Diocesan Convention
Bishop’s Report to Convention
Be known to us, Lord Jesus, in the breaking of the bread.
After two years of virtual conventions, I am so glad to be able to gather in person. This year, we will worship together and break bread together, sharing in the Body of Christ. We will renew old friendships and appreciate new ones. We will take counsel together for the ministry and mission of God’s church.
As we emerge from the pandemic, many of our congregations are still experiencing its effects. While most congregations are financially stable, some of our former members have not returned to in-person worship. Yet this is a time when new growth is happening as well. Many congregations connected with new members during online worship, and some of those online worshipers have now become full participating members and lay ministers. Others are looking at new mission opportunities in their neighborhoods, as all the changes wrought by the pandemic have inspired us to look at our mission afresh.
This year, 2022, is our Year of Evangelism. In my visitations to congregations this year, I have enjoyed sharing with you in a Revival format, in conjunction with our Year of Evangelism. Through intentional personal prayer, lay testimonies, and engagement with our own baptismal call to love and proclamation of the good news of Christ, we have prepared the ground for reaching out to others. Our Year of Evangelism will culminate this December 9-11, in our Good News Festival at the Town & Country Resort, San Diego, starring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as our Revival preacher. Bishop Curry will be joined by Rev. William Barber, a giant of social justice in our country, and by a variety of musicians, including the Voices of our City Choir, composed of homeless and formerly homeless singers. Bring your friends! This event is our way of highlighting all the Episcopal Church has to offer to our greater Southern California and western Arizona community!
In 2020, our diocese launched our Courageous Love Strategic Plan. We are continuing to develop the strategies for growing the church, deepening our faith, and serving our neighbors that we committed to in that plan. Our diocese supports congregations in sharing the good news of Christ with their neighbors, through community engagement processes, evangelism training, reaching out to our Latino/a neighbors through La Misa en Ingles, military ministries, youth ministries, campus missions, and other church growth strategies. We are also contributing to the growth and redevelopment of two congregations: St. Matthew’s National City and Sts. Peter & Paul El Centro. Both congregations welcomed new priests-in-charge this year, and both have enthusiastic plans for reaching their neighborhoods. We are beginning to formulate plans for new church plants in Oceanside and at our Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach. We are excited about the new ways we are following Christ through the strategic plans we have made for our diocese. We are truly acting with Courageous Love!
We are also working to build up lay and ordained leadership. We have licensed many lay ministers (Evangelists, Catechists, Preachers, Eucharistic Visitors, and others), recognizing the vital importance of the ministry of all God’s baptized people. We are building new opportunities for training lay and ordained ministers in the School for Ministry through our emerging partnership with the Dioceses of El Camino Real and Northern California. Our three-way partnership will use resources from the Iona School at Seminary of the Southwest to create a strong cohort of learners and help them grow in faith and build relationships with each other. I appreciate the leadership of Bishop Jim Mathes, my predecessor in our diocese, in helping spearhead this initiative, which we are calling the West Coast Collaborative.
In service and advocacy ministries, we are continuing our work on the border and developing new initiatives in creation care. We hope to launch a reforestation program for urban areas in the coming year. We are also deeply concerned about the difficulty of finding affordable housing in our area, and are working with several congregations to develop projects to provide safe housing to our neighbors while ensuring a strong financial base for the congregations. We anticipate that the future years will bring deeper engagement in helping our churches address the affordable housing crisis for clergy and others in our diocese.
I look forward to 2023, which will be the fiftieth anniversary of the Diocese of San Diego! In 1973, our diocese separated from the Diocese of Los Angeles to form EDSD. Stay tuned for a number of events in 2023 to celebrate the anniversary, as well as a capital campaign to support our future growth and mission with Courageous Love!
It is a pleasure and an honor to serve you, my friends, and I am glad to be following Jesus alongside all of you.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook
Diocesan Convention
Reports to Convention
Audit Committee
Leaf & Cole, LLP conducted the audit of EDSD’s 2021 financial statements. The firm issued an unqualified opinion (i.e. clean report) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. LaTonya Knox, Audit Partner, was very complimentary of CFO Jeff Martinhauk and staff for the timely receipt of information requested and prompt followup on any questions the auditors had. Overall, the audit went very smoothly and, in comparison with the prior year, there were only a few very minor adjusting journal entries needed.
LaTonya Knox also reported that all management recommendations from the prior year audit had been implemented: 1) Adopt a Comprehensive Gift Acceptance Policy, 2) Review Payroll Prior to Processing, and 3) Review the Credit Card Policy and Ensure It is Followed. There were no new management recommendations and no issues noted.
I have requested a bid from Leaf & Cole, LLC for the 2022 EDSD audit to be conducted in 2023.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsey Monsell
Audit Committee Chairperson
Canon for Mission
As your Canon for Mission, I am responsible for caring for several ministries that fall within the aims of our strategic plan. Work on this strategic plan began in 2019. Even as we have wrestled with the challenges of a pandemic, the diocese has moved towards our vision. Throughout the course of my first year serving you, I have seen multiple signs that we are beginning to achieve what we have hoped to.
We have set a goal of supporting each one of our congregations in discipleship. During 2022, the Bishop licensed dozens of individuals for canonical lay ministries. EfM—a theological education small-group study for adults—had 4 groups across the diocese and 50 participants this last year. Two congregations are currently going through RenewalWorks, a process intended to help churches focus on spiritual growth. The digital formation resources of our diocese are now reaching hundreds of your households—from the Faith to Go podcast and corresponding study materials to Summer Snacks, our YouTube-based VBS series. We aspired to ensure that there were no less than two annual stewardship trainings and year-round resources provided to our congregations. In the last year, 20 congregations participated in stewardship and planned giving trainings offered by TENS—the Episcopal Network for Stewardship and ECF—the Episcopal Church Foundation.
One of the objectives of our strategic plan is to empower congregations to connect with their neighbors. To love our neighbors as Jesus instructed us to, we must know them. That is why we’re providing resources for our congregations to engage the communities around our places of worship. 35% of the congregations in our diocese are working on creation care initiatives in their communities. 40% of our congregations are engaged in advocacy and assistance for refugee and immigrant neighbors. More than 75% of our congregations are addressing the needs of our unhoused neighbors in one way or another; providing clothes, food, and showers. What we have learned is that no matter the political persuasion, the housing crisis is something everyone in the 4 counties we serve cares about and is daily aware of its challenges. Currently, one congregation in our diocese is developing affordable housing and 4 others are discerning how to use under-utilized real estate for missional purposes. Some will provide housing for seniors or refugees. Others may plant trees—improving our tree canopy. Others will plant gardens—feeding hungry bellies with nourishing food. As we walk along congregations determining how best to use their property, we are discovering opportunities for churches to not only serve their neighbors but also contribute to the congregation’s financial stability well into the future.
We recognize that the religious decline in this era was compounded by the impact of the pandemic. If our neighbors are coming towards the Church in fewer numbers, it is time that we go to our neighbors. We are already working on 2 congregation redevelopment projects that are surpassing expectations; 2 new church starts are in line to kick off mid-year in 2023. We have commissioned a new campus ministry leader at SDSU and increased the resources we offer to congregations for sharing God’s good news with their neighbors. 76 individuals, representing 26 congregations, participated in evangelism training this year. Six congregations held community prayer walks. Twelve congregations offered ashes to go on Ash Wednesday, with an average of 142 individuals served across our four counties. On Valentine’s Day, congregations in San Diego and Riverside counties encouraged healthcare workers at hospitals and medical centers.
These many signs of good news deserve celebrating and we plan to do that this December. On December 10, we will host the Good News Festival at the Town & Country Resort. The festival will have a holiday marketplace and workshops covering a variety of subjects. The day will culminate with a joyous revival service with the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Rev. Dr. William Barber. During San Diego’s Pride festival, approximately 4,000 invitations were made to attendees. At last count, 769 individuals have committed to going to the Good News Festival. If each of you that has made this commitment brings one person with you, that’s 1,538 to attend so far. I think we can do even better than that. Don’t you? I encourage everyone to spread the word and join us for this free event!
Campus Ministry
Campus ministry at SDSU has started off strong this semester! Through the simple hospitality of free pizza and a shady space to rest from the sun, Agape San Diego is sharing God’s love and connecting with dozens of students who stop by each week. We are slowly building a regular community who’ve ventured off campus together for hikes, beach trips, and sailing, and smaller groups gathering weekly for shared spiritual practices—all by week 7 of the semester!
Many students we speak to seem more disconnected than ever: “I don’t really have friends,” and “this is the only place I can go where people want to have a conversation,” are recurring sentiments we hear frequently from students. Reinforced by this this reality, we continue to serve the campus with a core commitment to build a spiritual community of love, acceptance, justice, and growth.
Chaplains to the Retired Clergy and their partners
This ministry is conducted by chaplains appointed by the diocesan bishop in coordination with the Church Pension Group (CPG) to pastorally support the more than 200 retired clergy living within the diocese. The Office of Pastoral Care at CPG provides a detailed list of retired clergy and their spouses/partners /survivors enrolled with CPG to the appointed chaplains throughout The Episcopal Church, and administers educational programs and conferences for the constituency as well as training for the Chaplains. A large number of retired clergy live in this diocese but remain canonically members of other dioceses. Also, many retired clergy participate in part time ministry through supply work, interim service, and assistance at local parishes. The Chaplains for our diocese are the Rev. David Burgdorf, primarily serving in the Coachella Valley, Mrs. Stephanie Smith, who maintains mailings for birthdays, get well, and sympathy cards, and the Rev. Edward Busch and the Rev. Babs M. Meairs. Contact with our charges is made by phone, email, and, when possible, personal visits. Our team responds to referrals from the diocese and other retired clergy, including welcoming new retired clergy. A Province VIII conference for Chaplains to the Retired will be held in Spring 2023, as this year all of the Province chaplains met with leadership from CPG in St. Paul, Minnesota, in May, for updates, encouraging and informative sessions, and mutual support in carrying out our ministry. The 2021 changes in the healthcare coverage for our constituency have been a major focus of ongoing education. Reports of contacts with our constituency are submitted to CPG twice a year. In this diocese we continue monthly virtual meetings with interested clergy and spouses via ZOOM, exploring topics of interest and relevance. In June a luncheon was held at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert attended by about 30 retired clergy and incumbents in the Coachella Valley. Looking ahead, we want to explore ways to expand contact and continue to make our ministry available to our constituency, to provide information and support when appropriate, and to work with parishes on identifying the activities and care involving our retired clergy and their families. It is hoped that an in person gathering with our Bishop may be planned in the first half of next year.
Submitted by The Rev. Babs M. Meairs
Clergy Enrichment Commitee
The Clergy Enrichment Committee has met regularly during 2022 to work with the Bishop on ways to support collegiality and connection among clergy. In February we had a lunch meeting hosted by Good Samaritan where many clergy gathered for fellowship and to hear from our Bishop and Canon Jason Evans about the plan for mini-revivals at every Bishop’s visit in 2022, leading up to The Good News Festival in December of 2022.
We experimented with hosting regional lunches for clergy in May. Four were held in different parts of the Diocese and there was an open invitation to all clergy for each. We initiated a clergy e-list for ease in communicating with all clergy. We continue to discern how to include new clergy better when they enter the Diocese.
In June clergy gathered with the Bishop for an education day with The Rev. Dr. Mark Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and the Associate Director of the Deep Calls to Deep Preaching Program.
We planned the upcoming clergy retreat at Vina de Lestonnac, which will be led by The Rev. Elizabeth Rechter, Executive Director of Stillpoint, CA, on September 26-28. We continue to be open to new ways of connecting as we move into the fall of 2022.
We encourage all congregations to support and encourage their clergy to take advantage of any and all upcoming times of learning, fellowship, and worship with the Bishop and fellow clergy.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Susan J. Latimer, chair
Commission on Ministry
I have been honored to serve as the Commission on Ministry’s chair since our last diocesan convention. We went through a couple of transitions. Changing the handbook was the biggest lift, and I thank the entirety of the Commission for their review of it, with special thanks to Terry Kelly, Mark Patzman, and most especially Paul Carmona for doing the bulk of rewriting and editing. Because of their work, Chris Tumilty was able to put together a literal step-by-step visual guide of the process, something I’m not aware any other diocese can claim at this time.
Getting a new psychologist was the other major transition. Dr. Marjorie Coburn’s retired, and we owe a great deal of gratitude to her for years of service, at a discounted rate, for reviewing all our ordination applicants. We’re now availing ourselves of the services of Dr. Lewis Bonney, who also does the psychological testing for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. We’ve discovered that the rates for these sorts of psychological examinations are more robust than we’re used to, and Bishop Susan has done what she can to supplement the necessary payments. It is required, of course, to complete these exams before advancing possible candidates for ordination for everyone’s safety.
A conversation we started and that I hope will continue after I roll off the COM is how to recruit and sustain a more diverse cohort of priests and deacons coming in through our diocesan ordination process. I had several frank conversations with individuals of color who had contemplated the process at one point or another but didn’t move forward after initial interest. Each had their own reasons for not doing so, but one disappointingly common thread was how nearly all of them did not see people who looked like them in clerical leadership within the diocese. Representation matters and choosing to embrace diversity in our ordained leaders will be a necessary step in advancing the full participation of all people. Of course, there are macroeconomic and historically racialized elements to all of this, but this is the next frontier, if you will, for the COM and the wider diocese to prayerfully reflect and act on if we wish to truly be the diverse reign of Christ we earnestly seek to be in this place.
Before I end this report, I want to thank Rev. Mary Lynn Coulson for being our clerk, Terry Kelly for his excellent work with Parish Discernment Committees (PDCs) across the diocese, and everyone who’s participated in PDCs.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Richard Hogue
Community Engagement
In the Spring of 2022, Deann Rios transitioned to the role of Missioner for Community Engagement, a new role for the Diocese focused on helping churches develop a vision, skills, and practices for loving and partnering with their neighbors in consistent and practical ways. Over the summer Deann and Jason Evans created “Being Neighbors”, a 9-week interactive and activity-based training which leads small teams from churches through a process of reflecting on their values, passions, and assets and then guides them through activities which help them learn about and interact with their neighbors – businesses, schools, non-profits and civic groups, community leaders and individuals. These activities give them tools and practice listening to what their neighbors care about; learning from them; and exploring ways to partner, support, and engage with them; they allow congregations to join God in blessing the neighborhoods in which their churches are planted. Churches are encouraged to sign up for the 9-week training with Deann and others as we endeavor to better love our neighbors in meaningful ways. The first “Being Neighbors” course kicked off in September, and the second course will run from January 11 to March 29. To learn more, please contact Deann Rios at drios@edsd.org.
Canon to the ordinary
I am honored to have served the diocese for another year as Canon to the Ordinary. My duties include clergy and congregational transitions, Diocesan liturgies, congregational development, Convention, Clergy Conference, and staff support for the Executive Council and its committees, implementation of the Strategic Plan, and support of the Commission on Ministry.
Clergy and Congregational Transitions between November 6, 2021 and September 23, 2022
The following clergy transitions took place (in alphabetical order):
· The Rev. Susan Astarita is now serving as interim priest-in-charge at St. David’s, San Diego.
· The Rev. Bob Blessing is now serving as interim priest-in-charge at St. Andrew’s, La Mesa.
· The Rev. Cristina Borges is now lead chaplain at St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services.
· The Rev. Laura Brecht retired from St. Barnabas, Borrego Springs.
· The Rev. Nancy Burnett was ordained priest and is serving at St. Bartholomew’s, Poway.
· The Rev. Cindy Campos was named Archdeacon of the diocese.
· The Rev. Phil Cooke retired from St. Mary’s-in-the-Valley, Ramona.
· The Rev. Willy Crespo announced his retirement from St. Timothy’s, San Diego, effective October 30, 2022.
· The Rev. Meg Decker retired from Trinity, Escondido.
· The Rev. Joe Dirbas resigned from All Souls’, San Diego.
· The Rev. Terry Dirbas resigned from All Souls’, San Diego.
· Pastor Mark Galbraith (ELCA) serves as interim rector at Trinity, Escondido.
· The Rev. Bill Garrison serves as the interim priest-in-charge at All Souls’, San Diego.
· The Rev. Katherine Gordon was ordained priest and has served at St. Alban’s and will be serving as long-term supply at St. Timothy’s San Diego.
· The Rev. Cole Gruberth was called as associate at St. Peter’s, Del Mar.
· The Rev. Carole Horton-Howe was called as priest-in-charge at St. Thomas, Temecula.
· The Rev. Jocelynn Hughes resigned from St. David’s, San Diego.
· The Rev. Phil Loveless renounced his orders.
· The Rev. Roberto Maldonado was called as vicar at St. Matthew’s, National City.
· The Rev. Lilia Mendoza was ordained priest and serves as priest-in-charge at Sts. Peter and Paul, El Centro.
· The Rev. Tom Morelli has retired as deacon at Christ Church, Coronado.
· The Rev. Brian Petersen was ordained priest and serves as priest-in-charge at Holy Cross, Carlsbad and as associate at St. Bartholomew’s, Poway.
· The Rev. Michael Plekon was received as a priest from the Orthodox Church in America.
· The Rev. Harold Reed resigned as rector of St. Andrew’s, La Mesa.
· The Rev. Bill Schwartz serves as long-term supply at Christ the King, Alpine.
· The Rev. Peter Sickels resigned as interim rector at All Souls’, San Diego.
· The Rev. Allisyn Thomas retired from St. Bartholomew’s, Poway and now assists at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Clergy Deaths
· The Rev. Bill Broughton
· The Very Rev. Jim Carroll
· The Rev. David Fenton
· The Rev. Jim Kellett
The following congregations are in transition:
· All Souls’, San Diego (search underway)
· St. Andrew’s, La Mesa
· St. Barnabas, Borrego Springs (search underway)
· St. Bartholomew’s, Poway (calling committee at work)
· St. Dunstan’s, San Diego (search underway)
· St. Mary’s-in-the-Valley, Ramona (search underway)
· St. Timothy’s, San Diego (calling committee formed)
· Trinity, Escondido (calling committee formed)
The following congregations are served by supply clergy and are not in a search process:
· Christ the King, Alpine
· St. Hugh of Lincoln, Idyllwild
· St. Andrew’s, Lake Elsinore
· St. Columba’s, Santee
Diocesan Liturgies
· Brian Petersen’s ordination to the Transitional Diaconate was on December 18, 2021.
· Clergy Renewal of Vows was held on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 12, 2022.
· The Rev. Nancy Burnett, the Rev. Katherine Gordon, the Rev. Lilia Mendoza and the Rev. Brian Petersen were ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 2022.
· Michael Kilpatrick and Pete Martin were ordained to the Vocational Diaconate on October 22, 2022.
Faithfully submitted,
The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch
Cursillo
Cursillo was founded in Spain in the 1940’s. It was started by lay people to help the laity become better followers of Jesus Christ. In other words, Cursillo is a Discipleship program.
Cursillo teaches discipleship by providing lessons in piety, study, and action during the Cursillo weekend.
The weekend is designed to deepen a person’s relationship with Jesus and enable them to live out their life as a witness to Jesus in the world. Each person is taught and inspired at a spiritual level (piety), at an intellectual level (study) and a ministry level (action). When we interact with God at all three of these levels, we become better followers of Jesus Christ.
For the year 2023 we anticipate having two Cursillo weekends. The Spring 2023 weekend will be April 27th through April 30th, and the Fall weekend is planned for October, dates to be determined. Both weekends will take place at the Pine Valley Bible Conference Center.
For more information about Cursillo, please talk to your Cursillo parish representative and visit the San Diego Cursillo website at www.sdcursillo.org
Looking back at what Cursillo has accomplished over this past year, we held a spring Cursillo weekend, a Back to the Mountain retreat, we will have celebrated eight Ultreyas in 2022 and, in June, we held a Cursillo Celebration to energize Cursillistas and provide training. Fifty-four people from all over the Diocese attended this event at Good Shepherd in Bonita. Videos were presented from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Bishop Susan Brown Snook. We also enjoyed lively guest speakers and discussion groups.
It's good to report that in the San Diego Diocese, Cursillo is fully operational. Unfortunately, weekends cost more than they have in the past. We encourage each congregation to have a Cursillo Scholarship Fund with a line item in your budget to help sponsor members of your church who wish to attend a Cursillo.
In closing, thank you to all the people in this Diocese that are supportive of Cursillo!
Your friend in Christ,
The Rev. George M. Calvert
Daughters of the King
The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service, and Evangelism. The Mission of the Order is the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision as Daughters of the King is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God’s love throughout the world. Membership in the Order is open to women at every stage of life between the ages of 7 and 107 who desire a closer walk with the Lord. It is an International Order of both lay and ordained women. The Diocese of San Diego currently has seventeen active Senior Women’s Chapters and two Junior Daughters Chapters.
There are three Diocesan-wide gatherings yearly: Spring Assembly, Fall Assembly, and Quiet Day. These are open to all women of the diocese. Quiet Day was held in March 2022. The Rev. Susan Astarita led us in a dialogue about the ways our five senses - sight, sound, smell, touch and taste can lead us into a closer relationship with God based on the book by Sam Portaro: Sense & Sensibility: A Lenten Exploration. Our Spring Assembly included a celebration of the Eucharist by The Rt. Rev Dr. Susan Brown Snook with guest speaker The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas, whose topic was “Breaking through Spiritual Barriers.” Our Fall Assembly was on Oct. 22, 2022. Our topic was “Justice for All.” It was held in person at St. Margaret’s in Palm Desert and on zoom. In June of 2022, several daughters traveled to Baltimore for the 2022 DOK Triennial. We are invited to participate in The Good News Festival to staff a prayer room and form teams for prayer at the Liturgy Service.
Going forward, we will continue to work on the six goals of our Strategic Plan. We will Reignite the Flame by Inspiring Spiritual Growth and Development, Strengthening Our Call to Service and Evangelism, Nurturing and Growing Our Members, Raising Up and Mentoring New Leaders, and Instilling a Community of Giving.
We will continue service projects and support our rectors as requested. Some projects include: book & Bible studies, cards to military, bread for newcomers, Taize services, flowers to shut-ins, and Vida Joven (a home for disadvantaged children in Mexico). On the Diocesan level, Daughters support outreach programs such as Showers of Blessings, Second Chances, and St. Luke’s Refugee Community. Prayer, as always, is an integral part of the services provided by each chapter.
For information concerning The Order of the Daughters of the King or to attend a gathering, please contact Fran Friesen at ffriesen44@gmail.com or 760-533-4410 or Meredith Riffel at meredithriffel15@gmail.com or 619-219-4993.
For His Sake, Fran Friesen and Meredith Riffel- Dok Diocesan Co-Presidents
Diocesan Service and Justice coalition
This group is a loose coalition of parish leaders in Outreach/Service & Justice. Since the pandemic began, we have been meeting on Zoom, at first every month and now every other month, usually on the 3rd Saturday. We share reports from the Racial Justice Task Force, ECS, RefugeeNet and especially what each parish is doing. We are always inspired by how much and how varied are the activities. We have devoted time to learning how many churches have formed Sacred Ground Circles, the response to the curriculum and have encouraged all parishes to form a Circle. Prior to the pandemic, we planned and supported Diocesan-wide collaborative events. Recently, some churches supported St. Mark’s Back2School Backpack event and gave support to some ECS programs. Debby Park convenes the bi-monthly Zoom meetings which are recorded, and Melinda Murdock provides copious written minutes. The Coalition has a webpage on the Diocesan website. We welcome new participants at any time. Just contact Debby Park at rayandeb@gmail.com to be added to the e-list, receive notices and get the Zoom link.
Disaster Preparedness & Church Safety/Security
With the recent COVID-19 disaster and the continuing threat of natural disasters, crime and violence, the need for all churches and diocesan organizations to have an up-to-date Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and to be prepared has never been greater.
Over the past year the diocese has been assisting interested churches to apply for the FEMA/State of California Non-Profit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) to receive funding to enhance the physical security of their facilities. The recently announced 2023 grant offers up to $200,000 in assistance to each church/organization. No less than 5 churches are currently in the process of applying for the grant. For more information please follow this link: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/grant-announcement/2022-23-california-state-nonprofit-security-grant-program-csnsgp-rfp/
To qualify for this grant, churches and organizations must justify their need with a vulnerability assessment performed by a security professional. The diocese recommends contacting the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center for a free professional assessment. Their phone number is: (858) 495-7200.
To further assist our churches and organizations, the diocese provides an extensive online (and on thumb drive) digital archive of professional disaster preparedness and church safety & security templates, videos and instruction manuals allowing each church to customize Emergency Operations Plans and procedures to their own unique environments.
The diocese also provides an Emergency Operations responsive website/ smartphone app that can be customized to each church’s unique environment. A sample can be viewed here: www.church911plan.com
In the next year we have plans to re-constitute our Diocesan Disaster Preparedness Committee and increase the effectiveness of networking with disaster preparedness coordinators at the various churches and organizations. If you have experience as a trained first responder, or in the field of safety/security, and are interested in becoming a member of the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness Committee, please contact Jeff Green at (619) 857-9577 or jgreen@edsd.org
Submitted by: Jeff Green, Director of Operations & Safety Officer
Episcopal Community Services
As our region continues to reckon with the impact of COVID-19, and creates our new normals in work, play, learning, and serving, Episcopal Community Services is listening, adapting, and growing in response.
As a proud affiliate of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, ECS is a partner in vision and purpose, providing our shared community an actionable way to demonstrate our faith, and be a force for change.
At ECS we serve more than 7,000 children, families, and adults across the South Bay, San Diego, and El Cajon through more than $30 million in programs devoted to early childhood development and behavioral health, substance use disorder, and homelessness. ECS is also making an economic impact, employing 450 team members who make their homes across our binational region, and contracting with dozens of vendors who support our operations.
For every child, for every client we serve, there is an immediate impact in their family. And from there the ripple effect is exponential.
Over the past year, the ECS Board and leadership team partnered to advance several significant internal initiatives to help position the organization for continued growth and sustainability. First, we updated the bylaws and transitioned the governance structure from a membership organization to a self-perpetuating board, allowing the organization to respond more nimbly to community needs. Second, we completed our new strategic plan to drive ECS’ growth in impact, awareness, and support over the next three years. And, we launched our refreshed brand positioning, beginning a new focus on building awareness of and support for ECS among donors, partners, and churches.
Externally, ECS is focused on meeting the needs of the community and creating and strengthening partnerships to deepen its impact.
Enrollment continues to climb at ECS’ 17 Head Start centers across South Bay, and we expect to return close to pre-pandemic class sizes by the end of the year. Our Head Start staff has nimbly adapted to new challenges as families continue to struggle with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. We look forward to opening a new Early Head Start center at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in National City.
Demand for services at our Central East Regional Recovery Center and our ACCORD DUI programs has increased with many new clients from North County, and ECS is expanding our capacity to meet the growing need. We are proud that among our new team members are graduates of these very programs. Our Uptown Safe Haven has seen the transitions of several clients to independent living, and new art programs provided by volunteers from St. James are uncovering talent and creating new possibilities for our residents.
As San Diego’s children continue to experience an unprecedented need for mental health services, ECS is expanding its Para Las Familias mental and behavioral health program for children up to 5 to now include access for children ages 6 to 12 and their families through a recent grant from the County of San Diego. The need for expanded therapy services was highlighted during an expert panel discussion at ECS’ Annual Meeting in June at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral.
Our commitment to creating change is fueled by our faith in the gospel message of justice, and we know that we can achieve more by working in community. ECS is proud to continue to invest in strengthening our relationships with parish communities in the EDSD so that they can be active participants in our mission to break barriers and transform communities.
I invite you to learn more and get involved at ecscalifornia.org.
With gratitude,
Elizabeth Fitzsimons
Chief Executive Officer
Ecumenical and Interreligious
I was honored to begin as the Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer by appointment of Bishop Susan Brown Snook in November of 2021. The primary work of ecumenism in our Diocese occurs with our partners in “LARC” - the “Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic” group that gathers monthly (either in person or online) in San Diego County. LARC meetings consist of discussions and topics that are relevant to our churches and occasionally crosses over into efforts of partnership in ministry and advocacy as well as joint programs. In 2022 the primary activity for LARC occurred on June 8, 2022 entitled “Reflections on Practical Ecumenism: Stories of Spiritual Care from the San Diego Convention Center’s Teen Migrant Shelter.” The panel of speakers included several faith leaders involved in this effort including the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, the Most Rev. Ramon Bejarano of the Roman Catholic Diocese, the Rev. Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun and the Rev. Bill Raditz of the Lutheran Church, and myself. The evening included worship followed by the panel discussion and provided attendees a glimpse into the challenges and blessings we faced as we worked together as members of many different churches and denominations in order to provide for the spiritual care of the over 1500 migrant youth who were sheltered in San Diego in 2021.
I also participated in the annual “National Workshop on Christian Unity” that took place in Orange, California on May 3-6. This event brings together the Episcopal Officers from around the country as well as others from a wide variety of denominations. The keynote speaker was “His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros” of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It was a unique honor to hear the Archbishop speak and he made a passionate and compelling call for a unified effort that he believes is desperately needed by churches throughout America in order to effectively act and respond to the issues of injustice and violence we currently face. The Archbishop described how important this united effort has been to the Church’s health and response throughout Europe and explained why it is relevant today as we consider the violence in Ukraine. Also during the conference was a moving presentation by the Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, who spoke of the Church being on the forefront of a new reformation from the sinful structures that have held us for too long. This new reformation is challenging the Church to move into a more generous, hospitable, equitable form of Christianity that, she believes, has the “power to heal the wounds of the world.”
I also convene the “Faith Leaders of San Diego for Justice & Peace” which is open to all local faith leaders, meets monthly, and includes members from many different religious groups in San Diego. This group provides advocacy and witness on issues that impact people of faith locally. FLSDJP was involved this past year in multiple efforts including marching in the Poor People’s Campaign march in LA, providing a pastoral presence during the raids of the Midway District on our neighbors without homes, providing a presence during the trial of a fellow clergy member targeted for her work with migrants, providing witness at several racial justice events, gathering with our Jewish allies at Temple Beth Israel for prayers opposing antisemitism, and providing witness at Friendship Park on behalf of those impacted by violence and discrimination, particularly in the region of Barrio Logan. We have plans to witness to peace and nonviolence related to the upcoming midterm elections over the next several months.
Respectfully Submitted by the Rev. D. Rebecca Dinovo
Episcopal Church Women
We have roughly 10 to 15 members that attend our Meeetings and Events.
Our year began very slowly due to the fact that we did not have an elected President for the very first time. With guidance from our Provence 8 president we decided to co-chair this year. As a result, Sandy Bedard and Laura Meyers handled things through July and then Sandy completed the term through the rest of the year and also volunteered to chair the Bazaar as well. Our Bible study/book club finished up, and hopefully we will find something else to study which will feed our soul. We continue to support Gently Hugged with donations of baby items for newborns up to one year. Our prayers and Squares quilt ministry also continues to be productive.
Last year we added a Craft Ministry called Simply Devine, and we have 4 dates booked through December. All the money we raise from various projects goes directly to our Mission’s treasury.
Here are other things that happened during the year:
Bazaar Overview and lunch in March
Earth Day by Sustainable Ramona was held on the church’s property with our ECW helping
We marched in Ramona’s first Gay Pride Parade
A Women’s Retreat was held at our church on a Friday evening and Saturday
White Elephant salad Potluck with the gifts donated to the coming Fall Bazaar
A pick- up of leftover rummage sale items from the Julian Methodist Church was done
Attended Provence 8’s Annual ECW Meeting
Annual Fall Bazaar took place
Attended December Festival with Bishop Curry
ECW Christmas Party was held to close out the year with nominations for the 2023 year being accepted.
For more information or questions, you may call Sandy at 760-789-0656
Submitted by Sandra Bedard (Sandy)
ECW President
evangelism, Discipleship, and church growth
This committee oversees the work towards three strategic goals of our 2020 strategic plan.
Church growth: We fulfill Jesus’ great commission by increasing the number of Episcopalians in the diocese.
Discipleship: We equip congregations to enable all people to grow as followers of Jesus through intentional personal and communal practices.
Evangelism: We equip all Episcopalians to share the love of God and spread the good news of Christ with people who may not know him.
Here is some of the work undertaken across the diocese in 2022 toward reaching these goals:
60 individuals, representing 26 congregations, participated in evangelism and community engagement training this year.
6 congregations held community prayer walks.
The Bishop completed 30 revival visitations, where many church members shared personal testimonies.
12 congregations offered ashes to go on Ash Wednesday, with an average of 75 individuals served.
Congregations in San Diego and Riverside counties celebrated healthcare workers and offered to pray for them.
769 individuals have committed to going to the Good News Festival, and with the invited people they bring, expected attendance so far is around 1,540.
The Discipleship Committee is working on short videos and table-top materials to offer ideas for turning every meeting into a small group in which God's living Word is prayerfully shared through fellowship. This project will incorporate learnings from The Good News Festival and is expected to launch in early 2023.
faith Alive
Faith Alive is a small group-based ministry that renews or strengthens the spiritual life of a parish through the sharing of personal stories by Christians who are not members of the parish. Each of these stories illustrates a specific instance of the Holy Spirit working in their lives, which makes a Faith Alive Weekend possibly the ultimate reality show. This effort is impactful because it uses a non-threatening means to convey two major ideas 1) If God is working in that person’s life maybe he can work in mine too, and 2) if that person’s story helped me, maybe I can use my story to help someone else.
Because of the person-to-person on-site nature of this ministry, the COVID-19 Pandemic and the implementation nationwide of measures to restrict its spread continue to prevent the holding of any Faith Alive efforts for a second year. Currently, restrictions have eased considerably and in-house worship services in our diocese and most others are now the norm. Accordingly, it is my hope that the Faith Alive Ministry effort will re-start and once again be a contributing member of the “Jesus Movement”.
May God continue to bless us all,
Darryl Peralta
Faith Alive National Board Director
619 426-1387 (H) 619 890-1387 (C)
peraltadarryl82@gmail.com
Finance
The finance committee of the executive council is responsible for providing financial oversight support to the council. Its primary responsibility is to oversee financial matters and the financial condition of the diocese and to make recommendations to the council. Additionally, the property committee, investment committee, and budget committee report to the finance committee. The finance committee currently consists of seven members.
The committee continued its mission of ensuring that the diocese stayed within budget limits and maintained the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. This involved monthly review of revenue and expenditures relative to budget and extensive work with the budget committee on planning for future years. The finance committee also oversaw the restructuring of financial reports available to the diocese and the changing of audit guidelines for individual parishes. The firm of Leaf and Cole LLP finished the 2021 audit with glowing remarks about the quality of our financial information and financial systems. An incredible achievement by the Cannon for Finance and Administration/CEO Jeff Martinhauck and his staff!
The finance committee conducted many reviews before making recommendations to Executive Council. Policy reviews included the travel and conflict of interest policies. Additionally, reviews were conducted on new congregational leases, property sales agreements, school management proposals, financial aspects of a new accounting software, investing and cash management efficiency, and congregational loan/grant requests. The finance sub committee of financial consultants worked with several congregations facing difficult financial challenges resulting in a number of successes.
Please join me in extending thanks to the members of the finance committee and to those individuals who donated extensive amounts of time in managing the financial resources of the diocese: The. Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Ms. Pat Carson, Mr. Chris Christopher, Ms. Guin DeJarnett, Ms. Terry Farrelly, Mr. Andy Waters, Ms. Rachel Ambasing, the Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch, the Rev Canon. Jeff Martinhauk. The committee would also like to recognize and thank the committee members who left this year: Mr. Frank Rojas and Mr. Jim McLennan.
Yours in Christ,
Respectfully submitted, Jan Romerdahl, Chair
Human relations committee
The Human Resources Committee was re-started in April 2022 after several years on hiatus. The HR Committee is responsible for:
Recommending HR policy to the Executive Council for approval.
Reviewing and recommending policy to Executive Council for diocesan staff and mission congregations.
Reviewing and recommending clergy compensation standards for the diocese, although it is non-binding for parishes except for at time-of-hire as may be required by the bishop’s office.
Reviewing and recommending minimum benefit standards for clergy and lay employees of the diocese. As approved by Executive Council, all diocesan staff, missions, and parishes must provide the minimum coverage approved, although parishes may choose to provide more coverage than the diocesan minimum.
In addition, the HR Committee may be called upon from time to time to assist an individual parish with specific HR needs (consulting). Clergy Letters of Agreement and the hiring process for congregational clergy are not part of the scope of the HR committee’s scope and are managed by the Canon to the Ordinary and the Commission on Ministry.
Major initiatives taken on this year by the committee included:
Establishing diocesan clergy pay grades (developing a clergy compensation strategy and utilize pay grades to manage employee growth within a role).
Making recommendations and decisions on clergy housing; using the clergy compensation strategy to recommend short and long term solutions for clergy housing in the diocese.
Establishing diocesan staff pay grades (develop compensation structure for diocesan lay staff).
Making recommendations and decisions on employee benefits. Determining an appropriate benefits package for diocesan clergy and laity that includes health insurance, paid time off, retirement, etc.
Establishing employee policies. Developing policies and procedures that help employees understand expectations for their time at work. The diocesan employee handbook, maintained by the committee and approved by Executive Council, covers diocesan staff and employees of missions, including preschools. It serves as a model for small parish employee handbooks.
Please join me in extending thanks to the members of the HR Committee who donated extensive amounts of time in managing the human resources of the diocese: The. Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, the Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch, the Rev. Jeff Martinhauk, Ms. Judy Burton, Ms. Betsy Vaughn. Ms. Equilla Luke, Ms. Teresa Beck, and Ms. Cynthia McCormick.
Yours, in Christ,
Respectfully submitted, Andy Waters, Chair
Investment committee
Due to the recession, we have lower returns than expected. We continue to have the Endowment funds with Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) and the bulk of our funds are withDowling and Yhanke (D&Y).
When we met in August 2022, our balances are in a stable place.
The committee discussed with ECF and D & Y about Social Responsible investing. Both organizations are very active in this area & excited to work with us in this arena. We currently have a meeting scheduled in October 2022 with ECF to review their ESG investing programs.
There are still concerns about the election, COVID-19 issues and vaccines, lost jobs, business closings, housing market downturn, commercial real estate, etc. There is still volatility in the market. Hopefully things will start to settle down by the beginning of 2022.
The committee is secure with our financial advisors and how they are managing our money.
Leadership and congregational development
The Leadership and Congregational Development Oversight Committee tracks and reports status on three Executive Council committees – Transformational Leadership, Congregational Consultants, and Human Resources, Compensation, and Benefits.
Transformational Leadership: A transformational leadership model for rectors, vicars, and priests-in-charge was finalized in 2021. In 2022, this model was incorporated into a new ordination discernment process and is currently being used to inform the clergy call process.
Congregational Consultants: The team of diocesan consultants have been active helping several congregations, especially with financial challenges. Their activities include aiding Action Plan Parishes (APP) and facilitating the development of strategic plans.
Human Resources, Compensation, and Benefits: The high cost of living in the greater San Diego and Riverside Counties have made it challenging to attract new clergy to the Diocese, especially when there is current shortage of qualified priests. The Canon to the Ordinary has been working with the clergy salary compensation models from the Diocese of California and the Diocese of El Camino Real. The former covers the Bay Area and the latter includes territory from San Jose south on the coast, so both offer reasonable comparisons to the financial realities of the Diocese of San Diego. These two models are being used to develop a clergy salary structure for EDSD based on Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) and years of experience. The newly formed Human Resources (HR) committee will be involved in finalizing it. The HR committee has also been looking into enhancing health benefits for clergy and lay church employees and their families.
Congregational “Early Warning” System: There have been cases in the past where congregations have ended up in problematic situations that could have been managed with much less effort and cost if issues had been identified at an earlier stage. The LCDOC has assembled a list of red flags that congregational leadership can use to identify potential problem areas and make use of the many resources that are available from the Office of the Bishop to help congregations remain healthy and vital so they can continue to serve their members and their community.
Military Ministry
Over the course of 2022, our top priority has been providing resources to parishes wishing to move into military ministry. I have met with a several parishes and their ministry teams who want to move forward with this ministry to determine what they need and what they can provide.
The Diocese has appointed two deacons to work with me, The Rev’ds Peter Martin and Michael Kirkpatrick in developing ministry to the military and veterans. Both are veterans and bring significant gifts and skills to this ministry. Together we will continue to meet with parish teams and become very specific and intentional about the how your parish can support this ministry.
Here are some simple steps you can take to get started:
Add a “Welcome Message” to your website to better welcome the military, their families, and veterans. You may write your own welcome, providing directions and times of services. If you need some help, I have provided four examples you can use under “Creating a Military and Veteran Friendly Church Website” on our Diocesan resource page https://edsd.org/ministry-to-armed-forces/.
Use the Military Cycle of Prayer modeled on our Diocesan and Anglican Cycles of Prayer. This can also be found at https://edsd.org/ministry-to-armed-forces/. It is small thing we can do to show our support for the military by praying for them.
Enroll your parish in the Military Chaplains Association, Veterans/Military Friendly Congregations (VMFC) website so military families can more easily find you. Complete the VMFC enrollment form at https://vmfc-usa.org/.
In the coming year, we intend to partner with interested parishes to offer marriage resiliency workshops. Congregations will be called upon to provide hospitality, facilities, food, and childcare for the Navy and Marine Corps families that participate. The Navy is happy to cooperate with us in allowing these workshops and assist in advertising them. If your congregation is interested in hosting a workshop, contact me a jevans@edsd.org
School for Ministry
The School for Ministry has now operated for nine years, graduating many individuals who serve our diocese as deacons and priests. In addition, many lay persons in our diocese have taken advantage of our offerings over the years for their own enrichment and to enhance their own ministry.
Like so much of church life, the School for Ministry had to make major adaptions during the Pandemic. Moving our classes online has been both a blessing and a challenge. The blessing has been that individuals who would not otherwise have been able to take classes were able to join classes online. We have discovered also that online education presents creative tools for teaching that would be more challenging to access in a traditional classroom. However, coincident with the Pandemic, we have experienced a decrease in enrollment. This may be partly due to the number of persons in the ordination process. The reality is that it has been harder to have sustainable classes
As we were discerning the way forward for the School for Ministry, Bishop Snook began conversations with the Bishops of El Camino Real and Northern California about a collaborative school for ministry. At the direction of the three bishops, the deans of the three schools of ministry began a process of discernment and planning in June of 2022. As the collaborative enterprise began to take shape, our diocesan school made the decision to offer a limited curriculum in the fall of 2022, primarily focused on the needs of those coming to the end of their certificate prior to ordination. Over the summer and fall of this year, a working group made up of representatives from each diocese has been hard at work on a shared school of ministry. Jim Mathes and Cindy Campos have represented our diocese.
What has emerged is the West Coast Collaborative, Episcopal School for Ministry. Our first phase of development will be to launch our diaconal track in the January of 2023 our diaconal track. In addition, we will be offering a lay preaching certificate track. Other tracks will be developed in the months ahead.
The school will be online school with possibly one in person event per semester. The pedagogical model is a “flipped classroom.” Students receive online content mostly through recorded lectures and then gather for discussion to deepen insights and learning. Most of the teaching content will be provided by the Iona School at the Seminary of the Southwest. Each diocese will manage their own Theological Field Education programs as well as diocese specific requirements for ordination.
These are exciting developments which should lead to a more vibrant, dynamic and sustainable teaching platform our diocese and our partner dioceses. The diversity and varied strengths of each diocese will be a blessing as we form people for ministry together.
As we make this transition, it is meet and right to give thanks to all those who have taught in the School for Ministry since our last Convention:
Paige Blair
Jim Mathes
Joe Mayer
David Moseley
Allisyn Thomas
Individuals who are interested in future offerings of the school for ministry should contact Jim Mathes at DeanSfM@edsd.org.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes'
Dean of Studies
service and advocacy oversight committee
The good work of our Spirit-led ministries within the Service and Justice Coalition (DSJC) and the Advocacy Committee (AC) has resulted in the promotion of service and advocacy throughout the diocese as they follow and respond to the EDSD Strategic Plan. Leaders in this Area continue to seek ways to communicate their activities among the congregations and encourage collaborations in order to increase participation in their crucial work to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Service and Justice: This coalition of parish leaders in Outreach/Service & Justice meets virtually six times a year. Reports of related justice groups and the inspiring activities of the participating parishes are shared. Diocesan-wide collaborative events are planned and supported; for example, St. Mark’s Back2School Backpack event, and several Episcopal Community Service events. Continual efforts are made to involve more churches as well as elevate DSJC presence in the diocese through collaboration with diocesan communications staff.
Advocacy: While currently the most active task forces Racial Justice (RJTF) and Creation Care (CCTF), some congregations are interested in gun control, affordable housing, and Beyond a Land Initiatives as well as legislative advocacy through the Episcopal Policy Network of California and voting rights. Increased individual participation in these ministries has resulted through RJTF expansion of Sacred Ground programming and CCTF collaborations within and outside the diocese and through church outreach. These task forces have surpassed the Strategic Plan goal of four programs per year. The Advocacy Committee has expanded communication efforts through more regular Diocesan e-blast submissions. In fulfillment of another goal, through the work of the CCTF, the Bishop’s voice was amplified in her April, 2022 diocesan statement on the climate emergency with an accompanying list of concrete actions.
standing committee
The Diocesan Standing Committee is a unique feature of organizational life in the Episcopal Church and exercises significant authority, ranging from granting consent to candidates for ordination to offering general advice to the bishop. The Standing Committee is composed of eight members: four clergy and four laity.
Officers
The Rev. Brenda Sol, President (Nov – Jan)
Mr. Darryl Peralta, President (Jan – Nov)
The Ven. Penny Bridges, Clerk (Nov - Nov)
Members
The Rev. Brenda Sol, St. Andrew’s, Encinitas (2022)
Mr. Steve Turnbull, St. David’s, San Diego (2022)
The Rev. Colin Mathewson, St. Luke’s, San Diego (2023)
Mr. Darryl Peralta, Good Shephard, Bonita (2023)
The Ven. Penny Bridges, St. Paul’s Cathedral (2024)
Ms. Judy Brown, St. Alban’s, El Cajon (2024)
The Rev. Paul Carmona (2025)
Ms. Jen Jow, St. Paul’s Cathedral (2025)
It should be noted that the Standing Committee does not act in a void. Whether affirming the election of a new bishop in another diocese, making recommendations concerning the entry and exit of individuals in the ordination process, working with a parish to update its bylaws, or debating the soundness of a financial transaction (parish/diocese loans, leases, rentals, real estate); your Standing Committee has multiple available resources to draw upon. These resources include prayer, our corporate common sense, National and Diocesan Canons and Constitutions, Diocesan Executive Council actions, Diocesan Property and Finance Committee recommendations, and the guidance provided by our Bishop and her staff to include the Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer. The goal of our combined effort is comprehensive support for the preservation of good Governance, financial well-being, and inspired spiritual leadership in this diocese and in the National Church.
Lastly, for a plethora of reasons, doing Church in the 21st Century presents new and unique challenges to all in governance. The 2022 Standing Committee is aware of this and has made a conscious effort to walk that fine line that allows for the principles of justice, reason, and tradition to remain relevant yet not impede the church in walking the path Christ calls it to.
Thank you to Mr. Steve Turnbull and The Rev. Brenda Sol as they complete their service on the committee and may God continue to bless us all as our diocese begins a new fiscal year!
Darryl E. Peralta
President, Standing Committee
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
Treasurer’s Report
This year the diocese continued to do well financially as we turned from pandemic support for congregations to transitioning into the new normal. Our revenue for the first three quarters was about $1.7M, compared to a budget of $2.0M. An accounting change in how we report the use of restricted funds is the primary reason for the variance (not a real drop in revenue), and when we adjust for that the revenue so far this year is right on target.
There were several unusual revenue events in the diocese for the first three quarters. We sold the parcels of land in Brawley that used to be occupied by All Saints Brawley. That yielded about $256k towards the Courageous Love fund. We also used about $192k in funds we received from the COVID-era Employer Retention Tax Credit last year, which Convention set aside in the 2022 budget resolution to be used this year. St. Thomas also sold an empty parcel on their land, allowing them to refinance their loan from the diocese. The diocese received about $1.3M in cash on the refinancing.
On the expense side, we have spent $1.7M compared to the budget of $2.05M. We have done a good job of controlling spending across the board, and especially in travel, evangelism, and grants. We implemented a new accounting package this May, for a cost of $23k. Several large expenditures are still planned for the rest of this year, including the costs of diocesan convention and the Good News Festival. We expect those events to come in at or below budget after offsetting donations which have been generously given specifically to help with the Good News Festival.
As the labor market tightened this year and inflation took hold, the diocese relaunched the diocesan Human Resources Committee. The committee has spent time in these past months evaluating our compensation and benefits strategy to ensure that the diocese continues to be able to call clergy to our congregations as needed. A comprehensive update to our clergy compensation minimums is underway, and in the meantime the HR committee has recommended that all employees, clergy and lay, receive at least a 7% increase in 2023. The church’s contribution to health care costs is also being revised over a three year period to make spouse and family coverage more affordable to our families.
The proposed budget for 2023 pivots out of the pandemic recovery and launches us deep into the strategic plan. It provides for several church plants and congregation redevelopments, new program staff to support congregations, and other key strategic initiatives. Much of the funding for these initiatives is coming from the Courageous Love fund and will not have a big impact on the operating budget.
The 2021 diocesan audit was completed in September and the results are available on the governance tab of our website. The 2021 audit found no items of concern and provided only a few adjustments that the auditors have historically provided to us. The accounting staff was commended for the cleanliness of the financial statements.
vida joven
Vida Joven is a San Diego-based charity serving orphaned children in Baja California, Mexico. From 1996-2021, the Vida Joven orphanage in Tijuana was the sole focus of our support. Beginning in 2022, we expanded our reach and are now providing consistent monthly support to FOUR orphanages in Baja, Mexico! Thanks to your love and support as a diocese, 120 orphaned children were loved, protected, and educated in 2022.
Your kindness toward these kids is much needed and much appreciated. In 2023, we look forward to strengthening our relationships with these four orphanages and to exploring how we can have an even greater impact in the lives of orphaned children. Please contact Beth Beall at 619-719-1895 to visit one of the orphanages or to have Beth speak at your church.
Youth Collaborative
Recap: This year has continued to be about flexibility and support. Children, Youth, and Family Ministers across our diocese have stood back up programming, reimagined ways to be together, and pivoted on countless occasions. They have done all of this with tremendous love, copious grace, and deep, deep faith. One of the decisions this year was to engage in the training and support needed to engage with the children and youth in our programs. That birthed a Godly Play Core Training and a Youth Mental Health Training. We will continue this focus and support in 2023. If you would like more information on connecting with children and youth ministry programming or training, please contact youth missioner, Charlette Preslar, cpreslar@edsd.org We are better together!
2022 Youth Ministry Events
Epiphany Retreat - Grades 6-12 - 43 youth - 9 congregations participating
The Lent Event - Grades 6-12 - 34 youth - 5 congregations
Pentecost Day at the Bay - 47 youth - 7 congregations
Youth at Pride - 21 youth - 8 congregations
Summer Service Trip South Bay San Diego - 11 youth - 4 congregations
Youth Group Games - 52 youth - 7 congregations
2022 Upcoming Events
Youth at Convention
The Good News Festival
2022 Children and Youth Ministry Meetings and Trainings
3 Youth Collaborative meetings
Godly Play Core Training - 18 participants - 9 congregations
Youth Mental Health Training - 12 participants - 5 congregations
2022 Upcoming Meetings and Trainings
Children and Youth Ministry Leadership Retreat at Camp Stevens
The Good News Festival
Youth Leadership Council - This is the second year of this program. There are 8 young people from 5 congregations on the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego Youth Leadership Council. The YLC shapes and steers the course of youth ministry at the diocesan level. Their work includes planning the youth presence at the retreats, Nightwatch, convention and much more. The group is also taking on the important work of advertising events, sharing the Good News after the event, and reaching out to young people across our diocese to support connection and engagement. They will have key roles in the Good News Festival in December.
Faith to Go - Faith to Go is a diocesan podcast designed to foster conversations about the Gospel at home. The podcast is hosted by team members David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar. There are online resources available at www.myfaithtogo.org . For more information on Faith to Go please email faithtogo@edsd.org