The Episcopal Diocese 

of Northern California

Beloved Community

Resource Newsletter

Published by

The Commission for

Intercultural Ministries

June 2025

Episcopal Church Becoming Beloved Community

Newsletter Highlights:

• Heartfelt Thank You to Lynn Zender
• Courage and the reconciling action of God's Holy Spirit at the end of the House of Bishop's meeting
• Advocacy
• California Interfaith Power & Light Meeting with Assembly Members and Senators
• I Will, With God's Help: Journey Toward Racial Healing and Justice 2025 Hybrid Workshop Registration Now Open
• Pride Celebrations: Sacramento Pride, Solano Pride Booth, Chico Pride, Placer Pride Festival
• Tule Lake: The Wounds of History Revisited
• More Than Just Flowers: Symbolism

Editor's Note: Due to a summer break, there will be no newsletter for July. The newsletter will resume in August.

Lynn Zender, Co-chair of the Commission for Intercultural Ministries, has decided to step back from her position effective July 1, 2025. Lynn has co-chaired the commission for seven years. During this time, she has been integral to the growth of the commission with her strong leadership and, more importantly, her witness to God’s love for all to build the Beloved Community in our diocese. We are fortunate that Lynn will continue to co-chair the Racial Justice Audit ministry, and we are forever grateful for the impact her courageous work has made to strengthen our diocese in racial and social justice work.

You have made a difference, Lynn!

In love and gratitude,

The Commission for Intercultural Ministries Leadership Team

This is a story where I witnessed courage and the reconciling action of God's Holy Spirit at the end of the [2024] House Of Bishops meeting.

After a long week of fellowship, prayer, deliberation about the difficult headwinds that all churches face, and worship, the Bishops of the Episcopal Church had one final dinner together. That congenial time with co-workers and friends was followed by a final evening of informal fellowship and visiting. In one corner of the room, a card game was started. Using at least three decks of UNO cards, a crowd of newer and older bishops gathered around a tiny table to play a hilarious game.

Between rounds, one Bishop dashed around the corner and brought back two of our Spanish speaking Bishops from among several groups still visiting. She reasoned that one did not have to speak English in order to play the game. The new members gamely squeezed onto the sofa. At least four other bishops, who were fluent in Spanish, were present, and so many instructions on playing the game were delivered at once in several languages. Then the game began, and to me, it was a true Holy Spirit moment.

For context, non-English speaking bishops have a team of interpreters who assist in all meetings and even at meals, and everyone has a set of headphones to listen in their own language. It allows everyone to have a voice and share their thoughts at length. There were always multilingual chats going on as folks walked together between events. But that was different from entering into fun and play together. During that last evening, we got glimpses of each other's personalities that had not been revealed before. It was a joint and joyful endeavor.

There was courage in those who had the idea of reaching out to others and in the Latino Bishops who came over to try this game. We will greet each other in a special way when we meet next. Most of all, there was a sense of unity and joy, which are the hallmarks of the Kingdom of God. That it took place over a game of UNO is a sign of God's efficiency and humor.

ADVOCACY

For questions or information, contact Bob Wohlsen,

Advocacy Team Chair, bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Episcopal Public Policy Network: Public Policy and Witness Weekly Prayers



“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’” - Matthew 25:34-36 NRSV 

On this World Refugee Day, The Episcopal Church calls attention to the plight of refugees worldwide and urges action to ensure we uphold the dignity of all. We honor the courage and perseverance of the 123 million people—one in 67 globally—who have been forcibly displaced due to war, violence, and persecution. 

We affirm our commitment to stand alongside refugees, even as we recognize that we will need to serve refugees and all migrants in new ways. This commitment remains foundational to how we live out our faith as we serve communities, address global migration, and protect the rights of migrants.  

Join with us today as we educate, advocate, pray, serve, and stand in solidarity with refugees and all who migrate. 

We invite you to join our Episcopal Church Immigration Updates Tuesdays from 1-1:30 p.m. EDT and to access our Immigration Action Toolkit to remain equipped to support migrants.

YouTube I Times of San Diego I Posted June 21, 2025

Eight immigration courts line the fourth-floor hallway of the downtown Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building. On the walls: boot prints of ICE agents.

But on World Refugee Day, masked immigration agents weren’t leaning against the off-white walls, waiting to grab people. They scattered Friday after seeing a clergy delegation led by [Catholic] Bishop-elect Michael Pham.

“Like the story of Moses and Exodus, the Red Sea parted,” said observer Scott Reid of the immigrant-aiding San Diego Organizing Project.

Said another: “We’ve never seen the hallways cleared out so quickly.”

The result: Nobody was detained as immigration lawyers said would happen.

Acting faithfully in troubling times: A letter from Presiding Bishop Rowe

Office of Public Affairs I Posted June 11, 2023

Dear people of God in The Episcopal Church:

I am writing to you from Geneva, where I am meeting with global partners at the World Council of Churches and the United Nations Refugee Agency. As we have discussed how our institutions might act faithfully and boldly in these turbulent times, I have been reflecting on how we Episcopalians can respond to what is unfolding around us as followers of the Risen Christ whose first allegiance is to the kingdom of God, not to any nation or political party.

The events of the last several days lend urgency to this spiritual challenge. Earlier this week, President Trump’s executive order banning or restricting travel from 19 countries went into effect. This order impacts countries that are home to dioceses of The Episcopal Church and many of our Anglican Communion partners, and I have written to the bishops and primates in those countries to express our concern.

The unwarranted deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps on the streets of Los Angeles also signals a dangerous turn. As the bishops of California have written, these military deployments risk escalating the confrontations unnecessarily and set a dangerous precedent for future deployments that heighten tensions rather than resolve them. As Christians committed to strive for justice and peace among all people, we know that there is a better way.

Beloved in Christ,

Like all Californians, we are watching with great concern the events unfolding around immigration protests in Los Angeles. We are deeply concerned about the ICE raids and about the potential for violence arising from the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the Los Angeles area. We are concerned that military deployments will escalate the confrontations unnecessarily, and worry that all of our regions in California may be subject to future deployments that heighten tensions rather than resolving them.

Bishop John Harvey Taylor, the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, has posted on social media this past weekend about what is happening in Los Angeles and his interpretation of the ways in which local officials, law enforcement, federal agencies, and protesters are all interacting. He expressed deep pain and anger as fourteen people in one single Episcopal congregation in that diocese were detained by ICE on Friday. Certainly, we as Episcopalians are shocked and saddened when any of our own are removed from our beloved community.

In all six of our dioceses, people are concerned and fearful about the denial of due process for those detained and the potential for ICE raids targeting beloved community institutions and people working to support their families. People feel angry and threatened that the haven they sought in our communities is no longer safe. U.S. citizens and legal residents feel deep grief at losing beloved friends and family members. Children whose parents are deported face uncertain futures. In our churches, we strive to protect our members who are at risk.

Commission on the Environment Co-chair, Miriam Casey, and Carbon Neutral 2030 Project Coordinator, Bob Wohlsen, joined interfaith partners from all over the state at the annual California Interfaith Power & Light Advocacy Day in Sacramento on June 11. Miriam and Bob and their Sunrise Team partners visited Assembly Members’ Damon Connolly and Mark A. Gipson offices and Senators’ Mark McGuire and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh offices, met with their staff members, and advocated for bills that addressed solar energy, wildfire mitigation, paying for pollution, and a virtual power grid that will improve distribution of our electricity. Team members shared stories from their churches and communities about caring for our creation and how as people of faith we are called to do this in our ministry of Loving Our Neighbors. Legislators repeatedly told us they want to hear from the faith community and value our perspectives. California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL) is a network of more than 750 congregations of all faiths committed to addressing climate change throughout California.

Photo: Team members, left to right, are Rev. Rob McClennan and Judi Sachs-Westminster, Presbyterian Tiburon; Pauline Jarakian, First Presbyterian, San Rafael; Sarah Couch - Sen Ochoa Bogh Chief of Staff; Bob Wohlsen and Miriam Casey, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, and Incarnation Episcopal, Santa Rosa

This workshop is rooted in our baptismal identity and the promises we make in baptism. It focuses on how we can more fully live into our promise to be loving toward our neighbors, to address racism in our communities, and build the Beloved Community. During the workshop we follow the path of the Becoming Beloved Community labyrinth.

This workshop meets the requirement for licensing for Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Eucharistic Visitors in the Diocese. Other lay licensed ministries need to take Sacred Ground to meet Diocesan licensing requirements. As governing leaders of their churches, vestry and mission committee members are strongly encouraged to attend one of these workshops.

All are welcome to attend this training which will help you grow as reconcilers, healers, and justice bearers, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving God and your neighbor.

Each of these hybrid workshops will be offered in-person and via Zoom. For questions about the schedule, please contact Miriam Casey, edncbbc@gmail.com, or Jo Ann Williams, bjwilli@surewest.net.

Saturday, July 19 I Grace Church, Fairfield I 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/250367067365158

Registration deadline: July 4, 2025

Saturday, August 9 I Christ Church, Eureka I 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/250366881226157

Registration deadline: July 25, 2025

Saturday, August 23 I Holy Trinity Church, Nevada City I 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/250366960601152

Registration deadline: August 8, 2025

Saturday, September 6 I St. John’s Church, Roseville I 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/250366838104154

Registration deadline: August 22, 2025

Saturday, October 11 I All Saints Church, Redding I 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Register here:  https://form.jotform.com/250366868501158

Registration deadline: September 26, 2025

Now some big news: As many of you have said, it is time for the Sacred Ground curriculum to be reviewed and updated! This will be a major project over the next several months, but since you are the ones implementing this curriculum on an ongoing basis, your input comes first. If you are interested in contributing your thoughts, please complete the Sacred Ground Curriculum Feedback Survey - Formstack at your earliest convenience. If there are other facilitators who may not be on this list, please feel free to pass this along to them as well. 

Lastly, if you haven’t yet done so, please join the Sacred Ground Facilitators/Organizers Facebook Group to stay in conversation about all that is happening with Sacred Ground.

Blessings,

The Sacred Ground Team

Keeping Track of Sacred Ground

Are you forming a Sacred Ground Circle? Let the Commission for Intercultural Ministries know by registering it here: https://forms.gle/hriHCPKmLwjUHEyEA

Are you interested in joining a Sacred Ground Circle? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/G26EPxDzEFSpnsZW7

The Episcopal Church kicked off Pride Month celebrations and affirmations of LGBTQ+ people with a special livestreamed Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in New York, New York.

It was a wonderful, ecumenical Pride season in Sacramento. Trinity Cathedral opened the season with a June 5th Pride service in Easter Park.

Grace Church organized a countywide Episcopal booth for the Solano Pride event in Suisun City on June 1. All four Episcopalian churches in the county were represented -- Grace in Fairfield , Epiphany in Vacaville, St. Paul's in Benicia and Ascension in Vallejo -- and all had clergy and/or lay members staffing the booth. Stickers, flags and fliers were handed out, including one that listed all of the churches.

The St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church booth at Chico Pride held on June 7, 2025 was very successful. It was a hot day, but everyone was joyful and had a great time! The (Re)Start bins for the Disaster Assistance Outreach program were featured; and as always, the program received a great response. There was a lot of gratitude for being present, for the welcoming and inclusive environment, and for the church's successful outreach programs. Many flyers, stickers and pins went their way along with smiling faces.

This was St. John's, Roseville's, second time participating in the Placer Pride Festival and thanks their members who made this happen. When they say "ALL Are Welcome," they mean it!

YouTube I Heather Cox Richardson I Posted June 18, 2025

YouTube I Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright I Posted June 19, 2025

Two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated by Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942. They were herded onto buses, taking only what they could carry, and shuttled to isolated camps hundreds of miles from their homes.

Entire families were imprisoned — mothers and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts and uncles. Most were children. Nearly all were from the West Coast. Two-thirds were U.S. citizens.The largest — and the harshest — of the camps was at Tule Lake in the remote northeast corner of the Diocese of Northern California.

Mindful of the wounds of history still unhealed, diocesan leaders organized a forum on June 7 at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, to explore the history and legacy of the camps, particularly Tule Lake. More than 100 people participated in the forum, either in person or online. The forum was moderated by the Very Rev. Cliff Haggenjos, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Roseville, and dean of the Central Deanery. The stories were painful to hear — and for the speakers, the parallels with our own time were unmistakable.

Signs to police 'negative' history went up at Manzanar. Historians are nervous.

SFGate I Olivia Hebert I Posted June 16, 2025

People of Japanese ancestry wait to board buses that will take them to the prison camp at Manzanar, Calif., 1942. Clem Albers/NARA

On the orders of the Donald Trump administration, National Park Service employees hung two highly controversial signs this week at Manzanar National Historic Site, a museum examining the property’s former role as a prison where the U.S. government incarcerated more than 10,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

Displayed on a site where American citizens were held against their will for more than three years, the signs encourage visitors to report any depictions of U.S. history that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living” or fail to highlight the “beauty, abundance or grandeur” of the landscape, according to a Manzanar official. 

Identical signs are now posted at every national park site across the nation, regardless of whether that site’s purpose is to educate the public about horrifying mistakes and grave injustices perpetrated by the U.S. government. Although it’s unclear how and where the president’s directive will be enforced, park advocates and historians are bracing themselves for a drastic reframing of the darkest chapters of the nation’s history.

On most Sundays from Easter through the end of the Season of Epiphany, flowers grace the altar at St. Martin’s. On the third Sunday of Easter, I was responsible for the flowers. The Spirit moved me to combine foam rings bedecked with greens and yarrow from St. Martin’s grounds, cranes suspended from the altar candles, and a Japanese-style arrangement. The flowers – three sprays of Sally Holmes roses and oakleaf hydrangea – represented shin, soe, and tai (heaven, earth, and humanity) in the Ikenobo school of flower arranging. In the Japanese tradition, cranes symbolize peace, hope, and longevity. As for the greens and yarrow, the hanging strands of cranes needed something around the candles for visual balance.

Seeking tools to help your congregation

with effective Latino ministry?

Combine academic learning with hands-on experience

in the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course,

Aug. 9-16.

Registration is open for the next in-person session of the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course, an innovative intensive designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to gain practical knowledge and cultural competency for Latino ministry.

• Aug. 9-16, starting in Atlanta, Georgia, then continuing at the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
• Continuing education units are available upon completion of the course.
• Registration includes tuition, lodging, meals, transportation to/from airport.
• Learn more and register by July 6.

This popular course is offered by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Latino Ministries and taught by seminary faculty, clergy, and lay leaders with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry. 

In what is being reported as the largest protest in U.S. history, with at least four million people participating in over 2,100 rallies and marches nationwide, Episcopal bishops joined “No Kings” events in their respective dioceses to voice disapproval of the Trump administration’s policies.

Describing herself in a Facebook post as a “middle-aged suburban mother of three” who on June 14 “demonstrates in support of democracy,” Bishop Betsey Monnot of Iowa held a sign reading “Liberty and Justice for All” in red, white, and blue, with the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines in the background. “This is so very not radical,” she wrote. “I could hardly be more American.”

“It’s in the pledge of allegiance,” Monnot told TLC. She said the idea also appears in the Baptismal Covenant, in which Episcopalians “promise to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. We promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves.”

Photo: Bishop Betsey Monnot of Iowa at a “No Kings” rally in Des Moines | Michael Monnot

Theologian Walter Brueggemann (Courtesy of Westminster John Knox)

Biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann died yesterday at age 92, and I can already feel the silence he leaves behind. Not the peaceful kind of silence, but the kind that follows a thunderclap—or the pop and sizzle of a transformer blowing out in the dark. The kind that rings in your ears.

He may not have been a household name—depending, of course, on the household. But he was a seismic force beneath the surface of American Protestant Christianity—especially for preachers, prophets, and weary truth-tellers who found in his words a kind of permission. Permission to speak harder truths. Permission to leave space for lament. Permission to read the Bible like it was still breathing.

Brueggemann didn’t give us easy answers. He gave us tension. He gave us poetry. He gave us language when our own ran dry.

• Protect Foreign Aid!
• Support LGBTQ+ Equality

For more information, contact Bob Wohlsen, Advocacy Team Chair, bob.wohlsen@gmail.com.

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

The Commission for Intercultural Ministries

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