[Episcopal News Service] Over the next week, some Episcopal churches will recognize International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, with special worship services and educational events to celebrate transgender people and their contributions to society, and to raise awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide. “This is a time of celebration. I do think it’s important to acknowledge the particular context we are in right now, but for now we will focus on empowerment and strengths and celebrating the vibrant, lived reality of trans and nonbinary and two-spirit [meaning, third-gender person],” the Rev. Cameron Partridge, rector of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in San Francisco, Diocese of California, and a trans man, told Episcopal News Service. “We’re here and we are in community and we’re in leadership, and we have opportunities to experience and express our joy even in the midst of hardship.” Partridge will preach at Grace Cathedral’s Trans Day of Visibility evening Eucharist at 6 p.m. Pacific on March 30, which will be streamed via Zoom. “There are so many pressures for trans people to fly under the radar, to not be noticed, to try to minimize who they are. This Eucharist is a chance to let that aside and just be loved for who you are and to celebrate before God who God created you to be,” the Very Rev. Malcolm Young, dean of Grace Cathedral, told ENS. “It’s so important to support and love our trans siblings every day.” After the worship service, Partridge will moderate a conversation with Nico Lang, an LGBTQ+ news and politics reporter, about their newest book, “American Teenager: How Trans Kids are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era.” Earlier in the day on March 30, St. Aidan’s morning worship services will incorporate some liturgical resources recently created for the day of visibility. TransEpiscopal, a group that advocates for more inclusive church policies toward transgender people and creates supportive spaces for trans Episcopalians, and the Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission collaborated on the liturgical resources. Also, in the Diocese of California, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Redwood City will host a day of visibility service on April 5. The term “transgender” refers to an individual whose gender identity, expression or behavior does not conform with the person’s assigned sex at birth, whereas nonbinary reflects a gender identity that is not strictly male or female. The terms are often associated with each other but are not interchangeable. Rachel Crandall Crocker, a transgender activist and psychotherapist from Michigan, founded the first Transgender Day of Visibility in 2009 out of frustration that the only designated day recognizing trans people was the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day of remembrance, which takes place every Nov. 20, memorializes those who’ve been targeted and murdered for being transgender and raises awareness of violence against trans people. In contrast, the day of visibility is a time of unashamed pride, celebration and acknowledgement of trans people’s existence and resilience. The Diocese of New York will host a livestreamed 12 p.m. Eastern prayer service celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility on March 29 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Aaron Scott, The Episcopal Church’s gender justice officer and a lay trans man, will preach. “I am most excited to be with a whole bunch of other trans people at a gathering that is about us being alive – right together – even when we now have officially seen legislation that says we don’t exist,” Scott told ENS. LGBTQ+ sentiment and hate crimes targeting LGBTQ+ people have increased in recent years. Out of 821 anti-trans bills introduced in 49 states so far in 2025 by federal, state and local legislators, 40 have already passed, and 725 cases remain active, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker, an independent research organization that tracks bills affecting anti-trans and gender-diverse people in the United States. Last week, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill into law that restricts trans people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity. Similar bills are moving forward in Arkansas, Tennessee and New Hampshire. After taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders aimed at erasing references across federal agencies and departments to issues of diversity and “gender ideology.” By early February, agency websites began to remove mention of transgender or queer people, including the Rev. Pauli Murray, and changed the acronym LGBTQ (for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) to LGB. “Now more than ever, it’s important for the church to invest in real relationships, whether that’s one-on-one in your parish or between your parish and diocese, and whatever transgender-led organizations that are in your wider community,” Scott said. “This is a great time to reach out to your local trans youth group or LGBTQ center and say, ‘Hey, we are an affirming church. If you have a need for food donations or a need for people who need transportation to and from medical appointments or whatever, we’re here for you.’” New York Assistant Bishop Mary Glasspool, the second openly gay – and first lesbian – bishop in the Anglican Communion, told ENS in a phone interview: “When you are in a group that’s considered a minority group, and there is a whole sort of stereotypical characterization of that group, and you may feel targeted simply because you’re a member of that group, not because of who you are as an individual, it can be very scary,” Glasspool, who oversees the Diocese of New York’s LGBTQ+ Concerns Committee, will retire on June 30 after almost 45 years of ordained ministry. “You can’t say there aren’t transgender people in the world. They are wonderful human beings – children of God – deserving … to be loved and accepted into the human community,” she said. New York Bishop Matthew Heyd, who will preside over the prayer service at St. John the Divine, echoed a […]
[Episcopal News Service] “Audrey’s Children,” a feature-length biopic about Dr. Audrey Evans, a pioneering British American pediatric oncologist and a devout Episcopalian who co-founded Ronald McDonald House Charities with members of the Philadelphia Eagles and McDonald’s, will have a limited theatrical release beginning March 28. Natalie Dormer – best known for her roles in “Game of Thrones” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2” – stars as Evans, the first female chief of oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first doctors to treat pediatric cancers with chemotherapy. Directed by Ami Canaan Mann, “Audrey’s Children” highlights Evans’ myriad accomplishments in the 1970s while battling sexism and medical conventions of the time. Julia Fisher Farbman, a close friend of Evans, wrote the script and produced the film. “There are so many things that happen in the movie that I remember Audrey telling us that happened. …Natalie [Dormer] did such a great job showcasing the persistence and also the pain in Audrey’s life, too,” David Kasievich, president and head of school at St. James School, a tuition-free Episcopal school for children grades 4 through 8 in Philadelphia, told Episcopal News Service. Not long after she retired in 2009 from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Evans co-founded St. James School, which opened its doors two years later. “Being a woman – being in a very male-dominated role – Audrey hit so many roadblocks and legal issues,” said Kasievich, who watched an early screening of the movie. “You’re going to see some things in this movie, and you’re going to say, ‘Whoa.’ This woman defied all the resistance.” Born in York, England, in 1925, Evans was the only female student at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Scotland and the only woman in her residency program at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the early 1950s. In 1953, she earned a Fulbright Fellowship and moved to Massachusetts to train at Boston Children’s Hospital for two years. Evans completed her medical training at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1955. She briefly moved back to England to practice pediatrics but returned to the United States after learning that the field was closed to women in her home country. After working in pediatric oncology in Boston and Chicago, Illinois, Evans was recruited to create a pediatric oncology unit at CHOP, where she spent the rest of her medical career. In 1971, she developed the Evans Staging System for neuroblastoma – a cancer that starts in neuroblast cells and mostly affects infants and young children – to help determine disease progression and treatment efficacy. The system helped cut the mortality rate in half, and today, the survival rate is 90-95%. “To be the one who cares is one of the most rewarding experiences in a person’s life,” Evans once said. While serving as chief of oncology, Evans noticed that many out-of-town families of children receiving treatment at CHOP had no place, or no affordable place to stay in the city. In the early 1970s, she met Jim Murray, then-general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, when the NFL team raised and donated $100,000 to the hospital for children with cancer in honor of a leukemia patient, Kim Hill – the daughter of Fred Hill, a tight end and wide receiver. At the time, another Eagles player, quarterback Roman Gabriel, was advertising seasonal Shamrock Shakes for McDonald’s. (Kim Hill later died of brain cancer in 2011.) After Evans proposed free housing for families of children treated at CHOP, Murray reached out to Ed Rensi, McDonald’s regional manager, for a donation toward purchasing a house. Rensi said yes and that he would donate proceeds from Shamrock Shake sales toward the house if it would be named the Ronald McDonald House, after the fast-food chain’s clown mascot. Gabriel was inspired to later open the first Ronald McDonald House in North Carolina, his home state. Dormer told the hosts of “The View” television program in a March 27 interview that she “could not fathom that [Evans] wasn’t a household name.” “[Audrey’s Children] is just the most amazing tale of the most incredible woman – pioneering, determined woman,” said Dormer, who met Evans before filming commenced. Evans died two weeks into filming in 2022 at age 97. “[Evans] was one of those great Americans who dedicated her life to giving hope and comfort to families. She didn’t just sit back; she saw the pain – the need – and she stepped into it,” Pennsylvania Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez told ENS in a phone interview. “She was extraordinary in every way that it’s hard even to encapsulate the profound impact she made on the world. “To know Audrey Evans – her study and her advancements in medicine, especially pediatric oncology – it’s indescribable. She was a faithful Episcopalian who cared so much and who did so much. Audrey lived a life of love as a true Christian servant, living in and caring for the community.” The first Ronald McDonald House – founded by Evans, Murray, Fred Hill, Philadelphia Eagles owner Leonard Tose and McDonald’s – opened in 1974 in Philadelphia. An independent nonprofit, Ronald McDonald House Charities is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where the McDonald’s Corporation is based. Today, it operates more than 387 houses in 62 countries, all located minutes away from special care hospitals. It provides at least 2.7 million overnight stays annually. In 2023, families saved $736 million in lodging and meal expenses. The charity also provides free home-cooked meals and holistic services to families, an additional service that Evans encouraged. Ronald McDonald House Charities also operates more than 271 “family rooms” inside hospitals in 28 countries, which allow families to rest while staying beside their sick children. The family rooms provide free snacks and toys, as well as a private place to shower and take a nap. Additionally, Ronald McDonald House Charities operates 41 “care mobiles” in […]
[Episcopal News Service] At Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the 11 a.m. Eastern service on March 16 was a special observance of the fifth anniversary of the church’s shutdown during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It included readings that dealt with illness and loss, prayers for healthcare workers and those who died, and music that often is used at funerals, including “O God our Help in Ages Past.” The Rev. Jonathon Jensen, the church’s rector, told Episcopal News Service that he started wondering last fall why his congregation, or any congregation in The Episcopal Church, had yet to liturgically mark something that had impacted so many people for so long. So, he and Alan Lewis, the church’s director of music, started making plans to do it. They chose March 16 because five years earlier it was on Sunday, March 15, 2020, that in-person worship was suspended at Calvary, and it remained that way for about 14 months, Jensen said. The remembrance formed the first part of the service and began with the clergy and choir all wearing masks. “I hadn’t worn a mask in a couple of years,” he said. “I had forgotten how hot it was, how itchy, how hard it is to breathe.” The choir sat apart from each other as they had in the days of social distancing, and paper signs reminding people to stand 6 feet apart lined the center aisle. Jensen said that people told him those elements were “more powerful than they had imagined, and they had forgotten what it was like.” After the offertory, masks came off and the choir returned to their usual place near the altar. The service included elements that Jensen said were intentionally tactile and sensory, as a contrast to the COVID-era practice of staying away from others. That included the offer to anoint people with oil, and while that is available every week, about 20% of the congregations took part that day. “That never happens on a Sunday,” he said. In his sermon, Jensen described how he learned to preach to a pole in an empty nave during early online worship, “hoping somebody on the other end was watching.” He mentioned the losses people suffered, from missed graduations and kids learning behind screens to postponed weddings and funerals held online – including his own father’s funeral. Another impact is reflected, he said, in a recent Pew survey that showed that 72% of Americans said the pandemic did more to drive the country apart than to bring it together. One thing he believes the church can do is to help people heal. He hoped this service and its offering of “a ritual, a liturgical acknowledgement of the death, literally and metaphorically, that we experienced,” was a start, he said. Other remembrances in Georgia, Church of England St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, used a different medium to mark the anniversary – a 4-by-5-foot icon featuring a variety of COVID-era images, including washing hands, worshipping online and getting a vaccine. The Rev. Patricia Templeton, St. Dunstan’s rector, commissioned the icon in memory of her husband, Joe Monti, who died from Covid in 2023. Monti taught moral theology and Christian ethics at the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, for 27 years before he retired in 2009. The icon was created by Kelly Latimore, a noted icon writer known for his icon of Matthew Shepard displayed at Washington National Cathedral. The murder of Shepard, a gay college student, in 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming, sparked a national outcry against homophobia and violence against LGBTQ+ people. Atlanta Bishop Robert Wright blessed the icon on March 16. During that service, parishioners were invited to put a bit of gold leaf on their thumbs and press it to the icon to add to the halos of people portrayed in it. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell officiated at an online service on March 25 that marked five years since the Church of England began hosting a virtual, national worship service it calls Church at Home. The Church of England has offered a weekly online service from a variety of churches nationwide since March 22, 2020, when former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby officiated at the first one. In 2024, the services drew over 21 million views. The virtual anniversary service included some notable recorded elements from the past five years, including the Rev. Richard Allen leading the confession from a lifeboat in Cornwall’s Trelawny Benefice, and hymns from St. Martin’s Voices, one of the United Kingdom’s most notable choral ensembles, singing in a stable, where a donkey famously interrupted filming with its chorus of braying. The service also included a reflection from the Rev. Gill Behenna, national Deaf ministry advisor for the Church of England and one of its regular sign language interpreters. Cottrell said that these services “have connected us as a Christian community and as an online community.” About 30% of Church of England congregations continue to offer a regular Church at Home service. — Melodie Woerman is an Episcopal News Service freelance reporter based in Kansas.
[Anglican Communion News Service] The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, was welcomed in Lae, the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea, March 21 by the Rt. Rev. Nathan Ingen, bishop of Aipo Rongo and acting primate of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea. Poggo’s visit March 21-24 formed part of his recent tour of the Oceania region. Papua New Guinea includes five dioceses: Aipo Rongo, Dogura, New Guinea Islands, Popondota and Port Moresby. While the majority of the population identify as Christians, only 3.2% identify as Anglican, according to the 2000 census data. Poggo undertook visits around Oceania primarily to encourage the Anglican Communion and related agencies and to learn more about the Anglican church in the regions. Reflecting on his visit, Poggo said, “I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated my time in Papua New Guinea. It has been particularly valuable for me to visit churches, meet with the leadership network here and to learn more about the community-based philanthropic initiatives that are happening here regarding education and health. I thank God for the vibrant spirituality I have witnessed in the people I have met in Papua New Guinea and pray that my visit has inspired them as it has me.” After arriving at Nadzab Tomodachi Airport, Poggo was welcomed with gifts and celebration by church representatives and the Tufi Maising singing group before visiting Dennis Kabekabe Conference Center. During his time in Lae, Poggo and the four bishops of Papua New Guinea planted tree seedlings to commemorate their meeting. Across the Anglican Communion, trees are often planted as a symbol of the importance of caring for the environment, nurturing future generations and celebrating the strong connections between branches of a global Anglican Communion, rooted in Christ. Planting trees is also something that the Anglican Communion Office has been encouraging through the Communion Forest initiative, which aims to significantly increase the number of Anglican tree-growing and ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration activities around the world and to deepen care for creation within the life of the church and its members. Poggo also visited the Anglican Health Office, a body of the Anglican Health Service, and saw the good works they are doing to improve the physical, psychological, social and spiritual health and wellbeing of everyone in the communities they serve. The Anglican Health Service includes 119 facilities in Papua New Guinea, which the government helps to fund and the church builds. Most of these clinics are in rural areas where medical assistance is otherwise difficult to access and acuity levels range from rural hospitals through health centers and aid posts to village clinics. Providing for those over 15 years of age, the Adult Literacy Program in Papua New Guinea is a pilot program funded by the Anglican Mission Board of Australia, which educates adult students in English, math, social inclusion and religious education with the goal of enabling students to read and write within nine months. This program is vital for those who have not already attended school for reasons such as getting married at an early age but still wish to pursue education. Within this pilot program, there are currently three schools in Port Moresby and three in Popendetta, and the students only have to pay for their school materials — travel is covered by the program. Poggo was particularly pleased to see the project and spend time with those involved. “One of the things that I admired while I am here is the adult literacy initiatives carried out by the church,” he said. “This is an encouragement to me, personally, as someone from South Sudan, where literacy levels are very low. The program aimed at helping people learn to read and write is so important to me.” On March 23, Poggo attended a morning service of confirmation at All Souls Anglican Church in Lae. Bishops or clergy from the five dioceses of Papua New Guinea assisted with the service and welcomed the new confirmation candidates. The service included a welcome address by the acting primate and bishop of Aipo Rongo, the Rt. Rev. Nathan Ingen; a sermon by Poggo; communion and confirmation of several of the parish’s young people, who also led the prayers. Ingen said in his address, “We are truly honored to have you among us as we gather for this sacred occasion of worship, celebration and the confirmation of our candidates. Bishop Poggo, your presence here today is a great blessing to our parish, our diocese and the entire Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea. As secretary general of the Anglican Communion, you carry the important responsibility of fostering unity and strengthening the mission of the church worldwide. We are grateful for your leadership and your commitment to the growth of the Anglican family across all nations.”
[World Council of Churches] The Second Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration took place March 17-21 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organized by the All Africa Conference of Churches and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe. The forum built on the outcomes of the first forum held in Hamburg, Germany, in March 2023. A communiqué released by the forum reads, in part, “We affirm that migration is an integral part of humanity, yet it remains an area fraught with injustices. We remain steadfast in opposing the criminalization and weaponization of migration and resisting migration management policies that disregard human dignity and safety.” The forum discouraged exploitative migration practices that hinder many from experiencing the love and goodness of God. “We noted the growing frustration among a significant proportion of young Africans who are seeking every possible avenue to migrate in pursuit of employment and better living conditions,” the communiqué said. Read the communiqué here. Read the entire article here.
[Diocese of Los Angeles] For 12-year-old Messiah, the 45-mile trip from Hesperia to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Claremont, California, for a March 23 iftar was all about doing what God wants: “If we love God, we love people. “This is about having friends, being with family, here from a lot of places. It isn’t just about getting food,” the middle school student told the multi-faith group who gathered to observe the Muslim tradition of breaking the Ramadan fast at sunset. “It’s about basically being at peace with God,” he said, amid enthusiastic applause. Atilla Kahveci, vice president of the Pacifica Institute, an organizer of the gathering, explained that during Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, worship and community, Muslims “don’t eat or drink anything in the daytime. Then we gather to break the fast at an iftar, a community meal. We are here because we believe when the blessings are shared, it doubles, triples and quadruples.” Headquartered in Lake Forest in Orange County, the nonprofit Pacifica Institute is an Islamic organization dedicated to promoting social justice, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The Rev. Jessie Turnier, St. Ambrose’s rector, who welcomed about 70 Christian, Muslim and Jewish guests, said the event grew out of the church’s interfaith partnerships, and called the iftar “a beautiful way of loving one another.” The evening began with the invitation to break the day’s fast by eating dates, an Islamic tradition emulating the example of the Prophet Muhammad. Following the call to prayer, guests were invited to a buffet-style potluck meal of salads, chicken quinoa soup, chili, eggplant moussaka, Halal meat and almond rice, cornbread, baklava, and pide, a traditional round Turkish bread topped with sesame seeds. Marianne Cordova, an associate minister at the Claremont Center for Spiritual Living and a member of the Claremont Interfaith Council, said she drew strength from the gathering. “We’re all one. We’ve got to practice what we believe, I believe that. There is strength in coming together and understanding each other.” Making connections and deepening interfaith understandings drew Zaw Lin Soe to the gathering. After moving to Claremont from Myanmar three years ago, “I have questions about other religions,” he said. “It is good to build relationships in this way.” Similarly, Moli Torres, a parishioner at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Upland, California, said joining the multicultural, multiethnic event “was like taking a mini-trip around the world. If we all believe we are all made in the image of God, what a beautiful image we are.” The Rev. Paul Colbert said hearing once again the call to prayer, reminded him of his former experiences in Sudan and Yemen; “So thank you for that. “We’re all here as those on the path seeking the divine and we all have different ways of approaching that, different disciplines,” Colbert said. “It’s a joy to be with others on the road seeking the divine presence in our midst.” Tamara, a member of St. Ambrose, said the gathering helped offset “the climate in our world right now, so based on fear. I feel that things like this dissuade that fear. I feel very blessed to be in the presence of all of you.” A passion for interfaith engagement inspired Paul Knopf to join the gathering and is motivating him to pursue similar connections on a more personal level, he said. “I’m very thankful for tonight. At our table, we have people from all over the world, breaking bread together, speaking with one another. It’s a picture of what we can do in our regular lives. “We’re all blessed to live in Southern California, with so much diversity all around us,” he added. “We can engage and connect. This is motivational for me to reach out to others that don’t come from the same background. This is a blessing for my family’s life and so many others.” The Rev. Tom Johnson, retired Claremont School of Theology professor and retired pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Covina, California, also addressed the gathering, noting that eating together, sharing stories and traditions helps to build bridges and community and to reduce stereotypes about one another. “It’s a powerful experience, a wonderful thing, to come together like this and to affirm that although we come from different backgrounds, different traditions, we have common desires,” he said. “Diversity, equality and inclusiveness is a wonderful thing.”
[Church of England] Acting to prevent global warming and biodiversity loss is the “right thing to do” and a sign of Christian compassion for those who are suffering as a result of the climate crisis, the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment said on March 25. Speaking to a gathering of Church of England diocesan representatives, Norwich Bishop Graham Usher thanked parishes and staff for their “hard work and commitment” toward making churches net zero by 2030 and their support for churchyards to become havens for biodiversity. Both aims have been backed by the General Synod. He said the Net Zero program is already building up a “huge impetus,” resulting in savings on energy bills for churches and helping make many churches sustainable into the future. Acting to tackle climate change is the “right thing to do,” he told the gathering at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, attended by 120 diocesan environment and Net Zero officers as well as ecumenical representatives. “There is a link here through compassion with Anglicans – with all people around the world, many of whom are on the frontline of climate change and biodiversity loss,” he said. “If we truly believe that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, we should have a concern and a compassion for where biodiversity and climate change loss is impacting people’s lives.” During his speech, Usher highlighted the achievements of the Church of England’s Net Zero program. He spoke of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich, a “demonstrator” church leading the way for other churches in energy efficiency, and the example of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, where solar panels have been installed. He said that changes available to churches could range from solar panels to low cost features such as LED lighting, both of which could make “all the difference” to a church’s carbon footprint, whether rural or urban. Usher told the conference of his experience as part of the Anglican delegation to the COP16 United Nations biodiversity conference last year in Cali, Colombia. He warned of the need to keep up pressure on governments on meeting the goals to halt climate change and biodiversity loss.“Climate change and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin,” he said. “COP16 came over very loud and clear to me of the need to hold these together. Investment in conservation and restoration and environmental protection are futile if we are going be doing nothing around climate change.” The meeting also heard from Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, director of innovation and impact at the British Antarctic Survey, on the extent of the climate change emergency, focusing on the impact of climate change in the polar regions. In a vote last year, the General Synod backed a series of measures to promote biodiversity on Church of England land from churchyards as havens of wildlife and plants to the stewardship of agricultural and forestry land. The General Synod endorsed a plan to reach net zero carbon by 2030 at its July session in 2022. The Net Zero program’s first impact report can be read here.
[Episcopal News Service] Parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Homestead, Florida, again this year can experience the events of Holy Week represented in dioramas on display in the church’s narthex. They include figures of Jesus, his disciples, Roman guards, onlookers, others and animals involved in the events of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the garden of Gethsemane and Jesus carrying the cross. They end with the Crucifixion and Jesus’ Resurrection. The dioramas – models that use three-dimensional figures to depict a scene – all are the work of Ahmed Otero, a parishioner who also is the church’s senior warden. There are 10 scenes of Holy Week events in all, as well as a model of the ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem. While five of his scenes overlap with the Stations of the Cross – a typical Lenten devotion depicting a series of usually 14 scenes representing the stages of Christ’s Passion and death – the others take place either before or after those depicted in the stations, he told Episcopal News Service. All of Otero’s scenes spring from his love of the Christmas Nativity sets, sometimes called a crèche, that he saw as a child at the Roman Catholic church he attended with his grandmother in Cuba. “We had a different Nativity each year,” he said. “It was always kind of mysterious and interesting.” He started annually displaying one of his several nativity sets at St. John’s four years ago. But after packing one away in 2022, he decided he wanted to create something similar for Lent that depicted the events leading up to Easter. In 2024, he displayed the Holy Week dioramas for the first time. The human figures are about 10 inches tall, Otero said, and he owns them all, including many he has collected since childhood and some that he bought in Europe. He makes the scenery from cardboard boxes and Styrofoam containers, and he buys items at dollar stores that he can transform into parts of the scene. When the dioramas debuted last year, they were displayed on one long table in the narthex. This year, he placed scenes on individual tables, beginning with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Resurrection, to make the display more interactive. “It’s like a pilgrimage, as people start walking around each one,” Otero said. “It’s a whole journey.” The scenes are important to him because, he said, the nativity sets he saw as a child helped shape his faith and a lingering sense that he was called to be a priest. (He is now in the first phase of the ordination discernment process in the Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida.) He makes sure students at the church’s school also have the chance to experience them. “The kids are being touched by these dioramas, too,” he said. “I’m wondering whether one of them in the future will become a priest or a lay leader – you never know.” But it’s not just children who are benefiting from seeing the events of Holy Week depicted in Otero’s scenes. He said adult congregants have told him they have found them useful in recalling Holy Week events. He likened the scenes to stained-glass windows in medieval cathedrals that helped people understand and better remember the stories of the Bible. He admitted that doing both Holy Week and Christmas scenes is a lot of work, but he does get help from his wife. She comes in after he has set everything up and makes any small adjustments that are needed, he said, and she helps tackle one of the bigger jobs – cleaning up afterward. He also would like to get some of the students at the school involved, including teaching them how to craft scenery, making it a team effort. “We want people to get involved,” he said. — Melodie Woerman is an Episcopal News Service freelance reporter based in Kansas.
[Church in Wales] St. David’s Church in Loughor, in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, Wales, has become the 75th Gold Eco Church in England and Wales. The award was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK, and reflects St. David’s commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of its mission. While there are more than 8,000 registered churches with Eco Church, St. David’s is only the third gold award in Wales to date and the first in the diocese. St. David’s has adapted its worship to regularly include messages and hymns about creation care, and has changed from printed worship sheets to TV screens. Regular community litter picks and recycling points for harder-to-recycle items have been established for a number of years involving the wider community, and its solar panels and associated battery storage, LED lighting, water saving, and toilet and bin twinning have been described as “great examples to demonstrate to others.” Helen Stephens, Eco Church’s church relations manager, said, “Our huge congratulations to St. David’s Church, Loughor, on their well-deserved gold Eco Church award. Becoming a gold Eco Church is not an easy journey, and they are an example of the dedication and perseverance that is required to reach this accolade. “By remaining focused on the biblical mandate to care for God’s creation and love your neighbor, we hope other churches will join them in taking action to care for this amazing world. We wish them all the best as they celebrate their award.” St. David’s was also praised for improving the limited land around the church for wildlife – including the presence of several bird boxes and feeding stations, bug hotels and a “messy corner” – and also for people, with a recycled church pew from its closed sister church at St. Michael’s for quiet contemplation alongside the fruit trees and herb beds. A Rocha UK aims to equip churches and individuals to create a movement to help restore biodiversity at a local level in this critical decade for the climate. Now, in its ninth year, the Eco Church award scheme brings together a national community of churches addressing the environmental crisis, using a common framework and an online toolkit to learn and speak up together.
[World Council of Churches] The newly published resource “Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable” provides churches and communities essential legal tools designed to hold financial actors accountable for their role in perpetuating the climate crisis. Developed by the Churches’ Commitments to Children program of the World Council of Churches, the resource aims to equip people of faith and partners in WCC’s global constituency with the knowledge on climate litigation, a rapidly growing and impactful way of addressing the climate crisis and protect the rights of young people and future generations. In the foreword of the publication, the Most Rev. Julio Murray, the Anglican archbishop of Panama and moderator of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, points out that our faith calls us to speak truth to power and to seize every available legal measure to protect our planet and its inhabitants. “The urgency of this moment demands that we engage with the law not merely as a tool but as a moral imperative to safeguard human lives and uphold justice,” said Murray. “It is our hope that these resources will empower individuals and communities to advocate for justice effectively, ensuring that future generations inherit a world that is not only livable but thriving.” Read the entire article here.
[Episcopal News Service] The House of Bishops gathered March 19-24 at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama, for its annual spring retreat, which centered on discussions of witnessing to the Gospel amid today’s contentious political climate and The Episcopal Church’s future in a secular society. The spring meeting is one of two biannual in-person House of Bishops gatherings. Traditionally, the spring meetings are more retreat-like and tend to occur at church camps. The second meeting occurs in the fall during non-General Convention years, and usually includes participation from the bishops’ spouses. “It’s always an opportunity for bishops to gather, be in prayer together, to reconnect and to consider how we best participate in God’s mission,” Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said during a virtual media briefing. “We were sure to find our grounding in prayer and also to consider the world around us, what’s happening and how we can most effectively both speak to the world around us and to our own diocese in our own context.” This was the first in-person House of Bishops gathering Rowe led as presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and president of the house. Each day, the bishops – 116 in person and three virtually – engaged in discussions on various topics ranging from using church property for mission to declining membership. The latest parochial report data shows that The Episcopal Church has decreased from about 2.3 million members to fewer than 1.6 million over the past two decades. “We really looked hard at the statistics – the current reality – what’s happening and where in the church and how we might think about how to address those issues, both together as a House of Bishops, but also in our dioceses,” Rowe said. “We don’t have the same number of resources, but we all have enough gifts to share, and so those conversations are just getting started.” Like last year, the bishops also reviewed and discussed Title IV disciplinary canons and churchwide calls for greater oversight and transparency in disciplinary cases involving bishops. In February 2024, The Episcopal Church, under then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s direction, updated its website with a series of informational resources, including chronologies of active cases involving bishops under Title IV. The bishops heard other presentations from leaders on issues concerning the wider church, including theological reflections from fellow bishops. Notably, Atlanta Bishop Robert Wright earned a standing ovation for his reflection on Christian nationalism, which has been growing throughout the United States in recent years. “Christian nationalism is not an imperfect or evolving rendering of Jesus’ life and teachings, nor should it be characterized as simply a difference of theological or political interpretation or emphasis,” Wright said in his reflection, per his notes provided to Episcopal News Service. “This is a deeply embedded, well-funded, strategic and compellingly argued appeal.” During the 81st General Convention in 2024, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies adopted Resolution A081, “Combat Rising Religious Nationalism,” which requires General Convention to acknowledge and urge The Episcopal Church and its mission-related entities to partner with the Anglican Communion to combat rising religious nationalism. The resolution encourages individuals, congregations, dioceses and other Episcopal affiliates to educate themselves on how religious nationalism harms marginalized groups. “The ‘Christian’ in Christian nationalism is not so much about a religious faith as an ideologically driven identity, even though religious beliefs are cleverly deployed to support its ideological stance on certain political and social issues,” Wright said, in his notes provided to ENS. “Therefore, Christian nationalism is theologically illegitimate and must be called by its proper names: idolatry, blasphemy and heresy.” Rebecca Blachly, The Episcopal Church’s chief of public policy and witness, presented the latest updates on immigration actions in the United States since President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders in January 2025, including restrictions on the asylum process. She shared what could happen to immigration policies in the coming months and highlighted how the church is responding to the legislative changes through litigation, advocacy, education and prayer. More information is available on the Episcopal Public Policy Network and Episcopal Migration Ministries websites. The Episcopal Church’s immigration action toolkit can be viewed here. Blachly also invited the bishops to consider the different ways they can individually respond as church leaders, including making public statements and engaging with local and state government officials. The bishops gathered both in small table conversations and as a large group to discuss each presentation. Alabama Bishop Glenda Curry said during the media briefing that the bishops also informally shared how they’ve been able to successfully make the Gospel’s message “more relevant or obvious to the world” in their dioceses. “Sharing programs and different ways that they’re trying to address their own context sometimes applies to everybody,” Curry said. “We’re looking for those places where the sharing of the Gospel is growing – the attraction to the church is positive. We’re looking for ways that we can build on each other’s experience.” Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president of the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, presented a theological reflection on faith in institutions. Bader-Saye, who is also a professor of Christian ethics and moral theology, described institutions like churches as nests that serve as containers holding the practices of people trying to accomplish a goal. Those “nests,” he said, can be adjusted and enlarged over time to accommodate new challenges and paradigms. During the media briefing, Indianapolis Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, vice chair of the House of Bishops, described Bader-Saye’s reflection as “sitting in a seminary classroom.” “There was so much depth to his presentation,” she said. “The way I might encapsulate it is that institutions are living, breathing things.” Each morning and at various times throughout the day, the bishops took time to worship together, meditate and reflect quietly. Some bishops expressed themselves through art, including pottery. Baskerville-Burrows said those times of shared spiritual expression throughout the gathering helped bring the bishops “closer to Jesus” […]
[Scottish Episcopal Church] On March 23, the primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Mark Strange, joined more than 30 faith leaders across the United Kingdom in sending an open letter to call for bold action on child poverty. The letter was sent to Liz Kendall, secretary of state for works and pensions, and to Bridget Philipson, secretary of state for education. It reads in part, “We write to you as faith leaders from communities across the UK to encourage you to be bold and ambitious in your upcoming Child Poverty Strategy. We welcome the government’s acknowledgement in its manifesto that the UK’s increasing levels of child poverty and reliance on emergency food are a ‘moral scar’ on our nation. Without action this scar will deepen, with an additional 400,000 children set to be pulled into poverty over the next decade.” Strange said, “This letter comes from a place of hope – hope that the call for action on child poverty [will] be heeded by those in power, and that our representatives take the time to listen and learn from those most affected. “Across the Scottish Episcopal Church there are congregations large and small that are doing their part in their local communities to target poverty; from hosting food banks, clothing banks and breakfast clubs, to offering warm spaces in cold weather or simply a place to be welcomed on Sundays or during the week. “This is part of our call to minister, and as people of hope, we are always seeking to do more. This letter calls on our leaders to do the same – to seek to do more to support those whose lives are made that much more difficult due to the grinding effects of poverty.” The full text of the letter is here.
[Episcopal News Service] St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, recently opened its doors to a shelter for homeless women. It is one of the latest of a growing number of Episcopal congregations partnering with local organizations and developers to address a nationwide shortage of affordable housing. The congregation at St. Mark’s in the Diocese of Olympia helped fund a $100,000 renovation of two classrooms in a cathedral-owned building that once housed a school. The project was led by the nonprofit Operation Nightwatch, which began operating the shelter in the renovated space in February. The shelter, Donna Jean’s Place, is specifically for individual women, not those with children, and it has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 people at a time who need emergency housing. Another nonprofit had operated a shelter called Noelle House in the cathedral’s parish hall for more than two decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced that shelter’s closure in 2020. The nonprofit has since reopened its shelter at another location in Seattle. The Very Rev. Steven Thomason, dean of the cathedral, began talking with leaders at Operation Nightwatch about a year ago about filling gaps in support for people experiencing homelessness. For years, much of the emphasis locally and nationally has been on getting unhoused people into transitional housing and eventually permanent homes. Such efforts, while important, don’t always address the emergency needs of people who suddenly find themselves homeless, and “there was an increasing crisis in the number of emergency shelter beds in the city,” Thomason told Episcopal News Service. The cathedral agreed to provide about 2,000 square feet in the former school building for use by Operation Nightwatch as a new shelter. Over six months, the nonprofit’s renovation crews added showers, toilets, lockers, a laundry facility and exam rooms for medical and mental health appointments, as well as 20 beds in a communal sleeping area. Donna Jean’s Place, named for the widow of the late founder of Operation Nightwatch, previously opened in April 2024 as a 10-bed facility at a Catholic church in Seattle, but the nonprofit was able to double its shelter’s capacity and add amenities with the move to St. Mark’s. Operation Nightwatch does not limit how long shelter guests may stay, though the average stays are expected to be several weeks to several months. Operation Nightwatch also runs a separate shelter for men, as well as a street ministry providing services and support to people living on the streets. The Rev. Frank DiGirolamo, a Roman Catholic deacon who serves as executive director, told ENS that ecumenical partnerships have helped the 58-year-old nonprofit expand its outreach to people most in need. He hopes Donna Jean’s Place inspires more congregations to get involved. “We’re providing a type of witness to what maybe could happen more often,” DiGirolamo said, “as church communities realize, ‘Hey, we have a basement. We have some funding. We could maybe be welcoming the stranger off the street.’” Homelessness is a pressing issue in many cities and states as they struggle to ensure residents have safe and affordable places to live. The problem partially stems from a sharp reduction in new housing construction in the United States after the Great Recession of 2008, which left a nationwide shortage of nearly 4 million units for sale or rent as of 2019, according to a report by mortgage financing agency Fannie Mae. Pandemic shortages in construction supplies only worsened the problem. Other factors include a national shortage in construction workers, and a July 2022 article by the Economic Policy Institute placed some of the blame on “land availability and exclusionary zoning laws, which restrict the kinds of homes that can be put in certain neighborhoods — maintaining segregation.” Housing shortages affect every state, though studies suggest the greatest impact has been felt in Western states, from Colorado to California, especially for the poorest Americans. The United States’ existing housing supply is estimated to be 7.1 million units short of what is needed to house all low-income renters affordably, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Many Episcopal congregations are embracing local projects that have the potential to begin making small but meaningful differences in their communities. In Louisville, Kentucky, Christ Church Cathedral opened a temporary winter shelter this year for women and children experiencing homelessness. A church in the Diocese of New Jersey is seeking city authorization to build a 17-bed homeless shelter next to an existing outreach facility on church property. And an Episcopal church in Portland, Oregon, is turning a parking lot into a “tiny home village” with short-term housing for people with emergency shelter needs. Other dioceses and congregations are investing in affordable housing projects. In the Diocese of Los Angeles, a 66-unit affordable housing complex for seniors opened last week at a church in Buena Park, California, part of a diocesan initiative. In the Diocese of San Diego, an Episcopal church is providing space on its property for the development of a 78-unit affordable housing building. In King County, Washington, which includes Seattle, more than 16,000 people were experiencing homelessness during an official 2024 count. Addressing their needs is “an incredible challenge,” the city says in an online summary of its system of services. One important component is emergency housing, which now includes the 20-bed shelter at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. “We’re really just trying to meet the urgent needs of shelter beds in the city,” Thomason said. He added that the cathedral already has plans to expand its support for housing solutions beyond providing emergency shelter. In about three years, it hopes to break ground on its own affordable housing development, which would convert the former school building into about 120 apartments. – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.
[Church of England] The bishop of Kirkstall, the Rt. Rev. Arun Arora, and the bishop of Croydon, the Rt. Rev. Rosemarie Mallett, have been appointed by the archbishop of York and the bishop of London as joint lead bishops for the Church of England on racial justice. Their role will involve acting as advocates on racial justice throughout the Church of England, including promoting implementation of the recommendations of “From Lament to Action,” the landmark report from the Church of England’s Anti-Racism Taskforce. Arora and Mallett also will serve as joint deputy chairs of the newly created Racial Justice Board, a committee of the Archbishops’ Council that will oversee its work on racial justice. They also will attend the Racial Justice Panel, an external independent scrutiny body that will provide assurance that the work on racial justice is being carried out effectively, in accordance with agreed plans and best practice. Their appointment comes after the General Synod voted to back the findings of the final report of the Archbishops’ Commission on Racial Justice, ensuring crucial resources remain available for racial justice, including a racial justice board, panel, and lead bishop. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said, “I warmly welcome and celebrate the appointment of Bishop Rosemarie and Bishop Arun as joint Lead Bishops for Racial Justice in the Church of England. “Their leadership comes at a significant moment, as we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the 60th anniversary of the UN’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. “This is a time to reflect on the progress made, to acknowledge the work still to be done and the challenges ahead, and to renew our commitment to eliminate racism. “By standing together, we can continue to build a church – and a society – where everyone is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.” London Bishop Sarah Mullally said, “We are all made in the image of God. It is not just our duty to respond to every person with care and compassion, which it is, but our faith demands that we are seek justice and equity for all. “Bishop Rosemarie and Bishop Arun have set an excellent example in their pastoral roles as bishops and in their work at a national level. I am delighted that they have been appointed to this role and offer my full support.” Mallett said, “I am delighted to be appointed to assist leading the Church of England in its work to deepen our understanding and practice of racial justice, in parishes, dioceses and in our church structures. “Racial justice is at the heart of the gospel, as we seek to serve God, as people of all places and races – all unified by being created in God’s image and saved by the love of his Son Jesus Christ. “There is a lot of good work being undertaken, and our joint leadership roles will enable the church to keep focused on working for a more racially just and equitable church and society. I look forward to working in this collaborative role with Bishop Arun, as we seek to model partnership working.” Arora said, “I am looking forward to working with Bishop Rosemarie in taking forward the continuing work of the church in this Gospel work. As part of my Christian journey, I have been inspired and shaped over decades by the dedication of followers of Jesus in their work for racial justice. “Whether Martin Luther King or Desmond Tutu, Rosa Parks or Jemima Prasadam, Charlie Freer Andrews or Trevor Huddleston, each has pointed to Christ’s example in their discipleship. As co-lead bishop I look forward to continuing the journey that the Church of England has begun and following Christ’s mission to celebrate a God of justice.” Mallett is the lead bishop on social and racial justice in Diocese of Southwark and led work on developing the diocese’s anti-racism charter. She is chair of the Oversight Group for the Church Commissioners’ work on African chattel enslavement and reparatory justice and is also the lead bishop representing the church on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland trustee board. She served as an Equalities Commissioner for five years in Lambeth and currently acts as adviser to a Croydon community action project, which is focused on reducing violence affecting young people. She also serves as chair of the Southwark diocesan board of education. Arora was co-chair of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce, which produced the report “From Lament to Action.” The report, published in 2021, called for change in the Church of England after “decades of inaction” on racial justice, setting out 47 specific actions for different arms of the Church of England to implement across five priority areas. He is the author of the book “Stick with Love, Rejoicing in Every Tongue, Every Tribe and Every Nation.” He has served in a variety of parish contexts and has also served as director of communications for the Church of England and the archbishop of York.
[Anglican Communion News Service] A diverse group of nearly 50 church leaders, representatives of various faith traditions, ecumenical organizations, indigenous communities and climate experts gathered in Brazil’s capital, Brasília, March 18-20 to coordinate efforts for meaningful engagement in the lead-up to COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Conference, which will take place in Brazil in November. Their central concern: ensuring that local voices are heard. The meeting brought together advocates from across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Anglican partners such as the Anglican Communion Office, alongside other ecumenical bodies working on climate justice. At the opening prayer service at the Anglican Cathedral of Brasília, faith leaders reflected on the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and the role of faith in driving action. The Most Rev. Marinez Bassotto, primate of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, underscored the importance of hope as an active force for change. “This hope is alive, keeps us moving, and compels us to act today. Waiting for tomorrow drives us to fight now. For those who believe, hope is a verb — it becomes action,” she said. “It should awaken in us an awareness of the deep interconnectedness of all creation, a reciprocal interdependence. This, in turn, must inspire us to an attitude of solidarity and care – a stance that reveals us as children of God.” Participants represented faith communities from across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Bolivia, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Among them were Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Mennonite, Anabaptist and Reformed churches, as well as national and regional faith-based organizations and Indigenous networks. In addition to exchanging concerns and best practices through panel discussions, the group worked on a “Call to Action” to be presented to the COP30 presidency. With the upcoming global climate summit set to take place in the Amazon region, the impact of the climate emergency on Indigenous peoples was a focal point of discussions in Brasília. “We especially recognize the role of Indigenous peoples, who have lived in the Amazon for millennia, caring for the ecosystem and passing down knowledge through generations to preserve their home,” said Jocabed Solano of Panama, director of Memoria Indígena. “The church, in its commitment to environmental and social justice, must firmly support these communities in their struggle to defend their territories and acknowledge their invaluable contribution to the planet,” added Solano, who also serves on the World Council of Churches Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainability. Roman Catholic Bishop Jerry Ruiz, from Honduras, reflected on the significance of working ecumenically towards COP30. “Regardless of our religious beliefs, I believe that what unites us is the same spirit. We are united by the cry of the earth, the cry of the poor, the need for justice, the criminalized, displaced and murdered communities,” he said. “And this must help us overcome our differences, because it is the Kingdom of God that unites us in the same goal and the same objective.” The event was hosted by the World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, Christian Aid, Anglican Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, Caritas Internationalis, National Conference of Bishops of Brazil and the Conference of Bishops of Latin America.
[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal leaders who represented Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe at the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW69, meeting in New York City shared their experiences during a livestreamed closing Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan. The delegates joined representatives of U.N. member states, U.N. entities and accredited nongovernmental organizations March 10-21 to learn how to increase and improve women’s equality and empowerment worldwide. The Gospel passage read during the Eucharist was Luke 24:1-11, which tells of the women – Mary, the mother of James, Mary Magdalene, Joanna and others – who told the apostles that Jesus was missing from his tomb. “I hear hope and possibility, even in the midst of so much work that is yet [to be] done,” the Rev. Margaret Rose said virtually during the March 21 Eucharist. “For this, UNCSW, for all the women who’ve been here and will be, I give great gratitude.” Some delegates, like Rose, shared their reflections in lieu of a traditional sermon during the Eucharist. Rose is the presiding bishop’s ecumenical and interreligious deputy and former deputy director of The Episcopal Church’s women’s ministries. She was one of the six Episcopal delegates to CSW69, alongside Lynnaia Main, The Episcopal Church’s representative to the United Nations; Rebecca Blachly, the church’s chief of public policy witness; Julia Ayala Harris, president of the House of Deputies; Nicole Hosein, director of Episcopal Relief & Development’s gender initiatives; and Troy Collazo, policy adviser with the church’s Office of Government Relations. CSW69 mostly focused on reviewing the implementation and outcomes of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was adopted in Beijing, China, in 1995 during the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace. The declaration is a resolution that promotes gender equality and women’s rights through a set of principles addressing 12 critical areas of concern, including economic empowerment and political participation. The church’s goals for the CSW69 were outlined in a statement written by former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry before he retired last fall: Prioritize resources and programs for marginalized women and girls, including LGBTQ+ women, women of color, women with disabilities, migrant women, elderly women and others. Increase access to resources, public services, social protections and infrastructure. Increase access to economic and political power and decision-making. Eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. Address climate change and environmental issues, which disproportionately harm women and girls. “While celebrating progress for and by women and girls in all their diversity in the 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we lament persistent injustices and call for change,” the statement says. Today, many women worldwide are still vulnerable to physical or sexual violence, and the intentional killing of women and girls, or femicide, is also a global crisis, according to data compiled by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as U.N. Women. Femicide targeting LGBTQ+ women and women of color is also increasing globally. Women worldwide are also paid about 80% of what men are paid for the same work, and that wage gap is higher for women of color. Education access is also limited for many girls. Nearly 130 million girls, most living in poorer countries, aren’t enrolled in school. Girls in Afghanistan are forbidden to attend secondary school. Main said during the Eucharist that CSW69 delegates discussed internalized oppression being a form of gender discrimination and gender-based violence, and that women not calling out gender injustices is “part of being a patriarchal society.” “Every year, CSW seems to fall during Lent. And sometimes I’m asking, ‘Jesus, why do you have this the busiest time of the year for those of us working at the U.N., when we’re supposed to be reflecting inwardly?’ One of my own Lenten reflections this year has been on how I am complicit in my own internalized oppression, that I’m so conditioned by the system that I don’t speak up enough,” Main said. “For that, I ask for forgiveness from our Lord and savior and leave it with him as we reflect together on how Christ redeems our world.” The delegates will share a report back to the church on CSW69 and brainstorm ideas for plans addressing advocacy work for women’s equality and empowerment churchwide during a webinar March 31 from 4-5 p.m. Eastern, called “Beyond Beijing+30: Realizing the Dream.” Register here for the Zoom link. In the meantime, Episcopalians interested in learning more can visit the Episcopal UNCSW web page or email episcopalun@episcopalchurch.org with questions. -Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.
[Episcopal News Service] Grace Community Episcopal Church, a Farsi-speaking church plant of the Diocese of Dallas in Plano, Texas, will host a public Nowruz celebration March 23 with fellowship, food, live music and dancing. Nowruz, the Persian new year – meaning “new day” in Farsi – begins the moment of the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox, marking the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature. It is the first day of Farvardin, the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar, Iran’s official calendar. This year, Nowruz began today, March 20, at 4:01 a.m. Eastern, marking the year 1403 on the Solar Hijri calendar. “Nowruz always falls during Lent, and you don’t want to get too much away from its message, but you can use this time to reflect on the message of renewal and hope for people,” the Rev. Samira Izadi Page, vicar of Grace Community, told Episcopal News Service. Page, a native of Shiraz, Iran, is also the rector of the Church of the Holy Nativity in Plano, which houses Grace Community, and the founder and executive director of Gateway of Grace, a Dallas-based refugee assistance ministry. Formed in 2016 as an informal weekly prayer group, Grace Community is now believed to be the only Farsi-speaking Episcopal church. The growing congregation of 150 gathers every Sunday afternoon at the Church of the Holy Nativity for worship, lunch and Bible study. Most of the congregants are refugees from Iran. The congregation’s growth reflects the growing Iranian American population in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area – at least 30,000. Yashgin, whose last name is withheld at her request, told ENS that Grace Community is “like family.” “I always feel God’s presence here … everyone is taking their time to serve people who are in need of help, and they give spiritual and mental support. They’re always inspiring me,” said Yashgin, who is from Iran. Yashgin and other volunteers this week have been preparing for Sunday’s Nowruz festivities. They are cooking traditional new year dishes, such as sabzi polo ba mahi (herbed rice with fish), ash-e-reshteh (noodle soup) and kuku sabzi (herbed frittata). The volunteers also set up a half-sin – Farsi for “seven Ss” – a table adorned with seven symbolic objects that begin with the letter س – S in Farsi: Sabzeh – green sprouts, representing rebirth Samanu – sweet, germinated wheat pudding, representing bravery, power and strength Seeb – apples, representing beauty Seer – garlic, representing health and medicine Senjed – dried oleaster fruit, representing love Serkeh – vinegar, representing old age and patience Somāq – sumac, representing sunrise Other added objects that start with the letter “sin” – pronounced “seen” – include “saat” (clock), representing time, “sekkeh” (coins), representing wealth and prosperity, and “sonbol” (hyacinth), representing spring’s arrival. Common half-sin objects that don’t start with the letter “sin” include a mirror for self-reflection, candles for enlightenment, goldfish for progress, and a “book of wisdom,” such as a holy book, the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi or the Divān of Hafez. Hand-painted eggs, symbolizing fertility and new life, are also included on half-sin spreads and may have inspired Easter’s egg decorating tradition. “The message of starting afresh aligns perfectly with the church’s message of hope and transformation, which reminds all of us that, like the blooming of nature after a harsh winter, renewal and healing are possible even after seasonal struggle,” Page said. “That sense of rootedness – in the renewal of creation – the holistic way of looking at life is so dear to us as Persians and as Christians, and we can transmit that experience and reinforce God’s grace.” Dating back more than 3,000 years old, Nowruz is rooted in Zoroastrianism, the oldest known extant monotheistic religion, which is based on the core tenet, “good thoughts, good words, good deeds.” Formed at least 800 years prior by Zarathushtra Spitama – more commonly known as Zoroaster, Zarathustra or Zartosht – Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion in the Persian Empire until the Arab conquest in the seventh century C.E. The ancient religion’s holy book is the Avesta. Even though modern-day Iran is a predominantly Shiite Muslim nation, Nowruz is the country’s largest public holiday and a symbol of cultural pride for Iranians worldwide. It is also a public holiday in countries that were part of the Persian Empire, including Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Today, about 300 million people of different faiths celebrate Nowruz, including Kurds and other Iranic ethnic groups, and the Persian new year is a holy day for Zoroastrians, Bahá’ís and Ismaili Shia Muslims. The United Nations officially recognizes March 21 as “International Day of Nowruz,” and the holiday is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2008, former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush hosted the first Nowruz celebration at the White House with a haft-sin in the State Dining Room. Since then, every U.S. president has sent an official presidential message observing Nowruz. President Donald Trump’s message, posted March 19, is here. Dallas Bishop George R. Sumner gives a Nowruz blessing to Grace Community every year. Nowruz is rich in traditions centering around spring, including “khooneh tekouni,” or “shaking the house,” when families deep clean their homes before the new year begins. This practice is commonly known today as spring cleaning. Once the house is clean, families typically decorate their homes with greenery and fresh flowers; hyacinths, pussy willows and tulips are especially popular. “I love that family members spend time together to enjoy Nowruz’s beauty,” Yashgin said. “God has created this world and gives new life to the world by bringing his spirit into everything. Nowruz reminds me that God can restore hope and renew and refresh the nature around us.” Nowruz festivities begin on the last Tuesday of the year, this year March 18, with the Charshanbe Suri fire festival, when participants jump over bonfires three times while chanting “zardi-ye man az toh, sorkhi-ye toh az man” – “my yellow is […]
[Anglican Communion News Service] The Anglican Communion Office has announced the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Victor Atta-Baffoe as the new chair of the Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion. He is bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast, Ghana, and replaces the Most Rev. Howard Gregory of Jamaica, who retired at the end of 2024. The commission was created in February 2022, following approval from the Anglican Consultative Council’s Standing Committee. It aims to build upon and expand the work previously undertaken by Theological Education in the Anglican Communion, enhancing networking across seminaries and churches, and developing online resources. Currently, 38 provinces have a nominated CTEAC commissioner. Speaking of his appointment, Atta-Baffoe said, “As I step into the role of chair of CTEAC, I do so with a deep sense of humility, responsibility and hope. Theological education is not merely an academic exercise but a vital means of equipping the church for faithful witness, discipleship and mission. It forms the heart of how we understand and live out our faith in a world that is constantly changing. “…I believe that theological education plays a vital role in fostering dialogue among Anglicans across the world. In a communion marked by both diversity and shared faith, CTEAC has the opportunity to serve as a bridge – helping to connect different theological perspectives, cultural contexts and expressions of Anglican identity. Theological education is not just about imparting knowledge. It is about shaping how we think, pray and relate to one another. CTEAC can help Anglicans understand one another more deeply and engage with both commonalities and differences in faith.” Prior to his election and consecration in 2014, Atta-Baffoe was the dean of St. Nicholas Theological Seminary in Cape Coast for 12 years. He was a member of the Inter-Anglican Doctoral and Theological Commission and Covenant Design Group, and he also was a recipient of the Lambeth St. Augustine’s Cross Award for “Outstanding Lifelong Service to the Church and Society through Theological Education and Ecumenical Relations.” He is also a member of the Judicial Council of the Republic of Ghana. He is also chair of the governing council of the Anglican Network of Institutions of Theological Education Preparing Anglicans for Ministry. He was a member of the “Bishops in Dialogue” consultation and the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order. He is a member of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission. The Rev. Stephen Spencer, director of theology and implementation for the Anglican Communion, welcomed Atta-Baffoe to his new position, saying, “I am delighted that the Rt. Rev. Victor Atta-Baffoe has agreed to be chair of CTEAC. Bishop Victor has an extraordinary background in theological education and ecumenism, and has a wealth of experience in the commissions arena, having previously served on other Anglican Communion commissions such as IASCUFO. I know that Bishop Victor will guide CTEAC wisely during the next season of its work and look forward to the fruits of that future work.”
[World Council of Churches] World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev. Jerry Pillay expressed deep alarm and grief over the deadly attack on Gaza carried out by Israeli forces March 17-18, killing more than 400 people, as well as airstrikes by the United States in Yemen. “We unequivocally condemn this unnecessary re-escalation of violence, which has led to more deaths and further suffering for innocent civilians, including women and children,” he said about Gaza. “As a fellowship of churches committed to justice and peace, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a renewed commitment to dialogue and diplomatic solutions.” Pillay also said the people of Yemen, like those in Gaza, deserve security, dignity and the opportunity to live free from fear and violence. “We also strongly condemn the recent U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, which have further destabilized the region and inflicted additional suffering on an already vulnerable population,” he said. “Military action cannot be a path to peace; rather, it exacerbates humanitarian crises and deepens cycles of conflict.” Read Pillay’s full statement here.
[Anglican Communion News Service] The Māori Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (Te Hāhi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tīreni, ki Ngā Moutere o te Moana Nui a Kiwa) has hosted a pilgrimage to deepen ties between Māori and Pasefika communities and enable international guests from the Anglican Communion to learn more about Māori Anglicanism and ministry. The province serves as a model of co-governance, having revised its constitution in 1992 to adopt a three-Tikanga system. This structure ensures equal representation at the General Synod for Tikanga Māori (indigenous Māori), Tikanga Pasefika (Polynesian communities across New Zealand and the Pacific), and Tikanga Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent). Each Tikanga has its own archbishop and primate, all working within a single province. Taking part in the pilgrimage was secretary general of the Anglican Communion Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Rev. Canon Sammy Wainaina from Lambeth Palace, and members of the Compass Rose Society, including Bishop Todd Townshend of the Diocese of Huron, Canada, and the Rev. Doug Horner, representing Pennsylvania Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez. Since 1994, The Compass Rose Society has provided funding towards the work of the Anglican Communion Office and other communion projects. Hosted by the Most Rev. Don Tamihere, archbishop and primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, the pilgrimage involved a series of services and community visits, where the group heard more about themes of indigenous Anglicanism, surviving colonization, Moana theology and climate resilience. The pilgrimage began in Hawkes Bay, on the East Coast of New Zealand from Feb. 19-13. A visit was made to Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti, the bishopric and home of Archbishop Tamihere. Here, the group was immersed in the rich traditions of Māori Anglicanism, where faith and culture are inextricably intertwined. The pilgrims went to the cathedral, where they saw intricate Māori woven designs inspired by the Porourangi Poutama pattern (a pattern favored by Ngāti Porou weavers on the East Coast). They also visited Te Aute College, a prestigious Māori Anglican boarding school. There, principal Rachel Kingi welcomed the visitors with a pōwhiri (ceremonial welcome) and showcased Māori customs including the waiata (song) and haka (dance) performed by the students. Significant time was given during the pilgrimage to meet Anglican leaders and environmental advocates to discuss pressing climate challenges facing the region, which is causing sea level rise and extreme weather events. In Hawkes Bay, the pilgrimage visited the former site of Hukarere Girls’ College in the Esk Valley, which was devastated by the floods caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. The students were evacuated just hours before a flood rushed the valley and school. The pilgrimage continued to Suva, Fiji, Feb. 24-26. The group heard from the Most Rev. Sione Ulu’ilakepa, archbishop and primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, who explained that the cyclone season now lasts all year-round due to climate change. Climate advocate Fe’iloakitau (Fei) Tevi spoke and warned that climate change could destroy up to 80% of coral reefs, threatening vital services for 11 million Pacific people, a region rich in marine life and contributing 57% of global GDP. The church is involved in some influential and impactful work in climate resilience, through the Moana Water of Life conference and the Community Integrated Resilience Assessment (CIRA). Run by young Anglicans in Tonga, CIRA maps each household in a community to ensure all are resilient to climate disasters. It also mobilizes church youth to support people at risk in a disaster scenario. It is now featured in a key report from the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the “human right to a healthy environment.” The pilgrimage also incorporated a voyage on the va’a Uto Ni Yalu, accompanied by some of the youngest certified traditional navigators in the world. Some of them have spent 6-8 months on blue water voyages, navigating to destinations such as Hawaii, the Americas, Chile, Easter Island, Rarotonga and New Zealand. They observed how climate change has altered the coastline in Suva Harbor. Ulu’ilakepa said, “Our voice alone is not strong enough,” urging the pilgrims to amplify the Pacific’s message. “This is a matter of life and death for us.” The final part of the pilgrimage was to New Plymouth Feb. 27-March 2 to attend the biennial Te Matatini Kapa Haka festival, one of the largest gatherings of Māori people and culture. Here, they were guests of Sir Selwyn Parata, chair of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa and Te Matatini Festival. On their final day, the pilgrims attended a Eucharist at Mere Tapu (St. Mary’s). Once a symbol of colonial oppression for Māori in the 1800s, it has since become a place of peace making. A trip was also made to Te Manu Hononga, an educational center dedicated to Sir Paul Reeves, the first Māori archbishop and governor-general, which offers programs and events supporting the ongoing process of reconciliation for local hapū Ngati Te Whiti, Puketapu, and the people of New Plymouth. The pilgrimage fostered global Anglican connections, showcasing indigenous resilience, faith and climate action. Pilgrims returned with a renewed commitment to partnership and a vision for a potential indigenous chapter of the Compass Rose Society, amplifying Māori and Pasefika voices within the Anglican Communion. Of the visit Poggo said, ““This has been an enriching visit and time of fellowship, where I have learned more about lives and ministry of Māori Anglicans. They honor the land, their heritage and their relationships. Hospitality and community is central to how they live and embodies God’s call to “love your neighbor as thyself.” I have been inspired by the CIRA project and Archbishop Sione’s encouragement to have hope and resilience in the face of climate change. It has also been a joy to pilgrim alongside members of the Compass Rose Society, whose generous support to the communion is deeply valued. I give thanks to Archbishop Don Tamihere and all the communities of Māori Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia for their wonderful hospitality and example to […]
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