I woke up in Chicago this morning. In about an hour, I will leave for the airport to fly to Detroit, then to be driven across the bridge to Windsor, Ontario. I'll return to the diocese on Sunday (May 1). So I want to let you know what I've been up to.

Over last weekend, Mary and Nathan and I drove down to Iowa for a nephew's wedding (Jake is also Mary's and my godson). Amos and Lydia also joined us there, so we had a great family reunion.

On Sunday evening, I flew here to Chicago where, on Monday and Tuesday, I met with a newly formed group, formerly known as the Strategy Team for Education, now (as of yesterday afternoon) to be known as "Proclaiming Education for All" (PEALL for short). This group was mandated by two resolutions from the Minneapolis General Convention (2003) and it has taken until now for it to be funded (through the national Executive Council), then for membership to be appointed (by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies), and now (at last) to be convened. The convener is Donn Morgan, who is the Dean of CDSP (the Church Divinity School of the Pacific - our seminary in Berkeley, CA, from which Rise and Kevin and Anita graduated). The membership of PEALL is 19 educators from all over the country, from seminaries, diocesan study programs, mutual ministry, diaconal ministry formation programs, christian education, youth programs, colleges and universities, hispanic ministries, continuing education programs, and on and on; quite a diverse group, and one which represents at least 130 networks around the church (we did a quick inventory to get a sense of how our group is connected with others).

PEALL will be meeting between now and 2009 to explore the overall shape of theological education, christian education, life-long formation, learning programs in the Church, and the like. The intent is to step back and get an overall perspective, and then to make recommendations for the future shape of learning/formation in the Church. It's quite a comprehensive task, and should be a fascinating exercise. Clearly, it's important and helpful for our diocesan story to be brought to this conversation, and for us to hear and learn about other learning communities, resources, and opportunities which will be of advantage to us.

PEALL will meet again next fall. Then we will be a part of a national conference on Theological Education for All (facilitated by Parker Palmer, in January in Indianapolis). We will meet again in the spring and in the fall of 2006.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned at the start of this note, I am traveling today to Windsor, Ontario, where about 30 US bishops will join the 40 bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada (who have been meeting in their House of Bishops since Monday). This is the joint meeting of "Border Bishops" and others who are involved in cross-border ministries with the Church in Canada. Our focus will be "Horizons for Mission in North America". Walter Bruegemann will address the gathering, and the group will explore and initiate opportunities for collaboration and mutual support. Don Phillips, the Bishop of Ruperts Land (centered in Winnipeg) and I are co-convening the planning group for this gathering. It has been in the planning for about five years, and should be quite a conference.

While I am in Windsor, I will have regular access to email, and I will have my cell phone with me.

Just wanted to keep you in touch with my travels!

Jim