Dear Friends,

Earlier this week, while reviewing preliminary documents and procedures for the upcoming Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion, colleagues discovered the inclusion of a decades-old statement; one discriminatory to our beloved LGBTQ+ siblings. Attending bishops are asked to either affirm the statement or indicate that they “need more time for discernment.” There is no option for “no,” which would be the earth-shaking response from the vast majority of bishops from The Episcopal Church and others. You may remember that I had already chosen not to attend due to earlier discriminatory actions against our LGBTQ+ bishops and spouses.

While we wait for a broader statement from our Presiding Bishop’s office, let me make a brief observation from my perch as Bishop Provisional of Eastern and Western Michigan.

Canterbury has stated to address “the call” as it prepares to meet for its historic Lambeth conference. It identifies a “gap between rhetoric and reality” and names, particularly, “historical exploitation, deepening poverty, and prejudice” that “continues to threaten human dignity.” I find it ironic that Canterbury then scapegoats one of the critical vulnerabilities within the Anglican Communion, the prejudice against LGBTQ+ Anglicans, as the area that needs “deeper work.” The gaps between rhetoric and reality could not be more exacerbated than Canterbury’s handling of this “divide” between rhetoric and LGBTQ+ reality.

The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral asks us to value local expressions of Episcopal Authority, such as those in North America and elsewhere in the Anglican Communion. These dioceses give us ample examples of how to bridge the gap between rhetoric and practice as far as LGBTQ+ saints are concerned. To treat this giftedness as anything other than the Anglican Communion’s opportunity to learn from parts of the communion and enhance everyday life is to play divide and rule politics. This divisive Lambeth Conference move preserves a passive peace and the victims of prejudice will bear the burden of a body that refuses to do its deepening soul work. Canterbury’s act of disinviting spouses of LGBTQ+ Bishops reinforces this gap between rhetoric and the practice of holiness as embodied in the marriage of LGBTQ+ saints!

To place the life and witness of our LGBTQ+ saints in contrast to marriage between a man and a woman is a colonial ploy by an empire that is perhaps holding on to the last vestiges of its arbiter role. It also could be another attempt of Canterbury’s at clinging to relevance using an instrument of unity–Lambeth–to embrace legislative action while also appearing not to do so.

Let me be clear to all who need to hear as a bishop witnessing the redemptive power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this branch of the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan have addressed the so-called gap in practicing radical hospitality by valuing the dignity of LGBTQ+ saints! In so doing, we have embraced the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them. We have willingly helped anyone who wants to do more profound work in this area of our faith in action. In response to Christ’s call to love one another as he has loved us, we welcome all and value their dignity without reservation!

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Prince Singh
Bishop Provisional
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan

 

Endorsed by the Standing Committees of Eastern and Western Michigan:

Dear Saints,

I write in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a step back in human rights, privacy, and safety for so many of our beloved siblings, neighbors, and friends. We do not forget that this decision threatens not only access to life-saving healthcare but the rights of so many others that have been so hard-fought — same-sex marriage, access to contraception, and other protections.

When the decision was leaked earlier this year, I wrote, “As Episcopalians, we commit every day to respect the dignity of every human being – one’s dignity requires the existence of choice over control, freedom over force, and abundant love over fear.” This does not change with today’s official decision.

On this day, we grieve and pray that the redeeming love of Christ who knows all that we are and all that we were created to achieve.

I commend to you this Service of Lament and Healing written by six leaders in our Church. They offer this liturgy as a gift to our community, adaptable to local customs and contexts.

Please join me and Canon Forsyth on Facebook Live tomorrow morning at 10am EDT to pray the litany together with our diocesan communities. Access our scheduled broadcast on Eastern Michigan’s Facebook Page or Western Michigan’s Facebook Page.

I invite you to pray with me one of the collects included in the litany,

We pray for those who are afraid, lost, and in the midst of turmoil of spirit and mind. We pray for those who lament the loss of bodily autonomy, for those who fear the loss of other civil rights, and for those who fear the unknown of the world ahead. We pray especially for all who will be disproportionately affected by a lack of reproductive rights, especially people who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, Brown, People of Color, trans and nonbinary. We pray for all who live in poverty, and for those who live in rural areas, who will also be disproportionately affected. May we be resolved in our commitment to hope, knowing that to hope in God is to never hope in vain.

Yours in Christ, 

The Rt. Rev. Prince Singh
Bishop Provisional
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan

August 26-28, 2022 at Camp Chickagami

Join us at Camp Naucratius, a weekend camp program filled with friends, family, fishing, and life-long memories.

This is the first (and hopefully annual!) Naucratius Family Camp! We’ll offer some programming, built-in free time, fishing, hiking, games, prayer and worship, and more. All planned activities for the weekend are no-pressure, allowing participants to join and and participate at their leisure. Children must be supervised at all times by their parents/guardians. One does not need to be an Episcopalian or an expert angler to join us for Camp Naucratius!

The Order of Naucratius is a community and network of hunters and anglers engaging in the spiritual practice of sharing our harvested abundance with neighbors experiencing hunger. Learn more about the Order, a recognized cooperating ministry of Western Michigan with leadership and participants from both Eastern and Western Michigan, on their website, onwm.org.

Please contact the Rev. Christian Baron, Director of the Order of Naucratius, with any questions – christianjohnbaron@gmail.com or 512-826-9657.

COVID SAFETY
In order to keep our community safe and healthy during this overnight event, all participants will be required to complete a rapid COVID test upon arrival and receive a negative result to proceed to their lodging. Tests will be provided by our hosts. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

OUR HOST

Camp Chickagami, incorporated in 1929, is the ACA accredited camp and retreat center owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan. Located in Presque Isle, Michigan with frontage on Lake Esau and access to Lake Huron, Camp Chick offers rental stays and programming for children, youth, and adults throughout the summer. Learn more at campchickagami.org.

LODGING
There are a number of different options for lodging, including family-style cabins, bunk-style dorm cabins, and tent/RV camping spots.

Accomodations will be assigned by Camp Chick staff by family unit. To request sharing lodging with another family or to arrange for a specific lodging type (including indicating that you will bring a tent or RV), please email directors@campchickagami.org.

REGISTRATION
Thanks to a grant from The Episcopal Church and support from the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan, this event has been subsidized to $50 per person over 12. Children 12 and younger may participate at no cost.

An optional Friday afternoon charter fishing experience on Lake Huron is priced at an extra $80/person.

The registration deadline is August 25th.

Greetings of Pentecost, my dear friends.

It is one of the gifts that we have as a church, when we read in our collect that the Spirit is really calling us as a teacher — a teacher of our hearts to open us up to be strengthened so we may do the work of really building beloved community.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, we hear these words,

Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are a variety of services but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. The one is given through the Spirit the utterance wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of powerful beings, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who alots to each one individually, just as the Spirit chooses.

This is the church in action. So, beloved, as we come out of this fog of a pandemic, I invite you to consider your gifts. I invite you in the name of the church to go deep into yourself as you have, especially these last two years. Explore how you want to use the gifts God has given you in order to make this world, our church, and all of life a whole lot better.

We need your gifts. The church needs it. Your local church needs it. The dioceses need it.

Whatever your gift, I hope you will talk to somebody, your priest, your counselor, your friend — someone that you respect to figure out a way for you to actively engage in making this world a better place. That is Pentecost in action, when the spirit of God comes upon everyone so that each of us can bring our gifts to make this world a much better place.

To God be the glory. Happy Pentecost.

 

Saludos de Pentecostés mis queridos amigos,

Sólo quería los dones que tenemos como iglesia. Cuando saludamos en nuestro llamado que el Espíritu nos llama realmente como maestro. Un maestro de todos los corazones para abrirnos a ser fortalecidos para que podamos hacer el trabajo de construir realmente comunidades amadas.

En 1 Corintios 12:4-11 escuchamos estas palabras,

Ahora bien, hay variedad de dones, pero el mismo Espíritu; y hay variedad de servicios, pero el mismo Señor; y hay variedad de actividades, pero es el mismo Dios quien las activa todas en todos. A cada uno se le da la manifestación del Espíritu para el bien común. A uno se le da por medio del Espíritu la expresión de la sabiduría, a otro la expresión de la ciencia según el mismo Espíritu, a otro la fe por el mismo Espíritu, a otro los dones de curación por el mismo Espíritu, a otro el obrar de los seres poderosos, a otro la profecía, a otro el discernimiento de los espíritus, a otro las diversas clases de lenguas, a otro la interpretación de lenguas. Todos son activados por un mismo Espíritu, que asigna a cada uno individualmente, tal como el Espíritu elige.

Esta es la iglesia en acción. Así que, queridos, mientras salimos de esta niebla de la pandemia, los invito a considerar su regalo. Te invito, en nombre de la Iglesia, a profundizar en ti mismo como lo has hecho, especialmente estos dos últimos años. Explora cómo quieres utilizar los dones que Dios te ha dado para hacer que este mundo, nuestra iglesia y toda la vida sean mejores.

Necesitamos tus dones. La iglesia lo necesita, tu iglesia local lo necesita, las diócesis lo necesita. Sea cual sea tu don, espero que hables con alguien, con tu sacerdote, con tu consejero, con tu amigo, con alguien a quien respetes, para encontrar una manera de participar activamente en hacer de este mundo un lugar mejor. Eso es Pentecostés en acción, cuando el espíritu de Dios viene sobre todos para que cada uno pueda aportar sus dones para hacer de este mundo un lugar mejor.

A Dios sea la gloria. Feliz Pentecostés.

We Are Beloved Community – July 7-13, 2022

“Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?”

This summer, Episcopal high schoolers will join in a journey of pilgrimage and discovery. We’ll pray together and consider the meaning of our Baptismal Covenant and Jesus’ teachings. We’ll serve in ministries that bless others and show God’s love. We’ll learn more about what God calls us to do. We’ll sleep in four different churches and serve in four different communities in Michigan and Ohio.

Each day includes time for fun, time for service, and time for small groups to debrief about the day’s events. We’ll also make a special outing to Cedar Point towards the end of the trip and an afternoon of hiking in Hocking Hills State Park!

This mission trip — led by Regional Youth Missioners Jeff Brown, the Rev. Radha Kaminski, and the Rev. Joel Turmo — is open to high schoolers in the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan. Please read below for more information and to register.

We hope you will join us for this wonderful opportunity to serve God’s people, enjoy God’s creation, and meet other high school students around and beyond our two dioceses. Join us on the journey!

Please contact Regional Youth Missioner Jeff Brown with any questions – jbrown@eastmich.org or jbrown@edwm.org.

COVID SAFETY

In order to keep our community safe and healthy during this overnight event, proof of COVID-19 vaccination (at least two shots) or a negative PCR test within 48 hours of arrival is required. A COVID-19 rapid test will be completed upon arrival and daily temperature checks will be taken.

SCHEDULE

Drop-off and Pick-up location:

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

1025 3 Mile Rd NE

Grand Rapids, MI
standrewsgr.org

A more detailed itinerary will be provided closer to the trip as finalizing details of site visits are still in process.

REGISTRATION

Much of the cost for this event has been subsidized by the diocesan youth ministry budget and the generosity of our host sites. Participants are asked to pay $100/person.

If the cost would prevent you or your child from attending, please first contact your parish to inquire about financial assistance. Additional scholarships may be available — please contact Jeff Brown to inquire.

The registration deadline is June 22.