Photos: Bishop's Visitations with (A) St. Paul's, Durant, (C) St. Anne's, Ankeny, (E) Grace, Cedar Rapids; (B) Episco-PRIDE teams from St. Andrew's, Des Moines; (D) St. Timothy's, Des Moines; and (F) Christ, Cedar Rapids | | Bishop Monnot is currently on vacation, so this month's eNews features a reflection from the Reverend Stephen Benitz. | | | | |
Dear Siblings in Christ,
I write this a few days removed from our Independence Day and the celebrations commemorating the 250th birthday of the nation. I don’t know about you, but it seems the older I get, the more muted those activities become! Even so, I still managed to participate in a few of my core traditions. I caught a bit of a local parade, enjoyed a small backyard cookout, and gazed in awe at the light and sound of a glorious community fireworks show. All in all, a good day with a lot to be thankful for.
Over the course of the holiday, I found myself pondering the idea of the United States of America. What our past says about us, and what the future might hold. Many of you may have taken time to do the same. A general theme that came to mind is that our nation is rooted not simply in an idea, but in an ideal. An ideal that declares...
| | Bishop Upcoming Visitations | | |
July 19: St. Luke's, Des Moines
July 26: St. Luke's, Ft. Madison
August 9: Trinity, Muscatine
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August 16: St. John's, Shenandoah
August 23: St. Paul's, Marshalltown
August 30: Trinity, Denison
see calendar for full schedule
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ICYMI
"Respecting the dignity of every human being means being sure that every eligible voter is able to exercise their voting rights in a way that works for them." - Bishop Monnot
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Staffing Updates
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Amy Mellies will be on sabbatical July 20 - November 8. Reach out to the diocesan office for appropriate contact information for specific events or ministries.
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Best wishes to Traci Ruhland Petty whose last day with the diocese will be July 28! After this date, please direct any communications or convention questions to Donna Wong-Gibbons at dwong-gibbons@iowaepiscopal.org.
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Transitions:
- Trinity Cathedral in Davenport has called the Rev. Brandon Haynes to serve as their next dean, beginning September 15, 2026
- The Rev. Elaine Caldbeck will retire from St. Peter’s in Bettendorf on August 30, 2026
| | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | | |  | Check out these upcoming events: St. John's, Mason City at Mason City Pride on July 18th; Trinity, Waterloo & St. Luke's, Cedar Falls at Cedar Valley Pride Aug 28-29; St. John's, Ames at Ames Pride on Oct 10. | | The Rev. Bob Kem will talk with us at our August Lunch & Learn about frontotemporal dementia, and how it differs from Alzheimer's. At noon on Zoom, sponsored by the Behavioral Health Ministry Team. | | | | | | | Fall Convocations Meeting | |
Every church is part of a Convocation, and all are welcome to attend. Attendance by diocesan convention delegates & those in congregational leadership roles is encouraged.
Saturday Aug. 22, 10am - noon.
| | Deadlines for Convention are approaching! Nominations, Resolutions, Reports to Convention, and Certification of Delegates are due August 25. | | | | | | | |
Episco-PALS, hosted by St. Paul's Indian Mission and St. Thomas, Sioux City, will be gathering to connect, worship, learn, and grow together August 29-30 in Sioux City. Register by August 17.
To learn more and register for this event, keep reading below!
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As a reminder, each church's clerk shall file a copy of their financial review with the Diocesan office by September 1.
Questions and completed reviews should be sent to financial@iowaepiscopal.org.
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Clergy, mark your calendars!
The next retreat will be held in Dubuque, September 1-3.
Watch your email in early August for additional information and details.
| | Hosted by The Episcopal Church, join us in Minneapolis Sept. 3–5 for worship, learning, storytelling, & fellowship. We'll celebrate the progress of the last half-century and renew our commitment to the work that remains. | | | | | | | |
Looking for a weekend of fun, new experiences and community building? New Beginnings has all that and more with opportunities for youth in grades 6th - 12th.
Event will be held Sept 11-13
| | The Rev. Bob Kem will talk with us at our September Lunch & Learn about his experiences as a caregiver for a family member with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. At noon on Zoom. | | | | | | | Underground Railroad Pilgrimage | |
Explore circumstances and issues associated with the Underground Railroad and visit three sites on the “Network to Freedom”.
Register by September 21.
| | 2026 Calendar Highlights: | | |
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July 18: Episco-Pride, Mason City Pride
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August 18: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here
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August 22: Convocations Meeting on Zoom. Registration Link
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August 25: Convention Deadline: Nominations, Resolutions, Reports, Certification of Delegates
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August 28-29: Episco-Pride, Cedar Valley
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August 29-30: Episco-PALS Event in Sioux City. More here
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September 1: Church Audits Due
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September 1-3: Clergy Retreat (Dubuque, IA)
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September 3-5: Full and Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise, Minneapolis, MN. More here
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September 7: Diocesan Office Closed - Labor Day Holiday
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September 11-13: New Beginnings Youth Event at Trinity Church, Muscatine. More here
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September 12: Province VI Episcopal Church Women Meeting, via Zoom. More info soon
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September 15: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here
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September 23-26: Episcopal Creation Care Gathering 2026 in Ohio. More here
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September 25: Convention Deadlines: Necrology, Childcare Requests, Registration, Room Reservations, Refunds
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September 26: Dismantling Racism online training. More here
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October 1 & 3: Pre-Convention Hearings on Zoom. More here.
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October 2-3: Underground Railroad Pilgrimage, register by Sept. 21. More here
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October 10: Episco-Pride, Ames
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October 10-12: Young Adult Retreat at Prairiewoods in Hiawatha, IA. More soon here.
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October 20: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here
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October 23-25: Diocesan Convention. More here
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October 26-27: Diocesan Office Closed - post-Convention
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October 31: Connecting Heaven & Earth, Behavioral Mental Health Team Retreat. More here
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November 14: Dismantling Racism online training. More here
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November 17: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here
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November 26-27: Diocesan Office Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
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December 24: Diocesan Office Closes at Noon through January 3
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Metro Area VBS
August 2–6, 5:30 to 8:00 pm
at St. Timothy's: 1020 24th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266
St. Andrew’s (Des Moines) and St. Timothy’s (West Des Moines) are excited to partner once again to host Vacation Bible School this summer, and we would be delighted to welcome children and volunteers from congregations in the Des Moines metro area! Join us for a joyful week of faith, friendship, and fun across our wider church community.
Families and volunteers can sign up here.
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Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin
Retreat and Holy Eucharist on August 15 at 2:00 pm (Feast of St. Mary the Virgin) at
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 815 High Street, Des Moines
Further information on our Facebook page: St. Paul's Cathedral, by calling the church (515) 288-7297, or by emailing:
outreach@stpaulsdm.org
Everyone is welcome. Pre-registration is requested but not required. Pre-register here.
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| | With our annual diocesan Summer Ministry School & Retreat no longer serving our needs, we are carrying forward the most valued aspect of that event - being together - into a new phase of experimental gatherings. We will explore new, sustainable ways to gather, connect, worship, learn, and grow together during this phase. These experimental gatherings will vary in location but have a common structure and purpose, and we hope you are able to join us. | | | | 174th Diocesan Convention | | | 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. | |
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Pre-Convention Hearings
All diocesan convention delegates are expected to attend hearings on one of the two dates.
Thursday, October 1
- 6:00 - 7:00 PM: Budget
- 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Resolutions Hearing
Saturday, October 3
- 10:00 - 11:00 AM: Budget
- 11:00 AM - noon: Resolutions
Delegates & visitors: you'll receive the Zoom link when you register for Convention.
If you're not a delegate or visitor but would like to attend a hearing, fill out this form.
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Courtyard Patio & Lighting Renewal
at Trinity, Iowa City
The Trinity courtyard is a place beloved by parishioners, but it was not ADA accessible. It contains a columbarium where former rectors and lay leaders are laid to rest and where others plan to join them; a raised patio that serves in key worship services; a meditation garden that evolves through the seasons, attracting seasonal bird and insect guests; and a veranda where folks gather to grill and chat. Our goal was to have a fully accessible courtyard so that movement through it, during daytime, evening, or nighttime, is safe for everyone. We are reimagining the patio and courtyard to provide greater opportunities for courtyard use in worship, hospitality, and for community events, opportunities that will be inviting to all regardless of physical ability.
By making the space ADA compliant, we have produced a more flexible space, enabling us to pursue new opportunities for worship and hospitality. Grant funds were used to add ADA compliant features: a ramp, lighting, and an even patio surface.
This work was completed in June 2026.
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Evangelism in the Northwest Region
with the Rev. Stephen Benitz
Many of our worshipping communities are making efforts to more effectively engage with their neighbors, especially through their participation in the Regional Mission Initiative. As our congregations increasingly seek to reach into the community through participation in Pride festivals and other events, it’s become clear that many lack even basic tools to enhance their visibility and attractiveness. Having access to quality custom materials furthers our congregation’s ability to position themselves in an active outward facing posture in their community. Participation in public events encourages the congregation to “get out there” and be with the people of our parish (parish as in a geography, not merely a congregation). It also furthers our work of being present to wide groups of people and it is a public demonstration of our commitment to respect, welcome, and inclusion. Grant funds will be used to supply multiple congregations with high quality customized marketing materials, such as portable flags, banners, signage, and more, that they can use to increase their visibility to, and connection with, their neighbors.
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Faith in a Time of Change
at Trinity, Muscatine
The mission of Trinity Church is "Making Christ Known with Love and Compassion," and we see this ministry extending beyond the walls of our community. While we have an active Jublilee Committee that partners with many initiatives in our community (Laundry Love, the homeless shelter, a hygiene and food cupboard, local school donations to kids in need), we believe we need to go further to welcome in 3 particular groups of individuals: people disenfranchised from Sunday mornings due to full schedules (and/or who can’t get to church easily), those who have deconstructed (who don’t feel comfortable in church for some reason), and those who are religiously unaffiliated with a church but still could benefit from contemplative practices in their life. To reach these groups, we are focused on 3 ways of expanding ministry: a mobile approach to youth-centered religious education, online faith-based circle groups, and designated monthly opportunities to provide spiritual tools to the community. Grant funds will be used to purchase religious education materials, for a religious educator coordinator stipend, stipends for outside presenters, advertising, faith circle, and other associated expenses.
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Vote Faithfully
“It is a Christian obligation to vote, and more than that, it is the church's responsibility to help get souls to the polls.” -The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry
Resources from The Episcopal Church are available here.
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Job Openings
(around the diocese + with partner organizations)
- Priest in Charge PT, positions open (and receiving names) in Iowa Falls, Mason City, Newton, Ottumwa (learn more)
If your Iowa congregation has a job opening you'd like posted here, let us know.
| | Have something to share? Submission information can be found here and is due the 2nd Thursday of the month; this enews letter comes out monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month. | | |
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