Dear Friends in Christ,
We have now entered a season of waiting for small things, events that the world doesn’t notice or easily dismisses. An adolescent girl is paid a visit by a mysterious presence. The same woman visits an aging cousin who is also expecting, which causes her child to move inside her. Grown men have dreams and visions that lead them to alter their plans. A child is born in a barn. In the present day we sit in front of tiny replicas of a small family, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds. These figures, sitting silent on end-tables or mantles, are displayed not doing anything but coming alongside and watching, beholding a kind of wonder in the midst of longing, hope, and awe. All these are small things on the surface, not scenes that would matter much. They would not rate the nightly news, a front page, or a newsfeed. But the world is saved in precisely these seemingly insignificant moments.
Here in New Hampshire, we occupy a tiny corner of God’s realm. We are a small diocese of mostly very modest congregations. Most years, I travel to St. Timothy’s Chapel in Lost Nation before Christmas, a modest star in our diocesan constellation most Granite State Episcopalians are not familiar with. There, warmth radiates from a potbelly stove in the narrow middle aisle. Kerosene lamps fixed to tin shields reflect just enough light from the seasoned pine walls. A sole harpist accompanies the Lessons and Carols. It’s not King’s College, Cambridge, but rather a tiny cathedral. It’s almost as though the chapel is on the layout of the Lionel train set my father would set up around my childhood’s Christmas tree. Miniature. Yet God chooses the humble and the miniature for us to usher the great things of God’s ministry.
The 219th Diocesan Convention
At our recent Diocesan Convention, we heard a homily from the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, who oversees New Episcopal Communities in Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s office. She reported to us how we — in small, granitic New Hampshire — are developing a reputation for spreading the Good News among those who have not experienced it. We have worked hard to support our established smaller communities with able lay and ordained leadership, and we are a sign in distressed communities of how God chooses to accompany those whom the powers of this world leave behind or neglect. Our Convention explored how our Canons and Constitution might make more room for smaller assemblies of prayer, learning, and service to be established. For now, we call them “missional communities” and they include the Church of the Woods in Canterbury, the Episcopal Mission in Franklin, Epiphany in Newport, Christ the Way at St. Andrew’s in Manchester, and the Episcopal Digital Mission.
The stable in Bethlehem shows us that God chooses to save the world in the humblest of moments. Even our most prosperous churches cherish a closeness among their numbers — they seem to know that in order to be big, they must also practice the presence of God in smallness. I am so grateful to the leaders of our larger congregations who know that in order to nourish congregational vitality, they must attend to the smaller venues where God’s love is made manifest including small groups and foyers, Bible studies, prayer groups, Zoom meetings, and time spent over tables where faith is shared and nothing less than the hospitality of the Holy Trinity is made real.
Another highlight of Diocesan Convention was the video report by our Reconciliation Commission on conversations urged by the 2020 Convention around the ongoing and lingering effects of racism in our society. As has been widely reported, new state legislation deters, if not outright forbids, explicit discussions in our public schools of entrenched racist attitudes, white supremacy, and other modes of intentional and unintentional oppression of God’s children. We can take heart that so many members of our churches have participated in discussions in such programs as Sacred Ground or Be the Bridge. Why is this a matter of Christian faith? Our Risen Lord appeared through locked doors bearing the open wounds inflicted by the world’s hatred. In doing so, and by breathing a spirit of peace and forgiveness upon his fearful disciples — and by extension you and me — he empowers us to own the trauma of the past in order to be healed. I believe God calls us to these difficult yet saving conversations. It’s how we can together know God’s grace for the life of this broken, sin-sick world.
A further example of the small things making a great difference occurred during one of our Convention deliberations: considering changing our Canons to consolidate positions to streamline how the church conducts its business between our Conventions. The deliberation was so thoughtful and respectful, the points pro and con were all so reasonable and caringly stated, even delegates from the same congregation kindly disagreed! We acknowledged that there are some ways to improve our channels of communication and to share our governance. In a small but powerful way, we modeled how people can work through difference and how our bonds in Christ are strengthened. Thanks be to God, and to the delegates of our Convention!
Also at Convention I reported on an another development of the past year. This past summer the Bishop of Vermont, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Shannon MacVean-Brown announced a plan for their diocese to address head-on a dire financial reality. Both Bishop Thomas Brown of Maine and I have pledged our support and eagerness to collaborate in mission and organization. Such diocesan partnerships are already emerging in other parts of the Episcopal Church. There is tremendous opportunity for us to share services with Vermont and Maine. Doing so would strengthen our faith formation and ministry education opportunities, our advocacy for justice, peace and creation care, our communications, our financial services, and facilitate our Safe Church training. The bishops of Vermont and Maine and I now meet every two weeks and are eager to expanding the conversation to include leaders across Northern New England in the coming year. Let me be clear, we are not talking mergers or acquisitions here, each diocese has unique gifts and personalities. It is already exhilarating to see where small reaches across our borders can lead to a furthering of our purpose to live and serve with the love that is in Jesus.
From Deep Roots New Life
We have made some wise and rewarding investments in the past five years. We have made funds available for new missions (mentioned previously), established a School for Ministry that is now in its second year and broadening to include support for lay preaching and students from our neighboring dioceses, enhanced the funding to support newly ordained as curates and missioners so that we are assured of spirit-filled and gifted and competent leaders for the future, and we have made coaching available for clergy and lay leaders as they seek to grow in their capacity to lead in a time of tremendous change. Now is the time to make funding for these and other initiatives more stable and robust for the future.
We have begun to prepare for a new capital campaign: From Deep Roots New Life. The first capital campaign in over 30 years, the funds generated by From Deep Roots New Life will not go to brick-and-mortar endeavors we usually associate with such campaigns. Instead we will enhance the human and spiritual capital that is vital to our flourishing as followers of Jesus Christ. Funds will support the raising up of new leaders, both lay and ordained. It will support new small churches that will change lives and bring Good News to communities thought neglected. It will support more established congregations as they seek to undertake new ventures and experiments in mission.
I heartily invite you to accept the forthcoming invitations to participate in local gatherings to discuss and participate in this exciting project. I deeply believe that we are being guided by the Holy Spirit into this work for the life of the world. And God will work in us, with all our gifts, however large or small. That’s what God does.
Restructuring the Diocesan Staff
This year the diocesan staff team has seen a lot of change. In the last few months, we have said goodbye to my Executive Assistant Lynn Eaton, Office and Communications Coordinator AshleyJane Boots, and Communications Director Dave Deziel. At this time, I give special thanks for the ministry of the Rev. Canon Gail Avery, Canon for Transition and Community Engagement, who retires from diocesan work at the end of December. I am so grateful for all these colleagues with whom I have ministered during my tenure as Bishop.
I am thankful for the following diocesan staff members who have accepted my invitation to minister with me in new or expanded roles. Tina Pickering will serve as Canon to the Ordinary and will work full-time on ministry transitions, accompanying clergy and congregations from saying goodbye to each other, through discernment, to launching new ministry together, including new Episcopal communities. Tina will also serve as “Chief of Staff” at the diocesan office, supporting the employment and development of the diocesan staff. Benge Ambrogi will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer while reducing his schedule from full time to 32 hours, as Canon Tina picks up the staff support role. Benge will continue to oversee finances, real estate, and mission resources, Trustee investments, and matters of governance and management. Gloria Gallant will continue as Director of Finance, administering our financial records, accounts, payroll and benefits, and offering her support and expertise to church leaders. Gloria plans to retire in 2022 and looks forward to onboarding a new staff accountant.
The Rev. Louise Howlett will expand her role to serve as Dean of Clergy, working in a halftime position to coordinate clergy formation and coaching, offer spiritual and pastoral support to clergy, lead “Fresh Start,” and facilitate communication between clergy, the Bishop and diocesan staff. The Rev. Kelly Sundberg Seaman will expand her role to serve as Dean of Formation, working full time to equip and encourage all the baptized with discernment and formation resources in partnership with the Commission on Ministry. She will continue to serve as Dean of the School for Ministry, and will lead the Safe Church program for the diocese.
The Rev. Alanna Van Antwerpen will serve as Officer for Community Engagement, coordinating the holy work of our commissions on reconciliation, earth care and educational equity. One new feature to this work will be to explore collaborations with our neighboring dioceses. Alanna will also continue to serve as Digital Missioner, offering digital worship, faith formation, and online community for the spiritually curious. The Rev. Kate Harmon Siberine will continue to serve as Missioner to Franklin as she plants a church community in the vibrant “Three Rivers” city.
Katie Clark will join diocesan staff as Director of Communications. Katie currently serves as Director of Communications in the diocese of Maine and will now serve both states. She will evaluate the communications resources of the diocese and direct our communications strategies (website, social media, communications management, media relations), and support the communications needs of our churches. Lisa Laughy has joined the staff as interim archivist. Lisa brings an extensive background in archives and digital content and will be making recommendations for our collection.
Shelli Gay will continue the work she began in April as the Bishop’s Executive Assistant. Shelli will also focus on coordinating the diocesan capital campaign and next year’s convention with Bishop Curry. Kathy Traynor, who joined our staff in August, will continue to serve as our Communications and Program Administrator, coordinating building and office systems, managing our database, and assisting with events and communications.
I began by speaking of the importance of paying attention to small things and find myself concluding with a heart bursting in awe for the powerful ways God multiplies and amplifies blessings among us. I pray that you have a like experience in this season of light and peace.
Gratefully Yours in Christ,
+Rob