Dear people of God, the bishops of The Episcopal Church gathered in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic, send greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We are deeply grateful for the generous hospitality offered by our siblings in Christ in the Dominican Republic, and we give thanks for the faithful and visionary leadership of their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Moises Quezada Mota, and his wife, Mary Jeannette. We also give thanks for the presence and leadership of our presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, and we renew our commitment to the work of missional partnership and collaboration as together we seek to be a wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.

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.

Karla duPlantier, who served most recently as the Latino/Hispanic ministries coordinator in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, has been named interim missioner for the church’s Office of Latino Ministries.

New Episcopal Community grant applications are open for dioceses and mission developers who are envisioning, planning, or growing new worshipping communities and missional enterprises throughout the church. The deadline to apply is Sept. 23, with grantees announced after the Executive Council meeting in late October.

The Rev. Jason Shank, who brings years of experience in church planting and ecumenical congregational vitality and transition, has been named interim church planting network strategist for The Episcopal Church.