The Journey Continues: 
Thoughts from the Standing Committee President and the Bishop-Elect

Dear People of El Camino Real,

It soon will be time to gather together at our deanery meetings to discuss the budget for 2008 and the canonical changes that will allow our new structure to be implemented. This is an opportunity for discussion on both topics. As you know, the deanery meetings are a continuation of the conversation that has been ongoing for some time. Regarding the draft of the new Constitution and Canons issued in July, numerous changes have already been incorporated based on your input. These were posted on the web earlier this month (as will future drafts) and will be included in your pre-convention packet. Following the deanery meetings a final draft will be available before Convention.

Please keep in mind that the budget and canonical revisions are important steps in our work together of building a healthy and effective diocesan structure. We are still in transition, and transitions are always anxious times. With that in mind we should remember there is still work to be done and some of that work will require change. Change brings anxiety, and yet to arrive where we believe we are called to go, we must continue to offer input, be heard, listen, and dialogue with others. This has been our process over these past few years, and it will continue to serve us well as we walk step by step bringing our new structure into ever clearer focus. It may also be helpful to remember that we went through this process a year ago when we discussed the new structure. We took time to hear about it, discuss it in our deaneries, make changes, and have even more discussion until it was finally time to vote. We are using the same process as we build on the decisions made at Convention in 2006.

In addition to the deanery meetings in September (25th for Santa Clara and the 29th for Monterey and SLO) you may also provide feedback directly to Di Lovelace or David Breuer on the Budget Committee or Chris Creed or Nancy Cohen on the Committee for Constitution and Canons. Questions are certainly encouraged and may be asked in advance of the presenters listed above. Further information on the canons will also be forthcoming and may help you understand the various considerations in these drafts.

Both the Budget and Constitution and Canons presenters at the deanery meetings will give an overview of their subject and then answer questions. Based on the discussion concerning the canons there will undoubtedly be further revisions. As noted, another draft of the canons will be published for review prior to Convention. As at previous conventions, if needed, we will take time to break into small groups and discuss again before we vote. The secret to our success in these past few years is that we have allowed the time for dialogue, allowed time to share our ministry and to resolve together what it is we want as a diocese. This has not changed. What is important is that we are working together before sharing in the final decisions.

Transition and change are always scary, but we must honor the process. We must not let ourselves be derailed. Let us come together in an atmosphere of trust and listening. “We did it before and we can do it again,” as the old song goes. We ask you to continue to pray and thoughtfully discern our path forward as the diocese and our new bishop move into a new future.

May God continue to bless us as we seek to serve him in our diocese.

Your Standing Committee and Bishop-elect