by Keely Thrall | Apr 29, 2025
The Racial Justice and Equity Committee of St. John’s Norwood is hosting a public screening of the award-winning documentary, “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round,” and a panel discussion with the filmmaker, Ilana Trachtman, and a local activist featured in the film.
“Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” is the untold story of one of the first organized interracial civil rights protests in U.S. history when five black students partnered with local Jewish activists in protesting the segregation of Glen Echo Amusement Park.
The screening is free, but seating is limited so registration is required: bit.ly/STJN-screening
Learn more about the film at aintnoback.com
Learn more about St. John’s Norwood at stjohnsnorwood.org
by Keely Thrall | Mar 3, 2025
Celebrate notable African Americans who have made significant contributions in theology, human rights, social justice, civil rights, education, and the welfare of other human beings as depicted in the sculptures, stained glass windows, and needlepoint throughout Washington National Cathedral. See where Martin Luther King, Jr., Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and former President Barack Obama became part of Cathedral history.
This event is free. Parking on the Cathedral grounds on Sunday is available.
The tour begins at 1:15 PM.
by EDOW | Jan 4, 2024
One year ago, our diocese passed a resolution encouraging us to plant trees in celebration of special occasions, as part of the Communion Forest initiative of the World Anglican Communion. Deacon Mary Sebold, at St. Dunstan’s, Bethesda, named this effort “Saplings for Sacraments,” an idea she’s presented to worldwide audiences several times over the past year.
Our diocese runs the gamut from parishes that may find it difficult to plant a tree on their grounds to those that host flourishing forests—but wherever our home parishes reside, we can all get involved in caring for our local environment, leaving a legacy for those who follow us. Caring for trees and local green spaces gives us mental, spiritual and physical benefits of cleaner air, cooler temperatures in summer, and the joyful presence of God’s beloved creatures. Find native tree planting resources and more at our Creation Care page of the diocesan website.
At the Episcopal Youth Conference last summer held in College Park, Maryland, our Diocesan Creation Care Committee promoted increased parish engagement in Creation Care projects throughout the U.S., including tree planting and prayers for Creation. A few weeks later, our members heard from Creation Care leaders from across The Episcopal Church at the “It’s All About Love: Festival for the Jesus Movement” in Baltimore in July.
Creation Care, of course, is not simply about planting trees.
The ravages of climate change are inextricably linked to racial and societal inequities. When we work to combat climate change, we are striving for justice. The Episcopal Church passed a resolution that all parishes should be carbon neutral by 2030. Is your parish on track?
One big step toward going carbon neutral is to begin using solar power. Early adopters of rooftop solar in DC were St. Alban’s, St. Columba’s, St. Mark’s Capitol Hill, and Christ Church Washington Parish. Joining them in Montgomery County in 2023 were St. Mark’s Fairland, St. Nicholas Darnestown, and St. Peter’s Poolesville; and moving forward in the process now are St. James’ Potomac, St. John’s Olney, and Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda. Other congregations have signed up with community solar providers such as Neighborhood Sun or with renewable energy providers for their electricity, and many more have reduced their consumption and saved money with energy-efficient lighting and equipment.
Prayerful thanks to all who have made Creation Care a priority in their planning.
What radical actions can each of us take to show our love for every created being in the coming year?
The Rev. Melissa J. Sites
Deacon, St. Christopher’s New Carrollton
Creation Care Committee Co Chair
by EDOW | Jan 4, 2024
Last fall, Bishop Mariann Budde reached out to the leadership of the 85 congregations of the Diocese of Washington with a request.
On behalf of the Education Working Group of the Committee on Diocesan Reparations, Bishop Mariann asked for responses to a brief survey on racial justice ministries at the parish level. The survey inquired about activity in two areas: 1) how parishes are working toward a present and future of racial justice and 2) what efforts parishes have made or are making to understand our congregational and diocesan histories through the lens of race.
In response, nearly 85% of our congregations completed the survey and provided us with much-needed information to accurately assess the extensive antiracism work in progress across the diocese. We are grateful to all congregations that took part. The responses will help us identify areas where the Education Working Group can support parishes in their journeys to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
Addressing Racial Justice in Worship and Education
From the survey results, we learned that most congregations have engaged in activities that address racial justice. This finding is particularly encouraging, given that nearly one-third of the parishes in the diocese are in active transition (do not currently have a “settled” priest).
For most congregations, these activities involve worship:
-
- 74% of congregations have reviewed the elements of their worship (such as music, prayers, and iconography) through the lens of race and representation.
- On average, congregations report hearing 9 sermons each year with racial equity or racial justice as a central theme.
Another area in which congregations have been engaged in this work is educational opportunities.
-
- 65% of responding congregations have hosted formal educational opportunities on racism in the past six years.
- Examples of these formal educational opportunities include curricula such as Sacred Ground and Becoming Beloved Community, offerings from The Episcopal Church, and Diocese of Wasington offerings such as Seeing the Face of God in Each Other and Healing from Internalized Racial Oppression.
One area for potential growth is antiracism education for children. Only 5% of congregations reported that they had provided anti-racist educational opportunities for children.
Congregational Policies and Programs
One of the questions on the survey was:
Does your parish have a ministry, committee, team, or task force that is focused exclusively or primarily on racial justice?
In response to this question, 15% of reporting congregations have established a racial justice ministry group or committee – a group explicitly and exclusively charged with a focus on racial justice and antiracism. That said, several predominantly African-American congregations reported framing racial justice ministry holistically, not as a separate function, but as an expected focus for all ministry groups and committees.
In a similar vein, 24% of congregations have established policies to promote racial equity at the parish level. These include policies dealing with hiring practices, contract set-asides, and reparations at the parish level.
Exploring Parish Histories
At the 2021 Annual Convention, the Reparations Task Force invited parishes across the diocese to undertake parish history projects to engage in the work of truth telling to better discern how to be a more equitable and racially just diocese.
From the survey results, we learned that 21% of congregations have undertaken researching their history through the lens of race and racism. An additional 8% of congregations have plans to research their history through the lens of race and racism within the next two years.
For congregations interested in pursuing this work, the Parish History Projects page on the EDOW website contains instructional videos and text, as well as contact information for the monthly meeting of our Congregational History Partners.
Next Steps
While the survey results show that congregations across the diocese are clearly engaged in good work on race and racism, they also highlight areas where we can expand our work and galvanize our congregations toward concrete actions, such as:
-
- Develop and implement antiracist education for our children’s ministries.
- Establish policies and practices that measurably promote racial equity.
- Continue to research and share parish histories through the lens of race.
The Committee on Diocesan Reparations looks forward to applying these survey findings to its work in 2024 as part of our journey toward racial justice and reparations.
by Allen Fitzpatrick | Oct 6, 2023
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington invites you to its 37th annual Gala, The Arc of Change: Celebrating Next Steps East of the River, on Saturday November 4th at the the Town Hall Education Art Recreation Campus (THEARC) West. The Gala takes place from 5:30 to 8:30pm and includes a cocktail reception, sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, annual awards, and plenty of onsite parking. Space is limited, so we encourage you to purchase your tickets now — or become a sponsor, which will entitle you to complimentary tickets, among other benefits. And if you can’t attend, we hope you’ll contribute to the Gala’s success by making a donation! Proceeds will fund Samaritan’s NEXT STEP program, a mutual ministry which employs intensive casework, coaching and other support to empower the DC-area’s returning citizens, homeless and unemployed to transform their lives. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/SMGWGala2023.
