November 2019 E-News
From the Bishop
Last Saturday, convention received in my address the announcement of my intention to resign as the 9th Bishop of Iowa, and I have called for an election, with an intended consecration date of my successor being September 18, 2021. The resignation will concur with the date of the consecration of the new bishop. Read the full letter; and see the next issue of Iowa Connections for my full address to diocesan convention.
A huge thank you to everyone for a wonderful convention. We ran up against the livestreaming deadline this year as convention was running over time. So, we adjourned convention to turn to the Eucharist. That created difficulties for our tech team in correcting sound issues that emerged and were out of our control. We know, and apologize, that this impacted the reception of many of you participating from your home churches. After the Creed, we started up convention and completed our business. It involved a series of significant courtesy resolutions, as well as the announcement of my appointmentsfor the coming year. We formally adjourned and recognized Bishop Aquilla from Nzara as a new canon of the Cathedral of St Paul, before offering the peace.
A number of you could not hear the sermon, and so I am offering it to you as my newsletter contribution:
Sermon, 167th Convention
Joel 2: 23-32; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18; Luke 18: 9-14
Please be seated. Well first of all welcome to all of you who are listening in on livestream this morning. I’m told there are forty of you gathering that way. That’s wonderful; and if it doesn’t quite kind of get through all the time, well, just have a good time anyway.
We have certainly had a good time here at convention. We have just been upstairs (on third floor), and were embroiled in a heated resolution debate. It is amazing what live TV can do for your sense of hurrying up. We managed to get here on time. In fact, we haven’t yet finished convention. And so, to all of you out there, I ask the convention to give you seat and voice. And best of luck with your voice.
I am always amazed that we have this historically produced lectionary that somehow manages to come up with lessons that seem so appropriate to whatever is going on around us currently. It is as though there was a secret “knowing” of what we might need for a certain time.
“The time for my departure has come,” writes the Apostle Paul. And if I didn’t have that written into my being already—by Evensong last night we were being reminded that we are now in transition. And as I heard the officiant say that, I thought to myself, “I’m not dead yet!”
READ THE REST OF THE BISHOP'S CONVENTION SERMON
PS. Next year we return to a Friday through Saturday Convention schedule. The Saturday/Sunday schedule was expected to be a one-off for all of us to have access to the Presiding Bishop. He was originally planned for 2019 and had a weekend open up and was therefore able to come a year earlier in 2018. We were able to change our date for Convention with the hotel that year but had to accept the 2019 dates as set.
The 167th Convention of the Diocese of Iowa
DELEGATES, ALTERNATES, VISITORS, AND GUESTS: Please help us plan for the 168th Convention by filling out an evaluation of your experience of Diocesan Convention this year. CONVENTION EVALUATION
View all the PHOTOS FROM CONVENTION
Bishop Alan shares the state rock, a geode, with Bishop Richard from Nzara
The Rev. Richard Graves recognizes the two recipients of UTO grants: Nzara Pre-natal Birth Clinic ($28,520.00) and The Faith and Grace Garden Greenhouse, at St. Timothy’s in West Des Moines ($10,604.67)
Convention keynote speaker, Shane Claiborne speaks with the children and youth at diocesan convention.
Video reports from convention
GILEAD
ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES
NEW INITIATIVES
CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY REPORT
View or download a copy of the Congregational Vitality Report. Is your church missing from the report? Email us with the information.
GILEAD update
Young Adult Advent Retreat
We all experience the holiday season in our own way. Some eagerly wait for this season year-round while others find it overwhelming. The Christian season of Advent embraces all of us just as we are, inviting us to take time to prepare our hearts and minds for Christ to come live in and among us at Christmas. To help in this process, we invite you to join us for a weekend retreat with other young adults from around the diocese. The weekend will include shared meals and worship, intentional time for silence and reflection, an opportunity for spiritual direction and confession, and social time including (weather permitting) a campfire.
Dates: Dec. 6-8
Location: Rock River Retreat Center, Webster City
Space is limited, so register today!
To register, and for more information (including schedule, things to bring, and FAQs), click HERE .
Upcoming Youth Events
EYE 2020
EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) is an event for youth (currently enrolled in high school). Every three years in accordance with General Convention Resolution #1982-D079, the Episcopal Church convenes an international youth event so “that the energy of the youth of the Episcopal Church can continue to be utilized in active ministry as members of the Body of Christ.”
The 2020 Episcopal Youth Event will be held July 7-11 at Howard University in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the Washington National Cathedral. Cost is still being determined. The Diocese of Iowa will cover most of the cost.
Click HERE to see videos and get a better sense of what EYE is all about, and here for the YOUTH APPLICATION.
SKI TRIP 2020
January 17-19 in Boone! Skiing, Tubing and Snowboarding at Seven Oaks. Fun, games and food at Camp Sacejawia!
Registration packets will be sent out soon. Check our webpageand our Facebook page at Diocese of Iowa Youth for announcements.
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
Nov 2 : Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders 9:00-3:30pm hosted by St. Stephen's, Newton.
At diocesan convention, Beloved Community Initiative gave the diocese a preview of its new resource: 2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community - a year of resources to help us all go deeper into the work of dismantling racism. Each month you will find materials that focus on a central theme introduced with a theological reflection, followed by suggestions in five areas: Learn, Notice, Engage, Reflect, and Pray. You could choose to work your way through it as an individual, with a partner or two, or with a larger group.
Engaging All Disciples Day in Clermont
On Nov. 16 the bishop invites all to an Engaging All Disciples Day in Clermont for a quiet day of reflection and discernment, seeking more clarity on identifying God’s mission and how churches might respond to this call. All are invited to help listen to the Spirit. We begin at 11 and end by 3. Lunch provided. The day is hosted by Church of the Saviour in Clermont and Grace, Decorah.
Advent and Christmas Resources
New and updated Advent resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are now available: Way of Love Digital Invitation Kit, updated Journeying the Way of Love Advent calendar and curriculum, AdventWord 2019, Sermons That Work compilation of Advent and Christmas selections, Advent reflections from Episcopal Migration Ministries, and bulletin inserts.
Opioid Epidemic Survey
The Task Force to Respond to the Opioid Epidemic, created by legislation at the 79th General Convention, is seeking input from lay and ordained leaders throughout the church about the local response to the opioid epidemic through the short survey linked in English here , in Spanish here , and in French here .
Diocesan Calendar
November
Nov 2: Dismantling Racism Training at St. Stephen's, Newton
Nov 3: Bishop's Visitation with Church of the Savior in Orange City
Nov 9: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES 11:00-3:00pm at Christ Church, Clinton with St. John's, Dubuque and St. Mark's, Maquoketa
Nov 10: Bishop's Visitation with Christ Church, Clinton
Nov 12: Bishop's Visitation with Trinity, Denison
Nov 16: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES 11:00-3:00pm at Church of the Saviour, Clermont with Grace, Decorah
Nov 17: Bishop's Visitation with Church of the Saviour, Clermont
Nov 22-23: Board of Directors retreat
December
Dec 1: Bishop's Visitation with Trinity Cathedral, Davenport
Dec 6-8: Young Adult Advent Retreat
Dec 12: PINTS 12:00-4:00pm, St. Andrew's, Des Moines
Dec 13-14: Commission on Ministry
Dec 15: Bishop's Visitation with Grace, Boone
Dec 22: Bishop's Visitation with Grace Church, Cedar Rapids
The Diocesan Office will be closed November 21-22, 28-29 and December 25-January 1. For calendar updates, visit our website.
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