Combined eNewsletter | September 21, 2022
 
Welcome to the Diocese of Chicago email newsletter. Please forward this email to your congregation and colleagues and invite them to sign up.
Churchwide and Diocesan News
The Ordination and Consecration of the Rev. Paula E. Clark as the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago was held September 17 at the Westin Hotel in Lombard. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was the chief consecrating bishop.

Bishops Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of Indianapolis, Kimberly Lucas of Colorado, Deon Johnson of Missouri, and Douglas Sparks of Northern Indiana served as co-consecrators, along with Bishop Yehiel Curry of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Bishop Chilton Knudsen, who served as Chicago’s assisting bishop from last September until Monday. See a photo album and read about the service in Episcopal News Service.

More than 800 people attended the service, at which masks were required to limit the spread of COVID, and 560 people watched a livestream. Watch a video of the service and download the order of service.
The Seating of the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago
Bishop Clark was seated at St. James Cathedral on September 18 during the 11 am Eucharist. During the service, Dean Dominic Barrington welcomed the new bishop to the cathedral and installed her in the cathedra, the ceremonial seat of the bishop. Watch a recording of the service and see a photo album on Facebook.
A Farewell Message From Bishop Chilton Knudsen

Bishop Chilton Knudsen concluded her time as assisting bishop on Monday and sent this farewell letter to the people of the diocese.

To God’s Beloved in the Diocese of Chicago,

Over a year ago, the Presiding Bishop’s Office, through Bishop Todd Ousley, contacted me to ask if I would come to the Diocese of Chicago to serve as an assisting bishop. I would fill in while your Bishop-elect, Paula Clark, continued her rehab and prepared to be consecrated your diocesan bishop.

This homecoming felt right to me. Chicago was my sponsoring diocese in the ordination process. My first two congregations were here. Bishop Frank Griswold called me to his staff and for more than 10 years I was canon for pastoral care. I was elected bishop of Maine from here.
Episcopal Relief & Development Providing Hurricane Aid

As Hurricane Fiona continues its destructive path across the Caribbean, Episcopal Relief & Development is working with Episcopal and Anglican partners in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos to support relief and recovery in the days and weeks to come.

If you are able, please give generously to Episcopal Relief & Development's Hurricane Relief Fund to support the work ahead.
News from the Union of Black Episcopalians Chicago Chapter
New president, fall schedule announced

The Union of Black Episcopalians Bishop Quintin E. Primo chapter (UBE) has announced a leadership transition. Ida Butler, a lay leader from St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Palatine, will serve as president, following the Rev. Shawn Evelyn's move to the Diocese of Washington. Butler will serve alongside the Rev. Jihan Murray-Smith, vice president, and the Rev. Conrad Selnick, treasurer.
The UBE Chapter fall schedule includes a monthly chapter meeting October 25 on Zoom; a tour of Holy Family Ministries Chapel and lunch on November 16; and the monthly chapter meeting and Christmas Party at St. Thomas, Chicago on December 4. Learn more.
Sanctuary Diocese Task Force Supports Migrants Arriving in Chicago
Urgent need for volunteers continues

An Episcopal church on Martha's Vineyard made headlines this week after taking in 48 migrants who were unexpectedly dropped off on the island. For almost two days, the small parish provided shelter to the migrants, many of whom spoke little or no English and did not know where they were.

In Chicago, volunteer organizations, including the Diocese of Chicago Sanctuary Task Force, are working together to meet the urgent needs of several hundred men, women, teenagers, children, and infants that have been bussed to Chicago by Texas Governor Abbott. To help, individuals and congregations can email the Rev. Sandra Castillo with their contact information.
Application Process Open for 2023 Vitality Grants
Applications due October 28

The Congregations Commission is now accepting applications for 2023 vitality grants. All congregations, regardless of parish or mission status, may apply for a grant, and applications are due on October 28. Grants are intended to help congregations become more faithful, healthy, and effective, and priority is given to congregations with demonstrated financial need.

To apply, please complete the application form in English or Spanish, and submit to Louisa McKellaston by October 28. Email submission is strongly encouraged. Funding decisions are expected to be announced by November 18.
Province V Dismantling Racism Network Gathering in the Diocese of Ohio 
Deadline to register extended to September 23

The Province V Dismantling Racism Network will host a provincial gathering of conveners and leaders October 31- November 2 at Bellwether Farm in the Diocese of Ohio. Building on the ongoing work of the Dismantling Racism Network, this event will give leaders tools, resources, and time to share best practices.

The cost for lodging and meals is $290 per person, with the Diocese of Ohio covering ancillary expenses. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. To participate, please fill out this application by September 23.
For more information contact Margaret D’Anieri, convener of the Dismantling Racism Network.
Leaving Home: Immigration Through the Eyes of Children
October 10-12 in Arizona

The Episcopal Migration Ministry Asylum & Detention Ministry Network will offer a new, immersive retreat next month. Leaving Home: Immigration Through the Eyes of Children, October 10-12, at Episcopal Church of the Apostles in Oro Valley, Arizona, is focused on the impact of migration on children and families and the ways in which Episcopalians are called to welcome and engage community action. Learn more and register.
The College for Congregational Development Fall Training
October 9-14 in Woodstock

The College for Congregational Development (CCD) program returns this fall. The CCD Year B week-long training will be held Sunday, October 9 through Friday, October 14, at the Loyola Retreat and Ecology Campus in Woodstock, Illinois. Learn more about the program.

Online registration for the October program is now open. Please note: local COVID-19 health guidance and safety measures will be followed.
62nd Annual Episcopal Charities Gala
October 14 at Union Station

The 62nd Annual Episcopal Charities Gala will be held October 14 at 6 pm at Union Station. The event will honor the new ministry of Bishop Clark and offer an opportunity to celebrate together in person after two years of virtual events.

This year, Episcopal Charities is offering tickets at a range of donation levels. Learn more and register.
2023 Open Enrollment Period for Health & Dental Benefits

For organizations participating in diocesan healthcare and dental benefits, the open enrollment period will be from October 26 to November 16. This is the time of the year when you may add employees and/or dependents that have not been covered previously and who wish to enroll without having to fill out a Statement of Health.
  
  
  
Please share this email and the attachments with your wardens, treasurers and anyone that needs to be aware of these new rates and contact Anna Stefaniak with any questions.
Clergy News
Celebration of New Ministry
with the Rev. Trey Garland
Thursday, September 29

A Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Trey Garland and the people of St. Paul's by the Lake in Chicago will be held September 29 at 7 pm. Garland began his ministry at St. Paul's by the Lake in December 2021. Clergy are invited to vest and process (choir dress or white stoles).
Clergy Transition

The Rev. Wes Smedley has been called to serve Saint Leonard’s Ministries as its chaplain and mission/strategic advancement manager. Saint Leonard’s Ministries is a 68-year old Episcopal organization on the Near West Side of Chicago that provides holistic and life-changing supports for men and women impacted by the carceral system.

Congregations and individuals interested in restorative justice efforts and re-entry ministries with formerly incarcerated men and women can contact Smedley by email.
Clergy & Seminarians Invited to Rummage Pre-Sale
October 5 at Christ Church, Winnetka

Clergy and seminarians are invited to shop on Pre-Sale Day at Christ Church, Winnetka's 98th Annual Rummage Sale. Pre-Sale Day is Wednesday, October 5; clergy and seminarians are invited to shop between 12:30 and 3 pm. The standard 25% mark-up will apply and pre-sale guests should come to the church office to receive a name tag before shopping. Email rummage@christchurchwinnetka.org for more information.
Save the Dates: Clergy Conference 
February 5-7 in Woodstock

In light of an exceptionally busy fall in the diocese, Bishop Clark has scheduled the annual Clergy Conference for February 5-7 at the Loyola Retreat Center in Woodstock. As in previous years, the retreat will begin with a clergy appreciation dinner the evening of February 5. The retreat program will take place February 6 through the morning of February 7. Please watch for more details and registration information to come.
Diocesan Convention News
185th Annual Diocesan Convention

The 185th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago will be held Saturday, November 19 as a virtual gathering on Zoom. Convention is the annual business meeting of the diocese, during which we elect leaders, consider resolutions and hear reports from across the diocese and the wider church.

Voting participants at convention include the canonically resident clergy of the diocese and lay delegates elected from each congregation. All voting will be conducted electronically.

General attendees and visitors are invited to observe the proceedings online on YouTube, and no registration is needed.

Please watch for convention updates in upcoming newsletters and on the website.
What's New: Streamlined Certification & Registration
Online forms due September 30 for clergy and lay delegates

Delegates must be certified to have voice and vote at convention. This year, a new certification form for lay delegates and campus ministries eliminates the need for separate registration and accepts electronic signatures. Delegate certifications are due by September 30 and can be completed online using the following links:



Clergy registration has been simplified to one form that should be completed by all canonically resident clergy to confirm participation or request an excused absence.
Call for Nominations, Resolutions, and Reports
Submissions due to the Secretary of Convention by September 30

At convention, members of the Standing Committee, the Bishop and Trustees, the Cathedral Chapter, and diocesan deputies to General Convention will be elected. View an overview of the elected offices in English and Spanish. Nomination forms, available in English and Spanish, are due by September 30 to the Secretary of Convention.

Resolutions to be considered at convention must follow a prescribed format and must be received by September 30. Download the guidelines for submitting resolutions in English and Spanish and submit to the Secretary of Convention.

Each year the commissions, committees, and task forces of the diocese submit annual reports to Diocesan convention. Reports are due to the Secretary of Convention by September 30.
Call for Convention Memorials

As is our tradition, we will remember those who have died in the last year in the convention necrology. Please submit the names of those in your congregation who have died since the 2021 Diocesan Convention to the Secretary of Convention by All Saints Day, November 1. 
Learning Opportunities
Bishop Anderson House Retreat
for Spiritual Caregivers
September 24 at St. Mary's, Park Ridge

On September 24, from 8:30 am-1:30 pm, Bishop Anderson House will offer a retreat for spiritual caregivers at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Park Ridge. Led by Deacon Laurie Michaels, this retreat experience offers a gentle invitation to step out of the daily routine for spiritual refreshment and holy conversation, focusing on the themes of healing and wholeness. The cost is $35, with morning refreshments and a box lunch included. Learn more and register.
Come Away to a Quiet Place: Finding Spiritual Resilience in Difficult Times
Episcopal Church Women retreat October 21-23

The Episcopal Church Women of Chicago Fall Retreat will be held October 21-23 as a hybrid event at DeKoven Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, and online. The retreat, led by the Rev. Eileen Shanley-Roberts, will introduce participants to several methods of Christian meditation and provide time for fellowship, individual prayer, meditation, and worship. Learn more and register.
"LOST and Faith" Evening Hybrid Series Hosted by Grace New Lenox
Dinner & discussion series begins September 29

Beginning September 29, Grace, New Lenox is hosting a six-part evening course examining the spiritual and religious allegory and influence of the hit TV series LOST (2004-10), led by the Rev. Greg Millikin. Participants are invited to join on Zoom or in-person to walk through highlights of episodes of each season of the series together. The course will take place each successive Thursday night, from September 29-November 3, from 6:30-8:30 pm. RSVP.

For Zoom participants, a link will be sent out each week, and everyone is welcome from any congregation in the diocese and invited to bring friends. For those who would like to participate in person, the group will gather in the Parish Hall for dinner, presentation, and discussion.
Around the Diocese
Becoming Beloved Community Interfaith Panel
Thursday, September 22 at Church of the Holy Spirit

On Thursday, September 22 at 6 pm, Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest will host an interfaith panel to discuss what it means to be Beloved Community. Guest speakers are the Rev. Dr. Nathanial Warne, Hazim Fazlic, and Rabbi Evan Moffic. For more information contact Jihan Murray-Smith or Max Smith.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life
of Queen Elizabeth II
Saturday, September 24 at St. James Cathedral

In collaboration with the British Consulate General in Chicago, St. James Cathedral will hold a service of thanksgiving for the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday, September 24 at 11 am. All are invited to attend; the service will be livestreamed.
Fall Pet Blessing
Saturday, October 1 at St. Martin's, Des Plaines

On Saturday, October 1 at noon, the Pet Ministry of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Des Plaines will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with an outdoor pet blessing and raffle. Learn more.
The Choristers of Saint Thomas Church
Saturday, October 8 at St. James Cathedral

The treble choristers of the Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue Choir of Men and Boys will perform at St. James Cathedral on Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 pm. Led by Dr. Jeremy Filsell, the choristers will perform old and new pieces of the Anglican tradition featuring Ives, Fauré, Rorem, and Archer. Learn more and purchase tickets.
Reminders
IDPH Encourages New Bivalent Booster Shots
20 Illinois counties now in "high" community level
With 20 counties in the state at an elevated level for COVID-19, on Friday the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) urged all who are eligible to take advantage of the new bivalent booster shots that have been authorized by the CDC.

The CDC recommends a number of measures for people in areas that are rated at High Community Level for COVID-19 transmission. Learn more online.
 
As a reminder, the diocesan COVID-19 advisory team recommends that congregational teams continue to meet regularly, monitor local conditions, and make changes as necessary. Read the February 16 letter to the diocese from Standing Committee President Anne Jolly in English and Spanish.
Job Openings
Visit the website for a full list of clergy openings and lay employee openings. 
Fall 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. Today's issue is a special combined issue to celebrate Bishop Clark's ordination and consecration.

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.