July 2026 e:News: From Reverend Benitz

Dear Siblings in Christ,

I write this a few days removed from our Independence Day and the celebrations commemorating the 250th birthday of the nation. I don’t know about you, but it seems the older I get, the more muted those activities become! Even so, I still managed to participate in a few of my core traditions. I caught a bit of a local parade, enjoyed a small backyard cookout, and gazed in awe at the light and sound of a glorious community fireworks show. All in all, a good day with a lot to be thankful for.

Over the course of the holiday, I found myself pondering the idea of the United States of America. What our past says about us, and what the future might hold. Many of you may have taken time to do the same. A general theme that came to mind is that our nation is rooted not simply in an idea, but in an ideal. An ideal that declares, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” This statement of ideal acknowledges not a specific religion, but rather, it identifies the inherent sacredness or holiness of a person’s humanity.

This, to me at least, is the foundational ideal of the nation. And like most divine ideals, in the hands of mortals, it remains largely aspirational. The history of our country demonstrates a collection of ways “we the people” have fallen short of the ideal of all people being created equal and afforded the respect and honor due as such.

And our history is also full of times when we’ve worked to recognize and rectify those shortcomings and continue to strive toward better. Some have succeeded; some are still a work in progress. And maybe that’s where I’ll land. To acknowledge an ideal not fully realized is not a call to dismiss it as unattainable. It is an invitation to get up, shake the dust from our sandals, and try again. That is the Jesus model of discipleship, and it is His model for us. Jesus never calls us to less than God’s ideal. And he also leaves it in our hands, and as humans, he knows we will often fall short. The key is to be able to keep going and continue pushing toward the ideal that is the kingdom of God. It is a posture rooted in hope. And to live in hope is to begin to know God.

Just as our nation has continued its journey towards its ideal, the Church and the people of the Diocese of Iowa are propelled towards the heavenly ideal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the desire for the entire world to know a Peace that surpasses all understanding. Through my calls both as Standing Committee president and Regional Missioner, I see you, the faithful, doing your best to take the next faithful step towards that ideal by boldly walking into a future rooted in the hope and promise that drawing ever closer to God, our neighbor, and each other in unqualified love reveals the kingdom of God on Earth as it is in heaven. It is inspiring to see so many of you working for justice, feeding the poor, clothing the naked, meeting your neighbors (and each other) where they are, and trying your best to respond with the love of God. I hope you see that too. I hope the desire to please God moves you to keep going down the vibrant and unending path of discipleship and conversion of life. At times we’ll get it right, and other times, not so much. And we dust off our sandals, reflect, listen, and try again.

I close with a request. As Bishop Monnot communicated in past newsletters, our diocese is moving forward with a process of listening, action, and reflection. Trusting the Holy Spirit will guide us as a diocese down the right path. Soon, you will be invited to complete a brief questionnaire as part of our discernment of whether the time is right for a diocesan capital campaign. This action is a response to previous listening that shows the people of our diocese are eager to build a vibrant future together. Please take a moment to respond to the questionnaire when it is made available. Just as our nation’s coins claim “E Pluribus Unum” (out of many, one), our beautiful diocese is a collective of all. We need to hear from as many of you as possible. Thank you for giving your time to offer thoughtful responses; it is exciting to discover how the Spirit moves among us.

As we continue our way forward together, may God bless this nation, this diocese, and all creation with abundant life.

In gratitude for our life in Christ together,

The Rev. Stephen Benitz+

Standing Committee President