The instability of a churning world offers great opportunity to till the soil of the church, said Bishop George Sumner during his address to the 121^st Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Sumner set the framework for a new era for diocesan life as he unveiled a strategic plan that focuses on evangelism, church plants, Hispanic Ministry, catechesis and parish-to-parish partnerships. “…By means of the churning the Holy Spirit is opening these up to us,” he said.

The new strategy has taken into account a recent diocesan survey that revealed a desire for grassroots authority emphasizing lay-leadership and parish-centeredness. “We heard two things very clearly in our listening process surrounding the Strategic Plan. One is that there is great energy in this diocese for ministry and mission,” Sumner said. “That energy is indeed palpable. The other thing we heard is that people want to be in on the ground floor. They don’t want a top-down strategic plan; they want to be part and parcel of the planning. And that’s how it should be.” 

The Rev. Betsy Randall, who headed the Strategic Plan Committee, underscored the importance of a bottom-up implementation for the plan and asked clergy and lay people to get involved by signing-up for an initiative at www.edod.org. She said the mission statement, “Equipping one another to reach our communities with the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ,” unifies such an effort.

The convention day began with Holy Eucharist that included bluegrass gospel music by the Rev. Marc Dobson, Good Shepherd in Cedar Hill and the Rev. Michael Hurst, Church of the Savior in Allen. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Mwita Akiri, who is the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tarime in Tanzania, Africa gave the sermon. Akiri talked about how regular people must go out and proclaim the good news and share the love of Christ with others. “Ordinary people are the powerhouse for evangelism,” he said. “It’s a sacrifice. Our task is to make disciples. Clergy and laity together - you are the light of the world. Think about worship, and how you design worship. It must be for mission, not an end to itself. Go into the world with a clear message.”

The convention also held elections to diocesan boards and commissions including the election of the Rev. Michael Mills, Good Shepherd in Dallas; and Lee Spence, St. Dunstan’s in Mineola to the Standing Committee. The Rev. Thomas Kincaid, Incarnation in Dallas; the Rev. Christopher Steele, St. Mary’s in Irving; Jose Baltazar, San Francisco De Asis in Dallas; Adele Ichilian, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas; Paul Lasiter, St. James in Kemp; and Stevi McCoy, St. Philip’s in Frisco, were elected to the Executive Council. Missy Hubbell, Good Shepherd in Dallas, was elected to serve as Trustee for University of the South.

The Rev. Canon Victoria Heard, Redeemer in Irving; the Very Rev. Dr. Neal Michell, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas; the Rev. Mike Michie, St. Andrew’s in McKinney; the Rev. Dr. Samira Izadi Page, Gateway of Grace in Dallas; Carrie Headington, Diocesan House; William Murchison, Incarnation in Dallas; Lee Spence, St. Dunstan’s in Mineola; and Lana Valenta, Incarnation in Dallas were all elected to serve as delegates to General Convention. Canon to the Ordinary, Michael Gilton, and Jolayne LaCour, St. David of Wales in Denton were elected to serve as alternates. 

Much beloved Tim Mack, longtime Chancellor of the diocese has retired from that post. David Parsons, a parishioner at Incarnation was elected to serve in that important role.

Sumner also recognized Santa Natividad, in Plano, as a new church mission, when about 80 of its parishioners joyfully processed on the convention floor, led by the Rev. Noe Mendez. 

A special tribute was paid to the Rev. Pam Dunbar, known affectionally as Deacon Pam, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving almost 18 years in the diocese as Youth Missioner. Toni Luc Tayengo, chairperson of the Youth Commission told the crowd of more than 400 that Dunbar’s contribution to youth ministry and Christian formation is impressive. “Quietly, without fanfare or publicity you took a ragtag group of people who thought youth needed more than bowling and pizza, and created a dynamic leadership training commission that has produced five priests, new youth ministers and the next generation of Christian leaders,” Tayengo said. “Your heart for Jesus Christ is so bright and apparent that it reaches out and embraces all it meets.”

Sumner also revealed a new tradition of honoring extraordinary service in the diocese and from the wider church. The clergy honored will be named as canons and the lay people will be named to the Order of Bishop Garrett, and all will be inducted at evensong at St. Matthew’s Cathedral on January 15. Clergy honored the Rev. Jerry Hill, St. Paul in Waxahachie; the Rev. Ephraim Radner, Wycliffe College; the Rev. Annette Brownlee, Wycliffe College and the Rev. Diana Luck, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas. Lay people honored are Dabney Dwyer, Ascension in Dallas; Rebecca Wellborn, St. Paul in Waxahachie; Tony Briggle, Saint Michael and All Angels in Dallas; Tim Mack, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas and Plack Carr, Saint Michael and All Angels in Dallas.