by EDOW | Feb 29, 2024
The Book of Common Prayer describes confirmation as “a mature public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism” completed by the laying on of hands by a bishop of the church. In the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, we celebrate two Diocesan-wide confirmation services at Washington National Cathedral, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.
As the May 11, 2024, Spring Confirmation service approaches, here’s a quick refresher on what resources are available through the School for Christian Faith and Leadership to support congregations in preparing candidates for confirmation, reception into The Episcopal Church and reaffirmation of baptismal vows:
- CREATE is a ten-module online confirmation course for youth who are inquiring about faith and preparing for Confirmation. CREATE is based on the Rev. Jenifer Gamber’s book, My Faith, My Life: A Teen’s Guide to The Episcopal Church. Module topics include Baptism, Bible, Church History, Beliefs, Worship, Sacraments, Spirituality, Navigating the Church, and Mission and Ministry.
- To assist those wanting to learn more about Jesus and be able to share his story with others, the School offers Getting to Know Jesus, a module to supplement the online CREATE course. The course connects learners with visual aids, scripture prompts, reflection questions, and tools to help learners tell Jesus’ story in creative ways. While geared towards youth, the course is also appropriate for adult learners. Consider engaging this course as part of your confirmation process or as a Lenten or Holy Week offering to get to know Jesus better.
- A curriculum designed for adult learners is DISCOVER, EMBRACE, and BECOME. DISCOVER focuses on building a relationship with God, EMBRACE on the Episcopal way of living out Christian life, and BECOME on baptismal living. These courses can be used in series or independently. A shorter confirmation preparation course could also be assembled by selecting modules from across the three courses that most correspond to the needs of a particular class or candidate.
For assistance using these materials or finding the right confirmation preparation approach for your congregation and its candidates, please don’t hesitate to contact the Rev. Anna Olson, director of the School.
by EDOW | Feb 29, 2024
All parishes in the Diocese of Washington are encouraged to examine their histories from the perspective of race and racism. Over the next few months, we will spotlight parishes that are engaging in this work of truth telling through a racial lens.
Calvary Episcopal Church is one of seven historically Black Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Washington. In 2022, three dedicated parishioners from Calvary formed a committee to begin the work of examining its history. The goal: to determine how its congregation has shaped and been shaped by the realities of race in the United States.
As they continued their research, one of the committee members remarked, “I am amazed at the forced separation of Blacks and Whites in The Episcopal Church. I did not realize how prevalent the church’s racist attitudes were towards Blacks in The Episcopal Church.”
By the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) and Reconstruction (1865-1877), more than 25,000 African Americans had moved into the city of Washington, DC. By the early 1900’s there were 90,000.
In response to this migration into the city, the 1899 Diocesan Convention adopted a resolution to establish a “Committee on Colored Work.” The purpose of this committee was to prevent African Americans from leaving The Episcopal Church to join Methodist and AME churches and to address other issues of African Americans in the diocese. These issues included their representation in the priesthood, their desire for leadership positions, substandard conditions, educational needs of parishioners, vestry formations, and a continued call for respect for African Americans as intelligent and self-governing members.
In response to these issues, the Diocese of Washington established “colored chapels” or “domestic missions” to increase the number of Black Episcopalians. Its Commission for Work among Colored People attempted to achieve several goals: gain a presence and physical foothold in “East” Washington, DC, establish a place of employment for African American priests educated in King Hall (a theological institute connected with Howard University for aspiring Black priests), and provide a parent mission to serve other missions.
To fulfill some of these goals, the Rt. Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee, first Bishop of Washington, summoned the Rev. Franklyn Isaac Abraham Bennett, then in charge of St. Andrew’s Mission School in South Carolina, to come to Washington and open a new Episcopal Mission for African Americans. In June 1901, Calvary Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, was founded as a new mission church in the Diocese of Washington.
The issues of white supremacy and segregation are embedded in the founding of Calvary. Bishop Satterlee wanted the new mission to be located in the southeast section of the city, but Rev. Bennett threatened to return to South Carolina if he was not allowed to select the location.
After a careful search, Rev. Bennett located a two-story building at 1303 H Street, NE, and negotiated with the owner to use the second floor. He then secured six months’ rent, after which he searched the basements of DC churches to find equipment for the mission. Meanwhile, meetings were held in various homes in the neighborhood.
The area in Northeast DC selected by Rev. Bennett for the mission was a neighborhood of middle-class single-family homes adjacent to the H Street business district, close to the U Street Corridor. The population in 1901 was approximately 85% white, and area churches were segregated by race.
After the mission officially opened, Calvary quickly became the center of spiritual inspiration and a source of civil and social guidance. Rev. Bennett conducted services for students at Gallaudet School for the Deaf and established classes in industrial arts, cooking, sewing, and carpentry. Calvary also established the first neighborhood kindergarten, playground, branch library, and community center.
Calvary soon outgrew its quarters and, in March 1909, Rev. Bennett led the congregation to lay the cornerstone for a larger space at 11th and G Street, NE. Rev. Bennett paid for the church rectory at no cost to the church or the diocese. Although Calvary always paid off any debts it incurred for renovations, it took 40 years for the diocese to allow “Colored Calvary Chapel” to become independent with a vestry in charge of its own church funds.
Rev. Bennett was active outside of Calvary, both in the diocese and in the District. He became treasurer of the “Diocesan Committee on Colored Work” and one of the earliest civil rights advocates in the diocese. While at Calvary, he was also assigned to the Chapel of St. Philip In Anacostia and opened the Church of Atonement in northeast Washington. In addition, he served as priest-in-charge at St. Simon’s Mission in Prince George’s County for five years (1910-1915). In addition to his clerical duties, Rev. Bennett served two terms on the DC Board of Education, was a member of the Selective Service Board, and founded the Public Interest Citizen’s Association of the northeast section of the city. He was pastor at Calvary until his retirement in 1941.
During Black History Month, we are reminded that we must continue to seek a true multiracial democracy and equitable society for all. The early struggles of Black priests and congregations are beginning to be acknowledged as the wider Episcopal Church, along with American society, seeks to respond to the Black community’s cry for self-expression, liberation, and full participation.
For more information on parish history projects in the Diocese of Washington, visit Parish History Projects: Telling the Truth About Race and Racism.
by EDOW | Feb 15, 2024
At the December 2023 Diocesan Council meeting, a resolution was presented and passed calling for the establishment of a Committee on Congregational Stewardship and Diocesan Support.
The work before the committee is to review the history of congregational giving to the mission and ministry of the Diocese and—through engagement with active leaders from around the diocese, lay and clergy, new and longtime—recommend concrete, actionable steps that we as a diocese can take to arrive at a consensus that fits this moment in time in the life of the Diocese around appropriate levels of congregational investment in our common Diocesan mission and ministry.
Learn more:
Watch the Rev. Jessica Hitchcock’s presentation about the committee at the recent Diocesan Convention
Apply to serve:
Committee on Congregational Stewardship and Diocesan Support Application
The deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, February 21 by 5:00 p.m.
by EDOW | Feb 15, 2024
Shortly before his passion and death in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus taught the crowds in parables. In Matthew 25:31-46, known as, “The Judgement of the Nations,” Jesus describes the Son of Man in his glory separating the nations like sheep and goats based on their treatment of the disenfranchised. According to Jesus, how we treat the least in society is actually how we treat the Lord himself.
Jesus identifies five categories of folks who should specifically be treated with respect and compassion — the hungry, the stranger, the unclothed, the sick and the imprisoned. This Lent, the diocesan Young Adult Episcopalians (YAE) will engage in an offering called, Living a Faithful Lent, through which they will serve with EDOW partner organizations that support the very communities Jesus mentions in Matthew 25.
Beginning Saturday, February, 17 and going through March 23, Young Adults (20’s and 30’s) from around the Diocese of Washington are invited to gather for six Saturdays of service and reflection centering on Jesus’ words in Matthew 25. On the first five Saturdays, we will gather weekly at 10:00 a.m. (unless indicated differently on the schedule) at different service organizations throughout Washington, DC. Participants will gather for introductions and prayer, followed by service with EDOW partner organizations. The day concludes at noon with a brief reflection. On the final Saturday of Lent, the group will gather for brunch and reflection on the collective service experience. The Living a Faithful Lent schedule includes information on service times, locations, and ministry partners.
Young Adults may participate in all, a few, or even just a single one of the weekly offerings. Whatever most speaks to their heart. Registration is not required but is encouraged as it will help with planning. RSVP here.
This opportunity to learn about service organizations in our diocese and to personally engage in the work to which Jesus calls his followers has an interesting origin story. This offering came about because a Young Adult in one of our EDOW parishes reached out to The Rev. Amanda Akes-Cardwell, EDOW Missioner for Faith Formation and Development, with a desire “to do something with other Young Adults this Lent.” The idea developed from there.
Are you a Young Adult with a hunger to meet other Young Adults? Are you interested in the intersection of faith and the world? Do you want to know more about Jesus? Do you have questions of discernment and discipleship? If so, contact Amanda Akes-Cardwell. The diocesan Young Adult Episcopalians seek to gather seasonally for fellowship, service and worship. We welcome your ideas for meaningful gatherings.
And in the meantime, consider joining YAE for Living a Faithful Lent.