CLERGY RESOURCES
Click to jump down to Bishop's Visitation Forms Information Events COVID-19
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:
From The Episcopal Church Canons:
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
Lay Licensing Applications (licensing period currently closed; stay tuned for more info)
Strategic Mission Support Grant Application for 2021 (to be posted in Spring 2020)
INFORMATION
Celebrations of New Ministry
Please contact Canon 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:
"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"
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
Conversation about Coronavirus (Zoom)
For Clergy in Congregations, Senior Wardens, Treasurers, Diocesan Leaders
Join Bishop Brown online via Zoom
Tuesdays at 5:00 pm until further notice
Look for the Zoom link in your email. If you are having trouble, please email
Barbara Martin
Diocesan Convention
Saturday, 10/17
Portland
Sunday, 11/1
Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, Portland
COVID-19 OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES
CARES Act Diocesan-Wide PPP Application Submitted as of April 7: read more on the Finance page.
Copays for COVID-19 testing: will waive all co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance for its members for healthcare services relating to the evaluation and testing for COVID-19. In addition, the Medical Trust will waive all co-pays, deductibles and in-network coinsurance for its active members for healthcare services relating to the treatment of COVID-19. Any cleric, lay employee, or other member with questions about benefits and coverage under healthcare plans offered through the Medical Trust should visit their provider's website or call the toll-free number on the back of the health insurance card. For retirees enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan with United Healthcare, Medicare has announced that there will be no out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 lab tests. For more information regarding Medicare benefits and additional information, please visit www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus.
Clergy pension contribution waivers: Congregations may be eligible for a waiver of clergy pension plan assessments for a period of up to two months. Church Pension Fund policy allows temporary relief to congregations whose ability to function is severely impaired following a major disaster or state of emergency. This waiver is intended only for congregations which lack the resources, including endowments, to pay pension plan assessments and continue to function. We are consulting with CPF to determine criteria for these waivers and will be in touch with specific information about applications. Please do not request waivers at this time; an announcement and application form is forthcoming.
Free tele-therapy for clergy both active and retired: (and lay staff too) from CPG
Click here for more COVID-19 Resources for churches.
Join Episcopal Maine's Clergy Creativity Collaborative group on Facebook: bit.ly/EMC3Group.
