Posts from 2013 (Page 19)

Posts from 2013 (Page 19)

January spotlight on congregations

What has the diocese and the larger church done for your congregation lately? Thanks to the work of St. Alban’s Arlington and the Episcopal Church Building Fund (ECBF), several congregations are banding together to participate in ECBF’s “Recasting Church Assets”  project. Is your congregation interested? Contact Demi Prentiss, ministry developer (email removed), or Amy Haynie, InReach coordinator (email removed).

Connect to Vital Practices via the web

Episcopal Church Foundation’s webinar offerings in February deal with stewardship practices and preparing a congregation for a clergy transition. Take advantage of these free/low-cost, high-impact webinars: Two Part Fresh Start Series on Leading Through a Clergy Transition, Part 1 Reacting to Change (Feb. 19, 6-7pm CT) (Part 2, Feb. 25 – see below) – This two-part series is aimed at vestry members and other congregational leaders who are currently or will soon be leading their congregation through a clergy transition. To lead…

Document your congregation’s tax-exempt status

If your congregation wants to have documentation of the IRS recognition of its tax exempt and charitable exempt status under the Episcopal Church’s General Exemption Number (GEN), be sure to submit a vestry/bishop’s committee resolution to Eleanor Doty (contact information removed) in the diocesan office. Chancellor Kathleen Wells has drafted resolutions for each church, which were sent out late in 2012.  Responses have already been received from St. Alban’s Arlington, All Saints’ Fort Worth, Christ The King Fort Worth, St. Elisabeth’s…

Executive council implementing Canon 10

The changes made “on paper” with the passage of a revised Canon 10 during the November 2012 diocesan convention are becoming a reality, as the diocese’s executive council (EC) works to pioneer new ways of working together. Five representatives elected from each deanery – dean, sub-dean, two lay reps and one clergy rep – have already participated in two two-day sessions aimed at establishing more participatory, transparent, and accountable ways of engaging in the EC’s work. The December EC retreat…

Grow your leadership skills, build your networks

Now’s the time to register for the March 2 diocesan leadership workshop, set for 9:30am to 3:30pm at St. Luke’s in the Meadow (4301 Meadowbrook Dr., Fort Worth). The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr. will present the opening and closing sessions, and present two workshops, targeting what every senior warden should know and how congregations can grow in stewardship. In addition to a workshop session in the morning and another in the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy…

Lenten Lecture Series at St. Lukes, Stephenville

On Wednesdays this Lent, a group of lay leaders at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Stephenville, Texas, who also teach at Tarleton State University, will offer reflections on the integration of their faith and academic disciplines.

I Have Called You

On February 7, 2009, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth met in a Special Meeting of its Diocesan Convention to reorganize after the departure of its bishop and other leaders from The Episcopal Church. On the 4th anniversary of its reorganization, the diocese commits itself anew to carrying out the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church in north central Texas.

Our Stories, Ourselves

On February 7, 2009, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth reorganized after the departure of its bishop and other leaders from The Episcopal Church. These are some of the stories of the past four years. These stories were taken from several that were recorded by the diocesan historiographer for the diocesan archives — an ongoing project.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on gun violence

via The Episcopal Church, Office of Media Affairs: We believe all God’s people should be able to live in peace, as Zechariah dreams, “old men and women shall again sit in the streets…And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing.” The prophet reminds his hearers that even if this seems impossible, with God it is not. [Zech 8:4-6] I urge you to add your voice to those clamoring for peace. Call your legislators and…

Bishop High Visits All Saints’ Parish

The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr. visited All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Fort Worth on Sunday, Jan. 13, on what he termed a “glorious day of celebration of baptisms and confirmations.” In two services, six young children received Holy Baptism and 26 youths and adults were confirmed. The scriptures for this particular Sunday were all about baptism and empowerment, noted the bishop. Reciting from the 43rd chapter of Isaiah — “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have…

The Rev. Jim R. Reynolds Announces Retirement

The Rev. Jim R. Reynolds, rector at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Keller, TX announces his retirement, effective the beginning of July. From his letter to the parish, via blog at St. Martin-in-Fields: I am writing this to tell you of an important announcement that I made to those at the Annual Meeting on Sunday. On 1 July of this year I will be retiring from active ministry and leaving St. Martin’s. Linda and I have prayed and talked about this…

Licensed Lay Leader Handbook

Handbook on Licensed Lay Ministry – PDF Handbook on Licensed Lay Ministry – MS Word These documents were updated on 8/19/2015 to include application forms for Licensed Lay Preacher, Lay Pastoral Leader and Lay Evangelist and on 6/28/2016 to improve page formatting.

Sarita Jana Redd of UTO, Rest in Peace

From the United Thank Offering Board of Directors: It is with sorrow that the United Thank Offering Board announces the passing of Sarita Jana Redd, President of the Board from May 2009 to the present, on January 26, 2013. Sarita served on the UTO Committee beginning in 2008 and helped the transition from Committee to Board. Sarita was a resident of Oklahoma City, OK, where she practiced Employee Benefits Law and was a Human Relations Consultant. She became an Episcopalian…