This is the fifth year in which the Bishop Elliott Society (BES) has attempted to minister in the confusing times in which we in The Episcopal Church and the world-wide Anglican Communion have been given to live. We remain deeply committed to the support of those who see the ancient Christian faith as the one God-given way forward through our human neediness to God’s infinite and eternal generosity. We will not abandon the faith once delivered or the churches our forebears pioneered to proclaim it. The past year’s ministry has given a good witness to the holiness of God and his abundant mercies. We are confident the years to come will do much more.
The Bishop Elliott Lectures. We have further extended the core ministry of the BES by providing lectures in both the spring and fall. In May in Corpus Christi we hosted the Rev. Professor Christopher Bryan, C.K. Benedict Professor of New Testament, at the School of Theology, the University of the South. His topic was The Resurrection of the Messiah, and the Church of the Good Shepherd kindly hosted the event. In November St. Luke’s Church, San Antonio, was host for the fall lectures in October with the Very Rev. Dr. Douglas Travis, dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. His theme was Speaking the Truth, Hearing the Truth, Loving God. Both sessions were very well attended and gave an opportunity for worship and fellowship for which all present expressed gratitude and appreciation.
Special Conference: Tom Wright. Our highlight for the year was most certainly the opportunity to host the Right Rev. Dr. N.T. Wright, Bishop of Durham, unquestionably the premier Anglican New Testament scholar in the world. He spoke on The Bible and Tomorrow’s World at a special conference put on by the Society at the Radisson Market Square Hotel in San Antonio the weekend after Thanksgiving in November. Despite the holiday, nearly 200 participants attended, including overseas missionaries and visitors from across the country.
Associates. Each summer we conduct our primary annual campaign to contact clergy and lay leadership in the Diocese of West Texas through mailings and E-mail contacts to over a thousand households, to invite them to participate in the BES. Our brochure was updated, and over 140 persons have now contributed to the Society and accepted Associate or Friend status, for total contributions in 2007 of $38,400. That includes 19 Life Associates, each of whom has contributed at least $1,000.00. A total of 39 clergy committed themselves to support of the Society this year.
The Christmas Clergy Book Selection. Clergy of the BES Board assisted with contributions to provide the active clergy of the Diocese for a third year with a gift copy of the Rt. Rev. Dr. N.T. Wright’s two volumes entitled Matthew for Everyone, chosen by the Book Committee. Many of the clergy expressed their thanks for this text, which will apply to their preaching for the entire year, since Matthew is the proper gospel for 2008. We believe this is a key element in expressing to all the clergy our support and assistance in helping them to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in our congregations around the Diocese, and we will sustain this work as a potent teaching ministry.
The Anglican Communion Institute. In April 2007 members of our board were instrumental in assisting the Anglican Communion Institute to incorporate itself as a Texas non-profit corporation. The Rev. Frank Fuller was asked by the ACI to come onto their new corporate board as Treasurer. The ACI continues to be one reliable voice calling for steady and faithful adherence to traditional Anglican faith and morals and worldwide scope while not surrendering the American institutional church to the passions of the times. We will continue to pray and work to support these scholars and their witness.
Web site. Our web site on the Internet makes available a number of resources for the Society. Posted at www.bishopelliott.org you will find advertising of upcoming the lectures with detailed information about our speakers, together with copies of previous lectures, a list of our contributing associates, resources for continuing education, and links to other sites with similar interests. Please direct anyone you know who may be interested in the Society to our site.
For the future. The BES is growing and changing. As your president it has been my honor to serve for over four years since we reorganized and incorporated the Society. Having accepted a call to serve a parish in the Diocese of Texas, it seems only right that a new president located in the Diocese of West Texas take the responsibilities of leadership. The Board has kindly invited me to serve as executive director to continue the work of the Society and explore expansion into other dioceses in the state. I have accepted their challenge with enthusiasm and excitement. The truth abides: God reigns. Christ is Lord. He will preserve a faithful people for his Church. With that assurance, we return to our work with confidence and hope, not in ourselves, but in the one who sent us. Come Lord Jesus!