Episcopal Parish Network

Episcopal Parish Network Strengthening leaders for a changed and changing church through connecting, equipping, and diversifyi

Episcopal Parish Network inspires its member parishes to be leading voices in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and powerful catalysts for Christian witness and social justice in the Episcopal Church and the world.

What does courageous Christian leadership look like in a world reshaped by questions of belonging, identity, justice, an...
08/19/2026

What does courageous Christian leadership look like in a world reshaped by questions of belonging, identity, justice, and faith?

At EPN 2027 Denver, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of the Diocese of Chelmsford in The Church of England, joins EPN member the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC, for a Main Stage conversation on faithful leadership and the Church's witness in a changing world.

Their journeys are distinct, but both have shaped how they understand faith, leadership, and the Church's place in public life. Together, they'll explore what this moment asks of Christian leaders—and how the Church can respond with courage, hope, and a compelling witness to the Gospel.

Learn more at https://episcopalparishes.org/epn-2027/

Mark your calendars. 🗓️ Registration opens October 14!

TODAY, Wednesday, August 19, at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CTStanding Firm in the Margins - Encountering the Kingdom of GodWhere...
08/19/2026

TODAY, Wednesday, August 19, at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT
Standing Firm in the Margins - Encountering the Kingdom of God

Where is the Church called to stand in a divided world?

Fr. James Martin, SJ — Jesuit priest, editor at large of America Media, and a leading voice for justice, hospitality, and inclusion in the Catholic Church — joins Fr. Charlie Bączyk-Bell, Church of England priest, forensic psychiatrist, and theologian, to ask what it means for the Church to dwell with the marginalized in solidarity and friendship, especially migrants and the displaced.

At a moment when migration has become one of the defining fault lines of contemporary politics, and populism increasingly casts the stranger as threat rather than neighbor, they ask what a healthy, hospitable Church can offer a world riven by division.

The conversation also presses into harder territory: an honest reckoning with colonial guilt, and a candid look at churches as, in part, products of empire — raising the question of what genuine unity requires now.

Underlying it all is a single conviction worth testing: a church that chooses to dwell in the margins rather than at the center isn't diminished, but becoming more fully itself, closer to the Kingdom it proclaims. A church willing to name and confront oppression in all its forms might just see the face of God in the other, as Christ tells us we will.

Register to join us live or watch on your own time -- we'll send you the recording. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O4EcE_vGQpOi-0yHhB9_Zg

TODAY, Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CTPreaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's WordThe se...
08/18/2026

TODAY, Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CT
Preaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's Word

The sermon doesn’t end when the preacher sits down. In fact, the sermon starts long before the preacher pens the first word and continues after the doors to the church close. The act of preaching is a conversation between God, the preacher, and the listeners.

The question is, are preachers attuned to the conversation? Preachers listen for God and proclaim the Good News, but there is more to the conversation than that. Join us for a discussion on preaching as conversation through the full spectrum of the preaching process—from engaging scripture, writing the sermon, post-sermon discussion, and the ongoing response from those who heard it.

Registration is open: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_mkrYIYcvQvufEz_HrWYAnQ

TODAY, Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CTPreaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's WordThe ...
08/18/2026

TODAY, Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT
Preaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's Word

The sermon doesn’t end when the preacher sits down. In fact, the sermon starts long before the preacher pens the first word and continues after the doors to the church close. The act of preaching is a conversation between God, the preacher, and the listeners.

The question is, are preachers attuned to the conversation? Preachers listen for God and proclaim the Good News, but there is more to the conversation than that. Join us for a discussion on preaching as conversation through the full spectrum of the preaching process—from engaging scripture, writing the sermon, post-sermon discussion, and the ongoing response from those who heard it.

Register to join us live or watch on your own time -- we'll send you the recording. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mkrYIYcvQvufEz_HrWYAnQ

A pair of can't-miss conversations this week.---TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 at 3:00 PM ETPREACHING AS CONVERSATION: LISTENING AND...
08/17/2026

A pair of can't-miss conversations this week.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 at 3:00 PM ET
PREACHING AS CONVERSATION: LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

In partnership with the Episcopal Preaching Foundation and Backstory Preaching, this session explores how preaching becomes a genuine dialogue between the pulpit and the pew. Join the Rev. Jo Nygard Owens, Rev. Lisa Cressman, Rev. Nikki Mathis, and Rev. Paul Fromberg as they unpack what it means to listen for God's Word and respond with authenticity.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 at 3:00 PM ET
STANDING FIRM IN THE MARGINS - ENCOUNTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

What does it mean to live out our baptismal identity in a divided world? Fr. James Martin, SJ and Fr. Charlie Bączyk-Bell sit down with the Rev. Miguel Bustos for a conversation on calling, courage, and Christian witness. Underlying it all is a single conviction worth testing: that a church that chooses to dwell in the margins, rather than at the center, is not a diminished church, but one becoming more fully itself, closer to the Kingdom of God it proclaims.

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Free and open to all. Register at the links in the comments or at https://episcopalparishes.org/upcoming-webinars/.

Thank you, Arlie Coles, for sharing the inaugural episode of the Gather podcast and for the kind words! It means a lot c...
08/15/2026

Thank you, Arlie Coles, for sharing the inaugural episode of the Gather podcast and for the kind words! It means a lot coming from someone with your expertise in AI and LLMs.

IT'S HERE! 📣EPN is excited to announce “Gather,” a new podcast about leadership, faith, and the future of the Church.In ...
08/13/2026

IT'S HERE! 📣

EPN is excited to announce “Gather,” a new podcast about leadership, faith, and the future of the Church.

In our first episode, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and Bishop Allen Shin sit down with Scott Lyon of Solace AI for a thoughtful conversation about what AI means for ministry and discipleship. Where can it strengthen our work? What should leaders be thinking about now? And what stays irreplaceably human? Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at episcopalparishes.org/gather-podcasts.

TODAY, Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CTAwareness, Prevention, and Resilience: Understanding Violence Risk in...
08/12/2026

TODAY, Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CT
Awareness, Prevention, and Resilience: Understanding Violence Risk in Today's Political Climate

Churches today are ministering in a social and political climate marked by deep polarization, heightened tensions, and growing mistrust. Across many communities, public institutions, faith organizations, and civic leaders are navigating new challenges as heated rhetoric, misinformation, and ideological conflict can contribute to harassment, disruption, and, in some cases, threats of violence.

This webinar explores how these broader dynamics can affect congregations and their ministries. Participants will examine factors that contribute to violence risk, learn to recognize early warning signs, and consider practical strategies for prevention, preparedness, and resilience. Grounded in the Church's commitment to faithful public witness, this conversation will offer thoughtful guidance for fostering safe, welcoming communities while remaining engaged in ministry during a time of social division.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Dkp8vGSUQXuDbS939h-BaA

Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CTPreaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's WordThe sermon do...
08/11/2026

Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CT
Preaching as Conversation: Listening and Responding to God's Word

The sermon doesn’t end when the preacher sits down. In fact, the sermon starts long before the preacher pens the first word and continues after the doors to the church close. The act of preaching is a conversation between God, the preacher, and the listeners.

The question is, are preachers attuned to the conversation? Preachers listen for God and proclaim the Good News, but there is more to the conversation than that. Join us for a discussion on preaching as conversation through the full spectrum of the preaching process—from engaging scripture, writing the sermon, post-sermon discussion, and the ongoing response from those who heard it.

Registration is open: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mkrYIYcvQvufEz_HrWYAnQ

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