The John P. Craine House
2012 Community Connection gift of the Episcopal Church Women

Each Triennial the Episcopal Church Women Board chooses a Community Connection Gift recipient. The 2012 recipient is The John P. Craine House. The John P. Craine House (Craine House) was established in 1979 by The Right Reverend John P. Craine, Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana and the Reverend Jackie Means. Caine House is a unique alternative sentencing residential facility that allows women convicted of non-violent crimes to serve out their remaining sentences with their pre-school age children in a safe and structured environment. There are only six facilities like Craine House in the United States. (more...)

Two ordinations to the diaconate celebrated

On April 21, 2012 Doyle Douglas Dietz Allen and Heather Kathleen O'Brien were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by the Right Reverend C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth. The ordinations took place at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth. Fr. Bruce Coggin delivered the homily. It was a splendid and joyous service and was followed by a splendid and joyous reception. Click here to view photographs of the event.

An Appeal for Help Brings Astounding Results

In mid-March, St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church sent out an appeal for help to clean up the interior and exterior of their 4.5 acre facility on Saturday, March 31. When that day came, approximately 60 people from eight of the various churches lent a hand to accomplish some much-needed work that the mission has not been able to accomplish by itself. This number also includes five priests and three deacons of the diocese. People worked both inside and out to help the church look its best for Holy Week. (more...)

Liturgy for Rogation Days

Cindy Coe, Christian formation consultant and author of the Abundant Life Garden Project curriculum, has written a liturgy to be used on Rogation Days for the blessing of church/community gardens. She also blogged about it for us – you can read her post here.

To access the liturgy, please click here and enter your name and email (and church/diocese if applicable), and then you’ll be able to view and download the PDF.

Questions or comments? Please email Pamela Penn, our Program Officer for Church Engagement, at ppenn@er-d.org.

Update on Prayer Visitor Project

The Rev. Sam McClain has quietly been organizing Prayer Visitors for the members of each of the congregations that have not yet reorganized after their leaders left the Episcopal Church. He has issued a report on great progress that shows only six congregations that do not yet have either an intercessor or a visitor assigned. You are encouraged to read his report and prayerfully consider joining others in the diocese who are committed to this project.

St. Stephen's, Heathsville, VA, celebrate their homecoming

On Saturday, April 14, the Episcopal congregation of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Heathsville, VA, along with friends, supporters, and diocesan clergy and staff, joyously celebrated their homecoming to their historic church building with a Eucharist and a lavish potluck luncheon and reception.

On January 10, 2012, the Fairfax County Circuit Court ruled that the building belonged to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and must be returned.

The glad alleluias of the opening hymn brought tears to the eyes of all present as the processional began. When the Rev. Lucia Lloyd turned at the front of the church and said, "Alleluia, Christ is Risen!" the enthusiastic response of "The Lord is Risen, indeed!" almost blew her hair back. (more...)

For more photographs, click here.

Grants available for outreach programs

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth budget for 2012 contains money available for outreach programs for the individual churches. There are two categories. The first category is Outreach Beyond the Diocese Impact Program or Outreach Impact Program for short. These funds are to be used for special outreach needs beyond the geographical boundaries of the Diocese. Funding available for this category is currently $4,000.

The second category is for outreach within the Diocese, known as the Matching Grant Outreach Program. These funds are to be used to match or provide seed money for congregations to fund or undertake an outreach need that they could not do on their own. The Matching Grant Outreach Program currently has $8,000.

Deadline is July 1. Click here to apply for the Outreach Impact Program or for the Matching Grant Outreach Program.

Vision / Mission Statement

The Executive Council adopted a vision/mission statement at its March 17 meeting at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls:

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is a welcoming, Christ-centered community of congregations committed to a radical hospitality.

• Participatory by everyone – laity, bishop, priest and deacon
• Transparent in all we do
• Accountable to God, one another, and the wider church

Serving • Accepting • Worshipping • Reaching Out

Additionally, the committee charged with developing ways to align the diocese with the vision offered this report (read more...)

Policy Review Committee seeking members

The Diocesan Policy Review Committee is seeking people interested in serving on the committee. The Policy Review Committee is a committee of the Executive Council. Each year following the Diocesan Convention the Bishop appoints at least five members to the committee. The term of office is one year. (more...)

Help fund the Sam B. Hulsey Chair in Anglican Studies

Brite Divinity School has made it possible to donate online for the endowment for the Sam B. Hulsey Chair in Anglican Studies. Follow this link, and click on the "Give to the Hulsey Chair Endowment" button. It will take you to a donation form. If you donate now, your gift will be matched by the Challenge Grant of Anne and Bob Bass.