Article and Drawing by Jolene Miller
On Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11, the Diocese of Ohio held its 207th annual convention in Wooster, with our new Bishop, Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly presiding. Convention is a time when clergy and delegates from the parishes gather to do the work of the diocese. (Not to be confused with Winter Convocation, when we gather for fun, fellowship, and learning. More about that at later date.) Representing Trinity-Toledo were Mary Beroske, Hugh Grefe, Jolene Miller, and the Rev. Dr. Stephen Applegate. Joining us was George Benson, who was a guest of convention to learn more about the Episcopal Church.
On Friday evening, convention began with Eucharist at the First Presbyterian Church of Wooster, a church large enough to hold us all. The diocesan banquet, a time to reconnect with friends and make new ones. At the banquet, we got a taste of the Bishop’s staff’s energy: making time for fun. Our team (Table One) almost won Episcopal trivia!
We got to work the next morning, sharing a table with the delegation from St. Matthew’s-Toledo. Convention elected clergy and lay members to the various committees and alternate deputies to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention, which is scheduled for June 2024 in Louisville, KY. (Church nerds, you can find more information here: https://generalconvention.org)
We heard reports about various activities of the diocese, such as Bellwether Farm and Retreat Center’s recent summer camps and the high regard Bellwether is receiving from the Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers organization. During the Episcopal Address, Bishop Anne led us through the results of the summer’s listening session, inviting us into table discussions about what the results might mean. Highlights of the reports for me were that congregational development and innovation were highly ranked by participants of the listening sessions. The results spoke to strengthening our communities. From a firmer foundation, we can try new things…try new things and, as Bishop Anne says, “fail gloriously.” I appreciated that she expects the things we try may not have the results we want, and that’s okay.
There were no proposed changes to the diocesan constitution and canons (our governing documents), and three resolutions: the annual resolution on minimum clergy compensation, a resolution affirming the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral (Stephen can tell you all about that), and a resolution affirming a set of principles called Migration with Dignity, which was proposed by leaders of St. Paul’s-Maumee. All three resolutions passed. We also reviewed and voted to accept the proposed diocesan budget.
Here’s what you need to know about diocesan convention. Can it be boring at times? You bet. Does it play an important role in the work that we do as individual parishes and together as a diocese. Absolutely! The work we do is important enough that I willingly serve as a delegate. Ultimately, it reminds me that Trinity is not alone in our mission.
PS – Not to be outdone by Friday night’s trivia, the business meeting was enlivened by a game of bingo. When you heard a word used during the meeting, you marked it off your card. We laughed every time someone said “Bingo!” in the middle of someone’s report. I was very thankful when Rev. Anna Sutterisch, Canon for Formation, was reporting on Bellwether and said the word “chicken”! I got double-bingo for chicken.