[Image: The diocese honored Bishop Michael Curry and Sharon Curry with tributes and gifts during the 209th Annual Convention. Photo by Christine McTaggart]
The 209th Annual Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina took place November 22-23, 2024, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. With an official theme of “devoted to God with our whole heart and united to one another with pure affection,” taken from the Collect for Proper 9 in the Book of Common Prayer, and an unofficial theme of “A Case for Love” derived from the Thursday Night Program, the whole of convention was dedicated to congregational vitality and the churches, missions and ministries that comprise the diocese.
THURSDAY NIGHT PROGRAM
This year’s Thursday Night Program featured a screening of “A Case for Love,” the 2024 documentary that garnered nationwide attention, and certainly the support of Episcopalians across the country, with its storytelling around the impact love can have in the world. It features appearances from well-known figures, including then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Pete Buttigieg and Sam Waterston of “Law and Order” fame.
Following the screening, the film’s director, Brian Ide, joined Curry for an onstage Q&A session. Moderated by Aleta Payne, the evening was one of conversation, reminiscences, behind-the-scenes stories, laughter and reflecting on the impact love can have. Indeed, it was “A Case for Love.” Watch the session at bit.ly/DioNC209TNP, and learn more about “A Case for Love,” including where you can watch it on streaming, at acaseforlovemovie.com.
WORSHIP
The 209th Annual Convention began and was filled throughout with joyful and uplifting worship, with a variety of voices and music infusing each service. In addition to organist John Cummings, musicians from El Buen Pastor, Durham, shared their gifts and voices during the opening Eucharist. Musicians from St. Ambrose, Raleigh, brought worshipers to their feet during Evening Prayer. Youth led Noonday Prayer in both English and Spanish. At every time and in every format, the beauty of our faith was celebrated.
BISHOPS’ ADDRESSES
Those attending in person or watching via livestream saw the strength of diocesan and church leadership with addresses by Bishop Sam Rodman, Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson and Curry.
Brooke-Davidson was the first to speak, delivering the homily during the Eucharist. Her opening words, “you know more than you think you do,” were the beginning of an affirmation of the importance of our congregations, the contributions they make in the world, and how their vitality is measured not in attendance numbers or finances, but rather in the fact that “[v]itality is about being alive, the way Jesus meant it when he said, ‘I have come so that you can have life in all its abundance.’” She spoke about congregational vitality being the key to “whether the Jesus movement will live or die, and whether or not it will be here to help shape our common life and continue to turn us away from sin and evil…and back to Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer.”
Rodman was the next to speak, giving the annual bishop’s address during the first legislative session. He spoke on the parable of the talents, defining interpretations of the story as it was heard both in Jesus’ time and today. He pointed out that the parable represented a world as it is, not “the new community that Jesus is calling into being, the beloved community Jesus is inviting us to help build.”
He, too, spoke on congregational vitality and illuminated our need for it with stories of congregations and ministries that embody vitality in a variety of ways. He lifted up the gifts offered by both traditional approaches and new ones, where churches’ missions have adapted organically to meet the needs of those they serve. He spoke of large, urban churches and small, rural parishes and missions, emphasizing that each found ways to serve their communities and make a difference in the world.
“A vital congregation is one that is rooted and centered in the love of Jesus,” he said. “Jesus is forever calling us, showing us and teaching us to walk in the way of his love. A love that is other-centered, sacrificial, bold and broad and indiscriminate. It embraces us all. This is the gospel promise. And there is no limit to the resources of God’s love. That is
what resurrection power is all about—here and now.”
Last, but never least, Curry returned to the Diocese of North Carolina to deliver the keynote address. He spoke of the spirit of congregational vitality and why it matters. He spoke of the fact that everyone in the room was touched and impacted by someone within a congregation, and makes a difference in the world. And, of course, he spoke of the unselfish way of love and its potential to change the world to become the one that God intended.
“There is a way to follow Jesus that is loving and kind and just, [and] you’ve done that. That’s our heritage.”
THE BUSINESS OF CONVENTION
Most who heard them agreed they would have been content to listen to our bishops all day. But there was work to be done, and the business of Convention, the reason of the gathering, was undertaken and completed.
The proposed 2025 mission and ministry budget was passed.
The following seats were filled by election:
- Standing Committee: In the clergy order, the Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough and the Rev. Brad Smith. In the lay order, Joanne Jenkins.
- Diocesan Council: In the clergy order, the Rev. Amanda Stephenson and the Rev. Imogen Rhodenhiser. In the lay order, Alice Freeman, Jeff Pitts and David Bland.
- Trustee, University of the South: In the lay order, Edward Dennis
The following resolutions were passed: Substitute Resolution 209.1 On Legislative Committee Hearings Prior to Convention, Resolution 209.2 On Filling Vacant Cures, Resolution 209.3 On Definitions in the Canons, Substitute Resolution 209.4 On Global Mission Work. Certified copies of all resolutions are available on the diocesan website.
WELCOME HOME BISHOP & MRS. CURRY
If there was a second unofficial theme to the 209th Annual Convention, it was “welcome home.” Before the start of Evening Prayer, attendees gathered to honor Bishop Curry and Sharon Curry, and celebrate their decades-long contributions to The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of North Carolina. Among those who spoke and presented gifts were John Hodges-Copple, Martha Alexander, the Rev. Jemonde Taylor, Margo Acomb, Alice Freeman, Chuck Till and Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple. Rodman presented Sharon Curry with a special Bishops’ Award for the gift of her modeling what it is to be a clergy spouse and for being a mainstay at St. Stephen’s, Oxford, even as Bishop Curry led The Episcopal Church.
When Bishop Curry neared the end of his term as presiding bishop, he asked that a fund be set aside for his successor to have resources and space for creative and innovative thinking. The Diocese of North Carolina was one of the dioceses asked to help make that happen, and Rodman and Brooke-Davidson presented a final gift of announcing that, in addition to that work, the Diocese of North Carolina was contributing $100,000 to the fund in thanksgiving for Bishop Curry’s ministry.
Closing the celebration were choir members of St. Stephen’s, Winston-Salem, where Curry first served in the Diocese of North Carolina, leading the hall in singing “A Balm in Gilead.”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
The Opening Eucharist included the welcoming, celebration and commissioning of this year’s cohort or Johnson Service Corps fellows: Christina Charles, Efiotu (Efi) Jagun, Emily Padgett, Jon Stanley, Syndey Spencer and Tamara Royster; new co-archdeacons the Rev. Scott Balderson and the Rev. Sarah Woodard; and the second graduating cohort of the Lay Preachers Training Initiative: James Moore, Midge Noble, Robert Rubin, Kimberly Yerino, Jerry Landry and Allison Kratt.
The 2024 Bishops’ Award honored the Rev. Jan Lamb for the five years she served as archdeacon of the Diocese of North Carolina. Lamb retired from that role this year.
The Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, was the recipient of the 2024 The Rev. Tom Droppers Memorial Green Congregation Award, presented each year by the Chartered Committee for Environmental Ministry. The award honored the church’s viewing of Creation Care as an integral component of the church’s mission, values and daily operations, and for its Creation Care initiatives, including the installation of solar panels, composting, and community collaboration around recycling.
Youth delegates once again provided both energy and memorable moments, as they led two energizers on Saturday to keep up the spirits and energy of those present.
Congregational vitality was the focus, and vitality was certainly present throughout the gathering.
The 210th Annual Convention will take place November 21-22 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem.
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