2025 COVENANT RENEWAL
Inourprayersforyouwe alwaysthankGod,theFather ofourLordJesusChrist, forwehaveheardofyourfaith inChristJesusandofthelove thatyouhaveforallthe saints, becauseofthehope laidupforyouinheaven.
Colossians1:3-5
Dearfriends:
Thinkingbackon2024,Iamoverwhelmedwith gratitude.AsItravelthroughoutthediocese,Isee firsthandthelightandlifewithinour congregations.Iseeyournewlymintedacolytes, confirmands,andvestryleaders;yourbeautifully tendedbuildingsandgrounds;yourlife-giving outreachministriesandyourtenderpastoralcare. Eachofourparishesisauniquecommunity,all boundbythesamemission:toequipthesaints, proclaimthegospel,andseekandserveChristinall persons.ThanksbetoGodforeachofyou!
IamfilledwithhopeforwhattheLordhasinstore forusin2025.Together,throughourdiocesan capitalcampaign,wewillEquiptheSaintsforgrowth, formation,andreconciliation.Thiscampaign representsaGod-sizeddreamfortheEpiscopal ChurchinAlabamaandwillallowustostrengthen ourparishes,stewardCampMcDowell,and advanceourworkinracialhealingandpilgrimage. Theworkwe’redoingnowwillsustainourchurch forthenext100years.Iamhumbledbythesupport wehavereceivedforthecampaignthusfar.Thank you.
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Whilegiftstothecapitalcampaignwillfundefforts beyondourcurrentlimitations,theparish covenantssupportourongoingworkthatkeepsthe dioceserunningefficientlyandeffectively.Parish covenantsareessentialtothediocese’sabilitytobe aresourceforparishes.Ibelievethatweare strongertogetherthanwearealone,andsoIask thatyouprayerfullyconsideryourparish’spledge covenanttothediocesefor2025.Every contributionmattersandisdeeplyappreciated.
Thankyouforyourgenerosityinthepastandfor yourgiftsthatwillallowustothriveinthecoming year.Ifyouoryourvestrywouldliketotalkwithme aboutyourgift,Iwelcometheopportunity.Youcan reachmeatgcurry@dioala.org.
God’speace,
“We’restronger togetherthan wearealone.”
Whatisaparish covenant?
Allparishesareaskedtocontributethisannualgifttothedioceseto fundoursharedmissionandministries.Thiscontributionalso enablesthediocesetopledgetotheGeneralConvention’sbudget, allowingustoparticipateinthebroaderministryoftheEpiscopal Church.Thissystemofgivingisfoundationaltothestructureofour church:individualsgivetotheirparishes,parishesgivetotheir diocese,andthediocesegivestothewiderEpiscopalChurch. Together,throughourworship,service,andgenerosity,weuniteas onechurch.
Whatarethecovenantguidelines?
Justasthebiblicaltitheissetat10%,thereareguidelinesforthe parishcovenant.Congregationswithanincomebelow$150,000are askedtocontribute10%,whilethosewithincomeabove$150,000 areaskedtocontribute15%.Thispercentageiscalculatedbasedon the“unrestrictedandundesignatedincome”ofeachparish.These guidelineswereestablishedbyourDiocesanConventionin2000 andreaffirmedin2003.
Whyavoluntary,proportionalcovenant?
IntheDioceseofAlabama,parishcovenantstothedioceseare designedtoreflectanindividual’stithetotheirchurch.Inmany otherdioceses,thesecontributionsaremandatoryandreferredtoas “assessments.”Byrequestingavoluntarycovenant,theDioceseof Alabamainvitesparishesintoarelationshipwiththediocese. Throughoutscripture,proportionalgivinghasbeenthefoundation ofourresponsetoGod'sgifts.Justlikeweaskparishionersto estimatetheirpledgeindollars,whileemphasizingtheimportance ofstartingwithapercentageofincome,thesameprincipleappliesto fundingoursharedmissionandministry:eachparishisaskedto thinkoftheirgiftasaproportionofincome,thenconvertthatfigure intoanestimateddollaramount.Weencourageyourparishto prayerfullyconsiderthisrequestforcovenantsandrespond generously.
Howandwhendoesaparishmakeacovenant?
Parishesareinvitedtosubmittheircovenantrenewalonlineby January9,2025.ScantheQRcodetoaccesstheonlineform.Ifyou haveanyquestionsorconcerns,pleasecontactDaraMiller,Director ofFinance,(205)358-9225ordmiller@dioala.org.
ParishCovenantsby theNumbers
In2023,dollarsreceived fromparishesincreased by2.67%from2022. In2023,theaverage covenantwas8.74%and $38,847.62 In2024,41parishes increasedtheircovenant amount.
In2024,onaverage, parishesincreasedtheir covenantsby4.36%.
Cover:PewsatTheChurchof theGoodShepherd, Montgomery
Oppositepage:BishopCurry withthecruciferatSt.Michael andAllAngels,Millbrook
YearInReview
Renewand Refresh Grants2.0
ThroughthissecondroundofRenewand Refreshgrants,56parishesreceivedgrantsof upto$5,000forprojectsthatremovedbarriers tocongregationalvitalityandconnectedmore peoplewiththeEpiscopalexpressionofthe Gospel.Atotalof$267,020wasawarded.By investingintheseinitiatives,weare empoweringourparishestogrowandthrive.
Sawyerville
Sawyervillehosted525summercampersand 161summerlearningstudents.270dedicated volunteersandstaffbroughtthemissiontolife. 9mentor/menteepairsfosteredmeaningful relationships,and29individualsparticipatedin Person2Person.Sawyervilleawarded20college scholarshipstoparticipantsfromHaleCounty, ensuringgreateraccesstoopportunitiesforlocal youth.
Youth Ministries
TheDioceseofAlabama’sYouthDepartment, ledby12electedhighschoolstudents, organizesfourannualeventswithover300 participants.Astheonlydiocesewithyouthledeventsforpeers,ouryoungleadersfoster opportunitiestodeepenfaiththrough meaningfulChristianformation,buildChristian communitybeyondhomeparishes,andform life-longfriendships.
Bishops’ Visitations
ByDecemberof2024,BishopCurryandBishop Priorwillhavecompletedatotalof89parish visitationswheretheyconfirmed,reaffirmed, received,baptized,andworshippedwith thousandsofEpiscopalians.
Episcopal Day@the Park
LGBTQ+ Retreat
Companion Diocese: Honduras General Convention
Over440individualsfrommorethan40 parishespurchasedticketstothethreeEpiscopal Day@theParkevents,heldatminorleague baseballgamesacrossthediocese.Hundredsof Episcopaliansgatheredtocelebrateourfaithand showtheirsupportforourmissiontoequipthe saints.
Over50participantsfromacrossthediocese gatheredfortheinauguralLGBTQ+Retreat,held atCampMcDowell.Theretreatprovideda welcomingspaceforfaith,creativity,worship, andfun,whilefosteringadeepersenseof communityandinclusionwithinthechurch.
WearebuildingourrelationshipwiththeDiocese ofHondurasincreativenewways.Thissummer, 14studentsfromtheEpiscopalschoolswithinthe DioceseofHondurastraveledtoAlabamato attendsummercampatCampMcDowell.The Rev.DannyWhiteheadofSt.Michael’sandAll Angels,Fayette,spent4weeksinHondurasina clergyswap.
OurdeputationtoGeneralConventionincluded4 clergy,4layleaders,2bishops,and2alternates. TheConventionheardreportsfromthelifeofthe church,passedresolutions,andelectedanew PresidingBishop,theRt.Rev.SeanRowe.
Congregational Vitality
membershaveworkedtowardthe missionofthechurch:“torestoreall peopletounitywithGodandeach otherinChrist”(BCP,pg.855).This missionisexpresseduniquelyineach parish,shapedbyitsspecificcontext andcommunity.
Ahealthyparishisonewhereboth ordainedandlayleadersarededicated, wherepeopleflourishintheirfaith, andwherethewholecongregation sharesatruepassionforspreadingthe gospel.Wearecommittedtocultivating congregationalvitalityinourparishes andworshipingcommunitiesby providingsupportandresourcesto helpallthriveforthenext100years.
We’reheretohelpyoudiscernyour answertothequestion,“Whatdoes congregationalvitalitylooklikeatmy parish?”Ourdiocesanstaff, departments,andcommissionsare availabletosupportstrategicplanning; ministrydevelopmentforchildren, youth,oryoungadults;racialhealing; stewardship;andmodernizing communications.
Inadditiontonurturingourcurrent faithcommunities,wearededicatedto plantingnewEpiscopalchurches.With yoursupport,RiversideEpiscopal ChurchwasestablishedinApril2024 atMcAdoryMiddleSchoolinMcCalla, Alabama.Asthisgrowingcommunity seekspointsofconnection,weare honoredtosharetheEpiscopal expressionoftheJesusmovementin McCalla.
RiversidenowhasanaverageSundayattendance of26andisseekinganewlocationtoexpand ministryopportunitiesduringtheweek.
WewerealsoabletosupportSt.Dunstan’sinits journeytowardbecomingaself-sustaining parish,seeinggrowthinattendance, membership,andpledges.Oursupportextended toChristChurch,Fairfield,enhancingtheir ministryandenablingthemtobroadentheir outreachanddeepentheirimpactwithinthe community.
Additionally,weassistedSt.Thomas, Birmingham,incallingtheirfirstPriest Associate,whoprovidespastoral oversightforTheAbbey.InOpelika,we supportedarenovationprojectat Emmanuelandfacilitatedthecallingof aPriest-in-Charge.Wealsoplayeda vitalroleinthecallingofaPriest-inChargeatSt.Andrew’s,Montevallo, andsupportedthecallingofaRector forSt.Mary’s,Jasper,further strengtheningthesecongregations.
Contact:
TheRev.GeoffEvans CanontotheOrdinary gevans@dioala.org
Oppositepage:ConfirmandswithBishopCurry atSt.Michael’s,Anniston
Top:TheRev DrewBrislinblessesapetatthe ChurchoftheAscension,Montgomery
Bottom:Parishionersenjoythesummerconcert seriesatSt.Dunstan’s,Auburn
GoodNewsin2024:
Diocesanstatisticsfrom2023: Atotalof29,177membersin87 parishes
7,314averageSundayattendance 588confirmationsandreceptions 69parishesshowedgrowthin membership,pledges,oraverage Sundayattendance 10clergymovedintothediocese 8clergytrainedin LeadinginHope 13postulantsandcandidatesin formationforordainedministry 18parishesreceivedaparish-based outreachgrantfromtheDepartment ofMissionandOutreachtotaling $55,600
29parishesreceiveda$250creation careminigrantfromtheTaskForce forCreationCaretotaling$7,250
Camp MD ll
CampMcDowell,lovinglyreferredtoas“God’s backyard,”isoneofthelargestEpiscopalCamp andConferenceCentersinthecountryandhas beeninstrumentalinformingleadersacrossour dioceseandbeyond.Formanyguests,Camp McDowellservesasanentrancetothe EpiscopalChurch,makingitoneofourgreatest evangelicalassets.
WeareexcitedtowelcometheRev.DerrickHill asthenextExecutiveDirector,bringinghis visionandleadershiptofurtherstrengthen Camp’smissionandimpact.Withhisguidance, welookforwardtocontinuingCamp McDowell’slegacyasaplaceofspiritual growth,hospitality,andcommunity.
ConferenceCenter-Campwelcomesgroups of1to800guests,andallparishesare encouragedtoconsiderwonderful,wonderful CampMcDowellfortheirnextparishretreat, vestrymeeting,orsmallgroupevent.Episcopal groupsareeligibleforadiscountedrate.
SummerCamp-Childrenages8-18areinvited toattendovernightsummercamp!Thisisan incredibleopportunityforkidstolearnabout JesusinthebeautyofGod’screation,makenew friendsfromothercommunities,participatein classiccampactivities(canoeing,hiking,arts andcrafts,ropescourse,swimming),andhone theirskillsofindependenceandleadership.
LowerCampImprovements-The Equipping theSaints campaignincludesrevitalizingEppes HallandthesepticsysteminLowerCamp. Theseprojectsarepartoftheongoing maintenanceandrenovationsrequiredto ensurethisspaceservesthenextgenerationof EpiscopaliansinAlabama.
Contact: MaKenzieParker ReservationSpecialist (205)387-1806ext.107 wonderful@campmcdowell.org
GoodNewsin2024:
87buildingson1,140acres,770beds, and3dininghallsthatseatatotalof 800guests
5programs: SummerCamponClearCreek
McDowellEnvironmentalCenter
FarmSchool
FolkSchool ConferenceCenter
1,402campersattendedsummer camp,anincreaseof290from2023
Atotalof$95,237inscholarshipswas awardedto222campers,including SpecialSessionandBethany’sKids. Noonewasturnedaway.
65Episcopalbookingsincluding11 parishretreats
Oppositepage:Juniorhighcampersand counselors
Top:Coolingoffinthepool
Bottom:CanoeingonClearCreek towardtheswingingbridge
RacialHealing
WithAlabamasdeeptiestoslaveryandthe CivilRightsMovement,ourdioceseis uniquelypositionedtorespondtoGod’scall forracialhealing.Rootedinthishistory, individualsandparishesarededicatedto learning,self-examination,andembracing diversitytobuildthebelovedcommunity.
CreatingSpacestoRememberand
Reconcile–Eachyear,theDiocesesof AlabamaandtheCentralGulfCoastholdthe JonathanDanielsandtheMartyrsof AlabamaPilgrimage.Thisyear,civilrights advocateRichardMorrisroe,whowasalso shotthedayDanielswasmurdered,joined thepilgrimagetowalkwithattendees.
SawyervilleSummerCamp–Aministryof thediocese,Sawyervillefostersimproved racerelationsbycreatingasafespacefor childrenandyouthfromdiversebackgrounds toplay,learn,andgrowtogether.
FormationOpportunities Thediocese offeredarobustselectionofstudiesand trainingsincluding OneDiocese,OneBook, SeeingtheFaceofGod,and HavingCourageous ConversationsAboutRace:ALunchandLearn Series.Througheach,participantsexplored thehistoryofraceandsoughtpathwaysto healingthroughtheboundlessloveofJesus.
CourageousConversationsTraining–The nextCourageousConversationstrainingwill beFebruary14-15,2024.Thetrainingoffersa protocolforeffectivelyengaging,sustaining anddeepeninginterracialdialogueandis recommendedforallparishesleaders.
Contact: BreannaCarter MissionerforRacialHealing&Pilgrimage bmitchell@dioala.org
GoodNewsin2024:
171youthfromacrossthedioceseandfrom HaleCountystaffedSawyervilleSummer Camp,whichworkstoimproverace relationsinAlabama
29youthparticipatedinPerson2Person, Sawyerville’spilgrimageforhighschool students
450registeredfor OneDiocese,OneBook, a smallgroupstudyofDr.CatherineMeeks’ TheNightisLongButLightComesintheMorning 29individualscompleted SeeingtheFaceof God anti-racismtraining 21attended HavingCourageousConversations AboutRace:ALunchandLearnSeries Over200peopleparticipatedinthe JonathanDanielsandMartyrsofAlabama PilgrimageandtheRt.RevDorothySanders Wells,BishopofMississippi,wastheguest preacher
16youthattendedtheJonathanDaniels YouthPilgrimagewhereyouthheard RichardMorrisroe’spersonaltestimony
Oppositepage:Pilgrims carrytheportraitsofCivil Rightsmartyrs
Top:Rev.CarolynFoster administerscommunionat theJonathanDaniels Pilgrimage
Bottom:Participantsat Sawyerville’s Person2Personconference visittheFreedomRides MuseuminMontgomery
