The fourth annual Mountain Grace Conference brought together more than ninety people in St. Clairsville, Ohio on September 8. The conference, sponsored by the Dioceses of Southern Ohio and West Virginia, included guests from as far as Saginaw, Mich., Baltimore, New York, and Tennessee. The conference theme was “Tending the Holy Mountain". Conference keynoter was the Rev. Suzanne Watson from the Small Church desk at the Episcopal Church Center.
The Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop of Eastern Michigan, described how mutual ministry works in four congregations in his diocese. In a workshop on the small church as an agent for change, the Rev. Deborah Gamble of Cincinnati described how a group of twelve people minister in a neighborhood troubled by poverty, mental illness, and drug abuse. Diocese of Southern Ohio Youth Director, Roger Speer advised churches to refocus their efforts on what is missing in their community. “Beat the streets, talk to police officers, and find a niche,” said Speer.
Episcopal Community Services Foundation Director Ariel Miller and Sandy Guerard, Health Minister from All Saints, Portsmouth, Oh, described how a congregation can help a low-income family get up to $5,000 a year in resources through the Benefits Bank program. The Rev. Theresa Kelley from St. Luke's,
Wheeling, told her personal story to illustrate how indigenous leadership develops. Bishop Kenneth Price of Southern Ohio led a dialogue on what has been learned in the two dioceses about ministering in Appalachian communities. Archdeacon Faith Perrizo described how the Diocese of West Virginia uses some of the approaches employed in Michigan to raise up teams of ministers.
In other workshops, The Rev. Lee Anne Reat of St. John's, Columbus, described how a congregation can use Appalachian Ministry Sunday and other occasions to celebrate and affirm Appalachian culture. The Rev. Edward Payne of Grace, Pomeroy, Oh. stressed the importance of using music as a bridge to connect our Anglican and Appalachian cultures.
“Connecting to regional and local values in addressing environmental concerns is another way to tend the holy mountain,” said the Rev. William Carroll of Good Shepherd, Athens, Oh. Good Shepherd has formed an environmental justice coalition and engaged youth in looking at what is happening to the land and people.
The Rev. Katharin Foster, chair of the Southern Ohio Episcopal Appalachian Ministries Committee presented awards honoring the late John and Jean Carson, pioneers in small town Appalachian ministry. The John Carson Award for clergy service in the Appalachian region was presented to the Rev. Stephen Cuff, former rector of St. Andrew's, Washington Court House and the Jean Carson award for outstanding lay service was awarded to Patricia Ellertson of the East Central Ohio Area Ministry.