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Fort Worth Via Media (FWVM) – Information for Via Media USA booth for GC09 We play well with others - In 2008 FWVM was instrumental in bringing together a number of groups representing progressive, moderate and conservative Episcopalians to create the Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians which worked closely with the Presiding Bishop's office to prepare for the reorganization of the diocese following the departure of our former bishop and other diocesan leaders from the Episcopal Church. ++Katharine called for a February 7, 2009 Special Meeting of the Diocesan Convention. We have a bishop - The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. [Ted] Gulick, Jr., Bishop of Kentucky, was elected as provisional bishop for Fort Worth at the Special Meeting of the Convention, and currently serves both dioceses part-time. We are leaders in the diocese – Many FWVM folks who were marginalized in the diocese under our former bishops are now in leadership positions in the reorganized Diocese of Fort Worth. We are educators - As an organization, FWVM has chosen to continue with the educational programs within the diocese and to assist other parishes/dioceses who may be threatened by schism. We are supportive of legal action to protect assets of the Episcopal Church -- Legal action began in April when the Diocese of Fort Worth petitioned the court re: diocesan assets and the use of the name and shield of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. Lawyers for former bishop Jack Iker responded to the petition by filing a motion to dismiss, saying the court has no authority over ecclesiastical matters. The reorganized diocese filed a response laying out the many cases in which state courts have indeed had authority and have found for the Episcopal Church. All the petitions filed by the diocese are on the diocesan website. We are contributing as a diocese - For many years, some individual parishes in the diocese sent money to the national church even as the diocesan leadership discouraged it. In the last few years, the diocesan leadership refused even to send in the parish money to the national church, forcing parishes to do so on their own. The reorganized Diocese of Fort Worth has currently budgeted 15% for the national church and has set a goal to increase it to 21% as soon as possible . We are healthy and growing -- A diocesan report of our first 100 days (since 2/7/09) includes:
Since that report, there have been even more confirmations, receptions and baptisms, and each month sees more Fort Worth Episcopalians returning to the reorganized diocese. Our diocesan website says it all -- "The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth -- Welcome Home!" We have loyal hardworking clergy, including a priest who is a woman - While the majority of our clergy left the Episcopal Church, a goodly number stayed with us, many of whom came out of retirement to serve as interim rectors and supply clergy. Several of them are here at GC09. Maurine Lewis, priest from the Diocese of Milwaukee, retired to Fort Worth last year to be near her grandchildren. Since November she has been serving as supply clergy to many of our temporarily displaced parishes. She has been so well received that there has been quite a bit of polite competition over who "gets" Mother Mo for a Sunday service. We are worshipping with you - All of our diocesan representatives will be sharing Eucharist with all of you here at GC09 -- a complete break with the practice of the past when the Fort Worth deputation worshipped separately from the rest of Convention. We are happy and proud to be Episcopalians. |