When: Saturday, July 25, 10/9 a.m. (EDT/CDT)

Where: Zoom

The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana will meet jointly in early July to consider everything they heard at the seven What's Next? gatherings conducted around our diocese in May and June. Join us for a Zoom meeting on Saturday, July 25 for their report on what was learned.

Advance registration is required. These five meetings are in-person only. Questions? Send an email to Dean Brian Grantz, President of the Standing Committee.

What a WONDERful week of camp we just had! H2 OH! The Wonder of Water was a week of building friendships, diving deeper into scripture, and enjoying the always amazing Camp Mack. During our camp week we:

• Hosted 68 campers with 49 staff members
• Had 19 first time campers!
• Visited by five clergy on our visit day (highest yet!)
• Raised more than $3,000 in Thrivent grants
• Graduated eight ninth graders
• Awarded $3,650 in scholarships for campers

Each morning we introduced our daily focus with our morning show and our hosts Captain Clark (Fr. Clark Miller) and Wade Poole (Fr. Michael Roeske). They were joined by various guests who provided insight and guidance related to their story. Guests and daily themes included: 

Monday — “Living Water” John 4:13–14

Focus: Jesus offers water that truly satisfies.

Guest: Barbara the Woman at the Well

Tuesday — “Called & Equipped” Matthew 3:13-17

Focus: We are called, equipped, and sent out.

Guest: Johnny B (the Baptist)

Wednesday — “Walk on Water” Matthew 14:22–33

Focus: Keep your eyes on Jesus through fear and doubt.

Guest: Peter

Thursday — “Clean Waters” John 9:1-11

Focus: Healing waters

Guest: Gerald the Blind Man

Friday— “Cast Your Nets” Luke 5:1–11

Focus: Jesus calls us to follow Him boldly.
Guest: Sons of Thunder - James and John

We want to extend a sincere thank you to all the parishes that sent and/or sponsored a camper. We had a total of $11,312 in parish scholarships! This is a great testament to how important our youth are to the life of their parish. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to continue this ministry and for helping us to teach, nurture and bring up these young people in the Word of God.

Jodi, Daniel, Cindy, and Megan
The Missioners for Camping Ministry

Pride in the Park Recap

Thank you to all who volunteered in our booth at South Bend Pride in the Park! The weather was beautiful which brought out a great crowd. We were able to have some meaningful conversations; distribute buttons, stickers, fans, and coloring sheets; invite people to our Pride Eucharist, and take their prayer requests.

Pride Eucharist Recap

Thank you also to all who organized and participated in our first Pride Eucharist! This was a wonderful service with people from across the diocese attending. Additionally, the City of South Bend issued a proclamation naming July 27 as Pride Eucharist Celebration Day. Bishop Doug Sparks presided over the service and The Rev. Mark Hummell, priest-in-residence at the Cathedral, gave a moving homily. Click the link below to watch the service.

Fort Wayne Pride

You have another opportunity to share God's love with the LGBTQ+ community. Join Trinity Fort Wayne at Fort Wayne Pride on Saturday, July 25. Click here to sign-up to volunteer. Email Brice Vinson-Schisler, chair of Trinity Episcopal Pride with any questions.

Save the Date - Full and Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise

Join us September 3-5 for a gathering commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 General Convention resolution declaring that LGBTQ+ people have a full and equal claim to the pastoral care and support of The Episcopal Church. The event, “Full and Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise,” will celebrate progress and acknowledge the work that remains.

This three-day gathering will take place at the Sheraton Downtown Minneapolis Convention Center. For travel planning purposes, the opening session will be at 9 a.m. (CDT) on September 3, and our final event will be a Eucharist at St. Mark's Cathedral concluding at 12:30 p.m. (CDT) on Sept. 5. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will preside, and Bishop Gene Robinson will preach. Registration information and hotel blocks will be available soon. 

Information provided by The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs

Who: Teens entering grade 10-graduating seniors

Date: July 12-18, 2026

Location: Bremen, GA

Please keep our senior high youth and chaperones in your prayers as they head to Bremen, GA for our 2026 Senior High Mission Week. District Line United Methodist Church has offered us housing for the week. The cost for the week is $350 per participant. If you are a teen entering grade 10 - graduating seniors you are invited to join us for Mission Week. The registration deadline is June 12, and space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

For participants: Air mattresses will be provided and you are asked to pack lightly. Each person is limited to one duffel bag, one standard-sized pillow, a sheet, and a blanket. A detailed packing list was provided after registration.

The payments for Sr. High Mission Week should be sent to:

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana

Attn: Canon Carol Bianchini

117 N. Lafayette Blvd.

South Bend, IN 46601

Please be sure to write the participants name and Mission Week on the memo line.

When: July 27-31, 2026

Where: Camp Alexander Mack

New Happenings Ministry Camp is scheduled for July 25-31. This is a Camp for children who have experienced parental incarceration. Staff arrives on Saturday, July 25 and the campers come the following afternoon. Campers go home on Friday, July 31, after breakfast, leaving between 9-10 a.m.. Staff does debriefing and final clean up after that. We aim to be leaving between 12-1 p.m.

Since our affiliation with ANGEL TREE, we have had a full house. 32 campers age 8 - 12, (two cabins each of male and female campers.) and this will be the third year we have had a cabin each of male and female campers age 13 - 15. These are called YALT (Young Adult Leadership Training).

In addition to sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ (God's LOVE for us and all creation) we have added a mental health component through a group out of Fort Wayne called REMIDY LIVE. They are a Christian suicide prevention organization, have a hotline, and do mental health teaching for schools and organizations for children and young people. It has been very well received by the children and staff. Through a grant from the Wood Foundation in Fort Wayne we have begun a STEM program to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among our campers. 

I began with that update to spark your interest in becoming part of this ecumenical outreach to children in our communities. This is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana and has Methodists, Roman Catholics, Brethren, and other Christians involved.  

This is an appeal for counselors (4 - two male and 2 female) and additional adult staff who can be present and available to do whatever is needed. (Assistance with morning fishing, STEM, facilitating the getting of drinks at meals and a host of other things that arise at the last moment. It is an energizing, challenging, and meaningful week. PLEASE come join us! 

You can contact Dr. Bianca Daisey at (219) 851-8889 & biancaadaisy@gmail.com (the application forms go to her), Nurse Diane Spoljoric (219) 363-9344 & dianes@pnw.edu or Mother Tina Velthuizen (574) 303-2711 & teunisje@aol.com. 

Unseen church infrastructure is often viewed as “not flashy enough” to be inspirational for a capital fundraising effort or grant requests. This month’s CBCP website blog post encourages churches to think about the IMPACT, not the project itself, in order to inspire giving.  Click HERE to read our post.

Questions?  Contact Linda Buskirk, CBCP Project Director, at info@cbcpindiana.org.

Grace Episcopal Fort Wayne is excited to share with you the attached photo of Pastor Amy, of Faith Lutheran Church, as she opens the checks for Faith Lutheran Wednesday Night Community Meals Program and for their food pantry. $4000 went to the Wednesday Night Community Meals Program and $1000 went to the food pantry. This money was made possible by the EDNIN Feeding Initiative Grant. Grace and Faith Lutheran have a long history together in this ministry and we are so grateful that because of this grant, we were able to make such a meaningful contribution beyond what we already do. 

Additionally, find attached a picture of some of our faithful volunteers and examples of some of the delicious and nutritious food that is served through this program.

A new three-session, video-based course about baptism, Eucharist, and the church’s sacramental rites is available for download or streaming with accompanying study guides. “Signs and Grace: An Introduction to the Sacraments” marks the first video collaboration between The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement in a partnership designed to provide free formation resources for dioceses and congregations.

The course—which includes 45- or 60-minute options, with facilitator and participant guides—is ideal for newcomer classes, adult forums, Sunday school, small groups, and those preparing for confirmation. The three 20-minute-long videos are in English with Spanish subtitles, as well as the study guides.

The partnership between The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement is an example of a new approach to churchwide formation that involves identifying, supporting, and collaborating in thoughtful work being done around the church.

“We’re trying to bring a winsome message, a transformational message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs to hear it,” Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe saidat the 2025 Episcopal Parish Network conference. “Where the work is happening and the ministry is happening is on the ground in the parishes and institutions. …How do we scale up the things people are doing for the whole church?”

Information provided by The Episcopal Church Public Affairs.

When: Sept. 23-26, 2026

Where: Procter Center (London, OH)

Cost: Varies based on lodging options

The Episcopal Creation Care Gathering Network invites lay and clergy leaders and activists engaged in creation care to come together for conversation, learning, and practice. Participants will explore spirituality, justice, ecology, discipleship, and evangelism through workshops, plenaries, outdoor experiences, and intentional conversation.

The keynote presenter will be the Rt. Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, founder of the Episcopal Grasslands Network, a churchwide community that honors creation in native ecosystems, fosters connection in environmental vocation, and grows together in Jesus’ way of love.

The Episcopal Creation Care Gathering Network is a churchwide organization committed to Christian ministry focused on the care of creation. The conference is co-sponsored by Provinces IV and V of The Episcopal Church, the Procter Center, and the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

Save the Date: Nuevo Amanecer 2026

Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Kanuga Retreat Center, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Nov. 9-12: Camp Allen, Navasota, Texas

Mark your calendar for this biennial gathering that celebrates Latino ministries across The Episcopal Church. Nuevo Amanecer 2026 will feature two smaller and focused conferences, both offering the same workshops focused on visionary leadership and equipping churches, as well as on embracing dignity and diversity.

In addition to lay leaders, clergy, diocesan missioners, parish staff, and church planters, those interested in learning about Latino ministries are also encouraged to attend.

A registration link and additional information will follow.

Information provided by The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs.

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.

Click here to read the Province V July enewsletter.

Provincial Youth Event

Date: July 30-August 1, 2026

Where: Kalamazoo, Mich.

Who: Youth who have completed 6th - 12th grades.

Mark your calendars! If you are involved in diocesan youth events, your diocesan staff person will be coordinating with Province V for this event.

Thursday, July 30, 1 p.m. - Gather together to begin!

Friday, July 31, 12 p.m. - Join in with the Big Provincial Gathering festivities

Saturday, August 1, 3 p.m. - Closing prayers and sending forth!

Big Provincial Gathering

Date: July 31-August 1, 2026

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

The Big Provincial Gathering (BPG) is an opportunity to meet new people and connect with others who share your ministry passions. It is structured like a "ministry fair" so that people may host workshops and conversations to share program and resource ideas with others. Join in this amazing event to get resources for your local ministry context.