Diocese of Wyoming announces slate of nominees for 10th bishop

From ENS-

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming is pleased to announce the slate of two candidates who will be on the ballot for the election of the 10th bishop of the diocese.

The Rev. David L. Duprey returns to Wyoming as a candidate for bishop, having served as an active-duty U.S. military chaplain for the past 12 years. He graduated in 1988 with a master of divinity degree from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. David was ordained to the diaconate in St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1988, then to the priesthood in 1989. Dave served as vicar of St. John the Baptist in Big Piney from 1988 until 1992 and as rector of St. Peter’s, Sheridan, until he answered the call to become a Navy chaplain in 2008.

As a chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Duprey has served the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy. When not deployed, David has enjoyed rich connections with local Episcopal churches; first with St. Anne’s, Jacksonville, North Carolina, then for the past eight years as adjunct clergy with Christ & St. Luke’s, Norfolk, Virginia.

The Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler is the rector of the Anglican Church in Qatar (the Church of the Epiphany & the Anglican Centre) in the Persian Gulf, a church that hosts over 20,000 people from 65 countries in its building every weekend. Serving as an appointed mission partner with The Episcopal Church, he is an Episcopal priest, author, peace builder and art curator.

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/05/13/diocese-of-wyoming-announces-slate-of-nominees-for-10th-bishop/

Wyoming churches begin receiving Episcopal foundation donations for COVID-19 relief

From Wyoming-

Two weeks after pledging $1 million to the state’s Episcopal churches in support of relief for those negatively impacted by COVID-19, The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming has mailed $460,000 of that grant to the 46 Episcopal churches in Wyoming. As needs evolve in the coming weeks and months, the remaining $540,000 of the initial grant, as well as any additional contributions to the fund will be allocated.

In Glenrock, The Rev. Leigh Earle of Christ Episcopal Church said many will have input into how its $10,000 is used in the community.

“We have asked our elected vestry and our outreach committee to vote on it, but we want the whole congregation to pray during Holy Week about what they think we ought to do,” Earle said Friday. “Right now, we hope to set up a Zoom meeting with the vestry and the outreach committee on Monday, April 13, to discuss it and vote, so that everybody in our congregation has the opportunity to tell us what they want to do.”

More here-

https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/life/national/wyoming-churches-begin-receiving-episcopal-foundation-donations-for-covid-19-relief/article_4b7ef7b3-d5ec-5e2c-a624-ec93929a0634.html

Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming foundation pledges $1 million in COVID-19 relief

From Wyoming-

In an emergency meeting last Thursday, members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming committed $1 million in support of relief for those negatively impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Members acknowledged the situation caused by the growing global pandemic is dynamic, so guidelines for the distribution of the relief dollars are not yet created. However, the board voted unanimously to allocate funding to the resource, citing Jesus’s teaching to “love our neighbors.”

While the virus disrupts weekly worship across the mostly rural state, Wyoming Episcopalians are busy supporting their local community by checking in on vulnerable neighbors, providing food and financial resources to local food banks and other helping agencies, as well as holding virtual prayer services.

More here-

https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/episcopal-diocese-of-wyoming-foundation-pledges-million-in-covid-/article_77654ef8-5367-5162-95b4-e422e3feef90.html

'Tampon Team' curbs period poverty in Teton County

From Wyoming-

Melinda Binks and Sarah Ferris have worked on providing access to menstruation products in the Himalayas. But both were surprised to find the same problem facing girls and women in Teton County.

“I couldn’t believe it was going on here,” Binks said.

Binks and Ferris joined a small group of mostly women on the southwest corner of Town Square on Saturday to hand out information about “period poverty” and where people could access products.

The educational rally, timed to coincide with National Period Day, was born from the organizers of the Period Project, a collaboration started by St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. John’s Hospital Foundation and the Jackson Cupboard.

The three groups joined forces last spring to purchase and distribute tampons and pads to schools and businesses throughout town. The Tampon Team — the moniker given to the group of volunteers that stock the baskets — have expanded to include Arapahoe Middle School in Fremont County and the Community Resource Center of Teton Valley in Driggs, Idaho.

More here-

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/tampon-team-curbs-period-poverty-in-teton-county/article_249169aa-65b0-5744-bf40-2639374a1d18.html

'Possible hate crime' reported as Lander Episcopal church is defaced with homophobic graffiti

From Wyoming-

Homophobic graffiti was discovered on the Trinity Episcopal Church in Lander on Friday morning, the same day Matthew Shepard’s remains were laid to rest at an Episcopal church in Washington. The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming is calling the incident “a possible hate crime,” according to an announcement.

The Rev. Janet Seeley found the graffiti, which includes the phrases “False hope fags,” “Lies” and “Fake,” as well as drawings of male genitalia. There is also an image of a frowning face with the eyes crossed out and “Run” beneath it.

“As Bishop of the Diocese of Wyoming, I personally abhor this act and pray that those responsible will be held accountable and have their hearts changed,” the Right Rev. John S. Smylie, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, said in the announcement. “I appeal to the people of the State of Wyoming to stand with and to pray for those targeted in the Lander community.”

More here-

https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/possible-hate-crime-reported-as-lander-episcopal-church-is-defaced/article_436862d1-8ef6-5d0a-801f-ffeb58a4611f.html?fbclid=IwAR2mShuEPpEcVCev70bBHyD-iRFOmoSvr8AvxaViOTCj205xDZ-YAoqohBU

With church donation, Wyoming organization to create info packets for families affected by suicide

From Wyoming-

After the loss of a loved one to suicide, family members are left to navigate difficult, unthinkable questions in a haze of loss.

What do they tell their loved one's former employer? What do they need to do with the deceased's bank account? How do they arrange the funeral?

With a $22,700 grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, suicide prevention organization Grace For 2 Brothers will provide packets with information that address those questions to coroners in all of Wyoming's counties. The grant will also help the group expand an existing program that dispatches volunteers to families who have experienced a death by suicide shortly after the act.

"We wanted to provide an informational packet to families in Wyoming that have to go through the storm of losing a loved one to suicide so they won’t feel so alone and also to help guide them through one of the most trying times in their lives," said Rhianna Brand, director of operations for the nonprofit. "It’s not an answer to all of the why’s we all carry, but it is a piece of hope and help from the very beginning, something that those of us who went through a loss all wished we had."

More here-

http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/with-church-donation-wyoming-organization-to-create-info-packets-for/article_36e947f6-be02-5b7f-b669-27315d2294c4.html

Wyoming church pledges $100K for suicide prevention funding

From The Washington Times-

Not many Christian sects have a service specifically dedicated to suicide prevention. In many churches, suicide is taboo - something to be whispered about over after-service coffee but never mentioned from the pulpit. For some, suicide is a violation of the Fifth Commandment - thou shall not kill. For some, those who die by suicide are damned to hell.

But the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming doesn’t condemn those souls. Instead, the 49 parishes across the state are actively attempting to save them. Suicide prevention has been a priority for the Episcopal church in Wyoming for years. But after state lawmakers drastically cut funding for prevention earlier this year, the church’s efforts further intensified.

More here-

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/27/wyoming-church-pledges-100k-for-suicide-prevention/

Episcopal diocese foundation earmarks $100,000 for suicide prevention

From Wyoming-

The Rev. Doug Wasinger doesn’t remember the date, but he remembers the message. It was startling, like jumping into a cold pool. It was given at the annual convention of the Episcopal Churches of Wyoming. The Right Rev. John Smylie, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, stepped up to the microphone.

“There is a scourge in Wyoming, and it needs to be addressed,” Smylie said. “It’s called suicide.”

For the past three years, the diocese has promoted a faith-based approach to suicide prevention across the state. The diocese saw those prevention efforts as a calling.

Wyoming continually ranks among the top five states with the highest suicide rate. Why that’s the case isn’t fully understood, but what suicide prevention specialists do know is that the suicide rate falls when communities have a strong support system.

Earlier this year, the Wyoming Legislature cut Wyoming Health Department prevention-related funding by $2 million. In turn, the department was forced to cut funds for community-based suicide prevention services.


More here-


http://www.buffalobulletin.com/article_3106e976-7933-11e7-a190-ff379bca3e82.html

Wyoming ordains its first Native American female priest

From ENS-

On May 26, the Rev. Roxanne Jimerson-Friday became the first Native American woman from the Wind River Indian Reservation, in the state of Wyoming, ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. The ceremony took place at Our Father’s House Episcopal Church in Ethete, with the Rt. Rev. John S. Smylie, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, presiding. The Rev. Tommy Means gave the sermon. Jimerson-Friday is the first woman Shoshone tribal member to be ordained to the Episcopal priesthood.

Jimerson-Friday is part of the Seneca Nation of New York, on her father’s side, and part of the Shoshone Tribe of Wyoming, on her mother’s side. She was born in Lander, grew up in New York until she was 10, and then moved back to Wyoming. She currently lives in Ethete with her husband, Aaron Friday.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/05/31/first-native-american-woman-in-wyoming-ordained-to-episcopal-priesthood/

Native American woman ordained to Episcopal diaconate

From Wyoming-

Roxanne Jimerson-Friday is set to become the first Native American woman from the Wind River Indian Reservation to be ordained to the transitional diaconate of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming.

Ceremonies begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie, with the Rt. Rev. John S. Smylie, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, presiding. Several others in the process of becoming priests will be ordained during the ceremony as well.

Jimerson-Friday’s ordination is a major step in the process of becoming a priest. Upon being ordained a priest, she will be the first Shoshone tribal member to do so, according to a media release.

More here-

http://trib.com/news/local/casper/native-american-woman-ordained-to-episcopal-diaconate/article_14173d4c-5c6e-52dd-bdc8-93a04568afe4.html

Wyoming's Episcopal Bishop Wants A Statewide Discussion On Gun Violence

From Wyoming-

Wyoming’s Episcopal Bishop John Smylie wants the state to have a conversation about gun violence following shootings that killed three men and seriously injured another this week.

Smylie says the shooting of two people at a detox center in Riverton and the shooting of two people at a Cheyenne business shows him that gun violence issues across the country have come to Wyoming. 

“This is a conversation that we need to have and more than a conversation. I mean these are concerns that really do affect the people of Wyoming, we can’t isolate ourselves. The other place where I think gun violence is a huge problem that we are not addressing is suicide by gun.”  

More here-

http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/wyomings-episcopal-bishop-wants-statewide-discussion-gun-violence

'People of faith need to be involved:' Wyoming senator studies to become a priest

From Wyoming-

Of all the metaphorical images of God and Jesus – master of the house, carpenter, teacher, winemaker — Bernadine Craft’s favorite is shepherd.

Her grandfather, who died before she was born, ran sheep in the Wind River Mountains. Craft grew up hearing stories of his adventures.

A painting created by Craft’s aunt hung in her childhood home in Rock Springs. It’s of Jesus leaning over a rocky ledge, grabbing a lost lamb. Craft now owns that house and still has that painting.

“From the time I was a little girl, that somehow symbolized to me God, and symbolized Christ,” she said. “That love of the shepherd for his sheep. And I would hear the stories about the sheep herders that would go up and look for that one lost lamb, that one stray little sheep.”

The role of shepherding the flock has taken on new meaning for Craft, a Democratic state senator who is studying to become a priest in the Episcopal Church. On Aug. 20, she will be ordained as a transitional deacon at her Rock Springs parish, Church of The Holy Communion. She will be a deacon for at least six months before ordination as a priest.

More here-

http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/people-of-faith-need-to-be-involved-wyoming-senator-studies/article_00872026-4e5e-5bdd-9c7a-dfc805446286.html

Laramie cathedral has new dean

From Wyoming-

Officials at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Laramie are pleased to announce that they have named the Rev. Canon Stephen Askew of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Tennessee to serve as their dean. Askew will be joining the cathedral on Oct. 1, and will be seated as the dean on Oct. 11. Askew is replacing the previous dean, the Very Rev. Marilyn Engstrom, who retired on July 31, 2012.

According to Taimi Kuiva, senior warden at St. Matthew’s, the cathedral’s selection of Askew was received with excitement and hope at the church.

“The St. Matthew’s community is very excited to have Father Stephen joining us. Stephen shares our commitment to outreach and ministry beyond our four walls. Like the cathedral, Stephen truly embraces our theology of welcoming all at God’s table, which is not only important to St. Matthew’s but to Laramie as well. We look forward to the years ahead as our community and Stephen grow into the image that God has called us to be,” Kuiva said.

The Rt. Rev. John S. Smylie, Episcopal bishop of Wyoming, shares the cathedral’s excitement in Askew’s selection.

“Stephen has experience working with both congregations and the diocesan office. Because of this experience, I expect that Stephen will be able to help the cathedral grow in its ministry and interaction beyond Laramie and become a greater resource for the 49 Episcopal churches throughout our diocese,” Smylie said.

More here-

http://trib.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/laramie-cathedral-has-new-dean/article_06a95dbe-494a-5e5a-b05f-4b648c9255b7.html