Rolling Up Our Sleeves: Hope and Action in Challenging Times

Dear Beloved of El Camino Real,

Last week, I attended the Spring Meeting of the House of Bishops at Camp McDowell in Alabama. Hosted by the Diocese of Alabama and Bishop Glenda Curry, the setting offered a beautiful backdrop for an informal and deeply productive gathering. A total of 118 bishops were present from across the country and beyond. I came away with one word clearly imprinted in my soul: HOPE.

The House of Bishops meets twice a year for conversation, learning, and business. This particular gathering felt especially effective, marked by honest dialogue and a spirit of mutual respect. We explored several critical topics through presentations and small group conversations that extended to the whole House. Among the “deep dive” areas were: Christian Nationalism, Immigration, Church data and trends, Title IV (our disciplinary canon), Property and Possibilities, and the College for Bishops. Affinity groups also met at mealtimes, including the “Green Bishops,” where I joined conversations about forming ecological networks around Creation Care. And, as always, I reconnected with my own bishops’ class from 2019/2020.

Much of the content was presented by fellow bishops and staff of the Presiding Bishop, which helped foster a strong sense of collegiality and insight. Bishops from a variety of contexts offered powerful reflections, grounded in their own ministries and communities.

It was evident that we, your bishops, carry a shared sense of the world’s burdens—and an equally strong commitment to leading with fierce love, pastoral care, and holy action. Although we did not issue a collective statement, if there is a statement to be made, I believe it is this: It’s a challenging time to be a follower of Jesus. It’s a risky time to be a proclaimer of the gospel. It’s a provocative time to live into our Baptismal Covenant. We were made for times such as these. Let’s roll up our sleeves and let our actions be our proclamation. Keep going. We are people of determination and courage. We know who we are and whose we are, and we are hopeful. Nothing and no one can take our hope in Christ away.

I am grateful to be with you in this time in history, serving as your Bishop.

Faithfully,

Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real