A Time for Action: Supporting Our Neighbors in Los Angeles

My heart is heavy with the news of the devastating fires sweeping across Los Angeles. The destruction is unimaginable, and my prayers are with every person affected. As a bishop, but also as a neighbor, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to respond with action. It is these moments that remind me of the fragility of our world but also the strength found in our community–acting on God’s love for one another.

I’ve been moved by the stories I’ve heard from the Diocese of Los Angeles. Their churches have opened their doors to evacuees, offering safe havens for those who have been forced to leave everything behind. Pastoral care teams are walking alongside families who are grieving the loss of homes and livelihoods. Diocesan leaders are working hand in hand with Episcopal Relief & Development to bring essential resources to where they are needed most. This is the church in action—a tangible expression of God’s love in the midst of heartbreak.

If you feel called to help, I urge you to visit the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles’s Fire Response and Resources page. There, you can learn more about their efforts, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support their work financially. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development are particularly impactful. 

While helping those in Los Angeles, we must remain vigilant in our own region. Here in San Diego, we are no strangers to the dangers of wildfire. We must be prepared. I encourage all our congregations to develop fire evacuation plans, safeguard church properties, and check in on vulnerable community members. The Diocese of San Diego has resources available to help you prepare. Proactive steps taken now can save lives and help ensure that we are ready to respond with care and compassion if disaster strikes close to home. Review this article, the EDSD News published in August 2024, for resources and actionable steps to make your church prepared for a disaster. 

It is also essential to remember that recovery is a long-term process. When the flames are extinguished and the news cameras move on, the work of rebuilding lives and communities will continue. As followers of Christ, we are called to journey alongside those in need for the long haul. Let us be unwavering in our support, offering our prayers, our resources, and our presence as they navigate the road to healing.

In the Diocese of San Diego, we often speak of “Courageous Love,” because we know that hard things take courage. Supporting our siblings in Los Angeles, preparing our own communities for future challenges, and walking alongside those who are suffering—these acts require both courage and love.

Thank you for the outpouring of messages from across our diocese asking how you can help our neighbors in Los Angeles. These messages of concern and offers of support are a beautiful testament to who we are as a diocese—a community rooted in love, compassion, and a willingness to act when others are in need. Your response reflects the heart of Christ’s call to love one another. I am profoundly grateful for each of you.

In Christ,

Bishop Susan Brown Snook