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The Episcopal Center - Diocese of Western Michigan - 5220 Lovers Lane, LL100 - Portage, MI 49002
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Tel: 269-381-2710 Fax: 269-381-7067
April 5th, 2006
 
Editor: Steve Stofflet
4/14/2006 - GOOD FRIDAY - EPISCOPAL CENTER OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED. 
Special Announcements:
  • St. John's-by-the-Lake in Onekema
    is in need of a Supply Clergy for June 4, 2006. They would have use of the clergy cottage from the 2nd through the 9th. Please call Chrisie Matthews at 269 342-4925.
  • The Reporting Form for Confirmation, Receptions, and Reaffirmations
    that is in the Diocesan Resource Notebook should be submitted to the diocesan office and to the Host parish, not to the deanery chairperson. If you have questions call Canon Spaid.
    =============================
    The Rev. Canon William J. Spaid
    Canon to the Ordinary
    Diocese of Western Michigan
    wspaid@edwm.org
    269-381-2710
 
From the Diocesan Business Office:
  • We have not received Parish Pledge forms from the following, and these are now overdue:
      • Grand Rapids-St. Paul’s
      • Ionia
      • Muskegon-St. Alban’s
      • Three Rivers
  • These workers’ compensation forms have not been received yet.
    (Please note, that even if you have *no* employees, this information still needs to be conveyed to the business office for record-keeping purposes):
    • Grand Rapids-St. Paul’s
    • Hastings
    • Holland
    • Muskegon-St. Alban’s
    • Muskegon-St. Gregory’s
    • South Haven
    • Three Rivers
    • Wyoming
  • Parochial reports are now past due - and have not been received from the following parishes. If you would like assistance in filing your report on-line, please contact Tammy Mazure at the business office. For those who have filed online, please make sure to mark your report complete in the system.
    • Albion
    • Battle Creek - St. Thomas
    • Big Rapids
    • Cascade
    • Charlevoix
    • Grand Haven
    • Grand Ledge
    • Grand Rapids - St. Paul's
    • Hastings
    • Holland
    • Ionia
    • Lansing
    • Mt. Pleasant
    • Muskegon - St. Paul's
    • Niles
    • Orangeville
    • Portage - Christ the King
    • Three Rivers
Adventure, Community, Worship, Mystery - Nightwatch Midwest is all of these and more.

For more information, call 269.344.1500 today!
HOW SHALL WE MINISTER?
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH CONFLICT? - Keynoter - Speed Leas, author and speaker on congregational conflict and Alban Institute consultant. This six-hour workshop will be offered in two locations:
Please respond to Carol Ann Bailey at carolann.bailey@westernsem.edu or call 616-392-8555 x 167, if your church plans to attend. Please respond by April 21st and when you RSVP, please include:

1. Your church's name with city.
2. The number attending from your church.
3. The day or location you plan to attend.

Looking forward to a great workshop,

Carol Ann Bailey
Administrative Associate - JOURNEY
Western Theological Seminary
101 East 13th Street
Holland, MI 49423-3622
616-392-8555 x167
616-392-7717 (fax)
carolann.bailey@westernsem.edu

for information - flyers - and more, visit their website at: http://www.womenoffaith.com/
Special guests include: Avalon, Nicole C. Mullen, Anita Renfroe.
Featured speakers include: Thelma Wells, Marilyn Meberg, and more...
CALENDAR ITEMS -
 
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OCTOBER:

 

DIOCESE OF WESTERN MICHIGAN

 

Diocesan Calendar of Prayer 2006, Second Quarter

SUGGESTIONS:
Pray for persons by baptismal name (i.e., first name). For a parish, name the clergy, and include by title, "Wardens and Vestry"

EVERY WEEK, PRAY FOR:
Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop; Robert Gepert, Bishop of Western Michigan; Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; Gary Hansen, Bishop of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and include by name local ELCA congregation(s) and its pastor(s).

The Diocese of Western Michigan

March 1, 2006

Clergy Dating Policy
(adopted by the Bishop with the consent of the Standing Committee)

In the past, romantic relationships between single clerics and other single persons with whom the cleric has a pastoral relationship have not always been defined as sexual exploitation. There are a number of priests, for example, who are married to persons who were parishioners in a parish in which they have served. Nevertheless, such relationships are always complex and subject to later interpretation. While they may appear consensual, these relationships may not truly be mutual because of the imbalance of power between the cleric and the parishioner. Similar relationships are recognized as inappropriate by members of other professions, such as doctors and therapists. A cleric cannot be both priest and suitor at the same time. Thus, in a single clergy parish a parishioner dating a cleric loses his or her priest. If the relationship between the parishioner and the cleric ends, the parishioner may feel ill-treated. Regardless of the outcome of the relationship, the parish may be harmed by secrecy surrounding the relationship or by the sense of ownership and responsibility accompanying even a relationship that results in marriage.

Any cleric contemplating a relationship with a person with whom the cleric has a pastoral relationship is advised to seek discernment in the Christian community. This includes consultation with the Bishop or a person appointed by the Bishop and with representatives of the parish or other place of ministry. In addition, care must be taken in such situations that pastoral care for the parishioner is available from another priest. If a complaint is made regarding such a relationship, this Diocese will investigate it according to these procedures.