December 2024 Diocesan Council Update

Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of what will be regular updates from our Diocesan Council. The Diocesan Council is our elected governing body that is responsible for making the financial and legal decisions that impact our diocese and it comprises both lay and clergy members.

Submitted by: The Rev. Alicia Hager Vice Chair, Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes Rector, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Hastings

The elected Joint Councils of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan held their regular meeting in September of 2024, a Special Council Meeting on October 1, 2024, and a meeting in November of 2024. As part of those meetings there is really important news for all parishes in the new Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes:

  1. The Joint Councils elected that the following base plan be offered to all diocesan employees and clergy, as well as eligible staff and clergy of parishes: BC/BS CDHP HSA 20 (with an employer fully funded deductible) or the traditional PPO 80 plan. The Delta Dental Comprehensive plan is also to be included as a standard coverage. Any person eligible for coverage may choose a more expensive or comprehensive plan, however, the additional cost would be out of pocket for that employee or negotiable with the employer. This applies across the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. Please note: According to parity requirements in our canons, if a more expensive or comprehensive plan is offered to one employee at the employer’s expense, it must be offered to all employees, at the employer’s expense.
  2. The Clergy Compensation Standards, including the Supply Clergy Rates have been updated and go into effect on January 1, 2025. They can be viewed here.
  3. Finally, at the November meeting of the newly constituted Diocesan Council of The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes a policy was set for minimum property and cyber liability insurance. That approved motion reads: Lara, seconded by Cramer, moves that the Council adopt the minimum standards for Property Insurance and Cyber Liability Insurance as provided in Appendix J of this meeting as the minimum standards for insurance coverage for each parish. As these are automatically the minimums if a parish insures with Church Insurance, Council further resolves that if a parish chooses to insure with another carrier, the parish is required to submit proof of their coverage demonstrating that it meets these minimums to the CFO who shall report to Council on any issues with inadequate coverage. Council also resolves that for any parish that insures with Church Insurance, the report from Church Insurance to the diocese shall be considered as fulfillment of the canonical provision for providing a certificate of insurance.

Doing a New Thing: God’s Work in the Great Lakes Diocese

What follows is the text of the keynote address by Julia Ayala Harris, President of the House of Deputies, delivered on Friday, October 18, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan at the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. You can watch this address here, beginning at 04:05:38

Introduction

Good evening, my dear siblings in Christ!

What a joy it is to be here with you all on this truly historic occasion – the very first convention of the Diocese of the Great Lakes! I can feel the excitement and anticipation in this room, and let me tell you, it’s contagious!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Julia Ayala Harris, and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church. What my role really means is that I get to work alongside some of the most passionate, faithful Church Nerds and Governance Geeks in our church – people just like you!

Now, I must confess, I’m not a Michigan native, but thanks to a college roommate from the Great Lakes State, I’ve spent quite a few holiday breaks here. So I know enough to say: if you don’t like the weather right now, just wait five minutes! And let me tell you, getting here was an adventure. I think even God had to make a “Michigan Left” to bring us all together today!

Speaking of Michigan weather, I’ve heard rumors that the Holy Spirit might be bringing some “lake effect inspiration” to our proceedings. So don’t be surprised if we’re suddenly blanketed in brilliant ideas and showered with divine wisdom!

All joking aside, I want you to know how deeply honored I am to have been invited to speak with you today. When your leadership reached out to me, I felt both humbled and thrilled. Humbled because, well, who am I to stand before you on such a momentous day? And thrilled because I’ve been watching your journey from afar, praying for you, and cheering you on every step of the way.
You see, what’s happening here in the Diocese of the Great Lakes isn’t just a local event. It’s a beacon of hope and a model of courage for our entire church. You’re embarking on a grand adventure, charting a course that many others will look to for inspiration and guidance.

So, thank you. Thank you for having me here. Thank you for your courage in taking this bold step. And thank you for letting me be a small part of this incredible moment in your shared history.

Isaiah 43:19

My friends, I want us to turn our hearts and minds to a passage of Scripture that I believe speaks directly to this moment in your journey. It’s from the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verse 19.

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

As I read these words, I can’t help but add: Do you feel it? Because I certainly do, standing here with you today.

These words, spoken by God to the Israelites in a time of great change, resonate deeply with us right now. Just as God promised to do a new thing for their people then, God is doing a new thing among you now. You are about to become a new diocese. This isn’t just an administrative shuffle or a name change. No, this is about embracing a new way of being church in your communities.

You’re creating a new identity. And let me tell you, that’s both exciting and, I imagine, a little scary. It’s like you’re standing on the edge of a new frontier, looking out at a landscape full of possibility, but also full of unknowns.

I bet many of you feel like you’ve been making a way in the wilderness these past months and years. The process of coming together, of reimagining what your shared ministry could look like – it hasn’t always been easy, has it? There have probably been moments when it felt like you were trudging through a desert, unsure of where the next oasis might be.

But here’s the thing – God promises to make a way in that wilderness. God promises rivers in the desert. And I see that promise being fulfilled right here, right now, in this new Diocese of the Great Lakes.

Parallel Journeys

Now, I want to get a bit personal with you for a moment. When I read this passage from Isaiah, when I think about what you’ve been going through, it resonates with me on a deep level. Because I believe I’ve been through something similar.

In the two years that I have been president of the House of Deputies, I have felt that I have been on a parallel journey with you. While I’ve been watching from afar and remaining quite quiet, I want you to know that I have been praying deeply and consistently for you all. For there have been times when I have felt my own personal trauma reflected in your last few years.

We have both experienced the upheaval and terrifying roller coaster that comes with the title IV process with a bishop in the church. We have cried the same tears, felt the same disbelief.

But here’s what else I know – we have both survived to be stronger, more compassionate, and with greater capacity to handle the challenges that this world will throw at us. We have seen God make a way in the wilderness. We have witnessed rivers spring forth in the desert.

My dear friends, we have indeed walked a difficult and often lonely path. Though we’ve been on parallel journeys, it may have felt like we were trudging through the wilderness alone. But I want you to know something – you were never truly alone. God was with you every step of the way, and the prayers and grief and hopes of the wider church were with you too.

Now, as we gather for this inaugural diocesan convention, we have a beautiful opportunity. We choose to walk this path together, no longer isolated, but united in the love of Jesus Christ and in our shared commitment to this Episcopal Church that we cherish so deeply. This is the moment where our parallel paths converge, where we join hands and hearts to move forward as one body in Christ.

Finding Our Identity

But as we step into this new chapter together, we face an important question: Who are we? Not just as individuals, but as this newly formed Diocese of the Great Lakes. This brings me to another quote that I believe speaks powerfully to our situation. It’s not from Scripture this time, but from a modern-day prophet – Dolly Parton. She once said, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

Now, you might be wondering what Dolly Parton has to do with our diocesan convention, but hear me out. This simple statement carries profound truth for us in this moment of transition and new beginnings.

“Find out who you are” – this is an invitation to deep, honest self-exploration. It’s about understanding our collective identity as the Diocese of the Great Lakes. What are our shared values? What unique gifts and perspectives do we bring to the wider church? What is our particular calling in this time and place?

And then, to “do it on purpose” – this is about intentionality. Once we understand who we are, how do we live that out deliberately in our ministries, our outreach, our worship, and our daily lives? How do we ensure that every action we take as a diocese reflects our true identity in Christ?

This process of self-discovery and purposeful living isn’t just for us as a collective. It’s also a journey each of us is called to as individual followers of Christ. In our spiritual lives, we’re constantly uncovering new depths of who we are in God’s eyes, and learning to live out that identity more fully.

As we embark on this exploration together, we have a unique opportunity. We can support each other in this journey of self-awareness. We can challenge each other to dig deeper, to be more authentic, to align our actions more closely with our true selves in Christ.

So I invite you, Diocese of the Great Lakes, to take Dolly’s words to heart. Let’s commit ourselves to finding out who we truly are – as individuals, as communities, and as this new diocese. And then, let’s have the courage to live that out on purpose, with all the passion, creativity, and love that God has poured into us.

Moving Forward Together

As we embrace this journey of self-discovery and purposeful living, my friends, we must recognize the incredible opportunity that lies before us. This juncture, this creation of the Diocese of the Great Lakes, is not just an administrative reshuffling. It’s a chance for a new beginning, a fresh start, a reimagining of what it means to be the Church in this time and place, a response to the calling of the spirit and the movement of community.

This new beginning calls us to unity and collaboration in ways we may not have experienced before. You’re no longer separate entities working in parallel, but one body with diverse parts, each vital to the functioning of the whole. I challenge you to lean into this unity. Seek out opportunities to work together across your previous boundaries. Share resources, ideas, and ministries. Let the strengths of each former diocese become the strengths of your new, united body.

But remember that unity doesn’t mean uniformity. In fact, it calls for something much more challenging and beautiful – intentional discipleship and authentic participation. Each of you, whether clergy or lay, whether from a large urban parish or a small rural church, has a unique role to play in this new diocese. Your authentic self, your genuine gifts, your honest struggles – all of these are needed for the body to function as God intends.

In this, we can take inspiration from the early church. Remember, those first followers of Jesus came from wildly diverse backgrounds – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. Yet they found common bonds of affection in their shared love for Christ and their commitment to living out the Gospel. They didn’t erase their differences; they celebrated how those differences enriched their community and expanded their mission.

Now, I know that this all sounds wonderful in theory, but I also want to acknowledge the very real challenges we’re facing. We can’t ignore the declining membership that many of our churches are
experiencing. We can’t pretend that the cultural landscape around us isn’t shifting rapidly. These are real issues that require our attention and our action.

Here’s the thing – these challenges also present us with opportunities. They call us to be open to experimentation, to be willing to adapt and try new things. The Diocese of the Great Lakes has a chance to be at the forefront of this adaptive work. You are a laboratory for new ways of being church, for innovative approaches to ministry and mission.

And you’re not alone in this. What you’re doing here is part of a larger movement within The Episcopal Church towards greater unity and collaboration. Across the country, dioceses are exploring new ways to work together, to share resources, to reimagine structures. Your journey is both unique and part of this broader story of transformation in our church.

But let’s remember, all of this – the self-discovery, the unity, the adaptation – it’s not just for our own sake. It’s about better equipping us to connect with people for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. That’s our ultimate calling. We’re here to share the love of Christ, to proclaim the good news, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities.

So as you move forward as the Diocese of the Great Lakes, I encourage you to keep this mission at the forefront. Every decision you make, every new initiative you launch, every relationship you build – let it all be in service of connecting people with the transformative love of Christ.

You have a tremendous opportunity before you. Yes, there will be challenges. Yes, there will be moments of uncertainty. But you also have the chance to write a new chapter in the story of The Episcopal Church, a chapter of courage, innovation, and deep faithfulness to the Gospel.

So, Diocese of the Great Lakes, are you ready? Are you ready to step boldly into this new beginning? Are you ready to embrace unity while celebrating diversity? Are you ready to experiment, to adapt, to reimagine what it means to be the church in the 21st century? And most importantly, are you ready to do all of this in service of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ?

I believe you are. And I believe that God is already at work among you, doing a new thing, making a way in the wilderness, and bringing forth rivers in the desert. Let’s step into this future together, with hope, with courage, and with an unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Power of Small Town and Rural Churches

Now, I want to shine a spotlight on something that I believe is one of the greatest strengths of this new Diocese of the Great Lakes – your small town and rural churches. You know, sometimes in the wider church, we can get caught up in numbers and sizes, forgetting the incredible power and importance of our smaller parishes. But not today. Today, we’re going to celebrate them.

These small town and rural churches are the backbone of The Episcopal Church. They are often the lifelines of their communities, providing not just spiritual nourishment, but tangible support and love to their neighbors. From food pantries to after-school programs, from visiting the sick to welcoming the stranger – these churches embody Christ’s love in powerful, practical ways.

Let me share some data with you that might surprise you. Did you know that in our church, the average Sunday attendance of one-third of our congregations is under 50? That’s right – small parishes aren’t the exception, they’re the norm. They’re who we are as Episcopalians.

But here’s the thing – the impact of a church isn’t measured by the number of people in the pews. It’s measured by the love shown, the lives touched, the community transformed. So I want to encourage you to take pride in your congregational identity, regardless of your size. Because each of you, whether you’re a church of 200 or 15, has a vital role to play in this diocese and in God’s kingdom.

In fact, I believe these small churches are key to our “DNA of change” and adaptability. They often have to be creative, flexible, and deeply in tune with their communities. They know how to do a lot with a little, how to adapt quickly to changing needs. These are exactly the skills our whole church needs as we move into the future.

The Future of the Church: Embracing Lay Ministry

And speaking of the future, let’s talk about where I believe the church is headed – towards a model that embraces and empowers lay ministry like never before.

The landscape of church leadership is changing, my friends. We’re moving away from a model where ministry is the sole responsibility of ordained clergy, to one where every baptized person is recognized as a minister of the Gospel. This isn’t a new idea – it’s actually a return to the understanding of the early church. But it feels revolutionary in our time.

Lay ministry isn’t just about filling gaps or helping out. It’s about recognizing that each of us have been gifted by God for the building up of the body of Christ. It’s about creating space for every member to actively participate in and lead the ministries of the church.

This shift is crucial for the future of our church. It’s how we’ll remain vital and relevant in our communities. It’s how we’ll have the people-power to try new things, to experiment with new forms of ministry. And it’s how we’ll truly live into our baptismal covenant to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

Remember, the impact of our churches isn’t measured just by numbers in the pews or dollars in the bank. It’s measured by the fruit of our ministries – by lives transformed, by communities served, by the love of Christ made tangible in the world.

Diocese of the Great Lakes, I believe you have the potential to be a model of this kind of adaptation and unity for our wider church. You’re already embracing change through this merger. But I want to encourage you to think of this as just the first chapter in the story of what you can become.

Yes, you heard that right – the first chapter. Because the work of adapting to serve God’s mission in the world is never done. We’re always learning, always growing, always discerning where the Spirit is leading us next. So celebrate this moment, absolutely. But also stay open to where God might be calling you to change and grow in the future.

You have embarked on a journey of transformation, and I believe your witness will inspire and guide others in our church who are grappling with similar challenges and opportunities. Your willingness to come together, to reimagine what it means to be the church in your context – this is a beacon of hope for the entire Episcopal Church.

So, my friends, embrace your small churches. Empower your lay members. Be proud of who you are, but always remain open to who God is calling you to become. Because together – clergy and lay, urban and rural, large parishes and small – you are the Body of Christ in this place. And together, with God’s help, there’s no limit to the impact you can have for the Kingdom of God.

Conclusion

My dear friends in Christ, as we come to the close of our time together, I want you to know that you are in my heart and in my prayers. This journey you’re embarking on as the joint Diocese of the Great Lakes is not an easy one, but it is a holy one. And you do not walk it alone. The prayers and support of the entire Episcopal Church go with you.

The future that lies before you is bright with potential. You have the opportunity to be a shining example of what can happen when God’s people come together in unity, when they dare to reimagine what it means to be the church in the 21st century. The Diocese of the Great Lakes – your name itself speaks of vastness, of depth, of life-giving waters. And I believe that’s exactly what you can be for our church and for the world.

But realizing this potential will require boldness. It will require courage. It will require a willingness to step out in faith, to try new things, to risk failure for the sake of the Gospel. So I encourage you – be bold in this new identity you’re forging. Don’t be afraid to experiment, to innovate, to push boundaries. Learn from your successes, yes, but also learn from your failures. Because in both, God is at work, shaping you and molding you for God’s purposes.

Remember, you are called not just to exist, but to proclaim. To proclaim the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ. To embody that love in your communities, to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that so desperately needs this healing touch. This is your mission, your purpose, your reason for being.

So when God says, “I am about to do a new thing,” I want you to hear that not just as a promise, but as a reality that is unfolding right here, right now. In your coming together, in your willingness to reimagine what it means to be the church in this time and place, you are participating in God’s new thing.

The question is – do you perceive it? Do you feel it? Can you see how the Holy Spirit is already at work in your midst, springing forth new life, new possibilities, new ways of being the body of Christ in your communities?

My prayer for you today is that you will not only perceive it, but that you will embrace it with all your hearts. Because this new thing God is doing? It’s not just for you. It’s a beacon of hope and a model of faithfulness for our entire church.

Diocese of the Great Lakes, you stand at the threshold of a new era. The path ahead may not always be clear, but the One who calls you is faithful. Trust in the Holy Spirit. Lean on each other. Be the church that God is calling you to be in this time and in this place.

May you go forth from this place filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. May you be bold in proclaiming the Gospel, creative in serving your communities, and united in your love for Christ and for one another. May you be living testimony to the power of God to do a new thing, to make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

And may you always remember that you are loved – loved beyond measure by the God who created you, redeemed you, and sustains you. Loved by your siblings in Christ across this church. And yes, loved by me.

In fact, I’m not just giving a thumbs up to this new diocese – I’m giving a whole mitten up!

Go forth, Diocese of the Great Lakes. Go forth and be the church. Go forth and change the world. Go forth and make real the kingdom of God in your midst. For God is doing a new thing, and you – you are part of it.

Thanks be to God!

Our Phase Transition: Sermon from the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes

It seems appropriate that in this primary convention of the Diocese of the Great Lakes, we do so in the context of remembering a celebrated missioner of our Church, Henry Martyn. My hope is that as we explore the Propers for this Feast, I can leave you with some images that will not only inform our missional posture as a unified Diocese, but that we might also carry them forward into our new identity.

I find it intriguing that in the Second Servant Song in Isaiah appointed for this day, we find Israel in a place of deciding what it wants to be. They are in a time of their history with little or no resources. We’re already ahead in that regard. Their ministry has seemingly come to a dead end and appears futile. Positive results are scarce. Yet, in the middle of confusion, wonderment of what is next, no little anxiety, and the community’s canons yet to be completed, a wonderful thing happens! When all seems lost and no clear way forward appears, a promise occurs that reminds them that human achievement, by itself, is not the mark or sign of faithfulness. Their reward is in God. Not their cleverness. Not their ingenuity. Do you remember the poignant lines from Wynonna Judd in her song, “Rock Bottom”?

“Things are tough all over, but I’ve got good news. When you get down to nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. In a way, rock bottom makes good solid ground. And a dead-end street is just another place to turn around.”

You have had to turn around not once, but many times in your history. It’s a sign of your reliance, and yes, even your abiding faithfulness. I’ve seen, and I am a witness to it. And here we are again in becoming a new Diocese. Even more, Isaiah reminds us, just as the prophet was reminding Israel, that our assurance is found in God and in God’s historic faithfulness. Not only that, as we are inheritors of this promise, we find the mission is now far beyond Jacob and Israel, it is far beyond any particular configuration of dioceses, it is now to the nations, to the end of the earth! The clear implication here, of course, is that this mission will include and perhaps even focus upon so-called “outsiders.” Psalm 98 says it well. We get to sing a new song as a new Diocese, for it is God who has done marvelous things! We shout with joy, lift up our voice, rejoice, and sing as a summons to all the nations.

All of this is a call to deep trust on our part, a trust in the goodness and mercy of God who has been with us all along and will continue to reside among us, and in us, and through us. As we move into inhabiting our new reality as a single Diocese, we are called to be clear about from where and in whom our true hope lies. That is foremost, and it has been at the center of my own prayer for us in lead up to this convention, when I hold up to God’s light who we are to be in our becoming as a new body.

And there’s more. Look where John’s Gospel takes us. I hope we recall that the part we read is actually the conclusion of the account of the Samaritan woman at the well. It must be read in that context (I was taught that a text without a context is a pretext). Samaritans and Jews had significant theological differences, most of which centered on a disagreement on the correct place to worship, Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem. Yet an unexpected conversation ensues between Jesus and the woman.

When it is revealed that she has had five husbands, and one with whom she was now living was not her husband, I can only surmise that she was expecting a word of judgment, even shame. Hearing this, many jump to the conclusion that she is morally compromised. Not so fast. Isn’t it also possible, being understood as property, that she is in fact a victim of abuse and has been cast aside many times by men who have owned her. Jesus has uncovered her pain! Rather than seeing her as an immoral person, Jesus sees her as thirsty! Thirsty for love. Thirsty for mercy. Thirsty for hope. In offering her a liberating love, she is set free to witness to how she has been touched by him. Her life has been given back and she becomes a source of joy for the people of her community. It is then that Jesus assures her that the place of worship is not important. Jesus was giving her the assurance that God was seeking her, not doctrinal correctness.

Jacob’s well was located at a major fork in the road. So here we are at ours. Can we continue to be a witness to God’s radical hope that makes room for everyone? Henry Martyn spent his very short yet productive life translating the Gospel into the languages of other peoples and nations, so that God’s people could take in the Good News of life, and hope, and liberation. Do you remember the story of Desert Father Abba Arsenius (born 360 in Rome)? One of his students confronted this learned man as to why he would take the time to speak with a peasant on the street saying, “How is it that you, with such good Latin and Greek education, ask this peasant about his thoughts?” He replied, “I have indeed been taught Latin and Greek, but I do not know even the alphabet of this peasant.”

Jesus heard the language of the Samaritan woman, the language of her life and context, and it became a moment of transformation. She was buried, but now risen, and reborn. We are called to learn the language of the people we are called to serve; the language of their heart, the language of their pain, the language of their joy. Your other nation might be your next-door neighbor, the person sitting next to you right now, someone you will meet tomorrow. Jesus is teaching us in his response to the Samaritan woman, and key to our missional response, that the law of love takes precedence even over our desire for personal freedom. The water of the well is to be accessible to everyone, everywhere, all the time, because it is by those waters, the waters of Jesus, that we too are buried, risen, and reborn.

We are an organic unity, not derived from ideology or agreement on issues, but out of a relationship with a person, Jesus of Nazareth, in whose name we have been baptized. Allow me to offer you another image. Have you ever seen a “murmuration?” Hundreds, even thousands of starlings flying together in a whirling, ever-changing pattern, is a phenomenon of nature that amazes and delights. Some fish do it too. How do they do that? As they fly or swim, they seem connected as they twist and turn at a micro-second’s notice.

Scientists have been surprised to learn that the flying pattern of murmuration has more in common with physics than biology. It is now believed they are similar to other systems, such as crystals forming, avalanches, metals becoming magnetized, and liquids turning to gas. These systems exist on the edge, which means they are ready to be completely transformed in an instant. Like the elements in these other systems, each starling in a murmuration is connected to every other starling. The Body of Christ! When one turns a phase transition occurs.

Here we are in our “phase transition,” not just today, but for the future mission we are given. Being Christian is a call to a relationship that changes all other relationships. It is our phase transition, like the starlings. The implicit model of American Christendom we have received and too often absorbed, is that our main job is to break down people’s resistance to going to church —just work harder to get them to come. What is being called forth, however, is vastly different. It is a community able to turn in an instant, to live on an edge that is focused first on being the Reign of God present in your community. That’s what Jesus did at the well, inviting us into bold risk-taking because God is in our midst. That’s the community Isaiah was calling forth. That’s what Henry Martyn did in his missionary travels, when he engaged in conversations with Muslim scholars in Persia.

I hope you can join me, as a way of celebrating who we are and what we are becoming as the Diocese of the Great Lakes, to live and act knowing we do not exist primarily for those on the inside of the Church, but for the sake of those of our neighborhoods, the nations, whether one block away or half-way around the world. Our call, our mission, is to remain centered in the One who is our hope, and be a community who will continue to show up at the crossroads of a well, and there see the thirsty with compassion and hope. Along the way, we too will be transformed as we, residing by the vast waters that surround us, are buried, risen, reborn.

– Bishop Skip

The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. “Skip” Adams, III
October 19, 2024, Feast of Henry Martyn, Priest & Missionary
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Convention Eucharist of the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes

We Shall Never Hope in Vain: A Pre-Election Message from Bishop Skip

“In you, Lord, is our hope; And we shall never hope in vain.”

From Suffrages B, Morning Prayer
Book of Common Prayer, p. 98

Image Description: A close-up of an autumn leaf floating on water, with the text: "In you, Lord, is our hope; And we shall never hope in vain. Book of Common Prayer, 98." The logo of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes is in the lower right corner.Dear Siblings of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes,

Whether you have already voted or not, as we come upon election day on November 5, perhaps you are feeling anxious about outcomes. I would think this to be true no matter who you are desiring to be elected. We are flooded by election mail and social media. The level of misinformation, disinformation, threats of violence, and interference is rampant and disturbing. Of course we’re anxious.

In the midst of my own anxiety, I find when praying the Daily Office that I am drawn to the words cited above. They are a simple yet clear reminder to me of from where and from whom I am to find my hope. It doesn’t mean I don’t care about outcomes. It doesn’t mean I don’t work hard to hold forth and be informed in my opinions. What those beautiful words remind me to do, is ask myself where I find my hope. It is in God. It also gives me strength to know that my seeking is not in vain, all the while looking to be a person of reason, a person of peace, a person of reconciliation and of love, a person of truth, as I look to follow Jesus in his Way.

The Hebrew and Greek Scriptures are full of words of hope. Israel had to be reminded of this truth over and over again. The early Christian Church had to be reminded, thus we have an
entire liturgy of Holy Eucharist, rooted in remembering (re-membering), because we tend to forget where our hope lies. Even as we have been reading these last weeks from the Revelation
to John in the Daily Office, we see that the nascent Church was called to endurance over and over again, as it dealt with empire and persecution.

I leave you with words from Psalm 62, v. 8-9:

In God is my safety and honor; God is my strong rock and my refuge. Put your trust in him always, O people, pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

Know that in all things, I hold you all in my prayer and love.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Skip
Assisting Bishop

 

Concerned about election violence and interference? Check out this post from the Episcopal Public Policy Network. 

Meet our Youth Delegates

Image Description: Left: Cover page of "The Book of Common Prayer" with text detailing its contents about sacraments and ceremonies of the Church of England. Right: Ancient dark ceramic vase with intricate swirl patterns, displayed against a brown background.

The One Conversation

Guest Post

The Rev. Randall Warren, Rector, St. Luke’s, Kalamazoo

God is having one conversation with all creation. Because we believe that God is one, we hold this idea of one Creator and the Creation in conversation to be true. Because we believe that our God is also a trinity of persons who are nevertheless one, we know that singularity and diversity (concepts so challenging for us to hold together) are not opposites to God. Therefore, we know that the one conversation is continually taking place in a variety of ways and in many forms. Because this conversation is everywhere present all the time, and because its forms and occurrences are so diverse, it is often difficult for us to perceive.  

Sadly, when we forget that God is having one conversation with all of creation, terrible things arise.We more easily waste, disregard, disdain, or oppress our natural environment, the animals, and our fellow human beings. Failing to know that another part of creation is in conversation with God makes that other seem to us less or unimportant. The other becomes disposable in our eyes.

That said, the word “conversation” comes to us through the Old French and once included the ideas of one’s actions or habits, as well as the place one lives. Creation cannot help but be in one conversation with God because that is where creation lives, with and in its Creator. As we have noted, however, it is often hard to remember or to perceive that God is having one conversation with all of creation. Yet every now and then we catch a hint of that conversation happening.

In the early 16th Century, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was busily drafting the first ever Book of Common Prayer. He most often wrote in a small room overlooking the garden at Lambeth Palace in London. Looking out at that garden, Archbishop Cranmer knew that only God’s grace, mercy, and love could create this abundantly beautiful world in which God cares for us. Drawing on an old English cathedral tradition known as the Sarum, he wrote the following collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. “Almightie and everlasting God, whiche doest governe all thynges in heaven and earthe: mercifully heare the supplicacions of thy people, and graunt us thy peace all the dayes of our life” (1549 BCP). God governs all things and has created an abundant universe in which God does indeed care for us. Under the concept of how we pray shapes what we believe, by asking for God’s peace, we remind ourselves that divine care and peace are there, a part of God’s one conversation with all of creation.

At about the same time, again in the early 16th Century, a Native American who was most likely a woman of the Mississippian culture, lived somewhere in what is now the region of Arkansas and Oklahoma. She made the beautiful pot in the picture above. It is on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The circle motif, and the interlocking lines she used to decorate her work speak of a creation that pulls together in abundance and beauty. The circles reminded her of the sun, which her people conceived of as an all seeing eye which kept watch over a nurturing and harmonious universe. 

So at about the same time, in two very different places on the globe, a man and a woman from two very different cultures, were moved to share the same idea. They taught their people that the universe is benevolently governed by divine forces that care for them, having made and placed them in a beautiful world. They offer us a glimpse, a whisper, of the one conversation that God is having with all of creation.

 

Ecumenical Endeavors

“The word nimble is not often used to describe the governance of The Episcopal Church. Perhaps that is as it should be. This year, though, in our ecumenical / interreligious work, there was a sense of urgency and excitement, a readiness to move with some ‘dispatch,’ adopting resolutions calling for unity and bridge-building: Diaconate exchangeability with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, moving toward full communion with the United Methodists, local ecumenical partnerships with the Presbyterians, resolutions on antisemitism and—written during General Convention itself—on anti-Muslim bias. These are just a few examples of the commitment to listening and learning, to celebrating and working together across our different faith communities. The 81st General Convention offered a ‘word,’ declaring that ecumenical and interreligious work with others are small steps toward healing and unity in our own divided time.” – the Rev. Margaret Rose, presiding bishop’s deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations

On the interreligious front, General Convention passed revised guidelines for interreligious relations and Episcopal-Jewish relations and our first guidelines for Episcopal-Muslim relations. On the ecumenical front, we entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, added the exchangeability of the diaconate to our agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and commended our current dialogues and ecumenical organizational memberships.

At the United Methodist Church’s General Conference this spring, the denomination approved a resolution calling for full communion with The Episcopal Church. The 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopted Resolution A049, as amended, which affirmed the continued dialogue and “joyfully anticipate[s] advancing towards full communion with the United Methodist Church.”

The Presbyterian Church USA has a unicameral governing body, the General Assembly; and while there are many similarities to The Episcopal Church’s General Convention, the PCUSA commissioners (who are ordained and lay members of presbyteries) receive advisory input (in the form of an advisory vote) on every vote they take from the advisory delegates, of which there are four types: young adult, theological student, mission, and ecumenical. There were many, many matters that were passed, but of particular interest to The Episcopal Church was the passing (via consent agenda) of receiving the final report of this round of bilateral dialogues between the PCUSA and The Episcopal Church, and calling for a new round of dialogues.

The National Council of Churches (NCC) hosted its biannual Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in May at the University of the West in Los Angeles. The Buddhist-Christian dialogue is one of five national dialogues hosted by the NCC. Other dialogues include the National Hindu-Christian Dialogue, the National Jewish-Christian Dialogue, the
National Muslim-Christian Dialogue, and the National Sikh-Christian Dialogue. The dialogue includes presentations, discussions, and sessions with elders, youth, and other faith leaders.

About which Christian denomination to follow, (or even what religion of which to be a part), it was once said that it doesn’t matter what kind of car your drive, as long as it safely gets you where you need to be. Why then, do many Christians spend so much time and energy trying to convince others that theirs is the only right make and model; and that if you drive any other, you’ll end up in the eternal junk yard?

Compiled by:
the Rev. Mike Wernick
Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer
the Episcopal Dioceses of Western and Eastern Michigan

Transition Plan Update

Dear People of the Future Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes,

On March 16th, gathered in a special convention of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, our lay and clergy delegates voted to affirm the creation of one, new diocese: the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. Our diocesan leaders have been hard at work over the last couple of months, preparing a process and structure for how our dioceses will engage this transition. 

This memo outlines several important areas of our impending work:

  • Timeline for the process toward the new diocese and aligning our systems
  • Working groups that will take up the process of transition with short-term and long-term commitments
  • An invitation to express interest in joining those working groups

A “Transition Leadership Team” has been brought together to facilitate communication between the working groups and reporting structures, and to ensure appropriate timelines are met. That team is composed of the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Standing Committees, the Chairs of the Diocesan Councils, the former chairs of the Building Bridges Steering Committee (BBSC), and support from diocesan communications, the chancellor, and consultant Katie Ong, who supported the BBSC. 

This plan was approved  by the Joint Standing Committees and presented to a combined meeting of our elected Standing Committees and Diocesan Councils before it was finalized. The list of working groups was shared by the Standing Committee Presidents on zoom calls with clergy and with senior wardens.

Please read below for the details of our Transition Plan, especially our invitation to submit a form expressing interest in joining our working groups and adding your voice and expertise to our process. 

Yours in Christ,

The Transition Leadership Team

The Rev. Jennifer Adams
Former Co-Chair, Building Bridges
Grace, Holland

The Rev. Molly Bosscher
VP, WM Standing Committee
St. Andrew’s, Grand Rapids

Janet Huff-Worvie
Former Co-Chair, Building Bridges
St. John’s-by-the-Lake, Otter Lake

Barbara Ilkka
President, EM Standing Committee
St. John’s, Saginaw

The Rev. Jerry Lasley
Chair, EM Diocesan Council
VP, EM Standing Committee
St. Christopher’s, Grand Blanc

The Rev. Anne Schnaare
President, WM Standing Committee
Grace, Grand Rapids

The Rev. Derek Quinn
Chair, WM Diocesan Council
St. Paul’s, Elk Rapids & Grace, Traverse City

Timeline Towards the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes

We are approaching this time of transition as having three overlapping phases. 

Phase I – Includes work that needs to be completed before this October’s Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. These working groups will focus on projects like planning for the convention, further preparing the draft constitution and canons for presentation to convention, and design of the mission regions for the new diocese.

Phase II – Includes work that will begin soon, but will not be completed until after October’s Primary Convention. These working groups will focus on projects such as finalizing the 2025 diocesan budget for presentation to convention while also further aligning and integrating our financial structures as we officially become the new diocese. Phase II also includes the area of staffing, including adapting structures and policies. This work has begun but will continue to evolve.

Phase III – Includes work that will begin after this October’s Primary Convention. Work taking place in Phase III is dependent on work that will precede it. More specific timeframes for Phase III working groups will be determined by our leadership bodies as the process of transition continues. For example, while Phase II will include laying groundwork for the calling of a bishop diocesan, such as conversations and learning opportunities around the the ministry of bishops, exploring our histories and hopes around it, the actual search and election process will take place in Phase III, sometime after this October’s Primary Convention and to be determined by the Standing Committee.

The Working Groups

The following “working groups” will be constituted (or are already underway) as we prepare for and begin to live into the new diocese. Other groups may be added as necessary. Unless otherwise stated, each group will be led by co-chairs, one from each of the legacy dioceses. All groups will have lay and clergy membership.

All in the dioceses are asked to prayerfully consider expressing interest in joining any of the working groups. The co-chairs of the groups will be given the list of interested folks and may also do additional recruitment to gather the expertise, skills, experience, and perspectives needed to complete their charges. A response form is included below this list for individuals to communicate their interest in serving as well as a brief description of the gifts they bring to the work. Please discern your own interest and please share this invitation with others in your local faith community. 

Groups are listed roughly in order of timeline and urgency. 

Working Group: Primary Convention Planning*

Timeline: Phase I
Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee, Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Heavy, meeting schedule varies and increases closer to convention

Co-Chairs: Canon Katie Forsyth (Diocesan Staff) and Jelecia Geraghty (SC, St. Paul’s, Flint)
Current Membership: DC Rep(s) to-be-confirmed, the Rev. Pamela Lenartowicz (St. Mark’s, Atlanta and St. Andrew’s, Gaylord; Liturgy Team), the Rev. Sr. Diane Stier (St. John’s, Mount Pleasant; local host), the Rev. Randall Warren, D. Min. (St. Luke’s, Kalamazoo; Liturgy Team) – Staff support/members: the Rev. Nurya Love Parish, Angela Krueger, Sara Philo

Charge: To plan for and coordinate the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, including theme, speakers, business, workshops, worship, agendas, and more. This group will communicate with the various committees that support our convention, including Nominations, Liturgy, Resolutions, etc.

*This group has already begun its work and is not actively seeking additional members at this time. Interest may still be expressed in case of vacancy or increased need.

Working Group: Branding for the New Diocese*

Timeline: Phase I
Time Commitment: Meeting schedule determined by group
Accountable Body: Diocesan Communications Office

Chair: Canon Katie Forsyth (Diocesan Staff)
Current Membership: Erynn Ford (St. Paul’s, Flint), The Rev. Joe Kennedy (St. David’s, Lansing), Heather Rauwenhurst (Emmanuel, Petoskey), Michelle Ruiz (Diocesan Staff), Amy Simons (St. John’s, Saginaw), Consultant – Graphic Designer, Consultant – Episcopal Heraldry

Charge: Working with a professional designer and Episcopal heraldry consultant, to research, gather input, and develop a new brand identity for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, including new diocesan seal, organizational logo, and visual identity.

*This group has already begun its work and is not actively seeking additional members at this time. Interest may still be expressed in case of vacancy or increased need.

Working Group: Constitution and Canons

Timeline: Phase I
Accountable Body: Diocesan Convention
Time Commitment: Moderate, meeting schedule to be determined by group
Co-Chairs: The Rev. Jen Adams (Grace, Holland) and the Rev. Don Davidson (CR, Eastern MI)

Charge: To create further opportunities for feedback on the draft constitution and canons drafted by the Building Bridges Steering Committee. The group will consider this input and other input already collected in BBSC feedback sessions to finalize the draft Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes to be presented for adoption at the Primary Convention. This group will also recommend the process by which the draft canons will be considered for adoption on the floor of convention.

Working Group: Regional Design

Timeline: Phase I
Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee
Time Commitment: Moderate, meeting schedule to be determined by group
Co-Chairs: To be confirmed

Charge: To propose a mapping of the Mission Regions for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The draft canons call for “at least four” regions to provide a vehicle for faith communities in proximity to one another to offer mutual support, share best practices, and collaborate on programs, projects, and activities as part of the mission and vision of the diocese. This group will build upon research and work done by the BBSC, further exploring, seeking input, and making a final recommendation to the Joint Standing Committee.

Working Group: Joint Finance Committee

Timeline: Phase I, II, III
Accountable Body: Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Typically monthly meetings or fewer, more frequency likely to be required in the initial phases
Co-Chairs: Diocesan Treasurers – The Rev. Brian Chace (Retired, Frederic) and the Rev. Jared Cramer (St. John’s, Grand Haven) 

Charge: To assist with the financial dimensions of becoming the new dioceses, including but not limited to: further develop the 2025 Diocesan Budget for submission to the Primary Convention, recommend members and processes for the proposed Endowment Board, develop an annual financial review/audit policy in accordance with churchwide and diocesan best practices.

Working Group: Joint Personnel Committee*

Timeline: Phase I, II
Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee, Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Meeting schedule determined by group

Co-Chairs: Ellen Schrader (Grace, Traverse City) and the Rev. Tom Manney (St. Paul’s, Flint)
Current Membership: The Rev. Valerie Ambrose (Ret., Grand Rapids), Jay Gantz (St. Andrew’s, Flint), David Hawley-Lowry (Grace, Holland), Janet Huff-Worvie (St. John’s, Otter Lake), Elizabeth Jordan (St. Paul’s, Flint), Ellen McVey (St. John’s, Midland), and Martha Porter (Grace, Grand Rapids). Staff support/member: Sara Philo

Charge: To design a staffing structure in support of the mission and vision of the new diocese, including evaluating existing job descriptions and staffing structures. This group will also be charged with aligning and developing a new Policy and Procedure Manual for the new diocese. 

*This group has already begun its work and is not actively seeking additional members at this time. Interest may still be expressed in case of vacancy or increased need.

Working Group: Legal Process of Becoming the New Diocese*

Timeline: Phase I, II
Accountable Body: Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Meeting schedule determined by group

Chair: Chancellor Bill Fleener, Jr. (St. David’s, Lansing)
Current membership: Steve Waterbury (Plainsong Farm)

Charge: To ensure a thorough and timely legal transition into the newly created Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes by January 1, 2025, including but not limited to Church Insurance issues, retitling endowments, follow up with affiliated foundations and trusts, establishing a process to review and update church property deeds/titles, and more. 

*This group has already begun its work and is not actively seeking additional members at this time. Interest may still be expressed in case of vacancy or increased need.

Working Group: Ministry of the Episcopate

Timeline: Phase II
Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee
Time Commitment: Heavy, meeting schedule determined by group
Co-Chairs: To-be-confirmed

Charge: This group will create and facilitate public conversations for learning, conversation, healing, and shared hopes around the ministry of bishops. This group will also be charged with finalizing the draft Mission and Vision statement for the new diocese. These two areas of conversation will help inform the to-be-appointed Bishop Search Committee, as they draft a diocesan profile and begin the search for our first bishop diocesan.

Working Group: Discerning Faith Communities

Timeline: Phase II
Accountable Body: Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Meeting schedule determined by group
Co-Chairs: To-be-confirmed

Charge: As the Canons Working Group finalizes the canons defining the different forms of faith communities (traditional congregation, emergent community, companion ministry, programmatic organization, seasonal chapel) and potential covenant relationships between existing communities of faith (clusters and cooperatives), the Discerning Faith Communities Working Group will develop the processes by which a new community of faith would engage discernment and enter into agreement with the diocese. They will also develop processes by which one or more communities of faith would enter into covenant with one another. This group will consider questions of discernment, funding determinations, alignment with diocesan mission, staff/governance accountability, etc.

Working Group: Search and Election of a Bishop Diocesan

Timeline: Phase II, III
Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee
Time Commitment: Moderate to heavy, meeting schedule determined by group
Co-Chairs: To-be-confirmed

Charge: To follow the charge from the Standing Committee and canonical process for episcopal searches: creating and publishing a diocesan profile and engaging in the search and election process for the first bishop diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes.

Working Group: Camp Ministry

Timeline: Phase III
Accountable Body: Diocesan Councils
Time Commitment: Meeting schedule determined by group
Co-Chairs: To-be-confirmed

Charge: To build on a consultant-led discernment process that took place in the last two years, considering the models of summer camp currently engaged by the dioceses and to develop a common vision and resourcing structure for camp ministries in the new dioceses.

Concurrent Process: Commission on Ministry*

Accountable Body: Joint Standing Committee (Ecclesiastical Authority)

Co-Chairs: Ellen McVey (St. John’s, Midland), The Rev. Lily Marx (St. Gregory’s, Muskegon), and the Rev. Jim Perra (Grace, Traverse City)

Charge: Beyond their regular responsibilities, the COM will gather in joint meetings facilitated by a non-member of the COM in order to develop a transition plan that unifies our two bodies into one and includes a more detailed structure and teams to do the breadth of work that falls under the COM. They will be encouraged to consult with other Episcopal dioceses for models of ordination processes which include a range of formation paths and learnings regarding best practices. 

*This group is listed for the sake of awareness. This is not considered a “working group” of the transition process but rather a regularly appointed commission that holds significant  responsibility and tasks related to the transition.

Express Interest in Serving!

To express your willingness to serve on any of these bodies, please click the button below to complete our interest form. You will be asked to provide information about the skills, expertise, experience, perspective, and/or specific trainings/certifications you feel equip you for this work. 

The survey will be open indefinitely in recognition that some groups may be constituted now, some groups won’t be appointed until after the Primary Convention, and some may not begin their work for a while. 

If invited to serve on a working group, the co-chair of that group will contact you with more details about the charge and expected workload and to offer you the opportunity to further discern whether you can confirm your participation. If you are unable to commit to this level of engagement, please know that you will still be invited to participate as almost all of the working groups will have some element of collecting input and feedback from the wider diocese.

ACCESS THE INTEREST FORM

SPRITUAL PRACTICES IN CONTEMPLATIVE RETREAT

August 16-18, 2024 at Camp Chickagami

Adults of all genders are invited to join us for several days spent in community, building a closer relationship with God and creation and journeying deeper into our spiritual practices.

God invites us to relationship each and every day. Retreats are a great opportunity to take time apart and disconnect from our everyday lives, connecting with this call to relationship through exploration of spirituality, prayer life, and community. Our retreat is organized by the Rev. Beckett Leclaire, deacon and ministry developer of the AuSable Inclusion Center.

The schedule for our retreat is flexible with time spent both alone and in group. This retreat’s pricing is a tiered pricing structure beginning at $300. Lodging for this retreat will be in a communal setting assigned by Camp Chickagami staff. If you have requests for cabin-mates please let us know during the registration process.

Questions about this event? Please contact the Rev. Beckett Leclaire at bleclaire@eastmich.org for questions about the program, or contact Camp Chickagami’s acting co-directors, Sierra Kacher and Kay Leclaire at directors@campchickagami.org with questions about registration.

DATE & LOCATION

August 16-18, 2024

Check-in: Friday, 3-6pm
Check-out: Sunday, Noon

Participants are welcome to linger for the remainder of the day after check-out/departing their cabin.

Camp Chickagami
6952 Kauffman Road
Presque Isle, MI 49777
campchickagami.org/retreats

REGISTRATION

Registration is offered as tiered pricing and begins at $200 for commuters and $300 for those staying on-site. Participants also have the option to add on an extra night’s stay (without meals).

Click here for a list of retreat FAQs, including recommendations for packing.

The deadline to register is August 10th.