Rector 'delighted' to stay: Evan Garner looks forward to serving St. Paul's

From Arkansas-

Evan Garner didn't get the job -- and, he says, he is "more than OK with it. I am delighted."

The Rev. Glenda Curry, rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Homewood and former president of Troy University in Montgomery, was recently elected to succeed the current bishop of Alabama, who is retiring. But Garner, who is rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, was on the short list of nominees for the position. Having just moved to Fayetteville when the Rev. Lowell Grisham retired, he wasn't ready to move on.

"When they asked me why I wanted the job, I told them plainly that I didn't," he says of the interview process in Alabama. "I didn't want to be a bishop, and I didn't want to give up the fruitful ministry that I enjoyed here.

More here-

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/feb/01/rector-delighted-to-stay-evan-garner-lo/?features-religion

Evangelism officer for Episcopal Church lives up to her name

From Arkansas-

Meet Jerusalem Jackson Greer. She's a Southern Baptist preacher's daughter, a mother, crafter, cook, farmer, author and, now, staff officer for evangelism in the Episcopal Church.

Greer, who began the new full-time position in March, lives on a small farm named Preservation Acres in Shady Grove near Greenbrier with her husband, Nathan Greer, and sons Miles, 15, and Wylie, 19, when he's home from college.

In the newly established position, Greer said her job will be to help share "what evangelism means in the Episcopal tradition."

"I help coordinate Episcopal revivals that we have across the country ... create curriculum and other tools to help both individuals and congregations to share the good news of God and Christ through word and example," Greer said as she sat in the library of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway.

More here-

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/02/evangelism-officer-for-episcopal-church/

NWA New Sanctuary Network provides physical sanctuaries for immigrants

From Arkansas-

The Northwest Arkansas New Sanctuary Network will provide a physical sanctuary for immigrants in need. 

The group is made up of four congregations: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rolling Hills Baptist and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville and All Saints' Episcopal Church in Bentonville. 

Rector Evan Garner with St. Paul's Episcopal Church said northwest Arkansas is in critical need of a group like this. 

"We have a lot of people in our community who live in fear, either as individuals whose status as immigrants is uncertain, or for loved ones in their family. When there's a knock at the door, there's worry," Garner said. 

The churches will welcome immigrants into their congregations, creating miniature sanctuary cities, providing shelter and safety for those in need. 

More here-

https://www.4029tv.com/article/nwa-new-sanctuary-network-provides-physical-sanctuaries-for-immigrants/28931474

Magdalene House seeks skilled volunteers

From Arkansas-

Just a few months after securing a local property for use, the Magdalene House has completed its initial inspections and found itself in need in one particular area — skilled volunteer laborers.

The Magdalene House, which started through St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, aims to provide a two-year program to help women survivors of sexual exploitation, violence and addiction. Since starting the local group last year, board members have worked to acquire a suitable property and furnishings.

In late February, the board formally approved taking ownership of a donated house in El Dorado. 

Since then, they’ve met with city inspectors and an architect to identify what needs to be done before anyone can move in. Becky Choate, board president, said the house needs a lot of work and there are plenty of projects to take on. She described the property as being an older house that has a “cottage feel,” with a screened in porch.

“It’s got a lot of personality,” Choate said.

More here-

https://www.eldoradonews.com/news/2019/may/19/magdalene-house-seeks-skilled-volunteers/

Former WSU campus ministry director elected first woman Episcopal bishop of Kansas

From Kansas-

Rev. Cathleen Bascom has broken ground as a woman in the Episcopal church many times over the last three decades. She was the first woman to go through the entire lengthy and taxing process of ordination to the priesthood in Kansas in the 1980’s. Now Bascom will be consecrated as the first ever woman bishop of the Diocese of Kansas.

Bascom, from the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, was in charge of campus ministries at Wichita State and Kansas State from 1993-2001. She was elected Friday as the tenth bishop to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas — making her the first woman to fill the role since the formation of the diocese in 1859.  

Women have been allowed ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church since 1976, but the first woman was not elected as bishop until 1988. When Bascom was ordained in the Diocese of Kansas, women’s ordination was relatively new and those early days could be lonely and difficult for female clergy. 

More here-

https://thesunflower.com/30417/uncategorized/former-wsu-campus-ministry-director-elected-first-woman-episcopal-bishop-of-kansas/ 

also here-

https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/episcopal-diocese-kansas-elects-female-bishop

Diocese of Kansas announces candidates for bishop

From ENS-

The Council of Trustees, acting as the canonical Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, presents to the diocese two priests as candidates for the 10th bishop of the diocese:

• The Rev. Martha N. Macgill, Diocese of Maryland
• The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, Diocese of North Carolina

Nominees may be added by a petition process that closes at 5 p.m. CDT on June 30, 2018.

Members of the diocese will have the chance to meet the candidates in walkabouts scheduled in the diocese for Oct. 2-5; the schedule of events is online.

The election of the next bishop will take place on the first day of Diocesan Convention, Oct. 19, at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. The Service of Ordination and Consecration is scheduled for March 2, 2019, at the cathedral, with Presiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry officiating.

Here are brief introductions to the candidates; more information about them is on the bishop search website.

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/06/22/diocese-of-kansas-announces-candidates-for-bishop/

Offering Syringes Along With Prayers, Churches Help IV Drug Users

From Kaiser Health-

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, launched its syringe exchange program last November. Shelby Carrothers, a church member, saw the need for one while offering HIV testing during a weekly free hot meal. She discovered that most of the people being tested identified as IV drug users.

Carrothers said that while providing clean syringes is a critical service, “Almost equally important is that we provide a nonjudgmental space to talk about what they’re going through and answer questions that they might otherwise be afraid to ask.”

Sherman Terry, 40, is among those who’ve found help at St. Paul’s. A former IV drug user, he came for a hot meal and has received a lot more.

More here-

http://khn.org/news/offering-syringes-along-with-prayers-churches-help-iv-drug-users/

Home planned for women released from prison or abused

From Arkansas-

She hopes to start a transitional home for women who have been incarcerated or survived abuse, sexual violence or addiction.

A chaplain for 25 years and prison mentor, Kaczmarek envisions a two-year program in Little Rock modeled after a program in Nashville, Tenn., known as Magdalene and Thistle Farms. It would be known as Magdalene -- Coming Home.

The program is in the planning stages, and an informational "FUNraiser" will be held Oct. 6 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, in Little Rock.

The idea for the project grew out of Kaczmarek's experience mentoring a woman in prison and coordinating fellow mentors.

Read more: The Courier - Your Messenger for the River Valley - Home planned for women released from prison or abused.

More here-

http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/27277722/article-Home-planned-for-women-released-from-prison-or-abused