​The Rt. Rev. Godfrey Tawonezvi, founding bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Masvingo, Companion Diocese of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, retired March 25, 2022. He served the church for 28 years, 20 of them as a bishop. When appointed bishop in 2002, Bishop Godfrey started with three priests and now the diocese has 35.  There were initially two congregations, and the diocese now has 38 districts with 148 congregations.  Below is a farewell message he recently sent to the Diocese of Fond du Lac.

The Diocese of Masvingo entered into a companion relationship with the Diocese of Fond du Lac in 2016. Since then, we have journeyed together, praying for each other, sharing experiences and information, learning from each other and encouraging one another in the furtherance of God’s work in our respective Dioceses.

In 2019, my wife Albertina, Friar Fungayi and I had an opportunity to visit the Diocese of Fond du Lac. We really enjoyed the generous hospitality we received where ever we visited. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity we got to meet and interact with some of the Clergy and Laity in the Diocese of Fond du Lac.

I appreciate the cordial relationship I had with Bishop Matt Gunter over the years. I personally learnt a lot from him as we interacted. It was also a pleasure to have communicated with the Lay Canon for Administration, Matthew Payne.

Let me express my gratitude and appreciation and that of the Diocese of Masvingo for your generous support over the past years. You supported many relief and developmental programmes in the Diocese of Masvingo. Allow me to mention the most recent lucrative dairy project at Christ The King Daramombe Mission you have supported. We are short of words to express our gratefulness for your generous donation which enabled us to fulfil our vision of establishing a dairy project in the Diocese.

As I retire I am aware that the three Episcopal Dioceses of Wisconsin are exploring possibilities of reuniting. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this process.

I retire with good memories of the companion relationship between our two Dioceses. I pray and hope that this companionship continues. 

I am appreciative of your prayers, support and fellowship during my Episcopal Ministry in the Diocese of Masvingo.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you Grace and Peace (2 Cor 1:2).

With love and prayers
Bishop Godfrey Tawonezvi 

The budget of the Diocese of Fond du Lac includes a line for outreach beyond the structures of the diocese. Distribution of these funds is determined by the diocesan Deacon Council. It discerns where funds go after doing homework of where there is need.

Typically $8,000 to $10,000 in a year, the 2021 distribution grew to over $36,000 when the Executive Council determined to tithe on the proceeds of a bequest. Tithing on such a gift has been a standard operating procedure in the past. Tithing has also been practiced when church property has been sold. 

"We try to be intentional in giving to those in need when we receive the blessing of such gifts," Bishop Matt noted. "It is is a tangible way to give support beyond our diocese as a sign of our gratefulness."

The Deacon Council met twice to decide recipients. Distribution was delayed until March, after the full bequest had been received. Recipients were the Mandolin Foundation in Green Bay (mandolinfoundationllc.com), Sleep in Heavenly Peace - Oshkosh Chapter (shpbeds.org), The Anglican Diocese of Masvingo (masvingo.anglican.org), Episcopal Relief and Development (episcopalrelief.org) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/). Members of the diocese are encouraged to visit their websites and learn of the work each is doing.

Since 2004, the Diocese has donated nearly $200,000 through its Outreach Fund agencies, programs and opportunities. Gifts have been made locally and around the world, all beyond diocesan structures with the intent to give outside of ourselves to the greater glory of God.

The Rt. Rev. Godfrey Tawonezvi, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Masvingo in Zimbabwe, companion diocese of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, commissioned the  Daramombe Mission Farm Project on March 20, 2022. Over $24,000 was raised through an Epiphany Giving appeal to funds 2 uni-calf dairy heifers and 4 dairy cows, with calves already on their way. Other costs provided for include transport from the farmer in Beatrice to Christ The King Daramombe Mission Farm, feeds and equipment such as material for the paddocks. Read more here.

Shortly after the start of the pandemic in 2020, the clergy of the Diocese of Fond du Lac began meeting regularly by Zoom. The weekly gathering was to update clergy with current Covid information, listen to what was going on in congregations, and pray with each session ending with a cacophonous recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. As time moved on, Zoom gatherings were less frequent, but continued.
 
Zoom allowed to two clergy continuing education conference and one retreat, but pandemic spikes prevented in-person gatherings. A number of clergy who recently arrived in the diocese had not had opportunity to meet their ordained colleagues face-to-face. That changed in February 2022.
 
The clergy of the diocese gathered in-person for the first time for a pre-Lenten retreat at the Norbertine Center for Spirituality, De Pere. Bishop Matt invited Bishop Jake Owensby of Western Louisiana to lead. The cold wind outside may have chilled the toes, the time to be together warmed the heart.
 
Fr. Paul Coey, ordained during the pandemic and called to be rector of St. Peter’s, Sheboygan Falls, was attending his first clergy retreat. “I appreciated the collegiality, and vulnerability of my brother and sister clerics,” Coey shared, and was “able to connect more than just faces to names, but also their stories, humor, hopes, and concerns allows me to more robustly know, be known, and pray for each of them.”
 
There retreat included a variety of things to do: community worship, prayer, meditation, Bible study, confession, spiritual counsel, reading, eating, and sleeping. Part of the retreat, including communal gatherings, is spent in silence.
 
“I couldn’t help but be thankful for the time spent in prayer, silence, and space allowed at the St. Norbert Abbey,” Deacon Paul Aparicio noted. As a deacon, assigned to Grace, Sheboygan, he is “employed outside the Church so my ability to attend is largely based on the available paid-time-off,” but appreciated the time away as “a re-orientation towards the vows that I carry and the community I have been sent to.”
 
In the four reflections provided by Bishop Owensby, the focus was on “messiness” and finding God in the messiness of life. Through sharing personal stories of vulnerability, he reflected on his life and spiritual growth. Mthr. Meredyth Albright, serving as rector of St. Augustine, Rhinelander, found the “unified message of trusting God in a way we have never trusted before, set for me, a tone with which to approach Lent.” Ordained in 2011, she remarked the reflections laid groundwork “to be open to a sense of honesty with God and start thinking about what to do with that gift of unencumbered love and support.”
 
Aiding clergy to better serve spiritual needs of those in their care is another reason for the retreat. Coey remarked that the week was “edifying as I return to the parish to lead the community through Lent.” Albright expanded for her it “was an opportunity to advance in my own thinking and belief to hopefully share an inspired Holy Lent with parishioners and those beyond our church doors.” Aparicio’s prayer is that the time in retreat “turned me towards my role as a deacon, my role as a husband, and my role as a father.”
 
Holding retreats has become more difficult as the costs involved, continue to increase, but clergy are charged only for their room and board as all other costs are covered through the diocesan Amaan Fund. Even though that cost can strain already tight budgets, the value of being together in-person was clearly priceless.
 
“I pray that the diocesan clergy may together continue to turn towards the direction of the Holy Spirit and continue the work we have been ordained to do,” Aparicio said.  “We have been sent into the world in peace to love and serve the Lord and I give thanks to God for it!”

​To the Members of the Dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee
 
Dear Friends,
 
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. We hope most of you have heard by now that the three Episcopal dioceses of Wisconsin have entered conversation about the possibility of returning to our roots and reuniting back into one diocese. In the 21st century, the church faces a changing landscape; our society is becoming increasingly secular and commitment to the church is no longer a given.
 
One way or another, the church must adapt to better engage the world with the resurrection hope we have in Jesus Christ. What worked in one generation will not automatically work as well in this one and generations to come. Jesus is the same from generation to generation, but how we are organized to faithfully bear witness to the kingdom of God he proclaimed and how we worship the triune God might well change.
 
At the end of 2020, the Rt. Rev. Jay Lambert of the Diocese of Eau Claire and the Rt. Rev. Steven Miller of the Diocese of Milwaukee both retired, which resulted in two of the three dioceses of Wisconsin being without bishops. That presented what seems like an opportunity to explore the future of the Episcopal Church in Wisconsin. Indeed, we believe the opportunity is providential. Might the Holy Spirit be inviting us to look afresh at being the church in our time? How might our combined assets – financial and human resources – be used to support each of our existing congregations and encourage the beginning of new congregations or communities that might look more or less like church as we know it? Or perhaps even communities of faith that look quite different from the church as we know it today? How might we be better public witnesses and agents of hope in Wisconsin? The time is right to look at these and other questions.
 
A steering committee has been formed as well as several task forces have been appointed to explore different aspects of a possible reunion. The task forces will be addressing many of the practical aspects of reunion, such as addressing the constitutions and canons, working through all the financial details, and the culture and mission of the Episcopal Church in Wisconsin. Each of those task forces will be soliciting input and participation from members of each diocese.
 
We will continue to update members of the diocese with information about the process and opportunities for you to participate in this discernment. We are currently building a website hub for you to learn more about and engage in the process. We will share that with you soon.
 
We urge you to be engaged and participate in this process of discernment. Most especially, we encourage you to pray. Steeping our discernment in prayer will better enable us to hear what the Holy Spirit is calling us to be.
 
Faithfully in Christ,
 
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter
Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Eau Claire
 
The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Lee
Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Milwaukee

The Rt. Rev. Godfrey Tawonezvi, founding bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Masvingo, Companion Diocese of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, will officially retired on March 25, 2022. The Anglican Church has five dioceses in Zimbabwe. He had served the church for 28 years, 20 of them as a bishop. When appointed bishop in 2002, Bishop Godfrey started with three priests and now the diocese has 35.  There were initially two churches, and the diocese now has 38 districts and 148 churches. Vicar General Friar Fungayi Nyandoro will administer pastoral care in the diocese until another bishop is appointed.

During a farewell celebration in December, one speaker noted Bishop Godfrey had "fostered discipline in the clergy and congregants, the construction of buildings including maternity wards, church buildings, drilling of boreholes, feeding the disadvantaged in community among other works. We can never replace you."

A report in the Masvingo Mirror noted Bishop Godfrey spearheaded many development projects including distribution of 50,000 treated mosquito nets to a malaria stricken area, construction of a clinic, construction and commissioning of a vocational Training Centre, distribution of maize seed to thousands of households, construction of a maternity ward and a weekly feeding program for the less privileged.

At the farewell celebration, Bishop Tawnezvi left people in stitches when he said he "worked with troublesome priests but managed to bring them back into line." He continued "I leave this diocese a happy and satisfied man with happy memories. It is hard to lead a diocese with limited resources but you supported me.

"we look forward to continuing to work with our friends in the Diocese of Masvingo," Bishop Matt Gunter shared. "Bishop Godfrey's retirement marks a time of transition in that diocese, which means more opportunity to build new relationships and share in living out the Gospel."

The Companion Diocese Task Force is currently sponsoring an Epiphany Campaign to raise funds for dairy cows in Masvingo. ​

Prayers are asked for the repose of the soul of the Rev. Dcn. Bruce A. McCallum who died February 2, 2022. He was 80. He is survived by his wife Karen, three adult children and and numerous grandchildren.

An active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Waupaca, he served as lay Eucharistic Minister, Sunday School teacher and on the vestry.  He was active in Monarch Cursillo and completed the four-year Education for Ministry course of theological study. Approaching retirement as an insurance representative, Bruce realized "the hound of heaven has been nipping at my heels" and entered the diocesan discernment process. He attended Deacon's School. and was ordained to the Diaconate on May 7, 2011. He had been assigned to serve St. Mark's, Waupaca.

An obituary may be found here. Memorials may be made in Bruce’s name to St. Marks Episcopal Church, 415 S. Main Street, Waupaca, WI 54981.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 12, 2022 at St. Marks with the service streamed on St. Mark's Facebook page facebook.com/stmarkswaupaca. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service. Masking is required.  Clergy may vest - white stole. Any person not a member of St. Mark's is asked to email Mthr. Julie Hendrix if you plan to attend so proper arrangements may be made.

Here is one opportunity to participate in the trialogue, pursuing reunion as one Episcopal diocese in Wisconsin. The dioceses of Fond du Lac, Eau Claire and Milwaukee are exploring how reunification into one diocese can better equip us to be the church God is calling us to be in these times. A Steering Committee of representatives from each diocese is taking action to build connections and relationships exploring reunification. A first formal step is to form task forces to examine the possibilities.

Informal input began last Summer. Delegates to the diocesan convention last October participated in small discussion groups which generated great comments and questions about moving forward (read these here). Similar processes took place in the dioceses of Eau Claire and Milwaukee. An initial trialogue group, appointed by each diocesan governing board, reviewed this feedback and discovered a general desire to move towards a combined diocese. The potential to equip churches to be better in sharing the Gospel with one diocese was noted, but lack of clarity about how to do this was noted as well. A Steering Committee then developed a task force structure to begin work to address the questions related to reunification.

TASK FORCES
Task forces are being formed to examine various components of reunification including: Prayer; Parish and Regional Engagement; Culture and Mission; Location, Place, and Staffing; Finances; Constitution and Canons; and Communication. These will establish ways to involve more voices as ideas and proposals are developed (in-person or through technological means).

Those in the Diocese of Fond du Lac are invited to express their interest in serving on a task force. A description of each task force is provided on the interest page. After you share your interest, you can expect to be contacted to be involved by the end of February 2022.

The Diocese of Masvingo, companion diocese of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, is starting a dairy farm. Since Wisconsin is the "Dairy State", it would be udderly ridiculous for us not to help! In Epiphany we remember gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh - and in this spirit the Companion Diocese Task Force calls members of the Diocese of Fond du Lac to give.

The diocesan-wide fund raising effort from From January 6-March 5 is to fund dairy cows for the farm at Daramombe, Zimbabawe, and Anglican school campus in the middle of 1,200 acres of school owned farmland. Each heifer costs about $2,000 with at least 5 needed to start a good herd.

One cow isn't enough. The campaign kicks off with 2 cows funded by early givers! Can we build a herd?  Our goal is to build the herd with every congregation providing support to the effort. How many cows in the herd is up to you! Every contribution - from as small as the price of a fast food meal to as large as the cost of a professional sporting event - can change the lives of entire communities in Zimbabwe.

Ready to give? Click here.

When the Diocese of Wisconsin was formed in 1847, Bishop Jackson Kemper lived out the missionary spirit of the Church. He did so while working in a field rife with possibility and being God’s witness “in the wilderness.”
 
There is a type of wilderness today, and not one of geography. The world has changed, but will the church in this place? Can we form ourselves to be relevant? Can we use the resources God has provided to support the work of the Episcopal Church through local congregations?
 
The three Episcopal dioceses determined to pursue reunion as one diocese in Wisconsin to come together with a blank slate to create a new culture. Leaders from the Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire met in December to continue talks about reunification – to dream about what God wants us to do and take the steps to do it. This second meeting looked at ways to best involve people in the trialogue so we can begin to crystallize a direction and some action.
 
Delegates from each diocesan convention had provided thoughts, comments, and responses to the idea of reunion. There were a lot of questions about things we don’t yet know. Many comments reflected a general desire to move towards a combined diocese. The responses noted the potential of one diocese to equip churches to better share the Gospel. But there is a lack of clarity evident as to what that means. The trialogue has just started, so this was to be expected. The need for information is great to generate specific ideas or proposals as well as to have more informed questions and discussion.
 
Reflecting on many responses, the leaders at this second meeting recognized the pursuit will not be easy and is to be undergirded by prayer. Seeking to come together and do things in a different way will be a challenge in a variety of ways.
 
The purpose of the trialogue is to enable members of the three Episcopal dioceses in Wisconsin to explore how reunification into one diocese can better equip us to be the church God is calling us to be in these times. Work is beginning to shape how we can get to know each other better. There will be opportunities to learn more about each diocese and its people. These will help in building relationships and informing the discussion. As with any change, there will be more questions than answers to start.
 
The leaders, who were selected by each diocesan governing body, serve as the trialogue Steering Committee going forward. Its purpose is to take collaborative action to build connections and relationships exploring reunification.
 
The Steering Committee will establish task forces to examine various components of trialogue. These are: Prayer; Parish and Regional Engagement; Culture; Location, Place, and Staffing; Finances; Constitution and Canons; and Communication. Members of each diocese with experience, knowledge, or passion in each area are being called to participate. These task forces will establish ways to involve more voices as ideas and proposals are developed. This may involve in-person connections as well as technological ones.
 
Communication will be essential. To involve over 10,000 persons is an immense task. An interactive website as centralized source of information is being designed. There will be ways to interact with others, provide answers to frequently asked questions, and share your thoughts and ideas with the task forces. Stay tuned to diocesan communication channels to learn ways to be a part to better equip us to be the church God is calling us to be in these times.
 
The trialogue Steering Committee members are the Rev. Canon Kathleen Charles, Tim Donahue, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, the Rev. Canon Aaron Zook (Diocese of Eau Claire), the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, Matthew Payne, Pat Pfeifer, the Rev. Canon Wilson Roane (Diocese of Fond du Lac), The Rev. Canon Scott Leannah, the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, the Rev. Jana Troutman-Miller, John Vogel (Diocese of Milwaukee).

The Diocese of Fond du Lac youth ministries have been wonderfully blessed by an unexpected gift of $50,000 through the generosity of an anonymous donor. The donor shared the contribution is made in thanksgiving for the commitment the diocese has shown to youth work, especially as shown through its summer camp. Youth work in the diocese has over a century of history, beginning with a diocesan school for girls in the 1880’s and over 90 years of an organized summer camp experience. The operating budget includes a significant to faith formation for young people from all congregations.

The donor determined to make the gift because of seeing children and youth being positively impacted and experiencing the love of God through the people and programs of the diocese. With the donors input, a majority of the gift has been placed with the Val Burg Memorial Youth Work Fund, essentially doubling its assets. Started in the early 1990’s through gifts from a number of supporters, the fund provides ongoing financial support to youth ministries of the diocese. Those interested in supporting the fund are invited to do so here.

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.

December 9, 2021 
 
Dear Friends in Christ,

While we are grateful to God for the progress we have made in keeping people safe from COVID infection, we are writing today to remind Episcopalians in the State of Wisconsin that the pandemic is not over. Indeed, we now know that the most recently detected variant, Omicron, has been detected in our state. The data is still being collected, but it seems clear that this variant is significantly more transmissible than Delta and that current vaccines and boosters do not prevent transmission in all cases. We do know that vaccinations and boosters still provide important protection against developing the most serious illness and hospitalization.

This is a moment to ask all of our congregations to continue to take the pandemic with due seriousness and care. Let us recommit ourselves to the responsible, careful practices we have learned over the past months. In order to keep one another as safe as possible, we strongly encourage masking and social distancing when we gather. We urge every eligible member of the church to be fully vaccinated and to receive appropriate booster shots. We commend the continuation of virtual options for worship and other meetings. And we commend the guidelines adopted in most of our churches regarding masking, social distancing, and the reception of Holy Communion.

These are challenging times for us all, but we are members of the Body of Christ who is the light of the world. In these Advent days leading to the Christmas Feast, let us renew our trust in the God who is with us in every circumstance, in every challenge or time of uncertainty or fear. Let us commit ourselves to be bearers of God’s light and love to one another and to the world.
 
In Christ,
 
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter
Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
Bishop Provisional the Diocese of Eau Claire
 
The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee
Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Milwaukee

An update to the Protocols and Best Practices document has been published by the Bishop and diocesan Covid Task Force. Changes were made considering information learned since the previous revision.

Masking and distancing continue to be encouraged as the best method to reduce the possibility of transmission of the Covid-19 virus. To further emphasize this, the protocols now include posting signage to remind participants that masking and distancing is encouraged. This is important to do regardless of vaccination status.

The primary modification made regards singing. Singing is an important part of our worship tradition. Congregational and choir singing is now allowed while distanced. Masking while singing is strongly encouraged. The Task Force recognizes singing increases the risk of transmission, but such risk is best mitigated by distance. The mitigation of risk by masking is likely, but not as significant as distancing is. Keeping appropriate space between households becomes more important when singing takes place.

Additional modifications made either clarify the language or attempt to make it consistent with current understandings regarding Covid-19. 

The revised document is here.

The Diocese of Fond du Lac has announced the sale of the former St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Tomahawk. The property has been purchased by the non-denominational The Rock Church of Tomahawk. Their first service was held November 14, three days after the closing, with 40 people in attendance.

The Diocese of Fond du Lac has announced a new use for the church building in Green Bay formerly housing Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church. After taking responsibility of the building, the diocese engaged a property management agency who was aware of a not-for-profit seeking space.

The Mandolin Foundation assists families in recovery from addiction, substance abuse and mental health disorders. The hall, kitchen, offices and apartment of the Webster Avenue building have been rented to Mandolin for "Amanda’s House" to provide transitional housing and programs focused on life skills training and connecting to community resources.

Bishop Matt Gunter noted in a letter to former parishioners that the "space where people experienced joy in life and sorrow in death is no longer a place of worship," but is becoming a place of good work that is "consistent with the work of Gospel." He invited them to consider volunteering at Amanda’s House. Opportunities include reading to children, cooking with residents, gardening, maintenance and office work. All volunteers must submit a completed application and agree to a background check.

Mandolin Foundation follows the high standards set by the Wisconsin Association for Sober Living Housing (W.A.S.H.). These are centered around the dignity, safety, and well-being of guests, reinforcing they are worthy and deserving of the love and care.

To support this important work, the diocesan Deacons Council recently approved a grant from the diocesan Outreach Fund.

For more information, including volunteering, visit mandolinfoundationllc.com. 

Bishop Matt Gunter awarded the Bishop's Cross to Dr. Bradley Lauderdale and the Rev. Christopher Arnold. As a diocesan award, it was presented during the 2021 Convention of the Diocese of Fond du Lac on October 30th. The Bishop’s Cross is intended to honor individuals who have provided outstanding service to the Episcopal Church, especially on the diocesan and congregational levels. The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus established this award in 1997. 

Dr. Brad is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Menasha, Wisconsin. In his comments to the Convention, Bishop Matt noted his involvement in his parish and the diocese, especially in sharing his expertise as part of the diocesan Covid Task Force.

Fr. Chris is a priest canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac. In his comments  to the Convention, Bishop Matt noted his leadership to congregations with a focus in the prayerful life as well as to the diocese, especially in chairing the diocesan Covid Task Force.

You may read the Bishop's comments here.

Some may know Christi Cunningham or others from her family. family. Her dad, the Rev. Marcus Cunningham, served at St. Peter’s, Ripon and Trinity, Oshkosh. She was active in youth ministries of the diocese, and served on the national Episcopal Youth Event planning team in 2017.

A graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul this past August, Christi has decided to spend the next year serving in the Young Adult Service Corps. YASC is a ministry for young adults 21-30 in the Episcopal Church which sends young adults out into the Anglican Communion to work and become a part of the community. Challenge because of COVID, she has received news of her placement.

Cunningham will be serving in Liverpool, England and living in community with three others on the grounds of the Liverpool Cathedral. Tsedaqah Community house is a “missional community based at Liverpool Cathedral, made up of young people from around the Triangle of Hope living together in community for a year. Tsedaqah community members work in a variety of social justice projects across the Liverpool City Region, in conjunction with the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool and Liverpool Cathedral.”  The work will be be social justice oriented, and she couldn’t be more excited. She plans to keep everyone updated through a blog with lots of pictures and stories of this journey. 

"What an invigorating opportunity for a young adult from our diocese in another country," Bishop Matt Gunter noted. "Living in community, in service to others, provides an occasion to experience God's presence like no other."

"In all this excitement, I must ask for help." Christi informed the delegates of the Diocesan Convention. "I ask you to pray for me and my housemates throughout this year. I ask your support financially, as you are able. I invite you take this journey with me." 

Donate 
There are two ways you are able to support Christi in her work with YASC.

1. Send a check. The check should be made payable to "DFMS" and list “Christi Cunningham YASC” on the memo line. You can mail your check to YASC/Diocese of Fond du Lac, 1051 N Lynndale Dr, Ste 1B, Appleton, WI 54914.
2. Donate online through the St. Thomas website. To do this, click here, then scroll down and click on the yellow "Give Online" button. On the giving form, type "YASC Christi Cunningham" in the Note / memo box. You may use a credit/debit card or a bank account.

If you have questions, contact Christi directly at ccunningham578@gmail.com.
Blog cunninghaminliverpool.blogspot.com
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The Rev. Jerry Molitor has accepted a call to serve as Vicar of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Waupun, Wisconsin, on a part-time basis. Molitor received a B.A. from Lakeland College in Business Administration and Philosophy and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University.  As he neared retirement from a career in banking and information technology, he engaged in the diocesan Circles of Light discernment process. After receiving a Certificate of Anglican Studies from Nashotah House, Molitor was ordained deacon then priest by Bishop Matt Gunter in 2021.

The people of Holy Trinity, Waupun have been seeking a vicar following the call of their previous vicar to serve another congregation. His first Sunday is October 17, 2021. He is married to Linda.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is a mission church of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac in Waupun, Wisconsin. The congregation was organized in 1867 shortly after services had started and a visit from Bishop Jackson Kemper. It is a worship community of 43 baptized members with an average Sunday attendance of 14. Located in the heart of Waupun, its ministries focus on outreach to the community.

The Rev. Amy Heimerl has accepted a call and started service as Vicar of Ascension Episcopal Church, Merrill, Wisconsin on a part-time basis. Heimerl earned a B.A. in Education from St. Norbert College and M.A. in Education from Viterbo University. For over two decades as an educator she focused on working with students with emotional and behavioral struggles and who learn differently. On completing the diocesan Circles of Light discernment process she started "reading for orders," the historic practice of a guided program of studies individualized to the needs and goals of a candidate for ordination. She was ordained deacon then to the priesthood by Bishop Matt Gunter in 2021.

As a lay person, Heimerl served the church at the local, diocesan and national levels. She has been senior warden, treasurer, worship leader, camp counselor, and deputy to the Episcopal Church General Convention. She was one of the founders of a weekly youth ministry program at Ascension.  Following many years of supply priests serving the congregation, Heimerl becomes the first resident Vicar in Merrill in many decades. She also works as Chaplain at a juvenile correctional facility in northern Wisconsin. She is married to Eric.

Ascension Episcopal Church is a mission church of the Diocese of Fond du Lac in Merrill, Wisconsin.  First services were held in 1877, with a mission organized in 1882. It is a worship community of 54 baptized members with an average Sunday attendance of 20. Located in the heart of Merrill, it has a deep-rooted history in giving thanks for serving the poor and needy in the community.

​Leaders from the Episcopal dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire have unanimously agreed to pursue reunion. This idea has been talked about since the 1970’s. It was agreed that now is the time to explore the option. A reunion would incorporate the three dioceses back to the one from which they were formed. Other paths could be followed, but pursuing reunion first provides clarity of purpose. It is understood doing so now is following opportunity rather than responding to necessity.
 
This agreement was made during the initial trialogue meeting on September 29, 2021. The trialogue explores how the three Wisconsin dioceses might work together to serve the mission of the Episcopal Church. Conversation focused on congregations, specifically how the diocese might better equip them to share the Gospel and serve Christ in their communities. There was enthusiastic discussion seeking new ideas and dreams of what could be developed for the 21st century and beyond. One participant noted “whether we want change or not, change is upon us.”

"Episcopal Migration Ministries is one of the most direct and tangible ways that we embrace the invitation to become a Church that looks and acts like Jesus, by reaching out our hands in love to the dispossessed, displaced, exiled, and marginalized.  For over four decades, in times of war, genocide, political persecution and upheaval, EMM has enabled the Church at all levels to welcome and care for God’s beloved children, supporting them on their journey as new Americans, our neighbors."
 
This is where EMM needs your help.  
 
1. Prayer.  Refugee resettlement ministry includes professional staff, but also tens of thousands of volunteers, congregations, and community partners and stakeholders, who all come together to welcome and support our new neighbors. Click here for a prayer list.
 
2. Volunteer support.  To address the severe staffing shortages in the face of this crisis, we prayerfully ask for anyone willing and able to embed for a period of 1-3 months in an EMM affiliate office or within EMM’s churchwide headquarters staff.  This may occur virtually/remotely, in some circumstances.  At present, one of the top identified needs is for individuals with volunteer coordination, project management, and community organizing experience.  Interested and skilled individuals should email AfghanAllies@episcopalchurch.org, attaching their CV and briefly explaining their relevant experience.
 
3. Financial support. In partnership with The Episcopal Church’s Office of Development, EMM has created the Neighbors Welcome: Afghan Allies Fund, recognizing that considerable funding is needed to support the housing, medical, legal, and other basic needs of the Afghan families we will welcome.  We ask that you share this announcement and this bulletin insert with congregations, ministries, and affiliated organizations throughout your dioceses.

Diocesan UTO Coordinator Cheryl Dobrzynski is reminding congregations that the Fall UTO Ingathering in congregations is traditionally the Sunday closest to All Saints Day. So this year it is October 31st, the day after the Diocesan Convention. Not sure how to do an Ingathering, need materials, need a refresher? Contact Cheryl at cheryldob@gmail.com.

2022 United Thank Offering grant application materials are now available. The focus of this year’s grants is Care of Creation: Turning love into action by caring for God’s creation to protect the most vulnerable—who will bear the largest burden of pollution and climate change—through justice, advocacy, environmental reparations, or the development of formation materials. 

Details about writing the grant are available here. If you are considering submitting a grant, please contact Diocesan UTO Coordinator Cheryl Dobrzynski as soon as possible at cheryldob@gmail.com. She will call you to discuss your thoughts and provide direction of how to proceed. Applications will not be accepted if Cheryl has not been consulted. The diocesan deadline (earlier than the national deadline) for submission is Friday, January 21, 2022 to allow the Bishop and Cheryl enough time to decide which application will be forwarded.

The Rev. Roberta "Bobbi" Kraft, Vicar of Saint Barnabas the Encourager Episcopal Church, Suamico, has announced acceptance of a call to serve as chaplain for the St. Francis House Episcopal Student Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She will also serve as Missioner for Young Adults for the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. This position begins mid-October 2021. Mthr. Bobbi has served at Suamico since June 2019. May God continue to bless Mthr. Bobbi in continuing to serve in ordained ministry. More here.