Welcome to the News Roundup, where we aim to provide you with brief recaps of news from the Diocese, including the Standing Committee, Task Forces, and more.

In This Issue:
Synod
New Standing Committee Members Elected
Annual Report
Approved Revisions to the Diocesan Constitution & Canons
New Congregation Approved
Ecclesiastical Trial Update
From the Province: Public Review of Title IV Revisions

Other News:
Meet Our New Administrative Assistant
Advent
Save the Dates
-April 24-26, 2026 – Diocesan Women’s Retreat
-October 23-24, 2026 – Synod and Revive
Job Opportunities

Synod
The fall in-person Synod met on Friday, October 24 at the cathedral, Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, IL). The Synod is the Diocese’s primary legislative body composed of clergy and an elected number of lay delegates. This Synod began with worship, elected new Standing Committee members, approved amendments to the Constitution and Canons, heard the annual report, and more.

New Standing Committee Members Elected
At the October 24 Synod, delegates elected one lay person and one clergy person for a three year term: Fr. Eric Snyder of St. Michael’s Anglican (Delafield, WI) and Becky Galstad of Church of the Cross (Hopkins, MN). Learn more about them and our Standing Committee. It functions as the diocesan Board of Directors and consists of seven members: three elected lay members, three elected clergy members, and the bishop. 

Many thanks to Fr. Will Chester and Kate Clark (Resurrection, IL) who completed their terms.

Annual Report
Glean an overview of the last year in our Annual Report slides presented by Bishop Stewart at the October Synod. It includes overviews on clergy, congregations, safeguarding, governance, and more.

Approved Revisions to the Diocesan Constitution & Canons
The Synod approved proposed revisions to our diocesan Constitution and Canons, which had been last modified in 2023. The approved version is available online. The amendments to the Constitution marked in red were approved by Synod delegates on October 24. These amendments will become effective if they are ratified by delegates at the October 2026 Synod.

Revisions to the Canons became effective immediately. Title IV of the Canons, governing ecclesiastical (Church) discipline, contained the most extensive proposed changes, largely stemming from the ACNA revising its Constitution and Canons in 2024, and requiring that dioceses adopt certain changes by December 31, 2025. Our diocesan Canons incorporate those portions of the Provincial Canons pertaining to ecclesiastical discipline of priests and deacons. This will help: 1) promote clarity and good order in connection with disciplinary proceedings; 2) ensure consistency with requirements imposed by the Provincial Canons; and 3) take advantage of the Province’s extensive, multi-year effort to completely update and overhaul Provincial Canons governing ecclesiastical discipline.

Congregation Welcomed
Resurrection Anglican (Robbinsdale, MN), with Fr. Andy Bramsen as Rector, was officially welcomed by the Synod as a “Congregation” in the Diocese after meeting the requirements in the Canons for a self-supporting church. Resurrection Anglican was a church plant “Mission” from Church of the Cross (Hopkins, MN). 

View an organizational chart of congregations in the Upper Midwest.

Ecclesiastical Trial Update
Bishop Stewart’s Ecclesiastical Trial concluded on Monday, October 13. (Read his Oct 17 letter here.) The Court explained its current period of deliberation and next steps in this Oct 15 update. In order to preserve the integrity of the canonical process and uphold pastoral standards, the Court has ordered all parties to refrain from making any comments on the trial proceedings during this period. It will publish a written order within 60 days, on or before December 16.  

From the Province: Public Review Version 2.0 of Title IV Revisions
The Province invites everyone to review Version 2.0 of proposed revisions to Title IV of the Provincial C&C. Title IV describes and governs how instances of misconduct and abuse are handled to uphold safety, justice, and accountability across the Province. Your participation is encouraged in this second feedback period that is open from Nov 1 to Dec 14.

View the proposed changes, explanatory resources, and submit your feedback online by Dec 14 here. 

Meet Our New Administrative Assistant
Join us in welcoming Emily Verdoorn, our new part-time administrative assistant for the diocese. Emily is an artist and member of Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois. She is originally from Des Moines, Iowa, and has lived in Wheaton and attended Resurrection for the past four years. Emily has a BFA in Visual Art from Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi and enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, baking sourdough bread, and having good conversations over a cup of coffee.

Advent
As we prepare for Advent, consider expressing your need for the Lord by praying the Great Litany, which you can find here. The people of the Diocese are also called to fast and pray every Thursday or Friday during Advent. Let us draw close to the Lord who has drawn close to us, praying for everyone in our parishes and for the Province.

Save the Dates!
Diocesan Women’s Retreat
Apr 24-26, Green Lake Conference Center, Wisconsin
Questions? Email Deacon MargieFawcett@churchrez.org.

Synod and Revive 2026
October 23-24, 2026 

Job Opportunities
Check out the job openings in our diocesan churches. 

Stay Connected
The Upper Midwest seeks to connect you to leaders and ministries across the Diocese via timely updates, clear information, and encouraging ministry reports. In addition to the News Roundup, you’ll receive:

• Our regular e-newsletter, Upper Midwest Anglican Stories (UMD Stories), with highlights from different churches, events, and ministries where the Lord is on the move. Read the last issue here.
• Leaders’ Latest, greetings from Bishop Stewart and his introduction to an inspiring lay person, church staff, or leader in the Diocese. Find the last issue here.
• Subscribe here.