September 27, 2019

Friends,
I am happy to announce the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith as our first Missioner for Spirituality and Leadership.

Mark served as bishop diocesan of the Church in Newark, NJ from 2007 - 2019. Prior to that he served as rector of All Saints, Worcester from 1993 - 2006. We are happy to have Mark back in Worcester, and grateful that he will continue to do the work of ministry among us.

As Missioner for Spirituality and Leadership, Mark will be working on a part-time basis with congregational leadership two Sundays each month and offering spiritual direction to clergy. I'm excited about his work in our churches. Mark is willing to work with cohorts of clergy who want to identify the adaptive challenges in their congregations. He will go deeper with vestries than what is possible in a bi-annual bishop's visitation. If your congregation is interested in having Mark spend two Sundays among you, contact my office to determine his availability. Contact Lainey, also, if you are interested in spiritual direction with Mark.

As a founding co-convener of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, I am looking forward to the ways in which he will enliven our work to end gun violence in our communities.

Mark's return is a blessing. May God bless this new ministry with abundant joy!

+ Doug

The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher
IX Bishop of Western Massachusetts