Announcements

Safe Church Training Update

In response to the Safe Church Model Policies that were adopted by General Convention in 2017, The Episcopal Church’s Task Force to Develop Model Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies & Safe Church Training has been working hard to create new trainings to accompany the model policies. As previously announced the original Safeguarding courses are being decommissioned and removed from Praesidium Academy access. Also, the training program has been renamed Safe Church, Safe Communities. The most recent changes occurred on August 12 when both Meet Sam and It Happened to Me were no longer part of Praesidium Academy’s course offerings.


The Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana is in the process of reviewing our current diocesan policies and training requirements and will be updating them in keeping with Safe Church, Safe Communities. Look for changes coming soon. In the meantime, anyone in a diocesan organization who is required by our current policies to take training courses should follow our current guidelines to the extent possible. Once our new policies go into effect, additional training will be necessary even for those who are already certified.


If you have any questions about Safe Church, Safe Communities, please click here.


For diocesan information, click here. You can also contact Joy Owensby for general questions or Holly Windham regarding background screening.

Diocesan Events

Save the Date

The fall season brings with it many exciting diocesan events. Please mark your calendars for the following dates and make plans to join in the fun! 

November 5

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate (Katy Campbell, John Henson and Benjamin Thoms)

St. James, Alexandria

11:00 a.m. 


November 26

Ordination to the Diaconate (Brian Warner)

St. Timothy's, Alexandria

11:00 a.m.


December 9-10

Adaptive Leadership Conference with Bishop Sean Rowe

The Wesley Center, Woodworth


February 24-25, 2023

Diocesan Convention

Feb. 24: Opening Eucharist and Reception at St. James, Alexandria

Feb. 25: Convention at Pineville Convention Center

Diocesan Calendar

Have you seen the calendar of events on the new diocesan website? Find diocesan events for various categories: Bishop's Visitation, Youth Events, Christian Formation Workshops, and more. Explore the diocesan calendar of events by clicking here.

Around the Diocese

Bishop Owensby Hosts Clergy Day

The clergy of our Diocese came together with Bishop Owensby to have a day of reflection and prayer at St. James in Alexandria last week.


The main themes the Bishop talked about were leadership in the church and discipleship. He talked about what a disciple is, how the church makes disciples, and what kind of leaders the church needs to be the church. The bishop talked about all of this with his sense of humor.


After a noonday prayer service and lunch, the Bishop opened the floor for questions and further discussion. All the clergy had a good time visiting with each other.

The Diocese helps Hurricane Laura Survivor Get A New Home

On Monday, September 12, a homeless Hurricane Laura survivor became a homeowner, thanks to the efforts of the Central Louisiana Long-Term Recovery Group (CenLa LTRG). Taking part in this event were Joy Owensby, Co-Chair of the Cenla LTRG, and Mark Weinzettle, a parishioner at St. James, Alexandria, who is a case manager for the state’s Disaster Case Management Program. The diocese also participates in the work of the LTRG by serving as its fiscal agent, with Kathy Richey as Treasurer.


You can read the article here.


To learn more about how you can help with disaster recovery across the diocese, contact Joy OwensbyArchdeacon Lois Maberry, or Cindy Robertson.


Photo: New homeowner Sliska Larry is elated when she got the title to her new home.

St. Timothy in Alexandria Hosts Private Screening of 'Elvis'

Did Elvis ever actually leave the building? Some people are not so sure anymore.


Friends of St. Timothy and Louisiana Community Care in Alexandria hosted their third event of the year. This time, around seventy individuals and staff from different community homes in Central Louisiana met at the Alexandria Grand Theater for a private screening of the movie 'Elvis.' Not only were they treated to popcorn and drinks, but they also got to hear Elvis Presley music from an Elvis impersonator. 


After the movie, everyone received a souvenir bracelet and a guitar shaped keychain from the student helpers at LSUA. "Thank you very much!"


Their final event for the year, a costume Halloween Dance, will be held in late October.

St. Barnabas in Lafayette Introduces Self Check-In Kiosk

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some churches began to incorporate new technologies into their services. This can be as simple as streaming from a smartphone or having a multiple camera setup. St. Barnabas in Lafayette is trying something new at their church.


They recently introduced a check-in kiosk that checks you into church and prints off a name tag. You can either sign in on the laptop or a smart device via the Realm Connect App. If you sign in on the app, it gives you a QR code to scan for your name tag.


It is easy to use and this will serve as a fun way for people to get to know each other.

St. Barnabas Check-in Kiosk Introduction

St. Paul's in Shreveport to Host Centering Prayer Workshop

St. Paul's is planning to host a workshop for Centering Prayer, a method of silent prayer rooted in the Christian Contemplative tradition that opens us to the presence and action of the Holy Spirit.

The Secretariat to Host Diocesan Ultreya and Cursillo Welcome Back Party

The Secretariat of Western Louisiana is planning to host a Welcome Back Party for Diocesan Ultreya and Cursillo. This will be held on October 29 at The Wesley in Woodworth.


Bring your Book of Common Prayer, De Colores Attire, Cursillo Name tags, and/or a musical instrument and join the fun! You can sign up for the event here.


If you wish to reserve an overnight room at the Wesley, registration is due October 14.

Want to see your congregation or organization featured?
Share your ministry stories, announcements, and events with us through the Digital Hub on the diocesan website.
Outside the Diocese

Episcopal Delegates Go to World Council of Churches 11th Assembly and Meet With Global Christians

The World Council of Churches held its 11th Assembly in Germany, and it concluded last week. Delegates representing The Episcopal Church experienced the broad diversity of Christianity in the world, discussed how the church responds to social problems and meeting European Anglicans and Episcopalians.


One of the delegates, the Rev. Yoimel Gonzalez Hernandez, said that his experience can be summed up in two words- celebration and opportunity.


You can read the article by clicking here.


Photo: Participants singing at the Closing Ceremony for the 11th Assembly.

Resources & Formation

Virginia Theological Seminary to host Digital Storytelling for Ministry Event

The Lifelong Learning Program at Virginia Theological Seminary is hosting a series of workshops designed for church communicators about creating a more engaging and relational digital presence. This includes learning about digital storytelling and the power of narratives in forming relationships at the heart of evangelism, conducting a self-audit of your digital communications, and self-evaluating your church's existing digital platforms and publications.


This series of seminars begins on September 23 and it will meet every other Friday until November 4. You can register to attend here.

Bishop Owensby's Latest Blog Post

Remembering Who You Really Are - Jake Owensby

My maternal grandparents Joseph and Marie were joined at the hip. My mother and I spent a segment of my childhood and all of my teen years under their roof. They continued to speak German to each other and to my mother. They used broken English with me.

Read More

The Episcopal Church Newsletter is handled by Thomas Stodghill, IV. Click here to submit a story.