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May 13, 2024

On Friday night the Diocese will recognize Bishop Allen Shin on the tenth anniversary of his consecration as bishop suffragan.

I remember that day well. It was such a beautiful spring day and really joyful for the whole Diocese.

Bishop Shin spoke with me about what he values from his ministry as bishop— and what makes him hopeful for the future.

I’m grateful to Bishop Shin for his ministry and his kindness to me in my first months as bishop.

The celebration will be held on Friday from 6 pm until 9 pm at the Cathedral. I hope that you’ll take part. You can RSVP here.

Thanks to Canon Steven Lee, the Rev. Deacon Pam Tang, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, and everyone who’s coordinated the celebration.

Grace & Peace,

Tumeumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu tukiwa na utofauti.

Across our Diocese we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 14 languages.

Access this week’s info in these languages:

Spanish

Mandarin

Creole

We’ve announced Easter Invitations for immediate care and connection for our clergy and communities.

The most important thing we do is to care for each other because it’s a sign of God’s unconditional love for us.

We’ll respond to immediate needs as we continue through the Mission Review, which will help us set 5-year priorities that weave our pastoral fabric as a whole Diocese around the health, vibrancy, and power of our local communities.

We want to support local leaders-- clergy and congregations-- who are doing really hard things right now to follow the Spirit and re-imagine our communities.

Here’s an update on the three initiatives:

• Support for congregational care: We are appointing six retired clergy as missioners for congregational support to support the deans in providing pastoral care for clergy/ local communities. These missioners will serve for this calendar year while we are in transition to a new diocesan staffing structure. Canon Alissa Newton has named three of the six missioners; we are completing the appointments.

• Support for clergy wellness: The Clergy Critical Needs Fund will deploy $100,000 in immediate support for clergy wellness. Committee Co-Chairs Michelle Meech & Ben Nnaji are bringing together the committee this week.

• Support for local leaders: The bishops and canons are calling the clergy or lay leader in charge of every one of our congregations, as well as clergy in our chaplaincies, to listen to immediate needs and find ways to respond with immediate support. We have reached out to congregations and are scheduling calls.

The Ecumenical & Intereligious Commission will meet this week.

It’s my hope the Commission can facilitate a wider diocesan conversation about the Israel-Gaza war. General Convention this summer will consider resolutions related to Israel-Palestine and the war. This Church-wide discussion gives us the opportunity to talk together as a diocese.

The war and the protests have been very painful to many parts of our communities.

• As you know Bishop Shin, Bishop Glasspool, and I have deplored the October 7 attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas along with the devastation of Gaza by Israeli Defense Forces. We joined the call for a ceasefire and for open access to humanitarian aid.

• The Interreligious Commission has also discussed, and will continue this week.

The war has provoked protests around the country, including on our college campuses. 

• Our college chaplains at Columbia University & New York University— Ryan Kuratko & Megan Sanders —are providing support for the campuses.

• The Cathedral is providing safe and open space for everyone at a time when Columbia University is not safe.  The cathedral is hosting three events related to Columbia: (1) providing space for a daily lunch for students currently excluded from the dining halls (2) providing space last week for the Columbia college seniors dinner (3) hosting the alternative commencement next week for folks not comfortable/ welcome at the Columbia commencement. All events at the Cathedral are open to everyone.

• There have been no NYPD arrests at the Cathedral. We’ve given explicit instructions for the Cathedral not to cooperate with the NYPD around the Columbia protests.  

• Later this morning, I’ll meet with young adults in the diocese who are concerned about the church response to the war.  

Thanks to Interreligious Commission chair Curt Hart; NYU chaplain Megan Sanders, Columbia chaplain Ryan Kuratko; Cathedral dean Pat Malloy and Canons Steven Lee & Eva Suarez for their work and care.  

Last Friday night we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi at the Cathedral.

Li Tim-Oi was the first woman to be ordained in the Anglican Communion. The service served as celebration both of women’s ordination and Asian-American Pacific Islanders’ month.

The Rev. Dr. Fran Toy served as celebrant; Bishop Diana Akiyama preached.

Thanks to Canon Steven Lee, the Rev. Deacon Pam Tang, Janet Yieh, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, Yvonne O’Neal, Judi Counts, and Bishop Shin for their work on the service.

We’ll meet with the deans this week as we continue our discussion around the Mission Review.

Over the next month we’ll share draft 5-year priorities with our leadership & governance groups— Standing Committee, Trustees, Council, & Deans.

• Yesterday, I had a visitation to St. Michael’s Church in Manhattan for confirmations and for rededication of their new space. Thanks to the Rev. Kate Flexer & the Rev. Julie Hoplamazian for their welcome.

• Also yesterday I joined the celebration of Gisele Isador at the Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan in the Bronx. Thanks to the Rev. Sam Owen for his leadership and invitation.

• Today, I’m meeting with young adults in the Diocese about the Israel-Gaza war.

• Tonight, I’ll participate the weekly dinner at the Community of the Crossing at the Cathedral.

• Tomorrow, I’ll join the monthly deans meeting. Thanks to the Rev. Lauren Kuratko & the Rev. Kate Malin for their leadership.

• Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll host a gathering of stewardship and fund development staff at Ogilvie House. Thanks to Bruce Smith from St. Thomas Fifth Avenue for his leadership and to director of transition Elaine Delgado for coordinating.

• Wednesday, I’ll participate in the Clergy Critical Needs Committee meeting. Thanks to the Rev. Ben Nnaji & the Rev. Michelle Meech for their leadership.

• Also Wednesday, I’ll join the Ecumenical & Interreligious Commisison meeting. Thanks to the Rev. Curt Hart for his leadership.

• On Wednesday night, I’ll join the dinner with the General Convention deputation. Thanks to deputation chair Yvonne O’Neal for coordinating.

• On Saturday, I'll ordain Marcia Callender & Cindy McCloskey to the diaconate. Thanks to Rev. Canon Charles Simmons, Alito Orsini, & Canon Steven Lee for their work.

Cindy McCloskey & Marcia Callendar will be ordained deacon on Saturday morning at 10:30 am at the Cathedral.

The Rev. Deacon Ken Citarella will preach; Bishop Glasspool will celebrate as we share leadership for diocesan services.

Please pray for Marcia & Cindy as they prepare this week.

> Are you honoring someone in your community this spring?

Celebrating a milestone for years of service, a retirement, or a major birthday? Let us know. My colleague Arlene Bullard and I will send letters of appreciation.

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To reach me: You can always email Bpheyd@dioceseny.org, text (917-224-2094) me, or call if you’d like to connect.