Detroit pastors keep the faith after getting coronavirus

From Michigan-

His views are echoed by three Episcopal bishops in Michigan who wrote an open letter last week titled: “We believe in Jesus, science and staying home.”

“As the Episcopal Bishops of the State of Michigan and as a people of faith, we follow the commandment Jesus gave us – to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves,’ “ wrote the Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Rt. Rev. Whayne Hougland, Bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan, and the Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. “Loving our neighbors these days in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic means setting limits: quarantining, refraining from traveling, physical distancing when in public, and closing down places of gathering where transmission is likely. This is how we love our neighbors – by working to slow the spread of this extremely contagious, life-threatening virus.”

The letter noted that they have shut down all the Episcopal churches in Michigan, saying they support Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home order. They also said “this pandemic has exposed injustices already present in our society: racism, hunger, health care, a living wage, housing insecurity and access to education.”

More here-

https://www.grandhaventribune.com/lifestyles/faith/detroit-pastors-keep-the-faith-after-getting-coronavirus/article_f6721572-b73c-5bab-8229-ce841f4a7333.html

Detroit pastors keep the faith after getting the coronavirus

From Michigan-

Flowers also urged Detroiters to follow social distancing and not congregate outside the home for church or other gatherings. 

His views are echoed by three Episcopal bishops in Michigan who wrote an open letter last week titled: "We believe in Jesus, science and staying home."

"As the Episcopal Bishops of the State of Michigan and as a people of faith, we follow the commandment Jesus gave us — to 'love our neighbors as ourselves,' "  wrote the Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Rt. Rev. Whayne Hougland, Bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan, and the Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. "Loving our neighbors these days in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic means setting limits: quarantining, refraining from traveling, physical distancing when in public, and closing down places of gathering where transmission is likely. This is how we love our neighbors — by working to slow the spread of this extremely contagious, life-threatening virus."

More here-

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/05/02/detroit-pastors-coronavirus-diagnosis/3050791001/

Bishop Waynick elected to lead Eastern Michigan

From The Cafe-

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan elected the Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick to serve as Bishop Provisional of the diocese during their annual convention on October 20, 2017.

In a letter to the diocese, the Standing Committee celebrates the election saying, “It is with great joy that we announce that the Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick has been elected Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. We are excited to be taking this next step in our diocesan transition and are thrilled to be working with Bishop Waynick as our companion and pastor along the way.”

The election comes after nearly six months without a sitting bishop, following the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley’s resignation to become Bishop for Pastoral Development of The Episcopal Church, a position on the Presiding Bishop’s staff. 

More here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/bishop-waynick-elected-to-lead-eastern-michigan/

Retired Indianapolis bishop nominated for Eastern Michigan provisional bishop role

From ENS-

The standing committee of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan has nominated the Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick, retired bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis, as candidate for bishop provisional to be voted on at their 23rd diocesan convention from Oct. 20 to 21.

Eastern Michigan’s former bishop, the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, concluded his ministry in the diocese in June after accepting a call from the presiding bishop to serve on his staff as bishop for pastoral development.

In a letter to the diocese, the standing committee articulated its reasons for calling for a bishop provisional rather than calling for a search for a bishop diocesan, saying, “In most cases, a bishop departs their diocese through retirement. This allows the diocese to have some lead time to go through the search process, nominate a slate of candidates and vote to elect their next bishop before the exiting bishop departs. Because our bishop left for another position and not for retirement, we did not have that time. We do have the time and space to faithfully consider the issues and opportunities confronting our diocese – these are not limited to budget realities, decreasing and emerging populations, and cultural trends away from church-attendance and religious life. Like a congregation engaging an interim pastor, we hope, with a provisional bishop as a companion, to faithfully engage the entire diocese in this exciting conversation to discover where God is leading us in our life and ministry as the Episcopal Church in Eastern Michigan.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/09/20/retired-indianapolis-bishop-nominated-for-eastern-michigans-provisional-bishop-role/

Also here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/09/20/bishop-may-return-to-michigan/

3 Episcopal churches combine into one

From Eastern Michigan-

After this Sunday, All Saints Episcopal in Marysville, St. Paul's Episcopal in St. Clair and St. Mark's Episcopal in Marine City will be combining to make a new congregation that for the time being will be called the Blue Water Episcopal Church.

"We're going to be looking forward and as we get suggestions from the congregation we're going to be looking for a new name," said Michael Turnbull, senior warden for the new congregation. "We already have asked for suggestions, and the suggestions are coming in."

The first services for the new church will be March 5 — the first Sunday in Lent — at St. Mark's, 527 N. William St., Marine City. Service times are 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The plan for Lent is two services in each of the locations and Easter services at St. Mark's, Turnbull said.

More here-

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/life/faith/2017/02/24/3-episcopal-churches-combine-into-one/98298804/

On Syrian refugees, Episcopal bishop asks Michigan to be a 'good neighbor

From Eastern Michigan-


A Michigan Episcopal bishop is urging others to join him in a call for the state to act as "a good neighbor" to Syrian refugees.

Bishop Todd Ousley of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan released a statement in support of welcoming Syrian refugees, days after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said he would pause efforts to attract refugees from the Middle Eastern country.

"Not only is (Snyder's) attempt to block acceptance of refugees beyond the authority of his office, it is a fear-based reaction to a very complex set of political and humanitarian concerns," Ousley said. "As Christians in the Episcopal tradition, our love of God compels us to love our neighbor and Jesus teaches us that acts of mercy demonstrate our own neighborliness."

More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2015/11/on_syrian_refugees_local_episc.html

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church closes

From Michigan-

The name is off the building at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3201 Gratiot Ave., Port Huron.

The last Episcopalian service at the church was Aug. 9.

“We are closed,” said the Rev. Bob Diehl. He and the Rev. Shirley Seely were the two priests at St. Paul’s. “Our ecclesiastical corporation will be dissolved Aug. 9, which was the day of our last service there.”

The building, however, won’t remain empty. It was sold to Restoration Christian Community Church, which had been at 2625 Moak St., Port Huron.

“The sale of the building was finalized on July 16,” Diehl said. “They’ve had the building legally, but they have been helpful with us in terms of moving out.”

More here-

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/life/faith/2015/08/21/st-pauls-episcopal-church-closes/32129257/

0 comments 'Literally a miracle:' Episcopal Diocese forgives $93,000 debt owed by independent Saginaw church

From Michigan-

If you ask the Rev. Eugene Burton, miracles are real.

The pastor of Christ Image Community Church in Saginaw will tell you he just experienced an early Christmas miracle when the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan erased a $93,000 debt owed by the independent church.

"It was literally a miracle for our congregation," Burton said.

'Practice what we believe'

Burton and his wife, the Rev. Melissa Burton, entered into a $125,000 land contract with the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan in 2010 to purchase the building at 708 W. Genesee, which formerly housed Calvary Memorial Episcopal Church.

More here-

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2014/12/literally_a_miracle_episcopal.html

Under the Tent in Michigan

From The Living Church-

The Episcopal Church is not famous for tent revivals, but its youngest diocese wants to try new approaches, according to the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop of Eastern Michigan.

St. John’s Church in Midland was the host for a diocesan-wide leadership strategy session September 7. The purpose of the meeting was to offer a collaborative platform for building parish enthusiasm and focus on common diocesan mission initiatives.

“I’m not sure who came up with the idea to call it a tent revival, but it was visible from the intersection of two busy streets,” Bishop Ousley said. “People would have seen something out of the ordinary on that lawn that day. It was lots of fun.”

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/under-tent-michigan