Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana

Bonus: Bishop Duckworth on the Little Podcast of Good News

Enjoy this Christmas episode from EDOLA's Little Podcast of Good News. 
Follow the Little Podcast of Good News wherever you listen to your podcasts!
 
You know how Christmas is just days away? Bishop Shannon Duckworth joins Lauren and Grace to discuss how families can celebrate the season of Christmas and discover the most important thing!

With God's Help - Ep. 05 (Bishop Jeff W. Mello)

Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth (Diocese of Louisiana) as she discusses the fifth question of our baptismal covenant with Bishop Jeff W. Mello (Diocese of Connecticut):
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
In this illuminating conversation, these bishop friends explore Jesus’ call to honor the dignity of every human being, what it means to truly serve the entire diocese as a bishop, and the freeing invitation to love one another even before we know if we like each other. They also reflect on how reciting the Baptismal Covenant aloud each week has reinforced its importance as a clear guide for daily living.
Bio:The Right Reverend Jeffrey W. Mello is the 16th Bishop Diocesan in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. He was elected in May 2022 and was ordained and consecrated on October 15 of that year. The vision and message of his ministry is to meet people where they are, invoking Jesus' ministry of invitation, and to empower them to do the work God needs them to do as followers of Jesus Christ in the Episcopal tradition.

With God's Help - Ep 4 (Rev. Ollie V. Rencher)

Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth (Diocese of Louisiana) as she discusses the fourth question of our baptismal covenant with the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher:
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
 
Bishop Shannon Duckworth (Diocese of Louisiana) and Rev. Ollie V. Rencher (Rector of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Memphis) examine what it means to live with courage, kindness, and strength.
These longtime friends contemplate prayer, intentionality, and how they work to stay grounded in the face of the sin of racism and the lifelong journey of racial healing.
 
“All people are equal, regardless of how they act.”
Read Dr. Catherine Meeks: churchpublishing.org/catherinemeeks
Sacred Ground: episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/
Imago Dei:A Latin term meaning “in the image of God.” This biblical concept teaches that humans are created in God’s likeness, possessing qualities that reflect the divine nature.
 
About Rev. Ollie V. Rencher:
Since July 2018, the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher ("Ollie", "Father Ollie", "Father Rencher") has served as rector at Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee. Previously, he served in the Episcopal Dioceses of North Carolina (Charlotte: St. Peter's), West Tennessee (Memphis: Church of the Holy Communion), and Mississippi (Oxford: St. Peter's & The University of Mississippi). 

With God's Help - Ep. 03 (Bishop Anne B. Jolly)

Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth (Diocese of Louisiana) as she discusses the third question of our baptismal covenant with Bishop Anne B. Jolly (Diocese of Ohio):
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Enter into their rich conversation about the challenges of being human in today’s complex world. As both colleagues and friends, they explore the tension between honoring ancient traditions and embracing fresh ways of thinking, the importance of deep listening and rootedness, and how building connections and reaching outward bring new vitality to the church.
About Bishop Jolly:
The Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly is the twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. The first woman to serve as Bishop Diocesan, she was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor on April 29, 2023 and began serving as Bishop Diocesan on July 1, 2023. Prior to her election, she served as President of the Standing Committee in the Diocese of Chicago and as the ecclesiastical authority during an interim period between diocesan bishops. Ordained to the Priesthood in 2014, she served parishes in Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, and South Carolina, served on the board of the Episcopal Parish Network and on the World Missions Board for the Diocese of Texas. She received her B.A. from Furman University and her M.Div. from School of Theology at Sewanee.
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Show Notes:
The BANI Framework
Brittle
Anxious
Nonlinear
Incomprehensible
“BANI — Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible — is a framework to articulate the increasingly commonplace situations in which simple volatility or complexity are insufficient lenses through which to understand what’s taking place.”— Jamais Cascio, Distinguished Fellow, Institute for the Future, creator of the BANI framework
St. Benedict’s Rule of Life
Stability: A commitment to remain rooted in community.
Obedience: A practice of listening deeply to God.
Conversion: An ongoing process of inner transformation and renewal.
Together, these vows provide a framework for spiritual growth, grounding us in community while encouraging continual change and deeper faith. Bishop Jolly values these Benedictine principles because they offer both structure and room for being human.

Lessons in Leadership: Reflections from the Coast Guard

Frank Paskewich, Capt., USCG (Ret.), and Jimmy Duckworth, CDR, USCG (Ret.), join Bishop Shannon Rogers Duckworth in a conversation about their experiences as first responders during and after Hurricane Katrina. The discussion focuses on leadership, community service, and lessons we can apply in our own lives.

With God's Help - Ep. 02 (Br. Angel)

Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth as she discusses the second question of our baptismal covenant with Br. Angel Gabriel Roque, BSG:
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
About Br. Angel Gabriel Roque, BSG:
Brother Angel Gabriel Roque was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is seminarian at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, pursuing an M.Div. with a focus on Spiritual Direction (Class of 2026). Previously, Angel held the role of Diocesan Missioner for Youth and Young Adults and Director of Camp Stoney for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande.
Angel has served diverse communities, as a youth pastor, chaplain, and night manager at an Episcopal shelter, and co-founder of two Latinx Episcopal ministries. He has contributed nationally through the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and the Council for Safe Church and Communities. A Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, Angel supported youth during the opioid crisis and pandemic, offering care around HIV prevention, trauma, and addiction.
Angel also has a background in the classical arts and culinary management and continues to create when time allows. He lives in Austin with his dog, Koko, and is a life-professed member of the Brotherhood of St. Gregory.

With God's Help - Ep. 01 (Rev. Ed Bacon)

Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth with guest Rev. Ed Bacon as they explore the first baptismal promise: Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
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Episode Notes:
The Rev. Ed Bacon: edbacon.com
BOOKS
8 Habits of Love: Overcome Fear and Transform Your Life by Rev. Ed Bacon
Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective by Henri Nouwen
A Book of Hours by Teilhard de Chardin
The works of Thomas Merton
The works of Rabbi Edwin Friedman, preeminent teacher of family systems & leadership
The works of Fr. Richard Rohr
JUSTICE & RACIAL HEALING
Sacred Ground: episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/
Visions, Inc: visions-inc.org/
THE DIGNITY INDEX, founded by Tim Shriver dignity.us/
Dignity Index resources: dignity.us/resources
CENTERING PRAYERTeachings of Thomas Keating 
Teachings of The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault