October 11, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,

When I first began the active planning phase for our annual Diocesan Convention, I instructed my staff to have three comprehensive designs for hosting convention, comprising in-person, hybrid and virtual. As we hoped for and moved toward a full, in-person convention, we always had contingency strategies should the circumstances warrant a change in plans. Our Missioner for Communication had pulled together an impressive team for technology and communication that scoped out various scenarios for convention, including live-streaming worship and business and Zoom connectivity for both in-person and hybrid gatherings.

All the while, I remained in constant contact with public health and medical professionals in the diocese, together evaluating the metrics and data points. I also listened to and facilitated numerous conversations with clergy and lay leaders in the diocese to hear directly from folks "on the ground" and better understand their hopes and concerns. In doing so, my intention was to be respectful to all points of view so that no one would feel excluded from participating in our Annual Diocesan Convention and the important business before us.

Given the on-going, current state of the Covid-19 pandemic in Western North Carolina and the need to give enough time to my staff to plan accordingly, and with the full, unanimous support of the Executive Council of the Diocese, we will host a business only virtual convention on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Anyone who registered for convention and paid the fee will be reimbursed in the coming weeks.

Additionally, out of deep respect for our original guest speakers, Dr. Trey Adcock, Mr. James Bradley, The Rev. Dr. Brad Hauff and the Rev. Dr. Bude VanDyke, and recognizing the profound importance of the topic and ensuing conversation originally planned for convention, we will host and intentional, diocesan-wide gathering in the early months of 2022 as part of our year-long celebration of our Centennial as a diocese.

As I mentioned in my “Welcome to Convention 2021” video message, we are called to learn and repent of the sin of The Doctrine of Discovery, to recognize The Episcopal Church’s role in the subjugation of native people, to honor the indigenous land we are blessed to live on as well as the Indigenous peoples who have called WNC home for millennia, and ultimately to discern intentional steps toward justice, equity, reconciliation, inclusion and belonging.

Likewise, following the invitation from author Jemar Tisby that dismantling racism requires “awareness, relationships, and commitment” I have had the recent privilege of building a relationship with Chief Sneed of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian who was planning to join our other speakers.

It is very important that we come together face-to-face for these conversations and learnings and my hope is to see many more people from across the diocese join us for this intentional gathering.

I am grateful to the clergy and lay leaders of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and the clergy of the Foothills Deanery who had worked so hard in preparation for our annual gathering.

Like many of you, I am disappointed that we cannot gather again in person this year. But, I am sustained knowing that together we are united in Christ and continue to do the work of love throughout the diocese. In the midst of this on-going pandemic, I take comfort in the knowledge that grounded in our baptismal covenant, we are proclaiming and living the Good News.

I look forward to seeing you all on Zoom for Convention on Saturday, November 13. More information will be provided in the coming weeks, including the Zoom link.

Blessings,
The Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin
Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
900B CentrePark Drive
Asheville, NC 28805