Piedmont Deanery Dinner On Tuesday, May 10th, the Piedmont Deanery of the diocese gathered at the Laboratory Mill in Lincolnton, NC for a celebration of their deanery and community. To learn more about this event, please visit our Centennial Deanery Dinners Page .

The Presiding Bishop event at Trinity Episcopal Church

Centennial Weekend On the weekend of Nov. 11–13, 2022, the Diocese of Western North Carolina celebrated it's 100th anniversary. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preached a special Revival service Sunday, Nov. 13.

College Ministries Welcome! Our college ministries are inclusive and loving communities open to anyone — no matter your race or ethnicity, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Please join us as we strive to spread Christ’s love with each other and to those around us. Campus Ministry at WCU Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, NC Campus Ministry at WCU is our newest campus ministry, but quickly growing and forming a presence on the WCU campus. The group meets weekly on Wednesday nights at St. David's in the Valley Episcopal Church right off the main campus of Western Carolina University. Facebook Page | Instagram | Email the director Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry Appalachian State University - Boone, NC The members of the Presbyterian Episcopalian Campus ministry (PECM) welcome all. Please join us as we strive to spread Christ’s love with each other and those around us. We meet on Tuesdays from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at 3rd Place. Our weekly programs always include dinner and a rotation program such as Ted Talks, service projects, and worship. Website | Facebook Page | Instagram | Email the director Christian Athlete Circles is an athlete ministry designed to accompany student-athletes as they explore and deepen their faith, make meaning of society, ritualize their joys and griefs, celebrate their belovedness, engage in activism, and create Beloved Community. CAC provides training and coaching, guidelines, curriculum, resources, and spiritual mentorship to anyone looking to start a Circle on their campus. Currently, CAC hosts Circles on various college campuses and a virtual circle for all former and current student-athletes. Website | Instagram | Email the director Christian Athlete Circles Congregation to College The purpose of Congregation to College is to keep our young people connected to a faith community as they enter a new phase of life. We would love to keep in contact with our young people during this new journey and help them find a loving and supportive faith community.

Towel Ministry What is Towel Ministry? Towel Ministry provides youth, rising 8th grade through graduating seniors, the opportunity to be the "hands and feet" of God through a mission experience focused on home repair and building relationships with our WNC neighbors. We offer two 5-day sessions of Towel Ministry in June. The work primarily includes making housing improvements, repairs, and maintenance for elderly, disabled, and marginalized people. Typical work projects might consist of handicap access, painting, yard clean-up, and other simple projects that can be managed by a small group. Towel Ministry strives to be the embodiment of walking the talk of the Church and sharing God's love through relational ministry. The name "Towel Ministry" is representative of Jesus's servant heart, as shown by his act of washing and drying the disciples' feet. John 13:1-17 Summer 2027 This summer, we will be offering two sessions of Towel Ministry Mission Experience for youth (rising 8th graders to graduated 12th graders). We will be based at Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher, NC. Our worksites will be within a 45-minute drive of the church. General Information: June 13-19, 2027 Cost : $500 per person, includes all meals, lodging, and evening activities. We request that groups bring at least one adult with construction experience, formal or informal, as well as follow all Safe Church chaperone requirements. For registration information or general questions, please email Charlotte Garcia Employment & Volunteer Opportunities Work with us! We have positions available this summer for individuals interested in assisting with the Towel Ministry. We hire young adults to serve for the two-week sessions. Employment Opportunities (Job Descriptions coming soon) Counselors Materials Manager Volunteer with us! Volunteers are a huge part of Towel Ministry because they provide the opportunity for intergenerational relationships to be built and model what it looks like to serve others. Volunteer Opportunities: Health Professionals Kitchen Manager & Assistants Program Assistance Jobsite Support Click for Detailed Job Descriptions If you have questions, please email Charlotte Garcia Our Mission The Mission of Towel Ministry is about spreading the Gospel through action by being the hands and feet of God in the communities that we serve. There are three equally important missional components to the week: Action This relates to home improvement project at hand. The adults and the youth will either be actively working to complete a project or assisting with the management of the worksite. Relationship Building relationships with the homeowners is as equally as important as completing the project. Being open and available for conversation and connection with the homeowner is a missional pillar of Towel Ministry. Helping a new friend push back loneliness and isolation, even for a little while, may be the best Good News that person has heard in a long time; the home improvements are welcome, but in very they are a bonus to building new relationships. Spreading the Good News of the Gospel At Towel Ministry we spread the Good News of the Gospel through our actions and our words. This is shown through the work we do on the project and the relationship built between us and the homeowners. We are not there to just “fix” a house but to show that we love and care about the homeowner and the community we serve. The History of Towel Ministry Towel Ministry began as the brainchild of the late Deacon Cris Greer and the late Rev. Gene McDowell in the 80s. It evolved as a response to the need in our community for housing improvements, repairs, and maintenance. The first camp operated out of a volunteer fire department with a total of sixteen participants. Since that time, Towel Ministry has grown and spread. From its modest beginnings in the very western tip of the state, the ministry has spread across the Diocese of Western North Carolina and beyond.

Convention Homepage 102nd Annual Convention Speaker We are thrilled to share that our keynote speaker will be renowned Cherokee scholar Mr. Thomas Belt. Mr. Belt retired in 2018 as coordinator of Wester Carolina University’s Cherokee Language Program. His work to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language and traditional culture have had profound significance, not only for the region, but the nation as well. As a teacher and scholar at WCU, he developed vital materials for teaching Cherokee language and prepared multiple cohorts of students to read, speak and teach Cherokee language themselves. Mr. Belt has worked closely with the American Philosophical Society and the Smithsonian Institution to develop and enact protocols for the treatment of Cherokee archival materials, in particular culturally sensitive materials in the Cherokee language. He also served as a consultant to multiple university programs, providing regular addresses and workshops at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford, Yale, Duke and Wake Forest regarding the importance and significance of indigenous languages and the worldview of Cherokee culture. Tom was raised in a Cherokee-speaking family in Rocky Ford, Oklahoma. He later moved to the Eastern homelands in the early 1990s. He continues to live on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians where he first worked as a teacher in the Cherokee Central Schools. Pre-Convention Workshops Explore a diverse range of speaker workshops at our convention. From Tagan Crowe's insights on plants and medicine to Dr. Ben Steere's exploration of Cherokee Mounds, delve into history, culture, and archaeology. Join Sue Abram and Angelena Jumper for a poignant discussion on the Trail of Tears and Junaluska's story. Conclude the day with Kathi Littlejohn's captivating tales as an ECBI storyteller. Register Now Our 2024 Workshop Leaders Tagan Crowe Medicinal Plants Ben Steere Cherokee Mounds Sue Abram and Angelena Jumper Trail of Tears and Junaluska's story Kathi Littlejohn Cherokee Stories Register Now

Our Mission Walk in the Way of Jesus. Change the World. The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina is part of the worldwide Jesus movement. Together, as a community of 61 year-round congregations, five summer chapels, two conference centers, a summer camp, one retirement community, and one parochial school across the 28 westernmost counties of the state, we collectively witness to God’s love for the whole world. We believe we are partners in God’s mission to: “restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." -Book of Common Prayer, page 855.

New Delegate Orientation Convention Homepage The New Delegate Orientation meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 28 at 6 p.m. New delegates will need to register for this orientation event and we will then email all new delegates the Zoom link Register for New Delegate Orientation

Job Openings On this page you will find job openings at parishes around the Diocese of WNC. If you have a job opening to share, please contact our Missioner for Communications . Part-Time Jobs Churchyard Administrator PARISH: Calvary, Fletcher LEARN MORE Pianist/Organist PARISH: St. Mary & St. Stephen's, Morganton LEARN MORE Children's Worship & Activities Minister PARISH: Grace, Asheville LEARN MORE Children, Family, & Youth Minister PARISH: Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville LEARN MORE Full-Time Jobs Priest in Charge PARISH: St. David's, Cullowhee LEARN MORE

Discern God's Call for Ministry In the Episcopal Church, we believe that all people are called to ministry by virtue of baptism. The process of identifying, celebrating, and using our talents and gifts in the church and in the world is understood as “discernment.” The Diocese of Western North Carolina encourages leaders at the parish level to be companions on the journey of discernment with every lay member as they discover how they are called to participate in God’s redeeming work in the world. Sometimes individuals, alongside their congregation, discern gifts that may suggest a call to ordained ministry of a deacon or a priest in the church. The diocese desires ordained leaders who will equip our congregations to adapt to new realities and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that speak to the varied contexts and cultures of our communities. Below, you will find documents you will need should you begin down the path of discernment. Commission on Ministry Manual Parish Lay Discernment Committee Manual Financial Costs of Pursuing Ordination Constitution & Canons, Title III Suggested reading for further discernment: For more information, contact the diocesan office at 828-225-6656. The Diocese of Western North Carolina is proud to be home to Iona WNC, a part of the Iona Collaborative , a consortium of dozens of Episcopal dioceses seeking to expand availability to a rigorous but accessible theological education. Click here to visit the Iona WNC page and learn more.

India In 2005, The Diocese of Western North Carolina embarked on a twelve year companion relationship with the Diocese of Durgapur in India. Through this partnership, we helped establish 7 schools, two hostels where the children live, one school for primarily Muslim children, three sewing centers, three chapters of the Order of St Luke's, two chapters of the Daughters of the King, and even one junior DOK chapter. In 2016, the diocese decided to officially conclude the companion relationship with the Diocese of Durgapur and initiated the “Friends of Durgapur”, a method to support ongoing sponsorships of children in need. If you would like to learn more about “Friends of Durgapur” and sponsorships, please contact Ms. Judi Gustafson .

Photo Gallery Centennial Weekend Hendersonville Deanery Dinner Piedmont Deanery Dinner Latino Community Gathering Resources for Resilience Retreat Camp Henry Day Camp 2020 Presiding Bishop Visit Asheville Deanery Dinner Mountain Deanery Dinner Indigenous Ministries Conference Middle School Conference 2021 Dismantling Racism Workshop Youth Conference 2020 Convention 2018 Western Deanery Dinner Foothills Deanery Dinner La Virgen de Guadalupe Western Deanery Confirmation Day La Capilla Clean-Up Day Convention 2019

Mountain Deanery Dinner On Tuesday, May 24th, the Mountain Deanery of the diocese gathered at the The Mill at Rock Creek in Boone, NC for a celebration of their deanery and community. To learn more about this event, please visit our Centennial Deanery Dinners Page .

Spanish Speaking Ministries Our Diocesan Missioner for Latino Ministries is the Rev. Oscar Rozo . Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Rozo's parents grounded both he and his two younger brothers in Christian beliefs and practices through their example and teaching. He is passionate about social justice, multicultural ministry, and community development. He enjoys playing and listening to music, hiking, and having family time. Read more about his vision for Latino Ministry here , or watch the video attached. During the 1990s, Bishop Robert Johnson and others recognized that Western North Carolina was becoming home for one the fastest growing Latino populations in the country. Bishop Johnson worked to establish our first Spanish-speaking mission at La Capilla de Santa Maria in Hendersonville and to call our first Latino Missioner, the Rev. Tim Hoyt. Today, the diocese has a vibrant Spanish-speaking ministry with four mission sites across the diocese, numerous parish ministries serving their Spanish-speaking neighbors, and two full-time Latino missioners. Our current Missioner for Spanish Speaking Ministries is the Rev. Oscar Rozo. If you would like to learn more about our Spanish Speaking Ministries, please contact the Rev. Rozo. La Misa en Español / Spanish Services in the diocese (find a map of our Latino Ministries below) La Capilla de Santa Maria in Hendersonville, every Sunday at 11 a.m. Trinity, Spruce Pine , every Sunday at 2 p.m. St. Mary’s and St. Stephen's , Morganton, every Sunday at 7 p.m. Church of the Savior , Newland, NC, at 5 p.m. Episcopal Church of the Epiphany , Newton, every Sunday at 10 a.m. (bilingual service) The Church of La Capilla de Santa Maria. The congregation at La Capilla, June 2021

Transition Ministries The primary shepherd of all Transition Ministry activities is the Bishop. When there is no Rector or Priest-In-Charge, the Bishop exercises oversight in collaboration with the Vestry in the administration of the congregation. Additionally, the Bishop oversees, in a general way, all of the activities of Transition Ministry, and gives or withholds consent to the calling of new parish clergy. Day-to-day support and guidance for congregations in transition is provided by the Associate Transition Officer (ATO). The ATO is the primary contact for questions, support, and training regarding search processes, letters of agreement, interviews and visits with candidates, election/selection processes, and any other transition activities. The ATO also assists clergy discerning the call to suitable ministry positions. Work begins when an opening is announced and comes to completion when the new ministry has been sealed by Letter of Agreement and celebrated by congregation, clergy, and bishop. Clergy interested in a position within the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina are invited to have a conversation with The Rev. Kevin Todd, Associate Transition Officer. Helpful Notes to Interested Clergy: If you would like to be considered for one of our parishes in transition, please email a copy of your resumé, your current updated OTM profile and a cover letter expressing your interest to the Associate Transition Officer. All names of interested candidates are initially received and screened through the Associate Transition Officer. Unless otherwise instructed by the Canon’s Office, please do not directly contact congregations that are in transition. All applicants must contact the Associate Transition Officer. This Diocese is committed to doing all it can to recruit the best qualified priests. We seek creative clergy of wide vision and diverse backgrounds who are not only excellent matches with a particular parish who also desire to participate in the life and work of our diocese. Likewise, the Diocese affirms equal opportunity employment. We do not discriminate against clergy applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Transition Ministry Resources: Clergy Leave-Taking Guidelines Helpful Checklist for Clergy Leave-Taking Policy on Clergy Leave-Taking Positions Available: Parishes discerning (in Interim) Trinity, Spruce Pine Ascension, Hickory St. Matthias, Asheville St. Luke's, Asheville Calvary, Fletcher St. David's, Cullowhee St. Mark's, Gastonia Christ Church, Sparta Church of the Messiah, Murphy Parishes seeking a Full-Time Rector/Priest-in-Charge (PIC) St. David's, Cullowhee Parishes seeking a Part-Time Regular Seasonal Vicar None at this time. Parishes seeking a Part-Time Rector/Priest-in-Charge (PIC) None at this time. Assistant Positions