2007 LA Diocesan Convention Report - Chris Dagan

What a busy weekend! Thank you for allowing me to represent you when you elected me as one of the delegates to the Diocesan Convention.

The event was the 2007 Los Angeles Diocesan Convention held at the Riverside Convention Center. Along with Fr. Rick, Tim, Carla, Gayle, Virginia Ramos, Manny de Castro, and I, - - - we joined hundreds of other delegates, visitors, friends from other congregations to learn more about each other congregation’s expectations through reports, resolutions, and testimonies.

Naturally, it was highly-organized. It was a smooth flow from the Registration to the sessions, to the entertainment to the dinner, up to the final event - - - the Holy Eucharist. The speakers and sessions were superb. I was taken with the convention’s attention to detail and professional presentations. The logistics moved like clockwork under Bishop Bruno’s strong direction. No time was wasted. But there was ample time go to the exhibition hall and fellowship with friends and other delegates. The agenda was followed to the T. The Exhibition Hall was filled to the capacity with many vendors - - - lots to buy, books, Christmas decorations, jewelries, church needs, etc. Lots of items to choose from.

For one to know and understand what I am saying - - - the workings of such a magnitude conference, one has to experience it. I urge you accept when nominated to be a delegate. If you cannot be delegate, be an alternate delegate, and if this still does not work for you, be a guest. As a delegate you will have voice and be able to vote on all the resolutions, delegates, proposals, etc. Being an alternate delegate and visitor will not give you voice therefore will not be able to vote but just being there with everyone, experiencing the aura of the moment and seeing the Diocese in action will be very rewarding. Being there allows one to listen to the different speakers share their personal experience/s on their journey as Christians. Being there also, will give us the chance to hear and listen to the Being there also, will make one aware and give understanding of the many processes to be worked through to make the L. A. Diocese that it is today. The one who will continue to work with us, support us especially in times of struggle so that we will be able to continue to move forward as we realize our dreams of becoming a fulfilled HTSB.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share. Again, thanks too for electing me as one of your delegates. What a learning experience! It was a pleasure representing you and be in the midst of where the action is. Getting to see once again some of the ECW board was such a pleasant surprise. Being in the company of the other HTSB delegates, dining with them and going out for a special break was added bonus to the whole event. All in all, it was an experience I will always treasure.

Thank you.
Chris Dagan

HTSB Enters into Rector Search Process

An Important Announcement from your Vestry

December 2, 2007

Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends:

On behalf of your Vestry, it is with great pleasure that I inform you of our unanimous decision to enter into the rector search process. After much deliberation and with the great help and spiritual leadership from the Rev. Rick Byrum, we feel called into initiating the steps toward calling our Rector, which is the right and duty of every mature parish, in consultation with their Bishop.

Several weeks ago, the Vestry met with the Reverend Canon Joanna Satorious, from the diocesan Office of Clergy Formation and Development, to discuss our intent to move forward with the search process. We will continue to work with her to make sure that we are in keeping with Diocesan procedures.

As you may know, our congregation has been through many challenges these past few years and much of it has meant a time of introspection. We feel this time has been well spent in the development of lay leadership and growth. As I stated in my letter to the Diocese, we, the Congregation of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict have grown and are now ready to seek stability in our spiritual life by taking that next step in the life of every parish by choosing a priest whom God calls to be rector of this parish.

Some of you may immediately wonder, “Is Fr. Rick leaving us? Are we asking him to leave?” That is not the case. Fr. Rick is committed to our Parish and will remain the Priest-In-Charge until we call our rector. He has also expressed his deep desire to continue his pastoral role here at Holy Trinity and St. Benedict and will be a candidate for that search process. But before we call a person to serve, we must first understand who we are. We must first figure out who we are and where we want to go before anyone can listen to the call to serve as this parish’s next rector.

This search process will be a challenging journey for all of us, a journey that will take many, many months of self discovery and soul searching. The important thing to know, however, is that we will be taking this journey together as a congregation. This search process will be an open one where all of us will be involved. For the next several months, we will be working to develop a Parish Profile that will state in words who we are, what we want to do, where we want to go, what our goals are, what programs we will pursue, and so on. We will be having many town hall meetings, small group discussions, and home visits, until we have completed a Parish Profile.
As I mentioned, this is an open process and I encourage all of you to participate and voice out your opinions. I also encourage all of us to be open to all possibilities of what is right and good and not what one necessarily wants. God works in mysterious ways and God will call the one who should be here with us, as rector of this parish, and this process is meant to facilitate that.

With great joy and expectation, I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Tim Botengan
Senior Warden
The Parish of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict
Email: tbotengan@earthlink .net
Cell: (626) 482-3911

PS
On Sunday, December 2, 2007, this announcement was distributed at the 11:00 AM service. In addition, those who had questions or concerns were invited to stay immediately after the service so that they can ask the members of the Vestry. As the letter mentioned, this is an open process and the Vestry will try to keep it as transparent as allowed. We will continue to hold question and answer sessions immediately after church services whenever possible. We will also continue to inform you of any new developments as they come up. Thank you.