All posts and information relating to the Diversity and Reconciliation Commission
When: Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 7 p.m. Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City. The event will feature an exchange of ideas about Islamic and Christian mysticism with a special focus on daily practices. The dialogue will be both verbal and musical. Forrest and Kurt have each written new music for the event that will be performed by soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson.
Three-minute read, 105-minute video. On Saturday, January 14, the diocese held its first annual service in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City. The recording of the service includes a 1967 interview with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., made 11 months before he was assassinated, and an extract from a sermon he delivered at the Washington National Cathedral.
When: Sunday, February 5, 2023, at 4 p.m. Where: St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City. Join the people of St. Augustine’s in a celebration of the Blessed Absalom Jones. This year’s celebration includes guest preacher the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and the St. Augustine’s liturgical dancers.
One-minute read. Eighteen of West Missouri’s Episcopal Churches will be opening their doors on Tuesday, January 17 from 9 a.m. until noon for people to pray and reflect during the National Day of Racial Healing. Churches in Belton, Independence, Joplin, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, Sedalia, Springfield, and St. Joseph will be taking part.
Five-minute read. Many of the hymns in the Hymnal 1982 have very interesting histories. However, hymn 599 stands out as one that embodies the history of African American people.
When: Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 4 p.m.
Where: Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W 13th St., Kansas City, MO 64105
The Rt. Rev. Kym Lucas, Bishop of Colorado will be the guest preacher and celebrant at the service to be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 4 p.m., at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
One-minute read. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day.
Four-minute read. The National Day of Racial Healing is observed each year following the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday. In 2023 many churches across the diocese are opening their doors to those who wish to pray and reflect on this day.
Please join us as we resume our book study on Undoing Racism with our next book, “Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England.”
One-minute read. There is still time to register for the upcoming Undoing Racism Workshop sponsored by the Diocesan Diversity & Reconciliation Commission.
When: Saturday, September 24, 2022, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City and St. John’s Episcopal Church, Springfield.
Who: Diocese-wide.
The purpose of this workshop is to assist the diocese in eliminating the sin of racism. This training fulfills the intent of several General Convention resolutions, which call for leaders at all levels of The Episcopal Church to receive training on the Church’s teaching about racial diversity and other forms of diversity present within the human family.
Please join us as we resume our book study on Undoing Racism with our next book, “Four Hundred Souls,” a unique one-volume “community” history of African Americans.
One-minute read. It is time to begin the process of starting a UBE chapter here in our diocese.
The need for a UBE chapter in West Missouri has been discussed by various people off and on, and Bishop Bruce has strongly urged that this become a reality.
One-minute read. Several Episcopal churches from West Missouri braved the sunshine and heat to participate in the Kansas City Pride 2022 parade on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Four-minute read. Stephanie Hasty reflects on Juneteenth, — June 19, the date that Major General Gordon Granger read General Order 3 to the people of Galveston, Texas. It was then, two years after The Emancipation Proclamation was signed, that every enslaved person in the United States was free and knew it.
One-minute read. Will you join us in affirming God’s love to all this June? Three churches of The Diocese of West Missouri have taken the lead on The Episcopal Church’s presence at Kansas City Pride 2022, and are inviting you to join them.
When: Two Saturday Workshops: April 23 & 30, 2022 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Online
Who: Diocese-wide
This training fulfills the intent of several General Convention resolutions which call for leaders at all levels of The Episcopal Church to receive training on the Church’s teaching about racial diversity as well as other forms of diversity present within the human family.
Six-minute video. In this fourth and final video in this year’s series remembering key African American figures in the Episcopal Church and beyond, we remember artist Allan Rohan Crite.
Five-minute video. This is the third in the 2022 series of four weekly videos remembering key African American figures in the Episcopal Church and beyond. A new video will be published each Thursday for four weeks from February 10, 2022.
Six-minute video. This is the second in the 2022 series of four weekly videos remembering key African American figures in the Episcopal Church and beyond. A new video will be published each Thursday for four weeks from February 10, 2022.
