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Highlights inside

  • New guidelines for worship after June 15
  • Diocese condemns violence against AAPI people
  • Share your COVID learnings in Real Episcopal
  • Board of Trustees recap, immigration issues event & more

June 3, 2021

 
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Guidelines issued for "Post Tier" worship & gatherings

As June 15 approaches, the state of California expects to fully reopen and the COVID-19 color "tier" system will end. Bishop Lucinda Ashby sent a letter to clergy and church leaders with new worship and gathering protocols for the Diocese of El Camino Real.

"There is much to rejoice about while there is room for caution," she writes in the letter. "We are grateful that many are vaccinated, and that restrictions are loosening so families and friends may gather again in person after so much time apart."
 
"In meeting with the clergy of El Camino Real, it is evident that we are a diocese that cares deeply about those who are on the margins," she continues. "It is this consideration that must guide our next steps ... as a diocese, we commit to ongoing care of those who are vulnerable or unable to be vaccinated due to age, health conditions, or misinformation. As with those in the Early Church who altered their dietary practices so that all would be included, we will continue to adapt our practices so that all who wish to gather in-person may be welcomed and kept safe. Since children are currently not able to be vaccinated for COVID, we will be especially mindful of their health and safety and the concerns of their parents."
 
Until June 15, parishes will maintain the diocesan COVID protocols appropriate to the California tier system (as of this writing, all counties in the diocese except San Luis Obispo County are in Yellow Tier; SLO County remains in Orange Tier). After June 15, the protocols will be amended as follows:
 
Indoor gatherings: 100% capacity (if social distancing can be maintained), masks required, social distancing, communion in one kind (bread only), the choir may sing without masks at a distance of no less than 12 feet, soft congregational singing allowed behind masks.
 
Outdoor gatherings: 100% capacity, masks optional, but strongly suggested, social distancing strongly suggested, communion in one kind (bread only), the choir and the congregation may sing.
 
Other groups using parish facilities: Any groups using parish space must abide by diocesan and parish protocols.
 
Coffee hour and fellowship: Limited coffee hour with masks and distancing.  Food should be kept at a minimum, with monitored distribution using tongs and other proper utensils.
           
Please note that parishes’ protocols may be more restrictive than diocesan protocols to protect people in your context. Parish protocols may not be less restrictive than diocesan protocols. There is no need to submit updates to parish plans at this point. Read the full message from Bishop Lucinda here.

Above photo: St. Luke's, Atascadero worships indoors for Pentecost Sunday, the first time the congregation has gathered indoors since March 2020.

Bishop and diocesan leaders condemn violence against Asian Americans

Bishop Lucinda, the diocesan Standing Committee and the Board of Trustees acknowledged with sadness the recent increase in violence towards Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people. In a statement of solidarity with the AAPI community released June 2, the diocesan leadership bodies "utterly condemn all violent and discriminatory acts (physical, verbal and published) against the AAPI community, and call for justice and protection from such actions."

The June 2 statement cites the many contributions of Asian Americans to the nation, as well as the structural racism and anti-immigrant policies they have endured. "More recently, Asians in the U.S. have been scapegoated and blamed for the coronavirus at federal, state, and local levels," it reads. "This political rhetoric has served to fuel violence and heightened acts of racism. We call on the civil authorities to do all in their power to ensure safety, equality, fairness and justice for our fellow Americans. We also call on California educational institutions to include the significant contributions by AAPI people to America’s history and development."

The statement closes by noting that God loves all people equally and that Jesus had a special ministry with those who were marginalized. "We assure all Asian American and Pacific Islander people of our deep respect for the unique contributions and gifts they bring, refreshing and glorifying our shared Body." Read the full letter here.

St. Dunstan's, Carmel Valley featured on KSBW

St. Dunstan's, Carmel Valley was featured in a recent story by central coast "Action News" television station KSBW, who covered the church's return to indoor worship on May 23, Pentecost Sunday. The TV story can be viewed here.

"We've dreamed of this day and it's finally here," said Georgia Byrne, senior warden at St. Dunstan's, during the story. "I have been counting. Sixty-one Sundays, two Easters and one Christmas, several birthdays, a couple for some people." She and The Rev. Laurel Coote, rector of St. Dunstan's (above at left), were interviewed in the story. St. Dunstan's will also be featured in the summer issue of Real Episcopal magazine, along with Holy Family, San Jose and St. Luke's, Atascadero.

Share your COVID learning with Real Episcopal magazine!

We’re seeking your insights for a feature story in the summer issue of Real Episcopal magazine, to be published in late June. The story examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed and transformed people and equipped congregations for the future. Send your answer(s) to the following questions:
 
How has your understanding of the role of church changed this past year?
What is your understanding of church going forward?

 
Please email Elrond Lawrence, Communications Director, at elrond@realepiscopal.org with your response. A selection of responses will be featured. Thank you!

Board of Trustees' meeting highlights


Below are highlights from the May meeting of the diocesan Board of Trustees, held via Zoom:

Bishop Lucinda and the Board took some time during the meeting to reflect on and process the mass shooting at VTA in downtown San Jose.

The Rev. Katherine Doar, President of the Standing Committee, updated the Board on the ongoing canonical review and revision that has been undertaken by the Standing Committee and the Committee on Constitution and Canons, expected to be presented to the diocese in advance of this year’s diocesan convention.

The Board joined with the Bishop and the Standing Committee in approving the publication of a Joint Statement on condemning violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (above).

Minutes from the 2020-2021 board meetings will soon be available at the Board's web page at realepiscopal.org.

Building Faith en español


Building Faith has announced the launch of a new initiative, Building Faith en español. A number of articles in Spanish are already available with more to be posted each month. Visit buildfaith.org/en-espanol/ or Suscríbete aquí.

“No Longer Strangers”: A bilingual exploration of immigration issues


This month, join The Episcopal Church’s Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries, Episcopal Migration Ministries, and Forward Movement, for a conversation about No Longer Strangers: Exploring Immigration Issues.
 
The event, offered in both English and Spanish, will include keynote presentations by Bishop Michael Buerkel Hunn (Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande) and Bishop Susan Brown Snook (Episcopal Diocese of San Diego). Attendees will receive advance online access to a copy of No Longer Strangers: Exploring Immigration Issues, a 20-page bilingual booklet (English and Spanish) that encourages discussion of migration and immigration through the lens of scripture and shared Christian values. Read the full announcement in English and in Spanish.

No Longer Strangers: A Dialogue about Immigration
Meeting in English: June 15, 4– 5 p.m. PT
Register here.

Ya no son extranjeros: Un conversación sobre inmigración
Meeting in Spanish: June 22, 4– 5 p.m. PT
Register here.
Gender-based Violence, Police Reform & Advocacy
 
Keep Women and Girls Safe from the Start: The Keeping Women & Girls Safe from the Start Act expands the ability of the US government to prevent gender-based violence & provide early interventions at the onset of humanitarian emergencies. Urge the Senate to pass this legislation.
 
Urge Congress to Enact Police Reform: While a great deal of police reform occurs at the local level, the House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a bill that would set national standards and attempt to bring about lasting change to the ways that police departments operate. Now that legislation is in the Senate, and bipartisan talks are underway to come up with a bipartisan police reform bill that will become law. We ask you to contact your Senator urging them to take action on police reform, a key step in addressing systemic racism and providing long-overdue protections to communities of color.
 
OGR Advocacy Newsletter May 2021: The first few months of a new presidential administration are often a time of great activity as the new administration seeks to set a new tone and signal priorities. The beginning of a new Congressional session is also a time of increased legislative activity, when meaningful bills are introduced with a higher likelihood of passing. The past several months are no exception. Read the link for more.
- Episcopal Public Policy Network of California
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Submitting news to RealEpiscopal


Real Episcopal is published on the first, third and fifth Thursday of the month. News and event submissions must be received by 12 pm noon on the Friday before publication date. Please limit submissions to 150 words in text format (unless agreed to in advance) and include the "who-what-where-when-why" information in the first paragraph.

Photos are welcome. Please send jpeg files with a minimum size of 1100 pixels wide (for phone images, select "original size" when sending).

EVENTS: Announcements must be in text form, no more than 100 words, and must be accompanied by a link to a web page with full information (flyers may be included with submission).
All submissions will be edited for clarity and space needs. Church-specific event submissions will appear in no more than three issues per event.

News and/or story ideas should be emailed to Elrond Lawrence, diocesan communications director, at elrond@realepiscopal.org.
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