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Formation Resources No matter what formation looks like, being together in community is a vital part of our lives as Christians. These resources are intended assist in formulating Formation opportunities even in the midst of these challenging times. Resources for Formation Godly Play Foundation Keeping Faith at Home with Children Lesson Plans that Work FORMA Vibrant Faith Forward Movement Recursos en español Looking for more resources? Youth Advent Lent & Easter Community-Building Resources Grow Christians Building Online Community The Art of Providing Spiritual Council Online Faith Formation Learning Exchange Building Beloved Community LGBTQIA Social Justice Recursos en español Episcopal Resources Church Publishing The Episcopal Church Foundation The Episcopal Church Foundation - Spanish Traveling the Way of Love Beloved Community

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.

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 http://www.epiphanynewton.org/ (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

Share the Good News Evangelism Toolkit Every Episcopalian is commissioned in baptism to proclaim by word and example the loving, liberating, and life-giving good news of Jesus Christ. Through the spiritual practice of evangelism, we name and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of all people - then invite everyone to join us in the journey of faith. The Episcopal Church has prepared this Evangelism Toolkit to help us live into that call. Download Evangelism Resources from The Episcopal Church. Transforming Evangelism, by David Gortner At once “travel guide” and vision for the future, the Transformation series is good news for the Episcopal Church at a time of fast and furious demographic and social change. Click here for more information .

Contact The Diocesan Office We are so excited to hear from you! If you wish to contact a member of our staff directly, please find their specific information here . Contact Us Submit Thanks for submitting!

Ministry at La Capilla de Santa Maria SPANISH EUCHARIST SERVICE - Sundays at 11AM Get Directions NUESTRAS HISTORIAS: Miguel Álvarez, La Capilla Watch this video to learn more about our Regional Missioner for Latino Ministries, Miguel Álvarez, and the ministries at La Capilla. If you want to learn more about Miguel, click here to read his full bio. La Capilla de Santa Maria (The Chapel of St. Mary) is our diocesan Spanish Mission Chapel and is located in Hendersonville, NC. The mission is to bring formation, faith, companionship, and education to their congregation, and support local Latino families and communities to build bridges between Latino and Anglo-Saxon culture. La Capilla has a deep history rooted in Western North Carolina. The property is also home to the Folwell House, where the members of our Blue Ridge Service Corps reside as part of the mission to connect the Anglo and Latino communities. If you want to learn more about the history of La Capilla, a brief history can be found in the article "The History and Legacy of La Capilla de Santa Maria," or a more extended narrative can be found in the book, "La Capilla de Santa Maria: A Spiritual Tapestry" by Joy Franklin.

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.

Prison Ministries The Diocese of Western North Carolina has a longstanding commitment to serving and ministering among our brothers and sisters incarcerated in local prisons. St. James Episcopal Church, Black Mountain and St. John’s Episcopal Church, Asheville are active in ministry at Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women. Local Episcopal clergy and lay leaders from Asheville, Brevard and Hendersonville are active at Chapel of Christ the King, a ministry to men at Craggy Correctional Center. Likewise, local clergy and lay leaders from Trinity Episcopal Church in Spruce Pine are active in ministry at Avery Mitchell Correctional Center. Below are resources that provide information on the state of prisons and the challenges faced by those within them. Local and National Ministries Kairos Prison Ministry of NC Ministry of Hope at SCCW Books and Movies Prison Nation: The Warehousing of America's Poor , edited by Tara Herivel and Paul Wright The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness , by Michelle Alexander Prison Culture: Understanding Prison Inside and Out , by Lennie Spitale Dead Man Walking The Green Mile 13th

The 97th Annual Convention -- November 2019

Seasonal Resources Find a variety of resources to help guide you through the different liturgical seasons below. Easter Resources LEARN MORE Easter Resources LEARN MORE Ash Wednesday & Lenten Resources LEARN MORE Ash Wednesday & Lenten Resources LEARN MORE Advent Resources LEARN MORE Advent Resources LEARN MORE

Human Resources Health Insurance - This page contains important information about our 2023 Health Benefits and Open Enrollment. Employee or Contractor? Download this document to learn the difference. Imputed Income – What is imputed income and how should it be reported for clergy? Learn more here . IRS Business Mileage reimbursement rate for the current year can be found here . Lay Pension Guidelines Guide to the Episcopal Church Lay Retirement Savings Plan (RSVP) and the Episcopal Church Lay Employee’s Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Guide to the Episcopal Church Lay Employee’s Defined Benefit Plan Clergy Pension Guidelines: This Guide to Clergy Benefits is designed to help you understand the provisions of The Church Pension Fund Clergy Pension Plan and other benefit plans available Safeguarding Our Churches: Please visit the Safe Church, Safe Communities page for m ore i nformation on Safeguarding and conducting a background check. New Hire Forms: W-4 NC-4 NC New Hire I-9 Church Pension Group Medical and Dental Enrollment Form Form to enroll in Church Pension Lay Employees’ Defined Benefits Plan Form to enroll in the Church Pension Defined Contribution (RSVP and Lay DC) Plan Form to enroll in Church Pension Group Term Life Insurance Long-Term and Short-Term Disability Coverage Church Pension Employment Change Form – New Assignment Notice and Change in Compensation

La Virgen de Guadalupe The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (La Virgen de Guadalupe) is a tradition originating in Mexico, celebrated on December 12th each year. Learn more about the tradition in this short video and look at these photos below to see how it is celebrated at our very own Capilla de Santa Maria in Hendersonville, NC.

Clean-Up Day at La Capilla

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

Youth Engagement Programs High School Retreats Spring and Fall Youth Retreats are weekend events for youth held at Valle Crucis Conference Center. Spring Conference is for youth in grades 8–12 and Fall Conference is for youth in grades 9–12. The weekend is led by the Youth Council; they choose a theme for each event and then design a program of learning, reflection, and fellowship to be offered at each conference. The retreat program consists of talks, small group discussion related to the theme, singing, dancing, worship, service projects, and games. Middle School Retreat Beginning in the Middle is our retreat for youth in grades 6–8 and traditionally takes place in late September. This retreat is designed to address and respond to spiritual issues, concerns, and needs of middle school aged youth by focusing on topics such as who is Jesus, peer pressure, friendship, parents, and prayer. The weekend is led by high school youth and consists of talks, skits, small group discussion, singing, worship, crafts, and games. Fellowship Events Throughout the course of the year we have several youth events just for fellowship and fun. These events change yearly but, in the past, have included an afternoon at Lake Logan, visits to trampoline parks, skating rinks, and other fellowship opportunities. More Information Go to the Upcoming Events page or click the button below for information on upcoming retreats and events. Or contact our Coordinator for Families, Children and Youth.

The Unlearning Library As a diocese, we are committed to the act of dismantling racism and to the work of building beloved community. This is done through education, discussion, and through trying to understand those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of racial background, language, or culture. In this library, we have compiled a variety of resources from in and around Western North Carolina — from readings to organizations — that help further the work of building this beloved community. You may search by category below. The name of this resource, the "Unlearning Library," derives from the idea of unlearning many of the preconceived ideas we have about people who are different from us. We hope this library acts as a resource to help us as we all strive to unlearn some of the ideas we may have been taught by society and to continue the work of building beloved community. Please note: This resource library primarily includes information from in and around WNC. We highly recommend the Virtual Library at the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing for additional reading. General Resources African American Latino/Hispanic Indigenous AAPI LGBTQ+ General Resources What is Beloved Community? Building Beloved Community - The Episcopal Church Dr. King's "Beloved Community" - via The King Center Organizations in WNC Working to Build Beloved Community Habitat for Humanity Beloved Asheville Pisgah Legal Services NC Council of Churches

Budget Road Tour Convention Homepage The process for developing and discerning the diocesan budget is an intentional process that involves multiple opportunities for participation from many people throughout the diocese. In the early part of every summer, a memo is sent out to the whole diocese inviting people to submit proposals for budget expenditures, including new mission initiatives or ministry programs. All submissions are reviewed by the executive team of the diocese, including the Treasurer, and then incorporated into a draft budget which is reviewed for any amendments by the Executive Committee of the Diocese at their August meeting. The dates for the 2025 Virtual Budget Road Tour is Wednesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. This proposed draft budget is then shared with the wider diocese every September through the annual Budget Road Tour. The 2025 Budget Road Tour will by Zoom. Copies of the draft budget are provided to those who participate in the September presentations. On these Budget Road Tour Zoom meetings, the executive team (Bishop, Treasurer, and CFO) presents the proposed budget, answers questions and welcomes participant suggestions. If any suggestions are offered, people are invited to provide creative ideas to maintain a balanced budget. The Executive Council reviews the draft budget at their October meeting and then presents a final draft to the annual Convention of the Diocese, no less than two weeks prior to Convention. Convention is the canonical body that adopts the annual diocesan budget for the proceeding year. 2026 Draft Budget Slides for 2026 Budget Road Tour

Creationtide 2021 Creationtide, or the Season of Creation, is an informal period in the church, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. During this season, all members of the Diocese of WNC are invited to deepen their connections with creation and celebrate the earth we are privileged to call home. Find resources below to help you get started, or visit our Creation Care page to learn more about how we care for creation year round. Resources from the Diocese of WNC LISTEN: "Chatting Creation Care with the Rev. Anna Shine and Sarah Ogletree" podcast Creation Care Resource Guide from the Diocese of WNC WATCH: The Mary Boyer Garden at St. Luke's, Boone The Creation Care Alliance of WNC Resources from the wider church What is the Season of Creation? - from The Church of England Creationtide Resources, liturgies, and more from the Church of England Season of Creation Resources from the Anglican Communion Learn more about Creation Care Ministries in the Episcopal Church Organizations to know Creation Justice Ministries Project Drawdown The Work that Reconnects Us Network NC Interfaith Power and Light Rural Advancement Foundation GreenFaith Energy Savers Network

Exploring Our Churches Asheville Area Up Back to Find a Church Centered in the Blue Ridge Mountains, home to the Diocesan offices and The Cathedral of All Souls, the Asheville Deanery covers two counties and holds twelve parishes. St. Matthias Episcopal Church, one of the oldest parishes in the diocese, was founded in 1865 for freed slaves. While Asheville is the most populous city in the Diocese, the deanery extends into the rural mountains. Major cities: Asheville Arden Black Mountain Mars Hill The Cathedral of All Souls 9 Swan Street Asheville, NC 28803 www.allsoulscathedral.org/ (828) 274-2681 The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 433 Bone Camp Road Marshall, NC 28753 www.holyspiritwnc.org/ (828) 689-2517 St. James Episcopal Church 424 W. State Street Black Mountain, NC 28711 https://stjameswnc.org/ 828-669-2754 St. Mary's Episcopal Church 337 Charlotte Street Asheville, NC 28801 http://www.stmarysasheville.org/ (828) 254-5836 Church of the Advocate 60 Church St Asheville, NC 28801 http://www.reddooravl.org/ (828) 253-9361 Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 1201 Riverside Dr Asheville, North Carolina 28804 https://churchoftheredeemer-episcopal.com/ Phone (828) 253-3588 St. John's Episcopal Church 290 Old Haw Creek Rd. Asheville NC 28805 https://stjohnsasheville.org/ (828) 298-3553 St. Matthias Episcopal Church 1 Dundee St Asheville, NC 28801 https://stmatthiasepiscopal.org (828) 285-0033 Grace Episcopal Church 871 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28804 https://www.graceavl.com/ (828) 254-1086 St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community 1617 Hendersonville Road Asheville, North Carolina 28803 https://deerfieldwnc.org/ St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 219 Chunns Cove Road Asheville, NC 28805 http://stlukesavl.org/ (828) 254-2133 Trinity Episcopal Church 60 Church Street Asheville, North Carolina 28801 http://www.trinityasheville.org/ (828) 253.9361