The 139th Convention of the Diocese of East Carolina
Friday, June 3, 2022
Workshops at Convention
Friday afternoon at 1 and 2 p.m., attendees were offered two workshops to participate in. Both workshops sparked questions and conversations, as participants explored their readiness for disasters and their personal and parish experience with Being the Beloved Community. Below you will find a brief synopsis of and materials from each workshop. We thank these ministries for their work and for conducting these workshops!
Disaster, Relief, Recovery and Preparedness Commission (DRRPC): Are You Ready?
Hurricane Season officially began on June 1. The Disaster Relief, Recovery and Preparedness Commission (DRRPC) invited us to join them to learn how congregations can better address the needs of their parishioners and community before and after a hurricane or other disaster hits. Presenters included Jim Hayes, Jimi Paderick, LeRae Umfleet, and Tom Warren. You may visit the DRRPC's webpage for resources and information here. The DRRPC is also seeking our feedback to assess what the needs of our congregations in the diocese are; please take the survey here.
Click Here For the Presentation Slides for Are You Ready?
Racial Healing Commission: Stories that Work
To begin, we heard from three parishes about how they have been working towards racial healing. Rick Stovall, Sr., Senior Warden at St. Andrew’s, Goldsboro shared the collaborations between the churches in Goldsboro toward Becoming Beloved Community. Mary Ellen Wahab from St. James, Belhaven spoke about Spanish ministry and the churches around Belhaven working across racial lines. Rev. Daniel Cenci from Christ Church, Elizabeth City spoke about racial healing work in Elizabeth City, NC especially after the shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. The workshop also featured small table groups talking about what's worked for them and how to move forward. For resources and more information, please visit the Racial Healing Commission's page.
Click Here for the Resources Shared by the Racial Healing Commission
Convention Eucharist
Our Opening Eucharist service was hosted by St. James Parish, Wilmington; we thank St. James and all of the people who made this time of worship possible. One attendee said of the procession, "I felt chills," noting how powerful it was to see all the clergy of our diocese walk in together followed by our Bishop. We are all part of a larger church, one body, which thematically moved us into the readings and sermon, provided below in transcript form in both English and Spanish. Neither thunder, rain, nor a leak halted this beautiful time of worship, in which we renewed our baptismal vows, our clergy renewed their ordination vows, and Bishop Skirving blessed the Chrism oil. You can view the full service below.
Click Here for the Transcript of Bishop Skirving's Sermon
Oprima Aquí Para el Sermón del Obispo
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Our Saturday morning legislative session opened with a time of devotion and worship, with live music provided by St. John's, Wilmington. Thank you to our musicians and to Rev'd Eric Moulton who organized our music! After our session was called to order, we welcomed new clergy to our diocese and introduced our postulants and candidates. Following these introductions, Bishop Skirving offered his address as a "Part II" of sorts to his sermon the evening prior.
Bishop's Address Video
Click Here for the Transcript of the Bishop's Address
Oprima Aquí Para el Discurso del Obispo
Presentations on our Proposed Mission Priorities
Following Bishop Skirving's Address, we turned to our proposed Mission Priorities for presentations to inspire our imaginations and to consider the possibilities that could open up from our adoption of those Mission Priorities (Resolution 2022-04, linked below in the Certified Resolutions Passed at Convention section).
First, we heard from the Rev'd Dr. John Pollock, Chair of the Commission on Ministry for the diocese and Rector at St. Andrew's, Morehead City. Our first Mission Priority calls us to "LEAD by supporting each of our worshiping communities and diocesan ministries to identify and equip lay and clergy leadership who will engage them in more fully living into the promises of our Baptismal Covenant."You can watch his presentation below.
Our second presentation on the Mission Priorities came to us via Emily Gowdy Canady, Missioner for Lifelong Christian Formation. The second Mission Priority calls us to "LEARN by developing and hosting collaborative opportunities for life-long formation for the ministry of all the baptized, to be offered in person and online across the diocese." You may view her presentation below.
The third presentation we heard on our Mission Priorities came to us from the Rev'd Richard Elliott, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Diocese and Rector of St. Andrews on the Sound, Wilmington. The third Mission Priority calls us to "SERVE by encouraging every congregation to strengthen or build local networks with ecumenical, interfaith, and other community partners for the purpose of serving the needs of the most vulnerable in their midst." You can watch his presentation below.
Our fourth, and final, presentation on the Mission Priorities was delivered by the Rev'd Skip Walker, member of the Racial Healing Commission and Associate Rector at St. Paul's, Greenville. The fourth Mission Priority calls us to "HEAL by advocating for justice and peace for all of God’s children, working together to remove obstacles that prevent equitable access to resources, while building bridges of reconciliation for the divisions between us." You may view his presentation below.
Updates from Trinity Center
Our afternoon portion of our legislative session began with exciting updates from Trinity Center. We heard from Ed Hodges, Chair of the Board of Trustees, about the major repairs that have been taking place at Trinity, funded in large part by monies raised by the Journey Through East Carolina and the hiring of a new Executive Director. John Koch, the new Executive Director of Trinity Center also spoke, affirming, "Keeping in mind our Baptismal Covenant, I promise, with God's help, to carefully and lovingly steward that great diocesan resource that is yours [at Trinity Center]." Finally, Bishop Skirving delivered an update on the parcel of land that is in the process of being sold in support of Trinity Center's ministry and deferred maintenance. You can hear and see all of these updates by watching the video below.
Treasurer's Report and the Adopted 2022 Budget
Treasurer Tess Judge presented her report for 2021 to Convention, covering the summary of profits and losses for 2021 and the continued impacts of COVID-19. You may view the Balance Sheet & Summary here. For the Narrative of the 2022 Budget, click here. Below you can view the 2022 Budget that was adopted.
Certified Resolutions Passed at Convention
Nine resolutions were presented and passed at Convention, which have also been certified. Each resolution was duly considered and given the same space for discussion. Below you will find each of the certified resolutions passed at our 139th Convention:
Elections Results
Annual Committees of Convention, By Nomination of the Bishop
Archdeacon: Janet Sueiro Rodman
Canon for Diocesan Life & Leadership: The Rev'd Canon Mollie Roberts
Deans of the Diocese
Albemarle
- Clergy: Malone Gilliam, St. Paul's, Edenton
- Lay: Cynthia Harding, St. Paul's, Edenton
Pamlico
- Clergy: John Porter-Acee, St. Timothy's, Greenville
- Lay: Vacant
Trinity
- Clergy: Vacant
- Lay: Jo Parrott, St. Mary's, Kinston
Lower Cape Fear
- Clergy: Eric Mills, St. Philip's, Southport
- Lay: Lisa Richey, Grace, Whiteville
Upper Cape Fear
- Clergy: Ralph Clark, St. Joseph's, Fayetteville
- Lay: Vacant
Bishop's Representative to the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry Board: Nan Cekuta
Bishop's Representative to the Cursillo Secretariat: Jeremiah Day
Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Diocese: Richard Elliott
By Nomination of the Diocese
Executive Council - Three-Year Term
Clergy
- Lisa Erdeljon, St. Philip's, Southport
- Stephen Batten, Trinity, Chocowinity
Alternate Deputy to General Convention 2022
Lay
- Karen Smith, St. Paul's, Wilmington
Trustees to the University of the South
Lay (Two-Year)
- Tara Bartal, Holy Trinity, Fayetteville
Lay (Three-Year)
- Mary "Molly" Holdeman, St. Paul's, Greenville
Disciplinary Board - Three-Year Term
Clergy
- Eric Mills, St. Philip's, Southport
Lay
- David Tousignant, St. Paul's, Wilmington
- David DuBuisson, St. Paul's, Beaufort
Officers of Convention - One-Year Term
Historiographer
- LeRae Umfleet, Trinity, Chocowinity
Treasurer
- Tess Judge, All Saints, Southern Shores
Secretary of Convention
- Shurley Ray Weddle, St. Paul's, Clinton
Standing Committee - Three-Year Term
Clergy
- Farrell Graves, St. James the Fisherman, Shallotte
Lay
- Tom Warren, St. Mark's, Wilmington
Nominations by Deanery or Bishop
Executive Council
Pamlico Deanery - Clergy (Two-Year)
- Katherine Mitchell, St. Peter's, Washington
Trinity Deanery - Clergy (Two-Year)
- Lisa Kirby, Christ Church, New Bern
Trinity Deanery - Lay (One-Year)
- Terah Archie, St. Mary's, Kinston
Officers of Convention - One-Year Term
Chancellor
- Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Church of the Servant, Wilmington
Trustees of the Diocese - Two-Year Term
Clergy
- Robert Alves, St. John's, Fayetteville
Lay
- Mary Duane Hale, St. Paul's, Beaufort
Commission on Ministry - Four-Year Term
Clergy
- Caleb Lee, St. Paul's, Wilmington
- Jody Greenwood, Church of the Servant, Wilmington
Lay
- Carla Richardson, Holy Trinity, Fayetteville
Commission on Ministry - One-Year Term
Deacon
- Mary Mac Shields, St. Joseph's, Fayetteville
Foundation - Four-Year Term
- Merry Ann Wright, St. Paul's, Wilmington
- Chris Adams, St. Peter's, Washington
- David Hall, St. Paul's, Clinton
- Jim Hayes, St. Mary's, Burgaw
Trinity Center Board of Managers - Three-Year Term
- Phillip Craig, Jr., St. James, Wilmington
- Lee Stroud, Holy Cross, Wilmington
- Michelle Eitner, St. Francis by the Sea, Salter Path
- David Wyly, St. Stephen's, Goldsboro
Trinity Center Board of Managers - Two-Year Term
- Fred Klinck, St. John's, Fayetteville
Committee on Constitution and Canons - One-Year Term
Clergy
- Stephen Batten, Trinity, Chocowinity
- Andrew Cannan, St. Paul's, Greenville
- Mollie Roberts, Diocesan House Staff
Lay
- Mary Duane Hale, St. Paul's, Beaufort
- Fred Klinck, St. John's, Fayetteville
- Keith Calder, St. Paul's, Wilmington
Diocesan Convention Committee - One-Year Term
Clergy
- Eric Moulton, St. John's, Wilmington
- Gene Wayman, Trinity, Lumberton
- Vacant
Lay
- Dencie Lambdin, Trinity, Lumberton
- Jo Parrott, St. Mary's, Kinston
- Lee Stroud, Holy Cross, Wilmington
- Judy Whichard, St. Paul's, Greenville
Elections Committee - One-Year Term
Clergy
- Daniel Cenci, Christ Church, Elizabeth City
Lay
- Carla Richardson, Holy Trinity, Fayetteville
- Dencie Lambdin, Trinity, Lumberton
Our afternoon closed with a time of devotion and worship, with our closing hymn, "Here I Am Lord," provided by St. John's, Wilmington. The 139th Annual Convention of the Diocese of East Carolina adjourned with a blessing and a dismissal to go out into the world fueled by the Holy Spirit and to do the work that we discerned God is calling us to do. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!
Click Here to View a Gallery of Convention
The 140th Annual Convention will be held at the Greenville Convention Center February 10-11, 2023.
