As the Omicron variant sweeps through our communities, I realize the burden on parish leaders as you struggle to keep people in your care both safe and connected. I share a sense of weariness with you. And I am enormously grateful for your faithfulness during this long season.
My staff have assembled “care packages” with KN95 masks and at-home test kits, a small sign of our regard for all that you do, and a thank-you. (Editor's note: These packages were mailed out to all congregations on Friday, Jan. 21 and should be arriving this week) Know that you and the people whom you serve remain in our prayers.
George Wayne Smith
Bishop Provisional
Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
Resources
Looking for forms, policies, all the “stuff” that churches need? Our resources page is a hub that will take you to whatever you are looking for!
Filing of the 2021 Parochial Report opened January 4.
To prepare for the upcoming filing year, downloadable forms and instructions are available on our website and the Episcopal Church website. There you will also find a video tutorial and detailed instructions.
A reminder that reports are filed online at: https://reports.dfms.orgusing your login information from the previous year. Administrators should have received an email from the General Convention Office with the login information.
The canonical deadline for filing your 2021 Parochial Report is March 1, 2022.
Questions and login assistance
Congregations can contact their diocese or the General Convention Office for assistance with accessing the site and filling out the report. The General Convention Office has a dedicated email and telephone line for the Parochial Report at pr@episcopalchurch.org and 212-716-6159.
View results and data
To see the data collected from the most recently completed Parochial Report, please visit the Parochial Report Results page for summaries of the data and Explore Parochial Report Trends to view statistics for individual congregations and dioceses. A narrative summary of the qualitative data was also included in the 2020 Parochial Report results.
Parochial Report webinar February 10
A webinar discussing the Parochial Report will be offered on Thursday, February 10 at 12 noon. Join the Rev. David Getreu and Susan Byrnside of the Finance Department for information and assistance with the filing of this canonical requirement.
When: Feb 10, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Parochial Reports
Register in advance for this webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Becoming Beloved Community
With support from the United Thank Offering, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has committed to the call of Becoming Beloved Community, with deepening focus on the work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice-making.
The past week, following Martin Luther King Day, was packed with civil rights news: filibuster blocking the Senate again from passing legislation that would provide nationwide protections for voter access and enact policies to prevent partisan gerrymandering, plus another round of gerrymandering fights in Ohio.
Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts another set of maps almost certain to be challenged in court
The Ohio Legislature adopted state district maps last fall which were expected to deliver a Republican super-majority in both houses. After being ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court to redraw the maps to achieve the partisan balance mandated by the Ohio Constitution, the Redistricting Commission adopted a map with zero bipartisan support.
Two bills – HB 322 and HB 327 – close to being voted on by the Ohio House – threaten public educational institutions from K-12 through universities with the loss of state funding if they teach “divisive content.”
Ohio Day of Action for Climate Change Legislation TODAY
Ohioans who support the climate provisions of the Build Back Better Bill can use the Day of Action Toolkitprovided by the League of Conservation Voters and the nonprofit Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) to draft posts throughout the day to express your support.
Greenfaith Sacred Season of Climate Justice starts Feb. 7 with a worldwide call at 10 AM ET
GreenFaith is launching an international season of collective interfaith climate action with a call on Feb. 7. The goal is to support climate justice, with a unified call for universal access to renewable energy, a just transition, green jobs, and an end to new fossil fuel projects.
Advocacy briefings and updates are compiled by Ariel Miller, a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming, and a member of the diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team.
Forming, a podcast from the Formation Team, is back with Season 2. Click here to catch up on all of our episodes and subscribe to get notifications when new episodes are released.
In Season Two, we will invite new guests, cover new topics, and have a chance to engage with listeners! In our first episode, the Rev. Christopher Richardson interviews leadership from the October TransFaith Matters event and they share more about the TransFaith Matters community.
Clergy Formation Opportunity
Christian teaching about the resurrection is at the bedrock of our faith and our hope and yet is often poorly understood.
Join Father Dan McClain, Priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s, Dayton, and Affiliate Professor of Theology at the General Theological Seminary, for a five-session series, beginning February 3 at 3 p.m. (through June 2), on the Resurrection, using Archbishop Rowan Williams’ book, Resurrection: Interpreting the Easter Gospel (Dartman, Longman, & Todd: 1982).
Copies of Resurrection will be provided for participants.
Procter Center is a mid-sized retreat and event facility located in London, Ohio, that serves spiritual, community, business and youth organizations. Procter is also available to families and individuals who seek inspiration, reflection, education, team building and togetherness in a simple, peaceful and secluded setting.
Soaps, candles, sweet treats, teas, coffee, syrups, jams, honey, home décor, Procter apparel, holiday decorations, ornaments, jewelry, spices and spice blends, salsas, dips, dressings, art pieces, and more!
In the past, we have always closed for the months of January, February and March. Not this year! In 2022 the store will hold winter hours, open each Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
In April the store will have our Spring Plant Sale and go back to our Thursday, Friday and Saturday operating hours.
Stay up to date on store events by following us on Facebook!
News from our Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati.
For the health and safety of all, the cathedral has reinstated its policy requiring the wearing of masks by all who attend its worship services or events.
Music Live at Lunch
Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, is celebrating its 50th year! These free concerts are presented on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. Patrons may bring their own lunch or purchase one at the cathedral.
Feb 1: Heri et Hodie – A Viking-inspired program
Feb 8: The Matt Tolentino Band – Jazz
Feb 15: Cantata Chamber Ensemble – Bach cantatas
Feb 22: Wayside Winds – Classical & contemporary music
Choral Evensong
Sunday, February 6
5 p.m.
The Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Canticles: The Chichester Service – Malcolm Archer
Anthem: All Wisdom Cometh from the Lord – Philip Moore
Organ Recital
Sunday, February 20
3 p.m.
Organist Nathan Laube performs a recital on the cathedral’s new organ, Richards, Fowkes & Co. Opus 24. The program features fantasies and fugues from the Baroque stylus fantasticus to the modern era, exploring the contrast between the heightened drama of the fantasy and the fugue’s clarity of design.
No admission charge.
News from the diocesan community
Put your events on the community calendar, and we will highlight them here! Send events to Julie Murray to be added to the calendar.
February
6: Choral Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, 5 p.m.
11: Red Door Community Concert at Holy Trinity, Oxford, 12:15 p.m.
20: Organ Recital at Christ Church Cathedral, 3 p.m.
Province Vof the Episcopal Church is a wonderful networking resource to connect with Episcopalians from the Midwest who share interest in a same ministry area. Province V Newsalso has information about webinars and other events of interest.
Public hearings on proposed legislation begin online in February
All Episcopalians, and all members of the public, are invited to register to attend or testify at online hearings on resolutions being considered for the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
This is the first time that all Episcopalians can actively participate in the legislative process of General Convention. Previously, Legislative Committee hearings took place on site in the days prior to the start of General Convention and thus attendance was limited to their diocesan deputation or others who could take the time to travel to the location and testify in-person.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies took the unprecedented steps to open the legislative process to online meetings and hearings months in advance of General Convention. For more on how the President of the House of Deputies was able to grant this provision and how the House’s Rules of Order allow for this, please see this article on the House of Deputies website.
How to register and participate
All participants, whether to testify or to observe a meeting, must register in advance. Please see the Legislative Committee Calendar for a list of all meetings currently scheduled. Additional hearings will continue to be posted as Committees schedule them with the General Convention Office. Some hearings will not yet have resolutions listed, but those will be added to the calendar listing once the Committee makes a final decision and notifies the General Convention Office. When viewing the details for the meeting, please note the Committee name and number along with the date and time of the hearing and then use the following link to register:
There are two types of Legislative Committee meetings, deliberation and hearing. Only the ones listed “Video - Open Hearing” are available for members of the public to testify. Members of the public can opt to attend and observe hearings, but will not have the option of speaking unless they change their registration to testify prior to the meeting. If the meeting is listed as “Video - Ctte Deliberation Only - No Testimony”, members of the public are invited to request to observe the meeting.
What about in-person legislative hearings in Baltimore?
In-person legislative hearings will still take place in Baltimore to meet the requirements of the House of Deputies Rules of Order (see HOD VIII.B). There is no such requirement for Legislative Committees for the House of Bishops, but they will still have the option of hosting in-person hearings.
A church focused outside our doors, loving and serving Jesus Christ in our beloved communities in relevant ways, both new and traditional.
OUR MISSION
Christ is calling us into meaningful connections with each other that transcend all boundaries, and to act on those connections for the benefit of all. By these connections we are made whole.