Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
April 28, 2021
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Together, we are the body of Christ ~ transforming people from members into disciples, moving more deeply into God's call to life and ministry, and extending our mission beyond the status quo. |
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The Episcopal Church Releases Racial Justice Audit
The path to racial healing is revealed first through naming the injustices and patterns of racism, then finding a way forward. Early last week, The Episcopal Church took a giant step onto that path when it released the final report of a three-year-long inquiry into the racial dynamics of church leadership. “This racial justice audit, I think for the first time, has given us a real picture of the dynamics and the reality of structural and institutional racism among us,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said in a press release announcing the report. “It has given us a baseline of where we are, to help us understand where we can, and must, by God’s grace, go.”
The audit's findings are not surprising to members of the diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation who find the report makes the case for the necessity of the Commission’s ministry: “to dismantle individual and institutional racism by sharing resources and creating opportunities that inspire and empower faith communities and the larger community, resulting in reconciliation and restoration of all God’s People.” Joe McDaniel, one of the Commission's co-chairs comments, "If we are to live into our Baptismal Covenant, to respect the dignity of all humans, we must passionately embrace the audit’s recommendations to bring about equity and equality in all facets of Episcopal Church life. The work is not easy and will not be accomplished overnight, but with a Christ-filled heart, we can get there. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, 'The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.'"
The Episcopal Church is offering a series of informational webinars covering the Racial Justice Audit:
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The Racial Justice Audit: An Overview: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 5 p.m. CDT – Register here
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The Racial Justice Audit: The 9 Dominant Patterns: Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at 5 p.m. CDT – Register here
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The Racial Justice Audit: Where Do We Go from Here?: Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at 5 p.m. CDT – Register here
The diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation has cultivated a number of resources for anyone interested in learning more about racial healing. Visit their webpage at www.diocgc.org/racial-justice-and-reconciliation. Their Sacred Conversation workshops, held several times throughout the year, explore ways to work together to Become Beloved Community. This offering is required for those in church leadership (such as vestries) and at the diocesan level (including serving on commissions, committees, agencies, boards, etc.). It also qualifies for 8 hours of clergy training/education for those who complete the day course. Here is the calendar of upcoming events.
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Stepping onto Soggy Ground: 6 Week Series on Claiming Your Baptismal Ministry
Bishop Russell and diocesan missioners, the Rev. Lydia Johnson and the Rev. Dr. Joy Blaylock, are hosting a new series that carries us through the story of Noah and the story of the disciples after Jesus’ death by offering a weekly video sent by email to watch on Thursdays, followed with a "Footprints Group" Zoom group discussion on the following Sunday afternoons at 4 p.m. CDT. This series envelops and continues the work started at the convention and is open to anyone interested.
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Celebrating God's creation at Worship in the Woods
As a whole church, we have promised to place the care of God’s Creation at the heart of our common life. On April 18, people from all over the diocese did just that by gathering for Worship in Woods. We journeyed through nature for Stations of the Resurrection featuring handpainted artwork, followed by a Eucharist and fellowship. The splendor of God's creation was abundant. Many thanks to the churches of Convocation IV who helped sponsor the occasion, and special thanks to our hosts, Saloom Properties in Evergreen. The Saloom's have a deep and relentless love of the land. Photos available here.
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How do we bridge the gap of the racial differences that keep us separated?
Authored by: Jill Showers Chow, member of the Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation
How do we bridge the gap of the racial differences that keep us separated? Racial differences are rarely overcome by argument or debate but can be transformed with honest conversations, open hearts, and a willingness to accept one another as brother and sister in Christ. Sacred Conversations workshops help set the stage for that connection and understanding by teaching us how to hold sacred space for one another.
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Redeemer Mobile opens its doors to CORE Project
Authored by Bridget Goff, member of Church of the Redeemer, Mobile
The year of COVID has been hard on all of us. We have lost loved ones, been isolated from most, and endured many hardships. However, in this year of darkness, the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer found a way to shine some much-needed light. This light came in the form of the CORE Project, a school for autistic children. The school’s director, Jules Starr, needed a place to provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, educational opportunities, and respite care for her students and their families. Starr came to us in search of a building, right as the world was closing all its doors. We had a building to offer. As easy as it would have been to say “no,” it was just as easy to say “yes.”
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May 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT
Senior Warden Day
Senior wardens of churches in the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast are invited to our annual Senior Warden Day. Bishop Russell and select diocesan staff will equip you with information and resources to help you in your ministry of church leadership. This will be a hybrid in-person/Zoom offering. Those who feel safe attending in-person will meet at St. Christopher's in Pensacola (mask required).
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Church & Community Events |
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Starting May 3, Mondays at 3:30 p.m. CDT
The Borderlands Group May book study: "The U.S. Immigration Crisis: Toward an Ethics of Place"
This book study is being conducted in partnership with the Diocese of Arizona and is open to anyone interested in the immigration crisis. The meetings will be facilitated by David Chavez, the Arizona diocesan Borderlands Missioner. To join, please email Deacon Clelia Garrity of St. Simon's on the Sound, Fort Walton Beach, at garritycpg@gmail.com. |
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Saturday, May 22, 7 a.m. CDT check-in/8:30 a.m. CDT start
St. Francis "Divots and Duffers" Golf Tournament
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Hosting a church related event that is open to everyone? Submit it to be considered for publication. |
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St. Francis of Assisi in Gulf Breeze is seeking a new church sexton. More details.
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Online Giving for Your Congregation
Your financial gifts to your church are of vital importance to support their ongoing ministries to your church community and to the most vulnerable among us. The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast is providing the ability to give online for congregations that do not have ways to collect an offering or donation electronically.
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From The Episcopal Church |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed a toolkit for individuals, congregations, and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. The toolkit will be updated as new information becomes available and is offered in English and Spanish online. |
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The Episcopal Church launches Concerts for the Human Family
Nashville artist Kory Caudill partners with diverse team on transformative, timely project
Concerts for the Human Family, a new artistic collaboration led by The Episcopal Church and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry that explores “the powerful intersection between art, justice and faith,” will launch May 22, with a free digital broadcast filmed at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.
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MORE FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
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Bishop Russell's Upcoming Visitations |
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May 2
Holy Cross, Pensacola
May 9
Holy Nativity, Panama City
May 12
St. Thomas, Greenville
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May 2
Cursillo
St. Monica's, Cantonment
May 9
Episcopal Church Women
Holy Cross, Pensacola
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May 2
Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, Milton, Florida
May 9
Walton Correctional Institution, DeFuniak Springs, Florida
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Please be sure to direct any mail for the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast to our post office address: PO Box 13330, Pensacola, FL 32591-3330. |
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Coastline is a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, published on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
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