Statement from the California Bishops |
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We, the Episcopal Bishops of California, have watched the events of January 6th and following days with deep concern. As Christians we follow Jesus, who is the Way of Love.
This weekend, when we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we call upon the leaders of our cities, states and country to stand firmly in the place of non-violence, truth-telling and mutual respect.
To lead from the place of non-violence is not passive acceptance of wrongdoing; it is an active call to summon the “better angels of our nature (Abraham Lincoln, 1861).” We know of the difficulty Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. faced, even among his own followers, as they resisted hatred and physical violence with prayer, song and marches for justice. We call on all people to embrace words and actions that are non-violent. Read More
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It is time to pray together for our country, for the peaceful transfer of power, for the reconciliation of people, and to the end of violent conflict. Join Bishop Susan Brown Snook for a Diocesan Service of Prayer on Tuesday, January 19 at 5:30pm on Youtube and Facebook.
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Interfaith Vigil for Justice, Healing, and Peace |
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Faith leaders from across San Diego County are holding a virtual interfaith “Vigil for Justice, Healing, and Peace” for the community in the wake of violence at the Capitol and in San Diego County. Along with prayers and calls for peace and nonviolence, they are issuing the call to accountability. “We need accountability in order for there to be peace, healing, and reconciliation in our nation” said the Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson, minister at Palomar Fellowship. The faith leaders, who represent a diversity of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities from around the county, have been gathering since August to pray for peace, election integrity, and racial justice and held a public Pre-Election Peace Vigil on November 1st at Waterfront Park. Read More
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Presiding Bishop Curry Calls for Healing Love |
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[Episcopal News Service] Drawing on the words of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., Presiding Bishop Michael Curry implored Americans to choose community over chaos in a message to The Episcopal Church as the United States reels from the Jan. 6 mob attack on the Capitol, incited by President Donald Trump and led by his supporters.
“This past Wednesday, … a monument to democracy, the Capitol of the United States of America was desecrated and violated with violence by vandals. Lives were lost. A nation was wounded. Democracy itself was threatened,” Curry said in message to the church on Jan. 8. Read More
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MLK Jr. Day Celebration & Resources |
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We celebrate the legacy and example of one of our nation's most beloved civil rights leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday, January 18th. His words and example seem especially fitting at this moment in time as we witness incredible division and violence in our nation. We remember Dr. King's call to "Build bridges not walls" as well as his commitment to the transforming power of love in the midst of hate: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend,” he said. Below are some worship and programming resources to assist you in witnessing the example and legacy of Dr. King.
Annual clean-up and service events are not happening this year due to Covid. Instead, a group of local interfaith partners, including the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, is hosting The Thirteenth Annual San Diego Interfaith Community Event Honoring MLK Jr. Day, a Zoom event on Monday from 10-11 am. The panel will highlight “the importance of the intersection between King’s mission of justice and the impact of environmental and climate justice on a local and city-wide scale today.” You can learn more and RSVP here.
You can find prayers and additional ideas and resources for reflection and action to help you celebrate MLK Jr. Day and the life and legacy of Dr. King here.
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RefugeeNet offers Live Show, Dancing, and More |
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RefugeeNet invites you to register today by clicking here for a live show from 5 to 6:30 pm on February 27 that will include cooking and dancing lessons, African music, and life-changing testimonials that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Pre-order a reheatable meal prepared by our new Mama African catering project and we'll deliver it to your home the night of the event! And keep your eyes out for a range of auction items in the weeks ahead. Questions? Contact the Rev. Colin Matthewson at [email protected].
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The Diocese is implementing a new procedure for grants to congregations. Previously, grant requests were received in June/July and decision-making as to which grants would be awarded was made prior to diocesan convention. After the approval of the budget at convention, funds were dispersed early the next year. This means that seven or eight months had transpired between the grant request and receiving the funds. Things can change a lot in seven months (and oh, don’t we know that now!) and plans would often have changed, key people might have moved on, etc.
This year, the approved budget includes $119,000 for Missional Congregational Development Grants to be awarded in February/March 2021. The Missional Congregational Development Grants take the place of Congregational Operating Grants, Fearless Love Grants and Multicultural Grants. The Executive Council voted to have the following priorities for grants in the coming year: racial reconciliation, community engagement, and outreach/multiculturalism. These are not the only possibilities, just priorities.
Applications are due by January 31, 2021. After your request is received you will have a consultant assigned to review it with you.
If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch at [email protected].
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RenewalWorks for Lent: Where is God Calling Us to Grow? |
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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 [email protected] as soon as possible for more information on how your congregation can participate in this exciting discovery and discernment process during the upcoming season of Lent.
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New 'Tell Me Something Good' Website |
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Tell Me Something Good, a new web series from The Episcopal Church, highlights positive stories from around the church through conversations with a variety of guests. New episodes of Tell Me Something Good will be released every two weeks. Episode 1 is available for viewing on The Episcopal Church website here, on Facebook here, and on Instagram TV, @theepiscopalchurch.
Hosted by Jerusalem Greer, Episcopal Church staff officer for evangelism and the Rev. Marcus Halley, dean of formation of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Tell Me Something Good seeks, names and celebrates Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of people from all over the church, and invites everyone to MORE! Read More
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Amendments to Congregational By-Laws |
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A number of congregations are concerned about how to hold annual meetings as required by their by-laws, including whether virtual meetings would be required. The Standing Committee is required to approve any amendments to congregational By-Laws. Below, we are offering a template for By-Law amendments that could be approved by the Bishop and Standing Committee under a streamlined process.
This process is based on the changes made to the diocesan canons to accommodate complications of the pandemic. These changes hinge on a Declaration of Extraordinary Circumstances, which includes the Coronavirus Pandemic. Once the Declaration is in effect, the Bishop and Executive Council have significant latitude in modifying our methods of doing business, which could include granting a “waiver, relaxation or other adjustments of the mandates of bylaws or other governing documents that would be applicable to a congregation.”
Accordingly, we are offering this template to congregations to use if they wish. If your Bylaws do not allow for virtual annual meetings, you may either work these into your Bylaws or adopt them as an addendum to the Bylaws.
If your Vestry or Bishop’s Committee votes to incorporate the Amendment below into its By-Laws, you MUST apply for the Bishop’s approval under the streamlined process that has been approved.
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Job Opportunities at St. Luke's & St. Matthew's |
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St Luke's/RefugeeNet Hiring a Development Associate
St. Luke's and RefugeeNet are partnering to share a full-time Development Associate who will manage our annual fundraising efforts. Click here for the position description and please apply by sending a cover letter and resume to the Rev. Colin Matthewson at [email protected] by January 31.
St Matthew's Hiring a Children, Youth, and Family Minister
St. Matthew's is hiring a 15-hour/week Children, Youth, and Family Minister to coordinate and oversee all aspects of Sunday morning Christian formation and worship for ages 0-18, and support parents in their at-home Christian formation activities. Click here for the position description and please apply by sending a cover letter and resume to the Rev. Colin Matthewson [email protected] by January 31.
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Building Intentional Small Groups
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The purpose of an intentional faith-based small group is to build trusting relationships with God and one another. When we meet each other for conversation, practice, and prayer, we learn how to love. Call it a small group, discipleship circle, neighborhood group, life group or cell gathering – whatever the name, a small group provides space for prayerful support and accountability as we seek to live the Jesus Way.
Your small group may be a new discipleship group or you may decide to add a new level of intention to a circle like the vestry, Bible study, youth group, altar guild, choir, or chapters of the Episcopal Church Women, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, or Daughters of the King. The goal is to open the door for God to works on us, in us, and through us, in powerful ways in the context of a small, intentional, dedicated group of disciples.
If you would like to know more about small group discipleship, or would like assistance starting a small group ministry in your congregation please email Canon Christian Gillette at [email protected].
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Beware of Phishing Attempts |
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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. |
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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.
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Faith to Go: Your weekly formation resources |
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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 week. More Here
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EDSD.org Under Construction |
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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.
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Resources for Emotional Support |
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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.
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Grants Available to Churches |
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Our diocese is pleased to offer a grants program to support you in enhancing online and outdoor worship. Grants of $250 to $750 will be provided to help cover the cost of sound and online equipment, and may be used to cover purchases dating back to March 15, 2020. To apply for a grant, please click here.
In addition to our technology grants, please remember that we have raised funds under our “For Such A Time As This” campaign to help those who are suffering from the economic downturn. I am happy to help your congregation start a feeding program, support your members who have lost jobs, or otherwise relieve suffering that you know about. To apply for a grant, please send me an email describing the need and the amount you are requesting. I am eager to help.
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TENS Offers Resources for Virtual Stewardship |
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The Episcopal Network For Stewardship (TENS) provides virtual stewardship materials that are free to all congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego via our diocesan TENS membership. This year, TENS is providing resources that help congregations with virtual stewardship campaigns.
TENS member resources are available to all congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego via the diocesan membership. For login information, contact Director of Communications, Chris Tumilty at [email protected] or Executive Assistant to the Bishop, Keren Mondaca, at [email protected].
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Public Statement of our Commitment |
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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. |
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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. |
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Your Social Media Explained |
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Checklist to Resume In-Person Worship |
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Some counties have also issued separate guidelines and requirements, so please check your local county guidelines. Please note that San Diego County requires that a Reopening Plan be posted in a public place. The template for the plan can be found here.
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The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is here to support you through this difficult time. The sudden impact of COVID-19 on our community-life does not mean we need to give up community. Find a list of resources that can help here: including a bulletin for Morning Prayer, resources for online giving for your congregation, help in setting up video meetings, Faith at Home resources, and more.
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Diocesan Staff: Working Remotely |
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