March 4, 2008

Diocese of Newark

On Friday and Saturday, January 25th and 26th the 113 congregations which make up the Diocese of Newark gathered for the Annual Diocesan Convention in Parsippany. Each church in the diocese elects three lay representatives to attend convention each year. This year our two Wardens, Beth Abrahamson and Shannon Ionnotta, along with Bob Bogert on Friday and Matthew Piermatti (as alternate deputy filling in for Bob Bogert) on Saturday, represented our St. Paul’s Church. All clergy in the diocese attend as well. With all of these representatives present, there are around 500 people gathered in the large meeting room!

Our meeting on Friday began at 1:30 p.m. with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, led by our Bishop Mark Beckwith. The business session then followed and lasted several hours, and then all delegates had the chance to attend breakout sessions to listen to committee reports. In the evening all gathered together again for the banquet and the Bishop’s address. On Saturday, the morning began with Eucharist and then the business session until the conclusion of convention at 4:00 p.m.

It is always interesting and inspiring to be at convention, to be with colleagues and friends, new and old, and to hear about and be a part of the exciting work in which our diocese is engaged! Matthew Piermatti is on the “Civil Union Task Force” and was a part of the presentation given by that group. Also, at this convention, we held the election of deputies to General Convention, the once every three year meeting of the entire Episcopal Church, which will be held in July 2009 in Anaheim, California. Each diocese elects four lay and four clergy deputies, as well as four alternate deputies in each order. I was honored to be elected as “First Alternate”, which means I will be going to the General Convention next summer, as our diocese sends the first alternate in each order along with the four regular deputies. Subsequently, on February 2, the Rev. Prince Singh, rector of St. Alban’s Church in Oakland NJ, and “2nd Deputy” elected to go to General Convention, was elected as Bishop of Rochester, NY. Prince will not be representing the Diocese of Newark at General Convention, so I have moved up and became one of the four regular deputies!

The best part of Diocesan Convention for me is always the opportunity to be with the many fascinating people of our diocese! This year each congregation was randomly assigned to sit at a table with another congregation in the diocese for both days of the convention. We sat with the representatives from St. Paul’s Jersey City and had a great time getting to know each other.

We are certainly blessed to be in the Diocese of Newark, which has been and continues to be a leader on issues of justice and inclusion, and which is an excellent representation of the wide breadth of God’s Children in this state and this church. Being a part of the “larger whole” of the Diocese of Newark, the Episcopal Church USA and the world wide Anglican Communion is truly a great blessing and privilege.

March 4, 2008

Diocese of Newark

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