| Dear Friends, This week I am in Charlotte with hundreds of leaders from across The Episcopal Church for the annual Episcopal Parish Network conference. Over the last few years, this gathering has become an important part of my spiritual wellbeing and professional development. EPN brings together folks from parishes with similar size and resources to St. Michael’s to consider emerging challenges and possibilities for faith and ministry in our times. We are learning from each another: what is being tried out there, how is it bearing fruit, how are our communities being called to meet and adapt to evolving spiritual, social, financial, generational, and strategic dynamics in parish ministry. We have not gathered here to peer longingly through the rose-colored lenses of religion. We are praying, worshiping, and gathering with wide awareness and intention, considering deeply the needs and longings of the very tangible world around us. We’ve looked at data, told stories, celebrated histories, and cast vision for how to engage the world as it is becoming. We’ve talked about generational transfer, changing demographics, the inevitability of AI, economics, and political turmoil. All of this, we have considered in faith and hope. Most of all (I mean to say that with intent—most of all), we’ve talked about Jesus. We have considered what it means to be Christians and Episcopalians in these troubling times. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe spoke clearly about the need for faithful witness. More than words, this witness is work (often below the surface, behind the scenes, and beyond merely making statements). This gospel work of mercy, justice and peace is rooted in the call of Jesus. It’s a call that comes amidst competing narratives and dangerous demands of christo-nationalism. We who Bishop Michael Curry has long called “the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement,” are called to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus, live the Beatitudes, and to walk always in the way of love. There is so much more to share and consider together. I can’t wait for all the conversations to come! **Side note: I am very excited to welcome my dear friend Jacob Breeze to be with us Sunday. Jacob is a priest and theologian who lives in Houston. He’ll be in Portland for the next week on retreat, and I can hardly believe the fortune of his yes to my invitation to preach at 9&11 and help teach our first Episcopal 101 session after the 11:00 service. It is going to be a great weekend together! With you, Scott+ The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector |
