Our UTO leaders have asked for a newsletter article each month that they can cut and paste from our newsletter to their own diocesan or parish newsletter. This article is intended to be used in your publications. Feel free to edit to add information pertinent to your congregation or diocese, or simply cut and paste…

Civic engagement is a key way we live out our faith. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we recognize that we exercise our faith in the context of relationships, communities, and society. As part of that, The Episcopal Church has long supported nonpartisan voter engagement, as well as advocating for protection…

Civic engagement is a key way we live out our faith. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we recognize that we exercise our faith in the context of relationships, communities, and society. As part of that, The Episcopal Church has long supported nonpartisan voter engagement, as well as advocating for protection…

See the categories below for guidance on clergy, composition, event, and formal titles. clergy and religious titles: The first reference to a clergy member (bishop, priest, or deacon) normally should include a capitalized title before the individual’s first and last names. On second reference, use only a last name.  See also Associated Press Style Guide, Guide to Rules…

See the categories below for guidance on clergy, composition, event, and formal titles. clergy and religious titles: The first reference to a clergy member (bishop, priest, or deacon) normally should include a capitalized title before the individual’s first and last names. On second reference, use only a last name.  See also Associated Press Style Guide, Guide to Rules…

Join us for a monthly Zoom class using the “Love God, Love God’s World” creation care curriculum. Rooted in love, compassion, and justice, this film- and readings-based, small-group curriculum looks at many facets of environmental stewardship and justice. It is designed for people new to this topic as well as those who are active in these practices.  After its opening…

Join us for a monthly Zoom class using the “Love God, Love God’s World” creation care curriculum. Rooted in love, compassion, and justice, this film- and readings-based, small-group curriculum looks at many facets of environmental stewardship and justice. It is designed for people new to this topic as well as those who are active in these practices.  After its opening…

RCL: [RCL] Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 Opening Prayer | Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,…

RCL: [RCL] Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 Opening Prayer | Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,…

By Heather Melton, (she/her) UTO Staff Officer Lately, it seems like every conversation I’ve had includes the following two topics: how hot it has been this summer and how busy everyone is. Maybe it’s not been incredibly hot where you are, but my guess is that it feels like we’re all overserved when it comes…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

Welcome Welcome to The Episcopal Church (virtual) Undercroft! We know that much of the real work of parish life gets done in basements, coffee hours, and other unofficial settings, and we have gathered and named this content in honor of those spaces. These resources are primarily intended for those active in church work—governance, leadership formation, communications, stewardship, and much more—to assist you with your ministry. Not finding what you are…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

The Office of Stewardship is offering a program called Blessed to Be A Blessing, which offers new tools to enhance stewardship campaigns and features prominent writers from throughout the Episcopal Church. Blessed to Be A Blessing is a six-week series inviting reflection and discussion on stewardship principles and practices based on the Gospel readings from…

Applications are being accepted for a new position, the Director of the Reconciliation, Justice and Stewardship of Creation, a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff. The Reconciliation, Justice and Stewardship of Creation department includes staff who facilitate and lead churchwide ministry in relation to the Racial Reconciliation and Justice, Domestic Poverty, Stewardship of Creation, and…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

Internationally known theologian and author the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann will preach at the opening Eucharist and will be a keynote speaker at the 2010 Conference for The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) on July 30 and 31 in Indianapolis, IN. With the theme Grace, Gratitude and Generosity, the 2010 TENS conference is sponsored by…

Samuel McDonald, Episcopal Church Director of Mission and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, has announced the recipients of the one-year and two-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowships for social justice and advocacy work for The Episcopal Church. The Justice and Advocacy Fellowships for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Stewardship, new initiatives of The Episcopal Church, will provide financial…

Applications are now accepted for one-year and two-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowships for social justice and advocacy work for The Episcopal Church. The Justice and Advocacy Fellowships for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Stewardship, new initiatives of The Episcopal Church, will provide financial support for service, professional development and education to those who are engaged in…

Our personal response to God’s generosity in the way we share our resources of time, talent, and treasure.

There’s still time to register for the 2013 Conference of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) on July 12 and 13 at the Episcopal Commons of Utah in Salt Lake City, Diocese of Utah. And, if traveling isn’t possible for in-person attendance, participation from afar is being offered through live webcasting. For the first time…

Following are opening remarks, lightly edited for clarity, by House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting Oct. 20-21 at Kanuga conference center in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

The Episcopal Church Office of Development will present the Fall 2013 Fundraising Symposium – It’s All About Money! – on Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27. Designed for directors of development at dioceses, congregations, and other Episcopal organizations, as well as clergy interested in parish/diocesan fundraising, It’s All About Money! will be held at…

The Office of African Descent Ministries’ (OBM) Congregational Programs for Revitalization (CPR) are designed to equip congregations with tools, training, and coaching to strengthen congregational leadership and ministry. OBM has identified significant areas in which congregations of African descent desire support and programming for future relevance, growth, and positioning for 21st-century mission and ministry: *Curriculum…

The Rev. Melanie Mullen of Richmond, VA has been named the Episcopal Church Director of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care, a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff. In this new full-time position, Mullen will lead the church’s work on domestic poverty and Jubilee Ministries, and shepherd the work of Episcopal Church staff in relation to…

The Episcopal Church Office of Mission Funding will sponsor a day-long symposium on the Spirituality of Philanthropy, uniting the theological and spiritual basis of philanthropy with a useful practicum on advanced fundraising strategies and techniques. Designed for directors of development at dioceses, parishes, and other Episcopal organizations, the September 29 event will be held at…

The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment, featuring religious, environmental, political and community organizing experts, will delve into one of the most critical topics for our times in a live webcast on April 21 – the day before Earth Day – beginning at 10 am Mountain (9 am Pacific, 11 Central, noon Eastern). The program…

The annual stewardship season is fast coming to a close. We will be making decisions on how we share the gifts that God has given us with our church, and in other ways that touch lives and causes that are special interests of ours. We most often consider what we do based on our financial…

An agreement has been completed between the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations to lease a portion of a floor at the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue in New York City, NY. “I am very pleased by this development,” explained Bishop…

Experts will examine The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment on April 21 in a live webcast beginning at 10 am Mountain (9 am Pacific, 11 Central, noon Eastern). The program will be available at no charge on the Episcopal Church website www.episcopalchurch.org Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panelists during the…

The Episcopal Church and the churchwide Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) staff are undergoing transitions to re-orient not only the work of the churchwide staff but also where that work will be conducted. The transitions are primarily, but not completely, a result of actions approved at General Convention 2012 in July.  Many are budget-based…

Based on data received from a comprehensive survey of churches, the Episcopal Congregations Overview featuring updated facts and figures about congregations, programs and practices in the Episcopal Church have been posted here This information, available for downloading at no fee, can provide important and needed data to congregational efforts for growth, stewardship, fundraising, recruitment etc….

The Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson, PhD, Canon to Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, will preach on Sunday, May 23 and Sunday, May 30 on Day 1, the national syndicated weekly ecumenical radio program produced by the Alliance for Christian Media. In his sermon for Pentecost Sunday, May 23, “Golden Age?,” Robertson explores…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori opened the Executive Council meeting in Salt Lake City today with an address that called for a mission focused budget using the Five Marks of Mission. A video of the Presiding Bishop’s remarks are available on the home page of the website: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ The following is the Presiding…

Following are opening remarks, lightly edited for clarity, by House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting Oct. 20-21 at Kanuga conference center in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Find current information here: Study your Neighborhood — The General Convention of The Episcopal Church The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society has posted information to help congregations and dioceses understand the demographics of their areas, an important tool for growth and vision processes. The information, Studying Your Congregation and Community, is available for no fee…

On April 21, the Episcopal Church will sponsor a forum on a critical topic: The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment. Originating from St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Salt Lake City, UT, the two-hour ecumenical forum will be live webcast beginning at 10 am Mountain (9 am Pacific, 11 Central, noon Eastern). “Through The Intersection…

The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Development Office will sponsor the Fall 2015 Symposium on fundraising, Community Engagement and Spiritual Formation: Stories of Transformation, on Thursday and Friday, October 8 and 9 in Atlanta, GA.  “This year, we’re taking this very well-received event on the road to Atlanta in response to requests to offer the symposium…

Like Isaiah before us, we have been visited with visions of darkness covering the earth, and thick darkness covering the peoples. We have seen the darkness that pervades what we now call Ground Zero. We have seen the smoldering darkness at the Pentagon. We have looked into a crater of darkness in Pennsylvania. We have…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

Live webcast Ideal Earth Day coverage Experts in environment, poverty and religious leaders participate Experts will examine The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment on April 21 in a live webcast beginning at 10 am Mountain (9 am Pacific, 11 Central, noon Eastern). The program will be available at no charge on the Episcopal Church…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced two staff departures of people well-known throughout the church and beyond. The Rev. Canon Brian J. Grieves, longtime peace and justice officer and current director of the Advocacy Center for the Episcopal Church, and Maureen Shea, director of the Office of Government Relations, will leave their posts…

The November 1 deadline is nearing for applications for the Constable Fund Grants 2014-2015 cycle.  The Constable Fund provides grants to fund mission initiatives that were not provided for within the budget of the Episcopal Church General Convention/Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS). Anne Watkins, an Executive Council member from the Diocese of Connecticut and…

A newly named Strategic Planning Committee has already set to work, announcing that its first step will be to solicit opinions from throughout The Episcopal Church. The Strategic Planning Committee was established by Executive Council in January 2009 to develop a strategic plan for The Episcopal Church Center and the Executive Council which addresses mission…

The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church has issued the following message following the conclusion of its three-day meeting at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, MD. A Message to The Episcopal Church from the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Linthicum, Maryland, June 16-18, 2010 In the 1960s…

As we move through another election season, The Episcopal Church urges all citizens to uphold the fundamental principles of our democracy. A cornerstone of our democratic system is the peaceful and orderly transfer of power, which has been a hallmark of American governance for centuries. Election interference and disruption, whether through the spread of misinformation or…

 The Episcopal Church website – www.episcopalchurch.org – has undergone a complete transformation and redesign into a welcoming, eye-appealing, easy-to-navigate, experiential site. Launched on December 28, the new website features a motif of stained glass windows, each of which holds a small piece of our contemporary church. Taking direction from newcomer research, the design is steeped,…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

The Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson, PhD, Canon to Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, is the featured speaker on Sunday, June 26 and Sunday, July 3 on “Day 1,” the nationally syndicated weekly ecumenical radio program produced by the Alliance for Christian Media. In his sermon for June 26, entitled “God Will Provide,”…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori highlighted areas of increased focus and activity at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. last Thursday evening. In challenging her audience to find their passions, Jefferts Schori addressed efforts to re-focus, re-imagine and re-invigorate. The Library of Congress provided an historic setting for the Presiding Bishop's remarks….

Welcome to “Love God, Love God’s World,” an Episcopal creation care curriculum rooted in love, compassion, and justice. Modeled after the church’s Sacred Ground curriculum, which focuses on faith and race, this film- and readings-based, small-group curriculum looks at many facets of environmental stewardship and justice. It is designed for people new to this topic as well as those who…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  Join us each week as we share new prayers for the…

“Our role here on God”s good earth is to be servants of creation,” offers Michael Schut, Economic and Environmental Affairs Officer of The Episcopal Church, in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. Presented in The Episcopal Church”s popular Sermons That Work series, Schut notes, “Following the celebration of Easter, Earth…

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)  We invite you to join us as we share new prayers…

Welcome to “Love God, Love God’s World,” an Episcopal creation care curriculum rooted in love, compassion, and justice. Modeled after the church’s Sacred Ground curriculum, which focuses on faith and race, this film- and readings-based, small-group curriculum looks at many facets of environmental stewardship and justice. It is designed for people new to this topic as well as those who…

Note: this is the another in an ongoing series discussing the governance of The Episcopal Church. In a few days, the CCABs of GC will gather at a huge meeting in the Windy City. In regular, non-church language, that means that the Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards (CCABs) of General Convention (GC) of The Episcopal…

The Episcopal Church is governed by a bicameral General Convention, which meets every three years, and by an Executive Council during interim years. The General Convention consists of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. The House of Bishops is composed of every bishop with jurisdiction (diocesan bishop), every bishop coadjutor, every suffragan…

… The work before us today may seem merely procedural. But friends, it is also spiritual. Governance in this church is one of the ways we bear public witness.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has announced appointments to the House of Bishops Committees for the 2013-2015 triennium as well as the bishop appointments to the General Convention Joint Committees and Standing Commissions. Appointed by the Presiding Bishop are: Court of Review for Trial of a Bishop:  Bishops Scott Barker of Nebraska, Frank…

The results of the Strategic Planning survey indicate youth and young adults, evangelism and elements of congregational life are top on Episcopalian”s suggestions for the future. The results of the Strategic Planning survey were shared with Executive Council at the group”s recent meeting in Memphis, TN. Complete results from the Strategic Planning survey along with…

The following is A Communique issued by Primates and Bishops of Africa and The Episcopal Church on a recent groundbreaking meeting.     A Communique: Transformation through Friendship   October 8-10, 2014 The General Theological Seminary, New York City   We speak as six Primates representing Burundi, Central Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, and…

In consultation with Presiding Bishop-Elect Michael B. Curry, Bishop Stacy F. Sauls, Episcopal Church Chief Operating Officer, has announced two senior staff appointments at the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society that will become effective November 1 when Bishop Curry begins his term as Presiding Bishop and Primate. The two staff positions – Canon to the…

United Thank Offering Started by women in 1883, the United Thank Offering has become one of The Episcopal Church’s most enduring and impactful ministries, raising more than $146 million to fund some 5,500 projects worldwide, from water-filtration systems in Louisiana to prison support outreach in Ghana.  The funds come from the United Thank Offering’s yearly Ingathering,…

A spiritual discipline of Christian stewardship in which an individual offers a portion of their income to the church, traditionally one-tenth, as a grateful response to God’s love.

“What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear this Gospel? Do you wonder if you are one of the rich people whose wealth will make it next to impossible to get into heaven? Have you ever heard this Gospel used in stewardship campaigns in which the prescribed fix or remedy for…

The Episcopal Church Executive Council is accepting nominations for a clergy member to fill an unexpired term that became vacant when the Ven. J. Stannard Baker died on June 23.

“How much should I give to the Church?” This is the dilemma faced by most Episcopalians each year around this time as they consider their pledge and annual giving to the work of the church. As a Sunday bulletin insert from the Ecumenical Stewardship Center explains the issue, “People are often asked to give the…

The on-demand video is now available for the groundbreaking forum initiated by the Episcopal Church, The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment at www.episcopalchurch.org/intersection During the two-hour presentation originating from the Cathedral of St. Mark’s in Salt Lake City, UT, experts from religious, political and community-organizing areas examined the impact of Can Sustainability Initiatives Lift…

This is the time of the year when congregations begin to think about the annual stewardship Sunday, or, as one colleague calls it, “The Fall Begathon!” In most congregations, this season is dreaded by the leadership-but someone has to do it. If everything goes well, the budget is met by pledges and promises, and if…

Following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, by House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, which is meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this week.

At the opening Eucharist of the House of Bishops meeting in Phoenix, AZ, on September 16, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori noted in her sermon, “We”re actually here to change some light sources – to figure out how to bring more light into a world in great need of it.” Referring to the recent trip…

Following are the opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, by House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting June 23-25 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

Below is a list of groups affiliated with The Episcopal Church that provide resources, collaborations, ministry memberships, disaster assistance, and other services. Anglican Observer at the United Nations These web pages are a new educational resource to help Anglicans-Episcopalians around the world in a timely way as they seek information about issues, debates and actions…

The Governance of The Episcopal Church: The following information is another in an ongoing series discussing the governance of The Episcopal Church. General Convention 2015 is two years away, but Executive Council’s 2016-2018 triennium budget preparation process is well underway. “The new budget process is really a visionary budget process,” Executive Council member the Rev….

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the…

Benjamin Franklin once said, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Yet, despite the sage words from Mr. Franklin, pennies are often readily available; all one has to do is look on city streets – pennies are in abundant supply. People all the world over are happy to get rid of their pennies. Oftentimes, people…

Note: Biblical quotations are from the NRSV except for the Psalm quotations which are from BCP. Bible study is something we Episcopalians think is good for us, but oftentimes we avoid it like Cod Liver Oil. I want to begin this morning describing a Bible study format being used in this great church of ours….

You are welcome here. What we believe We believe our core work as Christians is to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. What kind of Christians are we? Find answers to your questions about what it means to be an Episcopalian. What makes us joyful? What are we…

Job 1:1; 2:1-10 It has been said that the Book of Job is where the Bible runs off a cliff! The text probes the mystery of suffering, but ultimately yields no satisfactory answer. The great contribution of Job lies in its realistic assessment of the explanations that traditional theology often provides for suffering. Those traditions…

The Governance of The Episcopal Church: The following information is another in an ongoing series discussing the governance of The Episcopal Church. The Executive Council Budget Subcommittee has issued its report on the results of the survey on the diocesan asking formula that was sent to bishops and deputies in August, to help the committee…

The Pharisees despised the Herodians with good reason. Like their namesake, Herod, the Herodians cooperated with the Roman occupiers and oppressors. The Pharisees, though not advocates of violent revolution, were loyal to Judaism and its God. The Herodians put political expedience first; the Pharisees put the Jewish faith first. So, it must have come as…

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. It is a delicate to talk about things…

[RCL] Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 In these parables, we almost always look at the lost sheep or the lost coin. We imagine ourselves as the one lost and Jesus leaving all the others to find us. Or perhaps we imagine ourselves as part of the obedient flock, the ones…

Are you an Episcopalian with a passion for climate justice and creation care? You don’t have to be an expert to get involved in tangible ways that make a difference. Is your congregation in an eco-region network? Get plugged in with organizers. Dig in with a small group to learn how to “Love God, Love God’s World” in nine immersive sessions. Consider signing up for a free, four-hour climate…

The easiest way for a preacher to deal with the challenging story in today’s Gospel reading might be to understand it as simply a metaphor for events we already know well – another tale of deadly confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish leadership of his day. As we heard at the end of the passage,…

The Episcopal Church calls upon all of its members to study, understand and utilize the Just War tradition developed over the centuries (General Convention resolutions 2003-A033 and 2003-A132).  The following is an overview of the Just War tradition written with the Church’s military chaplains in mind, and intended to assist them in their ministry to those…

Before it was a noun, “thanksgiving” was a verb. The difference matters. A desert father once said: “If you have a chest full of oranges, and leave it for a long time,the fruit will rot inside of it.It is the same with the thoughts in our heart.If we do not carry them out by physical…

Before it was a noun, “thanksgiving” was a verb. The difference matters. A desert father once said: “If you have a chest full of oranges, and leave it for a long time,the fruit will rot inside of it.It is the same with the thoughts in our heart.If we do not carry them out by physical…

The Episcopal Church’s Finance Office seeks to exercise faithful stewardship through administration of the annual budget and triennial budget and management of the church’s liquidity and endowment assets. In 2025, we began an initiative to offer guidance and support to Episcopal congregations and dioceses in the areas of long-term financial planning and real estate development. As we seek to serve God and others well as a church, managing our financial…

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 There are times of great suffering in which we may feel that all hope is lost and that there may never be joy in our souls again.  This may be triggered by the loss of a loved one or from a tragedy in your local community or nation.  There are painful events in…

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Who knew that we could talk about stewardship in some time of the calendar year other than September, October, or November? This passage from Deuteronomy helps us to recall that everything that we have is a gift. All that is, is God’s, not ours – we have only received a portion. We return…

Corporate Social Responsibility One way we embody our faith through civic engagement is to advocate for corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investing. Through the partnership of our Finance Office, the Executive Council’s Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, and our Division of Public Policy, Partnership and Witness, we are mindful of how we invest our churchwide assets; we engage corporations about their practices; and we submit shareholder resolutions…

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 All is vanity, all is vanity. This reading seems similar to an episode of Oprah. Your work is vanity, my work is vanity, everyone’s work is vanity! Even so, it makes a valid point about our concern for the world. When we labor, we know that our labors, in the end,…

Welcome Welcome to The Episcopal Church (virtual) Undercroft! We know that much of the real work of parish life gets done in basements, coffee hours, and other unofficial settings, and we have gathered and named this content in honor of those spaces. These resources are primarily intended for those active in church work—governance, leadership formation, communications, stewardship, and much more—to assist you with your ministry. Not finding what you are…

This is a fundamental question for all of us: How much is enough? Especially at this time of year when words such as “stewardship,” “pledge,” “proportional giving,” and “tithe” are in the air. Luke has told us in no uncertain terms that Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus talks endlessly…

Genesis 1:1-2:4a The stories of creation in the Bible are a few of the enigmatic and disputed narratives in history. Countless scholars and avid readers of the Scriptures have attempted to shed light on the meaning behind the Jewish version of the origin of human beings and the world as we know it. Amidst all…

[RCL] Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 The part of Isaiah that this reading comes from was written before the Babylonian Exile and is part of a series of oracles against Judah and Jerusalem. Judah was the southern part of what was once the united kingdom of…