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CENTRAL TIER MEETING |
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EAM's Central Tier, comprised of representatives from the Dioceses of Southwestern Virginia, Lexington, Southern Ohio, and West Virginia, will meet at John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston, West Va. on September 10-11, 2001. The Tier meetings provide an opportunity for the dioceses to share information and resources, elect Board members, set priorities to be taken to the Board of Governors, and do joint ministry planning. |
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DIOCESE OF EAST TENNESSEE |
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Much has happened since the Diocese of East Tennessee's Appalachian Ministry Task Force has been working. Two members of the group, Harry and Patty Chase, spearheaded the effort to activate the task force because of the work they do with low-income housing in Anderson and Campbell counties. Patty coordinates the school supplies program for a local non-profit and asked the Task Force to help get the Episcopal Church involved in collecting and distributing the supplies. |
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Last year more than 400 book bags filled with school supplies and more than $4,000 in cash were given out in Campbell country for use by children who cannot afford school supplies and clothing. The Task Force hopes to collect at least this amount for 2001. |
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In addition, because of the Chases' work with groups coming into the region on mission trips, and Harry's chance conversation with Jim Hudson of Grace Church, Chattanooga, at the Diocese of East Tennessee Annual Convention, a group of carpenters from Grace has been helping work teams from the Reformed Church to convert an old day-care center into a housing facility for visiting work groups. Hudson and his group have traveled all over the world helping to build churches and other structures. |
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The Task Force has taken several tours to sites in Campbell County to find out more about the needs in the area and to establish relationships with community area ministries. |
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Congregations are being offered new opportunities to learn about conditions in the more rural parts of the diocese and how they can address the needs of people in the region. This, in turn, gives them new opportunities to live out the Gospel in their communal life and worship. The Task Force has published a Directory of AppalachianMinistries that outlines ways of getting involved. |
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