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October
4, 2000
Clergy
Conference offers first chance for conversation with Bishop Frade
More
than 75 diocesan clergy braved flooded roads in the aftermath
of yesterday’s downpours to begin two days of conversation
at the Duncan Center with our new bishop, Leo Frade.
Bishop
Frade began by reading the parable of the talents. Quoting Bishop
Herbert Thompson’s sermon at the enthronement service, he
said, "We are in an ‘interim period’ between the
second and the fourth bishops of this diocese…I want to be
sure that in this interim period we ‘invest [our talents]
with the bankers’… We have to use this moment God has
given us."
The
bishop introduced himself with a brief account of his life and
ministry "so you’ll know where I’m coming from".
Asked
how his name is pronounced, he explained that Frade is a Galician-Portuguese
name which means "friar"—and joked that it is mispronounced
in Spanish anyway, so "pronounce it anyway you like".
He added that he does prefer "Leo" to "Leopold".
He
said he is hopeful that this conference can build on the work
done at Bishop Schofield’s final conference with diocesan
clergy last May.
"I
have a vision," he said, "and I hope my vision can be
your vision."
He
spoke of the urgent need for the diocese to grow, both by aiding
small churches to expand their ministries and by planting new
churches west of the turnpike. He urged a goal of doubling the
membership in the diocese and increasing the number of congregations
to 100 by 2010.
He
emphasized the need for using the tools of electronic communications
to stay connected with each other and with our communities. He
wants "to make the Episcopal Church more visible."
"It’s
not just that I want to appear in the paper, "he laughed.
"I want for all of us to appear in the paper, to be
vocal, to mean something in our communities. Let’s not be
silent!"
Repeating,
"I want to be bishop for all," he called for
inclusiveness and unity.
"I
don’t want anyone to leave this church," he said, and
warned that "all" meant not only all ethnic groups,
but also "those who may have ideas radically different from
mine".
"My
issue is that we must be inclusive to all issues."
He
assured the clergy that he would try to find ways to spend more
time outside the office, visiting in all parts of the diocese.
"I
believe that my ministry as bishop…is to be there with you."
The
conference continues tomorrow, Oct. 5, with the guidance of consultant
Susy Miller, who was facilitator for last spring’s clergy
conference.
--Mary
W. Cox
"Scenes
from Clergy Conference, Oct. 4, 2000"
—Bishop Frade checks the mike before beginning his talk.
—The Reverends Peggy Sheldon, Nancy McCarthy and Alison
Harrity appreciate the bishop’s humor.
—Canon Kerry Robb tells the bishop, "We liked the
idea of a ‘missionary bishop’!"
—Listening to the bishop’s ideas.
—Fr. Winston Wright, new rector (as of mid-September) of
Grace Church, West Palm Beach, and Canon Fred Masterman.
—Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Fr. Bill Hamilton, Fr. Gabe Sinisi
and Fr. Dexter Kessler hold an impromptu meeting of the State
of the Church Committee during a break.
—Bishop Frade and Deacon Bev Ramsey prepare for the Eucharist.
—Mthr. Cynthia Gill teaches the group a new hymn.
—Fr. Ralph Banks, Rev. Barbara Baptiste-Williams, Deacon
Fred Sands and Fr. David Kennedy seem to have learned well!
—Dean Horace Ward, Deacon Sebastien Guillaume (back), Père
Maud Paraison and Fr. Cyril White enjoy lunch together.
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