Episcopalians Meet to Discuss Healing the Racial Divide

More than 100 Episcopalians from across Mississippi are in Canton, to talk about racial reconciliation. One of the guest speakers is Katrina Browne from Pennsylvania. She produced a documentary about her ancestors in Rhode Island, after discovering they were the largest slave trading family in U.S. history.  Browne says she and members of family retraced the Triangle Trade Slave Route from Rhode Island to Ghana to Cuba and it was life changing. 

"The majority of us have changed our careers as a result and are champions for the idea of reckoning process in this dialogue, so we go to churches, and schools, and community groups and museums and present and help facilitate dialogue," said Browne.

Mississippi Bishop Brian Seage says the nation is facing growing challenges surrounding race.  He points to comments made by actress Roseanne Barr comparing an Obama Administration official to an ape as an example.  

"And for her to say such incredibly vile things that insult a person's humanity the way they did. I found it very shocking," said Seage.

Anita George, a retired educator spearheaded the event. She says they're committed to diving into the issue of race and being open about how they feel.

"We have to step outside of ourselves and look at ourselves. When we do that in community with other people we're more likely to accept where we are the good and the bad," said George. 

Bishop Seage says it will take dialogue and building relationships to foster racial healing.

2019 Sabbatical Plans

Just as scripture commands the seventh day of the week, or Sabbath, to be a day of rest, for Episcopal clergy, every seventh year is meant to involve a period of rest and re-creation. This period, called a sabbatical,” lasts as much as three months and involves study, reflection, and other activities meant to nurture the pastor's soul. While Peter is eligible for a sabbatical this year, he is delaying his leave until the summer of 2019 when Giulianna will be eligible for hers.

With the vestry's approval, he has begun working with a small committee to make preliminary plans for Nativity's pastoral and administrative needs and also for what would be refreshing and energizing for Nativity in his absence. This committee, which includes Kathy Whicker, Sally Howard, Catherine Kidd, and Hank Lamb, is also working on a grant application which could help fund activities for both Nativity and the Gray family.

At its best, a sabbatical is meant to nurture the relationship between pastor and congregation and leave both energized and more ready for ministry at the conclusion. If you have ideas as to what would be refreshing for Nativity next summer, let the committee know!

Kirkin' o' the Tartans

Sunday, March 4, Nativity has been invited to join in First Presbyterian's annual celebration of its Scottish heritage. At 10:15am, weather permitting, a parade of bagpipers, drummers, and Presbyterians will march down Church Street and stop in front of Nativity to play a song before parading on. We're mostly participating because it's fun. However, it is also the case that The Episcopal Church received its first bishop with the help of some Scottish Anglicans; we have some shared heritage! You are invited to wear your plaid scarves or clothing to the parade!

New Episcopal Bishop

It was a bittersweet weekend for Episcopalians, who gathered in Jackson for their annual meeting. Members honored retiring Bishop Duncan Gray, III and installed his successor, Bishop Brian Seage. Gray led the denomination for 15 years. He tackled the challenges of rebuilding six churches destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, prevented the diocese from splitting over the issue of same-sex marriage and promoted racial reconciliation. Through it all, it's the relationships Gray says he'll cherish.

"There are quite a few folks that I have met for the first time and those relationships are spread over 93 churches and half a dozen schools and all of that. I was in two or three churches or schools every week." Said Gray.

Bishop Seage said his goals are to listen to the vision of the members, strengthen smaller churches and support youth programs.

"I'm really here in large part because a youth director years ago took a great interest in making sure that a program existed in the church that I grew up in. I really look forward to working with others to strengthen youth ministry and to make sure that we present Christ in young peoples' lives." Said Seage.

A native of Thousand Oaks, California, Seage has served in Mississippi since 1998.