July 9, 2024 E-News

July 9, 2024

In this edition of ENews:

More Reflections on General Convention from our Deputies
Elmquist, Hyberg, and Dibelka to be Ordained Saturday, July 20
Registration open for Stewardship Conference on August 24
2024 Diocesan Convention – Registration now open
Camp Living Waters Registration Deadline Extended to July 10

General Convention

Reflections from our Convention Deputies

We've asked our deputies to share first impressions of their experiences at General Convention.

Miriam Casey | Lay Alternate Deputy:

Left:Bishop Megan testified in support of additional funding for creation care focused resolutions.

Center: Miriam Casey testified in support of the budget and advocating for resolutions that provide infrastructure and funding to address climate change. Right: The Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan testified to expand funding for resolutions that address the climate crisis and climate justice.

As a Lay Alternate for the EDNC Deputation, my role was to be available to stand-in as a voting deputy, if needed. And so, much of the time, I was an observer of the proceedings.

However, as a member of the Creation Care Caucus, my role included being active in support of resolutions that addressed God’s creation and climate change. In this role, I engaged with the Convention in several other ways.

The Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan and I co-authored a resolution (D050 Resolution to Complete the Journey Toward Net Carbon Neutrality by 2030) which was amended and passed by both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. To further this resolution, we both testified before a legislative committee with responsibility for managing creation care-related resolutions and before the Budget Committee. The resolution provides funding for an additional person in the Creation Care Ministry at the churchwide office, to enable them to be more supportive to dioceses and congregations on their journeys toward being carbon neutral.

Bishop Megan testified in the House of Bishops, and Pamela+ and I testified in the House of Deputies in support of all the resolutions that included additional funding for the work of addressing climate change. These resolutions all passed both Houses and provide a roadmap forward for the wider church to make a real impact on carbon reduction.

We also had the opportunity to meet with the Green Bishops and members of the Green Caucus to begin to envision a movement in The Episcopal Church to fulfill our Baptismal promise to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves, which by necessity, means loving God’s creation which sustains us all.

At a pre-revival workshop on Saturday afternoon, we introduced Ronald Newman, Senior Advisor, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Implementation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He presented an overview of IRA funding available to nonprofits, including congregations, for carbon-reduction efforts and engaged with participants about their specific questions.

Relationships with The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers and other churchwide staff were deepened as we discussed the best ways to move forward toward our shared goals. These relationships will continue to be a blessing to us in our Diocese.

The Convention experience was very challenging (I came away from the event with covid.) And it was also very rewarding, especially experiencing the ground swell of support for the environment-focused effort we have so fully embraced in the Diocese of Northern California.

The progress that was made was really a large team effort. I am so grateful for the wisdom and courage that guided and strengthened our work together.

The Rev. James Richardson | Clergy Deputy:

Left: Deputation is all smiles after a vote by orders. Center: Jim Richardson speaks to a Resolution in the House of Deputies. Right: Deputies Jim Richardson, Matthew Woodward, and Amy Nykamp

This was my fifth General Convention as either an alternate or deputy. What I found most gratifying about this General Convention is how every member of our deputation — alternates and deputies — were active participants at every level. A few examples:

Alternate Miriam Casey rotated onto the floor of the House of Deputies so she could speak on the budget items involving creation care; Deputy Pamela Dolan gave presentations on climate change resolutions; Alternate Daniel London rotated onto the floor and spoke about revisions to the Good Friday liturgy making it less antisemitic.

This was also the first convention where I served on a committee, assigned to the “Racial Truth-telling, Reckoning and Healing” panel. Our work began in March with Zoom meetings on proposed resolutions. I also served as the assistant secretary and assisted the committee in refining the resolutions that were brought to us.

My committee’s major resolutions included renewing the Indigenous Liturgies Task Force to translate and develop liturgies in indigenous languages (the only Book of Common Prayer in an indigenous language is the 1928 prayer book). I helped present that resolution on the floor of the House of Deputies.

My committee also developed a resolution establishing a task force to explore how The Episcopal Church could provide reparations for historically displaced indigenous peoples and enslaved Black Americans.

Resolutions supported by our diocese had mixed success. Our three-year effort to add theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman to the Church Calendar was approved unanimously; the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music was directed by General Convention to develop appropriate prayers and biblical readings. This will come back for final approval by General Convention in 2027 in Phoenix.

Our effort to revise the canons on eligibility for Communion made headway but hit a roadblock. The resolution was approved on an 11-4 vote by the House of Deputies Committee on Liturgy & Music. But it was defeated by the House of Bishops liturgy committee. I will write more about this in another newsletter article at a later date.

Finally, I want thank those who worked hard behind the scenes — Kati Braak, Michelle Karimi, Julie Wakelee and Brad Pierce — for making life livable at convention. And I want to thank Robin Denney, chair of our deputation, for her unflappable leadership under exhausting conditions, and Bishop Megan for her leadership and frequently checking in with us, not just about issues but how we were holding up.

Office of the Bishop

Stewardship Congregational Leadership Conference

Saturday, August 24, 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Please join us for this year’s Stewardship Congregational Leadership Conference on Saturday, August 24 from 9:00 am–10:00 am. This year’s session will have a special focus on every member canvass resources for your annual stewardship campaigns. We’ll discuss the basics, share resources, and talk about why you should consider an every member canvass

to achieve not only your stewardship goals, but how an every member canvass can support your pastoral care efforts as well as help in identifying future goals for your congregation.

To register, go to: https://form.jotform.com/240366571427155

Diocesan Convention Registration is Open

Links to the following documents may be found here:

Call of Convention
Convention Schedule at-a-Glance
House Rules
Governance Nomination Instructions
Resolution Instructions
Keynote Speaker Info
2024 Congregational Range Sheet
Important Convention Dates and Deadlines
Filing Alternate to Delegate Form
Filing Alternate Vacancies Form

Diocesan Youth encouraged to Vote

Will you or someone you know turn 18 before the November election? Make sure they’re registered to vote. Visit the California Secretary of State’s website for information.

But even if a person is too young to be eligible this November, the website explains ways for teenagers to get involved in this year’s election. Discover how a young person can pre-register at age 16 and vote when they turn 18. Learn how they can become a poll worker on Election Day to earn up to $150, or take part in the College Ballot Bowl in which universities and colleges compete to register the most students to vote. And middle school and high school students can participate in the California Student Mock Election taking place on October 8.

Check out all this and more at the Student Voting Programs portal on the Secretary of State’s website:

https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/student-voting-programs

Missioner for Disaster Resilience

How we help you in a Disaster

In the last few weeks, major wildfires have impacted multiple churches, and your Mission for Disaster Resilience has been kept very busy. At this is being written, we are monitoring two fires with evacuations, but at one point last week, our team was simultaneously monitoring 26 vegetation fires and six structure fires in the diocese.

Sometimes, local congregations don’t know what to expect from the diocese when the disaster event is happening. To manage expectations In times of disaster, this is what you can expect from the Mission for Disaster Resilience:

We will call/text/email the church contacts of record, in this order:

Clergy in charge
Senior Warden
Junior Warden

When we reach one of the above, we'll ask the following questions:

How are you? Are you safe?
How are your congregants? Are they all safe?
Does the church have a disaster pre-plan? Is it working, or is help needed from the mission?
What is happening in your larger community?
Are there any needs with which we can help, right now?
We will share helpful tips and provide some ideas as to how the people can turn their anxiety into action

Once we have spoken with church leadership and done what we can to help, we report to the bishop and the dean of the churches impacted.

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow-up as needed. We will also connect congregations with resources to begin outreach ministry to their damaged and hurting community.

What the Mission for Disaster Resilience does not do:

We do not mandate how a congregation will respond to a disaster
We will not come to your location with the first responders

The Mission for Disaster Resilience is funded by donations and diocesan funds that are running urgently low. Please give now to continue this vital ministry to support those whose lives have changed forever.

Give to Disaster Resilience

Missioner for Church Life

We’re excited to announce that we will have a diocesan-wide New Camino training on September 27 & 28, 2024 at St. John’s, Chico. The Rev. Anthony Guillen, the Episcopal Church’s Missioner for Latino/Hispanic ministries will be here to help us explore opportunities for Latino/Hispanic ministry in our diocese. This training is suitable for individuals as well as church teams.

Please go to: https://form.jotform.com/232965467198170 to indicate your interest in attending and to receive updates regarding lodging and expenses.

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Statement from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on Anglican hospital closure in Gaza

Just two weeks ago at General Convention, we welcomed Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and heard him speak passionately about peace and the life-saving work of the Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza. Today I am deeply troubled to learn that the Israeli Defense Forces closed this hospital.

We stand in solidarity with our Anglican family, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, against the closure and evacuation of this vital diocesan health ministry. This action violates the dignity of already-vulnerable people and is against international humanitarian law.

Let us pray particularly for the safety of the hospital’s patients and staff—and those who had been sheltering at the hospital who are now displaced again.

As a church, we again call for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to flow freely to all in need, and we pray for an immediate end to violence against civilian populations.

I also want to encourage Episcopalians to join the Episcopal Public Policy Network to receive updates and action alerts so you may advocate effectively to your elected representatives.

And as the prophet Micah said, may God give all of us the will and the courage to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry | Presiding Bishop and Primate

Urgent Call — EMM Seeking Partners

Episcopal Migration Ministries, our Episcopal Church partner urgently needs your help.

Church and Community Teams throughout the Diocese have welcomed scores of Refugees to their new home in Northern California in the past 3 years. Currently 1000s of Refugees have been approved for admission to our country and resettlement. EMM needs our help to do the Job. As Followers of Jesus, we are called to Welcome the Stranger. Please consider involving yourself and/or your church to engage in this vital ministry and answer this urgent call. We know how to do this in the diocese. Our experienced teams will help you get organized and started. Click here for details about this need.

Please contact me to learn more

Bob Wohlsen - bob.wohlsen@gmail.com, 510 926-0286

Resettlement Team Chair, Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

Upcoming Events around the Diocese

Film Screening - The Philadelphia Eleven

July 13th, 2 – 4 pm, Trinity Cathedral

2620 Capitol Ave, Sacramento

Donations on a sliding scale of $5 - $10 are welcome - no one will be turned away for lack of funds

In an act of civil disobedience, a group of women and their supporters organize their ordination to become Episcopal priests in 1974. The Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia welcomes them, but change is no small task. The women are harassed, threatened and banned from stepping on church property. In this feature-length documentary film, we meet the women who succeed in building a movement that transforms an age-old institution, and challenges the very essence of patriarchy within Christendom.

Following the screening, there will be a reception in the Lexis Gallery, featuring an exhibit comprised of some 20 art pieces by seven women artists, all of whom attend Trinity Cathedral. To help us plan the reception, please register!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO WED, JULY 10!

Camp Living Waters

Sunday, July 21 - Friday, July 26 | Cookson Ranch

Camp Living Waters is set for Sunday, July 21 through Friday, July 26 at Cookson Ranch in Redwood Valley. The Camp is open to youth ages 9- 15 and youth ages 16-17 serve as counselors. Join us this year for a week of Real Super Heroes, full of madcap cape adventures, identifying our God-given super powers and discovering the real superheroes all around us.