Bishop’s Journal

July 2026

1 | BISHOP’S MONTH OF SABBATH BEGINS

Meeting with Staff Members

Meeting with Standing Committee

Meeting with CPAs

9 | Trustees Meeting

10 | Pastoral Care Visit

Travel to Natchez for Natchez Commemoration

11 | Bishop’s Workshop, “The History of Us”

From Trinity Church, Natchez – A huge thank you to Bishop Dorothy Sanders Wells for leading such a thought-provoking and eye-opening program yesterday. It was an afternoon of tough conversations about the complicated history and issues we continue to tackle together. We are incredibly grateful for her wisdom, guidance, and leadership.

Thank you to Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and to Alderwoman Valencia Hall for coming and participating in the important conversation.

12 | Forks of the Road Slave Market (Natchez) – Commemoration and Wreath-Laying

What a wonderful weekend as we commemorated Julyteenth – when freedom came to Natchez: Union forces occupied Natchez on July 13, 1863, and the Forks of the Road slave market – which operated from 1830 to 1863 and had been the second largest in the nation – was no longer a site from which human lives were being sold. From Friday evening’s reenactment of a speech by Hiram Revels – the first black U.S. Senator, from Natchez (Reconstruction-era) – to Saturday’s workshop, the History of Us, at Trinity Church, Natchez, to today’s worship at Trinity, and the commemoration event at the site of the Forks of the Road slave market – the weekend has been inspiring. Honoring the significance of the Forks of the Road site, giving names to the enslaved, and recognizing the lives of black men who, after emancipation, served their country in the 58th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops became powerful testimony. So very grateful to National Parks Superintendent Kathleen Bond and her team for vision and leadership in making this weekend happen, to the wonderful folks of Trinity Church, Natchez, who so hospitably hosted the workshop, and to the community of Natchez (and friends from Baton Rouge, Memphis and Atlanta!) for coming out in support. It’s been a great weekend!

Preach and Celebrate at Trinity Church, Natchez

Travel to Jackson

15 | Visit to Camp Bratton-Green

So glad that I had the chance to visit Special II today! I love seeing the campers have such a good time – and I love seeing the passion that our directors, staff and permies bring to sharing the week with them!

18 | Preach and Celebrate at Church of the Good Shepherd, Mobile, AL

17-18 | Visits with Clergy Colleagues, Mobile, AL

23 | Youth Lunch – St. George’s, Germantown, TN

What a great day! So grateful that the youth from St George’s Episcopal Church – Germantown, TN stopped for lunch in Jackson on their way back home from the MS Gulf Coast! The kids are growing up!!!! It was so great to see them and get some hugs!!! And we had lunch at The Lily Pad, an innovative enterprise that provides internships to persons with differing abilities to help prepare them for employment with other businesses! So glad to be able to support them while getting a chance to visit with these amazing and talented youth!!

25-26 | Visits with Clergy Colleagues, Chicago, IL

The Rt. Rev. Paula E Clark and I visit the grounds of the newly opened Obama Presidential Center.

30 | Meeting with Clergyperson re: commemoration event

30 | Calls with Vestry

31 | Meeting with Vestry