Diocesan Digest: Winter 2025

DIOCESAN DIGEST DIOCESE OF EAST CAROLINA

WINTER 2025

The Diocese of East Carolina 705 Doctors Drive Kinston, NC 28501 Phone: (252) 522-0885 Website: www.diocese-eastcarolina.org Bishop The Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving Editorial Director Sara Tavela, Coordinator of Communications Contributors in this Issue Debi Miller, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, Bishop Rob Skirving, Mauricio Chenlo, Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, Rev. Fred Clarkson, Leon Tillery, Rev. Michael Singer, Christopher Williamson, Rev. Skip Walker, Rev. Richard Elliott, Rev. Michelle Bullock, Emily Gowdy Canady, LaTonya Smith, Steve Thomas, St. James Parish Communications Team, the Racial Healing Commission, Mary Beth Bradberry, and Sara Tavela Submissions All submission ideas are welcome and considered for publication. Visit www.diocese-eastcarolina.org/ communication-submissions/ to submit your idea.

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DIOCESAN DIGEST Winter 2025

Letters to the Editor Send letters to the Editor to communications@dioceseeastcarolina.org

SHARING OUR STORIES, SHARING OUR LIFE IN CHRIST

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Blessings to you, and welcome to our winter issue of the Digest!

In many ways, this is an issue about loving our neighbor through our actions, ministry, service, and support. Inside, you’ll find stories from ministries who help the most vulnerable in our midst, updates on hurricane relief support and upcoming work trips, as well as stories that celebrate the dreams come true and our ongoing collaborations.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Diocesan Digest, and may the Spirit lead us to walk this journey of the way of Love with confidence and joy.

Happy reading!

In Christ, Sara

Sharing our stories, Sharing our life in Christ.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Loving Our Neighbor: A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Rob Skirving Be encouraged to love our neighbors and support Interfaith Refugee Ministry

EFWM: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Mustard Seed Learn all about the many seeds Episcopal Farmworker Ministry plants

La Sagrada Familia: The Dream of a Building Achieved See La Sagrada’s new building and be invited to the building consecration in May

Bishop Search Committee Update Hear about the work the Search Committee has and will do in our search for the IX Bishop

TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONT. Jazz Eucharist and Absalom Jones: A Celebration of Faith, Struggle, and Resistance Discover the origins of Jazz Eucharist and celebrateAbsalom Jones

Supporting Western North Carolina’s Recovery Hear about the ways we’re supporting our our friends in WNC and new opportunities

Charting the Course: Priorities and Partnerships at Trinity Center Delve into our Executive Council’s retreat and their collaborative work

LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR: A PASTORAL LETTER FROM BISHOP ROB SKIRVING T O

T H E

P E O P L E O F T H E D I O C E S E E A S T C A R O L I N A

O F

Dear Friends in Christ, These last weeks have been difficult for the people of this nation, as the fault lines of our polarization have grown deeper, and the angry rhetoric has sharpened. Nowhere has this been clearer for me than in the range of responses I have witnessed to the contrasting religious language offered publicly on Inauguration Day and then on the next day at the National Cathedral. Language used by some in my social media circles has too often been hateful and ignorant. To be clear: the outrage has been focused in every direction.

I’ve often wondered, how does the world make sense of this sort of behavior by followers of Jesus?

As I have struggled to know how best to respond amid all this noise, God has blessed me in moments when I have been present with the people of the Diocese of East Carolina, including with some of those who are most vulnerable. On Friday evening, January 31st, I joined the people of La Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia for worship in their brand-new church building. Worship was enthusiastic, many adults and teens were confirmed and received, and my liturgical Spanish skills held up reasonably well. The best parts of the evening, though, were the quiet conversations I had with members of the congregation about their immigration status and their awareness of ICE agents in the area. I heard expressions of hope and of courage, and of appreciation for my interest in what they were facing.

A couple of weeks later, I spent time with the staff of our Interfaith Refugee Ministry in New Bern. Executive Director Debi Miller invited me to visit, after she and I had gone back and forth by email about the challenges this long-standing ministry now faces. By way of explanation, for those not familiar with their work, this ministry has been charged with welcoming legally authorized refugees from other parts of the world and helping them to settle in the local community. For now, at least, they will not be welcoming new refugees.

Still, they have contracted responsibility for the support of refugees who arrived as recently as this past January and all of this without the confidence that they will be reimbursed for their work. During my time with our IRM staff, clear concerns were expressed. They asked me questions like these: “What will happen to our work, and to the people who legitimately need to escape parts of the world where they are not safe?”

“What about our jobs, if funding disappears?”

“Where are those people, including Christians, who will show us that we are safe and welcome in the communities where we live?”

This last question was from a staff member who themselves had come to eastern North Carolina as a refugee a few years ago.

A third and final moment from these last weeks stands out and, in large part, shapes this pastoral letter. On February 2nd, I made my Sunday visit with the people of St. John’s Church in Wilmington. As I do most every Sunday, I led worship that included the renewal of our Baptismal Covenant. At St. John’s, as I did so, I stood in front of the altar with forty adults and teens gathered in front of me, all ready to reaffirm their baptismal faith and be confirmed or received into the fellowship of our community. A photographer caught an image that included these words on the screen above my head: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” At St. John’s, as it is in most of our congregations, this question was answered with a resounding “I will, with God’s help.”

Friends, we will not always agree with one another on important issues of our time. We will not always agree on who should serve as President. We who are followers of Jesus will not always agree on how scriptures should be interpreted or how faith should be expressed or lived. We will not always agree on how best to solve the real problems that face our nation.

We must, however, commit to loving God and to loving our neighbor. We must see every person in our lives as neighbor and then serve them as we would serve Christ. Our neighbors are not just those who look like us or who agree with us: they include people who are very different from us. Some of our neighbors live in fear, fear that they will be driven from the only country they have known as home, that their job will be taken from them, that they will face ridicule and abuse from those they pass on the street.

Loving our neighbor is not just a nice idea, something we can affirm in church and then avoid every other day of the year. Loving our neighbor involves building relationships with those with whom we share community. Our relationships with our neighbors help us to better understand them and their needs, and them to understand ours, and then to respond to one another compassionately. Mutual understanding allows us to work together to address issues of concern. It can guide us in how best to spend our time and our resources. It can lead us to speak up against injustices, to correspond with our political leaders and to work for peace.

With this pastoral letter, I want to offer you a practical opportunity to love your neighbor. As I described, the Interfaith Refugee Ministry staff live with the fear that they will lose funding to serve the needs of refugees who are already living here in eastern North Carolina. Recently, they have learned of a matching grant opportunity and have invited us to share this opportunity with the people of this diocese. In an attached document, you can find out how to help turn donations totaling $25,000 into $50,000 or more of funding for their work. I hope that you can support them generously.

Look around the communities where you live, and work and worship, and seek and serve Christ in all persons you meet. As Fred Rogers shared, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this I would add, look for concrete and practical ways that you can be a helper to neighbors who are most seriously impacted by “scary things in the news.”

Yours in Christ,

Interfaith Refugee Ministry is over halfway to their $25,000 goal. If you can support their fundraising efforts to match their gift, please click the button below:

SUPPORT INTERFAITH REFUGEE MINISTRY’S GIFT MATCH EFFORTS BY MARCH 31, 2025

By Mauricio Chenlo

45 years ago one of the mustard seeds of God’s kingdom was planted in the sandhills of North Carolina.

A compassionate priest of the Episcopal church felt moved by the Holy Spirit to be the sent one to the farmworkers of Eastern Carolina.

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry was birthed as a response to Jesus' call to be sent into the world: “Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:19-20 NIV). Many people and partners in ministry believe we are a “cool” nonprofit doing benevolence

work for farmworkers andimmigrants.

Most have no clue what the Ministry means: They just think we do good charity and get free stuff for the needy.

The ministry is much more than good people doing charity work. The ministry is people called to be Jesus' presence in the world. We are a witness to God’s heaven on earth. I think this narrative is not just a spiritualization of philanthropic work: this narrative is at the essence of who we are as followers and witnesses of Christ.

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry’s primary focus is on supporting H2A temporary farmworkers, a Department of Labor program established in 1942. This program allows growers and farmers to hire farmworkers on a temporary basis, typically from March to November, after which they return home. Unfortunately, EFWM has also encountered cases of immigrants being detained and deported by ICE. Despite these obstacles, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry remains committed to its mission and is grateful for the ongoing support of The Episcopal Church as it continues its work in serving these communities.

H2A workers keep coming every season; we need them. Volunteers provide rides on Sunday morning to bring them to worship, and our staff organizes distribution of hygienic kits and clothing. In this spring season, we are collecting donations to buy 100 new mattresses for 100 workers. You can visit our website and make a contribution for the mattresses. The ministry is connected to 3,500 farmworkers.

Every Sunday a gathering of Jesus followers meets at the Sagrada Familia church. La Sagrada Familia, under the leadership of Father Fred, now worships in a new meeting place. For years, La Sagrada met in the open outside our offices or in the small salon at the ministry.

Every last Saturday of the month, we continue to provide fresh food for our neighbors and larger community. Around 200 vehicles line up on Easy street from 8am in the morning, Food delivery opens at 12pm! We are constantly blessed by large numbers of volunteers. To my surprise, significant numbers of recipients are Anglo and African American folk.

Mother Support Services is a new service that began last fall under the leadership of Janet Fields, a volunteer midwife that spent years of service in Africa and NC (pic of Janet). Mental health support and workshop wellness are provided regularly thanks to the generous grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Our backpack drive, Hispanic Heritage Festival, Christmas drive, and baby shower drive continue as usual. We are thrilled by your support and donations!

We also provide mental health support to workers in need of recreation after long days of work. Our soccer field is in good shape, and we aim to improve an old trailer to be a recreational space for mingling and recreation events on Sundays after church.

Legal immigration services and medical treatment are outsourced through sister organization like Catholic Charities and others.

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry is incredibly fortunate to rely primarily on the generosity of individual and church donors, along with a few grants from private corporate entities like Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, challenges have arisen recently, such as a recent call from the Head Start program, which offers nationwide daycare services for low-income immigrants. They have been significantly impacted by federal funding cuts and rent property from The Episcopal Church in eastern Carolina, which could potentially affect EFWM’s budget.

We value your prayers and constant support through financial donations and volunteer time. Our building facilities are 45 years old, and we need your help. If you happen to be a carpenter, or any kind of construction contractor, and would be willing to help, call us!

visit the episcopal farmworker ministry’s website to learn more and support the ministry

By The Rev. Fred Clarkson In 1996, the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFWM) began holding worship services to better serve the people who make NC agriculture possible. For almost six years, this congregation was a mission. Prior to that, the Farmworker's workers did not necessarily know that the EFWM was part of the Church or even a ministry. The beginning of this worship community revealed the sacramental core of this ministry, and under the leadership of the Rev. Jesus (Tony) Antonio Rojas and his wife Lucia Duque, the congregation flourished and dreamed of a church building and school. However, this did not come to pass due to property constraints during The Rev Tony's tenure.

By 2020, once the pandemic hit, the vestry of that congregation, La Sagrada Familia, decided to take the plunge and authorize a new building. At first, it was a steel building that ballooned in price, shifting to the need for a building of their own making. Four years and numerous unforeseeable hurdles later, La Sagrada Familia has a building!

The Scandinavian-inspired design is modern and linear, with rustic touches to remind everyone of La Sagrada Familia's farmworker roots. The building has no square or rectangular spaces, and it draws on asymmetry to remind us of the unique characteristics of God's creativity, as no room is the same. The exterior color palette follows the Nordic design with white and black, while the interior is painted with various soft colors to create a welcome to all. And while the welcome remains, there is one bold exception to the soft pastel color scheme: one wall in the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe's Chapel, which is Mexican pink. This color harkens back to the late Mexican architect Luis Barragan, whose fellow Mexicans make up a large proportion of the congregation at La Sagrada Familia. All except the restroom spaces are flooded with sunlight, and LED lights make up any shortfall throughout day or night.

The building, all of which is handicap accessible, is just over 4,600 square feet. It consists of a chapel, nave/multipurpose space, narthex, vestry room, sacristy, and office, along with facilities. The building reflects both new beginnings and the history of the parish, as do the furnishings. Deciding what to keep and what to discard was not an easy task. Still, those things that brought the community together, such as the Eucharistic table, were kept and given a new refinished life, while the reminders of discomfort and worshiping in the elements, such as the folding chairs, were discarded in favor of upholstered ones.

Additionally, decisions that needed to be made about a new building allowed the congregation to engage in questions of theology and symbolism.

They decided in favor of a crucifix rather than a cross. They chose to place the baptismal font at the entrance of the church building, reminding all how we enter the church as a member. The building is a work in progress as the congregation now turns to landscaping.

Still, we received our certificate of occupancy late last year, so we are celebrating our official dedication and consecration on 10 May 2025 at 2:00 p.m. We hope that as many people as can join us, will do so, not just in celebration for our parish or the Diocese but for the whole Church.

Bishop Search Committee Update

By Leon Tillery On a beautiful February afternoon at St. Mary' s in Kinston, NC, the Standing Committee tasked the Bishop Search Committee with initiating the serious work of discerning and electing the IX Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina.

This sacred endeavor requires your sincere prayers, attentive listening, and faithful participation as we seek a committed shepherd to lead us into the future, grounded firmly in the love and ministry of Christ. Your contribution is essential to this process.

Our Mission Throughout the Search for a Bishop The Bishop Search Committee is wholeheartedly committed to conducting a diligent and Spirit- led discernment pr ocess. We are listening attentively to the diverse voices of our diocese through surveys, meetings, and one-on-one interviews. We will develop a powerful diocesan profile that accurately reflects our shared vision, beloved values, and special needs, to aid potential candidates in their discernment. We will select and evaluate candidates who demonstrate exceptional spiritual leadership and pastoral care. We will provide an open election process, actively engaging our church family and encouraging involvement at every stage.

Key Updates & Progress: Listening to the Diocese : The Listening Subcommittee diligently sought to hear from all of us through face-to-face and virtual meetings, as well as a diocesan-wide survey. The survey and listening session responses are instrumental in assisting us in identifying the qualities we seek in our next bishop.

Building the Diocesan Profile : The Profile Subcommittee is diligently working to gather essential information about our diocese, our ministries, and the vibrant life of the Episcopal Church in East Carolina. The profile will be a valuable resource for candidates as they discern their call, helping them gain an understanding of our aspirations and needs.

Screening & Discernment : The Processing & Screening Subcommittee is building a solid foundation for application evaluation, interview administration, and thorough background checks to identify the most suitable candidates.

Final Selection & Candidate Retreat : Our Discernment Retreat Subcommittee is creating a transformative retreat experience for our final candidates. This immersive retreat will foster genuine relationships and provide candidates with deeper insight into our diocese and community before final selection.

What's Next?

Spring/Summer : Complete the diocesan profile, accept nominations, conduct background checks, and interview candidates.

August-September : Final candidate slate announced.

Annual Convention : Election of the IX Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina.

How You Can Be Involved: Pray earnestly with us as we ask God for guidance and seek to discover a godly leader for our people.

Stay informed about developments and share updates enthusiastically with your church family from the Search Committee.

We thank everyone who participated in the diocesan survey and the listening sessions. Your dreams, hopes, and ideas for our diocese will be used to create a profile for our next bishop. This profile will also serve as an invaluable resource for candidates, helping them understand our aspirations and needs as they discern their calling.

We also want to express our gratitude to all the parishes that hosted the listening sessions and provided an opportunity for reflective and prayerful sharing.

We truly value your prayers and your active involvement in this important process. May the Holy Spirit lead us onward in faith, hope, and love.

A Prayer for Our Search God, loving and merciful, giver of all good and precious things, we pray humbly for Your guidance as the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina gathers to discern our next bishop. Guide us, Lord Jesus, and be with us always in our deliberations. Please lead us to a shepherd, teacher, and priest who encourages us each day to live the Gospel. Fill us with Your wisdom and set us ablaze with Your love, making us new as we await the ministry of our next bishop.

We have faith in You and Your unwavering guidance.

Amen.

By The Rev. Skip Walker Photo Credit: The Rev. Richard Elliott

Jazz Eucharist, a unique fusion of sacred liturgy and jazz music, is a powerful expression of cultural identity, spiritual resilience, and communal solidarity in the Black community. Rooted in the African American experience, jazz itself emerged from the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans, blending African musical traditions with elements of blues, gospel, and spirituals.By integrating jazz into liturgy, Jazz Eucharist honors this heritage, offering a space where

worshippers can connect with their faith through a culturally resonant musical language. It also reflects the broader struggle for liberation and equality, as the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of Black theology in the mid-20th century emphasized the importance of affirming Black identity within religious practices. For many, Jazz Eucharist is not just a form of worship but a celebration of Black creativity, a reclaiming of sacred space, and a testament to the enduring American spirit.

The Origins of Jazz Eucharist: Mary Lou Williams and Duke Ellington Jazz Eucharist began in the 1960s, pioneered by Mary Lou Williams, a groundbreaking jazz pianist and composer. Williams, a devout Catholic, worshipped and served at a Catholic church in New York, where she created some of the first jazz liturgies. Her work was revolutionary, blending the sacred texts of the Mass with the improvisational and rhythmic elements of jazz. Williams' compositions were not only musically innovative but also deeply spiritual, reflecting her commitment to both her faith and her art.

Later, Duke Ellington, arguably one of the greatest composers and big band leaders in jazz history, also contributed to the genre of sacred jazz music. Although not strictly a jazz mass, Ellington's "Sacred Concerts" in the 1960s and 1970s were monumental in bringing jazz into the realm of worship. His work demonstrated the versatility of jazz as a medium for spiritual expression and further solidified its place in liturgical settings.

Why Jazz? The Soundtrack of Struggle and Democracy Jazz is often described as the soundtrack of the Black American struggle, but its significance extends to the broader American struggle with race and identity. Born out of the African American experience, jazz embodies the pain, resilience, and hope of a people who have endured centuries of oppression. It is a music of survival and resistance, a testament to the enduring spirit of a community that has used music as a means of expression and liberation.

Moreover, jazz is a democratic art form. In a jazz ensemble, each musician listens to the others, stays out of the way when necessary, and plays their role within the collective. This dynamic mirrors the ideals of democracy and the American struggle for equality and justice. Jazz, therefore, is not just music; it is a social and cultural phenomenon that embodies the complexities and contradictions of the American experience.

2025 ABSALOM JONES CELEBRATION

Jazz Eucharist as Liturgical Progressivism The jazz Eucharist is a form of liturgical progressivism, holding onto traditions while embracing new ways of relating to the divine. It is a way to honor the past while making space for the present and future. The story of Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in The Episcopal Church, is a poignant example of this. Jones' story is one of struggle and persistence.

He had to buy his way out of slavery, and his wife did the same. Despite facing significant obstacles, Jones persevered, eventually becoming a leader in the church and a symbol of hope and resilience.

Celebrating Absalom Jones with jazz is particularly fitting. Jazz, as an original American art form, carries the weight of the Black American experience. It is a music of struggle and triumph, of pain and joy. Using jazz to tell Jones' story in the context of worship is a powerful way to honor his legacy and connect it to the broader narrative of the Black struggle in America.

Our Absalom Jones Celebration: A Collective Effort The success of Jazz Eucharist is due in large part to the talented musicians who bring it to life. Dillard Goodson on bass, Gerald Shynett on piano (who is also a professor of jazz at UNCW), Eric Dawson on saxophone (a well-known jazz saxophonist in North Carolina), myself (Skip Walker) on drums, and Kia Walker leading the congregation on vocals—all of these individuals contributed their unique talents to create a worship experience that was both spiritually uplifting and musically profound.

Their collaboration is a testament to the communal and democratic nature of jazz.

We also want to extend our gratitude to St. Mark’s and all the African American churches in the diocese, as well as St. James for hosting this event. The decision to hold the jazz Eucharist at a predominantly white church this time around was intentional. The story of Absalom Jones and the message of Jazz Eucharist need to be heard beyond the walls of the Black church.

These stories and this music belong to the entire church, and we are thankful to St. James for being open to this idea and for Bishop Skirving’s embrace of this liturgy.

Jazz Eucharist is more than just a musical innovation; it is a celebration of faith, culture, and community. In celebrating Jazz Eucharist, we celebrate the story of Absalom Jones, the legacy of Mary Lou Williams and Duke Ellington, and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. Jazz Eucharist is a testament to the enduring power of music as a medium for spiritual expression and connection to the divine in a meaningful and culturally resonant way.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY

WORK TRIPS TO WNC

By The Rev. Michelle Bullock & Emily Gowdy Canady

We have two work trip opportunities that will be available for folks from East Carolina to support ongoing Helene recovery in Western North Carolina.

Adult Opportunity: Coming up in May 2025, tentatively scheduled for the week of May 18-24, we will be working with UMCOR (United Methodists).

UMCOR will coordinate all the work and worksites including a staff person who will accompany volunteers, and St. Peter’s, Swansboro has parishioners experienced in Towel Ministry who can likely serve as coordinators for this opportunity.

Youth Opportunity: Coming up in late July-early August, tentatively scheduled for July 26-August 2, we will be working through the Diocese of Western North Carolina and their Director of Lifelong Christian Formation, Eden Lewis. Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher will host our group. Coordinating with Calvary's staff, we will work to identify appropriate worksites and opportunities for youth to serve in and around the Asheville area. We will have two coordinators for this trip from our diocese.

Both the youth and adult opportunity will be limited in capacity. UMCOR can take 20 total for the site.

For youth, Calvary can house 20 youth plus 4-6 adults. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Charting the Course: Priorities and Partnerships at Trinity Center

By Christopher Williamson The retreat began as many good things do: with food, conversation, and a shared sense of purpose.

The Executive Council and Trinity Center’s Board of Managers gathered at Trinity Center for two days of collaboration, prayer, and planning. More than a typical business session, it was a chance to strengthen the partnership between the two groups while addressing pressing priorities—from the Bishop Search to the 2025 budget.

The first evening set the tone. After a mingle session filled with laughter and catching up, the group shared a meal together. The conversation flowed easily, blending personal updates with reflections on the Diocese’s future. It was a reminder that, even in the midst of transitions and challenges, we are a community bound together by faith and shared mission.

Priorities for the Coming Months The first meeting of the retreat gave us the opportunity to talk about priorities. With a Bishop Search, an Electoral Convention, and the coming end of Bishop Skirving’s tenure, the Bishop asked the group two framing questions: what should we focus on? What is the work that most needs to be done before the Eighth Bishop leaves and the Ninth steps into the role?

The Executive Council identified two primary priorities for the coming months. The first was to standardize and document all Diocesan House processes. For example, Chris Williamson has been working to streamline the ordination process, ensuring clear communication between candidates, the Commission on Ministry, and the Standing Committee. The second priority was to complete the hiring and training of Diocesan House staff. Bishop Skirving highlighted the recent hiring of Chris Williamson and the ongoing efforts to train staff, including the need for an Administrative Assistant to support the Ninth Bishop.

Caring for a Coastal Camp After breakfast the next day, the members of Executive Council and the Board of Managers walked through the pedestrian tunnel and met for a tour of Trinity Center. The crisp ocean breeze carried the scent of saltwater as we began on the south side of the property. John and others shared their vision for Trinity Center’s future, pointing out staff housing, hospitality areas, and the potential for renovations. The dining hall, with its mismatched floors, stood as a symbol of both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

When we reached Sanders Point, the group gathered on the benches in front of the altar—a poignant reminder of the enduring ministry of Trinity Center despite hurricanes, the pandemic, and the constant barrage of salt water air. The conversation turned to fundraising and collaboration, but beneath the practical discussions was a deeper bond forming between the two groups. Hurricanes, a pandemic, and the ebbs and flows of time have taken their toll, but the commitment to Trinity Center’s ministry remains unwavering.

Budget Shortfall and Community The Executive Council had a candid conversation about the Diocese’s financial health, including a $170,000 budget shortfall. While the shortfall is a challenge, the discussion centered on creative solutions and the importance of accountability and education. The Bishop emphasized the need for a renewed focus on the Diocese’s mission and the shared covenant that binds us together. The Executive Council committed to exploring ways to address the shortfall—including potential budget adjustments and increased pledges—while also providing education on how diocesan funds support the broader community.

Conclusion As the retreat came to a close, there was a palpable sense of unity and shared purpose. The Executive Council and Trinity Center's Board of Managers left with a renewed commitment to working together for the good of the Diocese. From the Bishop Search to the future of Trinity Center and the challenges of the budget, the retreat was a reminder that, even in times of transition, the Diocese of East Carolina is strengthened by its people and their dedication to God's work. As we move forward, we do so with hope, faith, and a shared vision for the future.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RETREAT AT TRINITY CENTER Building relationships and giving thanks for the great gift that Trinity Center has been to us for so many years!

UPCOMING DIOCESAN EVENTS

HTTPS://WWW.DIOCESE-EASTCAROLINA.ORG/EVENTS/

SHARING OUR STORIES, SHARING OUR LIFE IN CHRIST.

Diocese of East Carolina 705 Doctors Drive, Kinston, NC 28503 Phone: (252) 522-0885 Email: communications@diocese-eastcarolina.org www.diocese-eastcarolina.org