Welcome!

[Episcopal News Service] Massachusetts Bishop Julia Whitworth issued a statement April 1 decrying the Trump administration’s abrupt detention of a Boston-area graduate student from Turkey who is in the United States legally on a student visa. “Our Christian faith calls us to renounce the promotion of xenophobia and fear to foment dehumanization of any of God’s children, especially immigrants and our newest neighbors,” Whitworth said in highlighting the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, who is pursuing a doctorate at Tufts University. Ozturk, 30, was taken into custody on a sidewalk in the Boston suburb of Sommerville on March 25 by plain-clothes agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who could be seen in an eyewitness and surveillance videos with their faces covered as they handcuffed her. Federal officials then transferred her to a detention facility in Louisiana. The case has drawn parallels to earlier Trump administration arrests and attempted deportations of other foreign-born college students, including Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder. Like Khalil, Ozturk appears to have been targeted for her political activism, specifically an opinion essay she co-authored a year ago that was critical of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. The Department of Homeland Security said she had “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” Whitworth, in her statement opposing Ozturk’s arrest, noted that the student was taken off the street while on her way to an iftar, the end-of-day meal by which Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan. “I reject the actions of the executive branch of our federal government in its targeting of international students for their exercise of free speech and dissent, cornerstones of our U.S. Constitution and American values,” Whitworth said. “Throughout the congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, we are committed to radical welcome, care and support of our most vulnerable neighbors and to collaboration with our ecumenical, interfaith, and secular partners for immigration justice.” Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump, saying he is combating antisemitism, has threatened to deport foreign-born campus protesters who opposed Israel’s war on Hamas, which Israel launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israeli communities. After Khalil, the Columbia University graduate, was detained in early March, New York Bishop Matthew Heyd issued a statement condemning the government’s actions. “In accordance with our faith and civic creed, we uphold the belief that difference and dissent should be safe,” Heyd said at the time. “We reject deportation based on political viewpoint – whether we agree or disagree.” Like Ozturk, Khalil was taken to a detention facility in Louisiana, presumably because federal authorities expect judges there will be receptive to their case against him. Khalil’s attorneys are trying to get him transferred back to New Jersey, where he lives, while they fight his deportation. – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

[Episcopal News Service] Some of the Episcopal delegates who represented Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe at the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW69, in New York City gathered via Zoom March 31 to report back on their experiences. Episcopal leaders who participated independently also shared their reflections. CSW69/Beijing+30 focused mostly on reviewing the implementation and outcomes of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 30 years after the U.N. adopted the resolution during the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace held in China’s capital. The Beijing Declaration promotes gender equality and women’s rights through a set of principles addressing 12 critical areas of concern, including education, economic empowerment, political participation and ending gender-based violence. “I think for many of us who work in the field of gender justice, this year was a particularly very heavy year for CSW,” Nicole Hosein, director of Episcopal Relief & Development’s gender initiatives, said during the webinar “Beyond Beijing+30: Realizing the Dream.” “A recent U.N. Women report noted there’s pushback against gender justice in one in four countries globally, and that’s really alarming,” said Hosein, who participated during the first half of the March 10-21 meeting virtually. Hosein was one of the six Episcopal delegates to CSW69 alongside the Rev. Margaret Rose, the presiding bishop’s ecumenical and interreligious deputy and former director of The Episcopal Church’s women’s ministries; Rebecca Blachly, the church’s chief of public policy and witness; Lynnaia Main, the church’s representative to the United Nations; Julia Ayala Harris, president of the House of Deputies; and Troy Collazo, policy adviser with the church’s Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations. The delegates joined representatives of U.N. member states, U.N. entities and accredited nongovernmental organizations who gather annually to learn from one another and strategize ways to increase and improve women’s equality and empowerment worldwide. CSW69 also addressed ongoing challenges women and girls face, including gender-based violence, wage gaps, economic barriers and a lack of access to education and health care. Women and girls of color and LGBTQ+ women are disproportionately affected by these challenges. For example, nearly 130 million girls, most living in poorer countries, aren’t enrolled in school. Also, women worldwide are paid about 80% of what men are paid for the same work, and that wage gap is higher for women of color. Collazo, whose duties include advocating for The Episcopal Church’s positions on immigration and refugee policy, participated in person during the first week of CSW69. He was unable to join the webinar, but Main, who facilitated the webinar, read aloud his written reflection: “In all honesty, the conference felt somewhat hackneyed. I didn’t encounter any novel solutions to the problems women face that haven’t been discussed since the 1960s,” Collazo said in his written statement. “The challenges faced by refugee women, in particular, stood out as an area requiring more innovative approaches and leadership. I appreciate the opportunity to have been part of this important global forum and look forward to discussing how we can contribute to more progressive and effective solutions in the future.” Before he retired last fall, former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry wrote and submitted The Episcopal Church’s goals for CSW69 in a statement: Prioritize resources and programs for marginalized women and girls, including LGBTQ+ women, women of color, women with disabilities, migrant women, elderly women and others. Increase access to resources, public services, social protections and infrastructure. Increase access to economic and political power and decision-making. Eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. Address climate change and environmental issues, which disproportionately harm women and girls. “While celebrating progress for and by women and girls in all their diversity in the 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we lament persistent injustices and call for changes,” the statement says. Additionally, delegates participated in ecumenical and interfaith events during CSW69, including an opening and closing Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at The Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan. Rose told webinar participants she appreciated the opportunities to connect with women leaders of different faith backgrounds. “As we begin to think about what’s next, I hope that we’ll be able to do mission meetings in between and move ahead in ways that will continue to make a difference – certainly in the U.S. – but around the world where there continues to be so much need,” Rose said. During the webinar, Main noted that the United States, under President Donald Trump’s administration, wanted to eliminate the term “gender” from the conference, which contributes to the growing “pushback” against gender justice. Additionally, she mentioned that new challenges have manifested since the Beijing Declaration was adopted in 1995, including the gender digital divide and artificial intelligence, as well as the evolving definitions of gender and sex and the resulting “culture wars.” “We have seen, as well, the persistence and universality of gender-based violence. One in three women will experience that in their lifetimes. The ongoing pushback against health care and sexual and reproductive health rights – as well as the oppression of LGBTQ persons around the world – much still needs to be done. And of course, this work does not end,” Main said. The intentional killing of women and girls, or femicide, is also a global crisis. In 2022, nearly 89,000 known women and girls were murdered, the highest number recorded in 20 years. Femicide targeting transgender women and women of color has particularly been increasing every year. Lisa Bortner is president of the National Episcopal Church Women, or ECW, a churchwide organization that seeks to empower Episcopal women and foster programs that minister to women and children. She was one of several Episcopal leaders who independently participated in CSW69. During the webinar, Bortner mentioned that one of the ECW’s priorities is to advocate for increased focus on the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. With that in mind, she said she was disappointed that, to

On March 30, former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby did an interview with the BBC in which he said he failed to follow up allegations of abuse by John Smyth within the Church of England because the scale of the problem was “absolutely overwhelming.” He added the scale of the problem was “a reason – not an excuse” for his failure to act. Welby was forced to resign over the matter. What follows is the statement by the Rt. Rev. Joanne Grenfell, the Church of England’s lead bishop on safeguarding matters. [Church of England] Today’s interview with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, will be a reminder to Smyth survivors of their awful abuse and its lifelong effects. I know they continue to be offered support, and we are deeply sorry for the abuse they suffered. First and foremost this must always be about victims and survivors, their needs and what they are asking us to hear and learn. I stand by my comments, made with the national safeguarding director Alexander Kubeyinje, on the publication of the Makin Review into the church’s handling of allegations against Smyth. We are appalled that any clergy person could believe that covering up abuse was justified in the name of the gospel – a comment highlighted in the Review. The gospel is about proclaiming good news to the poor and healing the brokenhearted. If anyone comes forward to the church today with a concern, they will be heard and responded to carefully and compassionately by safeguarding professionals according to our clearly set out guidance. General Synod voted in February to further strengthen its guidance on responding to allegations, which will make the reporting process clearer for all who come forward. In the past 10 years, the church has developed and strengthened its safeguarding policies and practices, making significant improvements in training, national safeguarding standards and external audits, and continues to do so. General Synod also voted in February to set up an external scrutiny body and to look further at models on operational independence. Every member of the church is responsible for a culture in which victims are heard, responded to well and put first: there is never a place for covering up abuse. We must learn from this and build future foundations to ensure that the church is as safe as it can be for all who come to worship or to engage with our many services and community projects.

[Church of Ireland] A Church of Ireland rector in the Diocese of Clogher is undertaking a pilgrimage of a different kind by walking from his church in Fermanagh to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. The Rev. Stephen McWhirter, rector of Rossorry Parish Church, will be walking from the landmark church on the outskirts of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland to St. Patrick’s, a distance of around 100 miles, during two weeks in Lent. This isn’t just any walk  — he will be barefoot. He left after the morning service in Rossorry on March 30 and will finish in Dublin on Palm Sunday, April 13, with distances varying from just a few miles to 11 miles. McWhirter said, “I had initially thought, walking by myself, I’d just head off. However, I need a lot of paperwork and registration with both the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Gardai [the state police of the Irish Republic] to happen. Also support vehicles travelling ahead for me to warn oncoming traffic. “I needed to attend to a fairly rigorous risk assessment as I’ll be walking barefoot. As you know I’ve experienced this from last Lent, however a walk to Dublin does seem a step up. “Following the biblical principles of taking nothing with me, I’m doing exactly that so will be heavily reliant on the generosity of strangers to feed and water me. I’m contacting colleagues both in Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic churches who are allowing me to sleep in churches on the way to Dublin.” Also along the route, McWhirter will be calling at a number of national schools, speaking to pupils about the history and role of pilgrimages. The route is filled with places of historic interest. The original church of Rossorry is named after St. Fanchea, who helped to build a monastery on the banks of Lough Erne. McWhirter also will be crossing through places such as Trim, where a monastery was traditionally thought to be founded by St. Patrick. Maynooth, also on his walking route, is a well–known university town served by two churches named St. Mary’s — St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, which is incorporated into the walls of St. Patrick’s College, Ireland’s national seminary for the training of priests, and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. St. Michan’s Church, Dublin, dating from 1686, was the site of the first Christian chapel dating from 1095 and operated as a Catholic church until the Reformation. It has served Church of Ireland parishioners in Dublin for more than 300 years. McWhirter’s final walk day will begin at St. James’ Gate, the traditional beginning of the medieval pilgrimage route, with his destination of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which for over 800 years has been a site of religious significance. He also will be raising funds along the way for a community hub at Rossorry and extension to the car park, as well as the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen. While McWhirter  will be accompanied on parts of the journey by a support team, he will be relying on his sturdy staff for support as he walks. It has personal significance for him as it belonged to his father, Roy, who used it at Bangor Heritage Centre where he played the role of St. Patrick for visitors.

[Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Florida Standing Committee is calling for the election of a diocesan bishop, nearly two years after the last election was negated amid divisions within the diocese under the former bishop and churchwide concerns about the election process and the bishop-elect. Florida’s standing committee announced March 31 that it has scheduled a special meeting of the Florida Diocesan Convention for June 14 to adopt a nominating process, rules and procedures for seeking and electing the diocese’s ninth bishop. The standing committee’s tentative timeline would allow for an election in late summer or early fall 2026 and the bishop-elect’s consecration in early 2027. The announcement follows a period of healing and discernment among members of the Jacksonville-based diocese involving a series of conversations across difference. Those conversations, which are ongoing, have been facilitated by the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, the former Diocese of El Camino Real bishop who is trained in conflict mediation. The process was not intended specifically to enable a new bishop election, though diocesan leaders previously indicated healing would be necessary before a new election could be held. “We feel like we’re ready. There’s been lots of conversations over the last year and a half or so,” the Rev. Sarah Minton, the standing committee president, said March 31 in an interview with Episcopal News Service. “It’s time. We are meant to operate with a bishop.” The diocese has been without a diocesan bishop since the October 2023 retirement of former Florida Bishop John Howard, who had served for nearly 20 years. Howard, known as one of The Episcopal Church’s more theologically conservative bishops, had drawn criticism from more progressive leaders in the diocese, particularly for his resistance to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Howard now faces potential disciplinary action under the church’s Title IV canons for alleged discrimination, as well as a separate complaint alleging financial impropriety. Those cases are scheduled to go before a hearing panel, starting April 30, unless an accord is reached with churchwide leaders beforehand. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, who took office last November, said in a February statement he is attempting to negotiate a disciplinary accord “that promotes healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation,” citing canonical language. Such an agreement, if reached, also would need the approval of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops. Under Howard, tensions in the diocese began rising to the surface in 2022 when the diocese twice tried to elect his successor. In both elections, the diocese chose the Rev. Charlie Holt as its next bishop, but those elections were successfully blocked by objections filed by some Florida clergy and lay leaders, leaving Florida unable to consecrate a new bishop. Holt has since become rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. Gray-Reeves’ work with the Diocese of Florida has included multiple convocations, a clergy conference, a clergy day and a day of prayer, the standing committee said. In addition, retired Georgia Bishop Scott Benhase agreed to serve Florida as a part-time assisting bishop with help from retired New Jersey Bishop Chip Stokes. In January 2024, Gray-Reeves released a summary of her initial listening sessions and dozens of letters lamenting a “culture of acrimony and distrust” in the diocese. Some letters raised concerns about diocesan leadership under Howard. Others identified perceived bias and exclusion relating to LGBTQ+ persons, as well as women and people of color. “A few letters reflected upset and disappointment in the outcome of the [bishop] election process,” Gray-Reeves continued, both from those who thought Holt should have been consecrated and those who objected to his election. Holt had fallen short of receiving consent from the churchwide majorities of bishops and standing committees, as required by the church’s canons. In September 2024, at the latest diocesan convention, some members backed a resolution urging the Florida Standing Committee to launch a new bishop search. That measure was tabled to allow more time for “further healing and strengthening.” “The continued success of this process will reveal the best election timing to the Standing Committee,” the standing committee said at the time in a statement to ENS. Minton told ENS this week that the additional time has given the standing committee more confidence that the diocese is ready now to seek a new bishop. She emphasized that concerns about the election process have been addressed with updates to the diocese’s canons and policies ensuring greater transparency. Before the special convention on June 14, the diocese will release a draft of proposed rules and procedures, which will be debated and approved by delegates. This also will be the first time the diocese is following a new process for determining voting rolls. Canonically resident clergy who are active in Florida congregations automatically qualify to vote, while those without cure, such as retired clergy or those living outside the diocese, must register by April 15. “As we enter this pivotal time for our diocese, may we be united in spirit and steadfast in prayer,” Minton said March 31 in her message to the diocese announcing the special convention. “We humbly ask that you join us in lifting up this initiative to the Lord, believing that he will lead us with wisdom and bless our work for his glory.” – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.

[Anglican Communion News Service] On March 27, the Anglican Communion raised South Sudan’s plight at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva, emphasizing the human rights of women in the country, which is again on the brink of war. With high poverty levels, large refugee movements, inter-ethnic communal violence and endemic corruption, South Sudan – the world’s newest country – is standing on a precipice. Those who suffer most are usually women and girls, and so the Anglican statement spoke out against the gender-based violence, sexual violence used by armed groups and the forced abductions that plague South Sudanese society. In his statement to the UN, the Rev. Glen Ruffle, the Anglican Communion’s UN representative in Geneva, highlighted the work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the Mothers’ Union in challenging systemic patriarchy, alongside their work to give women livelihoods, opportunities and equal access to justice. Commenting afterward he said, “The work of our churches is inspired by Jesus, who raised up the weak and protected the most vulnerable. Women and girls are impacted the most by the conflicts and poverty, so we are calling on the world to help states like South Sudan, where things are so fragile.” The Anglican statement called on South Sudan’s leaders and the world’s states to commit to implementing the peace agreements, strengthen prosecution of gender-based violence, build microfinance and literacy programs for women and girls, and work with the South Sudan Council of Churches. Here is the text of Ruffle’s statement: The Vienna Declaration remains a major achievement for human rights, recognizing the dignity of each person, which we believe reflects the image of God in them, but rights mean little when the world allows atrocities against women and girls to continue. As an example, 14 years ago, the world welcomed the birth of South Sudan, yet today women and girls continue to be abducted, raped along ethnic lines, subjected to sexual exploitation by captors and gang raped. Although there have been some improvements in prosecutions of gender-based violence via mobile courts, there remains in most cases impunity to these crimes against humanity, with sexual violence still used systematically by armed groups. The Episcopal Church of South Sudan, the Mothers’ Union, parts of the Anglican Communion, alongside many other churches and organizations, are working to challenge the systemic patriarchy, power imbalances and the under-representation of women, as well as reconciling communities and advocating for the poorest. To protect human rights across the whole country, particularly women’s rights, we call on South Sudanese leaders to: Recommit to implement the revitalized peace agreement, Work with the South Sudan Council of Churches to reduce tensions and violence, Strengthen the prosecution of gender-based violence; and Encourage microfinance and literacy opportunities for women and girls. We urge states and South Sudan’s leaders to commit to reduce the escalating tensions, which, should violence return, will impact women and girls the most.