Rooted in Faith, Rising in Leadership: A Recap of the BIPOC Leadership Link-Up

In the spirit of community, hope, and faith, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) leaders from across our diocese gathered for a life-giving afternoon of connection and fellowship.

The event was planned and hosted by a team of four: Karla Chavez from St. Matthew’s, National City; Alyson Terry from Resurrection, Ocean Beach, Stephen Arturo Greenlaw from St. Luke’s, North Park, and myself. Held at Café X on Feb. 8, the Link-Up was more than just a time of networking – it was a space of renewal, affirmation, and visioning. Together, participants shared their various leadership and ministry journeys, and modeled a vision of what gatherings of disciples of Christ could look like in our Church.

In the Episcopal tradition, discipleship is not just about personal faith—it is about community, justice, and the responsibility to lead with courageous love. For BIPOC leaders, this call comes with both profound opportunities and deep challenges.

As the Gospel of Matthew reminds us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This call to discipleship is inclusive, expansive, and rooted in justice. It calls each believer to engage in the transformation of their community, offering leadership not from a place of privilege, but from a deep well of faith and empathy. The gathering was a reminder that this work of discipleship— following Jesus and leading in our communities with love, compassion, and integrity—is central to the sacred vocation of leaders of color in the Episcopal Church.

Many BIPOC clergy and lay leaders serve as bridges between diverse cultural traditions and the Episcopal Church, yet we often navigate spaces where our voices have historically been underrepresented or marginalized, or “othered.” In more traditional, homogeneous Episcopal gatherings where people of color are the minority, the feeling of “otherness,” or disbelonging, can feel stifling, and may make it challenging to access our identities as God’s beloved.  The Link-Up created a trusting, affirming space for authentic conversation and mutual learning, as well as a space to cultivate a deeper sense of community and belonging in the fullness of our identities and experiences.

Through prayer, dialogue, laughter, and breaking bread with leaders representing different congregations, we made new friends and strengthened existing connections. It was a nice reminder that none of us is alone in this work. And, that we are just one generation of a long and sacred tradition of diverse faith leaders who have shaped the Church and continue to transform it.

As the afternoon concluded, there was a shared commitment to continue these Link-Ups quarterly, and to continue to keep in touch between meet-ups. With hearts full and spirits strengthened, the leaders who attended this meet-up left with full stomachs, full take-home containers, and full hearts.

For more information about future gatherings – or for partnership in creating a BIPOC Leadership Link-Up closer to your area – contact me at rambasing@edsd.org.

Photos courtesy of Karla Chavez (St. Matthew’s, National City).