in Vestry Papers and filtered by Capital Campaigns, Worship, Youth + 7 other(s)
By Charis Bhagianathan
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. In this, our second Pride issue honoring the LGBTQ+ community (find the previous issue here), we embark on a journey of understanding, inclusion and acceptance through Christ’s eyes, honoring the sacred worth of every individual.
By Keith Voets
In Do We Actually Want to Be Inclusive? Keith Voets leans on personal experience to describe why it is easier to place marginalized groups into neat boxes for the sake of comfort, rather than celebrating and inviting unique differences in individuals, all of whom are created in God’s image.
By Hannah Wilder
As humans and Christians, our vocal and emphatic support of queer people can not only have a positive impact on their lives but can also actually help them survive. In Gifts of Queerness, Hannah Wilder shares wisdom on queer theology, sexuality, and intentionally creating spaces for individuals to be accepted and celebrated as God’s children.
By Craig Bossi and Matt Foreman
In recent years, we have seen an unprecedented rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, rhetoric and initiatives. In Silent No More, Craig Bossi and Matt Foreman raise questions that encourage us to reflect on how we as Christians and human beings will respond, not performatively but through positive action to support our LGBTQ+ siblings in their struggle for equity and respect.
By Craig Bossi
These four offerings – two videos and two articles – are a reminder of the work to be done. We hope they speak of courage and belief for a world made more beautiful by these LGBTQ+ Christians and their commitment to a Church where all God’s children are loved and valued.
By Sandra Montes
Tristemente, los desastres suceden a nuestro alrededor todo el tiempo. A veces tenemos que enfrentarlos, a veces nuestros amigos, amigas y seres queridos los enfrentan y otras veces leemos sobre los desastres que pasan en otras partes.
By Sandra Montes
What is our first response when something terrible happens? In When Disaster Strikes, Sandra Montes presents her response, grounded in her faith, and shares those of many others, also asking – what helps you in the face of disaster?
By Mark Stevens
In Security Planning for Your Faith Community, Mark Stevens details a program he created that can help a church conduct an initial hazard assessment specific to its activities and location, develop an emergency action plan based on the assessment and establish training and education programs.
By Tamara Plummer
In Mapping Assets Builds Resilience, Tamara Plummer writes about how the Episcopal Asset Map, a collaborative mapping project of Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Church, creates a more connected Church that can respond to disasters in the most under-resourced and unrepresented communities in the United States.
By Ken Howard
Instead of asking if the Church has a future, Ken Howard suggests we ask, Does the Future Have a Church? In his visionary piece, he lists four conditions that will be essential for congregations who seek not merely to survive, but to thrive in the years to come.