e-News February 2022

 

Have you ever wondered how it was that Jesus managed to build community around himself wherever he went? I’m not talking about the people who we might describe as followers, people who made up the crowds that we read about in the gospels. Those folks came out to hear him teach, or to ask him to heal them or a loved one, or maybe just to go along with the rest of the crowd. But those same people, the crowd, turned against him quickly when he didn’t fulfill their expectations. The journey from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him” can be a quick one when you aren’t getting what you want from someone. It’s not all that different from being angry when a vending machine takes your money and gives you the wrong item.

But Jesus had some habits of being that invited people into community, not just into following. He took people seriously, even when the society around him didn’t. He was famous for spending time eating meals with people who the rest of his society rejected. It’s hard to eat a meal with someone and not get to know them at least a little bit, especially if you are really interested in them. And Jesus was interested. He didn’t make assumptions about people. Over and over in the gospels we read about Jesus asking people questions instead of assuming things about them. When someone is blind, he didn’t assume that they wanted him to heal their sight: he asked them and let them tell him what it is they want. Jesus was also willing to make himself vulnerable to the people around him. He spoke his truth from the heart, even when the crowd turned against him.

I attended a gathering in Minneapolis recently which brought together about twenty people from all across the country. Some of these folks knew each other, and many didn’t. Often at gatherings of this sort the participants are given name tags with their name, job title, and diocese, or some similar shorthand of identification. That is often followed by a quick round of introductions in the group, generally reiterating the information on the name tag and maybe adding something additional: another gathering I attended recently invited us to share our “guilty secret.” (I shared that I have been binge-watching Grantchester on Amazon Prime.)

The gathering in Minneapolis was different. Our name tags gave our first names only. When we went around the room for introductions, we were invited to tell the group why we had come: since this was a group that had gathered by invitation, the question was why we had said “yes.” No time limit was given, either explicitly or implicitly, and the twenty of us took about an hour and a half, some speaking more and others less.

There was a sense of genuine curiosity in the room, of people truly interested in hearing each other’s stories. I was not aware of any assumptions about others, not even about how long each person would talk. The question we were all answering, “why are you here,” had so many different possible permutations of answer.

As I listened, I noticed that I heard echoes of my own story in much of what I heard. While there were many superficial things that I had in common with others, such as that we were almost all Episcopalians, almost all white, many ordained, the answers that people gave pointed to deeper commonalities. The gift of vulnerability that people gave when they spoke from the heart bore witness to much deeper connection, and cleared the way for building real community.

It seems to me that one of the primary things that we as the Body of Christ are called to is building community. Jesus built community around himself through his acceptance of even those rejected by society and through his genuine interest in the people he spoke with. When we are able to intentionally practice acceptance and genuine interest in the people around us, we will find ourselves building community as Jesus did.

There has never been a more challenging time to build community in my lifetime than the time we are in right now. The degree of polarization has never been greater, and the number and breadth of the subjects upon which we may find vehement disagreement is astonishing and seems to continue to grow. It is so very easy to remember what divides us, since there is so much.

And yet, our call from God is to build relationship, to build community. We human beings are hard-wired to seek connection, which begins at birth when we gaze at the face of our caregiver. God the Holy Trinity, the three-in-one and one-in-three, is intrinsically about connection, about relationship, about community. When we are able to accept those who are different from us, when we are interested in their lives and in their stories, and when we are willing to be vulnerable and share our own truths, we begin to be able to participate in the deeper community that forms around Christ. We move closer into the heart of God, whose very essence is relationship.

Sometimes, as a new bishop, people ask me about my vision for the Diocese of Iowa. Perhaps they want a program, or a trajectory, or a strategic plan. There will be a time for all of these things, and when that time comes, we will discern them together. In the meantime, I want this diocese to become as strong and as resilient as it can possibly be. I want our congregations to become more deeply connected communities, reaching deeper into the heart of God as they reach out into the world. I want our relationships to bear the hallmarks of the relationships that Jesus had: acceptance, genuine interest, vulnerability, and love shared and flowing, that fills up the community and overflows out into the world.

In the promised abundant life of Christ,
+Betsey
The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of Iowa

 

Official portraits of Bishop Monnot

Official portraits of Bishop Monnot will be available to congregations digitally by the end of February and printed copies for hanging in churches will be sent out this Spring. In the meantime, if you would like to update your websites/newsletters, you can use any of the pictures from Bishop Monnot's Consecration or Seating.

 

In Memoriam, The Reverend Judith Dalmasso

Bishop Monnot has received word that the Reverend Judith Dalmasso died February 3rd, and was with her family as they sang, “Here I Am Lord.” Arrangements are pending.

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord: And let light perpetual shine upon her.

May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, 502

 

Parochial Reports

The due date for the 2022 Parochial Report is fast approaching, March 1, 2022. This is a General Convention year which means the date for the reports are hard dates. All the reports must be filed at that time. Entry will be closed on the website to all parishes and to me as well on March 1, 2022.

This year the report has been revised to also capture more statistics from the pandemic and how services have changed and any new ministries that may have come from this eventful last year. I am more than happy to assist you with questions in filling out the report.

Reports are filed online at: https://reports.dfms.org using your previous login information from last year. If you did not file online last year and need help accessing the filing website please feel free to reach out to Tina Austin by email at taustin@iowaepiscopal.org or phone 515-277-6165 ext. 201.

It is imperative that all the reports are filed on time this year!

https://www.generalconvention.org/forms-and-instructions

 

Safe Church, Safe Communities

New Training Courses
Starting on January 1, 2022 all leaders within congregations will need to complete the new Safe Church, Safe Communities training courses. A new CHART has been put together by The Episcopal Church's Safe Church Task Group and is available now on our website. All leaders will have six months to complete the new training modules on the Praesidium website. There are currently five of nine new courses available, the remaining courses should be available in 1-2 weeks. Please contact your congregation's administrator to set you up in the system. In-person may be available later this year.

Policy Adoption
If your congregation has not already done so, you are directed to adopt the new diocesan policy or submit adaptations to the diocesan office. The policy consists of three segments: Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children & Youth, Vulnerable Adults, and Pastoral Relationships. The policy can be found on the Safe Church page on our diocesan website and can be found HERE as well.

Church governing bodies and all leaders should understand these policies and all local requirements thoroughly enough to make appropriate judgments and should consult with the Office of the Bishop when unanticipated situations arise. Therefore it is up to each congregation to take this policy and revise it to fit the needs of their congregation. Vestries are asked to fill out this FORM that they have been given the updated policies. Leaders may also upload changes your vestry is suggesting be made to fit the needs of your congregation.

 

Becoming Beloved Community

 

Celebrate Black Iowa History this month!

BCI will be posting daily celebrations of Black Iowans and key Black history milestones on Facebook and Instagram. You can view the whole calendar on the BCI website and get other suggestions to help you learn and engage with Black History Month.

 

Faithful Conversations about The 1619 Project in Lent

BCI invites you to join us in faithful conversations about The 1619 Project. Slavery in the United States has been referenced as our “original sin.” Given that context and the fact that many communities of faith justified enslavement and benefited materially from it, or, on the flipside, worked for its elimination, it is critical the faith community intentionally study slavery and its lasting impact on the generations during and after.

Meeting by Zoom: Mondays 6:00-7:00pm: March7-April 11

 

Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders

Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders is a training day that is required of all lay and ordained leaders in The Episcopal Church (including vestries, search committees, diocesan leadership, etc.). Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege.The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm.

 
 

Mental Health

 

Behavioral Health Ministries News

"We are deeply in the “Ordinary” time of the church year. You may notice that the Bishop/Priest/Deacon are wearing green stoles and the coverings on the altar are also green.

Ordinary time.

We can use this time to catch our breath....."

To read more from the BHMT Newsletter click HERE or visit our WEBPAGE.

 

Children, Youth and Family Mental Health Funds Request Form

The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, through a GILEAD Grant, has funds available to assist with co-payments for mental health related appointments for children, youth, and families. You may request incremental funds for up to $50 per appointment. A completed request FORM is required for each appointment. You must submit a receipt for reimbursement or have a bill sent to the Diocesan Office. Funds will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

You can find more information and resources HERE or email the team at bhmt@iowaepiscopal.org.

MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS REQUEST

 

Check out our webpage! It has many resources for your mental health or those around you who may be struggling. You can attend free webinars from MindSpring Mental Health Alliance, find support groups, phone numbers, and websites that can help in time of crisis. You can also click HERE for bulletin inserts for your congregation on different mental health topics.

 

Episcopalians on the Hill

Check out our webpage! It has many resources for your mental health or those around you who may be struggling. You can attend free webinars from MindSpring Mental Health Alliance, find support groups, phone numbers, and websites that can help in time of crisis. You can also click HERE for bulletin inserts for your congregation

 

General Convention

General Convention is approaching!

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church that meets every three years. It is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. During its triennial meeting, deputies and bishops consider a wide range of important matters facing the church.

The next General Convention is scheduled to be held in person this summer in Baltimore, Maryland (July 7-14). Our diocese will be represented by Bishop Monnot and our elected clergy and lay deputies. The bulk of the work will be completed in July, but the work of the General Convention has already started. The Legislative Committees began meeting in November 2021. The process for holding public legislative hearings will begin in February 2022 and will be held online. Information about the dates for the hearings and how to register to attend or participate can be found here and other news related to General Convention 2022 will be in forthcoming announcements and posted on the General Convention website.

 

Youth Ministry

Mark Your Calendar

Happening #48 (9th-12th grade) - March 25-27, Christ Church, Cedar Rapids

Youth Staff Registration

Youth Participant Registration

New Beginnings #24 (6th-9th grade) - April 22-24, St. Andrew’s, Des Moines

EPIC Summer Camp (4th-12th grade) - July 5-8, Christian Conference Center, Newton

Stay up-to-date on all of our upcoming events HERE.

 

Companion News

Consecration and Installation Service of Bishop-Elect Dalcy Dlamini

The consecration and installation service of Bishop-Elect Dalcy Dlamini as the next Bishop of Swaziland is scheduled for February 19, 2022, 10:00 am (2 am CT) at All Saints Cathedral, Mbabane, Eswatini, Southern Africa.

You will be able to view the consecration on Facebook or YouTube.

Please pray for Bishop-Elect Dlamini and family, and the Diocese of Swaziland, during this time of transition.

 

Interview with Bishop Ellinah

The late Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya, Bishop of Swaziland, participated in a podcast to celebrate her life for “The African Passport” on SABC’s Channel Africa a few months before she died of COVID last year. The interview was not aired at the time, but was finally aired last week.

To listen to the podcast please follow the link below:

https://omny.fm/shows/the-african-passport/the-african-passport-27-01-22?t=0s

A special thank you to the Diocese of Swaziland for sharing this remembrance of Bishop Ellinah’s life and influence with us.

 

A "Green" Memorial for Africa's "Green" Bishop

We have received information recently by letter from The Very Rev. Advent Dlamini, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Swaziland (in charge in the absence of a Bishop) and Dean of the Cathedral in Mbabane. Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya (known as Africa’s Green Bishop for her environmental leadership) died last January from Covid, just months before her 70th birthday. She had expressed a wish that 70 trees be planted to honor that birthday. The Diocese is now developing some of their land in eastern Eswatini into an Avocado Orchard (Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya Memorial Orchard), and plans to gather 70 church/faith leaders in Eswatini to plant 70 avocado seedlings (at a cost of $10US per seedling). You can contribute one or more trees toward this project by clicking Here.

 

Spring Chapter Meeting

SATURDAY MARCH 5, 10:00 AM - NOON

Join us for a Joint Chapter meeting, open to all. All Chapters will have the opportunity to meet together online via Zoom and then breakout into individual rooms by Chapter.This meeting may serve in place of (or in addition to) your usual Spring Chapter Meeting.

Please register by Wednesday March 2. You must register to receive the Zoom link.

REGISTER HERE

 

Young Adults

Paid Small Group Internship

Internships available for Spring (Feb. - June 2022) and Fall 2022, and beyond.

WHO: Young Adults 18+, no leadership experience needed

WHY: Groups let us know that we belong. They are places to tell stories, ask questions, goof around and share life. At its best, ministry is all about gathering folks in small groups to show folks they are loved--no matter what.

Ready to apply? Fill out an application online here.

For more information, click here to view a Flyer, and watch the Video above

 

Lent 2022

From Dust to Roses

Are you a fan of the TV series "Schitt's Creek"? Come join us as we explore how Lent and the Rose family have more in common than one might think. Don't worry if you are positively bedeviled with meetings et cetera - come to one session or all, join for as many as you're able. No age limits or participation fees to join, but you do need to be familiar with the characters' story arcs throughout the series.

Questions? Contact Traci Ruhland Petty tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org or Amy Mellies amellies@iowaepiscopal.org

 

Center for Social Ministry

The Center for Social Ministry provides poverty awareness and social justice education programs. We serve as a key resource to help individuals connect to programs, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy efforts. Registration is required and can be done online at csm.courstorm.com

 
 
A Mellies