The Episcopal News Update for July 19, 2020

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July 19, 2020

News

Deanery representatives, ministry leaders and staff members gather via Zoom for Diocesan Council meeting on July 9. Screen capture by Bob Williams

Diocesan Council considers finances, new ministries, advocacy

by Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News – July 13, 2020] Intriguing new ministry possibilities, police reform advocacy and action, grant opportunities and finances were on the agenda as lay and clergy representatives of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles staff, institutions and 10 geographic deaneries gathered digitally July 9 for the regular monthly diocesan council meeting.

A ‘gospel vision’ for police reform, community safety

Diocesan Bishop John Harvey Taylor, noting that the diocese “has a footprint in every community in our five-and-a-half counties,” said he will appoint a task force to examine police reform and violence in the Southland. He said that he would name the members of the task force soon and that he had asked Canon for Common Life Bob Williams to make recommendations about the way forward and provide staff support.

Taylor cited several resolutions approved during the June 8 – 11 digital meeting of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, the national body that administers the programs and policies adopted by the General Convention. Resolutions MB-017; MW-023 and MW-025 deal with policing reform, police violence and the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, respectively.

The work would involve advocacy and assessing community experiences — both pro and con — of local policing. A third step would articulate a Gospel vision of public safety, he said. “If there is to be exciting innovative police reform, if there is to be loving and gracious confrontation of unjust police violence, it must happen in Los Angeles.”

Read more here.

Multi-faith gathering in support of Black lives planned for July 19

Clergy and faith leaders from across Los Angeles County will gather together for "A Multi-Faith Gathering 4 Black Lives" on Sunday, July 19, 6 - 8 p.m. This in-person and online event is sponsored by LA Voice, along with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, AME Ministerial Alliance, Southern Pacific District of the Assemblies of God, Islah LA, ILM Foundation, SoCal Community Empowerment Foundation, Greater Zion Church Family, McCarty Memorial Christian Church, National Black Presbyterian Caucus of SoCal and many more. The gathering will be held at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. It will be "a multi-faith, multi-race time of prayer to denounce white supremacy and announce a spirit of belonging and justice." Masks and social distancing will be required. Those who cannot attend in person are invited to watch the event from home on LA Voice's Facebook page or website.

Resource Roundup, Update will be on hiatus during select weeks in July, August

The Resource Roundup and Episcopal News Update will not be published during the following weeks:

July 20 - 24
August 3 - 7
August 17 - 21

Please submit items for publication as early as possible; email to [email protected].

FOR THE RECORD: A notice in the July 7 issue of the Update listed an incorrect congregation for seismologist Lucy Jones. She is a member and senior warden of St. James' Church, South Pasadena. The News regrets the error.

Stewardship resources

Stewardship campaigns in a time of pandemic will be topic of Aug. 1 workshop

Join the Program Group on Stewardship Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. in welcoming back Davey Gerhard, executive director of TENS, who will offer an online workshop titled "Conducting a Stewardship Campaign in a Time of Pandemic." Bring a team and learn ways to build a campaign digitally as well as in person using TENS 2020 materials. Interpretation will be available in Spanish.

Registration is required: click here. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For additional information, contact Bishop Diane M. Jardine Bruce at [email protected].

TENS offers new tools, materials for 2020 stewardship season

Summer is when many congregations plan their fall stewardship campaigns. The coronavirus pandemic already has caused deep changes in how parishioners worship. "The next skill to face us is to learn to learn how to conduct stewardship campaigns virtually," says J. Davey Gerhard III, executive director of TENS, The Episcopal Network for Stewardship. "The usual ways that we look to create community and get out the message will be different this year. If yours is a congregation that relies on small groups or house church meetings to get members talking about their gifts, TENS has developed ways to use technology to gather meaningfully. For congregations that use announcement time for member testimonials, during virtual church, we’ll have to do these differently this year." TENS has developed materials and tools for congregations to help them do stewardship in the midst of the new reality.

The Diocese of Los Angeles is a member of TENS, so its congregations may access these materials for free. Click here , and enter the log-in information: Username is 1PETER; password is FOUR:10

This year’s materials combined with three ZOOM workshops in July and August will help church leaders navigate these new times, using technical and pastoral best practices. The workshops are:

July 25, 10 a.m. PDT

Virtual Stewardship 101 - Review virtual offering plates and answer questions about virtual best practices. Click here for reservations.

August 15 10 a.m. PDT

Creating Virtual Community for Stewardship - learn more about how to create meaningful small groups and pastoral teams virtually. Click here for reservations.

August 29, 10 a.m. PDT

How to use the TENS 2020 Materials for your Stewardship Campaign - Walk through this year's resources to maximize their usefulness. Click here for reservations.

Events & Announcements

Bishop Taylor to join Guibord Center program of 'inspiring stories'

Bishop John Harvey Taylor will be among the panelists for The Guibord Center's virtual event "Inspiring Stories for Uncertain Times: Acknowledging Anger" on Wednesday, July 22, 4 - 6 p.m. "Anger. It’s uncomfortable and sometimes frightening," says the event invitation. "We avoid it, diffuse it, manage it. But anger can also clarify and energize us to live into our core values. What role do our spiritual beliefs and practices play in examining anger and using it constructively?"

The Guibord Center - Religion Inside Out and IslamiCity invite all to this time of storytelling and guided conversation about anger. Leaders from various faith traditions will tell stories about how their spiritual values have helped them examine anger and use it for healthy purposes. Participants will get to share their own reflections in a small group setting.

In addition to Bishop Taylor (pictured above at Diocesan Convention in 2019), storytellers will include: teacher and writer Jennifer Ortiz, author of In South Central We Kill Vampires; Beth Ribet, director and co-founder of Repair, a nonprofit focusing on health and disability justice, and an active participant in Jewish faith and justice initiatives; and Jihad Turk, a Palestinian Muslim, president of Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School, and former religious director of the Islamic Center of Southern California. More about the speakers is here.

Register here for the event; respondents will receive a link to log on June 22. For general questions about the event, contact Dr. Lisa Patriquin here. For technical questions about the online event contact Yolie Carrillo at [email protected] or 323.333.4664. There is no charge, though donations will be gratefully accepted.

Hispanic Ministries group invites all to 'El Gran Convivio — United from Our Roots'

[PGHM] The Program Group on Hispanic/Latinx Ministries will present “El Gran Convivio - United from Our Roots" on Saturday, July 18, 6 - 8 p.m. We invite you to this virtual event, inspired by "The Gathering", which aims to create ties and strengthen relationships between clergy and laity from all cultures present in our Diocese. The purpose is that of rediscovering and promoting harmony, reconciliation, collaboration, and unity among the elements of creation, especially among us humans.

In this first event of this type, we will talk a little about how our paths are united from our roots. We have walked through history together and will continue to do so, especially in times of uncertainty, chaos, and hopelessness like this pandemic we are going through.

Carlos Carrillo, Director of Educational Programs of the non-profit organization "Uncommon Good" and member of All Saints Episcopal Church- Pasadena, will talk about the history of Latinos in the city of Los Angeles from its beginnings to the present time.

The perception of any event varies according to the person, but any event with sufficient impact towards the safety and integrity of oneself, and of others, can produce significant emotional reactions in the present or in the future, impacting directly on the way in which we function in our communities.

Sudden changes in our lifestyle habits directly affect our mental health and our emotions. When we are not able to change a situation, we are faced with the challenge of changing ourselves.

This is what Dr. María de Lourdes Argüelles will talk to us about; she is Professor Emerita of Education and Cultural Studies, and a California licensed psychotherapist with specialties in clinical hypnosis, thanatology, and traumatology. She works pro-bono as a counselor to survivors of political and domestic violence, and to the terminally ill, and as a research consultant to non-profits and groups working in the areas of environmental restoration, degrowth, and food justice.

This is a free event. Please click here to register.

El grupo de Ministerios Hispanos invita a todos a 'El Gran Convivio - Unidos desde nuestras raíces'

[PGHM] El Grupo de Programa de Ministerio Hispano/Latinx presenta: “El Gran Convivio”- Unidos desde Nuestras Raíces" Sábado, Julio 18, 6 - 8 p.m. Te invitamos a este evento en linea, inspirado en "The Gathering", que tiene la finalidad de crear lazos y fortalecer las relaciones entre clérigos y laicos de todas las culturas presentes en nuestra Diócesis con el objetivo de reencontrar y fomentar la armonía, la reconciliación, la colaboración y la unidad entre los elementos de la creación, en especial entre nosotros los humanos.

En este primer evento de este tipo hablaremos un poco de como nuestros caminos están unidos desde nuestras raíces. Hemos caminado juntos a través de la historia y lo seguiremos haciendo, sobre todo en tiempos de incertidumbre, caos, y desesperanza como esta pandemia por la que estamos pasando.

Carlos Carrillo Director de Programas Educativos de la organización sin fines de lucro "Uncommon Good" y miembro de All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, hablará acerca de la historia de los Latinos en la ciudad de Los Angeles desde sus inicios hasta la época actual.

La percepción de cualquier evento varía segun la persona, pero cualquier evento con suficiente impacto hacia la seguridad e integridad de uno mismo y de los demás puede producir reacciones emocionales significativas en el presente o en el futuro repercutiendo en la manera en como nos desenvolvemos en nuestras comunidades.

Los cambios repentinos en nuestros hábitos de vida afectan directamente nuestra salud mental y nuestras emociones. Cuando no somos capaces de cambiar una situación nos encontramos ante el desafio de cambiarnos a nosotros mismos.

De esto nos hablará la Dra. María de Lourdes Argüelles, profesora emérita de Educación y Estudios Culturales y psicoterapeuta con licencia de California con especialidades en hipnosis clínica, tanatología, y traumatología. Trabaja pro-bono como consejera para sobrevivientes de violencia política y doméstica y para enfermos terminales y como consultora de investigación para organizaciones sin fines de lucro y grupos que trabajan en las áreas de restauración ambiental, decrecimiento y justicia alimentaria.

Es un evento gratuito, en linea. Este es el enlace para registrarte.

Kaleidoscope announces 2020 Online Summer Institute

Each summer, the Kaleidoscope Institute hosts a two-week training event to provide church leaders time to come together in sabbath to learn gracious leadership skills to help facilitate inclusive small group meetings and dialogue sessions.

This year the theme of the Summer Institute is Fear Not: Living grace, truth and diversity in a divided and frightened world. Based on the Rev. Canon Eric Law’s latest book, Fear Not: Living Grace and Truth in a Frightened World (available here) the institute will take place online. It will provide church leaders the opportunity to experience conversations with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, John T. Wood, Jr., Greg Boyle, Kelly Brown Douglas, Becca Stevens, Alexia Salvatierra, Jihad Turk, Rudy Rasmus, Marcia Patton and Doug Avilesbernal and others. The event also will feature workshops on skills and tools to create gracious and brave community and the chance to connect to form community action.

"This event is for church leaders and individuals who are seeking ways to reach out in an increasingly polarized and fearful world where there are few places where people can have a reasonable and constructive dialogue about race relations and other important issues of our time," according to the event announcement. "We are bringing together spiritual leaders to provide insight and guidance and community leaders who want to see things differently to provide gracious time and place for truth-seeking dialogue that can achieve non-violent mutual understanding.”

The Summer Online Institute will take place via Zoom August 3 - 13, 9 - 11:30 a.m. Kaleidoscope is offering Graceconomics pricing to allow participants to pay what they can for this event and in support of its ministry.

Additional information and registration are available here.

Asian-American literature is focus of summer book club from The Gathering

The Gathering will continue its summer book club, an opportunity to read, reflect, and discuss some of the most significant Asian (American) literature, on Monday, July 27 at 5 p.m. via Zoom and continuing on selected Mondays through August 24.

Dates and books are:

July 27 - Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

August 10 - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

August 24 - The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

Financial assistance is available for the purchase of books. Register in advance here. An event page is available on Facebook here. For additional information, contact the Rev. Yein Kim at [email protected].

The Gathering is a space for Asian Pacific American spirituality in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

'My Work to Do' offers online space for white people working to overcome racism

My Work to Do, an online affinity group designed to help white men and women build stamina for discussing racism, systemic injustice, racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in their everyday lives, is planning new sessions and invites members of the Diocese of Los Angeles to participate. Black, indigenous and other people of color allies are welcome with an understanding this is a white-centered (and therefore not always safe) space.

"We invite those feeling lost or overwhelmed into the conversation," says the invitation, "especially white people who might not have a local anti-racism program or accessible discussion happening in their lives."

The initial program is a five-week session, with one 1.5-hour online meeting per week at which participants will discuss such topics as housing discrimination, implicit bias, whiteness as a function, and systems of white supremacy — and where to go from here.

A new session is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 17; others are being planned. To learn more and to register for upcoming sessions, visit the website here.

For more resources see “Countering Racism, Building Community” here.

Camp Stevens opens for day use, family retreats

Camp Stevens, which has been on pandemic shutdown since March, is now open for registration for day use and family retreats. Day users can enjoy the camp's 256 acres of trails as well as the pool, picnic areas, outdoor chapel, and gardens. Family retreats include housing in private rooms with private bathrooms and meals for the weekend.

"Our number one priority is to maintain a safe experience for guests and staff so that each may experience the healing and transformative capacity of this peaceful place apart," writes Kathy Wilder, camp director.

All staff and guests must maintain social distancing, and masks are required in certain circumstances including passing on trails. Meals are served outdoors and families may picnic on the lawn or use tables provided. There is room to roam, fruits and flowers in the gardens, and lots of fresh air to go around.

In the congregations

Blood drives planned in July and August at five churches

Each of the churches listed below requests that donors make appointments by visiting RedCrossBlood.org. Type the sponsor code (specified below) in the donor box. Donors may save up to 15 minutes by completing pre-donation reading and answering health history questions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass, rather than filling out forms on the day of donation.

Additional helpful resources:

American Red Cross Donor App information

How to prepare for a great donor experience

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Blood Donation/Drive Fact Sheet

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

St. Mark's Church

330 E. 16th Street, Upland

Information: 800.733.2767

Sponsor code: STMARKS

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

242 E. Alvarado Street, Pomona 91767

www.stpaulspomona.org

Sponsor code: SPECP

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

All Saints Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena

Information: [email protected]

Sponsor code: ASEC

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

100 N. Third Avenue, Covina 91723

Information: 626-967-3939

Sponsor code: HTEC

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Grace Episcopal Church

555 East Mountain View Avenue, Glendora 91741

Information: Catie Anders at [email protected] or 909.994.7794

Sponsor code: GECG

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

All Saints Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena

Information: [email protected]

Sponsor code: ASEC

From the wider church

Congregations take worship outdoors amid concerns over greater COVID-19 risk indoors

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service - July 13, 2020] In a normal year, attending church generally isn’t considered a risky behavior. Add that to the list of norms upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

With COVID-19 cases surging around the United States, few activities pose as much danger as congregating tightly with other people in an enclosed space for an hour or more. And inside a church, scientists say, the danger of virus transmission increases when the congregation starts singing.

Such warnings pose a bleak challenge to Episcopal dioceses and congregations interested in safely resuming some form of in-person worship, but not all worship is equally risky. While continuing to offer infection-proof online services, some congregations also are holding outdoor services, which may carry a lower risk of transmission than indoor services.