Bishop Stacy F. Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, has announced that Heidi J. Kim has been named Episcopal Church Missioner for Racial Reconciliation. 

As Missioner for Racial Reconciliation, Kim will be responsible for facilitating the establishment and growth of networks in the Church that confront structural issues of racism in society and the church, including: mapping the assets of The Episcopal Church’s witness against racism; identifying resources where they occur; building connections between, and supporting, those ministries; building relationships with ecumenical, interreligious, and nonsectarian partner; and working to integrate this witness into the wider life of The Episcopal Church.

Kim’s position is a member of the churchwide Justice and Advocacy staff with offices in Washington DC.

“Heidi Kim brings to the church an extensive experience in reconciliation work,” noted Bishop Wendell N. Gibbs of Michigan, an Executive Council member and a member of the interview committee. “I believe she has the skills to recognize injustice in various structures of society and will lead The Episcopal Church to new levels of confronting and challenging racism throughout society and within the church.”

“Heidi’s appreciation for the wide range of stakeholders who will be involved in developing and refining a shared notion of reconciliation will be important as she listens and dialogs with members throughout the church,” noted Lelanda Lee, an Executive Council member from the Diocese of Colorado and a member of the interview committee. “I am heartened by her recognition of the importance of the voices at the grassroots. Racial justice remains at the intersection of many aspects of the way we are the church today.”

“Heidi Kim comes to the Missionary Society with a career and a life built around reconciliation, and a unique passion for helping people and communities find unity in diversity,” said Alexander D. Baumgarten, Director of Justice and Advocacy Ministries for The Episcopal Church. “As The Episcopal Church seeks to engage a conversation about racial reconciliation that is churchwide in scope while also faithful to the context of local communities, I am confident that Heidi’s creativity, insight, and abiding commitment to right relationship will prove to be gifts to all Episcopalians.”

Kim boasts extensive professional experience in the development of diversity strategy, and she has been active in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia and St. Mark’s Cathedral. She currently serves as Director of Diversity at the Seattle Preparatory School, Seattle, WA.  Previously she was the Director of Residence at the Annie Wright School in Tacoma, WA; Visiting Instructor, Faculty Resident, and Advisor at Colby College in Waterville, ME. She has been a teacher on the preparatory, college and university levels.

She is a graduate of Brown University in Providence, RI.

Kim begins her new position on July 7.  She will be based in Seattle, Washington. She can be reached at hkim@episcopalchurch.org.