We Couldn't Do this Without You

The Luncheon for Retired Clergy and Spouses

“We couldn’t do this without you.” Those were the words spoken by the Right Reverend Melissa Skelton, the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster as she concluded her remarks to the 86 retired clergy and spouses gathered in the Trendell Lounge, Thursday, December 3, 2015.

The attendance at, and popularity of this annual event seems to be increasing and that is largely due to the hard work of planning and promotion done by the team of Dorothy and the Reverend John Mash, diocesan chaplains to retired clergy and spouses. Assisted by members of the Synod staff, specifically, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop’s and Executive Archdeacon’s Office, Bill Siksay and Receptionist/ Administrative Assistant, Phil Colvin, Dorothy with John organize the invitations, the venue, the catering and the program.

The 2015 version was held in the Trendell Lounge, the gathering space shared by the Synod office and the Parish of St. John’s, Shaughnessy. Prior to the plenary finding seats at tables for the lunch the group gathered in the reception area of the Synod offices at 1410 Nanton Avenue, for a glass of wine or fruit juice and enthusiastic conversation. After a half an hour or so, the Reverend John Mash approached the bell on the reception desk and rang it a couple of times to announce that it was time to go in for lunch.

The steam trays containing the food were all in place and once everyone had more or less found a seat and made themselves comfortable, Dorothy addressed the group, welcoming everyone to the event. She pointed out the three new retirees present, and attending the lunch for the first time, the Reverend’s Gail Newell, David MacKenzie and Helen Tervo (with her spouse Joe). She thanked the aforementioned Bill Siksay and Phil Colvin for all their help and informed the group that archivist, Melanie Delva also present at the lunch that day is scheduled to speak about the history of the diocese at the group’s next event which is the spring luncheon in 2016. Then she read a list of regrets from those who were unable to attend. After the regrets were read, Dorothy introduced the Executive Archdeacon of the diocese, the Venerable Douglas Fenton who had returned to his ministry earlier in the week following an extended study leave. Archdeacon Fenton, asked the Synod staff personnel present at the lunch to stand while he made the introductions and then said Grace.

For the past dozen years the Annual Retired Clergy and Spouses luncheons have been catered by The Banqueting Table Catering, a business that gives workplace opportunities to women who are single mothers, have recently experienced a change in circumstances and have re-entered the work force. The Banqueting Table folks prepared a delicious meal of: baked ham with a choice of fruit or mustard sauces, baby roast potatoes, a hot winter vegetable medley, spring greens with shaved almonds in a strawberry vinaigrette, Parker House style rolls (they were really good) and a holiday assortment of squares and cookies to compliment the hot beverages served after the main course.

After the tea and coffee, cookies and squares were served, Dorothy introduced Bishop Skelton. In her introduction she made reference to the amount of travel around the diocese and the number of episcopal visitations Bishop Skelton has made in the twenty months of her episcopacy. Dorothy said in reference to the bishop and her availability and commitment, “she has taken the time to be a listener, listening to our stories as she becomes a part of the story.”

Bishop Skelton began her address by saying that she had been looking forward to this event all year and looking forward to the…ham! She offered a bit of a disclaimer about the still sparse design of the large reception area at 1410 Nanton Avenue and assured the retired clergy and spouses that there are plans to install cabinets and shelves that will serve to display some of the history of the diocese and those displays will chronicle the dioceses’ great courage and the dioceses’ great mistakes. She then told the group that she would spend a few minutes updating them on what is happening around the diocese and then open the floor to questions. The important issues that she referenced were:

• The thirteen refugee projects currently in process connected to the diocese as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). Her desire to develop some support in the form of fundraising and action to help settle those refugees.
• The complete “re-tooling” of the process of discernment for Holy Orders (priests and deacons)from the recent practice of screening seekers to actively recruiting those who have been identified as having a vocation. At the November 7, Vocations Day more than 40 attended, among the 40, 15 were seeking ordination to the priesthood and 10 seeking ordination to the diaconate. She pointed out that the priests at the parish level will be a key part of the process.
• A review of the diaconate in the diocese. What needs to be maintained, renewed or changed? The bishop is working closely with Archdeacons for Deacons, the Venerable Bruce Morris and Director for Diaconal Formation, the Reverend Dr. Ellen Clark-King. The bishop indicated that a handbook for deacons is in a draft stage and that she is still focused on the goal of having a deacon in each parish.
• The first cohort of the Membership Growth Practitioners Group (MGPG) consisting of 27 priests and one lay person (who shares responsibility with an ordained priest for a faith community)have been meeting once a month for a full day in 2015 to work on membership growth in their parishes. The members of the group have gathered together to work on community building skills and have worked to sharpen each other’s skills in areas such as homiletics. The program designed by Synod staffer Tasha Carrothers and Bishop Skelton will not be offered next year but is considered a success by all involved and will likely be renewed for 2017.
• The Diocesan School for Parish Development is now fully subscribed and continues to gain interest from other constituencies around the Anglican Communion in North America. This year the very large Episcopal Diocese of Chicago will be offering the curriculum and General Synod is looking at partnering with the diocese of New Westminster to launch the program Canada-wide.

Then her address took on a more personal nature directed toward the retired clergy and spouses. She reflected on her practice of writing notes on a card to the clergy of the diocese on the occasion of their ordination anniversary. She usually does that early in the morning and the calmness of the start of another busy day gives her the opportunity to think about the person she is addressing in the message that she writes in the card. And then she thanked the retired clergy for their continued connections to the diocese, she thanked them for being “a prayerful presence in the parishes you attend” and finished by saying “we couldn’t do this without you.”

The final phase of the bishop’s address was the Q&A where she was asked a couple of questions about the transition from her life in ministry in the United States to her life in ministry in Canada. She said that she is always excited when she approaches the border from the south, going north. She said that her general analysis is that “Canada compared to the US is less about doing and more about being.” She then shared that she is seriously looking into becoming a Canadian citizen which was met with big smiles and affirming nods.

The event closed with Dorothy thanking everyone for attending and placing a colourful wicker basket on a table near the exit in order to receive free will offerings to be directed to The Banqueting Table Catering staff.

Everyone in attendance was then encouraged to go on a guided tour of the Synod offices and diocesan archives which brought to an end another successful Retired Clergy and Spouses event.