Welcome!

Welcome to the 137th Episcopal Church in Colorado Annual Convention: our opportunity to gather to accomplish the canonically required work of the church as well as find inspiration in our journey with God and each other. We will gather and pray together as we face our current realities and lean into our shared future in leading our diocese.

Imagining Church in New Ways

At our 137th Annual Convention, we will continue our creative engagement in congregational development with the Right Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Bishop of Maryland. Building on last year’s work with the Rev. Canon Christopher Craun, our convention will focus on innovative and hopeful approaches to church life and ministry. We will explore how to attune ourselves to God’s visionary dreams for our congregations and confront narratives that hold us back. We will discern and embrace the future God envisions and prepare for inevitable challenges, build resilience, and work to share Christ’s reconciling love with a hurting world. Our convention will equip our churches with the tools and mindset needed for dynamic, imaginative, and hopeful congregational development in an ever-changing landscape.

Opening Worship, October 3

On Thursday evening, October 3, at 7:00pm, we will start with Opening Worship at St. Luke’s at 2000 Stover St, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

You may watch the opening worship remotely via the video stream below that will start at 7:00 pm:

Opening Worship Offering: Hurricane Helene Relief

From Episcopal Relief & Development | Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with faith-based and community-led organizations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on September 26 as a Category 4 storm. Rescue operations and other emergency responses are underway in several states after the deadly storm moved north through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. At least 100 have died as a result of the mudslides, tornadoes, flooding and power outages caused by the storm. As roads are opening, some people are leaving the area to find housing with electricity and potable water, and dioceses in the surrounding area are assessing how they can support these people. Read full article from ERD >

Give Now to Hurricane Helene Relief Through Episcopal Relief & Development

Convention Business, October 4-5

The activities and business of Convention will take place at the Hilton Fort Collins, located at 425 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526, with breakfast on Friday morning, October 4 and will conclude by 11:00 am on Saturday, October 5.

Convention Opening Worship and all General Session recordings from October 3-5 will be made available online on this page one week after the convention ends.

*NOTE: Agenda is subject to change.

Convention Detailed Agenda

Convention Resources & Materials

The Right Reverend Carrie K. Schofield-Broadbent

The Rt. Rev. Carrie K. Schofield-Broadbent was elected on March 25, 2023, as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. She was ordained and consecrated on September 16, 2023, at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, with Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves as the Chief Consecrator.

Bishop Carrie came from the Diocese of Central New York where she worked as the youth minister at St James’, Skaneateles, as a conflict resolution trainer and consultant in educational settings until she entered Virginia Theological Seminary. After graduating in 2003, Bishop Carrie served in three small parishes, St. Paul’s, Syracuse, and then as the rector of St. Matthew’s, Liverpool for ten years. In 2017 she became a canon on diocesan staff serving in transition ministry and congregational development. She has served as a conflict resolution consultant for churches and a trainer in the College for Congregational Development.

Deeply committed to honoring the dignity of every human being, Bishop Carrie consistently attends to her own work around race, climate change, economic justice, and full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons and is committed to helping the Church grow in these areas. She identifies her own core values of ministry as: trust and relationships, truth and transparency, and compassion and faithfulness.

Bishop Carrie and her husband, Keith have two young adult children, Will and Kate. They have two dogs and enjoy traveling, camping, kayaking, and hiking together. Her hobbies include making pottery in a community studio, reading, growing houseplants, antique/thrifting and practicing yoga.

General Session One: Approaching the God of Imagination
We are made in the image of God who is both steadfast and always doing a new thing. How can we be attentive to God’s dreams for us? How can we prepare ourselves to receive God’s imaginative call for our Church and for our congregations?

General Session Two: Challenging Magical Thinking and Old Narratives
We’re not immune to magical thinking in the Church. What are some of the old narratives that persist and yet do not serve? What are we called to set down in order to move into the future that God is imagining for us?

General Session Three: When Things Go Sideways
Being co-creators of God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven is not without roadblocks, side-quests, and skid marks. How do we prepare ourselves to bring our best selves when our best laid plans don’t lead to the outcomes we’d hoped for?

Resolutions Submitted to Convention

Resolution 1-2024: “On Reducing & Preventing Gun Violence”

Passage of this resolution will 1) raise awareness that as followers of Christ we are also called to be peacemakers, advocates for justice, and healers for those in our congregations and communities wounded by gun violence, 2) raise up and strengthen discipleship as we endeavor to seek out, gather and listen to those with different experiences with guns and gun violence, and 3) strengthen diocesan, congregational and personal servanthood, empowering all to do what we can to reduce and prevent the effects of the gun violence and safeguard the integrity of our families and communities.
Proposed Constitutional Change 1-2024: “Amended Diocesan Constitution Article V”
The focus of the proposed amendment is to change the vote for General Convention deputies to a vote of the whole convention from a current vote by orders. The first rationale for the change is to simplify the voting process. Over 25 years ago, the elections committee implemented rank choice voting to reduce the multiple rounds of voting required to elect 4 deputies and 4 alternates in each order by a concurrent majority of both orders, lay and clergy. However, this method requires a certain degree of complex mathematical calculation at the time of counting ballots that can be challenging to clearly explain and to fairly implement. The result has been unnecessary confusion, time delay and distrust in the election results. Moving to a simple majority of the whole body simplifies the voting process and vote tabulation thus fostering more confidence and less ambiguity in the election results.

Resolution 2-2024: “Resolution to Study Amendments to the Canons of the Diocese of Colorado To Facilitate Associate Membership of Laity in More than One Congregation”

This resolution is proposed to facilitate the appointment of a study committee to be named by the Bishop and Standing Committee to consider one or more amendments to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Colorado that would enable and set criteria for associate lay membership in more than one parish congregation. The committee would be asked to seek stakeholder input within the Diocese, to identify how parishes are currently managing this issue, and to seek the input of canon lawyers and the staff of the national Church, along with any other avenues of consideration they may determine to be warranted.

2025 Proposed Budget

2025 Narrative Budget

2025 Proposed Budget

Reports to Convention

Diocesan Institutions, Commissions, and Committees provide reports of their ministries and activities over the past year. Remember these ministries and groups in your prayers during the days of Convention and throughout the year ahead.

The 81st General Convention

Anglican Studies

Brigit’s Village

Cathedral Ridge

Colorado Episcopal Foundation

Commission On Ministry

St Clare’s Ministries

St. Benedict Health & Healing Ministry

St. Francis Center

Standing Committee Report to Convention

Courtesy Resolutions

Convention Land Acknowledgement

“Welcome to The Episcopal Church in Colorado’s 137th Annual Convention. As we prepare for what the Spirit has for us this weekend, we take a moment to acknowledge that the land on which we live and gather is the traditional territory of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations. We recognize the Indigenous people who once lived on this land and support the resilience and strength of their descendants living among us today.

We also acknowledge our complicity in the egregious acts of colonization, boarding schools, and genocide that have caused lasting intergenerational trauma. We commit to learn the truth of the past and present, to reckon with our role in the harms caused, and to stand in solidarity with our Indigenous kin as we seek an equitable future together.”

Bishop Kym Lucas

Convention Important Information

Voting at Convention

All registered delegates and registered clergy entitled to vote will receive voting credentials (a number unique to you) at check-in and registration. This number matched with your last name will allow you to use the voting platform, VPOLL, for voting during convention. The VPOLL (app.vpoll.mobi) platform will be used for any electronic votes that are not accomplished with a voice vote during the Convention. You will need to enter the meeting access code EDC137 and then use your credential and your last name, in order to vote, during a short window of time. IMPORTANT: Capitalization and dashes are required. Please plan to keep these near you during Convention sessions.

VPOLL Voting Instructions

Alternate Designation

We are now using a formal process for an Alternate to take the places of a registered Delegate. If you are an Alternate wishing to take the place of a Delegate, you must appear at the registration desk no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the legislative session (ie 8:45 AM for 9:00 AM start) to execute this change. Any change must be authorized in writing or in person by the Clergy-in-Charge, Senior Warden or Bishop’s Warden (or ELCA partner equivalent) of the Alternate’s parish, mission, congregation, institution or ministry. Any such change stays in effect until another change, following the same process, is made.

Diocesan Convention is an in-person gathering for the Episcopal Church in Colorado, and no provision is made, nor is one authorized in our Constitution or Canons, for proxy voting, or voting by persons who are not physically present at Diocesan Convention.

The Hilton Fort Collins uses a third party with an app to handle the payment processing for parking.  You will be required to use an app by Air Garage. You can scan the QR code or text “pay” to 970.670.9085.  You will then be taken to the webpage to complete your information and pay.  Remember to use the code:  CHURCH to get the daily discount.  The daily rate for parking has been discounted to $8 per day for convention delegates, visitors and guest.

Parking Flyer for Hilton Fort Collins

If you decide to go to the Fort Collins downtown area, downtown offers a variety of parking options, including on-street, parking structures, and surface lots. In general, the on-street parking in the core of downtown has 2-hour time limits, while the parking around the periphery of downtown has free, open, all-day parking. On the map below, the 2-hour parking is shown in the light blue.

SOLD OUT – Hilton Fort Collins (updated 9/30/2024)

Delegates will need to reserve their own hotel room(s) and will pay the nightly group rate directly to the hotel.  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Fort Collins for The Episcopal Church in Colorado Annual Convention.  Please call 800-768-0605 and ask for The Episcopal Church in Colorado Annual Convention with the booking code 92G.  You will be able to book in the block at the discounted group rate of $ 169.00 per room, per night for a standard room with one king or two double beds. This block has our discounted $8 overnight parking.

To reserve online:  Booking Link: The Episcopal Church in Colorado

The cut off for room reservations is September 16, 2024.  After this date, we cannot guarantee lodging at these hotels and at the discounted rate.

Here is a link to a list of activities, restaurants & bars provided by Visit Fort Collins. .  We invite you to explore all that the city has to offer.

Activities, Restaurants & Bars – Fort Collins

How You Can Prepare for a Safer Convention

Each of us attending Convention also has a personal responsibility to promote the safest conditions for ourselves and for all others who will attend. Despite all the planning and precautions, we will take, it is not possible to eliminate all risks. If you are going to attend the Convention, here are some suggestions toward a safer convention for us all:

  • Delegates and their church leaders should confer about safety before leaving for Fort Collins and make general contingency plans: if someone in your group tests positive or becomes ill, how will you support that person and organize accordingly? The best personal plans are those of a small community who know one another, supported by the larger Convention resources. We suggest a “buddy system” for your delegates so that each person has someone else to check with should they need assistance during the Convention.
  • Take a COVID-19 test before you leave your home to travel to Convention. If you test positive, stay home, make necessary notifications (including contacting the Convention Office at dioconvention@episcopalcolorado.org), and follow the CDC guidelines for those who test positive.
  • Before you leave home, check with your doctor or local health authorities to see whether, if needed, you can schedule a remote consultation. Ask them any medical questions you may have.

If you experience any of the symptoms of COVID-19 while in Fort Collins, please do not enter the Convention Hall until you have received a negative test. If you are a lay delegate or alternate, please notify your church leader(s) so they can make arrangements for your place in the delegation. They can do so by emailing healthandsafety@episcopalcolorado.org. You do not need to present yourself at the credentials desk and should not. If you are at Convention in another capacity, please notify the coordinator of your group, appropriate colleagues, or members from your church/parish. If you or members of your delegation need additional assistance, please text 720.677.9020.

Positive Test: If you receive a positive test and need to isolate yourself in your room, check with your hotel about extending your stay beyond Convention as necessary and at the convention rate. Information on other resources, food deliveries, and other care will be found on the information hub on the Convention website. As mentioned earlier, the best practice is to support one another within your delegation or small group. Another option, if you can, is to drive home and isolate at home. If you carpooled, consider how you are going to get home — roll all the windows down; all remain masked, and all test again when you get home.

Thank you for your assistance in making this a safer Convention for us all.

Clergy Transitions

We celebrate these clergy who have accepted new calls in the Episcopal Church in Colorado this year:

The Rev. Amanda Barker,  Curate, St. Aidan’s, Boulder

The Rev. Amanda Barker is St. Aidan’s Curate, starting her ordained ministry in July 2024. She was St.A’s seminarian intern from 2022 to 2024. She received her M.Div. from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) in May 2024. Amanda lives in Boulder with her husband, Aaron, and two step-children. Her background is in the nonprofit world, advocating for land conservation policy and historic preservation education. She is a proud returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Madagascar, 2005-2008). Amanda spends her free time discovering more about this speck of land in the universe. She’s currently learning about the birds across seasons in her backyard. She also loves being in the kitchen, reading, and traveling to new places and   to her favorite people.

The Revs. Lucy Amerman and Norman Jackson Haas, Interims, Holy Comforter, Broomfield

The Rev. Canon Lucy Amerman and the Rev. Norman Jackson Hass will serve as co-interims at Holy Comforter, Broomfield, beginning September 1.

The Rev. Canon Lucy S. L. Amerman retired in 2016, and moved to Colorado, after serving as Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. In her role with the Diocese, Lucy used her prior experience as lawyer, corporate officer, risk management professional and priest, to support the Bishop and the leadership of the Diocese. She served as Chief of Staff, and oversaw all human resources, employee benefits and employment policy related issues. She was responsible for pastoral care of clergy and represented the Bishop in the church community in a variety of roles, including Sunday visits to churches around Philadelphia. In Colorado, Lucy has served for several months as an Interim Canon in the Episcopal Church in Colorado, with many of the same responsibilities she had in that role in Pennsylvania.

The Rev. Norman Jackson Haas is a retired Lutheran pastor, licensed in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. His thirty years of active ministry included serving in several congregations in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on church development, redevelopment, and conflict management. He has also worked as a chaplain in a hospital and hospice in Helena, Montana, and to seafarers in the ports of New York, Newark, and Elizabeth. In later years he worked with congregations in conflict, churches in transition, and as a search consultant. He is married to the Rev. Canon Lucy S. L. Amerman. He retired with her to Colorado in 2016 where they continue to pursue their passion for skiing, hiking, and grandchildren.

The Rev. Sarah Berlin,  Interim Rector, St. Mary Magdalene, Boulder 

Sarah began her ordained ministry at St. John’s Cathedral, serving as Canon Pastor for over 15 years. She was Rector at St. John Chrysostom and later felt called to Interim Ministry. Since then, she has served at four parishes in the Metro area. Most of her work has been focused on pastoral Care, Prayer, and Faith Formation. Sarah has conducted numerous retreats, is a Spiritual Director, and teaches Centering Prayer. Over the years, she has had two books published on the subjects of Pastoral Care and Prayer. The most recent book, Contemplative Compassion: Creating a Culture of Care in Faith Communities, guides groups and individuals to gain practical caring skills, experience spiritual renewal, and engage in formation. She is married to the Rev. George Berlin, who is currently serving at Transfiguration, Evergreen.

The Rev. Hentzi Elek, Rector, St. Martin in the Fields, Aurora

Hentzi, a Philadelphia native, has been happily married to Sara, a Denver native, for 34 years, and they love their 2 adult children. For the past 2.5 years, Hentzi was a full-time Hospice Chaplain in the Denver area and happily a supply priest to some of you. Hentzi served as a priest in parishes in Northern Virginia and Philadelphia for 26 years. Caring for refugees, the hungry/unhoused in the US, Hentzi has also served in The Sudan, Thailand, and Columbia for a year each and led volunteer work trips all over the US and the world. As Hentzi is the son of a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor, standing with the suffering and fighting evil are central to his life. Hentzi loves people, conversation, stories, adventures, mountains, chocolate, and good cheeseburgers. Hentzi is delighted to serve St. Martin’s, Aurora, and to be part of the Episcopal Church in Colorado.

The Rev. Dr. Austin Leininger, Interim Director of Anglican Studies, Iliff School of Theology, Denver

The Rev. Dr. Austin Leininger is a professor of Ethics, Spirituality, Liturgy, and Social Theory at CDSP (CALL program) and Iliff School of Theology. Austin lives in Thornton, CO with their wife, Jane, their three children, Eva, Anthony, and Luke; and their mother-in-law, Sandy; and a menagerie of pets—Ludo, Keeko, Dot, and Batman are the dogs, ScubaSteve, Tofu, and Mr. Z. are the cats, and Falcor is the Leopard Gecko. In addition to academic work, Austin is the full-time Rector at the Church of Christ the King in Arvada and serves on the Board of Examining Chaplains for Episcopal Colorado. In their free time, Austin is currently learning to play the organ, taking German lessons, and enjoys playing volleyball and tennis with Luke and Eva, video games and weightlifting with Anthony; guitar, climbing, snowboarding; and hiking, camping, movies, and cooking with Jane. In the little time left, good food and drink are always appreciated!

The Rev.Jeremy Lucas, Interim Rector, St. Paul’s, Steamboat Springs

The Rev. Jeremy Lucas has served the Episcopal and Anglican church for over 25 years and strives to embody the roles of priest, teacher, and social justice advocate by instilling values of kindness, generosity, and radical inclusion. Before becoming a priest, Jeremy practiced law, emphasizing criminal justice reform, business ethics, and violence prevention. He notably spearheaded the initiative to pass Alabama’s first felony animal cruelty law. Originally from Birmingham and rooted in his Alabama upbringing, his ministry is inspired by the civil rights leaders of the South. His advocacy for social justice and community healing has led him to take strong public stands against racial discrimination and gun violence.

Jeremy attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City and has served in a variety of ministries in the Diocese of Alabama, Olympia, and Oregon. He served as the dean of the smallest cathedral in the Anglican communion in Windhoek, Namibia, in the Province of Southern Africa for several years. He lives in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys public storytelling, writing, birdwatching, and running.

The Rev. Lisa Musser, Associate Rector, Chapel of Our Saviour, Colorado Springs

The Rev. Amy Newell-Large, Rector, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Parker

Amy began her ministry as Curate for Parish Life at Saint John’s Cathedral, where she led community engagement and newcomers ministry. Previously, she worked in the craft beer industry, primarily as Hospitality Manager at Avery Brewing Company. She is a proud graduate of Gonzaga University, and focused on interreligious dialogue for her M.A. in Religious Studies from Naropa University. Amy continues to teach and consult on hospitality and community development. She is a mindfulness instructor and lifelong contemplative, blending spiritual depth with Jesus’ hospitality. Amy and her husband enjoy the typical CO lifestyle, hiking with their dog, and supporting local restaurants and breweries.

The Rev. Gordon Sandquist, Interim Rector, Grace and St. Stephen’s, Colorado Springs

Rev. Gordon L. Sandquist (Pastor Gordy) has served the Lutheran Church (ELCA) since graduating from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, in 1983. Rostered as an Associate in Ministry in 1987, he has served congregations and their ministries as a youth director, AiM for ministry development, Minister for Evangelism and Stewardship, Cradle to Grave Faith Formation, and finally went back to Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN and was ordained into Word and Sacrament ministry in 2012. He has been interested in and discerning a call to interim ministry since before he was ordained and is excited to experience (and, of course, lead) the rich liturgical tradition that is carried forward in the Episcopal Church. Pastor Gordy completed a short-term interim at St. Matthew’s, Parker, before being called to Grace and St. Stephen’s. If you ask him what he does in his spare time, he will probably mention reading, and then you might see his face light up as he begins talking about tying flies and any day on the river.

The Rev. Michael Thomas, Curate, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Vail

The Rev. Mike Thomas was born in Philadelphia and raised in Southern New Jersey. A 3-year enlistment in the US Army relocated him to Texas, where he spent the next 35 years, qualifying him to wear cowboy boots but not a hat. In the seminary of life there, Mike had a successful corporate career before a call to ministry. Introduced to the Episcopal church 15 years ago by his wife Desha, Mike heard the call. He completed a course of study at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, began a career in healthcare chaplaincy, and was ultimately called to the priesthood by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Along the way, Mike has collected a BA in Political Science, an MBA, a Master’s Degree in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, a Certificate in Theological Studies from the IONA Collaborative at the Seminary of the Southwest, and 3 adopted sons. Mike, DeSha, and their sons Marcus and Joseph are excited to begin a new chapter of their life together with the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail.

The Rev. Megan Worthman, Associate Rector for Formation, St. Timothy’s, Centennial

Megan Worthman is a Colorado native from Greeley, attended Hastings College in Nebraska for undergraduate work, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University for her Master of Divinity. While in college, she met her wife, Melissa, and they married in 2017. She served as a hospital chaplain for seven years at University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz before joining St. Timothy’s Centennial as the Associate Rector for Formation. She enjoys knitting and reading fiction.

We welcome these clergy who are new to the Episcopal Church in Colorado this year:


The Rev. Todd Blackham, Associate Rector, Christ Church, Denver

Todd is a native of Colorado, spending his childhood in Aurora and Elizabeth. He earned a B.A. in Religious Studies at the University of Denver and a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. For several years he worked in outreach ministry to middle and high school students. In 2007 he ended up in Southern California where he found the Episcopal Church and was ordained a priest in 2015 in the Diocese of Los Angeles. After serving in parishes in the Pasadena area he moved back to Cambridge MA in 2019 to test a vocation to the monastic life with the Society of St. John the Evangelist. Four years later, he is delighted to have been drawn back home to Colorado. Some primary interests include Contemplative Prayer, Ignatian Spirituality, hiking, kite-flying, and sitting quietly, or cracking jokes.

The Rev. Lea Colvill, Rector, St. Bartholomew, Estes Park

Congratulations to the Rev. Lea Colvill who has been called as the Rector of St. Bartholomew’s, Estes Park

The Rev. Lea Colvill is a 2015 Sewanee graduate who served in the dioceses of Montana, Idaho, and Indianapolis as both a lay professional and a priest. Her most recent call was in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In the Diocese of Idaho, she was the only female rector and a Canon Missioner. Colvill has a teaching background and an interest in stewardship. Her most interesting project was a feature film about reconciliation after a school shooting called “Mass” in 2021.

Lea’s family currently lives near Sun Valley, Idaho. Her husband, Kevin is a master bicycle mechanic and an amateur astro-photographer. Their daughter is a senior in high school. She hopes to attend Colorado State University in 2025. You can often find the Colvills in a 1984 VW campervan or playing with their brown tabby cat, Digory. Family and cat will follow Lea within the year.

The Rev. Katie Emery, Pastor-in-Charge, St. Ambrose, Boulder

The Rev. Katie Emery has been called to be the part-time Pastor-in-Charge at St. Ambrose Episcopal in Boulder, CO. Pastor Katie joins us from a Lutheran tradition (ELCA) and brings with her a wealth of experience in ecumenical ministry. She has previously been called to serve in the Presbyterian (PCUSA) and Lutheran Church and has also worked with churches in several other denominations in her time living in Africa and Europe. She also serves as the Acting Director for an ecumenical leadership formation ministry, Excellence in Leadership.

The Rev. Amy Fallon, Vicar, St. Philip in the Field, Sedalia 

The Rev. Amy L. Fallon is a New England Yankee whom God decided needed to make a pilgrimage to the West. Ordained in the Diocese of New Hampshire in 1998, she has served in the Dioceses of Connecticut, Ohio, Chicago, and Illinois. She has a passion for helping young adults grow in their spiritual lives and has spent her ministry alternating between campus ministry and parish ministry. Benedictine spirituality speaks to her heart and she is an oblate of the ecumenical Benedictine Holy Wisdom Monastery in Wisconsin. She is excited by this next step in her westward journey to join the Diocese of Colorado as Vicar of St. Philip-in-the-field. In addition to serving a vibrant congregation of people with varied experiences, this move puts her closer to siblings in Arizona and California. She comes to Colorado with 2 cats, a huge stash of yarn, and more books than she could read in her lifetime.

The Rev. Amy Feins, Associate Rector, Ascension, Denver      

Amy comes to Ascension from Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, Florida where she has been an assisting priest for the past two years.  Prior to being called to ordained ministry, Amy worked for more than a decade as the Director of College Counseling at a k-12 independent school in Naples. Originally from Pasadena, California, Amy has also lived in rural New Hampshire as well as Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. She attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Delafield, WI. Amy and her husband Jon have four grown children and one incredibly adorable grandson, Henry, who will be relocating to Denver in the near future! An animal lover, Amy is especially excited that their new home is only a couple of miles from the zoo!

The Rev. Trawin Malone, Interim, Ascension, Pueblo

The Rev. Dr. Trawin Malone has been called to Ascension Episcopal Church, Pueblo, and begins his ministry there on September 9. Trawin serves as the Chaplain to Students at the the IONA School for Ministry (Texas). He has served in congregations, and parochial schools in the Dioceses of North Carolina, Atlanta, Louisiana, Texas, and Dallas. Trawin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and New Mexico. Trawin loves both playing and listening to music. He and his spouse have two grown daughters and five lively grandchildren.

The Rev. Cheryl McFadden, Rector, Ascension, Denver

Cheryl earned a Master of Divinity from Yale University, a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School, and a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry. Before coming to Church of the Ascension, Cheryl served as the Senior Associate Rector at Christ Church Greenwich and the Associate Rector and Director of Family Ministry at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, NC. Prior to her ordination, Cheryl was a college professor, school administrator, and teacher in the field of education. Cheryl and her husband, Patrick, have three grown children: a son, Sean, and twin daughters, Devin and Cailin.

The Rev. Janine Schenone, Rector, St. John’s, Boulder     

Janine has previously served as the Theologian in Residence at Christ Church Bronxville in New York, the Senior Associate for Congregational Development at All Saints Church in Pasadena, California, where she was active in Latino ministry. Most recently, she has served as the Rector of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in San Diego, California.  Janine is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and worked in the software industry and as a community college English professor before becoming ordained as an Episcopal priest. Janine enjoys hiking, cycling, mahjong, playing the piano, theater, movies, reading, and rooting for San Francisco sports teams. She has an adult daughter, Georgia, from a previous marriage and hopes to entice her daughter and son-in-law to Colorado for visits.

We give thanks for those who were ordained as priests and deacons this year.

Newly Ordained to the Priesthood

The Rev. Amanda Barker

The Rev. Durango Jenkins

The Rev. Charles Martin

The Rev. Rob Rose

The Rev. Anthony Suggs-Perea

The Rev. Dr. Robin Tems

The Rev. Megan Northman

Candidates for the Transitional Diaconate

Mike Kornelsen

Christina Rutland

Postulants to the Priesthood

Seth Buck

Cate Colburn Smith

Kevin Criley

Jackie Delafose

Suzanne Foster-Porter

Jonah Heiser

Liz Wolfert

Postulant to the Diaconate

Nicole Inman

We pray for these clergy who have faithfully served the Episcopal Church in Colorado and have retired this year:

The Rev. Weezie Blanchard

The Rev. Seth Richmond

The Rev. Anne Richter

The Rev. Bruce Swinehart

We celebrate these clergy who have accepted new calls or have moved outside of the Episcopal Church in Colorado this year.  We invite you to give thanks for their time among us and to pray for them all as they continue their ministry elsewhere:

The Rev. Claire Elser

The Rev. Julia Joyce-Miesse

The Rev. Margaret Peel-Shakespeare

The Rev. Shelly Ryan

The Rev. Lyndon Shakespeare

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson

We pray for these clergy who have faithfully served the Episcopal Church in Colorado and have transitioned to being non-parochial recently and during the past year:

The Rev. Catie Greene

The Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas

The Rev. Dana Solomon

We remember with prayers of thanksgiving the clergy who have died this year. We invite you to watch the video as you reflect on their lives and offer your prayers.

May their souls, and the souls of all departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

  • The Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, priest
  • The Rev. Paul Brisbane, Priest
  • The Rev. Jessie Cannady, Deacon
  • The Rev. Sandy Grundy, Priest
  • The Rev. Jack Muller, Priest
  • The Rev. Janice Windsor, Deacon
  • The Rev. Twyla Zittle, Priest

Pre-Convention, September 28, 2024 (online)

Our pre-convention schedule began on Saturday, September 28 on Zoom with a budget hearing at 9:00 am, followed by three workshop sessions. 

The Budget Hearing and all workshops will be recorded and posted by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 1 below:

During convention business, we’ll be voting to accept the 2025 budget. Please take some time to look over the State of the Episcopal Church in Colorado, the 2025 Narrative Budget, the 2025 Proposed Budget, & the 2024/2025 Budget Comparison to prepare yourself for attending the budget hearing on Saturday morning, September 28, at 9:00 am.

Watch the Budget Hearing

Imagining Care of Creation in Your Context
Creation Care Team for the Episcopal Church in Colorado
Churches across the diocese are engaged in the work of caring for God’s creation in meaningful and creative ways. Hear from churches sharing about their care of creation ministries: how they got started and how they shaped their ministries within their contexts. Explore how to get started; assess the passions and gifts of your congregation; take steps to sustain your efforts; identify what is already happening in your community; engage your congregation; and make creation care part of your identity.

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Being the Gathered in the Land of Forgetfulness
Wayne Ewing, St. Peter the Apostle, Pueblo
Every existing parish, as well as their immediate community, includes personal care partners in their aging fold. It is possible, in our discipleship, to move from the accidental and occasional acts of mercy and compassion for the caregivers amongst us, and in the community at large, to the intentional…to move from intermittent and casual support to consistent, healing Presence. Personal and family care partners are already deeply immersed in spiritual matters 24/7, yet rarely have the opportunity to rehearse their spiritual exhaustion in a prayerful setting. By gathering with care partners at the oasis of Presence in the desert of their isolation, perhaps in their own homes, Church is reborn as a healing environment. A brief introduction to this possibility by the author of “In the Land of Forgetfulness: Meditations on Dementia Care as Spiritual Formation” will be followed by focused conversation around what this movement from passive concern for caregivers to active Presence as spiritual companions in their life and living might actually look like as Church. The foundational theology and spirituality is incarnational; the praxis is modeled in missions like the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing.

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Changing With The Times – Church Property Redevelopment
Bal Patterson, the Rev. Felicia SmithGraybeal, Eileen Bisgard, & the Rev. Mary Kate Rejoius
Both St. Brigit’s in Frederick and St. Aidan’s in Boulder have discerned that their church’s property could be redeveloped to expand their ministries and help ensure the congregation’s ability to continue their mission in a changing world. While construction has begun on Brigit’s Village after 10 years of planning, at St. Aidan’s their Feasibility Study (funded by a grant from Trinity Episcopal Church Wall Street,) is scheduled to be completed early in 2025. The aim of the presentation is to first, outline how congregational discernment can lead to positive change, and second, to share some lessons learned and support available once redevelopment is considered.

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Embracing Nonviolence
Daniel Mondragon
In recent years, we’ve experienced numerous incidences of violence and disrespect for people and institutions. And now there are concerns about what could happen in the coming months. Reflecting on these painful situations, A new nonprofit venture has been taking shape to offer a love-centered approach in Colorado for people to stand strong. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others taught and demonstrated that nonviolence is the best way to foster respect for all, address injustices, and bring about societal change.

Join Daniel Mondragon for this workshop to:
– Explore concerns and hopes for our communities, families, society, and democracy. Workshop participants will be invited to bring their perspective and experience to the conversation.
– Explore Gandhi and Dr. King’s nonviolent approach to achieve societal change and discussion its application to meet today’s challenges.

Mr. Mondragon has been involved in social justice efforts and nonprofit management for over 30 years in the Denver area. He, his wife and children have been members of Christ the King parish in Arvada since 2003.

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Gun Violence Prevention Resolution
Gary Darress, Roger Dodds, and Stephanie Greenberg, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church/ Laundry Love Ministry
This workshop will include an open discussion and time for questions on a gun violence prevention resolution being presented for a vote at the diocesan convention. The presentation will cover how the diocese can take a stance on preventing gun violence, which we as a country continue to suffer from. It will also discuss ways that individual congregations and individuals can help to reduce gun violence in their communities.

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ReCreation – A Model for 45-Minute Outdoor Retreats for All Ages
The Rev. Melissa Earley, Vicar, St. George Episcopal Mission, Leadville
Through ReCreation we offer short contemplative experiences outdoors for all ages. The purpose of ReCreation isn’t to get people to come to church, but to meet people where they are — outdoors — and provide tools for them to connect with the Holy. In the workshop, we will share the basic outline of our ReCreation events and the practices and prayers that have worked well for us. Participants will have the opportunity to do some of the contemplative practices as well as begin to brainstorm what might work in their contexts.

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The workshop has been postponed due to illness of the presenter. We will reschedule for another date.

Newcomer Welcome & Follow-Up
The Rev. Amy Newell-Large, Rector, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Parker
We will consider the experience of a newcomer from first arriving at the church to follow up later. How can you create a system of newcomer engagement that helps people connect with God and your community? This time together will be spent discussing the theology of welcome, as well as the spirituality of greeting. We will consider our entry spaces and how they orient people to God and the community. Reflecting on the process of newcomer integration we can establish sustainable practices for follow-up. In small groups, we’ll share our experiences with newcomer engagement and support small changes that can make a big impact.

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Partnership: It’s Time Has Come
The Rev. Felicia SmithGraybeal, Rector, and Jan Friedlund, Sr. Warden, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fort Collins
An important model for the future of the church is, and will, be partnership and sharing of space and ministry. In this workshop, we will present two examples of how churches are partnering with other faith communities in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. We will provide resources for a variety of ways this is happening across denominational lines. Finally, we will explore some of the joys and pitfalls sharing space can provide as well as sharing some of the steps that moved our parish from renters to partners and the many ways that move has invigorated all congregations involved.

Invitations will be given to workshop participants to share their knowledge of congregations that are living in partnership or considering this step. We will ask participants the question of what gives rise to this need and how the church is changing to be especially primed for ecumenical partnerships right now. We will ask for participants’ feedback and questions about the process St. Paul’s has taken to create a partnership with two other congregations.

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Social-Memory Cafe for those Experiencing Dementia
Jane Stuart, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Estes Park
Do you have parishioners who are experiencing memory loss due to any form of dementia? Would you like to support those people and their loved ones? St. Bartholomew’s in Estes Park, with the help of Dementia Together in Fort Collins, has been providing a monthly Social-Memory Café for those in our parish and anyone in our town community with such issues. Dementia is an isolating, exhausting disease for both the person and their partner. Social events which are specific to their needs are one of the ways we can serve. We would like to share with you what a Social-Memory Café is comprised of (with photos and discussion) and are happy to help your congregation start your own. This has been a blessing to those families struggling with Dementia as well as our church volunteers. We all experience joy and the love of God as we have fun together.

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Dismantling Our Past to Live Our Future Differently: Respecting Our Indigenous Neighbors
Joe Hubbard, Rector of St. Matthew’s and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Churches, Rapid City, SD; Sarah Hartzel, parishioner at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Boulder and co- founder of Indigenous Allies, a coalition of Christian churches; Martha Dever, Chair, Social Action Ministries at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Boulder; Tim H., co-author of Adult Children of Manifest Destiny, a 12-step program for reflecting on Christian Supremacy; Marrton Dormish, advocate and writer; and Sarah Augustine, Author.

This workshop will begin by engaging participants in an examination of the structural limitations and social norms in our systems, that have been shaped over centuries by the Doctrine of Discovery. We grew up and live in an environment where Christian supremacy is the norm, and Indigenous history and cultures have been demonized and dismissed. Those limitations and norms have denied upward mobility and equal opportunity to many of our Indigenous neighbors and others today. After confronting our past, presenters will share ways to support upward mobility and equal opportunity for our Indigenous neighbors by briefly sharing stories about how they are supporting Indigenous communities via education and action.

The format will include brief presentations followed by discussions in small groups. Moderator Rev. Joe Hubbard will introduce the topic and format followed by presentations of approximately six minutes each. Then, participants will be divided into discussion groups to reflect and envision commitments they might make for the future. Author Sarah Agustine will lead the a final reflection and debriefing gathering of the whole group.

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Prayer for Convention

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in the Episcopal Church in Colorado for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Image: “Backlit Blooms” by Adam Freed, Colorado artist. Used with Permission.