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Join the ECC Truth & Reconciliation Commission as we discuss
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Holy Week Reflection
Dear Beloved,As this Lenten season began, I found myself once again in the Dominican Republic. Every year at this time a group of faculty, staff and students travel with me to communities on the island of Hispanola to learn and experience first hand the joys, challenges and hopes of subsistence farmers and immigrant field workers from Haiti. Host families open their lives and homes to us in a way that enables, even non-Spanish speaking sojourners to feel connected and welcomed as extended members of the family. Inevitably during our time in the beautiful mountain village of Arroyo de Toro, as part of learning about the community, we hike over dirt roads and narrow…
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Successful ECC Holy Synod 2022!
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion wrapped up its biannual synod in St. Louis, Missouri October 12, 2022. The four-day gathering celebrated the eight years of leadership of the ECC’s now-former presiding bishop Francis Krebs, and it elected, consecrated and installed its new presiding bishop, Paul “Pablo” Burson. You can find several photos from the event at the ECC Holy Synod 2022 Facebook page. More than 140 people gathered in person and virtually for this event. Please join us in thanking Bishop Francis Krebs for his service and for his tremendous ecumenical, bridge-building heart, as well as, Rev. Rosa Buffone & Father Teri Harroun of the ECC House of Pastors, Paula Hayford…
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Information Packet for Fr. Paul Burson “Pablo” from the Presiding Bishop Nominating Committee
Dear Members of the ECC Greetings in the Holy Spirit! We ask the Communion to hold our process, our Communion, and Fr. Paul in prayer: Big, Bold, and Beautiful God, we turn to You in our prayer, seeking Your Wisdom and Guidance for our Communion. This year we will gather for Synod 2022 intending to elect our next Presiding Bishop. May we lean into You as we discern together Your will for our beloved Communion. We all hold Paul Burson as candidate for Presiding Bishop in our prayers. What a tremendous “yes” he has offered to the Communion for the good of all. We also surround outgoing Presiding Bishop Francis Krebs in prayer, as well as gratitude. May each and every member of the Communion and all Synod delegates be open to…
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Announcement of the Presiding Bishop Nominating Committee (PBNC)
Presiding Bishop Francis Krebs in collaboration with the Leadership Council has formed the nominating committee for our next Presiding Bishop. With deep gratitude for their service to our beloved Communion, the members of the committee are: HOL representatives Sheila Leander Kis, Emmaus, WI and Claudia Kilby, Holy Angels, CA; Vice Chair Therese Gabriel, Sts. Clare & Francis, MO and Chair Paula Hayford, Emmaus, WI. HOP representatives Fr. Mir Plemmons, Emmaus, WA and Mthr. Cynthia Drew, Chaplain, NC; Vice Chair Fr. Teri Harroun, Light of Christ and Chair Rev. Rosa Buffone, Holy Spirit, MA. The nominating process is a two-part step. Details can be found in the ECC Statutes Article II…
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The ECC Bishops Retreat to the Mountains
While we were in Colorado for Kae’s consecration, Bishops Armando, Denise, Kedda, Rafe, Kae, and I made our biennial retreat together at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado. (Bishop Peter was unable to join us, however we are looking for ways to better include him in the college of bishops as he continues to improve from his stroke of three and a half years ago.) It is appropriate that we met in Colorado because it was there that we first crafted and signed what we call the “Colorado Covenant,” which is our pledge to each other to function collaboratively and cooperatively as followers of Christ. When this document was first crafted in…
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Consecration of Mother Kae Madden as Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Once again, the organizational and collaborative skills of virtually the entire RMR were on display, not to mention their faith and love. It was a great day for the RMR and for the ECC. Bishop Kae has already demonstrated her immense skills at “steering a diverse ship.” She is a consensus maker, and she does this by carefully listening to and perceiving of what others are expressing. To borrow from Paul’s image of the body, she is like a heart and brain that listens closely to what the ear, the eye, the hand, etc. is saying; and she helps them reach an agreement about a coordinated effort going forward. We look forward to where…
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Rocky Mountain Region elects local bishop
With great joy, the people of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) elected Mother Kae Madden. Following the model of the early church, the bishop was elected by those she serves: all of the lay and clergy members of the Region; and her election was formally affirmed by our wider Communion at our Holy Synod on July 18, 2021. Currently, there are 5 communities along Colorado’s Front Range: the Church of the Holy Family ECC in Aurora; Church of the Beloved ECC in Northglenn (where Bishop-elect Kae serves as pastor); Light of Christ ECC in Longmont; Mary of Magdala ECC in Fort Collins, and St. Paul…
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Emmaus in Oshkosh is hard at work.
The gospel story is filled with meals. It opens in a garden and ends in a feast. Emmaus Ecumenical Catholic Community in Oshkosh, WI has taken this message to heart. Emmaus, along with its host site parish of St. Paul United Church of Christ, is growing a garden together with the intent of distributing the food to local pantries as well as having a booth in front of the church for area locals.The idea was put forth by Emmaus member, Tim Grogan and caught fire with other Emmaus and St Paul members. This joint effort is part of the social justice focus of Emmaus and the call for ecumenism. Read more
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Change in Administrator of the Office of Presiding Bishop
Erin Outson who has served me and us faithfully since July, 2019, is moving back to Nebraska to be closer to her family and to begin a new career as a full spectrum doula. Many of you have gotten to know Erin and her work; she will be sorely missed by me and many of you. I am so grateful for her support, especially during the vicissitudes of Covid. We will be splitting the position in two (as it was before I became PB). Mary Vonderheide, a leader at Sts. Clare & Francis ECC here in St. Louis and a CPA, has agreed to take over the part of the Administrator job that relates…
