Bishop’s Journal

January 2026

2 – 10 | Bishops’ Pilgrimage to Israel

11 | St. Alban’s, Bovina

The first of the two Sunday visitations was with the parish family of St. Alban’s, Bovina. On the Sunday on which we commemorate the Baptism of our Lord, we baptized two new members of this household of faith before confirming and receiving 6 others. Together, we grew in reflection on our Baptismal Covenant and how we are all part of the fabric of community that sustains our faith traditions and forms believers for generations to come. So grateful to the St. Alban’s parish family for the wonderful welcome and hospitality on this my first Sunday visitation with them!

11 | St. Mary’s, Bolton

From St. Alban’s, it was off to St. Mary’s Church, Bolton, to first meet with the worshipping community and then to worship together, exploring and renewing our baptismal covenant together before Eucharist. St. Mary’s has a reputation for great musical offerings – and yesterday was no exception, as we were joined by vocalist Jon Christoper Adams, Executive Director of Opera Mississippi, accompanied by Tyler Kemp. A festive Mardi Gras themed reception followed.

12 | Bishop’s sabbath

13 | Staff Meeting

13 | Zoom with Convocation Deans

13 | Conversation with Bishop Colleague

13 | Meetings with Staff Members

14 | Mississippi Legislative Prayer Breakfast

14 | Staffing – Interviews

15 | Conversation with Clergyperson

15 | Board Meeting

16 | Speak at MLK Chapel, St. Andrew’s Lower School

Started out this day sharing the story of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Lower School at Chapel at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Grateful for the privilege of helping these young students learn about loving one another and being the light. Beautiful singing and music, some birthday blessings, a little 2nd grade basketball fun…a great morning. Thanks to Allison Pleasants Gee for the fabulous photos! #episcopalschools

16 | Meeting with Diocese of Louisiana re: Local Formation/Iona Collaborative

16 | Lunch with St. Andrew’s Head of School and Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral

16 | Meeting with Trustees re: Real Property Matters

18 | Visitation: Church of the Redeemer, Greenville

A wonderful visitation at Church of the Redeemer, Greenville! This parish family is so welcoming and gracious in sharing with neighbors! Then it was off to Como, for the Celebration of the Rev. Canon Chip Davis’ new ministry at Church of the Holy Innocents!

18 | Celebration of New Ministry: Church of the Holy Innocents, Como

19 | Travel to Jackson; Bishop’s sabbath

20 | Staff Meeting

20 | Meeting with Vestry

20 | Meetings with Staff Members

21 | Meeting with Chancellor

21 | Meeting with Trustees re: Real Property matters

21 | Meeting with Downtown Partners re: Mural

Interviews with Potential Artists

22 | Catching up on Correspondence

23 | Bishop Coach Call

23 | Meeting with Clergyperson

23 | Virtual Meeting with Postulant

23 | Council Preparation: Videos

25 | Visitations (Columbus, Starkville) Cancelled Due to Weather

26 | Bishop’s sabbath

27 | Staff Meeting

27 | Meetings with Staff Members

28 | Budget Meeting with Finance Committee and Executive Committee

29 | Council Preparation

30-31 | 199th Annual Council

The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi’s Annual Council 2026 has come to a close. So very thankful to our host site, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, our host congregations – The Chapel of the Cross and St. Columb’s Episcopal Church, our music leaders and those who made up our Diocesan choir, our Diocesan Altar Guild, our amazing and dedicated Diocesan staff (!!!), our A/V and tech team who nimbly pivoted to allow our North MS friends who still had impassable roads to fully participate in Council via Zoom, and to all of the people of the Diocese who have given so much of themselves for an intense but so important couple of days.

As we shared this precious time together, we delved deeply into our Baptismal Covenant – and what it means when we, in community together, promise to continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers (We need our time of gathering together to be nourished in Word and Sacrament as communities of faith.); persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord (We recognize that when we sin, we also mar the image of God in ourselves for the neighbors who encounter us, and our need to seek forgiveness.); proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ (In our lips and in our lives, we tell the story of God’s love.); seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves (Do we always seek and serve Christ in our homeless neighbor, our neighbor struggling with addiction, the neighbor with whom it appears that we vehemently disagree?); strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being (Committing ourselves to strive for justice for all of God’s people first and foremost requires of us seeing the image and likeness of God in all of our neighbors – perhaps especially the neighbors with whom we perceive we do not agree.).

Right now in our world, I believe we need the ability to see each other as God’s children, made in God’s image and likeness, and able to stay in productive conversation and cooperation with one another. That work of Christian cooperation starts with us.

An energy-filled time with our deacons (I’m so sad I didn’t get a pic!), and Friday evening’s groovin’ with Dr. Zarr & The Funk Monsters rounded out a great weekend. Truly, thanks to all for helping to make this an amazing and spirit-filled time!