THE ALABAMA EPISCOPALIAN
A Publication of The Episcopal Church in Alabama | 3rd Quarter, 2026 | Vol. 111, No. 3
“Judah, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism, and marked as Christ’s own forever.” — Bishop Richard baptizes a teenager on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost in St. Mark’s, Prattville. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Landry
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IN THIS ISSUE: 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 19 20 22 24 25 26 28 29 30 31
A Letter from the Bishop: The Holy Spirit in Alabama Meet Your New Bishop: The Man, the Ministry, and the Mission A Conversation with Canon Katie Pearson: Call, Community, and the Road Ahead Home, Even in Transition: A Summer at Sawyerville More Than We Could Ask for or Imagine: How a Small Food Ministry Grew to Serve 3,000 Each Month Going Deeper in Faith: The Commission on Spirituality Music Corner at St. Francis of Assisi, Indian Springs Persistence, Discernment, and the Diaconate Youth Department Kicks Off New Year with Formation Overnight 2026 Diocesan Grants Strengthen Parishes and Communities Announcing the 2026–2027 ECW Scholarship Recipients Calling All Episcopal Church Women and Parishes A Blessing in Order to Bless Now Available Carpenter House News Clergy News Bishop’s Parish Visitation Schedule Getting Ready for 2026 Diocesan Convention
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Inside Cover Photo: Upper Camp celebrates graduation for 14-year-old campers at Sawyerville this summer.
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A Letter from the Bishop: The Holy Spirit in Alabama
Bishop Richard joins Camp McDowell for the closing Eucharist of Senior Camp.
The Holy Spirit is moving throughout the Diocese of Alabama. I have experienced the Spirit’s presence everywhere from the Daughters of the King (DOK) Fall Assembly in Gadsden to The Abbey’s feeding and prayer ministry on the streets of Birmingham. As I look back on this summer, however, I want to focus especially on what the Holy Spirit has done in and through our two diocesan camps.
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amp McDowell has just completed a wonderful summer, with more than 1,037 children experiencing the Gospel and sharing in Christian community with their peers. I am profoundly grateful for the entire staff of Camp McDowell, especially the Reverend Derrick Hill, our wise and kind CEO and executive director. It was truly an amazing summer on Clear Creek, and Summer Camp is only one of the countless ministries, retreats, and conferences that take place at Camp McDowell throughout the year. At Sawyerville in Greensboro, 582 children experienced the Gospel and the joy of Christian community with their peers. Our new Executive Director, Carrie Dennis, did a fabulous job in her first summer, and I am deeply grateful for her leadership, as well as for the dedicated staff and volunteers who made the summer possible. Sawyerville is one of God’s many miracles in the Diocese of Alabama. I encourage you to continue praying for and supporting both of our camps. One of the best ways to support them is to encourage your children to attend camp and your college-age parishioners to consider applying to serve on staff. Both camps also need and deserve our generous financial support. I also want to remind you that when you support the diocesan budget through your parish covenant and other gifts, you are helping to fund the salaries of both Executive Directors, who are members of our diocesan staff. As I look back on summer, I am so deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit’s presence and movement throughout the Diocese of Alabama.
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Meet Your New Bishop: The Man, the Ministry, and the Mission By Nana Afia Tenkoramaa — Director of Communications
In June, the Diocese of Alabama consecrated the Right Reverend Richard Lawson as its 13th bishop. Drawing on interviews Bishop Lawson gave in the months surrounding his consecration and his engagements with our faith community, we see the experiences that have shaped him, the convictions guiding his ministry, and the vision he carries into his new role.
1 A Love for Stories Stories connect us to the Gospel. He feels most successful at his work when “someone tells me an authentic story about something in their life that’s particularly vulnerable or broken, or that feels broken to them. And why that feels like success, so to speak, is because it means the person trusts me, I think, or they would never speak so authentically and honestly about something so difficult”. “I feel like I’ve done my job when I create a space where somebody Bishop Lawson at the Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of tells you a joyful story. I just think God made human beings as storied Alabama Pilgrimage. creatures who are themselves storytellers. And I think that the deepest mysteries from our life, the most important parts of our lives, cannot be communicated without a story.”—Interview with Vahini Shori, WBHM Bishop Lawson is committed to encouraging clergy to preach “in a way that builds up the body and helps the Gospel relate to our own personal stories for people who come to our churches.”—Interview with Caleb Maglaya Galaraga, The Living Church
2 A Commitment to Relationships Relationships guide his leadership. “I think everything for me can be boiled down to a relationship, even in the midst of great complexity or debate or decisions over how to take care of a building or how to relate better to a neighborhood or how to share the gospel in a more compelling way or how to build a budget. At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships and trying to get relationships right.”—Interview with Vahini Shori, WBHM “I love being with our priests and deacons in one-on-one conversations that have just a different tempo and a different kind of room for sharing stories and getting to want to know one another and reconnecting.”—Diocese of Alabama social media video
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Bishop Lawson at The Abbey Breakfast Ministry.
3 A Ministry of Presence Called to be “a doer.” “You’re a preacher of the Gospel, and you’re a pastor of the clergy, and you’re on the road, visiting and being with people in particular places throughout the diocese.”—Interview with Greg Garrison, AL.com “I’m at St. Thomas in Huntsville. Spent the morning at Grace Church in Cullman, meeting with their rector, and then was at St. Matthew’s Madison, meeting with their two priests. I’ll meet this afternoon with the rector and the deacon here at St. Thomas, and finish up with the rector of Nativity.”—Diocese of Alabama social media video
“Judah, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism, and marked as Christ’s own forever.” Bishop Lawson at St. Mark’s, Prattville, on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost.
4 A Heart for Alabama Faith and ministry rooted in Alabama. “I grew up in a little bitty United Methodist church in Guntersville, Alabama, my hometown. The blessing of its size was that there were two of us in Sunday school — my best friend and I. So they could really focus on us and get that right. They always took great care of us. So it’s a huge influence on my life.”—Interview with Vahini Shori, WBHM “It was [at St. Dunstan’s] that I fell in love with Christ’s presence in the sacraments. I fell in love with a God who was bigger and more mysterious and loving and interesting than I’d ever been told before. I also fell in love with the three-legged stool of Anglicanism—scripture, tradition, and reason.”—Interview with Caleb Maglaya Galaraga, The Living Church
Bishop Lawson with his immediate and extended family at his consecration.
“This for me is both a homecoming and a meeting of new people.”—Interview with Greg Garrison, AL.com “But today, you return home. Your family returns home. This is your dirt. This is your family’s dirt, and I think there’s a skid steer somewhere in this picture; you have returned to your sacred soil.”—Bishop Shannon Rogers Duckworth of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana celebrated that homecoming in her consecration sermon.
5 A Vision for the Church’s Future One that is rooted in sharing God’s love. “To have even more people than we do now in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama who can tell a great story about God’s love in Christ and how they felt it personally and lived it in the world in relation to their neighbor.”—Interview with Vahini Shori, WBHM “I look forward to partnering in any way I can with the Spirit’s work that calls us to racial healing.”—Interview with Caleb Maglaya Galaraga, The Living Church
Bishop Lawson with confirmands during his first parish visit as bishop at Holy Apostles in Hoover.
“So, Diocese of Alabama, as we hear this Gospel, let us feel it. And as Jesus sends us forth and Jesus always sends us forth, may we do all that we can in any way we can to help other people feel the love of Jesus Christ, especially when the defense mechanisms fail.”—Sermon at the 195th Diocesan Convention
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Meet Canon Katie Pearson: A Conversation About Call, Community, and the Road Ahead By Nana Afia Tenkoramaa — Director of Communications
We are delighted to welcome the Rev. Canon Katie Pearson to the Diocese of Alabama and Carpenter House. In this Q&A, she shares more about herself, her call to ordained ministry, and her hopes for this new chapter. Please tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your call to ordained ministry.
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hen I told people I was moving to Alabama from Colorado in July, they worried that I wouldn’t be prepared for the heat and humidity! While I enjoyed the dry climate out west, I am no stranger to the air in the South. I grew up in Southwest Florida. I attended college at Sewanee, and continue to spend a lot of time there, and have lived in both Atlanta and Charlotte. I’ll reacclimate quickly, I’m sure. My husband of 35 years, Don, and I have three grown children. William and his wife, Janie, are in New Haven, CT; Elizabeth is in New York City; and Owen is in Denver. We also have two black labs who think they are our children – June and Hattie. I am a later-in-life priest. I had my first career as a high school English teacher and then spent many years as the COO of our very active and frequently moving family. I was an involved lay leader for a long time before being ordained – everything from teaching Sunday school to altar guild, Eucharistic Visitor, stewardship chair, small group leader, vestry member, and senior warden. I believe that 25 years of deep involvement as a lay person profoundly informs who I am as a priest. You have answered a new call to serve as Canon to the Ordinary alongside Bishop Richard. What drew you to this ministry, and what have your first impressions of the Diocese of Alabama been? There are many reasons why I said “yes” to joining Richard in Alabama. The bishop and I have had a nine-year working relationship that is collaborative, respectful, trusting, and frequently punctuated by laughter. I am delighted to continue working with him and am grateful for the opportunity to do it in service of God and the good people of this diocese. I feel
warmly welcomed and look forward to meeting more and more Alabama Episcopalians! Don and I have longed to return to the South – we plan to retire in Sewanee one day, and we have a sweet little house there that we are excited to renovate. As you begin this new chapter, what excites you most about the opportunities ahead for the Diocese of Alabama? What are your hopes for the future of our diocese? By reputation, I have long known Alabama to be a strong and healthy diocese – Richard and I will benefit greatly in our work from that foundation. From the numerous parishes of all sizes, the outstanding ministries, Camp McDowell, Sawyerville, and the shared commitment to the Gospel – Alabama is a beacon. I hope to continue the legacy of spreading that word and drawing outstanding clergy to our diocese to join the incredible clergy already serving here. One of the key areas of your ministry is walking alongside parishes in times of transition and helping them discern their next clergy leadership. How do you hope to accompany parishes through that journey? In some ways, I think God has been preparing me for this role for a very long time. When I served as senior warden 20 years ago, our rector answered a call to another diocese. I found myself with three young children, a husband who was traveling for work, and a search to organize while being responsible for the parish. I could not have done it without the wisdom and support of the diocese and the incredible generosity and trust of my fellow parishioners. It was a formative experience for me and, ultimately, a bonding and faith-deepening experience for our parish. I will endeavor to provide that same wisdom, pastoral care, and support to our parishes – helping them to see transition as a time of opportunity and growth rather than anxiety and scarcity.
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What do you hope people across the Diocese of Alabama will come to know about you—not just as Canon to the Ordinary, but as a fellow disciple of Christ? I hope that people will see that I delight in people of all sorts and that I love hearing their stories. I am curious not just about people, but also about systems. I work hard and laugh a lot. I have an appreciation for the absurd, love trivia, and can’t pass a dog without saying “hi” to it. I love scripture - reading it,
teaching it, preaching it. I am grateful that God still speaks to us through the heroic and the flawed in the Bible; it is truly new every morning. My prayer every day before my feet hit the floor is, “God, let me stay out of your way today.” I guess that’s my own version of “Thy will be done.” I find God is most present to me in community - in the faces, the stories, and the prayers of God’s people. I am excited to be in community with the Diocese of Alabama. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 9
Session 3 Chaplain, Mawande Mzongwana, with Lower Camp staff and campers
Home, Even in Transition: A Summer at Sawyerville By Carrie Dennis — Executive Director of Sawyerville
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very May, when it’s time to turn Greensboro Elementary School (GES) into our Summer Camp, Summer Learning, and JumpStart spaces, Principal Stephanie Richey hands over the master key to Sawyerville’s director. Yes, the master key. Just the one. For the whole month of June, classrooms are turned into packed sleeping rooms, storage spaces affectionately named “the attic” and “Piggly Wiggly,” and lively program rooms, all locked and unlocked with a system no more sophisticated than a posterboard and a clothespin. Directors, interns, coordinators, clergy, teachers, and house parents take the key, move the clothespin to their name, and put it back on “home” when they’re done with it. It’s a small thing, but it says a lot about Sawyerville. However different a summer looks, 10 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
we always find our way back home—a testament to God’s faithfulness and 33 years of community partnership. This was a summer of transition for Sawyerville. Annagrace Parmer and I led our first summer together as interim executive director and assistant director, and the diocese consecrated a new bishop. Transitions, big and small, happen every single day at Sawyerville, and we see God moving in each one of them. Campers move up from Lower Camp to Middler Camp. Middler Campers pass their swim test for the first time and are met with a roar of cheers from the pool deck. Upper Campers grow into Counselors-in-Training and get to be role models for the next generation of campers. Summer Learning students advance in reading and math. Staff make friends from different
cities and backgrounds than their own. Amid change and transition, the heart and mission of Sawyerville never waver. Sawyerville has been in this community, year after year, long enough to watch campers grow up into staff, interns, and adult coordinators. Forty-two of our high school staff this summer were previous campers. Every one of these small steps forward is grace at work, and the light of Christ showing up in every corner of GES. Takeria Watkins, a second-year Summer Learning intern and previous camper, said the one thing that never changes about Sawyerville is the love we give to Hale County and the campers each year. She said, “The sun feels like it shines a little differently the whole month of June because of it.” Our high schoolers came from all kinds of faith backgrounds this year—two-thirds of them from denominations other than the Episcopal Church: Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, nondenominational—and yet they came together under one roof to do this work as one community. Different denominations, different life experiences, different races, different stories, one Body.
Campers bus to Marion Military School every day for swimming lessons.
More Summer 2026 numbers: 582 camper slots filled, 304 unique campers 161 volunteer staff 56 coordinators, 10 clergy members 99 Summer Learning students, 16 certified teachers 22 JumpStart students 63 swim tests passed 42 staff meals provided 40+ parishes and individuals that provided supplies Yolanda Watkins, our transportation coordinator, summed up the whole month like this: “The month of June 2026, mornings, noon, night, Sawyerville’s light shines bright.” Hannah Whaley, Sawyerville’s camp manager, also reflected on this upon finishing her fourth and final summer of the internship:
Staff gathers before bus arrival during Session 1.
“Being a Greensboro native and serving on staff at Sawyerville throughout high school and college, I found so much more than a place to volunteer; I found a community. This summer, God’s hand was evident in every corner of Sawyerville. Over and over again this summer, God reminded me that He is present in both the big moments and the small ones. As camp manager, I often reminded our staff that they had the opportunity to impact the lives of every camper they met. What many of them didn’t realize yet was that those campers would leave an even bigger impact on their lives. I’ve learned that one of the greatest gifts of serving at Sawyerville isn’t just what you give, but what you receive in return.” Leadership changes. Campers grow up, and staff move on to new chapters. But God’s love for this community does not change, and neither does the work He’s given us to do here. Every May, the key comes back to the posterboard, and Sawyerville comes home again.
“May the work that I’ve done speak for me”. Staff signed their names and left their marks throughout the summer, and now this board hangs in Sawyerville’s office in Carpenter House as a memento. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 11
Volunteers from the local Hispanic and Haitian communities, Christ Church and Casa de Fe - Albertville, Abundant Grace UMC - Boaz, Highlands UMC - Birmingham, and Maranatha Global Evangelism Ministry - Sardis.
More Than We Could Ask for or Imagine: How a Small Food Ministry Grew to Serve 3,000 Each Month
Line volunteers preparing for distribution.
By the Rev. Shari B. Harrison Rector — Christ Church, Albertville
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ike many churches in the diocese, Christ Church Albertville established a beans and rice ministry more than 15 years ago. What began as a humble monthly ministry became the foundation for something far greater in 2023, when a parishioner’s nonprofit lost its lease. Our vestry unanimously voted to provide the space and support the Community Free Store of Marshall County needed to continue serving our neighbors in need. That simple act of hospitality became the catalyst for a ministry that has grown far beyond anything we imagined. 12 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
Cars lined up in the parking lot for food.
Bags of frozen meat, canned vegetables, pastas, peanut butter, fresh produce, breads, fruit, dried beans and rice, cereals, and beverages ready to distribute.
Volunteers planning and organizing in the parish hall.
Last year, after the founder moved away and dissolved the nonprofit, the vestry again voted to continue and expand the ministry by becoming an agency of the Food Bank of North Alabama. Through that partnership, we can purchase highquality food for pennies on the dollar, greatly expanding both the quantity and variety of food available to our neighbors.
trusted relationships with local business owners, we were already delivering food directly to homes, ensuring that neighbors isolated by fear or other circumstances received the help they needed.
The timing was providential. As reductions in SNAP benefits and other food assistance programs left more families struggling, the need continued to grow. We incorporated the beans and rice ministry into the monthly distribution and promoted it through signs in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, as well as on social media. Later, as many immigrant families became fearful of appearing in public, we removed all but the English sign, trusting word of mouth to carry the news safely. Working alongside volunteers, several vestry members began imagining twice-monthly distributions. We knew it would require more volunteers and funding, but God answered that prayer sooner than expected. Only a few months after becoming a Food Bank agency, members of Abundant Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) asked to learn more about the ministry. What began as a conversation grew into a partnership among churches, members of the Hispanic and Haitian communities, local business owners, and volunteers. Together, we learned of families whose lives had been disrupted by detention and deportation and met business owners who had quietly been providing groceries and other necessities at their own expense. As people discovered how the Food Bank partnership stretched every donated dollar, they joined in building a ministry far greater than any one church could accomplish alone. Around the same time, the Food Bank encouraged partner agencies to reach families unable to visit food pantries. Through
The ministry has become a true community effort. Two local businesses provide box trucks and drivers to transport food from the Food Bank, volunteers use their own vehicles to pick up food and additional supplies, and other organizations and individuals provide financial support. Their generosity has enabled us to meet needs beyond food. The Diocese of Alabama’s Mission and Outreach Committee funded a grant request for toiletries, diapers, and baby wipes. Abundant Grace UMC has applied for funding to provide household supplies, while a member of another church organized a stuffed animal drive for children in affected families. Others have donated clothing and other essentials as needs arise. Today, Christ Church is known throughout the community as a place where people find both nourishment and hospitality. Neighbors regularly stop by the church office seeking food or assistance, and they are welcomed with dignity and compassion. What began as a small food ministry has become a communitywide effort involving around 40 volunteers serving over 3,000 people each month. On distribution days, our parish hall becomes a staging area where volunteers package and distribute fresh produce, frozen meat, dairy products, canned goods, bakery items, and other essentials to hundreds of families. Looking back, it is impossible not to see God’s hand at work. What began as the ministry of a small congregation has become a shared ministry of churches, businesses, organizations, and neighbors united in a common purpose. As each partner offers its unique gifts, God multiplies them, enabling us to accomplish together far more than any of us could alone. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 13
Going Deeper in Faith: The Commission on Spirituality
By Linda Kennedy and Marilyn Lands — Co-Chairs
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”—Romans 12:2
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hese words from Paul’s letter to the Romans ring even truer in our world today. Spiritual practices can guide us to connect with God in a deeper way. Finding the right spiritual practice to connect with God is very important to many of us. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults consider themselves spiritual: 32 percent describe themselves as very spiritual, while 42 percent say they are somewhat spiritual. For more than 25 years, the mission of the Commission on Spirituality of our diocese has been to help clergy and laypeople deepen their spiritual lives through workshops and retreats. Over the years, these events have included samplings of spiritual practices such as spiritual direction, lecto/visio divina, and praying in colors. Programs have also explored devotional practices, the Rule of Benedict, keeping the Sabbath, making Advent calendars, and journeys through faith and recovery. Appointed by the Bishop of Alabama, the commission’s members include clergy and laypeople from parishes across the diocese. Members lead some of these discussions and distribute information concerning spiritual events and retreats in the diocese. While most events are held in person in Birmingham, we offer live-stream and recordings for those who cannot be there in person. We also have live-streamed events with facilitators at individual parishes throughout the state. These hybrid offerings have allowed us to serve folks as far away as Canada, Texas, and Colorado. In May, the Rev. Monica Carlson led a retreat titled “What a Sixth-Century Monk Can Teach Twenty-First-Century Christians.” Using clips from an interview with Nick Saban and scenes from The Karate Kid, she explored what the Rule of St. Benedict can teach us about Christian life today. On Saturday, November 14, the commission will host “Incarnation Through the Lens of Art,” a multimedia presentation featuring Dolores Hydock, Pat Anderson-Flowers, and Beverly Brasell. Together, they will explore how music, poetry, visual art, creative writing, and storytelling can reveal the truth and beauty of the Incarnation. Registration information will soon be available on the diocesan website. If you are interested in serving on the Commission on Spirituality, have an idea for a future program, or would like to join our mailing list, please contact us at lindakennedy17@gmail.com or marilynlands@gmail.com. 14 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
Participants at a recent spiritual retreat.
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Music Corner at St. Francis of Assisi, Indian Springs By Dr. Alina Voicu — Director of Music
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here’s a particular kind of joy that fills a room when children discover music, both individually and collectively — the wide eyes at the sound of a bassoon; the quiet concentration of a hand drawing inside a paper heart, inspired by music; the delighted giggles when a musical game begins. That joy has filled St. Francis of Assisi church many times this year, and this fall, as we resume activities after summer break, we’re overjoyed to welcome the community back for more. Music Corner is a FREE music, English, and art activities series for children ages 5 and above, paired with a FREE ESL (English as a Second Language) class for Spanish-speaking parents, caretakers, and interested friends, 16 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
offered during the same time. The program is open to everyone — no registration fees, no barriers, just an open door for anyone interested. Looking back on our 2026 season so far, it’s hard to choose favorite moments, because there have been so many. We began with Peter and the Wolf, introducing our youngest audience members to the instruments of the orchestra alongside guest bassoonist Jack Sharp. Then came What the Heart Holds, an afternoon of storytelling, music, and movement with music educator Virginia Barr, sung in both English and Spanish — the art project that followed, where children drew inside paper hearts to express their inner worlds, was quietly moving to witness. Color the Sound brought harpist Marsha Gunter to share an original story and interactive musical activities, and Fantasia Afternoon let families settle in together for Disney’s beloved Fantasia 2000, its eight animated segments set to classical music, rounded out with musical games. The last spring program, Keys and Celebrations, featured piano music from graduating senior and AMTA State Winner Brandon Cui, along with more games and creative arts activities for all participating. None of this would be possible without generosity that reaches far beyond our own walls. We are deeply grateful to the Diocese
A young artist proudly displays his violin coloring project.
Guest artist Marsha Gunter leads story time and shares music on the harp in March 2026. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 17
of Alabama for the grant that helped launch and sustain this program, and to the many generous private donors whose gifts have covered the costs of keeping Music Corner completely free for every family who walks through our doors. Their support is the quiet foundation beneath every song, every story, and every child’s drawing. Now, as we look toward resuming our activities after the summer break, we can’t wait to see familiar faces again this
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fall, and to meet new ones. Bring your children, bring your neighbors, bring anyone curious about music, story, and connection, and anyone interested in the free ESL classes for Spanish speakers. All is offered freely, in the same warm, welcoming spirit as everything else we do at St. Francis. The door is open, and there’s always room for one more family at Music Corner! We’ll see you soon.
Persistence, Discernment, and the Diaconate The Rev. Josh Vacik Deacon — Grace Church, Sheffield
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he process of becoming a deacon is largely transparent but also intensely personal. While discernment is not a unique process, it is unique to every individual, and everyone’s story varies, sometimes wildly, as I have come to discover. My own discernment was a lengthy process because it was interrupted by life, more specifically the pandemic. I am a physician by training, and my duty to my community carried me far from the process, just as it had begun.
the initial phase and meeting with the Commission on Ministry, they did not feel I was ready to proceed, and so I went into a sort of discernment limbo. Around this time, I received perhaps the best advice. My friend and then fellow deacon, Bob Serio (Huntsville), told me that he had been sure of his call because he had felt a call earlier in life. He had been called to a career in medicine, and this had helped guide him. I, too, knew what that was like, the shape of that call and how it felt. This gave me a clear point of reference. If a career in medicine taught me any lesson, it was that of persistence. Delay and error are part of the process. They are obstacles to overcome but never a reason to give up.
The renewal of the diaconate is both a historical restoration and a theological reimagining of the office and its purpose. The office bridges the Church and the world. I have never found a better description of the diaconate than Susan Epting’s from Unexpected Consequences: The Diaconate Renewed: This matters because we “Diaconal ministry is to need more deacons. We are “The renewal of the diaconate is serve as an interpreter, dreadfully understaffed in our both a historical restoration and a helping the church little corner of the Kingdom. understand the needs, theological reimagining of the office At the end of the tenth chapter concerns, and hopes of and its purpose. The office bridges of Luke’s Gospel, we have the the whole world. It is to story of Martha and Mary. As the Church and the world.” expand the meaning of the first deacons were chosen our baptismal covenant, to serve at table, Martha serves especially in striving for our Lord as Mary sits at his feet to listen. When Martha justice and peace and respecting the dignity of every complains, Jesus gently rebukes her and tells her that her human being. Doing those things may take me to different sister has the “better part.” places at different times. Though I’ve had experience with (prison ministry or food banks or bilingual liturgy, among We should, however, be careful not to be overly critical others), there may be a time that something else is more important to the congregation and to the community. I am of Martha, lest we end up with an image of faith that asked to listen and to read the signs, and to help others never actually does anything for anyone. Their story is immediately preceded in the chapter by the parable of the attend to the needs of the world as well.” Good Samaritan, perhaps our best example in the Gospels My own call began in 2019 when my parish priest of our faith in action. As Mary represents our love of God, encouraged me to attend an interest meeting held at St. our Samaritan friend represents that love in action. Both Stephen’s in Huntsville. A couple of times, I really felt are required for complete discipleship. like giving up. After the pandemic, I was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. When the world The Church must be set free to listen faithfully to the reopened, there seemed to be a general, slow reawakening, world. We need the diaconate to challenge social and and my call also slowly reawakened. After completing cultural assumptions and expectations.
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Participants show off their creative designs. 20 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
Youth Department Kicks Off New Year with Formation Overnight By Jen Manning — Missioner for Formation
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he Diocesan Youth Department (YD) launched its new year with an inspiring Formation Overnight, bringing together young leaders from across the diocese for a weekend of fellowship, learning, and visioning for the year ahead.
The Rev. Dillon Green poses with participants at the event.
As the first gathering of this newly selected Youth Department, the retreat focused on building community, establishing group norms, and introducing the purpose and structure of the YD program. Through icebreakers, games, shared meals, and plenty of time to connect, participants began forming relationships that will strengthen their ministry together throughout the coming year. The Youth Department serves as a leadership development program for high school students, equipping them with skills to serve not only as leaders in the Church of the future, but as leaders in the Church right now. Throughout the year, YD members will participate in retreats centered on three key areas: general leadership skills, spiritual leadership, and mentoring and personal growth. During Formation Overnight, youth explored how their unique gifts and talents can be used to strengthen their communities. They also learned about consensus decisionmaking, spiritual leadership and mentoring. Spiritual formation played a central role in the weekend. The Rev. Dillon Green of St. Catherine’s, Chelsea, led an instructed Compline, helping participants understand the history and purpose of the Daily Office. The Rev. Emily Collette of Ascension, Vestavia Hills, led engaging sessions on prayer and church leadership. Youth asked thoughtful questions about prayer practices and learned more about diocesan governance, including the roles of vestries, diocesan council, and standing committee. In a special creative project, participants worked together to write prayers for submission to the United Thank Offering’s annual devotional. The retreat also introduced important topics that will continue throughout the year, including healthy communication, decision-making in groups, setting priorities and boundaries, and recognizing when our minds and bodies need rest or
support. Youth practiced simple wellness techniques such as box breathing and movement exercises designed to help manage stress and maintain focus. Creativity and imagination were also on full display. Youth designed superhero personas that highlighted the gifts and leadership qualities they bring to ministry, and they participated in a “Design Your Own Church” exercise that challenged them to imagine what a faithful, welcoming, and community-connected church could look like. The depth of thought and enthusiasm expressed during these conversations offered a glimpse of the creativity and vision these young leaders bring to the church Formation Overnight was an encouraging beginning to a new season of ministry. Filled with thoughtful conversations, spiritual growth, laughter, and community building, the weekend demonstrated the remarkable gifts and leadership potential of the young people who will help shape the future of the Diocese of Alabama. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 21
2026 Diocesan Grants Strengthen Parishes and Communities By Sarah Banks Bosu — Director for Mission Funding
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he Diocese is excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 diocesan grant cycle, continuing a growing investment in congregational vitality, creative ministry, and community impact across our parishes. In 2026, the Diocese awarded 90 grants across three core areas—Refresh & Renew, Outreach, and Creation Care—supporting initiatives that will all be completed by May 2027. Refresh & Renew Grants Now in its fourth year, the Refresh & Renew Grant program continues to play a vital role in supporting small and medium-sized parishes, with 45 grants awarded totaling $164,465. These grants embody the Diocese’s vision to remove barriers to ministry, allowing congregations to focus on mission, hospitality, and growth. From repairing roofs and improving accessibility to upgrading technology and enhancing parish spaces, these grants empower congregations to imagine new possibilities for ministry. As Anne Tippett, Assistant to the Interim Canon for Parish Vitality and Vocations, shares, “We are seeing our congregations reimagine what is possible for their spaces and ministries. These grants are not just about repairs— they are about renewal, creativity, and hope.”
Outreach Grants The Outreach Grants, a long-standing cornerstone of diocesan ministry, continue to highlight how our parishes are essential to their communities, with 25 grants awarded totaling $79,810. These grants reflect the ways congregations look outward, identifying needs, building relationships, and responding with compassion and creativity. From food pantries and meal programs to music education, ESL ministries, and youth focused outreach, these initiatives demonstrate the vital role parishes play beyond their walls. 22 | WWW.DIOALA.ORG
Through these Outreach Grants, we are able to see the real impact of our parishes as they look outward and ask how they can serve their communities. This work reflects the heart of our diocese—we are at our best when we are engaged, responsive, and rooted in relationship.
Creation Care Grants The Diocese also awarded 20 Creation Care grants totaling $5,000, with each parish receiving $250 to support environmental initiatives. Creation Care is rooted in the belief that all creation belongs to God and that humans are called to be faithful stewards of the earth. These grants empower parishes to take steps toward sustainability, conservation, and environmental awareness within their communities. Across all three grant programs, one theme is clear: hope. From strengthening buildings and revitalizing worship spaces to feeding neighbors, teaching children, and caring for creation, our parishes are responding with faith, imagination, and dedication. These grants encourage congregations to be creative, to take risks, and to explore new ways of living into their call. The Diocese celebrates the energy and vision present across our churches and looks forward to seeing these ministries come to life in the coming year.
Refresh & Renew Grants Recipients AV / Technology
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St. Barnabas (Roanoke)
Marketing
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Holy Spirit (Alabaster)
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St. Luke’s (Scottsboro)
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St. Andrew’s (Tuskegee)
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St. Andrew’s (Birmingham)
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Grace (Sheffield)
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Grace (Woodlawn)
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St. Peter’s (Talladega)
Building Maintenance
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Holy Cross (Trussville)
Landscaping / Parking
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St. Mary’s (Childersburg)
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St. Matthias (Tuscaloosa)
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St. James (Alexander City)
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Trinity (Clanton)
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Episcopal Place (Birmingham)
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Good Shepherd (Decatur)
Interior Enhancement
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St. Luke’s (Jacksonville)
Trinity (Demopolis)
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Christ Church (Albertville)
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St. Mary’s (Jasper)
St. Stephen’s (Eutaw)
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Grace (Anniston)
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Good Shepherd (Montgomery)
Christ Church (Fairfield)
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St. Timothy’s (Athens)
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Epiphany (Tallassee)
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St. Michael’s (Faunsdale)
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St. Thomas (Birmingham)
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St. Philip’s (Fort Payne)
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St. Michael’s (Fayette)
Programming
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Epiphany (Guntersville)
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Holy Comforter (Gadsden)
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The Abbey (Avondale)
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Holy Apostles (Hoover)
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St. Mark’s (Prattville)
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Canterbury Chapel (Tuscaloosa)
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St. Stephen’s (Huntsville)
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St. Stephen’s (Smith Station)
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St. Simon Peter (Pell City)
Signage
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Grace (Pike Road)
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St. Alban’s (Birmingham)
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Resurrection (Rainbow City)
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St. Michael & All Angels (Millbrook)
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2026 Outreach Grants Food Security
Children & Youth
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Grace (Pike Road)
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St. Luke’s (Scottsboro)
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Ascension (Birmingham)
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St. Andrew’s (Tuskegee)
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Christ Church (Albertville)
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St. James (Alexander City)
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St. Luke’s (Jacksonville)
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Epiphany (Tallassee)
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Holy Spirit (Alabaster)
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St. Mary’s (Jasper)
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Good Shepherd (Montgomery)
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Education •
St. Matthias (Tuscaloosa)
St. Stephen’s (Huntsville)
Community Engagement
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St. Michael’s (Fayette)
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St. Timothy’s (Athens)
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Trinity (Demopolis)
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St. Andrew’s (Montevallo)
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Epiphany (Leeds)
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Christ Church (Fairfield)
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St. Mark’s (Birmingham)
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The Abbey (Birmingham)
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St. Stephen’s (Eutaw)
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Good Shepherd (Decatur)
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Grace (Anniston)
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Announcing the 2026–2027 ECW Scholarship Recipients By Kathleen Franklin and Amber Walker
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ach year, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) gives away thousands in scholarships to students across our diocese. Over the last decade or more, the diocesan ECW has provided over $100,000 in scholarships to students. This past academic year, we awarded $9,750 to 21 students attending universities across the country. Scholarships are awarded based on a 40% need, 40% church involvement, and 20% merit criteria. We are proud to announce our recipients for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Ben Storino, Grace, Anniston
Bennett Haynes, Saint Stephen’s, Birmingham
Caroline Bagwell, Canterbury, Huntsville
Eleanor Couch, All Saints, Birmingham
Evelyn Goldman , St. Luke’s, Birmingham
Houston Jones, Christ Church, Tuscaloosa
Maddie Spear, St. Michael’s, Fayette
Margie Ann Prescott, Ascension, Montgomery
May Beth Youngblood, Grace, Sheffield
Mimi Lee, Trinity, Florence
Noah Landry, St. Thomas, Birmingham (unpictured)
Nona Richardson, Saint Stephen’s, Birmingham
Philip Baughman, Trinity, Wetumpka
Tyler Baughman, Trinity, Wetumpka
Robert Marshall, St. John’s, Montgomery
Susannah Miller, St. John’s, Montgomery
Thomas Fleming, Church of the Advent
ECW is able to provide funding for these 17 accomplished students with the support of YOU. The more that is given to ECW Scholarship Funds, the more we can provide to students, clergy, and laypeople per year. ECW relies solely on donations, and in order for your donation to benefit scholarship recipients, all donations must be received before December 31, 2026. Any donation given after said date will be designated to the year 2027-2028. On behalf of the ECW, we thank you for your kind donations this past year and are grateful for the prayerful consideration you give towards donating this year. Applications for ECW College Scholarships entering their freshman or sophomore years of college will open beginning in February 2027. All required information must be submitted no later than April 30, 2027. Any applications for the Women at the Well Scholarship must be submitted 2 months prior to the event. To donate to the ECW Scholarship Fund, please send a check to: ECW, Diocese of Alabama, 521 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203 Please note on your check ECW College Scholarship Fund OR ECW Women at the Well For more information or questions regarding donations to scholarships and applications, please contact Amber Walker, ECW Scholarship Chair, at Amber.walker442@gmail.com
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GIVE, GIVE, SUPPORT, SUPPORT, TRANSFORM! TRANSFORM! C A L L I N G A L L E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H WO M E N & PA R I S H E S ! YO U R G E N E R O S I T Y H E L P S S T R E N GT H E N M I N I S T R I E S AC R O S S O U R D I O C E S E A N D B E YO N D . C H EC K O U T A F E W HERE:
Scholarship Fund Supporting our future college students. Church Periodical Club Providing resources for seminarians preparing for ministry. United Thank Offering Funding life-changing grants in Alabama and around the world. ECW Board Fund Helping sustain the work and mission of Episcopal Church Women in Alabama.
WE WE NEED NEED YOUR YOUR HELP! HELP!
Contact Maggie Noland (ECW President) maggienoland@hotmail.com | 205-499-6208 Visit the Diocesan ECW website at www.alabamaecw.org/ for more information. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 25
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A Blessing in Order to Bless now available A conversation between the Revs. Thomas Joyner and Kelley Hudlow
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he Rev. Thomas Joyner’s book, A Blessing in Order to Bless, is a case study about St. Dunstan’s in Auburn, AL. St. Dunstan’s was reborn in 2020 as a parish, and this book tells the story of that new beginning and how it was shaped by Sam Wells’s work. While preparing for the book launch, Thomas answered a few of my questions about his book.
KH: What is the question at the heart of this book and why did you write it?
approach to salvation but crucial to what relationship is and means.
TJ: “What is the church for?” This question grew out of a project from a Reflective Leadership Grant from the Duke Divinity School. From my experiences at Holy Comforter, Montgomery; Holy Trinity, Auburn; St. Luke’s, Jacksonville; Trinity Commons, Birmingham; and St. Dunstan’s, Auburn, I worked with others to form creative and relational ministries that have (and continue) to bear fruit. The book uses St. Dunstan’s as a case study, highlighting what worked and what didn’t, and I hope it will prove useful for congregations and staff looking to form a similar vision of relational engagement and the four C’s in the HeartEdge model (commerce, culture, compassion, and congregation) with a practical integration in a community.
KH: Why does it matter that we focus on with, not for?
The book is meant to fill two needs. The first is for parishes looking for a vision and a model of social engagement that starts with abundance, using the gifts God has already given us. The second is for St. Dunstan’s as a parish. For St. Dunstan’s, the book provides a narrative for lay leadership to chart where we’ve come from, which would then help us work together to become aware of new opportunities.
TJ: Samuel Wells proposes that Jesus’ intention was always to come and be with us, drawing us closer in relationship to God. Rather than serving as a device to bridge a gap, solve a problem, or fix something we can’t fix, Jesus becomes a good and an end in himself. Jesus is truly God with us because that’s always been God’s intention. Wells emphasizes that the word “with” makes all the difference. “With” moves the church from focusing on fixing problems and meeting goals, to the mission of forming and nurturing relationships. KH: Is this book a blueprint or a how-to manual for other churches to follow?
KH: Why Sam Wells?
TJ: I am not offering a blueprint or a manual on what you should do. I am offering a case study on what has been “successful” for St. Dunstan’s. In doing so, I endeavor to redefine success. Success isn’t always an overflowing treasury and a church filled with young couples with multiple children who pledge six figures. Sometimes it’s a congregation that finds a purpose and discovers that the gospel story meets their story, and that resurrection occurs.
TJ: In 2015, Lou Thibodeaux gave me a copy of A Nazareth Manifesto by Samuel Wells. I had not heard of Sam Wells before, but Lou assured me that I would really enjoy this book. She has never been more correct. Once I began reading it, I found a theological approach to salvation and relationship that has informed my ministry ever since. What I found in Sam Wells’ work is that the most important word in the Bible is the word “with.” It’s the word “…that describes the heart of God and the nature of God’s purpose and destiny for us.”[1] I found that not just an intriguing
I find case studies helpful in a way that someone telling me ‘How to do it’ isn’t. The essence of the Being With approach to ministry and social engagement centers on relationships which aren’t understood as a problem in need of a solution; it’s about discovering the resources available to you already and being creative and collaborative about how to put them together. It’s about embracing creativity, imagination, delight, and relationships to discover new life. That only happens when you’re not the one with all the answers, and everyone else isn’t the problem.
[1] Samuel Wells. A Nazareth Manifesto. Wiley Blackwell, 2015; page 3 A Blessing in Order to Bless is available from Wipf & Stock Publishers, Amazon, or your favorite bookseller. To learn more, scan the QR code to see the Rev. Joyner’s Facebook page WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 27
Bishop’s Staff Carpenter House Office Line: +1 205-715-2060
CLERGY
The Rev. Katie Pearson
The Rev. Derrick Hill
Canon to the Ordinary kpearson@dioala.org EXT 9231
The Venerable Catherine Schiesz
Executive Director & CEO Camp McDowell derrick@campmcdowell.org
Archdeacon (Part-time) cschiesz@dioala.org
PROGRAM
Kana Goldsmith
Interim Canon for Parish Vitality and Vocations kgoldsmith@dioala.org EXT 9226
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Breanna Carter
Missioner for Racial Healing and Pilgrimage (Part-time) bcarter@dioala.org EXT 9230
Jen Manning
Missioner for Formation jmanning@dioala.org EXT 9232
Carrie Dennis
Annagrace Parmer
Executive Director of Assistant Director of Sawyerville Sawyerville carrie@sawyerville.org annagrace@sawyerville.org EXT 9239 EXT 9238
ADMINISTRATION
Phyllis Benington
Receptionist (Part-time) pbenington@dioala.org EXT 9236
Connie Bryson
Director of Finance and Administration cbryson@dioala.org EXT 9225
W
Ashley Haynes
Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Canon to the Ordinary ahaynes@dioala.org EXT 9224
Sarah Banks Bosu
Director of Mission Funding sbosu@dioala.org EXT 9237
Anne Tippett
Assistant to the Interim Canon for Parish Vitality and Vocations (Part-time) atippett@dioala.org EXT 9233
Nana Afia Tenkoramaa
Director of Communications nana@dioala.org EXT 9234
Makenzie Oeder
Assistant Director of Mission Funding and Human Resources moeder@dioala.org EXT 9221
Liza Lee Horton
Database Coordinator lhorton@dioala.org EXT 9229
Clergy News
ith deep gratitude for their faithful service, we share news of new calls, transitions, and retirements among our clergy. We invite you to join us in thanking God for these devoted servants and in praying for God’s continued blessings as they begin their next chapters.
NEW CALLS •
The Rev. Brad Landry is interim associate rector of Christ Church, Tuscaloosa.
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The Rev. Rufus Van Horn is the associate rector of St. John’s, Decatur.
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The Rev. Andy Golla is rector of Holy Comforter, Gadsden.
RETIREMENTS
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The Rev. Rosa Lindahl retires as rector of Holy Comforter, Montgomery.
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The Rev. Rob St. Germain-Iler retires as rector of St. James Church, Alexander City.
TRANSITION The Rev. Cameron Nations, formerly Canon for Vocations and Community Engagements, has joined the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina as dean of Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, SC. WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 29
Bishop’s Parish Visitation Schedule DATE
LOCATION
Sunday, September 13, 2026.................. Holy Cross, Trussville Monday, September 14, 2026................ Holy Trinity, Auburn Sunday, September 20, 2026.................. St. Matthew’s, Madison Sunday, October 4, 2026........................ The Great Episcopal Picnic, Florence Sunday, October 11, 2026...................... St. Luke’s, Jacksonville Sunday, October 18, 2026...................... St. Andrew’s (Homecoming), Prairieville Wednesday, October 21, 2026............... St. Michael’s, Anniston Sunday, October 25, 2026...................... St. Andrew’s, Montevallo Sunday, November 1, 2026..................... Ascension, Montgomery Sunday, November 8, 2026..................... St. Stephen’s, Birmingham Sunday, November 15, 2026................... St. Thomas, Huntsville Sunday, November 15, 2026................... St. Bartholomew, Florence Sunday, November 29, 2026................... St. Matthew’s, Seale Sunday, December 6, 2026..................... St. Luke’s, Mountain Brook Sunday, December 6, 2026..................... Canterbury, Tuscaloosa Sunday, December 13, 2026................... Trinity, Florence Sunday, December 13, 2026................... Grace, Cullman Sunday, December 20, 2026................... Christ Church, Fairfield Wednesday, December 23, 2026............ St. Mark’s, Boligee Thursday, December 24, 2026................ Church of the Advent, Birmingham December 28-30, 2026........................... Christmas Conference, Camp McDowell
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196th Diocesan Convention
Important Dates Certification of Delegates: November 1st - 30th, 2026 Registration of Delegates: December 1st, 2026 - January 25th, 2027 Pre-filed Nominations: November 12th, 2026 - January 22nd, 2027 Pre-filed Resolutions: December 1st, 2026 - December 31st, 2027 WWW.DIOALA.ORG | 31
521 20TH STREET NORTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35203 www.dioala.org
The Episcopal Church of Alabama Carpenter House, 521 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL, 35203 Bishop: The Right Reverend Richard Lawson The Alabama Episcopalian Nana Afia Tenkoramaa, Editor Miles Parsons, Art Director Vol. 111, No.3; 3rd Quarter, 2026; USPS 070-910 ISSN 1041-3316 Periodical postage paid POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections to Liza Lee Horton, The Alabama Episcopalian, 521 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL, 35203. The Alabama Episcopalian is published quarterly. Please send stories and photographs (full color, at the highest resolution possible) to Nana Afia Tenkoramaa, Editor at nana@dioala.org. The submission deadlines for each issue are February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. Parishes and individuals, please send all address changes or additions to Liza Lee Horton, lhorton@dioala.org, or Carpenter House, 521 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL, 35203