Bishop’s Address to Diocese of Eau Claire Convention 11.9.2019

Dear Family and Friends of the Diocese of Eau Claire,

Around Halloween of 2016 a boy received much media attention because of his costume at the White House Trick or Treat Party. With a new President about to be elected, and President Obama not able to serve a third term, the boy dressed up as a duck with bandages all around one of his legs. President Obama delighted in seeing the boy in his Lame Duck outfit!

While my body is much bigger than that of the boy, the Lame Duck costume fits me. In the fall of next year I will turn 72 and must resign as your bishop. I do this with mixed feelings. On one hand, I have always known this is the way it is, and I must move on. Meanwhile, I will be completing the best job I have ever had. I have loved being with you and delighted in being part of this very creative diocese!

It is easy to point to shortcomings, but before addressing our concerns, I wish to give thanks. First, I am bishop to a wonderful group of clergy. Second, I thank the lay members of the Diocese. So many of you give so much of yourselves for the benefit of your parishes and for the diocese. Everywhere I look I see you reaching to me in friendship. I have come to cherish you. I will move away to Florida but won’t forget you.

Let’s turn to some shortcomings. We only had five people go to Camp last year. It was right that we transitioned from CrossWoods Camp to join with Fond du Lac. We need now to be active in encouraging young people to attend. One reason for last summer’s small enrollment was Campers only had from March to May to register. Another is the change from Camp Horstick’s being all young people attending the same week to Fond du Lac’s having three different weeks for Camp and shifting from August to June. Finally, there is uneasiness in leaving a familiar Camp venue to one that is unknown.

Camp is the primary way in which young people connect with Jesus and his Gospel. This has been proven true time and again. May Ruth and I have three children who are now in their late 20’s or early 30’s. All three found Camp to be the first and most critical time of formation in their faith. Where did they go to Camp? It was at Camp Webb, renamed Camp Lakotah—the same locale where Camp Horstick is right now!

I have flyers for Camp ready for distribution. The registration form is in the brochure. As in the past a young person connected to one of our parishes (even a grandparent can be the church member) can go for free. He or she can also bring a friend to the same Camp session, and the friend can go for free as well. All parents have to do is send in the form and indicate they are connected to our Diocese. The Diocese will pay all the fees.

There is a second way the Diocese wants to support its younger members. The Episcopal Youth Event will take place July 7-11. This is only for those about to enter grades 9-12. E.Y.E. takes place once every three years. E.Y.E. 2020 will be at Howard University in Washington, DC. The Diocese will pay all expenses for those wanting to attend. This will include transportation, lodging, and food.

I have heard a desire for the Diocese to return to some kind of family workshop/retreat. In the past we had a weekend in the fall at Camp Manitou near New Auburn. I have also heard a desire for a retreat that is mindful of the physical needs or limitations of older people.

I would be most supportive of a weekend similar to the Clergy Workshop/Retreats. The Retreat would run from Friday evening through Sunday morning. Those attending would stay at a local hotel that would provide the first meal on Friday night and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There would be a first session Friday after the meal at the hotel. Saturday would have morning and afternoon sessions. Lunch would be provided by the parish or we could place an order for box lunches. We could then all go to a restaurant for dinner. On Sunday, we would again have a session and attend the Eucharist as part of the Sunday congregation before going home.

How much would this cost for those attending? The participants would pay for the two hotel nights while the Diocese would pay for all meals and for the program. The Clergy retreat/workshop had two nights with the hotel charging $64 per night. Children could come on this type of retreat, for we would choose a hotel that had swimming or other activities. What do you think of this?

Our biggest shortcoming is a decline in membership and attendance in our Churches. Based on the Parochial Reports of 2018, the Diocese has reported a membership of 1700 and an average Sunday attendance of 680. I have since learned of an over reporting of membership and attendance by one of our larger congregations. The true number is 1350 members and an average Sunday attendance of 600. This is a qualitative change that forces us to look at our membership and attendance with concern. While our finances are solid, the membership decline is serious and if not addressed will impact finances in future years.

What can be done about this? There is no magic formula for growth. The work of the Transition Committee, and its proposals for the future of the Diocese are important. Still, addressing the decline is a primary, strategic objective. Proposing changes for the future of the Diocese is tactical in nature. What is the difference? Strategy accomplishes an overall goal. Tactics hopefully provide the means of achieving the goal.

For me the ultimate strategy is for us to serve God as taught to us through Jesus Christ. As we love Jesus—his manner of life and teachings—we need to invite the Holy Spirit continually to shape up and shake out our lives so that we can convey this love to others. We need to gain new insights in how to do this and to have the courage to act upon what we believe. We must be like Jesus and ready to react with faith in the situations we encounter. Jesus didn’t get up and say, “Whom can I bring into the Kingdom today?” Instead he went about his daily routines and responded to the people in his midst. We need to do this as well. When we act like this and find comfort and joy in what we are doing, our parishes will find growth, one person at a time. This will only happen when we are excited about ourselves and can’t help sharing what we are doing with others.

What is to happen within our parishes once we have “newcomers” amongst us? Determining the future structure of the Diocese has merit and could provided further insights and resources for encouraging visitors to join. Still, I as your bishop of only one more year have five other tactical proposals that may be more useful. Here they are:

1. Quality, Biblically based Preaching that connects the Good News of Jesus to everyday life.
2. Music that carries meaningful lyrics which is easily sung by the congregation and enjoyed.
3. Excellent Christian Education offered on Sundays and other days for children and adults.
4. Pastoral Visits by clergy in people’s homes with a minimum of one visit every week.
5. Encouraging youth to forgo other options and attending our Camping and EYE ministries.

As you move into small groups, and we rejoin later in plenary session, I ask that you discuss these dimensions of parish life along with the future of the Diocese. While they seem to be separate matters, I 

ask that you consider these tactical ideas and see how we can connect the various models of structure to achieve growth in our parishes.

In closing, I thank all of you for your support of me as your bishop. I want especially to thank the good work of:
Aaron Zook as my Canon to the Ordinary
Bob Weathers as our Diocesan Treasurer
Jim Pelish as our Chancellor
Jo Glasser as Chair of the Commission on Ministry
Guy Usher as President of the Standing Committee
Tim Donohue as Vice President of the Executive Council
Bill Smith as Vice President of the Buffington Trust
Scott Kirby for his wisdom and friendship to me as resident “Old Timer”
Kathy Charles as she starts her work as Canon for Elderly Transitions
Tanya Scheff as she begins her work as Canon for Multicultural Ministries

In addition I thank Bob Gadwill who died this spring. From becoming Vice President of the Buffington Trust in 1988 until the beginning of this year, Bob shepherded the Trust to enhance independent retired living by providing quality shelter to people in need. Residents pay very low rent (usually $100 per month) because this Trust has been well administered. Currently we have 8 apartments and hope in the next year to add four more. The Buffington Board and I believe that without Bob Gadwill’s direction the Trust would have disappeared or morphed into something no longer connected to its mission.

In thanking many people, I conclude with my wife, May Ruth. Through nearly 40 years of ordained ministry she has been my constant helpmate. She too loves this Diocese and its people. We delight in our three children, two sons in law, and our 17 month old grandson. We look forward to the birth of our first granddaughter around Thanksgiving. In August we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary by gathering everyone together at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. I am most thankful to serve God as your bishop in ways that allow me to celebrate my family and Church life. Make no mistake about it. You are a great Diocese, and I am privileged to be a part of it. With my love and best wishes as I enter my “Lame Duck” year,
I am,

Your brother in Christ,
W. Jay Lambert
VI Bishop of Eau Claire