Image Description: The stamp for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The bottom of the stamp is a orange-yellow shield with a dark blue outline that reads "Estd. 2024" in highly stylized type with two Episcopal-style crosses. On the top of the shield, like it's sailing on it, is the two-sailed ship from the diocesan seal, along with the three stars in the sky. the largest of which represents our new diocese while the two smaller stars represent our two legacy dioceses.
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Image Description: The wordmark for our diocese that reads, "EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE GREAT LAKES." The first four words are in all caps in a simple-yet-wide sans serif font. "Great Lakes" is also in all-caps, but in a highly stylized font that is reminiscent of vintage sign art. The G, L and S all have added flourishes that look like waves. This is the horizontal orientation of the wordmark and it is shown in the warm gray (off-white) brand color.

Becoming Beloved Community: Dismantling our Divisions

Throughout out 2025, the Becoming Beloved Community: Dismantling our Divisions Committee (formerly the Dismantling Racism Committee) worked to understand past practices in each of our legacy dioceses and to create new practices together. As diocesan committee members and staff, they thought hard about how we together as disciples of Jesus Christ could best work towards justice and healing, particularly dismantling divisions based on racism. Following this reflection, policy revisions were proposed to the Diocesan Council. These revisions were approved on January 10, 2026, and are now in effect.

The current Dismantling Racism policy of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, along with a Q&A and procedures, may be found here.

  • Notably, this education continues to be mandatory for all clergy, diocesan staff members, and appointed and elected officers of the diocese. These individuals must receive foundational education and also update their knowledge at least every five years.
  • This education is now strongly encouraged for every member of the diocese, including delegates to Convention and vestry members. 

2026 Training Opportunities

Online: Sacred Ground

Participant Orientation: March 19, 7 p.m.

Program Series: March 26, April 9 & 23, May 7 & 21, June 4 & 18, July 2, 16, 30, August 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The committee will offer an online Zoom dialogue circle for Sacred Ground, a flagship program of the Episcopal Church. This is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.

The 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Participants are expected to view films and/or complete readings between each session.

Register for this Online Sacred Ground Opportunity

Onsite: 2026 ChurchNext Building Beloved Community

The committee will offer an in person program using the introductory ChurchNext materials from Friday afternoon May 29 through Saturday afternoon May 30, at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, Michigan.

Register for this Onsite ChurchNext Opportunity

Online: 2026 ChurchNext Building Beloved Community

The committee will offer an online opportunity to complete the ChurchNext Building Beloved Community series from August 27 to October 1 on Thursdays at noon for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Registration for this program will be available beginning in June.

Committee Roster

Sarah Hines, Co-Chair
Carole Redwine, Co-Chair
Jeanette Ettin
Joyce Henry
Charlotte Booker
Milton Roye

The committee aware that the ChurchNext and the Sacred Ground programs we are offering were developed before 2023 and is in communication with the wider Episcopal Church about the need for updates to these programs. 

If you would like to offer either the ChurchNext or Sacred Ground training in your local community, the policy document linked above includes all the necessary information to do so. 

Questions? Contact the Committee