By Jayne Osgood
The Episcopal Church’s 80th General Convention in Baltimore this summer seems to have been a glorious celebration of beloved community! As the last BBC newsletter headlined, “We Won’t Turn Back,” and with so many resolutions lifting up the ideals of racial justice, reconciliation, and healing, the title stands strong and steady in its proclamation.
There were 36 race-related resolutions that were passed and concurred by both houses of General Convention! 36!
Sacred Ground is in full witness with the spirit of these resolutions. For example, look for a moment at Resolution D090 that thanked the House of Bishops Theology Committee for the teachings on racism and white supremacy and then suggested that further study and action be pursued.
Or Resolution 125 (“Extending and Furthering the Beloved Community”) with its intentional focus on creating The Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice and inviting every one of us to a “lifelong vocation of racial justice and equity and the dismantling of white supremacy.”
Resolution 127 (“Telling the Truth about The Episcopal Church’s History with Indigenous Boarding Schools”) asks us to acknowledge, engage, and support a complete and comprehensive investigation of the church’s complicity in the egregious history of Episcopal-run Indigenous boarding schools.
Sacred Ground invites circles of people, small communities, one at a time to lift up and be fully active in the spirit of these resolutions. Look at revised Sacred Ground sessions 9 and 10, and the new session 11. Consider the connections with truth-telling, and opportunities to seek reckoning and repentance, and then answer the call to action. It’s all there! We are a mighty tool for advancing the beloved community.
Please put the fall kickoff webinar date on your calendars: Sept. 15 at 1:30-3 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. CT, 11:30 a.m. MT, 10:30 a.m. PT, 9:30 a.m. Hawaii, 8:30 a.m. Alaska) – register here. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be our special guest and will share his vision for racial reckoning and justice ministry and bless everyone on the Sacred Ground journey. Following our time with Bishop Curry, we will learn from leaders skilled at welcoming new (and perhaps skeptical) people into race conversations and explore strategies for transitioning into action and community engagement (including organizing groups for the new sessions 10 and 11). Please feel free to invite participants, past participants who are looking for next steps, leaders, and anyone involved with Sacred Ground.
Jayne Osgood is a facilitator for Sacred Ground circles and a member of both the Washington National Cathedral Congregation and Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia.