Recent Stories

West Tennessee Representation at 80th General Convention
The 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church will be held this summer, July 7-14, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. It meets every three years and is the governing body of

2022 Lent Guide
Your guide to Lent in our Diocese is here. Explore a variety of opportunities to worship, learn, serve, and fellowship throughout the EDWTN during the season of Lent. Read &

Transformation & Hope: the 2022 Bishop’s Missionary Appeal
https://vimeo.com/676392841 Sisters and brothers, You are invited to participate in the 2022 Bishop’s Missionary Appeal which builds upon last fall’s Episcopal Mutual Ministry Review (EMMR) process. In October 2021, the

Dropped Donuts and Other Lessons Learned from a Semester at the Barth House
The highlight of our time on the front lawn on the first day of class? We were able to help many students find buildings, classrooms, and parking spots. A few of these brand new college students were near tears, anxious and worried. We were able to help, to offer a prayer, to lend a hand (and a donut). These sweet moments of ministry reminded us of our reason to be.

What Keeps Us Wanting More
I spend a lot of time in my role as a youth minister thinking back to my time as a youth – thinking about things I enjoyed doing, thinking about

The Calm After the Storm
On the night and early-morning hours of December 10-11, 2021, the deadliest late-season tornado outbreak in U.S. history occurred in the Southern United States and Ohio Valley. The path of

The Journey of Light
If you asked me to tell you the story behind this year’s family offering, The Journey to Bethlehem on December 23, 2021, I would tell you that the story did

Church Home Grant to benefit Literacy Mid-South
For immediate release: Contact: Jeff Hulett, (901) 859-9430 or jeff@jeffhulettpr.com At 9 am on Tuesday, February 15 at the Raleigh Public Library, 3452 Austin Peay Highway, leaders from the Episcopal

New Series: Nurturing the Next Generation
Children and youth are more resilent than we can imagine, but as we move into the third year of pandemic life, how can we as adults help our children blossom and thrive

Ordination to the Priesthood
We are delighted to share that the ordinations of Sarah Cowan and Amanda McGriff to the priesthood will take place this February. Reverend Amanda and Reverend Sarah were ordained to

December Storm Disaster Relief
The storms that came through Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky the weekend of December 10 caused destruction that is still being covered by the national news. An EF3 tornado brought about significant damage in Henry County, Tennessee, where Grace Episcopal Church in Paris, Tennessee is located. Fortunately, Grace Church was not damaged, and no one in the congregation received significant damage or injury. Paris is not far from Mayfield, Kentucky, however, which received tremendous damage. In Henry County many homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, along with barns and water wells.

The Right Reverend William Evan Sanders
The Right Reverend William Evan Sanders died November 18 at his home in Nashville. His family was present with him.

The Right Reverend Alex D. Dickson | 1926-2021
Dear Sisters and Brothers, I am saddened to inform you that the Right Reverend Alex D. Dickson, the first Bishop of the Diocese of West Tennessee, died on November 14.

Join us on December 4 for the Advent Arts Market!
Please join us for the inaugural Advent Arts Market, benefiting Episcopal college ministry at the Barth House! This event will take place outdoors at the Barth House Episcopal Center, located

Covid, the Church, and the Hospital
The Episcopal News Service recently reported that certain churches in large cities (New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta) are requiring proof of vaccination for attendance. The rector of one of

Responding to the Crisis in Afghanistan
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), the refugee and migration ministry of The Episcopal Church, needs your support to welcome our Afghan allies to communities across the country. EMM is one of

Helping Communities After a Natural Disaster
Many of us have been watching the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida. Our desire to be generous is heightened when we witness this type destruction. I served as Outreach Director at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans a few years after Hurricane Katrina, and as a Rector in southern Louisiana dealt with the aftermath of hurricanes and major flood. People have often asked me for guidance on providing help. These are a few things I have learned.

COVID Update: August 20, 2021
In an effort to help slow the transmission of coronavirus, congregations in Shelby County are encouraged to follow the recommendations of the Shelby County Health Department. I also invite all of our congregations to consider the resumption of masks for worship services and other activities in our church buildings. This recommendation remains in effect until there is a decline in the number of cases and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant.

COVID-19 Update from Bishop Phoebe: August 4, 2021
To our Diocesan Family – As the summer draws to an end, we find ourselves still managing the COVID pandemic. Diocesan guidelines have incorporated the CDC’s directives as well as

Check out The Peace, a new publication from the EDWTN!
The Diocese of West Tennessee is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of The Peace, our new quarterly newsletter! This first issue features articles from all around our Diocese and

Bishop Phoebe among contributors of new book
Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry praised This Band of Sisterhood: “There are so many nuggets of wisdom to be found in the conversations between these remarkable Black women bishops that

Feast of the Reverend Pauli Murray
Liberating God, we give thee thanks for the steadfast courage of thy servant Pauli Murray, who didst fight long and well: Unshackle us from the chains of prejudice and fear, that we may
Faithfully Memphis Podcast
Bishop Phoebe Roaf of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee sits down with Memphians and others in Shelby County regarding the issues facing our community, as well as the ways in which to explore how our faith informs our perspective and unites people from a variety of backgrounds.