Courtesy Resolutions 2024

The Report of the Committee on Courtesy Resolutions for the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, October 18, 2024

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania adopt these following courtesy resolutions to be submitted into the record of this 154th Convention:

On the Right Reverend Audrey and Glenn Scanlan

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its thanksgiving to The Right Reverend Audrey Scanlan and her husband, Glenn, for their ministry among us, with our prayers for the blessing of our Lord upon them, their family, and their ministry in Jesus’ name in our midst.

On the Diocesan Convention Coordinators

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its gratitude to the Ms. Alexis Guszick, Canon for Diocesan Events and Communications, Ms. Nichol Free, Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Associate for Events, and Ms. Debbie Robelen, Diocesan Registrar, in planning and coordinating this convention, as well as the Reverend Anjel Scarborough, Diocesan Liturgist, and the Reverend Kevin Barron for their planning and organizing of the worship for this convention.

On those Working with Children & Young Adults

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its gratitude to Autumn Warner, Micalagh Moritz, the Reverend Ken Wagner-Pizza, Lee Ann Reardon, Jane Williams, Robin Bastress, Tina McGee for working with children and young adults during convention, providing programs for them, and for integrating them into the councils of the church.

On The Right Reverend Nathan and Mary Ellen Baxter

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its affection and appreciation to The Right Reverend Doctor Nathan D. Baxter and Mary Ellen Baxter in their retirement with our prayers for their abundant health, strength, and joy in the years to come.

On The Right Reverend Michael and Betty Creighton

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its affection and appreciation to The Right Reverend Michael and Betty Creighton in their retirement, with our prayers for their abundant health, strength, and joy in the years to come.

On Mrs. Alice McNutt

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its affection and appreciation to Mrs. Alice McNutt with deepest condolences on the loss last year of her husband the Right Reverend Charlie F. McNutt, Jr., offering our prayers for her abundant health, strength, and joy in years to come.

On the office of the Presiding Bishop

BE IT RESOLVED that this 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its greeting and thanksgiving to our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry with our prayers of thanksgiving for God’s blessing in his ministry among us these past nine years and best wishes for a long, active, fruitful, and enjoyable retirement.

On the Presiding Bishop-elect

BE IT RESOLVED that this 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its greeting and congratulations to our Presiding Bishop-elect, The Right Reverend Sean Rowe with our prayers for his upcoming investiture and for his tenure as the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Greetings extended to the President of the House of Deputies

BE IT RESOLVED that this 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its greeting to Ms. Julia Ayala Harris, President of the House of Deputies, in thanksgiving for her ministry to the Church and continued prayers for God’s blessing in her ministry.

On Clergy Newly Ordained in the Diocese

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania congratulate and welcome clergy who have been ordained in the past year, who are:

• The Reverend Chloe Selles, deacon (12/16/2023)
• The Reverend Kevin Lowe, deacon (12/16/2023), priest (7/27/2024), St. Andrew’s, Lewisburg
• The Reverend Lisa Work, deacon (12/16/2023), priest (7/6/2024) Christ Memorial, Danville
• The Reverend Martha Ambrose, priest (2/10/2024) St. John’s, Marrietta
• The Reverend Kathy Hettinga, deacon (6/8/2024)
• The Reverend Ryan Tobin, deacon (6/8/2024)

On Clergy New to the Diocese

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its welcome to clergy new in our diocese since the last convention, who are:

• The Reverend Casey Anderson-Molina, priest, St. Mary’s, Waynesboro
• The Reverend Stacey Carpenter, priest, St. James, Lancaster
• The Reverend Celal Kamran, priest, St. Paul’s, Harrisburg
• The Reverend Rob Jones, priest, St. John’s, Huntingdon (Supply)
• The Reverend Dee Shaffer, priest, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Chaplain

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this convention extend our prayers for God’s blessing in their ministry in Christ’s Name among us.

On Clergy Who Have Retired

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania congratulate and give thanks for the ministry of those clergy who have retired since the last convention, who are:

• The Reverend Peter Gdula, deacon, St. James, Bedford
• The Reverend Barbara Seras, priest, St. Paul’s, Manheim
• The Reverend Sarah Weedon, priest, St. Andrew’s, Lewisburg
• The Reverend Amy Welin, priest, St. Stephen’s, Harrisburg

Memorial Resolutions

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania remember with thanksgiving those who have served in our diocese and have gone before us into God’s nearer presence, more especially those whom we recollected previously today in the reading of the necrology list of the Diocese, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of those there recollected today be read into this resolution for publication in the 2024 Journal of the Diocese more particularly remembering The Right Reverend Charlie Fuller McNutt, Jr, The Reverend James H. Fetterman, The Reverend Roger Alling, Jr, DD, The Reverend Richard Randall, The Reverend Daniel L Erdman, Mr. Robert Ayrer, The Reverend Larry Hofer, The Reverend Peter David Mackey, Mrs. Joan Kline, Ms. Helen Snowman, Ms. Anne McCleary, Mr. Frank J. Zeretski, Mr. Peter Lindquist, Mr. Harold Herman, Mrs. Jan Rose, Mr. William Hutchinson, Ms. Virginia Harrison, Ms. Dorothy Culp, Ms. Sondra Rhoads, Ms. Janet Thrasher, Mr. Charles Seller, Mrs. Sandra Harding, Mr. Truman Bullard, Mr. Don Backenstow, Mr. Kenneth Rhoads, Ms. Josephine Davidson Appell, and Mr. Steven Robertson

On the Exploration of Reunification with the Diocese of Bethlehem

BE IT RESOLVED that the 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania acknowledges the extended work of the committee charged with creating a proposal for the possible reunification of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Bethlehem, and commend them for continuing a second year in this challenging task, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we wish to thank those members, praying for God’s blessing upon them and upon their work, particularly the two bishops: The Right Reverend Audrey C. Scanlan, Central Pennsylvania; and the Right Reverend Kevin Nichols, Bethlehem; and the members of the committees serving from each diocese: from Central Pennsylvania, Ms. Drew Dorgan, the Reverend John Harwood, the Reverend Jim Jenkins, Mr. Michael McAuliffe Miller, Esq., the Venerable Jane Miron, and Mr. George Park; and from Bethlehem, the Reverend Rodney Conn, the Reverend Sidnie Crawford, Mr. J. Douglas Moyer, Ms. Ginnie Schoonov, the Reverend Chris Sutton, Mr. Ty Welles; and their consultant the Reverend Jen Adams.

On the Work of the Reverend David Lovelace on the Board of the Stevenson School for Ministry

BE IT RESOLVED that this 154th Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its greeting and gratitude to the Reverend Canon Doctor David Lovelace for his years as the Stevenson School for Ministry Advisory Board Chair, shepherding the program and leadership for over a decade. His tenure oversaw a season of development, growth, and expansion for formation opportunities for all the baptized in this diocese and beyond.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
The Reverend Jeffrey A. Packard, chair
Courtesy Resolutions Committee