Written message from Bishop Brown
Stop calling youth “the future of the church” I often hear well-meaning adult churchgoers tell me, usually after a wonderful Eucharist where many young members were baptized or confirmed, that “the youth are the future of the church.” I ask you, beloved of God,…
They say bad news comes in threes. Maybe that’s true. In just the last couple of weeks I have heard of three instances from three different parishes across Delaware where active members made it clear to visitors that they weren’t welcome on Sunday morning,…
In December 2009, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Harrington, Bishop Wright ordained six deacons — Cecily Sawyer Harmon, Pat Malcolm, Tom McCormick, Susan Phillips, Sheila Sharpe, and Dottie Vuono. With this issue of the Delaware Communion, we mark the tenth year of this…
Imagine you are a talented carpenter, and your crew has been invited to build a fabulous new house that will be the talk of the state. You are thrilled to be on the team but stunned to hear your role: you’re assigned with the…
Discernment process reopens – January, 2020 Orientation (by invitation only) – November 2, 2019 A Letter from Bishop Brown The chance to discern a call to Holy Orders will reopen in January with the rollout of a clear, new discernment framework crafted by the…
I have now taken two pilgrimages in my life: one to England a few years ago, and another this summer to the Holy Land. The trips were fabulous, each very different and each quite powerful. After returning home I have been lucky enough to connect…
My sisters and brothers in Delaware, In barely over a week we have witnessed the horror of mass shootings in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. I am shocked and enraged, as I am any time innocent people are killed. My heart…
For centuries Christians have set aside the six weeks of Lent to humble ourselves, to simplify our lives, and as is often said these days, to get closer to God. However, it is unfortunate to think we need to get closer to God, because…
This month we hold our annual convention for the Episcopal Church in Delaware, and I expect it will be as lively and engaging as ever. In addition to the customary decisions we make together (such as electing folks to various state-wide committees and teams), we’ll…
Growth and the Real Presence of Christ. Every chance I get, I host an informal open forum during coffee hour while visiting a parish. I ask folks to tell me about their parish, ministries, and interests; and I answer questions they have about my work,…