by Rev. Dr. Jim Warnock
Bishop Phil LaBelle will be visiting us on July 12th. This is his first visit to All Saints’ although he’s been to the Goshen congregation before. This is a large diocese, almost 100 churches, so we can expect to see him every three years. That is the canonical requirement. In the intervening two years someone from diocesan staff will make a visit. Recently that has been the Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Cristi Chapman.
Bishops do several things on their visits. Baptisms, confirmation and receptions are in order though we don’t have any of those at this time. He will also look at our parish registers and sign them. I have those prepared. I know he wants to ensure that Bishop’s Committee members and a few others have completed the “Safeguarding God’s Children” curriculum. If you have questions about that let me know. An offering will be taken for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund with envelopes provided.
The Bishop is in his second year, and he’s committed to doing work that will improve people’s lives. He recently returned from a trip to Sudan where he and a few others brought medical kits for women. They’ve been scarce on the ground, and we were able to help. There is talk of setting up a medical facility to continue to aid those in need.
He has encouraged his clergy to move beyond land acknowledgements to develop relationships with our indigenous neighbors, to make connection with them.
He has organized a Steering Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations which replaces the former Holy Land Committee. As a priest in Massachusetts he worked with Muslims and Jews to bring people together and reduce animosities. Here he wants to do that and also to work more closely with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. I’m on this committee and I’m looking forward to what we might accomplish. When we were in Israel in 2015, my daughter Anne and I spent a couple of hours with the dean of St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem. He is now The Most Reverend Hosam Elias Naoum, Bishop of Jerusalem, and he is a good person for the position.
This is good news for the diocese and our parish. Please join with me in welcoming Bishop Phil on his arrival.