A Note from the Rector – 08/22/2021

In a broken world, it’s hard to know what to do. Even harder to know why you’re doing it. Watching in horror at the events of the last week or so, it is easy to feel helpless. And, to a large extent, things are outside of our control.  But, that doesn’t mean we are without responsibility or without opportunity to do good. So, below are some ways that we can do good in response to some of what is not right with this world. We aren’t going to save the world, but by doing good, we can be faithful witnesses to a God who has, who is, and who will redeem and restore this tired, broken world.
 
Episcopal Relief & Development
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is part of our very own Episcopal Church. Numerically, it is our largest diocese. In the wake of last week’s earthquake, our brothers and sisters in Christ, along with their neighbors of all faiths are in desperate need of emergency aid. Episcopal Relief & Development has deep roots in Haiti and the Episcopal church there. They were already on the ground and working with many partners before the earthquake. With a 4-star, “give with confidence” rating from Charity Navigator, you can be assured that money donated to ERD will actually translate to food, medical, and emergency supplies in the hands of people who need it.   You can give to the ERD Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund here.
 
Charity Navigator Rating
 
Partners in Health
This is a unique healthcare organization whose mission, directly influenced by Christian social teaching, is to “provide a preferential option for the poor in health care.”  PIH has been working in Haiti for decades and is on the frontlines of providing medical care for those affected by the earthquake, the tropical storm, and the on-going COVID crisis. Again, they have one of the highest ratings for transparency and efficiency on Charity Navigator. You can give to their Haiti relief efforts here.
 
Charity Navigator Rating
 
Episcopal Migration Ministries
The Refugee resettlement and migration ministry of the Episcopal Church is one of 7 organizations that is contracted with the US government to help resettle people who are fleeing Afghanistan out of fear of reprisal from the Taliban for their role in helping US Armed Forces.  You can read more and donate to this work here. 
 
Episcopal Church in Navajoland
There is an on-going reckoning with the way that the United States and Canada have treated and continue to treat Native Americans. One front of this reckoning is the recent revelation of thousands of unmarked graves of children in Indian Boarding schools. Christians, including the Episcopal Church, were complicit in these boarding schools, and the physical abuse and cultural destruction they inflicted. But, that is not the whole story. Indigenous people in our country are incredibly strong and resilient. Their vibrant presence and leadership in the Episcopal Church is a gift to us all. I have personal connections to the Episcopal Church in Navajoland  which serves the Navajo reservation operating in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Their work to spread the gospel in a holistic way includes the Hozho Wellness Center, which seeks to be a safe place for people to heal from the intergenerational trauma that, in part, has been caused by Indian boarding schools and other sinful injustices against Native Americans. The wellness center offers counselling, ways of reclaiming and relearning traditional cultural practices, job training, and spiritual care to Navajo women and families. I can personally vouch for the dedication and integrity of those involved in this project, especially my friend, the Rev. Canon Cornelia Eaton, who visited Holy Apostles and participated in my ordination here in 2017. This is one of many ways the Episcopal Church in Navajoland is being faithful to the gospel.  You can give to support their work here.