Date:  11/14/03
To:     UPCHAT
From: Jim Kelsey

I am traveling home after being gone from the diocese a few days, and I'd 
like to tell you what I have been up to.

On Monday (just as the Visitors Weekend was ending), I flew to Las Vegas, 
where I was picked up and driven to Boulder City (to the same retreat 
house where Dale Jamison, Mark Engle, & Dick Graybill were the week 
before, attending Sindicators). There I joined the other bishops of small 
(tiny) dioceses for the annual gathering of what is affectionately known 
as "Tiny Bishops". There were 14 of us there [from Vermont, Southwestern 
Virginia, West Tennessee, Lexington (Kentucky), Fond du Lac (Wisconsin), 
Northern Michigan, Spokane (Washington State), Nevada, Eastern Oregon, 
Montana (newly ordained), Northwest Texas, West Virginia, Idaho, and 
Delaware].

We spent an initial time checking in with each other on a personal basis, 
especially hearing what as been happening in one another's diocese since 
we were last together at General Convention. It was an interesting group, 
representing the whole span of differing opinions concerning the decisions 
made in Minneapolis, and we had a lot to share about how each of us has 
dealt with the strong and varied reactions around the Church. All in all, 
it was a good and positive discussion, and it's clear that the Church is 
moving ahead through these days of disagreement, towards a re-focus and 
renewed energy for mission.

On Tuesday afternoon, we were joined by the Task Force which has served on 
our behalf to explore the possibility of forming a Coalition of Small 
Dioceses for Medical Insurance. Members of the Task Force came from 
Idaho, Northwest Texas, Lexington, and New York (the Medical Trust of the 
Church Pension Group). They have been working for almost a year to help 
us develop options. Their recommendations to us (which we accepted) was 
not to try to form a separate coalition for small dioceses (either outside 
or within the Medical Trust) but to encourage all small dioceses to 
contract with the Medical Trust so we might form a strong block within 
that system - not as a coalition, but as an advocacy group, which could 
together express our particular needs and ask together for the Medical 
Trust to design options which would especially meet our needs and provide 
savings and cost containment for us (as much as possible) in the future. 
This will mean a change for us (since we are currently covered through a 
local insurance agency out of Marquette), and our Medical Insurance 
Benefits Review Committee is meeting tomorrow (Friday) to form 
recommendations for Diocesan Council to consider this weekend. It's a 
complex picture - and that's why we're working hard to keep everyone 
informed of the choices we've been given to consider.

On Tuesday evening, we had an extended conversation about how the changes 
to Title III (the Ministry Canons) approved at General Convention last 
summer will impact us, as small dioceses. Most of those present are 
developing Mutual Ministry in ways similar to Northern Michigan, so the 
group was interested to hear from us about LifeCycles and how we are 
re-organizing our Commission on Ministry to better implement the changes 
in those canons.

On Wednesday morning, we had a far-reaching conversation about the 
national church - everything from existing and proposed networks (such as 
Living Stones, the Domestic Missionary Partnership, the Episcopal Council 
for Indigenous Ministries, Sindicators, and so on) to planning for the 
election of the next Presiding Bishop, to exploring ways of working 
together on Socially Responsible Investing, and many other random and 
related topics.

On Wednesday afternoon, we went on a field trip, to a local museum which 
helped us learn more about the history and culture of pioneer days in 
southern Nevada. We also went for a walk in the Wetlands - and since it 
was POURING rain at the time, the walk lived up to its billing!

On Wednesday evening, we were joined by Ben Helmer (formally of our 
diocese - now serving as the national church officer for ministry in small 
congregations). We discussed the resolution/report which was adopted by 
General Convention concerning vitality in small congregations. (Gin 
Wasmiller and Marion Luckey had attended a national gathering near St 
Louis a couple of weeks ago which brought together representatives from 
all over the country to discuss this same report). It was a lively and 
helpful conversation.

On Thursday morning, we visited informally until each of us had to leave 
for the airport to make our various flights. It's funny how sometimes the 
most important exchanges can happen during the less formal moments of this 
sort of gathering. In any case, it's clear that it is important for those 
of us who are dealing with similar issues and environments to be in touch 
with each other, and to deepen our partnerships throughout the Church.

Again - I just wanted you all to know what I've been up to this week. 
Hope to see most of you at the Diocesan Goal Setting workshop this weekend 
in Marquette!

Jim