Executive Council meeting highlights, March 2013

The Executive Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth voted to adopt a revised Vision/Mission Statement and make adjustments to the diocesan budget at their meeting on Saturday, March 16, 2013, in the Lee Conference Center on the courthouse square in Hamilton.

The Rt. Rev. Rayford High, Jr. called the meeting to order. The meeting began as usual with prayer and Bible study. Then Bishop High led the Council through its agenda so efficiently that they finished their work just after noon. The meeting featured a first – the bishop read the report of the InReach Committee from his smart phone.

Bishop High reported on the recent House of Bishops Retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina.

Sandy Shockley, president of the Episcopal Church Women of the diocese, read a letter explaining the ECW’s fund-raising project for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and handed out envelopes for Council members to take back to their congregations.

Bob Hicks gave a treasurer’s report. At the request of the Finance Committee, the council agreed to use unrestricted funds to put money into the fund for the search process for a bishop and into the reserve for congregational development. They also revised the budget to provide for a fulltime operations manager and to provide funds for the Executive Council.

The Rev. Sam McCLain, retired priest of the diocese, gave a report of the work he, the Rev. Carlye Hughes, rector of Trinity, Fort Worth; and Ms. Priscilla Promise, member of St. Alban’s, worshiping in Theater Arlington, did as a result of being appointed in January to revise the statement adopted by the Executive Council in March, 2012. Their task was to incorporate suggestions that arose out of the January, 2013 meeting of Council. The Council adopted their proposal:

Vision/Mission statement adopted March 16, 2013

Who We Are

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is a Christ centered community of congregations, diocesan staff, and ministry groups who welcome and support all people in worship, study, fellowship, and service.

What We Do

Diocesan staff and programs empower and equip congregations by encouraging participation by

• laity, bishop, priests, and deacons
• providing resources to support each congregation in its efforts toward excellence and diversity in worship, study, fellowship and service
• working together to ensure transparency and accountability.

The meeting was hosted by St. Mary’s, Hamilton, which worships in a rented house. Sandy and Dave Shockley, the Rev. Linda Sutherland, and Connie Parker of St. Mary’s, and Cynthia Eichenberger of Parker County, met the arriving members with pots of coffee and a table laden not only with muffins and bagels, but also with delicious Scotch eggs (hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried). These were a new treat for many Council members, and they disappeared rapidly. This breakfast spread was then topped by the lunch they provided – a St. Patrick Day’s feast of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, potato salad and bread pudding with a sauce that had a bit o’ Ireland whiskey in it.