Donations for Unaccompanied Minors
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego has been asked to coordinate a pastoral and spiritual care response for the 1400+ unaccompanied migrant children who are being housed in the San Diego Convention Center. We are working with our ecumenical and interfaith partners to bring together a coordinated program of caring for the young people's spiritual needs, working in partnership with South Bay Community Services, which is coordinating all programming for the migrants. There will be many opportunities to volunteer and support the young people - stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, here are new ways that your congregation can support the girls.
Make a donation to South Bay Community Services for care packages
The most helpful way to support the girls at this time is to make a monetary donation toward the purchase of items for care packages here: https://southbaycommunityservices.networkforgood.com/projects/57168-sbcs-annual-fund

100% of donations will be used to purchase items for care packages for the migrant girls.
  • To make a $200 donation: Select “$200 – Provides care package for migrant youth”

  • To make a donation of any amount: In the “Choose your own amount” box, type in the amount you wish to donate, and in the “Apply my donation to” drop-down, select “Migrant Shelter”
Make a donation to EDSD for spiritual care materials
You can make a monetary donation to the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego (EDSD) here: https://www.borderministries.com/donate.

These donations will support the religious, spiritual, and chaplaincy care EDSD is coordinating for the girls. Funds will be used to purchase religious materials, worship resources, devotional books, and other supplies. 100% of donations will be used to purchase items for the spiritual care of the girls.

Email Deann Rios at drios@edsd.org with any questions about supporting the teen girls.
Episcopalians share transformative experiences with Sacred Ground racial justice curriculum
[Episcopal News Service] On April 27, thousands of Episcopalians gathered on Zoom to celebrate two years of the church’s Sacred Ground curriculum, a 10-part discussion series for small groups that traces the history of systemic racism in America, from its roots to its present realities.

“Gathering on Sacred Ground” was the first churchwide Sacred Ground event, hosted by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and members of his staff. It featured testimony from people who have participated in the series, as well as prayers, music, and remarks from Curry. Noting the timeliness of Sacred Ground in the context of the past year’s reckoning on racial injustice in America, Curry thanked everyone who developed and implemented the series for being part of a momentous movement.

“The ground beneath us is shifting,” Curry said. “Something important is happening among us. And the last time somebody was on sacred ground, I think his name was Moses. And when God got finished with him, he set some Hebrew slaves free. When God gets finished with us, Episcopal Church, he’s gonna set some captives free, including us.” Read More
Register today: Called to the Wall - May 15, 2021
Join the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and the Diocese of Western Mexico on May 15 from 4:30-6:00pm for Called to the Wall: Building Bridges of Healing and Reconciliation. This year's event will be held online--giving us the opportunity to learn and worship with even more people. Register Today
EDSD Seeks a New Chief Financial Officer
The Diocese is seeking a new Chief Financial Officer. The ideal candidate will be a highly competent technical expert, who brings deep experience in nonprofit accounting. This is an extremely broad position, overseeing all financial affairs of the diocese, including financial planning, budgeting and analysis, accounting, financial controls and reporting, property management and insurance. The CFO is the primary advisor and thought partner to both the Canon to the Ordinary and the Bishop on all financial matters, with the opportunity to help craft and implement the diocesan vision, in the service of our congregations.

If you or someone you know might be interested in such a position, you can read the full position listing here. Applicants should contact Sarah Thompson, Director at Blair Search Partners. Sarah@blairsearchpartners.com.
Episcopal Community Services Seeks a Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager
Operating under the mission of serving God by serving those in need through programs that foster hope and dignity, ECS inspires children, empowers adults, and transforms communities by providing vital, high-quality social services. ECS provides more than $29 million in health and human services in the areas of homelessness, mental health, poverty, addiction, and early childhood education. ECS is searching for an Executive/Development Assistant who will embrace our core values of excellence, compassion, and service and exhibit a strong commitment to supporting the life-changing services offered.

ECS is seeking a Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager that will build on an established program to ensure ECS remains a leading organization for individuals, families, and groups to engage in meaningful service opportunities for the benefit of our community. In coordination with a cross-functional team, the Manager is responsible for developing and implementing community engagement strategies to support the volunteer functions of the organization, from identification of volunteer needs, fulfillment, to retention and recognition programs, including oversight of volunteer management software system. In addition, this position serves as the primary point of contact for the congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego as well as providing staff support for ECS events. For the full job description or to learn more click here.
Revive: Equipping Lay Leaders to be Spiritual Leaders
Revive is a discipleship resource to help active lay leaders—wardens, property and finance officers, committee chairs, vestry members, church school teachers, youth ministers, pastoral visitors, and liturgical ministers—grow in confidence as spiritual leaders. Revive is about transformation through spiritual formation. In just 10 months, this small-group program transforms leaders of practical church ministry into confident spiritual leaders who love God and participate in Christ’s ministry. 

How does Revive work?
Lay leaders will join their ordained minister in a safe, small-group setting, where they will gain confidence in praying, understanding scripture and developing their sense of call. They will be able to share their spiritual experiences and grow in intimacy with God as a follower of Jesus. Learn more here or contact Canon Christian Gillette for more information.
COVID Relief Grant Opportunity for Churches
The CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program provides grants from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the related health and safety restrictions.

On February 23rd, Governor Newsom signed into law a comprehensive package providing urgent relief for the small businesses of CA. The package allocates $50 million of this total for non-profit cultural institutions. 

Application Start Date: April 28th – May 4th, 2021
Friends of St. Paul's Cathedral-We want to hear from you!
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral is undergoing some changes and seeks to ensure that the space, the building, and the grounds reflect the contextual work of living into our core values of music/liturgy, outreach, and community.
 
We want St. Paul’s Cathedral to serve both the congregation and the communities around us. Some initial dreams have emerged in recent months that frame the work of reflecting our values by way of proposed capital projects. Exploratory teams have gathered to identify what building needs have emerged that, when addressed, can support our ability to live fully into our mission.
 
We want to hear from you! As a "Friend of St. Paul's Cathedral," your voice provides us with needed perspective and wisdom.

We invite you to participate in a listening session on May 5 at 6:00 pm at this Zoom link
 
Alternatively, we invite you to fill out a short survey which covers the same material. You can access the survey and a short introductory video from Dean Penny Here: https://stpaulcathedral.org/dean-letter-listening-sessions/
Cathedral Pews for Sale - Reserve yours Today!
St. Paul's Cathedral nave is changing from pews to chairs. The Cathedral is removing the majority of the solid oak pews to be “up-cycled” into new chancel choir screens, sold, or repurposed as reclaimed wood. 

"Don't worry--the Queen’s pew will be saved as a historic piece of St Paul's Cathedral history." 
 
The Cathedral recently donated a number of pews to Lumbercycle, a non-profit that repurposes wood into toys and other items.

Currently, St. Paul's Cathedral has a large number of 7’6” north and south aisle pews that are available for $300 each. The larger (up to 14’) and other miscellaneous pews (some from the Great Hall and Chancel) are also available and range from $300-$500. If you would like to purchase a pew or two, please email Kathleen Burgess to make the arrangements. Please note, the pews will be available for pick up just prior to the new chairs being delivered in early summer, but not before.
Transformation Academy - May 20 from 6-7:30pm
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: THURSDAY MAY 20, 2021 FROM 6-7:30PM

FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DONALD V. ROMANIK
Pivoting to New Realities: Adaptive Leadership for a Post-pandemic Church
You're invited to join national and local speakers as Transformation Academy continues in May with Leadership Academy! This session will focus on how we can grow as leaders in our congregations and communities, with a special focus on those currently serving in ordained and lay leadership roles (vestry, chapter, clergy etc). The keynote speaker, Donald Romanik (President, Episcopal Church Foundation) will be sharing about adaptive leadership in a post-pandemic context. His keynote address will be followed by two breakout sessions.

Breakout session one will be led by Davey Gerhard (Executive Director of TENS, The Episcopal Network for Stewardship). In his presentation, entitled "Best Practices for Year-round Stewardship Formation" we'll learn tips and methods to integrate stewardship formation into your liturgy, action, and education each month of the year. 

Breakout session two will be led by The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch, whose presentation is entitled "Vestry Roles and Responsibilities." Her session is highly recommended for any new or recently appointed vestry members, or for those interested in the work of the vestry.  
Donald V. Romanik has been President of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) since 2005. He was formerly Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs for The Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill, a charitable organization based in Hartford and also served as an attorney in both government and private practice. Mr. Romanik has a strong background in labor and employment law, advocacy, government relations, and non-profit law and administration. He has been active in a variety of tax-exempt civic, charitable and religious organizations and was a former member and President of the Hartford Board of Education. Mr. Romanik’s recent book – Beyond the Baptismal Covenant: Transformational Lay Leadership for the Episcopal Church in the 21st Century advocates for a new type of entrepreneurial priest and effective clergy-lay partnerships to help congregations respond to God’s call and move from one state of being to another.
Simpler Living Faith Forum
Spring is here, and Simpler Living, St Paul’s Cathedral's ministry focused on creation care and environmental justice, will host four Faith Forums on Sundays, April 11 - May 2, from 9am to 10am via Zoom. You are invited to join these conversations! Recordings will also be available. The forums will speak to the theme, Rising to the Challenge.

Joyfully Embracing our Vocation to Restore God's Gift of CreationClimate Church, Climate World author, Jim Antal, will invite us to embrace our role at such a time as this (Esther 4:14), a time when our commitments and actions will affect countless generations.

The Rev. Dan Rondeau Concludes His Ministry in Idyllwild
The Rev. Dan Rondeau has faithfully served as a long-time supply and acting vicar since 2014 at St. Hugh of Lincoln, Idyllwild. During that time he has lovingly guided them through any number of adventures – including COVID-19. St. Hugh’s and Fr. Dan learned new things and established a vibrant online presence for the congregation.

Dan has now retired “for-real”, and he and his wife Carol have moved back to Palm Desert.

Dan shared this with his congregation when he announced his departure, “A saying that a cancer patient shared with me helped me through my serious illness in 2008 and has become my mantra whenever I have had to face an uncertain (i.e., not settled) future: ‘I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds it. And that makes all the difference.’ God holds your future and ours, and that makes all the difference.”

We thank Dan and Carol for their ministry and pray for all good things for their future.
Full & Part-Time Preschool Teachers & Substitutes Needed
St. David's Preschool in Bay Park is seeking to add members to the teaching team. We are a Constructivist/Reggio Emilia Inspired school and seek teachers familiar with or open to learning this philosophy of education. Candidates must have the minimum 12 core units in child development and preferably have or working on a degree in Child Development. Completion or Enrollment in Reggio Emilia course is a bonus! 


  • Full Time Support (Float) Teacher --anticipated hours 9am-6pm
  • As Needed Afternoon Support Teachers—anticipated hours 12-6pm or 2-6pm

E-mail Director Karen Garcia with a resume, cover letter, and philosophy statement in working with young children for consideration or for more information. www.preschoolatsaintdavidschurch.com
Congregational Audit Information
Each year all churches are required by The Episcopal Church to conduct a financial audit. Each diocese is allowed to determine the types of audits congregations are required to have. The Diocese of San Diego has in the past stipulated an array of audit types based on the total revenue of congregations.
  
Due to the transition occurring in the finance and accounting department of the diocese, we are simplifying the guidelines this year and will require either an external audit or a committee audit depending on congregational revenue. Revenue thresholds that require an external audit are listed below. All other congregations will conduct an internal (committee) audit. 

External audits are required as follows (These requirements were revised February 2020)

  • Churches with revenues greater than $2 million: Please contact Julie Young at jyoung@edsd.org to see if an external audit is necessary.

  •  Churches with revenue between $500,000 and $2 million: External audit every third year with committee audits or diocesan reviews in intervening years.

  • Churches with revenue less than $500,000: Committee audit and/or diocesan review performed every year with a diocesan field audit at least once every three years.

  • All revenue from your church, school and thrift shop are to be included to determine the type of audit necessary.
 
Your submittal to the diocese will be reviewed. Additional information may be requested particularly for congregations in transition of rector, vicar or priest in charge or that prior audits indicated insufficient internal controls or financial statements. 
 
Please email Julie Young at jyoung@edsd.org by May 1 to inform her of what type of audit will be conducted. Upon receipt of that email, you will be sent the audit package electronically.  
New TENS Resources and Log-in for 2021
The diocese is a member of TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship), an association of church leaders, both lay and ordained, “who are committed to living generously and helping others live lives of generosity.”

All churches in the diocese can access member resources, which include creative materials for the annual pledge campaign. To access TENS membership materials please contact Director of Communications, Chris Tumilty for the new TENS password.
RenewalWorks: Where is God Calling Us to Grow?
What is RenewalWorks and how can it help your church? 
Through an anonymous online evaluation of each parishioner, and a series of guided workshop discussions with our staff, the RenewalWorks process helps churches (and the individuals in them) refocus on spiritual growth and identify ways that God is calling them to grow. The methodology has been tailored to the Episcopal tradition, adapting over 10 years of research that has uncovered key characteristics of flourishing congregations. It will inspire your congregation and leadership to rediscover who Jesus is, and what it means to follow him. 
 
How does it work? 
The RenewalWorks process begins with an anonymous, confidential, online survey (we call it the Episcopal Spiritual Life Inventory) taken by congregants, exploring that individual’s spiritual life. Individual responses are combined and viewed as a group, providing a snapshot of the spiritual vitality of the congregation based on research from more than 1,800 churches (of all denominations) and almost 500,000 congregants. 
 
When can you participate? 
Although you could launch RenewalWorks at any time, several congregations in EDSD are planning to participate in RenewalWorks during this upcoming season of Lent. This project is perfectly suited to the reflective spirit of this season and would provide an opportunity for us to seek God's direction together, even as we remain socially distanced. 
 
Contact Canon Christian Gillette at cgillette@edsd.org as soon as possible for more information on how your congregation can participate in this exciting discovery and discernment process. 
Beware of Phishing Attempts
If you receive a suspicious email from an address that seems to be Bishop Susan, but it is not from an @edsd.org email account, it is a phishing attempt. Bishop Susan will never email you asking for funds or financial support by way of gift cards. Nor will the bishop's emails be filled with grammatical errors. Every official email from the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego comes from an @edsd.org email address.
Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need — a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company — and to click a link or download an attachment.
Faith to Go: Your weekly formation resources
A Weekly, On The Go Resource for Parents and Non-Parents Alike

Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar. Joined each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go team highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the weekMore Here
EDSD.org Under Construction
404 Error: Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.

EDSD.org is going through some changes. You may find that your bookmarked or saved links are now broken, or that information you're used to finding has been moved.

Please be patient as we work to update EDSD.org to better serve you into the future. If you have questions or come across a broken link, please email Director of Communications, Chris Tumilty. Thank you for your help while we work to better our digital presence.
Resources for Emotional Support
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is changing life for all of us. You may feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, depressed, lonely or frustrated in these circumstances.

You’re not alone!




Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.
Public Statement of our Commitment
Any church in our diocese is welcome to use this statement, for instance as a clergy-vestry joint statement, or as an ongoing statement in your bulletin.
As part of the Jesus Movement and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, we pledge to love our neighbors and protect the most vulnerable among us, remembering our baptismal vows to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” We live these pledges out by actively engaging in dismantling racism. For many of us, this will mean learning more about our racial identity, listening to those who have experienced racial prejudice, speaking out against racism, and showing up alongside those in our community working to change unjust systems in our society. We also live out this pledge at worship during this pandemic, by wearing face-coverings, respecting distancing guidelines, foregoing the common cup and refraining from congregational singing.
Diocesan Staff: Working Remotely
holy trinity building
Due to COVID-19 the Diocesan Staff will be working remotely. You can find contact information for each of the staff members here. Feel free, as always, to call Bishop Susan, Canon Gwynn, Canon Christian, or Chris for any reason. Please email the other members of the Diocesan Staff as their cell phone numbers are not listed.