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.

Author: Rachel Rose

A circle of colorful human figures surrounds various religious symbols, including a crescent moon and star, cross, and Star of David, over a background of calm water.

Ecumenical Endeavors: Winter 2026

Fr. Mike Wernick serves as Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for our diocese which means he works in spaces of cooperation and shared ministry across Christian denominations and across different religions. From time to time, he shares important updates from this work with us, reminding us of our values of shared ministry and shared love and care for the world, values which transcend markers of religious difference.

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January 9, 2026 1 Comment

A Hopeful Milestone for Our Diocese

This Advent, our diocese is witnessing something extraordinary — a groundswell of hope, courage, and creativity rising from our congregations across the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes.

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December 19, 2025 No Comments
Image Reads: Action Update Standing Committee against a semi-transparent bold yellow background over a photo of a deacon proclaiming the gospel.

Authorized Liturgies

A Resolution of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes, acting as the Ecclesiastical Authority

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December 18, 2025 No Comments

Holiness and Happiness

I never expected to find God in pirate-speak, but Pirate Mass at St. Luke’s in Kalamazoo reminded me that holiness and happiness go hand in hand. Arrgh! Aye, aye! Amen! ⚓️ 🏴‍☠️ 🌊

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September 29, 2025 No Comments

Day of Prayer

Let’s join together in prayer on October 26 for our Diocese and our Episcopal Search

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September 17, 2025 No Comments

Introducing Our Deans

At the end of August, we introduced our new, canonically-required Mission Regions, ten groupings of congregations, summer chapels, companion ministries, and programmatic organizations that exist

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September 17, 2025 No Comments
Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple, in her mitre and a red chasuble and the Rev. Jed Fox, also in a red chasuble, asperge the congregants at St. Mark's in Grand Rapids at the CNM for that parish and Rev. Jed. ark On the right side of the image is a blue bar over which is the text, "being & becoming."

Diocesan Staff: Week of September 14

One of the best parts of being on Diocesan Staff is that we we get to travel around this very pleasant peninsula to connect with people, parishes, and communities. AND, even when we are in our offices and not on the road, we still get to do cool and meaningful work to support Episcopal ministries in our diocese. Here’s a look at what some of us have been up to September 8-14.

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September 17, 2025 No Comments
The Rev. David Blank anoints the Rev. Jay Johnson on the forehead while the Rev. Canon Val Ambrose looks on at the leadership retreat for the Bishop Search and Transition Committees in September 2025. On the left side of the image is a semi-transparent dark blue bar over which is the text, "being & becoming."

Diocesan Staff: Week of September 7

One of the best parts of being on Diocesan Staff is that we we get to travel around this very pleasant peninsula to connect with people, parishes, and communities. AND, even when we are in our offices and not on the road, we still get to do cool and meaningful work to support Episcopal ministries in our diocese. Here’s a look at what some of us have been up to September 1 – 7.

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September 10, 2025 No Comments
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A group of 16 parishioners stand at the front of the nave at St. Barnabas in Portage and smile for the camera. Behind them is a beautiful, geometric stained glass window, the panes of which form a colorful gradient from purple, through mauves, into light greens and blues. There is a semi-transparent blue color block on the left side of the image. In a bold yellow and rich orange, text over the box reads, "being & becoming"

Diocesan Staff: Week of August 31

One of the best parts of being on Diocesan Staff is that we we get to travel around this very pleasant peninsula to connect with people, parishes, and communities. AND, even when we are in our offices and not on the road, we still get to do cool and meaningful work to support Episcopal ministries in our diocese. Here’s a look at what some of us have been up to August 25-31.

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September 3, 2025 No Comments

Being & Becoming: Staff Structure Changes

In yesterday’s video, we shared lessons learned from interviews across the diocese about people’s expectations for and experiences with diocesan staff. Today, we’re sharing the changes we’re implementing in light of those lessons.

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August 29, 2025 No Comments
Image Description: Image reads "staff & structure lessons."

Being & Becoming: Staff & Structure Lessons

Nearly 50 lay and clergy leaders from around the diocese gave feedback on their experiences and expectations of diocesan staff in recent interviews conducted by Interim Executive Officer, the Rev. Alan James, and the Staffing and Structure Committee. Watch the video to learn about the takeaways from that work.

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August 28, 2025 1 Comment
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A selfie of five ministers in a sacristy before a church service, including the Revs. Canon Tracie Little, Kris Veldheer, and Liz Kinsey. In a bold yellow and rich orange, text over the box reads, "being & becoming"

Diocesan Staff: Week of August 24

One of the best parts of being on Diocesan Staff is that we we get to travel around this very pleasant peninsula to connect with people, parishes, and communities. AND, even when we are in our offices and not on the road, we still get to do cool and meaningful work to support Episcopal ministries in our diocese. Here’s a look at what some of us have been up to August 18-24.

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August 27, 2025 No Comments
Image Description: Image reads "mission regions."

Being & Becoming: Mission Regions

Learn more about our new Mission Regions which will help us to live in to our Organizing Principle: We are called to embody the love of Jesus Christ with grace, hope, and joy.

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August 27, 2025 7 Comments

Welcome our new Assisting Bishop!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOvLZs3k0Q Read the full video transcript. Dear Friends in Christ, On behalf of the Standing Committee, I am overjoyed to share that the Rt. Rev.

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July 2, 2025 1 Comment