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Highlights:
- Opening Prayer
- Big Provincial Gathering 2026
- Leadership Coaching Project
- Campus Ministry Cohort
- Creation Care Gathering
- Forma
- Episcopal Deacons
- Trafficking Walk
- Church Periodical Club
- Trafficking: Faithful Response and Support
- Women Clergy Retreat
- Episcopal Parish Network
- Episcopal Podcasts
- Immigration Update Calls
- Book Corner
- Using Picture Books for Racial Healing
- Networking Conversations
- Affiliated Organizations
- Upcoming Events and Webinars
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Opening Prayer
For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
- Book of Common Prayer, 814.
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| | Featured Articles and Events | | |
Big Provincial Gathering 2026
July 31 - August 1, 2026
Host: St. Luke's, Kalamazoo, Michigan
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. Additional information will be shared in upcoming newsletters and on this website!
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Leadership Coaching Project
What are your passions? Are you living into them to the fullest? If you can't articulate well, or if you're falling short of pursuing your passions, coaching can help! Coaches are available to help you articulate your passions and make a plan to pursue them. It's time to call a coach!
Coaching is a dialogue between a coach and an individual, group, or team to find creative ways to solve challenging problems or improve team performance on key initiatives.
The coach's role is to draw out expertise through inquiry, curiosity, and challenges so that clients can stretch into their best selves.
Lay leaders, deacons, priests, and bishops are all invited to consider coaching. The focus on coaching will always be generated by the coachee; the coach is a partner who listens deeply and asks powerful questions to help the coachee set attainable and timely goals. Learn More and Book a Coach.
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Register now!
Fall 2025 Campus Ministry Cohort:
Engaging with IHL's
Purpose: To equip and prepare worshiping communities to engage Institutions of Higher Learning in their local ministry context. IHLs include community colleges, trade schools, professional schools, colleges and universities.
Who: Congregational Leaders (lay and clergy) interested in sharing in Christ's ministry on campus.
What's Included:
- 6 Interactive Zoom Gatherings on Thursday Evenings (9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/13, & 12/4). These gatherings will include
- Best Practices for engaging students on campus and welcoming them into the life of the church.
- Training focused on embodied, contextual approaches to hospitality, evangelism, and discipleship.
- Practical Steps for building trusting relationships with all IHL Stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, & alumni).
- Breakout Rooms for sharing, processing, & celebrating what we are learning along the way.
- Between Gatherings
- You will be given tools and tasks to accomplish together with your team & report back to the cohort.
- Access to our Google Classroom to access resources, ask questions, and share ministry experiences.
- 4 Monthly Coaching Sessions with Province V's Campus Ministry Developer (can be utilized in the Fall or Spring 2026).
Cost: FREE to worshiping communities inside Province V! Congregations from outside the province can join for a fee.
Have Questions? Want to Register?
Please email Province V's Campus Ministry Developer, Eric Richey at provincevCMD@gmail.com and he will follow up with more information and the online form to register your team in the coming days.
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Episcopal Creation Care Gathering 2025
September 18-20, 2025
Procter Center, London, Ohio
Come join in conversation with those steeped in prayer, theology, the wild outdoors, agriculture, and the front lines of pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and land use. Take time to wander over the acres of the Proctor Center. Come ready to put your feet on the ground and get your hands dirty while contemplating the goodness of the earth and the wonders of creation, and listening to the Holy Spirit’s call to action!
The Episcopal Creation Care Gathering is an annual church-wide event focused on the work of Christian ministry, mission, and living on earth. These gatherings create space for conversation, learning, and practice as we explore the deep relationships that bind together spirituality, justice, ecology, discipleship, and evangelism.
Episcopal Creation Care Gathering is co-sponsored by Provinces IV & V, Procter Center, and the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
The Procter Center is centrally located within driving distance of Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and more.
The nearest airports are located in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati.
Carpooling is encouraged! The ECCG team can help with rideshare pick-ups.
Registration is open!
More information: https://episcopalcreationcaregathering.org/
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Are you engaged in formation ministry in The Episcopal Church? We need to hear from you.
Forma | The Network for Christian Formation seeks to better understand the experience, expertise, and employment of Christian formation professionals in the Episcopal Church.
Your responses to The Landscape of Christian Formation Survey will help Forma to advocate for just wages, identify professional development needs, and support those engaged in ministry.
See more details.
Take the survey.
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Congratulations to the Rev. Micheal Hueschen, Diocese of the Great Lakes!
He received the Stephen's Award for Province V. This award is given every three years to a deacon in each province who has "demonstrated a deep commitment to the special ministry of servanthood following the practice of St. Stephen. . .by making Christ's redemptive love known through your word and example, to those among whom you live and work." The awards was presented during the Association for Episcopal Deacons' Triennial Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
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"Striving for Hope"
Spirit of Hope Walk
In honor of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Diocese of Ohio's Anti-Human Trafficking Committee is sponsoring a one mile Striving For Hope walk on August 3 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Nature Center in Shaker Lakes. The park is located at 2600 S. Park Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44120.
Learn more
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Parish in Prov V receives grant
Congratulations to Christ Church (LCEM) of Streator, IL (Chicago) for their grant to support a rural library with books for the visually impaired. The amount of $1,735.86 will allow the library to purchase 76 new items. The majority of their books for the visually impaired impaired were 30+ years old.
Thanks to Province V, and especially the Diocese of Chicago ECW, for providing additional support to ensure that grants were fully funded.
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Join this online course to learn how to recognize human trafficking and support those reentering our community after human exploitation. This 90 minute course will introduce participants to the basics of trafficking, how to respond when trafficking is suspected, and how their community can help those on their journey from surviving to thriving.
Choose any of the following dates to participate in this course:
Wed, Sept 24, 7:30-9 pm ET / 6:30- 8 pm CT. Registration
Tuesday, October 7, 7:30-9 pm ET / 6:30- 8 pm CT. Registration
Mon, Oct 20, 7-8:30 pm ET / 6-7:30 pm CT. Registration
Thurs, Nov 6, 7-8:30 pm ET / 6-7:30 pm CT. Registration
Visit this page to learn more.
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Province V and VI Women Clergy Retreat
May 31–June 3, 2026
Location: St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, Michigan (near Lansing)
Greetings Women Clergy in Provinces V and VI,
Planning has just gotten underway! Save the date, share the event with others, and watch for more information throughout the summer and fall. Track updates on this webpage.
| | A growing list of podcasts provide resources for devotion and contemplation in the Episcopal tradition. Here are a few. | | |
Good News and Gratitude
A New Podcast from the United Thank Offering
More Info
All Things . . . Episcopal
Diocese of West Missouri
More Info
Faith To Go Podcast
A Weekly, On The Go Resource for Parents and Non-Parents Alike
More Info
SpadeSpoonSoul
With Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows and author Jerusalem Greer
More Info
ChurchNext Podcast
More Info
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For People
With Bishop Rob Wright
More Info
The TryTank Podcast
More Info
Forward Movement Podcasts
Forward Day by Day; A Morning at the Office; Daily Prayer; An Evening at Prayer; Compline; Scripture Day by Day
More Info
The Priesthood of All Queer Believers
Church of the Redeemer Cincinnati
More Info
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Immigration Action Toolkit and Update Calls
The Migration Ministry Network urges everyone to understand the increasing threats facing our immigrant brothers and sisters and learn what we can do to help fellow parishioners and neighbors who may need support at this very challenging time. The Episcopal Church website offers a very helpful Immigration Action Toolkit, and everyone is invited to attend weekly Immigration Updates offered on Zoom by Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations.
Register here.
The above program is hosted by church-wide organizations. If you have questions or would like further information about the Province V Migration Ministry Network, please email one of the co-conveners: Jack Lloyd jack.lloyd@earthlink.net or Silvia Huth silviahuth@yahoo.com or visit the Migration Ministry Network webpage.
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Book Corner
An essential guide to resisting the challenges of modern life while staying true to the Christian faith.
Unabashed Faith is a roadmap for living a vibrant, resilient, and authentic Christian life in today's world. For new Christians or those looking to deepen their faith, Andy Doyle offers a unique vision to help readers learn how to recognize and resist the subtle influences of technology, propaganda, and consumerism; discover the power of spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, and scripture-reading; and gain the confidence to advocate for justice and compassion, and more!
"This book will point the way toward insights and practices that can fortify your faith . . . and enable you to build the connections we seek—with God, others, and ourselves."
—C. Andrew Doyle, from the Introduction
Order from any Episcopal bookstore, Amazon, Bookshop, or your favorite bookseller.
Paperback | 9781640657854 | List Price: $26.95
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Using Picture Books for Racial Healing
Picture books offer an excellent way to discover, discuss, and share stories about topics that many people did not study in school but that are crucial to the work of repairing, healing, and seeing God in each other. Registration is open for Dismantling Racism training sessions taking place in the coming months. Miriam McKenney leads the trainings, which take place on Zoom.
All sessions in the same month make up a complete course, so you only need to sign up for one month. See the full calendar for the year.
Email the Diocese of Southern Ohio's Missioner for Beloved Community, Miriam McKenney, to learn more.
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To get a reminder for any of these events, reply to this email. A special reminder is sent for each network.
ALL are welcome to attend these Zoom conversations. Please share the information with friends, colleagues, and in your parish newsletter. Most network meetings last about 60 minutes. See their webpages or email their contact for more information. For a full list of Networks and other Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.
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Archivists
Date of next meeting:
Sept 8, 11 am ET / 10 am CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89950734030 (password: 5)
Convener: Brian Wilbert, Ohio
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/archivist.html
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Creation Care
Date of next meeting:
Aug 11, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82932843412
(password: 5)
Convener: Jeanette Ettin, Eastern Michigan
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/creation.html
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Dismantling Racism
Date of next meeting:
Aug 7, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83673680882
(password: 5)
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/dismantlingracism
Be renewed and get connected with other leaders during our Wisdom Circles.
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Migration Ministries
Date of next meeting:
Jul 15, 8 pm ET / 7 pm C
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81246380265
(password: 5)
Conveners: Silvia Huth, Michigan and
Jack Lloyd, Chicago
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/migration.html
Episcopal Migration Response Network
Episcopal Migration Ministry hosts an Asylum and Detention Ministry Network that meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The Ministry Network’s collaborative work and conversation focus on best practice-sharing in areas of direct service, organizing, advocacy actions, Christian formation and worship resources, and community education to protect asylum, promote humane and dignified alternatives to detention, and to support asylum seekers and those harmed by the immigration detention system. Learn more and register to attend meetings here.
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Young Adult / Campus Ministry
Date of next meeting:
Aug 19, 11 am ET / 10 am CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88386235160
(password 5)
Convener: Matthew Lukens, Michigan
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/yacm.html
If this is your ministry area, make sure that you're part of the Google Group!
province-v-yacm@googlegroups.com
This is a new group name, so please update in your address book.
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Innovation Catalysts
webpage
Date of next meeting: Sept 17
What's Next for Prov V Innovation Catalysts (Prov V Rocks!)
The Province V Innovation Catalysts regular monthly zoom gathering will be on hiatus for spring and summer with an eye toward relaunching in the fall of 2025. Our initial gatherings were a great opportunity to pair names with faces and share about our ministries, and we are ready to move toward a more focused style of gathering. Beginning in the fall, each zoom meeting will be facilitated by a different Prov V Innovator on a volunteer basis. When you facilitate, you have two options: present a case study of a struggle or challenge you're facing and ask for input from the group, or teach a concept or practice you have found transformative in your work. We hope to continue our cross-pollination of expertise and experimentation in a more focused way through this model, and we anticipate that a number of potential workshops for the next Big Provincial Gathering will germinate through these gatherings. Please contact Heather at provincevcoordinator@gmail.com if you would be willing to lead a session, and mark your calendars for Sept 17, 2025 for our reconvening this fall!
If you are the contact from your diocese who should be in these conversation, contact Heather Barta for the meeting information.
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Safe Church
webpage
Use this page to get connected to your diocesan contact for Safe Church training and information.
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Youth and Children
Date of next meeting: TBD, 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT
Convener: Carmen Piggins, Michigan
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/youth.html
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87530910317 (password: 5)
Join into conversations with others!
ALL Youth and Children Ministers
Diocesan Youth Workers
If you are the youth minister for your diocese (or the main contact for youth work in your diocese), you are invited to join this conversation. Contact Carmen Piggins for the dates and details.
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There are a number of organizations affiliated with the Episcopal Church and working across Province V. These groups have a "structure" that is more organized than a network. They have resources and information that are useful in your local ministry contexts.
For a full list of Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.
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Become a member!
The Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) invites you to consider membership before the next September 19th application deadline. 250 Episcopal church musicians gathered last month in Cincinnati for a week of fellowship, learning, and liturgies. We would love to see you next year at our Atlanta Conference. If you'd like to know more about AAM's mission, please visit our website (www.anglicanmusicians.org) or email our Executive Director, Patrick Fennig (pfennig@anglicanmusicians.org), to learn more.
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Upcoming Digital Workshops
All workshops are at 3:00 pm ET/2:00 pm CT
For more information and to register, Click Here
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Living Compass Mobile App
Features:
- Guided Meditations: A collection of short meditations organized by category: Daily Living, Spiritual Nourishment, Relationships, Emotional Well-Being, and more.
- Courses & Personal Retreats: Multi-session series that invites you to go deeper with a contemplative approach to specific wellness topics.
- Contemplative Practices Collection: Walking Meditations (Retreat on 2 Feet), Prayer, Journaling, Music, Art & Movement, and more.
- New content added frequently: Once you've created an account, you'll receive notifications when new resources are available.
Available now in Apple and Google app stores Or visit: app.LivingCompass.org
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Invite Welcome Connect
A Simpler Way to Access Our On Demand Training Materials
We're making a change in the way individuals activate their subscriptions.
Since we launched Invite Welcome Connect On Demand on Jan. 1, dioceses and congregations across the church have been enjoying unlimited access to our evangelism, hospitality, and belonging training materials. Individuals receive a password from their diocese or church, and use that to activate their individual subscriptions.
Continue reading about this program
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United Thank Offering
Download the information flier for July 2025!
Highlights:
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Congratulations to the 2025 UTO Grant Recipients! Read all about the new grant sites here. New grant brochures/posters will be available to order beginning in August. You can download the new brochure now on the website. This month we’re not sharing a story from a grant site so you can focus on the newly awarded grants!
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2026 UTO Grant Application materials are now available! Find them all here along with a new training for those of you willing to help folks locally with their application.
- This month we’re giving a mid-year update on the Ingathering. If you are a diocesan staff person or UTO leader who would like an update on your Ingathering, please fill out this form.
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Planned Giving - A meaningful way to help Episcopal Deacons
Make a planned gift with The Fund for the Diaconate! Your gift will help us provide financial assistance to deacons and those in formation who have insufficient funds for their needs. Funding goes toward medical, emergency, educational, and ongoing support.
https://www.fundfordiaconate.org/planned-giving.html
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New ECF Vital Practices Case Study:
Using Social Media to Build Faithful, Connected Communities
In today's digital age, social media ministry provides churches with a great opportunity to expand their outreach and engage with both their congregation and the broader community. By leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, churches can share their hopeful vision for the world, highlight ministries, and foster a sense of belonging. Social media creates opportunities to connect with people, offering meaningful spiritual reflections and a chance to encounter Christ in our daily lives. It provides a powerful way to invite participation, inspire faith, and build community beyond the church walls. We invite you to explore four stories of how social media is being utilized not just to further ministry, but also as ministry, tending to people even before they ever set foot inside church doors.
Read the case study here: https://www.ecfvp.org/case-studies/socialmedia
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Updates from Church Periodical Club
Church periodical club meet June 14 for reviewing and funding of grant applications. See the announcement above about the grant in the Diocese of Chicago. In addition the nine Episcopal seminaries were each awarded $1000 to use for assistance for their students
Province III and Province IX also received full funding
2 Diocese of Tanazania (4 applications) received full to partial funding
For questions, contact your Province V representative:
Maryfran Crist
Email: maryfrancrist64@gmail.com
Phone: 815-257-7012
CPC website
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Sermon Roundtable, offered for congregations and their preachers by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation.
This 12-week small group program is led by the regular preachers in a parish—lay or ordained— with all materials available online for in-person, online, or hybrid meetings on your own schedule. Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative, this program is offered at no cost to participating parishes.
Sermon Roundtable is now accepting applications for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 cohorts. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Aug 1 for Fall and Feb 1 for Spring cohorts.
For any questions, please email the Rev. Mariclair Partee Carlsen, National Coordinator at mparteecarlsen@preachingfoundation.org. For more information or to apply, please visit
https://preachingfoundation.nm-secure.com/Sermon-Roundtable
| | Upcoming Events and Webinars | | Province V Executive Board | | |
Do you have questions about Province V? Would you like to be more involved in planning the events that are offered at the provincial level? The Executive Board of the Province meets monthly on fourth Tuesdays at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT via zoom.
Contact your diocesan representative to the Executive Board:
Mr. Rick Stanitis, Northern Michigan, President
The Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry, Michigan, Vice President
The Rev. Garron Daniels, Springfield, Secretary
Ms. Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, Chicago, Treasurer
Ms. Louisa McKellaston, Executive Council Representative
The Rev. M.E. Eccles, Executive Council Representative
Ms. Laura Jackson, Chicago
Dr. Elizabeth Jordan, Great Lakes
Ms. Lesley MacKellar, Indianapolis
Mr. Luke Thompson, Michigan
Ms. Betty Bowersox, Missouri
The Rev. Dr. Terri Bays, Northern Indiana
Ms. Katie Chipman-Bergsma, Northern Michigan
The Rev. Rachel Harrison, Ohio
Mr. Edward Lasseigne, Southern Ohio
Ms. Carol McCrary, Springfield
The Rev. Marlene Hogue, Wisconsin
Heather Barta, Province V Coordinator
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