Other theological training is being led by the Rev. John Jin in Korea,
the Rev. Henry Joel Kouassi in Abijan, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Rev. Andrew J.
Heilman is providing for theological training in Brazil and Cuba. Mr. Dibb
thanked the Rev. Grant Odhner – the only other Theological School full-time
faculty member – and the adjunct and core faculty. He appealed to ministers
to continue to plant thoughts of the ministry in the minds of promising young
men.
Bishop Keith’s report as Chancellor of the Academy of the New Church:
The Secondary Schools received a glowing report from the accreditation
committee, whose only criticism was that our salaries are too low and we
should be taking our show on the road.
The College’s admissions process continues to be refined so that the
students admitted are a good fit with our mission. Glencairn Museum has
been praised by a European expert in the field as probably doing a better job
at displaying religious works than any museum in Europe. Cairnwood Estate
has annual income from weddings, receptions, and other events that totals just
under a million dollars.
The budget is the Academy’s greatest worry and pressure, as budget cutting
can be a real blow to morale. We project a balanced budget in 2017, after 10
years of deficit spending.
At the end of the business session, information on the members of the
Council of the Clergy was provided for nominating men to fill five vacancies
on the Bishop’s Consistory, and to vote for two members to serve on the
Membership Committee of the Council of the Clergy.
Seminar on Women: In the evening a number of ministers took up the
invitation by a group of lay men and women to attend a seminar, “Exploring
Gender and Ordination for the General Church.” Its stated goals included
summarizing and discussing “doctrinal studies and other works in support
of women in the General Church ministry that have been completed by lay
people and by women who are currently ordained in or training in other
denominations as an alternative to General Church ordination.”
This seminar was moderated by Al Lindsay from the Sarver, Pennsylvania,
congregation. The featured speakers were Soni Werner, Julie Conaron, Jon and
Karin Childs, and Roxanne Jungé. General discussion followed. Mr. Lindsay
concluded with special thanks for so many ministers attending. The studies
summarized were made available as handouts or on the Internet.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25
The Rev. Glenn “Mac” Frazier led worship with readings from Mark 9:38-41,
Luke 9:49-54 and Apocalypse Revealed 599. He spoke to the desire to attest to
the truth with all the power of calling down fire from heaven. The Lord forbade
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