View as Webpage

October 7, 2024

“We are the land of the broken hearted.”

Today is the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks.  Last week we hosted Richard Sewell, dean of St. George’s College in Jerusalem. He recounted his experience over the last year. He described the complete devastation the Israel-Gaza war has brought. The College remains closed.

• On October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas took 251 hostages. Ninety-seven people remain in captivity; 35 are presumed dead. Since October 7, 1,139 Israeli citizens have been killed and 8,730 have been injured.

• In the year since, 41,870 people in Gaza have been killed and 97,166 injured. Airstrikes and ground attacks by Israeli Defense Forces have damaged or destroyed 60% of Gaza, including 50% of hospitals and 60% of roads. 

• The war in Israel-Gaza has made our local communities less safe. Reported Antisemitic incidents increased by 360% and anti-Muslim /Anti-Palestinian discrimination by 180% since October 7. The FBI has warned of potential attacks around today’s anniversary.

Bishop Shin, Bishop Glasspool, and I have condemned Hamas and the October 7 attacks and called for the return of hostages; condemned IDF attacks on hospitals and civilians and called for unrestricted access of humanitarian aid in Gaza; called for a ceasefire and end to arms shipments into Gaza. We have also encouraged all our communities to reach out to interfaith partners to respond to anti-semitism and Islamophobia.

• Together we also contributed funds to the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, 

We’ve had the chance over the last year to listen to people experiencing this trauma. We met with the mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Pollan, whose eulogy for her son captured the grief of many of hostage families. We’ve talked with Episcopal clergy from the West Bank and the director of Ahli Arab Hospital. We’ve met with leaders in New York caring for their grieving communities.

One year later the war continues to widen. A just resolution continues to move farther away.  

Last week Dean Sewell made call that we should all join:

“Speak for humanity. No one is expendable. No one deserves to be erased.”

We pray for all killed and whose lives have been shattered. We add to our prayers now the people of Lebanon and Iran, and the safety of the whole region.

We also pray that we continue to use our voices and institutional authority to speak for humanity.  

No one is expendable.

Grace & Peace,

Election Day is one month from tomorrow.

We will host an interfaith prayer service on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 pm at the Cathedral. It will be a post-election vigil for the healing of the nation.

• It will include prayer and music. There won’t be speeches.  

Right now we don’t know what the election outcome will be— or whether the outcome will even be clear that soon after Election Day. We know that we are better together across all our differences and that it will be an important moment for prayer and connection.

After a contentious election and in a polarized time, the service will be an opportunity for us to gather both in-person and online and to connect in our local communities across the Diocese.  

• The service is a collaboration with the Cathedral and Episcopal Divinity School. Thanks to Cathedral Dean Pat Malloy, Episcopal Divinity School President Lydia Bucklin, the Rev. Anne Marie Witchger, Canon Steven Lee, director of transition Elaine Delgado, special projects coordinator Ashley Gonzalez, & Canon Eva Suarez for their leadership.

We will share more information in the coming days. We hope you will come and invite your communities to join. We will provide information about live-streaming and how congregations can connect with the service.

Bishop Shin‘s new book The Crisis of Christian Nationalism will be published this month.

On October 15 at 6 pm a distinguished panel of scholars and bishops will discuss Christian nationalism and why the House of Bishops Theology Committee has called it "the gravest and most dangerous sin of today."

• Bishop Shin
• The Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas
• The Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis.
• Moderated by the Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng.

You can register for the webinar here.

Last week budget chair Lisa Mason & I presented the 2025 budget at the first online convention roll-out meeting.

You can see the full budget narrative here and the budget spreadsheet here.

Over the next several weeks we’ll review key provisions in the 2025 budget. This week, we’ll describe how we’re re-structuring program staff to be local across the Diocese.

The Holy Spirit moves at ground level— and our staff will focus on supporting local communities.

Basics.

This year, we set Mission Priorities for the first time in fifty years.  

Next year, we’re going to focus on our congregations through re-structuring staff and providing direct resources. Bishops and canons will visit every congregation, every year. We’ll offer resources for spiritual formation with a particular focus on our commitment to reparations, anti-racism and creation care. We’ll expand networks for legal, property, and fundraising help. 

We’ll support funding for clergy sabbaticals and recommend supporting spiritual direction and retreats also.

• We’re preparing for the long-term health and vibrancy of the Diocese of New York by exploring new revenue models that decrease reliance on congregational apportioned share and building systems for property support and development.

• This congregational focus means our 2025 budget proposals emphasize re-structuring our program staff to support congregations and increasing the resources available for congregational life.

Starting Point.

• Next year’s budget includes net $531,000 less revenue than the 2024 budget because of reduced apportioned share revenue from congregations. Added to the decreased revenue are non-discretionary increases in areas like health care.

The budget is balanced through:

• Decrease in national assessment by $181,000.
• Structural reductions in staff-managed lines.
• Re-structuring program staff on a flat basis.
• Focusing on priorities (congregations!).
• Limiting all other increases.

Re-Structuring program staff to be local.

Next year we are re-structuring the program staff to create four Regional Canons: 

• Mid-Hudson West (Ulster, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan)
• Mid-Hudson East (Dutchess, Putnam)
• Westchester
• New York City (Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan).

Regional canons will focus on local communities by supporting pastoral care, clergy transitions, and congregational development in their area along with carrying a diocese-wide portfolio— rural congregations, transitions, global mission, and congregational development.  

The regional canons will report to the canon to the ordinary, Canon Alissa Newton.

The positions will be funded through restructuring. There is no increase in staff numbers; there will be no net increase in staff costs.

Last week Liza Page Nelson gathered Education for Ministry mentors for an online conversation.

Education for Ministry plays a major role in formation across The Episcopal Church and in our Diocese. EFM serves as a key part of our deacon formation program.

In the online gathering the mentors described the community that EFM groups build together.

Liza is EFM coordinator for the Diocese. I’m grateful for her work and to the mentors for their service.

Yesterday we observed the Feast of St Francis across the Diocese of New York.

The Cathedral hosted a spectacular celebration— a joyful Cathedral tradition.

Congregations across the Diocese blessed animals of all shapes and sizes.

I’m grateful for the hard work of the whole Cathedral team for yesterday’s festivities— Dean Patrick Malloy, Canon Steven Lee, Canon Eva Suarez, director of music Kent Tritle, director of communications Kristine Pottinger, executive director of cathedral programming Laura Bosley, security director Keith Hinkson, and many others.

This week, I have the opportunity to meet with key partners from the NYC business community, prison reentry programs, and anti-hunger efforts.

• Yesterday, I really enjoyed taking part in the Cathedral service. Thanks to Canon Steven Lee for coordinating.

• Tonight, I’ll have dinner at the Community at the Crossing at the Cathedral.

• Tomorrow, I’ll join the monthly clericus deans meeting. Thanks to the Rev. Hank Tuell & the Rev. Jenny Owen for coordinating.

• Tomorrow night, we’ll host postulants & candidates for the priesthood at Ogilvie House. Thanks to Alito Orsini for coordinating.

• On Wednesday, I’ll participate in the Council of Religious Leaders (CORL) meeting at the invitation of Cardinal Dolan.

• Also on Wednesday, I’ll participate in the convocation at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale in New Haven.

We’re awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Milton. 

Southwest Florida faces mandatory evacuation today.

Recovery from Hurricane Helene has only just begun.

• I invite you to support Episcopal Relief & Development’s efforts across the region.

• You can also support the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, which was flooded by Helene.

Thanks to The Rev. Carl Turner, rector of St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, and St. Thomas rector emeritus Andrew Mead for the connection.

Pray for those affected by Helene and those in the path of Milton today. We’ll continue to share opportunities to help.

> Are you honoring someone in your community this fall?

Celebrating a milestone for years of service, a retirement, or a major birthday? Let us know. My colleague Arlene Bullard and I will send letters of appreciation.

This email is sent each Monday morning to the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

If you received this email from a friend, you can sign up to receive this note with Communications Director Nick Richardson.

To reach me: You can always email Bpheyd@dioceseny.org, text (917-224-2094) me, or call if you’d like to connect.