Province VIII of the Episcopal Church

Provincial Leadership Conference, Mercy Center, September 14-16

The 2009 annual Provincial Leadership Conference (PLC) will begin at Noon on Monday, September 14th and end at Noon on Wednesday, September 16th at Mercy Center in Burlingame, California.  The Executive Committee will begin its meeting at 3 pm on Sunday, September 13th and end at 2 pm on Wednesday, September 16th.

The theme for PLC will be "Ubuntu", a concept interpreted by South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond

Western Christian Educators' Conference October 11-14 at Zephyr Point

The Western Christian Educators’ Conference vision is to offer high quality continuing education opportunities to all persons engaged in educational and nurturing ministries; to provide a place where those who give so much can be refilled, renewed and recharged for their work; and to increase the professionalism and affirm the call of Christian educators by including a Professional Development Course.

For registration, a list of speakers, information booklets and materials visit: http://www.westernceconf.org/

Farewell to David Abernethy Deppe and Welcome to Tom Vander Wal

With grateful hearts we thank David Abernethy Deppe for his years of service to the province. David's current family and parish responsibilities are the major areas of his life focus presently.   We will miss his involvement with the province, and we wish him God's blessings.

We are delighted to welcome Tom Vander Wal as our new Stewardship Network Coordinator. Tom was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. After school and service, he has spent his life working in the healthcare and insurance world.  Tom  has worked in field operations, been a home office executive, CEO of a regional health plan, a broker and consultant.  A lifelong Episcopalian Tom has held many positions in the Episcopal Church including Vestry member, Senior Warden (numerous times), EFM mentor, Stephen leader, and Eucharist minister and visitor.  Tom is currently the  treasurer of the Diocese of San Joaquin and has been involved with the National Church stewardship programs since the mid-80's. He has done consulting at the diocesan and parish level and has been a member of the TENS board for ten years. For the past two years Tom served on the Stewardship, Evangelism, and Congregational Development planning committee and has been a key player in  planning the three Province VIII conferences.  

Contact Information:

Tom Vander Wal, Treasurer
Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
P.O. Box 7606, Stockton, CA 95267

Phone: 209-952-0006
Fax: 209-952-0009

Cell: 209-481-2728

Farewell to Sally Mancini & Welcome to Barbara Tensen Ross

Farewell and thank you to Sally Mancini, a treasured leader of Western Episcopal Educators (WEE), the Christian education network for Province VIII for the past three years. We are grateful to Sally for her leadership, her willingness to share her deep experience in the areas of life long Christian formation, and her soft spoken yet joyful spirit. Sally remains an active leader and trainer for Godly Play in the Diocese of California. Blessings on your journey, Sally!

Welcome Barbara Tensen Ross
Barbara Ross currently serves as the Missioner for Christian Formation in the Diocese of Oregon, a position she has held since 2002.  Previously, she served as Director of Christian Education at St. Paul’s in Salem. Barb is a long-time member of Western Episcopal Educators (WEE), and was privileged to serve a six-year term representing Province VIII on the national Episcopal Council for Christian Education (ECCE).  In 2009 she will be attending her third General Convention as a lay deputy from the Diocese of Oregon.