In 2020, both Bishop and Trustees and Bishop Lee made pools of emergency funding available to congregations adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Ann’s, Woodstock and Good Shepherd, Macomb both received emergency grants to upgrade their worship technology. While their projects were initially intended to help reach church members during lockdowns, the investments are continuing…
Dear Friends, Since the day 15 months ago when Bishop Lee issued a directive to close our church buildings and cease in-person gatherings in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, you have faithfully and graciously led your congregations through the changes wrought by the pandemic. Together, we discovered new ways of worshiping virtually. You found…
EfM (Education for Ministry), a four-year adult formation program developed by the School of Theology at the University of the South, is recruiting for the 2021 – 2022 year. EfM groups of six to 12 people meet weekly for two to two-and-a-half hours to discuss texts and theological reflections. The curriculum is: Year One Hebrew…
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry today announced that after consultation with Bishop-elect Paula Clark and the Rev. Anne B. Jolly, president of the Standing Committee, he is rescheduling Clark’s ordination and consecration from June 12 to August 28. Bishop-elect Clark suffered a brain bleed in mid-April and is recovering at home after surgery and a brief…
On May 5, clergy and lay leaders were given a preview of the latest COVID-19 reopening guidelines for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Version 4 of “A New Season: Guidelines for Re-entering Our Church Buildings” is now available in English and Spanish. The new document supersedes all previous versions of the reopening plan. The latest…
Lawrence Hall, a legacy partner of Episcopal Charities that works with at-risk youth, has been awarded a $4,720 grant by the United Thank Offering to purchase mobile technology that will support its workforce development initiatives. Those initiatives, known collectively as Project WORK, moved almost entirely online at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lawrence…
