Dear Siblings in Christ,

As I write, we have just come through one of the summer thunderstorms that Iowa is well known for—flashing lightning, booming thunder, gusting wind, pouring down rain, the drain in the road at the bottom of my driveway challenged by all the water flowing into it at once. It was the kind of storm that can flatten smaller plants. We see them after the wind and the rain stops, bent over as though someone has taken hold of their tops and pushed them to the ground.

It makes me think of the resilience of the tallgrass prairie that once covered most of Iowa. The tallgrass prairie evolved to withstand these summer thunderstorms, with all the wind and pounding rain that they bring. It is notable that the survival of the prairie plants isn’t based on the individual plants becoming bigger and stronger, or better adapted as individual plants to withstand the forces of the rain and the wind. Each individual prairie plant, by itself, could easily be flattened by the thunderstorms. The adaptation of the tallgrass prairie that allows it to survive is that the plants are surrounded by each other and depend on each other for support. Individually, plants of the prairie would struggle to survive. Together as one prairie, one mutually interdependent ecosystem, they not only survive but thrive in the Iowa environment.

Staffing Updates

• Amy Mellies is on sabbatical July 20 - November 8. Reach out to the diocesan office for appropriate contact information for specific events or ministries.
• The Rev. Nora Boerner began as Intake Officer on August 1. We are deeply grateful to the Rev. Kris Leaman for her service in this role.

Funeral services for the Reverend Canon Kathleen S. Milligan will be held:

Saturday, August 22, 2026, 3:00 PM

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral

Reception following | Livestream available

Kathleen's obituary is available here

Additional service details here:

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. We pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of God's love. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Transitions:

• The Rev. Elaine Caldbeck will retire from St. Peter’s in Bettendorf on August 30, 2026.
• Trinity Cathedral in Davenport has called the Rev. Brandon Haynes to serve as their next dean, beginning September 15, 2026. Celebration of New Ministry information is above.
• The Rev. Susan Forshey has been called as rector for St. John's, Dubuque, where she has been serving as priest-in-charge. More to follow on the date for Celebration of New Ministry

The 174th Annual Diocesan Convention will be held on Saturday, October 24 with concluding worship on Sunday, October 25. Pre-convention workshops will be available in the evening on Friday, October 23.

Job Openings

(Learn more about job openings around the diocese)

• Priest in Charge PT, positions open (and receiving names) in Iowa Falls, Mason City, and Newton
• Priest FT, St. Thomas' and St. Paul's Indian Mission and Diocesan Beloved Community Missioner in Sioux City

If your Iowa congregation has a job opening you'd like posted here, let us know.

Vote Faithfully

On the first Thursday of each month through November, The Episcopal Church's Public Policy and Witness team will host a series of “Vote Faithfully” calls to support voter engagement in ways consistent with Episcopal values. Register below, and access additional resources from The Episcopal Church here.

EES Grant/Funding Opportunities

Through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships, the Episcopal Evangelism Society (EES) helps nurture ministries that share the Gospel in fresh and faithful ways. We invest in people who are helping the Church meet this moment with imagination, courage, and hope.

Every grant we award represents a possibility made real. Every ministry we support becomes a witness to God's work in the world.

Learn more about EES and grant opportunities here. Upcoming grant deadlines are September 21, 2026 and February 8, 2027.