St Mark and All Saints Episcopal Church
Statement from Bishop-elect Councell

August 15, 2003
Feast of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Friends in Christ,

I was honored to attend the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal
Church in Minneapolis with Bishop Joslin, Clergy and Lay Deputies, ECW
Triennial Delegates, several volunteers and young people from the Diocese
of New Jersey.
Our Diocese was very well represented by these faithful and dedicated
servants.

The theme of this General Convention - Engage God's Mission - was
evident in every aspect of this ten-day gathering. The Convention engaged
God's mission each day through worship, Bible study, and table
conversation; through deliberation, debate and decision-making. In all things we
were all striving to give glory to our God and strengthen our Church
for God's mission in the world.

I am always interested to see what actions of the General Convention we
can bring home that encourage vital Christian mission in congregations
and dioceses. Here are a few examples. I was excited about the
priorities for mission established by the Executive Council: 1. Young Adults
and Youth; 2. Reconciliation and Evangelism; 3. Congregational
Transformation; 4. Justice and Peace; and 5. Partnerships. I wonder: How do
these compare with the mission priorities of your congregation or the
priorities of our diocese?

One resolution calls upon each congregation to engage in an annual
review of its common life by asking such questions as these: "What is our
mission in this place? How are lives and communities being transformed?
How are people being equipped for Christ's ministry of reconciliation?
How is this community and congregation different from a year ago? Five
years ago? Ten years ago? How is leadership recognized, affirmed, and
shared here?" I am eager to listen to and to reflect our NJ
congregational and diocesan leaders on these questions.

Another resolution of the Convention is entitled "Stewardship: Holy
Habits." It encourages each member of the Episcopal Church "to develop a
personal spiritual discipline that includes, at minimum, the holy
habits of tithing, daily personal prayer and study, Sabbath time, and
regular corporate worship." How does your congregation and how does our
diocese support the development of these habits?

One of the most challenging actions of the Convention was to endorse
and embrace the United Nations Millennium Goals that pledge to: "1.
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2. achieve universal primary
education, 3. promote gender equality and empower women, 4. reduce child
mortality, 5. improve maternal health, 6. ensure environmental stability, and
6. develop a global partnership for development." The resolution calls
upon all dioceses and congregations to contribute .7% of their annual
budgets to fund international development programs. Does your
congregation embrace such international efforts as a means of engaging God's
mission? Does our Diocese?

There were many other signs of engaging God's mission that emerged in
our work and worship in Minneapolis. I want you to know that I believe
that the process leading to consent to the ordination of the Rev. Canon
Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire and the consideration of
proposals for the drafting of liturgical rites for the blessing of
same-gender unions (characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection,
respect, careful, honest communication and holy love) were also signs of
engaging God's mission. I did not have the privilege of voting at this
Convention. If I had, I would have given consent for the ordination of
Canon Robinson. I do not believe that his faithful, committed, and stable
relationship with another man is an impediment to serving in ordained
ministry. Rather, I believe that his faithfulness to Jesus Christ, his
love of our Church, and his honesty about his personal life are
strengths that will help him to be a "faithful pastor and a wholesome example
for the entire flock of Christ" and to serve in the office of bishop as
described in our Book of Common Prayer (pages 517-521). He has been
duly and lawfully selected by his diocese and they have assured the Church
of his suitability. He and New Hampshire have my prayerful support.

I would also have voted in favor of the final form of resolution C051
on the Blessing of Committed Same-Sex Relationships. Consistent with
the responses I offered when questioned on these matters during the
episcopal search process and the diocesan "Walkabout" last spring, I remain
open to the development of a liturgical rite for the celebration and
blessing of same-sex unions. I also desire, with all my heart, to worship
and serve our Lord in communion with those who disagree, within the
Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion. I am committed to love and
serve all the clergy and people of this great Diocese.

In his homily at the Holy Eucharist on the closing day of Convention,
our Presiding Bishop said, "What has this Convention been about and what
do I take away? This 74th General Convention has been about love. It
has been about love at work in a community that heretofore had been able
to live with both/and realities and now was forced to make an either/or
decision . . . . Love has been at work among us."

"Love has been at work among us." Please pray with me that love will
be at work among us as we begin a new ministry together here in New
Jersey. May we engage God's mission faithfully, for the sake of our Lord
Jesus Christ and for the building up of the Church that we all love.
Thank you.

Faithfully yours,

The Rev. George E. Councell
Bishop-elect

Link to Diocese Web Page