Bishop’s E-pistle

Last week leaders from all over the Episcopal Church met in Louisville for the 81st General Convention. 
The things I was most personally gratified to see were the approval of the first readings of a gender-neutral marriage rite, and an amendment to our Catechism defining marriage as a lifelong union between two people (rather than a man and woman) as part of the Book of Common Prayer. These were things I was working on the past two years on the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. 

Conflict is a part of life–and necessarily a part of the church life as well. I write about conflict today with three objectives in mind.The Episcopal Church’s General Convention is meeting next month. There is, and will be, plenty of conflict over the resolutions that are passed (or not passed), and the people elected (or not elected) to leadership. Be prepared. 

Our nation is at a state of deep division and conflict, and the election year, as it progresses, seems to indicate that our conflicts will not be resolved. How will we live, as citizens, and as followers of Jesus, through this time? 

Finally, there have been a series of congregational and personal conflicts brought to my attention over the past few months

During the month of April, we had more than 150 people contribute, leading to a total of more than $28,000 with our matching grant.

A group of my bishop colleagues is doing a reading of St. Gregory the Great’s Book of Pastoral Care both to aid in our own ministries of the episcopate and to aid us in our discernment towards selecting our next Presiding Bishop.

There is a mental health crisis in our nation and our state that has only gotten worse since the pandemic.