VOL. 51 NO. 2 JUNE 2010

DIOCESE OFWESTERN

NORTH CAROLINA

Non-profit org.US postage PAIDMorganton, NC

Permit 73

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIANP.O. Box 2878Morganton, N.C. 28680-2878

M&M Conference this week!Reconciliation: A Path for the Decades Ahead is the theme of

the Episcopal Diocese of WNC's annual Ministry and Mis-sion Conference to be held Saturday June 5, at the First

Baptist Church in Asheville.The keynote speaker, the Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop

of the Diocese of Maryland, is a frequent leader of retreats andconferences on spirituality and prayer. Formerly the Canon Pastorof Washington National Cathedral and director of the Center forPrayer and Pilgrimage, Bp. Sutton has served as a college chap-lain, parish priest and professor in homiletics and liturgy at Van-derbilt University Divinity School.

The conference starts with registration at 9 a.m. and ends at 3:45p.m. Coffee and pastries will be available be available during regis-tration. The first plenary session will be at 10 a.m. Following thatwill be both morning and afternoon workshops on a variety of for-mation subjects.

Free parking is available in the church lot and registration willbe on the side of the church opposite the large dome.

A book store will be available during the conference,Special guests include Dr. Walter Ziffer, adjunct professor in

the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Mars Hill College in

Mars Hill, N.C., who hastaught classes in Judaism,early Christian history, Bib-lical Hebrew and compara-tive religion. He regularlyteaches Elderhostel coursesin and out of state. He is asurvivor of the Holocaust inCzechoslovakia.

Linn Maxwell, interna-tionally known mezzo-soprano, will present thesongs of Hildegard of Bin-gen. Ms. Maxwell hasappeared with over 50 majororchestras and oratorio soci-eties, including symphoniesof Chicago, Seattle, Denver,Toronto, Ottawa, Cleveland (Helmuth Rilling conducting), KansasCity (Leonard Bernstein conducting), San Antonio, Fort Worth,Mexico City, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Sofia and Beijing.Bishop Sutton

Florida Keys vacation is top ‘Retreats’ prize: Story on Page 3

Lake Logan debt plan‘achievable’ — Murray

“Yes, I am optimistic” about the futureof Lake Logan Episcopal Center, said DickMurray, chairman of the board.

“We have a better and more achievableopportunity to get this debt under control”than at any time in his previous five yearson the board, Murray added.

Murray pointed to a hard-workingboard, an enthusiastic and committed bish-op and a multi-pronged plan to attack thecamp and conference center's lingering $3.2million debt as positive initiatives.

In previous years, Murray said, LakeLogan was unable to work on a break-evenbasis. This year, he noted, the budget is inbalance through the end of April and “that'sa major step” in “proper stewardship.”

The board, Murray said, is working inclose coordination with the diocese on threefronts simultaneously:

1 - Continued offering for sale of severalparcels of land that do not impact the oper-ation of Lake Logan Episcopal Center.Targeted land has been on the market fortwo years (not the most optimum time tobuy/sell real estate). The Lake LoganBoard has now become more aggressive,Murray said, in that land prices have beenadjusted downward to better reflect marketreality, and a new broker has been hired.The new firm, Beverly-Hanks & Associ-ates, Realtors, of Asheville, also has a

department that deals exclusively withcommercial property, and that should bene-fit the potential land sale.

2 - Lake Logan is continuing to havetalks with potential compatible partnerswho might be interested in buying intoLake Logan as a permanent home. Talkshave begun with one potential partner andother candidate partners are also being pur -sued, Murray said.

3 - The Lake Logan Board plans to meetwith the Episcopal Foundation of WesternNorth Carolina in early summer to ask for“a considerable grant” to apply towardLake Logan's long-term debt.

Fiscal Ministries Chair, the Rev. CyndiBanks, noted that all of these avenues arebeing pursued in light of the whole dioce-san picture financially. Banks continued,“Our understanding of our funds and howtheir use impacts other aspects of our finan-cial health is as clear as it has ever been. Iam grateful to everyone on Fiscal Min-istries for the work they have done to gainthis clarity and provide the information weall need as we move forward.”

Murray credited Bishop G. Porter Tay-lor for his support and involvement inresolving the Lake Logan financial prob-lems, noting that the bishop has canceled

Continued on Page Three

Board chair ‘optimistic’

PAGE 2 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

A Word from the Bishop

Amid the turbulence of this economy,there is a gift although the corollarypain and suffering make that gift hard to

see or even appreciate. The gift is the need forvision. When we have abundant resources,then we don't have to prioritize quite as careful-ly as we do with limits. Instead of fifty tasks,we can only do one. Then we have to ask,“What's the one thing worth doing above allothers?”

The diocese has had to cut its budget in2009 and 2010, it is clear that we will have tomake some major cuts in 2011. As a result, Ihave been thinking a good deal about vision.Where do we need to focus our resources andour time? Our Strategic Plan has given us ourpriorities as a diocese but evenwith that work, we need to bemore clear about our overallpurpose amid these times.

Since I have been bishop, I have repeated that our calling is tri-fold: the jour-ney inward, the journey together, and the journey outward. One early morningafter my prayers, I was drinking coffee and staring into the dawning light, andsome words came to me that begin to encompass that calling: Walk in The Way;Widen the Walls; Wake up the World. I offer them not as a completed statementbut as a catalyst for our common thoughts around where we are and where weneed to go.

Walk in The Way. The Way is, of course, the name for the early Jesus move-ment. The early Christians knew that salvation is an ongoing movement. Wegrow into Christ as we learn the faith, as we practice the fundamental Christiandisciplines, and as we increase our sense of connectedness to God through prayer.We are always on this journey home. Therefore, Christianity is not a set packageof ideas for us to ponder, but is a pilgrimage for us to walk together. I think ourChurch has been plagued by being a talking Church instead of a walking one. Towalk in The Way is to catch a vision of The New Jerusalem and walk towards ittogether right now and to stop fixating on how the campsites needs to look alongthe journey. Finally, it's THE Way and not OUR way. Christianity is a journey ofa lifetime of surrender. We let go of our will again and again and again.

Widen the Walls. I remember at UNC-Chapel Hill there was a “UniversityWithout Walls,” but you can't have a wall less Church. If you affirm everything,you don't affirm anything. We need a container; we need a foundation uponwhich to build. However, we are called to hold onto the essentials and then makethe tent bigger than any Ringling Brothers owns. Our vision of the Church isalways Pentecost. On that day, everyone present was showered with the HolySpirit. People spoke their own language and yet understood one another. ToWiden the Walls is to expand our sense of Church which includes expanding ournumbers. There is no “typical Episcopalian.” The Episcopal Church covers 14countries and four languages. We are not the country club Church; we are theChurch with a table big enough for everyone. We just need bigger walls to makeroom for them.

Widening the walls also means widening our liturgical expressions. Not every25 year old is interested in singing the Wesley brothers' hymns. We cannot justreach out and then tell newcomers, “We're glad you came, now be just like us.”As the Body of Christ grows, our worship grows-not overnight, but it must grow.

Wake up the World. Christianity is a transformational movement. We arenot baptized merely to become part of the Body of Christ; we are baptized to beempowered to do Christ's work in the world. Remember our promises: “Will youstrive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of everyhuman being?” “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neigh-bor as yourself?” To wake up the world is to remind our brothers and sisters thatthere is another way to live. We “wake” people up because we don't bring thetruth to people; we remind people of the Truth and the Way and the Life. Weremind them who they intrinsically are and for what purposes they are born. Wehold up the promise of the New Jerusalem---the city of peace, justice, and mercy— so that others catch the vision of another way to live.

Perhaps these are not the right words. Perhaps my addiction to “W's” has madethe vision inexact. However, I am certain about these principles: we need a clear-er vision that is dynamic and flexible and engaging. We need to grow inward,outward, and together. We need to be clear with ourselves and others about whowe are and why we are here. The world needs the Good News and the Church.Let us be about our calling.

Walk in the Way;Widen the Walls;Wake up the World

+ G. PORTER TAYLORBishop, Diocese of Western N.C.

Highland Episcopalianin print five times this yearIf you thought maybe you have been missing your monthly Highland Episcopalian t h i s

year, you were right. But you're not alone; so has everyone else. This is only the second(of five) printed edition of your diocesan newspaper that you'll receive this year.

The cutback from 10 issues to five for 2010 is a financial one; as a diocese we can nolonger afford to print, label, bundle and mail more than 8,000 copies of the H i g h l a n dEpiscopalian every month.

So you're now receiving a printed edition once a quarter (March, June, September andDecember) plus an extra edition in November that also serves as the Diocesan Conventionedition.

Please remember our diocesan website — www.diocesewnc.org — contains a consid-erable amount of timely news on the home page, posted daily, and we send out a weeklydigital newsletter, emailed to you directly. To subscribe to the online newsletter, contactAlice Keenan at reception@diocesewnc.org, and continue sending your news stories andinformation to the editor at highlandepiscopalian@earthlink.net.

Bishop ordains four

Diocese of Western North Carolina Bishop G. Porter Taylor ordainedfour newly graduated seminarians to the transitional diaconate Sunday,May 23 at the Cathedral of All Souls. All four are on track to beordained to the priesthood within a year. The four are Alice Rutland,from Grace, Asheville, who was graduated from the School of Theologyat the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn. She received theGeorge Thomas Shettle Prize for excellence in Liturgical Reading andthe St. George’s College Jerusalem Award, which allows her to take atwo-week course, “the Palestine of Jesus” there. Following Sunday’sservice, she left for Napa, Calif., where she will begin work July 1 at St.Mary’s, Napa in the Diocese of California. Also newly graduated fromSewanee May 14 was Sara Ardrey-Graves, from Holy Cross, Tryon, whowas also ordained Sunday. Anne McClearen, a parishioner of theCathedral of All Souls and who recently graduated from General Theo-logical Seminary in New York, N.Y. May 19, will become the new rectorat St. George’s, Asheville. And, Thomas Murphy, also from the Cathe-dral of All Souls, who attended Harvard University and finished hisAnglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., isalready working at the cathdral and as a chaplain at the University ofNorth Carolina at Asheville. The Very Rev. Todd Donatelli, dean of thecathedral, preacher at the service. The ordinands are pictured abovewith Bishop Taylor, (from left) Rutland, Murphy, McClearen and Ardrey-Graves.

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010 — PAGE 3

Prize oceanfront house is Islamorada, Fla.

The Rt. Rev. Idris Jones, Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, and pastPrimus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and his wife Alison will bevisiting in the diocese June 7-16 at the invitation of Bishop and Mrs.Porter Taylor. Bp. Jones will be preach at the Cathedral of All Soulsat the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, June 13. He will alsospeak at St. Luke's, Boone, on June 8. His visit also includes lunchwith the Asheville Deanery, and meetings at Calvary, Fletcher; ValleCrucis Conference Center; and Province IV conferences at Kanuga.Bp. Jones is pictured here with Bp. and Mrs. Taylor during last year'sGeneral Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

‘Retreats for Retreat 2’to benefit Lake Logan

Spurred on by the success of last year'sfund-raiser to benefit Lake LoganEpiscopal Center, the Lake Logan

Board of Director is again sponsoring“Retreats for a Retreat 2” celebration anddrawing Sunday, Aug. 29.

The grand prizewinner will receive aweeklong stay for eight at a four-bedroomoceanfront home in Islamaorada, Fla., inthe Florida Keys, and a $500 travelallowance.

Tickets this year cost $75 each and willadmit one to a party to be held Sunday,Aug. 29 at Packs Tavern in downtownAsheville, from 4-6 p.m. Satellite partieswill take place concurrently in BlowingRock and in Shelby.

In addition, a number of other donateditems will be available in a Silent Auction.

To purchase tickets, email Cheryl Smith,director of development at Lake Logan, atcherylsmith@lakelogan.org, or telephoneher at 828-646-0095. A ticket-holder does

not have to be present to win the grandprize.

Additional information about the SilentAuction and other details about Retreats fora Retreat will be posted on the Lake Loganwebsite, www.lakelogan.org as soon asthey are known.

Continued From Page One

his Sabbatical this year in order to devoteseveral months to personal fund raising.

In addition, Murray pointed out thatLake Logan's business plan includesincreased occupancy this year (followingan industry-wide slow-down in 2009 due tothe shaky U.S. economy), building newbusiness through a consultant who has con-siderable convention-booking experience,and other practical measures.

Lake Logan debt plancause for optimism

89th Annual Diocesan Convention Nov. 11-13 — Kanuga Conference Center

Convention packets will be mailed to parishes in July. All of the follow-ing information is due by October 15. Details for each will be inside theparish packet you will receive. For questions, please contact Alice

Keenan at 828-225-6656.

· Certificate of Election Form - return to: Alice Keenan (Diocesan Office)

· Convention Registration Form - return to: Alice Keenan (Diocesan Office)

· Kanuga Conference Center Registration Form - return to: Kanuga Con-ference Center

· Convention Resolutions: send to: jimpritchett@diocesewnc.org and high-landepiscopalian@earthlink.net

· Nominations for Bishop's Appointments: send to:bishop@diocesewnc.org

· Nominations for Distinguished Communicants: send to: bishop@dioce-sewnc.org

· Offices to be Elected for publication in the Highland Episcopalian: sendto: highlandepiscopalian@earthlink.net (After Oct. 15th send to: bishop@dioce -sewnc.org)

New Federal Ministriesbishop hails from WNC

The Rev. Dr. James "Jay" Magness,who grew up in this diocese and stillconsiders Hendersonville his home,

was elected the sixth Bishop Suffragan forFederal Ministries March 24 during a meet-ing of the House of Bishops at Camp Allen,Texas.

Formerly thecanon for missionand diocesanadministration inthe Diocese ofSouthern Virginia,Magness, who is64, began work inthe federal min-istries' Washing-ton, D.C., officeon May 17. Hisconsecration isscheduled forJune 19, at 10 a.m.at WashingtonNational Cathedral, with Presiding BishopKatharine Jefferts Schori presiding.

Chosen out of a field of eight nominees,Magness will supervise all Episcopal clergywho're serving in the U.S. Dept . ofDefense, the Veterans Administration andin the Bureau of Federal Prisons.

He serves directly under the PresidingBishop.

“It seems as if I've been preparing forthis (new ministry) since I was a youngsailor returning from Vietnam,” Magnesstold the Highland Episcopalian.

He was born in Florida, but grew up inHendersonville when his parents moved toNorth Carolina the year after he was born.He grew up at St. James, Hendersonville,and was graduated from HendersonvilleHigh School.

He joined the U.S. Navy in the mid-1960s and later attended Asheville Bun-combe-Tech. He then studied sociology,psychology and anthropology at WesternCarolina University.

After receiving his seminary training atSeminary of the Southwest, in Austin,Texas, he returned to Western North Car-olina and was ordained a deacon at Trinity,Asheville, in 1977 and a priest the follow-ing year at St. Paul's, Edneyville.

He served both St. Paul's and at St. Johnin the Wilderness, Flat Rock, as director ofreligious education/youth, and joined theNaval Reserve as a chaplain

In 1980, Magness went back on activeduty with the Navy as a Chaplain Corpsofficer, but kept his residence here in thisdiocese until 2004 when he moved toLouisville to become the Canon to theOrdinary for the Diocese of Kentucky.

From 2007-2009 he served a parish inVirginia Beach, Va., and in 2009 becamethe Canon for Mission in the Diocese ofSouthern Virginia.

In 1981 he completed a clinical pastoraleducation residency year at Walter ReedArmy Medical Center. Later on he spenttwo years in an exchange program with theBritish Royal Navy, working as a chaplainand priest for the Church of England. In1999, he earned a doctor of ministry degreewith a concentration in Christian leadershipfrom Gordon Conwell Theological Semi-nary.

Magness' wife is the former CarolynHall of Mills River. They have two daugh-ters, both of whom live in Virginia. Thecouple also maintains a home in Hender-sonville. They visit in the diocese often.

St. James, Hendersonville

Bp. Magness

With these words, the Rt.Rev. G. Porter Taylordedicated and consecrat-

ed the new Health Care Chapel atSt. Giles, Deerfield, April 15, as aplace of worship, care and learn-ing for residents in wheelchairs,rolling beds, motorized chairs andother special needs.

The $1.1 million chapel, partof Deerfield Community's currentexpansion program, began in2004 during conversations abouthow St. Giles could minister moreeffectively to the residents ofDeerfield's assisted living andskilled care residents.

Connected to the Skilled Nurs-ing Facil i ty, the new chapelallows residents to worship with-out having to leave the residentialfacility.

It covers some 1,700 squarefeet (about the size as the sanctu-ary at St. Giles Chapel) and is allopen space, without pews. Thisallows chairs to be placed wherev-er they are needed and for clergyand staff to move freely amongworshippers who are in wheel-chairs or rolling daybeds.

The chapel is equipped with astate-of-the-art sound system, anelectronic organ and a projectorsystem for visual activities. Eventhe lectern is right-sized for read-ing from a wheel chair.

In the planning stages, theChapel Committee read ElizabethBrawley's book, “Designing forAlzheimer's Disease.” At the sametime, the Rev. Morgan Gardner,Deerfield Chaplain, undertook astudy of how a chapel might be

designed to function also as amultipurpose facility to serve thespecial needs of persons withAlzheimer's Disease and other

forms of dementia. His study waspublished as part of an integrativestudy project for the Gerontologi-cal Pastoral Care Institute in 2006.

When a capital fund drive forthe proposed multipurpose healthcare chapel began in 2008, theDeerfield Community respondedto the appeal enthusiastically, rais-ing $1.1 million in gifts andpledges over a period of about sixweeks.

“We're aware that this is a newconcept, one with great potentialto reshape the way health careprofessionals think about theimportance of spirituality inaddressing the needs of seniors,”Gardner said.

He pointed out that recentresearch has demonstrated some-thing truly remarkable about peo-ple with Alzheimer's disease andother forms of dementia: the spiri-tually-receptive parts of the mindare among the last to fail. Thuspeople who have forgotten nearlyeverything else are often still ableto sing favorite hymns, reciteprayers and respond to familiarparts of the liturgy. As the cogni-tive capacities of the brain dimin-ish, people remain attuned to their

spiritual feelings and religiousmemories.

The newly dedicated chapel isdesigned as a safe, accommodat-ing and comfortable communitycenter - a “home for the soul”where residents can enjoy theexperiences of worship as well asall sorts of other activities.

“As always, our residents andstaff alike are discovering newways of celebrating life in all itsdimensions,” Gardner said, “andwitnessing the beauty and powerof God's love, manifested amongus.”

The overall expansion includes83 independent living apartmentsin Tuton Hall, a new mid-risebuilding connected to TimsonHall, 20 assisted living suites and14 skilled nursing residences.

Other additions are new andexpanded common spaces in boththe Community Center and theHealth and Wellness Center,including the Riverwalk, an open,spacious gathering area with acafé/ deli, comfortable tables andcozy nooks.

The new apartments will beavailable for occupancy this sum-mer.

PAGE 4 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

New health care chapel at Deerfield dedicatedEverliving Father, watchful and caring, our source and our end: All

that we are and all that we have is yours. Accept us now, as we dedicatethis place to which we come to praise your Name, to ask your forgive -ness, to know your healing power, to hear your Word, and to be nour -ished by the Body and Blood of your Son. Be present always to guideand to judge, to illuminate and to bless your people.

Above, work is finishing up on the Deerfield expansion and new units... Top photo, Bishop Taylor dedicates new Health Care Chapel April 15

THE DIOCESE IN ACTION

The 2010 Diocesan Picnic , originallyscheduled for June 26 at Lake LoganEpiscopal Center, has been canceled

this year due to limited response to tentrentals and reservations.

In the past the picnic has attracted asmany as 1,000 participants. Next year's datewill be selected earlier so that parishes willhave clearer advance notice about thetimetable for tent rentals and other reserva-tions.

>

The Rev. Valori Mulvey Sherer, rectorof the Church of the Redeemer in Shelby,received her Doctor of Ministry degreefrom the School of Theology at the Univer-sity of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., at theirgraduation exercises May 14.

Sherer's project was “How the theologyand praxis of Christian marriage have beenshaped by Scripture, tradition, and experi-ence and how that informs the church's cur-rent response to non-traditional marriage.”

>The Rev. William H. (Bill) Whisen-

hunt, rector of Trinity, Asheville, ended his10-and-a-half-year tenure March 14, with a“packed house” retirement reception. Hewas presented an engraved bowl, and vari-ous gifts aimed at fostering relaxation(beach chairs, beach umbrella, etc.).Whisenhunt and his wife Nancy are spend-ing some time in Charleston, S.C., but thefamily will continue to call Asheville home.

Whisenhunt suffered a stroke some ninemonths ago and is continuing to recuperate.

He spent his entire 26 years as a priest inthe Diocese of Western North Carolina,serving previously for eight years as Canonto the Ordinary and Canon to Small Parish -es, and before that, as rector at Epiphany,Newton.

>In C u r s i l l o news, the Secretariat is look-

ing to update its database in the diocese.Stay informed (weekends, Ultreyas, palancaparties, Servant Community opportunities,etc.) by signing up for the Cursillo newslet-ter via email atDick.Smith@wnccursillo.org, or phoneDick Smith at 828-687-9532.

>Four concerts are scheduled during June

at St. Matthias, Asheville. All are on Sun-

days and all start at 3 p.m.• June 6 - There will be a concert by the

Signature Winds woodwind quintet basedin Cullowhee. This will be part of the FirstSunday Classical Chamber Music Series.

• June 13 - The Asheville Jazz Orchestrawill perform. This will be part of the Sec-ond Sunday Jazz Series.

• June 20 - The 40-plus-piece Land ofSky Symphonic Band will perform.

• June 27 - David Starkey, Sr. will pre-sent a recital of art songs and arias.

A free-will offering will be taken for therestoration of the 100-year-old historicchurch, located just off South CharlotteStreet at Max Street on the hill across fromthe Asheville Public Works Building (1Dundee St.).

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010 — PAGE 5

Christ Church, Sparta, calls Walton as new rectorChrist Church, Sparta, has called the Rev. Richard

Lindsley (Lin) Walton, Jr., a former missionary inBelize, as their new rector. Walton, who began work

May 2, will be officially welcomed in a Celebration of aNew Ministry service Sunday, July 25, at 4 p.m.

For Walton and his wife Nancy, this new call will be “arecapturing of what originally brought us together - a call-ing to rural ministry,” Walton said.

It will also be a different way of life for the couple, whomet while they were theological students together at DukeUniversity. Initially in their new home in Allegheny Coun -ty, Nancy, who is a minister in the United MethodistChurch, will be taking a year's leave of absence.

A cradle Episcopalian, Walton was born in the Districtof Columbia where his father was an economist for the fed-eral government. He grew up in Falls Church, Va., wherehe and his family were active in Falls Church EpiscopalChurch, then a mid-size family church that later grew dra-matically to a congregation of several thousand.

He attended Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., northof Boston, earning a B.A. degree in English and psycholo-gy. His first job out of college was as a research assistant toa Harvard University professor who was studying drugabuse in HIV patients. From that experience, working onthe front lines of a major social issue, Walton sought toexpand and understand his interest in counseling and socialwork by seeking an advanced degree at Duke University,

here in North Carolina.In his first year at

Duke, Walton realizedthrough a professor whowas an Episcopalian thathis quest for ethicalanswers might be a call tothe priesthood. This ledto a discernment processback in his Falls Churchparish.

When he finished hisMaster of TheologicalStudies degree at Duke,his bishop, the Rt. Rev.Peter Lee of Virginia,pointed him to VirginiaTheological Seminary in Arlington where he earned hisM.Div. degree in 1999.

His first charge, after ordination, was as assistant rectorat St. Peter's, in Salisbury, Md., in the Diocese of Easton.

While there, he led a mission trip to Honduras and later,a mission team in Belize, in Central America. As it hap-pened, that group stayed in the bishop's home in BelizeCity, and at the end of their trip, Walton was asked to comeand work there full time.

From 2002-2006, Walton and his young family servedas missionaries in the Diocese of Belize, where he worked

as interim director of the Anglican Theological Instituteand as a lecturer in ethics at the University of Belize.

By this time, it was his turn to follow his wife's career.She needed to return to the United States and serve theMethodist Church. Nancy was called as senior pastor ofGray Memorial United Methodist Church in Tallahasseeand Walton began a Ph.D. program in England, whileresiding in Florida. He also served as priest-in-charge ofyouth, mission and outreach at St. John's, Tallahassee, andmost recently, as assisting priest at the Church of theAdvent there.

Additionally, Walton has had some interesting overseasexperiences: He worked with a non-governmental organi-zation, offering food, tents and clothing to Afghan refugeesduring the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1989. In 1993,he worked at a Roman Catholic orphanage for childrenwho had lost their parents to AIDS in Moshi, Tanzania, andin Arua, Uganda, he worked with Sudanese seminariansfrom Bishop Allison Theological College who were forcedto flee their during the civil war of 2007.

In Sparta, Walton said he and his family are looking for-ward to living a life of “creation care,” closer to the land -horseback riding, raising a litter of goats and vegetable gar-dening.

The Waltons have a daughter, Sophia, who is 10, and ason, Jeremiah, 7. The family will join Walton in Spartawhen school is out, this month.

Walton

“Climb The Mountain” was the themefor the EYC Spring Conference held atValle Crucis Conference Center March 5-7.The weekend was planned and led by mem-bers of the Diocesan Youth Council alongwith guest speakers the Rev. AugustaAnderson and Adair Cates, Spanish teacherat A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville,who also is a motivational coach, inspira-tional speaker, and author.

With 108 total participants, the youthdiscussed issues and pressures surroundinghow to prepare and make sure they areready for the next adventure in their liveswhile they continue their spiritual and life

journeys. Cates led an interactive presentation on

four essential tools for continuing yourjourney. She talked about the importance ofsetting goals, developing affirmations, visu-alizing your success clearly, acknowledgingwhat you are grateful for, and focusing onfeeling good now so that you will feel theway you want when you achieve yourgoals.

Anderson led multiple discussions onhow spirituality plays a role in your contin -ued journey. She talked about how life isnot all about you, and that it's essential tohave a supportive community, as well as

that being popular and/or successful are notthe only important aspects of being valued.

She also was able to use music and sto-ries to convey the key emotions, struggles,and joys in her own personal journeys.Most importantly, Augusta expressed that“climbing the mountain” doesn't end whenyou get to the top; you end up climbingmultiple mountains on your journey, andlearn valuable lessons along the way to helpyou on your lifelong journey.

In addition, we also spent time singing,playing games outside and in the AppleBarn, eating lots of food, hiking, makingstained glass for Valle Crucis, taking visits

to the Candy Barrel at the Mast GeneralStore, dancing to the Nintendo Wii J u s tD a n c e video game, and playing capture-the-youth-council game, “Need 4 Beads.”

On Saturday night we enjoyed our Mar-di Gras Party where most everyone camedressed in their best masquerade costumes!Eucharist concluded the weekend on Sun-day as Bishop Taylor and Andersonpresided, and the seniors in our diocesewere recognized and blessed as they enterinto the next chapters of their journeys.

— Osondu McPetersCanon for Youth & Collge Ministries

EYC SpringConference

at Valle Crucis

PAGE 6 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

Dain & Constance Perry kick off effort

Diocese begins reconciliation processDain and Constance Perry visited the diocese the

week of March 13-20 to shepherd parishes into thetruth and reconciliation process called for by the

passage of A-123 and in preparation for the Service of Rec-onciliation planned for April 9, 2011.

Thirty-six parishes participated by sending 120 membersto the workshops held at St. James, Black Mountain andTrinity, Asheville. Of those attending, there were 26priests, six deacons, 88 lay persons as well as three mem-bers representing other organizations. Additionally, thePerrys conducted workshops at St. Mary's in the Hills,Blowing Rock and UNC-Asheville.

The Commission to Dismantle Racism invited the Per-rys who opened their arms and their hearts to participants -all who came with the intention of furthering the deep innerwork necessary for healing and transformation. Afterviewing the film, “Traces of the Trade,” which chroniclesthe DeWolf family's involvement in the slave trade inRhode Island, participants were invited to enter into honestdialogue, sharing stories and truth telling, beginning a newand different approach to reconciling with the EpiscopalChurch's complicity in racial discrimination.

In an environment free of blame and shame, those inattendance deeply listened and honored the experience ofothers and that produced subtle but remarkable shifts inawareness of the pain experienced by people on both sidesof the racial divide.

The Rev. Jim Abbott, rector of St. Matthias, Asheville,reflected on the Perry events in this way:

“This workshop and the way the Perrys helped us reflecton this whole issue moved the conversation from our headsto our hearts and it put it squarely in the context of ourChristian faith. Many people came with fear that we werejust going to stir up guilt and deal with this issue on asuperficial level and discovered that it moved the conversa-tion deeper and helped people get in touch with each other'sstories and became a healing, liberating experience.”

That was due in no small measure to the safety, sanctity,and loving environments of the church sites where theworkshops were held. Though the dialogue sometimesmeandered into painful, emotional territory, the Perryswere able to punctuate the intensity with moments of

laughter so important to the healing process.Enthusiasm for the Perrys' work was evident. Several

parish priests and the dean at the Cathedral of All Soulsexpressed interest in having the Perrys return for furtherwork. Todd Donatelli said, “Those present from our parishwere deeply moved by the presentation and continue to talkabout how it speaks to them personally and to us congrega-tionally. They are hoping we will invite the Perrys for afuture visit.”

After the film showing and discussion at UNC-A, onestudent asked if he could bring the entire basketball team tothe next workshop.

The Repairing the Breach Committee will offer two

workshops at the Mission and Ministry conference, June 5.Hal Keiner of All Souls will offer a workshop designed tohelp congregations retrieve the data they need to compiletheir local histories. Rita Van Zant of Holy Family, MillsRiver, will offer a second workshop on how to collect oralhistories.

To make this process work, the fruits of the Perrys' visitmust be shared in individual parish communities by con-tinuing the dialogue. Glenda McDowell, St. Matthias,responded to the workshops by saying that although there isstill a great deal of work yet to be done, she was glad to bea part of “the beginning of powerful needed healing.”

—Molly Walling

Seated, Constance/Dain Perry; the Rev. Jim Abbot standing during Black Mountain meeting

St. John’s, Sylva, plantsvegetables for hungry

Last March, St. John's, Sylva, receivedpermission from First Citizen's Bank to usetheir land that lies directly behind St. John'sas a vegetable garden. On this small plot ofland, which is unusable by the bank, St.John's has placed 12 raised beds in whichthey will grow vegetables to supplementthe work of two agencies in their communi-ty: United Christian Ministries and TheCommunity Table.

The Community Table feeds an average130 people each of the four nights per weekthey serve dinner. By February of this year,they had emptied their pantry of the pro-duce they had preserved from their owngarden last year.

United Christian Ministries currentlyprovides 192 families with non-perishablefoods, household goods, furniture and limit-ed financial assistance. Fresh producewould be most welcome to the familieswho look to them for help.

The Rev. Pattie Curtis, St. John's rector,has been in conversation with both agencies

to ensure that St. John's members will growthe produce these agencies most need.

To help finance this project, St. John'sturned to the diocese’s Human Hurt andHope Fund. In April the HHH Fund recom-mended and the Executive Councilapproved a grant in the amount of $2,200.This has enabled St. John's to purchase theraised beds, quality soil and compost need-ed to begin the project.

As with any garden, the expense isincurred in the construction phase. Oncebuilt, the annual expense of maintaining thegarden will be minimal, but the fruits of thelabors of the parishioners of St. John's willbe immense. Parishioners and localproviders have donated most of the seedsand seedlings used for this year's crop.

The children in St. John's SundaySchool are participating by having a raisedbed of their own. Sharing the bed withthem will be the children and parents of theCommunity Early Learning Group thatmeets in St. John's parish hall each week.The Rev. Pattie Curtis and parishioners at blessing of garden

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010— PAGE 7

New Ministry celebratedThe Rev. David McNair, new rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit,Mars Hill, in Madison County, was officially welcomed Sunday, April25, with a Celebration of New Ministry service, at which the bishop,the Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor, presided. The bishop is pictured herewith McNair, his wife Lynn, and their children, Sadie and Simon.

Hayesville breaks groundfor parish hall expansion

Members and friends of Good Shep-herd Episcopal Church,Hayesville, gathered Sunday,

April 18, to break ground for major expan-sion that includes replacing and tripling thesize of its parish house. The ceremony wasthe culmination of more than seven yearsof planning.

It was an historic event in the life of thecommunity-oriented Hayesville church,bringing together three members whoexemplify its legacy of spanning genera-tions. Representing the “older” generationwere Ben Holt and Eleanor Wilson,founders and longtime church leaders. The“younger” generation was represented byJared Edwards, great-grandson of HeywardWilson, another longtime church member.

The ceremony was “symbolic of thegrowth that we have been experiencingover the last five years,” said the Rev. JohnRice, rector. “To run out of space for meet-ings and active ministries, as well as a gath-ering place for parish events, is a goodproblem for us to have. The expansion ofour facilities will meet the majority of ourspace needs.”

This project is the first major construc-tion undertaken at Good Shepherd in 20years. Construction will take place in phas -es. The first will be renovation of the infra -structure, converting the private well andseptic tank to a municipal water and sewersystem. Next, the parish hall and kitchenarea will be replaced by facilities triple itspresent size. This space will then serve

multiple purposes, including meeting andclass rooms, a nursery and handicap acces-sible restrooms.

Out of necessity, because of construc-tion, the Country Fare will not take place atGood Shepherd this year; nor will votingduring elections. Because of the Fare'scancellation, Good Shepherd will continueto support local organizations in other waysthrough its various ministries.

The contractor for the project is CantrellConstruction of Cleveland, GA; the archi-tect is George Hvlenka.

In closing the groundbreaking ceremo-ny, the Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor, bishop ofthe diocese, sought God's blessing on theundertaking:

“O Lord, you give birth to the rain, andyour waters break forth in the desert. MayYour gracious blessing descend like dewfrom heaven upon all those who will gatherin this place for food and fellowship. MayYour blessings of joy and laughter, loveand tenderness fill us to overflowing so thatwe might become your blessing to oneanother.”

Pictured below are, from left, GeorgeHlavenka, Doug Stuart, Ron Cantrell,Mary Stewart King, the Rev. John Rice,Barbara Lanwermeyer, David Smucker,Jared Edwards, the Rt. Rev. Porter Tay-lor, Ben Holt, Sam Oliver, Eleanor Wil-son, and the Rev. Dn. Turner Guidry.(Photo by Harry Baughn)

To keep up with what’s happening throughout your diocese,visit the diocesan website: www.diocesewnc.org

PAGE 8 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

Diocese adopts new gambling policyThe diocese's Executive Council, meeting April 8, vot-

ed to revise its current policy on gambling to includeraffles in a list of practices that parishioners should

avoid.The new policy, however, does not preclude offering

small, randomly awarded prizes in a fund drive.Here's the new policy:Gambling“The moral implications of taking a person's money and

not giving them full value inreturn must be taken serious-ly, and parishes, worship-ping communities, or otherEpiscopal entities must notroutinely engage in practicessuch as bingo, games of chance, raffles, et. If persons areasked to contribute to a specific drive for funds, it is notinappropriate to offer small prizes on a random or chosenby lot basis.”

In other business, the council• Approved the appointment of the Rev. Bruce Walker

(rector of Grace, Morganton) to fill out the unexpired termof the Rev. Beth Lilly as the clergy representative from theFoothills Deanery on Executive Council

• Heard from newly appointed Center(s) for ChristianStudies Executive Director Robin Whittington, whopledged to “offer programs and resources that transcendand feed the hungry places in us.”

• Elected the Rev. Toby Summerour, assistant rector atGood Shepherd, Cashiers, to the Lake Logan EpiscopalCenter Board. (Summerour has been working as a volun-teer to help clarify finances at Lake Logan.)

“We're trying to find a way to reduce the $3.8 million incapital debt and the Lake Logan debt to $1 million by theend of the year,” Bishop Porter Taylor told the council.

Summerour, speaking through a conference call, told thecouncil that the Lake Logan board is working on severalinitiatives to reduce the debt. These include 1) looking at apotential partnership (partial buy-in) with another entity, 2)working with the operating budget to bring it to a break-even position, 3) fund raising, which may include seeking agrant from the Episcopal Foundation of WNC, and 4) con-tinuing to market several parcels of land.

On recommendations from Fiscal Ministries, the council— Gave approval to Good Shepherd, Hayesville, to pro-

ceed with a parish hall expansion project, also approving aninterest-free $25,000 loan from the Restoration and Mainte-nance Fund, and permission to seek a $25,000 grant fromthe Foundation

— Approved an interest-free $18,000 loan for St.Andrew's, Canton, to remove asbestos and install a new

floor in their undercroft— Approved changing the bishop's housing allowance

from $37,000 to $43,000—Granted the bishop authorization to sell securities in a

small bequest (1/6 of $19,000) in the name of the diocese.

The Rev. Beth Turner appeared before the council todiscuss the Young Adult Vocation Project, which is seek-ing grant funding from The Episcopal Church. The projectproposes to foster connection and communication withyoung adults, assist in discernment and vocational educa-tion, and offer internships, the first of which will be thissummer.The Venerable Eugenia Dowdeswell, archdeacon of thediocese, and the Rev. Dn. Bill Jamieson, co-chairs of thenew Justice and Outreach Ministries, reported on enthusi-asm and cooperation among deaneries seeking to engageand support parishes involved in outreach ministries.They proposed $22,217 in Human Hurt and Hope Fundgrants, which the council approved. The grants are

• $5,000 to St. Andrew's, Canton for the second year ofits Community Kitchen project that offers some 1,500meals a month;

• $5,000 for Calvary, Fletcher for the second year of itsFood Pantry that offers non-perishable food and householditems to need families in South Buncombe and Hendersoncounties;

• $5,000 to St. James, Black Mountain, for the WelcomeTable food program;

• $5,000 to the Backpack ministry at St. John in theWilderness, Flat Rock, which provides weekend food in abackpack to school children so they and their families willhave food over the weekend;

$2,217 to St. John's, Sylva, to build 10 raised beds forgrowing food that will be offered to the needy in the com-munity.

Council additionally approved a transaction proposed bythe diocesan chancellor, Roy W. Davis, for Holy Cross,Tryon, to sell seven small parcels of “raw” land for $3,001.

And, Bp. Taylor announced he has appointed membersto the Task Force on Funding, authorized by last fall'sDiocesan Convention to study the diocese's mission andhow it is funded.

The Funding appointees are: George Sweet (Saluda,lay), the Rev. Michael Doty (Tryon, clergy), Jeff Konz (AllSouls, lay), the Rev. Scott Oxford (Black Mountain, cler-gy), the Rev. Tim McRee (Canton, clergy), James Hogan(Lenoir, lay), the Rev. Ron Taylor (Denver, clergy), theRev. Cn. Pam Bright (Shelby, clergy), and Joann Collins(Burnsville, lay).

The Function Task Force appointees are: the Rev. Maria

Hoecker (Brevard, clergy), Bill Mance (St. Matthias, lay),the Rev. Pattie Mouer (St. Luke's, clergy), the Rev. TobySummerour (Cashiers, clergy), the Rev. Karla Woggan(Hickory, clergy) Rosemary Fisher (Hickory, lay), JaneSchronce (Lincolnton, lay), the Rev. Shawn Griffith (Gas-tonia, clergy) and Karen Walker (Spruce Pine. The Rev.Jim Pritchett, Canon to the Ordinary, will serve as an exofficio member.

— Gene Willard, Editor

ExecutiveCouncil

Recently the diocese's Human Hurt andHope Fund recommended St. Andrew's, Can-

ton, for a $5,000 dollar grant to help mem-bers in their outreach efforts with the Canton

Community Kitchen. Executive Councilapproved the grant at its meeting April 8. The

kitchen serves those in need seven days aweek; it supplied more than 1,700 meals in

2009 and gave out over 500 food boxes.Each year the agency has been in operationthe demand for services has increased. This

is the second year St. Andrew's has receiveda HHH Fund grant. Pictured here are, from

left, Juanita Dixon, board member andparishioner at St. Andrew's; Millie Hershen-

son, executive director of Canton Communi-ty Kitchen; and the Tim McRee, rector

CONFIRMATIONSThe following were recently confirmed

or received into The Episcopal Church inthe Diocese of Western North Carolina:

Transfiguration, Bat CaveJanuary 17, 2010Herbert Marshall ThortonDiane Edna BarberCatherine Ann RossCathy Looper RhodesJohn Samuel Rhodes

All Saints, FranklinFebruary 14, 2010August Samuel GagliardoBarbara Pattillo GagliardoMarsha CulpcobbBarton Wells CobbKathleen Mary LynchJames Wyatt ArmfieldHenrietta HaithcockMary Elizabeth Haithcock

St. Matthias, AshevilleFebruary 21, 2010Jennifer Mae ClarkJonathan Tairon Jones

Annika Marie Brock (from Grace,Asheville)

Redeemer, ShelbyMarch 14, 2010Austin Crenshaw SmithCatherine Anne Bartley Lovelace

St.t John in the Wilderness,Flat RockApril 11, 2010William T. BowersPaula CampbellKarina C. KinneyAgnes Daly LlewlynKathleen L. NewboldCarol Ann RectorWendell Hayes RectorJeremiah Jackson Thorn

Good Shepherd, HayesvilleApril 18, 2010Hattie SheehyBenita Esposito

St. James, Black MountainMay 2, 2010

Bethany Dawn NelsonCandy Nichole WoodJennifer Aubra WychockNeal Paul WychockJamie A. TrembleJimmie MincheyMarily O'Donnell MincheySteven Anthony WindischSarah Margaret ChristySam Henry CollinsBrenda Parker McClureNoah Bainer YoungLinda K. ThortonDavid George McEntirePreston Tyler McEntireFred Clayton Martin, IIIJesse David Aram

Cathedral of All Souls, AshevilleMay 9, 2010Mike BartonPerry BrownEric DoescherLeah DonatelliPatricia DouglasJill GoldieDeon Grinnell

Riley HenryCarolyn MacfieDanielle MitchenerRobert MitchenerAshley MeltonRey MillerKatherine Elizabeth NelsonJocelyn ReeseJamaica Reese-JulienMargo RaganoJennifer ShelleySandra StameyCaryn StouerMark StouerVictoria ThompsonJulia VaughanTracy YarbroAllen WorthAaron FairbanksHeidi Fairbanks

St. Andrews, CantonMay 12, 2010Janet Louise DentonEdward Oliver MarthBarbara Ann MonaghanDavid Bransford Rose

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010 — PAGE 9

Who is ready for a dose of HOPE? Anyone familiarwith the situation in Israel and Palestine, knowsthe importance of HOPE. With God's Grace, the

solution is right in our back yard. For the past two sum-mers, children from Palestine and Israel have been comingto western North Carolina to experience one another in acamp setting. This summer Kids4Peace for children 11-12will be at Camp Henry from July 12-25.

Since its founding in 2002, Kids4Peace groups fromJerusalem and the Galilee have traveled to Houston,Atlanta, Toronto, Vermont, and North Carolina.Kids4Peace participants from Israel and Palestine are 11and 12 year old boys and girls of three faiths and twonations, divided in a common land but united as voices forpeace. They get to know each other before the journey

through a series of activities sponsored and hosted by theEpiscopal Diocese of Jerusalem. They explore each other'srealities, traditions, languages and dreams.

In the United States, they join 12 American youth ages11-12 in the safe and conducive atmosphere of Kids4Peace,where they enjoy a distance from the tensions of the con-flict and receive the gift of care and friendship from theirnew American Peace Pals. For the American Kids4Peace,the experience is one in which their world is broadened andthey learn of the common heritage they share with other“Children of Abraham.”

This year Kids4Peace 2010 will spend 14 days at CampHenry. The youngsters will visit a mosque, a synagogue,and church and learning about one another's faith. Whilelearning about one another's faith is the crux of the pro-

gram, the youth will also be building friendship through,whitewater rafting and being involved in other camp activi-ties as a part of the incredible Camp Henry experiencebeing held at the same time.

For more information about Kids4Peace, visitwww.kids4peaceusa.org.

If you know a child who is interested, please get anapplication at www.incarnationwnc.org/Kids4PeaceNC orcontact the North Carolina director, the Rev. Brian Sulli-van, at 828-200-9236, or email him at: rector@incarnation-wnc.org.

If you or your church would like to help supportKids4Peace, you may send checks made payable to “Incar-nation for Kids4Peace,” to Church of the Incarnation P.O.Box 729 Highlands, N.C. 28741.

Kids4Peace returning to Camp Henry in July

Bishop Taylor, left, and his wife,Jo, spend timewith theKids4Peaceyoungsters during the 2009camp here in thediocese.

The Church of the Holy Cross in Valle Crucis welcomed theirnew pipe organ Sunday, March 7, an 11-stop, 13-rank

mechanical action instrument, originally commissioned forSt. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minn., in 1977.

Built by Jan van Daalen, a Dutch organ builder, the organ wasused for several years as an interim organ at Bethel Lutheran Church in

Rochester, Minn. According to Elaine Kallestad, organist/choir director, Holy Cross

purchased the instrument in 2005. North Carolina pipe organ builder J.Allen Farmer of Winston-Salem then refurbished and rebuilt the organ

and modified it to fit Holy Cross' size and 1920s neo-Gothic/Celticarchitecture.

This is the first pipe organ not only for Holy Cross Church, but alsofor the entire community of Valle Crucis.

Holy Cross, Valle Crucisinstalls new pipe organ

PAGE 10 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

Looking expectantlyt o w a rd Camp HenryDear campers, staff, and friends of Camp Henry,

After a long hard winter I am looking expectantly to asummer with long days of sunshine, filled with beautifulflowers, warmth, and a whole lot of fun. This summer wewill be exploring Paul's journey on the Damascus Road andhow he comes to be such an integral part of the early church's formation. We will takea look at our own lives and the journey that we are on, what transformations are hap-pening, and how we are in relationship with each other and God.

Another horizon I have my sights set on for this summer is to extend the invitationfor newcomers to attend camp. As many of you know already, one taste of Camp Hen-ry tends to make a person a die-hard convert for life. Oftentimes camp is the firstexperience young people have with the Holy Spirit. It becomes a palpable entity, exist-ing along side campers and staff as they join in communion together. So this year I amissuing a challenge to all friends of Camp Henry: Bring a friend…or two… or three…or four to camp.

We will continue our time honored traditions of field games, swimming, arts &crafts, programs, morning and evening prayer, hikes, and many more activities such asour legendary and much venerated “Trash Can Lid.” An amazing line up of priests andmedical personnel are sure to make the summer spectacular. And of course, how could

we possible pull off such an amazing summer without anincredible Camp Henry staff?

Get your registrations in ASAP and come join us on thejourney this summer…as always, it promises to be a “moun-tain top” experience. And remember that we have added anadditional Senior High Session July 25th - 31st in case yougot knocked out of the first session due to snow days. Can'twait to see you there!+God' PeaceElizabeth TesterCamp Henry, Director

Wesley Duffee-Braun, Osondu McPeters and Caroline Oxford repre-sented the Diocese of Western North Carolina at the annual VocareInternational Conference April 15-18 at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, Ga.

Members of the Alumni Council for the School of Theology at Sewa-nee recently met at the school in Sewanee, Tenn. Pictured here arethe class stewards for five-year groups. They are, back row, from left,the Rev. Don Black, the Rev. Corky Carlisle, the Rev. Roger Allen andthe Rev. Larry Britt; front row, from left, the Rev. Gene Manning andAllison Kennedy Owen.

Vocare encouragesspiritual discernment

The next wave of the EpiscopalChurch - i ts young adults - gottogether to explore their vocations in

life at the diocesan Vocare conferenceMarch 19-21 at Valle Crucis ConferenceCenter

The 25 young adults from the diocesetook part in this renewal weekend toexplore their spiritual discernment.

Vocare (which means “to call” in Latin)was planned and led by 17 young adultstaff members, including spiritual directors,the Rev. Danae Ashley, from St. Peter-by-the-Lake in Denver and the Rev. BethTurner, Diocesan Young Adult VocationCoordinator. Wesley Duffee-Brain servedas the musician.

Participants attended the retreat fromAsheville, Boone, and Lenoir in North Car-olina; Jefferson City, Tenn.; and Maryland.

During the weekend participants weregiven opportunities for spiritual renewaland discovery through personal talks, groupconversation, and reflection. In addition tolooking into each's individual spiritual call-ing, the participants also discussed theiridentity, how they view themselves, and

how they see themselves as Christians.They also talked about Christ's call, voca-tions of lay, ordained, singlehood, and mar-ried ministries, the importance of commu-nity and spiritual empowerment, as well ashow each person can continue his or herspiritual journey to live in this world asChristians.

Bill and Diane Mance, from St.Matthias, Asheville, serve as the marriedcouple for the weekend. Throughout theretreat they shared their input on therewards and struggles of marriage and howthey minister the love of God through theirrelationship.

In addition to the presentations andgroup discussions, participants also playedgames, took part in community-buildingactivities, sang songs, prayed, walked alabyrinth, and took part in a reconciliationservice.

The last night of the retreat participantstook part in an Agape Feast “love-feast,”followed by a karaoke session and endingwith a campfire. Sunday, Ashley and Turn -er led the concluding Eucharist.

Sewanee Alumni Council

Visit the diocese’swebsite:

HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010 — PAGE 11

N.C. bishops visit dioceseWestern North Carolina Bishop the Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor hostedhis fellow North Carolina bishops April 13 and 14 in Asheville for aperiodic gathering at which the bishops share ministry and missioninitiatives. They are, pictured here, from left, the Rt. Rev. A.C. “Chip”Marble, retired Bishop of Mississippi and now Assisting Bishop ofNorth Carolina; the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina;the Rev. Neff Powell, Bishop of Southwestern Virginia; the Rt. Rev.Clifton “Dan” Daniel, Bishop of East Carolina; Bp. Taylor; and the Rt.Rev. Santosh Marray, Assisting Bishop of East Carolina. Bp. Marrayis the former bishop of Seychelles in the Province of the IndianOcean, who began his work in East Carolina last fall.

St. John’s, Marion, calls Peggy Walker

New rector

As Peggy Walker grew up at St.James Episcopal Church inAlexandria, La., she literally “ran

through the church” while her motherserved as chair of the Altar Guild there for27 years.

That childhood experience, she nowunderstands, gave her both a sense of com-fort and of reverence for the church whichshe hopes to share with parishioners in hernew job as rector of St. John's in Marion.

She began work in late May and her firstSunday there was Pentecost.

The youngest of three children, Walkergrew up immersed in the Episcopal Church.She was graduated from Louisiana StateUniversity and sold real estate. She lovedgoing to school and earned an M.A. degreein sociology and a M.P.H. (master of publichealth) at Tulane University.

It was while working as a paid ChristianEducation coordinator in a Covington, La.,church that she became more and moredrawn to serve God in a professional wayand decided on the path to ordination.

“I was totally ignorant of the fact thatthey (the Diocese of Louisiana) weren'tordaining women to the priesthood,” Walk-er said.

In fact, at that time Louisiana was one ofonly four dioceses in The Episcopal Churchthat didn't ordain women.

But, Walker said, she is grateful to thebishop, the Rt. Rev. James Brown, whochanged his mind, encouraged her and laterordained her as the first woman to serve asa priest in the Diocese of Louisiana.

After receiving her M.Div. degree at theSchool of Theology at the University of theSouth in Sewanee, Tenn., she was ordainedand served as assistant rector of a largeparish in New Orleans, St. Paul's.

“I loved them, and they loved me,”Walker recalled.

And, she was given the opportunity towork in a wide swath of pastoral duties atthe church and school, eventually servingthere six years.

When she married her husband (the Rev.Francis King, rector of St. Mary's and St.Stephen's in Morganton) and accompaniedhim to seminary, also at Sewanee, sheserved as interim at Trinity Church in Win-chester, Tenn.

Moving back to New Orleans, sheserved a year at St. Paul's, and then workedat a church wellness institute for two years.

She and King had served only one weekas chaplains at the Chapel of the Holy Spir-it on the campus of Tulane University whenHurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in2005. The chapel, which served both theuniversity and an adult community in thearea, ended up standing in two feet of waterand had to be completely re-done. The newchaplains took to worshipping in people's

homes and also rented space in a nearbyBaptist church.

Walker then began volunteering in thesoup kitchen of St. George's EpiscopalChurch in New Orleans' Garden District. Itwas called the Dragon Café and grew fromserving first responders to engaging thehomeless. Walker accepted the job of man-ager, and thanks to a grant targeted to keep-ing musicians in town, the Dragon Caféhosted some of the best music availableanywhere on Friday and Saturday nights.

Walker then worked at a couple of inter-im positions — at St. Mary's, Chalmetteand at the Chapel of the Holy Comforter inLake View, both in Louisiana.

Then when her husband was called toMorganton last year, she moved with himinto the Diocese of Western North Caroli-na. She has been engaged in several pro-jects, but nothing felt quite so right as get-ting to know the people at St. John's, Mari-on.

“I'm very happy,” Walker said. “I'm re-energized and ready to go.”

Her first week on the job she was greet-ed with notes from all the children welcom-ing her to St. John's and numbers of peoplestopping by to visit before they started onsome volunteer work around the church.

St. John's, she said, is the kind of placewhere you can know everybody's name andtheir dog's name, too, and she wants to helpbring in a sense of both purpose and fun,sharing God's love with each other and theworld.

Walker is a voracious reader, and enjoys

walking her dog (a pug) and cooking. She

has a daughter, a writer who lives in

Dublin, Ireland. Although they have regu-

lar video chats, Walker plans a person-to-

person visit in Ireland in September.

Walker

Bishops to meet, witnessin Arizona in September

Episcopal News Service

The Episcopal Church's House ofBishops will meet Sept. 15-21 inPhoenix for its regular fall meeting

as planned, including an optional pre-meet-ing trip to the U.S.-Mexican border, despitepublic outcry over Arizona's recent enact-ment of the nation's toughest immigrationlaw and calls for a boycott.

"It's an opportunity to be educated, to beinformed and to make a public statementabout solidarity with people that are victimsin this, and there are victims on both sides,which is important to emphasize," said Ari-zona Bishop Kirk Smith in a telephoneinterview.

"We will accomplish a lot more bybeing here, learning, hearing and respond-ing about it and standing in solidarity withpeople suffering instead of taking the easyway out by saying 'Let's go meet someplaceelse.'"

The Arizona law aims to identify, prose-cute and deport illegal immigrants. Smithhas joined state ecumenical leaders inprotest of the law and has voiced support

for court challenges to it.The meeting's agenda had already includ-

ed time for the bishops to discuss immigra-tion, border issues, and evangelism, stew-ardship and congregational developmentamong Hispanic populations, Smith said.After the law's passage, the meeting wasexpanded to include the optional border tripand the opportunity to hear from Arizoni-ans on both sides of the issue. T h ediocese also hopes to schedule a meetingwith the Coalition of Episcopal Latinos,which will be meeting in nearby Scottsdale.

Smith added that he hopes at the closeof the meeting bishops will issue a publicstatement in solidarity with those mostaffected by the law.

"We're not doing this because it's politi-cally correct, we're doing it because it's theChristian imperative," he said. "Do we real-ly want to get to the point where we saybefore I can give you a cup of cold water, Iwant to see your papers? That seems to bethe direction we're headed and that's tragic.We can do better as Christians and as acountry. We can do this in a way that'shumane and moral and less fearful."

Immigration law challenge

Six years ago, Eleanor Lambert (Ellie)Wilson shared the journey of a “citygirl” moving to rural Western North

Carolina in 1941 in her memoir, “My Jour-ney to Appalachia.”

She introduced her readers to the worldof the John C. Campbell Folk School asseen through her eyes — those of a recentVassar graduate in a new place far fromNew York.

“Farming and a bit of adventureappealed to me,” she said.

Her one-year employment at the schoolblossomed into a romance with her futurehusband and a lifelong passion for countrylife in this part of the state.

After that book was published, she wasasked repeatedly, "What happened next?"

“My Life in Brasstown” is the rest of thestory - a more detailed account of her life,home, and community in Brasstown, NorthCarolina, through the 40 years following

1942.E l e a n o r

Lambert grewup on LongIsland and wasgraduated fromVassar Collegein 1941. Hersense of adven-ture led her toleave the con-ventional soci-ety of heryouth to take ajob at the JohnC. Campbell

Folk School. Following World War II, Elliemarried Monroe Wilson, with whom shehad fallen in love at the Folk School, and in1949, the Wilsons bought a dairy farm inBrasstown. During their marriage of 50years, they raised four children.

Wilson honed her listening and writingskills while employed as a teacher, socialworker, and psychiatric counselor. Shereceived a master's degree in non-schoolcounseling in 1979. Her spirit of advocacyled to her involvement in establishing sev-eral community service agencies.

In 1955, she and Monroe were foundingmembers of the Church of the Good Shep-herd in Hayesville, and she has written thatstory, too: “A Fiftieth Anniversary Story ofthe Episcopal Church of the Good Shep-

herd.”She has served on the diocesan Execu-

tive Council, on the Cathedral Study Com-mittee and is a recipient of the Distin-guished Communicant Award for her layservice to the diocese.

She divides her time between the farm inBrasstown and her home in Kentucky. Inher retirement, she has traveled abroad andfrequently visits her children and six grand-children.

Published by Bright Mountain Books,the paperback 136-page book costs $16 andis available at the gift shop at John C.Campbell Folk School, Phillips & LloydBookstore in Hayesville, and The CuriosityShop in Murphy. It is also available inmany independent bookstores and at thewebsite www.brightmountainbooks.com

Newspaper of the DioceseOf Western North Carolina

P.O. Box 2878Morganton, NC 28680-2878

TEL 828-432-5665FAX 828-438-9600

highlandepiscopalian@earthlink.net

JUNE 2010Bishop The Rt. G. Porter TaylorEditor Eugene Willard

The Highland Episcopalian is published fivetimes a year — March, June, September,November and December — by the Board ofthe Highland Episcopalian, authorized by theConvention of the Episcopal Diocese of West-ern North Carolina. At other times, news andinformation is posted at the diocesan website:www.diocesewnc.org. Members of the High-land Episcopalian Board are Frank Ballard,Jack Buchanan, Mary Ann Ransom, JackReak,Sandra White, & Pamela Doty, chair.

CALENDARSJune 1 - Fiscal Ministries meeting, 10 a.m.June 1 - Foundation Ministries meeting, 2 - 4 p.m.June 1 - Trustees meeting, 4 - 5:30 p.m.June 3 - Executive Council meeting, 10 a.m. June 5 - Ministry & Mission Conference, First Baptist Church, Asheville, 9 a.m. - 4

p.m.June 6 - Task Force on Funding, 3 p.m.June 12 - Lake Logan Board meeting, Lake Logan, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.June 12 - Diocesan Budget Hearing meeting, 10 a.m.June 15 - Deans meeting, 1 p.m.June 27 - July 1 - Province IV Youth Event - Great Smoky Mountain National Park,

Townsend, Tenn.

July 5 — Diocesan Office ClosedJuly 8-18 - N.C .Freedom Ride Pilgrimage, Wilmington - Greensboro, N.C.July 10 - Service of New Ministry, St. Paul's, Wilkesboro, Scott Peterson, 4 p.m.July 24 - “Finding the More Excellent Way - Celebrating God's Gift's in One Anoth-

er” - a retreat led by Bishop Porter Taylor for all spiritual seekers, Calvary, Fletcher, 10a.m. - 4 p.m.

July 25 - Service of New Ministry, Christ Church, Sparta, Lin Walton, 4 p.m.July 29 - Standing Committee meeting, 1 p.m.

Aug. 14 - Lake Logan Board meeting, Lake Logan, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Aug. 14 - Diocesan Acolyte FestivalAug. 17 - Fiscal Ministries Meeting, 10 a.m. Aug. 17 - Foundation Ministries meeting, 2 - 4 p.m.Aug. 17 - Trustees meeting, 4 - 5:30 p.m.Aug. 19 - Executive Council meeting, 10 a.m.Aug. 19 - Architectural Review Committee, 6 p.m.Aug. 22 - Diocesan Youth Splash, Camp Rockmont, Black Mountain, N.C.

Bishop Taylor's CalendarJune 1 - Fiscal Ministries, 10 a.m.June 1 - Foundation, 2 p.m.June 1 - Trustees, 4 p.m.June 3 - Executive Council, 10 a.m.June 5 - M&M Conference, First Baptist Church, Asheville June 6 - All Saints, Linville, VisitationJune 6 - Task Force on Function & Funding, 3 p.m.June 12 - Diocesan Budget Hearing MeetingJune 12 - Lake Logan Board Meeting, 10 a.m.June 13 - St. David's, Cullowhee, VisitationJune 15 - Dean's meeting, 1 p.m.June 24 - Deerfield Board meeting, 3 p.m.June 27 - St. Luke's, Asheville, VisitationJune 29-30 - College for Bishops, Cleveland, Ohio

July 4 - Messiah, Murphy Visitation July 10 - Deacons In Process, 10 a.m., Cathedral of All SoulsJuly 10 - Service of New Ministry, St. Paul's, Wilkesboro, the Rev. Scott Peterson, 4

p.m.July 11 - Resurrection, Little SwitzerlandJuly 18 - St. James, Lenoir VisitationJuly 22 - Deerfield Board meeting, 3 p.m. July 24 - “Finding the More Excellent Way- Celebrating God's Gift's in One Anoth-

er,” Calvary, Fletcher, 10 a.m. July 25 - St. James, Black Mountain, Visitation July 25 - Service of New Ministry, Christ Church, Sparta, the Rev. Lin Walton, 4

p.m.July 29 - Standing Committee meeting, 1 p.m.

August — The bishop is on vacation.

PAGE 12 — HIGHLAND EPISCOPALIAN, JUNE 2010

Church pioneer pensnew book of memoirs

Ellie Wilson

Actress to perform ‘Deacon’s Wife’ play

Actress Barbara Bates Smith,wife of Russell Smith, deacon atSt. Andrew's, Canton, will per-

form her original monologue, “Confes-sions of a Deacon's Wife," at the annu-al assembly of the North AmericanAssociation of the Diaconate in Chica-go on June 26. In this candid andhumorous spiritual journey, she ques-tions her husband, her priest, and hertherapist, while quoting Thich NhatHanh, Joseph Campbell, Bishop PorterTaylor and Bishop John Shelby Spong.

The dramatic presentation has beenthe focus of diocesan retreats, fundrais-

ers, church services, and lively parish discussions, often accompa-nied by hammered dulcimer musician Jeff Sebens. Barbara offers itwithout charge for any programming in the Diocese of WesternNorth Carolina. The 45-minute presentation is often followed by aninformal discussion.

Noted for her Off-Broadway performance of “Ivy Rowe” fromLee Smith's Fair and Tender Ladies, Smith tours extensively withher adaptation of Lee Smith's works. Another monologue, “The C-Word: Her Art-meets-Life Cancer Story,” and “Our Own Stories”workshops round out her touring repertoire.

A Southeastern Theatre “Best Actress” award winner, Smithrecently has played featured roles in regional productions of “Wit,”“Hamlet,” and “Doubt.”

Her website is www.barbarabatessmith.com.Smith