CLERGY RESOURCES
Click to jump down to Bishop's Visitation Forms Information Events
BISHOP'S VISITATION
About Visitations:
Episcopal Visitations are required by Canon III (see below) every three years. In the Diocese of Maine, episcopal visitations are scheduled in rotation about once every 28-30 months. Other celebrations, special services/ mission leadership or pastoral care visits may be scheduled 'in between' official visitations by either the Priest in Charge/Sr. Warden or the Bishop. For more information, to invite Bishop Brown to your congregation, or to request a Visitation date in 2021, please be in touch with Barbara Martin at .
Calendar & Documents:
2020 Visitation and Service Schedule (as of 1/10/2020)
Bishop Brown's Visitation Workbook (as of 12/20/2019) -- contains all of the necessary documents below in one pdf
Title III.12
Sec. 3. Duties (Bishop)
(a) A Bishop Diocesan, Bishop Coadjutor, Bishop Suffragan, or Assistant Bishop of the Diocese shall visit the Congregations within the Diocese at least once in three years. Interim visits may be delegated to another Bishop of this Church. (1) At every such visitation the visiting Bishop shall preside at the Holy Eucharist and at the Initiatory Rites, as required, preach the Word, examine the records of the Congregation required by Canon III.9.6(c), and examine the life and ministry of the Clergy and Congregation according to Canon III.9.6. Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church, pg 173
III.9.6 Duties (Rectors and Priests-in-Charge)
(5) On notice being received of the Bishop's intention to visit any congregation, the Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall announce the fact to the congregation. At every visitation it shall be the duty of the Rector or Priest-in-Charge and the Wardens, Vestry or other officers, to exhibit to the Bishop the Parish Register and to give information as to the state of the congregation, spiritual and temporal, in such categories as the Bishop shall have previously requested in writing. Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church, pg 139
FORMS
Clergy Annual Report for 2019 (due March 16, 2020)
Notice of Annual Meeting Date (please send notice ASAP)
Annual Report to Diocesan Office for 2020 (due 30 days after your Annual Meeting; any leader at your parish may complete the report)
2020 Certificate of ASA and Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention (to be posted soon; due July 15, 2020)
Lay Licensing Applications (licensing period currently closed; stay tuned for more info)
Parochial Report (new form to be live on this site in 1st quarter 2020; will be due March 1, 2020)
Strategic Mission Support Grant Application for 2021 (to be posted in Spring 2020)
INFORMATION
Celebrations of New Ministry
Please contact the Barbara Martin to schedule this service. Below are some liturgical resources and guidelines:
Clergy Directory August 2019 (available to parish offices and clergy only; email if you have misplaced the link)
Liturgical Resources (Gun Violence) discussed at Clergy Gathering Oct. 5, 2017:
Anna Howell, of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, was asked by the Bishop of Nevada to write an order of service for a vigil following the attacks in Las Vegas this week. "A Vigil in Response to an Act of Mass Violence" can be found on her blog, Sulfur-Free Jesus.
Additional Liturgical Resources:
Bishops' United Against Gun Violence Liturgical Resources: http://bishopsagainstgunviolence.org/
Diocese of Maine: Litany for Gun Violence Prevention by Bishop Lane
"For Love in a Time of Conflict" by John O'Donohue in his book "To Bless the Space Between Us"
"Release me from the Dark Fury" and "Sometimes it Seems to be too Much" by Ted Loder in his book "Guerrillas of Grace"
Psalm 23 performed by Bobby McFerrin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fzWq-d8jU
Book of Common Prayer: For the Human Family (pg. 815), For Our Enemies (pg. 816) Prayer Attributed to St. Francis (pg. 833), Prayer for Guidance (pg. 832), For the Future of the Human Race (pg. 828), In Times of Conflict (pg. 824), Thanksgiving for the Diversity of Races and Cultures (pg. 840)
Other recommended websites:
EVENTS
Lenten Clergy Retreat
Sunday 3/1 - Tuesday 3/3
Samoset Resort, Rockport
dates, registration and more info TBA
Diocesan Spring Training
Saturday, 3/21
South Parish Church, Augusta
schedule, registration and more info TBA
Chrism Day of Quiet with Chrism Eucharist and Renewal of Vows
Tuesday, 3/31
St. John's, Bangor
schedule, registration and more info TBA
Bicentennial Celebration with Most Rev. Bishop Curry
Saturday, 5/2
location in Bangor and more info TBD
Diocesan Convention
Saturday, 10/17
USM, Portland
Bicentennial Evensong
Sunday, 11/1
Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, Portland
