September 16, 2026| Volume 16, No. 37

Diocesan Council works on draft

Artificial Intelligence Usage Policy

On Saturday, Diocesan Council met at Trinity in Statesboro for their quarterly meeting. The agenda for the day included updates from the Canon for Administration, the Honey Creek Sustainability Committee, and reviewing the first draft of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage policy for the diocese. Council agreed that the policy was a good first draft, but needed a little more work.

AI is advancing more and more each day, and as it becomes a more regular part of our every day lives, the diocese feels the need to set some parameters around usage in a parish setting. AI programs like ChatGPT, Claude, and others have incredible capabilities, and while using these programs for research and management tasks are acceptable, creating content and claiming it as one's own is troublesome.

This policy is meant to inform parishes, clergy, staff, and volunteers of best practices and to make them aware of how to not use AI programs.

If you would like to provide feedback on this policy, send your comments to Communications Liz Williams at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org.

Convention 2026 Information

Nominations for open positions on diocesan committees that will be elected upon during convention are open. There are two forms that are needed for a nomination - a nomination form to be filled out by the nominator, and the nominee form to be filled out by the nominee. A person may nominate themselves for a position. Both forms are linked below.

The following positions are available:

Board of Officers of the Corporation – 1 lay person

Church Disciplinary Board – 2 lay persons & 2 clergy persons

Diocesan Council – 1 lay person or clergy

Standing Committee – 1 lay person & 1 priest

Trustee of the University of the South – 1 clergy person

Resolutions to Convention

Resolutions that are to be presented to convention may be submitted to the Secretary of Convention, Ms. Maggie Lyons. Resolutions may also be presented from the floor of convention. Send all resolutions to Maggie at mlyons@gaepiscopal.org.

Redesignation of a Board of Corporation Fund:

The James H. Lewis Memorial Fund #29

The Bishop, Canon for Administration, and the Board of the Corporation are requesting to change the designated restricted use of the James H. Lewis Memorial Fund. It is currently listed “to be used for the work of the churches in Sylvania and Screven Counties.” There are no legal documents on file, and there has not been, and there is no plan for, a parish in this county. The current value is $107,000. If these monies are able to be allocated to other funds, it may be used for missions and programs that have relevance and current need. We are reaching out to the members of the Diocese for more information, to members of the Lewis family who may have input, or to others who may have questions. If no one presents a reason not to redesignate the funds, the board will distribute the value to one or more other restricted funds.

Cursillo #133: October 15-18, 2026

Registration is open for Cursillo #133! Cursillo is a weekend for adults that give participants the opportunity to build community and delve deeper into their faith.

Held at Honey Creek October 15-18, this weekend promises to be one of joy, understanding, and the Holy Spirit.

Click the link below to register!

Register today for New Beginnings #66!

The New Beginnings retreat weekend is September 25-27th and now is the time to register! This special retreat weekend is for students in grades 7-9 and is led by high school students, with adult support. It gives youth space to learn more about who they are and their relationship with God while enjoying worship, music, small groups, discussion, and activities.

The retreat takes place at The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Retreat Center, Honey Creek, and begins at 7:00pm on Friday, and finishes after the 12:45pm Closing Eucharist on Sunday, to which all are invited! Students can attend New Beginnings multiple times as long as they are still in 7th-9th grade. Register today by clicking the link below!

Youth Compline Zoom, Wednesdays at 9:00pm

Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to join other youth across the diocese for a weekly Compline service over Zoom. Held each Wednesday evening, youth will be able to gather together to pray the service of Compline. Scan the QR code or click the link below for the Zoom link.

St. Patricks’ in Albany is looking to hire a part-time (average ~7-10 hours/week) Choirmaster/Director of Music and Organist to develop and lead worship music in consultation with the Rector and other team members, in a manner that is consistent with the mission, values, and theology of the congregation. Duties include playing the organ/piano in order to accompany the congregation/choir during all services and rehearsals; leading and directing effective and productive rehearsals of choirs, musicians, and visiting artists; participate in the creative planning of the Sunday and special services with the Rector and other team members; equip, motivate, supervise and shepherd singers and musicians; be responsible for the care, maintenance and growth of the churches’ music collections; and participate in the life and ministry of the church. If you are interested or know of someone who would be a good fit for St. Patricks’, contact the parish office at office@stpatricksalbany.org.

The Christ Church Frederica staff enjoyed a staff lunch together to welcome their newest Parish Administrator.

The members of the Peaceful Threads sewing ministry at King of Peace in Kingsland had their book pillows blessed by the Rev. Aaron Brewer. The pillows have a book pocket that is able to hold a story book. They are given to children in crisis within the community.

Clergy experience a Being With session at Honey Creek during the clergy conference.

St. John's in Savannah blesses the new youth room.

Bishop Logue with the altar parties from the two services at Trinity in Statesboro.

Bishop Logue with those confirmed and received at Trinity in Statesboro during his visitation.

Weekly Youth Compline

Where: Zoom

When: Every Wednesday evening

@ 9:00pm

Who: 6th-12th grade youth

Zoom Link

Cursillo #133

Where: Honey Creek

When: October 15-18, 2026


Participant Registration

Diocesan Convention

Where: College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick

When: November 6-7, 2026

Convention Information

Happening #113

Where: Honey Creek

When: November 20-22, 2026


Candidate Registration

Staff Application (due by Sept 20)

If you would like to have your submission considered for From the Field, it needs to be sent to Communications Manager Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) by noon on Tuesday.

Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic.         

The 2026 one-year prayer cycle is online here: 2026 Prayer Cycle.      

September 20 - 26 In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Paul the Apostle and St. Bartholomew’s Chapel. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic congregations of St. Frances Cabrini and Saints Peter and Paul as well as St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Christ the Savior (Cristo Salvador) in Santiago. 

September 27 - October 3 In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Swainsboro, Good Shepherd. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Swainsboro, especially Holy Trinity Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Emmanuel (Emmanuel) in Santiago. 

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised July 1, 2026

Our monthly prayer cycle and clergy spouse prayer cycle are now out in a revised edition: Diocesan Prayer Cycle and Clergy Spouses Prayer Cycle.