August 2025 e:News: From Bishop Monnot

As summer is turning (more quickly than I anticipated!) into fall, and as students are beginning a new school year and churches often beginning a new program year, I’m thinking about those changes that happen, not just as the months progress, but as the years progress.

Change of any kind can be difficult, or even frightening. Still, we can learn to be brave, as Bishop Mariann Budde wrote about in her recent book, How We Learn to be Brave. Being brave isn’t about having no fear: it is about courage in the face of fear, about learning to step forward into the unknown even when we are afraid. It is about Courageous Faith, our theme for this year.

At this time of change throughout our church and our world, we are called to step forward with courageous faith. Like Peter, stepping out of the boat to walk on the water toward Jesus, (Matt. 14:29), it is our faith in Christ that sustains us, even when we doubt.

One of the changes that we will be experiencing soon in our diocese is a change to our Mission Chapter structure. It has become clear over the last few years that our chapters are no longer able to do the things they were created to do, and so we will be creating a new structure, with fewer groupings. This will result in a more streamlined Board of Directors as well as more robust discussions during our online gatherings, and I hope that you will join the Joint Chapter Meeting on August 23rd to learn more and ask any questions you have. (CLICK HERE TO REGISTER)

One thing that will not change is the love that we have for each other and the support and partnership that we offer each other. No matter what our diocesan structure looks like, I hope that you will continue to be in community and supportive partnership with other congregations in the diocese, whether in regional partnerships to share worship and social events or partnerships that exist mostly over zoom. In fact, it is my hope that such partnerships can grow and deepen as one result of the coming changes.

The change to our Mission Chapter structure is not the only change coming to our diocese in the next months and years, but with courageous faith I know that we can be brave and seek the blessings that these changes will bring. I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue this adventure with you as your bishop.

Yours in the abundant life of Christ,
+Betsey

The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa