Jun 28, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
For decades, the Diocese of California has been at the front of LGBTQ+ advocacy in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Some of examples from Bishop Marc’s episcopate include:
- Chancellor Christopher Hayes and Bishop Marc gathered amicus curiae briefs from dioceses around The Episcopal Church to support both the overturning of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and Proposition 8, which banned same-ex marriage in California.
- Bishop Marc raised money for production of “Voices of Witness, Africa,” a documentary highlighting the voices of LGBTQ+ Anglicans, and he organized events at the 2008 Lambeth Conference to show the film after Proposition 8 was passed.
- The Diocese of California, under Bishop Marc, was the first diocese in The Episcopal Church to allow open blessings of same-gender unions!
- Bishop Marc was the first Bishop of California to march in the Pride Parade!
- Bishop Marc ordained the second transgender person in The Episcopal Church.
- Bishop Marc joined the Episcopal Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church and others at the 2022 Lambeth Conference in pushing back on to the “Lambeth Calls” document that was distributed to Anglican bishops on the eve of the conference. It contained objectionable content in its Statement on Human Dignity. The content included an apparent attempt to fast-track a Communion-wide stance opposing same-gender marriage.
Jun 22, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
The Diocese of California offers church administrators a weekly rundown of diocesan events and offerings to include in their church bulletins, newsletters, etc.
To subscribe, email the Communications Working Group: [email protected] and [email protected].
Jun 22, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
Bayview Mission, founded by the Ven. Canon Nina Pickerrell, has long provided food, supplies, and services to residents of San Francisco’s Bayview/Hunter’s Point neighborhood.
Jun 21, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
The Diocese of California has a long history of involvement in international and interfaith activities. Here are some examples from recent years:
- In 2022, Bishop Marc greeted the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., the Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and her delegation, at Grace Cathedral.
- Bishop Marc’s climate change work has helped him forge relationships with international leaders, including:
- The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Former head of the U.N., Ban Ki-Moon
- Our bishop works with national, state and local leaders in government, and with non-profits.
- Currently, our Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Cn. Debbie Low-Skinner is the Vice President of the Board of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.
Jun 13, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
Our diocesan Faith Formation team maintains a special website to help you keep up with their many events and resources. Check it out at https://faithinformed.org!
Jun 1, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts
In 2020, our general convention voted to make Juneteenth a feast day in the Diocese of California. Shortly after, it became an official federal holiday. You can all about it in an article by Episcopal News Service from when this momentous occasion took place.
The liturgies that have been created in our diocese for Juneteenth each year following this decision are available for you to read or use in your own dioceses and congregations.
