View a presentation  by the Rev. Joe Duggan on Camp Noel Porter at the 2017 Diocesan Convention.  A synopsis of his presentation is  available here .

There are two resolution forms; both forms must be sent  to Leta Parks, Chair of Resolutions via email at  [email protected]  by this Friday, Aug. 31. Any resolution questions can also be directed to Ms. Parks.

• Serves as the Bishop's Council of Advice, meeting on request of the Bishop or on the Committee's own accord
• Acts in matters such as recognizing new missions and missions becoming parishes, consenting to alienation or hypothecation of congregational or institutional property, consulting upon differences between a rector and vestry, approving the progress of individuals through the process for ordination to the diaconate or priesthood, approving the release and removal of individuals from the ordained ministry, consenting to the deconsecration of churches, and, consenting, along with other standing committees (consent of a majority of standing committees being required), to the election of bishops of other dioceses or filling a vacancy in the office of presiding bishop. Read more.

• Through a Mutual Ministry process with the Bishop, help set goals for the diocese and periodically evaluate progress toward goals. 
• Help develop Diocesan Policy and Strategy in support of mission priorities and operations priorities established by Diocesan Convention. *Contribute to Strategic Planning for the diocese, looking ahead and helping develop policy options to meet changing circumstances. 
• Help oversee Diocesan Finance and Administration in support of mission priorities, including the development and adoption of the annual operating budget of the diocese. Read more.

The annual Diocesan Convention will be held in Redding on Nov. 9-10, 2018. 

The Pre-Convention packet is available on our  website.

Convention registration is now open! P lease purchase your tickets as soon as possible to avoid the late registration fee of $25.00 and to help the Office of the Bishop prepare most efficiently for convention. General registration will close Sept. 28. For those who volunteer (a minimum of four hours; delegates are excluded from this), registration is free. 

Pre-Convention Gathering to Focus on Baptismal Ministry

Our third Pre-Convention Gathering topic is " Following God's Call: From Church Chores to Ministry."  How can our church communities cultivate and support ongoing vocational discernment for brand new and long-time leaders? How can we cultivate spiritual practices that sustain each person's baptismal ministry inside and outside the walls of our churches?

Join us for a morning of learning, discussion, and discernment about these questions.  The event is free, and lunch will be provided.  Learn more here.

Download a flyer  to post at your church hall or in your church newsletter.

Alta California
St. Peter's, Red Bluff; 10 a.m.  - 12 p.m.

Capital 
St. Michael's, Carmichael; 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Central
St. John's, Roseville; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Russian River
Incarnation, Santa Rosa; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Semper Virens
Christ Church, Eureka; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sierra
Emmanuel, Grass Valley; 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Wingfield
Church of the Ascension, Vallejo; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Not sure what deanery your church belongs to? Find out here.

The Office of the Bishop will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3. We will resume our normal business hours the following day, and the Diocesan e-News will be published that afternoon. 

• Sept. 2 - St. Nicholas', Tahoe City 
• Sept. 9 - St. Luke's, Calistoga 
• Sept. 16 - Trinity, Folsom
• Oct. 21 - All Saints', Sacramento 
• Oct. 28 - Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento

The Bishop's Transition committee has been hard at work planning for the events leading up to the election of our new bishop. We have been able to solidify a few details that we'd like to share with you.

There will be a series of five "walk abouts" with the final candidates for Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California during the week of January 20, 2019 . "Walk abouts" are a part of the process of meeting the candidates for bishop. The candidates will "take to the road" and visit throughout the diocese in formal and informal ways. During the formal events at each of the churches listed below, the people of the diocese will have an opportunity to meet the candidates, ask, and hear them answer questions about who they are, their ministry in the church and their vision for the diocese. These meetings are open to everyone, not just the voting delegates and we encourage everyone to attend. We also plan to livestream at least one of these events for those who are not able to travel.

The "walk about" events will take place on the following dates and locations:

Pneuma is an ecumenical conference for any disciple who is focused on nurturing a contemporary, honest and compassionate Church.

This year Pneuma is presenting a conference around the work of Living Compass, specifically a CWA (Certified Wellness Advocate) training. Grounded in scripture and the tradition of the Church, Living Compass provides resources, education, training and support to individuals, families and congregations as they seek to enhance vitality and live into the abundant life God intends for them.  In this training you will learn how to begin or expand a wellness ministry in your church. You will develop skills to facilitate small wellness groups and lead wellness classes in your community for adults, parents, and teens.  To register, visit pneumaconference.com .

For more information, or if you need a scholarship, contact Susan Wahlstrom, Diocesan Partners in Health Ministries Coordinator at [email protected], or Anne Clarke, Lifelong Christian Formation Coordinator at [email protected].

On Aug. 23, Jana Mauck Branson was ordained into the Sacred Order of Priests at St. Luke's, Auburn. The Rev. Jana is now serving as Assistant Priest at St. Luke's.

Images of Central American families torn apart at our southern border have been prompting public outrage. The U.S. government explains such measures as necessary to  deter "illegal immigration," though families seeking asylum keep arriving, undeterred. Meanwhile, few in our country ask: Why are families willing to risk their lives to seek safe haven in the U.S.? What are they fleeing? And how can we address the root causes or "push factors" of this migration crisis?

Join Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, on Friday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m., at St. Martin's, Davis, for a free talk on immigration entitled "Why are they fleeing?", with a Q&A and reception to follow.

Come learn about these issues and what we can do to help in a conversation with the head of the lead NGO working on forced displacement due to violence in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras-the countries from which most families at our border are fleeing. Bullock will talk about the current state of violence and progress made on behalf of victims, such as a landmark July 13 ruling from El Salvador's Supreme Court protecting victims. He will also touch on Cristosal's role in the historic El Mozote massacre trial, and why accountability for atrocities of the past is vital to building peaceful societies today.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has issued the following statement on the death of Senator John McCain: " The life of Senator John Sidney McCain has been a witness to the nobility of living not for self alone but for the ideals and values that make for a better world. With countless others, we of the Episcopal Church give God thanks for his life and service and pray likewise for his wife, children and family.  May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen."