The cathedral is rooted in the Book of Common Prayer 1979 (and other approved services), with a higher side of Broad Church liturgical expression, valuing beauty and in the Anglican tradition. We are committed to the Daily Office, which includes offering Sunday Morning Prayer, Noonday prayer, daily Compline, and weekly Evensong. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, livestreaming our principal sung services became both a priority and a necessity. As the diocesan cathedral, we regularly provide liturgical services to the diocese through ordinations and other special services. Through the choir and its choir school, we are dedicated to the full, ever-growing repertoire of Anglican music, choral and organ (including Anglican chant and plainsong), from all schools and periods, using primarily the Hymnal 1982 and its supplements such as Lift Every Voice and Sing II. Through theologically sound preaching, by ordained and lay preachers, and intentional liturgy we hope to make Christian worship and the Anglican tradition approachable, beautiful, and nurturing.

The cathedral has an active laity and a strong spirit of volunteerism. This is seen in the volunteer-led Sunday morning Hot Breakfast for Hungry Folks and outreach activities such as backpack donations to nearby schools. The congregation is economically and ethnically diverse, intentionally cultivates an LGBTQ+ inclusive culture, and welcomes the presence of religious orders. The cathedral choir and choir school provides sterling music education, particularly to young people, and is thoroughly integrated into the liturgical life of the cathedral and the diocese. The cathedral maintains strong relationships with community organizations in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood, including the Wayne State University Medical School. The cathedral and the Medical School offer the Community Homeless Interprofessional Program’s (CHIP) clinic to the local unhoused and under-housed population. Our beautiful worship space is an important strength not merely for worship but as a community crossroads. The cathedral also maintains a strong relationship with the bishop and her staff.

The cathedral offers several ways for members to participate in outreach that embody Christ’s love, particularly to vulnerable populations. However, the cathedral has fewer opportunities to engage in Christian education, study, spiritual formation, and fellowship, particularly outside of Sunday mornings. Some of our volunteers are overutilized while others are underutilized which can lead to burnout and uneven coordination. The cathedral is a destination parish with most of the congregation traveling from outside the immediate neighborhood and many from outside the city of Detroit. This creates challenges for maintaining a strong presence in the community and cultivating deeper connections with populations such as students at nearby Wayne State University. The cathedral has experienced some growth with new members and pledges added each year, but slow church growth and financial pressures continue to be a significant challenge. The cathedral’s aging and complex facilities and infrastructure often present challenges for leadership and the cathedral’s finances.

For more information, please visit us in our online spaces:

www.detroitcathedral.org

www.youtube.com/CathedralChurchofStPaulDetroit

Interested clergy should contact the Rev. Canon Ellen Ekevag, Canon for Congregational Development and Transitions for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan by email: eekevag@edomi.org or mail to 4800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.