Human Rights Peacebuilding
Human Rights & Peacebuilding The Episcopal Church supports legislation and policies that protect human rights, prevent atrocities, promote gender justice, and work towards reconciliation around the world. We do so in partnership with provinces throughout the Anglican Communion. Featured Actions Peace and Conflict We call on the U.S. government and governments around the world to […]
Finding Purpose and Resilience: My Year as a YASC Volunteer in Sri Lanka
My name is John Buterbaugh and I served as a YASC volunteer in Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2023. Having been a special education teacher at an inner-city middle school, I experienced many of the difficulties that many teachers around the country were feeling. I wanted to take on a new opportunity to explore my […]
We make our plans, but God guides our paths
A YASC reflection by Henry M. Bibelheimer (Oklahoma) My name is Henry Bibelheimer and I served as a Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) volunteer in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines from 2018 to 2020. When each new YASC application season begins, I think about where I was in the fall of 2017. I had […]
OGR Advocacy Newsletter December 2021
Dear Friends, As the year comes to a close, we hope that many of you are able to spend some time with family and friends and celebrate Christmas. We also acknowledge that many of you may be confronting pain and loss this season of Advent – loss of loved ones from COVID, addiction and overdose, […]
#16Days: The Pandemic of Violence Against Women
By Yvonne O’Neal, Diocese of New York In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Task Force on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Office of Congregational Vitality and Formation of the Diocese of New York held a virtual round table discussion, People of Faith Respond […]
Modern Slavery: An Urgent Crisis
By Rushad Thomas Human traffickers deny nearly 25 million people their fundamental right to freedom. The U.S. State Department reports that trafficking victims are regularly exploited for sex, labor, criminal activity, and forced marriages. In the United States, both citizens and immigrants fall victim to this heinous crime. In 2019 alone, the National Human Trafficking […]
Women and the Media
Statement of The Episcopal Church on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Decision to Reject Refugee Resettlement
The Episcopal Church condemns Gov. Abbott’s decision to reject refugee resettlement in 2020. Texas has long served as a strong partner in the work of welcoming some of the most vulnerable individuals in the world to peace, safety, and a bright future. Texas Episcopalians have also given generously of their time, talents, and treasure to […]
Episcopal Church statement on Texas Gov. Abbott’s decision to reject refugee resettlement
The Episcopal Church condemns Gov. Abbott’s decision to reject refugee resettlement in 2020. Texas has long served as a strong partner in the work of welcoming some of the most vulnerable individuals in the world to peace, safety, and a bright future. Texas Episcopalians have also given generously of their time, talents, and treasure to […]
Meet the 2019-2020 UTO Intern: Isabelle Watkins
The UTO Board gratefully and joyfully welcomes Isabelle Watkins as the fourth UTO intern. We have learned from each of the young women who have joined us as interns, and we anticipate the exchange of learning and mentoring with Isabelle. Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board president, shared: “She will bring the energy and enthusiasm of youth […]
Exploring Ecumenical Advocacy: Sisterhood of Suffering, Sisterhood of Joy
The following was written during the United Nations 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the language has been preserved to reflect the time of authoring. This first week of the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was, for me, a time of remembering and […]
QUARTERLY ASIAMERICA MISSIONER UPDATE
1. EPISCOPAL ASIAMERICA MISSIONER’S OFFICE: The mission of Asiamerica Ministries Office is three-fold: To enable, equip and empower ministries among Asian immigrants and Asian-Americans and help build bridges to Asia and beyond. This involves partnership with dioceses in evangelism, church planting, revival and congregational development. Asiamerica Ministries have seven ethnic convocations: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, […]
When Rape is a War Game: Sexual Violence and Women's Wounds
The days between November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 10th, Human Rights Day, mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. “Civil Unrest,” “Violent Conflict” or “Internally Displaced People,” are terms we hear often without fully grasping their impact on human well-being. Unfortunately, civil unrest […]
Get to Know OGR Week 1: The Basics
In case you missed it, here is a review of week 1 of our campaign to Get to Know the Office of Government Relations! How well do you know the Office of Government Relations and The Episcopal Public Policy Network? We’re kicking off a 5-week campaign to Get to Know OGR, beginning with this welcome video […]
Searching for Home: North American (Im)migration and the Reign of God
It may have something to do with the peripatetic nature of the ministry I’ve engaged in the last couple of decades, but I am increasingly aware of and convinced of the enduring truth of all the journey imagery in scripture. It begins in the garden, as the earth creatures are sent forth and the gate […]
Her Story: #CSW62 – Maria Gonzalez, Diocese of Olympia
During the recent United Nations Commission on the Status of Women’s 62nd session (CSW62), our Church was present through the voices of many Episcopalians. Our blog series “Her Story: #CSW62” features the individual voices and stories of these Episcopalians, in their own words. In doing so, we not only amplify our own voices, but join […]
Lent 5: Purge me from my sin
Today we hear of the promise of a new covenant written not on stone but in our hearts. We hear Jesus speaking of being lifted up from the earth, and then buried in it that he might become in truth the first fruit of a redeemed humanity. While these texts invite us to look ahead […]
2018 EPPN Advocacy Priorities
As we continue to move further into the new legislative year, we would like to take the opportunity to highlight the priorities of The Office of Government Relations for 2018. Drawing from the priorities of General Convention and Episcopal Church leadership, we have structured our work around the three pillars of the Jesus Movement: Care […]
Advent 4: Repairing the Breach in Institutions and Society
Pray the Collect for This Sunday. Read the Scripture Together: Luke 1:26-38 Reflection: Here I Am … Imagine young Mary’s surprise: She has just learned she carries the Messiah in her womb. Impossible! Rather than balk at the enormity of her call, Mary leans into the power of the Spirit and says “yes.” The idea of healing and transforming […]