Citing Title III, Canon 12, Section 7 of the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church, and following thorough discussion with the Council of Advice, with their advice and consent, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted the renunciation of the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church of Mark Lawrence as made in his public…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings have announced the 24 members of the special Task Force for Church Structural Reform. Approved at the July General Convention 2012, Resolution C095 calls for development of a 24-member task force charged with presenting a plan…

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has named Paul Nix, Esq. of Atlanta, GA as Legal Counsel for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS), effective immediately. Based at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City, Nix’s responsibilities include offering legal assistance on various projects and providing oversight on contracts, negotiations, and human resources matters,…

According to N. Kurt Barnes, Episcopal Church Treasurer, the Episcopal Church trust funds have experienced annual net returns after fees and expenses of 8.2% annually for the past 10 years ending September 30, 2012. Barnes made the announcement at the recent meeting of the Executive Council’s Investment Committee in St. Louis, MO. “This performance compares…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have issued a joint statement for World AIDS Day 2012. The text of the statement follows: World AIDS Day, on the first of December each year, offers an opportunity for reflection.  On this day, people…

Observing Advent in spiritual, faithful avenues via social media are being conducted by the Episcopal Church Office of Communication. Advent is the liturgical season that occurs four weeks prior to Christmas, beginning on Sunday, December 2.  Advent is a time of reflection and preparation.  The Episcopal Church Facebook page www.facebook.com/episcopalian and Twitter twitter.com/iamepiscopalian features special…

“Pray for an end to the conflict, an end to violence and the atrocities, that the needs of the suffering may be supplied, and that peace may prevail,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in calling for a week of prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo from November 26 – December 2….

The Office of Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has notified the Diocese of Lexington that Bishop-Elect Douglas Hahn has received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process. As outlined under Canon III.11.4 (a), the Presiding Bishop confirmed the receipt of consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction, and has…

The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has provided the following information after its inaugural meeting November 12-14. _____________________________________________________________The Members of the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop (JNCPB) were elected at General Convention 2012.  JNCPB is comprised of a bishop, a priest or deacon,…

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued a Pastoral Letter to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. The following is the November 15 Pastoral Letter from the Presiding Bishop. ______________________________________________________________________   Katharine, a servant of Christ, to the saints in South Carolina. May the grace, mercy, and peace of Christ Jesus our Savior…