REGISTRATION FOR THE 65th ANNUAL CONVENTION IS OPEN

The 65th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas will be held October 20-21, 2023 at the Frazier Alumni Pavillion on the Texas Tech campus. The theme of this year's Convention is THEY KINGDOM COME. The Rt. Rev. Rayford High will be the preacher at the opening Eucharist.

Registration as a lay delegate, warden, ex-officio member or voting clergy is $150.00 per person with a deadline of October 10, 2023. After that, the fee increases to $175.00.

Registration for alternate delegates, visitors, and non-voting clergy will be $75.00 per person until October 10th. After that, the fee increases to $100.00.

For more information regarding registering online, please contact the Bishop's office at 806.763.1370 or email Anna Mora ([email protected]) or Elizabeth Jones ([email protected]).

To register, click here: https://form.jotform.com/231016176923149

SEEKING VENDORS FOR DIOCESAN CONVENTION

Currently, we are looking for vendors and exhibitors for convention and would love participation and suggestions from the diocese. If you would like to advertise or showcase a ministry going on in your parish or in the diocese, please consider tabling. Likewise, if you have a group in your church that would like to sell anything in order to fundraise (like t-shirts, icons, prayer beads, jewelry, or stickers), please feel free to join us as a vendor. There is no fee associated with being a vendor except the small fee required to register as a guest.  If you would like to sign up to be a vendor, click the following link to fill out an application: https://form.jotform.com/232415628941054.

If you know of a local vendor not associated with the Episcopal Church that might be interested in participating from your area, please let us know. We would love to support our local craftspeople and artisans. Please send your ideas to me at [email protected] and I will reach out to them. Or feel free to have them contact me.

Churches are encouraged to share this information through Facebook, email, and announcements on Sunday morning so that we can get as much participation as possible. If you have any questions about participating as a vendor at convention, please feel free to contact me via text or phone at 575-631-5345 or email at [email protected]. 

Thank you for helping to make this year's convention a wonderful event!

SOM BEGINS AGAIN

By Jim Haney

"The purpose of the School of Ordained Ministry in the Diocese of Northwest Texas (SOM) is to provide a quality theological education for the formation of priests and deacons. It focuses this education on talented students, who for various reasons cannot attend a residential seminary." 

After a 2-year hiatus, SOM has begun again with a new group of 5 students who gathered the last weekend in August at the Hulsey Episcopal Center in Lubbock to begin/continue their theological education.

Even though SOM is beginning afresh, 2 of the students already have a year of study under their belts. Alan Kee from St. Andrew's, Amarillo had studied one year with a previous class of SOM before having to pull back for professional reasons. He is now engaged in finishing his remaining two years. Also, last year Joe Biles from Heavenly Rest, Abilene spent a year commuting to SOM's mother program, the Iona School for Ministry in the Diocese of Texas at Camp Allen, about halfway between College Station and Houston. Alan and Joe are the class of 2025. 

Brand new students are Jack Dupy from St. Matthew’s, Pampa, Monica Hart from St. Andrew’s, Amarillo and Bikole Mulanda from Heavenly Rest, Abilene. They comprise the class of 2026

The dioceses of Texas and Northwest Texas, along with 32 other dioceses are part of the Iona Collaborative, a program of the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. Thus, more than a third of the dioceses in the Episcopal Church have a local clergy training program under the umbrella of Iona. Though each of the 34 diocesan schools is independent, we all use resources generated by the Seminary of the Southwest, including lectures by their faculty. In addition, the leaders of these schools meet periodically via Zoom and occasionally in-person to share best practices and locally generated resources with each other.  

My thumbnail sketch is that the Iona program provides the breadth of a seminary education, though because of limitations of part-time versus full-time students, it is not able to equal the depth. Nevertheless I am continually amazed at the way this program is able to deliver resources to enable people to have a quality theological education without attending seminary.

In our diocese, we gather Friday evenings through Sunday afternoons for 10 monthly weekend sessions from August through May each year for three academic years. On Fridays, we study either homiletics (preaching) or liturgics (worship). On Saturday mornings and afternoons, we have a rotating curriculum spending one year each in the main subject areas: holy scripture, church history, and theology & ethics. All of these classes are led by our two mentors, me and Fr. Jared Houze from St. Andrew's, Amarillo. 

On Saturday evenings, we have rotating guest faculty who deal with a wide variety of topics, many of them involved with practical aspects of ministry. On Sunday mornings the students make site visits together and worship with various congregations. Because of geographical limitations, the Lubbock Episcopal Churches are in heavy rotation. However, during the church history year, the students visit a wide array of other denominations as we move through studying the rise of various flavors and forms of Christianity. On Sunday afternoons the students meet again at the Hulsey Center with Dr. Dann Wigner to debrief the worship experience, and to spend time on various topics in spirituality.

In addition to academics and site visits, we participate in a regular variety of services during our time together, praying Morning, Noonday, & Evening Prayer, and Compline every weekend. The students take turns preaching at various services. And we share time together as a small Christian community.  

Since 2013 there have been 16 graduates of SOM who have faithfully and ably served this church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas and beyond. And if you are contemplating a possible call to ordained ministry but can't contemplate attending seminary, talk to your rector—SOM may be a good fit for you!

STYLISH EPISCOPAL SHIRTS -

SUPPORT CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CAMPUS MINISTRY

Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry has designed a number of cool shirts, coffee mugs, and journals that are all Episcopal themed. Y'all! This is a big deal! Not only are these designs beautiful, but they also help to show off our amazing church! Each design comes in a number of sizes, colors, and styles. All purchases benefit the programs and ministry of Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry at TTU. Check out our online store below (please be patient as it takes a moment to load):

Does your church have stuff that you just don't use anymore but that you think might be useful to another church in the diocese? We have created a Facebook group so that you can now share all that extra stuff with churches in the diocese. This Facebook group is called "Northwest Texas Church Swap." It can be accessed here.

You can use this Facebook group to share items like vestments, office products, dishes, books, appliances, supplies, tools, or other material that you want to get rid of. Think of this group as a type of Craig's List or Facebook Marketplace for our diocese.  

You can also use this page to ask other churches in the diocese about items that may be available. For example, your church may be looking for a thurible, so you can post on this page to see if other churches have an extra thurible laying around.  

Make sure to join the group so that you can see what items other churches have available. Joining the group will add this group's postings into your regular Facebook feed so that you can see any new items that become available.

To keep up-to-date on diocesan news, check out our website or follow us on Facebook!

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE TAMASHA CELEBRATION AT HEAVENLY REST, ABILENE

On Sunday, October 1 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest will host the third annual Tamasha la wa Afrika (“Celebration of Africa”), a festival of African music, culture, and cuisine. The theme of this year’s Tamasha is “Njoo uone” (“Come and See”).

This event will feature music from Heavenly Rest’s own “Alleluia Choir,” along with special guests from throughout the African community in Texas. The festival will also include traditional East African food, as well as cultural demonstrations from members of the Heavenly Rest congregation.

For more than a decade, Abilene has been home to a growing population of refugees and other newcomers from East Africa. Tamasha la wa Afrika is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this community, celebrate their culture, and acknowledge their contribution to Abilene.

For more information, contact David Romanik at Heavenly Rest: 325-677-2091 or [email protected]

The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest is dedicated to serving and creating community by proclaiming the good news of God’s love for all.

EMMANUEL CHOIR MASTER - CANTOR AT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

On July 20, Landon Gilmore was cantor at the Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England. Landon is currently the choir master at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in San Angelo. Congratulations to Landon for this amazing accomplishment. To pray this beautiful service along with Landon, click here.

BECOMING AN FBI CHAPLAIN

by Fr. Bob Hennagin

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for law enforcement. I guess I wanted to be a policeman when I was little. Perhaps it was an unfulfilled dream that led me, in 2001, to accept a position as a volunteer chaplain for the Lee County, Florida Sheriff’s Office. It was a wonderful addition to my parish ministry. I rode with deputies, prayed with SWAT teams, ministered at traffic fatalities and other unexpected deaths. I gave last rites to fallen officers and all the pastoral things pastors do.

After leaving Florida, it was several years before I arrived in Midland, Texas. Last year I was asked to become a volunteer chaplain for the FBI. It never occurred to me that the FBI would have chaplains, but they do, and have had for over 30 years. We (there are about 150 of us) are a part of the Employee Assistance Program of the agency. We are available to agents and support staff, and their families, to be a confidential set of ears to hear personal concerns, discuss spiritual questions, and offer any support we can, especially in times of crisis or trauma. We also provide ceremonial support such as invocations and benedictions at Bureau events.

I have found chaplaincy to be a very meaningful addition to my role as a parish priest. It’s different than what I do at church. It shows me a broader range of opportunities, and I know I have grown as a priest and as a person.

Most law enforcement agencies and fire departments have chaplains. If you like truly being with people in times of crisis and trauma, you may want to reach out and see if a local agency needs you. If you do, I know you will make a difference in somebody’s life as well as make your community a better place.

Bob Hennagin is rector of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity in Midland, Texas

TRUCKIN' AT ST. ANDREWS, AMARILLO

by Mtr. Miriam Scott

Good music and good food with good people. In a nutshell this is Truckin’ at St. Andrew’s during the summer. For the third year in a row now, we get together once a month during the summer period of June, July, and August. We have live music featuring local artists. One month we might have Blue Grass Country, the next an 80's Cover Band. And if you know St. Andrew’s even a little, then you know there is dancing! The food also supports local businesses: We invite food trucks (hence the name Truckin’) to park across the blocked off street from our campus. Local vendors also set up shops here and on campus, selling everything from books to homemade jelly. St. Andrew’s t-shirts are available and there is a tie-dye station for those who like to get creative. Other activities and games, especially water games in the Texas heat keep the children entertained. This event is open to one and all and it is advertised in a local magazine. Aside from supporting local musicians and other businesses, we also highlight and collect monies for a local cause at these community events. This summer we collected for flood victims in Hereford, Texas. 

Good music, good food with good people. It’s a simple and effective recipe for community building. Not only the community of St. Andrew’s itself, but the wider community of Amarillo with our church. We are glad for this and many other creative endeavors of our rector Father Jared Houze. At St. Andrew’s we are One Bread, One Cup, One Love.  

Love and Grace,

Mtr Miriam   

DR. DANN WIGNER PUBLISHES NEW SPIRITUALITY BOOK

Dr. Dann Wigner, a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Lubbock and husband of Canterbury chaplain Mtr. Leann Wigner, recently published a new book entitled Word Song: A Mystical Theology. This book revives an old theological format, the sayings theology, in order to facilitate non-discursive thinking and experiences in both individual and group spiritual direction settings. Christian interest in non-discursive, or nondual, spirituality is on the rise. Interested Christians are often utilizing non-dual texts that originate from other religious traditions. While these other texts are entirely serviceable as far as they go, what about a text that is crafted from the mystical theology located within the Christian tradition itself. A Christian sayings theology has as its goal to cause one to pause and reflect, which opens the door to invite in non-discursive thinking. This theology is an explicitly mystical theology, rather than an analytic or systemic theology, because it is not about stating logically what Christians believe about God; it is about meeting God through reflection. As a result, these sayings raise questions more than settle them, creating an openness to meet God. It is this openness which is the most characteristic mark of a mystical theology.

Dann teaches religious studies classes at the university level and has offered workshops, seminars, and one-on-one direction in Christian contemplation. He has also written a number of books including Just Begin: A Sourcebook of Spiritual Practices and Thinking Spiritually in Small Groups: The Practice of Mystical Reflection.

LUBBOCK VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

St. Paul's, St. Stephen's, and St. Christopher's in Lubbock participated in a community wide VBS this July. All three churches helped with food, crafts, and teaching, and the event was hosted by St. Paul's. Enjoy the pictures of this event below. Photo Credit: Maddy Barnes.

MTR. ASHLEY COLLEY PRESENTED WITH CHILDREN'S STOLE

On June 25, Mother Ashley, curate at Holy Trinity in Midland, was presented with her first children’s stole. It depicts the creation story with handprints, foot prints, and finger painting. The stole was a gift to celebrate Mtr. Ashley's one year anniversary as a priest.

BISHOP MAYER VISITS CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, SAN ANGELO

On August 20, 2023, Bishop Mayer visited Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo, TX. Enjoy the picture of the service below.

Would you like to highlight any news or happenings at your church?

Click here to tell us about it.

Check out the ministries below to see how your apportionments are changing lives and making a difference in our diocese. If you would like to see your congregation's 2023 apportionment amount, click here.

Youth News

Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator

EYE AND CAMP HIGHLIGHTS

EYE- July 4^th found 4 youth from around the diocese and two sponsors meeting at the Lubbock airport to head to Baltimore for EYE. EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) is the once every three year gathering of youth in grades 9-12 that meet for powerful worship, learning, fellowship, fun, and, of course, little sleep. 

Cale Neighbors from Emmanuel, San Angelo; Emily Brumley from Heavenly Rest, Abilene; Colby Lehanse from Holy Trinity, Midland; and Ryne Sanders from Grace, Vernon, along with Jimmy Haney, St. Paul’s and Renee Haney, St. Paul’s attend the four day event.  There were clergy, lay adults and youth who led the many workshops, services, and music from around the Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, was able to join us and preached at one of the services.

We headed home from Baltimore and had a little time before… we headed to Camp Quarterman 2023!

Camp Quarterman was held at Ceta Glen near Happy Texas, for the older camp. We had a stellar staff, clergy and volunteers to share the ministry of God’s love. The theme for the week was “I Came Down from Heaven”: The Incarnation. Our lessons were led by Mother Miriam Scott, from St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Father Jim Haney, St. Paul’s, Lubbock and Brother Jimmy Haney, St. Paul’s Lubbock. And thanks to Bishop Scott for joining us at camp!

We are so thankful to have had Kenda Fawell, Caroline Asquith, Kyndall Litchfield, Katie Franklin, Amanda Franklin, Holly Wrampelmeier, Josh Fawell, Jaret Fawell, Link Andrews and Justin Sanders as part of this awesome team.

We shared and learned the way God is especially present with us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Camp Quarterman Jr. was cancelled this year, due to COVID among staff. The clergy who were going to serve at this camp were Father Bryan Callen, from St. Stephen’s Sweetwater and All Saints’ Colorado City; and Mother Leann Wigner, Chaplain at Canterbury Ministries Lubbock. We were also excited to have Nancy Flanders, St. Richard’s, Round Rock, and Dann Wigner, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, who were also going to join us for this week. We are sorry we had to cancel, but it was done for the safety and health of all. 

We are beginning our second decade of Camp Quarterman on the road. Looking forward to gathering with our youth and team next summer!  

If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please contact Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator and Camp Director at 806-445-3667 or [email protected].

Click HERE to be included on our mailing list to stay connected. Follow us on Facebook at DNWTX Youth Program for more information.

Canterbury at Texas Tech

Mtr. Leann Wigner, Canterbury Chaplain

CANTERBURY'S SUMMER RETREAT

This summer, Canterbury went on a retreat to the hill country. Between May 28 and June 4, Canterbury stayed at an Air B&B in Center Point, Texas, just outside of Kerrville. Our Air B&B was located on the Guadalupe River, which provided a nice and relaxing location to delve into our retreat topic: "Finding Our True Selves in God." Fr. Rick Lopez from St. John's/San Juan and St. Barnabas' in Odessa, Mtr. Rachel Petty from St. Christopher's in Lubbock, Dann Wigner from St. Stephen's in Lubbock, and Deacon Tammy Breitbarth and Ileana Jennings from St. Andrew's in Amarillo helped with the retreat by teaching numerous spiritual practices during the trip. While in the Hill Country, the group visited Enchanted Rock State Park, Fredericksburg, and the River Walk in San Antonio, but the group spent most of our time relaxing at the Air B&B, cooking together, singing together, praying together, and playing in the river.

We would like to thank all the people who made this retreat possible. Thank you all for your prayers and your generous support of our many fundraisers.

Enjoy the pictures of our retreat below:

If you have any questions, please contact Mtr. Leann Wigner, Chaplain at Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry at Texas Tech at 575-631-5345 or [email protected].

The full events calendar can be found on our website.

More Episcopal Church news can be found here.

Other Opportunities

Discipleship for Everyday Churches

September 5 at 2:30pm ET

Click here to find out more.

Advertising and Event/Opportunities Promotion

Wednesday, September 6

Click here to find out more.

Worship Leader Training

September 10-November 4, 2023

Click here to find out more.

Understanding Addiction and Supporting Recovery: Strategies & Tools

September 10-November 4, 2023

Click here to find out more.

Church IT 101

Thursday, September 14

Click here to find out more.

Giving Beyond Cash: Encouraging Creative Gift Making with Complex Assets

September 20 at 12 noon ET / 9 am PT

Click here to find out more.

Stories that Wound, Stories that Heal with Brian McLaren

Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 10am– 11:30am PT

Click here to find out more.

Drinking from Poetry’s Well

October 10-12, 2023

Click here to find out more.

Awakening Soul: Wisdom of the Ages

November 2-5, 2023

Click here to find out more.

Solidarity and Compassion with Dr. Barbara Holmes  

Click here to find out more.

2023 Bible Lands Cruises

Click here to find out more.

2023 Holy Land Journeys

Click here to find out more.

Clergy Housing Allowance Online Course

Click here to find out more.

Did you know that you can buy Texas Tech tickets at a group rate?

If you are interested, contact Carson Fuchs at 806-834-4977 or [email protected].

Did you know Google offers churches a $10,000/mo ad grant?

You could recruit more volunteers, attract more donations and build a community with people from all over the globe. Take the quiz to find out if you're eligible. Click here for more information.

Communications reminders and resources for clergy and staff in the

Diocese of Northwest Texas.

Diocesan Support

Do you need help understanding how to navigate church communications?

Do you need help figuring out your website or Facebook page? If you need help with your communications needs, contact us!

The Rev. Leann Wigner

Diocesan Communications Coordinator

Call or Text: 575-631-5345

[email protected]

"Sparking Joy" in Your Faith

Serving Congregations Sustainably



Uncovering Hidden Treasure

Stewardship in a Box

Episcopal Public Policy Network Fall Newsletter

General Convention August Newsletter



An Asset-based Approach to Engaging Church and Community



House of Deputies July Newsletter

The Bible and Homosexuality

‘Roundtables on Race’ Podcast

Book: A Eucharist-Shaped Church: Prayer, Theology, Mission

Maybe The Source Of My Problems Cannot Also Be The Solution To My Problems

Gaychurch.org

Caring for a Facility: You Don't Know What You Don't Know

Do Not Look Away

Critical Missions: Stabilizing and Supporting Small Congregations



UTO August Newsletter

Mobilizing Buildings

Learning to Waste Time

God be in my heart

The Episcopal Church and Indigenous Land Acknowledgements



Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas

Attn: Leann Wigner

Canterbury Chaplain & Communications Coordinator

1802 Broadway

Lubbock, Texas 79401

806-763-1370

[email protected]

[email protected]