The bishops of Province VII of The Episcopal Church gathered November 15-17 for a retreat hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Province VII includes the dioceses of Arkansas, Dallas, Fort Worth, Kansas, Northwest Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Grande, Texas, West Missouri, West Texas, Western Kansas, and Western Louisiana. Thirteen bishops and eight of their spouses attended for three days of fellowship, worship, education, and touring.
The retreat began with dinner at the renowned Majestic Restaurant and Jazz Club in Kansas City, Missouri where participants enjoyed some of the local flavors and sounds associated with the region. The bishops stayed at the Cyrus Hotel in Topeka.
The first full day of the retreat began at Grace Cathedral and Bethany House & Garden. The bishops arrived at 9 am for coffee and refreshments followed by a “progressive” Eucharist that moved throughout the Bethany Garden and ended in the cathedral. During her sermon, Bishop Bascom shared some of the unique ways that the Diocese of Kansas is spreading the gospel such as the Monarch Butterfly Project initiated by the Bethany House and Garden staff, which helped raise, tag, and release over 600 Monarch butterflies in partnership with a local elementary school.
Province VII bishops hike together at Prairiewood Retreat and Preserve in Manhattan, KS.
Following the Eucharist, the bishops visited the Brown V. Board of Education National Historic Park. The site marks one of the most pivotal points in the Civil Rights movement and served as an important touchstone for the leaders to discuss what each of their dioceses is doing to reconcile with its past and work toward racial justice.
The next stop on the tour brought the group to the scenic Flint Hills region with a visit to Prairiewood Retreat & Preserve, owned and operated by Kail and Becky Katzenmeier, long-time Episcopalians who have a heart for the land. Prairiewood is nestled amongst 500 private acres set aside specifically as a tallgrass prairie preserve and offers first-class accommodations, event space, and community programs. In this picturesque setting, the bishops hiked on the prairie and then gathered for dinner and entertainment in the Blue Sage Barn on the property.
The bishops who attended the retreat agreed that the event was an important way to connect and share experiences through visiting a neighbor diocese. Bishop Bascom shared that “It was a great joy to welcome my fellow bishops, treat them to the trademark hospitality of our diocese, share the beauty of the prairies, and use our home as a backdrop to connect around the ways that we are meeting the challenges of being the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement in our various locations.” She went on to say, “I’m so grateful for these gatherings and how much it benefits our ministries to develop these relationships and learn from one another. I’m profoundly grateful to the diocesan staff for their work in planning and hosting us.” The next Province VII Bishop’s Retreat will be held in the Diocese of Oklahoma.
by Chad Senuta
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