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Pathways 2018:
Reconciling with the Earth and Each Other
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Pilgrims Confront Environmental Issues, Seeking Peace Through Justice
By Anna Wiley, Communications Intern
During the week of the 2018 Pathways Youth Pilgrimage, participants engaged with truths from California's history and listened to each other's stories and perspectives. This year, the 70 Pathways participants and leaders hailed from all over Northern California, from Eureka to Yuba City to Benicia. They traveled to Marin Headlands and Angel Island, and hosted a variety of speakers and educators on the Sonoma State University campus.
Pathways, which just completed its third year, developed after a group of youth and adults from our diocese traveled to North Carolina for the Lift Every Voice Freedom Ride (LEV). LEV was a three-year initiative held in North Carolina and Cape Town, South Africa. It focused on bringing to light the historical truths of racism and preparing young adults from the United States, Botswana and South Africa to lead their dioceses' programming on race and reconciliation. After returning from the first year of LEV, the participants developed Pathways to highlight similar themes in Northern California.
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Click here or on the image above to view scenes from the trip.
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"At the end of LEV I was just wished I had a camp like LEV growing up. Getting an opportunity to make that happen was like a dream! You go to events and talk about these grand plans you're going to do when you get back and they never happen. This time it did, and I'm honored to plan and attend it every year. We learn so much, and it better prepares us to improve the future while we learn about the past," s
aid young adult leader Kirstyn Teuscher,
The pilgrims spent a day at Marin Headlands, where they visited the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory and the Marine Mammal Center. The Marine Laboratory studies coastal ecosystems, addressing environmental crises such as the dramatic rise in ocean temperatures as carbon dioxide levels rise. The Marine Mammal Center is a hospital for sick, wounded and malnourished animals, primarily seals and sea lions.
"Touring the center showed us the negative impact of our recklessness on marine life but also demonstrated the positive impact we can make when we come together with a common goal and a passion for making a change," said young adult leader Elizabeth Potts.
"We can't change anything that is wrong if we don't name what is wrong. That is what lament means. The Earth is lamenting."
- Bishop Katharine
Former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori joined Pathways for two days, sharing her knowledge about the intersection of faith and science. Bishop Katharine, who has a PhD in oceanography and worked as a marine biologist before being ordained as a priest, spent the day with the pilgrims at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory and the Marine Mammal Center.
Bishop Katharine was an invaluable voice on the conversation about humanity's responsibility to the earth.
"We can't change anything that is wrong if we don't name what is wrong. That is what l
ament means. The Earth is lamenting," Bishop Katharine said, emphasizing God's command to hold protective dominion over the earth rather than dominance. The day in Marin Headlands ended with
Eucharist on the beach
and an evening Q&A with Bishop Katharine.
A few photos from the week-long pilgrimage are below. For more photos, please visit
Pathways NorCal
on Facebook.
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| Pathways participants and adult leaders listen to the ranger talk about the history of Marin Headlands. |
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| Sporting matching Episcopal hats:adult leaders the Rev.Mary Taggart, Hannah Boggs, and participant Emma Harvey. |
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| The Rev. Anne Clarke, Co-Director of Pathways, and Bishop Katharine. |
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| Bishop Barry Beisner at Angel Island, captured by participant Jason Kolb. |
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THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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