Welcome!

Welcome to the 138th 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.  We will gather at the Pueblo Convention Center located in Pueblo, Colorado starting October 9 through October 11, 2025.  More information will be provided in the coming months.

2025 Important Dates & Deadlines

  • August 10 (canonical requirement of 60 days prior to convention) – Deadline for submission of legislation and resolutions and deadline for applications for General Convention deputy nominees
  • August 16 – Diocesan-wide Convocation & Regional Convocations
  • August 25 (canonical requirement of 45 days prior to convention) – Deadline for delegate designation
  • September 8 (canonical requirement of 30 days prior to convention) – Final budget posted for delegate review
  • September 8 – Deadline for exhibitor booth registration
  • October 4 – Budget Hearing and Workshops
  • October 9-11 – Annual Convention, Pueblo, Colorado

Delegates to Convention

Delegate designation and attendee registration is now open! Please utilize the button below to determine the number of lay delegates allotted for your congregation. Please register before August 18.

All alternate delegates must be registered (even if not attending) to be considered designated as an alternate and able to take the place of a voting delegate who is unable to attend. Written correspondence must be sent to dioconvention@episcopalcolorado.org, and a copy to be included with the congregational leader in order for an alternate to fill in for a registered delegate.

Opening Worship, October 9

On Thursday evening, October 9, at 7:00 pm, we will start with Opening Worship at First United Methodist Church Pueblo located at 310 W. 11th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003. You may watch the opening worship remotely via the video stream that will start at 7:00 pm. Link to be provided later.

First United Methodist Church Pueblo is about a 20 minute walk (mostly flat) from the Pueblo Convention Center and 5 minutes away by car. 

Convention Business, October 10-11

The activities and business of the Convention will take place at the Pueblo Convention Center, located at 320 Central Main St, Pueblo, CO 81003. Breakfast will be served on Friday morning, October 10, and the Convention will conclude by 12:00 pm on Saturday, October 11.

Convention Opening Worship and all General Session recordings from October 9-11 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 Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (2015–2024)

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry served as the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church from 2015 to 2024—the first African American to hold the role. A passionate preacher and teacher, Bishop Curry is known for his message of radical love and his leadership of what he called “the Jesus Movement.” He gained international attention for his sermon at the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Ordained in 1978, Bishop Curry served congregations in North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland before being elected Bishop of North Carolina in 2000. He is the author of several books, including Love is the Way and Crazy Christians. A lifelong advocate for social justice, Bishop Curry continues to inspire people around the world with his message of hope, reconciliation, and the power of God’s love.

2025 Annual Convention Diocesan Legislation and Resolutions

The Legislation and Resolutions Committee for diocesan convention is accepting proposed debatable resolutions or legislation. Please refer to the Process Requirements for Resolutions or Legislation and Resolutions Criteria. For additional assistance, we are providing a link to the video workshop Legislation & Resolutions 101 conducted by the Chancellor for the Episcopal Church in Colorado Lawrence Hitt, II and the former Chairperson for Resolutions and Legislation, the Rev. E. Wendy Huber. The video runs for about 30 minutes and provides valuable information that can be viewed by individuals or groups as you prepare to craft and submit legislation and/or resolutions for consideration. View Resolutions & Legislation 101 Video

If you are interested in presenting a resolution to the convention, please know that the discernment group signatures required by the canons can be provided either by counterpart signature pages or electronic scans of signatures.  The Office of the Bishop will no longer offer DocuSign for this process.

All proposed resolutions must be submitted to the Secretary of Convention by 5:00 pm, Sunday, August 10, 2025. Send to the attention of Secretary of Convention, The Episcopal Church in Colorado, 1300 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80203-2008, or email to dioconvention@episcopalcolorado.org.

Resolutions will be posted after they are received by the Legislation & Resolutions Committee.

2026 Narrative Budget (not available yet)

2026 Proposed Budget (not available yet)

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 Coming Soon

Convention Land Acknowledgement

“Welcome to The Episcopal Church in Colorado’s 138th 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 address will be posted one week after convention.

Recordings will be posted one week after the convention.

Election of Deputies and Alternate Deputies for General Convention

At the 138th Diocesan Convention, Deputies and Alternate Deputies will be elected to represent the Episcopal Church in Colorado at the 82nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Phoenix, Arizona in July, 2027. Those interested in being nominated please complete a nomination form and submit it to dioconvention@episcopalcolorado.org by the August 10, 2025 deadline.

General Convention Nomination Form

Nomination Form

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 EDC138 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 (to be updated soon)

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 (i.e. 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.

We are thrilled to offer in-person booths at the Convention this year! Below is a link to the application information. Booths are limited and will be granted on a first-come, first serve basis.  After being selected, we will provide more information (hotel rooms, shipping info, schedules, etc.) to you.

Exhibitor Registration 2025

Guidelines for Exhibitor Projects & Announcements at Annual Convention

To help our Annual Convention run smoothly and keep communications clear and focused for all delegates, we’ve put together these friendly guidelines for church-led projects, booth activities, and general announcements:

  1. Exhibitor-Led Projects (like Food Drives, Collections, etc.):
    If your church or ministry would like to run a collection (e.g., food, pet supplies) as part of your exhibit booth, you are welcome to do so!
    Your organization should handle promotion and communication for these projects. We’ll be sure to include a brief mention of your collection in your exhibitor description on the convention webpage. We are unable to feature individual projects in diocesan-wide communications about Annual Convention.
  2. Announcements from the Main Stage:
    To keep our main convention communications focused and fair, we do not make announcements from the stage about individual booth raffles, collections, or projects. If you have a drawing or special activity at your booth, please plan to announce winners or details at your table.
  3. Flyers and Table Materials:
    You are welcome to display flyers or handouts at your exhibit table. Please do not place materials on shared convention tables or distribute them in common areas outside your assigned space.

Why these guidelines?
Our goal is to keep the convention experience simple, organized, and fair for everyone. We want to ensure that critical information isn’t lost in a sea of special requests and that every exhibitor has an equal opportunity to share about their ministry within clear boundaries.

Questions or special circumstances?
We’re always happy to chat—please contact the Office of the Bishop or convention planners if you have questions or would like to discuss a unique idea!

Hotels

Room blocks have been established at hotels located in downtown Pueblo, Colorado with the following rates:

SpringHill Suites Pueblo Downtown is located at 150 South Santa Fe Avenue Pueblo, Colorado, USA, 81003. The rate is $179 per night. Click the link below to book your group rate.  SPRINGHILL SUITES Booking Link

TownePlace Suites Pueblo Downtown 170 South Santa Fe Avenue Pueblo, Colorado, USA, 81003. The rate is $179 per night. Click the link below to book your group rate.  TOWNPLACE SUITES Booking Link

Courtyard by Marriott Pueblo is located at 110 W. City Center Drive, Pueblo, CO 81003.  The rate is $179 per night.  Click the link below to book your group rate. COURTYARD PUEBLO Booking Link

Please note: the cut off for room reservations is Monday, September 8. After this date, we cannot guarantee lodging at these hotels and at the discounted rate.

The Pueblo Convention Center has a parking structure directly across the street where you can park for free.  The convention center shares a parking lot with the hotel where some of the convention delegates and guests will be staying.  We encourage you to use the lot for drop off and pickup only and utilize the parking structure for long term and all day parking.  It frees up spaces for people who are staying in the hotel or for those who have mobility challenges and would appreciate a shorter walk.

First United Methodist Church, Pueblo

Serving the entire Pueblo area for over 150 years, First UMC is a vibrant, growing community that welcomes people of all ages.

The Opening Worship and Eucharist will take place in the sanctuary of this historic church.  About a mile from the Pueblo Convention Center and downtown hotels, you can walk or drive to the church.  Plenty of parking in several lots adjacent to the church and also ample street parking.  The church is located at 310 W. 11th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003.

A dessert reception celebrating Bishop Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and his ministry in the Episcopal Church will follow the service in Booth Hall.

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

Local Brews, Restaurants and Food Trucks – Pueblo

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 Pueblo 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 Pueblo, 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. Canon Lucy Amerman, Interim Canon

Lucy is working with parishes in times of transition during Canon Vanessa’s sabbatical through July 2025. She assists congregations in calling creative and innovative ordained leaders who will join with them to become more faithful to God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation in their surrounding community and the world. During Bishop Kym’s sabbatical from November 2025 to March 2026, Canon Lucy will be assisting the other Canons with various canonical, liturgical, formational, operational, and missional aspects of the mission and ministry of the Office of the Bishop.

The Rev. Max Bailey, Interim Rector, All Saint’s, Loveland 

The Reverend Max Bailey has been called to serve as Rector of All Saints, Loveland.  Max went to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary graduating in 1984. He has served churches in Buena Vista, Leadville, Vail, Colorado Springs, and most recently, in Longmont for the 27 years. He retired in 2018. More recently, he served as interim in Estes Park. He has also served in various capacities in the Diocese of Colorado. He is married to Anne Kranidas Bailey who is a retired attorney. Between them they have six children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They rescued a golden retriever named Kali who has them wrapped around her little paw. They enjoy walking, hiking, riding bikes, and playing cribbage.

The Rev. Kendall Batten-Kalantzis, Rector, St. Laurence, Conifer

Congratulations to the Rev. Kendall Batten-Kalantzis, who has accepted the call of Rector at St Laurence in Conifer. Kendall has been formed by the inclusive spirituality of the L’Arche Communities, where she experienced her call to ministry and worked as Director of Spiritual Life. She is a Board-Certified Chaplain who has provided spiritual support through aging, illness, and end-of-life in hospitals and most recently, an innovative senior living community. Kendall is interested in the psychology of religion and how religion/spirituality impacts how people cope with life crises. Kendall was curate at St. Andrew’s, Denver, ordained there in 2022, and has enjoyed celebrating in the community regularly. Kendall, her husband Apostolos, and their two young children are also connected to Holy Companion, the joyful worshipping community in the Sterling Ranch neighborhood, where they live.

The Rev. Douglas Bleyle, Priest-in-Charge, St. Joseph, Lakewood & St. John Chrysostom, Golden

The Rev. Douglas K. Bleyle has been called to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the newly formed SJC Partnership of St. John Chrysostom, Golden, and St. Joseph, Lakewood. His last charge was Rector St. Barnabas of the Valley Cortez. Doug received his M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology in 2006 and a Th. M. from Candler School of Theology, 2008. Doug loves responding to the common question, ‘where did you live growing up,’ with ‘in the Church,’ as he comes from a family of four ordained United Methodist ministers, including his father. Prior to finally accepting the call to serve in ministry, he worked as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist for 15 years in a private clinic in Denver, Colorado. Going into Seminary at Iliff, he encountered the Anglican Studies program and has never looked back. Doug has been involved in various ministries in the Episcopal Church, including camp, indigenous ministries, COM, urban and rural mission/parish ministry. 

The Rev. Amy Feins, Associate Rector, St. John’s, Boulder

The Rev. Catie Greene, Interim Part-Time Assistant, Grace & St. Stephen’s, Colorado Springs

The Rev. Broderick Greer, Interim Rector, Holy Comforter, Broomfield
The Rev. Jed Holdorph, Interim Rector, Trinity, Greeley
The Rev. Anna Horen, Vicar, St. Philip & St. James, Denver
The Rev. Michael Kornelsen, Curate, St. Stephen’s, Longmont

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

The Rev. Rob Rose, Priest-in-Charge, St. John’s, Ouray

The Rev. Robin Tems, Priest-in-Charge (PT), Transfiguration, Evergreen

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

The Rev. Beth Blunt, Rector, St. John’s, Breckenridge

The Rev. Boyd Evans, Rector, St. Andrew’s, Denver

The Rev. Chris Gregorio, Rector, St. Laurence, Conifer    

The Rev. Meredith Rogers, Deacon-in-Charge, St. Barnabas, Denver

The Rev. Meredith Rogers has been called as the Rector of St. Barnabas, Denver, and is the Deacon-in-Charge until she is ordained a priest in December 2025.

Meredith was raised in San Antonio, Texas, and became a Postulant through the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. She graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in May 2025 and was ordained to the transitional diaconate on the Feast of Saint Barnabas that June. A lifelong Episcopalian, Meredith has spent over a decade serving the Church in various capacities, including camp director, diocesanstaff member, youth director, and campus minister. She earned a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University, with a minor in Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies.

Meredith moves to St. Barnabas, Denver, with her partner, Asher (they/them), and their cats—Aspen, Willow, Cypress, and Juniper—whom they lovingly call The Grove. She is passionate about community building, the queer community, pastoral care, and making the Church a place of belonging, healing, and joy for all.

The Rev. Beth Taylor, St.Mary Magdalene, Boulder

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

Newly Ordained to the Diaconate

Candidates for the Transitional Diaconate

Postulants to the Priesthood

Postulants to the Diaconate

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

The Rev. Jackson Haas

The Rev. Nancy Malloy

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. Trawin Malone

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. Mark Chambers

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. Cal Gray, priest
  • The Rev. Art LeClair, priest
  • The Rev. Richard Von Grabow, deacon

Pre-Convention, October 4, 2025 (online)

Our pre-convention schedule begins on Saturday, October 4 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 Wednesday, October 8 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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop
View the Workshop Slides

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.

Register Now / Join the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.

Watch the Workshop

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.