Leadership News June 8, 2022
Welcome to the Diocese of Chicago leadership email newsletter. Please forward this email to vestry members and other leaders in your congregations and ministries and invite them to sign up.
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Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has invited Episcopalians to mark the season after Pentecost with 30 days of prayer leading up to and including the 80th General Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
“A Season of Prayer for Revival”—from June 12 through July 11—will feature daily prayers drawn from the Book of Common Prayer. Individuals can sign up online to receive the prayers and inspirational messages via email. The prayers will also be posted daily on the social media accounts of The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement.
“As we move toward and adapt to a shorter, smaller General Convention, I invite every Episcopalian—whether you’re in Baltimore or Alaska or Honduras, whether you’re a deputy, a bishop, or a new member sitting in the pews—I invite all of us to pause each day just for a moment to pray for the expansive, reviving power of the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds,” Curry said. “We are people of common prayer; may we embrace this season as an opportunity for us all to become a church that truly lives, looks, and loves like Jesus.” Learn more.
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General Convention Update
Joint Standing Committee and Executive Council approve recommendations
During a special May 11 meeting of the Executive Council, a Presiding Officers’ General Convention Design Group was appointed to make recommendations on how to hold a shorter, smaller, safer General Convention in Baltimore in July. The design group met May 17, 24, and 31, and made recommendations regarding convention dates and attendance; the shortened legislative process; and COVID-19 safety protocols.
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A message from the Rev. Anne Jolly, Standing Committee President
On June 4, the Rev. Anne Jolly, Standing Committee President, sent a message to clergy and lay heads of congregations, providing more detail and context for a Chicago Sun-Times story about the diocese's handling of clergy abuse allegations in 1990. Included in the message is a detailed timeline that reflects the pastoral and canonical response from Bishop Frank Griswold, bishop of Chicago at the time, and his staff. The letter and supporting links are available on the website.
Now, as then, the Diocese of Chicago takes allegations of sexual abuse very seriously. To make a confidential report about this situation or about any abuse or harassment that has happened within the church, please email Terri Bays, the intake officer for disciplinary matters, or call her at 574.233.6489. You can also make a confidential report of abuse to the Illinois Department of Child and Family Service’s Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE.
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March for Our Lives June 11, 2022
March for Our Lives is organizing marches against gun violence to take place on Saturday, June 11. Around the diocese, marches are happening in Chicago, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, Elgin, Highland Park, Palatine, and St. Charles. Find a march near you.
March for Our Lives is youth-led and its policies are informed by the perspectives of gun violence survivors and their families. Learn more.
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Chicago Pride Parade: March with the Diocese of Chicago
Sunday, June 26 at 12 pm
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Pride Celebrations Around the Diocese
Congregations participating in Pride celebrations outside of Chicago are invited to share their plans for future newsletters. Email Jen Boyle Tucker with dates, times and who to contact for more information.
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Camp Chicago Registration is Open
Get ready for the best week of the year!
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Camp Chicago is back for the summer of 2022 at Camp Stronghold in Oregon, Illinois and registration is now open for campers ages 7-15 and Leaders in Training (ages 16-17). Sessions are scheduled for the following weeks:
- Session 1: June 26 - July 1
- Session 2: July 3 - July 8
- Session 3: July 10 - July 15
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Memorial Service for the Very Rev. J. Robert Orpen, Jr. Thursday, June 9 at St. James Cathedral
A memorial service for the Very Rev. J. Robert (Bob) Orpen, Jr. will be held June 9 at 2 pm at St. James Cathedral. Bishop Chilton Knudsen will preside. Clergy are invited to vest and process (white stoles). A livestream of the service will be available on the cathedral website.
Orpen, a longtime priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, died on December 16 at the age of 100. A January memorial service was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Ordained in 1948, he served congregations in Nevada and New York before being called in 1958 as rector of The Episcopal Church of the Advent in Chicago, where he served for 27 years. Read his obituary.
Memorial service for the Rev. William G. Kruse on July 16 at St. Charles Episcopal Church
A memorial service for the Rev. William G. (Bill) Kruse, a retired priest of the diocese who died March 26, 2020, will be held Saturday, July 16 at 11 am at St. Charles Episcopal Church. A graduate of Seabury-Western Seminary, Kruse served in several congregations throughout the diocese and was chair of the Diocesan Hunger Taskforce. Read his obituary here.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
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By the grace of God and with the consent of the people of God, on Saturday, June 11 at 4 pm, the Rt. Reverend Chilton R. Knudsen, assisting bishop of Chicago, will ordain Qiana Johnson and Bradley Scott Osborn to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church at St. James Cathedral. A livestream of the service will be available on the cathedral website.
Clergy are invited to vest and process; festal color is red.
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By the grace of God and with the consent of the people of God, on Saturday, June 25 at 11 am, the Rt. Reverend Chilton R. Knudsen, assisting bishop of Chicago, will ordain William Olivier Bouvel and Barnabas Eliah Pusnur to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church at St. James Cathedral. A livestream of the service will be available on the cathedral website.
Clergy are invited to vest and process; festal color is red.
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Celebration of New Ministry |
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A Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. David Jackson and the people of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, La Grange will be held June 25 at 3 pm with a party and live music to follow. Clergy are invited to vest and process; festal color is white. RSVPs by email are appreciated but not required. The service will also be livestreamed; please see the website for details.
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An update from CPG leadership and CPG Board on June 16
Next month, General Convention will consider legislation related to the Church Pension Group (CPG) and will elect new members of The Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees (CPF Board). In advance of General Convention, CPG will host a virtual conversation with CPG's leadership, including members of the CPF Board on Thursday, June 16 from 11 am to noon. Learn more and register.
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Poor People's Campaign in Washington, DC
Episcopalians invited to gather June 18
Episcopalians are invited to gather the day before at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW, Washington, D.C.) for food, fellowship, prayer and preparation. For details and registration, click here.
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Province V Workshop: How to Start a Gun Violence Prevention Ministry
Wednesday, June 22, from 6-7 pm Central on Zoom
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EfM Recruiting for 2022-2023 Program Year
New listings added
Education for Ministry (EfM), a four-year adult formation program developed by the School of Theology at the University of the South, is recruiting for the 2022-2023 year. EfM provides lay people with a theological education that supports their faith and helps them to connect that faith to their daily lives. The facilitator-led program is flexible and portable, with groups meeting around the U.S. and globally.
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Mediation Skills Training
August 1-5 at St. Mark's, Glen Ellyn
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center will host a summer session of its Mediation Skills Training Institute (MSTI) for church leaders August 1-5 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. MSTI training helps clergy and lay leaders deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For more information contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507.
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CDC Guidelines for High Community Transmission
Several Illinois counties now in "high" community level
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Cook County Health Community Vaccination Sites |
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Free COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone 5 and up at locations across Cook County. Visit MyShotCookCounty.com to learn more.
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Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults
In December 2020, Illinois expanded Medicaid to provide health coverage to immigrant adults ages 65 and older. Now, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults expansion offers health care benefits to low-income immigrants ages 55 to 64. Enrollment for healthcare coverage for people ages 55+, regardless of immigration status, is now open. Learn more and apply online.
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Spring Publication Schedule |
From September through June we publish both a general email newsletter and Leadership News, a publication for lay leaders and clergy in the Diocese of Chicago, on alternate Wednesdays.
The deadline to submit items to be included is noon on the Tuesday before publication. Please send news about your congregation's ministry, mission and events to Jen Boyle-Tucker.
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