Diocesan Convention 2025: Recap

Clergy and lay leaders from every corner of the diocese came together to pray, learn, and celebrate the good news we are called to live out in our communities this past weekend. The conversations were thoughtful, the worship was joyful, and the energy renewed our sense that God continues to work through our churches in meaningful and transformative ways. It was good to be together, to listen to one another, and to remember the mission we share.

Convention Presentations

Bishop’s Address

Enjoy the Bishop’s Address, where Bishop Susan reflects on our shared ministry and the road ahead. Listen closely and consider how these words speak to you in this moment.

Bishop’s Sermon
Take a breath, settle your spirit, and enjoy the message Bishop Susan prepared for Diocesan Convention Eucharist.

Consider all the ways our diocese supports migrants and those struggling to find their feet amid the current migration crisis. 

Charlette Preslar, Director of Formation, provides a thrilling report on 2025’s formation efforts and gives a sneak peek into 2026.

Jessica Ripper, Mission Real Estate Portfolio Manager, provides a report on the current efforts of our Mission Real Estate program.

The Rev. Douglas Worthington shares an opportunity for individuals to join young recruits for worship on Sundays throughout their time at boot camp. 

The youth attending Diocesan Convention provided a presentation on their work during the convention.

Awards

Bishop’s Cross Award 2025 – Tony Ralphs

Tony Ralphs is the inspiration and the generous contributor who made it possible for us to open Community of Light, or Comunidad de Luz, our migrant shelter for women and children in Tijuana. For decades, Tony and his wife, Pilar, have owned and operated an orphanage in Tijuana, and have hosted mission groups and others in a second building on the same property. After hearing our Migration Missioner, Robert Vivar, speak about our diocese’s work on the border, Tony approached Robert and offered him the use of the second building as a migrant shelter. A shelter like this was a longtime dream of Robert’s and of mine, and we gladly accepted the offer and have worked to raise money, gather leaders, and open a shelter whose vision is to go beyond provision of basic necessities. Our goal is to offer job training, education, trauma-informed medical and psychological care, and spiritual and pastoral care for people whose lives have been immensely difficult. We want to support these migrants to start a new life, probably right there in Tijuana. Without Tony’s vision and support, Comunidad would never have been possible.

Tony’s faith has informed his life for decades. Beginning with a transformative visit with Mother Teresa in India years ago, Tony has been inspired to bless the vulnerable and suffering of the world. The orphanage he and his family operate in Tijuana, Casa Hogar de Los Ninos, is one example of how he has transformed lives through the power of Christ. Several generations of orphaned and abandoned children have found safety and the love of a family through the work of this orphanage. Many mission groups have built homes in Tijuana, using the property as a home base. Now migrant women and children have the chance to start a new life because of Tony’s vision and generosity.

In his life and ministry, Tony truly embodies the words of Jesus: “Truly I tell you, if you have done it to one of the least of my sisters and brothers, you have done it to me.” Thank you, Tony, for your compassion and care for Jesus’s beloved siblings. In his name, I am proud to award you this Bishop’s Cross.

Bishop’s Cross 2025 – Sandi Lanzarotta Chan

Sandi Lanzarotta Chan is a professional real estate broker and property manager. Sandi has considerable experience working with properties. For the past 15 or so years, Sandi has given generously of her talents through the diocesan property committee. Whether a congregation has water damage, deferred maintenance, a problem tenant, or anything else, Sandi is willing to roll up her sleeves and work with congregations to make our buildings safe, useful, and beautiful. In diocesan property committee, Sandi is known for her view that the committee should be a resource to partner with congregations; she often asks the committee, “what can we do to be helpful in this situation?” Her handiwork is silently visible throughout the diocese: she has been involved in managing almost all of our mission congregations and many of our parishes at one point or another. She carries the institutional memory of how our properties have been maintained across her many years of service.

Sandi is a member of St. Peter’s Del Mar, and has been involved not only with property committee throughout the diocese, but has also served on diocesan coaching teams for APP congregations. She is also on the board of All Saints Cemetery, the diocesan cemetery in north county, where she serves as treasurer, and is active in Cursillo, and serving this convention in the Daughters of the King prayer room – all while running her own property management company.

I am so grateful that Sandi has been able to make time out of her very busy schedule to serve the diocese so consistently over these many years. And for that dedicated service to work that is often behind the scenes but is so important in keeping our buildings serving our mission, I am happy to award Sandi this Bishop’s Cross.

Good News Award 2025 – Susan Forsburg

Susan Forsburg is the official photographer for St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Diocese of San Diego. Her dedicated and beautiful photographic art documents Sundays, holy days, special events, and touching moments throughout our diocese. She can frequently be seen at events like right here at Diocesan Convention, walking around and stooping, stretching, and bending to get just the right camera angle. When you see photos in news articles and social media, more often than not they are her work, showing care in artistic design, lighting, lens selection, and all the other crafts that turn photography from simply a historical record to a true art. Her photographs of St. Paul’s Cathedral, in particular, capture the shifting light, colors, and beauty of that lovely place, and her close-ups of people celebrating, preaching, listening, and experiencing the sacraments bring the visual story of our faith to the fore. She can also be found at special events at other churches in the diocese, capturing baptisms, ordinations, and special moments for posterity.

Susan’s photographic art extends beyond the church, including beautiful photographs of nature, animals, and other scenes that are accepted into juried photographic exhibits. This talented photographer fits her ministry in with the rest of her busy life as a professor of microbiology at USC. A true renaissance woman, she devotes a good part of her time and effort to the work of the church, and we are indebted to her for helping us tell the story of the Episcopal Church here in San Diego. I am delighted to present Susan Forsburg with the Good News Award.

Youth Give Servant Ministry Award

The youth of the diocese awarded Bob “Chainsaw” Oslie with a special servant ministry award for his overarching support of youth and their spiritual development.  

Convention Workshops

The workshops this year were an important part of our time together, offering both theological reflection and practical guidance for ministry. The Nicene Creed panel brought together Pastor Casey Kloehn Dunsworth (ELCA), The Rev. Brad Easterbrooks (Roman Catholic), and The Rev. Dr. John Koenig (Episcopalian) for a rich and thoughtful conversation. Their discussion invited participants to consider how the Creed shapes our shared identity as Christians across traditions. People left with a deeper understanding of how the Creed unites us through a common language of faith while still welcoming the diversity of our experiences and perspectives.

The Advocacy workshop, led by Alan Yarborough, focused on how we live out our faith in the public sphere. Participants explored practical ways to connect the values we proclaim on Sunday with the needs of our neighbors throughout the week. The session encouraged Episcopalians to approach advocacy as a ministry rooted in love, humility, and listening. Many who attended expressed appreciation for the clarity and encouragement offered, and left better equipped to engage faithfully, confidently, and collaboratively in their communities.

Couragous Love Listening Sessions

Thank you to everyone who took part in the first round of listening sessions for our next diocesan strategic plan. Your insight and honest reflection are helping shape where we direct our energy and focus in the years ahead. Additional opportunities are being planned so that individual congregations can host listening sessions of their own, ensuring that every community has a voice in this work.

We will also be inviting broad participation through a diocesan-wide survey. By the end of November, you will be asked to participate in the Landscape Survey. This will offer another way to share your perspective. More information about the Landscape Survey will be provided in next week’s edition of the EDSD News so that you can prepare and encourage others in your congregation to participate.

Elections

As part of our work, the Convention elected leaders who will guide and support our common ministry in the coming years. The following individuals were elected to serve:

General Convention Deputation

Clergy

Hannah Wilder

Lilia Mendoza

Brian Petersen

Richard Hogue

Roberto Maldenado-Mercado (First Alternate)

Kate Flexer (Second Alternate)

Lay

Robert Vivar

Jennifer Jow

Mae Chao

Ward Fleri

Cynde Durnford Branecki (First Alternate)

Joseph Rhodenhiser (Second Alternate)

Executive Council (Per the canons, the bishop will appoint three additional members)

Clergy

Nina Bacas

Lay

Joe Lopez

Stefan Henning

Standing Committee

Clergy

Douglas Worthington

Lay

Andrew Waters

Disciplinary Board

Clergy

Kirby Smith

Laurel Mathewson

Lay

Andrew Waters

Secretary of Convention

Brian Johnson