August 2019

With four new members appointed to broaden and fill representation and unexpired terms,

the Diocesan Council met in Moorhead and Fargo. The four new members appointed by the Standing Committee are Solveigh Barney, Peter Mading, Josh Floberg and Chaska Moore.

There were three primary tasks of the Council: Development of a plan to create a Diocesan Discernment Task Force (DDTF), Approval of a 2019 Budget Revision and then propose a budget to be sent to the Convention for 2020. An update was also provide to the Council on the Life, Mission and Ministry of the Diocese of North Dakota.

The Rev. Thad Bennett, the Diocesan Consultant led the Council in Retreat as it began to gather data for a collective work of discernment within the Diocese.

The Council met on Friday night at St. John the Divine in Moorhead and throughout the day on Saturday at St. Stephen’s in Fargo. Both congregations were full of hospitality expressed through food and a welcoming greeting.

God of wisdom and might, you have raised up people in every generation to lead your church. We bless and praise you for Thad Bennett, our Diocesan

Consultant, and all who will accompany us into the future you have prepared for us. Fill them, and us, with your Holy Spirit. Awaken us to fresh hope and open our hearts as together we seek to walk in the way of love and to serve

Christ’s mission in our communities, in this diocese, and in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diocesan Council Meets Begins with a retreat to start discernment Proposes Budget for Convention Reviews transitions within the Diocese

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Left to right back row: Dan Rice, Peter Mading, Josh Floberg, Chaska Moore, the Rev. Duffy Williams (Treasurer), John Anderson, the Rev. Dn. Terry Overbo, Don Henderson, Christie Iverson, Robert Fox / Front row left to right: Leo Wilking (Chancellor) the Rev. Mary Johnson, Solveigh Barney, Canon Hal Weidman (Canon Missioner), the Rev. Dr. John Floberg (President of the Standing Committee) [not pictured: the Very Rev. Mark Strobel, Michael Rhinehart, Leslie Ross, Elaine McLaughlin, the Rev. Larry Thiele, Emily Wittkop, Kelly Parker (Finance Officer)]

Standing Committee Appoints Four Members to Council to fill Vacancies

Vacancies were created on Council by four resignations in the East and the West Regions of the diocese. The Standing Committee called upon the Presidents of each region and the Chair of NDCIM to bring forward names of individuals that will help broaden and balance the representation of the Council. Those appointed are: Chaska Moore, Joshua Floberg, Solveigh Barney and Peter Mading. The appointment of three under the age of twenty brings some onto the Council whose generation will be impacted the most by the decisions that are made by Convention and Council in the months ahead.

Budgets – Revised and Proposed The 2019 and 2020 Budgets have been reviewed by the Diocesan Council during a Zoom Meeting and following the Council Retreat. The particular things to note in these budgets: 1. 2019 is a revised budget. There is a 2019

(a) budget and a revised 2019 (b) budget. The revised budget does not show expenses to the budget that ended with the Bishop and Staff resignations on May 1. The expenses of the 2019 Budgets does not exceed the income and expense totals of the approved 2019 Convention.

2. It has the beginning of a Transition Discernment Consultant for 2019 and continuing through 2020 as well as an Assisting Bishop and Transition Expenses. These expenses will not be continuing past our transition and its revenue will be available for the Transition Plan moving forward at that time.

3. The draw on investments beginning in 2020 shows a significant reduction. It is anticipated that the budget that will reflect a Discernment Plan based on a 5% draw (or less) from investments. This is what is believed to be a sustainable use of an endowment.

4. The Diocesan Business Manager position is now ½ time. Parts of the former Administrator’s Position have been reassigned to the Canon Missioner.

5. The Diocesan School for Ministry and the Commission on Ministry have been given a $4,050 increase in program funding. This is to increase participation in the Ministry Conferences and Congregational Discernment for Ministry TEAMS.

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North Dakota Council on Indian Ministry Awarded $271,000 in Sustainability Grants

Congregations on Standing Rock, Fort Berthold and in the Turtle

Mountains were awarded a $271,000 Sustainability Grant from the Episcopal Church. The grant will be used to do major repair and construction on properties at St. Luke’s, St. Gabriel’s, St. Paul’s and St. Sylvans’. Once completed these properties will be able to exercise ministries within them that will sustain their ongoing work on these reservations.

The Episcopal Church has a history of coming among Indigenous Nations as a friend and an ally. Not all of its involvement has been positive, and as a member of the Christian Faith it has led the way in Renouncing the Doctrine of Discovery.

Upcoming Diocesan Convention – October 11 & 12

The Radisson Hotel, Bismarck Question: Who can serve as delegates with seat, voice and vote? Answer: All Clergy in Good Standing

and 2 Delegates for each congregation with up to 15 people that are 16 years older 3 Delegates for each congregation with 16 to 30 people that are 16 years older 31 to 60+ – 4 delegates 61 to 90+ – 5 delegates 91 to 120+ – 6 delegates 121 to 150+ – 7 delegates

151 to 180+ – 8 delegates 181 to 280+ – 9 delegates 281 to 380+ – 10 delegates 381 to 480+ – 11 delegates

Open Position for the Editor of the Sheaf to Report On the Life, Mission and Ministry of the Diocese Editor for The Sheaf Stipend position: Monthly production of the Diocesan Newspaper Collecting and writing articles and information to be reported broadly in the diocese Producing and disseminating The Sheaf by print and electronic means. Please apply by

writing a letter to the President of the Standing Committee. The Rev. Dr. John Floberg jffloberg@gmail.com

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Diocesan Discernment ThreadSome opening thoughts by the Rev. Dr. John Floberg

Standing Committee President

A term is used when writing an academic paper to describe the focus of the study. That term is the “golden thread.” It is what keeps the study from chasing down a thousand rabbit holes that may be interesting but are not the primary subject of the project.

The Diocesan Consultant, the Rev. Thad Bennett, is helping the Diocese key in on the question: “What is God up to in North Dakota?” It is the primary question to be addressed before questions of filling the Episcopal Vacancy are answered.

Episcopal congregations in North Dakota know that they will have a Bishop. With decades of history already in the books those same congregations know that there hasn’t been one model of electing a Bishop or even deploying them for their work in the Dakotas. Whipple, Clarkson and Hare are all Bishops that had some influence on this area before Walker was ever elected by the House of Bishops to be North Dakota’s Bishop.

Every Bishop up through Masuda continued to be appointed for the Missionary District of North Dakota. Some worked from a Cathedral Car, others in a Carriage House, most all were in Fargo and sometimes had an office at the Cathedral. Internal elections of Bishop began after North Dakota became fully recognized as a Diocese. Bishops Hopkins, Fairfield and Smith were elected after discernment took place by our own members. To travel within the Diocese the Bishops have lived out of suitcases, motel rooms and campers.

Where a Bishop’s office is located and what they do is not the question of this day. The question of this time is “What is God up to in North Dakota?” The biblical pattern is that God is Creator and people are Stewards. Among the alternative words for Steward is “Overseers.” Discernment is needed to understand what God is up to now and how we need to organize ourselves to be in this work for the generation(s) ahead.

The work of our early bishops was the development of ministry by discerning the mission. Ministry is the “how” and the “engagement” of what God’s mission is in North Dakota. That is our business and our work together as we prepare for Diocesan Convention. We know ourselves by the community that we each are in and what makes up that place. We also know ourselves by congregation and what expresses the Life, Mission and Ministry in those places.

Our biblical faith confesses that God neither slumbers nor sleeps. Our Prayer Book expresses our understanding that each of us are dependent upon the toil of the other. These two aspects for the hinge of our discernment. God is up to something. Together we are called locally and as a Diocese into what God is doing. Our common life engages God’s mission as well as supports one another in ministry.

The Diocese may renew ministries that were resourceful in the past as well as develop new ways of organizing for the future.

Are you called to this ministry?

We’re looking for members for the DIOCESAN DISCERNMENT TASK FORCE

Your Standing Committee invites members of the Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota to apply to be one of about eight (8) members of the “Diocesan Discernment Task Force” (DDTF). The purpose of this team will be to engage the Diocese in active discernment of the question, “What is God up to with the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota.” As you may have read in The Sheaf, the Standing Committee has determined that we need to address this crucial question before making any decision about calling another bishop. Indeed, the answer to that key question might be not to enter into a calling process, but to create a different model for being the Episcopal Church in North Dakota. The DDTF, working with our consultant, the Rev. Thad Bennett, will design and work a process that will involve the whole diocese in determining the answer or answers to that question - What God is up to with us. The time commitment is between 8-10 hours per month and some travel to meetings with the diocese in different locations will be necessary. However, most meetings of the DDTF will happen electronically via Zoom. The Standing Committee will select and name the membership of the DDTF, trying to ensure representative diversity of the diocese. The first DDTF meeting will be with our consultant at the Diocesan Convention in Bismarck, October 11-12. Members MUST be able to attend that meeting. Note: Diocesan funds will support the work of the Team and pay for the normal expenses of its members. We are looking for individuals who have the following kinds of qualifications/gifts/skills:

- Has a passion about being a Christian and has an active prayer/spiritual life - Is active in and knows the Episcopal Church - Is creative and likes to question; Has organizational skills - Is tech savvy: ability to join Zoom meetings, receive email, Google documents, etc. - Is a good listener; Is reliable, will “show up” and fulfill what they commit to - Has the ability to collect and analyze data; - Willing to receiving feedback and discern what it all means - Works well with others and can help “hold the group together”

If you feel called to this ministry, please use the attached application form to tell us about yourself, some of your experiences, your gifts and skills and why you feel called to this ministry. Your application material must be sent electronically and received no later than 5pm on Tuesday, September 10th and should be sent to:

Mr. Don Henderson, Standing Committee Member, at donhenderson@gra.midco.net

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Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota Application to be a Member of the

Diocesan Discernment Task Force

Name: Town and Congregation: Email Address: Phone:

We want to make sure we have diversity on this small committee. Please help us with the following information:

• How do you gender-identify?

• How old are you?

• Are you a lay or ordained person?

• How do you identify ethnically?

• How long have you been an Episcopalian?

Tell us why you feel called to this ministry.

What are some of the gifts and skills you will bring to the team?

What are some experiences you have had that might help this team?

Your application material must be sent electronically and received no later than 5pm on Tuesday, September 10th and should be sent to: Mr. Don Henderson at donhenderson@gra.midco.net

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49th Annual Convention Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

October 11 – 12, 2019 • Bismarck, North Dakota Selection Form (for use in applying or accepting nominating yourself)

Personal Information (please print clearly) Name. ___________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP: ____________________________________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________ E-Mail: _________________________ Congregation: _____________________________________________________________ Nominated for the following position (check one) ☐ Secretary of Convention ☐ EFMHE Member (2 positions) ☐ Treasurer of the Diocese ☐ NDEF Member (3 positions)

☐ Standing Committee ☐ Lay Deputy to General Convention 2021 (Lay Member) (4 positions)

☐ Standing Committee ☐ Clergy Deputy to General Convention 2021 (Clergy Member) (4 positions) ☐ East Region Representative to Council (2 positions) ☐ West Region Representative to Council (2 positions) Nominee's Affirmation (check boxes)

I understand the obligations of the position ☐ If elected to this office, I agree to serve and attend its meetings.

Nominee's Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _________________ (over)

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Experience and Qualifications NOTE: this information will be published in 2018 pre-convention materials. 1. Please list the experiences which help equip you for this position.

2. Why do you wish to serve in this ministry and what gifts would you bring to it?

Complete both pages of this form and send to:

The Rev. Dr. John Floberg 820 West Central Avenue

Bismarck, ND 58501 Cell - (701) 891-2911

OR E-mail: jffloberg@gmail.com

Nomination Deadline: Nominations will be received "from the floor" of Diocesan Convention. The deadline of September 13. 2019 is set for publication of pre-convention materials.

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Diocesan Election Nomination Form (for use in nominating another person) Please mark all nominated positions. Use one nomination form per person. ___ Convention Secretary (1) ___ Clergy Standing Committee Member (1) * ___ Lay Standing Committee Member (1) ___ Diocesan Treasurer (1) * ___ Clergy Deputy to General Convention (4) * ___ Lay Deputy to the General Convention (4)

___ East Region Diocesan Council Representative (2) – elected by Region ___ West Region Diocesan Council Representative (2) – elected by Region ___ Episcopal Foundation for Ministry in Higher Education ___ North Dakota Episcopal Foundation * Must be an adult. Otherwise, the church recognizes 16 year old members and older as qualified for many positions.

Name: _________________________________________________________ Congregation: ___________________________________________________ Contact Information: ______________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________________________________ Please tell us about the Candidate and their desire to serve in this capacity: What gifts and abilities does this Candidate bring to the diocese and this ministry?

This is a reminder that any resolutions, canonical revisions, etc. must be presented in writing sixty days prior to the Convention. A resolution may be admitted to the floor of Convention

through a 2/3 vote of the delegates if submitted within sixty days of the Convention.

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Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and courage, that they

may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great

goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love. And this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Timothy Bratton – A Reminder to Remember

Having lived a life of a husband, father, grandfather, history professor, violin player and licensed lay minister the longtime member of Grace Church, Jamestown slipped from us on Thursday, August 1, 2019. He will long be remembered for his faithfulness and being an active member of his community. Timothy served on the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of North Dakota.

Tim was a serious person but not a solemn one, and any stories about him result in shouts of laughter. He especially loved playing with his grandchildren.

Family received friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, August 9, 2019 at Williams Funeral Home. A memorial service was held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 10 at Grace Episcopal Church, Jamestown, ND with Fr. Robert Hoekstra officiating.

Jean Roberts – Gethsemane’s Organist and Choir Director

With great sadness, we pass along the news of the death of Gethsemane’s organist and choir director, Jean Robert. Jean E. Roberts, 66, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Bethany on University, Fargo, ND.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, Fargo, ND.

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The North Dakota Episcopal Foundation Invites Grant Applications The North Dakota Episcopal Foundation (NDEF) is accepting grant applications for its second cycle of 2019 grants. The application deadline has been extended from September 1 to September 16. The Board of NDEF anticipates it will announce approved grants in early October. Grant guidelines, and the 2019 Grant Application, can be found at the NDEF listing under the "Ministries" tab on the Diocesan web site (ndepiscopal.org). Although the grant guidelines list six priority area for grants -- evangelism, theological education, youth ministry, campus ministry, mission outside the Diocese, and Sudanese ministry -- these categories are by no means exclusive. NDEF will consider any grant application which seeks to advance God's work in the Diocese of North Dakota or the world at large. Please send all grant applications to NDEF President Leo Wilking at leowilking@hotmail.com or at 1115 - 8th St. South, Fargo, N.D. 58103.

The Commission On Ministry

The Commission On Ministry (COM) is being reorganized prior to Convention. The new Chair for the COM is the Rev. Mary Johnson. In addition, it will be made up by clergy and lay that have agreed to be appointed to serve. Their typical responsibilities have included:

1.Acting to give advice to the Ecclesiastical Authority concerning individuals being interviewed to serve in Holy Orders.

§ In order to know our congregations and its pastoral and liturgical leadership this responsibility is being expanded to recommendations of individuals that are able to serve in a licensed Lay Ministry.

2.Recommending how our School for Ministry will provide training and formation is accomplished for those seeking Holy Orders.

§ This is being expanded to working with the Canon Missioner to select sustainable formation and training programs that are presently established for adaptation and use in North Dakota.

§ The COM together with the Canon Missioner will become knowledgeable of Diocesan Programs within Province VI and those of other dioceses that have similarities to North Dakota. It will work with the Rev. Canon Mary Crist, EdD the Indigenous Theological Education Coordinator for The Episcopal Church.

3.The Commission on Ministry will work with the Canon Missioner to develop Ministry Conferences for Clergy and Lay. They will develop a perpetual two year rotation that will provide both formation and training for those in the School for Ministry as well as continuing education in those same canonical areas: I. The Holy Scriptures II. Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement III. Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Missiology

IV. Christian Ethics and Moral Theology V. Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups VI. Liturgics and Church Music VII. Theory and Practice of Ministry

Indigenous Episcopal Youth Gathering A fourth camp of Indigenous Youth from throughout the Episcopal Church (Navajoland,

Alaska, Utah, Minnesota, and North Dakota) accepted the invitation to come to St. Gabriel’s by the Rev. Brad Hauff, the Indigenous Missioner on the Presiding Bishop’s Staff.

The theme of the Camp comes from the Presiding Bishop’s oft used confession of faith: “Loving, Liberating & Life Giving God.” Through God we are All Related. Talks were given on each topic of the theme. Music, worship, hand games, tubing, well prepared food, laughter and good rest were all served up at this event that was sponsored by the Office of Indigenous Ministries and Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio. The logistics of the camp was the responsibility of the Standing Rock Youth Ministry Leadership.

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St. Gabriel’s Camp –

St. Gabriel’s Camp served it

up this summer in several different ways. The Standing Rock YoungLife Camps had over 60 teens participate and it met three times with 45 present in each of those camps. The Standing Rock teens included rising 6th graders through senior high and had representation from a South Dakota community as well. The theme of the Camp came from Rising Sun’s journey to see Bishop Whipple in Minnesota in the mid 1860s. The Bishop sent Rising Sun to Enmegawboh, the Indigenous Priest in Cass Lake, Minnesota, to learn the Lord’s Prayer, the Creeds and Keeping Track of Sundays. Each Camp focused on one of those three pillars.

The long-term partnership with YoungLife brought three work crews to the Camp beginning in the spring to advance the usefulness of the property. An addition to the dining hall (Beede’s Crossing) was begun along with a sand Volleyball Court and continued progress being made on showers in the larger of the cabins named Fairfield Lodge. Bishop Fairfield was Bishop of North Dakota when St. Gabriel’s started construction and use on Standing Rock. They also contributed to the work in Star Lodge.

Two “Expedition Groups” also came from the YoungLife relationship and with them staff support for two of the three camps. The first group of nine came from Ohio and the second group of three came primarily from Baltimore.

One of the greatest challenges proved to be electrical service to the parts of the Camp that were connected to power through Red Hail Lodge. The ground at St. Gabriel’s is made of hardened clay and trenching proved difficult.

The proceeds from the Canteen this year are being dedicated to the United Thank Offering Ingathering as a tangible way of giving thanks for the benefits provided to the ministry of St. Gabriel’s through the UTO.

Geo-thermal System and Solar Panel made possible through the United Thank Offering

The United Thank Offering has made a grant of $58,418 available to St. Gabriel’s to install a Geo-Thermal heating/cooling system and solar panels for use at the Camp. An additional $20,000 was received from the Office of Indigenous Ministries and the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council for additional work on Star Lodge.

Froelich Dam

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A Canon’s Trajectory [a journal] By Hal Weidman, canon missioner

In my position as your Canon Missioner my focus will be on supporting ministry (laity, deacons and priests), congregations and throughout the diocese. I intend to assist congregations in discerning their vision then develop and implement their mission through creating and strengthening ministries that support its mission—which supports its vision. (While: “mission” is about today, “vision” is about the future. A mission statement talks about the present functioning of a congregation which will lead to its future whereas, vision statement talks about future.)

This includes identifying and training members who feel called to licensed (lay), and ordained (deacons and priests) ministries. It may include educating those individuals involved in the ministries of Wardens, Vestry members, stewardship, creation care/sustainability, liturgy, pastoral care, organization and leadership, writing grants, finance, veterans, and formation (children, youth, young adult, adults and seniors).

I will aid and support the Commission on Ministry [COM] by planning/facilitating clergy/ministries/conferences [two/year over two years]. The next formation is November 1-3, Assumption Abbey, Richardton. Canon to the Ordinary, Joel Dingman (WY) is on board to assist. The next one will be Spring 2020. I will attend/participate in/report to COM during their three/year meetings. I will assist and support the logistics of Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, and other diocesan committees and events. I made reservations at Fargo’s Wingate by Windham Hotel for August’s council retreat. I will provide snacks, keep track of attendees, and issue a certificate of attendance.

I will assist in the improvement of Communication and dissemination of information throughout the diocese. The diocesan website (ndepiscopal.org), with the assistance of many, especially Christie Iverson, is now up and running. Material will be added as it comes available. The diocesan web site will be used as a primary medium the Diocese communicates with its members. I will add files to the diocesan archives as appropriate. I will share diocesan constitution, canons and any/all policies/procedures as they become available to post.

I will assist in the development of Congregations. I am learning about all ND congregations and the diocese history. I will assist congregations with the filing of reports/claims as needed. So far, I’ve celebrated and preached at St. Luke’s, Ft Yates; and St John the Divine, Moorhead. I plan on developing mutual ministry review resources for congregations to use to evaluate themselves and their priest and visa-versa.

I have been tasked with restarting, rebooting, resurrecting the Diocesan School for Ministry. I have contacted the many dioceses about their schools. I have several seminaries about collaborating with us to develop/facilitate our curriculum and school. The most promising responses, so far, have come from SSW, Sewanee and VST.

In the area of Leadership Development, I have counselled a locally ordained priest about their current position, attending seminary and what that adventure will be like. In Transition Ministry I spoke with potential priests concerning sacramental coverage for St Michael and All Angels, Cartwright, St Paul’s, Grand Forks; All Saints’, Minot; St John’s, Moorhead; and St Peter’s, Williston. I have been counselling a colleague on their vocation and about serving in North Dakota. I’ve met with the following vestries/visited congregations concerning search processes: St. Michael and All Angels, St. Peter’s, All Saints’, St Paul’s, and St John the Divine. I’m revising South Dakota’s Transition Ministry Manual so that it speaks to how North Dakota functions.

If anyone has any questions, call, text or email at padreausig@gmail.com, 701.223.1942[office] or 605.390.3570[cell].

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Resources from The Episcopal Church: Becoming Beloved Community Grants Application Deadline: September 13, 2019 Background The Presiding Officers' Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation is pleased to make available funds to catalyze the church’s work of racial healing, reconciliation and justice. The funds have been allocated by General Convention in order to build capacity and increase Episcopal engagement in four primary fields: telling the truth about our churches and race, proclaiming the dream of Beloved Community, practicing Jesus’ way of healing and reconciliation, and repairing the breach in institutions and society. Prior to applying, please reflect on The Episcopal Church’s resource: Becoming Beloved Community Where You Are, which describes specific ways to engage in this work. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/documents/bbc_where_you_are_1.pdf Eligibility Only Episcopal institutions (parishes, dioceses, provinces, schools, seminaries, monastic communities, Episcopal organizations and other Episcopal-affiliated entities) are eligible to receive these funds. Partnerships with non-Episcopal entities are welcome and encouraged, but an Episcopal entity must serve as the project leader, active manager, and reporting agent. Episcopal Becoming Beloved Community Grants Purposes Grant Types & Criteria SEED grants of up to $10,000 — Seed grants are smaller grants geared to groups launching new projects and/or evolving the scale of an existing project. They can fund new educational opportunities, training, workshops, or campaigns to increase engagement in racial justice, healing, and reconciliation. They can fund broad and exploratory work to learn more about the local context ahead of more extensive programming. Seed grants may be initiated by an organization or an institution and special attention and priority will be given to applications with the potential to bring new and communities into the work of Becoming Beloved Community. IMPACT grants of up to $20,000 — Impact grants are larger grants aimed primarily at growing capacity, impact and reach of communities and institutions already doing work to advance racial justice, healing, and reconciliation. While they may have an exploratory component, the expectation is that there must be a clear theory of change, desired outcomes, and that they will produce processes and/or tools that can be shared. While individual churches and communities may apply, special priority will be given to applications that demonstrate collaboration of several organizations connected regionally and/or thematically. Priority will also be given to projects that center the experience and leadership of communities most impacted by structural racial inequities.

(continued on following page)

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Projects with these purposes are preferred: • Engage the local community as partners and participants, fostering cooperation between

communities of faith, civic, scientific and educational organizations • Have specific outcomes to create lasting impact • Enhance understandings of racial justice, healing, and reconciliation as part of ongoing

spiritual formation • Serve groups and/or regions that are vulnerable and/or underrepresented in the church • Encourage inter-generational and intercultural engagement • Demonstrate innovation and creativity • Promote church-wide learning, understanding and practical application

Your proposal will be strengthened by:

• Demonstration of strong partnerships and endorsements in writing, including clear support of this project as part of ongoing diocesan or congregational priorities.

• Partnership and implementation across multiple Episcopal entities (several congregations in a diocese; several dioceses in a province, etc.)

• For IMPACT grants, demonstration of significant investment in the project (could be donations of space, resources, staff time, or monetary commitment) by partners like a congregation, community partners, non-profits, or your diocese.

• A clear budget which shows additional sources of funding and use of grant funds • A timeline for use of funds and outcomes anticipated • A method for evaluating and reporting outcomes

Application Requirements As part of the online application process, applicants should provide the following:

• Standing Committee’s Endorsement Letter • A clear budget that indicates additional sources of funding and intended use of grant fund • A timeline for proposed work, use of funds and outcomes • A letter of description of partners in the work

Acknowledgement of Criteria* Yes, I/we have read and accept the above requirements. Have you read, and accept, these terms? Acknowledgement of Criteria * The diocese pays its full assessment YES The diocese has been granted a waiver for years N/A The diocese has made application for a waiver but has not been advised regarding a determination. N/A Granting Process For application form use this link and click on the "next" button at the very bottom of the page. https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/bbc_grants_2019

Grants will be invited, received and considered on a repeated cycle while funds are available. After an initial round of awards in November 2019, the next cycle will open on April 1, 2020, with awards occurring in June 2020. Grant applications will be accepted during a 30-day period. They will be approved, denied, or may be returned for revision during each granting cycle. Grantees who receive SEED grants are eligible to apply for IMPACT grants within the same triennium. (continued on following page)

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It is our hope that grant recipients will be able to attend a Beloved Community Summit in summer 2020 (precise dates to be announced) and become part of a network of practitioners who share their learnings, encouragement, and resources. Registration for the summit will be free for grant recipients. You may use up to $1,000 of your grant to pay for travel, lodging and/or food. Grantees are encouraged to invite support from their dioceses, congregations and other partner ministries.

Grantees awarded grants before early 2021 will have the opportunity to have their projects highlighted at General Convention in 2021. Grantees are expected to provide quarterly narrative, visual and/or video reports to share their work more broadly with the wider church. Grantees must also provide a final report which includes documentation of the project’s development and final work outcomes for distribution and sharing with the wider church.

For more information, please contact Sarah Alphin at salphin@dfms.org, or Ann Hercules

at ahercules@episcopalchurch.org or visit www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community

Diocesan Calendar – God Giveth The Increase September 10: Applications due for Diocesan Discernment Task Force

19: Celebration of New Ministry, Grace Church, Jamestown Mid-September: Diocesan Discernment Task Force Named October 10: Commission on Ministry in Bismarck 11 - 12: Convention at the Radisson in Bismarck November 1 – 3: Clergy (only) Conference at Assumption Abbey in Richardton 28: Thanksgiving Day y the Standing Committee December 6 – 7: Diocesan Council – Jamestown 24 – 25: Christmas January 17 – 20: Winter Talk TBD February 14 – 16: Ministry Conferences 26: Ash Wednesday

March 27 - 28: Diocesan Council – Ft. Totten April 5 - 12: Palm Sunday / Holy Week / Easter May June 15: Budget Requests Due 18 – 21: Niobrara Convocation on Standing Rock July 5 – 7: Indigenous, Sudanese New Community Youth Gathering, Washington, DC 7 – 11: Episcopal Youth Event, Washington, DC Early July: Diocesan Discernment Task Force Report Expected to be Received by the Standing Committee 11: Standing Committee Meeting 25: Finance Committee Meeting August 7 – 9: Diocesan Council TBD Mid-August: Standing Committee releases Diocesan Discernment Plan(s) with one plan to be selected at Diocesan Convention

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St. George’s - Bismarck St. George’s Church welcomed Canon Hal and Michelle Weidman on July 7 at a brunch following the service. We are so pleased that they have accepted the call and moved to Bismarck! Canon Hal brings energy and enthusiasm and experience to us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve Christ together. Welcome Canon Hal and Michelle!

The Vestry of Grace Church, Jamestown

Cordially Invites You To The

Celebration of New Ministry

With

The Rev. Robert Hoekstra

as he begins to serve as Rector of Grace Episcopal Church

Thursday, September 19th at 7:00 pm Members Become Our Windows Connecting To Church Wide Relationships St. Peter's, Williston: Reaching out to preschoolers in Haiti

The annual Williston rummage sale resulted in a gift of $400 to be used for the enhancement of the pre-school environment at St. Marc's Parish school in Jeannette, Haiti. Along with a generous gift from last year's sale, over $600 has been earmarked for indoor play equipment.

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While the preschool has a yard for outdoor play, it is dirt, or rich red mud in the rainy season. Having safe and appropriate equipment for the children inside has been a request of the teachers for several years.

High inflation and roads made more treacherous because of widespread civil unrest has delayed the use of these

funds. However, dedicated Haiti Project and St. Marc's staff, such as Jenjenio Conserve who spoke at convention two years ago, are working together to locate and transport the new equipment.

Mesi Anpil, St. Peters! thank you very much!

What’s going on in Haiti? A note from Andrea Stomberg, St. George’s, Bismarck

The Diocese of North Dakota supports a Haiti Outreach Committee, has travelled in Haiti with parishioners in the past, and is supportive of health care, education-related and sanitation efforts in that country.

The trip that was planned for 2019 was cancelled early in the year due to increasing civil unrest making travel difficult and inconvenient. And of course, this unrest touches everyone, causing great economic and social disruption to ordinary Haitians trying to make a few goudes, go to school, or travel to visit family or for business.

What’s going on? I am far from an expert, but I do try to pay attention to the news and I talk with Haitian friends in and out of Haiti. An excellent article published by the Institute for Justice and Democracy (www.IJDH.org) in Haiti in May, 2019, is titled “Haiti at a Crossroads- An analysis of the drivers behind Haiti’s political crisis”.

The article identifies the immediate trigger for this unrest as a July, 2018, fuel price hike, which reduced fuel subsidies abruptly- an act which impacts virtually all Haitians and prices they pay for fuel, food, and transportation. Although this increase was cancelled, unrest continued. Following this, results of an investigation of revenues from a low-interest fuel loan program from Venezuela called the PetroCaribe fund was released, and indicated the disappearance of almost $3.8 billion dollars, implicating numerous high-level officials. The PetroCaribe fund was intended to support infrastructure development throughout the country, and as it was a loan, needs to be repaid. Although a judge successfully ordered the freezing of bank accounts associated with some individuals and companies implicated, the issue is far from settled and protests continue to immobilize the country.

Other continuing issues include election concerns calling into question President Moise’s mandate to govern, general economic mismanagement that has resulted in significant devaluation of the goude and high inflation, and continuing civil rights violations in a country that generally lacks a strong rule of law, and which is deeply poor.

While there are those that exploit this unrest, as can be found anywhere, there are also many who are working to strengthen existing organizations striving for economic and socially just actions, as well as those of us, like the Diocese of North Dakota, working in the background to continue to support education and better living conditions for ordinary Haitians. I urge you to read more about this interesting and troubled country, and continue to support the work the Diocese of North Dakota is doing in Haiti.

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Assisting Bishop Position Due to conflicting time commitments for the Assisting Bishop, James Waggoner, the

Standing Committee has released him from our diocesan duties. Bishop Waggoner is a very generous and thoughtful person and we wish him well as he continues with the other obligations and the joys of his life.

The Standing Committee is searching for another Assisting Bishop to provide the diocese with Episcopal Ministries of Blessing, Confirmation and Consecration.

Check out these Resources from the Episcopal Church: Environmental Stewardship: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/creation-care Worship leadership: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons-that-work Evangelism Grants: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/bulletin-insert/bulletin-insert-pentecost-10-c-episcopal-evangelism-grants-august-18-2019 Ministries in the Episcopal Church: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries

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