[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs]The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church has been meeting in retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC (Diocese of Western North Carolina) since March 8 . Today, March 12, is the last day of the retreat. The following is an account of the activities for Tuesday, March 12.

The theme for the spring retreat meeting of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops is Godly Leadership in the Midst of Loss. The schedule calls for prayer-filled sessions, and bishops participate in daily Bible study, reflection and worship.

The day began with Morning Prayer, with Bishop Jon Bruno, Diocese of Los Angeles, offering a meditation on Godly Leadership in the Midst of Personal Loss. Bishop Bruno reflected on his personal journey of loss from the perspective of his earlier vocation as a police officer, the loss he has experienced in his ministry as bishop, and his struggle with loss related to his personal health, particularly his recent battle with leukemia. He gave powerful witness to his faith in Jesus and being surrounded during loss by the community of faith that has made it possible for him to thrive in the midst of life-reorienting loss. Bruno noted that, “Loss breaks open the heart and moves you to a place where you belong; God wants us to be in a place as people of a whole heart.”

Emcee for the day was Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce, Diocese of Los Angeles.

During a town hall meeting on the final afternoon, Bishop Stacy Sauls, Episcopal Church Chief Operating Officer, provided an overview of the DFMS staff as it facilitates support for and networks with the diocesan and local staff in various areas: setting up partnerships, new ministry initiatives, mission enterprise zones, support for Province IX, new initiatives within the Young Adult Service Corps, revamping Jubilee ministries, encouraging state public policy networks, addressing domestic poverty and new environmental initiatives.

Elizabeth Lowell offered an overview of the DFMS Development Office.

Bishop Jay Magness of Federal Ministries spoke about military chaplains.

Bishop John Smylie of Diocese of Wyoming spoke about an interactive on-line vestry training resources.

Bishop Mark Lattime, Diocese of Alaska, talked about an upcoming climb of Denali in honor of the centennial of the original climb of Hudson Stuck, an Episcopal priest who is remembered in Holy Women, Holy Men on April 22, together with descendants of the original climbers. Bishop Lattime will be teaching and he can be tracked in real time during the June climb.

Bishop Carol Gallagher and Bishop Michael Smith, North Dakota, reported on the work of the Bishops’ Native Collaborative designed to reinvigorate native and indigenous initiatives. Together with Bishop John Tarrant of South Dakota and Bishop Mark Lattime of Alaska they are working particularly on the formation of clergy to serve native American Episcopal congregations.

Bishop Victor Scantlebury updated the House of Bishops about developments in the Diocese of Ecuador Central.

Announced/introduced were: new bishops; necrology; resignations; new provisional bishops; and renunciation.

Bishop Mark Beckwith, Diocese of Newark reported on the Episcopal Service Corps.

Bishop Steve Miller, Diocese of Milwaukee and Bishop Ian Douglas, Diocese of Connecticut , presented A Word to the Church: Godly Leadership in the Face of Violence.

Bishop Pierre Whalon of Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe reported on the Ecclesiology Committee.

Bishop Jeff Lee, Diocese of Chicago  and Bishop John Buchanan, Diocese of Quincy updated the house on the status of the relationship between their two Dioceses.

Bishop Neil Alexander provided a brief report on Church Investment Group.

The HOB spring retreat concluded with Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Suffragan Gayle Harris, Diocese of Massachusetts. Bishop Dabney Smith, Diocese of Southwest Florida, preached.

Media Briefers for Tuesday, March 12
Bishop Neil Alexander, dean, School of Theology, Sewanee, The University of the South
Bishop John Smylie, Diocese of Wyoming

HOB on Twitter: #HOB2013