Greeting

1.

From the gospel lesson this morning, “Después de esto, el Señor designó a otros setenta y los envió de dos en dos a todas las ciudades a las que él mismo tenía intención de ir. “After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them in pairs to every town where he himself intended to go. Did you hear the first two words? “Despues de esto,” translated, “After that.” Jesus’ words are a response to the events in the previous chapter. So, let me tell you what the after that is referring to so we’re all up to speed.

After Jesus appoints and gives the twelve power and authority. After the political violence, Herod murdered Jesus’ cousin, John. After the reluctant participation of the disciples in feeding the five thousand. After Jesus’ prayer prompted transfiguration. After the executive committee of the disciples choose tiny home construction over vocation in the valley. After the disciples dispute over succession planning and greatness. After Jesus provides health care to a child without means. After Jesus laments his own homelessness. After all these events, or you could say, at the close of a tumultuous year, we have a response from Jesus.

His response is to appoint and send seventy more people to the cities he himself intends to go. That said another way, the more complicated the world gets, the more disappointing life gets, the lonelier life gets, the more unsure things are, the more resolute Jesus gets about his purpose. 

Jesus’ purpose is to embody and proclaim a counter narrative that swallows up the world’s bad news, scarcity and contempt for neighbor narratives. Jesus’ purpose is to proclaim the kingdom of God is here. El propósito de Jesús es proclamar que el reino de Dios está aquí. Jesus’ purpose is to practice and alternative way to live- that reveals the heart of God, exposes contradictions and welcomes the errant home. It is his purpose that keeps him from being broken by breaking news or distracted by disappointments and divisions. His proclamation is a timeless invitation to transformation not a temporal tirade. Jesus is not indifferent or reactive, he is responsive!

Today’s gospel finds Jesus commissioning a future not paralyzed by the past. He’s not in denial about past hardships and failures He has recycled them into a faithful response for the future. Jesus’ response to a tough year, is to increase the scale of the movement and welcome new people to the beautiful struggle. Here we find him, engaging the willing and mobilizing the faithful. At the beginning of chapter 9 Jesus appoints and empowers twelve disciples but now in the beginning of chapter 10 he appoints and sends seventy more- that’s a 483.33% increase!

But we shouldn’t just sit here in amazement at Jesus’ resolve and clarity. What we must do is allow His words to become our flesh. What we must do at this Annual Council and every day ahead of us is to dedicate ourselves individually and organizationally to Jesus’ purposes. That my friends is the only future the church has. Gospel message must become gospel method! 

2.

Jesus appointed and sent them. Notice here that they’re not sent to attend worship. Worship is a pre-existing condition for living a sent life! Notice also that Jesus uses two separate phrases here, appointed and sent. I wonder if Jesus uses two words, recognizing that some folks get stuck in appointment and never quite make it to sent. The sent life is a countercultural challenge. Sent-ness is the cure for self-centeredness. Funny enough, it also the cure for ecclesiastical anxiety. Sent-ness is medicine for the world.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and his wife Caroline were in town last week. And, I heard him say to a group of folks, “when the church is outward facing, it is highly likely we will bump into Jesus. But when the church is inward facing, it is highly likely we’ll just bump into each other.” 

This is all so terribly critical for us to understand because, to paraphrase Will Willimon, “…people who are actively being seduced by and daily indoctrinated into the godless ideology that our lives are our possessions to do with as we please and that our lives are just the sum of our astute choices…”  

But, the good news of the gospel flips all of that on its head. The gospel says God is the center of my life. And my life is a gift and so is yours. The gospel says, all that we have is gift. And the gospel goes even further. The gospel says that my blindness and sinfulness, when offered to God will round out my humanity. And, a surprising new sensitivity will be born in me for the world, more than my astute choices could ever deliver. What we must remind one another of, week after week is that, the most adventuresome way to live is by letting Jesus commandeer your life. That is what makes us the church, not the endowment, the steeple, or the stained glass.

Jesus sends his friends to the city, “las ciudades.” The polis is what Aristotle called it. Polis is where we get the word political from. The polis is where the people are. It’s the place where all can have a good and virtuous life, where justice is present-where we can do better than just survive, where we can flourish! It’s to the polis that Jesus sends his friends to be harvest laborers, peace bringers, moral examples, adaptive leaders, community healers and free meal-mouchers.

So right from the beginning Jesus’ friends are expected to skillfully intervene in the affairs of the city. So then, to be a follower of Jesus is to be political but not partisan. The truth is, to be sent is the most political thing there is. But let us be crystal clear, given the present climate, Jesus’ politics are not left or right. They are not red or blue. Jesus’ politics are vertical and horizontal-vertical into love of God, and horizontal into love of neighbor. Jesus’ politics are neither progressive or conservative. Jesus’ politics are cruciform. With Jesus, the cross is high above the flag. Jesus’ politics are inside out and bottom up. Jesus’ politics create a circle so wide until there are no outcasts. Jesus’ politics are redemption.

In Jesus’ politics every sinner has a future and every saint has a past. Jesus’ politics are sharing. In Jesus’ politics every child deserves a quality education and every senior, no matter their net worth, deserves high quality healthcare. In Jesus’ politics you don’t withhold food and medicine to make a political point. In Jesus’ politics the poor are not blamed for their poverty. And those who labor to grow, pick and put food on our tables are not scapegoated but are treated with dignity and paid the wages we would want for our own children. In Jesus’ politics, the pronouns are we and ours. En la política de Jesús, los pronombres son nosotros y nuestro. That is the city Jesus imagines and then dispatches people like us to co-create.

3.

Comb through this morning’s nine verses and you’ll see that there is a lot of how from Jesus. How shall we go? In pairs. How shall we show up? Like lambs among wolves. How shall we pack for the journey? Pack light! It’s not until the last sentence of his soliloquy that Jesus give us the why that powers all the hows. Tell them, Jesus says, that the kingdom of God has come near! Victor Frankel, holocaust survivor and author of the book, Man’s Search for Meaning said, “those who have a why to live, can bear almost any how.” “Los que tienen un por qué vivir, pueden soportar casi cualquier forma.” Frankel’s insight helps us understand what success means for people who are sent.

When the church gets together, there are always big questions in the room. Questions like, What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus right now? Questions like, What does the gospel offer that secular humanism doesn’t? And my favorite question, bishop, exactly what are we fighting for anyway? Those are hard questions but fair questions. And, each question, to my mind, is longing to understand what success looks like for followers of Jesus?

Jesus never promises conventional notions of success. He doesn’t promise, wealth, promotions or prominence. What he promises is a life of meaning. What he promises is that if you have a harvest heart there’s plenty of good work to do. What he promises is to place you in the largest idea of family you can imagine. What he promises is that we can rely on him as we join him in his adventure. What he offers is a journey toward a new depth of integrity.

Success for us, in every season and in all situations, is staying connected to Jesus’ why! To Jesus’ purpose! So the definition of success for those sent by Jesus is measured in reliance. Reliance on his ways and on his words.

Jesus sends these seventy saints to live lives joyfully at odds with self-interest. The good news of living a sent life is actually learning to depend on God: for direction, for protection, for correction, for provision, for healing, for forgiveness, for the capacity to forgive. The great climax of this unusual reliance, is for us to be able to say to anyone anywhere, with a straight face three extraordinary words: God is trustworthy! ¡Dios es digno de confianza! Here’s a question, Do you trust him now more than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow?

If that definition of success doesn’t quite do it for you, let’s call on our friend Henry David Thoreau who said, “If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and lives the life one imagines, They will meet an uncommon success!

They will pass an invisible boundary. New universal laws will establish around and within them. Solitude won’t be solitude and weakness won’t be weakness.”

That beloved is just another way to say what Jesus has already said- that the kingdom is right here, right now, available to us and through us. It is a good time to be Jesus’ church. Para Dios no hay nada demasiado dificil.

There is nothing too hard for God. AMEN

Saludo

1. 

De la lectura del evangelio de esta mañana, “Después de esto, el Señor designó a otros setenta y los envió de dos en dos a todas las ciudades a las que él mismo tenía intención de ir.¿Escuchaste las dos primeras palabras? «Despues de esto». Las palabras de Jesús son una respuesta a los acontecimientos del capítulo anterior. Por lo tanto, permítanme decirles a qué se refiere el después para que todos estemos al día.

Después de que Jesús nombra y da a los doce poder y autoridad. Después de la violencia política, Herodes asesinó al primo de Jesús, Juan. Después de la reticente participación de los discípulos en la alimentación de los cinco mil. Después de la oración de Jesús se produjo la transfiguración. Después del comité ejecutivo de los discípulos, elija la construcción de casas pequeñas sobre la vocación en el valle. Después de la disputa de los discípulos sobre la planificación de la sucesión y la grandeza. Después de Jesús proporciona atención médica a un niño sin medios. Después de que Jesús se lamenta de su propia falta de vivienda. Después de todos estos eventos, o se podría decir, al final de un año tumultuoso, tenemos una respuesta de Jesús. Su respuesta es nombrar y enviar a setenta personas más a las ciudades que él mismo tiene la intención de ir. Dicho de otra manera, cuanto más complicado se vuelve el mundo, más decepcionante se vuelve la vida, más solitaria se vuelve la vida, más inseguras están las cosas, más seguro se pone Jesús sobre su propósito. El propósito de Jesús es encarnar y proclamar una narrative contraria que se traga las malas noticias del mundo, la escasez y el desprecio por las narrativas del prójimo. El propósito de Jesús es proclamar que el reino de Dios está aquí. El propósito de Jesús es proclamar que el reino de Dios está aquí. El propósito de Jesús es practicar un camino alternativo para vivir, que revele el corazón de Dios, exponga las contradicciones y acoja el hogar errante. Es su propósito que le impide ser roto por las noticias de última hora o distraído por decepciones y divisiones. Su proclamación es una invitación atemporal a la transformación, no una diatriba temporal. Jesús no es indiferente ni reactivo, sino que ¡responde!

El evangelio de hoy encuentra a Jesús comisionando un futuro no paralizado por el pasado. Él no está en negación acerca de las dificultades y fracasos del pasado. Él los ha reciclado en una respuesta fiel para el futuro. La respuesta de Jesús a un año difícil, es aumentar la escala del movimiento y dar la bienvenida a nuevas personas a la hermosa lucha. Aquí lo encontramos, comprometiendo a los dispuestos y movilizando a los fieles. Al comienzo del capítulo 9 Jesús nombra y da poder a doce discípulos, pero ahora al comienzo del capítulo 10 él nombra y envía setenta más – ¡eso es un aumento de 483.33%!

Pero no debemos sentarnos aquí asombrados por la resolución y claridad de Jesús. Lo que debemos hacer es permitir que Sus palabras se conviertan en nuestra carne. Lo que debemos hacer en este Concilio Anual y cada día por delante de nosotros es dedicarnos individual y organizativamente a los propósitos de Jesús. Este, mis amigos es el único futuro que tiene la iglesia. ¡El mensaje del evangelio debe convertirse en método para evangelizar! ¡El mensaje del evangelio debe convertirse en método para evangelizar!

2.

Jesús los designó y los envió. Note que aquí no son enviados para asistir a la adoración. ¡La adoración es una condición preexistente para vivir una vida de envio! Note también que Jesús usa dos frases separadas aquí, designado y enviado. Me pregunto si Jesús usa dos palabras, reconociendo que algunas personas se atascan en la cita y nunca llegan a ser enviados.La vida enviada es un desafío contracultural. El ser enviado es la cura para el egocentrismo. Curiosamente, también es la cura para la ansiedad eclesiástica. Los enviados son medicina para el mundo. El ex arzobispo de Canterbury, Justin Welby y su esposa Caroline estuvieron en la ciudad la semana pasada. Y, lo escuché decir a un grupo de personas, “cuando la iglesia está mirando hacia afuera, es muy probable que nos topemos con Jesús. Pero cuando la iglesia está mirando hacia adentro, es muy probable que nos topemos entre nosotros”. Todo esto es tan terriblemente crítico para que lo entendamos porque, parafraseando a Will Willimon, «… las personas que están siendo seducidas activamente y adoctrinadas diariamente en la ideología atea de que nuestras vidas son nuestras posesiones para hacer lo que nos plazca y que nuestras vidas son solo la suma de nuestras elecciones astutas»….

Pero, las buenas nuevas del evangelio voltean todo hacia arriba. El evangelio dice que Dios es el centro de mi vida. Y mi vida es un regalo y la tuya también. El evangelio dice que todo lo que tenemos es un don. Y el evangelio va aún más lejos. El evangelio dice que mi ceguera y pecaminosidad, cuando se ofrece a Dios redondeará mi humanidad. Y, una nueva y  sorprendente sensibilidad nacerá en mí para el mundo, más de lo que mis astutas elecciones pudiesen ofrecer. De lo que debemos recordarnos los unos a los otros, semana tras semana, es que la forma más aventurera de vivir es dejar que Jesús se apodere de tu vida. Eso es lo que nos hace la iglesia, no la dotación, el campanario o los vitrales.

Jesús envía a sus amigos a la ciudad, «las ciudades». La polis es como la llamó Aristóteles. Polis es de donde obtenemos la palabra política. La polis es donde está la gente. Es el lugar donde todos pueden tener una vida buena y virtuosa, donde la justicia está presente, donde podemos hacerlo mejor que simplemente sobrevivir, ¡donde podemos florecer! Es a la polis que Jesús envía a sus amigos a ser trabajadores de la cosecha, portadores de paz, ejemplos morales, líderes adaptativos, sanadores comunitarios y comedores gratuitos. Así que desde el principio se espera que los amigos de Jesús intervengan hábilmente en los asuntos de la ciudad. Entonces, ser un seguidor de Jesús es ser político pero no partidista. La verdad es que ser enviado es lo más político que hay. Pero seamos claros, dado el clima actual, la política de Jesús no es de izquierda ni de derecha. No son rojos ni azules. La política de Jesús es vertical y horizontal-vertical en amor a Dios, y horizontal en amor al prójimo. La política de Jesús no es ni progresista ni conservadora. La política de Jesús es cruciforme. Con Jesús, la cruz está muy por encima de la bandera. La política de Jesús está de adentro hacia afuera y de abajo hacia arriba. La política de Jesús crea un círculo tan amplio que no existen extraños. La política de Jesús es la redención.

En la política de Jesús, cada pecador tiene un futuro y cada santo tiene un pasado. La política de Jesús es compartir. En la política de Jesús, cada niño merece una educación de calidad y cada persona mayor, sin importar su patrimonio neto, merece atención médica de alta calidad. En la política de Jesús no se retienen alimentos y medicinas para hacer un punto político. En la política de Jesús no se culpa a los pobres por su pobreza. Y aquellos que trabajan para cultivar, recoger y poner comida en nuestras mesas no son chivos expiatorios, sino que son tratados con dignidad y pagan los salarios que querríamos para nuestros propios hijos. En la política de Jesús, los pronombres son nosotros y nuestros. En la política de Jesús, los pronombres son nosotros y nuestro. Esa es la ciudad que Jesús imagina y luego envía a personas como nosotros a co-crear.

3.

Revisa los nueve versículos de esta mañana y verás que hay mucho de cómo de Jesús. ¿Cómo iremos? En parejas. ¿Cómo nos presentaremos? Como corderos entre lobos. ¿Cómo empacaremos para el viaje? ¡Empaca ligero!  No es hasta la última oración de su soliloquio que Jesús nos da el por qué que impulsa todos los cómos. ¡Diles, dice Jesús, que el reino de Dios se ha acercado!  Victor Frankel, sobreviviente del holocausto y autor del libro El hombre en busca de sentido, dijo: “aquellos que tienen un por qué para vivir, pueden soportar casi cualquier cómo”.  “Los que tienen un por qué vivir, pueden soportar casi cualquier forma.” La visión de Frankel nos ayuda a comprender lo que significa el éxito para las personas que son enviadas.

Cuando la iglesia se reúne, siempre hay grandes preguntas en la sala. Preguntas como: ¿Qué significa ser un seguidor de Jesús en este momento?  Preguntas como: ¿Qué ofrece el evangelio que el humanismo secular no ofrece? Y mi pregunta favorita, obispo, ¿exactamente por qué estamos luchando de todos modos?  Esas son preguntas difíciles pero justas. Y, cada pregunta, en mi opinión, ¿es anhelar entender cómo se ve el éxito para los seguidores de Jesús?

Jesús nunca promete nociones convencionales de éxito. No promete riqueza, promociones o prominencia.  Lo que promete es una vida con sentido. Lo que promete es que si tienes un corazón de cosecha, hay mucho trabajo bueno por hacer. Lo que promete es colocarte en la idea de familia más grande que puedas imaginar. Lo que promete es que podemos confiar en él mientras nos unimos a él en su aventura.   Lo que ofrece es un viaje hacia una nueva profundidad de integridad.

¡El éxito para nosotros, en cada temporada y en todas las situaciones, es mantenernos conectados con el por qué de Jesús!  ¡Al propósito de Jesús!  Así que la definición de éxito para los enviados por Jesús se mide en la confianza. Confianza en sus caminos y en sus palabras.

Jesús envía a estos setenta santos a vivir vidas alegremente en desacuerdo con el interés propio. La buena noticia de vivir una vida enviada es en realidad aprender a depender de Dios: para la dirección, para la protección, para la corrección, para la provisión, para la curación, para el perdón, para la capacidad de perdonar. El gran clímax de esta confianza inusual es que podamos decirle a cualquier persona en cualquier lugar, con cara seria, cinco palabras extraordinarias: ¡Dios es digno de confianza! ¡Dios es digno de confianza! Aquí hay una pregunta, ¿confías en él ahora más que ayer pero no tanto como mañana?

Si esa definición de éxito no es suficiente para ti, llamemos a nuestro amigo Henry David Thoreau, quien dijo: “Si uno avanza con confianza en la dirección de sus sueños y vive la vida que imagina, ¡encontrará un éxito poco común!

Pasarán un límite invisible. Nuevas leyes universales se establecerán alrededor y dentro de ellas. La soledad no será soledad y la debilidad no será debilidad”.

Ese amado es solo otra forma de decir lo que Jesús ya ha dicho: que el reino está aquí, ahora mismo, disponible para nosotros y a través de nosotros. Es un buen momento para ser la iglesia de Jesús. Para Dios no hay nada demasiado difícil.

No hay nada demasiado difícil para Dios. AMÉN

Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing

Appleton Episcopal Ministries

Chancellor’s Report

Commission on Stewardship

Episcopal Community Foundation

Global Mission Commission

Report on Task Forces

Vitality Report

Cathedral of St. Philip

Warden of The Chapter at St. Philips (2009-2011); Diocese Related: Finance Committee; Diocesan Foundation. I have 30 years of business and finance experience and am grateful to lend some of those skills to the church and diocese.

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church

I believe my training as a lawyer and my experience of how the Diocese operates within its canonical structure would be helpful to the Standing Committee in resolving issues that come before it. My diocesan experience includes service as Secretary of Council, on the Executive Board and Committee, and on the Finance and Budget Committees. I have been Rector of St. Patrick’s for 15 years and Dean of the NE Metro convocation for 9 years.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

Noah is a cradle Episcopalian with a long relationship to Camp Mikell. He first attended camp in high school, began attending guest camp in 2010, joined the work camp dean’s staff in 2018, and is a frequent contributor to work weekend projects to improve and beautify camp. He has served one previous term on the Camp Mikell Board, as well as on the search committee that led to the hiring of Mikell’s current Executive Director.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

My interest is to build a sustainable and financially secure environment for Camp Mikell. I am a former camper, counselor, summer staffer, summer staff coordinator, and summer and outdoor camp dean. Now that I am a parent, my children get the chance to attend and participate in leadership roles at camp.

My family has a combined 103 years of experience at camp.

• Attended General Conventions 80 and 81 (and Province IV meetings) as Alternate Lay Deputy from Diocese of Atlanta
• Served on Standing Committee for Ecumenical and lnterreligious Relations for General Convention 81
• Served on Diocesan Standing Committee
• Extensive parish (and parochial entity) leadership roles: (Current: altar guild co-chair, archives chair, bookstore advisory board, Friends of Cathedral Music Board)

Previous:

• Senior Warden, Chapter member, preschool board chair, Sunday school presenter
• Member of the Georgia Bar

Passionate about developing lay leadership; eager to represent at General Convention 82 in Phoenix!

Lay Deputy, General Convention 80 and 81

Task Force on the State of Membership in The Episcopal Church (TEC)

Founding Treasurer, GC Under 40 (young adult caucus)

Executive Director, ECF (May 2016-Present)

Cathedral: EM/Lector/lntercessor, leading spiritual formation workshops, Cathedral
Scholars committee (previous: Cathedral ChapterNestry, Community of Hope, EfM, Annual
Council delegate)

Candler/Emory – DMin, postdoctoral TA, Candler Alumni Board

Nashotah House – MTS and MDiv Equiv.

I have been a member of the Episcopal Church all my life. In the Diocese of Atlanta, I have been able to grow my participation in the life of the church, performing roles such as Chair of Diocesan Budget Committee; Standing Committee – member; Vestry, including Junior and Senior Warden roles; Chair of Rector Nominating Committee. I am also a Lay Eucharistic Minister and Reader. I hope to attend General Convention as a first-time attendee.

I LOVE General Convention!

General Convention Deputy General Conventions 80 and 81

General Convention Deputation Chair GC81

Episcopal Church Task Force for Individuals with Mental Illness (2023-2024)

Certified Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor for the Episcopal Church

Association of Episcopal Deacons Board of Directors 2025

Chair Commission on Stewardship 2014 – Present

Sewanee: University of the South Trustee 2018-2020

St. Francis, Macon – EM, EV, Lector, Intercessor, Communications Team Leader, Pastoral Care Team Leader, Parish Administration

Episcopal chaplain, Canterbury Court

Chair, Memorials and Courtesy Resolutions

Dean, Mid-Atlanta Convocation

Former Pastoral Theology professor (two Episcopal seminaries)

Served as Associate Priest for Pastoral Care at St. Luke‘s Episcopal Church, Atlanta (2017-2023)

Community of Hope and Good Samaritan

Served on Commissions: Anti-Domestic Sex Trafficking and Union of Black Episcopalians

Engaged in the legislative process of resolutions and budget that guide our Church toward a greater witness as the Body of Christ.

I have a deep commitment to supporting God’s mission in the church and world, in assisting the church to deepen the spirituality and care of God’s people, and in bringing the needs of the people to the church.

Experience: 19 years deacon, 14 years archdeacon, deputy to General Convention twice, served on Social Justice and US Policy legislative committee twice, advocacy at state and federal level, Past President Association for Episcopal Deacons, Commission on Ministry.

Secular experience in military as a senior officer, director of nursing at several hospitals, lay minister (LEV, LEM), deacon at several churches, archdeacon for 8 years. Also Board Member for La Amistad, Board of Trustees for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. Served on several other board including Association of Episcopal Deacons, Episcopal Preaching Foundation Faculty, Bexley Seabury faculty.

The 78th General Convention (2015) Salt Lake City, Clergy Deputy, Committee, 07- Social Justice and International Policy

The 77th General Convention (2012) Indianapolis, Lay Deputy

The 76th General Convention (2009) Anaheim, Calif., First Alternate Lay Deputy

Mayor’s Council of Clergy, Macon-Bibb County Commission

Deacon, Chaplain for Campus Ministry at Mercer University and Wesleyan College

Paralegal, Standing Trustee, US Federal Court, Middle District of Georgia

It is a gift to serve!

Reclaiming encompasses returning to the “fullness of our baptismal identity.” The Diocese made new disciples last year by baptizing, receiving, and confirming 1,147 people last year, a 1.2% increase. Eight rectors celebrated new ministries, two congregations moved from financially aided status to being self-sustaining, and the property of St. Gabriel’s Oakwood, which finished its ministry, will serve as the future site of the Archives of the Episcopal Church.

Responding means moving from “intellectual assent of ideals to faithful action.” The diocese is seeing this in growth such as The Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s and The Absalom Jones Center, strategic partnerships, community action, and the For People podcast. One key challenge requires a faithful response: the vulnerability of clergy-insecure congregations that go without the sacrament. The Bishop appealed to the “exceedingly generous diocese” for a voluntary sharing of clergy and resources.

Rejoicing is defying despair with “the laughter of resurrection.” It proclaims to the world that God remains good. The Diocese is a source of joy, one of the healthiest in The Episcopal Church. I rejoice because of the men and women in this diocese who at Jesus’ invitation, regularly visit Arrendale Prison on our behalf. I rejoice to know that Camp Mikell has received a seven-figure pledge toward its capital campaign, the largest pledge in its history. I rejoice at the new leadership at what we call our daughter ministries: Emmaus House, Holy Comforter… And I rejoice in the hospitality and fellowship evident at this year’s Clergy Conference, where we welcomed all the Diocese of Georgia’s clergy. 

Reclaiming centers us. Responding sends us. Rejoicing sustains us. The Bishop concluded by expressing immense pride in the Diocese and confidence that “our God who can do infinitely, abundantly, exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine.”

Since 2017, Elizabeth has selflessly volunteered every summer for Freedom School and Free To Read as the morning bus volunteer at the same elementary  school she herself attended as a child. Beginning at 7:45 each morning, Miss Elizabeth has faithfully greeted every child and parent and chaperoned all of Lewis students waiting for bus or van pick up during our six-week summer program, missing only one single day in all those years. She even helped out during the pandemic summer. She has volunteered as a Read Aloud guest and chaperoned on field trips.

Elizabeth has twice attended the annual staff and volunteer pilgrimage to Montgomery which takes place prior to each summer’s arrival of students. She was a cradle member of St. James’ in Macon until 2012, and has been at Christ Church since then. She joined the Appleton Board as the Christ Church representative in 2024, she is an active financial donor to Appleton, and she has involved the Daughter of the King Chapters in supporting Appleton as well.

Rose Brent has been a confirmed Episcopalian for decades and a member of St. Nicholas for over 20 years. Now retired, in her professional life she was a speech pathologist for the Harris County School System for 30 years. She and her husband, John, have been married for fifty years and have one daughter (Rachel) and two grandchildren. She served St. Nicholas as Senior Warden for three consecutive years, providing much-needed and steady leadership through some of the church’s most challenging times.

During her tenure, she attended for two years the College for Congregational Development of the Atlanta Diocese (CCD), which inspired her to spearheading the creation of the well-received “Gathering Room”, a warm and relaxing space for meetings and fellowship – perfect for getting to know visitors with a goal of reaching out and growing the Parish’s membership. With a newly ordained priest now in place at St. Nicholas, Rose has provided the operational and spiritual leadership to see the congregation through its transition and into a new viable future. Rose represents the strength and commitment of lay leadership within a Parish and what such faithful commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ can result in.

Beth Cannon has served as a Youth Director in the Diocese of Atlanta for 30 years – first, for almost a decade, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, and for the past 21 years, at St. Bede’s. Beth is also a teacher of special needs children in City Schools of Decatur. Beth’s passion for and commitment to young people is evident in the number of J2A Pilgrimages that she has led, the number of spaghetti and pancake suppers she has planned, the number of church floors upon which she has slept, and the number of lives she has enriched and transformed by sharing the love and grace of God through her ministry.

Beth has a particular gift in her ministry for walking alongside youth through issues of family transitions, mental and physical health issues, gender and sexual identity discovery, and all of the other challenges of growing into the fullness of who God is dreaming for them to be. At St. Bede’s, we lovingly say that Beth has been doing Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Atlanta since Jesus was in the Youth Group. We celebrate and give thanks to God for all of Beth’s gifts and wish her blessings as she continues serving God through her ministry to youth and families.

He was nominated because even in sickness, he just has a patient, persistent, partnering servant’s heart. He’s the first to volunteer for anything, the first to be an enthusiastic participant in a group effort, he will walk alongside a parishioner in discernment until they can be securely handed off to their next guide. He always, always shows up, and he shows up in a way that encourages others to show up as their best selves. He’s quietly courageous in trying new things, and right on time when course correction is needed. His retirement is coming up, and he will be missed by the church and by the Oconee Convocation specifically.

Bill’s first career was in dentistry, and he went to seminary in 2000, and serve at St. Thomas and St. Gabriel’s before landing at Church of the Redeemer in Greensboro.

Now facing retirement and reflecting on his ministry, Bill says, “If I have anything to say about my 22 years of ministry in the Diocese of Atlanta, I would have to say I have loved it immensely. For the most part (99.53%) I have greeted my days with joy, thanksgiving, and a deep sense of being blessed.”

Ann Cramer came to Atlanta after graduating from Salem College and joined St. Luke’s Church where she and her husband, Jeff, are active members. Since her early days as a parishioner, Ann has been the face of welcome at St. Luke’s, inviting friends and colleagues to join her at church. Ann is a peculiar Episcopalian because she is not afraid of evangelism and may have brought more Episcopalians to the Church than anyone else in the country. Ann preaches hospitality and stewardship and has encouraged generations of St. Luke’s adults and children to live their faith with courage and joy.

Ann leads Social Justice and community service work at St. Luke’s and challenges us all to be better Christians. In addition to practicing her deep faith, she encourages the world to love like Jesus by her very active social and civic work. After a successful career at IBM, Ann has served on practically every Board in Atlanta and then some, including HOPE Atlanta; Atlanta Way 2.0; Chris 180; Crossroads Community Ministries; Alliance Theatre Company; The Georgia Foundation for Public Education and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; and the United Way of America’s National Corporate Leaders’ Council, to name a few. She is also a recipient of numerous awards, most notably the 2023 Mayor of Atlanta’s Phoenix Award; Georgia Trend’s Georgia Hall of Fame; the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s first Corporate Social Responsibility Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named in her honor and an honorary degree in Public Service from Clayton State University. Above all, she loves God, God’s people and allows her light to shine brightly in the world.

Judge Clint Deveaux has been an important figure at Emmaus House since its earliest days. Clint arrived in Atlanta in December 1969 to help Andrew Young with his first congressional campaign. One of his first stops was the Welfare Rights Office, where he met Emmaus House founder Austin Ford and Ethel Mae Matthews. Clint became good friends with the Rev. Ford, working with him at the ACLU. After seeking out the Rev. Ford for spiritual guidance he became a member of the Emmaus House Chapel and has served there faithfully ever since. He is currently the treasurer. As a young lawyer, Clint helped represent many in the neighborhood who lost their homes in the construction of Fulton County Stadium and the interstate. The residents won their cases and received good settlements. Clint served as an Atlanta municipal judge for 30 years, retiring as the Senior Judge. In addition to his ministries at Emmaus House and community service, Clint has also served the Diocese of Atlanta. He recently completed a three-year term as co-chair of the Commission on Ministry.

Beth Horton has been a stalwart parishioner at Grace Episcopal Church for many years with her family, paying close attention to the needs of the wider community with regards to poverty and housing. She has a deep passion for compassion and justice, and she has recently chaired the steering committee for a taskforce in Hall County that brought together faith leaders and community agencies to explore ways to offer support and care for those in greatest need. She has also been instrumental with Healing Warriors, a support camp for veterans and first responders, as well as working with Tip of the Spear, a land mind removal non-profit currently working in Ukraine. It has been clear that Beth’s deep heart, paired with her organizational skills and willingness to share her gifts, truly nurtures healing.

Beth has done an exceptional job in chairing the steering committee for a Hall County Alliance of Faith and Community Leaders, looking at ways that we can collaborate and seek relief for homelessness. She believes that is vital, thrilling work, especially when others come together to do it.

For nearly 20 years, Beth served as the parish Sacristan, quietly and reverently stewarding the liturgical life of the parish through her coordination of the Altar Guild. Her devotion to joyful worship was evident not only in the beauty and care of the sanctuary, but in the countless hours spent behind the scenes, preparing sacred spaces so others might encounter the holy. Yet, Beth’s faithful service did not end when she discerned it was time to pass on her Altar Guild coordination responsibilities. Instead of stepping back, she stepped forward—taking on coordination of the St. Michael Law Enforcement and First Responder Chapel, the parish’s largest outreach ministry. This unique ministry provides 24-hour hospitality, snacks, prayer, and a peaceful place of rest and renewal to those serving on the front lines of public safety.

Through her leadership and pastoral care, Beth and a team of volunteers have served hundreds of officers, deputies, firefighters, and EMTs from 22 different city, county, and state-wide agencies over the past six years. She understands the weight these individuals carry and ensures that Christ Church continues to serve compassionately and offer tangible, ongoing care to those who serve in harm’s way.

Beth’s witness is not loud or showy, but it is tireless, faithful, and deeply Christ-centered. She has grown spiritually by continually discerning new ways to serve, and in doing so, she has helped countless others to encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Richard Moore is a distinguished figure in church music, known for his deep commitment to liturgical excellence and community enrichment through the arts. He served as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lawrenceville for 20 years, where he led choirs, curated worship music, and nurtured a vibrant music ministry that touched many lives.

In addition to his work at St. Edward’s, Richard also founded the Handbell Choir program at Christ Church Episcopal, where he oversaw the handbell ensemble, bringing both technical precision and spiritual resonance to performances. His leadership in both roles reflected a passion for sacred music and a dedication to fostering musical talent within the church community. Richard has been a mentor for many who continue to serve different faith communities.

Richard’s legacy is marked by his ability to blend tradition with creativity, and his influence continues to echo in the lives of those he mentored and inspired.

Richard is a music minister and a witness of the power that music has in our souls.

Robert “Bill” Permar and Janet Permar’s 47-year journey at St. Andrew’s includes worship, leadership, family milestones, and dedication through growth, crises, and community celebrations.

They joined the choir, served on the vestry, Janet served as ECW president, they’ve seen the church through church splits and leadership transitions, a pandemic. In retirement, they only got more involved, serving in the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and Daughters of the King, creating a Memorial Garden and keeping up the building and grounds.

These things were born of the love they hold for St. Andrew’s in the Pines. So many changes have occurred, and now there are only four members of the church who remember the early history of St. Andrew’s in the Pines. Bill and Janet treasure the church so much that we have already purchased our plot in the Garden of Remembrance. Not that they want to use it any time soon; there is a comfort in knowing that we will be where we have spent such a large proportion of our lives.

Jack is currently Senior Warden and has served on the St. Mark’s Dalton Vestry for the last three years.  In that time period, he has become a Licensed Lay Ministry in several areas that included preaching and pastoral care.  As a result, he has offered pastoral care for parishioners at the time of death, conducted multiple services at a senior care facility, and preached on multiple Sunday’s.  His pastoral skills have made inroads throughout the St. Mark’s and Dalton community.  Jack was also one of the founders of the DEO Clinic.  The DEO Clinic is a free clinic for the uninsured and under-insured in Whitfield and Murray County.  Jack is an attorney and a physician’s assistant.  He continues to volunteer for the DEO Clinic.  Jack has also been instrumental in the recent growth of the St. Mark’s congregation through his involvement with The College of Congregational Development and Faithful Innovations.  He has made a huge impact at St. Mark’s and the Dalton community through his hard work and faithfulness.

Jack Frilingos is nominated for the Youth Bishop’s Cross for his courageous, wholehearted leadership in parish and diocesan youth ministries. Jack has served as Youth Delegate (Mid-Atlanta) at the 118th Annual Council and has become a key leader on the Diocesan Youth Commission, Happening Team, and as a counselor at Camp Mikell. At his parish (All Saints’ ATL), he serves as acolyte team captain, as a member of the youth vestry, sings in the youth choir, and helps with Sunday formation. His parish youth minister says it best: “He does everything!” His humor, steady presence, and quiet leadership have allowed him to make quite an impact.

Jack has been nominated by his convocation for demonstrating outstanding servant leadership in his parish, at the diocesan level (including retreat teams and the Youth Commission), and at Camp Mikell.

The Ven. Carole Maddux is an Archdeacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and serves as the President for the Association for Episcopal Deacons. In 2019 she co-founded and served as Executive Director for the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center (GIPPC), an ecumenical advocacy nonprofit that strives to unite Georgia’s people of faith to educate, empower, and advocate for the common good. Carole is an experienced non-profit executive with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare, religion, and advocacy arenas.

Over the last 19 years, The Venerable Carole Maddux has connected with countless people who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. An archdeacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and the founding executive director of the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center, Maddux has seen firsthand how our system, which is focused on punishment rather than reform or restoration, creates an endless cycle of incarceration.

Mary Catherine Johnson is the director of New Hope House, which provides Support For People on Georgia’s Death Row and Their Families. New Hope House has been offering support and hospitality for Georgia’s death row prisoners and their families since 1988. Located in a beautiful, safe area near the prison where death row is located, this ministry provides a quiet, peaceful, and private guesthouse for friends and family members of death row prisoners during visitation and executions, free of charge. The ministry also regularly provides transportation for families to and from the prison for visitation, support for the families of defendants facing the death penalty through attendance at the trials, and pastoral support for death row prisoners.

Mary Catherine came to New Hope House in 2016. Her primary responsibilities include visiting prisoners on Georgia’s death row, hosting death row families during visitation weekends and executions, and attending all capital trials in Georgia to support the defendants and their families, as well as the legal teams.

“I’ve been working to end the death penalty in one way or another for my entire adult life,” Mary Catherine says. “I always knew on some level that God was calling me to devote my life to this cause; this is where I am meant to be.”

The Bishop invited Peggy into work on the Diocesan Finance Committee early in his Episcopacy. She served as assistant treasurer, then was elected as Treasurer at  Council in  2019. Her strong financial experience and insight helped the Diocese of Atlanta navigate the financial challenges of Covid and emerge healthy. As a member of the senior financial team, she has  helped put in place best practices and policies that ensure strong stewardship of the funds entrusted to our diocese and to our parishes.

R25-2 Raising Awareness of Episcopal Public Policy Network  

Resolved, that this Diocese commend the work done by The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Public Policy Network to engage in and support essential Christian witness; and be it

Further resolved that this Diocese encourages all parishes to identify a leader to liaise with the Office of Government Relations and participate in the Episcopal Public Policy Network to heighten awareness in parishes of the public policy advocacy actions and resources of our church.

R25-3 Intergenerational Mentorship and Leadership

Whereas, the Episcopal Church has long affirmed the baptismal covenant to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being”; and

Whereas, Canon 20 of the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta states, “It shall be the duty of every Parish and Mission of this Diocese to provide for the Christian Formation and Education of persons of all ages”; and

Whereas, Canon 26 of the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta states, “It shall be the duty of the Diocese to foster the spiritual, emotional, and social development of youth, and to encourage their active participation in the mission and ministry of the Church”; and

Whereas, youth ministry is often siloed from the wider life of the congregation, limiting opportunities for intergenerational mentorship and for youth to exercise leadership in their parish alongside adults; and

Whereas, healthy intergenerational relationships that include mutual storytelling and learning cultivate belonging, strengthen discipleship, and form lifelong Christian leaders for both youth and adults; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the 119th Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta encourages each parish and worshiping community to host intentional intergenerational event(s) (outside of worship) that bring youth and adults together for the purpose of shared ministry, learning, or service, with affirmation of youth-led events and initiatives whenever possible; and be it further

Resolved, that this Council also encourages the ongoing development of mentoring relationships between adults and youth in every congregation, fostering discipleship, leadership, and belonging in ways appropriate to local context and resources.

R25-4 Sharing the Costs of Annual Council

Resolved, that the 119th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta, recognize the disproportionate costs incurred by parishes whose clergy and lay delegates must travel to Atlanta every year for Council. Be it further

Resolved, that the Diocese of Atlanta create a Task Force appointed by the Bishop to study this issue and bring a proposal for more equitable sharing of costs of participation in Annual Council to the 120th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta for implementation by the 121st Council of the Diocese of Atlanta. Be it further

Resolved, that the Task Force consist of at least nine persons including Diocesan staff, clergy and lay members from the Atlanta area, and clergy and lay members from both the northern and southern parts of the Diocese.

Resolved, that the Executive Board of the Diocese of Atlanta hear an interim report on the progress of this Task Force in the first half of 2026.

R25-6 Task Force on Funding Mission with the Marginalized

Resolved, That the Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta establish a Task Force on Funding Mission with the Marginalized to design and bring to the 2026 Annual Council a proposal for a permanent Mission Start-Up Fund dedicated to launching worshiping communities among the marginalized in mission areas as defined below; and be it further

Resolved, That for the purposes of this resolution a “mission area” shall mean a geographic area that: (a) has no current Episcopal worshiping presence in the vicinity, and (b) has above-average poverty relative to the State of Georgia, indicating that a worshiping community is unlikely to form and become self-supporting without external start-up funding; and be it further

Resolved, That the Fund is intended for start-up, not ongoing operations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force’s proposal shall include a clear non-supplanting rule: Fund grants must be additive, time-limited start-up awards for distinct new worshiping communities in mission areas and may not replace diocesan support for existing diocesan missions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall recommend whether to allow any time-limited transitional support and, if so, set clear parameters for duration, tapering, and guardrails against indefinite underwriting; and be it further

Resolved, That the Mission Start-Up Fund, once created, shall not be used to support existing diocesan missions such as Church of the Common Ground, Emmaus House, or Church of the Holy Comforter, but shall be focused on new mission starts throughout the Diocese, including and beyond Metro Atlanta; and be it further

Resolved, That in developing eligibility and evaluation criteria, the Task Force shall expressly encourage proposals from smaller parishes that are rich in enthusiasm and volunteers yet constrained financially, so that parish-led mission initiatives have a clear pathway to apply for start-up support; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force’s proposal shall include a funding mechanism designed to raise approximately $200,000 per year for the Mission Start-Up Fund, beginning in 2027; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall propose the Fund’s structure, governance and board composition, eligibility and evaluation criteria, grant terms and duration appropriate to start-up funding, administration, and reporting practices, including how the Fund may accept and steward donations and bequests; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall be composed of one representative from each of the eleven convocations, all to be approved by the Bishop, and shall include a minimum of two deacons.

R25-7 Reaffirm R24-1 Task Force on Environmental Issues

Resolved, that the 119th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta reaffirm the commitment made at the 118th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta to create a “Task Force on Environmental Issues,” consisting of five persons, appointed by the Bishop, to consider several recognitions, recommendations and remedial actions to align the Diocese of Atlanta with some of the creation care goals affirmed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

Resolved, that the Task Force report its findings and recommendations to the 120th Annual Council in 2026, with the goal of helping Diocese of Atlanta entities develop plans by 2027 for reducing their carbon footprint.

Resolved, that the Executive Board of the Diocese of Atlanta hear an interim report on the progress of this task force in the first half of 2026.