Year in review 2013

2013: A Year in Review | 3

2013: A YEAR IN REVIEWE P I S C O P A L D I O C E S E O F W A S H I N G T O N

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop202-537-6550 | [email protected]

J. Keely Thrall, Executive Assistant to the Bishop202-537-5713 | [email protected] Cheryl Daves Wilburn, Associate for Pastoral Care and Canonical Acts202-537-6543 |[email protected]

Paul E. Cooney, Canon to the Ordinary & Chief Operating Officer202-537-6527 | [email protected]

Kimberly Sanders, Executive Assistant to Canon Cooney 202-537-6535 | [email protected]

Joey Rick, Canon for Congregational Vitality301-908-3845 | [email protected]

Jason Evans, Young Adults Missioner202-537-6542 | [email protected]

Iman Green, Youth Missioner202-537-6524 | [email protected] The Rev. Canon Simón Bautista, Latino Missioner202-537-6441 | [email protected]

Araceli Ma, Latino Ministry Communications [email protected] The Rev. Paula Clark, Canon for Clergy Development and Multicultural Ministries 202-537-6552 | [email protected]

The Rev. Dr. Michele Hagans, Canon for Ministry Initiatives [email protected]

Peter Turner, Technology & Communications Director202-537-6540 | [email protected]

Rachel Tjornehoj, Communications Specialist202-537-6560 | [email protected] Kathleen Hall, Director of Human Resources and Administration202-537-6522 | [email protected]

Kelly Cooper, Accounting Assistant202-537-6539 | [email protected] Ann Talty, Governance Officer202-537-6548 | [email protected]

Kimberly Bujak, Data Management Associate202-537-6526 | [email protected]

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Table of Contents1 From Bishop Mariann

3 The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys Fostering a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, spiritual

foundation, and moral character for boys in southeast DC

5 Rich, Vibrant Ministry Congregational vitality key initiatives for 2013-2014

7 Youth and Family Ministry Supporting our parishes in their mission to help our

youth grow spiritually

9 Young Adult Ministries A look at campus ministries, young adult ministries

& fresh expressions

11 Discerning the Call A new discernment process for the ordination

to the priesthood

12 Deepening Diversity Broadening and deepening multicultural

ministry in EDOW parishes

13 Latino Ministry Growing, evaluating, planning

15 Looking Forward

The Episcopal Diocese of WashingtonWinter 2013

1 | A Year in Review

Dear Friends in Christ, At Diocesan Convention 2013, the diocesan staff committed to work the entire year on our convention theme, Equipping the Saints. This is our progress report, an on-going effort to be accountable to you and our churches, and to keep you apprised of our investments of diocesan staff and resources in strengthening congregational ministry, equipping leaders and deepening faith. The Diocesan Mission Team is now fully staffed. Many thanks to the Diocesan Council for authorizing intermediate funding in the first years of my episcopate to build this team. Our intention is to use far less of the reserve funding approved for this transition and to bring diocesan staff expenditures fully within the operating budget in less than two years. In these pages you can find highlights of our Equipping the Saints efforts in 2013, organized under the particular ministry focus of each Mission Team member:• Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys: Paul E. Cooney, Canon to

the Ordinary and Chief Operating Officer;• Clergy development and multicultural ministries: The Rev. Paula

Clark, Canon for Clergy Development and Multicultural Ministries;• Congregational vitality: Joey Rick, Canon for Congregational Vitality• Latino ministry: The Rev. Canon Simón Bautista, Latino Missioner• Campus ministries, young adult ministries, and fresh expressions:

Jason Evans, Young Adults Missioner• Youth and family ministries: Iman Green, Youth Missioner

We, along with other members of the diocesan staff who serve you in administration, human resources and operations, are committed to being an effective, streamlined diocesan office. In 2013, we began a comprehensive evaluation and ministry review process, so that each staff member has a clear job description, yearly goals and performance reviews. This process of annual goal setting and evaluations is one that I hope will serve as a model for congregations that do not yet have such processes in place. While providing essential services in the most cost effective way, our intent is to become more aware, involved and supportive of all congregations in the diocese. Five members of the Mission Team—Paul Cooney, Paula Clark, Jason Evans, Iman Green, and Joey Rick—share with me the privilege of Sunday morning parish visitations. On Sundays we come to worship God with you, listen to your aspirations and con-cerns, and strengthen the bonds of collaborative ministry throughout the diocese. As a team, we visited nearly every congregation on Sunday in 2013; that will be our practice going forward. The Mission Team also committed to come to your congregations whenever invited to lead workshops and explore ministry initiatives. We led over 25 congregation-based workshops on overcoming obstacles to growth, Episcopal identity and fresh expressions initiatives. And, as part of People of the Way, more than 25 congregations are engaged in a year-long initiative to read the Bible through a program called The Story. In addition to focusing on parishes and programs, in 2013, we be-gan a discernment of future goals for three mission initiatives largely funded by the diocese: Latino ministries; college chaplaincies; and St.

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

From Bishop Mariann

Barnabas’ Church of the Deaf. Each is important; each faces opportu-nities and challenges. We will bring our first recommendations of this evaluation process to Diocesan Convention 2014. Also included in the discernment effort is The Bishop Walker School. While a separate financial entity with its own leadership, the di-ocese remains strongly committed to the school and provides significant financial and administrative support. More importantly, 27 parishes and four Episcopal Schools have given gifts to BWS in multiple years, an indication that they consider as their own the BWS mission to educate African American boys from low-income families.

The Diocese of Washington is blessed to have Washington National Cathedral as our cathedral home. As bishop, I serve as chair and pres-ident of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, and I consid-er that work, for which the diocese is compensated 20 percent of my salary, as a great honor. Under the leadership of Dean Gary Hall, the Cathedral is vigorously addressing its adaptive challenges, while at the same time providing transcendent worship and an important platform to engage the public issues of our time. We can be proud of our Cathe-dral and its courageous work. As Christians, we are called by God to serve our neighbors and to seek justice, and many among us consistently answer the call as individ-uals and congregations. I will continue to speak and organize alongside many of you in two areas of public policy: immigration reform and ef-forts to address the epidemic of gun violence across our nation. Events of last summer and the deep racial differences in our experience, under-standing, and approach to gun violence have brought to the fore a need for renewed engagement on issues of racial disparity in our communi-ties. As bishop of one of the most multicultural, multi-racial dioceses in the country, I am deeply committed to that work. The good work of equipping the saints and strengthening our con-gregations continues. In 2014, I ask that we hold our diocesan regional structure to the light of our mission priorities and make adjustments that better serve our congregations and make more effective use of our resources. From northern Montgomery County to the tip of southern Maryland, in the four quadrants of Washington DC and the increasingly diverse communities of Prince George’s and lower Montgomery Coun-ties, our congregations face particular opportunities and challenges. Our new regional structures will be smaller, more geographically fo-cused, and designed to foster collaborative relationships among congre-gations whose ministries and circumstances make them natural affinity groups. We all need to become more knowledgeable about and engaged with the rapidly changing communities that surround our congregations and comprise our mission field. We in the Diocese of Washington are blessed beyond measure with the gifts God has entrusted to us—and the gift of one another. Those of us who serve as your diocesan staff consider our work with and among you as a sacred trust and the greatest of joys. I believe that our best days lie ahead.

A Year in Review | 2

Bishop Mariann at the Camino Americano Rally and March for Immigrant Dignity and Respect in October (left); photo by Jay Mallin. Bishop Mariann leads prayers at the Fast 4 Families prayer service in December (top); photo by the Rev. Linda Kaufman. Acolytes at the Outreach Ministries Celebration Evening Prayer service at Washington National Cathedral in November (bottom); photo by Donovan Marks.

In 2013, we led over 25 congregation-based workshops

on overcoming obstacles to growth, Episcopal identity and

fresh expressions initiatives.

Contact Bishop Mariann at [email protected] or 202-537-6525.


I n September 2013, the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys be-gan its sixth year of providing a tuition-free education to boys from low-income families in southeast DC. The boys who entered BWS

in 2008 as junior kindergarteners are now bright, confident fourth graders—beneficiaries of the high quality education they have received both in the classroom and in a wide range of learning environments throughout the community. With an operating budget of $1,894,223, BWS currently serves almost 80 boys enrolled in junior kindergarten through fourth grade and continues its plans to build a program that extends through eighth grade. Through rigorous academics, family involvement, Christian for-mation, and a social curriculum that links character building and aca-demic success, BWS continues to open the doors of opportunity to its students, preparing them to face today’s challenges and to take advan-tage of tomorrow’s opportunities. Alongside a rigorous core curriculum (literacy, math, social stud-ies and science), our art, music, religious studies and foreign language

instruction are integral to our holistic approach. BWS creates a space for boys that fosters the love of learning, intellectual curiosity, spiritual foundation and moral character they will need to achieve their fullest po-tential. The BWS experience is making an important difference in the life of students. Based on the results of regular academic assessments, BWS students are outpacing their public school counterparts in literacy and math. BWS students’ critical thinking skills and social development are blossoming in ways that are evident to their teachers, families and peers. While we do not have a multi-year, comparative tracking of aca-demic progress, we do have our own measures of outcomes considered critical to academic success. For the 2012-2013 school year, BWS ex-celled with• 92%parentattendanceatParent/Teacherconferences• 95%parentattendanceat"RaisingBlackBoys"workshop• 97%studentattendance• 93%studentretention.

The Bishop John T. Walker School for BoysFostering the love of learning, intellectual curiosity, spiritual foundation, and moral character for boys in southeast DC.

by Paul Cooney, Canon to the Ordinary

To accommodate its growing enrollment, in the fall of 2013, the Bishop Walker School opened a second site to house its third and fourth grade students. Located at 2683 Douglass Road SE, the Washington View site is a temporary location for the upper primary grades while the school finalizes and implements a long-term facilities plan. In 2012, the board of the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) chose the Bishop Walker School as its preferred partner to provide ed-ucation to boys on their campus. As part of this partnership, THEARC will provide the land on which the school will build its future middle school. A facility on the grounds of THEARC will enable BWS students to enjoy the wide array of resources available at THEARC, including the gymnasium, the state-of-the-art theater, the Levine School of Music, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Washington Ballet and Children’s National Medical Center. Fundraising progress for BWS to date has been gratifying. BWS has developed a base of over 1,200 donors, most of whom continue to sup-port the school from year to year. Approximately 40 donors in FY2012 have sponsored children with gifts of $18,000 or more. In the school’s first five years, BWS raised over $7.6 million. BWS has built strong, giving relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations and par-ishes. Several foundations support BWS by sponsoring a student; several law firms have done the same. Parishes have increased their giving from less than $15,000 three years ago to over $100,000 in 2012-13. Individual gifts in 2012-13 ranged from $5 to over $200,000. BWS has received many gifts that are in the $10,000 and above range. Twenty-seven parishes and four Episcopal Schools have given gifts to BWS in multiple years, an indication that the school has become a key part of their mission efforts. To date, the top 10 givers to BWS, based on their gifts since 2008, have donated more than $428,000. They are: Christ Church, Georgetown, All Souls, St. Albans School, St. Dun-stan's, St. John's, Lafayette Square, St. Alban's Parish, St. John's Church, Georgetown, Trinity, Upper Marlboro, St. James’, Bowie, St. Colum-ba's. We are most grateful.


92% parent attendance at Parent/Teacher conferences

95% parent attendance at “Raising Black Boys” workshop

97% student attendance

93% student retention

Boys at the Bishop Walker School enjoy science activities (left) and reading (top). Their core curriculum includes literacy, math, social studies, and science. Students and staff at the annual Founder’s Day Evensong at Washington National Cathedral in October (above). Photos by Valerie Woody.

Top 10 Parish/School Givers since 2008:

Christ Church, GeorgetownAll SoulsSt. Albans SchoolSt. Dunstan’sSt. John’s, Lafayette SquareSt. Alban’s ParishSt. John’s Church, GeorgetownTrinity, Upper MarlboroSt. James’, BowieSt. Columba’s

For more information about the Bishop Walker School, visit www.bishopwalkerschool.org or contact James Woody, executive di-rector of BWS, at [email protected] or 202-678-1515.


ministryAs Canon for Congregational Vitality, my role is to help our par-

ishes live into their ministry in the richest and most vibrant ways possible. I have spent this past year supporting parishes in

clergy transition, providing guidance on parish growth and program-ming, facilitating vestry retreats, coaching clergy, and arranging dioce-san initiatives that increase our spiritual and organizational well-being. Here are three of our key initiatives for 2013-14.

The Journey Shared This year, three EDOW parishes continue their participation in The Journey, a three-year learning program designed to help leaders explore the most pressing issues of congregational life and learn how to adapt their ministry to a changing society. The program is an initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Washington Synod and led by the Rev. Chris Nelson, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A priest and one lay leader from each participating parish join Nel-son to learn both tactical and spiritual principles of church leadership, and then they set goals for their own parishes. Participants meet for two-day workshops, twice a year for three years to explore a wide va-riety of issues, including exploring the purpose of church, managing change and conflict, moving people from visiting to belonging, and set-ting lay people loose for ministry.

EDOW’s participating parishes are Ascension & St. Agnes, Calvary, and Transfiguration, Silver Spring. Let us know if you’d like to explore something similar in your parish.

The StoryRecognizing that our Episcopal lectionary doesn’t cover the whole Bible and that scriptural literacy is a major catalyst for spiritual growth, the diocese is sponsoring a year-long Bible study based on “The Story” by Randy Frazee.

“The Story” is a chronological anthology of the key stories of the Bi-ble—a kind of “Reader’s Digest” version that breaks the Bible down into traditional chapters. Core characters and events are woven together to tell the Judeo-Christian narrative in its historical sequence. It covers the materials in a continuity that our lectionary doesn’t provide and is ideal for those who want to explore the Bible for the first time or re-read it through a new lens.

Scriptural literacy is a major catalyst for

spiritual growth.

RICHVIBRANT

Congregational vitality key initiatives for 2013-2014by Joey Rick, Canon for Congregational Vitality


The book study is designed to cover one chapter per week for 31 weeks and is being done at the parish, group and individual level. Some are purchasing The Story materials, which includes an entire curriculum of books, study guides and DVDs for all ages in both English and Span-ish. Others are following along on the EDOW website, using their own Bibles and our study questions.

Though we can’t know the full universe of participating study groups, individuals from as far away as California are on this journey with us remotely, and at least 23 EDOW parishes are participating. Please join us in this wonderful exploration of the Bible. Materials areavailableatwww.thestory.comoronwww.edow.org/thestory.In-dividuals or groups can start their study at any time.

RenewalWorksIn 2013, six EDOW parishes participated in RenewalWorks, a new ministry of the Episcopal Church that assesses the spiritual vitality of a congregation and then challenges leaders to better support the spiritual lives of its members. The program is a ministry of Forward Movement and based on a process developed at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, Illinois. RenewalWorks engages an entire parish, but a working team of 8-16 people does much of its work. During a four-month self-study, the team explores spiritual development, analyzes parish survey results in light of Episcopal and meta-Christian findings, and then makes rec-ommendations to parish leaders. Participating parishes have focused on nurturing discipleship, encouraging evangelism, aligning budgets with spiritual principles, and helping parishioners develop a deeper personal spirituality. To date, over 1,500 Christian churches have participated in some version of the program, and over 60 Episcopal parishes have participat-ed in the RenewalWorks version. The six EDOW parishes that participated in the fall of 2013 as part of the first-ever diocesan configuration are Ascension, Gaithersburg; As-cension, Silver Spring; St. David’s; St. Dunstan’s; St. James’, Potomac; and St. George’s, Valley Lee. Let us know if you’d like to participate in the second wave next fall or if you’d like to learn more. You’ll get a more in-depth understanding at the 2014 Diocese of Washington Convention; the keynote speaker will be the Rev. Jay Sidebotham, executive director of RenewalWorks.

To find out how your parish can get involved with Congregational Vital-ity initiatives, contact Joey Rick, Canon for Congregational Vitality, at 301-908-3845 or [email protected]. For more information about regis-tering for Convention to see the Rev. Jay Sidebotham, visit www.edow.org/convention.

Participating Parishes:The Journey SharedAscension & St. AgnesCalvaryTransfiguration

The StoryAscension, Lexington ParkAtonementChrist Church, Capitol HillChrist Church, ClintonChrist Church, RockvilleGrace, GeorgetownOur Saviour, BrooklandSt. Augustine’sSt. Bartholomew’sSt. David’sSt. George’s, Glenn DaleSt. George’s, Valley LeeSt. James’, Indian HeadSt. Luke’s, BethesdaSt. Luke’s, DCSt. James, Indian HeadSt. John’s, NorwoodSt. Mark’s, Capitol HillSt. Mary MagdaleneSt. Matthew’s, HyattsvilleSt. Paul’s, K StreetSt. Peter’s, PoolesvilleSt. Philip’s, LaurelSt. Stephen & the IncarnationSt. Timothy’sTransfigurationTrinity, DCTrinity, Upper Marlboro

RenewalWorksAscension, GaithersburgAscension, Silver SpringSt. David’sSt. Dunstan’sSt. James’, PotomacSt. George’s, Valley Lee

At least 23 EDOW parishes are participat-ing in The Story this year, in addition to other study groups and individuals.


&ministry

youthfamilySupporting our parishes in their mission to help our youth grow spiritually.by Iman Green, Diocesan Youth Missioner

and


I t is with joy and thanksgiving that I serve with and among you as your Diocesan Youth Missioner. As I have traveled around the dio-cese, I have had the great privilege to see and hear about your youth

and families ministries. Diocesan youth and family ministry exists to support our parishes in their mission to help our youth grow spiritually. This year was a build-ing year for us. We are in the process of developing opportunities at the diocesan level for our youth to have a transformational encounter with Jesus Christ, and we are developing plans to equip and serve our youth leaders by providing opportunities for fellowship, networking and train-ing. All diocesan events and opportunities will be designed to complement and fuel formation opportunities offered at the local level. Camp EDOW continues to be a valuable ministry to our young people, a place where they can explore their faith and be challenged to live out the Gospel. This past summer, the camp moved to Lions Camp Merrick in Nanjemoy, Maryland. Thanks to the hard work of the Camp EDOW Task Force Committee in building, equipping and recruiting for this ministry, 50 young people (up from 42 in 2012) representing 18 parishes attended camp in 2013, and 18 staff members were involved in running the camp. As we move forward, we continue to be committed to engaging more diocesan youth and families with Camp EDOW and bringing the camp onto the diocesan budget. To that end, in 2013 the Camp EDOW

Task Force Committee became the Camp EDOW committee. Its ener-gies will be focused on the mission of the camp, promotion, develop-ment, finance and governance. The committee will have term limits and will aim to have representation from across the diocese. The program-matic and staff components of the camp ministry will be determined by the leadership staff team, which includes the youth missioner, camp directors, the camp administrator and the staff chaplain. It is asked of the congregation at baptism, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in

Christ?” It is my prayer that we as the Diocese of Washington will claim these vows and lay foundations for our young people to grow in and through Christ Jesus, so that they will be empowered to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of Christ with their lives and words. I look forward to our shared ministry in preparing the harvest.

50 young people representing 18 parishes attended camp in 2013

Campers enjoy arts and crafts (far left), games (left), and music (above) during their week at Camp EDOW. Camp EDOW 2014 will include a junior camp for rising 4-6 graders and middle camp for rising 7-9 graders. Registration for Camp EDOW 2014 opened January 1, 2014, at www.edow.org/camp.

Contact Iman Green, Diocesan Youth Missioner, at [email protected] or 202-537-6524.


S ince the beginning of her episcopacy, Bishop Mariann has empha-sized the importance of young adult ministries, an emphasis that led to the creation of the new position, Diocesan Young Adult Mis-

sioner. Here’s a look at what was learned and what was accomplished during the first year of this newly created ministry.

Campus MinistriesIn 2013, the Bishop commissioned several members of the Diocesan Mission Team to evaluate the viability of our diocesan missions, includ-ing campus ministries. The evaluation process for campus ministries included interview-ing ministry leaders and students at each campus; meeting with ministry councils, stakeholders and congregation leaders from nearby parishes; and obtaining a program evaluation from each campus minister. As a result we’ve: • Dramatically increased interactions between high school graduates

and clergy at or near the colleges they plan to attend. Because we are losing a number of students in the transition between high school and college, we recognized the need to establish personal connec-tions between graduating high school students and chaplains/rec-tors where they plan to attend college. Anecdotally, we were told that in previous years the diocesan team made approximately five of these introductions annually. In 2013, we made 22 introduc-tions, and we intend to see that number grow in coming years.

• Reorganized campus ministry relationships with parishes. Devel-oping a vibrant campus ministry requires having a healthy relation-ship with nearby parishes. Not all of our campus ministries have a well-defined relationship with nearby parishes, a situation we began to rectify in 2013. In particular, we shifted our George Washington University (GWU) campus ministry from one to two efforts. St. Patrick’s parish will focus on the first and second year students who attend GWU’s nearby Mt. Vernon campus, while St. Mary’s, Foggy Bottom, and St. Paul’s, K Street, will focus on the main campus of GWU, which is in walking distance of both parishes. With this reconfiguration we have seven, rather than six, campus ministries.

• Redistributed funds for campus ministries. The majority of our fi-nancial commitment—nearly $200,000—goes to two of our seven campuses: Howard University and University of Maryland, Col-lege Park. To maximize our resources, we have decided in 2014 to reduce the amount given to Howard and UMD so we can begin creating part-time positions at other campuses. We know it is pos-sible to do “more with less” because the most successful Christian collegiate ministries are led by a mix of students and volunteers and/orraisetheirownfinancialsupport.

Young Adult MinistriesI became the Diocesan Young Adult Missioner in September of 2012, the year the position was created. The central purpose of this position is to support parishes and campus ministries in nurturing the spiritual lives of young adults already participating in the life of the church and reaching out to those who are not yet there. The news for 2013 is promising. Twenty parishes have estab-lished—or are developing—ministry programs specifically for adults

Young Adult Ministries

The Rev. Otis Gaddis III is installed as the chaplain at the University of Maryland, College Park; photo by Charles Fulcher. Young adults from St. John’s, Norwood par-ticipate in Washington DC’s Pride parade.

A look at campus ministries, young adult ministries & fresh expressions By Jason Evans, Diocesan Young Adult Missioner

in their twenties and thirties, and we are seeing increased young adult participation in several parishes across the diocese. In 2013, I led nine parish workshops focusing on young adult spir-itual formation and evangelism. I also made 35 visitations to parishes—preaching on Sundays, leading forums and speaking with vestries—in each region. I plan to do more in 2014. Looking ahead, we are developing leadership clusters within each of the counties of the diocese so that young adult ministry leaders in the parish have peers to collaborate with and learn from.

Fresh ExpressionsVisits to parishes and neighborhoods in the diocese this past year have confirmed my belief that “fresh expressions” of ministry can help our church become a more meaningful part of the lives of young adults. The term “fresh expressions” came into use within the Church of England to define “a form of church for our changing culture, estab-lished primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.” Last summer, we worked with five parishes to determine how they might reach out to the young adults in their surrounding community. At convention this year, we will release a resource based on what we learned that will assist parishes in getting to know their community and beginning missional work there. The diocese continues to look for opportunities for fresh expres-sions of ministry that will appeal to young adults. Last summer, 18

people from 10 parishes in our diocese attended the Church Planters Academy in Minneapolis. The majority of those who attended contin-ued to work with me in establishing 100-day goals for evangelistic and entrepreneurial efforts. Additionally, one transitional deacon has submitted a proposal for establishing a fresh expression of the Episcopal Church for young adults in the H Street corridor. And in St. Mary’s County, young adults from four parishes have come together to do something similar.


Contact Jason Evans, Diocesan Young Adults Missioner, at [email protected] or 202-537-6542.

Young Adults in St. John’s, Norwood’s group Felix Hora celebrate Christmas 2012 together (above). Church Planters Academy attendees discuss during their trip to Minneap-olis. Photo by the Rev. Linda Kaufman and the Rev. Ken Howard (below).


I n January 2013, following a one-year hiatus in the discernment process for aspirants for ordination to the priesthood, our diocese instituted a new streamlined, flexible discernment process focused

on the leadership needs of the diocese. A task force that included clergy and lay people from throughout the diocese created the process. The new discernment process is intended to shorten the discern-ment process, require less of our collective time and resources, and reduce the number of those selected as postulants. While the new process recognizes and affirms that in baptism, God calls each of us to ministry, it also recognizes that the ministry of priests is a specialized calling that has changed dramatically over the years. Clergy must possess new skills and incorporate new pastoral leadership models into their ministries in order to meet the needs of our changing congrega-tions, communities and diocese. Therefore, the task force, in collaboration with people across the Diocese of Washington and in other dioceses, de-termined seven qualities and abilities that would be sought in each aspirant for ordination to the priesthood. They are:1. A compelling spiritual life and a passion for the Gospel;2. The ability to communicate the Gospel in ways that people and

communities find engaging and relevant to their lives;

3. A spiritual maturity, self-awareness and authenticity;4. The ability to lead, organize and equip others in ministry;5. Entrepreneurial leadership;6. The ability to lead congregations through change; and7. A willingness and ability to be vocationally flexible. In this first year of the new discernment process, 11 aspirants ap-plied to be considered for postulancy and five were made nominees. Those five, who are in the process of completing all required paper-work, assessments and checks, include two women and three men, ranging in age from 24 to 62. One is African-American and one is a Latino who was previously ordained in the Roman Catholic tradition. Bishop Mariann, upon satisfactory completion of all reports, will grant postulancy. The Commission on Ministry has also established a task force, led by the Revs. Meg Ingalls and Sue von Rautenkranz, to recommend a strong discernment and formation process for vocational deacons. The task force will report back to the Commission on Ministry in early 2014. The details of the new discernment process can be found at www.edow.org under the menu For Clergy & Parish Leaders.

Discerning the CallA new discernment process for the ordination to the priesthood

by the Rev. Paula Clark, Canon for Clergy Development and Multicultural Ministries

Elizabeth Gardner, Kristen Hawley, Timothy Johnson, Rebecca Myers and Lisa Zaina were ordained to the priesthood in July at Washington National Cathedral. Photo by Araceli Ma.


I n recognition of a desire to broaden and deepen the cultural, racial and ethnic diversity of our congregations, last year Bishop Mariann established the position of Canon for Clergy Development and Mul-

ticultural Ministries and hired me to fill that position in October 2013. I am a native of the DC area who was ordained in the Diocese of Washington and served as rector of a multicultural parish—St. John’s, Beltsville. I look forward to working with clergy, congregations and other groups in the diocese interested in ensuring the vitality of multi-cultural congregations and in broadening and deepening multicultural ministry in the diocese. The diocese is becoming more intentional and pro-active in work-ing with parishes involved in multicultural ministry. Its goal is to pro-vide resources, collaborative opportunities and support for multicultur-al parishes and all congregations, schools, universities and worshiping groups in the diocese seeking to deepen and expand multicultural min-istry in their communities of faith. On November 15, 2013, Bishop Mariann and the Very Rev. Gary Hall, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, hosted a panel discussion at the Cathedral following the simulcast Episcopal Church forum, Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America, which was presented by the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in collaboration with the Di-ocese of Mississippi. Some 140 people gathered in the Cathedral here in Washington, DC, to watch the webcast and subsequent panel discussion moderated by PBS commentator Ray Suarez. They then stayed for a live panel discussion, in which participants responded to the forum, providing insights related to the racial context in which we find ourselves in our diocese. As a result of that event, on November 19 the diocese hosted the first monthly Roundtable discussion on Google+. In that month’s online video discussion, titled Race and Culture, we looked at themes coming out of the Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America event and how they relate locally to the diocese, our parishes, and our families. In that discussion, I was joined by Iman Green, Diocesan Youth Missioner; Simón Bautista, Diocesan Latino Missioner; and Jason Evans, Diocesan Young Adults Missioner. Following the EDOW Roundtable on race and culture, on Novem-ber 21 the diocese produced a special edition themed e-bulletin focus-ing on race and culture. Also, as a result of the conversations begun at the forum on racism,

a task force of clergy and lay people will be formed to determine next steps in addressing issues of race in our diocese.

Ongoing Multicultural EffortsCongregations in the Diocese of Washington increasingly reflect the di-versity of the Washington metropolitan region, with parishioners from the Caribbean, West Africa, Mexico, Central and South America making up a significant proportion of the membership of several parishes. Researchers suggest that 20 percent or more of an ethnic group is required to affect cultural change in an organization, and noted sociolo-gist and author Michael O. Emerson defines a multiracial congregation as one having less than 80 percent of any single racial group. Using that definition, approximately 33 percent of the parishes in the Diocese of Washington would be considered multicultural or multi-ethnic. In 1996, Multicultural Awareness of Gifts, Inc. (MAGI) was estab-lished by a group of clergy in the diocese dedicated to deepening diversity in their multicultural parishes. Since 1998, MAGI clergy members have met with a facilitator, the Rev. Jacques Hadler, to share best practices and leadership models, with the hope of broadening and deepening the di-

versity of their parishes. Participation in MAGI waned in the mid-2000’s but has seen a resurgence in the last two years since a concerted effort was made to recruit and retain cler-gy to participate in the group. MAGI had been funded through a $100,000 Soper Trust Grant, which provided the facilitator at each monthly meet-ing, from September through June,

and helped fund a study and survey from the mid-1990s to early 2000’s on multicultural ministry in the Diocese of Washington. The Soper fund-ing for MAGI ended in November 2013; however, a private donation has funded the organization through June 2014. In 2013, eight parishes participated in MAGI, including: Ascension and St. Agnes, DC; Church of Our Saviour, Hillandale; Church of the Good Shepherd, Silver Spring; Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Silver Spring; Grace Church, Silver Spring; St. John’s, Beltsville, MD; St. Mark’s Parish, Fairland; and Transfiguration Parish, Silver Spring. Looking ahead, a multicultural ministry workshop will be held at the2014DiocesanConvention.Entitled"LetUsPraiseGodTogeth-er,” the workshop will explore the joys, opportunities and challenges of multicultural worshiping communities and discuss best practices for broadening, deepening and celebrating the diversity of all God's people in our congregations and communities.

Approximately 33% of the parishes in the

Diocese of Washington would be considered

multicultural or multi-ethnic.

Deepening DiversityBroadening and deepening multicultural ministry in EDOW parishes

by the Rev. Paula Clark, Canon for Clergy Development and Multicultural Ministries

To find out more, contact Paula Clark, Canon for Clergy Development and Multicultural Ministries at 202-537-6552 or [email protected].


I t has been ten years since we began an intentional and intense di-ocesan effort to reach out to the Latino population in the DC met-ropolitan area. That effort has been led by the Diocesan Office for

Latino Ministry, Latino lay leaders, Latino missioners, and rectors and congregations where we have Spanish-speaking services. That same group is evaluating our past and looking to strengthen our ministry in 2014. The Latino ministry within our diocese is growing. The diocesan commitment has been unwavering, thanks to the vision of John Chane, former Bishop of Washington, the commitment of the Diocesan Council and the determination of Bishop Mariann to continue making our dio-cese welcoming for everyone looking for a spiritual home. Twelve years ago, only Iglesia San Juan at St. John’s, Lafayette Square was identified as being officially part of the Diocese of Washing-ton. Now we have another six congregations—two in Prince George’s County, two in Montgomery County and two in DC. On average, 723 Latinos attend Sunday services at these congregations, whose presence has greatly increased the awareness of the Episcopal Church among Lati-nos in the metropolitan area. Average Sunday attendance ranges from 35 to 325. The congregations are listed here in the order they were estab-lished. Included are the clergy who work directly with these congrega-tions and their country of origin. • Iglesia San Juan at St. John’s, Lafayette Square; the Rev. Mike An-

gell, USA• San Mateo at St. Matthew’s, Hyattsville; the Rev. Vidal Rivas, El

Salvador• Nuestro Salvador at Our Saviour, Hillandale; the Rev. Simón Bau-

tista, Dominican Republic• San Miguel Y Todos Los Angeles at St. Michael’s and All Angels,

Adelphi; the Rev. Vidal Rivas • La Ascensión at Ascension, Gaithersburg; in transition• Misa Alegria at St. Stephen and the Incarnation, DC; the Rev. Sar-

abeth Goodwin, USA• San Albano at St. Alban’s, DC; the Rev. Juan Pastor Reyes, Domin-

ican Republic, and the Rev. Simón Bautista

At present there are five Spanish-speaking clergy who are paid to be responsible for our seven Spanish-speaking congregations—two born in the USA and three born in Latin America. Four out of the five clergy are completely or partially paid by the diocese. Additionally, the Rev. Luis León, rector of St. John’s, Lafayette Square, is a Spanish-speaking native of Cuba. Others who often participate in the Spanish-speaking services include the Rev. John Graham, rector of Grace Church, Silver Spring; the Rev. Alan Johnson, rector of St. Paul’s, Rock Creek and a native of Nicaragua; the Rev. Peter Schell, rector of Calvary DC, and former assistant and Latino missioner at Church of Our Saviour, Hillandale; the Rev. Shell Kimble, interim rector of St. Barnabas; and the Rev. Elena Thompson, a retired priest form the Diocese of Georgia. Schell, Kimble and Thompson are USA-born. Throughout the past decade, we have experienced a gradual growth in many areas—numerical, ownership, membership, stewardship and leadership, among others. We also are seeing a steady growth in the number of Latinos present at diocesan events, including the diocesan convention, and Latinos are becoming more actively involved in di-ocesan committees, such as serving on the search committee for the ninth Bishop of Washington. Two Latino clergy are part of the Diocesan Council and a member of the Latino lay leadership is on one of the committees responsible for accompanying those who enter into the new discernment process. The Latino Ministry of the Diocese of Washington is going through a process of evaluation and planning that includes taking a hard look at demographics, sustainability, and methods of ministry and locations, among other issues. A total of 11 areas are being evaluated as a way to help identify our strengths, our weakness and challenges, our risks and fears, and our mission opportunities so we can map the path forward for the Latino ministry in the Diocese of Washington. Each of the seven Spanish-speaking congregations is deeply in-volved and invested in this process of examining our present, envision-ing where we want to be in ten years, and collectively identifying the best way to get there.

LatinoMinistryGrowing, evaluating, planning.by the Rev. Canon Simón Bautista, Diocesan Latino Missioner

Contact Simón Bautista, Diocesan Latino Missioner, at [email protected] or 202-537-6441.


Throughout the past decade, we have experienced a gradual growth in many areas—numerical, ownership,

membership, stewardship and leadership, among others.

The seven Latino congregations came together to worship, celebrate, dance, and eat at the Latino Ministry Celebration this fall at Ascension, Gaithersburg. The Spanish-speaking clergy prepare Eucharist (top) with offerings in front of the altar. The Rev. Sarabeth Goodwin (bottom right) preached at the service. Photos by Araceli Ma.


A Look Ahead to 2014:EDOW RoundtableJanuary 21, 2014 at 1pmThese monthly online video discussions are the third Tuesday of the month at 1pm. Find out more and watch for upcoming sessions at www.edow.org/roundtable.

Forming DisciplesJanuary 23, 2014 at 7:15pmFormation leaders from across the diocese are asked to join Bishop Mariann and Youth Mis-sioner Iman Green for dessert, drinks and conversation. We will meet at 1823 CAFE at Virgin-ia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. More information at www.edow.org/youth.

Diocesan ConventionJanuary 31-February 1, 2014Find out more at www.edow.org/convention.

Digital Church WebinarFebruary 18, 2014 at 1pmFor more information on this webinar, entitled Media Relations: A Guide for Parishes to Managing Public Relations with Neva Rae Fox, Public Affairs Office, The Episcopal Church, visit www.edow.org/digitalchurch.

Clergy ConferenceMay 5-7, 2014Watch for more information at www.edow.org.

2014 Diocesan ConventionWhen: January 31-February 1, 2014Where: Reid Temple, A.M.E. Church in Glenn DaleContact: Ann Talty, [email protected], 202-537-6548More information: www.edow.org/convention

At its 2014 location at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, the 2014 Diocesan Convention will focus on the theme “Behold, I am making all things new.” It will feature more workshops; key-note speaker the Rev. Jay Sidebotham, executive director of RenewalWorks; and an enormous festival Eucharist - open to everyone in the diocese and complete with parish banners and all-parish choirs. A complete workshop list and more information is available at www.edow.org/convention. Watch for Bishop Mar-iann’s address, the keynote address, photos and videos coming out of Convention online as well.

Front cover (from top, left to right): January 2013’s Ordination of Deacons at Washington National Cathedral. Photo by Donovan Marks. |Campers received Eucharist at Camp EDOW 2013. | December 2013 National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence at Washington National Cathedral. Photo by Craig Stapert. | Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend at Washington National Cathedral in March. Photo by Donovan Marks. |Campers enjoy games at Camp EDOW 2013. | The Rev. Justi Schunior from St. Mark’s, Capitol Hill participates in Ashes to Go. | St. Luke’s, DC participated in Ashes to Go. | The Vivamos La Biblia workshop brought theater-inspired Sunday School teaching methods to Latino congregations. Photo by Araceli Ma. | July 2013’s Ordination of Deacons at Washington National Cathedral. Photo by Araceli Ma.

Episcopal Diocese of WashingtonEpiscopal Church House

Mount St. AlbanWashington, DC 20016

www.edow.org | 202-537-6555@washdio | www.facebook.com/dioceseofwashington

Documents

Year in review 2013