Province VIII of the Episcopal Church

Report on Province VIII Wintertalk and the Doctrine of Discovery.

At this year’s Wintertalk, hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Rev. Albert Krueger, First Nations missioner for the Diocese of Oregon, people from across the western United States met to discuss the historical and legal principles that make up our modern understanding of the Doctrine of Discovery, its implications for native and non-natives, and what role the church can play in reversing its negative effects today.

Please have a look at these two excellent articles from the Diocese of Oregon Diocesan News:

Download 2012 Province VIII Wintertalk _ OECN Online

Download Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery _ OECN Online

 

The Rev. Ken Howard's new book: Paradoxy: Creating Christian Community Beyond Us and Them

Us and them. It's everywhere. What can we do to create a different way of being?  Joseph Campbell said "The creative act is not hanging on, but yielding to a new creative movement.  Awe is what moves us forward."

Ken's book is awesome and can move us forward.  If you're struggling with this issue in your life and Christian community, read this book!  Ken can also be of help at conferences, retreats, and meetings. Email Ken here.

Check out his  new book at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557257752/1n9867a-20

Is conservative/liberal conflict draining your church of its vitality and distracting its people from sharing the love of Christ?  

Looking for third way of Christian community beyond us and them?  

Paradoxy: Creating Christian Community Beyond Us and Them can help your congregation transcend dead-end divisions and transform conflict into healthy diversity united by the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. (Amazon book description)

Congratulations Ken! 

READ THIS. IT'S IMPORTANT. Leaders meet to consult on Episcopal Church’s ethnic ministries

By Lelanda Lee | January 17, 2012  Episcopal News Service

A Consultation on Alternative Leadership and Theological Training was held January 11-14, 2012, in a suburb of Oklahoma City. This was the first ever churchwide gathering of Episcopal Church leaders involved in ethnic ministries for the purpose of identifying and discussing the common elements of ministry in ethnic communities.

The four ethnic missioners of the Episcopal Church (Sarah Eagle Heart, Indigenous Ministries; Anthony Guillen, Latino/Hispanic Ministries; Angela Ifill, Black Ministries; Winfred Vergara, Asiamerica Ministries) convened the consultation. Eagle Heart, who is the team leader for Diversity, Social and Environmental ministries, explained that Winter Talk, a gathering of people in Indigenous ministry that was originally planned for the same weekend, had been canceled to focus program budget on training.

The missioners worked with acknowledged leaders in each ethnic ministry to invite eight to ten individuals to participate plus seven bishops who are actively involved with ethnic ministries. Several resource people who work directly with ethnic ministries were also invited, including a representative from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gordon Straw, formerly the Director for American Indian and Alaska Native Ministries and now Program Director for Lay Missional Leadership Centers, represented the church’s full communion partner.

Ruth-Ann Collins, officer for Lifelong Christian Formation, served as the facilitator of the breakout

Crossing Over: Borderlands as Blessing, Immigration as Opportunity April 12th-14th, 2012

The Episcopal  Diocese of Arizona and its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Kirk Smith, invite you to engage with us in dialogue and action around border and immigration issues.  The event will take place April 12-14 in Douglas, Arizona.  Participants will see first-hand the context of our current immigration crisis.

The 

Keynote Address: The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori 
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Cost: $225
Registration is First Come, First Serve, and is open to all interested persons 

The schedule for the three day / two night conference is:

Thursday, 12 April:     Arrive in Tucson, transportation provided to Nogales. The panel discussion will take place in the evening.  Spend the night in Nogales, Arizona.

Friday, 13 April: See options here: http://episcopalborderministries.com/Crossing_Over_Excursions.html  Spend night in Douglas. 

Saturday, 14 April:    Breakfast with the Bishop in Naco, Arizona.  Address by the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori and 7th annual "God Has No Borders" Procession in Naco. Head out 3-4pm back to Tucson.

 An informative panel discussion will bring together immigration reform activists, law enforcement and government personnel, medical experts, and faith leaders.  Katharine Jefferts Schori will be on hand as a participant and guide and deliver an important address prior to the 7th “God Has No Borders” Naco Border Procession.  We will process from Naco, Arizona into Naco, Sonora (Mexico) as a show of unity and mutual respect reminding ourselves and all others of our common bonds and shared Citizenship in God’s Reign.

 Join us as we cross over, as we remind ourselves and all with

Latino-Hispanic Ministry Network: Welcome to The Rev. Martir Vasquez

The Executive Committee is pleased to welcome The Rev. Martir Vasquez as the new Latino-Hispanic network coordinator for Province VIII.  Martir is Vicar of St. George's Church, Hawthorne, CA in the Diocese of Los Angeles.  Born in Guatemala, Martir was ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of Guatemala on June 6, 1986. His leadership experience had been shaped by working in three different dioceses, Guatemala, Belize and Los Angeles, CA. In addition to his academic pursuits, he received training to function as a missionary priest, planting church in Guatemala, Belize and a multicultural congregation in Hawthorne. Martir is married to Elena and father of three sons Donato, Valentin and Martir Jr.

To add your name to our listserve or for information about networking, sharing resources, and promoting Latino-Hispanic ministry contact Martir at

Phone: 310-678-2224

email:revmartir@gmail.com

Report on the Second Annual Coalition of Episcopal Latinos Conference

September 2011

The Duncan Center

Episcopal Diocese of South East Florida

            CEL held its second annual conference at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach, Florida in the Diocese of South East Florida on September 8-11, 2011.  There were 45 in attendance (eight from Province VIII) and about 20 commuters at the conference.

            The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillen was our first speaker on Thursday evening.  He provided an outstanding presentation on the various resources available for Latino/Hispanic ministry through The Episcopal Church Center and his office in particular.  He shared that there there are 50.5 million Latinos in the United States, this is 16% of the population.  Therefore, presenting the Church with what I would call the challenge of ministering in a field that perhaps is literally knocking at our door.  California alone has a population of 27.8 million Hispanics/Latinos.  And yet there are only 333 Episcopal congregation in the whole United States.

Anti-Racism Training in Eastern Oregon, October 12-14 at St. John's, Hermiston

The Diocese of Eastern Oregon is hosting Anti-Racism training October 12-14 at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Hermiston, Oregon. The Rev. Dr. Eric Law will present. For information and registration Download Registrationform-inclusivecommunities10-11.

Mark Your Calendar! A Commemoration of David Pendleton Oakerhater, a Hawaiian service, and 2012 Winter Talk

The First Nations Committee of the Diocese of Olympia is sponsoring  A Commemoration of David Pendleton Oakerhater & A Talking Circle: In Light of the Doctrine of Discovery on September 1, 2011 from 11 A.M. - 2 P.M. at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, Washington.  This commemoration is done as part of the upcoming Provincial Wintertalk in January 2012 linked to the Doctrine of Discovery.  The event will consist of a Eucharist, talking circle, small give-a-way, and a meal.  At the Eucharist we will have a Talking Circle in place of the sermon, and that talking circle will, hopefully, help those who attend
to ponder, pray and act in response to the Doctrine of Discovery.

Mark Your Calendar!  Dates for the  2012 Provincial Winter Talk are January 6-8 at the Spirit Mountain and Casino Lodge, located in Grand Ronde, Oregon.  The event is hosted by Province VIII and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

The next Hawaiian service at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in San Jose will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2012.  All are invited to attend.

Correction:  In the Province VIII 2011 Winter Talk Report the Icon and spiritual leader "Kateri Tekakwitha" is Mohawk and NOT Maori.  My apologies to the Mohawk Nation!

May/June 2011 Grace Margin, The Kaleidoscope Newsletter

The May/June 2011 issue of Grace Margin, the Kaleidoscope Institute Newsletter is available here: Download 2011-05 Grace Margin.  Summer is fast approaching so register NOW for the KI summer training events especially the KI Homecoming! Also please check out my weekly blog “The Sustainist” at http://ehflaw.typepad.com/blog/. The blog updates weekly on Monday at 4pm EST, and includes a new feature: reflections connected to the Revised Common Lectionary, plus suggested Bible Study Questions for all the texts. You can subscribe to the blog and the post will be sent to you every Monday afternoon.

This month’s Grace Margin includes: Information and Updates on our 2011 Summer Training Events A Dialogue: Holy Currencies III, Breaking the Tyranny of Money- by Eric Law Trust the Process: Creating a

Episcopal Leadership Institute for Young Adults Eco-Justice Immersion Experience August 27-September 1, 2011

The shared work of peace and justice calls for the Church to work in collaboration with global initiatives to advocate for justice, reconciliation and peace… 

We are writing to invite you to a pilot project initiative of leadership and advocacy training sponsored by the Episcopal Church Center’s offices of Economic and Environmental Affairs and Young Adult and Campus Ministries. This event will consist of Episcopal Church focused formation, leadership and