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December 21, 2010
To the Editor:
From reading AVM one would get the idea that the Diocese of Albany does nothing. This is, thank God, far from the truth! Here is a partial list of what we in our Diocese have done this past year. It is partial because I know I will be forgetting something, and because there may be ministries I am unaware of.
- At the beginning of the year there was a mission team in Haiti: they were putting solar panels on a school outside of Port au Prince, and they were also giving the school new computers. Then came the earthquake. Since then that school survived. Because we upgraded it, attendance has more than doubled. Now there is good mission work!
- Our Christ the King Center in Greenwich: Where else will you find such a vast Christian and community ministry? Youth camps, retreats, weddings, Father Nigel's Healing ministry, nursery school, community use of the buildings — even a helicopter pad for EMS!!
- A wonderful Christian Spirit among our clergy: this is the third diocese I have served in — the other two are far more competitive — and that is not very Christian.
- For the clergy there is provided not only a clergy conference to which spouses are invited but also separate priest's and deacon's retreats. This is hard to find elsewhere.
- We have a Bishop who preaches holding a Bible in his hand. And what else should he preach from?
- Our Deacons have more liturgical authority and a broader ministry than do deacons in most other dioceses.
- Even though AVM may think we are too conservative, our women clergy are respected and given greater authority than in some other dioceses.
I know I am forgetting many things, but I had to send you this list.
Merry Christmas, anyway!
Grace and Peace,
Mike+ Waverly-Shank
Vicar of St. Margaret's, Margaretville and St. Mary's, Downsville
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