Choose one track to delve into during 8 hours of study/discussion/play. Some tracks require advance reading, some don’t, some tap into your creativity, others are more informational; all are designed to help you find new ministry or renew you for the ministry you are already doing. Tracks with insufficient enrollment as of May 23 will be cancelled for this year and registrants will be moved to their 2nd track choice.

Full track descriptions below

TRACK 1: Strengthening Your Congregation from Within

This track is available to individuals as well as congregational teams of two or more. The implementation of these tools in your congregation will be facilitated if the team includes an identified congregational leader (clergy, warden, lay leader).

We will explore models and tools from the College for Congregational Development and learn how to apply these to our own congregational contexts. Participants will come away with deepened understanding of their own congregational contexts as well as tools and processes to use in conjunction with congregational leadership. These tools and processes will enable leaders and members to use their gifts and strengths to become more healthy, faithful, and effective as congregations of the Episcopal Church.

Optional but recommended: Vital Christian Community: 12 Characteristics of Healthy Congregations, by Philip Brochard and Elisabeth Newton

Track Leader: The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot is the 10th Bishop of Iowa. Before becoming bishop, she worked in the area of congregational development in the Diocese of Northern California and served as a trainer in the College for Congregational Development. She believes that every congregation, of any size, type, location, or condition, has the capacity to become more healthy, faithful, and effective in carrying out the mission of being God’s people and witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own unique context.

TRACK 2: That We All May Be One

How can ecumenical and interreligious partnerships help us live out our call as Christians? In this track, we'll explore the ways the Episcopal Church engages with people of other religions and with other Christian denominations, with time dedicated specifically to looking at the current plans for a full communion agreement with the United Methodists. In addition, we will discuss practical ways we can engage in dialogue and partnerships in our local contexts.

Track Leader: The Rev. Kyle Carswell has been the rector of St. Timothy's in West Des Moines since summer of 2022. He also currently serves as the Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the Diocese of Iowa. Raised in the Methodist and Nazarene churches before becoming an Episcopalian, and with close relationships with friends and colleagues in a variety of denominations, Kyle is passionate about fostering cooperation among people of different religious traditions.

TRACK 3: Sew Liturgical Vestments

Vestments are easy to make, cost effective, and as versatile as your imagination!

We will be concentrating on a stole and chasuble in this class. Samples of the burse, veil, and paraments will be available. THIS CLASS ASSUMES A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF, AND EXPERIENCE WITH MACHINE SEWING. Class size is limited, so if you enjoy sewing together and want to make liturgical vestments for your clergy, sign up early.

Bring with you:

• the book “20 Simple and Elegant Vestment Patterns” by Rev. Cheryl L Miner-available on Amazon

• sewing machine; pins; sharp scissors; power strip

• 4 1/2 yards of 54-60 inch wide fabric for stole and chasuble; trims; matching thread and bobbin

• 1 1/2 yards lightweight fusible interfacing

Information on appropriate fabrics and trims and where to purchase them, will become available upon registration.

Track Leader: Mrs. Terry Allen-Burns has been sewing and quilting for most of her life. Those skills have been used to create the liturgical vestments used by her son-in-law, The Rev. Stephen Benitz. She is excited to assist and encourage congregations in producing high quality, budget friendly vestments and liturgical pieces of their own.Terry is a member of St. John's, Mason City.

TRACK 4: Lord, Open Our Lips: The Daily Office for Individuals, Parishes, and Their Surrounding Communities

The Daily Office is a cornerstone of the Anglican tradition. A daily grounding in the Psalms and a continuous pattern of biblical lessons keep us close to the source of wisdom, truth, and love. Joining in the Church’s daily round of prayers connects us not only to Christians around the world but to the whole company of Heaven. And yet, in many parishes, the practice of daily public prayer remains dormant. This track aims to share the benefits of the Daily Office for individuals, parishes, and their surrounding communities. Participants will learn both the historical background and spiritual aims of Morning and Evening Prayer. Additionally, they will acquire skills for officiating the offices publicly and best practices for reviving the public offering of daily prayer within the parish.

Track Leader: The Rev. Tom Early OA is the 5th Rector of St. John’s by the campus in Ames and is in the novitiate process with the Order of the Ascension a dispersed Episcopal Religions Community in the Benedictine tradition whose members take a promise “to seek the presence of Jesus Christ in the people, things, and circumstances of life through stability, obedience, and conversion of life.” He has taught workshops on monastic practices within the parish and led vestry retreats grounded in ascetical theology and organizational development models. He and his wife, Sara, enjoy being coaxed outside by their Golden Retriever, Alleluia “Allie” Early.

TRACK 5: Dwelling in the Word for the Eldering Journey

Bishop Monnot has invited us to learn to dance with courageous faith for this time. In this course we will be immersing ourselves in spiritual practices, engaging with the wisdom of those who made a path through eldering and sharing the wisdom among us about the journey of growing older. "The truth is that the greatest victory in aging is to endure with grace and humor, to stay in the game, and to achieve humility," Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB. Let's walk this eldering journey together. (Eldering is the process of being another day older today than you were yesterday - AARP membership not required). This is not your grandma's Bible Study! We are hoping for engaging ideas and conversation as well as some fun along the way.

Track Leaders:

The Rev. Kris Leaman is Rector at St. Mark’s in Fort Dodge and has been there since 2018. She implemented the Thursday ZOOM Text study group for Iowa Clergy which started in 2020. This group continues to evolve and grow as we wrestle with the Word. Kris has also been a co-leader in several book studies in the diocese. She leads an ecumenical book and Bible study at St. Mark’s as well.

The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland is a retired priest of the Diocese of Iowa, currently serving as an assisting priest at St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church in Ames, IA. Before ordination, she was on the nutrition faculty at Iowa State University, teaching Nutrition and Aging, and research projects focused on elderly nutrition. She designed and implemented the first research based curriculum offered for dietetic students to improve practice with patients who were seriously/terminally ill. In addition to study for the vocational diaconate and later, priesthood, she completed a program in Geriatric Pastoral Care from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. She currently serves the Diocese on the committee of Chaplains to the Retired Clergy and Surviving Spouses.

TRACK 6: Backdoor Deacons

Ordained deacons proclaim, prophesy, and help others find their place in the work of fulfilling their baptismal vows. We think there are unrecognized deacons everywhere, too—in every congregation and in the world. Some are quiet, some are not. During this track, we’ll talk about some of these back door deacons and see how their lives and work might inspire ours. We’ll talk about Gustavo Gutierrez, Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Frances Perkins, St. Paul, and we’ll find others. Lent Madness has its Saints; we’re all for Deacons.

Reading (before Ministries Retreat if possible) We Drink From Our Own Wells by Gustavo Gutierrez

Track Leader: The Venerable Judith Crossett, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Iowa, has been ordained for 16 years; she came to the Episcopal Church in 1965 after leaving first the Presbyterians and then adolescent agnosticism. Her particular interest is in the life of those who are homeless. Her background is in English Literature; her worldly vocation was as a geriatric psychiatrist. She serves at Trinity Episcopal Church, Iowa City.

TRACK 7: Lament to Reconciliation

Springing from Lament in scripture and the Reconciliation of a Penitent service in the Book of Common Prayer we will reflect together. We will experience the Holy Spirit blending words, time and objects as we construct several two and three dimensional collaged pieces. If you are willing to glue, use a pen, scissors, pliers and a paint brush this workshop may be for you.

Track Leader: The Rev. Abigail Livingood is currently Rector at Trinity Parish in Waterloo. She is an artist working in fiber and mixed materials, and a practicing Spiritual Director. She has led workshops in 3-d Bible Study, Design, and Group Spiritual Direction.

TRACK 8: On Holy Ground: How Does Nature Form and Inform Our Spirituality?

Take a walk through the elements as we contemplate God's Earth, Water, Spirit, and Fire in our lives. Enjoy a weekend of rest and spiritual nourishment, with both active and quiet time spent indoors (track time) and outdoors (on your own) as weather allows. This track is a retreat rather than a class or lecture. If you wish, bring a journal or notebook; pen or pencil; a sketchpad or other art materials, a Bible. Prepare for the track by: noticing and savoring nature.

Track Leader: Ms. Helen L. Keefe (MA Pastoral Studies, MSW) is a life-long nature rambler and dreamer, a member of Spiritual Directors International and former long-time resident of the Diocese of Iowa. She presents retreats on nature, dreams, grief, baptism, spiritual direction, vestry retreats, and women in scripture. She and her wife, The Rev. Willa Goodfellow, minister with the Church of Ireland in County Kerry. Helen is fluent in Spanish, loves to swim, is a certified Spiritual Director, and continues to work on her jazz trumpet skills.

TRACK 9: Solo Retreat

Bring your own project, retreat materials, or just use the lovely town of Grinnell and the Grinnell College Campus to nap and unwind while participating in the scheduled fellowship, worship and meals with fellow Episcopalians from around the state.

Track Leader: Self-Directed (Not guided this year)