The 42nd Diocesan Convention took place on Saturday, November 5 using the same digital platform as 2021. An in-person Spring Renewal event will be held on April 28 and 29, 2023, which will include a banquet and face to face fellowship.
If you attended Diocesan Convention,or any of the pre-convention activities including the Deanery Meetings or Hearings, please take a moment to fill out a short survey to let us know how we did and what we can improve.
Thank you to everyone who put their name forward to stand for election this year especially those who were nominated for the first time! The slate of candidates for diocesan positions was diverse and representative of the membership of El Camino Real.
Congratulations to the following people who were elected to serve our diocese for the coming terms:
Standing Committee
The Rev. Jani Wild, St. Andrew’s Saratoga (4-year term)
Jacqueline M. Pierce, St. Mary’s By-The-Sea, Pacific Grove (4-year term)
Board of Trustees
Joe Head, St. Francis, Willow Glen (3-year term)
The Rev. Dcn. Robin M. Poppoff, St. Jude’s Cupertino (1-year term)
Jane Wu, St. Benedict’s, Los Osos (3-year term)
Commission on Ministry
Mary Ann Gee, St. Andrews, Saratoga (3-year term)
The Rev. Richard A. Towers, St. James’ Monterey and All Saints’ Day School (3-year term)
Rita May Welsh, St. Thomas’, Sunnyvale (1-year term)
General Convention Deputy Note: The order of Clergy and Lay deputies is based on the number of votes received and alternates will be substituted as needed in the order listed below.
Clergy
The Rev. Alejandra Trillos, Saint Paul/San Pablo, Salinas
The Rev. Rob Keim, St. Barnabas’, Arroyo Grande
The Rev. Katherine B. Doar, St. Phillip the Apostle, Scotts Valley
The Rev. Barbara Miller, St. James’ Paso Robles
Lay
Jeff Diehl, St. Barnabas’, Arroyo Grande
Timothy Gee, St. Andrew’s, Saratoga
Diana Trapani, Saint Paul/San Pablo, Salinas
Laura Learned, St. James’, Paso Robles
Alternate Deputies
Clergy
The Rev. Maly Hughes, St. Francis’ Willow Glen
The Rev. Aaron Klinefelter, St. Jude’s, Cupertino
The Rev. Dcn. Robin M. Poppoff, St. Jude’s, Cupertino
The Very Rev. Julia McCray-Goldsmith, Trinity Cathedral, San Jose
Lay
Jodi Scherer, All Saints’ Palo Alto
Georgianna Gleason, Saint Barnabas’, Arroyo Grande
Secretary of Convention
Jeff Diehl, Saint Barnabas’, Arroyo Grande (1-year term)
Diocesan Treasurer
Joanna Shreve, St. Timothy’s Mountain View (1-year term)
Missional Grants Committee Awards
The Missional Grants Committee is pleased to announce that they received eight applications for funding in 2023 and that all of the grants were funded. The sources of funding include the allocation for Mission Activity in the 2023 diocesan Operating Budget, Mission Opportunity Grants, and income from the board-designated endowment area for Mission Activities.
St. Paul’s/San Pablo, Salinas ($40,000) -- Leadership Development and continuing their ministry towards “unity as one church” by sharing leadership in parish governance and community outreach, providing Christian formation in English and Spanish, and actively seeking partnerships with other community groups
San Pablo Apostol, Seaside ($60,000) -- Leadership Development including plans for a course on Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and providing educational opportunities for people of all ages
All Saints Cristo Rey, Watsonville ($80,000) -- Development of a Missional Center for Ministry to engage the congregation with the community, leveraging current relationships, past experiences, and future opportunities
Episcopal Church in Almaden ($15,000) -- Supporting their “Church of the Future” project, already four years underway, with their Joint Venture with the United Church of Christ which shares their buildings and grounds.
St. Francis, San Jose ($30,000) -- Support for the Rev. Jonathan Liu, the leader of the Chinese brothers and sisters who are immigrants from China and who have joined the St. Francis congregation
St. Jude’s, Cupertino ($15,000) -- Supporting a project to reach out to the young adult community in the South Bay, “telling the story of our faith to an emerging generation.”
St. Luke’s, Hollister ($25,060) – Providing support for their bilingual and Christian Little Bridges Preschool during the period of the congregation’s transition to a new Priest-in-Charge
Trinity Cathedral, San Jose ($120,000) – Supporting their plans to call a Bilingual Canon for Leadership Development in their church community, and continuing to build up the Spanish-speaking congregation
Lay Preaching Course Applications Open for 2023 Cohorts in Spanish & English
The Diocese of El Camino Real School for ministry is now in partnership with the dioceses of Northern California and San Diego as The West Coast Collaborative. There are big plans for 2023 including the development and launch of a program for individuals preparing for ordination as Deacons. We are currently accepting applications for our course opening in the winter of 2023 to prepare individuals to apply for a Lay Preaching license. Similar to 2022, we are forming cohorts of students in Spanish and English and seeking adult learners of all ages and educational backgrounds who are actively involved in ministry in their congregations and demonstrate gifts in lay leadership. Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español.
Who is this for? Lay members of our congregations with gifts for preaching and leadership in ministry.
What will we study? Biblical exegesis and preaching theory and practice.
Where will we meet? On Zoom
When will we meet? Once each month on a weekday evening
What else will I need to do? Prepare for each Zoom session by watching video lectures and completing assigned reading and written reflections before we meet.
How much time will the preparation take? Every student is different but at least 4 - 12 hours per month
What if English is not my first language? We are currently designing the program for speakers of Spanish and English. If you need support in another language please contact us.
How long is the course? 12 Months (February 2023 - January 2024)
What will it cost? $180 and scholarships will be available. Congregations will be encouraged partner in supporting their students if needed. The intention is for this to be an affordable opportunity for any students who show the gifts for lay preaching and leadership.
Is there anything else? The course will culminate in an in-person preaching retreat.
Request a letter of recommendation from your Rector/Vicar/Priest in Charge
Questions? Contact The Rev. Katherine B. Doar, School for Ministry Dean, Diocese of El Camino Real at katherine@realepiscopal.org.
Diocese of El Camino Real Advent Retreat – You are invited to a diocese-wide Advent Retreat and we hope you will join us! There will be three retreats, with the hope that one is happening near you. On Saturday, December 3rd we will be at St. Francis in Willow Glen (San Jose), on Saturday, December 10th, we will be at St. Stephen's in San Luis Obispo, and on Saturday, December 17th, we will be at St. Paul’s/San Pablo in Salinas. We will gather at 9:30am for worship, Bible study, and reflection. You are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring a journal or computer, if you are someone who enjoys writing while reflecting. Lunch will be provided, and there is a $10 suggested donation to help with the cost of lunch, but this is not a required contribution. The retreat will end by 3pm. The theme of the day is “Courage in the Wilderness” and the retreat will be led by Canon Martha Korienek; on December 17th the retreat will be co-led with the Rev. Ale Trillos, and will be bilingual in English and Spanish. Questions? Please email Canon Martha at canonmartha@realepiscopal.org. To register, please click the image above.
La Diócesis del El Camino Real ofrecerá un retiro de Adviento (en español y en inglés)- Estas invitado(a) el sábado 17 de diciembre a St. Paul's/San Pablo en Salinas (1071 Pajaro Street). Esperamos que te unas a nosotros. Nos reuniremos a las 9:30am para adoración, estudio bíblico y reflexión. Se te pide que te vistas con ropa cómoda y traigas un cudernillo o tu computadora, si tu eres una persona que medita a traves de la escritura. Se proveera el almuerzo y se pide una contribucion de $10 dolares, no es requerido, tambien puedes traer tu propio emparedado. El retiro terminara a las 3 de la tarde. El tema del dia sera "Coraje en el desierto". Este restiro sera dirigido por la Rev. Canóniga Martha Korienek [inglés] y la Reverenda Alejandra "Ale" Trillos [español]. Si tienes preguntas, puedes escribirle a la Canon Martha a canonmartha@realepiscopal.org. Para registrarte haga clic en la imagen de arriba.
Storied Pilgrimage with Race in 2023
Storied Pilgrimage with Race is our diocesan anti-racism curriculum, which you can find on the diocesan website, HERE. The completion of this program is required for all those in diocesan leadership, all clergy, and all Lay Eucharistic Visitors; it is strongly encouraged for those in parish leadership, such as staff and vestry. All are welcome.
We will gather once each month in 2023 over Zoom and journey through the curriculum together. There are two sessions, a morning session (9:30am to 11am) and an evening session (7pm to 8:30pm); you can indicate which session you're signing up for when you register.
We will be meeting on: Jan. 25, Feb. 23, March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 15, and Dec. 6.
The Canon to the Ordinary, Canon Martha Korienek, will be leading the sessions. If you have any questions, you can email her at canonmartha@realepiscopal.org
Lame-duck congress - We’re entering the lame duck session of the 117th Congress with some meaningful legislation waiting to be passed. Now is the time to be active! Take action through our Action Alerts—write again even if you’re written before, and invite friends and family to write their elected officials too.
COP27 - November 8 - November 18 - COP27, the 27th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, is the international conference where nations are updating their commitments to addressing climate change. On November 30 at 9:00 am Pacific gather with Episcopal advocates and ecumenical partners to hear our Presiding Bishop’s Delegation will report on their witness at the conference and summaries from the results of the negotiations. They will finish with a faith-led vision of the future of Episcopal advocacy around climate change. You can register to attend this gathering via Zoom. REGISTER HERE.
Grant applications open for Episcopal Church Constable Fund, Roanridge Trust
Applications are open for two grant opportunities offered annually by The Episcopal Church—Constable Fund grants, which focus on religious education, and Roanridge Trust grants, which support leadership development in small towns and rural communities.
The application deadline for both is tomorrow Nov. 18. Application requirements and an application form can be found online in English, Spanish, and French.
Ya está abierto el periodo de recepción de solicitudes para dos oportunidades de subvención que anualmente ofrece la Iglesia Episcopal: las subvenciones del Fondo Constable, que se enfocan en la educación religiosa, y las subvenciones del Fideicomiso Roanridge, que fomentan el desarrollo de liderazgo en pequeñas ciudades y comunidades rurales.
La fecha límite para presentar las solicitudes para cualquiera de los fondos es mañana el18 de noviembre. Los requisitos y el formulario de solicitud se pueden encontrar en línea en inglés, español y francés.
Resource Center News
We have a few new things to share with you – some Advent programs and some new adult as well as children’s books.
Have you searched our Online Catalog? Here you will find all the latest books on the New Book tab. You can view everything without a login and password, you just can’t reserve or request a book. One quick way to reserve what you want or to ask questions is to send Carol Campbell an email at ResourceCenter@stthomas-svale.us
Remember – we will ship free of charge. We ask you to pay for return shipping. Please feel free to use Media or Library Mail when returning as that will save you money. There is a mail drop box outside the office wing, and it has a large 4 ½ by 11 opening.
Episcopal Relief & Development Partners with The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe to Aid Ukrainian Refugees
The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, the European presence of The Episcopal Church, has a long history of ministry to refugees dating back to before World War I. Since the late 1980s, the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center (JNRC) – based at Saint Paul’s Within the Walls in Rome – has provided direct service to refugees from countless countries, helping them rebuild shattered lives.
Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund will help the organization and its partners continue to provide assistance to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine.
St. Paul's-San Pablo Episcopal Church in Salinas is holding a Christmas Pop Up Event
Join us on Sunday, December 4th from 10am - 3:00pm. You can host a sales table for a $25 donation fee. There is limited space available, so if you are interested in participating please fill out an application as soon as possible by clicking here.
Music & Mulled Wine at Saint Mary's By The Sea!
You’re invited to attend a holiday concert of the great masters of German organ music performed by Nicholas Mourlam followed by a festive reception with Glühwein (mulled wine) on Saturday, December 10, at 2:00 pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (146 12th Street in Pacific Grove).
Tickets ($20) are available for either in-person or private link LiveStream at musicandmulledwine.eventbrite.com, or contact the church office at (831) 373-4441.
The Episcopal Church in Almaden
Parish Meeting (non-visitation)
24-27
Office Closed for Thanksgiving
30
Confirmations at St. Mary’s,
Pacific Grove
December
3
Spanish Language Worship
Leader Training
8
Bishop Visit to Church Divinity
School of the Pacific
9
Ending of a Pastoral Relationship for
the Rev. Shelley Denney at the
Episcopal Church in Almaden
11
St. James, Paso Robles
18
All Saints, Carmel
24
All Saints/Cristo Rey
24 - Jan 2
Office Closed for Christmas and
New Year’s
Job Opportunities
The Diocese of El Camino Real is looking for a Human Resources, Finance, and Insurance Administrator at the Sargent House office in Salinas. Please click to read the job description in English and Español. For more information or to submit a resume and cover letter, please contact Kirstin Nielsen, Bishop’s Assistant at: kirstin@realepiscopal.org.
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church seeks a Director of Music/Organist to establish and maintain a robust and inspiring music program that incorporates corporate worship and invites broad participation by the choir and congregation. Click here to see the job description.
St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Pacific Grove, is seeking a Children, Youth, and Family Minister. Read the job description via the link for the position.
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