In this Issue:

All Saints Village: Executive Council endorses further exploration of concept

Blessing of teddy bears during Bishop's visit and Children's sabath

Part of the Heart of our Mission: News and pictures form around the diocese

Mission in Mississippi: Diocesan Team Works at 10 Locations in Pascagoula

From the National Front

From the Anglican World

2006 Diocesan Convention

Commentaries

From the Bishop: Thankful for how much we have

Reflection: Saints of the address book

X-ercizing: Community, solidarity and humanity (Part 2)

Diocesan Calendar

Past Issues

All Saints Village: Executive Council endorses further exploration of concept

The Executive Council of the Diocese of Lexington has endorsed the concept of All Saints Village mission, and anticipates a detailed agreement to be presented at a later time for approval. Members of the Council toured All Saints during their October meeting, and heard presentations from the Rev. Canon Johnnie Ross, Solly VanMeter, Chair of the Committee on the Trent Blvd. property, and Bishop Sauls before the Rev. Ron Summers moved, and John Stempel seconded continuation of conversations in the direction of mission at All Saints.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Bishop Sauls envisioned utilizing the property at Trent Blvd. to assist in transitional housing of evacuees. A Diocesan work day resulted, in which men, women and youth from across the Diocese offered their energy for clearing and cleaning the dormitory buildings. Further repair has gone forward under the direction of Project manager Richard “Bo” Geib, funded by the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. The Rev. Canon Johnnie Ross, Canon to the Ordinary, and the Rev. Margaret Shanks, Deacon, who has been serving as Coordinator of Volunteers for Disaster Relief, have been meeting with representatives from the Red Cross and the Lexington Fayette County Urban County Government to discuss the possibility of usage for evacuees.

The Diocese of Lexington and the Lexington Fayette County Urban Government join others around the country whose awareness of under-served populations has been raised by the plight of the thousands of people who have been displaced by the devastation of Katrina. Conversations have broadened to consider the possibility of utilizing the All Saints property to serve the needy of the Central Kentucky area on a more permanent basis. Deacon Shanks is in conversation with the Central Kentucky Housing Initiative, and will bring proposals from their conversations to Bishop Sauls and the Executive Council.

The vision for All Saints Village includes:
•Transitional housing
•Dental and medical clinics in conjunction with LexLink
•MusiCorps music school (continuing in residence at the property)
•An additional Reading Camp
•After-school care
•Summer programs
•Clothing bank

All Saints congregation has been established in the main building, and Moveable Feast has moved its operations to the commercial kitchen at Trent Blvd.

“One of the ways in which I have experienced God working through Hurricane Katrina,”says Bishop Sauls, “is in laying bare our own situation. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, as we were marshalling resources to help evacuees, we became aware that we had not been doing a very good job with our own poor. We heard, and we have felt compelled to respond.”

“The opportunity that has presented itself is for the city and Diocese to partner in serving the poor of Central Kentucky. We have always had a very deep interest in this service; the opportunity to do so has resulted from the hurricane.” Bishop Sauls stated that he believes that the church should be “trustees of the world’s resources on behalf of the poor.” “We must be advocates for the poor; guard and use resources for their benefit.”

The Bishop and Executive Council have considered a variety of possible options for the Trent Blvd. property, including selling the property and redeploying the assets for use elsewhere in the Diocese.

“I have come to believe that we have two moral obligations,” said Bishop Sauls.

“First, the property was given by faithful people for ministry in that area. There are still needs there. I believe we must honor that ministry if it is within our power.”

“Secondly, we have a moral obligation to take our resources and use for the poor.”

“We have a church up and going at All Saints Village. Moveable Feast is better able to serve its mission from its new location. We have stepped out and taken some risk to make the buildings ready for transitional housing. We know there are many other possibilities for mission and ministry.”

“This is a vision that the Executive Council shares. We’re off and pursuing that
vision.”

Advocate Online Staff:

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