a publication of the episcopal diocese of rochester, ny

UTO 2010 Ingathering Update100% — are we there yet? I get asked that questionabout our UTO Ingathering participation. Each year forthe past several, I have made a report to convention ondiocesan progress toward that goal. This year followingconvention, working with Cathy Shoemaker, it becameclear that the response to the question is definitely…ALMOST! We are very, very close … perhaps 2011 willbe the year.Many parishes present their UTO offering at theannual convention ingathering while others send intheir ingathering funds at different times during theyear. When Cathy and I looked at 2010, it became clearthat of the 49 parishes active in our diocese, 46 of those49 plus St. John’s Chapel at HWS contributed a totalof $14,036.26 in ingathering funds to UTO during thecalendar year. In other words, we are three parishes shyof 100%. It is interesting to note that $9,561.67 of thattotal was presented at convention. It is also interestingto note that the Diocese of Rochester has benefitedfrom the worldwide UTO grant process six times in thepast seven years. Most recently (2010), St. Stephen’sRochester received $39,980 to upgrade their parishkitchen. We have just submitted a 2011 grant requeston behalf of another of our parish-connected ministriesand hope to be successful once again. Each penny thatis contributed to UTO is used to deserving ministriesworldwide thorough the grant process. Can you thinkof a better way to celebrate our daily blessings???While it is still the diocesan goal to answer the “arewe there yet” question with a loud “YES”, it is veryrewarding to know that daily thankfulness is abundantin our lives. Please continue to celebrate our manyblessings by keeping UTO active in your life, yourparish and our diocese. If I can be of any assistance inthat work, please let me know.Susan Woodhouse, Diocesan Coordinator forUTOsusan@rochesterepiscopaldiocese.comCommission on MinistryThe Commission on Ministry (COM) is in the process ofreconstituting itself so that it can better serve as one ofthe primary canonical charges, vision: “assist the Bishopin the determination of present and future opportunitiesand needs for the ministry of all baptized persons.”(Canon 2:2 b) This means that greater attention to theministry of the laity will become a regular part of theCOM’s agenda. This is in keeping with Council’s chargeto “grow the diocese” by empowering more and more ofour members to become committed to their own gifts ofministry and the opportunities that lay before them tobe “Christ’s reconciling presence in the world.”In this respect a new planning team has been created.This team is made up of representatives from eachof the districts of our diocese and at its first meetingadopted the following statement of purpose: To createa process in our diocese that will empower all of ourbaptized members to celebrate all of life as ministryand to provide resources to assist each person to morefully engage in the Mission of God. In addition threedecisions were made: 1. To plan an event in Octoberthat will both celebrate and invite people to begin theprocess of discerning their gifts of ministry; 2. To extendan invitation to a keynote speaker; 3. To next meeton March 19. At this next meeting we will begin theprocess of issuing a call for workshops that will not onlybe offered in October, but will also provide vehicles forongoing discernment and transformation.The Planning team consists of one Clergy and one Laymember from each of the Districts in our Diocese. TheRt. Rev. Prince G. Singh also made three appointmentsto the Commission on Ministry and they are:Dr. Nan Crystal Arens - St. Peter’s, Geneva; Elizabeth(Liz) Porter St. Michael’s, Geneseo; The Rev. ChristopherStreeter, Christ Church, Pittsford.13