By Lucy Chumbley

Churches around the Diocese ofWashington have opened their doorsthis winter to offer food, shelter andfellowship to the homeless.In Prince George's County, St.

Andrew's, College Park hosted WarmNights, a weekly shelter for men,women and children, from February12-19. The program is run by thecounty's Department of SocialServices using church buildings andvolunteers. Each congregation housesguests for the night and feeds themdinner and breakfast.In Charles County, St. James, Indian

Head hosted Safe Nights, an inter-faith program operated by Life Stylesof Maryland, a La Plata-based non-profit, from Nov. 6-13.And in St. Mary's County, St.

George's, Valley Lee and Christ,Chaptico participated in WARM -Wrapping Arms 'Round Many - aprogram initiated by faith leaders andsocial service agencies three years agoin response to the growing problemof homelessness. (St. George's hostedfrom Jan. 8-15, and Christ, Chapticofrom February 5-12.)"St. George's was an initial leader in

the conversation and a leader in theearly program," said the Rev. GregSyler, rector of St. George's. "Butwe've never done it alone - we part-ner with Ascension, Lexington Parkand St. Andrew's , Leonardtown -they send their folks to help monitorshifts."Volunteers from two neighboring

2012DIOCESAN

CONVENTIONSee back cover

see SHELTER, page 3

GIVINGSHELTER

Photo by Tom Wolff

Cots are set up in the aisle at St. James’, Indian Head, which has hosted the Safe Nights program for five years.

The Diocesan Council, seniordiocesan staff members and Igathered for a daylong retreat

on February 25. Joining us was LisaKimball, who serves as director of theCenter for Ministry of Teaching andprofessor of Christian Formation andCongregational Leadership at theVirginia Theological Seminary.Kimball offered thekeynote address at ourJan. 27-28 DiocesanConvention, andspent the day with usas we reflected onwhat we had heardfrom those gathered atthe convention andbegan to discern nextsteps. We quickly realized

that diocesan leader-ship has been in a discerning modefor a long time, from the listening ses-sions at the beginning of the bishopsearch process to the council's parishvisitation initiative of the past twoyears. From all that has been expressed in a

variety of venues, several commongoals have surfaced, first articulated inthe 2011 Diocesan Profile: To further our mission by evangel-

izing, teaching and seeking justice inthe Diocese of Washington andbeyond.To move beyond maintenance

toward expansion of our ministriesand to make the institutional changesnecessary to support that vision. To nurture the cultural, ethnic,

racial, socio-economic and theologicalbreadth that reflects our communitiesand to strengthen our relationshipsand seek reconciliation and healingwhere necessary. To identify organizational models

that best serve the needs of our con-gregations and reflect good steward-ship of our resources, inspire renewed

commitment andgenerosity to God'swork, and assure thesustainability of thediocese and its insti-tutions.I have taken these

over-arching goals asmy own, and haveasked six diocesanleaders - from theStandingCommittee,

Diocesan Council and theWashington Episcopal ClergyAssociation - to regularly evaluate mywork in light of them. These also arethe goals that will inform and guidethe work of the diocesan staff and theallocation of diocesan resources. Atthe February 25 retreat, the councilaffirmed them, once again, as diocesangoals - not merely for the bishop andthe bishop's staff, but all of us togeth-er.Those of you who attended the

Diocesan Convention told us youwere eager to have more opportunitiesto work collaboratively and to learnfrom one another, as each congrega-tion and diocesan institution seeks tobuild its capacity for mission and

ministry. You also asked for moreopportunities to learn specific min-istry skills, such as faith formation foradults and youth, new member initia-tion, innovative liturgy planning,leadership development, youth min-istry and better use of technology andsocial media.

In the coming weeks, the counciland I will invite you to be part of oneof several pilot initiatives to buildministry capacity in your congrega-tions. Congregations in southernMaryland already have begun collec-tive work on this, as have others, andwe seek to build on these promisingbeginnings. We discussed a number ofpossible focal points for conversationsamong congregational leaders facingsimilar challenges. Some examplesinclude: inviting leaders of congrega-tions that are on the threshold of sig-nificant ministry development butaren't sure how best to proceed toparticipate in a collaborative discus-sion; inviting parishes whose mem-bership or Sunday attendance seemsto have reached a plateau to exploreways to change that; and helping con-gregations that have become discour-aged about their future rekindle a

vision for ministry.Later this year, we'll begin organiz-

ing learning opportunities, half- orall-day sessions on topics of broadinterest and ministry development,along the lines of the workshop andkeynote sessions of the DiocesanConvention. We'll ask those in thediocese with insights or knowledge toshare to teach us, and we'll invite oth-ers from outside the diocese to teachus all something new. As our day together ended, I asked

the council members to offer twowords to describe how they felt aboutour work and the future before us:hopeful, excited, energized, expectantwere among those offered. I added grateful to the list, for I

remain grateful beyond words for theprivilege of serving as your bishop. Ifelt the familiar feeling of butterfliesinside, as I contemplated both theurgency and magnitude of the workbefore us. But I believe, as I know somany of you do as well, that the Onewho has begun such a good workamong us will see it through to com-pletion. May God bless us all, as peo-ple of The Way.

2WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

Volume 81, No. 1, Winter 2012Newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington IISSSSNN 11554455--11334488

Bishop Mariann Edgar BuddeEditor, Lucy Chumbley

POSTMASTERWashington Diocese Church House Permit # 99291Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailingoffices. Send address changes to Washington Window, Episcopal Church House,Mount Saint Alban, Washington, D.C. 20016-5094To correct an address, send previous and current address tonewspaper@edow.org or to the above address.Advertising rates available at www.edow.org/windowCall 202/537-6560 or e-mail newspaper@edow.org with story ideas.

BISHOP’Svisitations&engagements

Bishop Mariann

Identifying our common diocesan goals

“I remain grateful beyond wordsfor the privilege of serving

as your bishop.”

March 1: Vestry meeting at St. Monica's and St. James'March 2: Hymn Sing at

All Saints Chevy ChaseMarch 3: Standing Committee

RetreatMarch 4: Sunday visitation:

St. Mark's, Capitol HillMarch 4: Epiphany, D.C.:

dedication of new parish hall March 7: St. Columba's Lenten

Dinner and Program, 5:30 p.m.March 8: Christ Episcopal School

visit March 9: National Cathedral

School Chapel, 8:30 a.m.March 10: Absalom Jones service,

St. George's, D.C., 11a.m.March 11: Sunday visitation:

All Faith, Charlotte HallMarch 12: St. Andrew's School

Board meeting 7 p.m.March 13: WECA meeting at

St. Paul's, Rock CreekMarch 13: Diocesan CouncilMarch 15-21: Spring House of

Bishops, Camp Allen, TexasMarch 24: Clergy installation:

St. Paul's, Rock Creek, AllanJohnson-Taylor, 10 a.m.March 25: Sunday visitation:

Ascension, GaithersburgMarch 25: Clergy installation:

Athanatious Choi and KoreanCongregation at Christ, Rockville March 26: Hosting a People of

the Way discussion and programwith Brian McLaren on his book,Finding Our Way Again: The Returnof the Ancient Practices atWashington National Cathedral.

3WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

NOVEMBER, 2011

Photos by Leta Dunham

NOVEMBER 12: Mariann Edgar Budde is consecrated as the ninth

Bishop of Washington at Washington National Cathedral, the first woman to

serve as diocesan bishop in the Diocese of Washington. The occasion is

doubly joyful as it is the first service to be held at the cathedral since the

August 23 earthquake.

PRESIDING BISHOP Katharine Jefferts Schori serves as chief consecrator. Budde kneels before her for an examination, and is later vested by her family.

A SEASON OF LISTENINGBishop Mariann Edgar Budde chose to begin her episcopate with a period offocused listening. Her principal goal for her first 100 days in office, she toldDiocesan Council members on Dec. 13, was to "listen, learn, begin to formulatesome ideas, begin to present the starting off point, themes and initiatives tocarry us through the first year." In a Nov. 12 blog entry, posted on the day of her consecration, she wrote: "My

first task as bishop is to know you, to pray with you, and hear your hopes andconcerns. … In these early days, I want to listen more than speak."This timeline, which runs across each page in this issue, shares some highlights

from Bishop Mariann's first 100 days with us, the people of the Diocese ofWashington, as we set forth on a new journey together.

Roman Catholic parishes, CallawayBaptist Church and Bethesda UnitedMethodist Church, also help with theprogram, Syler said. "To pull off the program you need a

whole bunch of people," he said, not-ing that around 80 volunteers areneeded for one week. Volunteers pre-pare and serve dinner and breakfast,serve as night monitors (three shiftseach night, with one male and onefemale monitor per shift), wipe downthe bathrooms and launder the linensfor the church's 25 cots. "It's just alot of work."At St. George's and Christ,

Chaptico, guests and volunteers dinetogether family style at a large table."It allows me and others to just sit

with our guests and talk," Syler said."We sit down and eat, and it's justdinner table conversation. And a lotof people from the parish come. Wereally intentionally set out to cutdown on the divisions between usand them - it's all about forming onecommunity together."St. James, Indian Head has been

hosting Safe Nights since 2007, saidcoordinator Tom Peterson, who dis-covered the program when a fellowparishioner asked him to contribute a

pot of soup when Safe Nights washosted by a nearby church."I took it over and I was absolutely

struck by the program going on andthe need," he said. "I thought, wecould do something about this."It was an "easy sell" to St. James', he

said, and participation from the con-gregation has been strong, with mostmembers contributing in some fash-ion.The church typically hosts from 15

to 20 people a night, but last winter,due in part to the harsh weather,there were record numbers of peopleseeking shelter, Peterson said. "We were packed," he said, with

more than 30 people a night, andcots were set up in the nursery and inthe nave in addition to the churchhall."There's families, there's expecting

mothers," he said. "It's rewarding, butit's heart wrenching at the sametime."While initially apprehensive about

hosting WARM - at the time a brandnew program - St. George's parish-ioners have embraced it with a pas-sion, Syler said."The guests are so grateful to be

received with grace," he said. "Andthey're eager to give it back."

SHELTER, from page 1

Photo by Tom Wolff

St. James’, Indian Head offers homeless guests a warm, safe place to sleep.

4WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

BODY OF CHRIST

This column highlights differentparishes in the church family of theDiocese of Washington. Here the Rev.Christopher I. Wilkins, priest-in-charge of Christ, Chaptico, speaksabout the life, history, plans andcharacter of that congregation.WINDOW: You became priest-

in-charge here fairly recently. WILKINS: That's right, Sept. 1.WINDOW: What has struck you

about Christ Church, about whatdraws people to it?WILKINS: Christ Church,

Chaptico is some wonderful,inspiring people who really wantto make a difference in their com-munity and in the world. Theyunderstand how vital it is to havea healthy church communitywhere we can renew our spiritsand ourselves to do Christ's work.They're warm and welcoming andengaging. They know how to chal-lenge each other and challenge meto do our best and excel. Most

continued next page

Christ Church, ChapticoMaddox Road Route 238, Chaptico, Md, 20621 Tel. 301/884-3451 www.christepiscopalchaptico.orgEstablished 1640; 300 members. Priest-in-charge: The Rev. Christopher I. Wilkins

INTERVIEW BY DIANE NEYPHOTOS BY TOM WOLFF

NOVEMBER, 2011

NOVEMBER 13: Mariann Edgar Budde is officially seated as the ninth

Bishop of Washington. As part of the ceremony, she symbolically knocks three

times at Washington National Cathedral’s great iron doors and is welcomed in

on behalf of the congregation by the Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope, the cathe-

dral’s vicar (she waits outside, at right, with verger Duke DuTeil). She then

processes to the high altar and is seated in the Glastonbury cathedra – a chair

made from the stones of Glastonbury Abbey that is the official “seat” of both

the Bishop of Washington and of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

From the Canterbury pulpit, she preaches her first sermon as Bishop of

Washington (below), centered around the day’s Gospel reading, the parable of

the five talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Photos by Leta Dunham

“God is calling all of us first to take our own life inChrist seriously, to tend to that life, to re-learn or learnfor the first time the core spiritual practices that define

a Christian. God is calling us to strengthen the ministries of our congregations... as the spiritual base camps where we gather for inspiration and

renewal and strength, and from which we go out tohelp Christ heal and reconcile the world.”Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, from her sermon on November 13, 2011

5WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

importantly, I've noticed they'rehopeful about the future and abouttheir call to ministry in that future.WINDOW: What is it you can

bring to the community asEpiscopalians, as people of faith, tothe many issues we're all facing?WILKINS: I think of it this way:

There are very few places that arelike churches, where people chooseto join to be part of a communitythat has a wide range of people,where we get to know each otherand be in that community in wayswe might not otherwise find. At ourworships services, we find what weneed to go beyond our comfort zonein order to renew ourselves in Godand make our world a better place. WINDOW: What is Christ

Church working on these days inthe area of outreach?WILKINS: We support one of the

local food banks as much as we can.We also participate in a county-wideprogram called WARM. ThroughWARM ("Wrapping Arms 'RoundMany) various churches offer theirparish halls for a week or so to pro-vide shelter for homeless individuals

and families in the cold months.Christ Church participated in thislast year and can't wait to get backto it again. WINDOW: Is homelessness a

problem in St. Mary's County? WILKINS: It's a significant prob-

lem, has been for decades, and isgetting worse. It's often a hiddenproblem, though, with some peopleliving in the woods, for instance,which means that it's somewhat outof sight. It's not quite like the home-lessness you see in the city. Thecounty's Episcopal churches havetaken the lead in years past to try todeal with our homelessness andmake a difference here.WINDOW: There are so many

needs in any community. How doesyour vestry decide where it's best touse your resources?WILKINS: I think what our vestry

has typically done is look carefully atwhere we can best focus ourresources to leverage the most bene-fit. One of my mentors taught meyears ago that no-one can do every-thing. What we need to do is findwhat we're most passionate aboutand then try to make as much dif-

ference there as we can. So, forinstance, Christ Church sponsorstwo or three families everyChristmas, making sure they havefood and gifts. We can't help all thefamilies who need help atChristmas, so we choose to makethe best possible holiday for theseones. WINDOW: What's ahead for

Christ Church in the new year?WILKINS: Several things. We've

been considering whether we shouldexpand to include a weekendevening service to better meet theneeds of the parish as it is and as itgrows in the midst of its communi-ty. We've begun two formation pro-grams, one for adults and one forchildren, which we hope to expandin the coming year. The adult one iscalled Wine and Bibles. We meettogether to build our faith, talkabout early Christianities, share anevening meal and say compline.Also, instead of Sunday school, wehave what we call Friday School forour young people from kindergartenthrough high school. We gather forworship and a Bible story, which Iget to read, then separate into age

groups for education, discussion andcrafts. We have a common meal atthe end.WINDOW: It sounds like a good

way to reach young people and atthe same time listen to what theyhave to say. WILKINS: It's a treat for me to

hear what their world is like, espe-cially those of our middle and highschool students, as they strive to beChristians in a complex world andto make a difference in that world.Apropos school, I should mentionthat we're coming up on the 300thanniversary of the War of 1812.Christ Church, and much ofChaptico, was burned in that war,and it's still a bit of a sore subject.Remembering these things also letsus celebrate this church's unique, ifnot always salutary, role in America'stradition of religious tolerance anddiversity, which is particularlyimportant in the history ofMaryland. As we help the EpiscopalChurch here grow and thrive in thefuture, we should remember wherewe've been and why, and concen-trate on what makes us united, free,holy and whole.

from previous page

NOVEMBER, 2011

IN THE NEWSBishop Mariann Edgar Budde receives nationwide media attention in theweeks surrounding her Nov. 12-13 consecration and seating. News coverage includes:

Nov. 3: Lexington Park Leader Nov. 4: SoMdNews.com (The Gazette):

New bishop of Episcopal diocese hears St. Mary's concernsNov. 10: ABC 7 NewsNov. 11: Washington Examiner (Q&A plus story):

National Cathedral reopens with consecration of new bishopNov. 11: Telemundo Nov. 11: The Washington Post:

Mariann Budde, Diocese of Washington's next top bishop, has plans for reviving the Episcopal Church

Nov. 11: Interfaith Voices RadioNov. 11: Channel 4’s Doreen Gentzler interviews Mariann Edgar

Budde during the 6 p.m. newscast.Nov. 12: Huffington Post:

National Cathedral Reopens; New Bishop, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, isConsecrated

Nov. 13: Mariann Edgar Budde’s first sermon as Bishop ofWashington is posted on the Washington Post’s website.

Nov. 14: Episcopal News Service: Mariann Budde consecrated as Washington's ninth bishop

Dec. 8: Washington Post: Right Rev. Mariann Budde reaching out for a more vital Episcopal Church

Dec. 21: Bishop Mariann is a guest on The Diane Rehm Showfrom WAMU and NPR

For links to these stories, please visit the diocesan website, edow.org.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS CHANGES At the start of her episcopate, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde makes some key

changes to the diocesan communications effort. Among these are a redesigned

weekly e-mail bulletin, above, a new and increasingly vital Facebook presence

(Episcopal Diocese of Washington), the Bishop’s Blog, which includes a weekly

reflection of a spiritual nature, and a growing following on Twitter (@Washdio).

Additional changes are planned for the diocesan website, edow.org -- look for

two new online features in the near future -- and the Window. Your newspaper

will look a little different as we begin to make some changes. We say goodbye,

with much gratitude, to longtime columnists, Margaret "Peggy" Treadwell,

whose Family Matters column has helped readers navigate life challenges from

parenting to retirement; and to Martin Smith, whose column, Bearings, offered a

reflection on the spiritual life. We also bid farewell to movie reviewers Beth

Lambdin, who reviewed current films, and Judy Russell, a teacher of music and

performing arts at Beauvoir, who reviewed children's films, with many thanks for

the good work they have done.

6WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

NOVEMBER, 2011

NOVEMBER 17: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde attends her first

Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation Board of Trustees meeting

(and further meetings on Jan. 19, Feb. 10 and Feb. 16). NOVEMBER 19: Installs the Rev. Sherill Lee Page

as rector of Ascension, Lexington Park.NOVEMBER 20: Conducts her first Sunday visitation:

St. Andrew’s, Leonardtown. NOVEMBER 22: Joins the Parish Administrators group for its

monthly meeting at All Souls, D.C.

NOVEMBER 27: Sunday visitation to Christ Church, Kensington.

NOVEMBER 29: Dedicates a new stained glass window

at St. George’s, Glenn Dale.

NOVEMBER 27: Invites the diocese

to read and reflect on a book

together during Advent. The book

she selects, Always We Begin Again:The Benedictine Way of Living, by

John McQuiston II, is a small primer

in which McQuiston seeks to “trans-

late” the insights of St. Benedict into

his own words, for his own time. The

bishop offers weekly reflections on

the book during Advent on her blog.

DECEMBER, 2011

DECEMBER 1: Leads a Clergy Day for diocesan clergy with the theme

“Telling Our Stories.”

DECEMBER 4:Sunday

visitation

to St. John’s,

Lafayette

Square.

DECEMBER 6: Attends an Episcopal Relief and Development

reception in her honor.

DECEMBER 7-9: Attends a conference for new bishops in New York.

DECEMBER 10: Installs the Rev. Deborah Meister as rector of St. Alban's, D.C.

DECEMBER 11: Sunday visitation to St. John’s, Beltsville.

DECEMBER 13: Presides at the monthly Diocesan Council meeting

(her first as bishop).

DECEMBER 14: Preaches at the annual staff Christmas Service

at Washington National Cathedral.

DECEMBER 15: Speaks to Beauvoir Elementary School first graders.

DECEMBER 16: Presides at the Festival of Lessons and Carols

at Washington National Cathedral.

DECEMBER 17:Attends a Christmas party for seminarians with the diocesan

Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry.

DECEMBER 18: Sunday visitation to Redeemer, Bethesda.

DECEMBER 21: Interviewed on the Diane Rehm Show.

DECEMBER 24-25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Washington National

Cathedral: presides and preaches at the 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. services.

DECEMBER 21:Bishop Mariann and her family,

husband Paul Budde and sons,

Amos and Patrick, visit the top

of Washington National

Cathedral’s Gloria in Excelsis

Tower, where repair work is

under way following the

August 23 earthquake.

“I invite you to take a moment to ponder the miracle

of your very existence.”Bishop Mariann, in her Christmas Day sermon at Washington National Cathedral.

7WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

JANUARY, 2012

JANUARY 4-5: Bishop's Advisory Council at Virginia Theological Seminary.

JANUARY 1: Bishop Mariann

appoints the Rev. Carol Flett as

Interfaith Liaison for the Diocese of

Washington (and later attends an

expanded Abrahamic Roundtable

discussion at St. Alban's, D.C., on

February 29).

JANUARY 6: The Rev. Francis Wade

is appointed by the Cathedral

Chapter as interim dean of

Washington National Cathedral.

JANUARY 8: Hosts an evening of pastoral listening and vocational

exploration for unemployed clergy of the diocese.

JANUARY 8: Sunday visitation to Epiphany, Forestville.

JANUARY 10: Installs

the Right Rev. James

Magness, bishop

suffragan for federal

ministries, as a canon

of Washington

National Cathedral

(right, with Presiding

Bishop Katharine

Jefferts Schori).

Photo/ENS

JANUARY 15: Sunday visitation: St. Stephen and the Incarnation (below).

JANUARY 16: Gives the welcome at Washington National Cathedral's

annual Martin Luther King Jr. service (below). Photo by Donovan Marks

FLETT

WADE

JANUARY 17: Attends a meeting of the Washington Episcopal Clergy

Association at St. Paul's Rock Creek (WECA also held a Jan. 6

reception in her honor at St. John's, Broad Creek).

JANUARY 19: Meets with the Dean Search Committee.

JANUARY 20-21: Hosts a

Jan. 20 ordinand's retreat for

John Derek Daniels, Jane

Milliken Hague and Marian

Teresa Humphrey, who are

ordained to the priesthood on

Jan. 21 at Washington

National Cathedral.

Photos by Donovan Marks

JANUARY 22: Sunday visitation to Holy Communion, D.C..

JANUARY 23-26: Attends a New Bishops and Spouses Conference in

Richmond, Va., sponsored by the College for Bishops. Five other bishops and

bishops-elect and their spouses who were elected in 2011 attended. The group

discussed topics ranging from transitions and leadership development to

family life and the roles and expectations of spouses or partners.

JANUARY 27-28: Presides at the 117th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese

of Washington, held at Washington National Cathedral. See back cover.

8WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

JANUARY 26: Bishop Mariann Edgar Buddeannounces she will extend the suspension of thediocesan ordination process through at leastDecember. A task force charged with assessing thediocese's need for clergy leadership and developing astreamlined process of discernment and selection isnow being convened with the support of the diocesanCommission on Ministry and Standing Committee,and will begin its work in March. In addition toimproving communications and streamlining theprocess, the group will address the "need to facedeeper questions about the future of ordained leader-

ship in the Episcopal Church," Budde writes in a letter to the diocese. Thisincludes "identifying the kind of clergy leadership needed now, how best toencourage those with the skills and attributes the church needs to considerordination, and how to reorient our congregations and diocesan resourcestoward spiritual renewal and structural transformation.”

FEBRUARY, 2012

Bishop Mariann

FEBRUARY 2: Installs the Rev. Kym Lucas as rector of St. Margaret’s, D.C.

FEBRUARY 4: Confirms 57 candidates from 11 congregations in the diocese

during a 10 a.m. Service of Confirmation at Washington National Cathedral.

FEBRUARY 6: Joins members of the Fellowship of St. John, an

organization of retired clergy, spouses/partners and survivors, for a luncheon,

Q&A and Eucharist at All Saints, Chevy Chase.

FEBRUARY 7: Speaks out in support of the marriage equality legislationunder consideration in the Maryland legislature in the Washington Post’s On

Faith section, arguing that there are sound biblical foundations to support it. “It

is, as always, my intention to be respectful of Christians who interpret Scripture

differently while at the same time be clear that it is possible to come to a

position affirming marriage equality on the basis of Scripture” she writes.

FEBRUARY 10-11: Bishop Mariann

celebrates the Eucharist, offers a

homily and dances with 260 young

people from 25 parishes at the annual

Diocesan Youth Lock In at Washington

National Cathedral (right, opposite,

and below). The program, “God Makes

Sense: Let Me Show You,” includes

worship led by the Sloane River

Project, which blends music from the

sacred, secular, and spiritual

traditions.

FEBRUARY 5: Sunday visitation: Ascension, Silver Spring.

Since its publication last fall, ourdiocesan cookbook has sold morethan 600 copies, raising more than$5,300 for the diocesan Hunger

Fund.The cookbook,

titled HungerNo More: Foodand Fellowshipfrom theEpiscopalDiocese ofWashington, ispacked withrecipes from

around the diocese and the storiesthat accompany them.If you haven't yet got your copy, or

are looking for a gift that gives back,the cookbook is available to orderonline at www.edow.org/cookbook($20 donation plus shipping). The Hunger Fund provides grants to

agencies in the District and the fouradjoining Maryland counties thatsupply food to hungry, impoverishedchildren and adults in the region.To learn more about the work of the

Hunger Fund, visitwww.edow.org/hungerfund.

Los versos 40al 45 del capí-tulo uno de SanMarcos relatanuna historiainteresante,algo simpáticadiría yo. Setrata de unhombre conlepra que se

acercó a Jesús con una petición "siquieres puede sanarme". Nos cuentael evangelista que inmediatamenteJesús extendió su mano, lo tocó y ledijo "quiero; queda limpio". Entoncesle ordenó que se fuera y que nohablara del hecho con nadie, sino quese presentase ante el sacerdote llevan-do la ofrenda de su purificación deacuerdo a como prescribió Moisés.El relato de Marcos no nos reporta si

el hombre, una vez limpio, fue o nofue ante el sacerdote con la ofrendarequerida; nuestro entendimiento noslleva a pensar que un judío devoto,temeroso de Dios y respetuoso de laTorah, pondría eso en el primer ordende su lista de prioridades. De lo que

sí nos da fe el evangelista es que elhombre, apenas dejó a Jesús, comenzóa divulgar la noticia de su curación,trayendo como consecuencia queJesús ya no pudiese presentarse abier-tamente en público. Tengo que confesar que esta historia

siempre me ha resultado simpática, decierto modo despierta en mí una son-risa de niño travieso que fácilmentedelata mi complicidad y admiraciónpor la persona a quién Jesús limpióde la lepra. ¿Cómo no entenderlo?¿Quién podría embaular en el pechotanta alegría sin que se le desbordenlos sentidos? Además, ¿cómo se puedeguardar un secreto tan obvio?Dicen de las hormigas que cuando

encuentran un turrón de azúcar sepasan la información besándose, esdecir, tocando sus picos, conforme seencuentran con las demás; no se loguardan para ellas solas, es parte de suser hormigas. La historia de Marcosnos dice que a pesar de que Jesúscomenzó a quedarse en las afuera delas ciudades, mucha gente acudía averlo para que los curase de sus enfer-medades; ¿será que la curación delhombre del relato fue pasando deboca en boca?En muchas ocasiones este tipo de

historia nos ayuda a releer claves,

especialmente si estamos tratando deresponder a las preguntas que nos sur-gen cuando vamos a nuestras congre-gaciones y nos encontramos con unosnúmeros estáticos o, en el peor de loscasos, en decreciente. Aunque es cier-to que no hay respuestas simples paraestos tipos de preguntas, no es menoscierto que podemos comenzar aresponder al estilo antiguo de lashormigas, contando nuestras historiasde boca en boca.Cuando pienso en el Ministerio

Latino en la Iglesia Episcopal y demodo muy particular en nuestraDiócesis, no puedo dejar de reconocerni de observar con actitud admirada,la capacidad de contar historias quetenemos los Latinos, la energía depasar de boca en boca las cosas que sicuentan de nuestro encuentro person-al con Jesucristo, tesoro personal quevaloramos y que no nos cuesta com-partir con otros. A eso se debe queestemos creciendo, no tanto a lasprédicas o a los programas que ofrece-mos, sino a la capacidad de nuestragente de contar sus historias de unaforma apasionada, convincente creíbley contagiosa.Que Dios les bendiga.

Padre Simón BautistaCanon for Latino Ministries

9WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

COMUNIÓN

Simón Bautista

FEBRUARY, 2012

FEBRUARY 12-15: Bishop Mariann visits St. Paul’s Piney and Region 6.

FEBRUARY 16: She participates in the Fresh Start program at St. Alban’s, D.C. --

a diocesan-led program that seeks to foster healthy relationships among clergy,

their congregations and the diocese during critical periods of transition.

Encouraging open and honest discussion of transitional issues affecting both

clergy and congregations, the program’s goal is to build a culture in which the

mutual ministry of the clergy and congregation starts off on the right foot.

FEBRUARY 22:Ash Wednesday.

Preaches at the Holy Eucharist

with Imposition of Ashes at

Washington National Cathedral.

WHAT’SCOOKING?

10WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

11WASHINGTON WINDOWWinter 2012 | www.edow.org

Our cartoon is drawn by Bob Erskine.

FEBRUARY, 2012

FEBRUARY 26: Cycling enthusiasts

from around the diocese meet at

St. Dunstan’s, Bethesda to begin to

plan the Bishop’s Bike Rides and to

take a “warm up” ride on the Capital

Crescent Trail. One-day rides will take

place in April, May, June, September

and October, details to come. There’s

plenty of work ahead for the diocese

this year, but as Bishop Mariann said

in her convention address, it’s just as

important to make time to relax and

have fun together!

FEBRUARY 25: Diocesan Council Retreat (see page 2).She meets with members of council and senior members of the diocesan staff to

identify goals and begin to set in motion the work and ministry for the year

ahead, which she says will be “building on convention; continuing a path of

leadership in a few key areas that would signal to the congregations that we’re

on a path to renewal.”

FEBRUARY 26: Sunday visitation: Good Shepherd, Silver Spring.

FEBRUARY 23:Bishop Mariann lunches with seminarians from Virginia Theological Seminary.

PEOPLE OF THE WAY

People of the Way, a diocesan

initiative to explore what it means to

be followers of Jesus as Episcopalian

Christians, begins in Lent with the

study of a book by Brian McLaren:

Finding Our Way Again: the Return of

the Ancient Practices.

All are invited to join in with the book

study. Thirty-five parishes have con-

vened discussion groups, and many

others have chosen to engage in indi-

vidual reflection and study.

The Bishop's Office is sponsoring the following events: March 7, 11:15 a.m. to noon: Online video chat with Bishop Mariann

March 10, 9:30 a.m. to noon: Diocesan discussions at

Ascension & St. Agnes and St. Paul's, Piney

March 24, 9:30 a.m. to noon: Diocesan discussions at St. Andrew's,

Leonardtown and St. Bartholomew's, Laytonsville

March 17, 9:30 a.m. to noon: Diocesan discussions at Christ,

Kensington and Epiphany, Forestville

March 26, 7:30 to 9 p.m.: Evening with the Bishop and Brian McLaren

-- location to be announced.

Please visit the diocesan website, edow.org/peopleoftheway, for event

details and tips for self-reflection, the People of the Way Facebook page,

facebook.com/edowpeopleoftheway for chat and daily reflection, and

Bishop Mariann’s blog, edow.org/bishops_blog for a weekly reflection.

Washington WindowEpiscopal Church House

Mount Saint AlbanWashington, D.C. 20016-5094

The newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of WashingtonWinter 2012, Vol. 81, No. 1 ISSN 1545-1348

POSTMASTER (Permit #99291) Send address changes to Washington Window,Episcopal Church House, Mount Saint Alban, Washington, D.C., 20016-5094

PHOTOS BY LETA DUNHAM

117TH CONVENTIONConvention Secretary Barbara Miles

and Canon to the Ordinary Paul

Cooney join Bishop Mariann Edgar

Budde at the head table (clockwise

from top); the Rev. Janice Robinson

offers a prayer; Bishop Mariann

delivers her address to the conven-

tion on Friday night; Virginia

Theological Seminary professor Lisa

Kimball offers the keynote on

Saturday to an attentive audience.

WE WILL, WITH GOD’S HELPDeputies from around the diocese gathered at Washington NationalCathedral on Jan. 27-28 to take part in the 117th annual DiocesanConvention: We Will, With God’s Help. Convention deputies:

Attended a pre-convention workshop on Growing a Congregationin Theory and Practice led by Bishop Mariann and Lisa Kimball of VTS.

Heard Bishop Mariann’s first convention address, in which she setout her goals and hopes for the Diocese of Washington in 2012.

Passed a $3.6 million budget to carry out the mission and ministryof the diocese in 2012, which included funding for two new staff pos-tions; a Canon for Congregational Development and a Youth Missioner.

Passed resolutions calling for the Episcopal Church to Fund aCommunity and Tribal College Mission Initiative; on Pursuing a Just Peacein the Palestinian/Israeli conflict; and on Endorsing Statehood for theDistrict of Columbia.

Elected lay and clerical nominees to serve on the diocesan StandingCommittee, Commission on Ministry, Disciplinary Board, Diocesan Council,and as deputies to the 2012 General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

A full report of the elections and the complete text of the resolutionsadopted can be found on the convention website,http://www.edow.org/convention, along with video of the pre-conventionworkshop (and accompanying handouts), Bishop Mariann’s address andLisa Kimball’s keynote.