News : CENTRAL NEW YORK: Episcopalians Discuss Coordination Efforts

Posted by David Virtue at VirtueOnline on 2009/3/21:

CENTRAL NEW YORK: Churches look for better ways to help Episcopalians to discuss coordinating efforts in community

By Ray Finger, Staff Writer
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20090321/NEWS01/903210323
March 21, 2009

Local Episcopalians are coming together in Elmira on Sunday for an open discussion to strengthen the Episcopal community so it can be more effective in the 21st century.

Members of the seven churches that make up the Chemung District of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York are invited to gather from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Steele Memorial Library.

The discussion will be run by Andrea Ogunwumi, executive director of the Economic Opportunity Program Inc. Talks will focus on the strengths, challenges, next steps and goals for each church in the district, said the Rev. William Lutz, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Elmira.

"It's a conversation that needs to happen, and it needs to be an open and honest conversation," he said. "We want to keep the discussion open and continuing."

In addition to Trinity, the district is made up by Emmanuel in Elmira, Grace in Elmira, St. John's in Elmira Heights, St. Matthew's in Horseheads, Christ Church in Wellsburg and Grace Church in Waverly.

It is hoped that the gathering will help the churches catch sight of the bigger picture and encourage more coordination of efforts and cooperation among them, said the Rev. Jeff Hoffman, rector of St. Matthew's in Horseheads.

"Not that we're looking to incorporate them all into one great big church, but how can we work together to do the smartest ministry to help the most people," he said.

"A lot of denominations are talking this way," Lutz said. "This is not just the Episcopal Church." Bishop Gladstone "Skip" Adams hopes the session will help him understand the concerns of the local area, said Hoffman, who is also dean of the district and reports to the bishop.

"He was brought into the conversation very early, and he asked us to proceed with it basically because we're more aware of what's going on in this area than they are up in Syracuse," Hoffman said.

All district parishioners and clergy are asked to participate in this process to address individual and collective needs so the Episcopal community will continue to be a strong presence in the Chemung Valley, organizers said.

END

A reader at VirtueOnline comments:

Re: CENTRAL NEW YORK: Episcopalians Discuss Coordination ...
Aaah ha ha ha ha! Of course they're not discussing becoming "one great big church" oh no no! You know why? Even if they all did combine, they still wouldn't equal one great big church, just one rather medium-sized one. Take a look at their charts ( http://12.0.101.92/Charts.aspx ) Here are the numbers: (2007) Emmanuel - ASA 16, Grace, Elmira - ASA 98, St. John - ASA 18, St Matthew - ASA 98, Christ - ASA 13 and Grace, Waverly - ASA 28 people.

Another commenter adds: Trinity in Elmira claims 350 Members with ASA of 40.(??)