? - Gray Center

• 18 - 20: Benedictine Spirituality - Gray Center

• 20: Bishop Gray visits Advent, Sumner - 10:00 a.m.

• 20 - 22: Presbyters’ Post Ordination Consultation - Gray Center

• 29 - 2: Province IV House of Bishops

DECEMBER • 2 - 3: Adults Working With Youth Retreat

• 2 - 4: Knitting and Needlework - Gray Center

• 4: Bishop Gray visits Mediator, Meridian - 10:30 a.m.Bishop Gray visits St. Francis, Philadelphia - 6:00 p.m.

• 6: Standing Committee, Allin House - 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.* 7: Finance Committee, St. Andrews - 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.* 11: Bishop Gray visits Christ Church, Bay St. Louis - 10:00 a.m.

Bishop Gray visits Church of the Redeemer, Brookhaven - 5:00 p.m.

• 13: Convocation Deans meeting - Allin House - 12:00 p.m.

• 15: Executive Committee, St. Andrew’s - 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• 18: Bishop Gray visits St. Patrick’s, Long Beach - 10:30 a.m.

• 23 - 27: Allin House closed for Christmas

The Mississippi Episcopalian 11

ECW Fall Conference scheduled at Gray Center

By Grace SteinThe ECW Annual Meeting and Fall Conference is scheduled for November 12, and 13, 2011, at

Gray Center. All women of the Diocese of Mississippi and any guests are invited regardless of whetheryour church has a formally organized ECW or not. We are all Episcopal Church Women working in themission and ministry of the church.

Brochures are available in your church office or on the web site:http://www.dioms.org/digital_faith/events/739 . You may also obtain them applications from DavilynnFurlow, 304 N. Pearl St., Natchez, MS 39120.

Our speaker will be Jackie Robe, who is currently Province IV President of Episcopal ChurchWomen. She is a former “Miss Judy”, the teacher on the early TV children’s show “Romper Room”. Sheis the founder of the evangelism program “Believe in a Miracle” in the Diocese of Southwest Floridawhich draws thousands of women annually. It became so popular that it is now presented twice annu-ally to accommodate the numbers.

Robe also presented portions of the program at Kanuga for the past two years at the Province IVWomen’s Conference. She has served three terms on the Diocesan Council, Diocesan ECW President,and Chair of Women’s Ministry. She is a member and Church Missioner of St. Martin’s EpiscopalChurch in Hudson, Florida. Jackie is president of Robe Building and Contracting, Inc., and trustee of afamily trust supporting university art scholarships, an AIDS baby project in a third world country, andan environmental project at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. She was born in the UnitedStates of French parents. Her father and husband were both artists. She has been widowed for 11 yearsand enjoys spending time with her children and six grandchildren.

The Conference opens Friday, Nov. 11 with registration from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6:00p.m. followed at 7:00 with our first session with our speaker. We close with Compline followed by awine and cheese reception hosted by the ECW board. Saturday morning coffee is available in the din-ing room at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast at 8:00. At 9:00 a.m. we will have our annual meeting followed byour second session with Jackie. The closing Eucharist with installation of new officers will be in theChapel at 11:00 with lunch in the dining room at noon.

It is the goal of ECW in addition to our missions and ministry to promote spiritual growth, fun,and fellowship for the women of the Diocese of Mississippi through our Spring and Fall Conferences.They are always scheduled for the second weekends in November and April unless Easter falls on thesecond weekend, then it is moved to the third weekend. ECW has always offered scholarships and thisyear Gray Center has received a monetary gift to be used for partial scholarships for women who oth-erwise would not be able to attend. For information on scholarships please contact Grace Steiner, 601-446-6605, e-mail: steinerg@bellsouth.net

By Molly MacWadeThe spirit of the holidays will roll thru one of Jackson’s most historic neighborhoods Saturday,

December 3 as the 7th Annual Dr. Trey Mangum Memorial Walk of Grace led by Friends of FallenRiders will be held in Fondren to raise money for Grace House. Grace House is Mississippi’s largestand longest operating HIV/AIDS transitional housing.

This year’s proceeds are designated to help with the purchase of a new house for office space,extra housing for residents, a conference room and an exercise room for the residents

The 3-mile WOG begins at 9:00 am at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 3921 Oak Ridge Drive (withregistration beginning at 8:00 am) and winds through the Fondren district. As in past years, partici-pants will pass through will have an opportunity to view panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt at thewalk.

Safe Harbor United Church of Christ will display sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in theSanctuary. Other times of viewing will be announced soon. They will also host a World AIDS DayService.

Rapid HIV Testing, a process that takes only 15-minutes will also be available during and after theWOG at St. James’.

Contact Grace House, 601-353-1038 or Tammie Stephens, tstephens@stjjax.org or 601 982 4880 formore information.

Annual Walk of Grace funds housing for HIV/AIDS

A date to remember: October 24-27, 2011Clergy Conference - Gray Center

MISSION OUTREACH

Mission Ties to Uganda strengthen with visitBy Cathy Halford

[Kampala, Mbarara, Kesese, Kalembe,Wamwenge] I knew I wasn’t in Mississippiand also because it was June and the tem-perature was about 80 degrees in the mid-dle of the day and 65 at night with lowhumidity. For three weeks, I traveledthrough the southwestern part of Ugandawhich lies north of the Democratic Republicof Congo in the Rwenzori Mountains. Soeven though Uganda is located on theEquator, the weather is very pleasant —no AC.

How did I get to Uganda? A little overa year ago I was telling Bishop Gray that Iwasn’t sure where I was headed in my min-istry. After listening, as he does so well, heasked if I would consider going to Uganda.Since we at All Saints’ Jackson have beenintroduced to Uganda through so manywonderful stories by our priest WilliamNdishabandi and knowing that Bishop Grayhad been two summers ago, I didn’t hesi-tate. So on June 22, after 2 nights on aplane because of messed up flight sched-ules, I arrived at Entebbe - then on toKampala, the capital, where I was to beginmy adventure with friends of William andhis wife Naomi.

First thoughts: I have already men-tioned the incredible weather. Coming intoKampala (about 2-3 million people), I sawmany small shops and lean-tos made out ofmany types of material, selling everythingimaginable: food — lots of bananas, pineap-ple, tomatoes, fish, watermelon, cabbage,corn, and clothes, wood (for cooking), andbricks (handmade for building houses). Isaw a lot of poverty. In Uganda there isabout 40% unemployment and no govern-ment help. However, people do anythingthey can to try and provide for themselvesand their families. Pride is very evident. I was very impressed.

The traffic is unbelievable! Thereseems to be no rhyme or reason for the driv-ing techniques. There are hundreds ofmotorcycles (boda bodas), bicycles, and taxivans taking people back and forth. With noavailable space, a car, van, truck, bicycle, ormotorcycle all vie for a spot at the same time- and there are vey few accidents. It seems that Ugandans haven’t discovered road rage. You heartoots of horns to alert you that a vehicle is moving in, but there is much patience because that’s whothe Ugandan people are.

People go to church. The Anglican and Roman Catholic churches are the most prevalent inUganda. It’s no surprise to see 500-600 people at one service with two or three services each Sunday.Within each group, there is usually 100-200 children. At one service after the installation of the newdean of the cathedral (a classmate of William’s) in the Diocese of Ankole, there was a fundraiser to col-lect money for completion of a church building. Why not — everyone was already there — no lettersto be written, no dinners to be organized, no phone calls to made, no committees to be put together.How efficient and expedient! And more money was raised than was needed! At the end of a service atanother church, parishioners brought things up to be auctioned off to raise money - all kinds of pro-duce. I was presented with two bags of beans by a man who could have taken them home to eat.

I was privileged to preach at both of those churches that morning. I told the priests (friends ofWilliam’s) that my sermon would be the shortest on record! At one service, it had to be translatedbecause the service was in their tribal language (of which there are, I think, 47 dialects in Uganda).

I was introduced to some new food: mytoke (made from a certain variety of bananas grown and

sold everywhere - mashed and steamed orsteamed in the peeling), kalo (made fromcorn and cooked in boiling water- becomingbrown as it is stirred and turning into astarchy breadlike food), casava (made from atuber — white starchylike food), and pas-sionfruit juice made fresh everyday, andplantains- good with peanut sauce. I ateeverything twice — only twice.

Salt and sugar are very seldom used.Most seasoning comes from tomatoes,spring onions, and carrots. I ate Irish andsweet potatoes, pumpkin, cabbage, pasta,beans, rice, eggplant, tomatoes, pineapple,watermelon, mangos — all organic — andtalapia, chicken, beef, and goat. Honey isabout as sweet as it gets. Even their pineap-ple and watermelon are not as sweet asours. (Although I did get a wonderful sliceof cake for my birthday.)

Food is usually bought every 1-2 days -always fresh. Also, the milk is bought everyfew days and kept hot to preserve it. Veryfew homes have a stove or refrigeratorbecause many, many houses have no elec-tricity and no water for that matter.

Cooking over charcoal or wood takesplace mostly outside the main house in aseparate building or outside if there is nobuilding. Wood is for sale in town, villages,and along the roadside. The availability ofwood is a real problem in Uganda becausethere is so much used and too few treesreplanted.

Soon after I arrived in Uganda, I trav-eled to Kasese and spent a few days withBishop Ezekiel Masereka of the BishopMasereka Christian Foundation. If youremember, our diocese is sponsoring theconstruction of his hospital. In the mean-time, his clinic takes care of many womenand children throughout the community.His clinic is quite small with limited bedspace and not enough equipment and med-ical supplies to adequately take care of hispatients. Since only the foundation for thehospital has been laid, continuing support isneeded to help Bishop Masereka reach hisgoal. In addition, his foundation sponsorsfifty-four students with uniforms, schoolsupplies, and meals.

The Rev. Cathy Halford is a deacon at All Saints’, Jackson and the Diocesan representative forEpiscopal Relief and Development.

Editor’s note: This is the first of two in a series of articles by the Rev. Deacon Cathy Halford.

October 201112 The Mississippi Episcopalian

Fresh produce is brought to market almost daily in Uganda.

The Rev. Cathy Halford stands on the equator in Uganda.