Let us Walk Together

Life of a Bishop...

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

I invite you to undying hope, unbeatable trust, and caring love. We can face everything in our world if we hold each other in prayer, kindness, and love. Mercy should flow from our hearts as much as we live justly. But nothing is possible, and in fact it's the precursor of a fall, when we don't walk humbly. So, today, as you read this second letter facing the dragons of fear and anxiety as a small church, we are to live in the hope that even the dragons can be beaten with resilience and patience. Together we will learn to fly with the dragons, learning to do the impossible. Have the patience and resilience to not just react therefore slaying the dragon, but to move forward with intention to learn to fly. We are called to walk humbly with God to achieve God's plan for us incrementally and deliberately.

We are blessed with gifted people among us. The challenge for a bishop is finding the right people for the right job, as he or she is not active, unlike a clergy in the local community, meeting them Sunday after Sunday. Finding gifted people, and those who feel called to ministry in the larger church takes time, and relationship building aided by the clergy and senior wardens in our churches. There is more than finding the right people to do the right thing in the right place. It requires a bishop to share clearly what that will look like in the local context and help them fulfill their calling without coercion or untrue cajoling. We are all called to ministry. Many of us don't know what that is. My joy is in finding the right person to fulfill their calling.

As you read the stories of people who have come forward to grow together, keep in mind that these are exceptional leaders among us, willing to do what it takes us to move forward into a vibrant future.

They Have Learned to Fly with The Dragons!

Fr. Larry Spier - Combined Ministry

Fr. Larry Spier has done an amazing ministry at St. David's in Caldwell. However, God is calling him to make a larger impact in Idaho. The Discernment to arrive this decision took months of conversations between Faith Lutheran and St. James Episcopal in Mountain Home. But that was not all of it. We had several face to face meetings, exchanges of emails and phone calls between the Bishop and staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and The Episcopal Bishop and Canon to the Ordinary. If not for the grace and goodness of several congregations, members of each of these churches, this ministry by Fr. Larry Spier will not be possible. Negotiations and contracts had to be implemented to avoid unnecessary complications and hard feelings later. These are not merely administrative work, these are relationship building moments between different religious communities and churches.

Amy Hoppock - Vocation Missioner

Amy Hoppock is second from the left on the banner above. For a long time, I hoped to find someone to help those on the ordination track to talk to when they are anxious or do not know the next step. Amy, a gifted spiritual director from St. Michael's, volunteered to do just that. In our conversation we learned a lot about how to alleviate the fears of our growing number of seminarians, and help their path to ordained ministry. Grateful for her service.

Jamie Jamtaas - Web Master for St. David's

The third in the banner is Jamie, a member of St. David's who has come forward to maintain the Website for their church. She moved to Caldwell from Washington in 2017 and her husband James, and their three kids, Angelia (17), Addyson (10), and Hunter (7) moved in 2020 and now faithful in worship and ministry at St. David's.

Fr. Bill Brown - Priest-in-Charge

Fr. Bill Brown doesn't need any introduction. However, after serving almost 23 years in McCall, at the camp and then at St. Andrew's, he is now back in the Boise area to continue his ministry. As you can imagine, Fr. Bill's ministry demands a beautiful ending at McCall. As much as I am grateful to Fr. Bill, I am also grateful to the folks at St. Andrew's for working with me to celebrate Fr. Bill's ministry appropriately before he leaves that congregation at the end of March. Now that Fr. Bill is back in Boise he will continue his ministry on finance committee and also will supply at St. David's in Caldwell.

Joseph Spielman - Minister of Compline

The fifth person on the banner up top is Joseph (Joe) Spielman, a long-time faithful member of St. David's in Caldwell. I worked with Joe, and for three months, he faithfully practiced praying online without anyone joining him and mastered the art of doing nightly compline well. So, if you are on Facebook around 9 pm, hop on to the Diocesan Facebook page or mine. When you see the prayer, you can type your name and prayer request in the comment section, and Joe will acknowledge you and pray for your intention. It is a growing ministry. We started with two people; now, we average about 40 people an evening. Be united each night in prayer, and share the good news with your friends, and family.

Paradise Point Thanksgiving Dinner

With the help of the Paradise Point Staff, Corrine Bush, and Steve Smith, we hosted a Paradise Point thank you dinner at Holy Nativity. The gathering was to thank our generous donors for their kindness and love of Paradise Point Camp. We had over 35 people who came for the dinner. It was also a time to renew our faith and rejoice in God's outstanding work among us. The food prepared by Corrine and Steve and their volunteer crew was terrific. Bishop's Executive Assistant, Renee Rohman, and Megan Kittridge worked hard to make it successful. The people at Holy Nativity allowed us to have this gathering in their space, and we are grateful.

Even more impressive is each participant's thirst for hearing how God works among us, being alive within and leading us forward. Those in attendance had questions about the camp's future, including finances, capital campaign, hopes, and dreams. They also expressed a realistic expectation of what lies ahead. Sharing a meal and hearing each other's stories were powerful and the experience was meaningful. Now it is time to check out the camp website to send kids there in the summer. Please contribute to the daily running of this ministry.

Spring 2024 House Of Bishops

In the Spring and Fall, the House of Bishops meets to renew friendships, grow spiritually, do business, talk about the changing world around us, and then also have a day or two to pray and relax. These are beneficial days as Bishops remain isolated in their dioceses without a colleague to talk to or share concerns with.

Usually, these meetings are led by the Presiding Bishop. However, this time, due to the PB's health concerns, the gathering was organized by a planning team appointed by the PB. We talked about the future of the church, the next presiding bishop, the 81st General Convention, our hopes and dreams for the church in ten years, accountability, holiness, prayer, and more. These meetings help us draw from the collective wisdom of seasoned and long-term bishops and the energy and enthusiasm of newer ones in the house.

I am also appointed to the General Convention Committee on "Safety, Wellness, and Mental Health." This calls for additional meetings and deliberations on these issues that affect our churches across the world. We are a group of 21 Bishops and Deputies from across the country.

St. Luke's Health System and the Bishop's Role

The image above is of St. Luke's health system in Boise. This healthcare system was founded by the Episcopal Church in 1902. The Episcopal Church in Idaho gave this to the community to become a healthcare system in 1971. Ever since, the Episcopal Bishop of Idaho has had a seat on the board of this healthcare system. Before me, Bishop Thom served on a board committee. I joined the Quality, Safety, and Service Excellence Committee (QSSEC) of St. Luke's health system and participated in their regular meetings to meet the criteria of the medical practices given below. As a board member, I work with the interdisciplinary teams in addressing these issues:

Establish system quality priorities based on performance patterns, areas that impact strategic initiatives, and national and regulatory areas of focus.
Recommend system quality, safety, and experience goals
Review system summary information, reports, and needs assessments
Identify issues that warrant focused review (irrational variation, consistent delivery of care, etc.)
Refer local issues to the appropriate community board for focused review
Refer systemwide issues to the System QMC (Quality Management Committee) for organizational focus or improvement opportunity

Deacons Retreat and Ministry

I recently spent two days at St. James Retreat and Event Center in Payette with our Deacons. It was a wonderful time of prayer, reflection, learning, and building relationships. We have a group of amazing deacons who serve our congregations diligently. Each of them does a marvelous ministry in their own unique way. Ellen Blackmon is very busy with four congregations: Grace in Glenn's Ferry, St. Michael's in Boise, Emmanuel in Placerville, and St. Bridget's Chapel Nursing Home. Archdeacon Eileen O'Shea is even busier, balancing the care of her husband, Doug, with preaching, teaching, and helping the diocese. Mary Ellen Gallagher is our intake officer for clergy misconduct and a member of the HDSM faculty, in addition to all the other tasks she performs at All Saints in Boise. Venerable Janet King, as always, is a smiling and caring presence at St. Matthew's in Rupert, Christ Church in Shoshone, and an HDSM faculty member.

Nancy Koonce serves at Ascension in Twin Falls, Calvary in Jerome, and Emmanuel in Hailey while also helping the Idaho Episcopal Foundation. Tammy Jones, the leader of Preaching Practicum, serves in ministries at the church in Rupert, serves on the Commission on Ministry, and holds the position of Mayor of Rupert. In the back, we have Paul Walsh, who serves at St. James in Mountain Home while juggling his job and serving on the Diocesan Council. In the back row, you will see Deacon Scott Ellsworth, who serves two congregations: St. Stephen's in Boise and St. David's in Caldwell. He also serves on the Standing Committee.

So, for those who were unclear about the role of deacons, here it is: they give their talent, treasure, time, and families to the care of the Episcopal Church in Idaho. Although it was previously thought that there were not many deacons among us or unsure of their role, it is plain to see that they are a busy and hardworking group. Let us rejoice and be glad, for we are truly blessed!

2022 Class of Bishops

My class is comprised of Bishops Jeffry Mello of CT, Matthew Hyde of NY, Doug Scharf of SWF, Mark Stevenson of VA, Anne Jolly of OH, Phyllis Speigel of UT, Pastor, Bishop of Columbia, Fraser Lawton, Bishop Serving an area in Dallas, Melissa Skelton of Olympia, and Shnnon Duckworth of LA.

If we drew a line connecting each location, it would form a circle around the country, extending to Colombia. My source of strength and wisdom is this diverse group of individuals, each possessing unique talents and abilities. By sharing our respective skills and gifts, we collectively draw from a wellspring of knowledge and experience, thereby gaining greater insight and understanding of this unique ministry we are engaged in together.

Deacon Blackmon: An Exceptional Gift for us all!

Reverend Ellen Blackmon's life and ministry changed drastically after her ordination. She didn't know what God had in store for her, and God came down with might and grace!

Every month she is scheduled to serve at St. Michael's, her home church, one Sunday. On another Sunday, she will assist Deacon Colleen Howard at a nursing home aptly named St. Bridget's Chapel. On the third Sunday, she is appointed to serve as the Bishop's Pastoral Presence at Grace Church in Glenn's Ferry. During her visit, she will organize a community meal and prayer service and administer communion from the reserved sacraments. Additionally, she will work on evangelization efforts in the area.

Deacon Ellen also works with Emmanuel Church in Placerville to establish an Episcopal community. Placerville is a small community with no other churches. Additionally, she leads the Global Mission Partnership in Idaho, where she collaborates with Bishop Rose of Buteri, Kenya. Deacon Ellen is an exceptional gift.

St. Luke's, Weiser Visit

MacKenzie and Gaby, Kurtis and Shawna Kissell's son and daughter-in-law brought their son Gonzalo to church, where he rang the church bell. It was a glorious day spent with the Weiser community.

As it had done twice before on my way to Weiser, it started snowing. Thankfully, Kimby and I had left early enough to get there safely. Dean Joetta also attended the service there and visited with the people.

I met with the vestry before the service. As usual, Fr. Blake, a joyful and blessed priest among them, brings joy to the congregation and a very non-anxious leadership. The vestry was on a roll to get things done and be efficient.

The meeting after the service with soup and sandwich lunch on a cold day turned out very cozy and enjoyable. We had a Q&A session following the meal. The day was celebratory and joyful.

Apostolic Succession: Says Fr. Thompson-Uberuaga!

Now, the "Apostolic Succession" has come to a full circle, according to Fr. Bill Thompson-Uberuaga's Facebook post. I did catch a fish. I am officially in the job of Apostle Peter in all senses of the term. While in Texas for the House of Bishops, I took a day to see my friends in Corsicana, TX. They live near the lake. They asked if I like to fish. I came up with my usual excuses that I will not throw the fish back however small the fish is. Well, I didn't have to since my fish was long enough for us to keep and have dinner that night. It's a cat fish! Yay....

Thank you! Walk with me!

We are missionaries. Our diocese and our church will always remain a missionary diocese, meaning a church that is not settled in our ways. We will always be open to new challenges, opportunities, and ways of ministry. The saying "We have always done things this way" is behind us. We are treading on new paths, making new waves, and creating new energy. I am grateful for several people from around the diocese warming up to the idea that we can overcome our challenges by changing our attitudes, commitments, and willingness to share our talent, treasure, and time. So, Thank YOU. Finding each of you has been my joy and blessing. Thank YOU.

May God watch over you and bless you. May the Lord who loves you dearly bless you and your family abundantly. Please know I may not be with you every Sunday, but I am not far from you in prayer daily!

Let us learn to fly with the dragons! And we can cover most of Idaho in the skies! Just an idea!

With love and paternal blessings

Your friend and bishop

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