Loading...The 183rd Convention of the Diocese of Kentucky next month will be marked by an historic first—it will be the first annual gathering convened by its eighth bishop, the Rt. Rev. Terry Allen White.
The occasion also will be the first time Episcopalians from across the diocese have gathered since the Bishop's Leadership Conference last Fall at All Saints. That meeting brought together about 100 clergy and lay leaders over a weekend to begin discerning the "Gospel Mission" of the diocese and its churches.
The convention will meet Feb. 25-26, 2011, at St. Matthew's Church, 330 N. Hubbards Lane, Louisville, where all events, including the banquet, will be held.
To mark this occasion, the convention theme "Coming Together" was chosen by the steering committee as "a sign of hope and possibility, focusing ALL of us on coming together with our new bishop to plan and prepare for mission in this diocese and beyond," the Rev. Lucinda Laird, St. Matthew's rector, explained in her invitation to the people of the diocese. Because convention takes place before Lent, the parish promises to offer a bit of New Orleans.
The bishop is looking forward to the gathering as, in his words, "a time to continue to build relationships" and for introductions. "Even though I've been very faithful in getting around to places, I won't have visited every place by the time convention comes," White said, but added, "At the same time, the convention is not about the bishop. It is about our common work together so I want to strike a healthy balance between opportunities to get to know people and engage in further conversations with folks and to make sure that we are staying centered on our mission."
As last year, the convention will begin Friday afternoon, Feb. 25, with registration, workshops, committee meetings and orientation for new deputies. (Topics of the workshops will be posted online on the convention website when available.) A youth event is planned from 4 p.m. to midnight. For the rest of the convention, the first day will conclude with Holy Eucharist, a reception and the banquet.
Saturday, Feb. 26, will be devoted to diocesan business, beginning with an opportunity for the deputies and clergy to meet nominees for diocesan offices from 8-9 a.m. (EST). Business sessions will begin after the 9 a.m. morning prayer and will conclude that afternoon. During the lunch break, deputies and visitors may participate in an annual convention event: packing Easter boxes for the Seamen Institute's "Ministry on the River."
More conference information, including details about registration, hotels and directions, may be found online at www.episcopalky.org/Convention%202011/convention-2011.html
