“The Church Moves with Deep Intention & Prayer”

In 2024, the Diocese of North Carolina sold its Diocesan House property in downtown Raleigh for a net of $8.8 million.  What made this sale remarkable was not simply the size of the proceeds, but how the diocese chose to steward them.

First, $3.8 million was retained to fund the new Diocesan House.  Second, the remaining $5 million was designated for a grant initiative, led by Emmanuel’s Father William Morley, to be distributed to Churches across the Diocese over the next two years.

It is rare to see such generosity, where a Diocese is not only willing and able, but genuinely excited to give away substantial resources to its churches.  Yet this was the plan from the diocese: to trust that parishes best understandtheir own needs, and will faithfully steward Diocesan resources.

In 2025, we applied for this grant, outlining our struggles with ADA accessibility throughout Emmanuel’s campus.  Our proposal focused on improving access to our Sanctuary from Massachusetts Avenue.  In November, at Diocesan Convention, we received official word that Emmanuel had been awarded $40,000 to support this effort. Since then, the Wardens, the Buildings and Grounds Commission, and I have been working with engineers, designers, and contractors to explore solutions.  Our hope is to complete this project by fall of 2026.  When you see Bishop Rodman this Sunday, be sure to thank him for his vision, leadership, and generosity making this grant possible!

Accessibility remains a huge hurdle for Emmanuel, and I recognize that a ramp from Massachusetts Avenue is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.  Still, it is a concrete beginning (pun intended).  To fulfill Christ’s ministry of reaching those on the margins, we must eliminate the obstacles that prevent full participation.  For many in our community, those obstacles are physical: limited parking, long walking distances, steep elevation changes, insufficient space for ministry, and a campus that is confusing to navigate.  As you shared in our Century Project listening sessions, these barriers limit involvement and constrain our potential for meaningful growth.

But I do not believe in naming problems without pursuing practical solutions.  So, in January, representatives from the School and Church began meeting with BLUM Construction to develop a master plan for our campus to serve both ministries while addressing the challenges we face on a regular basis.  These conversations have been full of creativity and possibility.  They reflect the same energy and spirit you feel when we gather every Sunday and Wednesday. 

As has been said, “The Church moves at a glacial speed.”  This is true.  But it is also true that the Church moves with deep intention and prayer.  Emmanuel’s prayer has always been to reflect the light of Christ from generation to generation.  In the upcoming months, I look forward to sharing, discussing, and refining this vision, this light, so that we can serve all generations; from our oldest members to our youngest.