Out of Silence: Silence Is All There Is
by Bishop Brian Cole | Oct 8, 2026 | Message from the Bishop, Out of Silence
“The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega. It is God’s brooding over the face of the waters; it is the blended note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings.” (Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters) The writer,...
Bishop Cole’s Comments at “Deepening Our Moral Witness” Press Conference
by dioetdev_atawgy | Oct 2, 2026 | Featured News, Message from the Bishop
The Episcopal Church stands with the Catholic Church in support of dignity and Christian hospitality and welcome to migrants. In our biblical story, we see again and again that the Spirit of God moves with people when they have to leave home and find refuge in a new...
Bishops of Tennessee Issue Letter to Governor Lee on Attempted Christa Pike Execution
by dioetdev_atawgy | Oct 1, 2026 | Diocesan News, Featured Article, Message from the Bishop
October 1, 2026 The Honorable Bill LeeGovernor of TennesseeNashville, TennesseeDear Governor Lee:Grace and peace to you.We write as bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Episcopal Church, and the Roman Catholic Church, serving Christians and...
Bishop Cole on the Death of Dolly Parton
by Andrew Morehead | Aug 25, 2026 | Diocesan News, Message from the Bishop
Dear People of East Tennessee, It is with great sadness that we enter a time of mourning for the death of Dolly Parton, one of our greatest regional figures. I celebrate and honor the impact she has had on East Tennessee and the world, whether from her music or her...
God, The Consuming Fire: A Sermon by The Rt. Rev. Brian L. Cole July 15, 2026
by Andrew Morehead | Jul 27, 2026 | Message from the Bishop
One of the rare liturgies in the Episcopal Church is the "burning of the note", a service that highlights a parish's or community's retirement of significant debt. This debt can be from construction expenses, renovation, mechanical improvements,...





