9 February 2019
Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings,
Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, God's Word made flesh!
The Rev. Matthew Cowden
Rector, St. Michael and All Angels
Episcopal Church (South Bend)
As many of you know, one of our own, the Rev. Matthew Cowden, was a nominee for Episcopal election in the Diocese of Northern California. The election took place today and Fr. Matthew was not elected. I have first hand experience of not being elected and received great support and encouragement from the people of the faith community I was serving in Rochester, Minnesota.
I want to thank Fr. Matthew and Melissa along with their children, Meghan, Nicholas and Joshua, for opening up their lives to the possibility of serving the wider church in Episcopal Ministry. I am also confident that they will be surrounded with prayer and affection by our sisters, brothers, siblings of St. Michael and All Angels in South Bend.
May they continue together, engaging God's mission!
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen!
Epiphany blessings,
Doug
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Indiana