Advent Message from Bishop Franklin
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit, he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Collect…
St. James’, Batavia Receives Stewardship Award
Last month the Landmark Society of Western New York presented St. James’, Batavia with their 2016 Stewardship Award for the restoration of the bell tower of the church. The Society said that “… Your distinctive Gothic Revival building was constructed in 1908 and over the past several years has undergone a major restoration of the…
Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry Receives Hobart Medal of Excellence
On Friday, 4 November 2016 I returned to Hobart College in Geneva, NY, my Alma Mater, to participate in the President’s Forum of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Our beloved Michael Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States, was awarded The Hobart Medal of Excellence, the Alumni Association’s highest…
Report Shows Achieving Racial Equity Will Benefit Entire Region
Leaders from government, industry, non-profits, and religious groups have spent nearly two years to conversation, research and discussion about the greater Buffalo region and how to address the issues of race, segregation and entrenched poverty. The Racial Equity Roundtable issued a report today. Their findings show that achieving racial equity will benefit all of Western…
Council Makes Grants for Collaborative Ministries
In 2015 there was a unique set of circumstances in the Diocese of Western New York. There was transition in several Diocesan staff positions and those positions were filled in an interim time with consultants and volunteers. There were a few programs that did not spend their entire budget. Nearly all of the congregations either…
Statement from Bishop Franklin
We all woke up this morning to a country that has been revealed to us as more divided then most of us knew. We woke up this morning to the realization that there are more people than most of us realized who feel themselves to be on the margins of our society. We woke up…
Convention Goes on Field Trips
The 179th Convention of the Diocese of Western New York highlighted the theme of connection, collaboration and celebration. Bishop Franklin, Bishop Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania and banquet speaker Brittany Love, executive director of A Movable Feast all struck themes of building collaborations, taking risks, trying new things and following Jesus Christ out into the…
179th Diocesan Convention
Lay Delegates and Clergy of the Diocese of Western New York are gathering at the 179th Diocesan Convention this weekend. The Convention is taking place in Niagara Falls. Delegates will elect members of the Standing Committee, the Diocesan Council, the Trustees of the Diocese and Deputies and Alternate Deputies to the 2018 General Convention of the…
This Is What Resurrection Looks Like
Three years ago Grace Church, Randolph hosted a pre-convention meeting. Just hours after everyone went home, the parish hall caught fire. Quick work by several fire companies saved the church but the parish hall was destroyed. On Sunday October 16 the people of Grace Church, the Very Rev. Tom Broad, the rector of Grace Church,…
Convention Preseason Starts Tonight
The Preseason for Diocesan Convention begins with the first game, or rather meeting, tonight. The Preseason meetings give delegates, clergy and any one else a chance to meet the candidates for Diocesan offices, hear about the Diocesan budget and resolutions that are coming to Convention and to ask questions. The theme of Convention is “and…
Genesis Center Grand Opening September 29
Why would a church buy a bar? Especially a run-down bar? It was a natural question when St. Simon’s Episcopal Church purchased the building at 2161 Seneca Street at a tax auction. The answer is that they had a vision and a hope for the future of their neighbors. St. Simon’s had housed a food…
New Faces in Western New York
Three new clergy faces have arrived in Western New York over the summer. The Rev. Wayne Knockel was installed as rector of St. Peter’s in Eggertsville in July. Wayne is originally from Dubuque, IA which is where they filmed the movie “Field of Dreams.’ Before being ordained, he worked for the Illinois Department of Mental…
Recent News
Information on Ramon Aymerich
The Buffalo News reported this morning that the Diocese of Buffalo has added the name of an Episcopal priest with ties to the Diocese of Western New York to its …Read More »
Experimenting with Prayer Ministry at St. David’s, West Seneca
Bishop Sean is often heard to say that Episcopalians need to experiment for the sake of the gospel. Last month, St. David’s in West Seneca did just that when its …Read More »Pre-Convention Meetings in October
Members of both the Dioceses of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania are invited to attend one of four joint pre-convention gatherings: October 3 at 7 p.m. at St. James, …Read More »