Good Evening!  Welcome to the 35th EAM Consultation!!!  My name is Fran Toy and I am president of the EAM Council.  I always prefer to begin and end with saying, Thank you!”

First of all, “Thanks be to God” for everyone’s safe arrival!  Thanks to all the people in the EAM network who are praying for us while we are here.  Thanks to Bishop David Lai for his invitation to hold the consultation in Kaohsiung.  Thanks to all the lay people and clergy of this Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan who have worked EXTREMELY hard on EAM’s behalf!!!   At the risk of leaving some people’s names off the list, nevertheless, I’d like to ask the following people to stand:

 The Rev. Justin Lin, the Rev. Peter Chen, the Rev. Leo Tzeng, Ms. Catherine Lee,     Ms. Sandy Shu, the Rev Diane Wong, the Rev. Sam Cheng, the Rev. Keith Lee, Ms. Grace Yang, Ms. Mimi Wu, Mr. Peter Wu, the Rev. Jane Chou, and the church members and vestry of St. Timothy’s, Kaohsiung.

Next, I’d like to introduce members of the EAM Council who are here:

Ms. Inez Saley, treasurer; the Rev. Anandasekar Manuel, Convener of the SouthAsia Convocation; the Ven Bernard Young, Convener of the Diocesan Reps; Ms. Hanh Tran, Convener of the Women’s Convocation; the Rev. Tinh Huynh, Convener of the Southeast Asian Convocation; Ms. Chikako Tsukada, Convener of the Japanese Convocation; the Rev. Ray Bonoan, Convener of the Filipino Convocation; Ms. Hei-Yue Pang & Ms. Melissa Sese, Co-conveners of the Young Adult Convocation; the Rev. Dr. Franco Kwan & the Rev. Alistair So, Co-conveners of the Chinese Convocation, the Rev. Dr. Valentine Han, Convener of the Korean Convocation and Mr. Warren Wong, Convener of the EAM Advocates.   The Rev. Dr. James Kodera , Vice-President of Council, suffered a knee injury shortly before time to depart for Kaohsiung and did not receive medical approval to travel.  The Rev. Joseph Pae, Secretary of Council and his wife, Prisca, welcomed the arrival of a seven- pound, 20 inches-long son, Ethan, on May 17 and that is why he is not here.  Mr. Peter Ng, President Emeritus, is with the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori,  and they will be arriving on Sunday.  Two council members have their parents with them:  Alistair’s mother, Ms Monica Pong, is with us as is Mr. Gum Wong, father of Warren.  Please stand up to be acknowledged.  Thank you.

At this time, I’d like to introduce the Ven. Dennis McManis, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.  (He extended an invitation from the bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith and the diocese to have EAM meet next year from June 17-21 at DaySpring Camp and Conference Center near Tampa, FL.)

Since we met last July in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, the following have been ordained to the diaconate:

The Rev. Judy Ming Lin on April 26, 2008  - St. Thomas’ Hacienda Heights, L.A., Diocese of Los Angeles

The Rev. Aristotle Castro Rivera on May 31, 2008 – All Saints’ Cathedral, Albany, N.Y., Diocese of New York

The Rev. Merry Chan on June 13, 2008 – Christ Church, Alameda, CA, Diocese of California

The following were ordained to the priesthood:

The Rev. Stanley Huang on October 21, 2007 – St. Thomas’ Hacienda Heights, L.A.  Diocese of Los Angeles

The Rev. Daniel Hee Woo Han on December 17, 2007 – Church of the Good Shepherd, Burke, VA, Diocese of Virginia  (I do believe that Daniel and his father, Valentine, are the first EAM father and son scholars.)

The Revs. Ada Nagata and Thomas Ni on January 12, 2008 – St. John’s, L.A., Diocese of Los Angeles

The Rev. Dr. Paul Mun on March 31, 2008 – Emmanuel Church, Virginia Beach, VA,  The first Asian (Korean) Priest ordained in the Diocese of Southern Virginia

Additionally, the Rev. Joel Borreo was received by the Diocese of Chicago and The Rev. Vincent Bete was received in the Diocese of Iowa and serves in Ankeny.

Celebrations of New Ministry:

September, 2007 – The Rev. Thomas Ni started a new Mandarin congregation at St. Edmund’s, San Marino, CA., Diocese of Los Angeles

October 14, 2007 – The Rev. Bayani Rico was installed as the 27th rector of Ascension Episcopal Church in Vallejo, CA., Diocese of Northern California, as the church also celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding

April 26, 2008 – The Rev. Alistair So as the 40th rector of All Hallows’ Chapel in Davidson, MD.,Diocese of Maryland.

May 4, 2008 – The Rev. Peter Lo as rector of St. Gabriel’s, Monterey Park, L.A., Diocese of Los Angeles.  Peter’s immediate predecessor, the Rev. Dr. David Chee is attending this consultation.  David, if you would please stand up.

The Rev. Robert Cristobal, an EAM Scholar, has been called to be vicar at St. Bridget’s, in Oregon, IL., Diocese of Chicago

Just this last month, the Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, Program Officer for Asian American Ministries helped facilitate the start-up of the first Asian-American congregation in Phoenix, AZ., Diocese of Arizona.  The Rev. Romeo Rabusa, vicar of St. Luke’s on the Mountain, challenged his Hispanic-Anglo parish to reach out and evangelize new residents.  The new congregation was organized following a training seminar on “Evangelism, Contemporary Worship, and Church Planting” led by Fr. Fred and the Rev. Arsie Almodiel of Holy Child Church, Las Vegas, Nevada.

A Korean Congregation has been planted in the Diocese of Dallas with the Rev. Augustine Sang Bok Lee originally from the Diocese of Soeul, Korea.

Just last Saturday, May 31, the Rev. Dr. Prince Singh was ordained and consecrated the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester.  Bp. Singh was received from the Church of South India (CSI) in 2000.

The following serve the Episcopal Church (TEC) at General Convention which takes place next year in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

General Convention Deputies:  (Lay Order)

Ms. Hisako Beasley – Diocese of Olympia

Ms. Lelanda Lee – Diocese of Colorado

Mr. Warren Wong – Diocese of California

General Convention Deputies (Clergy Order)

The Rev. Ray Bonoan – Diocese of Southwest Florida

The Rev. Moki Hino – Diocese of Hawaii

The Rev. David Ota – Diocese of California  

The Rev. Thomas Eoyang, Diocese of Pennsylvania stayed in the election process until the 4th ballot.  He was not elected this time.  There’s always an opportunity to serve every three years!

The following two people serve as members of the Executive Council:

Ms. Hisako Beasley – Diocese of Olympia, elected at General Convention, 2006

The Rev. Floyd “Butch” Gammara – Diocese of Los Angeles, elected as Province VIII’s clergy rep.

Other Provincial & National Responsibilities:

The Rev. Primo Racimo – Diocese of Chicago, elected co-chair of the Justice Ministries Program for Province V (Mid-west).

The Rev. Alistair So – Diocese of Maryland, serves on the Executive Council’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Faith.

Ms. Blandina Salvador -  Diocese of  Long Island, served on the Text Committee and the User Advisory Group for the Church Publishing Company’s “Women in the Church’s Songs – Voices Found”     

The Rev. Ranjit Mathews  - Diocese of Massachsetts, an EAM Scholar, serves on the board of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF).

Ms. Mimi Wu – Diocese of Hawaii, is Province VIII’s Coordinator of Asian Ministries.

On May 1, 2008, Ms. Christina Hing – Diocese of New York, received Trinity Church,

 Wall Street’s $20,000 “Transformational Leadership” Award.  Upon receiving this award, Christina said and I quote, “My receiving this award is testimony of the good work that EAM does to assist, nurture, and encourage us to use our God-given talents for participation in many areas of ministry in our Church.”  Well said, Christina!!!

Ms. Joon Matsumura – Diocese of Los Angeles, continues to serve on the board of the Church Pension Fund.

The Rev. Bruce Woodcock – Diocese of Southeast Florida, on the staff of the Church Pension Group and friend of EAM.

Ms. Unidad “Ning” Bonoan – Diocese of Southwest Florida, will be a volunteer nurse at the upcoming EYE (Episcopal Youth Event).

At this time I would ask all EAM scholars, past and present, to stand and be recognized.  Thank you!

Other events involving EAM members:

 Both the Chinese and the Korean Convocations met between the annual consultations.

On October 11, 2007, the Rev. Gordon K. Lau, who on May 1, 2008  retired as rector of Our Saviour, Oakland, CA., Diocese of California, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, (CDSP) the only accredited Episcopal Seminary west of the American Rockies.

On October 23-25, 2007, for the first time in the history of TEC, there was an Asia-America Theological Exchange Forum at CDSP.  There were 3 theologians from Korea; 2 from Japan; 1 from Taiwan – (Bp. David Lai); 1 from Hong Kong.  Title of the Forum: The Church As An Agent of Reconciliation?”  The event was co-sponsored by EAM, Anglican Global Relations, (AGR); CDSP’s Center for Anglican Learning & Leadership, (CALL); the China Friendship Committee of the Diocese of California; and Province VIII.

December 26, 2007 – There was a fire at St. Paul’s, Woodside, Diocese of Long Island.  EAM Council member, the Ven. Bernard Young was immediately there to help another EAM Council member and rector of the church, the Rev. Anandesekar Manuel.

I’d like to emphasize the power of prayer.  Members of EAM are bound together by prayer.  We have the “EAM Prayer Cycle 2008” (Hold up the booklet.) and eamnetwork@epicom.org.  Last year when I inadvertently let it be known that I was undergoing surgery for liver cancer, MANY, MANY messages of prayer, on my behalf, were received because of being connected through the internet.  I have told both the hepatic surgeon and the oncologist that my successful surgery and healing process are due to the power of prayer.  My sincere thanks to all of you who put me on your prayer list.

At the beginning of this opening address I said that I always like to begin and end with giving thanks.  At this time I would like to make my “Sweets to the Sweet” presentations which are miniscule tokens of thanks to show appreciation.

The first token of thanks goes to Bp. Lai for we would not be here except for his invitation.

The next goes to Ms. Catherine Lee, for all her invaluable assistance in so many countless ways.

Fr. Fred could not do what he needs to do without having support at home.  Angie Vergara, Angie #1, thank you!!!

Being raised in a traditional Chinese Family, I know about the numeral, “8.”  I have here, eight boxes to be given to diocesan members, lay and clergy, who have helped EAM immensely.

Lastly, this person does not want to be recognized although she is EAM’s treasure.  She anticipates Fr. Fred’s and my needs and is efficient, supportive, and cheerful.  Prayer under girds what she does as she faithfully attends the noon Eucharist and to her, her position at the Church Center is not “just a job.” What she does is her ministry, using her God-given gifts.  A participant came to me and asked if I’d point her out.  He remarked that he wanted to thank her in person as she’d been so helpful over the phone.  We all know who deserves this last token of thanks:  Angie Cabanban!!! 

THANK YOU!!!