On Saturday March 21, head bishop Gene Savoy Jr. visited the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California. Accompanying him were Sonya Savoy, Sabrina Savoy, Sophia Savoy, and Lisamarie Wand.

Organized by Hindu leader Rajan Zed through the Nevada Clergy Association with about twenty Nevada participants, the visit included a tour of the ashram, lunch, a lecture presented by Swami Sitaramananda, and two yoga classes (beginner and intermediate).

During the yoga portion of the visit, Bishop Savoy had tea with the swami and exchanged information. The swami talked about her background and recent visit to Rome. Bishop Savoy discussed Cosolargy, the International Community of Christ, and the Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary. An invitation was extended for the swami to visit the Sanctuary on her next trip to Reno.

On Friday evening March 13, 2009 the Reverend Robert Petrovich attended a lecture titled “Darwin, Dover, and Intelligent Design” at the Temple Sinai social hall in Reno. The speaker was Dr. Kevin Padian, president of the National Center for Science Education and curator of paleontology at the University of California Museum of Paleontology in Berkeley.
The lecture explored a range of topics primarily concerned with “theistic evolution” and “intelligent design.” The lecture was preceded by the traditional Jewish Sabbath service.

During early March Bishop Gene Savoy, president of the Nevada Clergy Association, working with members of the interfaith community, led the initiative to give the FDA oversight over tobacco products. (See also posting: “Semiannual Interfaith Luncheon.”) As reported in the Reno Gazette Journal on Tuesday March 10, “Reno area faith leaders called upon U.S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign to support legislation that would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products.”

“At a news conference at the International Community of Christ in Reno, clergy leaders said that such a law would give the FDA authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to children.

“[The] announcement by local faith leaders is part of the Faith United Against Tobacco, a national campaign that aims to reduce youth tobacco use.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee had already passed the bill during the first week of March, with the full House expected to vote within the next couple of weeks. Final passage before the U.S. Senate is expected by May or early June.

The movement is a timely effort to combat the “deadly campaigns” of tobacco companies in targeting children as potential smokers and to reduce the health-related diseases among adults as part of the national reform of the U.S. health-care system.

Bishop Savoy addressed the Reno conference at the Chancellery with the full support of members of The Second Advent Church and should be praised for his leadership in confronting this major health issue.

On Thursday February 26, the annual 2009 Governor’s Points of Light Awards were hosted at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in Reno. Attending on behalf of The Second Advent Church was Head Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.

The banquet is annually hosted to recognized individuals who support and promote volunteerism in Nevada. Bishop Savoy also met with state senator Bill Raggio, Bishop Randolph Calvo, and Susan Lisagor of U.S. senator Harry Reid’s office.

As part of the annual celebration of Black History Month, head bishop Gene Savoy Jr. attended a “Celebration of Black History & Tribute to Rev. Onie Cooper” at the Greater Light Christian Center in Reno on Sunday evening February 22. During the celebration Bishop Savoy was asked to say a few words about Cooper, a longtime and respected colleague in the ecumenical community.

On Saturday afternoon, February 21, the ordination of Jane C. Rohrer to the priesthood took place at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Reno. Attending the ceremony on behalf of The Second Advent Church was the Right Reverend Rebecca Willis.

Rev. Rohrer was ordained by the Right Reverend Daniel Edwards, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. As invited clergy, Rev. Willis was vested in alb and red stole and processed with other members of the clergy during the ceremony—later attending a reception in Rev. Rohrer’s honor. Willis presented Rev. Rohrer with a congratulatory letter on behalf of ICC head bishop Gene Savoy Jr.

On Thursday, February 19, the semiannual interfaith luncheon was hosted at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Attending on behalf of The Church of the Second Advent were head bishop Gene Savoy Jr., the Reverend Dr. William Bartlett, the Right Reverend Robert Petrovich, and the Reverend Francine Petrovich. The Reverends Savoy and Bartlett also helped plan and execute the event.

The regularly scheduled luncheons are sponsored by the Nevada Clergy Association (NCA) and St. Mary’s chaplains.

In attendance were more than forty clergy, representatives of Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, and other guests.

The meeting was particularly fruitful in that a national group, Faith United Against Tobacco, heard about the luncheon and sent their national coordinator, Vinny DeMarco, from Baltimore to speak. Their purpose was to ask Senator Reid to push through Congress a bill that would enable the FDA to regulate tobacco, especially in regard to the sale of tobacco products and their marketing to children and youth. Mr. DeMarco said that he had the support of eleven Northern Nevada clergy with the help of Rabbi Myra Soifer and Gene Savoy.

Mr. DeMarco personally thanked Bishop Savoy for his support and that of the Nevada Clergy Association and announced that Savoy and the International Community of Christ would be sponsoring a press conference at 643 Ralston Street on Monday, March 9, to proclaim this initiative.

That press conference was to coincide with similar press announcements in four other states. Due to the presentation, NCA’s support and press conference announcement, twenty-two clergy signed the petition at the luncheon.

On Friday, February 13, the eleventh annual Bishop Manogue  High School Interfaith Prayer Service was held at the school in south Reno. Attending on behalf of The Second Advent Church were head bishop Gene Savoy Jr. and the Reverend Dr. William Bartlett.
Rev. Bartlett gave the keynote address, and Bishop Savoy participated with Rabbi Myra Soifer, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, and LDS leader Jeff Olsen in the prayers of intercession. Bishop Savoy also gave the proclamation from the Hebrew scriptures—namely, Ezekiel 37:15–19. Representing the Catholic Church were the Reverends Mark Hanifan and John Legerski.

The Right Reverend Mother Ileana Isfan was appointed Matriarch of the Order on April 4, 2009. The “Act of Establishment of the Order,” read by the Right Reverend Sean Savoy, goes as follows:

In the Name Of God the Father,
the Divine Light and Christ Incarnate
An Act for the Establishment of the Holy Order of Matriarchs

Whereas, it has been written in the Sacred Scripture of The Church Community, as recorded in The Nineteenth Saying of The Image and the Word, The Secret Sayings of Jamil, Codex V of The Sacred Teachings of Light:

“Because God created man and woman in His Image, both are of God and therefore equal. Man and woman beget children which they do not beget separately, but together, as God intended them to do under the light of the sun, conjointly with God as co-creators, neither being superior to the other by natural law nor by spiritual law.

“In many of the former religions, women were subjected to an inferior role because men were not able to serve both the creative spirit in women and God; therefore, they separated themselves from women entirely, fearing that love for woman and family would separate them from God.
“This Church is of God, and thus of spirit, but in order for it to be universal, it must include women in the ministry, as well as children reared for the ministry; for a Godly life begins at an early age. Indeed, it begins even before birth, for the parents must be of God if a child is to be of God—in both blood and spirit, as animated by the living Image and Word of God.

“There must be good order in the Church of God, and for this reason those admitted into the Church ministry, both men and women, mustneeds submit to the Codes of the Order if the Church would remain stable and be preserved. Let the men and women of the Church see themselves not as men or women, but as spiritual beings, co-workers with God for the creation of a new Earth under God’s rule….

“I have established the ministry by my person, and God will nurture it by His Light….

“The females who have been admitted into God’s Community of ministers in the new age shall exemplify the spiritual life as God intended them to do from the beginning; therefore, let them take their stations as ministers, following the order established by my person and by my successors, equal with men in all things….

“And if women would follow as disciples of the Order you will have established as Patriarch, let them subscribe to the vows after passing the age of 30 years, holding to the same requirements as the Patriarchs, but being called Matriarchs, an order of Progenitors of a new race of man.

“And in this Church, the Matriarchs will exemplify the holiest path of devotion, inspiring their companions and offspring in time to come. And they shall be called Holy Mothers of the Church who will emulate the chaste and Holy Women of ancient times. And they will take the necessary vows as a requirement of this sacred office.

“And the Patriarchs and Matriarchs shall assume responsibility for every child of Light of the Community. And they shall be aided by their Brothers and Sisters in Light to assure that the children are nurtured by the Light of God for the new creation of which they are a part.”

And, whereas, the pre-ordained time has come for the formation and establishment of the Order of Matriarchs, and women of age and wisdom have withdrawn from the affairs of the world to devote their entire lives and energies to God within The Community, and disciples have been initiated into the Holy Order;

Now know all the Faithful that by the Grace of God, we do by this proclaim and declare that the Holy Order of Matriarchs is hereby formed and established under the Sacred Law of the Spiritual and Messianic Church as of the fourteenth day of February in the year two thousand and nine, as announced on that date before the Assembly of the Order of the Holy Child gathered for the sacred seven-week pentecontad meal.

In Testimony Whereof we have caused the Seals of The Community to be hereunto affixed. Given this 4th day of April, 2009, 47th year of the Second Advent Calendar and 50th anniversary of the founding of The Community.

The Right Reverend Douglas Eugene Savoy Jr.
Head Bishop & Abbot of the Jamilian Order

In the Presence of:
The Right Reverend Ileana Isfan
The Right Reverend Christopher Sean Savoy

As part of The Church’s ongoing outreach, advertisements inviting the public to attend sunrise services as well as to join The School have been regularly placed in the Reno News & Review, which is the local, free source for community events and happenings.