The Anglican Diocese of Masvingo has been selected as a recipient from the 2021 Diocesan Outreach Fund by the Deacon Council of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. Each year, funds are set aside from the diocesan operating budget to give "beyond the diocese." The intent is giving beyond diocesan structures, though recipients may come from inside the geographical boundaries of the diocese.

The Council determined to provide $10,000 after being made aware of great need from the impact of the pandemic. The majority of funds were from assets on hand in the Outreach Fund. The remainder will come from a pending bequest to the diocese. The Executive Council determined 10% of that bequest, when received, will be added to the Outreach Fund.

Representatives of the Diocese of Masvingo visited the Diocese of Fond du Lac in 2019. Plans for a return visit are pending due to the pandemic. "The financial support our diocese has provided to our brothers and sisters in Masvingo over the past few years has been amazing," Bishop Matt Gunter commented. "We know our relationship is about more than money. We lift each other up in prayer daily, and in our congregations every Sunday. But the challenges in their situation has meant funds have greater impact and the support is an example that we can do more together as a diocese than we might be able to do as individual parishes."

Members of the diocese will have another opportunity to support the work of the Diocese of Masvingo during Epiphany. The Companion Diocese Task Force will be raising funds to purchase farms animals for the agricultural ministries in Masvingo. Learn more about their development projects here. Look for details on how you can provide a chicken, pig, cow or other animals on January 6, 2022.

It was reported in October that members of the Diocese of Fond du Lac responded generously to the appeal for our companion Anglican Diocese of Masvingo. An additional $5,000 was received in October and November and been sent to the diocese. Over 115 people responded to the appeal raising nearly $25,000 to assist with the need of our companion diocese. This special appeal exceeded funds raised during 2019's Bishop Appeal and reflects the commitment of the people of the Diocese of Fond du Lac to support the broader church beyond our local community. Gifts will continue to be received and forwarded.

The sharing of blessings was bountiful as members of the Diocese of Fond du Lac responded to the appeal for the Anglican Diocese of Masvingo. In late August, Bishop Godfrey Tawonezvi reached out because his diocese was "struggling financially under the current circumstances of economic meltdown in the country coupled with the pandemic of COVID19." Bishop Matt Gunter immediately launched an appeal. In less than a month, 100 people responded, raising nearly $20,000 to assist with the need of our companion diocese.

"It is amazing how the people of this diocese respond to need," Bishop Matt noted. "It is encouraging that when our brothers and sisters ask for help, we respond in a way that shows a high level of caring and reflects a love of God and our neighbor."

Gifts to the Masvingo Appeal continue to be received and an additional international wire transfer will be made at the end of October.

The borders of Zimbabwe are more than 100 miles from the Indian Ocean, but that didn’t stop the damaging effects of Cyclone Idai on the people and places of the Diocese of Masvingo. Masvingo is in a companion relationship with the Diocese of Fond du Lac, the Episcopal Church in northeast Wisconsin. Eastern parts of the Masvingo diocese, along with areas of their sister Diocese of Manicaland, were impacted.
 
Many have asked how they support the recovery efforts related to the damage. The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe includes Anglican Relief and Development in Zimbabwe, whose chair is Bishop Godfrey of the Diocese of Masvingo. Funds received by this agency will be used to assist victims of Cyclone Idai and support affected households.
 
International donations are hard to make and each one includes wire transfer fees. For this reason, the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac will collect funds for the Cyclone Idai Recovery Fund. Individuals may give online at diofdl.org or send a check to the Diocesan Office with Idai in the memo line. Congregations are encouraged to hold a special collection for Cyclone Idai Recovery and send collected funds to the Diocesan Office. The total collected with be announced when our guests from the Diocese of Masvingo are visiting the end of May.

The Diocese of Fond du Lac will welcome visitors from its Companion Diocese of Masvingo  from May 29 - June 6, 2019. The visit will include a celebration of Companion Diocese Sunday on June 2.

Those visiting will be Bishop Godfrey Tawonezwi, his wife Albertina Tawonezwi, and the Rev. Fungayi Nyandoro, Friar of The Community of Holy Transfiguration. The Companion Diocese Task Force is planning a number of opportunities for members of the diocese to meet those from Masvingo. More details to come

The Companion Diocese Committee of the Diocese of Fond du Lac is pleased to announce plans for a visit from our brothers and sisters in Christ from our Companion Diocese of Masvingo. God willing and government agencies consenting, four members of that diocese will visit northeast Wisconsin around the time of our Diocesan Convention, October 20. Initial plans include visiting around the diocese, giving everyone a chance to meet with them. Details and plans will be share when they are finalized. Learn more about the relationship at diofdl.org/masvingo.

200 people gathered on Saturday, October 21, 2017 to celebrate the diocesan family of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The 143rd Convention was held on the Oneida Reservation just outside of Green Bay. Wondering if “we aren’t being called to cast into the deep,” the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter established a focus during the Eucharist held at Church of the Holy Apostles, the oldest Episcopal congregation in the diocese and the State of Wisconsin.

The day started with fellowship and a delightful continental breakfast provided at the Holy Apostles Parish Hall. Attendees then came together for worship in the stone church building, where they heard Bishop Matt preach about the challenges the Church faces today, and encouraging each of us to go deeper, so “we are more likely to experience the awesome, beautiful, goodness of God that transforms” as he reminded the congregation of the original diocesan motto [Duc] In Altum. 

Following a short drive from Holy Apostles to the Radisson Conference Center, the business of the day was hearing reports from a variety of ministries, electing those to serve on diocesan committees, discuss and adopt resolutions modifying the constitution and canons of the diocese, and approving the budget for 2018. The Seventh Sunday after Easter (May 13 in 2018) was designated as Companion Diocese Sunday. Last year’s convention established a relationship with the Diocese of Masvingo in Zimbabwe and Bishop Matt announced an invitation has been extended for its representatives to attend the 2018 Convention.

Greetings were received from the Rev. Dr. Brad Hauff, who serves as the Episcopal Church Indigenous Missioner. Attendees browsed over a dozen display tables from diocesan ministries and vendors of liturgical vestments and maple syrup! Giving was encouraged to support the United Thank Offering and the Church Periodical Club. A deficit budget was approved, but with plans in place for funding the deficit.

As one delegate noted in their evaluation “the convention was not what I expected. It was efficiently run, informative and helped me to see how my congregation fits into the work of the church at the diocesan level.” While the purpose of the day was taking care of business, the effect of the day was one that left many with the question “What will you do to go into the deep?”

For more details of the convention, visit diofdl.org/convention.