Some email servers shorten our eNewsletter - click here -> "View as Webpage" to see the full eNews | | Photos: (A) Bishops at the installation of Bishop Scott Dalen, of the Western Iowa ELCA. (B) Bishop at the Tri-Synod gathering of Iowa ELCA clergy; (C) Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul’s, Council Bluffs, with special visitors from nearby St. John’s, Glenwood. (D) Bishop's Visitation with St. John's, Dubuque. | | |
Bishop's Upcoming Visitations:
- Oct. 19: All Saints', Storm Lake
- Oct. 26: St. Peter's, Bettendorf
- Nov. 2: Christ Church, Burlington
- Nov. 16: Grace Church, Decorah
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Dear siblings in Christ,
I recently had the privilege of gathering with large groups of Lutherans twice in just one week—the first to take part in the Installation of Bishop Scott Dalen, the new bishop of the Western Iowa Synod ELCA, and the second to bring greetings to the Tri-Synod Gathering of the Iowa ELCA clergy.
Attending these gatherings as an ecumenical guest reminded me of the importance of the unity of the Body of Christ. We remember that Jesus, just before he was arrested and taken away, prayed that as he and God are one, all those who believe in him may be one (John 17:22). Despite this, followers of Jesus throughout history have argued, split, divided, and even excommunicated one another.
Now, as the country we live in is torn by division and conflict, as our collective political life has risen to the highest level of anger and acrimony I have seen in my lifetime, we followers of Jesus need to be witnesses to the essential unity of all of God’s children and all of God’s creation. One part of our witness is in practicing unity within our own diocese, and we have the opportunity to do that next month at our annual diocesan convention.
Our theme, Together in Christ, will guide our time as we work together to order our common life as a diocese and to discern God’s call for us as we continue to learn and grow into the community of disciples that God dreams of. We will have time for learning, conversation, worship, discernment, and, of course, dancing! I hope to see you there!
Yours in the abundant life of Christ,
+Betsey
The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
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| ICYMI (in case you missed it) | | | | |
We have a new Archbishop of Canterbury, and she'll be the first woman to hold the office! The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE will be installed at a service at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026. Read more about the announcement and her bio HERE and HERE.
“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions."
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Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the diocesan survey - your responses are helping our diocese discern our shared vision and develop strategies for living ever more deeply into God’s call for us in Iowa. You’ll find a summary of the survey results on our website HERE.
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Transitions
- The Rev. Dr. Marilyn van Duffelen’s time at St. Paul’s Indian Mission has come to a close. We give thanks for her ministry and wish her well, and we are excited to support the future ministry of St. Paul’s Indian Mission. You can read more about this transition here.
| | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | | |  | CONVENTION REGISTRATION CLOSES TOMORROW! If you're planning to come as a delegate or visitor, tomorrow's the last day to register to attend and pay! It's also the last day for youth lock-in registration, & to book your hotel room at the Marriott at the group rate. | | Join the Behavioral Health Ministry Team for October's Lunch & Learn, focused on suicide prevention training. We'll welcome Nikoli Falenschek, Associate Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School in Waverly, IA, who'll share more on "What is QPR Training?" | | | | | | | All delegates are expected to attend, and everyone is welcome. Hearings are an opportunity to learn and ask questions about the budget and resolutions that will be brought to the convention floor. If you have questions about or want to discuss the budget or resolutions, join a hearing. | | Young adults: we need your help! Fill out this brief survey to let us know what you'd like to see next year in young adult ministry. Your feedback is super important to help us plan events and offerings for 2026. Share this with a friend, and fill it out by October 30. | | | | | | | Join for a dialogue as we discuss the influence the faith-based community has on resiliency. With presentations from Polk County Emergency Management Agency, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Legal Aid, and the American Red Cross. | | Episcopalians are invited to join a first-time churchwide Veterans Day Holy Eucharist service at 7 p.m. ET Nov. 11—via livestream or in person in NYC—to honor those who have served in the military and specially recognize the Episcopal chaplains who support them. | | | | | | |
Pre-Convention Workshop
with the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Mae Magill
All are welcome! This is a practical workshop on how to find where God is locally, and how to join in the work. Plan to work with your congregation on steps to be present to the neighbors outside your doors.
This is open to all - if you're not registered to attend Convention, you can fill out a Guest RSVP for this workshop HERE.
| | Join the Convention Choir | Whether you sing regularly from the pews or with your parish choir, you are joyfully welcome to take part in the Convention choir! We will gather at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, November 9 at the Cathedral to prepare, and music will be shared with you ahead of time. Please join us! | | | | | We're looking forward to seeing many of you soon! Join us as a visitor, or attend as a delegate. Either way, make sure you register yourself by tomorrow, October 17th. Check out the webpage for more information. And be advised, the diocesan office will be closed Nov. 10-11 following Convention. | | In November, the Behavioral Health Ministry Team will welcome Julie Saxton, the Mental Health Advocate for the Ames Police Department, as our guest speaker. Come learn more about this unique role and its importance for the community. | | | | | Advent invites us into the spiritual discipline of waiting. But what does it mean to trust in “God’s time?” How do we practice stillness and intentionality in a world that tells us slowing down means being left behind? Come explore these and other questions Saturday December 13 from 10am-3pm at All Saints Retreat House, Omaha, NE. | | Individuals & churches that are interested in applying for a 2026 UTO grant should notify Bishop Monnot who will want to receive all applications/ proposals by December 15, 2025, at officeofthebishop@iowaepiscopal.org | | | |
- Rest, Rage, and Recharge Youth Retreat (9th-12th grade) - January 17-18 at Christian Conference Center in Newton.
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Youth Ski Trip (4th-12th grade) - February 6-8 at Seven Oaks (in Boone) and St. John's, Ames.
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New Beginnings (6th-8th participating, 9th-12th leading) - February 27-March 1 at St. Andrew's, Des Moines.
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Young Adult Retreat "Hoping for Hope" - March 6-8 at Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold. Learn more here.
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"Called to Climate Action" conference - March 21 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, sponsored by Iowa Faith and Climate Network.
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October 18th at St. Tim's
Misinformation is everywhere, but so are the tools to fight it. Join Kathie Obradovich, editor-in-chief of Iowa Capital Dispatch with nearly 40 years of reporting experience; Amy McCoy, Drake University professor and former AP political reporter; and Dan Chibnall, Drake University STEM Librarian and expert on how the brain processes information, as we explore practical skills for spotting falsehoods, engaging productively with those who share them, and navigating today’s fractured media world with clarity and confidence. Learn more and register HERE.
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175th Anniversary Weekend
We will be celebrating the 175th anniversary of St. John’s, Keokuk during the first weekend of November and we would like to invite all in the diocese to join us! Our celebration will kick off on Saturday, November 1, at 1:00 pm with a Celebration Eucharist for All Saints Day where Bishop Betsey Monnot will preside. This festival Eucharist will include special music, a special preacher and folks from all over our region and the diocese. During the service Bishop Monnot will rededicate the Conversion of St. Constantine window and we will recognize a group of 6 churches who are all part of the first six churches in Iowa. After the service on Saturday, we will host a reception...
| | | Facilitators: the Rev. Stephen Benitz, Regional Missioner of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, and Becky Elsbernd, Parish Nurse of Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City. | |
November Pilgrimage
An inner pilgrimage experience to step away from your routines into a way of being that supports listening and letting go. Designed to be intentional time to connect with God through silence, prayer and scripture. We will explore spiritual practices, participate in the prayer rhythm of the monastic monks, and allow for quiet alone time. Cost $300 - includes single room with private bathroom, transportation from Mason City, IA, and meals. Partial scholarships available. Register and pay a $150 deposit to save your spot.
For more information or to reserve your spot contact: Becky Elsbernd: becky.elsbernd@trinity-mc.org
| | | | | The Simpson College Youth Academy is a year-long, ecumenical program for Iowan high school youth grounded in the conviction that young people have gifts and power that are essential for the healing of the world now. Through college-level intellectual engagement, training in worship and prayer leadership, and reflective service around community issues, we help youth step into mature young adult Christian faith as they discern their particular callings as agents of peace and justice in their churches and the world. Grant funds will be used for scholarships for 4 new SYA participants (who are Episcopal and/or racial minority group of financially in need), and for stipends to hire new SYA alumni as staff to assist primarily with the summer alumni retreat. | | | | | We piloted the St. Luke's Community Home School Hub last year by serving 17 students during the 2024-2025 school year, and found it had a powerful impact on both the church and the surrounding communities. The Home School Hub offers home-schooled students the opportunity to experience socialization, sports, music, and study time in a structured, safe, and mentally and physically healthy environment. We plan to build upon the lessons learned to strengthen and expand our services as we project the number of students will increase. Grant funds will be largely used to help cover facility and operational costs as we grow, along with unforeseen expenses including those associated with fundraising initiatives and additional extracurricular activities. | | | From Our Formation Partners | | |
Upcoming Classes
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 (BKSM). You can attend in person in Topeka or participate from home on Zoom. Tuition ranges from $100-$240 a class, depending on your enrollment status. Follow the links below to read the course descriptions, see the required reading, and learn about the instructor. There are no prerequisites for any of these courses, and registration is super easy when you’re ready to enroll.
For a complete listing of 2025-26 courses, click here. Questions? Contact BKSM here.
We're also excited to share that through a GILEAD Grant, we'll be able to reimburse lay people for books and a portion of tuition, with approval. Keep an eye out for the application to be available soon, and an announcement at Convention.
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Courses meeting November 8-9, 2025
(choose one)
- Christian Theology 1: Dr. Bill Stancil
- Evangelism: The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice
- History of the Episcopal Church: Dr. Nathan Tye
- Theology of Education Ministry: The Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel
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Courses meeting December 13-14, 2025 (choose one)
- Environmental Mission: The Venerable Betsy Bennett
- Preaching for Lay People: The Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel
- Pastoral Care: Dr. Jim Beck
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Iona Partnership
BKSM has a newly established partnership with The Iona Collaborative! As a sponsoring diocese of BKSM, clergy and lay leaders in small churches in our diocese are able to access these programs.
| | | The Contemplative Underground, an online branch of the community of The Benedictine Way, is for all seekers who wish to develop or advance a practice of Christian meditation. They provide an online “sit” via Zoom six days per week for Centering Prayer and Visio Divina. They're now releasing some brief instructional videos to help teach new-comers or to help more experienced people with a reminder of the basics of Centering Prayer. Check out their videos & more HERE. | | | From Episcopal Relief & Development | | | |
4 Free Toolkits
Designed to help faith communities, including Young Adult and Campus Ministry groups, discern their passion and capacity to be in service to issues of Climate Change, Disaster Preparedness & Recovery, Violence Against Women & Girls, and Early Childhood Education. These toolkits provide flexible models to help you, as a leader, have collaborative conversations about the kinds of service many feel called to, and can shift into more localized needs as you move through them. Click HERE.
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Planning Calendar
Includes seasons, the lectionary, observances and planning reminders for our life together. You will find it on the Episcopal Relief & Development website HERE.
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ENews Submissions:
Content is due the 2nd Thursday of the month and submission information can be found here. This eNewsletter comes out monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
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