Documents for the Business of Convention Convention Homepage Documents will be posted as they are received. Please check back regularly. You are encouraged to either download these documents to a smart device (phone, computer, tablet) OR print these documents and bring them with you to convention. We will not be providing hard copies at convention. Resolutions Elected Leadership Budget

Our Stories “We’re not a collection of dioceses and institutions, a collection of ways of doing things. We are one church, one church in Jesus Christ. God has given us the ability to share our resources and talents and invest in ministry happening on the ground—ministry in which everyday faithful people, Christians all around the world, are building communities, advocating for justice, and saving lives." - Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe The Diocese of WNC has a rich history, from the mountains to the foothills. We want to share what makes the parishes in our diocese truly unique, from their histories to their events to their Sunday-afternoon yoga classes. We are excited to share a unique set of stories from our communities. Have something cool about your parish you want to share? Contact our Missioner for Communications. Find more stories on our diocesan YouTube Channel and visit our blog. Featured Stories: Barrier Breakers: Amplifying Voices of Color in the Diocese of WNC Nuestras Historias: Get to Know Our Latinx Leaders Disaster Response & Recovery Keep up with our Blue Ridge Service Corps Convention Videos 2025

Registration for Convention Convention Homepage Every lay delegate, clergy, guest, and visitor to Convention must register for Diocesan Convention. Please follow the links below to find the online registration form. CONVENTION REGISTRATION (NOV. 8)

Christian Formation for Children Engaging children and families to grow in their relationship with God and Jesus is a sacred ministry of the Christian community. Below are reflections and helpful words of wisdom from local parish faith formation leaders: A word from Beth Chestnut – Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville A word from The Rev. Joslyn Schaefer – Grace in the Mountains, Waynesville Here are a variety of curriculum resources for faith formation: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Digital Devotional Godly Play Building Faith Weaving God’s Promises Children's Sabbath Resources Here are a variety of curriculum resources for faith formation: Sticky Faith , by Dr. Kara E. Powell and Dr. Chap Clack The 5 Love Languages of Children and The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers , by Gary Chapman Shepherding a Childs Heart , by Tedd Tripp A Parent's Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis , by Rich Van Pelt and Jim Hancock Connecting Church and Home , by Tim Kimmel Raising Wise Children , by Mark Matlock

Find a Church - Interactive Map With breathtaking natural beauty and devoted communities, the Diocese of Western North Carolina is one of the fastest growing Dioceses in the country. Comprised of six deaneries, representing 15,000 Episcopalians, the Diocese of Western North Carolina supports regional and global mission efforts. Click on one of the areas below to learn more and see a list of churches. Asheville Deanery Western Deanery Mountain Deanery Foothills Deanery Piedmont Deanery Hendersonville Deanery

Convention Photos 2018

Latino/Hispanic Ministry Gathering On Sunday, September 26, 2021, the Latino/Hispanic communities of the Diocese of WNC gathering for the first time all together at St. John's Episcopal Church, Marion. The day included a worship service and baptism, shared lunch and time to connect, and community-building activities centered around the Body of Christ. A big thank you to all who attended this inagural event!

Becoming a Diocese As the missionary endeavors faithfully established and nurtured a growing number of Episcopal congregations west of the Catawba River, in 1895, the Missionary District of Asheville was founded. The Diocese of Western North Carolina was formally organized into an independent entity in 1922. The first bishop of both the Missionary District and the Diocese of Western North Carolina was The Rev. Junius Horner. Since Horner’s consecration in 1898, there have been six other Episcopal Bishops of Western North Carolina: Robert E. Gribbin (1934–1947); Matthew George Henry (1948–1974); William Weinhauer (1975–1990); Robert H. Johnson (1990–2003); G. Porter Taylor (2004–2016); and Bishop José A. McLoughlin (2016–2026), the seventh Episcopal Bishop of Western North Carolina. The search for the eighth bishop is currently underway. The Rev. Horner Junius <<>> Origins LEARN MORE Origins LEARN MORE LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle

Find a Church With breathtaking natural beauty and devoted communities, the Diocese of Western North Carolina is one of the fastest growing Dioceses in the country. Comprised of six deaneries, representing 15,000 Episcopalians, the Diocese of Western North Carolina supports regional and global mission efforts. Click on one of the areas below to learn more and see a list of churches. You may also use this standard map or the traditional list below, with churches listed in alphabetical order by deanery. Click here to download a PDF map of the diocese of WNC. Asheville Deanery Western Deanery Mountain Deanery Foothills Deanery Piedmont Deanery Hendersonville Deanery Use the search box to find a church, or scroll through the list, which is organized in alphabetical order by deanery.

Middle School Conference 2021 On Saturday, September 25, Middle School youth from around the diocese gathered at Lake Logan Conference Center for a day of retreat, games, conversation, and community.

Creation Care The Diocese of Western North Carolina is committed to the care of all God’s creation and supports congregations in this important act of stewardship. Below are a number of resources to enhance and inspire their current environmental ministries. Creation Care Alliance Guide LEARN MORE Creation Care Alliance Guide A Catechism of Creation LEARN MORE A Catechism of Creation LEARN MORE LEARN MORE North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light LEARN MORE North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light WNC Creation Care Stories Sacred Ground: Giving Garden Wins National Award Waynesville's wildlife haven at Grace Church in the Mountains won one of six awards from Interfaith Power and Light's 2023 Cool Congregations Challenge. The garden became an organic haven with composting, native plants, pollinator and wildlife certifications, an outdoor worship space, and a classroom for lessons on the natural world. Wild Wonder: A Hands-On Creation Care Experience for Children The Wild Wonder curriculum is designed for a 5-day camp for children ages kindergarten to 5th grade, focusing on connecting with nature and God. Based off Psalm 104, the curriculum invites children to "delight in God as creator, redeemer, and sustainer of all things by immersing them in the wonders of the created world." Representing TEC at COP 27 The Rev. Anna Shine, the diocesan missioner for Creation Care, attended COP 27 as a representative for The Episcopal Church. Reach out to The Rev. Anna Shine: ashine@diocesewnc.org .

Certificate of Election Convention Homepage “Canon 1 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church requires that lay delegates be confirmed adult (16 yrs. or older) communicants in good standing, enrolled at your church. The Certificate of Election verifies the election of lay delegates from each parish. This certificate is to be completed by the clerk of your vestry.” Certificate of Election is due Monday, October 19, 2026. Complete the Certificate of Election

Agenda Convention Homepage Details for agenda items will be added as they become available. Remember to download the Whova app for voting and to make the most of the convention.

Repairing the Breach The growth of the Episcopal Church in Western North Carolina rests in large part on the labor of enslaved people from most of the churches founding families. So many of these unnamed men and women are lost to history, but their contributions are honored. Likewise, in the aftermath of the Civil War and Emancipation, white church leaders, guided by complicated motivations of pastoral care and the growing sentiment of “separate but equal”, helped establish and build several churches for black Episcopalians. St. Matthias in Asheville, the first black congregation in the diocese, was founded in 1867 through the efforts of the Rev. Buxton and several prominent lay members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville. Years later, standing at the front door of St. Matthias, Bishop Horner—the first bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina—gazed westward on Mt. Pisgah and commissioned the Diocesan seal. Bishop Atkinson—the third bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina— led the church through the various challenges following the Civil War. Notably, Atkinson was a leader in placing the Church at the forefront of The Episcopal Church’s Freedman's Commission, which had been established following the Civil War. In addition to founding St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, he also led the attempt to build a high school and college for freed male slaves in Morganton. The funding began in the early 1870s, and construction started a few years later. It was called the Wilberforce School, so named for William Wilberforce, who led the end of slavery in England. Unfortunately, while one building was under construction, the work was halted "due to lack of funding," surely an indication of both the resistance of white Episcopalians and the bleak economic realities of Reconstruction in the South. St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Asheville, NC, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Alongside the missionary contributions of the Rev. McDuffey, another clergyman who contributed significantly to our diocesan life is the Rev. J. T. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was initially hired as a layman and called by Bishop Lyman—the fourth bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina—to teach and manage a school for black children in Franklin. This particular school operated a carpentry workshop where the students and Deacon Kennedy constructed church furniture for several churches in the diocese. In 1890, Bishop Lyman ordained Mr. Kennedy a deacon, and he faithfully served both St. Cyprian’s in Franklin and St. Matthias in Asheville. The Rev. Kennedy was ordained a priest in 1915, and in 1920 he was appointed Archdeacon For Colored Work to assist Bishop Horner with oversight of diocesan ministry among black Episcopalians. The Rev. J.T. Kennedy The Diocese of Western North Carolina played a significant role in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. As integration spread across the South, mandated by changes in Federal laws, the Southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church began to deal with the effects of racism in their parishes and institutions. Sadly, many diocesan summer youth camps closed for a time rather than addressing the controversy. Western North Carolina Bishop Matthew George Henry insisted that our diocesan summer camp at the In-the-Oaks Conference Center in Black Mountain would remain open and welcome all children, regardless of race. Bishop Henry had previously surprised the people of the diocese when, upon his consecration as bishop in the early 1950s, he moved the diocesan office to a log cabin in his backyard. Black members could not enter through the front door of the Asheville office building proposed for the new diocesan office, so Bishop Henry built the log cabin for his offices so that everyone would enter through the same door. The diocese remains committed to the radical inclusion of persons systemically disenfranchised due to race largely through the ongoing efforts of the diocesan Commission to Dismantle Racism. Although we recognize there will always be work to do, in 2011, we held a service of Repentance, Healing, and Reconciliation, a powerful capstone event following almost two years of study and reflection on the legacy of slavery in our diocese. Today, the Diocese continues to be blessed with the vibrant ministry and leadership of five historically black congregations — located across our region in towns from Morganton to Franklin — two of which intentionally merged with neighboring white Episcopal churches, in 2015 and 2014 respectively. Visit BarrierBreakersPilgrimage.org for more information. <<>> Origins LEARN MORE Origins LEARN MORE LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle

Disaster Resiliency Hub We are grateful for the support and partnership of Episcopal Relief and Development. On this page, you can find ways to help and get help as we recover from natural disaster in our region. STORIES & MEDIA RESOURCES & PREP Our Focus Our Impact Our Mission Our Values our FOCUS Household Recovery Spiritual & Mental Health Support Unmet Needs Congregation & Community Recovery Grants Care for Caregivers Program Resiliency & Preparedness Education our IMPACT Households 613 Individuals 3,454 Change Agents Trained 343 Partnerships Built 28 Counties Served 11 **Numbers updated quarterly | Updated on 7/13/26 our MISSION Leverage the gifts of our congregations, donors, and partners to support the recovery of impoverished and marginalized people affected by natural disasters in our region through building relationships and stewarding resources that center dignity and quality work at a sustainable pace for long-term recovery efforts. our VALUES Dignity & Respect, Professional Quality Standards Relationships Sustainable Pace Stewardship Bearing Witness: A Partnership Between DRRT & All Souls Counseling Center 2025 Congregation & Community Recovery Grant Impact Report In 2025, 11 churches across our diocese were awarded grants from our Disaster Response and Recovery fund in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development. These churches partnered with local community organizations to provide consistent and specific care to continue recovery efforts throughout the 2025 year. You can view the full Impact Report at the link below and learn more about the specific projects and faithful work that is happening in and through our diocese. 1/1 2025 IMPACT REPORT Disaster Response Team The Rev. Kelsey Davis Bishop's Deputy for Disaster Response kdavis@diocesewnc.org The Venerable Brenda Gilbert - Assistant Coordinator for Donations & Volunteers Dan Gilbert - Assistant Coordinator for Logistics & Technology The Rev. Oscar Rozo - Latino/Hispanic Community Support Mark Corson - Staff Assistant to Bishop's Deputy Volunteer Tony Coggiola - Field Consultant & Advisor Volunteer Email the Response Team

Exploring Our Churches: Foothills Area Up Back to Find a Church Sitting on the eastern boundary of the Diocese, the rolling foothills transition the Appalachians to the Piedmont. Marked by rivers, expansive farms and thriving communities, the Foothills Deanery is made up of eight parishes spread though five counties. Cities in the area include Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir and Marion. Major cities: Hickory Lenoir Marion Morganton Newton Wilkesboro Episcopal Church of the Ascension 726 1st Avenue NW Hickory, NC 28601 http://www.ascensionhickory.org/ (828) 328-5393 St. Alban's Episcopal Church 130 39th Ave Place, NW Hickory, NC 28601 www.stalbansparish.org (828) 324-1351 St. Mary's & St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 140 St Marys Church Rd, Morganton, NC 28655 St. Mary's St. Stephen's Website Facebook page Grace Episcopal Church 303 South King Street Morganton, NC 28655-3536 www.gracechurchmorganton.org (828) 437-1133 St. James Episcopal Church 806 College Avenue, SW Lenoir, NC 28645 www.saintjamesepiscopal.org (828) 754-3712 St. Paul's Episcopal Church 1865 N Powerhouse Rd Morganton, NC 28655 www.stpaullakejames.org (828) 584-0955 Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 750 W 13th Street Newton, NC 28658 www.epiphanynewton.com (828) 464-1876 St. John's Episcopal Church 289 South Main Street Marion, NC 28752 www.stjohnsepiscopalwnc.org ( 828) 652-4144 St. Paul's Episcopal Church 206 West Cowles Street Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697 https://stpaulwilkesboro.org/ (336) 667-4231

Youth Formation Resources Our diocesan Director of Lifelong Christian Formation, Eden Lewis, is happy to help congregations find curriculum and other resources for their youth ministries. Click on the links below to see some available resources. If you are looking for Children Resources click here. Calling all those who serve, lead, or volunteer in children’s ministry, youth ministry, or faith formation for families in your church, we’d love to have you join us for the Youth, Children and Family Ministry Book Club and Cohort! This fall, we’ll read Sustainable Children’s Ministry by Mark DeVries together, connecting through a weekly GroupMe conversation and just two Saturday morning Zoom gatherings. This is a low-commitment opportunity to learn together, share ideas, celebrate the wins, talk through the hard stuff, and build relationships with others across our diocese who understand the joys and challenges of ministry. (In the spring we will tackle Mark Devries other book, Sustainable Youth Ministry) You don’t have to be the “ministry expert,” and you don’t have to have it all figured out. You could be in the game for over a decade, being charged to rebuild your youth and children’s program, expanding your program or even just dreaming what having youth and children would be like in your church - if you care about children, youth and families, and help lead them in your church in any capacity, there’s a place for you here. Here is the Amazon link to order the book, it is also available on Kindle : Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions To sign up for the YCFM Book Club and Cohort, email Charlotte at youth@diocesewnc.org and she will send you the group code! Youth Program and Curriculum Resources General Unlearning Library ChurchNext Forward Movement LeaderResources Open Bible Learning Styles Living Compass Curriculum Story Makers NOOMA (Older Youth) - Study Guide Available Episcopal Curriculum for Youth The Source for Youth Ministry Egad! Ideas: Free resource for games, Bible studies, and more Fuller Youth Institute Cokesbury Youth Curriculum Options Liturgical Seasons Advent Lent & Easter Ordinary Time Youth Ministry Planning Resources Tips for Planning Your Youth Ministry Calendar (older but still relevant) Great Group Games Book Event Planning Notebook LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adult Resources Resources for Leaders Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Supporting and Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth Rainbow Theology: Bridging Race, Sexuality, and Spirit by Patrick S. Cheng Unclobber by Colby Martin Beyond a Binary God: A Theology for Trans* Allies byTara K. Soughers A Guide to Gender (2nd Edition): The Social Justice Advocate's Handbook Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth Trans Equality Queer Theology They/Them Questions Answered The Trevor Project: Resources Resources for Families Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming Children Transgender Children and Youth: Cultivating Pride and Joy with Families in Transition Love Boldly: Embracing Your LGBTQ Loved Ones and Your Faith Books for Young People My New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians by Amber Cantorna (best for older teens/young adults) The Coming Out Handbook Local Resources https://tranzmission.org/resources/ https://www.wncchs.org/trans-health

104th Annual Convention November 7, 2026 Lake Logan Conference Center Convention Agenda 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Registration opens Refreshments available in Dining Hall Morning prayer with Bishop Duckworth Business Session 1 Lunch Business Session 2 Business will conclude by 4:00 p.m. CONVENTION REGISTRATION 2026 Convention Speaker Shannon Rogers Duckworth was elected the 12th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana on May 14, 2022. She was ordained and consecrated on November 19, 2022. Prior to her ordination, Shannon served as the Canon to the Ordinary to the Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr. Before moving to Louisiana in 2013, she served in various positions throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, where she was born and raised. She is a 2001 graduate of the General Theological Seminary. She has two sons, Nicholas (20) and Tucker (16). James (Jimmy) Duckworth is a fourth-generation tire and automotive business owner. In 2007, he retired as Commander in the United States Coast Guard. An avid historian, Jimmy was a founding board member of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans; and alongside a team of veterans and former Higgins Industries employees, spearheaded the construction a LCVP landing craft for the museum. Shannon and Jimmy were married in 2021 at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans. Jimmy and Shannon’s home is in New Roads, Louisiana, a lovely small town nestled alongside an oxbow lake of the Mississippi River. In addition to spending time with Nicholas and Tucker, they appreciate stepping away from the busyness of life to recharge in a beautiful country setting. You can regularly find them gardening, working on the property, refurbishing old homes, boating, and riding along the levees hunting feral hogs in their 1987 Suzuki Samurai. They have also relished the opportunity to travel across the diocese of Louisiana over the past 9 years and look forward to what’s ahead. Map of Lake Logan Interactive Map of Lake Logan Nominations & Resolutions LEARN MORE Documents for the Business of Convention LEARN MORE Certificate of Election LEARN MORE Coming to Convention with Intentionality LEARN MORE Budget Presentation LEARN MORE New Delegate Orientation LEARN MORE Accommodations LEARN MORE Summer Memo 2026 LEARN MORE

Resources for Deacons The diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina has been a vital and active ministry for over 30 years. This diocese currently has 26 active deacons and many “retired deacons” who continue to serve the diocese and their communities through ministries that include community gardens, transitional housing, ministry to those incarcerated, parish nursing, and many other ministries. If you are a deacon who has moved to our diocese, we welcome you and look forward to discerning together possible areas of ministry and service. Please review the Requirements for Licensing and contact the Bishop’s office and the Archdeacon to let us know you are here, whether or not you wish to continue in active ministry. Our Deacons Manual is written primarily for ordained deacons serving in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. When a person senses God’s call to Holy Orders, or when someone suggests to an individual that he/she consider Holy Orders, then the individual should refer to the Commission on Ministry Manual , recently updated in October 2021. If you have any questions regarding the content of the Deacons Manual, please contact the Archdeacon of the diocese .

Building Vital Congregations Congregational Vitality Ministry is an extension of the Bishop’s commitment to equip and empower our congregations for vibrant mission and ministry. We do this by providing a variety of resources to church leaders so they can then initiate new programs, practices, or paradigms that lead the whole community to be Jesus’ people in the world. One particular resource that can be immensely valuable is the Church Assessment Tool (CAT). This tool, administered by Holy Cow Consulting, is a time-tested survey instrument that allows congregations to identify key areas of parish life to celebrate or refine. If your parish is interested in learning more about the congregational vitality resources and consultants, please contact Canon Augusta Anderson . Grants The Diocese of Western North Carolina offers annual Congregational Vitality grants to support churches in their redevelopment work. Congregational Vitality grants are for the purpose of congregational vitality, development and innovation, and not for maintenance. Funds for these grants come from the Diocesan budget. Visit our Grants & Loans page for more information. Click on one of the links below to learn more about each topic: Discerning Your Congregation's Needs LEARN MORE Discerning Your Congregation's Needs LEARN MORE LEARN MORE Useful Books and Web Resources LEARN MORE Useful Books and Web Resources LEARN MORE Holy Cow Consulting LEARN MORE Holy Cow Consulting