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Working to create THE BELOVED COMMUNITY in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California by supporting relationships among all people.
Commission for Intercultural Ministries
Our Purpose
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries seeks to help our worshiping communities live into our Christian values as articulated in our Baptismal Covenant. This includes welcoming and appreciating the diversity of the people among and around us. It means reaching out to people in our communities who may have a different cultural or ethnic background, and engaging with them toward the goal of being a Beloved Community.
Who We Are
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries is composed of faithful Episcopalians, both lay and clergy, who are committed to working with worshiping communities to foster loving relationship with diverse communities around them.
What We Do
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries has six primary areas of focus:
- Becoming Beloved Community—The Commission is integrating the Becoming Beloved Community vision into the various Commission areas of focus.
- Racial Healing and Reconciliation Training—The Commission is coordinating the Diocesan effort to provide Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles throughout the Diocese and reimagining the one-day workshop.
- Latino/Hispanic Ministries—The task force is developing ways to reach out to Latino/Hispanic communities in the Diocese.
- Indigenous Ministries—The task force is developing ways to encourage congregations to recognize and develop relationships with their Indigenous neighbors.
- Immigration and Refugee Ministries—This effort supports immigrants.
- Communications—A monthly newsletter is published providing resources for congregations.
Does this ministry call you? If the Spirit is prompting you to work toward creating the Beloved Community at your church, in your community or in the Diocese and you would like more information about our Ministry, please contact us at norcalcim@gmail.com
Becoming Beloved Community
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries is integrating the Becoming Beloved Community vision into the various Commission areas of focus through utilization of The Episcopal Church’s resources and ministries.
Several efforts include—
- Providing education for the Diocese and congregations regarding the Becoming Beloved Community vision and commitment, and how to engage congregations in the journey.
- Providing programs and resources that address components of the Beloved Community journey—telling the truth, proclaiming the dream, practicing the way of love, and repairing the breach.
- Accessing The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community grant program to provide funding for projects in this area.
- Ensuring that Commission efforts are in alignment with the spirit of the Becoming Beloved Community vision and commitment.
- Exploring ways to partner with other diocese in this important work.
If you would like more information about how you can be involved with building the Beloved Community, please contact Miriam Casey at mlcasey7@yahoo.com or norcalcim@gmail.com.
Resources—
Becoming Beloved Community. https://episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community
Racial Healing and Reconciliation Training and Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries conducts Racial Healing and Reconciliation Training (RHRT) in The Diocese of Northern California. This training is a requirement for leadership positions in The Episcopal Church.
In 2019 the Commission received a Becoming Beloved Community Grant to fund consultation by Dr. Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing. She is working with a cohort of individuals to reimagine the one-day training program.
The Commission is encouraging and providing support for Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles within the Diocese. Sacred Ground is a 10-session, film-based dialogue on faith and race offered through the Episcopal Church. Circles are currently meeting online (through Zoom).
If you are interested in forming or participating in a Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle, please contact norcalcim@gmail.com.
Resources—
Sacred Ground https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground
Racial Healing and Reconciliation https://episcopalchurch.org/racial-reconciliation
Becoming Beloved Community https://episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community
Latino/Hispanic Ministries
In 2019, the Latino/Hispanic (L/H) Ministries Task Force was re-activated. During that year, we developed an inventory survey which was distributed by the Diocese. The purpose was to ask congregations what Spanish-speaking services they offered. We received a good response from this inventory.
During 2021, our focus is to:
● Continue to collate and evaluate the results of the inventory.
● Connect with congregations about our task force and also connect congregations with each other when our inventory shows similar Spanish-speaking services or concerns.
● Develop a list of resources of what is available around our Diocese and at The Episcopal Church (TEC) and post this on the diocesan website.
● Identify what kind of services would be desired for second and third generation
Latino/Hispanic individuals or families.
● Identify what kind of barriers there are to providing Spanish-speaking services and explore how to address those barriers.
● Begin development of an approach/strategy for reaching out more fully to the L/H community.
● Explore partnering with local organizations/groups to reach out to L/H community.
Two specific activities include:
● A toolkit is available to congregations that would like to have a Dia de los Muertos celebration and La Ofrenda offering. For more info about the toolkit contact NorCalCIM@gmail.com.
● A Spanish conversation group which will be held virtually, probably by Zoom.
Our current members include: The Rev. Gary Brown, The Rev. Amy Zuniga, The Rev. Cindy Long, The Rev. Anne Arthur, The Rev. Mack Olson, The Rev. Mara Arack, The Rev. Anne Clarke, Jim Schaal, Paul Mallatt, The Rev. Canon Tina Campbell, Lynn Zender, and The Rev. Daniel Green.
Would you like to join us? Do you have ideas or services or resources to suggest? We would love to hear from you. Please contact Lynn Zender at zenderlynn@gmail.com or contact NorCalCIM@gmail.com
Resources
Latino Ministries https://episcopalchurch.org/latino-ministries
Indigenous Ministries Task Force
Indigenous Ministries Task Force
The focus of the Indigenous Ministries Task Force in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California is to encourage and support local congregations in recognizing and developing relationships with their Indigenous neighbors.
Members of the task force include The Reverend Canon Tina Campbell, Miriam Casey, Patricia Heinicke, The Reverend Canon Kathy Hopner, and Paul Mallatt.
The Indigenous Ministries Task Force may be reached by contacting Miriam Casey at mlcasey7@yahoo.com.
The Reverend Canon Tina Campbell, Indigenous Missioner for the Diocese of Northern California, supports efforts to promote the causes of Indigenous Peoples in the Diocese. She provides leadership and direction for the Task Force.
The Reverend Canon Tina Campbell may be reached at tinarcampbell@comcast.net.
Resources
Indigenous Ministries https://episcopalchurch.org/indigenous-ministries
Immigration and Refugee Ministries
Episcopal Migration Ministries
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is the refugee resettlement ministry of The Episcopal Church, proudly carrying on a century-old legacy of Episcopal ministries that welcome immigrants and refugees.
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) lives the call of welcome by supporting refugees, immigrants, and the communities that embrace them as they walk together in The Episcopal Church’s movement to create loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships rooted in compassion. EMM’s desire to honor the inherent value of human connection brings communities together to love their neighbors as themselves.
EMM offers a variety of educational resources, trainings, and support to individuals, congregations, and communities seeking to learn more about how they can be welcomers.
Welcoming the Stranger Ministries
In the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, the Commission for Intercultural Ministries supports the vision of Episcopal Migration Ministries through an effort called Welcoming the Stranger Ministries (WTS). This ministry “aims to find tangible and practical ways to help address and raise awareness for the needs of refugees, immigrants, and all people suffering as a result of oppression, injustice, and terror in the world.”
This part of the Commission for Intercultural Ministries is active as a resource for congregations, forwarding information to an extensive contact list of clergy and lay members as information becomes available. Information sources include—
- Updates from Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) at The Episcopal Church.
- Other related groups ( ie. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) to promote collaboration.
- Pending state and federal legislation, and ways we all might become active in an advocacy role.
- Immigrant Day at the California State Capitol, to engage with State legislators about immigration and refugee related issues and legislation. In 2020 Immigrant Day was on May 11 and was held virtually.
Immigration continues to be a pressing concern. Moving forward, the Commission hopes to form a task force that will enable more active engagement in this important work.
For more information about Episcopal Migration Ministries or Welcoming the Stranger ministry, please contact Lynn Zender at zenderlynn@gmail.com or 530-574-6559.
Resources:
Episcopal Migration Ministries. https://episcopalchurch.org/episcopal-migration-ministries
Resources
The Commission publishes a newsletter with current resources on a monthly basis. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please contact norcalcim@gmail.com.
Sacred Ground https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground
Becoming Beloved Community https://episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community
The Way of Love https://episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love
Racial Healing and Reconciliation https://episcopalchurch.org/racial-reconciliation
Latino Ministries https://episcopalchurch.org/latino-ministries
Indigenous Ministries https://episcopalchurch.org/indigenous-ministries
Episcopal Migration Ministries https://episcopalchurch.org/episcopal-migration-ministries
