NEWS
Here’s where you’ll find good news stories about how we–as a diocese, as parishes, and as individuals–are drawing people to Jesus and embodying His love for the world by growing our skills as leaders, deepening our faith, and striving for justice.
Reflections on California
Los Angeles is my hometown; I was there visiting family and friends at Christmas. This week I have watched it burn from afar. Anyone who has lived in greater LA for much time knows that fire is a part of the ecosystem. We have all awoken to a surreal orange glow, smelled smoke on the wind, and seen ash drift onto our streets. But not like this.
An Invitation to Repentance and Reconciliation
Join us for a sacred service of repentance—a time for clergy and laity to gather, confront the past, and take steps toward healing. The diocesan Service Toward Repentance on Friday, January 24 at Washington National Cathedral invites us to learn about the harms of history that live in our present and to reflect on our collective journey toward justice and reconciliation.
Welcoming Newcomers: Our First Learning Day for 2025
Join us on Wednesday, February 26 at St. James’ Church in Potomac for an interactive Learning Day focused on Welcoming Newcomers. It’s exciting when new people visit, explore, and decide to become part of our church communities. But how do we welcome them to the fullness of life in Christian community? Welcoming newcomers raises important questions of hospitality and connection, but also formation in the Christian story and invitation into a lifelong journey of faith.
2024 Annual Report of the Committee on Black Church Ministries
The Committee on Black Church Ministries convened its inaugural meeting in June of 2023. Its members are The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard (Chairperson), Keith Roachford (Sub-Committee Chair for Education and Training), Kay Pierson (Sub- Committee Chair for Black Church Ministry Initiatives), The Rev. Antonio Baxter, Kathy Davis, The Rev. Anna Olson, The Rev. Creamilda Shirley Wulck-Nortey Yoda, Lionel Charles, The Rev. Caron Gwynn, The Rev. Robert Phillips (Diocesan Liaison)
Province III Retreat & Forma Conference
The Forma Conference is an annual gathering of forward-thinking minds, industry leaders, and dedicated professionals in faith formation. It is an opportunity for professional development, community building and refreshment. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington will join the other dioceses of Province III to participate in the radically hybrid 2025 Forma Conference on January 27-30.
Mary, Did You Know? Well, Did You?
I was sitting this morning with my coffee with music playing and this song, Mary Did You Know, came on. Somewhere in the middle of the song, I got to thinking about this question, Mary, did you know? Well, did she? What did she know or realize?
Benchmarking for the Planet: Take an Easy First Step toward Carbon Neutrality
For nearly 20 years, General Conventions of TEC have recognized that human-caused climate change poses an immediate and serious global threat to the world, contrary to our Christian commitment to care for all God’s creation. Our parishes have a responsibility to ensure that the maintenance and improvement of their buildings are part of the solution to this crisis. A first step parishes can take is to participate in a no-cost, Diocesan-wide, benchmarking study of energy usage.
Reparations Resources: Becoming the Body of Christ
Since July, I have been on a deep dive around reparations within the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. My overarching takeaway is close to Dr. West’s: for me, reparations in its broadest sense is deeply aligned with being Christian within an institution that has committed demonstrable harm.
Thanksgiving and Welcoming the Stranger
The next administration has signaled that they intend to deport 11 million people who have come to this country, some of whom may be members of our parishes. Now it is time to find new and creative ways to support and protect those who come here seeking a safe place for their families to thrive.
Thoughts on Reparations from a White Southerner
Several years ago I concluded that our nation must take on the very difficult work of coming to terms with slavery and the subsequent century of Jim Crow segregation. Growing up in North Carolina in the 1950s and 1960s, I experienced the results from this horrible legacy. My small hometown was completely segregated, including the schools that I attended.
