The privileges and responsibilities of involvement in ecumenical conversations
and cooperation have been assigned to two persons in the Diocese of
East Tennessee. Mr. Bill Farnham, an informed communicant of St. Andrew's
Church, Harriman, attends the meetings of the Tennessee Association
of Churches on behalf of Bishop vonRosenberg. This group has been functioning
as an interdenominational planning forum for about 30 years. Its primary
work has been in furthering prison ministries. He also is very active
locally, and helps serve as host to ecumenical visitors to our diocesan
events.
The Rev. Al Minor, retired, has been representing this diocese at the
monthly meetings of the Association of Christian Denomination Leaders
(ACDL) which is the only significant "conversation" which
is going on between black denominations and the Episcopal Church locally.
He also writes helpful articles for the East Tennessee Episcopalian
which describes the developments in ecumenical relations, attends ecumenical
events when possible, and has enjoyed the privilege of attending the
annual National Workshop on Christian Unity, which is a large clearing
house of ecumenical information and provides significant ecumenical
contacts and encouraging indicators of progress in the world-wide dialogues.
He also serves as host to ecumenical visitors at our diocesan events,
and works to keep important contacts alive and open.
The largest challenge before us is to move helpfully into that new
relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
discovering the dimensions of our mutual ministries and developing courageous
new opportunities of cooperation.
Respectfully submitted by Bill Farnham and the Rev. Al
Minor