Photos: (A) Bishop's Visitation at St. Paul's, Harlan (photo by B.Monnot); (B) New Beginnings youth event at St. Andrew's, Des Moines (photo from A.Mellies) (C) Episco-PRIDE at the LGBTQ+ Youth Conference hosted by Iowa Safe Schools (photo by E.Rucker); (D) Bishop's Visitation at St. Stephen's, Newton (photo by B.Monnot). | |
Dear Siblings in Christ,
Last month, I sent an email letting you know that our diocesan staff is undergoing a significant transition this year. Anne Wagner, our Comptroller, will be retiring, and Traci Ruhland Petty, our Missioner for Communications and GILEAD, will be moving out of state. In addition, some of our staff job descriptions will be shifting, and some titles will be changing, which include:
- Tina Austin will be Missioner for Finance
- Amy Mellies will be Missioner for Formation
- Elizabeth Adams will be Diocesan Operations Coordinator
- We will be hiring a Canon for Administration (see job posting below)
The timeline for these changes in title and responsibility will extend over the next several months, and in some cases may even extend to the end of the year. The best source for ongoing information about which staff member to call about what...
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Bishop Upcoming Visitations
Apr. 19: St. Paul's, Grinnell
May 17: St. Michael's, Mount Pleasant
May 24: St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines
May 31: St. Martin's, Perry
June 7: St. Paul's, Durant
see calendar for full schedule
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Staff Updates
Canon to the Ordinary Health Announcement (4/8/26): read here
Canon for Administration: new job posting here
| | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | | |  | Episco-Pride April Events | Episco-PRIDE teams around the diocese are getting ready to share God's love at Pride events, the first being in Boone April 18th, so stop by and say hi! And teams: check your email about the all teams meeting on April 27th. | | Join the Behavioral Health Ministry Team as we welcome Hannah Drey-Landgraf. Together we'll explore how the resurrection speaks to human distress and how we can embody hope in psychologically informed ways. | | | | | | | Join fellow high schoolers from around the country July 7-11 for a multi-provincial youth event hosted by The Episcopal Church in Colorado, as we discover what it means to be an empowered disciple. | | Our spring meeting is April 29 at 6pm on Zoom. Every church is part of a Convocation, and all are welcome to attend (diocesan convention delegates & all in congregational leadership roles are especially encouraged). | | | | | | | Join your "Episco-PALS" from across the state in Boone Iowa, May 9 & 10. We'll ride the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad, break out into smaller groups for activities around the city, have fun, eat and worship together. | | Join the Behavioral Health Ministry Team and members of the Ames American Legion to learn more about how veterans are helping to support one another in times of crisis and prevent suicide. | | | | | | | May 31 - June 3: this is a retreat centered on the experiences of women clergy. We explicitly invite everyone (trans, cis, nonbinary, gender fluid, agender, and more) who feels this is for them to attend. | | 4th-12th Graders: Experience engaging activities, inspiring worship, hands-on projects, building community and trying new things with youth from around the diocese at EPIC Summer Camp, June 15-19. | | | | 2026 Calendar Highlights: | | |
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April 21: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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April 25: Creation Care: National Faith and Climate Forum by Blessed Tomorrow. Learn more here.
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April 29: Convocations Meeting on Zoom
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May 1-3: Pathways to Serenity Retreat. Register by April 17. More here.
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May 9: Diocesan "Episco-PALS" Event in Boone. Register by April 15, learn more here.
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May 19: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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June 15-19: EPIC Youth Summer Camp at Lutheran Lakeside Camp, Spirit Lake; for 4th-12th graders, more info here.
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June 16: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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July 8-10: Provincial Youth Gathering (in lieu of EYE 2026); for ages 15-18, hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. Register by April 26. More here.
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July 21: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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August 18: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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August 22: Convocations Meeting on Zoom
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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 15: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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September 26: Dismantling Racism online training, more here
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October 1 & 3: Pre-Convention Hearings on Zoom
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October 20: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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October 23-25: Diocesan Convention
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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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Dessert Auction for Our Companion Diocese
April 26 at Noon
Christ Episcopal Church: 220 40th St NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
Join Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids for a baked potato buffet lunch followed by silent and live auctions. Funds raised will support orphans and other children in need in rural areas in our Companion Diocese of Eswatini.
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Church Matters Pod
In this episode of Church Matters, hosts Fr. Brian Gross and Chris Hubbs talk with The Right Reverend Betsey Hawley Monnot, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. Bishop Betsey talks about her recent participation in protests in Minnesota, and about the challenge of loving our neighbors, especially the ones who disagree with us. Listen here.
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Thanks to the churches who have already been in touch by e-mail with your updated vestry and officers. If your church has not yet done that, now is a great time to do it!
Send to diocese@iowaepiscopal.org or eadams@iowaepiscopal.org
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Does your church have a food, hygiene or clothing pantry? If yes, please email Amy: amellies@iowaepiscopal.org to let her know.
And don't forget to add it to your church's asset map page (if it's not on there already) so people can find you.
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Ministry of Hospitality & Presence: Pride
at Trinity, Iowa City
Trinity welcomes and affirms all, and we wish to extend our Pride ministry, a ministry of presence and hospitality to members of the LGBTQ+ community who have often been distanced from organized religion, to a year-round effort. Our Pride committee will develop learning events for congregants, welcoming also members of other area congregations, and then turn learning into action through community events and developing relationships with local LGBTQ+ organizations.
Grant funds will be used for honoraria, meals, and materials for educational workshops, community meals with partner organizations, Trinity-branded materials and giveaways for community events, event fees and other related expenses.
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Improve Limited Mobility Access
at St. Thomas', Algona
St. Thomas’ plans to increase our community outreach possibilities and better serve our current members by providing safe access to the church sanctuary and the church basement. Having accessible entry and facilities within our church common will enable us to offer our church space to community efforts and events, and we are already exploring needs in the community that may be met by providing an accessible space. Grant funds will be used for building materials, supplies, contractors, permits, and other expenses necessary to provide accessible entry within the church sanctuary, an ADA compliant bathroom on the main floor of the church, and a way to and from the basement for people who are unable to do so without assistance.
| | | From Our Formation Partners | | | | | Lay Leaders: Partial Tuition & Books Reimbursement | | | Whether you are interested in continuing education, personal enrichment, a lay license program, or discerning a call to the diaconate or priesthood, there is a course and a community for you to discover at Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. The diocese’s GILEAD grant will reimburse lay people for books and a portion of tuition, with approval. | | | |
Courses meeting May 9-10:
- Anglican Spirituality: The Very Rev. Dr. Don Compier
- Diversity, Justice & the Church's Mission: The Rev. Mary Margaret Saxon
- New Testament: Dr. Lynne Bahr
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Survey Invitation
Invite Welcome Connect is a ministry framework designed to help congregations develop a culture that embraces evangelism (inviting), hospitality (welcoming), and belonging (connecting) as spiritual practices.
As part of our listening process, we invite you to share how your community of faith understands and engages these practices. Your responses will help shape new resources to support congregations in deepening their spiritual life and expanding their engagement with their communities.
Take the survey.
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Dismantling Racism: the Doctrine of Discovery
Check out this new offering from the Beloved Community Initiative (BCI) on the Doctrine of Discovery to support the dismantling of racism. It combines individual study materials with group discussion guides.
Learn more here
| | 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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