Bishop’s Page

Psalm 56:8You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. Beloveds, I don’t have words to express what I’m feeling about the election results. I knew that whoever won the election, our nation and church would have difficult work ahead….

Beloveds, As we settle in waiting for election results, we yearn for peace and unity. As we wait, our hearts are full of many emotions; hope, fear, anticipation, exhaustion, relief, anxiety and more. I encourage you to acknowledge what you are feeling. All of our emotions are a gift from God. We are meant to…

Dear People of God in the Diocese of Vermont, Please join me in welcoming Margaret Schotto and Sophie Kitch-Peck to the diocesan staff. Margaret, our new manager of diocesan operations, begins work on October 1. Sophie begins part-time work as my executive assistant on October 1, then assumes full time duties when they take on…

They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 Dear People of God in the Diocese of Vermont, Thank you for the ways you support the life and thriving of our diocesan household. Last fall, many of you contributed valuable insight into the state of our…

Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word not one thing came into being that came into being. What has come into being in the Word was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the bleakness, and the bleakness did not overtake it. —John 1:3-5…

Dear People of God in the Diocese of Vermont, I have been grieving ever since Sunday morning, when we heard the horrific news that Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad—three young Palestinian college students—were shot in Burlington on Saturday night while they were out for a walk. I grieve the hatred that fueled…

Dear Ones, This afternoon, the weather forecast has us bracing for more rain and, in some parts of our state, more flooding. Property damage in many places is extensive, and some of our family, friends, and neighbors are doing the difficult work of recovery while grieving places and things that were dear to them. Our…

A reflection from Bishop Shannon At the end of July, my family traveled to Europe—first to France for a vacation, and then to England for the Lambeth Conference, a once-every-decade meeting of bishops from across the Anglican Communion. When our family arrived at Lambeth—Phil as an invited spouse, Anneliese as a Lambeth steward, and me…

Dear Ones, In my Christmas message, I told you that your faithfulness in ministry gives me hope, especially during these uncertain times. Despite all of the challenges we faced in 2020, we committed ourselves to be faithful stewards, to work for environmental justice, and to dismantle racism. With your support, we can make these commitments real. If…