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Global Mission Summer Update: A Living Partnership in Brasilia

We continue to give thanks for our growing relationship with Bishop Mauricio Andrade and the vibrant work of the Anglican Diocese of Brasília. Through regular communication, we are witnessing a powerful expression of faith in action—one that is changing lives every day.

This season, the diocese of Brasilia celebrates an important milestone: the Anglican Social Centre has marked its 11th anniversary. What began as a vision for community care has become a vital ministry of presence, stability, and hope.

Today, the Centre serves approximately 130 children. Each child receives academic tutoring, computer training, and nutritious, balanced meals. Just as importantly, the Centre provides a safe and secure environment where children are known, valued, and cared for by dedicated staff who deeply impact their lives.

This ministry is not only meeting immediate needs—it is shaping futures. It is a reminder that the Church’s mission extends far beyond our walls, connecting us across borders in shared work for the dignity, opportunity, and love of people of all ages.

We are grateful to be in partnership with this ministry and look forward to continuing to support and learn from the work unfolding in Brasília. Please keep Bishop Andrade, the staff, and the children of the Anglican Social Centre in your prayers.

Click here to read Global Mission’s Summer Update about Haiti and the Anglican Diocese of Brasilia.

Every June, thousands gather at the Indy Pride Festival to celebrate love, identity, and belonging. The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis invites you to join fellow Episcopalians in showing up, celebrating, and sharing God’s love in a visible way on June 13. Here are three meaningful reasons to attend.

1. Show Your Support for All of God’s Children

Attending Pride is a public witness to the dignity and worth of every person. By walking, volunteering, or simply standing alongside the LGBTQIA+ community, Episcopalians affirm that God’s love is expansive and inclusive. In a world where many still face rejection or discrimination, your presence can communicate welcome, affirmation, and hope. Pride is an opportunity to embody the Church’s commitment to love your neighbor and honor the sacredness of every human being.

2. Have Fun with Fellow Episcopalians

Pride is also joyful. It is a chance to gather with friends old and new from across the diocese, celebrate community, and enjoy the energy of the day together. Whether you are marching in the parade or helping at our booth, attending as a diocesan group creates connection and shared memories rooted in faith and fellowship.

3. Practice the Ministry of Presence

Sometimes, simply showing up matters most. Being physically present at Pride sends a clear message: you are not alone. The ministry of presence can be a powerful act of solidarity, encouragement, and support. By being there, Episcopalians demonstrate that faith communities can be places of belonging.

Click here to register to volunteer.

By: Heather Campbell, Ruth Everett, Jolene Johnston, and The Rev’d Frank Impicciche

Holy Family Episcopal Church recently went through a change in leadership. The inaugural Youth Ministry University (YMU) cohort presented an opportunity to help reshape their children and youth ministry to include the work of the whole church. What they found, though, was something deeper. Their church experienced a complete cultural shift.

At the beginning of the cohort, they set a goal that was both practical and ambitious. They wanted to weave children and youth ministry into the life of the entire church, not just as siloed programs run by a few leaders. The directors, Ruth and Jolene, envisioned this as something shared across the faith community. Like many churches, they also hoped to increase engagement, volunteer support, and genuine ownership of this ministry work.

Through YMU, that vision started to take shape in concrete ways.

One of the core practices of Youth Ministry University is running “experiments.” That language gave them permission to try things without needing them to be perfect. Some of those experiments were simple. Father Frank began regularly visiting classrooms to build relationships with the children and youth. Over time, trust grew. Students showed up more in worship. There was more ease, more laughter, more connection. The youth weren’t just looking to their leaders anymore. They were building a relationship with their priest, who now openly sees himself as part of their ministry and proudly calls himself a “youth leader,” too.

Another shift came through planning the church calendar together rather than in ministry siloes. Using a YMU framework, Holy Family began aligning formation, worship, and events with more intention. This created space for generations to naturally be together, not just during special events but in the regular rhythm of church life. For example, an unexpected snow day moved the planned kickoff for an adult forum series on baptism and became a meaningful moment for the whole community to gather and learn alongside one another.

Part of YMU is attending at least four of the virtual workshops, which were offered monthly. The first workshop of the year was “Leading your Leaders,” which helped Holy Family rethink their entire volunteer strategy. Rather than recruiting a few people to do everything, they identified individuals’ gifts, availability, and interests. Some helped with events. Others connected youth to outreach opportunities. This approach lowered pressure and increased investment. People weren’t just filling roles; they were contributing as themselves. Over time, leadership expanded organically, and the ministry became richer, more diverse, and more sustainable.

As the year went on, that shift spread beyond their immediate team. Their vestry started talking about intergenerational ministry on its own. Adults began planning with all ages in mind. Young people stepped into new roles in worship and leadership. Experiencing ministry together is becoming more natural as they seek to nourish people and transform lives.

By the time they reached their all-parish Intergenerational Retreat—which the team self-identified as their “capstone” of YMU—the groundwork had already been laid. What emerged was a fully intergenerational experience: worship that was both reverent and accessible, activities that invited participation across ages, and a community willing to be joyful, vulnerable, and fully engaged. At one point, a child asked, “Can we just do this all the time?” It was a simple question, but it captured what many were feeling.

Youth Ministry University didn’t just offer ideas. It gave them a way to move forward with intention. It helped them align what they were doing with what they already believed about church. It also reminded them that they weren’t doing this work alone.

For churches that feel stuck or stretched thin, YMU offers a different path. It creates space to try, to learn, and to build something that lasts. Over time, that work can grow into something many churches long for: a community where people know each other, serve together, and grow in faith side by side.

For Holy Family, the term “holy village” is more than just a hashtag. It is something they are actively living as they continue to build ministry together where no one carries it alone.

Click here to learn more about Youth Ministry University.

Beloved,

A parish I served years ago had a beautiful Easter morning tradition. Before the first alleluias of Easter morning, before the processional cross came down the aisle, we would break the quasi-silence of pre-worship anticipation with a lone drum beat and the stomping of our feet. Our percussion accompanied the three-fold chant of this great verse: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life—bestowing life. (Hymn 817 in this Wonder, Love, and Praise hymnal). Not only was this a clever way to expend the energies of the young ones in the pews, it made space for us adults to settle our own hearts and join in the victory dance of Christ over death.

The beauty and wonder of our Christian faith is that Jesus—God incarnate—knows the depths of human depravity of which we are capable and the sorrows of human suffering. Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us—having vanquished death, also knows the exquisite joys of new life. The traditional icon of “Christ Harrowing Hades”, depicts Jesus standing over the gates of hell, pulling Adam and Eve out, having trampled over the tombs below. It is one of the most powerful and enduring icons of Easter.

Centuries of Christians have taken solace in this image of Christ’s victory over death. In our day, as violent conflicts and wars rage around the world; as immigrants and refugees continue to suffer in detention centers; as our vulnerable young people and elders contend with life’s challenges in isolation; this icon of Jesus pulling humanity to resurrection and new life reminds us that our hope is in the Word made flesh who conquers death and evil. Though events in our world work hard to obscure this fact, Christ’s victory is our victory too.

With all that may be on your heart in these days, know that Christ takes you by the hand to pull you toward resurrection light. Whether this season finds you shouting “Alleluia!”, stomping your feet to the great Easter Troparion, or observing this feast more quietly saving your exuberance for God alone, I pray that resurrection joy would be yours.

Faithfully,

Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows

By: Heather Campbell, Diocesan Youth Minister

A new diocesan-wide youth confirmation curriculum continues to take shape as part of a broader vision for youth ministry, in conjunction with our five-year Diocesan Youth Ministry goals. Designed by a team of clergy and youth leaders to be “buzz-worthy, highly accessible, and theologically sound,” this initiative is already bearing fruit across the diocese.

Following a successful pilot at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Carmel in early 2025, the curriculum has now expanded into a shared diocesan experience. March 13-15, 2026, ten youth from six congregations across central and southern Indiana gathered at Waycross Camp and Conference Center for the first-ever Diocesan Youth Confirmation Retreat.

Throughout the weekend, youth engaged deeply with the confirmation curriculum. A guided Eucharist became a highlight for many, sparking thoughtful questions and meaningful conversation. Participants also explored vocation and calling, showing special curiosity about ordained ministry and the day-to-day life of clergy. Youth completed spiritual gifts assessments and developed personal projects reflecting on their own call and mission as Christians. These practices invited them not only to learn about the Church, but to begin articulating their place within it.

The retreat also created space for relationship-building across congregations and with diocesan leadership. Youth loved getting to know the chaperones, lay and clergy facilitators, and especially Bishop Jennifer.

This retreat represents an important step in making confirmation more accessible across the diocese, particularly for congregations with smaller youth groups. While the canonical age for confirmation is 16, youth who demonstrate readiness and maturity may participate with appropriate guidance—something this curriculum is designed to support.

Youth have the option to be confirmed at their next congregational visit by the Bishop or at one of the upcoming Regional Confirmation Dates. Regional Confirmation is being held May 16 at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, June 25 at St. Christopher’s in Carmel, and June 28 at St. Paul’s in Jeffersonville.

Looking ahead, the diocese hopes to offer this retreat annually each March as a shared pathway toward confirmation. The curriculum itself is currently available by request for congregations interested in piloting or adapting it in their local context, with wider publication forthcoming. In addition, the diocese is exploring translation into Spanish to expand accessibility and inclusion.

As this vision grows, it reflects a deep commitment to forming young people in a faith that is not only learned, but lived. For more questions about Youth Confirmation and/or to access its curriculum, you may contact Diocesan Youth Minister Heather Campbell.

  1. Gain practical tools for strengthening your congregation
    CCD equips clergy and lay leaders with models, skills, and practical tools for congregational and organization development. Participants learn ways to assess their church’s strengths and challenges and respond effectively.
  2. Develop healthy, sustainable ministry
    One of the central goals of CCD is helping churches become faithful, healthy, and sustainable communities that live into their calling as the Body of Christ. The training helps congregations thrive in their specific context and mission, no matter the congregation’s size, budget, or other demographics.
  3. Learn alongside and build relationships with other leaders
    The program creates strong connections among clergy and lay leaders from different congregations through plenary sessions, small groups, shared meals, and collaborative learning. These relationships build encouragement, shared learning, and a broader diocesan network.
  4. Work as a team to design a real project for your church
    Congregational teams spend time developing a practical project (“intervention”) to implement back home, applying the tools and models learned during the program. This ensures the learning leads to real change in the congregation.
  5. Grow leadership skills for everyone—not just clergy
    This two year program is designed for all people, not only clergy or people with formal roles. Participants learn facilitation skills, leadership practices, and ways to build healthy groups and ministries.

    The College for Congregational Development (CCD) helps leaders build stronger churches by giving them practical tools, collaborative learning, leadership training, and a clear path to apply what they learn in their own congregations. Click here to join us July 26 – Friday, July 31 at Waycross Camp and Conference Center! Financial assistance is available if needed.

In this deeply personal Q&A, Deacon Cathy reflects on the moment she recognized her vocation not as a priest, but as a deacon — a calling rooted in loving God by loving neighbor. She speaks candidly about what breaks her heart in a world that discards the vulnerable, and how small, faithful acts of justice become holy resistance. She shares how standing at the altar has deepened her gratitude, and why the Church feels most alive when it “prays with its feet.”

If you have ever wondered what it means to say yes to God, and what that yes might ask of you, we invite you to continue reading.

When did you first sense that God might be calling you to ordained ministry and what did that feel like in your body and spirit?

Coming from a Catholic background, I never imagined ordination as that was never an option for women. However, that closed door was not a barrier to hearing God’s call in Micah and Matthew to devote my energies to social justice issues.

My mind and world exploded when I attended the Confirmation of a friend into the Episcopal Church and there were not only women priests, a woman Bishop walked down the aisle at All Saints (Bishop Cate)! When the Rev. Gene Robinson was elevated to Bishop, it was then that my partner Joan and I decided God was opening the door (red, of course) to the Episcopal Church for us.

God was very gentle with me, allowing me space and time to deepen my faith in the inclusive, wider embrace of the Episcopal Church. I didn’t know any deacons, but, on a whim, I attended the ordination of Deacon Karen Sullivan and I was bowled over by the emphasis on social justice in the preaching and in the ordination rite for deacons. God opened my eyes to an outward-focused church that preached and strived to live a Gospel-centered life of care for the poor, the marginalized, and the underserved.

At some point, I had a deep-felt sense that God was calling me into a deeper relationship through ordination as a deacon. I never felt called to the priesthood. For me, being a deacon was (and is) a way of loving God through loving my neighbor. It felt congruent with my life, my values, my relationship with the Holy, my prayer, with everything I hold dear to my heart.

What breaks your heart in this work and how has that shaped the way you serve?

It breaks my heart when people are not valued, are discarded, marginalized, discriminated against by society. It breaks my heart that we live in a society where one step forward = two steps backward with regard to justice work.

This reality has enabled me to find solace and hope in the small acts of love we all can do every day, every hour, that can impact the life of another person or a group of people. As a Daughter of the King, I take comfort in the motto, “For His sake, I am but one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do. Lord, what will You have me do?” This is a leitmotif of the deacon’s preaching.

While the work of social justice is demanding and unending, it is superseded by the absolute joy of witnessing congregants take up the mantel of justice work as an important aspect of their discipleship.

How has being a deacon changed you?

I have always loved the liturgy, but standing next to the priest at the altar and looking out at the congregation, I am continually humbled and awed at how beautiful, precious, and powerful the folks are, sitting in the pew. I can feel their concerns and fear as much as I can feel their desire to be Christ’s hands and feet in this world. It is a moment of grace to see both the trees and the forest! I take that eucharistic (from the Greek eucharistia for “thanksgiving”) sense with me after every liturgy. Being a deacon has increased my gratefulness in all aspects of my life.


What part of the Church’s life feels most alive to you (the liturgy, being out in the greater community, quiet contemplation, etc)?

The Church is most alive for me when it “prays with its feet” (borrowing from Abraham Joshua Heschel). I love it when the Church shows up in the world, whether that is one person or one hundred people. That witness of Love in action is an antidote to apathy, despair, and cynicism and recalls for me the power for good that is generated when “two or three are gathered in my name.”

Equally important, for me, is the balance I seek by understanding outreach and diaconal work through a more contemplative lens. I need the quiet, lectio divinia, Centering Prayer, and the spiritual writers that have sustained me since the late 1960’s until present: Thomas Merton (foremost), the Berrigan brothers, Jim Forest, Thich Nhat Hanh, Henri Nouwen, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Rohr, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray to name a few.

For someone wondering if this is the path for them, what does it mean to say yes?

“Come and see” what God has in store for you. Come and see how you can be a conduit of God’s love and goodness. Come and see how you can inspire congregants to serve others. Come and see the beauty and the humility of widening your embrace. Come and see how your Yes to God is much more powerful than your fear of the unknown. To quote Mary Oliver in The Summer Day,
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?”

Dear Ones,

As we prepare to enter the 10th year of our episcopacy—this relationship of bishop and people of God in this diocese—I thank God for you. I thank God for what you continue to teach me about being a faithful Christian. It continues to be the great privilege of my life to be your bishop and chief pastor, particularly in this moment in history.

This Annual Report is not just a summary of our life in the Diocese of Indianapolis in 2025. It is one of the ways we tell the story of YOUR incredible faithfulness in worship, ministry, and witness all for the sake of Christ’s love. I hope you see yourself reflected in these pages, statistics, and images. It truly takes all of us to be the body of Christ and to be the Diocese of Indianapolis.

Faithfully,

Scroll down to read in Spanish. / Desplázate hacia abajo para leer en español.

A letter to our fellow Americans.

We, the undersigned bishops of The Episcopal Church, write today out of grief, righteous anger, and steadfast hope.

What happened a week ago in Minnesota and is happening in communities across the country runs counter to God’s vision of justice and peace. This crisis is about more than one city or state—it’s about who we are as a nation. The question before us is simple and urgent: Whose dignity matters?

In the wake of the tragic deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, we join Minnesotans and people across the nation in mourning two precious lives lost to state-sanctioned violence. We grieve with their families, their friends, and everyone harmed by the government’s policies. When fear becomes policy, everyone suffers.

We call on Americans to trust their moral compass—and to question rhetoric that trades in fear rather than the truth. As Episcopalians, our moral compass is rooted firmly in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is what we know. Women were shoved to the ground, children torn from their families, and citizens silenced and demeaned for exercising their constitutional rights. These actions sow fear, cast doubt, and wear us down with endless noise.

We cannot presume to speak for everyone or prescribe only one way to respond. For our part, we can only do as Jesus’ teaching shows us.

A Call for Action

This is a moment for action. We call on people of faith to stand by your values and act as your conscience demands.

We urge the immediate suspension of ICE and Border Patrol operations in Minnesota and in any community where enforcement has eroded public trust. Because the rule of law is weakened, not strengthened, when power is exercised without restraint.

We also call for transparent, independent investigations of the people killed—investigations centered on truth, not politics. Justice cannot wait, and accountability is essential to healing.

We call on the elected officials of our nation to remember the values that we share, including the rule of law. Rooted in our Constitution, it ensures that law—not the arbitrary will of individuals—governs us all, protecting individual rights, ensuring fairness, and maintaining stability.

A Shared Commitment

Every act of courage matters. We must keep showing up for one another. We are bound together because we are all made in the image of God. This begins with small, faithful steps.

As bishops in the Episcopal Church, we promise to keep showing up—to pray, to speak, and to stand with every person working to make our communities just, safe, and whole.

We are committed to making our communities safer and more compassionate:

  • So children can walk to school without fear.
  • So families can shop, work, and worship freely.
  • So we recognize the dignity of every neighbor—immigrant communities, military families, law enforcement officers, nurses, teachers, and essential workers alike.

You may feel powerless, angry, or heartbroken right now. Know that you’re not alone.

Each of us has real power: community power, financial power, political power, and knowledge power. We can show up for our neighbors, support small businesses and food banks, contact elected officials and vote, and learn our rights so we can speak up peacefully without fear.

Choosing Hope

This crisis is about more than one city or state—it’s about who we are as a nation. The question before us is simple and urgent: Whose dignity matters?

Our faith gives a clear answer: everyone’s.

Safety built on fear is an illusion. True safety comes when we replace fear with compassion, violence with justice, and unchecked power with accountability. That’s the vision our faith calls us to live out—and the promise our country is meant to uphold.

In the face of fear, we choose hope.

By the grace of God, may this season of grief become a season of renewal. May courage rise from lament, and love take root in every heart.

Faithfully,

† The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White, Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev Gladstone B. Adams, III, X Bishop of Central New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut

† The Rt. Rev. Diana D. Akiyama, Bishop of Oregon

† The Rt. Rev. David A. Alvarez, VI Bishop of Puerto Rico (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Lucinda Beth Ashby, Bishop of El Camino Real

† The Rt. Rev. David C. Bane, IX Bishop of Southern Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker, Bishop of Nebraska

† The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Bascom, Bishop of Kansas

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of Indianapolis

† The Rt. Rev. Nathan D. Baxter, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, X Bishop of Newark (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop Provisional Missionary Diocese of Navajoland

† The Rt. Rev. Patrick W. Bell, Bishop of Eastern Oregon

† The Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase, OA, X Bishop of Georgia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Allen Bourlakas, Assistant Bishop of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, IX Bishop of Southern Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, Assistant Bishop of North Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, Assisting Bishop of Los Angeles

† The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, Bishop of Delaware

† The Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Brown, Bishop of Maine

† The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of San Diego

† The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, Bishop Suffragan of Los Angeles (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington

† The Rt. Rev. Elías García Cárdenas, Bishop of Colombia

† The Rt. Rev. Paula E. Clark, Bishop of Chicago

† The Rt. Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas, Bishop Suffragan of West Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Matthew Cowden, Bishop of West Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Curry, Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, XXVII Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss, X Bishop of New Jersey (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Assisting Bishop of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe, Bishop of Central New York

† The Rt. Rev. J. Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark D.W. Edington, Bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe

† The Rt. Rev. Dan Edwards, XII Bishop of Nevada (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, VIII Bishop of Iowa (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher, Bishop of Western Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Bishop of Hawai’i

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Folts, VIII Bishop of West Texas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jonathan H. Folts, Bishop of South Dakota

† The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Assisting Bishop of Long Island

† The Rt. Rev. Sally French, Bishop of New Jersey

† The Rt. Rev. J. Michael Garrison, X Bishop of Western New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, XVI Bishop of Massachusetts (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Assisting Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Assisting Bishop of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, VI Bishop of Eastern Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, Bishop of Pennsylvania

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas Hahn, VII Bishop of Lexington (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Michael Hanley, X Bishop of Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John T.W. Harmon, Bishop of Arkansas

† The Rt. Rev. Gayle Elizabeth Harris, Assistant Bishop of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, XI Bishop of Utah (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Susan B. Haynes, Bishop of Southern Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of New York

† The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., Bishop Suffragan of Texas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., XI Bishop of Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Barry R. Howe, VII Bishop of West Missouri (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop of Newark

† The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Hunn, Bishop of the Rio Grande

† The Rt. Rev. Robert W. Ihloff, XIII Bishop of Maryland (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. James I. Jelinek, VIII Bishop of Minnesota (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson, III Bishop of West Tennessee (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of Missouri

† The Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly, Bishop of Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Charles I. Jones, VII Bishop of Montana (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. David Colin Jones, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, VII Bishop of West Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, SOSc, Bishop of Rhode Island

† The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, VIII Bishop of Maine (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Krotz, IX Bishop of Nebraska (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Philip N. LaBelle, Bishop of Olympia

† The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop Provisional of Western New York,

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Lattime, Bishop of Alaska,

† The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, XII Bishop of Chicago (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee, Jr., Bishop of the Great Lakes (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Logue, Bishop of Georgia

† The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, Bishop of Minnesota

† The Rt. Rev. Kym Lucas, Bishop of Colorado

† The Rt. Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, Bishop of Vermont

† The Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of Northwest Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell, VIII Bishop of Pittsburgh (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jack McKelvey, VII Bishop of Rochester (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello, Bishop of Connecticut

† The Rt. Rev. Juan Carlos Quiñonez Mera, Bishop of Central Ecuador

† The Rt. Rev. Rodney Michel, Bishop Suffragan of Long Island (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of Iowa

† The Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, X Bishop of Colorado (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop Provisional of Wyoming

† The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Bishop of Western Louisiana

† The Rt. Rev. George E. Packard, Bishop Suffragan of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Bonnie A. Perry, Bishop of Michigan

† The Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, Jr., Assisting Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior, X Bishop of Minnesota (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island

† The Rt. Rev. John Rabb, Bishop Suffragan of Maryland (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rayford J. Ray, Bishop of Northern Michigan

† The Rt. Rev. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall, Bishop of Arizona

† The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, Bishop of Oklahoma

† The Rt. Rev. Gretchen Rehberg, Bishop of Spokane

† The Rt. Rev. David Rice, Bishop of San Joaquin

† The Rt. Rev. Austin K. Rios, Bishop of California

† The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries for the Episcopal Church

† The Rt. Rev. Bavi (Nedi) Rivera, VII Bishop of Eastern Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf, Bishop of West Tennessee

† The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, IX Bishop of New Hampshire (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Samuel S. Rodman, Bishop Diocesan of North Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan, Bishop Diocesan of the Susquehanna

† The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, IX Bishop of Iowa (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Bishop of Maryland

† The Rt. Rev. Gordon P. Scruton, VIII Bishop of Western Massachusetts, (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Brian Seage, Assisting Bishop of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. James J. Shand, X Bishop of Easton (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer, Bishop of Rochester

† The Rt. Rev. Allen Shin, Bishop Suffragan of New York

† The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, XV Bishop of New York (Retired)

† The Most Rev. Melissa M. Skelton, Bishop Provisional of Olympia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rob Skirving, Bishop of East Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, XI Bishop of Alabama (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. William E. Smalley, VIII Bishop of Kansas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, XIV Bishop of Connecticut (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, X Bishop of Missouri (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas E. Sparks, Bishop of Northern Indiana

† The Rt. Rev. Phyllis Spiegel, Bishop of Utah

† The Rt. Rev. Marty Stebbins, Bishop Diocesan of Montana

† The Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop Diocesan of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. William H. Stokes, XII Bishop of New Jersey (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. George Sumner, XII Bishop of Dallas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Assisting Bishop of Washington

† The Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor, VI Bishop of Western North Carolina (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Bishop of Los Angeles

† The Rt. Rev. Jos Tharakan, Bishop of Idaho

† The Rt. Rev. Brian Thom, Bishop of North Dakota

† The Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr., XI Bishop of Louisiana (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John S. Thornton, XI Bishop of Idaho (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Martin G.Townsend, IX Bishop of Easton, MD (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair, Bishop of Northern California

† The Rt. Rev. Michael L. Vono, IX Bishop of the Rio Grande (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Pierre W. Whalon, IX Bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Keith B. Whitmore, V Bishop of Eau Claire (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth, Bishop Diocesan of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Arthur B. Williams, Jr., Bishop Suffragan of Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah D. Williamson, Bishop of Albany

† The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop of South Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. Wayne P. Wright, X Bishop of Delaware (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, Bishop of Atlanta

† The Rt. Rev. George D. Young, III, III Bishop of East Tennessee (Retired)


Carta a nuestros compatriotas estadounidenses.

Nosotros, los obispos de la Iglesia Episcopal abajo firmantes, escribimos hoy movidos por el dolor, la indignación justificada y la esperanza inquebrantable.

Lo que está sucediendo en Minnesota y en comunidades de todo el país va en contra de la visión de justicia y paz de Dios. Esta crisis va más allá de una ciudad o un estado: tiene que ver con quiénes somos como nación. La pregunta que se nos plantea es sencilla y urgente: ¿La dignidad de quién importa?

Tras la trágica muerte de dos ciudadanos estadounidenses, Alex Pretti y Renee Good, nos unimos a los habitantes de Minnesota y a personas de todo el país en el duelo por dos vidas preciosas perdidas a causa de la violencia sancionada por el Estado. Lloramos con sus familias, sus amigos y todas las personas perjudicadas por las políticas del gobierno. Cuando el miedo se convierte en política, todos sufren.

Hacemos un llamado a los estadounidenses para que confíen en su brújula moral, no en la retórica falsa. Como episcopalianos, nuestra brújula moral está firmemente arraigada en el Evangelio de Jesucristo.

Esto es lo que sabemos. La verdad está a la vista: mujeres empujadas al suelo, niños separados de sus familias y ciudadanos silenciados y humillados por ejercer sus derechos constitucionales. Estas acciones siembran el miedo, siembran la duda y nos agotan con un

ruido interminable.

No podemos pretender hablar en nombre de todos ni prescribir una única forma de responder. Por nuestra parte, solo podemos hacer lo que nos enseña Jesús.Un llamamiento a la acción Este es un momento para actuar. Hacemos un llamamiento a las personas de fe para que defiendan sus valores y actúen según les dicte su conciencia.

Instamos a la suspensión inmediata de las operaciones del ICE y de la Patrulla Fronteriza en Minnesota y en cualquier comunidad donde la aplicación militarizada de la ley haya puesto en peligro a los residentes o destruido la confianza pública.

También pedimos investigaciones transparentes e independientes sobre las personas asesinadas, investigaciones centradas en la verdad, no en la política. La justicia no puede esperar, y la rendición de cuentas es esencial para la sanación.

Hacemos un llamado a los funcionarios electos de nuestra nación para que recuerden los valores que compartimos, incluido el estado de derecho. Arraigado en nuestra Constitución, garantiza que la ley, y no la voluntad arbitraria de los individuos, nos gobierne a todos, protegiendo los derechos individuales, asegurando la equidad y manteniendo la estabilidad.

Un compromiso compartido

Cada acto de valentía importa. Debemos seguir apoyándonos unos a otros. Estamos unidos porque todos somos creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios. Esto comienza con pequeños pasos fieles.

Como obispos de la Iglesia Episcopal, prometemos seguir apoyando, orando, hablando y estando al lado de todas las personas que trabajan para que nuestras comunidades sean justas, seguras y completas. Nos comprometemos a hacer que nuestras comunidades sean más seguras y compasivas:

Para que los niños puedan ir a la escuela sin miedo.

Para que las familias puedan comprar, trabajar y practicar su religión libremente.

Para que reconozcamos la dignidad de todos nuestros vecinos: comunidades de inmigrantes, familias de militares, agentes de la ley, enfermeros, maestros y trabajadores esenciales por igual.

Es posible que en este momento se sienta impotente, enojado o desconsolado. Sepa que no está solo. Cada uno de nosotros tiene un poder real: el poder de la comunidad, el poder financiero, el poder político y el poder del conocimiento. Podemos apoyar a nuestros vecinos, respaldar a las pequeñas empresas y los bancos de alimentos, ponernos en contactocon los funcionarios electos y votar, y conocer nuestros derechos para poder expresarnos pacíficamente sin miedo.

Elegir la esperanza

Esta crisis va más allá de una ciudad o un estado: se trata de quiénes somos como nación. La pregunta que se nos plantea es sencilla y urgente: ¿La dignidad de quién importa?

Nuestra fe nos da una respuesta clara: la de todos.

La seguridad basada en el miedo es una ilusión. La verdadera seguridad llega cuando sustituimos el miedo por la compasión, la violencia por la justicia y el poder sin control por la responsabilidad. Esa es la visión que nuestra fe nos llama a vivir, y la promesa que nuestro país debe cumplir.

Ante el miedo, elegimos la esperanza.

Por la gracia de Dios, que esta temporada de dolor se convierta en una temporada de renovación. Que el valor surja del lamento y el amor eche raíces en cada corazón.

Fielmente,

† The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White, Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev Gladstone B. Adams, III, X Bishop of Central New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut

† The Rt. Rev. Diana D. Akiyama, Bishop of Oregon

† The Rt. Rev. David A. Alvarez, VI Bishop of Puerto Rico (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Lucinda Beth Ashby, Bishop of El Camino Real

† The Rt. Rev. David C. Bane, IX Bishop of Southern Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker, Bishop of Nebraska

† The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Bascom, Bishop of Kansas

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of Indianapolis

† The Rt. Rev. Nathan D. Baxter, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, X Bishop of Newark (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop Provisional Missionary Diocese of Navajoland

† The Rt. Rev. Patrick W. Bell, Bishop of Eastern Oregon

† The Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase, OA, X Bishop of Georgia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Allen Bourlakas, Assistant Bishop of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, IX Bishop of Southern Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, Assistant Bishop of North Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, Assisting Bishop of Los Angeles

† The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, Bishop of Delaware

† The Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Brown, Bishop of Maine

† The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of San Diego

† The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, Bishop Suffragan of Los Angeles (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington

† The Rt. Rev. Elías García Cárdenas, Bishop of Colombia

† The Rt. Rev. Paula E. Clark, Bishop of Chicago

† The Rt. Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas, Bishop Suffragan of West Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Matthew Cowden, Bishop of West Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Curry, Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, XXVII Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss, X Bishop of New Jersey (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Assisting Bishop of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe, Bishop of Central New York

† The Rt. Rev. J. Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark D.W. Edington, Bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe

† The Rt. Rev. Dan Edwards, XII Bishop of Nevada (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, VIII Bishop of Iowa (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher, Bishop of Western Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Bishop of Hawai’i

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Folts, VIII Bishop of West Texas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jonathan H. Folts, Bishop of South Dakota

† The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Assisting Bishop of Long Island

† The Rt. Rev. Sally French, Bishop of New Jersey

† The Rt. Rev. J. Michael Garrison, X Bishop of Western New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, XVI Bishop of Massachusetts (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Assisting Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Assisting Bishop of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, VI Bishop of Eastern Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, Bishop of Pennsylvania

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas Hahn, VII Bishop of Lexington (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Michael Hanley, X Bishop of Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John T.W. Harmon, Bishop of Arkansas

† The Rt. Rev. Gayle Elizabeth Harris, Assistant Bishop of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, XI Bishop of Utah (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Susan B. Haynes, Bishop of Southern Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of New York

† The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., Bishop Suffragan of Texas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., XI Bishop of Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Barry R. Howe, VII Bishop of West Missouri (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop of Newark

† The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Hunn, Bishop of the Rio Grande

† The Rt. Rev. Robert W. Ihloff, XIII Bishop of Maryland (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. James I. Jelinek, VIII Bishop of Minnesota (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson, III Bishop of West Tennessee (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of Missouri

† The Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly, Bishop of Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Charles I. Jones, VII Bishop of Montana (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. David Colin Jones, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, VII Bishop of West Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, SOSc, Bishop of Rhode Island

† The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, VIII Bishop of Maine (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. James E. Krotz, IX Bishop of Nebraska (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Philip N. LaBelle, Bishop of Olympia

† The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop Provisional of Western New York,

† The Rt. Rev. Mark Lattime, Bishop of Alaska,

† The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, XII Bishop of Chicago (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee, Jr., Bishop of the Great Lakes (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Logue, Bishop of Georgia

† The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, Bishop of Minnesota

† The Rt. Rev. Kym Lucas, Bishop of Colorado

† The Rt. Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, Bishop of Vermont

† The Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of Northwest Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell, VIII Bishop of Pittsburgh (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jack McKelvey, VII Bishop of Rochester (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello, Bishop of Connecticut

† The Rt. Rev. Juan Carlos Quiñonez Mera, Bishop of Central Ecuador

† The Rt. Rev. Rodney Michel, Bishop Suffragan of Long Island (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of Iowa

† The Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, X Bishop of Colorado (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop Provisional of Wyoming

† The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Bishop of Western Louisiana

† The Rt. Rev. George E. Packard, Bishop Suffragan of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Bonnie A. Perry, Bishop of Michigan

† The Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, Jr., Assisting Bishop of Southern Ohio

† The Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior, X Bishop of Minnesota (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island

† The Rt. Rev. John Rabb, Bishop Suffragan of Maryland (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rayford J. Ray, Bishop of Northern Michigan

† The Rt. Rev. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall, Bishop of Arizona

† The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, Bishop of Oklahoma

† The Rt. Rev. Gretchen Rehberg, Bishop of Spokane

† The Rt. Rev. David Rice, Bishop of San Joaquin

† The Rt. Rev. Austin K. Rios, Bishop of California

† The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries for the Episcopal Church

† The Rt. Rev. Bavi (Nedi) Rivera, VII Bishop of Eastern Oregon (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf, Bishop of West Tennessee

† The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, IX Bishop of New Hampshire (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Samuel S. Rodman, Bishop Diocesan of North Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of New York (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan, Bishop Diocesan of the Susquehanna

† The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, IX Bishop of Iowa (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Bishop of Maryland

† The Rt. Rev. Gordon P. Scruton, VIII Bishop of Western Massachusetts, (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Brian Seage, Assisting Bishop of Texas

† The Rt. Rev. James J. Shand, X Bishop of Easton (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer, Bishop of Rochester

† The Rt. Rev. Allen Shin, Bishop Suffragan of New York

† The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, XV Bishop of New York (Retired)

† The Most Rev. Melissa M. Skelton, Bishop Provisional of Olympia (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rob Skirving, Bishop of East Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, XI Bishop of Alabama (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. William E. Smalley, VIII Bishop of Kansas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, XIV Bishop of Connecticut (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, X Bishop of Missouri (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Douglas E. Sparks, Bishop of Northern Indiana

† The Rt. Rev. Phyllis Spiegel, Bishop of Utah

† The Rt. Rev. Marty Stebbins, Bishop Diocesan of Montana

† The Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop Diocesan of Virginia

† The Rt. Rev. William H. Stokes, XII Bishop of New Jersey (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. George Sumner, XII Bishop of Dallas (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Assisting Bishop of Washington

† The Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor, VI Bishop of Western North Carolina (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Bishop of Los Angeles

† The Rt. Rev. Jos Tharakan, Bishop of Idaho

† The Rt. Rev. Brian Thom, Bishop of North Dakota

† The Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr., XI Bishop of Louisiana (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. John S. Thornton, XI Bishop of Idaho (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Martin G.Townsend, IX Bishop of Easton, MD (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair, Bishop of Northern California

† The Rt. Rev. Michael L. Vono, IX Bishop of the Rio Grande (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Pierre W. Whalon, IX Bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Keith B. Whitmore, V Bishop of Eau Claire (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth, Bishop Diocesan of Massachusetts

† The Rt. Rev. Arthur B. Williams, Jr., Bishop Suffragan of Ohio (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah D. Williamson, Bishop of Albany

† The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop of South Carolina

† The Rt. Rev. Wayne P. Wright, X Bishop of Delaware (Retired)

† The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, Bishop of Atlanta

† The Rt. Rev. George D. Young, III, III Bishop of East Tennessee (Retired)

Beloved,

The shocking and tragic death of Alex Pretti has weighed heavily on many hearts across our diocese, the nation, and world. Our lives are closely linked with so many in Minneapolis—through family, friendship, ministry, and shared witness. What impacts them reaches us as well. This is a heavy and urgent time, calling us to respond with both compassion and care, prayer and action.

In that spirit, I want to share a few important updates about how we are responding as a diocese, and how we are being invited to stand together in the days ahead.

First, please know that we are actively resourcing clergy and wardens-in-charge to help them respond faithfully and pastorally should there be increased ICE activity in our region. Our goal is to ensure that our people are met with care, clarity, and compassion, and that no one feels alone or unsupported in moments of fear or disruption. More guidance and resources will continue to be shared as they become available.

Second, for those who are asking how they might make a tangible difference beyond our immediate context, Bishop Craig Loya has asked that financial support be directed to Casa Maria in Minneapolis. This trusted ministry is responding directly to the needs of immigrant families and communities, and your generosity can make a real and immediate impact.

Finally, I want to share that I will be speaking tomorrow afternoon at the Prayer Vigil for the Immigrant Community at Miami Correctional Facility on Zoom. I am grateful for the opportunity to stand in prayer with others and to bear witness to our shared commitment to dignity, mercy, and justice.

I invite you, wherever you are, to continue praying for the soul of our country, for wisdom and courage among our leaders, and for the safety of all who call this place home.

Faithfully,

Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows

By: Elise Shrock, Diocesan Communication Director

Last week, members of the Episcopal Dioceses of Indianapolis and Northern Indiana stood shoulder-to-shoulder with people of faith at Faith in the Face of Fear, a rally and advocacy gathering at the Indiana Statehouse. An interfaith coalition of clergy and lay leaders offered prayers and prophetic witness, declaring with one voice that fear will not have the last word in our public spaces, and that love, justice, and courage belong to everyone.

Across the country and diocese, many from our own communities also took to streets and public spaces in the wake of the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a mother and neighbor whose life was ended in a moment of state violence that has called forth widespread grief and protest.

From the Statehouse steps to city corners and neighborhood vigils, we have gathered to stand with the most vulnerable, to lament and resist systems of fear, and to reaffirm that light breaks through the darkest night when we show up for one another.

As Bishop Jennifer reminded us in her convention address, now is the time to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Step by faithful step, we move forward together. May our witness continue, rooted in compassion and guided by the God who forever tells us: do not be afraid.

Contact:
Elise Shrock
Director of Communications
Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
317-625-1929 | shrock@indydio.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis announced today that it has been awarded a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the next phase of its Strengthening Stewardship & Deepening Connection Initiative. This capacity-building investment will expand the Diocese’s ability to support congregations, fortify organizational infrastructure, and prepare for a forthcoming capital campaign designed to nurture a vibrant, sustainable future for ministry across central and southern Indiana. 

The grant affirms what a recent feasibility study made clear: the people of the Diocese are ready to dream boldly, to invest in renewal, and to build a church prepared for the spiritual landscape ahead. That study revealed both the hunger and the hope already burning within the Dioceses’ congregations, who are ready to move faithfully and fearlessly toward growth, justice, and deeper connection. Lilly Endowment’s support confirms that this path is not only possible but powerful. 

“We’re grateful for this extraordinary affirmation of our vision,” said the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of Indianapolis. “This grant strengthens the foundation we are building together —a foundation rooted in generosity, relational ministry, and shared responsibility for the flourishing of every congregation in our Diocese.” 

The initiative, as outlined in the Diocese’s proposal, includes creating new staff positions to guide stewardship efforts, expanding coaching for congregational giving, enhancing support for young adult and youth ministry, and increasing capacity to design and host spiritually rich diocesan events. These investments will allow congregations to strengthen planned giving, deepen community engagement, and cultivate leadership for a new generation of faithful, connected Episcopalians. 

This grant also serves as a catalyst for the Diocese’s upcoming capital campaign. With feasibility affirmed and momentum growing, the Diocese moves into the next chapter of preparation with clarity, confidence, and renewed energy. 

“As we move toward launching our campaign, this funding allows us to act with purpose — not from scarcity, but from abundance,” continued Bishop Baskerville-Burrows. “It helps us meet congregations where they are, support them more fully, and build the shared capacity required for transformational ministry across our region.” 

The diocese is receiving the grant through Lilly Endowment’s Hoosier Churches Initiative. This initiative is designed to help strengthen the capacities of regional denominational organizations and church networks in Indiana to help their congregations thrive and contribute to quality of life in the local communities they serve. The grant to The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis is one of 37 that is receiving funding through the initiative. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis extends deep gratitude to Lilly Endowment Inc. for its continued partnership in strengthening the Church’s witness and work in the world. With this support, the Diocese steps forward, steady, hopeful, and ready for the future. 

This is just the beginning. Look for ongoing updates in our newsletter over the coming months!

                                                                         ###

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation established in 1937. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana. A primary focus of its religion grantmaking is strengthening congregations and pastoral and lay leadership across the United States.

About the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Led by the Right Reverend Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis is called by Christ to welcome and witness in central and southern Indiana. Grounded in God’s love in Christ, the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis and its people serve as beacons of Christ in central and southern Indiana and beyond, offer a generous invitation and welcome, stand with the vulnerable and marginalized to transform systems of injustice, connect with other Episcopalians, ecumenical and interfaith partners, and advocacy groups, and develop clergy and laity to lead the church of today and tomorrow.

© 2025 Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis