"What is Truth?": New Lenten series from Racial Justice Commission launches year of study toward reparations
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Preliminary materials for the new six-session Lenten study series, "What is Truth?: An Embodied Lenten Series," are now available from the Racial Justice Commission, launching a diocesan year of study "in the name of repentance, reconciliation and accountability."
Setting 2022 as a year for "gathering stories, sharing and receiving these stories and discernment across the diocese...to develop the broadly accepted understanding of what actions to take in the name of reparations" was called for by the 2021 Diocesan Convention resolution "Charting the Long Road Toward Reparations."
The Lenten study series introduction and overview of its six sessions, along with the guide for Session 1, "The Practice of Telling the Truth," are now available here. The remaining five sessions will be posted there by the end of January. |
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The Racial Justice Commission's Subcommittee on Reparations commissioned the Rev. Katie Ernst and Hazel Monae to write the series, noting that both are respected across The Episcopal Church for their leadership in the work of racial reckoning and reconciliation.
The Subcommittee on Reparations worked with the writers to provide individuals, small groups, congregations, ministry teams and other communities with "an opportunity for a communal and embodied experience, encouraging participants to go past thinking about the concept of truth to really experiencing the practice of truth-telling, however uncomfortable that may seem, and to examine how that feels 'in their bones,'" according to subcommittee member Leonie Drummond of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan.
As an additional and complementary resource this Lent, the annual Lenten Preaching Series from the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston--this year entitled "The Spiritual Practice of Truth"--will follow the same themes as the "What is Truth?" study series.
The Subcommittee on Reparations reports early interest in the Lenten study series, even before the launch of the materials, with requests from a number of diocesan congregations and from as far away as Oregon. Christy Close Erskine, a Sacred Ground facilitator at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters, Ore., contacted the subcommittee to learn more, saying that she felt that the series might be "exactly what we've been looking for to help guide our deeper dive into the work of reparations."
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Presiding Bishop Curry highlights "moment of peril and promise" on Jan. 6 |
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[Episcopal News Service]: In a livestreamed worship service from Washington, D.C., that marked both the Feast of the Epiphany and the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and later in an address to the nation from the Lincoln Memorial, Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry called on Christians to reclaim the spiritual light that the holiday celebrates and reject the "deeper darkness" shown in the attack.
Epiphany "is about the light and life and love of God," Curry preached in his sermon at the Church of the Epiphany, just east of the White House.
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Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry addresses the nation from the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 6.
Video screenshot
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"And what happened here in this country that we love a year ago was not about light and love and life. And we are better than that. And we must declare it."
Standing near the monument to President Abraham Lincoln, who led the U.S. through the Civil War, Curry spoke about the "peril and promise" of this moment. The "nightmare of Jan. 6" was "a revelation that there are forces intentionally seeking and working to divide us," he said in a video recording. "Left unchecked, unaddressed, and unhealed, this can lead to the decline and deconstruction of our nation.
"Such a moment demands moral vision that sees beyond mere self-interest and beholds the common good--a spiritual strength stronger than any sword."
Read the full Episcopal News Service story here.
Video and a transcript of the address to the nation are also available here.
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Old North Church alight in show of support for election workers: On Jan. 5, the eve of the anniversary of last year's violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Old North Church in Boston lit lights in its iconic steeple where the two famous signal lanterns were hung at the start of the American Revolution in April 1775.
"Tonight we lit the lanterns at the Old North Church to stand for our American democracy and in solidarity with election workers across the country," Old North's vicar, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell, said in a Facebook post.
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The Old North Church steeple alight on Jan. 5. Courtesy photo via Facebook
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He was joined at the lighting by Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris of the Diocese of Massachusetts, as well as Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin and a bipartisan body of election workers. Their statements are available here.
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Episcopalian Thomas Mundy Peterson remembered as "a symbol of voting rights" [Episcopal News Service]: As hopes of passing federal voting rights legislation become increasingly dim, a historic Episcopal parish points to a long-ago member as a symbol of the struggle.
Thomas Mundy Peterson was 36 years old on March 31, 1870, when he became the first African American to vote in a U.S. election under the provisions of the 15th Amendment, which prohibits denying or abridging of the right to vote "on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude."
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Thomas Mundy Peterson
Wikipedia photo via Episcopal News Service
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The election at City Hall in Perth Amboy, N.J., was the first held anywhere in the United States the day after the ratification of the 15th Amendment was certified. It asked voters to decide whether to revise the city’s charter or change to a township form of government.
Peterson's participation in the election "was a symbol of voting rights," said Ralph Richardson, senior warden of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Perth Amboy.
Peterson, who died in 1904, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in the churchyard along with his wife, Daphne. St. Peter's was founded in 1685, two years after Scottish colonists settled in the area, making it New Jersey's oldest Episcopal congregation.
Peterson's historic vote came in a city that had once been both a major slave importation port and a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Peterson, New Jersey born and raised, was the grandson of enslaved people and the son of a woman who was freed before he was born. Slavery had been legal in the state until January 1866.
Peterson reportedly liked to describe how one white man, upon seeing him vote that day, ripped up his own ballot and declared that the franchise was worthless if a Black man was allowed to vote.
Read the full Episcopal News Service story here.
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Bishop Gallagher to provide supplemental pastoral support in Diocese of Albany: Beginning this month, Bishop Carol J. Gallagher, who serves as one of three regional canons in the Diocese of Massachusetts, will be assisting in the Diocese of Albany, on a limited basis, providing supplemental episcopal pastoral support as that diocese begins to come into compliance with the 2018 General Convention resolution on provision of marriage rites for same-sex couples. Gallagher will continue in her role as regional canon for the congregations of the Central Region of the Diocese of Massachusetts.
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Bishop Carol J. Gallagher and
Bishop Michael G. Smith
Diocese of Albany photo
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A Dec. 20 announcement from the Diocese of Albany explained that while its Standing Committee continues to "hold a traditional view of marriage they recognize that in order to comply with General Convention Resolution 2018-B012 and in order to work towards healing within the diocese, a pathway needed to be made available for those clergy wishing to utilize same-sex marriage rites." Gallagher will work with Albany's interim assisting bishop, the Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith, to accomplish this provision. Smith was appointed Albany's interim assisting bishop in August, following the departure of Albany's former bishop, William Love, from The Episcopal Church.
"While Carol and I differ on our theological views about whether Christian marriage is between two persons or between a man and a woman, we have been friends and colleagues for many years and have been able to focus on that which unites us rather than divides," Smith said in the announcement.
Gallagher added, "We will serve the diocese and the people as a team, offering a diverse approach to the life of faith. At Bishop Smith's direction I will be available to walk in faith with all those who might need my gifts."
Read the Diocese of Albany's announcement here.
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RIP: Charles V. Willie, first African American House of Deputies vice president: Charles Vert Willie, a sociologist and desegregation leader who served as the first African American vice president of The Episcopal Church House of Deputies, died Jan. 11 at age 94. Willie was most recently a resident of Boston, after living in Concord for 44 years. Read more at Episcopal News Service, here, and the Boston Globe, here.
House of Deputies president, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, honored Willie at the 2015 General Convention with a medal for distinguished service to The Episcopal Church, saying at the presentation, "Dr. Willie is a groundbreaking African American educator, the first African American professor at Syracuse University, a distinguished public servant who worked with President John F. Kennedy and President Jimmy Carter, and a leader of desegregation."
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Dr. Charles V. Willie
Episcopal Church Archives photo
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As vice president of the House of Deputies he preached at the 1974 ordination of the "Philadelphia 11," the first women ordained priests in The Episcopal Church. "When the bishops failed to uphold that ordination and give equal rights to women, he resigned his position in protest," Jennings said at the medal presentation, adding, "Dr. Willie, we have not forgotten."
Willie and the current vice president of the House of Deputies, Byron Rushing, talked about some of that history in a video conversation, here, recorded during the 2015 General Convention.
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Cathedral to host service celebrating life and witness of Desmond Tutu |
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Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu
1931-2021
Diocese of Massachusetts File Photo: Amey Callahan
Read more here about the life and witness of the late Anglican archbishop whose life and witness was synonymous with South Africa's nonviolent struggle against apartheid.
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The diocesan community is invited to join in giving thanks for the life and witness of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.
The livestreamed service of Holy Eucharist will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris will co-preside, and a sermon will be offered by the Rev. Noble Scheepers, co-chair of the diocesan Racial Justice Commission, who was mentored by and worked with Tutu.
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Have a remembrance, tribute or photo to share?: In preparation for the Feb. 2 service, the cathedral invites brief personal remembrances, thanksgivings and tributes to Tutu, as well as scans of photographs from encounters with him, for inclusion in a wall of tribute in the cathedral sanctuary. Material can be e-mailed to cathedral@diomass.org.
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Spencer Hatcher to serve as new executive director at BCH Center |
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The Rev. Spencer Hatcher will begin her new ministry at the BCH Center in early February. She comes from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif., where she has been serving as the dean of students, and brings additional experience in camp and conference ministry from her work at the Diocese of Maryland's Claggett Center.
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The Rev. Spencer Hatcher
Courtesy photo
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"As we came to know Spencer we appreciated the depth to which her formation in the body of Christ, including her call to ordination, was very much within the context of camp and conference centers," the board's president, the Rev. Michael J. Hodges of Christ Church in Andover, said in the announcement.
"I extend my personal welcome and gratitude to the Rev. Spencer Hatcher, as she prepares to lead us in the next chapter of our diocesan life at the Barbara C. Harris Center," Bishop Alan M. Gates said following the announcement. "The center is a jewel in the crown of our diocesan resources for ministry with children, youth and adults. Spencer will bring broad experience, deep commitment and a spirit of contagious joy to her work at the BCH Center in this this crucial moment."
Hatcher will be just the third executive director to serve the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center since its opening in 2003.
"We are tremendously grateful to the interim executive directors, Rick and Helen Hargreaves, for the time, guidance and dedication they gave to the center in 2021. The staff at the BCH Center, both those we were fortunate to retain throughout COVID as well as recent additions, and more to come!, continue to create a place of hospitality, welcome and the deep connections with God, with others and with creation that have come to represent the core spirit of this place we all love," Hodges said in the board's announcement.
"The search committee and board are tremendously hopeful and excited about the gifts of leadership and experience that Spencer and the staff will bring for this next phase of the life of our center as we look to re-engage in our ministry and mission within the ongoing challenges and opportunities presented during this time," Hodges said. "We ask you to join us in giving her a warm welcome."
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The diocesan community's prayers and congratulations are with recently ordained priests:
Top (from left): The Rev. Marcia Chanta Bhan at All Saints Episcopal School in Forth Worth, Tex., on Dec. 15, with Bishop J. Scott Mayer, Bishop Carol J. Gallagher and Bishop Gayle E. Harris (Photo: Jimmie Samis, All Saints Episcopal School); The Rev. Hailey Jacobsen and The Rev. Lauren Banks Killelea (at far right) at All Saints Church in Richmond, Va., on Dec. 18, with Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson.
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New priest to be ordained in February: The diocesan community’s prayers and virtual presence are invited for the upcoming ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Ben Crosby on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. at his sponsoring parish, St. Paul's Church in Malden. The livestream link is posted on the diocesan website Events calendar.
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Feb. 5 Ministry Discernment Conference for inquirers moves to Zoom: The annual Ministry Discernment Conference hosted by the bishops and the Commission on Ministry will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., as originally scheduled, but now will take place as a virtual conference on Zoom instead of in person at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.
Registration for the online conference is open until Jan. 31, here.
The conference will provide an in-depth look at the 2022 edition of the Ministry Discernment Handbook, and gives potential inquirers an opportunity to learn about the ordination process in the Diocese of Massachusetts as they consider whether their call is to ordained ministry or committed lay ministry. Any person considering applying for admission to the ordination process in 2022 is required to attend the conference, along with a sponsoring priest and at least one member of their parish discernment committee.
For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Edie Dolnikowski, Canon for Ordained Vocations, at edie@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 514. |
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Betsy Blagdon named "Consultant of the Year": In December, the diocesan Congregational Consultants honored one of their own, Betsy Blagdon, with the Jack Doran Consultant of the Year Award. The award in memory of the late Jack Doran, a much beloved founder of the Congregational Consultants, is given annually to a consultant in recognition of outstanding work in support of congregations.
Blagdon, a member of St. John's Church in Newtonville and an auditor and experienced small parish treasurer, will be leading a Zoom seminar, "What Every Treasurer Needs to Know," to be offered twice, on Tuesday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m. Find registration links here.
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Consultant of the Year Betsy Blagdon, with Congregational Consultants coordinator Chris Meyer. Courtesy photo
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"This session should be of great use to all congregational treasurers, especially those newly elected to the position, and other vestry members and clergy who need to understand the financial functions of a congregation," Congregational Consultants coordinator Chris Meyer said in an e-mail publicizing the seminar.
It is part of the ongoing series of Zoom seminars that the Congregational Consultants offer on practical aspects of congregational leadership. Recordings of past seminars are available here. Click here to learn more about the Congregational Consultants and how they assist congregations with a range of business, property, compliance and leadership matters.
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Cape Cod Times: FCTV "THE Conversation" focuses on difficult topic for many: Racism is something you ordinarily don’t talk about at the dinner table, said Onjalé Scott Price, a Falmouth Select Board member who works on diversity and inclusion in STEM.
“Talking about race is often seen as taboo. ... I want to change that, I want people to have open conversations, because that’s the only way that we’re going to make any progress on these issues,” Scott Price said. To that end, Scott Price and the Rev. Will Mebane, rector of St. Barnabas's Episcopal Church in Falmouth, co-host a public access television show on FCTV called "THE Conversation," which explores the impacts of racism in fields like sports, affordable housing and criminal justice, to name a few. Read more here.
Eagle Tribune: Newburyport schools welcome Afghan children: Newburyport Public Schools welcomed its first Afghan family to the district Jan. 6 with assistance from members of the community. The family of nine, which includes seven children ranging in age from 6 to 17, arrived in Newburyport last month and were among the thousands evacuated when the U.S. military pulled out of Afghanistan in August. They have been staying in a converted temporary living space at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as part of the church’s partnership with the International Institute of New England. Read the full story here.
WCAI: Bridging Our Divides: "The Point” host Mindy Todd talks with a roundtable of faith leaders about how we can re-set, re-frame and emerge from the pandemic as a stronger, more unified community. The Rev. Will Mebane of St. Barnabas's Church in Falmouth is among the panelists. Listen here.
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Jan 22: Bending Toward Justice Annual Day of Prayer and Discernment, Diocese of Western Massachusetts, 9:00am
Jan 22: Practical Aspects of Congregational Leadership Seminar: Parochial Report Prep (Non-Financial), via Zoom, 9:00am
Jan 23: Bishop Gates visits Trinity Church in Concord
Jan 23: Bishop Harris visits Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin in Boston
Jan 24: Indigenous Peoples' Justice Network Meeting, via Zoom, 4:00pm
Jan 25: Finance Forum for Congregational Leaders, via Zoom, 5:30pm
Jan 25: "In the Spirit of Desmond Tutu: A Visit with the Very Rev. Michael Battle," Trinity Church, Boston, via Zoom, 7:00pm
Jan 27: Children's Formation Colleagues Online Gathering, via Zoom, 3:30pm
Jan 30: Bishop Gates visits St. Paul's Church in Brookline
Jan 30: Bishop Harris visits Church of St. Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown
Jan 31: Food Security Network Meeting, via Zoom, 4:00pm
Feb 1: Adolescent Mental Health Network Meeting, via Zoom, 5:00pm
Feb 2: Service Celebrating Life and Witness of Desmond Tutu, Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, with livestream, 6:00pm
Feb 5: Annual Ministry Discernment Conference, via Zoom, 9:00am
Feb 5: Creation Care Justice Network Retreat, via Zoom, 9:00am
Feb 6: Bishop Gates visits Trinity Church in Woburn
Feb 6: Bishop Harris visits St. Bartholomew's Church in Cambridge
Feb 13: Bishop Gates visits St. Paul's Church in Bedford
Feb 13: Bishop Harris visits St. Paul's Church in Dedham
Feb 15: Practical Aspects of Congregational Leadership Seminar: What Every Treasurer Needs to Know, via Zoom, 9:00am
Feb. 16: Epiphany Devotions with Bishop Gates for Clergy in Central Region, via Zoom, 5:00pm
Feb 17: Diocesan Council Meeting, via Zoom, 6:00pm
Feb. 18: Epiphany Devotions with Bishop Gates for Clergy in Northern and Western Region, via Zoom, 9:00am
Feb 18: Epiphany Devotions with Bishop Gates for Clergy in Southern Region, via Zoom, 5:00pm
Feb 19: Practical Aspects of Congregational Leadership Seminar: What Every Treasurer Needs to Know, via Zoom, 9:00am
Feb 20: Bishop Gates visits St. Paul's Church in Malden
Feb 26: Ordination to the Priesthood: Ben Crosby, St. Paul's Church, Malden, 10:00am
Feb 27: Bishop Gates visits St. John's Church in Winthrop
Feb 27: Bishop Harris visits St. Mark's Church in Dorchester
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