57th Diocesan Convention
(The M Building)
Fri, Oct. 6 - Sun, Oct. 8, 2023
Casper, Wyoming
Convention Theme & Plenary Speakers
THE COMMUNITY OF CREATOR
Embracing Indigenous Wisdom to live well into the future
Together we will be challenged and inspired to listen to Creation, Creator and each other afresh through Native lenses
The convention begins with registration and a special welcome reception on Thursday, October 5, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Diocesan Office, 123 South Durbin, Casper
You do not have to be a Delegate or Alternate to attend. All are invited! If you are interested in attending, please fill out the Registration form. You can be a guest for the complete convention or for specific parts - such as Randy Woodley's plenary sessions or the Saturday night Dinner featuring Eagle Spirit Dancers.
LOGISTICS
Hotels
Don't forget to make your hotel reservations from:
Thursday – October 5 through Sunday – October 8
* CALLING ALL MUSICIANS – INSTRUMENTS & VOICES *
CONVENTION 2023
NEEDS YOU!
If you are interested in helping accompany our congregational singing Sunday, October 8th at the 8am closing service of Convention with your instrument or your voice, please email Lynne Chandler via Kira (kira@episcopalwy.org) for music.
All music includes vocal parts, piano notes and guitar chords. We will be rehearsing at St. Mark’s in Casper at 7:15am before the 8am service to run through the music together. Please join us!
BUSINESS
2023 Committee Openings
DIOCESAN COUNCIL
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One (1) layperson (3-year term)
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One (1) clergyperson (3-year term)
STANDING COMMITTEE
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One (1) layperson (3-year term)
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One (1) clergyperson (3-year term)
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One (1) clergyperson ( 2-year term)
FOUNDATION FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WYOMING - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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One (1) person (3-year term)
If you would like to be in the running for any position, please send a recent photograph along with the following to the
Episcopal Church in Wyoming | 123 S. Durbin, Casper | WY 82601, <Jessica@episcopalwy.org> by October 1, 2023.
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Name
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Congregation & town
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Position sought
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Skills and traits you bring to this position
Foundation Board
DIOCESAN COUNCIL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE
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One (1) youth layperson (1-year term)
SPEAKERS
Plenary Speakers
The Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, PhD and Edith Woodley
A Conversation with artists
Robert Martinez and Hillary Kempenich
A Focus on Inspirational Native Art
Note: Northern Arapaho Artist Robert Martinez will be doing a live drawing throughout this day at convention which will be auctioned live in the evening.
A Presentation by
Jason Baldes
Executive Director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe
A "Conversation" with
Elders from the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday Night Fun!
Friday evening will be packed full of inspiration and fun, beginning with a special service featuring Native Poetry and ending with a delicious dinner followed by a fun game between our church delegations. You won't want to miss it!
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Saturday Night Event
Special Dinner & Native Dance Event (Eagle Spirit Dancers) at the Ford Wyoming Center
Poetry, Ritual and Conversation
Special evening service at St. Mark's curated by the Rev. Dr. Travis Helms, with special Wind River guest poets Ivan Posey and Darrah Perez-Good Voice Elk, together with a Sacred Drum Circle.
Delegation Dispute (Family Feud)
Battling it out to see who will be the last delegation standing.
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Episcopal Relief and Development
Saturday Night Event
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Special Dinner & Native Dance Event (Eagle Spirit Dancers) at the Ford Wyoming Center
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Closing Service
Sunday morning service will be held at: 8:00 am at St. Mark’s Church • 701 S Wolcott Street • Casper.
Plenary Speakers
The Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, PhD has been referred to as farmer, author, activist, scholar, distinguished speaker/teacher, and wisdom keeper. He has been interviewed and quoted in venues such as The New York Times, Politifact, Time Magazine, Christianity Today and The Huffington Post. Randy addresses a variety of issues concerning American culture, our relationship with the earth, spirituality and Indigenous realities. Dr. Woodley, recently retired as Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture at Portland Seminary and Director of Intercultural/Indigenous Studies. Raised near Detroit, Michigan, he is a Cherokee descendant recognized by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Randy co-hosts the
Peacing it all Together podcast with Bo Sanders. Dr. Woodley and his wife Edith are Co-sustainers of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, a regenerative farm, school, community and ceremonial grounds in Yamhill, Oregon. Dr. Woodley served for several years on the Oregon Department of Education, Native American/Alaska Native Advisory Board (2015-18).
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His books include:
•Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth
•Mission and the Cultural Other: A Closer Look
•Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonized Approach to Christian Doctrine
•Decolonizing Evangelicalism: An 11:59pm Conversation
•The Harmony Tree: A Story of Healing and Community
•Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
•Living in Color: Embracing God’s Passion for Ethnic Diversity
A few examples of Randy's contribution of chapters to other's works include:
-"Povertyand the Poor Among North American Indigenous Traditions," (Poverty and the Poor Among the World's Religions)
-"How Indigenous Perspectives Offer Hope to a Besieged Planet," (Time to Act: Extinction Rebellion).
Edith Woodley is the co-founder and Co-sustainer of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds. Edith is a member of the Eastern Shoshone tribe, having been raised on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. She has a degree from Bacone Indian College and has been a vital part of serving the Indigenous community with Randy for over thirty years. She mentors others in the spirituality of the land, farming methods, seed-keeping, how to raise a family on healthy food and is one of the teaching grandmas in the Decolonizing with Bad-ass Indigenous Grandmas co-hort. Edith and Randy served together as members of the Native Climate Council of the Greater Portland Metro Area, Advisory Board (2015-17) and in 2021 they were given the Ecumenist of the Year Award by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the first time given to a couple. They have four grown children and six grandchildren.
