The Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Louisiana
May 20, 2014  
Announcements & Request From Around the Diocese (and beyond)
Introducing a Newsletter for Clergy and Lay Leaders 

From Karen Mackey, Diocesan Communications Coordinator

 

Welcome to the kickoff of a newsletter specifically for clergy and lay leaders in the Diocese of Louisiana. In this newsletter you will read the announcements and other interesting news sent to us from around the diocese (and beyond). We will also pass along resources and tools to help you in your ministry. The newsletter will be published twice monthly- around the 1st (just announcements) and 15th (announcements and resources).

 

Help us make this your newsletter. What news would you like to read more of? What resources topics interest you the most? What should we call this newsletter? Have any other suggestions?  Email Karen Mackey at kmackey@edola.org with your feedback. Submissions for the Leadership News due by the 13th and 28th of each month.
Change of Address for all Correspondence
:
 
Diocese of Louisiana
1623 Seventh St
New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: (504) 895-6634
Fax: (504) 895-6637
Bishop's Annual Mission Appeal (BAMA) 
 
The Bishop's Annual Mission Appeal (BAMA) kickoff will be Pentecost Sunday, June 8. Over the next few weeks you will receive bulletin inserts and information to share with your congregations. This year all gifts received to the BAMA fund will be returned to the diocese in the form of missional grants distributed in year 2015.
 
Meet the New Diocesan Staff Members

    

Cassandra Reiger

Cassandra Reiger has joined the Diocesan staff as Accounting Assistant.  She is married to Bryon and has two children, Paul, age 8, and Emma, age 2. They recently moved back to New Orleans after Bryon completed his time in the military. Cassandra is in school earning her bachelors degree in Accounting and minor in Business Administration. She is planning to have her CPA license by next summer.

Cassandra's job duties include accounts payable and accounts receivable. 

Cassandra's email is creiger@edola.org


Joy Shackelford
 
Also new on staff is Joy Shackelford, Administrative Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary. Joy lives in Slidell and has one daughter, Kali, age 10. She has extensive administrative assistant experience, over 25 years in several organizations.
 
Her job duties include clergy and lay licensing, correspondence for the Canon, Convention Journal, and Convention registration.
 
Joy's email is jshackelford@edola.org
Cultivating Spiritual Wellness: An Offering for Priests
from The Rev. DeeDee Estes 
 
May 29, 2:00-4:00 at Advent House, 1637 7th St. New Orleans 70115

Priests of the diocese are invited to meet at Advent House on Thursday, May 29 from 2:00 to 4:00 to discuss and cultivate their spiritual wellness.  Selected material from Strength for the Journey, a spiritual resource from CREDO Institute will provide a starting place for discussion. Participants' feedback will be used to create further opportunities for gathering and growing. Contact DeeDee Estes (504 231-5670) for additional information. 

Invitation to the Pentecost Block Party; 
Help Needed to Advertise
from The Rev'd Jim Morrison, Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans

 
Assistance needed in advertising
Your assistance is needed in advertising the Pentecost Block Party (Download the Pentecost Block Party poster here) to be held on Saturday, June 7 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, New Orleans, sponsored by the Diocese of Louisiana Racial Reconciliation Commission. Please include an announcement in your Sunday bulletin. Feel free to email the flyer and reprint it as desired. Pre-printed color posters are available at Trinity, New Orleans and St. James, Baton Rouge for pickup.

Please join us
The Pentecost Block Party will be a great afternoon of food, music, fun and fellowship. Please join us. We hope to have participants from congregations throughout the Diocese to make this a fun day with a geographically, inter-generational and racially diverse group getting to know each other in a very special way.
 
The musical lineup includes: Charmaine Neville & Friends, Dr. Jazz & The New Orleans Sounds, St. Luke's Choir & Guests, Jorge Riveres, and Abundant Praise. 

Complimentary food and drinks includes: 
  • Red beans & rice provided by All Souls Episcopal Church, New Orleans
  • Hot dogs provided by St. Luke's Episcopal Church, New Orleans
  • Hamburgers provided by Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans
  • Jambalaya provided by St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Metairie
  • Pasta salad provided by All Saints' Episcopal Church, River Ridge
  • Strawberry shortcake provided by All Saints Episcopal Church, Ponchatoula
  • Cookies provided by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, New Orleans
  • Brownies provided by Chapel of the Holy Spirit, New Orleans
  • Iced tea and lemonade (provided by Church of the Annunciation, New Orleans)
  • Soft drinks (provided by St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, and Church of the Nativity, Rosedale)

....and the menu is growing! If your parish would like to contribute, email The Rev'd Jim Morrison, jmorrison@trinity nola.org.

 

Seniors Heading to LSU?  
from the Rev'd Drew Rollins, St. Alban's Chapel, Baton Rouge
 
It's that time of year again! We at St. Alban's Chapel would like your assistance in making contact with any graduating seniors who will be heading to LSU in the fall. If you would be so kind as to send me names and contact information, someone from St. Alban's Chapel will contact them over the summer to introduce them to our ministries and programs. In the past, we've found that these first and early contacts can make the difference between a student giving St. Alban's a try or not. Currently, I have four very friendly student interns who are good at welcoming newcomers. So any information that you can give us will help (phone, cell phone, address, Facebook)! Thank you for your support!
 

Phone: (225) 343-2070 

E-mail: office@stalban.org

Volunteers Needed for 2nd Annual Tee it Up with the Bishop  
from Deacon Mark Hudson
 
Volunteers are needed to help organize the 2nd Annual Tee it Up With the Bishop Golf Tournament  taking place later this fall. We need volunteers to start working now to assist in the following areas: Promotion, Fundraising / Sponsorship, Registration, Tournament Operation, Post-Game Festivities, and Donations for prizes, food etc. 

All profits from the tournament are returned to ministry work in the Diocese of Louisiana. 

Email Mark Hudson (Daniel.Mark.Hudson@morganstanley.com) or Karen Mackey (kmackey@edola.org) for more information.

VBS Listings in EDoLA Weekly Events   
from Karen Mackey, Diocesan Communication Coordinator
 
Email news@edola.org to let us know if you are having a Vacation Bible School or other summer program. We will run a listing at the end of May or beginning of June in the weekly EDoLA Events Newsletter. Please provide all of the details and a contact person for more information.
 
St. Luke's Seeks a Practice Organ
from The Rev'd Edward Thompson, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, New Orleans
 
The St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choir in New Orleans is seeking a practice organ, keyboard, or an upright piano that is easily moveable in order to prepare for Sunday worship outside of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and on other occasions when the Sanctuary organ is in use.

An example of the kind of keyboard the choir seeks to purchase is the Yamaha DGX-500.  The St. Luke's Episcopal Choir is reaching out to the Cathedral and all of parishes of the Diocese to see if a congregation may be looking to sell or donate a similar keyboard or an easily moveable upright piano. 

Please contact the Church Administrator, Jennifer Matthew at (504) 821-0529 or administrator@stlukesnola.org 
Need a Funeral Pall?  
from Trinity Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge

We are cleaning out storerooms and found a vintage funeral pall for which we have no use. It is in good condition with only some slight yellowing in one spot (4 sq. inches ) and a tiny stain near the center cross. Both spots will probably be removed with dry cleaning. The cross is made of a metallic fabric applique. There are no tears or other flaws. The pall measures 11-1/2 feet long and 7 feet wide. It is oblong-shaped and cream-colored and has a trim that coordinates with the cross.  
 

Trinity Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge

Phone: (225) 387-0396

Round Three Episcopal Service Corps Applications Due June 2
from Duane Nettles, Living With Purpose Program Director

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014-2015 Living With Purpose Program year. The purpose of this program, hosted by Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, is to equip young adults to be effective leaders in our complex world, through hands-on service, community building, and spiritual formation. The Living With Purpose Fellowship is one program containing two houses, one in Baton Rouge and one in New Orleans. Orientation is combined, as are our monthly workshop days, where we get into deeper spiritual formation and social change trainings and seminars. In the course of the year, participants will also engage in discussions, seminars, and trainings designed to add greater depth of understanding of their community, their work, and their faith. The spiritual formation curriculum exposes Corps members to different spiritual practices, and educates through reading books together, journaling, and discussion. At each site placement, participants will develop their leadership potential and gain concepts, skills, and orientations essential for effective community engagement.

LWP welcomes passionate, adventurous applicants between the ages of 21-29. We are looking for those willing to work for social justice by serving those in need, to live in intentional community according to principles of cooperation and simplicity, and to engage in group discussions and personal discernment. We encourage spiritual seekers of all kinds to apply.

To learn more about the Living With Purpose Program or the Episcopal Service Corps, go to:

Application website: https://esc.hiretouch.com/

Fall Internships in Disaster Recovery on Staten Island and at Episcopal Relief & Development 
Episcopal Relief and Development US Disaster Program."Fall Internships in Disaster Recovery on Staten Island and at Episcopal Relief & Development." Lamplight Newsletter [New York] May 2014, 26th ed 

 

This fall, young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 can take leadership positions in Hurricane Sandy rebuilding efforts or work in Episcopal Relief & Development's Manhattan office as part of the New York Disaster Recovery Program.

 

A joint program of the Episcopal Service Corps, the Episcopal Diocese of New York and Episcopal Relief & Development, the program will sponsor seven, one-year internships beginning in September of 2014.

 

Five interns will work on Staten Island as Rebuild Team Leaders with the Episcopal Recovery Team of Staten Island. The interns will oversee rehabilitation projects, work with outside volunteer groups and build relationships with homeowners, partner congregations and other organizations. The work includes construction tasks such as installing insulation, sheetrock and flooring, taping and mudding, painting, installing molding and other finish work.

 

The Social Media and Website Intern and the Eastern Asset Map and US Disaster Intern will work strategically at Episcopal Relief & Development's offices in Manhattan, providing broad-based program and marketing and communications support.

 

All the interns will be housed at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Staten Island. New York Disaster Recovery interns are actively connected to many of the nine other Episcopal Parishes on Staten Island, providing ample opportunity for spiritual discernment and growth.

 

An online application can be found on the Episcopal Service Corps website. The deadline to apply is June 2, 2014.


Seeking a Representative from the Diocese of Louisiana to serve with the Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries
 
The Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries  of the Episcopal Church is seeking a ministry representative in the Diocese of Louisiana. The Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries of the Episcopal Church exists to work collaboratively among member diocese to build opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS, their families, friends, caregivers, and people involved in AIDS ministries to come together for spiritual and emotional renewal, expressed within the traditions of the Episcopal Church. This manifests itself through the annual HIV/AIDS Retreat, held at the Kanuga Conference Center annually since 1992. The Network also builds bridges so that people involved in AIDS ministries can share information and support across diocesan lines, foster dialogue and share information that impacts the Church on the issues of HIV/AIDS. More information on the ministry can be found here:

Here are the sobering statistics on HIV/AIDS in Louisiana. The Baton Rouge MSA ranked 2nd in estimated AIDS case rates (30.6 per 100,000) and the New Orleans MSA ranked 9th in estimated AIDS case rates (23.0 per 100,000) in 2009 among the large metropolitan areas in the nation. The Baton Rouge MSA ranked 2nd and the New Orleans MSA ranked 6th in HIV case rates in 2009. Currently over 18,000 are living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana. 33% of new HIV cases and 31% of new AIDS cases are among women.  HIV continues to disproportionately affect African Americans in Louisiana. In 2009, 76% of newly diagnosed HIV cases and 76% of newly diagnosed AIDS cases were among African Americans. (http://www.lphi.org/home2/section/generic-160/). 

Email Agatha Townsend, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Thompson, at atownsend@edola.org if you interested in being appointed as the representative of the Diocese of Louisiana to the Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries of the Episcopal Church. 

A retreat sponsored by the Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries of the Episcopal Church is being held June 6-8, 2014 at the Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC. 

Resources 
Baker's Dozen Tips & Tools for Communication
from Karen Mackey, Diocesan Communications Coordinator

I recently attended the Episcopal Communicators Conference in Chicago. One of the most informative workshops I attended was the "Bakers Dozen: Cool Tips & Gadgets". Take a look at this collection of ideas for your communications toolbox guaranteed to make your job easier and fun: 

Parishes and Diocese can use Fusion Tables to Map Important Locations
Episcopal Relief and Development US Disaster Program."Parishes and Diocese can use Fusion table to map important locations." Lamplight Newsletter [New York] March/April 2014, 25th ed 

During a disaster it can be really helpful for church leaders to have a map that pinpoints where all the members live, to help determine quickly whose homes might be in impacted areas. For diocesan leaders, the ability to view the locations of congregations, diocesan properties and ministries can also be important before, during and after a disaster.

 

Google's new app, Fusion Tables, makes generating such maps easy and almost instantaneous.  All you need is an Excel spreadsheet of names, addresses and other information, which Fusion Tables converts into a Google Map, with pins for each location listed.

 

Download a step-by-step guide to creating your own Google Map from a Fusion Table.

 

Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunities / Retreats / Conferences
Episcopal Church Foundation Webinars

As part of ECF's on-going efforts to assist congregations in developing their leadership and financial resources, they are offering a wide range of web conferences for clergy and lay parish leaders this spring . There is no cost to participate in ECF's web conferences and all lay and clergy leaders are welcome to participate.

  • Invite*Welcome*Connect:  Building a Vital Ministry (May 27, 2014, 7:00-8:00 PM EDT) 
    Inviting, welcoming, and connecting persons in our congregations are vital steps for building healthy, vibrant and growing churches. In this web conference, Mary Parmer offers an overview of best practices, tools, and resources for congregations to develop a strategic and intentional newcomers ministry. The Newcomer Ministry Project has brought new energy to Episcopal congregations around inviting, welcoming, and connecting with newcomers in the Diocese of Texas especially.  
    Click here to learn more and register
  • Overcoming the Conflict Myth: Engaging Science, Technology & Faith at the Grassroots 
    (June 3, 2014, 7:00-8:00 PM EDT) 
    It is commonly assumed that science and religion are (and always have been) locked in inexorable conflict, but is that what Episcopalians believe? This web conference will focus on practical ways Episcopalians can faithfully explore issues related to science, technology, and faith in light of the Episcopal Church's approach to such issues. Topics will include readily available (often free!) resources to help facilitate parish-based conversations and mechanisms for engagement within church structures. Presented by ECF Fellow Joseph Wolyniak, Vice Chair of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology & Faith and visiting scholar in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Denver.  
    Click here to learn more and register.
  • Planning & Recruiting for Stewardship (June 4, 2014, 7:00-8:00 PM EDT) 
    Summer is the perfect time to recruit volunteers. Fewer committee meetings mean more time for the one-on-one visits so important to matching the right person to the job. If your recruiting plan entails phoning an active volunteer to fill a new vacancy, you're missing the boat. Not only is this a prescription for burn-out, it's bad theology. Frederick Beuchner defines vocation, or calling, as "that place where the world's great need and your deep hunger meet." This web conference will help you identify the passions and talent for a successful stewardship team. Then we'll show you how to call people in a way that encourages a joyful "yes!" Presented by Erin Weber Johnson, ECF Consultant  
    Click here to learn more and register.

 

Province IV ECW Annual Conference 
 
Date: June 2 -4, 2014
Location: Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC

 

"Stir up the Spirit: Celebremos"  Is God calling you-to rejuvenate yourself spiritually and mentally, rekindle past friendships and make new ones, and appreciate God's creation in the beautiful hills of North Carolina? 

 

23rd Annual HIV/AIDS Retreat
 
Date: June 6-8, 2014
Location: Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC
Registration information: Download here

 

The Episcopal Church offers a spiritual, inclusive, open-hearted retreat experience for persons infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Bishop Michael Curry returns to remind us that in following Christ we might stand when it is easier to run, speak against the comfort of cowed silence, and love when hate seems the more inviting path. 

 

2014 Annual Conference of the National Episcopal Historians and Archivists 

Date: June 17- June 20, 2014
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Website for registration information: http://www.episcopalhistorians.org/

 

"The Quiet Strength of the Episcopal Church: Our Forgotten Women" is the theme of the 2014 Annual Conference of the National Episcopal Historians and Archivists (NEHA) to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from June 17-20, 2014. The conference is held in association with the Episcopal Women's History Project (EWHP).

 

Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church Conference
 
Date: June 26 - June 28, 2014  
Location: Buffalo, NY 
Website for registration information: http://www.episcopalrecovery.org/

 

The focus of the 2014 conference will be the role of the Church in helping those with addictions and those in recovery.  The dynamics of addiction in church communities will be explored through systems theory, focusing on the role of the family in recovery.

 

The Union of Black Episcopalians 46th Annual Meeting and Conference

 

Date: June 29 - July 3, 2014
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Website for registration information:  www.ube.org

 

"Renewing our Committment to the Work and Ministry of Social Justice" is the theme of the 46th Annual Meeting of the Union of Black Episcopalians. The conference features: Youth Explosion, Young Adult Encounter, Multi-Generational Reunion, Partners in Mission.

 

Young Adult Conference: Under the theme "Reconnecting Our Relationship with God" young adults are set to gather June 30 - July 1, in conjunction with UBE's 46th Annual Meeting and Conference, in Atlantic City, NJ. Tell a friend and come be part of what is certain to be a memorable time of enjoyment, worship and workshops, where you will make new friends and learn how to be present with God our Creator. 

 

Leadership Newsletter is published electronically bimonthly (1st and 15th of the month) by the Diocese of Louisiana. For more information contact Karen Mackey at 504-895-6634 or kmackey@edola.org. 
 

To submit news or events for the EDoLA:  news@edola.org.  
Submissions for the Leadership News due by the 12th and 25th of each month.
Submissions for the monthly EDoLA News due by the 25th of each month.
Submissions for the weekly EDoLA Events due by Thursday morning of each week.