What Have you Missed When You Live in the Diocese of
Fort Worth?
By Owanah P. Anderson
"EYE? What's EYE? Do you mean EYC?" queried SuzAnne Russell, co-sponsor of All Saints
Episcopal Church's Episcopal Young Church People commonly called EYC. (Actually, in the olden
days it was called Episcopal Young ChurchMEN.)
OPA - EYE is the second largest gathering in the Episcopal Church. Second only to General
Convention. And EYE is the single largest youth event in the Episcopal Church. It happens
every third year. Some 1,400 to 1,500 Episcopal youth come together from all across the
country….
SAR - What age youth?
OPA - They're high school. Grades 9 through 12….
SAR - Never heard of it. How come I've never heard of it? Why didn't my sons know about it?
Landry will be a senior and Griffin will be a freshman.
OPA - It's been going on since 1982 and it's meeting next month in San Antonio on Trinity
University campus….
SAR - Since 1982? How's it possible I never heard of EYE? I came to All Saints when I was
twelve years old. Nobody ever told me a thing about a national meeting of Episcopal high
school youth. And nobody's told my boys about it.
OPA - Selection of participants is handled strictly by dioceses. Each diocese is allocated 12
slots- nine youth and three adult sponsors. Our diocese has definitely discouraged
participation. In fact, according to the Office of Youth Ministries at Episcopal Church
Center there's been a scant few from our diocese ever to attend in all these 25 years. Once
three from Fort Worth came but they were attached to the Diocese of Dallas.
SAR - What kind of programs and activities does EYE offer?
OPA - It's is an opportunity to meet other youth from all over the world and experience the
church on a global level. This year's theme is "Sown in the Heart of Christ." The event is
designed to be an immersion experience in the Baptismal Covenant to extend the mission and
ministry of the Church.
SAR - Where do the kids stay?
OPA - They're safely lodged in Trinity University's dorms and eat meals at the campus dining
facilities.
SAR - What are other activities they'll experience?
OPA - Participants gather regularly as a large group for worship, program, music and media.
They also meet daily in an ongoing small group. A variety of other activities, such as
carnivals, forums, workshops, sports/recreation, and free time help round out the schedule.
SAR - When is it?
OPA - It starts on July 8 and runs through July 13.
SAR - This stinks. Just plain stinks. John, my brother, and I were truly raised in this Church.
Our English parents saw to it that we were always there every time the doors opened. My boys
are both good acolytes and really active with EYC. This EYE has been going on for 25 years but
we didn't even know about it! We were denied opportunities to broaden our church experience
beyond the boundaries of this diocese. Tell me why!
OPA - SuzAnne, it is said that the leadership of the Diocese of Fort Worth has such an
aversion to ordained women that it feels called upon to protect our youth from "contamination."
Women priests will be at EYE! We are not permitted to use other resources available through
the national church. Like CDM (Church Deployment Office). For a whole generation, we here in
the Diocese of Fort Worth have been out of the loop. But things are changing. Keep the faith.
We who choose to Remain Episcopal will again become full members of The Episcopal Church. At
least Griffin will be able to attend the next EYE. Maybe Landry can go as a college-age
sponsor.
SuzAnne Russell, an Assessment/Intervention Specialist for Wichita Falls Independent School
District, is a member of the Vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, a licensed Layreader, and
an EYC sponsor. She and her husband, Dale, have two sons, Landry, age 17, and Griffin, age 14.
The Russells both earned Master's degrees in the field of education from Midwestern State
University and in addition to activities of their sons, and their church they enjoy their
band, Tin Pan Alley.
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