Bishop David's Presidential Address

to the 66th Annual Diocesan Convention

​

We acknowledge that this meeting is taking place in the un-ceded territory of California, home to nearly 200 tribal nations. As we begin this meeting, we acknowledge and honour the original inhabitants of various regions, including the Yokuts, Paiute, Miwok, Ohlone, Chukchansi, Western Mono, Me-wuk, Chumash, and the Tubatulabal. A land acknowledgement is a critical step towards working with native communities to secure meaningful partnership and inclusion in the stewardship and protection of their cultural resources and homelands. Let us take a moment to honour these ancestral grounds that we are collectively gathered upon and support the resilience and strength that all indigenous people have shown worldwide.

Hermanas y Hermanos de la Dioceses Episcopal de San Joaquin, es un placer y un placer ofrecerlos; bienvenidos, bienvenidos, tres veces bienvenidos a 66 (sesenta y seis) Convencion Diocesana de EDSJ. Que demos gracias por este espacio santo y este tempo santo esta ora santa ante nosotros.

Translation:

Sisters and Brothers of The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, it is my pleasure and delight to bid you welcome, welcome, three times welcome to the 66th Diocesan Convention of EDSJ. May we give thanks for this holy space and this holy time and this holy play and work before us.

This is my 12th Presidential Address in as many years as your Diocesan Bishop. And, as you very well know, it is my final Presidential Address at our final convention together.

The theme of this 66th Convention for EDSJ is “Called to be… A Community on the ready. (Llamados a ser… Una Comunidad lista.”

 

Throughout the Gospel’s, Jesus returns again and again, to the theme of being prepared and ready. And this theme is reiterated throughout scripture.

 

In Matthew 24:44 Jesus says, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time when you do not expect him.”

 

In Matthew 25:13, Jesus says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

 

In Luke 12:35-36 Jesus says, “Be ready and dressed. Have your lights burning…”

 

In 2 Timothy 4:2, we read, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”

 

And in 1 Corinthians 16:13, we hear, “Be watchful and stand firm in the faith.”

 

It should be little surprise to us who have committed and continue to commit ourselves to living out our baptismal vows and following the way of Jesus, that we encounter this pervasive theme of readiness and preparedness throughout scripture.  Living a life, “on the ready” means we are aware and attentive, firstly to God, secondly to the world in which we live, and thirdly to ourselves. It is this attentiveness and awareness which places us in a position of readiness and preparedness for that which is to come, whatever and whenever and Whomever, it might be.

 

I chose this theme for the 66th Convention because of its central place in our scripture and tradition and also because we as a Faith Community are facing extraordinary transition. The reality is, over our decade-+ together we have done nothing but face significant, often extraordinary transition. And that is no more apparent than as we prepare and ready ourselves for new Episcopal Leadership and the next season before us.

 

Faithful of EDSJ, please remember, the very best way to ensure preparedness and readiness is to be as present as possible in what and who we have in front of us, at the moment. Oddly enough, being present in the here and now, requires intention and commitment and practice. This focus on the here and now reduces our inclinations to engage in preoccupations and ruminations of the past, as well as speculations and projections on the future. Being present to living fully in the now, affords us the opportunity to engage in and foster a far healthier and holier perspective, a healthier and holier way to see and hear and embrace God, the world in which we live and, and yes, ourselves. Living a life “on the ready” and being a community “on the ready” means we have our hearts and our minds open to that which is occurring at the moment, in real and present time.  And all of this means, we will be far less likely to miss Jesus when He shows up. And let us be abundantly clear, He must certainly shows up.

 

And so, as you’ve heard from me on innumerable occasions, as I am one not necessarily inclined to repeat myself, “remember who you are and to Whom you belong.” And stay alert, be aware, remain attentive, and by all means, for God‘s sake and for our own, be a community on the ready.  Because we are, we are most assuredly, Called to be… in this place called EDSJ.

 

I have so many people to thank and invariably my expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving will not cover all those who warrant said expression. Please know, I am deeply and eternally grateful to all of you for the ways in which you have and continue to follow Jesus, and for the ways in which you have allowed me to walk with you these 12 years.

 

Thank you to each and every Faith Community throughout EDSJ. Thank you for your faithfulness, hospitality, generosity, love and grace, for your service to your respective communities and the continued ways in which you engage with one another to make EDSJ what it is and what it is becoming.

 

Thank you to those who participate in ministry through our Diocesan Commissions: SJRAISE, Anti-Racism and Creation Care.

 

Thank you to our Diocesan Commission on Ministry.

Thank you to those who serve on our governing bodies, the members of Standing Committee and Diocesan Council.

Thank you to Deputies to General Convention and Delegates to our Diocesan Convention.

Thank you to cathedral wardens, treasurer and chapter, cathedral staff and cathedral community.

Thank you to wardens, treasurers, administrators, vestries and bishop’s committees, throughout the diocese.

Thank you Joanne and Mike, our Co-Directors and their staff at our camp and conference center, ECCO.

 

Thank you Alisa, our Diocesan Bookkeeper.

 

Thank you Roxann, our Cathedral/Diocesan Administrator.

Thank you Deacon Greg, our Diocesan Treasurer.

Thank you Nelson, our Latino Hispanic Missioner.

Thank you Michael, our Diocesan Chancellor. 

 

And thank you Anna, my/our Canon to the Ordinary.

 

EDSJ, I cannot possibly fathom walking with any other Diocesan Faith Community as I have these 12 years with you. You have taught me more than I could have possibly anticipated or imagined. And you have shown extraordinary willingness and resilience and faithfulness in taking chances, having a go, and venturing into the unknown, together, with me. You have continued to provide a model of hope and resilience for the rest of the Episcopal Church in the way of becoming the church amid extraordinary change and transition, and showing what it looks like to be a Faith Community resuscitating, recovering and resurrecting. You, EDSJ, are an amazing Holy Experiment and I pray, you will continue to be so.

 

And above all, please never, ever forget you are ready and you are prepared for that which is to come. And, keep at it. As you have heard, readiness and preparedness is never once-and-for-all, it requires constant care. Again, keep at it!

From Tracy and myself, you lovely, wonderfully Faithful People, we love you and you remain in our hearts and in our prayers.

Bendiciones, 
Bendiciones, tres veces
Bendiciones 

The Rt Rev David Rice
Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese 
of San Joaquin

 

There is one last thing, please permit me this Postscriptural action. That which you are about to receive is my gift to you as you have been a gift to me. And as you wear it, it it is my deep yearning and hope that as others see you coming they will be introduced to EDSJ and as others see you going, they, too, will be invited to consider how and what and to Whom they are Called to be…  

 

I invite you to wear it with great care, and perhaps remember our time together when you do so.