“To go into the world and help to be agents and instruments of God’s reconciliation. To go into the world, let the world know that there is a God who loves us, a God who will not let us go, and that that love can set us all free.” – Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Serving our active duty military, their families, and veterans is a wonderful way of serving God. Being a  volunteer means being God’s representative in places where people did not expect God to be found. Being a volunteer strengthens your relationship with God. Serving is not hard. If we do all things with love, serving others is a joyful experience.

Volunteering with our San Diego-based military is an opportunity for us to share God’s love by becoming ambassadors for Christ. Volunteering and serving helps you develop and even discover unique spiritual gifts and skills you did not know you had. 

The Armed Services YMCA says,” Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Your hands do so much good for the heart. Each year we rely on more than 10,000 volunteers to donate over 112,000 hours to deliver meaningful programs and vital services for active military families. Your volunteerism makes a difference in the lives of so many and helps the ASYMCA, and its branches nationwide save $2.5 million in costs annually.”

Bottom line: without volunteers, many of the organizations listed below would simply not be able to carry out their mission. Supporting American service members, military spouses, and military families in around the globe is not only a patriotic expression but a spiritual expression of who we are as Christians. Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice by offering your time and talents.

One of the ways Episcopalians in San Diego can make a difference in the lives of our military is by volunteering. Serving military families is possible through volunteering in organizations that are already serving the military. Here are some organizations that could benefit from your time and talents.

Armed Services YMCA

https://www.asymca.org/sdvolunteer Here you will find many opportunities that will put you in direct contact with active duty military and their families.

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and Thrift Shop (Camp Pendleton, Miramar and San Diego). Volunteers have been the backbone of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for more than 100 years. They make up more than 90 percent of our workforce. Volunteers make it possible for our donated funds to directly assist Sailors, Marines, and their families. https://www.nmcrs.org/pages/about-volunteering

Rotary Club (Camp Pendleton)

Is a volunteer organization that improves the quality of life aboard Camp Pendleton. https://www.facebook.com/RotaryCampPendleton/ and https://cpcsf.org/index.php/donate/

Blue Star Families

Volunteer to further our mission to be the bridge between military and civilian communities. There are plenty of opportunities that can fit your schedule — from supporting holiday campaigns to helping us grow our social media presence, hosting meet-ups in your community, and more. https://bluestarfam.org/volunteer/

Marine Corps Community Services

Miramar Volunteer Program

Miramar’s Volunteer Program (MVP) offers a variety of services to military personnel, family members (to include youth), veterans, and installation employees. The Volunteer Program strives to provide learning opportunities, training, job experience, development of interpersonal relationships, and networking. MVP strives to provide each volunteer with a sense of well-being, spirit of community and experiences that will be fulfilling to both the volunteer and the person and/or the organization with which the volunteer works. http://www.mccsmiramar.com/volunteer-opportunities/

Veteran Support Organizations

United Service Organizations (USO)

The USO is a nonprofit organization that provides recreation-type services, care packages, and entertainment to our servicemen and women, as well as their families, both locally and overseas. The USO provides free internet and email access to our deployed troops, housing assistance, support groups, family counseling, entertainment, and more. With more than 160 locations worldwide, there are plenty of opportunities for military spouses to get involved and help out.

Volunteers can get involved in a number of ways. They can cheer on the troops as they arrive home from a deployment, or help out at sponsored events for service members and their families such as concerts, air shows, and fun runs. If you cannot take the time to volunteer, then the USO is always accepting monetary donations as well.

For more information on becoming a volunteer, visit the USO website to fill out an application and find opportunities in your area. https://www.uso.org/

Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project is a program aimed at helping those service members who have been injured in the line of duty. WWP was created after 9/11 to help the staggering number of wounded troops returning home from the combat zone. According to their website, for every one service member killed in action, seven are wounded — which comes to almost 50,000 servicemen and women injured since 2001. WWP works to help those who have suffered serious issues from combat, as well as their families. This is a great organization to get involved with if you want to help those who are suffering physical or mental injuries as a result of their service.

WWP offers event-based volunteer opportunities, which can be found here on the WWP website. Other volunteer opportunities include offering emotional support to wounded warriors and their families through letters or donations, helping wounded warriors get to and from doctors appointments or volunteering time at fundraising events. https://www.uso.org/

Veterans Administration

In Fiscal Year 2021, over 25,000 Volunteers served more than 2.6 Million Volunteer Hours. Individuals and partnering organizations gave over $101 Million in Gifts and Donations. Value added to VA – more than $175 Million! https://www.volunteer.va.gov/

On August 1, the EDSD News presented an article entitled “What Does It Mean to be a Deacon,” the first in a series that provides a snapshot of who a deacon is, what a deacon does, where a deacon ministers, and when does one discern a call. This week’s article provides a snapshot of the dynamic ministry of deacons and where you might find them living out their calling.  

A deacon’s ministry is one of servanthood–both that of servant leadership and servant assistant. A deacon’s ministry is lived within the Church as well as outside the Church walls. We are asked to stretch ourselves further, to bring the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world back to the Church.

Two deacons that are living into their Church based ministries while stretching into less comfortable ministries are the Rev. Canon Brooks Mason and the Rev. Daniel McMillan.

 The Rev. Canon Brooks Mason is a full-time staff member at St Paul’s Cathedral and has served as their deacon since 2013. Brooks coordinates liturgy and provides pastoral care to those who may walk through the door with immediate needs or in pain as well as helping those preparing for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. All active vocational deacons have a role in the church on Sundays. Often, deacons proclaim the gospel, set the table, and dismiss the people to: “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Thanks be to God. 

The Very Rev Penny Bridges, Dean of the Cathedral, said, “The presence of a deacon in the liturgy, oversight of the intercessions, the reading of the Gospel, and ownership of the dismissal reminds us that we are all called to service; that the church is called to serve the needs of the world; that the proclamation of the Gospel is an extraordinary privilege; and that when our worship ends our ministry begins. In his ministry of servanthood, Brooks enriches the life of the cathedral community and stands as an example of the oldest order of Christian ministry. It is no accident that in recent years most parishioners who have expressed interest in ordained ministry have articulated it as a call to the diaconate.”

The Rev Daniel McMillan is a deacon at St Andrew’s by the Sea in Pacific Beach. He serves at the altar on Sunday mornings as part of his diaconal ministry. On Tuesday nights, Daniel oversees The Hunger Supper at St Andrews, where all are welcome; those who live in the neighborhood, the marginalized, the lonely. 

Daniel professes his diaconal ministry, “Jesus tells us to feed his sheep in each Gospel. I see the power of the diaconate at work in serving the food, setting tables, greeting new faces, and working side by side with the volunteers.”  

The Rev Mary Lynn Coulson, Rector of St Andrews, expressed her gratitude toward the ministry done by Daniel. “Having the presence of a deacon at our weekly meal ministry has been so important. This ministry is about more than just a meal–it’s about nourishing our neighbors, and realizing that we are nourished by serving. Having Deacon Daniel’s pastoral presence has deepened our community’s understanding of that,” said Coulson. Daniel also lives into his ministry by leading book studies, taking part in Christian formation, and pastoral care.

If you are interested in learning more about the life and ministry of a deacon, please contact Archdeacon Cindy Campos at ccampos@edsd.org. We hope this will be helpful to those of you unfamiliar or less familiar with this ordained ministry.  

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

In my first reflection on Lambeth, I told you about the results of the Call on Human Dignity, which involved a discussion of human sexuality (and I was very happy with the result). In this second reflection, I thought I would give you my Top Ten Observations about Life at Lambeth. Note that for me, Lambeth ended early, as I tested positive for Covid on August 3, which put me in isolation for the rest of the conference. (Not to worry about my health – I simply have mild cold symptoms and expect to recover quickly.) So here are my observations about my experience from July 26 – August 2, and the remainder of the conference in which I participated virtually.

1. People here are delighted to meet and make new friends. I thought that some of the Global South bishops, who disagree with The Episcopal Church’s stance on human sexuality, would avoid talking with us. Not true – they are friendly and kind, and often seek us out to meet us, exchanging business cards and asking to keep in touch. One of my most memorable conversations was with a bishop from South Sudan, who was consecrated a bishop and almost immediately went into exile because war broke out in his country. He is now a bishop in exile in a refugee camp, and his diocese is growing and changing lives.
2. I have met bishops from several areas that have sent refugees to San Diego – from South Sudan, as noted above, from Congo, and a Karen bishop from Myanmar. They are delighted to hear that they have brothers and sisters in our churches in San Diego. So to the people of St. Luke’s, St. Alban’s, and others from those countries, please know that bishops in your home countries are thinking of you and are glad to know that you’re part of our church.
3. I had hoped to meet a bishop from Singapore and thank that diocese for the work they are doing to support my good friend The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn, who was struck with a serious illness while visiting Singapore. Their care for Scott, known to many of you because he preached at my consecration in 2019 and led our clergy conference in 2021, reminds me of why being part of a worldwide church is a beautiful and powerful thing. Due to my Covid diagnosis, I didn’t manage to meet the Singaporean bishop – but I am still grateful for our worldwide communion of churches.
4. The worship is beautiful and moving – both worship in Canterbury Cathedral, and in the more contemporary space where we meet for plenary sessions. Music and preachers from all over the world are featured, and it is a grand reminder of the feast of Pentecost, when everyone heard the gospel in their own language. Christ is truly present and the Holy Spirit moves tangibly in our worship. Sermons are powerful and introduce the conference to new voices and experiences.
5. There has been much press about bishops of the Global South declaring that they would not take communion alongside inclusive provinces like ours. Despite those declarations, I observed very few people remaining in their seats during Communion in any of the worship services I attended. It is possible that some went forward for blessings only and did not receive communion, but I was glad to see that the worship did not display impaired communion to a great extent.
6. The bishops present at the conference are invited to give feedback on a series of Calls on important church and world issues, ranging from Discipleship to Climate Change to Science and Faith. The process of giving feedback on the Calls started as a disaster, but the organizers managed to repair the process. Everyone was surprised, a week before the conference began, to discover that there were going to be a series of “Calls” that we would vote on. The Calls were detailed and thoughtful, including theological reflection and action steps bishops were invited to commit to, but they came without warning, and in the case of the Human Dignity Call, resulted in widespread consternation. The Call process then was modified four times. For the first Call, we voted using electronic devices, and the voting options were essentially “Yes,” “No,” or “This needs more work.” At least a third of the bishops present abstained from that vote, apparently in protest of the process. For the second Call, we were invited to stay silent if we agreed, and shout “No!” if we disagreed. (More than one attendee pointed out the irony that on a Call related to Safe Church issues, silence equaled assent.) For the third call, they added back the “Maybe” option, but we were invited to shout “Yes,” “No,” or “Eeyore,” with “Eeyore” meaning the Call needs more work. The “Eeyore” vote felt like the height of absurdity to most of us, and gave short shrift to the hard work of the Anglican Identity drafters, two of whom were in my small group, and who were given no opportunity to explain what they intended the Call to accomplish. Accordingly, that Call received mostly “No” votes. There seemed little promise for the process that awaited the controversial Human Dignity Call the following day. However, the process on that Call was saved by dropping voting altogether, and by Archbishop Welby’s speech calling for unity, detailed in my previous message. Since then, table groups have been submitting written feedback related to each Call, without voting. The Calls will be finalized and issued as official documents of the Lambeth Conference, though most of us will not have seen the final versions.
7. There are many female bishops here. I am told that there were 11 women bishops present in 1998 and 16 in 2008. This year, there are 97, roughly 15% of the bishops present at the conference. We are not a novelty any more. Retired Bishop Chilton Knudsen told me a few months ago that her advice was for women bishops always to wear their clergy collars, because press would want to interview us. That hasn’t happened – we are not unusual enough for the press to pay attention to these days. Thanks be to God!
8. Climate change is one of the most important issues facing the planet, and it affects every Anglican Province. Wealthier countries like ours see climate disasters like drought, wildfires, and weather extremes. Poorer countries experience climate change as an existential threat to water, crops, habitable areas, and human life itself. I believe it was Archbishop Welby’s hope that our Anglican response to climate change, rather than sexuality, be the most important focus of this conference. The day trip to Lambeth Palace in London (which I was very sad to miss because of my Covid isolation) focused on climate change and on a global Communion Forest initiative. I know that our diocese’s Creation Care group will be excited and passionate to be part of that initiative, and in fact they are already working on a tree-planting project that will dovetail with it beautifully.
9. Views on sexuality and gender roles vary widely, to no one’s surprise. It is common to see a male bishop from a Global South province walking along with a wife walking three steps behind him, the two of them conversing as they walk. Though this way of walking seems odd to western eyes, bishops’ spouses in the Global South are considered essential partners in ministry, leading the diocesan Mother’s Union, which wields considerable power in many areas of the world. Some of the opposition to The Episcopal Church’s inclusive stance on sexuality comes from locations where Christian churches are subject to persecution from non-Christian sources that oppose or even criminalize same-sex behavior. These churches fear retaliation if they are associated with our inclusive stance. Other opposition comes from provinces where the Anglican Church is working hard to outlaw polygamy, and therefore focuses on the definition of marriage as one man and one woman.
10. Reconciliation in Christ is one of the most important themes of this conference. The theme scripture, 1 Peter, refers to Christians as “aliens and exiles” in a hostile world, who are called by God to become living stones, built into a royal priesthood, a chosen nation. As a Roman Catholic cardinal said in one of the plenary presentations: “We are the home God wants to build.” From all over the world, we come together amidst differences and are made one in Christ. Unity amidst diversity is not an easy task, especially when the diversity manifests in outright disagreement such as our decades-long Anglican dispute over sexuality. Yet coming together in person allows us to learn from each other, respect each other, and care for each other as siblings. One of the bishops in my small group signed the statement of the Global South bishops insisting on a reaffirmation of Lambeth’s 1998 Resolution 1.10 which rejected homosexual practice as incompatible with scripture, on the same day as I signed a statement of support and affirmation for our LGBT+ siblings. Nevertheless, we prayed together, studied the Bible together, and learned from each other’s very different contexts. Worldwide, many Anglicans live dangerous lives, fearing violence, poverty, and disaster. Our lives are enriched as we come together in Christ to share one another’s burdens.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

I’m writing to you from the Lambeth Conference, where, to my regret, I tested positive on August 3 for Covid (with mild cold symptoms) and will be in isolation for the rest of the conference, joining the live stream as I can. While I would much rather be in person at the conference, or in isolation in my own home, I am grateful that the conference organizers are delivering food to the door of my little dorm room. I’m also grateful for other bishop friends who are helping to make sure I have what I need. I’m not the only Covid-positive TEC bishop, so everyone is checking with us to make sure we’re all right.

Isolation gives me a bit more time to write and tell you about Lambeth. The schedule is grueling, but there are great opportunities to make new friends. The photo shows me with my small Bible study group (before I tested positive), which included bishops from England, Ireland, the US, Bangladesh, Antigua, and Swaziland. What an amazing chance to hear about life in other parts of the world and gain new insights from their perspectives!

As part of the program, the bishops have been considering a series of “Calls” on various subjects. They cover vital subjects: Mission and Evangelism; Safe Church; Anglican Identity; Reconciliation; Human Dignity; Environment and Sustainable Development; Christian Unity; Interfaith Relations; Discipleship; and Science and Faith. Unbeknownst to most, small groups of people have been working hard on each call, which has four sections: an Introduction; a Declaration (i.e., theological reflection); an Affirmation (how we should respond); and the Calls (specific requests). For each Call, we hear a presentation on the scripture we’re studying (1 Peter), do a small-group Bible study, then spend time at tables in plenary with our small group, discussing the Call to give input about it.

As I wrote before I left for the conference, I had grave concerns about the whole Call process, since the bishops only received the Calls a week before the conference began, and were startled to learn that we would be voting on them. I was deeply concerned in particular about the Call on Human Dignity (p. 14 of the document linked above), because the original version of it “reaffirmed” 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10, which “reject[ed] homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture.” Even the original drafters of the Human Dignity Call were surprised by that “reaffirmation;” Bishop Kevin Robertson of Toronto, an openly LGBT bishop who was part of the drafting group, said the group had never considered adding this “reaffirmation,” and its addition was a surprise to the authors. It was also a surprise to all of us that we were supposed to vote “yes” or “this needs more work” on each Call, and as originally designed, there was no option to vote “no.”

The outcry was intense, and changes happened immediately. The Call on Human Dignity was modified so it didn’t “reaffirm” Lambeth 1.10, but rather stated truthfully that the majority of the Anglican Communion agreed with it, but some provinces, after careful theological reflection, have decided to affirm same-sex marriage or blessings. (Those provinces include our Episcopal Church, and also churches in Scotland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand, and Brazil. Other provinces, such as Australia and the Church of England itself, are divided on the subject.) The Call now states that despite those differences, we commit to walking forward together.

Along with many other inclusive bishops, I was very happy with this result. When the day came to discuss the call on Human Dignity, it was announced that we would not be voting at all, but rather discussing the Call in our small groups and giving written feedback. What had been feared as a showdown between opposing factions turned into a caring and prayerful process, after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the gathering with a plea for unity and mutual respect, saying that he neither has nor seeks power to discipline or exclude any province of the Anglican Communion. His address was greeted with a standing ovation, and infused the discussion that followed with a spirit of prayerful openness. In my small group, we were divided 3/3 on the subject of same-sex marriage, yet we listened to each other’s perspectives carefully and respectfully.

For members of the LGBT+ community who are part of EDSD, I imagine that this whole Anglican Communion dispute, lasting for years, has been painful and difficult. I apologize to you for the ways the church has focused on you and caused you pain. I assure you that whatever Lambeth decided, it would not have caused The Episcopal Church to change our stance – neither Lambeth nor the Anglican Communion have legislative authority over our church. You are valued and beloved members of our flock. I was glad to join with over 170 of my colleague bishops in signing this statement in support of our LGBT+ siblings.

It is possible that the Call on Human Dignity may yet change, since there will be a mysterious “Phase III” of the Call process when unidentified people will take the feedback they have received and modify the Calls. Global South Primates have already issued a statement of protest because the reaffirmation Lambeth 1.10 that many conservative bishops hoped for did not occur. They have declared that they may be in a state of impaired communion with us (and some actually refused to receive communion at the Lambeth Eucharists). They intend to appeal to the Primates (i.e., the heads of all the national churches) of the Anglican Communion to overrule the Lambeth Conference (though there is no legislative mechanism to allow this to happen). As it stands, however, the Human Dignity Call is a great step forward, in my opinion, allowing us to enter a new era where Anglicans worldwide agree to commit to each other despite our disagreements. We finally have the opportunity to put the years-long focus on human sexuality behind us, and find ways to follow Jesus together.

We use Google to navigate, shop, review, search, and much more. It has become an integral piece of our everyday lives. Life without Google sounds prehistoric. But how can we use Google to help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ? Start by leaving a review for your church online.

Today, seekers look for input from others before trying new things. Have you ever been in a new neighborhood and googled: “Restaurant near me?” Likely, dozens of eateries popped up on Google Maps–showing you reviews, photos, menus, current foot traffic, and more. Have you chosen a place to eat based on reviews?  

When the unchurched search Google to find a church, they tend to use keywords that Google recognizes as a location. Someone viewing a local search result will be exposed to a lot of information about your church before they even reach the church’s website. Take the time to share your story with those looking at your church as a potential new spiritual home.   

Google My Business is how you manage the information people see when searching your location. Church staff can claim (or verify) the church’s Google My Business account. Once verified, the church can manage its information and interact with the people discovering the church in their local search results.

Make sure your service times and office hours are listed – essentially, any time that your church is available for in-person traffic. You can use the “special hours” field to specify any changes in the church’s schedule due to holidays, special services, etc.

Set your church’s business description. This should be a short, descriptive paragraph about the identity of the church. Begin to tell the story of who you are as a church community. Upload a handful of high-quality photos to help establish your church identity. Ideally, you should have one or more exterior photos of your church location to help people identify it when looking for it in person.

Respond to the reviews. While generating positive reviews is extremely important, responding to existing reviews (both positive and negative) is a crucial practice. Responding to reviews shows Google and potential new visitors that your church is engaged with the community and receptive to feedback. And encourage others to take the time to leave a review and share the Good News of Christ. 

Seekers want to hear about your experience. A good review could be, “What is Christ doing in your life, and what role has your church played in this?” Be positive, be brief, and be personal when reviewing your church. Seekers are looking to see how you have encountered God through your Church–so tell them. 

Your church’s Google My Business is a critical part of your church’s online presence. Make it easy on new visitors by keeping your service times current, your office hours posted, and by showing active pictures of your community. And leaving a review is a simple way to help the unchurched find your church; it presents an opportunity for members to practice sharing their experiences at church, and it shows your community as an active participant in the neighborhood.   

TLDR: Convention is Nov. 11-12. Nominations are open for elected positions.

Diocesan Convention returns to an in-person gathering for the first time in two years. On Friday, November 11, everyone can join Convention online for an evening of virtual presentations, a panel discussion, and workshops. On the morning of Saturday, November 12, elected delegates, clergy, and visitors will gather at St. Bartholomew’s in Poway to worship, learn, and discern together–reflecting on becoming a better people of God.

Diocesan Convention is the annual business meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and acts as the primary legislative body of the Diocese. It’s a time when clergy and laypeople from all over the diocese come together to vote on an annual budget, to elect officers, and hear reports of work from diocesan programs.

Each year at Diocesan Convention, the people and clergy of the diocese elect their representatives to serve in many different leadership capacities. Nominations for those positions are open now. God might be calling you to serve! These leadership groups are vital to the mission of our Diocese. Having a diverse team of leaders helps the Diocese make strategic, Christ-centered decisions.

At the time of her consecration, Bishop Susan set the diocese on a path of spiritual development: a year of discipleship, a year of evangelism, and a year of service. Being part of diocesan leadership is a wonderful way to grow in all three areas. If you feel called to one of these positions, you do not have to wait for someone to nominate you. Self-nomination is encouraged. Please consider running for one of these elected positions.

If you are interested in running for an elected office, click here.

General Convention Deputation! Every three years, each diocese in the Episcopal Church elects four clergy members, four lay people, and alternates to represent the diocese at General Convention. You can read reports from our most recent deputation in the EDSD News here.

Executive Council! Executive Council is responsible for implementing the Strategic Plan of the diocese. Currently, Executive Council is working on forming new worshiping communities, crafting affordable housing initiatives, working on peace and justice efforts, advocating for change, and implementing creation care objectives throughout the diocese. There are also Executive Council Committees that use their significant financial knowledge to support congregations in financial planning and stewardship. The Executive Council also takes care of diocesan properties. You can see that council makes use of a wide variety of people and their gifts. It’s a four-year term and meets virtually at a convenient time for the group. With virtual meeting space, no matter where you reside, you can participate in Executive Council. 

Standing Committee! The Standing Committee is the Bishop’s council of advice. It comprises four clergy, who are voting members of Convention, and four Lay members, who are communicants of the Church. The Standing Committee acts as the ecclesiastical authority when the bishop is absent or incapacitated. The powers, functions, and duties of the Standing Committee shall be those prescribed by the Constitution and· Canons of The Episcopal Church, and by the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese. Upon expiration of the member’s term, no person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Standing Committee for a period of one year.

Disciplinary Board! The Disciplinary Board hears cases regarding the discipline of clergy as specified in accordance with Title IV of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church. Members are elected for staggered three-year terms and may be re-elected for multiple terms.

Secretary of Convention! The Secretary takes the minutes for Diocesan Convention, certifies Deputies to General Convention, and performs other duties as listed in the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. The Secretary of Convention records the minutes and resolutions of the monthly Diocesan Executive Council meetings. The Secretary is elected for a one-year term and may be re-elected.

For up-to-date information, resolutions facing convention, important deadlines, the nominees for elected offices, and more, please visit www.conventionedsd.org

This past July, I had the pleasure of attending General Convention for the first time and as a lay alternate: I was able to spend time with a great group of kind, thoughtful and inquiring deputies from around our Diocese of San Diego, who love this Church and care deeply about the Church’s people. I had the opportunity to meet other deputies from around the country, putting in perspective how small a piece of the Episcopal puzzle our diocese is. And, I was able to be present for discussions and historic elections and decision-making that took concrete action towards turning into reality the dreams of a Church that more closely resembles and equitably honors the abundant diversity of God’s creation – elections and decisions that may once have seemed impossible to certain groups of folks in Episcopal Church history. 

Among those decisions were the elections of Julia Ayala Harris and Rachel Taber-Hamilton as the President and Vice-President, respectively, of the House of Deputies – each of them the first women of color to be elected to those positions. I know that not everyone who reads this will understand  or agree with the importance of having women of color in these centralized positions of leadership, and I honor those viewpoints. And, certainly, both Ayala Harris and Taber-Hamilton have resumes and experience that qualify them regardless of their gender and racial identities. But for myself, as one woman of color, it has been a challenge to look to leaders in centralized places of power in the Episcopal Church and not see other folks who more closely resemble myself or any of my Igorot-Filipino, brown-skinned ancestors, without sometimes receiving the message that, despite being a cradle Episcopalian, and despite having generations of relatives dedicated to the Episcopal Church since my great-great grandfather converted to the Episcopal tradition several generations ago, there was no place in leadership of the Episcopal Church for people who look like me. And in those moments of un-belonging, I would often resign myself to the idea that because there was no space for me or others who look like me, there was no point in leaning in. Having this representation of two women of color as President and Vice-President of the House of Deputies turns that old message of unbelonging on its head, and makes real the hope of what might be possible for those of us who don’t fit the historical appearance of leadership. 

There were also new Resolutions passed such as A127 – Resolution for Telling the Truth about The Episcopal Church’s History with Indigenous Boarding Schools, and A125 – A Resolution Extending and Furthering the Beloved Community,  establishing the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice, a voluntary association of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming the Beloved Community which will provide Coalition members opportunity to organize, network, encourage and be encouraged, in their journey towards racial equity and justice. Both of these Resolutions are just two different examples of ways the 80th General Convention took actionable steps to hold space for voices that have been historically marginalized and to provide support for groups and individuals engaged in the good and challenging work of becoming the Beloved Community. 

Reconciliation came not just in resolving new action steps towards collective liberation, but also, in the case of D080, revisiting an old Resolution (1988-B003) that when passed in 1988 took steps towards honoring the voices of leadership in Indigenous community but ultimately failed to have its promise fulfilled. 

Resolution D080, which was passed by the House of Bishops and concurred by the House of Deputies, reaffirms the readiness of the leaders of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland to select their own Bishop. The Episcopal Church in Navajoland is an Area Mission. As an Area Mission, and in alignment with the old canons of the Episcopal Church, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland has traditionally been assigned by the House of Bishops. And, according to the Explanation of Resolution D080 as proposed by The Rev. Leon Sampson, and as endorsed by The Rev. Cathlena Plummer and Ms. GJ Gordy, despite a Resolution in 1988 at the 69th General Convention declaring its “readiness to affirm the election and consecration as Bishop, someone so called and nominated by the Episcopal Church in Navajoland,” ECN continued to have its bishops assigned by the House of Bishops. The Episcopal Church in Navajoland, despite having culture, context and community quite unlike the average diocese in the Episcopal Church, was having their Chief Pastor selected not by local leaders formed and informed by that same culture, context and community, but by a group of leaders who, while equipped with the wisdom and spiritual gifts given by God and refined by sacred experience in their own various contexts, were far removed from the nuanced realities and experience of those most directly already following the call to pastor, serve and share the Good News with the people of Navajoland. What have been the implications of this practice of the Episcopal Church, especially considering that we as an institution are currently reckoning with a legacy of colonialism that has yet to be fully uncovered both domestically and overseas? 

But, thanks be to God, in the passing of Resolution D080 by the House of Bishops, with the House of Deputies concurring,The Episcopal Church in Navajoland was not only reaffirmed in its readiness to call and nominate their own bishop, but also granted the ability to create its own framework for discernment of the calling of a bishop “that reflects the values, teachings, and traditions of the Diné,” thus honoring the sacredness of traditional Navajo cultural practices, and affirming that there is room for cultural traditions diverse from those historical practices of The Episcopal Church and these different practices do not necessarily negate the holiness of the other. Furthermore, considerations were made to provide ECN with the support necessary on their journey as the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons was directed to “study and evaluate” those parts of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church that may require amendment in order to “honor the voice of the people of The Episcopal Church in Navajoland,” and to collaborate with The Episcopal Church in Navajoland. It is with great hope that I look forward to what is made possible through collaboration in the spirit of mutuality between a part of the Episcopal Church as unique as Navajoland and the pragmatic wisdom and structural know-how of the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons. 

Over the course of this four-day General Convention that did much to honor the voices of people from communities who, in the large history of the Episcopal Church, were often not heard, I slowly realized just how diverse our deputation from the Diocese of San Diego actually was. Nearly half of our San Diego deputation were People of Color (exactly half if you consider only the 10 of us in the House of Deputies). Within that group of Deputies of Color were some who were born and raised in the US, and others who immigrated to this country. In our diocesan group we had a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, education and vocational experience, and even in General Convention experience, with deputies who have attended as many as 9 conventions to several first-time deputies; some of our deputies identify as LGBTQIA+; some of our deputies’ wisdom regarding the Episcopal Church was formed by experiences in Parochial Missions or in small, scrappy congregations, others have been formed by the glory and challenge of ministering in large, affluent parishes. On the last night of General Convention, as  (most of) our deputation sat around a table together for dinner (minus Hanh Tran – we missed you!), one-by-one we shared our biggest takeaways of the convention, and each of our voices were given equal weight and consideration. And, I realized, this largely echoed the manner by which our deputation honored each other during the entire process of preparing for the 80th General Convention. 

While our diocese is not perfect, and we still have challenges that lay ahead of us that may or may not be related to some of these Resolutions I’ve mentioned in this reflection, it is rejuvenating to remember that members from our diocese can and have found unity in our wild diversity, and that our diocesan leadership treats each voice as equally sacred. In the entire Diocese of San Diego, where an even richer, varied array of diverse voices and lenses exist throughout our region, if we continue to do the work of honoring this diversity and of coming together in collaboration and as a collective, in Christ and with Christ and through Christ – what will be impossible then?   

What does it mean to be a deacon?

The diaconate is one of the three ordained ministries in the Episcopal Church. The diaconate is a full and equal clergy order. It is a unique calling, different from the call to become a priest.  

Has anyone ever told you you’d make a good deacon or suggested that you think about the ministry of the vocational diaconate? Perhaps you’ve asked yourself – “I wonder what it would be like…Is God calling me?” The character of the deacon is twofold. The deacon’s ministry is both that of servant-leader and assistant, found both inside and outside of the church.  

Through ordination, clergy are meant to be the bridge between the church and the world in servant ministry and leadership roles. Our calling is to help the poor, the sick and dying, the marginalized, the homeless, and the forgotten. This sense of calling may be seen in hospital and prison ministry, ministry to the elderly, poor, dying, hopeless, or those with mental illness, or advocacy for social justice and change. Deacons can also serve in diocesan or church administrative positions.

Those discerning the diaconate often feel, early on, the call to one of the servant ministries. Deacons take the command at their ordination to interpret the world’s needs to the church seriously.

Deacons are also found inside the church at the altar, assisting the priest and bishop in public worship. The ones with the stoles fastened on our right side, a symbol of the servanthood and ministry of Christ–those are deacons! The deacon proclaims the gospel, sets the table for the eucharist, and gives the dismissal. We may also prepare and bid the prayers of the people, bid the confession, assist with distribution of communion, and preach on occasion. We may have other mutually agreed-upon duties such as being in charge of Eucharistic Visitors and teaching.  

“God knows me well and leads me to sacrificial and sacramental service.  My diaconal story ranges from working closely with homeless people to serving as a member of the diocesan leadership team to currently training Eucharistic Visitors. I look forward to discerning what God has in store for me in the next chapter of my ministry,” said The Rev. Canon Nancy R. Holland, long-time deacon.

If you think you may be hearing a call or have questions about the diaconate, you may contact The Ven. Cindy Campos, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego at ccampos@edsd.org.

All of us may practice spiritual discernment, prayerfully listening for God’s word for our lives. To do so in intentional community is to be supported in faithfully distinguishing the unique call of God’s voice – calling us to the ministry where God most needs us to be.

This communal spiritual discernment lies at the heart of the work of the Parish Discernment Committee (PDC). The PDC occurs in the early stages of an individual’s exploration of a call to ordained ministry, based on a letter of support from their sponsoring priest, and at the direction of the Bishop and Commission on Ministry. Because discernment of ordained ministry in God’s Church occurs in partnership with the Church – the people of God – the PDC is composed of several parishioners from the discerner’s home parish, and one or two trained conveners who meet a handful of times to prayerfully consider three important questions:

1. What is the discerner’s relationship with God?
2. How is God’s call unfolding and what practical aspects need to be considered?
3. God, how would you have the discerner move forward to embrace your call?

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is one of many dioceses throughout the Church that looks to Listening Hearts Ministries (https://listeninghearts.org/) to train our volunteers who convene Parish Discernment Committees. And, as Jesus said in commissioning the seventy, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”! Do you have a heart for prayerful listening and discernment? Are you eager to be part of a process that raises up future ordained leaders in the Church? Could God be calling you to become a trained convener?

Consider the experience of one of our Listening Hearts-trained conveners, Debbie Kistler, who has served on several PDCs:

“The words “Listening Hearts” are what got me excited. Learning that I was helping to create a prayerful, confidential, loving, safe, and Holy Spirit-filled place of opportunity for a discerner to explore where God is guiding them, has been a gift to me as well as my siblings on this journey. What keeps me saying ‘yes’ is the many ways I have witnessed the Holy Spirit at work, not only every time we gather, but in the hours I spend in prayer for all those involved. In this ministry, we get to witness God’s beloved children being called, trusting, and acting. We help in creating a space to nurture seeds others have planted, to help a discerner acknowledge the fruit they hope is ripe and ready to be picked, and to plant seeds that we trust will grow in the future. For me this work is my trusting in our Lord and with all my heart knowing that my hoping is never in vain. I have yet to finish a PDC with a discerner without feeling I too have grown and been nourished by God’s unconditional love.”

And, the experience of one of our diocese’s ordinands, Heather Lawrence, as she reflects on the experience of being the discerner in her own PDC:

“Discerning a call to ordained ministry can be (or maybe must be!) a profoundly disorienting experience, and it simply cannot be navigated alone. The Listening Hearts community involved in my discernment process created a container in which, together, we could sift through fears and resistance, identify learning opportunities, and amplify the voice of God. It’s a gift of the Episcopal tradition that the whole church — lay and ordained — discern together who is called to serve in this particular role, and I carry the confidence of this larger community with me in my ministry every day.”

Please, consider if God may be calling you to the ministry of a Listening Hearts convener! To explore the possibility further, please contact Terry Kelly at terrencekelly74@gmail.com.

Holy Cross is going back home! After a sojourn that involved a lengthy discernment process and a temporary stay in Oceanside, Holy Cross Carlsbad is returning to its roots as a mission in South Carlsbad. On August 1, Holy Cross will begin its new space-sharing arrangement with Jewish Collaborative of San Diego (JCo), an independent Jewish congregation located in the La Costa Heights neighborhood. This move will be a homecoming in more ways than one – JCo’s building is just a few blocks away from the site of Holy Cross’ original meeting space at a Boys and Girls Club facility (now part of La Costa Heights Elementary School), where the church began its story more than 35 years ago! And while this move brings the congregation in touch with its past, it also puts Holy Cross in a great place to bring its mission of “Open Minds, Open Arms” into the future as a growing community.

The last several years have been a time of transition for Holy Cross, as financial difficulties related to the pandemic forced the church to leave its previous location in South Carlsbad and establish a temporary “campsite” by sharing space with Oceanside Sanctuary Church. This time at the “campsite” allowed Holy Cross to focus on its visioning and strategic planning process, looking closely at who the church is being called to serve and how it might bring its vision to life in new and creative ways while establishing sustainable growth for the future. The discernment process led to seeking out JCo, a like-minded faith community with a beautiful worship space in an area where Holy Cross has long had a presence. The partnership with JCo also fits well with Holy Cross’ history – in their previous Carlsbad location, the congregation shared space with another Jewish congregation (Congregation B’nai Tikvah) which provided many occasions for shared ministry, worship, and interfaith dialog.

The people of Holy Cross are excited to enter into a new phase of their journey as a community with this move and partnership. Their first Sunday worship service in the new location will take place on Sunday, August 7 at 9:30am. The address for their new location is 7805 Centella St, Carlsbad, CA 92009. For more information, feel free to contact Holy Cross’ Priest-in-Charge, Rev. Brian Petersen, at pastor@holycrosscarlsbad.org.