129th Synod Held in the
Episcopal Parish of Alton
Bishop Beckwith with
Bishop Robinson
Cavalcanti of
Recife, Brazil
“We are One in the Spirit,”
was the theme of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield 129th
Diocesan Synod which was held on October 27 and 28, 2006 in
Alton, Illinois. The Synod, which was hosted by the Episcopal
Parish of Alton, comprising St. Paul’s Church and Trinity
Chapel, was held at Julia’s Banquet Center.
The Right Reverend Peter Beckwith,
Bishop of the Diocese addressed the gathering on the first day
of Synod. He welcomed the invited guests, recognized and
welcomed new clergy who joined the Diocese since the last synod,
and acknowledged those members of the clergy who were called to
other dioceses during the course of the year.
In delivering his address in the
fifteenth year of his episcopacy, Bishop Beckwith, remarked that
“the health of The Episcopal Church continues to erode” after
the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church
held last summer in Columbus, Ohio. This erosion is not as a
result of being “progressive and inclusive, but because we have
adopted secular values which reject orthodox Christian theology
and its understanding of morality and sin, and contend that the
authority of Holy Scripture is relative and the application of
its teaching is discretionary.”
He mentioned a survey which was
conducted earlier this year between Episcopal and Protestant
teens. These statistics served to reveal that “our church is in
serious trouble.” They showed that the young people of the
Episcopal Church dimmed in comparison to the Protestant teens in
their belief in God and life after death, in the importance of
faith in their lives, reading of the bible and commitment to
God. The bishop stated that the diocese is also “in the midst of
difficult times.” He identified that the diocese, in the past
eleven (11) years (1995 – 2005) have lost more than nineteen
percent (19%) of its membership (from about 7300 baptized
members to about 5900); the majority of that loss occurred since
2002 -- from about 6800 to 5900 -- or more than 13%. Though
there has been a decrease in membership, the average Sunday
attendance remained consistent from 1995-2001 at 3,000 persons,
but decreased in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and increased in 2004. The
financial giving in the Diocese steadily rose from 1995-2003 but
decreased in 2004. In 2005, it rose by just under 1.5%.
Bishop Beckwith alluded to the closure
of one church during the year and the inactivity of ministry of
another. He believes that another eight (8) churches in the
Diocese are “in jeopardy of suffering the same fate in the near
future unless something significant occurs.” The bishop does not
think that “the current crisis” in the Episcopal Church is
entirely responsible for what’s taking place in the Diocese and
the wider Church; but he believes it plays a part. He,
nevertheless, believes that “the mission of this Diocese and the
spiritual health of our congregations are compromised and
jeopardized by any relationship, however remote, with those who
confuse, change or contradict apostolic teaching.” The point he
made was that “there is no significant motivation for anyone to
join us if we simply offer what they already have in the
world.” [Please click here to read the Bishop’s full address].
Attending the Synod were invited guests
who brought greetings from their respective dioceses:
The Right Reverend Edward Robinson de
Barros Cavalvcanti, Bishop of our Companion Diocese of Recife
and the preacher at the Synod Eucharist;
The Very Reverend Frank B.H.H.
Marshall, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All
Angels and preacher at the Evensong, and Mrs. Beverly Marshall,
from the companion Diocese of Barbados;
The Reverend Canon Edward den Blaauwen,
Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Quincy; and The Reverend Canon
David C. Anderson, President of the American Anglican Council.
The first day of business concluded
with the presentation of Reports of the various Departments,
Commissions and Ministries and Elections to Diocesan positions.
The evening ended with Evensong at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Alton, IL, followed by Social Hour and the Synod Banquet at
Julia’s Banquet Center in Alton Square.
The Synod Eucharist, presided by Bishop
Beckwith, was held on the Saturday morning in St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church. The preacher was the Right Reverend Robinson
Cavalvcanti, Bishop of Recife.
Click here for Bishop Cavalcanti’s Sermon
The Diocesan Youth Department made a
presentation to the Synod on the youth programs within the
Diocese. A number of booths formed part of the Resource Center
for Diocesan and Episcopal Church information.
Back to the 129th Synod Cover Page
