February 2020 E-News
From the Bishop
I am excited to share with you the opportunity to participate in and embrace Faithful Innovations - a learning community process to help the Diocese of Iowa connect more deeply with God, each other, and our neighbors. You may have pondered, as I have: “Where is God taking us in our third year of follow-up since the Revival 2017?” I believe one such answer is to learn how to engage our neighbors more fully, and see what God is already up to. Faithful Innovations offers us a chance to do just this - to connect more deeply, and discover the unique story God wants to tell through the people and congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa.
Faithful Innovations isn’t a six month process to “complete”; rather, it is an ongoing way to be the church - a body of Christian people constantly in the process of seeking God in our lives and neighborhoods, listening carefully to our friends and our neighbors, and discerning what God might be saying to us in this moment and the next. I see it as a worthy ongoing follow up to the things the Spirit has been stirring up within us since the Revival 2017. It is a natural next step from Growing Iowa Leaders and Engaging All Disciples.
I invite you to learn more about Faithful Innovations and consider your congregation’s possible participation. I look forward to discovering with you the story God wants to tell through our people and our diocese.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
"As we listen to God, one another, and our neighbors, what future do we imagine God is bringing forth in our midst?"
How will my congregation benefit?
Train effective lay spiritual leaders through workshops and coaching
Learn to discern and respond to God's leading
Deepen your congregation's spirituality
Build connections with other congregations
Engage and inspire your membership
Affirm your faith that God has a vital role for your congregation to play
2020 Training Workshops
Insightful Leadership: Begin by Asking Different Questions - April 25
Learn by Doing: Using Action Learning to Discover God's Leading - July 11
Sharing Our Learning: Intentional Reflection on Our Action - September 26
Deadline for vestries to inform us of their congregation’s commitment is March 25.
To learn more and to register, go to https://tinyurl.com/faithful2020
Is your congregation interested in joining? Here's what's required of each congregation:
A Guiding Team of 4-8 members willing to engage in the three 2020 trainings
Each Guiding Team will be responsible to help others from their congregation participate in the activities and learning that will take place between trainings
Each vestry will need to discuss and approve their congregation's participation
Each congregation will be asked to contribute $150 to help cover the cost of meals (scholarship assistance is available)
Update from the Standing Committee
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
At this time the Standing Committee is continuing to receive the names of nominees from each of our chapters, who will be considered for work with our episcopal search process. We expect to meet as a Committee on February 8, in order to select from these nominees, and to fill out the membership of the Bishop’s Search and Nominating Committee (BSNC). We are grateful for all who were willing to have their names put forward for this important ministry. And we appreciate the cooperation of the Chapters and their Conveners in helping to expedite this process.
Once the Search Committee is named, we will be drawing together for an organizing retreat, scheduled for 6-7 March. During that Retreat the committee will have the opportunity to begin to form a community of discernment, and to plan their work. In addition to the members of the BSNC, members of the Standing Committee will be present, as well as the Reverend Conrad Selnick, with whom we have contracted for his expertise in planning and shepherding episcopal transitions. (Note: the work of the Transitions Committee will begin a little later in the process; and members will be named at a later time.)
We crave your prayers for this retreat, and for the ongoing process. We have created a prayer for the Search and Election process, and we request that you will use it during this time, both in your personal prayers and in your corporate worship. Thank you so much.
Faithfully,
The Standing Committee
Karen Brooke, Aileen Chang-Matus, Greg Jones, Kathleen Milligan, Elizabeth Duff Popplewell, Anne Williams
For Discernment - Bishop Search
Holy and gracious God; you love your Church and work for its perfecting. We thank you for the abundance of gifts you have given to the Diocese of Iowa. As we have come to this time of transition, open our minds and hearts to see your hand at work all around us, and to discern your purposes for this diocese in this time.
Bless those who have accepted the call to serve on the Search and Nominating Committee. Strengthen them for the task of faithful listening, to each other, to your people around the diocese, and most of all to the leading of your Spirit. Give wisdom to the Standing Committee, the Board of Directors and to the eventual work of the Transition Committee. Guide and strengthen the diocesan staff in their ministry during this time. And give wisdom to those who will ultimately bear the task of electing our next bishop.
Strengthen the faithful of this diocese as they continue to work and pray for our ongoing life and witness. As we look for what is over the horizon, may we continue to be faithful to the day to day work of God’s people in Iowa. Bless Alan our Bishop and his ongoing vision and commitment to our work together. Keep Bishop Alan and Donna in your care during this season of change and discernment for their lives.
We praise your name our loving God, and we continue to trust that “all things are being brought to their perfection by Him through whom all things were made, your son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit.” Amen.
New diocesan website launched
We have launched a new diocesan website! Our hope is that you will be able to find things more easily and it will be accessible on whatever device you are using. Send any feedback or questions to:
Upcoming Youth Events
HAPPENING REUNION
March 7-8 at St. John's, Ames
Happening Reunion will be a place for youth and young adults, who have attended at least one Iowa Happening, to come and explore what Happening has meant to them. We will discuss a few areas of the retreat weekend and how it has affected their lives, their decisions and their faith. This event is for youth in 10th-12th grade as well as young adults from 18-22.
NEW BEGINNINGS #24
March 7-8 at St. Alban's, Spirit Lake
New Beginnings weekends offer an opportunity for young Christians in grades 6-9 to retreat from their hectic world to consider some of the important relationships in their lives—with parents, with siblings, with peers, and with God.
Staff Training: April 4, 10:00-4:00pm Location TBA
Beloved Community Initiative
Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders
Dismantling Racism training is required of all lay and ordained leaders in the church
(including vestries, search committees, diocesan leadership, etc.). The training day has been restructured to reflect The Episcopal Church's commitment to this work as part of our lifelong spiritual formation and our church's long-term commitment to racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.
Ideally, every chapter will schedule a training day in their area or take part in a neighboring chapter's.
REQUEST A TRAINING IN YOUR AREA
UPCOMING TRAININGS
April 18: EAST CHAPTER Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders 9:00-3:30pm hosted by Trinity Cathedral, Davenport
Are you or your congregation working with 2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community?
February's focus is Black History Monthand it begins with a theological reflection on "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
March Retreat: Addressing Racial Bias in Churches
LOVE, PRAY, ACT
March 28, 2020 10:00-2:30pm at Old Brick
In the last two years, nearly 200 people in our diocese have taken part in "Dismantling Racism" training. In this working retreat day, we'll explore our how our collective actions make a difference.
This is a next step for vestries and other leadership circles who want to be serious about examining their own church or faith community for bias. We'll examine some of the structural racism (schools, local government, law enforcement) that exists around us. We'll also look honestly at how bias and prejudice can affect our own interactions and ways of being church. Bias impacts each and every person, organization, and system--including churches. As spiritual communities with members of varied races, cultures, ages, gender identities, ability status, etc. we all have work to do!
Dr. Ursuline Bankhead will lead an interactive presentation and discussion with small group breakout opportunities to: ground us in the concepts of bias; identify how bias impacts each of us personally and as members of a spiritual body; and, to recognize bias within our own spiritual communities. We'll look at how to recognize, think about, and address bias from a spiritual perspective, both personally and organizationally, and the interactions between these perspectives.
PrairieFire
PrairieFire is an invitation to a deeper spiritual life, a 2-year program that invites you to set time aside for renewing of self and awakening of soul. It is an opportunity for education and mutual guidance and support in developing spiritual awareness and life-sustaining spiritual practices. Want to learn more? Come to an Open House at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center:
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 6:00-7:30PM
RSVP HERE -- for the March 3rd Open House
For application materials and more information: www.dmpcc.org/PrairieFire
Transitions
The Rev. Nicola Bowler has been appointed as Canon Missioner for Ministry Coordination at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Des Moines.
In Memoriam
The Rev. Canon Ronald D. Osborne
(June 28, 1940 – January 21, 2020) Obituary
The Reverend Canon Ronald D. Osborne passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Ron had been in hospice care in Iowa City where he had been living.
Memorial Service for The Rev. Canon Ron Osborne, has been set by the family for May 23, 2020, at 1:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, Waterloo, Iowa.
Ron’s active service to the Church had most recently extended out of All Saints, Indianola, a community of faith founded with family members and friends in 2007. Prior to that Ron had served with the people of Trinity, Waterloo, Saint Martin’s, Perry, and at the Episcopal Chaplaincy at the University of Iowa. Ron served the broader church in number of capacities; gifting his voice and convictions, wit and wisdom, in all that he engaged.
Ron was ordained in 1965 by Bishop Gordon V. Smith as a deacon, and in ’66 as a priest. He was recognized as honorary canon by both Trinity and St. Paul’s Cathedral, for 25 years full-time service in the Church, and at 50 years ordained as a priest, respectively.
The Rev. Canon George Franklin Wharton, III
(December 20, 1929 - January 26, 2020) Obituary
The Rev. George F. Wharton III, age 90, of Decorah, IA passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah with the Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting and the Rev. Christine Gowdy-Jaehnig officiating. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM, one hour before the service. He had marked his 90th birthday in December. George is survived by his wife, Marjorie, daughter Julia, and son Philip, all musicians.
George had come to Iowa in 1976 from Louisiana, the state of his birth and where he was ordained and served several congregations and a day school. While in Iowa, he served in Fairfield, Decorah, and Waverly even beyond his retirement; and he had served at the American Cathedral in Paris. Fr. Wharton is recognized as an honorary canon of Trinity Cathedral in Davenport.
Diocesan Calendar
February
Feb 1: Board of Directors, Iowa Connections deadline
Feb 2: Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul's, Durant
Feb 8: FAITHFUL INNOVATIONS Cluster Gathering at St. Paul's, Grinnell with St. Stephen's, Newton and St. Paul's, Marshalltown, 11:00am-3:00pm
Feb 9: Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul's, Grinnell
Feb 16: Bishop's Visitation with St. Luke's, Ft. Madison
Feb 21-22: Commission on Ministry
Feb 22: One World One Church meeting, 12:30pm
Feb 23: Bishop's Visitation with Grace, Decorah
Feb 26: (Ash Wednesday) Bishop visits St. Mark's, Anamosa
Feb 27: Priests in New/Transitional Situations (PINTS) at St. Andrew's, Des Moines, 12:00-4:00pm
March
Mar 1: Central Chapter Meeting at St. Paul's, Grinnell, 2:00pm
Mar 3: Episcopalians on the Hill
Mar 6-7: BSNC Organizing Retreat
Mar 7-8: Happening Reunion at St. John's by the Campus
Mar 7: West Chapter Meeting at The Way Station, Spencer, 10:00 am
Mar 8: Bishop's Visitation with All Saints, Indianola
March 14: North Cedar Valley Chapter Meeting at Trinity, Waterloo, 9:30am
FAITHFUL INNOVATIONS Cluster Gathering at Trinity, Waterloo with St. Luke's Cedar Falls, St. James', Independence, and St. John's, Waverly, 11:00am-3:00pm
South Central Chapter Meeting at Trinity, Ottumwa. 10:00amMar 15: Bishop's Visitation with Trinity, Waterloo
Southeast Chapter Meeting at St. Michael's, Mount Pleasant, 2:00pmMar 22: Bishop's Visitation with St. Martin's, Perry
Mar 28: Addressing Racial Bias in Churches at Old Brick in Iowa City, 10:00am-2:30pm
Three Rivers Chapter Meeting at Old Brick, Iowa City, 2:30pmMar 29: Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul's, Marshalltown
East Chapter Meeting at St. Peter's, Bettendorf
For calendar updates, visit our website.
2020 Intercession List
How can we support you?
Let us know how we can support you in your ministry or share the good work you are doing:
By phone: 515-277-6165 regular business hours (Mon-Fri: 9-5pm)
By e-mail: diocese@iowaepiscopal.org
To e-mail a specific staff person use their first initial and full last name before the @ sign. (e.g. John Doherty's e-mail is jdoherty@iowaepiscopal.org).
Share stories for diocesan newsletters by emailing communications@iowaepiscopal.org.
For resources: IowaShare.org
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa | (515) 277-6165 | diocese@iowaepiscopal.org| iowaepiscopal.org