The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes

Jun 10

Michigan has new laws that can help prevent gun death by suicide and gun deaths related to domestic violence. The Extreme Risk Protection Order (sometimes called the "red flag law") allows a judge to temporarily remove firearms from someone who has become a danger to themselves or others. In the m...Read more

Michigan has new laws that can help prevent gun death by suicide and gun deaths related to domestic violence. The Extreme Risk Protection Order (sometimes called the "red flag law") allows a judge to temporarily remove firearms from someone who has become a danger to themselves or others. In the meantime, the person in crisis can access the mental health care or other resources they need to improve their situation. June is #GunViolenceAwarenessMonth and one way you can help end gun violence is by familiarizing yourself with the Red Flag law in Michigan which is particularly effective at preventing suicide and domestic violence homicide. This new law has only been active for a year, and many communities are not yet aware of how to use it. ***For our Clergy*** End Gun Violence Michigan is hosting an online training tomorrow, June 11, at 10 a.m. If you can't attend live, be sure to register to receive the recording. Studies consistently show that clergy are trusted messengers for gun safety information so your knowledge and understanding of gun laws can make a tremendous positive impact in preventing gun violence and deaths. Register with End Gun Violence Michigan here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScG0i3FWkSSgkFtJGQ4Tpvwq-jacTQpghogmyutUOf3IHq5ng/viewform?emci=7b019d45-4145-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=cb8919e9-fc45-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=114254

Jun 3

It's official! We've begun our search for the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes! Check out this announcement video from the Rev. Molly Bosscher. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMtZcR-NrY Full transcript: https://greatlakesepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Transcr...Read more

It's official! We've begun our search for the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes! Check out this announcement video from the Rev. Molly Bosscher. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMtZcR-NrY Full transcript: https://greatlakesepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Transcript-Formatted.pdf Full official statement: https://greatlakesepiscopal.org/announcing-the-search-for-our-first-bishop/ Bishop Search Home: https://greatlakesepiscopal.org/bishop-search/

Jun 1

The first Pride in 1969 was a riot. It was a riot in response to a violent raid on the Stonewall Inn, a safe place for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Led by Black trans women, including gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, the Stonewall Riot sparked the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. In...Read more

The first Pride in 1969 was a riot. It was a riot in response to a violent raid on the Stonewall Inn, a safe place for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Led by Black trans women, including gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, the Stonewall Riot sparked the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. In the intervening years, members of this community have continued to fight for rights to full inclusion, belonging, and safety amid near-constant, dehumanization and ostracization through laws, words, violence and exclusion. The Episcopal Church is not exempt from guilt, despite strides in the last 30+ years beginning with the first openly gay priests in our denomination in 1994. However, as we've moved toward full belonging, honoring, and celebrating of members of our siblings in the LGBTQ+ community, we have been immeasurably blessed by the Holy Spirit revealing more fully the beauty and wholeness of the kin-dom of Christ in all of her unity amid diversity and particularities. On this, the first day of Pride Month in 2025, we know that full belonging and safety is still not guaranteed for our LGBTQ+ siblings and, in fact, in many ways, those goals are getting further away as funding and legal support for life-saving medical and mental health care is rolled back and especially our trans siblings are being again excluded and barred from public spaces and service. For those of us with more privileged identities in our genders, sexualities, socioeconomic statuses, ethnicities, educations, nationalities, and connections, may this Pride month be a catalyst toward more actively using our privileges as shields for our less privileged friends and our voices and actions as tools for justice. For those of us with LGBTQ+ or other marginalized identities, may we find peace, safety, belonging, celebration, connection, and unity in our lives - including and perhaps especially in our church circles. And we all remember and embody these words from former presiding bishop, Michael Curry: "If it's not about love, it's not about God." Anyone can connect with our LGBTQ+ Ministry Resource Library here: https://greatlakesepiscopal.circle.so/c/lgbtq-ministry-resource-library/

May 15

🚣🏽‍♂️ "Put out into the deep water & let down your nets for a catch." Lk 5:4 🌊 7th Grade - College Frosh 🌊 July 19 - 25 🌊 $150 (scholarships available!) This summer, step out in faith, go deeper with God, & join a pilgrimage of discovery through our diocese. Register by 6/19: https://buff...Read more

🚣🏽‍♂️ "Put out into the deep water & let down your nets for a catch." Lk 5:4 🌊 7th Grade - College Frosh 🌊 July 19 - 25 🌊 $150 (scholarships available!) This summer, step out in faith, go deeper with God, & join a pilgrimage of discovery through our diocese. Register by 6/19: https://buff.ly/fjRvOGH.

May 7

With great joy we share that the people of St. John's Episcopal Church in Sturgis have called the Rev. Dr. Kris Veldheer to be their rector! Rev. Veldheer was ordained to the transitional diaconate in December and, God willing and the people consenting, will be ordained to the priesthood on June 28....Read more

With great joy we share that the people of St. John's Episcopal Church in Sturgis have called the Rev. Dr. Kris Veldheer to be their rector! Rev. Veldheer was ordained to the transitional diaconate in December and, God willing and the people consenting, will be ordained to the priesthood on June 28. Congratulations on this new chapter of ministry together!