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2021 ANNUAL REPORT: EQUITY & JUSTICE

See–I am doing a new thing.
Isaiah 43:19

In 2021, our focus for the Equity and Justice objective of the diocesan strategic plan has been to:

Bravely uncover, understand, reckon with and act to dismantle racism within ourselves, our faith communities, the Diocese and our localities.

The first step in helping the diocese to advance this objective was to hire a new Missioner for Equity and Justice. Earlier this year, Hazel Monae accepted the call to this work and has spent much of 2021 familiarizing herself with existing equity and justice initiatives and building relationships with various committees, task forces, community builders and activists in our parishes, surrounding communities and the wider church.

Hazel Monae, Missioner for Equity and Justice and Dora Currea, Co-chair of Washington National Cathedral Sanctuary Ministry at the #WeAreEssential Fast for Freedom for Excluded Workers in June 2021
Deacon Ethan Bishop Henchman knits beside a Pride Month banner
Parishioners preparing food for Our Saviour Hillendale's Soup to Go ministry

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021

What did we do this year? We:

  • Joined the Racial Justice Virtual Pilgrimage through the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing
  • Offered an LGBTQIA Workshop, Training
  • Organized The Church Cracked Open book discussion with author The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
  • Offered Resilience for Activists course through the School for Christian Faith and Leadership course through the School for Christian Faith and Leadership
  • Launched the First Cohort of The Reparations Task Force Congregational History Project
  • Ran an EDOW Racism 101 training, grounded in the Baptismal Covenant and Becoming Beloved Community
  • Began rebuilding a Prison Ministry Strategy
  • Extended ongoing support of the Washington National Cathedral Sanctuary Ministry
  • Convened the Equity & Justice Steering Committee
  • Established the Afghan Refugee Response Team in the wake of the end of the war in Afghanistan to respond to the urgent needs refugees arriving in this area (with 25 parishes participating/sponsoring as of the publication date of the annual report)
  • Published a Mentor Resource Guide for Sponsoring and Assisting Refugee Resettlement
  • Created an EDOW Afghan Refugee Ministry Listserv
  • Supported ongoing antiracism work in congregations (including Sacred Ground and Becoming Beloved Community offerings)
  • Held vigils for Derek Chauvin verdict and the first anniversary of the killing of George Floyd

PIVOT TO 2022

In 2022, as an extension of our work to become a more equitable and just diocese/region, we will focus our equity and justice energy on Creation Care, LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency & Humility and continued AntiRacism work.

Creation Care:

  • Building a diocesan-wide task force
  • Auditing where Creation Care efforts are in every congregation
  • Creating a strategy for cross-diocesan engagement

LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency & Humility Work:

  • Offering a 6-week series through the School for Christian Faith and Leadership
  • Providing ongoing training for both diocesan and Washington National Cathedral staff
  • Building relationships within the DC/MD area to hold ourselves accountable