Faith groups spread word on health care

From Pittsburgh-

The Rev. Jeff Tindall of Carnegie Presbyterian Church said he has agonized with parishioners who have needed health care and couldn't get it.

Some couldn't afford it, others lost a job that included health care benefits, still others were denied coverage due to the now-banned practice of insurers refusing to cover pre-existing medical conditions.

So on a recent snowy Sunday morning, Rev. Tindall yielded his pulpit for a couple of minutes to Shannon McGee of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit -- a branch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education -- which has been helping educate local residents about how to enroll for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

"It breaks my heart to see people who need health care and cannot get it and know that there is virtually nothing I can do for them but pray," said Rev. Tindall. But, he said, "Simply praying for someone is not enough. When opportunities are present where we can help people obtain the help they need, we should bring it to them."

Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2014/01/05/Faith-groups-spread-word-on-health-care/stories/2014010501470000000#ixzz2pWatEItQ

Diocese Announces Preliminary Slate for Bishop Election

From Pittsburgh-

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh takes great joy in presenting its preliminary slate of four priests who will stand for election in April to become the next Bishop of Pittsburgh.

The slate is preliminary because the diocese now enters a short period during which names may be added to the ballot by petition.

The preliminary slate was unanimously recommended by the Nominating Committee and unanimously accepted by the Standing Committee. The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

More here

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/diocese-announces-preliminary-slate/

Mutual Cooperation Extended As Properties Are Returned

Fbrom Pittsburgh-

Two additional church properties have been returned to the Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church, as diocesan officials and the clergy of the vacating congregations worked together to allow for an amicable hand-off.

The clergy and parishioners of St. Martin's Church of Monroeville and Good Samaritan Church in Liberty Boro informed the Episcopal Diocese that they had decided on their own to leave those churches and property behind and to make a fresh start as new entities elsewhere. Those decisions came after the courts affirmed the Episcopal Diocese’s right to hold and administer the real property of the two churches. Both congregations relinquished the church properties as of January 2, 2012.

The Episcopal Diocese had informed these and other congregations that they were welcome to stay in place for the immediate future. No demands were made on them as a condition for staying, other than to remain good stewards of the property. For those still choosing to leave, the diocese further offered the time and cooperation necessary for an orderly relocation and transition of the property.

More here-

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/mutual-cooperation-extended/

Bishop Price's Christmas Message

From The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh

Let's Focus on the Celebration

There was a time when I could hardly wait for Christmas Eve when the Advent carols would be over and we could sing out lustily "O Come All Ye Faithful." I still love to sing that carol and others, but in this modern age the Christmas music actually began weeks ago. We may sing of the twelve days of Christmas, but hardly anyone realizes the twelfth day comes at Epiphany. For most of us, long before the drummers start drumming, the music has ended and most of the decorations are packed away. In the secular world, the Christmas season comes to an end at New Years, effectively cutting off those last days of our Christmas celebration.

I lament the loss of those days, for we need all the celebration time we can get. In fact, if I had my way, I would make Christmas last even longer. This past year has been a rough one. We have had more than our share of natural disasters and the economic distress that haunts so many, accompanied by record unemployment, foreclosures and depression have hung heavy over us. And to top it all off, now the election debates are dominating the airwaves with rhetoric that can hardly be called uplifting. This Christmas I want a time out from all this so I can take some time to celebrate... for the full twelve days or even more.

More here-

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=l57sh8cab&v=001Mo1LsqllbCBQFjB4CdAzcZu99phpVXutg9b56WhjQxbgMYuTLg-dhblr68kmvZC7KhJISAu9tGhYQPN-7GLzdRhtHgm_Zv6gzKh0K9BhttfqhvuJ4_2Knay5IFdWFmpl-TerY4KGAt263DOPmh1VUEidSM9w3EThyhyqJm35FVpDlZKBdHzrJvS3nFQJSNXJ398qrU_pV43lLNIN7-lW2kbtZSfohQpIv2Tw9zF4V9kKA7LBtYd9K_MXbqaCOy7dnLEgcNKYvMLV_HzKWORiaZc_WG83prUDu1aZm_0aKV-ms8_cbvBKBcH5RdWLAf3pUqcPNyxJ89lrnrBrrUaZ8A%3D%3D

Cyclists invoke higher power for safety

From Pittsburgh-
They squinted and blinked repeatedly as holy water splashed on their faces. Bicycle owners did the squinting, and the Rev. Mike Wernick, the Church of the Redeemer's priest in residence, provided the holy water as he led the Squirrel Hill-based Episcopal church's first Blessing of the Bikes on Saturday.

The service marked the beginning of a season when sunny skies and rising temperatures spur more cyclists to take to the streets, sidewalks and trails, and when bicycling-related injuries and deaths increase. "It's something fun to do and a way to remember cyclists who have died and ask for God's blessing on all riders," said Squirrel Hill resident William Ogburn, 28, event co-organizer and the church's organist-choirmaster.

Of the 922 bicycle crashes that occurred in a 12-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region between 2005 and 2010, 43 percent occurred from June to August, according to PennDOT data. Six of the region's 13 bicycling-related deaths in those years occurred during the three-month summer periods, according to data from the state agency, which said that the tally included all deaths in bicycle crashes, including those involving cars and pedestrians.
Read more:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_734875.html#ixzz1L8FB09qN

Anglican diocese asks court to rehear case

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Feb. 5-

The breakaway Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh is asking Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court to rehear arguments over whether it or the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh holds the title to 24 churches and more than $20 million in endowment assets.

Both the Anglican Diocese and the Episcopal Diocese claim to be the rightful heirs to the old Episcopal diocese, which essentially split in a dispute over church doctrine, a dispute that came to a head after the ordination of an openly gay Episcopal bishop in New England.

The filing, which must be made within 14 days, is not an appeal but an outright request for the same court to hear the case over, citing errors of fact in the ruling which was authored by Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer.

"There are some points of fact that are incorrect in the ruling," said David Trautman, a spokesman for the Anglican diocese. "We are giving the court a chance to correct those errors."

He did not specify the errors the Anglicans contend are in the ruling.

The court on Thursday ruled that the Episcopal diocese held proper title to the $20 million endowment funds. Both sides had earlier agreed to negotiate ownership of the individual parish properties.


Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11036/1123247-455.stm#ixzz1DHlF4500

Also here:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_721394.html

Assets to stay with diocese, court agrees

From The Pittsburgh Tribune Review-

A state appeals court on Wednesday ruled that $20 million in endowments will stay with the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Commonwealth Court's decision upholds a 2009 ruling from Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Joseph M. James, who said that the diocese should retain control of diocesan assets even after dozens of parishes broke away over issues such as abortion and the consecration of a noncelibate gay bishop.

In 2008, conservative Western Pennsylvania congregations led by Robert Duncan, the former bishop of the Episcopal church here, left the church and formed the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The legal wrangling over assets might not be over. A spokesman for Duncan said he had not decided whether there would be an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

"The decision of the Appellate Court is deeply disappointing," Duncan said in a written statement. "In the next hours and days, the bishop and standing committee will pray and take counsel about our corporate path forward, both as congregations and as a diocese."

More here-

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_721090.html#ixzz1DHk408aR

Episcopal leaders taking steps to address sex abuse by clergy

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette-

When former Episcopal Bishop Donald Davis of Erie was accused of child molestation in 1994, he resigned so quietly from ministry that most other bishops didn't know why. It was the same year that an Episcopal bishop who had admitted molesting a minor was reinstated after a year's leave.

Since then, church laws have been changed to make it easier to remove offenders. Church leaders praise Erie's current Bishop Sean Rowe for publicizing new accusations last month against his now-deceased predecessor.

But victim advocates say that church law still allows offenders in ministry.

"The Episcopalians, like most denominations, have a long way to go," said David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "It's alarming that the denomination hasn't even committed to a 'one-strike' policy on paper."

But Bishop Kenneth Price of Pittsburgh believes that the policies dioceses are required to enact create a de facto one-strike rule that keeps offenders out.

"Over the years this has become a much more public concern. The House of Bishops is very concerned for the protection of alleged victims ... and the canons are very clear on what to do," said Bishop Price, who is also secretary of the House of Bishops.

In Pittsburgh, an accused priest would be suspended and civil authorities notified. If a church court upheld the accusation, the priest would be permanently removed from ministry, he said.

Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10214/1077004-84.stm#ixzz0vRhvWkBv

PITTSBURGH: Judge orders property returned to Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh

From Episcopal Life Online-

A judge has told the organization headed by former bishop Robert Duncan that claims to have withdrawn from the Episcopal Church in 2008 that it must turn over control of the Diocese of Pittsburgh's assets.

In a Jan. 29 order County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph M. James accepted as accurate an inventory of diocesan property submitted by a "special master" he had appointed earlier and told Duncan's organization it must transfer the assets.

The inventory includes $22 million in cash, cash equivalents, receivables, and investments including about $2.5 million in pooled parish investments and real estate and other real property.

"The diocese plans to quickly make arrangements so that all parishes may again have access to their investment funds that were frozen by financial institutions during the legal proceedings," according to a news release from the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

On Oct. 4, 2008 a majority of the delegates to the diocese's 143rd annual convention approved a resolution by which the diocese purported to leave the Episcopal Church. The leaders who departed have said that they remain in charge of an entity they have been calling the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh that is now part of the Argentina-based Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. And they say that in that capacity they control all the assets that were held by the diocese when they left.

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph M. James, however, ruled Oct. 6 that all diocesan assets must be held by the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh that is recognized by the Episcopal Church. James' opinion and order are here.

The group led by Duncan said Oct. 29 that it would appeal the ruling once the court issues a final order directing it to transfer the property to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

More here-

http://www.episcopal-life.org/81803_119053_ENG_HTM.htm

‘Begging Burglar’ Breaks Into Church To Avoid Freezing Temperatures

From Pittsburgh- (Video too)

One local church reported a series of unusual break-ins.

Police said a burglar broke into a church on East Jefferson Street in Butler County and it turns out he may have had a change of heart.

According to police, the person responsible for the break-ins may be homeless, freezing and just trying to get out of the cold.

One parishioner said the person is being called the begging burglar.
Police said the begging burglar broke into St. Peter’s Episcopal Church looking for a warm place to stay.

He left a note behind using a child’s crayon asking for forgiveness.

The note said, “I’m sorry about the window, I needed a place to stay tonight. I will repay you when the time is right. P.S. I think God forgives me.”

Police said he cleaned up the mess then left a second note to warn children to avoid the mess.
“It’s very sad that somebody had to break in then sleep in the room,” said a member of the church.

The pastor of the church said he would never press charges and would have helped the person responsible including a voucher for a night or two in a hotel.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/22084433/detail.html

Episcopal Church In Homewood Thankful For New Roof

From Pittsburgh-

For the congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Homewood, this Christmas Eve Mass was the answer to their prayers.

"This church has been needing a roof for quite a while and we finally get the roof put on. And this is our first celebration since that has been done," Hugh Blackman, a parishioner, said.

It's a welcome new beginning compared to what the congregation had to endure prior to the repairs.

"We had a leaky roof. It was leaking in many places. We had problems with the walls, paint peeling from the walls, the plaster falling on people," Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre explained. "The clear story windows – two had already fallen in."

The roof and other restoration work totaled over $220,000 paid for partly by a church loan, the Diocese and generous donations.

More here-

http://kdka.com/local/Episcopal.Church.Homewood.2.1390608.html

Video here-

http://kdka.com/video/?id=66807@kdka.dayport.com

PITTSBURGH: Diocese releases 135 clergy

ENS-

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh said Nov. 3 that it had formally released 135 priests and deacons who have not been active in the Episcopal Church since October 2008.
Provisional Bishop Kenneth L. Price Jr. wrote to each of the affected clergy, which a diocesan news release said was its way of "making good on its offer to release the individuals from their licensed ministry in the Episcopal Church in a way that does not involve disciplinary action."

That offer came and concerns priests and deacons whom the diocese said have accepted letters of transfer to the Argentina-based Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

On Oct. 4, 2008 a majority of the delegates to the diocese's 143rd annual convention approved a resolution by which the diocese purported to leave the Episcopal Church. The leaders who departed have said that they remain in charge of an entity they had been calling the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican) until recently renaming themselves the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. The entity claims affiliation with the Southern Cone

The diocese will tell the church's Recorder of Ordinations to remove the clergy from the list of those licensed to exercise ordained ministry in the church, Price said in his letters to clergy.

The action, Price said, was "for causes which do not affect your moral character [and] does not affect your ordination, which is indelible."

"This is simply a way for us to gain clarity around the issue of who is licensed to practice ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church," Price had said in his Oct. 5 letters to clergy notifying so-called inactive clergy that they would be released unless they told the diocese they wanted to remain.

Price said Nov. 3 that the clergy may be reconciled to the diocese at any time.

"There are canonical procedures that can be followed to receive you and again license you to practice ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church," Price wrote, "and my door will always be open for such a conversation with you."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_116346_ENG_HTM.htm

Diocese Completes Non-Disciplinary Release Of Clergy

From The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh-

Today the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh formally released 135 priests and deacons who have not been active in the Episcopal Church since October of last year.

In letters being mailed today from Bishop Kenneth L. Price, Jr. to each of the affected clergy, the diocese is making good on its offer to release the individuals from their licensed ministry in the Episcopal Church in a way that does not involve disciplinary action.

“The Diocese will proceed to notify the Recorder of Ordinations to remove you from the list of clergy licensed to exercise ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,” Bishop Price writes in his letter.

He continues, “I confirm that it was for causes which do not affect your moral character [and] does not affect your ordination, which is indelible.”

In the offer of release made last month, the clergy were told they can register their ordinations “with whatever entity you choose.”

Bishop Price’s letter today invites reconciliation with any of them at any time.

“There are canonical procedures that can be followed to receive you and again license you to practice ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,” Bishop Price write, “and my door will always be open for such a conversation with you.”

Nothing in today’s announcement completing the release of these clergy from the Episcopal Church affects the legal status of the parishes where they serve. A 2005 Stipulation and Court Order provides a mechanism that the Diocese must follow in the event that a parish seeks to disaffiliate from the Episcopal Church, and the Diocese announced separately on October 9, 2009 that it intends to follow those procedures.

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/diocese-completes-release-of-clergy-11032009/

Fort Worth to Vote on Southern Cone Ties

From The Living Church-

A member diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) will consider a resolution that maintains the diocese’s ties with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

The resolution is being proposed by the Diocese of Fort Worth’s standing committee. The diocese’s convention will meet on Nov. 6 and 7 in Arlington, Texas. The resolution commits the diocese to continued participation in the ACNA, but also “maintains its status as a member diocese in the Province of the Southern Cone while the formal process of recognition of [ACNA] continues in the Anglican Communion.”

“At this point, the Anglican Church in North America is not yet fully recognized as a province of the Anglican Communion,” the standing committee said in an explanation. “We are working towards that goal, but it is a lengthy process involving the primates, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Anglican Consultative Council.”

The standing committee also says it is important for the diocese to remain within ACNA, in order to “support and encourage an authentic Anglican witness in North America.”

Another resolution urges the diocese to adopt the Ridley Cambridge draft of the Anglican Communion’s proposed covenant. A third resolution would inform Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America that the diocese shares his vision to “live, to actualize, and to participate in the full integrity of the Catholic Church—the full integrity of Orthodox Catholicism.”

In other diocesan news, the reconstituted Diocese of Pittsburgh will consider a resolution that authorizes a study of reuniting that diocese with the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Northwestern Pennsylvania has not planned a study of its own, although the Pittsburgh resolution would invite participation by that Northwestern Pennsylvania's bishop, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, and other diocesan leaders.

The reunion study is one of 20 resolutions presented for Pittsburgh's diocesan convention, which is scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17 at Trinity Cathedral. Another resolution encourages congregations to submit their responses to the draft covenant “as a preliminary to a response by the diocese.” Fifteen more resolutions would offer the first of two necessary votes to reverse constitutional changes that were made as previous diocesan conventions prepared to separate the diocese from the Episcopal Church.

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/9/28/fort-worth-to-vote-on-southern-cone-ties

St. Mark's Johnstown to Remain in TEC

St. Mark's Johnstown Votes to stay in The Episcopal Church.


I've just received word that St. Mark's Johnstown voted today to remain in the Episcopal Church. The congregational vote was 64 to stay and 36 to realign. The vestry vote would have been 7 to 5 although not all of the members were present. Seven votes were cast for staying.

I received this clarification from a member of the vestry

Of the five Vestry members who voted to realign with Southern Cone, one did attend the meeting and tendered his resignation. Two others had to leave immediately following the vote due to prior commitments.

Official Anglican Web Page Finally Updated

As many of you are probably aware the, Official Anglican Web Page for the Diocese of Pittsburgh has been incorrect for months now. The information was reflective of the Diocese before October 4, 2008. Thanks to many complaints, the persistence of Lionel Deimel, and probably Mark Harris' blog, the information is finally correct.

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=686&view=alpha

Re-Established Pittsburgh Diocese Convenes

From the Living Church

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh held its reorganizing convention Dec. 13–14 at St. Paul’s Church in suburban Mt.Lebanon. The special convention, “Coming Together in Faith,” adopted a budget and elected more than 50 people to positions vacated by those who followed Bishop Robert Duncan out of The Episcopal Church after the annual convention vote Oct. 4 to realign with the AnglicanProvince of the Southern Cone.

Twenty-seven congregations sent voting deputations to the meeting, including Trinity Cathedral, which previously announced plans to serve as the cathedral for both dioceses and had sent deputies to the convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican) as well. Deputies approved a $789,198 budget for 2009. The amount includes a grant of $270,000 from The Episcopal Church.

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/12/15/re-established-pittsburgh-diocese-convenes

Pittsburgh Episcopalians reorganize diocese

Episcopal Life reports on Saturday's Convention-

Members of 28 congregations took part in the December 12 convention, representing 40% of both the number of parishes and total membership -- as measured by the benchmark average Sunday attendance -- in the Pittsburgh diocese prior to October, according to a diocesan news release. Members of 18 congregations had declared their plans to remain with the diocese in the days just after the October convention.

"They're realizing that this is a better place to be," the Rev. James Simons, president of the Standing Committee and rector of St. Michael's of the Valley in Ligonier, told ENS. He said he expects the number to grow over time. "There's no time limit as far as we are concerned" for people who want to join or re-join the diocese.

The convention passed four resolutions, including one affirming that the diocese continues to accede to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church; approved a $764,000 budget for 2009; and elected people to diocesan leadership positions.

http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_103790_ENG_HTM.htm

Diocese of Pittsburgh Convention Address

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven"

These familiar words, from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, are often read at funerals and were turned into a popular song in the 1960’s. The preacher, Koheloth, begins to pair opposites such as in "a time to be born and time to die, a time to weep and a time to laugh." Of the fourteen pairings, one has always troubled me, or, I should say, didn’t make a lot of sense to me and seemed to be out of place with the others. It occurs in the fifth verse: " A time to cast stones and a time to gather stones together".

(snip)

As we seek to rebuild the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, we are not starting with a clean slate. As we move forward we carry the burden and scars of our recent past history. In short, we have developed a culture over the past several years that has not been one of grace and charity. We bring with us patterns of behavior which sought to categorize and judge others by what were in many cases arbitrary measures. We have not thought the best of each other and we have assigned motives for others’ actions, often without speaking to that person or seeking to obtain accurate information. It was a culture of fear and control, and many in this room, including myself, cooperated in the creation of that culture. It was a culture of throwing stones, and I stand before you now to say, "Today that culture ends."

It's all here-

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/simons-state-of-the-diocese/

News Release About Saturday's Convention in Pittsburgh

A Special Convention to reorganize a diocese with an increasing numbers remaining in The Episcopal Church is set for this weekend, Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13, 2008. Beyond business, the event offers a celebration of vitality for The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, culminating with the priestly ordination of the Rev. Kristian Opat.

At least 27 congregations will take part in the convention. That number is substantially higher than the 18 parishes that said they would remain in The Episcopal Church when a majority of diocesan leaders and clergy opted to leave the church in early October 2008.

This higher participation represents 40% of both the number of parishes and total membership — as measured by the benchmark Average Sunday Attendance — in the Pittsburgh Diocese prior to October.

“Our numbers will grow higher over the next months, even years,” said the Rev. Dr. James Simons, President of the Standing Committee, the current diocesan leader. “We never set a deadline for anyone to say whether they remain with us or not. All are welcome at anytime”

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/news-release-12112008/