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In an August webinar for facilitators, the Rev. Nora Boerner, the Rev. Canon Meg Wagner, and the Rev. David Ware joined a conversation about Sacred Ground as a place where people are meeting across different kinds of difference and learning skills for brave conversations in their wider communities. 

Boerner and Wagner both serve in the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, where Boerner is associate rector at Trinity Church, Iowa City, and interim missioner for the diocesan Beloved Community Initiative, and Wagner is canon to the ordinary and was an early reader of the Sacred Ground curriculum.

Iowa is the sixth whitest state in the country, and, while taking pride in having been part of the Underground Railroad, Wagner said many Iowans aren’t alert to the fact that Iowa is a “predominantly White state by intention, because we stole it from the people of color who lived here—most recently the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Fox peoples.” 

Boerner added, “Recent legislation, known as ‘divisive concept’ laws, make it not just hard, but actually illegal to do some of the work of telling the truth of our history in our public schools and in our public institutions…So, we have a unique perspective of dismantling racism among people who don’t know anyone of color or grew up not thinking that racism was a big deal.”

At the same time, Wagner pointed out, research says some of the factors that thriving small towns in Iowa have in common are “strong, diverse, and inclusive relationships. They’re more tolerant, have less income disparity, depersonalize politics, and communicate well about hard things.” She sees the work of Sacred Ground as essential to the sustainability of small rural communities in Iowa. 

Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore, where Ware serves as rector, is a large, predominantly White Episcopal congregation in Baltimore, a majority Black city. Racial violence has roiled the city’s civic life for decades. So, for the people at Redeemer, not engaging the issues of race in an active and focused way would be a profound disconnect from the city they love. 

When asked if Sacred Ground is seen at Redeemer as being liberal or progressive, Ware said, “Before the word ‘woke’ became a dirty word, we talked a lot about waking up…about being conscious…about hearing and seeing things in a new way, and we’ve been held by the Spirit. I’ve not heard labels attached to the work we’ve gone through. I’ve heard more people say, ‘I’m interested in what other people are talking about, because it sounds like it’s had an impact on them.’”

Boerner added, “Everything we do [in the Diocese of Iowa] is centered around our call as Christians and our baptismal covenant…We meet people in love and show them that [dismantling racism] is our calling, regardless of politics.”

We asked what advice they have for Sacred Ground facilitators who are just getting started. Here’s some of what they shared:

• Trust the container that is Sacred Ground.
• Model listening to learn versus listening to speak.
• When you get triggered or stirred up, or you feel an uncomfortable impulse from deep inside, don’t talk yourself out of that feeling. Keep a journal if you can.
• Above all, welcome discomfort. 

Boerner concluded, “Any of you who have been a part of a transformational time in your life, you know that’s a discomforting experience. You know real transformation requires giving up something of ourselves and allowing ourselves to be changed. So, I would welcome the discomfort. If that means you’re sitting in silence, and no one’s talking, how uncomfortable is that? But leaning into that discomfort is also opening yourself up to letting the Holy Spirit disrupt and stir things up in a good way.”

You can watch the full webinar here.

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Lallie Lloyd is interim lead consultant for Sacred Ground. In 2012 she founded and led “All Our Children,” a network of faith-based community partnerships with under-resourced public schools.

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By Alan Yarborough

Participating in our democracy is a central element of our common life together. It is also an expression of our faithful commitment to our neighbors. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry emphasizes that it is a Christian obligation to vote, and that we must vote faithfully when we go to the polls (or fill out our ballots by mail) each election cycle. Many Episcopalians already vote regularly, but we want to challenge you to do more by joining in the efforts mentioned below.

Elections take place somewhere in the United States every year, with many state and local elections happening not just on Election Day in November but on dates throughout the year. Being an engaged participant in democracy is a year-round exercise—not just to participate in each election but to also advocate to those we elect!

Beyond casting your own vote, here are three ways you can get more involved in our democratic process. 

Voting Rights Advocacy

While attention on voting rights often surges right before an election, it is the time between elections when legislation is most likely to move forward, and meaningful reforms will have time to be implemented. Federal legislation is a critically important aspect of voting reform, but it is not the full picture. States have wide discretion on a range of voting policies—from voter registration protocols to early and mail-in voting to drawing districts and gerrymandering. Investment in election systems and processes is essential. 

In some states, access to voting has improved considerably in recent years, while in others more obstacles have been put in place with a disproportionate impact on non-white communities. These disparities can discourage voting by making it more difficult for some to cast their vote. You can advocate at your own state level for improved access to voting, and you can join in with the Episcopal Public Policy Network’s Action Alerts encouraging meaningful federal legislation. (We also have an action alert urging statehood for Washington, D.C., and asking Congress to bolster funding for Election Security Grants.)

Facilitating the Election Process

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the roles of thousands of poll workers and other election officials into the spotlight as departments across the country sought to recruit people willing and able to help people vote on Election Day and in days or weeks prior. Poll worker recruitment continues to face challenges with individuals and groups threatening harm to polling sites and people working there. 

In the 2022 election, there were very few instances of violence carried out, but fear and concern remain. Our elections rely on people of goodwill and integrity to step up as poll workers—it is a chance to get paid, to see how democracy functions up close, and come away reassured about many aspects of our election processes. Learn how to be a poll worker today!

The Episcopal Church works with Election Hero Day to celebrate all of those stepping up to facilitate our elections—including this day of gratitude in your parish can help elevate the need for service.

Voter Engagement—Getting Out the Vote!

Finally, what most are familiar with: getting souls to the polls! Despite very real concerns around voting rights in parts of the country, there is still a great deal we can do to help everyone eligible be able to cast their ballot. 

We want to maintain the act of voting as a serious, necessary, yet celebratory action to care for self and one another. Votes matter, from the top of the ballot in presidential races all the way down to state legislatures, city councils, school boards, ballot initiatives, and more. Keeping a positive framing on voting can help draw more people into this practice. Our partners at Civic Holidays have a host of great resources for this work.

There are dozens of ways to help get out the vote, but most importantly, remember it is not only about getting people in your church to vote but helping our congregations live into the role they can play for the broader community. Check out our Vote Faithfully guide for voting (2024 version coming soon), and if you want to get more involved and network with Episcopalians doing this work across the country, we encourage you to volunteer in our Episcopal Election Activator program. 

While election season captures our attention for involvement, approaching these three facets of democracy work requires different timelines and strategies, and as such we advise approaching each aspect of election and voter engagement separately.

Three facets, three different strategies, three types of engagement. We hope you join us however you can in helping to enrich our common life together through participating in our democracy. As always, be in touch with us with ideas or questions at eppn@episcopalchurch.org.

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Alan Yarborough is the church relations officer for the Office of Government Relations, where he is primarily responsible for the maintenance and growth of the Episcopal Public Policy Network and the resources aimed at educating, equipping, and engaging the church in policy advocacy.

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Kids everywhere are returning to school, and as parents we hope that they get the education they need to help them succeed in life. Everyone agrees math and science are important, but what else? There is debate in the secular world about what that education looks like. Which subjects are appropriate for kids? Without a shared value system, it is difficult for public schools to navigate. In the church, though, it’s a lot easier. We have a shared value system, and it is clear: We are all equally beloved children of God, and anything that says any person is better than any other person, for any reason, is a lie. 

Still, many wonder when is the right time to talk with kids about racism, injustice, reconciliation? Early childhood experts report that teaching kids about dismantling racism begins while they are in the womb. The things we talk about with tiny humans help them build neuro pathways, a schema, to help them make sense of the world when they’re able to understand more fully. For example, we talk to kids about colors long before they “know their colors.” I remember many trips through the grocery store pointing out items and colors to my kids, even though they were nowhere near “knowing” those things. Talking with kids about race is similar. If we wait until the time when kids “know” or we think they’re “ready to understand,” it’s hard to undo all that they’ve absorbed from the world. 

Whether we talk to our kids about race or not, our culture is bombarding all of us with messages about it and every other human hierarchy every day. It’s more than TV, movies, and other media. When you go to the grocery store, what is the skin color of the person mopping the floor, in contrast with checkers or managers? Who are the people working at fast food restaurants, in contrast with those at more upscale places? Whether or not skin color is in the mix, our culture constantly sends us messages about who are the most valuable people. 

These messages are impossible to avoid, and it’s hard to navigate on your own. Thankfully there are a variety of resources that will help parents get started. 

• Miriam Willard McKenney shares some picture books that are a helpful place to start in this blog post. Miriam is a career librarian and offers a variety of resources for parents and caregivers. 
• Jennifer Harvey’s book, “Raising White Kids,” is helpful because she discusses some common objections to talking with young kids about race and why these objections are not valid. She also shares experiences from her own parenting journey that will resonate with most of us. 
• You can find a helpful set of frequently asked questions on the Tell Me the Truth About Racism website. Tell Me the Truth About Racism offers a set of historical stories told through the lens of Christian faith. The stories can be told in an intergenerational setting, in Sunday school or even   at summer camp. If you’re interested in sharing these stories at your church or school, more information can be found on the website. 

Perhaps most important is to get yourself comfortable talking about racism and all the other injustices in our world. Spend some time reflecting on your own thoughts/ feelings/ fears, talking about these things with anyone, not just kids. If you can, find a partner with whom you can have honest and brave conversations. It could be your life partner, another parent, or someone from your church who you know cares deeply about these issues, too. Becoming Beloved Community has lots of resources for educating yourself if you just don’t know where to start, all of which can be found here. One thing is for sure: NOT talking about racism or any other inequity will NOT make it go away. When we name it, and talk about it, we can take away its power.

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Jen Enriquez is a formation professional and with the Rev. Will Bouvel created Tell Me the Truth About Racism. Their work was spread across the country with the help of a Becoming Beloved Community grant in 2021. To date, over 70 lay and ordained formation leaders are telling the stories to children and adults all over the U.S.

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By the Rev. Miguel Bustos

I love this time of year. 

The fall has always been a time of reflection and celebration. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. And on Oct. 11, we celebrated National Coming Out Day. 

As a gay Latinx member of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, I am again reminded of the incredible richness diversity brings to our lives, communities, and churches. 

These two observances may seem distinct, but they share a common thread: the beauty of embracing one’s true self and heritage while also acknowledging and celebrating the unique identities and experiences of others. 

Hispanic Heritage Month was a time to honor the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and histories that make up the Hispanic and Latinx communities across all the Americas. Many of our families came from countries in Province 9. Some of our families came decades ago, some last year, and some never left their land after Mexico was incorporated into the United States. 

As Jesus tried to show us, we are all interconnected, and our diversity highlights the beauty of God’s design. Just as every color in the rainbow contributes to its vibrancy, so too do the myriad of cultures, languages, and traditions within the Hispanic and Latinx communities enrich our church and lives. 

National Coming Out Day was an opportunity for people to embrace their true selves, live authentically, and find love, acceptance, and support from their friends, families, church, and communities. This day was another reminder that God made us all unique, and as believed children of God, we deserve respect, dignity, and love, regardless of who we love or how we identify. 

When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?,” he replied, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22: 37-40). Therefore, we are called to love one another as we love ourselves: to love in such a way that knows no limits, borders, or conditions, and to embrace and celebrate every child of a loving God. And to love in a way that accepts this invitation to fully realize the vastness of God’s beautiful creation. 

I hope that beyond these special months and days, in our everyday Christian life, we come together with open hearts and open minds to embrace the diversity of our Hispanic and Latinx siblings across the Americas and let us stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirited siblings throughout the world.

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The Rev. Miguel Bustos is the manager for racial reconciliation and justice.

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Monday, June 19^th marks the second anniversary of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. While its recognition is significant, the day presents an opportunity to continue to dismantle racism and white supremacy in the United States and around the world.  As followers of Jesus, we see this work as essential so that we may come closer to a Becoming Beloved Community. Please see the list below of just some of the ways you can advocate through our Racial Reconciliation Ministry.

Justice on Juneteenth

Join the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA with faith leaders, students, and activists for the Justice on Juneteenth March in Washington, DC, on June 19, to protect democracy, end gun violence, and advocate for reparations. Details are in the registration link here.

While we know most in our network will not be able to join in person, you can still take action through the action alerts below:

Protecting Democracy

Urge Congress to Pass Voting Rights Legislation – We urge Congress to make voting reform a priority in this session by defending and expanding access to voting, particularly in response to state legislation that marginalizes certain populations

Ending Gun Violence

Urge Congress to End Gun Violence – We reiterate our urgent call for legislation that will add reasonable restrictions on firearm ownership, require universal background checks, eliminate loopholes, tighten laws against gun trafficking, require gun safety training, fund gun violence prevention programs, and address gun violence as a public health crisis.

Advocating for Reparations

Urge Congress to Advance the Study of Reparations – Since 2006, The Episcopal Church has called for legislation initiating study of and dialogue about the history and legacy of slavery in the United States and of proposals for monetary and non-monetary reparations to the descendants of the victims of slavery. Join in this call now!

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The Rev. Miguel Bustos has been named The Episcopal Church’s manager for Racial Reconciliation and Justice. Based in San Francisco, Bustos is a respected leader in racial and social justice with deep experience mobilizing people and resources for movement. He fills a vacant position in the Department of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation, which is led by the Rev. Melanie Mullen. His first day will be Feb. 1.

Bustos is completing his service as chief of global initiatives and senior director of the Center for Social Justice at the Glide Foundation, an arm of Glide Memorial Church, known for its strong justice focus. Prior to joining the team at Glide, he was director of government and community relations at Wells Fargo (2012-2018) and senior program manager at the Levi Strauss Foundation (2010-2012). He spent years as a strategist, advisor, and staff leader in the Clinton White House, with Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper Gore, and with Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

He is the cathedral deacon at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral and serves on the board of the diocese of California’s School for Deacons. Bustos holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Holy Names University, a Master of Arts in international peace and conflict resolution from the American University, and a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s College of California. He serves on the boards of MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation and Hispanics in Philanthropy and is a mentor in the Trinity Church-Wall Street Fellows Program. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Bustos lives there with his life partner, Alex.

As manager for Racial Justice and Reconciliation, Bustos will facilitate and support the church’s work of racial reconciliation, justice, and healing, guiding strategic efforts to inspire, mobilize, form, gather, and celebrate Episcopalians engaged in those ministries. He will also bring special focus to racial justice, public witness and action, truth-telling about our churches and race, and repairing the breach.

Learn more about The Episcopal Church’s racial justice and reconciliation ministries at www.episcopalchurch.org/reconciliation.

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MORE is deepening relationships across racial, language, faith, and socioeconomic lines in Columbia, South Carolina, so people can “Do Justice” together. 

MORE Justice is a grassroots organization made up of 26 different faith communities in the Midlands of South Carolina. These congregations represent a diversity, both socioeconomically and among faith traditions. They include Episcopalians and African Methodist Episcopalians, Lutherans and Jews, Methodists and Presbyterians, and many more.

Working together in community has resulted in the development of deep relationships among people who would not have come together otherwise. And yet, these faith communities all embrace the call by God to “do justice” (Micah 6:8). Through that common tenet, we are yoked together to Do Justice. 

What does that mean? What do we do together?

Most importantly, we are pressing public officials to address the problems of people with mental illness who are jailed instead of receiving appropriate interventions and housing. 

After completing over 70 “house meetings”—gatherings where justice network members share their personal stories about what most concerns them—common themes became evident. One of those was the issue of mental health, especially the unnecessary incarceration of people experiencing a mental health crisis, a group that is disproportionately people of color. After hundreds of hours of research, MORE Justice decided to concentrate on Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Certification for law enforcement. This 40-hour certification training prepares officers to de-escalate mental health situations and more safely intervene in mental health crises. 

The organization that sponsors the training, National Alliance on Mental Illness, had been trying to get this training requirement for officers for 10 years. Because of our organized people power, we were able to get a commitment in one year. MORE Justice received commitments from the Columbia Police Department (CPD) and the Richland County Sheriff Department (RCSD) to train all their officers. The CPD has gone from only eight officers trained to 189 officers trained. The RCSD has gone from a handful of officers trained to 104 officers trained. 

Beyond this specific issue, MORE Justice also uses our organized people power to make a difference in the areas of affordable housing and gun violence. We have provided training to our network members, worked to increase community visibility, and covenanted with more congregations. Overall, MORE Justice is helping to increase local grassroots capacity to organize and effectively advocate for issues that matter most. 

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The Rev. Dianna LaMance Deaderick serves as a co-president for MORE Justice and is the deacon at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

The post From the Becoming Beloved Community Grant Community: MORE Justice appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

By Mark Smith

While St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has been serving the homeless and marginalized neighbors in downtown Camden, New Jersey, for four decades, the COVID pandemic represented a particular challenge for us and our guests, who are disproportionately people of color.

As in most other churches, in-person worship had ended and our adventure with online worship began; however, the bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, the Rt. Rev. William Stokes, allowed meal programs and other ministries to continue. 

Just prior to the pandemic, I had met with the dean of the Nursing School at Rutgers University Camden. We knew guests suffered high rates of conditions like diabetes and hypertension and that they often came in with untreated wounds. The church proposed a joint venture: a health clinic at St. Paul’s Church staffed by nurses and nursing students. The Rutgers dean was enthusiastic about the idea. The real work began after the pandemic had exposed the needs of the underserved. 

We found an ideal space near the parish hall. What we needed was financial support. I learned about the Beloved Community grants program, and soon we had $5,000 to begin work, an amount that was matched by the vestry. The following year, we received a United Thank Offering grant to help with the cost of equipment and supplies. The first patients were seen in January 2021; we now see 20 patients or more each week. We hope the clinic will continue to be a caring mainstay in our area and in downtown Camden.

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The Rev. Mark Smith is the rector of St. Paul’s Church, Camden.

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More and more Episcopalians in Mississippi are striving for God’s just future. Recognizing this holy movement, the Rt. Rev. Brian Seage of Mississippi created a new position to further engage in the ministry of racial justice, reconciliation, and healing.

As diocesan missioner for Becoming Beloved Communities and congregational vitality, the Rev. Andy Andrews will be the most visible cheerleader and advocate for the BBC initiative on the diocesan staff. Andrews has been an anti-racism facilitator for 17 years. He is a native son of Mississippi and is perceptive to the multiple roadblocks and opportunities in the diocese. 

Andrews and partners on the diocesan racial reconciliation task force have spread The Episcopal Church’s vision of becoming Beloved Community, increased the church’s capacity for relationship building, and introduced resources like Sacred Ground circles. 

“We still haven’t met all the people we get to love,” Andrews said. “We still have not met all who will love us. God is not through with us. The Episcopal Church’s lifelong, intergenerational commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice provides a prophetic and pastoral path forward for us. We trust that the way of truth-telling, reparations, and justice-bearing will help us to better be Jesus-centered.” 

Andrews began this new call in July and welcomes conversation. He can be reached at andrews@dioms.org.

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Andrews was ordained in 1996 serving congregations in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi. He graduated from the Seminary of the Southwest with a Master of Divinity, Episcopal Divinity School with a Doctor of Ministry, and the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

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