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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