Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left nor the right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life

College football player and Episcopalian Emory Duggar also combines faith and football, and doesn’t mind a joke or two about the mix.

Duggar set up plenty of dropkicks as a long snapper for the University of Kansas (KU) Jayhawks from 2020 to 2024, and has since moved to Louisiana State University in his hometown of Baton Rouge.

“I wasn’t always a long snapper,” Duggar said. “I started out as a kicker, but one day in high school, our old long snapper made a bad snap, and I made a good one, and I guess the rest is history.”

What began by chance has turned into a sort of providence. “Over the years, I have really fallen in love with being a long snapper — it fits my personality really well.” Duggar noted that the long snapper, whose job is to pass the ball backward from the line of scrimmage over long distances — most often to a kicker — isn’t usually king of the campus. But his job is just as important as anyone else’s.

“A team’s long snapper is pretty incognito, under the radar,” he said. “I sort of consider it a service position. During practice, if a kicker or a punter wants a snap, it’s my job to give them what they need. Really, my job is to make other players’ jobs easier.”

Duggar says the intensity of the game can get to him. “Six inches here is the difference between a shank or field flicker,” he said. “When everything goes right, and you do really well, there is almost nothing like standing in the middle of the field, 50,000 people staring down, as proud as they could be. But if you have enough bad games, you could really come to hate yourself.” Duggar says that is when his faith comes into play.

“Salvation comes through grace, not touchdowns, we all know this,” Duggar said. “That is why my first identity is not a football player, but a Christian. It is not lost on me that I am in an incredibly privileged position; here I am still playing football when most people have to quit at 18.”

Duggar maintains that his faith enhances his playing and his life in Christ. “With my identity in Christ, it is easier to remember that football is just a game, and that I should try, more than anything, to just enjoy the play,” he said. “Also, placing my identity in Christ helps me stay humble, something important when you regularly perform in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. … I often am reminded of Matthew 23: ‘But those who exalt themselves will be humbled.’”

Off the field, Duggar is just as invested in nurturing his faith as he is in letting it guide his mindset on the field. “Basically, having faith as a student athlete keeps you humble and hungry in an athletic sense and humble and healthy in a religious sense,” he said.

Duggar hosted a weekly team Bible study at his house during his KU years. “Sort of a KU football tradition at this point, the group gets handed down from year to year, which I think is great.” Duggar said that the main objective of the group is to allow guys to grow closer to God and disclose their interior lives. “The second goal is more important than you might think, especially in a culture where people think football players are these silent kind of guys, or who have nothing to share in the first place.”

Duggar is quick to say that faith of all sorts is an important part of life on the team. “On Friday nights we always have a devotional before the next day’s game. We also have a tradition of praying after practice — of course that can be a little awkward if you don’t know it’s your turn to pray.”

Darrell Stuckey, a former KU Jayhawk and a former safety for the San Diego Chargers, offers the team spiritual oversight. “Darrell is great member of the community — he often helps lead devotionals and is always checking in on how the Bible study is going,” Duggar said.

While playing for KU, Duggar regularly attended St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Kansas. “It all works out great because I can be at Communion at 10 and still have time to get to Sunday workouts by 11,” he said. “Prioritizing Sunday morning is also helpful because it changes what you do after games — let’s just say going to church pays spiritual and physical dividends.”

When Duggar first came to KU, he was not attending church regularly. Then he began attending a couple of nondenominational churches with teammates. “Eventually you start to miss the liturgy,” he said. “Liturgy has this way of imprinting itself on you. That’s when I started attending the Episcopal Church again.”

As Duggar grew up in Baton Rouge, he attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with his family. “My mom grew up Methodist and my dad Baptist,” he said. “If you didn’t already know, in the South, that means something. It wasn’t until my sister started attending an Episcopal school that we would go to the church to see her sing. Eventually we all fell in love with the church, I got confirmed, and even after moving across town, we all kept attending.”

Duggar has one message: keep the faith. “Recruiters will make playing football sound amazing, which most of the time it is, but be prepared for the lows and how you are going to confront them,” he said. “If you keep your values, you will play in a more authentic way. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without my faith. Remember, first and foremost, be yourself, be a Christian.”

ECW gathered at Galton House Hotel for the group’s 51st Triennial Meeting, under the theme “Empowering Women of Faith/Empoderando a las Mujeres de Fe.”

Numerous seminars and workshops have been offered during this triennium’s Episcopal Church Women gathering, including “Dancing with the Spirit: Healing through Music,” led by the Rev. Belle Michaelson, “Episcopal Women’s History Project Is For All of Us,” led by the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Baker, and “Leading with Heart: Reignite your Ministry,” led by Evita Washington.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Eleven, the first group of women ordained in the Episcopal Church. The ECW marked this anniversary with a screening of the film The Philadelphia Eleven, directed by Margo Guernsey. “We were all very excited about this because this is probably the only opportunity some of our women will have to see this film,” Patterson said. “It is so important to be doing this together.”

One tradition the ECW is proud to honor every year is the offering of financial gifts to two charities doing important work in the meeting’s host city. This year the two recipients of the ECW’s donation were the Orphan Care Alliance, receiving the United Gift, and House of Hope Kentucky, receiving the Community Connection Gift.

“Women are the backbone of the church,” Patterson said. “We are the workers, the supporters of outreach. That is evidenced by this year’s offering to two local organizations doing wonderful work.”

Saying goodbye after a six-year term, Patterson was honored with the presentation of a gavel by professional parliamentarian Dennis Clark. Elected on June 27, Lisa Bortner of Texas will serve as the national president of the organization for the next three years.

“Every woman has a ministry,” Patterson said. “This organization really shows that. … If their ministry is doing the coffee hour on Sunday, that’s great. If their ministry is working with abused children, that’s great. Every ministry should be honored.”

This week hundreds of young people have descended on Louisville, Kentucky, for the 81st General Convention. Here are a few of those emerging leaders.

Elizabeth Rousseau, 24, Connecticut

This week is Elizabeth’s third time attending General Convention, and her second serving as a lay deputy from the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. At home, Elizabeth works to increase voter registration. “At General Convention you see the whole breadth of the church,” she said. “It’s like a family reunion of sorts.”

As one of the founding members of the General Convention Under 40 Caucus, Elizabeth serves as its policy and program chair. “Part of my role is helping new and first-time deputies get involved and know what we’re voting on.” Elizabeth sees her job at General Convention as being a “friendly face in the room” for other young people.

Elizabeth would like the church to focus more on allocating resources to youth ministries. “Young adult and campus ministry is a big time period in somebody’s life.” One of Elizabeth’s favorite parts of Convention was listening to the testimonies of Episcopalians from Navajoland in support of creating their missionary diocese.

Sam Favate, 15, Newark

Sam Favate is attending General Convention for the first time this week as part of a youth trip from the Diocese of Newark. “I wanted to come for a new experience and to meet lots of other Episcopalians,” Sam said. “The church is very important to me.” He is happy to see “the entire church come together.”

So far Sam has enjoyed walking around the Exhibit Hall and talking to the different exhibiters. Sam believes youth participation in Convention is important because “youth are the future of the church … youth are the church now.” Sam would like to see more young people become involved in the church because “it is important to be raised in the church. It is important to have that in their lives.”

Eloise Williams, 24, North Carolina

This week is Eloise Williams’s first time attending General Convention. Originally from North Carolina, Eloise works for a nonprofit in New York City that focuses on community education.

Eloise came to Louisville as an exhibitor with The Consultation, a justice advocacy group. “I am here to advocate for our church to take a stand and to speak with a clear moral voice on issues of justice, especially regarding the conflict in Palestine and Israel.” Eloise would like church leadership to “really listen to the voices of the youth, not just appreciate our presence, because [youth] really have something to offer.”

A cradle Episcopalian, Eloise said the church was “always there” for her during hard times, offering her “relationship with God and community.” She would like it to do the same for those experiencing hardships around the world. “We as Americans and Christians have responsibilities we need to live up to,” Eloise said. So far Eloise’s favorite part of Convention has been “meeting people from across the church with a common purpose and a common love.”

Amrit Tharkan, 16, Missouri

Amrit Tharkan, a high-school student from Missouri, is attending General Convention for the first time. “I came this year because I wanted to learn more about the legislative processes of the Episcopal Church.” So far Amrit has enjoyed the community worship offered throughout General Convention. “I really loved the Eucharistic service,” he said. “I quite enjoy the music of hymns and the way worship is done in the Episcopal Church.”

Something Amrit would like to tell the leadership of the church is that we need to “start earlier with our youth presence in the church.” Amrit also said that while youth participation in Convention is growing stronger, he would “love to see the church’s youth gain voting rights” at General Convention.

Parker Chadwell, 24, East Tennessee

This week is Parker Chadwell’s first time attending General Convention as a lay deputy from the Diocese of East Tennessee. Parker works as a clerk for a law firm in Knoxville.“One reason I wanted to come to convention was to provide a younger voice, a younger perspective, especially during such a momentous time of change in church leadership.”

Although Parker only intended to attend as an alternate deputy, he was called in to serve as a voting member at the last second. “One of my favorite things has been being out on the floor, seeing all the people.”

Parker believes that “although we have a strong foundation regarding youth in the church, more youth deputation and participation in legislation is only going to be a positive trend.” Parker cites the work being done by the General Convention Under 40 Caucus, sharing testimony and advocating for justice, as evidence of that movement. “Some people are pessimistic about the state of the church,” Parker said, “but I believe we have a bright future ahead.”

Ecumenical and interreligious guests have been present since the first day of General Convention.

“Part of our goal in hosting these guests is helping the church act like deacons, looking outward,” said the Rev. Margaret Rose, deputy to the Presiding Bishop for ecumenical and interreligious relations. “We are all facing the same issues in the world, and thus we can accomplish much more looking beyond ourselves, forging partnerships with the faith traditions of others.”

This marks the first time the Rt. Rev. Karin Johannesson, Bishop of Uppsala in the Church of Sweden, attended a General Convention. “I came to Louisville because I wanted to learn more about the Episcopal Church,” she said. “The relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Church of Sweden is growing, although that relationship dates back to the 16th century.”

Johannesson said her week at Convention has been a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. “People here are very friendly.”

It was also the first General Convention for the Rev. Dr. Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. “It is very exciting to be here with our brothers and sisters of the Episcopal Church, expressing solidarity in this momentous time of leadership transition,” he said.

Kazarian is excited to be a part of growing relationships between Orthodox and Anglican traditions. “I am also here to show our ecumenical commitment on our journey to unity with the Episcopal Church.” Kazarian has appreciated “building new friendships and seeing how the sausage is made.”

Visiting from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller of the Moravian Church in America is a retuning guest. “Last time I attended General Convention, I was representing the Moravian Church as the presiding head of communion,” Miller explained. “This week I am focusing on our full communion relationship and really praying for our siblings in Christ as they elect new leadership for the church.”

Miller has enjoyed seeing the bicameral system of governance at work. “The process of deliberation, involving a multitude of voices, is one we are familiar with in the Moravian Church.”

It’s the second visit for Bishop Susan Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. “My goal in attending this year was to be a partner, saying goodbye to Bishop Curry, and welcoming the new Presiding Bishop.”

A member bishop of Churches Beyond Borders, Johnson said her involvement has led her to become “friends and great colleagues” with many in Louisville. She is “always interested in learning more about how this amazing convention works, because it is unlike any other, as far as I am concerned.”

Dr. Mohammed Elsanousi is the executive director of The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers and a leader in the American Muslim community. Although this is Elsanousi’s first time at General Convention, he has previously worked with the Episcopal Church on interreligious dialogue, leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Shori.

“I have come to Louisville to be in solidarity with Episcopalians on the hard work they do regarding the advancement of religious collaboration, partnership, and understanding,” he said. “Although the Episcopal Church’s commitment to justice is an amazing thing, I am here to say that no one religion can solve the problems facing humanity on its own, but that theologians and people of faith from all traditions must work together.”

Obispo Maximo (Archbishop) Joel Ocop Porlares of Iglesia Filipina Independiente said, “I am here to represent my church, to make more friends in the ecumenical circle, and because our church has a concordant relationship with the Episcopal Church.”

Porlares would like to “enhance and go further” with the concordant relationship between the two churches, mutually recognizing each other’s sacraments and polity, and sharing education recourses and clergy.

“So much of what we are doing here is creating person-to-person relationships,” said Hank Jeannel, associate for ecumenical and interreligious relations. “The best interreligious dialogue doesn’t happen at the institutional level, but when people come together, meeting face to face.”

Other ecumenical and interreligious guests were:

• Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Anglican Church of Canada
• Maria Stettner, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
• Bishop Dindo Ranojo, Iglesia Filipina Independiente
• The Rev. Jonash A. Joyohoy, Iglesia Filipina Independiente
• The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Bishop Vashti McKenzie, National Council of Churches
• Bishop Teresa Snorton, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller, Moravian Church in America
• Bishop Gregory Palmer, the United Methodist Church
• Tarunjit Butalia Singh, Religions for Peace (USA)
• The Rev. Dr. Monica Schaap Pierce, Christian Churches Together
• Becca Tyvoll, Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
• The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, the Armenian Church
• Teresa Elwood, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

When many Americans took longer summer holidays, Episcopalians often attended one of the many seasonal chapels dotting American coastlines and lakesides. These chapels were typically supported by Episcopalians looking for a place to worship within their seasonal enclaves. Clergy positions were filled by priests willing to work in exchange for holiday accommodations.

While many seasonal chapels still exist, taking long summer holidays in the same place year after year is no longer the norm in America. Today, Americans are traveling farther, wider, and in greater numbers.

One of the many nations Americans will travel to this season is Mexico. Last year, more than 27 million Americans visited Mexico, making the nation the top foreign destination for American travelers.

Although there may be no seasonal chapels in Mexico, there are plenty of Anglican churches that offer English language liturgies. Anglicanism has a deep and storied history in Mexico.

Todos son bienvenidos — all are welcome!

Christ Church, Mexico City

Established in 1865, Christ Church is the oldest Anglican church in Mexico, and it features the design of renowned Mexican architect Carlos Mijares-Bracho. Christ Church welcomes Anglicans from around the world, from Nigeria to Australia. Initially founded by British and American expatriates looking for a place to worship while on business or diplomatic mission, Christ Church has blossomed into a diverse community of believers.

Christ Church offers two English language liturgies — a spoken service at 9:30, and a choral Eucharist at 11 a.m. Chapultepec Park, Mexico City’s largest park, is mere blocks from the sanctuary. Christ Church hosts concerts during the week.

Holy Trinity, Oaxaca

Worshiping in a walled garden, Holy Trinity brings a new, sunshiny vigor to the old hymn line “for the beauty of the earth.” Holy Trinity’s Sunday Eucharist is at 11 a.m., and the service is in English. It is located about five blocks from Oaxaca’s historic Zócalo, or town square, so after the service, you may enjoy strolling the storied streets of one of Mexico’s great cities.

Christ Church By the Sea, Puerto Vallarta

Have you ever wanted to attend worship in a palapa, a traditional thatched roof house? Here is your chance! The congregation of Christ Church by the Sea worships mere feet away from the white sand beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Since 1991, Christ Church has offered both Word and sacrament to travelers and residents of Puerto Vallarta. Christ Church also maintains a feeding ministry at a local school for migrant children. The parish has a growing music ministry, and its service in English is at 10 a.m.

St. Luke’s, Merida

On the northern end of the Yucatán Peninsula, about three hours away from Cancún, St. Luke’s is a vibrant and growing church in the historic city of Merida. St. Luke’s offers an English liturgy at 10 a.m. and a Spanish liturgy at 11:30. St. Luke’s also maintains a robust social outreach to the impoverished residents of Merida’s south side called Buen Pastor, or the Good Shepherd. Every Sunday at 5:30 p.m., St. Luke’s offers the Eucharist, a meal, and basic household supplies to south side residents. The city of Merida is replete with many well-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture, significant Mayan cultural sites, and — just outside the city — Yucatán mangrove forests.

St. Mark’s, Guadalajara

Since 1949, St. Mark’s has been a faithful presence in the city of Guadalajara. St. Mark’s is firmly rooted in the Anglican expression of the faith. One of the church’s ministries is offering Spanish editions of the Book of Common Prayer. St. Mark’s offers two bilingual services every Sunday at 1:30 and 3 p.m. St. Mark’s is in the trendy Monráz neighborhood, which includes many coffeehouses and restaurants.

St. Mary Magdalene, Rosarito

Less than one hour from San Diego, St. Mary Magdalene’s is a growing Anglican community in the coastal city of Rosarito. St. Mary Magdalene’s has ministered to the people of the Baja since 2017. The parish celebrates its English Eucharist every Sunday at 10 a.m. It is only steps from the beach.