Given the recent changes to the United States immigration policy by the Trump administration, we have added immigration resources to our website from Episcopal Migration Ministries and other organizations. When available, these resources are also provided in Spanish.

Resources include:

• Essential Resources for Immigrant Families
• Take Action to Support our Refugee and Immigrant Neighbors
• The Rainbow Initiative
• Know Your Rights: A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement
• Quick Guide When Interacting with Law Enforcement
• Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan

The Reunification Discernment Committee requests your prayers as it continues its work. Click here for options from which to choose.

Safe Church Safe Communities Training

Date: February 16 or February 22

Time: 2-5 p.m. (EST)

Where: Zoom

Are you newly elected to the vestry in your faith community? The diocese is holding two Safe Church Safe Communities training sessions just for you. Select which time works best for your schedule and register below!

Unsure if you need Safe Church Safe Communities training? Click here to learn more or email Missioner Cindy Spice.

Background checks



Running background checks on those to whom we are entrusting our children and our resources is an important part of the stewardship to which God calls us. Each parish has the responsibility to request that the following background checks be processed through the diocesan office (to be billed to the parish):

• Oxford Background Checks for all parish employees (approx. $300)—this check should already have been run on all clergy as a part of the call process, but it may not have been run for other employees;
• Praesidium high-access / low-access volunteer packages for volunteers working with children—volunteer nursery attendants, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and chaperones (approx. $20); and
• Praesidium high-access package + credit check for volunteers with signatory authority on parish accounts (approx. $30).

We recognize that doing all of these at the same time may be financially burdensome for some parishes. If it is necessary for you to work your way through your volunteer and paid staff in stages, we would recommend that you clearly communicate the way in which you are prioritizing the checks (e.g. alphabetically, high access—low access, time in the parish) so that no one feels that they are being singled out for scrutiny.  

Questions?

Please direct any questions about the Safe Church program or other aspects of diocesan policy for the protection of children, adults, and elders to Missioner Cindy Spice.

Date: February 16

Time: Doors open at 1 p.m., Rally at 1:50 p.m., Walk begins at 2 p.m. (EST)

Where: Begins at South Bend City Church and ends at St. Margaret's House

Walk a mile in her shoes. This year’s Winter Walk will offer a new look at the experience of women in our community who must rely on their feet for transportation: no matter the weather.

The one-mile route loops through downtown South Bend, noting along the way the various places and paths which dot the daily lives of many of our beloved guests. We end our walk at St. Margaret’s House, where we continue to explore what it means to belong in this place of friendship and hope … and of course, there will be cookies, hot cocoa, popcorn, live music, and fun. This important event invites the whole community to walk together, bearing witness to the challenges and celebrating the victories we encounter along the way.

Spirituality of Stewardship

Do you (or does someone you know) sometimes wonder whether the management of church finances is “real ministry” or simply work that we hope someone else will attend to so that you can focus on “the real work of the church”? If so, the EDNIN School for Faith and Ministry has a course for you! The Spirituality of Stewardship—starting in March—focuses on the ministry of managing the parish finances as spiritual work, not just a series of logistical tasks. The financial life of a parish is one of the places where we come to terms with faith in the face of anxiety about (seeming) scarcity, with our responsibilities in love for our neighbors when that costs us something, and with our commitment to speaking truth to power. This class is particularly recommended for those (ministering to) those who work on parish finances, whether alone or as part of a team. For more information and to register, click here.

Register Now for Spring/Summer Semester!

Dates: Mar 8, Apr 5, May 10, Jun 21, and July 26

Where: Wawasee Episcopal Center (Syracuse) or Cathedral of Saint James (South Bend)

Cost: $250 per course

Sometimes you want to learn a little more than you can get from (or put into) the typical Sunday sermon. Sometimes you want someone else to talk with about that passage you just read or that thorny theological question you’ve been wrestling with. Sometimes you wish that topic had been addressed when you were in school. The EDNIN School for Faith and Ministry (ESFM) was created for just such times as these, and we’re about to start a new semester!

Gathering in person one Saturday a month at the Wawasee Retreat Center in Syracuse, ESFM will offer courses on topics such as scripture, church history, and pastoral theology/practice as well as training in practical areas such as preaching and the spirituality of stewardship. The materials have been created by the Iona Collaborative at Seminary of the Southwest and will be led by local facilitators. Whether you are a lay person pursuing spiritual and intellectual enrichment, someone engaged in the process for ordination, or an ordained person seeking to continue your education, you are welcome to become a part of ESFM!

ESFM dates for the second semester will be: Mar 8, Apr 5, May 10, Jun 21, and July 26. The first three sessions will be held at the Wawasee Episcopal Center in Syracuse, Ind. and the last two at the Cathedral of Saint James in South Bend, Ind. On each of these Saturdays, there will be one course in the morning slot and two courses running at the same time in the two afternoon slots:

10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Eastern)

A—Greek Scriptures (taught in English): The Epistles ($250)

1-3 p.m. (Eastern)

A—Conversations on Church History: Anglican Studies ($250)

B—Licensed Preacher Training ($250)

3:30-5:30 p.m. (Eastern)

A—Pastoral Theory and Practice ($250)

B—Spirituality of Stewardship ($250)

For each session, participants will read assigned texts and watch video lectures beforehand. They then will come together at Wawasee (or the Cathedral) for facilitated discussion and other activities aimed at engaging the material more deeply. Afterwards, a written assignment will help learning take root and grow. Those completing the five sessions and their related assignments will receive a certificate of participation.

Register by February 20 in order to receive log in credentials in time to prepare for the first class.

Save the Date

2025 Spring Clergy Conference with The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Date: March 10-12, 2025

Where: Waycross Camp and Conference Center (Morgantown, IN)

2025 Spring Deacon and Postulant Retreat

Date: April 11-12, 2025

Where: Wawasee Episcopal Center (Syracuse, IN)

2025 Fall Clergy Retreat

Date: October 13-15, 2025

Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center (Donaldson, IN)

Starts: April 29-May 2, 2025

Where: San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Costs: 

Conference Fee: $199. Includes attendance, field trips & meals. 

Hyatt Plaza: $130/night + tax, with breakfast included. 40 double rooms & 20 single rooms. Attendees are encouraged to share a double room to cut expenses.  This conference rate is available through April 4, after which the hotel's normally higher rates will apply.  Here is the hotel reservation link. From there, click Bookings.

Mission Formation Program: $85. Register separately at the GEMN Donation site. 

Registration is now open for Missio 2025, the world mission conference for the Episcopal Church, which this year is organized by GEMN and the Diocese of Honduras. At the invitation of Bishop Lloyd Allen of the Diocese of Honduras, Missio will meet in the city of San Pedro Sula, April 29-May 2. Tuesday the 29th and Friday the 2nd will be the travel days for the core conference.

The Compañeros en Cristo committee is considering sending a team from Northern Indiana to Honduras before or after the conference. For more information please contact Timothy Skimina ASAP.

"Mission with Jesus" is the Missio theme, with emphases on Evangelism, Empowerment, and Climate Change. An Optional Extra Missio Day for more field trips and meetings will be Friday, May 2, with those attendees leaving on Saturday May 3. 

Each of the three major topics will feature a speaker from Honduras and the region and a speaker from outside the region. For instance, Canon Consuelo Sanchez of Honduras (above right) will speak on Empowerment from her work with women, and Deacon Nancy Searby of Virginia will speak on Climate Action from her work as a NASA scientist. Other speakers will be announced soon.

The Mission Formation Program will meet all day on Tuesday, April 29, with attendees arriving Monday evening, April 28. Wednesday afternoon will feature field trips to missional sites around San Pedro Sula, with the evening spent at a Honduran cultural festival dinner at Catedral del Buen Pastor. Missio plenaries and seminars will be held at the main conference venue: the Hyatt Place Hotel, where attendees will be staying. 

GEMN holds Missio outside the USA periodically. This Missio is an opportunity to experience the vitality of Honduran Anglicanism and to reflect with Latin American companions on what Mission with Jesus means. 

Save the Date!

2025 Spring Youth Retreat

Date: May 16-18, 2025

Where: Wawasee Retreat Center (Syracuse, IN)

Who: Teens sixth through twelfth grade

2025 Youth Summer Camp

Date: June 8-14, 2025

Where: Camp Alexander Mack (Milford, IN)

Who: Campers entering third through ninth grade

2025 Sr. High Mission Week

Date: TBD

Where: TBD

Who: Teens entering tenth grade through graduating seniors

2025 Fall Youth Retreat

Date: October 24-26, 2025

Where: Wawasee Retreat Center (Syracuse, IN)

Who: Teens sixth through twelfth grade

Part-time Organist or Pianist

Holy Family (Angola) is looking for a part time organist or pianist to help with their 10 a.m. Sunday Eucharist. Two Sundays a month to start with a potential to go full time. Paid position. If interested, please email the church office or Fr. Tom Adamson.

The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis invites you to spend a weekend at Waycross this spring.

Foraging Weekend

Date: April 25-27, 2025

Cost: Adults - $170, Youth (10-17) - $150, Children (4-9) - $110

Join us for the Spring Foraging Weekend at Waycross! Get ready to explore the stunning Brown County hills while learning how to spot and harvest edible wild plants. We'll kick things off with a fun and informative seminar covering the basics of foraging—what to look for, what to avoid, and how to forage responsibly. Then, we’ll hit the trails for a guided journey through Hickory Hill, discovering a variety of plants and unique environments along the way. It’s the perfect mix of learning, exploring, and enjoying the great outdoors!

Men's Weekend

Date: May 16-19, 2025 (optional extension to May 20)

Cost: Conference Center - Single Occupancy (Friday-Sunday): $350

Conference Center - Double Occupancy (Friday-Sunday): $280

Conference Center - Single Occupancy (Friday-Monday): $525

Conference Center - Double Occupancy (Friday-Monday) $420

All men 18 and older are invited to spend a weekend at Waycross in fellowship. There will be conversation, programming, worship, prayer, hiking and more. The theme for 2025 is Liturgy of Love!

Women's Weekend

Date: May 30-June 1, 2025 (optional extension to June 2nd)

Cost: Conference Center - Single Occupancy (Friday-Sunday): $380

Conference Center - Double Occupancy (Friday-Sunday): $310

Conference Center - Single Occupancy (Friday-Monday): $555

Conference Center - Double Occupancy (Friday-Monday): $450

Calling all women 18 and older! Come spend a long weekend at Waycross together. We’ll hike, work on a collaborative art project, pray together, and more!

Date: June 14, 2025

Where: Indianapolis

The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis would love for you to join the diocese in preparing for the Indianapolis Pride Parade and Festival! There are two options: the Pride Parade Team (still are in need of a leader) or the Pride Festival Team (led by Meghan McConnell). 

Click here to let them know you are interested in helping!

Action Alerts

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations (OGR) identifies opportunities for Episcopalians to participate in our democracy. Click this link to find an action alert that you are passionate about and send a message to your members of Congress.

Click here to read Province V's February newsletter.

Calling for Facilitators for Engaging Gender Complexity

Province V is accepting applications for “Engaging Gender Complexity” (EGC) Facilitators. 

EGC is a new ministry created to structure an organized, on-going initiative to educate communities about Gender Complexity. Individuals and communities who are welcoming prevent isolation, violence, and death based on the misunderstanding of and prejudice against the gender-diverse. This project hires facilitators and coaches to support communities engaging in the life-changing and potentially life-saving work of understanding gender complexity.

Facilitators will develop the skills to support individuals and communities who want to create welcoming spaces for all people around gender diversity. 

• Each facilitator will be granted a scholarship to attend two courses through Bexley-Seabury Seminary’s Pathways for Baptismal Living. Through those courses, facilitators will gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead conversations in their local ministry contexts.
• Courses will be held on the following Sundays: Mar 2/9/16/23/30, April 6/13/27, May 4/11/18, June 1. (5-6:30 pm ET / 4-5:30 pm CT)
• After the initial coursework, facilitators will be supported in small groups, led by a trained coach. During these sessions, facilitators will create opportunities for engaging their local, worshiping communities across Province V, hosting conversations and sharing resources. A stipend will be paid in two phases: after the planning phase and after the program phase. Registrations for courses is valued at $400. Cash stipend for the full program is $1400.

Province V will be hiring up to 18 facilitators for this work. This grant-funded position is accepting applications through Feb 20, 2025. We encourage both cis-people and people who are gender diverse to apply.

See more details and the application.