In this Issue:

Nativity, Maysville, moves forward undr Kibler, Kilbourn-Huey

Episcopal Church Breaks ground for a new building

Lewis and Narnia: Episcopal Heritage

Seed Planting

Out of Deep Waters: Second line brings new life to New Orleans

Commentaries

From the Bishop: The Yearnings of our hearts

Reflection: ...and Christmas comes once more

X-ercizing: Packing and unpacking Christmas

Diocesan Calendar

Past Issues

Nativity, Maysville, moves forward under Kibler, Kilbourn-Huey

By Kay Collier-McLaughlin

The Church of the Nativity, Maysville, is moving forward under new leadership, with the appointment of Canon Bryant Kibler as Minister in Charge, Mary Kilbourn-Huey as Deacon and five newly elected vestry members. Five former members of the vestry walked out of a congregational meeting with Bishop Stacy Sauls and Vice-Chancellor Jim Adams on Monday, Nov. 21, after serious canon violations and breaches of trust were revealed. On recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, action has been taken to insure that the historic parish remains an Episcopal Church.
The appointment of Kibler falls under the auspices of Canon 26, Temporary Supply of Vacant Parishes, and reads: “If the Vestry of (a) Parish shall not make reasonable efforts to fill such vacancy within three months after it occurs, the Bishop shall at the expiration of such period appoint a Minister in charge of such Parish.” The Church of the Nativity has been without a rector since the departure of the Rev. Samuel Reddimalla in the summer of 2001. The Bishop and Vestry had agreed that an interim period was required for healing prior to beginning a search process.

It is the policy of the Diocese of Lexington that interim clergy are not eligible to serve as rector. This fact is made known to all parishes when a vacancy occurs and an interim is hired. Several members of Nativity, but not the Vestry or Wardens, tried to persuade Bishop Sauls to allow them to call Interim Jim Winborn as permanent rector, which the Bishop declined to do, electing instead to follow diocesan policy as stated. Finally, after efforts by the Bishop to encourage a search for a permanent rector to begin, the organizational meeting of the search committee for Nativity was held on March 23, 2004. Correspondence between the Deployment Officer of the Diocese, the Rev. Canon Johnnie Ross, and the Vestry and Search Committee reveal consistent effort by the Diocese to assist Nativity in the search process.

In late October, Bishop Sauls learned that the Vestry had created two corporations without the knowledge of the congregation or Bishop. The first corporation was known as The Church of the Nativity, Inc., and was incorporated on May 5, 2005. The corporation, though having the same name, is not the same legal entity as the unincorporated association, that has existed as a parish of the Diocese of Lexington, and which held title to all parish property was governed by its directors, not by the Vestry. The second corporation was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the first, one step further removed from control of the congregation. It was named 31 East Third Street, Inc. (31 East Third Street is the address of the
Church of the Nativity).

Both the boards of directors of the corporations were under the control of their directors, which included some, but not all members, of the Vestry. Meetings of the corporations’ board of directors were held following regular Vestry meetings and were not open to all parish members. The corporations’ by-laws were not subject to review by the congregation nor subject to the Constitution and Canons of either the Episcopal Church or the Diocese of Lexington removing governance from all official church structures.

A meeting with the senior warden was called to seek an explanation. Former senior warden Basil Mattingly explained that title to the church real estate had already been transferred to 31 East Third Street, Inc., in an effort to protect the property from the Bishop and the Diocese.

Further investigation revealed that a revocation of a 1989 Declaration of Trust, Covenants and Conditions in favor of the Diocese of Lexington was executed without the knowledge or consent of the Diocese. The 1989 trust was executed by Louis N. Browning on behalf of the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity, explicitly covering real property and endowment assets, and recorded in the Mason County property records. This Trust was enacted to prevent break-away groups within a parish from depriving loyal Episcopalians of the use of the church property. Nativity led parishes in the Diocese of Lexington in complying with national and diocesan canons which were established in the late 1970s to protect property for all parishes of the Episcopal Church. The revocation of the trust was executed on Jan. 30, 2005, and was recorded in the Mason County property records on Feb. 1.

Bishop Sauls stated to Mattingly that the Vestry’s action would have to be reversed immediately and had caused a grave situation. Mattingly promised to call a parish meeting and abide by the decision of the congregation. After consulting with the Standing Committee, Bishop Sauls subsequently wrote to the members of the Church of the Nativity informing them “efforts might be made by some members of Nativity to leave the Episcopal Church and attempt to remove the church property from the use of those members of the Church of the Nativity who wish to remain Episcopalians.” The Bishop’s letter was shared with diocesan clergy, members of the Executive Council, and the Standing Committee.

Any such intent or action to remove Nativity from the Episcopal Church, or that such had ever been discussed by the Vestry, had been denied by Mattingly. However, minutes of the January Vestry meeting now available show that “Browning presented a copy of [the 1989] a declaration of trust which would cede all properties of Nativity (real and other) to the Diocese of Lexington should Nativity cease to affiliate with the Diocese. He stated that, after seeking legal counsel, he felt that we should revoke the trust.” Browning moved the revocation, seconded by Mattingly, and the motion passe unanimously. The members of the parish, however, were not informed of the revocation.

New Life Emerging with New Leadership

The parish’s annual Christmas Luncheon and Bazaar on Dec. 1 earned within $100 of the top amount ever made at the event. Members of the church made the decision to carry on with the annual event even though the co-chairs resigned after the congregational meeting on Nov. 21. Parish volunteers rallied to make the event a success and were assisted by Ellen Darnall, a former parishioner and member of the Bishop’s staff, and Linda Reeves, a parishioner of St. John’s in Versailles, who came in order to show support to the congregation from a sister congregation in the Diocese. The money raised goes for the support of the Episcopal Day School, a Montessori school run by Nativity.

The congregation has also acted on its interest in outreach. Receptacles for donated winter clothing are overfl owing with coats which will go to needy persons in the community. Thirty-five worshippers – more than twice the number that had been attending Sunday services filled. Even the pews on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, the first service since the congregational meeting with the Bishop. Visitors from Emmanuel Church in Winchester and St. John’s Church in Versailles were also present to show support. Canon Johnnie Ross attended that service acting as celebrant on the Bishop’s behalf. He has spoken with the chair of the Search Committee about getting the search back on track as soon as a new Vestry is elected. .

The annual Parish Meeting was held, as previously scheduled on Dec. 11. Bob Ross, Bob Vance, Elizabeth Sewell, David Wallingford and Mary Frances Marshall were elected to the Vestry. They join Ben Miller, the remaining member from the former Vestry. A budget was adopted. Three of the former vestry members attended the parish meeting and are worshipping at Nativity. The first meeting of the new Vestry was held on Dec. 14. Bob Ross, Shawn Ross, Phillip Manning and Mary Frances Marshall were elected Deputies to Diocesan Convention.

Kibler reports that attempts have been made to contact all former members of Nativity, and that to date, only three families have said that they no longer wish to be associated with the parish. “Word was sent around the community that there was no longer an Episcopal Church in Maysville. I can assure you that there is a very active, alive and excited Episcopal Church here,” the Minister in Charge reported. “There is an excitement in the people of Nativity. There is an expectation. Someone was overheard saying that this was the most relaxed, fun year (at the bazaar) that they could remember.”

“We are going to be a Church family. It is not going to matter where our political, theological, racial, gender, sexual orientation or any other ‘ism’ is; we are going to be a Church family who comes together to worship and work for the ministry of God. When we are done, we can go back to our own sides of the road until we meet again, but while doing God’s work, we will leave our ‘isms’ on the side of the road and come to the middle to serve God.”

For Kilbourn-Huey, Dec. 4 marked the 40th anniversary of her family’s move to Maysville. Her father, the Rev. Robert C. Kilbourn, served as rector of the Church of the Nativity from December 1965 until his death in 1973. “Kilbourn turned Nativity’s Hunter Hall into a focal point for civic and benevolent activities of many kinds.” (Ripe to the Harvest: F. Keller Barr, 1995) The parish’s history and traditions run deep in Kilbourn-Huey’s life, infl uencing her own call to the ordained ministry. Her sermon on Dec. 4 included a few lines from the fi rst sermon her father preached at Nativity. She lights the Advent candles on a wreath that rests on the tall brass stand her mother gave in memory of her father. “The boxes for our coat drive are overflowing,” she stated, “just like the joy. We plan to have an outreach project every month. The parish meeting was upbeat; people are volunteering to help. The Holy Spirit is ‘roosting’ at Nativity!”

Bishop Sauls said: “We are committed to assisting the Church of the Nativity in finding a permanent priest as quickly as possible, and I look forward to working with the new Vestry and the Search Committee. Nativity has been an Episcopal Church for generations. It was given by Episcopalians to be used as an Episcopal Church. As Bishop of the Diocese of Lexington, it is my responsibility to further the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and to protect Episcopalians and Episcopal Churches so that our ministry together can go forward. I will always bring the full measure of protection for loyal Episcopalians, as I vowed to uphold the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church.”

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© 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington

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