Second Diocesan Convention

Facilitated by: Members of the Bishop Search Committee

Small congregations are at the heart of our diocesan life, and their voices are essential in shaping the call for our first Bishop Diocesan. Members from small churches—whether defined by ASA, budget size, seasonal rhythms, or part-time/no resident clergy—are especially invited to this conversation. Led by members of the Bishop Search Committee, this listening session will gather your hopes for the future of our diocese, the values you believe our next bishop should embody, and the ministries you feel called to pursue together. Your perspective will help shape the diocesan profile and ensure that the life, gifts, and wisdom of small congregations are fully reflected in our common discernment.

Both sessions will be identical in content and will follow the same format that will be used in all other Bishop Search Listening Sessions See the full schedule of online and onsite listening sessions at greatlakesepiscopal.org/bishop-search.

Moderated by: The Rev. Charles Russell (St. Philip’s, Beulah)

Panelists: The Rev. Beck Leclaire (Ausable Inclusion Center, Mio), Ms. Joy Foster (St. Philip’s Beulah), The Rev. Micheal Hueschen (Plainwell Diaper Project), and Mr. Dave Rayner (St. Jude’s Fenton)

The work of supporting our communities directly can be a deeply faithful response to the call of our faith in Jesus Christ. This workshop will introduce several front line pantry/support ministies and explore the challenges of both starting and continuing these ministries around the Diocese. Ending with a short panel discussion that concludes with a time for questions and answers.

Presented by: The Rev. Sr. Diane Stier and Dr. Christi Brookes of St. John’s, Mt. Pleasant; Mx. Kay Leclaire of the Kanienkehaka Tribe of Kahnawà:ke; Dr. Jess Kidder, Program Manager for Holy Ground for Whole Communities, and the Rev. Canon Nurya Love Parish, Director for Mission and Community Engagement

Following up on last year’s Convention, this workshop will provide historical and current information about the way the Episcopal Church has engaged indigenous communities in Michigan. Expect to learn about the church’s work in the 1830’s in Allegan County, the Episcopal Church’s Boarding School Commission for Truth-Telling and St. John’s Mt Pleasant’s work, and about the current ministry of the Diocese of Northern Michigan. Time will be provided to reflect on possible next steps in your local context.

Presented by: The Rev. Canon Tracie Little, Director for Vocational Discernment and Equipping, The Rev. David Vickers (St. Paul the Apostle, Greenville and St. John the Apostle, Ionia), The Rev. Liz Kinsey (St. John’s, Sturgis), and Dr. Nancy Foster (St. Mary’s, Cadillac)

For over a decade, the Academy for Vocational Leadership has created a learning environment for students discerning calls to Holy Orders as they complete their academic formation. This past year the Iona Collaborative at the Seminary of the Southwest received a $5 million dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation. Our “micro-grant” focuses on redeveloping our diaconal formation curriculum and developing a lay curriculum which will help lay leaders in congregations. This workshop will share the specifics about our grant and how this work will better support congregational leadership.

For the past couple of years, the diocese has also begun supporting individuals wanting to thrive in parish leadership through our Thriving in Ministry program. One of the units that is a part of this program is about conflict. Conflict is a constant in our lives as a church, but it doesn’t have to be negative and can actually bring about positive results if managed with care and collaboration.  It’s important to understand one’s comfort level with and way of working with conflict in order to create the best possible outcome. The Thriving in Ministry cohort has been studying conflict in order to learn and understand the steps for the best possible outcome and are going to share what we have learned with the rest of the diocese as a part of this workshop.