“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; out do one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” (Romans 12.9-13)

These words from Paul’s letter to the Romans framed my first council address in 2003. I could hardly know the road before me and before us as a diocese.

We have ministered through the repercussions of General Convention 2003, The Windsor Report, embezzlement, and two hurricanes: Rita and Ike. We survived the dot.com bust and are steering a steady ship through this recession.

We have held fast to what is good when it was far easier to let go. We have loved one another when it was easy to let hate divide us. We have increased our bonds of affection to one another and throughout the global Anglican world. We have treated one another with honor. Zeal and the Spirit have made their home here as we have accomplished a great deal together by the Lord’s grace.

We have celebrated the hope of our future together. We have lived through our fair share of tribulation.

Yet, together, we have persevered in prayer. And, through that prayer our eyes have been opened to possibilities and we have taken them.

Outreach

We called forth a vision of outreach coordinators in each congregation and today almost every congregation has an outreach coordinator and we held our first Bishop’s conference on outreach.

We have a new diocesan center in the heart of Houston and an opportunity to restore and build upon a common mission to the homeless and working poor with your Cathedral.

Leadership: Mission and Congregational Development

We created a system to help clergy obtain CEU credits and used this as a means by which they can continue to learn and grow as leaders.

We have focused our attention and energies on leadership. We have further developed and planted leadership training throughout the diocese (Crosspointes, Clericus Groups, Clergy Conference, vestry and wardens). Some opportunities are completely new others have new faces and higher standards of excellence.

We supported the development and continuation of the little church group which helps to build conversation, communication, and the sharing of resources for small churches in small communities.

We planted the diaconate in the diocese of Texas and ordained eight deacons in 2007, in 2008 I ordained four deacons (and five bi-vocational clergy), and I will ordain another five deacons later this month. They are supporting and growing new ministries in each congregation in which they serve.

This work required the expansion of our Commission on Ministry, inviting more leaders into the work of discernment and making way for people to discover their call to ministry in both the diaconate and as bi-vocational clergy.

We have shaped the IONA school and created a way for all of our congregations, no matter what size, to be able to enjoy a full sacramental life.

We moved resources to bridge the gap, built two churches and have planted two more. And we are seeing the growth of one of our Latino congregations which is the special mission of St. Paul’s, Houston.

We have seen seven missions become parishes, with two more to do so at this council.

Today we have two regional bishops overseeing localized mission development and the dispersal of resources into the local communities of the diocese.

We aided 91 congregations to call rectors or priests in charge. We doubled the number of clergy less than 40 years of age, from 6% to 13%. We also increased the number of women in charge of congregations from 15 (of which 5 are now either retired or have left the diocese) to 30.

Institutions and Boards

We empowered the boards of our institutions to work on understanding their needs and seek qualified board members to fill out and grow their ministries. I believe they are stronger today and in a healthy position to weather the economic crisis and leap into their future.

We have seen the growth of executive chairs in a number of our boards, which allows for greater leadership to be used for the wellbeing of our institutions.

We have reached out to the Greater Houston area and expanded our excellent hospital into a health care system.

Together we retired Camp Allen’s debt and prepared the way for long range planning and a capital funds drive called Blazing Trails.

We worked together to discern the new Dean of our Seminary Doug Travis, head of Episcopal High School, Houston, Ned Smith, head of St. Stephen’s School, Bob Kirkpatrick, and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System David Fine.

We also, for the first time, invited the people of the diocese to participate in a vision project to bring forward the core values, and mission of the diocese in order to identify our future priorities and engage everyone in discernment for our next bishop diocesan.

Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion

Together we have led the way in being a Windsor Diocese, which in turn has led to the development of Communion Partners.

Together we led through two General Conventions and a Lambeth Conference holding one another together in communion and taking steps forward into our future.

Partnership

A bishop does none of these things alone but is the symbol of the Church’s work. This is your work. And, I am thankful for the stewardship you have given to the glory of God that has allowed me to work with an excellent staff – along with you – to whom I am eternally grateful for the many efforts that made our labors fruitful.

Rayford and Dena’s work with you in the field; Andy’s work with deployment; Mary MacGregor’s work with leadership. Bob Schorr’s work with congregational development; Bob Biehl’s work with finances; Ewart Jones’ work with youth; Janie Stevens’ work with formation, Kathy Culmer’s work with Mission Funding; John Logan’s work as secretary, David Fisher’s work with our boards; and Carol Barnwell’s work with communications.

Each staff person has done a tremendous amount in partnering with you to make our ministries flourish.

There are however two people I would like to especially thank before you today. The first person is John Dawson. He served as Chancellor under Bishop Payne and again for me. He has been a wise counselor and partner as we walked through the days and weeks and years after General Convention 2003. He has aided me with some of the most difficult legal challenges I have faced. He has been a personal resource to me and the Diocese of Texas, Diocesan Council, and the Church Corporation. Over a year ago John spoke to me about stepping down as chancellor when I retire. I hope you will join me in saying thank you to him.

The second person that I especially want to thank is Rebecca Sweitzer. She worked for Bishop Benitez, Bishop Payne, and for me. She is a treasured gift. She has been a remarkable resource to me ... the keeper of many of our traditions. She has hired most every staff member who assists our program and mission folks. Rebecca manages layers of tasks with grace and skill, tact and good humor. She has the ability to make everyone who calls or comes to the office feel as if they are the most important part of my day and she is the master of discretion.

Rebecca’s accomplishments are many and largely unseen. Like John, she made a decision to retire when I do. She says, “Three bishops may be enough.” And, while I understand that Andy has convinced her to come back after a rest and work part-time in the bishop’s office, she will retire in August.

Rebecca has served with distinction on the diocesan staff since 1987 I would ask that this, the 160^th Diocesan Council, meeting in session in Houston Texas, give thanks to God and offer tribute to Rebecca Sweitzer for having given so much in her ministry to the people of this diocese, that we express our greatest appreciation and admiration.

I would like to ask you to stand and give thanks to Rebecca Sweitzer for her many years of service to God and the people of the Diocese of Texas.

Transition

I am looking forward to my time of retirement with Wendy, Brent and Julie and their spouses Inesa and Jim… I am looking forward to time with my grandchildren James and Mary Grace. It has been a long time in coming but it is time for me to be with them.

While the hope of my future with family is clear and set before me in Atlanta, nevertheless, the last few months have been difficult.

It has been difficult because I have been a bishop for a long time and I am not sure what it will be like to be a bishop without a see. Yes, I am concluding my ministry as your bishop diocesan, but I know like so many other people my age, that my Lord is not finished with me. I know that my next ministry is yet to be revealed to me and I am praying and discerning what that will be.

In the midst of my transition with Andy, in the midst of a smooth and orderly shift within the diocese and out in the field with clergy and congregations, I became ill. This added a new dimension to my transition and brought a dimension of fear and uncertainty.

You, the people of the diocese blessed me. You showered me with prayers, cards and phone calls. Many clergy checked on me personally. These tokens of your affection were so very meaningful to both Wendy and me and they illustrated to me how deep our love between people of the diocese and their bishop can run. I am a blessed man.

I am blessed because I received so much from you in a time when I needed it most. I am blessed because of the leadership and care that St. Luke’s provided. I am blessed because by the grace of God I was healed and daily feel my strength return.

I am also blessed because not once did the diocesan office miss a beat. Between checking on me, picking up my meetings, visitations, and ordinations, Andy, your bishop coadjutor and your staff kept everything moving. He kept me informed and a part of the work. And, all the while he continued with his duties as coadjutor, meeting with clergy and working on the further development of the diocesan vision goals and objectives. I could not be more pleased.

While I had no doubt that he was ready to take over, I see that the transition in large part has occurred. Naturally, it occurred out of need. And, I do not intend to take back what has already transferred well

Therefore, upon the completion of Diocesan Council I officially turn over the operations of the Diocesan Office, and the work of the diocese at large to Andy, our bishop coadjutor. I will remain the Bishop Diocesan until June 6^th. I will continue to chair the St. Luke’s Health System, Seminary Board, Executive Board (for one last meeting), the Episcopal Foundation of Texas, The Church Corporation, and the Quin foundation. All other boards and canonical authorities I will designate as Andy’s work, as coadjutor, to oversee and undertake as he sees fit.

I will work with him as he takes on these new roles; such a partnership is natural for us. This time has proven to me that he is ready and we as a diocese are ready to move forward.

Legacy

I believe that I am leaving a legacy of health, transparency, and leadership. I believe my episcopate and our ministry together have been successful because it is built upon a strong foundation of Jesus Christ. It is this same foundation that Andy’s heart and ministry is set upon, and from which the diocese may take its next steps into the future God intends.

When at Lambeth, we were blessed to hear some outstanding presentations; one that was particularly outstanding was by Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of England. He movingly challenged the bishops at Lambeth and I think his words might very well resonate with this diocese as it moves into the future. He said, “We must show the world another way: honoring humankind, as God’s image, protecting the environment as God’s work, respecting diversity as Gods’ will, and keeping the covenant as God’s Word. Too long we have dwelt in the valley of tears. Let us walk together toward the Mountain of the Lord. Side by side, hand in hand, bound by a covenant of fate, that turns strangers into friends. In an age of fear, let us be agents of hope. Together let us be a blessing to the world.”

Sacks was addressing in particular our relationship as Christians and Jews, but I think his words speak poignantly to our relationship as a diocese to the larger world. We are indeed called to work side by side, hand in hand as agents of hope.

I would say to you to embrace anything less this than this vision would be trading our inheritance for something less than what God has created us to be.

You are the body who called me to be bishop. It is to you that I say thank you. Thank you for the incredible opportunity to serve our Lord with you, hand in hand, side by side. I say to you, well done good and faithful servants…well done.

And I bless you all by the grace that was given to me. Love one another; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Out do one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, and practice hospitality. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly
Bishop of Texas