From the Rector | July 2026

St. Paul’s at 150: Moving Forward in Faith, Strength, and Ship‑Shape Readiness

This article is an excerpt from the July 2026 Venite.

As St. Paul’s Episcopal Church celebrates 150 years of worship, service, and community in Columbus, Indiana, we find ourselves standing in that sacred space where gratitude meets responsibility. Anniversaries are never just about looking back — they’re about asking what kind of future we are preparing to hand to the next generation of disciples. And this year, your vestry has taken that question seriously.

The vestry unanimously approved launching a $150,000 capital campaign — one thousand dollars for every year of ministry God has entrusted to this parish. At first glance, the number may feel bold. Ambitious. Maybe even a little daunting. But the goal is not extravagance; it is stewardship. Every dollar is directed toward capital improvements that ensure our campus remains ship shaped and Bristol fashion — sturdy, safe, welcoming, and ready for the next century of ministry.

These improvements are not cosmetic. They are essential investments in the spaces where we pray, gather, learn, serve, and welcome newcomers. They support the ministries we already cherish and the ones we have not yet imagined. They honor the legacy we inherited and strengthen the foundation we will pass on.

But this campaign is not simply something happening around you — it is something happening with you. The vestry is hosting a series of crucial conversations to hear your voice, hopes, questions, and your wisdom. These gatherings are not presentations; they are listening sessions. Your feedback will help shape priorities, timelines, and the spirit with which we move forward.

To make your voice part of this milestone moment, please join us for a parish-wide conversation on Thursday, July 9, at 12:00 p.m. during the Ladies Lunch at El Nopal. We invite you to join and share your ideas as we imagine the future of St. Paul's together.

You can learn more about the campaign’s purpose through topics like capital stewardship, parish visioning, and sustainable ministry planning if you’d like background before attending.

This is a season of gratitude, courage, and possibility. For 150 years, St. Paul’s has been a place where people encounter God’s grace and discover a community that walks with them. Now we are invited to ensure that this place — this home — remains strong for the next 150.

Join the conversation. Join the vision. Join the future we are building together in faith.

In Love & Service Bound,

Aelred Bernard+

Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church