Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

09/02/2026

Join Contemplative Underground for a workshop on contemplative prayer and nonviolent resistance during a critical election season for our country.

Register here: https://www.contemplativeunderground.org/events

08/30/2026

What an amazing weekend of fellowship with Episcopalians from all over the state!

We began with prayer at the beautiful Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Then we moved to St. Paul’s Indian Mission for noonday prayer, a delicious lunch, and an amazing opportunity to learn about and celebrate St. Paul’s unique history and culture through oral tradition, drumming, Dakota hymn singing, and dancing. Our evening ended with a tailgate and watching our own Bishop Monnot throw out a ceremonial pitch before a Sioux City Explorers baseball game.

Sunday morning, we worshipped together at St. Thomas’ before sharing one more meal thanks to St. Thomas and their South Sudanese worshipping community at St. Thomas.

A huge thanks to the many organizers and supporters at St. Paul’s Indian Mission and St. Thomas’ for hosting Episco-PALS!

If you attended, please feel free to share your favorite part of the weekend or drop your own photos in the comments! And be on the lookout for save the date information for our next Episco-PALS for spring 2027.

08/26/2026

Are you a young adult (ages 18 - 35ish)? If so, check out the opportunity below to gather with other young adults this fall.

Learn more and register here:
https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/young-adult

08/24/2026

It's not too late! You can still register for Episco-PALS in Sioux City on August 29-30.

Learn more and register here: https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/episco-pals

08/21/2026

REMINDER: The Fall Convocations Meeting is Saturday, August 22 at 9:00am. The agenda includes updates on diocesan ministries and a presentation on the 2027 draft budget. If you are interested in attending, be sure to register to get the Zoom link.

https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/upcoming-events-1/convocations-meeting-1

08/13/2026

As we prepare for Diocesan Convention this year, we invite members of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa to prayerfully discern whether God may be calling you to run for one of the many elected positions that help lead and serve our diocese. Following Jesus sometimes means having the courage to step forward, trusting in hope, and offering our gifts for the sake of the whole community.

You don’t need to have all the answers. Pray. Listen. Talk with others about your gifts and where you sense God calling you. If you’ve ever wondered, “Could God be calling me to serve?” we invite you to consider putting your name forward prayerfully. Nominations and endorsements are due August 25."
Offices for which elections will be held at the 174th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa 2026 include:

* Standing Committee member (1 Clergy, 1 Laity)
* Disciplinary Board member (2 Clergy, 2 Laity for terms expiring 2028; 1 Clergy for a term expiring 2027)
* Board Member (1 Clergy At Large, 1 Laity At Large for terms expiring 2029; 1 Clergy At Large for a term expiring 2028)

Additional information can be found on the Diocesan Convention Delegate Materials page. https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/delegate-materials

Please note: you do not have to be present at convention to stand for election.

08/10/2026

The deadline to register for Episco-PALS in Sioux City has been extended to August 26!

Join St. Paul's Indian Mission Episcopal Church and St. Thomas' Episcopal Church ~ Sioux City, Iowa on Aug 29-30 for a weekend of food, fellowship, and fun.

Learn more and register for this exciting event here: https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/episco-pals

08/06/2026

As our diocese continues discerning God’s call for our future, we are moving from listening to action. One opportunity that emerged from our diocesan listening process is the possibility of a diocese-wide capital campaign, in partnership with the Presiding Bishop’s Office and Vandersall Collective, to strengthen congregations, support clergy and lay leadership, and deepen our shared ministry.

To help us continue this discernment, an email with a link to a brief questionnaire (6 questions) was sent out to members of the diocese. Please check your inbox for an email titled "Vandersall Collective Questionnaire." Your feedback on the potential priorities and projects identified through our earlier listening process will help shape what comes next and determine whether this is the right time to move forward with a capital campaign.

The questionnaire will be open until August 17. All are invited to share your voice and vision. If you did not receive the email, please reach out to the diocesan office.

08/04/2026

This is an exciting call to serve with diverse and committed congregations in Sioux City and the Diocese of Iowa. The priest will serve 50% of their time with St. Thomas' and 50% as the Vicar of St. Paul's Indian Mission and the Beloved Community Missioner for the diocese.

Each week, St. Paul’s Indian Mission worships primarily in English, often singing from the Dakota Hymnal and hosts members of various tribes from the community for worship followed by a free community meal. St. Thomas’ has a traditional English worship service each morning and a South Sudanese service in the early afternoon. The priest will serve alternating weeks at each, and the lay leaders will lead Morning Prayer the other weeks.

Both congregations have a deep and longstanding commitment to feeding ministries in Sioux City.

We seek a priest who is willing to learn about and respect different cultures and ways of being and worshiping together, especially different Native and South Sudanese history and traditions. We want someone committed to the work of becoming beloved community, willing to help lead a team of people in the diocese who support dismantling racism training and provide life-long learning and formation that tells the truth about our history with race in Iowa.

We are looking for someone with good communication skills and who can help us address conflict in healthy ways. As our collaboration between St. Thomas’, St. Paul’s, and the diocese expands, we need someone with good organizational skills who is able to encourage and support new leaders to emerge and flourish in their calls.

We hope a spiritual leader will bring the scripture to life for our members in Sioux City. Administering the sacraments and bringing understanding and appreciation for the gospels through engaging homilies is a gift to us all. We appreciate humor and a leader who is willing to try new things. We seek a priest with integrity, honesty, and who is willing to serve alongside us so we can be a blessing to Sioux City and the diocese.

We will have ongoing needs related to loss, illness and need for support of friends and family. We pray for someone with gifts in pastoral care and who will seek out those gifts in others to help us create a robust ministry of care for our members and those in the community who seek spiritual care. We hope for someone with deep empathy and respect for all, and gifts for listening.

To learn more and apply visit:

Sioux City, St. Thomas and St. Paul’s Indian Mission and Diocesan Beloved Community Missioner - Full Time Priest, Profile, Portfolio. Status: Receiving Names

08/02/2026

"One bread, one body, one Lord of all..." was beautifully embodied today in the Spirit-filled joint ecumenical installation of Pastor Rodney Underwood as priest and pastor of both St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Gloria Dei ELCA in Durant, Iowa. Bishop Betsey Hawley Monnot and Bishop Amy Current joined both congregations in a service that began at one and together processed and continued at the other. May both congregations be a blessing to each other and to the wider community in this beautiful partnership!