Dear Partners,

It is the summer of churchwide gatherings, especially for The Episcopal Church. No longer “postponed,” it is time to meet, however cautiously, in person. We know now that COVID-19 is not going away, with the virus’s ever-pervasive variants. Zoom has carried us through and will continue to facilitate broader participation and frequent “check-in” meetings.  But now is the time for bodies in 3D to come together and build relationships—to see the face of God in one another—as we seek common ground, hear differences, and go about the work of healing our world’s brokenness and polarization at home and abroad. 

The Episcopal Church General Convention met in July. The Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion met in August, and the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches will meet in Karlsruhe, Germany, in September.  These large gatherings claim a common bond of affection and passionate purpose for the gospel of Jesus in all our diversity. As we truly meet each other in these gatherings, we become better partners to respond when crises occur, but also in the daily work of building Beloved Community. 

Margaret Rose