It’s our weekly roundup of stories you don’t want to miss
Episcopal Church in the News
Robert Mueller, after finalizing his report attended worship at St John’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ap-photos-mueller-flashes-smile-as-world-awaits-his-report/2019/03/24/bae73c08-4e53-11e9-bdb7-44f948cc0605_story.html?utm_term=.697f00b087cc
The Diocese of Vermont announced a slate of three candidates as their next bishop
https://www.bishopsearchvt.org/finalists
A pilgrimage organized through Province III converged on Huntington, WV recently to better understand the opioid problem in a place that has been particularly hard-hit and creative in responding.
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/03/25/episcopal-pilgrimage-focuses-on-west-virginia-city-seen-as-opioid-epidemics-epicenter-of-recovery/
PB’s Canon for Church Planting has resigned to return to parochial ministry
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/the-rev-mike-michie-episcopal-church-staff-officer-for-church-planting-infrastructure-accepts-call-to-parish-ministry-effective-may-1-2019/
Diocese of West Tennessee notified of successful consents to election of Phoebe A. Roaf as bishop
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/diocese-of-west-tennessee-notified-of-successful-canonical-consent-process/
Five interim task forces formed by General Convention met in Chicago to begin their work
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/03/22/metoo-baptismal-ministry-and-theological-task-forces-begin-triennial-work/
Canada
Interesting project out of Canada’s Wycliffe College, an assessment tool for people in ministry to assess their wellness
https://www.anglicanjournal.com/wycliffe-team-develops-wellness-assessment-tool-for-people-in-ministry/
The Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada statement on the decision of a regional body in the UCC to allow a self-avowed atheist pastor to remain in ministry
https://www.anglican.ca/news/communique-of-the-anglican-church-of-canada-and-the-united-church-of-canada-dialogue-on-the-rev-greta-vosper-settlement/30023923/
The Anglican church of Canada announces five candidates for election as the next Primate
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/03/church-of-canada-publish-list-of-bishops-nominated-as-next-primate-and-archbishop.aspx
Around the Communion
Martín Barahona, former bishop of El Salvador and Archbishop of Central America who survived an assassination attempt on the 30th anniversary of Oscar Romero’s murder, has died of cancer
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/03/retired-archbishop-martin-barahona-who-survived-assassination-attempt-dies-of-cancer.aspx
Methodist Fallout
Progressives in the UMC are still reeling from the vote at the Special General Conference. The WaPo has a story on how some are organizing a resistance.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/03/29/us-methodist-leaders-lay-plans-resist-anti-gay-marriage-vote/?utm_term=.106fc47ff662
Terry Mattingly an editor at GetReligion.org and Senior Fellow for Media and Religion at The King’s College in New York City managed to get this essay published in a number of newspapers touching on relations between the Episcopal Church and the UMC
https://www.times-standard.com/2019/03/23/on-religion-drawing-closer/
Other Interesting Items
An interesting defense of denominations focusing on Bill Hybels (the founder of Willow Creek who was ousted due to credible accusations of sexual misconduct) and how the non-denominational megachurches struggle to hold pastors to account for their misconduct.
https://religionnews.com/2019/03/25/willow-creeks-crash-shows-why-denominations-still-matter/
Catholic Church in Australia supports recent changes to law in Australian Capital Territory (akin to their District of Columbia) to mandate reporting even if offered in confession
https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/media-statement-on-the-seal-of-confession-and-act-legislation/
Good article in the Christian Century on the struggles that fait- based refugee resettlement agencies (including our own EMM) have faced since Trump was inaugurated.
https://www.christiancentury.org/article/news/faith-based-refugee-aid-groups-struggle-stay-open
image: The retired Bishop of El Salvador and Archbishop of Central America, Martín Barahona, who died in San Salvador on Saturday, aged 76. Photo by ACNS