In the video below, Bishop Doug announces some changes to the diocesan staff.

• The Rev. Canon Michelle Walker is stepping down from her role as Missioner for Administration and Governance.
• Canon Carol Bianchini, currently one of our part-time missioners for finance, will be our new full-time Missioner for Administration starting February 1.
• The Rev. Canon Terri Bays, PhD.'s title is changing to Missioner for the Ordinary.

The diocesan office is closed the following dates.

• February 16 in observance of Presidents' Day

Missioners on vacation

• Cn. Christopher Hillak - Out Feb. 2-3
• Rev. Cn. Michelle Walker - Out Feb. 2-13

Conferences

• Cn. Carol Bianchini and Rev. Cn. Michelle Walker - CPG Partnership Conference, Feb. 23-26

Safe Church Training

Date: Saturday, February 28

Time: 2-5 p.m. (EST)
Location: Zoom

Registration Link Please register before Monday, February 23.

Date: Sunday, March 15
Time: 2-5 p.m. (EST)
Location: Zoom

Registration Link Please register before Monday, March 9.

New to a vestry or need to renew your Safe Church training? Please select one of the two dates above and RSVP. As a reminder, the following people need to be Safe Church certified.

• Clergy
• Staff
• Vestries
• Ministry Leaders
• Eucharistic Visitors
• Camp and Christian Education Staff
• Key-holders

Thank you for investing your time and energy in the effort to protect the people around you from abuse and neglect. With God's help, we can work together to offer our faith communities as places of safety and healing. Email Missioner Cindy Spice with any questions.

Vestry Resource Day - Save the Date

Date: Saturday, March 14
Time: TBA

Location: Cathedral of Saint James, South Bend

More info to come.

The EDNIN School for Faith and Ministry (ESFM) offers monthly classes to a blend of in-person and online students. Gathering in person one Saturday a month, mostly at the Wawasee Retreat Center in Syracuse, this semester of ESFM will offer courses on academic topics in Theological and Liturgical Studies. The materials have been created by the Iona Collaborative at Seminary of the Southwest and classes will be led by local facilitators. Whether you are a lay person pursuing spiritual and intellectual enrichment, someone engaged in the process for ordination, or an ordained person seeking to continue your education, you are welcome to become a part of ESFM!  

New this semester is training in Bible Study Facilitation. If you have ever wanted to gather a group for Bible study at church, in your home, at a coffee shop, or in some other ministry setting, this training may be for you! We will address topics like considering your context, choosing among various reflection methods, group formation, sustaining the facilitator, and more. Both in-person and Zoom participation is welcome.

Also new this semester will be a series of “Pre-Curricular Studies” for students starting their postulancy for the diaconate. These three courses will focus on equipping students to identify and address their individual learning challenges as they take on the rigors of academic formation for ministry. Because of the sensitive nature of this work, all classes will be in-person.

ESFM dates for the second semester will be: Mar 7, Apr 18, May 9, Jun 6, and July 25. The first three sessions will be held at the Wawasee Episcopal Center in Syracuse, IN and the last two at the Cathedral of St. James in South Bend, IN. There will be two classes running at the same time in each of three slots:

10:00 am – 12:00 pm  

A—Pre-Curricular Studies—Spirituality and Scripture. ($250)

B—Theological Studies II ($250)

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

A—Pre-Curricular Studies—Learning Challenges ($250)

B—Liturgical Studies II—the Pastoral Offices ($250)

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

A— Pre-Curricular Studies—Mobilizing your Strengths ($250)

B—Bible Study Facilitation ($250)

For each session, participants will read assigned texts and watch video lectures beforehand. They then will come together at Wawasee (or the Cathedral) for facilitated discussion and other activities aimed at engaging the material more deeply. Afterwards, a written assignment will help learning take root and grow. Those completing the five sessions and their related assignments will receive a certificate of participation.

Register by February 20 so that you may receive log in credentials in time to prepare for the first class. Some financial assistance is available.

All Episcopalians are invited to complete a 15- to 20-minute survey offered by the Task Force to Study Household and Relationship Diversity and designed to help the church better understand and support all its members.

Created by General Convention in 2022, the task force seeks “to create opportunities for discussion, reflection, and deepening of understanding about existing diversity of family relationships and households among congregations, dioceses, and throughout The Episcopal Church.” 

Participants are encouraged to learn more and complete the survey by March 1.

Information provided by The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs.

Save the Dates

Jr./Sr. High Spring Youth Retreat

Date: April 10-12, 2026

Episcopal Youth Camp

Date: June 14-20, 2026

Where: Camp Alexander Mack (Milford, Ind.)

Sr. High Mission Week

Date: July 12-18, 2026

Jr./Sr. High Fall Youth Retreat

Date: October 23-25, 2026

Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Community at Miami Correctional Facility

Date: TBA

Time: TBA

Where: TBA

The next prayer vigil at the Miami Correctional Facility is TBA.

Bishop's Discretionary Fund - Immigration

Recent developments in the Federal Government’s approach to immigration, including the withdrawal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from various countries, are affecting the lives of several members of our faith communities. In light of these developments, some of you have asked for us to create a fund through which you might contribute to the legal expenses incurred by those members as they file for different documentation in order to remain in compliance with the law. We have decided that the best way to do so is through the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, to which anyone interested may contribute by sending a check to the Diocese with Bishop’s Discretionary Fund—Immigration in the memo line.

Save the Dates



Deacon and Postulant Retreat

Date: March 27-28, 2026

Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center



Spring Clergy Conference

Date: May 11-13, 2026

Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center

Fall Clergy Retreat

Date: October 12-14, 2026

Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center

The latest blog post on the CBCP website is a story of perseverance, partnerships and God’s faithfulness, as told to us by the Rev. Allen D. Rutherford, Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Vernon. Click here to read it and be inspired for following the ministry dreams of your congregation.

 Information provided by Linda Buskirk, CBCP Project Director.  

Action Alerts

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations (OGR) identifies opportunities for Episcopalians to participate in our democracy. Click this link to find an action alert that you are passionate about and send a message to your members of Congress.

Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit

Date: Feb. 8, 15, 22; Mar. 1, 8, 15, 2026

Time: 5-6:30 p.m. (EST)

Where: Zoom

The Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help facilitate a welcoming journey in faith communities working on extending a specific welcome to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. A team from ReconcilingWorks will lead a course to give you tools to share this resource with your worshipping community.  

The toolkit is available as a pdf. Province V will provide a color-printed copy of the toolkit for each person registered.

Registration is required. Attend as many sessions as you can.

Registration link if the above doesn't work: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ew0-JwsqT7WCt4PknNKjVQ

Big Provincial Gathering 2026

Date: July 31-August 1, 2026

Where: St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Kalamazoo, MI)

Province V will be hosting the fourth Big Provincial Gathering in the summer of 2026. Planning is underway. There will be information about leading workshops, participating in pre-event trainings, sponsorship, and exhibitors. If you're curious about any of those, please contact Heather Barta. Additional information will be shared in upcoming newsletters and on the Province V website!

Call for Workshops

The Big Provincial Gathering will be full of workshops offered "ministry fair" style. Do you have something to share with others? Are you particularly proud of a project you did or a ministry you support? Start thinking about if you'd like to host a workshop. All information about workshops will be needed by February 1, 2026. See all of the details and fill out the form! Make sure to check out the workshop webinar below!

Provincial Youth Event

There will be a Provincial Youth Event offered as part of the BPG. There will be some time that youth will have dedicated programming and then time that all are gathered together.