Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!

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We bring Christmas greetings to you, the people of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan on behalf of your Standing Committees.

We know, both as the Presidents of your Standing Committees and as people in the world, this has been a hard and unusual year. Yet, in this Holiday season, we want to pause and remind all of us that, despite the challenges, the Gospel is being proclaimed, people are caring for one another and those in need, and there are amazing things happening in this corner of God’s Kingdom. There is so much that is positive, powerful, and holy in our common life together.

In this holiday season, a holiday season unlike any other we’ve experienced, it’s important not to lose sight of that.

In this season of hope, we find hope in the ways that both of our dioceses have and continue to live the Gospel in the world…

In this season of hope, we find hope in the ways that both of our dioceses have and continue to live the Gospel in the world…

This year, when the world shut down and we were unable to offer in-person worship for the first time, our lay and clergy leaders adapted quickly, with grace and great humility, to worship in an online context. Thank you.

When many went hungry, due to the economic burden of the pandemic or otherwise, our parishes responded and continue to respond by addressing food inaccessibility. Through feeding programs like Food for Life in Bay City to the Community Kitchen in Three Rivers, from meal distribution in Alpena, to the Breakfast Cafe in Grand Rapids, we fed people. Through the seventeen Episcopal congregations that joined the first Good News Gardens cohort with Plainsong Farm, we grew food to feed people. Thank you.

When asked how congregations would respond to a world in need, our communities did so quickly and with great compassion. When the vestry of Holy Trinity, Manistee made the decision to start a baby pantry in their rectory building one Sunday, supplies started moving in on Monday. When, mid-pandemic, two dams failed and the communities of Sanford and Midland were underwater, the congregations of Holy Family and St. John’s, Midland came together to provide long-term relief to families with the help of donations from across our two dioceses and beyond. To all those congregations doing amazing and responsive ministry – Thank you.

When our dioceses experienced the challenge of our bishop’s suspension, our work and ministry together as exploring dioceses did not shut down. Our Standing Committees committed to taking on this work as a joint body, in all of the challenges and opportunities that entails. Our newly bi-diocesan Evangelism taskforce came together to offer grants to parishes improving their digital proclamation of the Gospel. Our antiracism work expanded and reached across our geographic borders. Our youth have been gathering for Zoom youth group at least once a week since the pandemic began. For these and all others we haven’t mentioned – thank you.

And thank you to the faces we don’t always see. The people restocking shelves and filling to-go orders. The people treating our loved ones when they’re sick. Those dropping groceries on friend’s porches, or bundling up to check in with a friend on their front lawn. The people of our dioceses – running the tech, shopping for equipment, joining in online worship from their homes. Thank you.

While we’re not physically together, we are all the more aware of the ways in which our common life depends on one another – for all that we’ve been through together and all that we will continue to do together, thank you.

While we’re not physically together, we are all the more aware of the ways in which our common life depends on one another – for all that we’ve been through together and all that we will continue to do together, thank you.

On behalf of the Standing Committees and staffs of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. May you and your loved ones celebrate the season with care for one another, in health, in hopefulness, and in sight of the one who was born and died for us all.

Merry Christmas.

Les traemos saludos navideños a ustedes, la familia de las Diócesis Episcopales del Este y Oeste de Michigan en nombre de sus Comités Permanentes.

Sabemos, como presidentes de sus comités permanentes y como personas viviendo en el mundo, que este ha sido un año difícil e inusual. Sin embargo, en este tiempo de Navidad, queremos hacer una pausa y recordarnos a todos que, a pesar de los desafíos, se está proclamando el Evangelio, las personas se están cuidando unos a otros y a los necesitados, y que están sucediendo cosas asombrosas en este rincón del Reino de Dios. Reino. ¡Hay tanto de positivo, poderoso y santo en nuestra vida común juntos!

En este tiempo de Navidad, un fin de año diferente a cualquier otro que hayamos experimentado, es importante no perder estas realidades de vista.

En este tiempo de esperanza, encontramos esperanza en la forma en que nuestras dos diócesis han vivido y continúan viviendo el Evangelio en el mundo …

En este tiempo de esperanza, encontramos esperanza en la forma en que nuestras dos diócesis han vivido y continúan viviendo el Evangelio en el mundo …

Este año, cuando el mundo cerró sus puertas y no pudimos adorar en persona por primera vez, nuestros líderes laicos y clérigos se adaptaron rápidamente, con gracia y gran humildad, a la adoración en un contexto en línea. Muchas gracias.

Cuando muchos pasaron hambre, debido a la carga económica de la pandemia o a causa de otras razones, nuestras parroquias respondieron y continúan respondiendo, enfrentándose a la inaccesibilidad de los alimentos. A través de programas de alimentación como Food for Life en Bay City hasta la cocina comunitaria en Three Rivers, desde la distribución de comidas en Alpena hasta el Breakfast Cafe en Grand Rapids, alimentamos a la gente. A través de las diecisiete congregaciones episcopales que se unieron al primer grupo de Good News Gardens con Plainsong Farm, cultivamos alimentos para alimentar a las personas. Muchas gracias.

Cuando nuestras congregaciones tuvieron que responder a un mundo necesitado, nuestras comunidades lo hicieron rápidamente y con gran compasión. Cuando la junta de Holy Trinity, Manistee tomó la decisión un domingo de abrir un depósito de productos para bebés en el edificio de su rectoría, los suministros comenzaron a llegar el lunes. Cuando, en medio de la pandemia, dos represas fallaron y las comunidades de Sanford y Midland estaban bajo el agua, las congregaciones de Holy Family y St. John’s, Midland se unieron para brindar alivio a largo plazo a las familias con la ayuda de donaciones de nuestras dos diócesis y de más allá. A todas aquellas congregaciones que están haciendo un ministerio asombroso y comprometido con las necesidades actuales – Muchas gracias.

Cuando nuestras diócesis experimentaron el desafío de la suspensión de nuestro obispo, nuestro trabajo y ministerio juntos como diócesis en exploración no terminó. Nuestras Comisiones Permanentes se comprometieron a asumir este trabajo como un órgano conjunto, con todos los retos y oportunidades que conlleva. Nuestro nuevo grupo de trabajo de evangelización bi-diocesano se unió para ofrecer subvenciones a las parroquias para mejorar su proclamación digital del Evangelio. Nuestros esfuerzos en contra del racismo continuaron expandiéndose y llegaron incluso más allá de nuestras fronteras geográficas. Nuestros jóvenes han continuado reuniéndose vía Zoom al menos una vez a la semana desde que comenzó la pandemia. A todos estos y todos los demás que no hemos mencionado, muchas gracias.

Muchas gracias también a las caras que no siempre vemos. La gente que trabaja reabasteciendo los estantes en nuestras tiendas y realizando pedidos para llevar. Las personas que cuidan a nuestros seres queridos cuando están enfermos. Aquellos que dejan las compras en los portales de sus amigos o que se abrigan para encontrarse con amigos en un jardín al aire libre. A toda la gente de nuestras diócesis – manejando la tecnología, comprando equipos, participando en la adoración en línea desde sus hogares. Muchas gracias.

Si bien no estamos físicamente juntos, somos más conscientes de las formas en que nuestra vida en común depende los unos de los otros, por todo lo que hemos pasado juntos y todo lo que seguiremos haciendo juntos, muchas gracias.

Si bien no estamos físicamente juntos, somos más conscientes de las formas en que nuestra vida en común depende los unos de los otros, por todo lo que hemos pasado juntos y todo lo que seguiremos haciendo juntos, muchas gracias.

En nombre de los Comités Permanentes y los equipos de trabajo de las Diócesis Episcopales de Michigan Oriental y Occidental, les deseamos una muy Feliz Navidad. Que tú y tus seres queridos celebren la temporada con cariño mutuo, con salud, con ilusión y con la vista del que nació y murió por todos nosotros.

Feliz Navidad.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Today, we were notified of an accord reached between the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, and our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr., as part of a Title IV disciplinary action.

Bishop Hougland, in a meeting with the Bishop for Pastoral Development, the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, disclosed that he had made “serious mistakes” and admitted his participation in an extramarital affair. The other person involved is not Episcopalian and is not a member of the staff of either diocese. No state or federal laws have been broken.

Under the Canons of the Episcopal Church, an accord is a written resolution to the disciplinary process, which is negotiated by and agreed to by both parties.

The accord places Bishop Hougland on suspension for a minimum of one year. During that time, he will be required to undertake personal steps to be accountable to the Church and emotionally healthy for himself, his family, and his dioceses, in accordance with the Canons, which state:

The Church and each diocese shall support their members in their life in Christ and seek to resolve conflicts by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected. – Canon IV.1

It is the hope of the Presiding Bishop’s office, our Standing Committees, and Bishop Hougland, that this time is one of healing and reconciliation. At the conclusion of the suspension, the Standing Committees and Bishop Hougland will decide whether to continue the relationship with Whayne as our bishop.

The Standing Committees have met and are in the process of working out the details of the one-year leave, including a plan for maintaining the daily operations of the dioceses. Specifics will be available next week. At this time, we expect to hold the ecclesiastical authority of our respective dioceses and will work with our neighboring bishops to conduct the duties that only a bishop can conduct, including ordinations and confirmations. We also are committed to affirming the vote taken last Fall to explore mutual relationship between our dioceses for 3-5 years, by making decisions together as much as is possible and appropriate, maintaining our now-regular joint meetings of Standing Committees and staffs, as well as continuing all other ongoing and potential ministry collaborations.

We ask that you not be in contact Bishop Hougland directly. Any notes may be forwarded to him through Canon Bill Spaid, wspaid@edwm.org, or may be mailed to the Western Michigan diocesan office.

Know that we are praying for you, the people of Eastern and Western Michigan, and we ask your prayers for your elected leadership, as well as for your diocesan staffs, Bishop Whayne and Dana, and for each other.

Yours in Christ,

The Standing Committees of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan

Janet Huff-Worvie, President
St. John’s, Otter Lake

The Rev. Brian Chace
Trinity, West Branch

Gary Grinn
St. Paul’s, Gladwin

The Rev. Dan Scheid
St. Paul’s, Flint

The Rev. Lydia Speller
Grace, Port Huron

Bill Thewalt
St. Christopher’s, Grand Blanc
Dave Croal, President
St. Mark’s, Coldwater

The Rev. Jodi Baron
St. Philip’s, Beulah & Holy Trinity, Manistee

Martha Bartlett
St. James, Pentwater

Anne Davidson
St. Mark’s, Coldwater

The Rev. BJ Heyboer
St. Mark’s, Newaygo

The Rev. Diane M. Pike
Southwest Michigan Episcopal Covenant

Carole Redwine
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids

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

To the Clergy and People of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan,

I will not have the ability to personally speak to you individually or as a group, but I appreciate the opportunity for you all to hear from me. I have not honored my ordination vows or my wedding vows, nor have I honored the faith and trust you set in me. I have much personal work to do to be healthier and rebuild my relationships.

I apologize to the people of these dioceses for betraying my sacred oath to be a wholesome example for the entire flock of the Church.

I apologize to the staff of the dioceses for abandoning you to pick up the pieces of my error.

I apologize to the clergy for my gross lapse of moral judgement, thereby damaging our sacred relationship under orders and weakening our moral authority.

I apologize to the Presiding Bishop and the members of the House of Bishops for not living up to the standards of behavior and conduct expected for Bishops and for damaging our credibility and respectability as moral leaders in society at large.

I apologize to the other party and her family for disrespecting their relationship.

And most of all, I apologize to Dana, our daughters, and our extended families for my betrayal of their gracious abiding love.

I do not yet fully understand why I behaved in this manner, but I alone am responsible for my actions and the discipline that the Presiding Bishop and I have agreed to. Over the next year, I will carefully and fully examine what I need to do to be the person you and I expect me to be. During this time, I will be repentant, take the steps I need to amend my life, and request forgiveness from those I have wronged. I am thankful for the grace of the Holy Spirit and the promise of forgiveness for those who are truly repentant. I will do the work.

Thank you, Presiding Bishop for your pastoral care and for your hard discipline, I need them both.

Thank you, Standing Committees for your leadership in this difficult time and for your graciousness to me in this difficult moment.

Thank you for your continued prayers and ongoing support and concern for Dana and our family.

Humbly,

Whayne M. Hougland, Jr.

by the Rev. Canon Valerie Ambrose

In my visits with parishes and vestries around our diocese I often hear the question, “Why does the church move so slowly?”  That certainly was a question posed by supporters of women’s ordination to the priesthood for 87 years after the first women were approved to be ordained deaconesses and for more than four decades after the first woman was ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion.

Why does the church move so slowly?

This year marks the 75^thanniversary of the ordination of Florence Tim-Oi in Hong Kong by The Rt. Rev. R. O. Hall.  However, she delayed serving as a priest in order to protect her bishop from censure while waiting for the Anglican Communion to acknowledge her ordination.  Considered a counter-revolutionary by the Communist government of the People’s Republic of China, Tim-Oi was forced to undergo political re-education and to work on a farm and later in a factory until 1974.  She eventually was allowed to exercise her priestly ministry in the nationalized Chinese church.  After visiting family in Canada in 1981 she moved there and was licensed in the dioceses of Montreal and Toronto, where she served until her death in 1992.

Two other women, Jane Hwang and Joyce Bennett, were ordained to the priesthood in Hong Kong in 1971 by Bishop Gilbert Baker. Those ordinations fueled the debate in our country over whether women could be ordained as priests here as well. In the preceding year our General Convention had eliminated the deaconess canon and voted to ordain women as deacons equally as men.  At that same convention, where women could serve as deputies for the first time, lay deputies voted to approve the ordination of women to the priesthood, but the clerical order defeated that resolution.  Again at the 1973 General Convention the vote to approve the ordination of women to the priesthood failed to pass.

Following that convention 11 women deacons were “irregularly” ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia in 1974.  Another 4 women were ordained priests in 1975 in Washington, D.C.   At the 1976 General Convention growing support for women’s ordination led to both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies finally approving women to be ordained to the priesthood and episcopate.  A short 13 years later in 1989, The Rev. Barbara C. Harris was consecrated the first female bishop of our Church, and in 2006 The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori was the first woman to be elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, thereby making her the first female Primate of the Anglican Communion.

To some the Church moves far too slowly.  To some the Church moves far too quickly.

To some the Church moves far too slowly.  To some the Church moves far too quickly.  But most would agree that the structure and polity of our Church allows for ample study, debate and prayerful discernment as we strive to heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Since the first ordination of a woman to the priesthood 75 years ago, tremendous equality for women in the Church has been achieved and appreciated in many corners of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  May the gifts of all God’s sons and daughters continue to be affirmed and celebrated.  And may everyone’s talents and faith also be understood to be imbued by God for the carrying out the mission of the Church–to restore all people to unity with one another and God.