Our Stories

Larry Benfield Proper 17 – Year C 29 August 2010 St. John’s, Helena People often accuse us Episcopal members of the clergy of not speaking out enough on sin, and they may be right. Here in Arkansas I generally avoid the topic like the plague. I have by and large left the message that we are miserable offenders to the … Read More

My first official activity following last Friday’s surgery to repair my broken collarbone was Tuesday evening in Forrest City, where I ordained Peggy Barry as a transitional deacon. Peggy is part of the ministry team at Good Shepherd Church, a team that has been working for several years toward the goal of raising up locally trained ordained ministers for the … Read More

When I left for vacation a few weeks ago, I simply wanted to go someplace where I could sit and read.  My wish was  fulfilled. While on vacation in Maui one of those legendary Hawaiian waves got the best of me.  I ended up cracking my left clavicle.  The doctor told me that he wanted me to spend time in my … Read More

“What do younger adults want?” With the average age of parishioners on the rise, this is a question most mainline denominations are asking today. What are your thoughts? What is your congregation doing to evangelize the “under-forty crowd?” Congregations, the Alban Institute magazine, has recently published an article by Sarah B. Drummond adressing this question. Give it a read and … Read More

Eighteen leaders from the Diocese of Arkansas explored approaches to enlivening parish ministry at the inaugural Cooperative College for Congregational Development from June 25 to July 3 in Mississippi. The conference was a joint effort of six southern dioceses—Alabama, Arkansas, East Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Upper South Carolina. The eight-day training was held at the Duncan M. Gray Conference Center … Read More

St. John’s, Fort Smith, has called The Rev. Mike Lager as rector. Mike comes to the diocese from St. Thomas’, Louisville, Kentucky, where he had served as rector since 2000.

We welcome Mike and his family to the diocese of Arkansas.

Randall Curtis, Ministry Developer for Young Adults and Youth would love to visit your parish. He is available to meet with vestries or committees mid-week, speak at education hours on Sundays, lead training workshops, or even preach. He would also be happy to help your Christian Formation Team design and implement a quality innovative program or refresh a current program. For more information contact Randall at rcurtis@episcopalarkansas.org.

For the past two years, the Laurence Schmidt Center has offered Clergy Support Groups for pastors in the Little Rock and El Dorado areas. This fall both of those groups will continue, but we also hope to add an additional group in the Fort Smith area and a brand new group in Little Rock specifically for Clergy Spouses.