Giving thanks at Christmas for the ministry of Saint Paul’s Cathedral

by the Right Reverend Thomas Clarke Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, January 2003

On November 15 and 16, we gathered as a diocese for our annual convention at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington. Once again, the staff and people of Saint Paul’s provided excellent hospitality and a warm and friendly environment for our gathering as a diocesan family. I hope I am speaking on your behalf, as well as my own, in thanking them for this important ministry. Our cathedral, guided by the gifted leadership of Dean Ken Poppe, is a great blessing in this diocese. With that in mind, my column this month is offered in thanksgiving to our cathedral staff and the members of the congregation of Saint Paul’s for their ministry in, to and with the diocese.

Our cathedral, like many in the Episcopal Church is also a parish church, with a vestry, budget, committees, program and all that goes along with being an Episcopal church. Like every other congregation in our diocese, Saint Paul’s is faithfully engaged in discerning and sharing in God’s mission as it Prays the Prayer of Christ, Learns the Mind of Christ and Does the Deeds of Christ. In addition, the cathedral serves as a center for the bishop’s liturgical and teaching ministry and as a gathering place for diocesan events, such as convention. We are indeed blessed to have a wonderful staff and lively congregation at Saint Paul’s who carry out this dual ministry with great care, skill, love and devotion.

Chapter shapes ministry
Because the ministry of the cathedral belongs in some measure to all the people of our diocese, there is also a Cathedral Chapter that helps to shape and steer the cathedral ministry of Saint Paul’s. Chapter members come from all over the diocese and they meet on a regular basis to help the dean, other members of the cathedral staff, and the people of Saint Paul’s to live more fully into their ministry as our cathedral. The Cathedral Chapter helps to “connect” better the congregations and deaneries of our diocese to the cathedral and likewise the cathedral to the congregations and deaneries.

To help shape the direction and mission of the cathedral, members of the Cathedral Chapter have been holding deanery conversations during the past year. Out of those conversations have come some wonderful ideas and some important cautions. Thanks to all who participated in those conversations, both for your candor and for your creative thinking.

Cathedral without Walls
In addition to being a place where the people of our diocese gather for worship, educational events and meetings, one of the visionary hopes that Saint Paul’s and the Cathedral Chapter have is to be a “Cathedral without Walls.” The idea here is to extend the ministry of the cathedral throughout the diocese in various ways by partnering with congregations and deaneries and lending energy to things going on in the different regions of the diocese. Those of you at convention heard Dean Poppe talk some about this vision of collaborative ministry, and we will be hearing more about it in the months ahead. This model of mutual partnership and interdependence is an exciting one to me and I hope to you. No one really knows what this will all look like in the future, but the possibilities are numerous and intriguing.

Center for Christian Meditation
Another area where the cathedral is moving forward is in its effort to develop a Center for Christian Meditation. Bringing such an effort to full fruition will obviously take time, but the work has already begun with some offerings on prayer and meditation. This ministry, along with our newly formed Diocesan Spiritual Life Committee, will provide valuable resources and support for our faith journeys.

Ministries of education, social justice, and music
Many throughout our diocese look to the cathedral as a resource in the various areas of church life. The rich and varied ministry of our cathedral includes diocesan-wide educational offerings like the Cully Lecture and leadership by example in outreach and social justice ministry. The cathedral is also helping to lead the way as we explore more fully the national church Jubilee Ministry program. The Hopkins Bookstore is especially appreciated by people far and near.

Another important cathedral ministry is the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered (GLBT) group that meets monthly for fellowship, conversation, prayer and support. It includes members of Saint Paul’s and others from Burlington and beyond. I joined them for supper, conversation and prayers in November and listened to their hopes, concerns and insights about mission and ministry here and throughout the church. I am thankful for this group and its ministry.

Finally, no expression of thankfulness with respect to the cathedral would be complete without a word about the rich music ministry that is part of its life and mission. Under the inspired leadership of Mark Howe, Canon Precentor, this ministry brings joy to all who participate in it, as well as those who experience it. To have people from around the diocese share in this ministry during Evensong at convention was a great symbol of what a cathedral can and should be. The recent Advent program of lessons and music was wonderful and moving. Part of the hope for a cathedral without walls is that this ministry of music can be shared even more fully throughout the diocese. I especially look forward to hearing them sing at the National Cathedral in Washington on Vermont Day, February 16, 2003.

As the people of Saint Paul’s and the Cathedral Chapter continue to work at making our cathedral both a lively center for worship, learning and service and a cathedral without walls, my hope is that each of us will find our connection to our cathedral!

With a thankful heart and spirit,
+ Thomas

Links to previous Mountain Echo Letters