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Beloved of God,
As I travel around the diocese worshiping and meeting with members of our diocesan community, I continue to hear questions from people about how to respond faithfully to this time of mendacity, state-sanctioned violence, and the erosion of democracy in our country.
The Gospel calls Christians to follow the example of Jesus, who taught us to love each other, to choose peace over violence, to welcome the stranger, and to confront injustice directly. Jesus also calls us to protect those who suffer, who are vulnerable, and who are afraid. As a diocese, we answer this Christian call by living into our shared values, especially those of courage, justice, and welcome.
In this season of growing uncertainty and fear, those values call us to action. We are a diverse diocese, so what that action looks like will be different for each of us.
From my location as your bishop, I feel called to act in deep solidarity with those who are facing profound threat and risk to their livelihoods, well-being, and safety – especially those within our diocesan family. Many of you may feel similarly called.
Others of you are living with deep fear as part of your daily lives, facing these challenges head-on, and inspiring us all with your courage. Notably, there are many in our diocesan community for whom such fear is not new, because injustice and discrimination have been with us for a long, long time.
However you are facing this moment, you are a part of a beloved and loving Episcopal community, and you have a unique God-given light to shine. I invite and encourage each of you to discern how you might be called to share that light.
I admit that the needs are so great and seemingly changing so quickly, it can be challenging to know where to go for help when you need it, and how you can be helpful to others.
Fortunately, we have tremendous wisdom and experience within our diocese. I am especially grateful to the Rev’d Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, Canon for Immigration & Multicultural Ministries, who has continued to provide pastoral care to immigrant clergy and is helping us support immigrants in our diocesan community. Please reach out to him with questions or with requests for help at jbntagengwa@diomass.org.
I also want to highlight Episcopal City Mission, which is a leader in engaging Episcopalians throughout Massachusetts in immigrant justice and connecting us with other community-based organizations and interfaith groups doing justice work. If you are interested in connecting with ECM, I invite you to join their Emergent Action Network through this link. For parishes and individuals committed to doing more for immigrant justice, fill out ECM’s form with the ways you’d like to get involved.
As a diocese, we are organizing our collective efforts around four main lanes of effort: Provide, Public Witness, Protect, and Pray.
The following are actions to consider as you discern how you are called in this time. These are by no means the only options available. However, my hope is that this framework can aid in your discernment.
Many thanks to Rev’d Canon Chris Wendell, Rev’d Canon Clayton McCleskey, and Rev’d Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, who are leading a coordinated and strategic approach in my office. Additionally, I am grateful to Rev’d Arrington Chambliss, Rev’d Edwin Johnson, and Hannah Hafter from ECM as well as Rev’d Liz Steinhauser for their faithful leadership and collaboration as we all discern what is ours to do.
Admittedly, this work is not new to the many of you who have already mobilized in powerfully effective ways, both with fellow Episcopalians and with secular and ecumenical partners like those at the Massachusetts Council of Churches. I encourage us all to embrace opportunities to deepen relationships with a wide array of partners across our communities. We are stronger together, following the leadership of communities most impacted and knowledgeable.
No matter your experience, all of us are being challenged. We are bound together as the Body of Christ, members one of another, called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us continue to engage this moment with deep mutual care as we courageously carry Christ’s love into a world that hungers for God’s justice.
With hope,
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