By: The Rev. Canon Giulianna Cappelletti Gray
The Big Provincial V Gathering (BPG) of the Episcopal Church was hosted last weekend in South Bend, Indiana. A sizable group from the Diocese of Indianapolis were among the attendees for this event who had gathered from across the Midwest to teach, learn, and connect with others who care deeply about the ministry of the Episcopal Church.
If you’re like most Episcopalians, you likely do not spend a lot of time thinking about the provincial structure of the church! This gathering, however, has reminded me of the tremendous resource the province offers to us in our ongoing work.
The 111 Dioceses of the Episcopal Church are divided into nine regional provinces. As part of Province V, ours includes much of the Midwestern United States, including the dioceses in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Each province has a bit of its own culture and traditions. Province V strikes me as being remarkably collaborative, hospitable, and serious about congregational vitality.
The Rev. Heather Barta, the Province V Coordinator, leads the Chicago- based organization with enthusiasm and generous welcome. The province provides opportunities for connection (both for people and resources), networking, and mutual support across diocesan lines. One of the ways they do this is through the Big Provincial Gathering (BPG).
The gathering last week began with legislative work necessary in preparation for General Convention in Louisville this June. On Friday evening, our numbers grew as approximately 250 bishops, priests, deacons, and laity from across the Midwest worshipped together at First Presbyterian Church in South Bend.
The wide variety of workshops offered the Saturday morning exemplified the province living into its mission. Attendees were offered options for workshops ranging from best practices for advocacy, building leadership capacity, dismantling racism, engaging with indigenous communities, implementing safe church policies, innovative practices in the church, theological formation, young adult and campus ministries, migration ministries, best practices for ministering to LGBTQ+ youth, and more! Workshop presenters volunteered their time to be there, and each person with whom I interacted was eager to build relationships for future collaboration and resource sharing.
The Big Province V Gathering was beautiful in its simplicity, and it infused me with a sense of hope for our church. The culture of curiosity, humility, and learning was inspiring. I left South Bend giving thanks for the ways that the whole body of the faithful is connected across the lines that separate us. When we find ways to share our resources and work together, we are not only more resilient, but we are living into the mission of the church to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
I encourage you to take a few moments to learn about Province V if it is new to you. There are several ongoing communities and resources that could be resources for you and the communities that you know and love here in the Diocese of Indianapolis!
