Border Ministries Summit Begins Today!
Join us for the Virtual Border Ministries Summit 2020 and hear from those at the center of the immigrant community in San Diego. Our focus will be on Christian Peacemaking in a World of Conflict. Learn from undocumented people, deportees, first generation immigrants and Christian leaders who live in Tijuana and San Diego.

We will hear from Episcopal / Anglican Bishops and other leaders on both sides of the border, as well as from the Border Patrol and legal experts. We will not only learn about immigration but will be equipped with tangible Christian Peacemaking practices to live out in our own contexts as Everyday Peacemakers. The pain is real and the opportunity for transformation and healing is as well.

This is the Third Annual Border Summit, designed for Episcopal and other Christians wanting more information about the US-Mexico border, and for those who want to learn the basics of becoming Christian Peacemakers in this time of deep division. Learn More
Post Convention Reporting
The 47th Diocesan Convention successfully took place on November 6 and 7, 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Diocesan commitment to the health and well-being of all its members, the convention was held virtually. Despite a few hiccups, the virtual convention was successful in bringing the diocese together for faith-filled worship, thought-provoking presentations, and the important business of the diocese.

Included here are links to convention presentations, elections, and information:
School for Ministry Spring Term Registration
Spring Term Registration Opens November 16
Spring Term registration is now open. Join students from throughout the diocese this spring as we deepen our knowledge of Christ together. This spring the School for Ministry is offering: New Testament 2, Church Mission & Society, Theology, and Christian Spirituality. Learn more about these amazing offerings on the School for Ministry website.
Guide to a Military and Veteran Friendly Website
Having something military specific on your church website is a great way to let military singles and families know that your church is military friendly, even if that is just a simple welcome page. For churches, which have an organized military ministry, having focused content communicates to military that you are seeking to understand them and address their unique needs and challenges. Read More.
A New Avenue for Creation Care in EDSD
“Net Zero Energy” – what is it?? And how does it apply to the Diocese? 
Earlier this month, Convention approved a resolution on “Creation Care through Clean Renewable Energy for EDSD Churches”. This Resolution formally created the “Future Bound Solar Initiative”. The Initiative began in 2019 under the auspices of the Diocesan Property Committee and launched for 2020 in April. With this Resolution, the Initiative is now officially available for all parishes, missions and congregations. Read More

General Convention Postponed: July 2022
[Episcopal News Service] Amid the continued uncertainty of an unrelenting coronavirus pandemic, the church’s presiding officers announced Nov. 20 that they had decided, with Executive Council’s unanimous backing, to postpone the 80th General Convention from July 2021 to July 2022, a move intended to ensure the large churchwide legislative gathering can be held in person in Baltimore, Maryland, as originally planned.

“Like you, we have spent the last several months riding waves of pandemic news,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, said in a letter to bishops and deputies. Even with vaccines expected to be approved as soon as next month, “it is unlikely that even highly effective vaccines and robust federal intervention would permit us to gather as many as 10,000 people safely by next summer, as we had originally planned.” Read More
Who is my Neighbor? An Interfaith Dialogue
Who is my Neighbor
Abrahamic Dialogue during the time of COVID
December 3, 2020
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern Time

Webinar Hosted by
LUKE 10

Cosponsored by
The Interfaith Center of New York
World Evangelical Alliance
Washington National Cathedral
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel virus COVID-19 a global pandemic. In April, a team of Catholic, Protestant, Historic Peace Church, Quaker and Evangelical religious leaders came together to affirm our historic theological commitment to love God and love our neighbor. The name of the gathering, Luke 10 is a reference to the story of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel. In that parable Jesus makes clear that a neighbor is one who reaches out across the religious and ethnic divide, despite personal risk, to help a person in real need. Read More
Building Intentional Small Groups 
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. 

In order to help encourage this kind of discipleship, The Episcopal Church has created a comprehensive small group guide, entitled "Building an Intentional Small Group Ministry." This resource, as well as others, can be found at DiscipleshipEDSD.org. 

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]. 
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 week. More Here
Revive: A Discipleship Resource for Lay Leaders
Revive is a discipleship resource created by Forward Movement 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. 

If you would like more information about Revive, or would like to offer Revive to your congregational lay leaders, please talk to your clergy or contact Christian Gillette, Canon for Evangelism and Discipleship​ at [email protected]. 
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.
Grants Available to Churches
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.
TENS Offers Resources for Virtual Stewardship
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].
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.
Setting Expectations
Checklist to Resume In-Person Worship
Due to a spike in Covid-19 cases, indoor worship is suspended in our diocese. Both the bishop and the state of California have issued guidelines for in-person worship. A congregational checklist that consolidates and simplifies these guidelines can be found here.

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. 
COVID-19 Resources
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.
If you have or need any type of resource that is not listed here, please email Christian Gillette, Canon for Evangelism and Discipleship with your materials or request. 
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, Rev. Kirby, or Chris for any reason. Please email the other members of the Diocesan Staff as their cell phone numbers are not listed.