Posts from August 2017

Posts from August 2017

“Bless the dying, soothe the suffering. . .”

On Tuesday, August 29, Bishop Scott Mayer issued this statement addressing Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. ————- Like all of you, I have been riveted by the news coming out of Rockport, Houston, and the other areas hit by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. As the full extent of the damage becomes known, it is clear that help will be needed for a very long time along the Texas coast. While the immediate need is rescue of those in peril,…
Satellite image of Harvey

How to begin helping after the storm

Many of us have family and friends displaced and experiencing damage from Hurricane Harvey. Below are some sources of information and ways to begin helping. Please donate and volunteer as you are able, but before you do so, please read the information below. Visit our diocesan disaster resources page for additional links and information.   Bishop Scott Mayer statement Bishop Scott Mayer has issued a statement that concludes with this prayer: “May God hold close all who have died, all the people suffering from this storm,…

The Nominations Committee wants you!

Are you called to serve in elected office? Your life experience, passion, and voice can make a difference in this diocese. At every level of organization, in everything we do, the Church benefits from new, energetic, and committed leadership. There are eight positions to be filled by election at the 2017 Diocesan Convention. Executive Council members-at-large Standing Committee Members Sewanee Trustee Disciplinary Board members Are you called to lead us forward? Experience in a previous leadership role is not required.…

St. Alban’s part of new Inclusive Faith coalition

St. Alban’s Theatre Arlington has joined with four other area congregations to form a coalition of Inclusive Faith groups. The congregations are Embrace United Church of Christ, Richland Hills; Galileo Christian Church, Mansfield/Kennedale; Welcome Table Christian Church, Arlington; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, Arlington. The Inclusive Faith Coalition (IFC) is open to churches, synagogues, and mosques in the greater Arlington area that value and practice full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.  Any interested congregation can contact us at ifc@inclusivefaithcoalition.org or 817.773.3147 IFC engages in: Public Faith Declaration:…

Diocesan clergy respond to Charlottesville

Several clergy in the diocese reflect on the events in Charlottesville in a sermon and in statements: The Rev. Carlye Hughes, Trinity, Fort Worth Hughes, rector of Trinity, Fort Worth, in her powerful sermon on Sunday continued the journey through Genesis with the story of Joseph. Trinity has been exploring the stories of Genesis as “the first story of who we are.” In the story of Joseph, who was his father’s favorite and a tattletale, and who acted “in the…

Bishop asks legal team to respond to misinformation

As you may know, last week the Supreme Court of South Carolina ruled against the former bishop and others attempting to take a diocese out of The Episcopal Church while claiming Episcopal Church property. And while we rejoice with the Episcopalians there, we also hold all involved in our prayers. We, better than most, understand that all litigation takes a toll on all involved. Our legal team notes that South Carolina was one of the few states cited by the breakaways…

South Carolina Supreme Court rules property belongs to Episcopal Church

The South Carolina Supreme Court has said that nearly all the property involved in litigation between a breakaway group and The Episcopal Church belongs to The Episcopal Church. The Court heard the case nearly two years ago. Read several stories here. Read the South Carolina Supreme Court opinion here. Bishop Skip Adams of South Carolina said, “We are grateful for this decision and for the hard work of the court in rendering it. We also give thanks to God for the…

Free webinar on refugee program updates

Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are hosting a one-hour free webinar, Welcome in Action: Education, Advocacy and Outreach at 3 pm on Tuesday, August 15. This webinar will provide the latest updates on the travel ban, refugee funding, and upcoming opportunities to engage in advocacy and outreach in support of refugee resettlement. Lacy Broemel, Episcopal Church Refugee and Immigration Policy Analyst, and Kendall Martin, Episcopal Migration Ministries Manager for Communications will lead the webinar. Registration is required and is available here.  The webinar will…