EDSD and the New CDC Guidelines |
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We are aware of the new CDC guidelines that vaccinated people don't need to wear masks for indoor or outdoor activities. Our diocesan Public Health Task Force will meet next week to consider these guidelines and our response. One item of concern is that the state of California has not yet removed its mask mandate. We will be tracking any California changes closely. In addition, we need to consider issues such as safety for children who have not been vaccinated, whether a church should check vaccination status, and so on. Until we can consider these questions fully, our most recent guidelines remain in effect. Thank you for your care to keep people safe in our community!
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Virtual Called to the Wall - Live at 4:30pm Tomorrow |
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Join the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and the Diocese of Western Mexico on May 15 from 4:30-6:00 pm 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 for a reminder about the event, or join us on the Diocesan Facebook and Youtube Channels to participate.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statements on the violence in the Land of the Holy One and Columbia |
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statements on the
violence in the Land of the Holy One
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One more time we awake to the news of violence. Reports come in, even as you read this, about violence that has caused death, life-changing injury and destruction of property and lives. Violence which is borne of frustration, rooted in injustice and the violation of international law and in truth, the violation of human rights and human decency. In the Name of the God of all creation, the violence must stop, regardless of where it comes from and to whom it is directed.
One more time The Episcopal Church stands to say that violence is not the way forward. We say the expansion of Israeli settlements at the expense of Palestinian families must end. We say incitement which encourages violence must end. We say enough is enough.
One more time The Episcopal Church encourages the government of the United States and others who have influence, who are of goodwill and who genuinely seek peace to be partners in peacemaking, to bring about a negotiated settlement to the long-standing conflict which has consumed both Israelis and Palestinians.
One more time we find ourselves full of sorrow and sadness. We find ourselves grieving over the loss of life, destruction of homes and the fear that lives in the hearts of tens of thousands of innocent people. We join all people of faith to offer up prayers for healing, wholeness, restoration and reconciliation.
And we pray God to grant wisdom and courage to all those in authority to seek peace and pursue it without delay, without excuses, without confusion and with only one agenda: a negotiated and equitable agreement for peace between Israelis and Palestinians — once and for all.
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Statement from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on deadly unrest in Colombia |
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We speak in solidarity with our brothers, sisters, and siblings in Colombia, and of the Episcopal Anglican Church in Colombia.
Jesus once said of his ministry, quoting the prophet Isaiah: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty all who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord.”
We who follow the way of Jesus — we who seek to be the Jesus Movement in our time — stand in solidarity with those who are protesting peacefully and who work and labor faithfully for justice and humane solutions to our problems.
Bishop Duque of Colombia said this: “Being baptized moves us in a prophetic spirit according to the teachings of Jesus the Christ, to put ourselves on the side of the oppressed and violated, to demand the peace and justice necessary for a dignified and harmonious life”
We pray and ask that all people of goodwill join hands and work together for the realization of peace, the establishment of justice and the way of reconciliation of love and life for all the people of Colombia. We stand with you in your struggle and pray God’s blessing and guidance on you and on the entire human family. Amen.
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The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
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Every baptized Christian is called to ministry. What is yours? Education for Ministry (EfM) is a program of the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee) that provides the foundational education to assist you in discerning and carrying out your ministry. Like the mustard seed (Luke 13:18-19), we need fertile soil to grow. EfM is that fertile soil and we are the mustard seeds. Learning scriptures, church history, and theology is the light shining on the soil, warming it so the seed will sprout.
The EfM program develops an informed and knowledgeable laity through a series of four, one-year seminars. A small group seminar is the nucleus of the EfM program (maximum of 12 participants plus one or two mentors). Read More
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Vacation Bible School 2021 - Sign Up Today! |
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Vacation Bible School is a time to grow in Jesus’ love, over five weeks, beginning July 11. Each Sunday at 3 pm, a new 20-30 minute episode will premiere on YouTube to watch as a family or with your church family. Featuring leaders from across our diocesan family we’ll use Treasured from Group Publishing as a springboard to explore Jesus’ love through stories, songs, scripture, and more.
The VBS team is excited to continue to unwrap God’s future together and look forward to an exciting summer of learning about Jesus’ love for us. Learn More
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A New Christian Children's Program from TryTank |
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Prayer Puppets is a new program from the TryTank Experimental Lab. It’s a way to teach children the basics of the Christian faith even when they are not in church and able to attend Sunday school. Each short, funny, and colorful episode deals with a theme and even includes a catchy tune for kids (and adults!) to remember. Right now, as they test out the Prayer Puppets, the first three episodes are available for only $1. Learn More.
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Adam! Welcome to the World!
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The diocesan staff is delighted to welcome Baby Adam Mondaca into the world! The Bishop's Executive Assistant, Keren Mondaca, gave birth to him on Friday, May 7, at 6 am. He was 5 lbs, 6 oz and healthy! Keren and her husband, Adan, and their older son, Ayden, are very happy and doing well.
During Keren's maternity leave, our diocese is pleased to welcome Bobbi Hoff back as the Bishop's Executive Assistant on an interim basis. Bobbi has worked for every Bishop of San Diego except for the first, Bishop Wolterstorff, and she knows our diocese well. She will be working from 9 am to noon every day in the diocesan office, and can be reached at Keren's email address: [email protected].
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for a Child:
O God, you have taught us through your blessed Son that whoever receives a little child in the name of Christ receives Christ himself. We give you thanks for the birth of Adam and for bringing Keren safely through childbirth. We thank you also for the blessing you have bestowed upon Keren and Adan in giving them a child. Confirm their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to bring Adam to love all that is true and noble, just and pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable, following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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EDSD Seeks a New Chief Financial Officer |
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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.
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Episcopal Community Services Seeks a Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager |
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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.
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Diocesan Staff Returns to the Office |
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The Diocesan Staff has now returned to the office! While visitation to the office is still limited to scheduled appointments, feel free to reach out to any of the staff for help. You can find contact information for each of the staff members here. And feel free--as always, to call Bishop Susan, Canon Gwynn, Canon Christian, or Chris for any reason.
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We Need You For “Operation Find Our Vets!” |
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May is Military Appreciation Month and we are doing an outreach campaign to find the WWII and Korea era veterans in San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties. |
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If you know a WWII or Korea-era veteran who would like to go on their Honor Flight, please download a veteran application under the “Join Us” tab or call (800) 655-6997 and we can mail an application. We hope to fly again this fall! |
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New TENS Resources and Log-in for 2021 |
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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.
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RenewalWorks: 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.
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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!
Sleep and Health
Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.
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