Courtesy Resolutions 2023

The Report of the Committee on Courtesy Resolutions for the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, October 20, 2023

BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania adopt these following courtesy resolutions to be submitted into the record of this 153rd Convention:

On the Right Reverend Audrey and Glenn Scanlan
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd 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 Convention Coordinators Canon Alexis Guszick and Nichol Free
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its gratitude to Ms. Alexis Guszick, Canon for Diocesan Events and Communications, and Ms. Nichol Free, Associate for Events, in planning and coordinating this convention.

The Right Reverend Nathan and Mary Ellen Baxter
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd 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.

The Right Reverend Michael and Betty Creighton
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd 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.

The Right Reverend Charlie and Alice McNutt
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania express its affection and appreciation to The Right Reverend Charlie McNutt and Alice McNutt, who continue to share in the life and ministry of this diocese while in retirement, offering our prayers for abundant health, strength, and joy in years to come.

On the office of the Presiding Bishop
BE IT RESOLVED that this 153rd 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 for God’s blessing in his ministry among us and for his continued recovery from recent surgery.

Greetings extended to the President of the House of Deputies
BE IT RESOLVED that this 153rd 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 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania congratulate and welcome clergy who have been ordained in the past year, who are:

• The Reverend Edward Barse Christopher, priest, St. Andrew’s, State College
• The Reverend Martha Lester Harris, priest, St. Paul’s, Columbia, and St. Luke’s, Mount Joy
• The Reverend Dina Ishler, deacon (12/11/2022), priest (7/15/2023), St. Matthew’s, Sunbury
• The Reverend Jennifer L. Trenary, priest, St. John’s, Lancaster
• The Reverend Martha Ambrose, deacon

On Clergy New to the Diocese
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania extend its welcome to clergy new in our diocese since the last convention, who are:

• The Reverend Canon Robert Schiesler, priest
• The Reverend Edward Erb, priest
• The Reverend Anne Flynn, deacon
• The Reverend Nancy Lesher, deacon
• The Reverend Peter Pearson, priest
• The Reverend Marty Jo Stellabotte, priest
• The Reverend Eileen Weglarz, priest

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 153rd 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 Alex Dyakiw, deacon, St. John’s, Bellefonte
• The Reverend Harold Morrow, deacon, All Saints, Hershey
• The Reverend Doctor Herbert Sprouse, priest, Memorial Church of the Prince of Peace Gettysburg
• The Reverend Gene Tucker, priest, St. John’s, Huntingdon
• The Reverend Linda Watkins, priest, St. Mary’s, Waynesboro
• The Reverend Joseph DeLauter, deacon, St. Andrew’s, State College

Memorial Resolutions

BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd 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 2023 Journal of the Diocese more particularly remembering Mrs. Charlotte Lovelace, The Rev. Jack Hoffer, Mrs. Anna T. Seras, Mr. Theodore Edward Baker, Sr., The Rev. Walter Moreau, Mother Hettie S. Love, Mrs. Earlene Ayrer, Alton Evan Imboden, Mr. Richard Dennis “Denny” Dixon, Ms. Virginia Banks, Mr. Robert Briar, Mr. Richard Flood, Mr. Timothy Webster, Mr. Tara Deery, Dr. Martin Beller, Mr. Robert J Gherrity, Jr, The Rev. Richard A. Hazzard, Mr. William E. Nichols, Sr., Mrs. Helen Copp, Mr. Dean Lewis, Mr. Robert Cooper, Mr. Nick Schmidt, Mr. Jack Selles, Mr. Tom Brooks, Mr. Frank Mazzacua, Mr. Ronald Slovick, Mr. Harry Keller III, Ms. Hariteeny (Teeny) Fritz, Ms. Ann Brandt and Ms. Jan Rose.

On the Exploration of Reunification with the Diocese of Bethlehem
BE IT RESOLVED that the 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania acknowledges the hard work of the committee charged with exploring the possible reunification of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Bethlehem, and encourages them to continue this good work well begun, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we wish to thank those members, praying for God’s blessing upon them and help in 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.

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