Episcopal Visitations are required by Canon III 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.Episcopal Visitations are required by Canon III 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. You will be provided with visitation forms (available below) ahead of Bishop Brown's visit. Please complete these to help you to prepare for your time together. Here are few highlights: A visitation consists of four parts—a pre-visitation conversation, worship and congregational conversation, vestry/leadership meeting, and time with the clergy person. Please consider scheduling the vestry meeting to a weekday, about 90 minutes, either before or after the visitation. We'll find the time that’s most convenient for you and your leadership. The clergy-bishop time need not occur on Sunday, and when the visitation is online, we’ll likely have to use Zoom for this part. The Bishop's preference, whenever it’s safe and possible, is to have a meal together. Forms to read and complete before Bishop's visit: Bishop's Visitation Customary Notes for Vestry Visits Notes about Confirmation Visitation Planning Worksheet Visitation Schedule Please contact Lauralee Raymond, Executive Assistant to Bishop Brown will any questions.
COVID Continued: Sick Clergy and Sunday Morning Plan B In recent weeks we’ve been hearing frequent reports of people testing positive for COVID, including in many cases, clergy in charge of Sunday worship. The good...
From Sunday through Tuesday of this past week, I attended the annual Clergy Conference for Episcopal clergy at the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor, along withthe other “Sisters of St. Brendan” (Donna Downs, Jenny Reece...
Cybersecurity Information & Resources From the Episcopal Diocese of Maine’s Weekly News for Clergy and Lay Leaders, various dates Phishing in churches Please beware of email and text “phishing” in Maine churches. Fraudulent email and...
The Faith Formation Network of Province I (i.e., the New England dioceses) is combining its annual formation conference with Forma to offer the best of both worlds! We will gather January 27-30, 2025 with colleagues from across New England...
In February, Bishop Brown announced that the diocese would show its support for the ministry of refugee resettlement by hosting a Refugee Sunday on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9. Realizing that churches might...
Orientation to Voting Procedures Be prepared to vote in two ways at the 2025 Convention: By raising colored and labeled voting cards By online ballot Only certified delegates and clergy may vote. Voting by Card...
The 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (GC81) will take place June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Maine deputation is excited to head to Louisville next month to represent our diocese. The group includes: the Rev. Joshua Hill, the Rev. Cn. Lisa Fry, the Rev. Kerry Mansir, the Rev. Lauren Kay, Mark Spahr, Christian Clough, Richard Rozene, and chair John Hennessy. The delegation also includes Catherine Mansir, one of two high school students representing Province 1 (the seven dioceses of New England). If you have any questions about GC81, please reach out to [email protected].
The legislature convened the second session this week and the schedule for public hearings and work sessions is already starting to fill up. All legislative committee work will be conducted virtually at least through January...
Catherine Mansir of Christ Church, Gardiner was one of eighteen young people from every province in The Episcopal Church who served as the Official Youth Presence for the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The Official Youth Presence was established by the 1982 General Convention; members have had seat and voice in the House of Deputies since 1997. Sixty young people applied for the 2024 General Convention Official Youth Presence and were interviewed by a team of youth ministers and General Convention deputies from across The Episcopal Church. A team of adult mentors shepherded the group through convention.
