THE EARLY SPRING 2015 EpiscopalEpiscopal NewsNews WWW.EPISCOPALNEWS.COM SERVING THE SIX-COUNTY DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES
Malcolm Boyd 1923 - 2015 FROM THE BISHOP Lenten journeys to new life n commemorating a person who has died, the of civil rights and Book of Common Prayer guides us to petition racial equity in the
JOHNNY BUZZERIO JOHNNY I“…through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose 1960s and ’70s, and J. Jon Bruno victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the next as an openly Bishop of Los Angeles blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful gay man and priest people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when having travelled ear- our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for lier, in the 1950s, By J. Jon Bruno us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.” out of his career in This prayer’s insight that “life is changed, not Hollywood’s heyday ended” is on my heart as I think of our beloved into the beginnings friend and priest Malcolm Boyd, who has influenced of his theological education and path to priesthood. and strengthened my own faith throughout the past Finally, his serious illness with pneumonia in the last 50 years. From 1965 when I read his bestseller Are four weeks of his life was another passage that he You Running with Me, Jesus? — the same year of made with grace and courage. the marches from Selma to Montgomery — I have These were by no means easy paths, and they been deeply moved by his courage and guidance. strengthened Malcolm and deepened his witness to the inclusive and healing love of Christ. His life took many turns and was changed, and now “For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is his faithful witness continues. The same is true changed, not ended; and when our mortal for us as we journey through this Lenten sea- body lies in death, there is prepared for us son, seeking through prayer and contempla- tion to increase our faith and understanding a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.” even as we cope with challenging and unex- — Burial Office, Book of Common Prayer pected aspects of life.
Then in recent years, while Malcolm was writer- he sufferings of Christ remind us that he endured in-residence in our diocese, he remained a constant Tthe cross yet rose again, overcoming death and source of wise counsel and generous love to me and showing us that new life emerges from even the to Mary Bruno, and to so many others. Likewise, worst of circumstances. Yes, we are an Easter peo- Above: The cover of our love for Malcolm continues deep and strong, ple, bearing one another’s burdens and sharing com- the 2005 40th- and reminds us of the ongoing connection that we mon life in the Body of Christ. My prayer for all of anniversary edition together share with others in the Communion of us this Lenten season is that we share more deeply in of Malcolm Boyd’s Saints. our journeys of faith – encouraging and serving one Are You Running with Reflecting on Malcolm’s life, we remember that he other — guided by the Risen Christ, whose triumph Me, Jesus? walked several challenging journeys: as an advocate we will celebrate anew this coming Easter Day. ?
THE VOLUME 65, NUMBER 2 In this issue: Page 3: Lenten “Water Tithe” program; Climate Change seminar; Search committee Episcopal News Page 5: Stewardship seminar, “Called to the Wall” pilgrimage Publication of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Serving readers since 1898. Page 7: The Birdsall Lectures: Experts offer views on Holy Land, L.A. church history Editor The Episcopal News (ISSN 0195-0681) is Page 8: The Rev. Canon Malcolm Boyd, author, activist and priest, dies at 91 Janet Kawamoto published bi-monthly by the Program Group [email protected] on Communications and Public Affairs of the Page 12: Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Cathedral Center Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, 840 Echo Page 15: Books: The Diocese Reads, and novels by Frederick Borsch, John Taylor Correspondent Park Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90026. The Rev. Canon Patricia McCaughan Page 16: ‘Future50 cohort’ nurtures emerging faith leaders [email protected] Subscription price: $15 per year. Page 18: Take Note: items of interest from around the diocese Art Director Molly Ruttan-Moffat The Episcopal News Update is published by Pages 19 - 20: People: News of the diocesan community [email protected] email each Wednesday. To subscribe, send a request to Editorial and Advertising Office [email protected] On the cover: The Rev. Canon Malcolm Boyd, writer/poet-in-residence of the Diocese Cathedral Center of St. Paul 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026 For weekly news and calendar updates online, of Los Angeles, died Feb. 27 at age 91. He is pictured here at a celebration of his 90th 213.482.2040 visit the Episcopal News website at birthday in 2013 at the home of Bishop J. Jon Bruno and Mary Bruno. See full obituary email: [email protected] www.episcopalnews.com on page 5. Photo / Janet Kawamoto
2 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 NEWS Bishop Bruno asks for ‘water tithe’ to support worldwide water projects
s Lent begins, Bishop Jon Bruno in- Avites congregations to join a year-long diocesan “water-tithing” program de- Fritz Coleman Katharine Jefferts Schori Marc Andrus signed to address the challenges of extreme water insecurity that the Diocese of Los Angeles shares with regions and nations Presiding bishop to keynote climate around the world. Coordinated by the Program Group on change webcast forum on March 24 Global Partnership and the Rev. Andrew Weathercaster Fritz Coleman to moderate panel of climate experts. Barnett, bishop’s chair for environmen- tal studies and food justice, the program Webcast will originate from Campbell Hall: viewing at Cathedral Center will encourage households throughout the diocese to “water-tithe” — to reduce their he Climate Change Crisis,” a and the Diocese of Los Angeles as part of water consumption by 10 percent over a webcast forum presented by the the Birdsall Lectures marking the 150th 12-month period, then to donate the mon- ‘TEpiscopal Church on March 24, year of Episcopal parish ministry in Los ey saved to their congregations for the sup- and addressing one of the most signifi- Angeles. port of projects in countries facing water cant topics in today’s society, will feature Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Sch- insecurity. panelists well-versed in the critical areas ori of the Episcopal Church will present “Lent is an appropriate time for us all to of the environment and the impact of cli- the keynote address. The forum will be re-examine our relationship with water,” mate change on our world. moderated by longtime climatologist Fritz said Bishop Bruno. “Through this pro- The 90-minute live webcast, which Coleman of KNBC 4 television news. gram, we will stand in prayerful solidarity will begin at 11 a.m. Pacific, will origi- Two panels, each 30 minutes, will fo- with our sisters and brothers around the nate from Campbell Hall Episcopal cus on specific areas of the climate change globe who, like us, are called to be more School, North Hollywood. It is presented crisis: “Regional Impacts of Climate careful stewards of this precious resource.” in partnership with Bishop J. Jon Bruno Change” and (continued next page) The program will encourage congrega- tions to designate lead “faucet families” to stimulate discussion and action. The dio- cese, through its global partnership pro- gram, will offer congregations help iden- Bishop Coadjutor Search Committee tifying overseas partners and water access projects they can support, as well as devel- holds first meeting, begins planning oping existing relationships. “Water is life, our local supplies are he Bishop Coadjutor Search Commit- maintain its own internal communication challenged, our current consumption ex- Ttee, charged by Diocesan Convention systems while providing regular reports to ceeds what we can maintain for the long and the Standing Committee to seek nomi- the wider diocese, to be provided through haul — and this is a solvable problem,” nees for a successor to Bishop Diocesan J. the diocesan Community Relations Office says Barnett. “Through indoor efficiency Jon Bruno upon his retirement in 2018, and posted via diocesan media. and California-friendly yards, we can held its first meeting Feb. 10 and began to The committee has announced its mem- bring our water use down to sustainable organize its work. bership as follows: Together with Bull, levels. That’s worth doing because it di- Preparing a profile of the diocese and members are James Alexander (St. An- rectly benefits our neighbors.” reviewing input received during Diocesan drew’s, Ojai), the Very Rev. Canon Frank For further information, including a kit Convention’s December 2014 workshop Alton (Cathedral Center of St. Paul, Echo designed to help congregations begin the on the Bishop’s Address were initial tasks Park), the Rev. Jimmy Bartz (Thad’s, Santa program, visit ministries.ladiocese.org/glo- taken up by the committee, according to Monica), the Rev. Susan Bek (St. Paul’s, balpartnership.html or contact Troy Elder, its chair, the Rev. Canon Julian Bull, head Ventura), Kathleen Dapper (St. Mary’s, bishop’s legate for global partnership, at of Campbell Hall Episcopal school in Laguna Beach), Margaret Drust (St. [email protected], or Barnett at barneta@ North Hollywood. James’, South Pasadena), the Rev. Robert campbellhall.org. ? Bull added that the committee will Edwards (St. (continued next page)
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 3 NEWS
CLIMATE CHANGE (continued from previous page)
“Reclaiming Climate Change as a Moral as science advisor for risk reduction in the The forum also will be available on de- Issue. Natural Hazards Mission of the US Geo- mand following the live webcast. The Cathedral Center of St. Paul will logical Survey. The forum is ideal for live group watch- host viewing and discussion during the live u Mary D. Nichols, J.D., chairman of ing and discussion, or on-demand view- webcast starting at 11 a.m. Pacific time the California Air Resources Board. She ing later. It will be appropriate for Sunday on March 24. There is no cost to attend, is responsible for implementing Califor- school programs, discussions groups, and but reservations are appreciated and may nia’s landmark greenhouse gas emissions community gatherings. Resources such as be made at [email protected]. Par- legislation as well as setting air pollution bibliography, on-demand video, materials ticipants will gather in the Joseph & Child standards for motor vehicles, fuels and for community and individual review, dis- conference room on the ground floor, and consumer products. cussion questions, and lesson plans will be are encouraged to arrive by 10:45 a.m. Se- available on the website. ? cure underground parking and street park- 30 Days of Action ing will be available. In addition to stimulating conversa- BISHOP SEARCH Panelists will include: tion and raising awareness about climate change, the live webcast will serve as the (continued from previous page) u Bishop Marc Andrus of the Episcopal kickoff to “30 Days of Action.” A range of Margaret’s, San Juan Capistrano), Shawn Diocese of California He has made climate activities developed by the Domestic and Evelyn (St. Philip’s, Los Angeles), the Rev. change a focus of his episcopacy. Foreign Missionary Society will be offered Nancy Frausto (Trinity, Los Angeles), u Princess Daazhraii Johnson, former Ex- for individuals and congregations to un- Hank Gatlin (St. Francis, Palos Verdes Es- ecutive Director of the Gwich’in Steering derstand the environmental crisis and will tates), Canon Annette Graw (St. Bede’s, Committee, one of the oldest Indigenous be available on the Episcopal Church web- Los Angeles), Peter Huang (St. James, non-profit groups in Alaska focused on site at www.episcopalchurch.org. The activi- South Pasadena), William Hawkins (St. protection of the Arctic National Wildlife ties will culminate on Earth Day, April 22. Mark’s, Van Nuys), Steve James (St. Clem- Refuge. She currently serves on the SAG- ent’s, San Clemente), the Rev. Aidan Koh AFTRA Native American Committee, the The forum (St. James’ School, Los Angeles); the Very Dancing with the Spirit committee, and is There is no fee to view the live webcast, Rev. Canon Mark Kowalewski (St. John’s an active member of her community. which will be accessible at the Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Los Angeles), Julie Dean u Lucy Jones, seismologist with the U.S. Church website. Registration is not re- Larsen (Faith, Laguna Niguel), the Ven. Geological Survey and a visiting research quired. Questions may be submitted at any Joanne Leslie (Archdeacon of the Diocese), associate at the Seismological Laboratory time before or during the live webcast to Canon Bruce Linsenmeyer (St. Mark’s, of Caltech since 1983. She currently serves [email protected]. Altadena), the Rev. Abel Lopez (Messiah, Santa Ana), the Very Rev. Melissa McCar- thy (Epiphany, Oak Park), the Rev. Lester Mackenzie (St. Matthew’s, Pacific Pali- sades), the Rev. Joseph Oloimooja (Christ the Good Shepherd, Los Angeles), the Rev. Jorge Pallares (St. Simon’s, San Fernan- do, and St. Luke’s, La Crescenta), Frank Ramirez (All Saints, Pasadena), the Hon. Community Forum Series: Saturday, May 2 Patti Jo McKay Ramsey (Christ the Good The Birdsall Lectures Feast of St. Athanasius Shepherd, Los Angeles), the Rev. Elizabeth Tuesday, March 24 Benefit 5k Walk to Five Previous Rechter (St. Mary’s, Laguna Beach), the Episcopal Church Webcast Forum Church Sites Rev. Nathan Rugh (St. Augustine’s, Santa on Climate Change Crisis Cathedral Center Open House Monica), Carlos Ruvalcaba (St. Athana- Campbell Hall, North Hollywood sius, Los Angeles), the Very Rev. Canon Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Friday, June 12, 7:30 p.m. John Saville (St. John’s, Corona), Ann Seitz Schori, keynote presenter 150th Anniversary (Immanuel, El Monte), Joyce Swaving (See story starting page 3) Celebratory Concert (St. George’s, Laguna Hills), Canon John Walt Disney Concert Hall, Thies (St. James, Los Angeles), the Rev. Sunday, April 19 Los Angeles Canon Richard Van Horn (St. Mary’s, Los Civic Observance: 150th Anniversary Free admission with advance tickets Angeles), Ravi Verma (All Saints, Pasade- of the Los Angeles Public Eulogy to be issued by the Cathedral Center na), the Rev. Ada Wong-Nagata (Church for President Abraham Lincoln (See page 7) of Our Saviour, San Gabriel), and the Rev. Keith Yamamoto (St. Mark’s, Upland). For further information, contact the Community Relations Office at the Cathedral Center, Inquiries may be addressed to Bull via 213.482.2040, ext. 240, or [email protected]. email, [email protected]. ?
4 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 NEWS IT GROW P IN E G E ! Upcoming seminars will help churches K
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P E plan year-round stewardship programs I A H tewardship is — or should be — diocese to outline how to do year-round R S -R D O R a year-round effort, according to ex- stewardship as a congregation. The pro- U A Sperts in the field, including Bishop grams also will offer general information ND STEW Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce, who is regarding formation and specific informa- Upcoming Stewardship Seminars stewardship officer for the Diocese of Los tion to help with stewardship campaigns. Angeles in addition to her episcopal role. Each of the six seminars will take place Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning on April 25, the Program on a Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament Group on Stewardship and Development Scheduled dates and locations are listed in 1314 N. Angelina Drive, Placentia will sponsor gatherings throughout the the box to the right. Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Pilgrims in 2013 from the 1020 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego greet their Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. counterparts from Mexico All Saints’ Episcopal Church through the border fence 3847 Terracina Drive, Riverside that stands between the Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. two countries. The St. Cross Episcopal Church pilgrimage, a project of the 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach two U.S. dioceses and the Anglican Church of Mexico, Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. has been held for three Cathedral Center of St. Paul years in support of just 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles immigration reform, a cause supported by the wider The same information will be offered at
CHRIS TUMILTY Episcopal Church. each site. Bruce encourages all congregations to ‘Called to the Wall’ pilgrimage to U.S.- send a team to one of the five sessions. “Come prepared to listen, ask questions, Mexico border planned for March 28 process — and come away with ideas for your own year-round stewardship work in alled to the Wall,” the fourth an- After lunch at St. Paul’s, participants your congregation!” she wrote to congre- ‘Cnual Lenten Via Crucis pilgrimage will continue to a parking lot near the gations. to the U.S. - Mexico border in support beach in south San Diego, where they There is no charge for the seminars. of immigrants, will take place this year will leave their cars to take a 45-minute Participants should bring their own on Saturday, March 28, the day before walk along the shore to the border fence lunch and any snacks for the day. Bever- Palm Sunday. at Friendship Park. ages will be provided. Pilgrims will gather at 7:30 a.m. at the At the border wall, Bishop Suffragan “You will gather as a congregation dur- Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Diane Jardine Bruce of the Diocese of Los ing lunch to discuss what you learned so Park Avenue, Los Angeles, and begin by Angeles and Bishop James Mathes of the far in the day, and again after the last set praying the Stations of the Cross repre- Diocese of San Diego will celebrate Eu- of workshops,” said Bruce. “The goal is to senting Jesus’ journey from the place of his charist at about 3 p.m. At the same time, model fellowship as well as good dialogue trial to the place of crucifixion in English on the Mexican side of the wall, clergy regarding what may be possible for your and Spanish. Pilgrims then will caravan from the Anglican Church of Mexico also congregation.” by car to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, will celebrate the Eucharist. Reservations are required and may be 311 West South Street, Anaheim 92805 All are invited to take part in the pil- made by email to Bishop Bruce at obispa (714.535.4654), then cross over to the grimage. Participants may join in at any of [email protected]. Participants should include Diocese of San Diego, making a second the several stops on the way. All transport their names, with the name and city of stop at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 6th Av- will be by private cars traveling in caravan. their congregation, the number of people enue, San Diego 92103 (619.298.7261). For additional information, contact attending, and date of attendance. At each stop participants will continue Jennifer Hughes at jenniferhughes1969@ For further information about the semi- praying additional stations of the cross. gmail.com. ? nars, contact Bruce at the email address above. ?
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 5 Festival Concert Organ, Brass & Choir Friday, June 12, 7:30pm The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Share in a gala evening featuring and honoring six Greater Los Angeles parish organist- choirmasters in recital.
FREE ADMISSION with ticketing through the Cathedral Center offices beginning March 1.
For more information, contact The Cathedral Center Community Relations Office: 213.482.2040, ext. 220 EMAIL: [email protected] PHOTO: FEDERICO ZIGNANI PHOTO: 6 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 THE BIRDSALL LECTURES
Warren Clark, above left, director of Churches for Middle East Peace, delivered the keynote address at the first Birdsall Lecture on Jan. 24. Center: Trent Pettit and Summer Torrero share impressions from their recent pilgrimages to the Holy Lands. Top right: At the second Birdsall Lecture on Feb. 28, Pasadena author Nat Read describes the early history of the Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, followed by Andrew Thomas, near left, director of a new documentary about Malcolm Boyd, and St. Mark’s, Glendale, parish historian Bruce Merritt. Experts offer views on peace in
Holy Lands, L.A. church history PHOTOS / JANET KAWAMOTO
eace in the Holy Lands and the his- and respect for the rights of both Jews and of Los Angeles, and finally succeeded, with tory of the Episcopal Church in Palestinians, and good-faith concessions the help of the Episcopal Church and the PSouthern California were discussed on both sides. Rev. Elias Birdsall, in establishing St. Atha- at the first two Birdsall Lectures, held in Following Clark’s presentation, Trent nasius’ Church. January and February in Los Angeles. The Pettit of St. James’ Church, South Pasa- Attendees at the Feb. 28 lecture also new series is named for the first priest of dena, and Summer Torrero of St. Atha- saw clips from the upcoming documentary the Congregation of St. Athanasius, Los nasius’, Los Angeles, described their ex- Malcolm Boyd: Disturber of the Peace, Angeles, which is celebrating its 150th periences on diocesan pilgrimages to the presented by filmmaker Andrew Thomas year of ministry. Birdsall in 1865 held a Holy Lands. Pettit was one of the young (see more in Boyd’s obituary on page 8). similar series on topics of public interest. adults who visited there in December, Bruce Merritt, author of St. Mark’s Jour- 2014; Torrero made her pilgrimage as a ney: A History of St. Mark’s Episcopal Jerusalem Epiphanies teenager in 2011. Church, Glendale, California, 1888 - 1989, Retired U.S. Ambassador Warren Clark, described how he came to write the par- executive director of the Washington D.C.- Episcopal Church history in Los Angeles ish history and give pointers on how other based Churches for Middle East Peace, Nat Read, local history expert, delivered congregations might research and present spoke on “Jerusalem Epiphanies” at the the keynote address at the second Birdsall their stories. Bob Williams, canon for com- first Birdsall Lecture on Jan. 24 at the Ca- lecture, titled “The Episcopal Church and munity relations for the diocese, concluded thedral Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles. the American Experience,” which drew a the day with a description of the Horizons Clark, an Episcopalian, outlined the his- group of history buffs and church histori- & Heritage website, now under develop- tory of Israel and Palestine and some of ans to the Cathedral Center on Feb. 28. ment, that will eventually include histories the historical forces that have led to divi- Read, author of From Mountain Man to and photos from all congregations in the sions today, and engaged the audience in Mayor: Don Benito Wilson, Los Angeles diocese. He encouraged attendees to send a discussion of efforts to facilitate peace 1841 - 1878, described the life and exploits information about their churches to news@ in the Holy Lands. Clark laid emphasis of Benjamin Wilson, an early transplant ladiocese.org to be included on the site, on the two-state solution, exploring the from the U.S. to California, who had a pro- found at horizons.ladiocese.org. possibilities for peace in the region based found effect on the history of the state and The third Birdsall Lecture will be an on an equitable division of territories and especially on the local beginnings of the Episcopal Church-sponsored webcast fo- authority — a solution he is confident can Episcopal Church. Wilson, Read said, was rum on climate change, featuring a keynote come about, though it will not be easy, he determined to establish a Protestant Chris- address by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jef- said, and will require careful diplomacy tian congregation in the wild frontier town ferts Schori (see story on page 3). ?
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 7 REQUIESCAT Malcolm Boyd – activist, writer, priest – dies at 91
he Rev. Canon Malcolm Boyd — whose human rights advocacy shaped most of his 30 books including the 1965 best-seller Are You Running With Me, Jesus? — died Feb. 27 in private hospice care in Los Angeles. Severe complications of pneumonia caused Author of 30t Boyd’s death at age 91, said his life partner, Mark Thompson. Boyd was ordained 60 years ago in the
books, Boyd’s JANET KAWAMOTO Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles which ordained he served since 1996 as writer-in-residence. Bishop and being. This came to a head when a group of Ro- F. Eric Bloy made Boyd, then age 31, a deacon in man Catholic priests and laity invited me to be their ministry 1954 and a priest the next year. Ordination followed guest on a visit to Jerusalem and Rome. We were Boyd’s work in television’s early years as a produc- very open to one another in our spiritual quest. One spanned 60 tion partner of Hollywood icon Mary Pickford. afternoon as a group we were resting. I did some- “Malcolm lives on in our hearts and minds thing that changed my life; I wrote a short prayer years through the wise words and courageous example he on an airline ticket. It became the first prayer in my has shared with us through the years,” said Bishop book, which appeared a year later.” J. Jon Bruno of the Diocese of Los Angeles. “We The story of Boyd’s life — including marching in pray in thanksgiving for Malcolm’s life and ministry, Selma for civil rights and publicly coming out as gay, By Bob Williams for his tireless advocacy for civil rights, and for his in a 1977 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times reli- faithful devotion to Jesus who now welcomes him gion editor — is being chronicled in a new documen- to eternal life and comforts us in our sense of loss.” tary titled Malcolm Boyd: Disturber of the Peace Activism for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgen- and set for completion later this year. Full informa- Full biographical dered equality was at the core of Boyd and Thomp- tion is available online at www.malcolmboydfilm.com. information is son’s 31-year union, which included their civil mar- Memorial contributions are being received, through available at riage in a July 2013 private ceremony in their home the Diocese of Los Angeles, to complete the film. www.malcolm in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. Boyd’s decision to pursue ordained ministry, fol- boyd.com A Eucharistic celebration of Boyd’s life will be lowing his paternal grandfather who was also an held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the Cathe- Episcopal priest, came after several years of working dral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los in Hollywood and New York in radio and television. Angeles, where he also conducted spiritual direction In 1944 Boyd enrolled in a radio workshop conduct- and mentoring with several clergy and lay persons. ed by NBC in Hollywood. He was hired thereafter There he completed the most recent of the 30 books by the advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding that he wrote and six that he edited in addition to and became a junior producer of radio and televi- writing numerous columns, essays, sermons and sion programs. In 1947 he left advertising to begin prayers after being named diocesan writer-in-resi- work as a writer and producer for Republic Pictures Above: Malcolm Boyd dence by Bishop Frederick H. Borsch. and Samuel Goldwyn Productions. addresses friends In the course of this work, Boyd met Pickford and gathered for his 90th Running with Jesus her third husband, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, and birthday party on June Active in ministry through the recent Christmas joined the couple to form, in 1949, the production 8, 2013, hosted by season, Boyd was preparing to mark the 50th an- company PRB Inc. In 1951, with Pickford’s support, Bishop J. Jon Bruno niversary this spring of the publication of his land- Boyd began seminary studies in Berkeley, Calif., at and Mary Bruno at mark book of prayers, Are You Running With Me, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, which their Pasadena home. Jesus? In December he wrote that the book “had for awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1995. a long time been slowly growing in my soul, mind Pickford and Boyd’s (continued next page)
8 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 MALCOLM BOYD (continued from previous page)
Clockwise from above: Malcolm Boyd as a choir boy, c. 1930; conferring with former business partner Mary Pickford, with whom he remained a close friend until her death in 1979; receiving a Bible from Bishop F. Eric Bloy at his 1955 ordination to the priesthood; at the ecumenical monastery in Taizé, France, in 1975. association is cited in Eileen Whitfield’s The family’s fortunes perished in the stock 1997 book Pickford: the Woman Who market crash of 1929 and the Great De- Made Hollywood. Another family friend, pression, and the couple’s marriage ended actress Lillian Gish, was close to Boyd and in divorce. Beatrice Boyd moved to Colo- his mother, Beatrice, who was for several rado Springs, accompanied by young Mal- years parish secretary at St. Thomas the colm, who developed an interest in jour- Apostle Episcopal Church in Hollywood. nalism by writing for school newspapers, later crediting middle- and high-school Early life and ministry teachers as early and influential mentors. Boyd was the only child of investment It was at St. John’s Episcopal Cathe- banker Melville Boyd and Beatrice Lowrie, dral in Denver that Boyd and his mother a fashion model, who were married in the encountered Dean Paul Roberts, who en- early 1920s. Malcolm was born on June 8, couraged Boyd to consider the priesthood. MALCOLM ARCHIVE BOYD 1923, in Buffalo, N.Y., where his parents After ordination, Boyd credited Roberts as After returning to the United States, were visiting from their Manhattan home. one of his greatest spiritual guides. While Boyd was called as rector of St. George’s in college, Boyd contracted Church in inner-city Indianapolis. It was bronchiectasis and doctors here in 1957 that Boyd met Paul and Jen- It’s morning, Jesus. It’s morning, and here’s that light recommended a change of ny Moore and became close friends. At and sound all over again. climate, which led to his en- the time, Paul Moore was dean of Christ I’ve got to move fast ... get into the bathroom, wash up, rollment and graduation in Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, prior to grab a bite to eat, and run some more. 1944 from the University of his 1964 consecration as bishop suffragan Arizona at Tucson. in Washington D.C. and his 1969 election I just don’t feel like it. What I really want to do is get Following his 1955 or- as bishop coadjutor of the Manhattan- back into bed, pull up the covers, and sleep. All I seem dination to the priesthood, based Diocese of New York. to want today is the big sleep, and here I’ve got to run Boyd pursued further studies Boyd’s second book, Christ and Celeb- all over again. at Oxford University and in rity Gods, was published in 1958, tracing Geneva at the World Coun- the development of the Hollywood “reli- Where am I running? You know these things I can’t cil of Churches’ Ecumenical gious film” including several produced by understand. It’s not that I need to have you tell me. Institute. In 1956 he earned Cecil B. DeMille, a fellow Episcopalian What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it’s a master’s degree from Union whom Boyd interviewed at various times, you. That helps a lot. Theological Seminary in differing on some points of view. So I’ll follow along, OK? But lead, Lord. Now I’ve got to New York. He wrote his first book, Crisis in Communica- ‘Espresso Priest,’ Freedom Rider run. Are you running with me, Jesus? tion, and in 1957 traveled to In 1959 Boyd became Episcopal chap- — Malcolm Boyd, 1965 France to serve in the Taizé lain at Colorado State University in Fort community. Collins, where (continued next page)
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 9 BOYD (continued from previous page)
At right: Boyd, second from right, and other Episcopal clergy visit a church that was destroyed during civil rights unrest in the 1960s. Boyd devoted much of his long ministry to the pursuit of equality for all. Below right: An album of Boyd reading some of his prayers, with music by guitarist Charlie Byrd, was released by Columbia Records. he began a coffeehouse ministry known as “The Golden Grape” and later became identified in the media as “the espresso priest.” His outreach to the “beatniks” drew criticism from Colorado’s then-di- ocesan bishop, Joseph Minnis, and Boyd MALCOLM ARCHIVE BOYD eventually resigned as chaplain. Later in Boyd went on to assist until 1970 at the 1959, during an address for the Religious Church of the Atonement, Washington Emphasis Week at Louisiana State Univer- D.C., where he also served as field direc- sity, Boyd gave a clear call for an end to tor for the Episcopal Society for Cultural racial segregation and began a decade of Racial Unity. On February 6, 1968, Boyd work in the civil rights movement. was present a final time in a rally with the In 1961, Boyd joined 27 other Episcopal Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a gather- priests — black and white — in a Freedom ing near the Tomb of the Unknown Solider Ride organized by the Congress of Racial in Arlington Cemetery. Equality (CORE) in an effort to desegre- “In the 1960s, Boyd began to edge out gate interstate transportation. In 1962 Life of the closet,” notes the online “glbtq en- magazine named Boyd among the “100 cyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans- Most Important Young Men and Women gender, & queer culture.” in the United States.” “He had experienced his first sexual re- From 1961 to 1964, Boyd served con- lationship with another man in New York 1960s and into the ’70s. A July 27, 1971 currently as priest on the interracial min- City in the mid-1950s but hesitated to ac- Look magazine cover story pictured him istry team of Grace Church, Detroit, and cept his homosexuality,” the online ency- among 16 Americans — including Mar- as Episcopal chaplain at Wayne State Uni- clopedia continues. “He came out unof- garet Mead, Walter Cronkite, Duke El- versity. In the summer of 1965 he assisted ficially in 1965 with his eloquent prayer lington and Norman Vincent Peale — each with voter registration in Mississippi and ‘This is a Homosexual Bar, Jesus’ in Are offering his or her “personal key” to peace Alabama. Later in 1965 Boyd was present You Running With Me, Jesus? The book of mind. During these years Boyd also de- in Los Angeles when the Watts riots erupt- led to an offer in 1968 to become writer- veloped a friendship with Hugh Hefner, ed, assisting in local ministry at the direc- in-residence at Calhoun College of Yale and the two collaborated in interviews and tion of Bishop Bloy. Boyd’s friend, Jona- University.” events, some at the Playboy Mansion in than Daniels, was murdered in Alabama The encyclopedia adds that when Boyd Los Angeles. that summer, on Aug. 20. came out publicly in the 1977 Chicago Amid such secular contexts, Boyd also When Boyd’s Are You Running With Sun-Times interview he became, by some claimed “no intention of severing his con- Me, Jesus? was published in 1965, “no one accounts, “the first prominent openly gay nection with the institutional church,” knew it would become a runaway national clergyman of a mainstream Christian de- the Diocesan Press Service, now Episco- bestseller with one million copies in print nomination in the United States. He also pal News Service, reported in 1969. “The and translation into a number of different discussed the difficulties of being a gay best-selling author said he had a ‘Virginia languages,” he later said, recalling that Episcopal priest in his autobiography, Woolf kind of marriage to the Church. It’s he “gave many public readings from the Take Off the Masks (1978). In Gay Priest violent, it’s lusty, it’s organic. A divorce book accompanied by musicians including (1986), Boyd explored the painful spiritual would be out of the question. We would Oscar Brown, Jr., Vince Guaraldi and gui- journey forced upon any gay man who always be in one another’s fantasies.” tarist Charlie Byrd.” Columbia Records would be a priest.” Some 30 years later, at a 1999 San Diego released two albums of Boyd and Byrd col- meeting of the Episcopal Church’s House laborating. Boyd also read the prayers in Nexus of sacred, secular of Bishops, Boyd and Thompson were San Francisco’s “hungry i” nightclub, with Popular television hosts Dick Cavett present to comment on the depth of their Dick Gregory headlining the bill through a and Merv Griffin were among those who relationship and to advocate for marriage one-month run. interviewed Boyd on the air through the equality. On May (continued next page)
10 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 BOYD (continued from previous page) MOLLY KAWAMOTO MOLLY Above: Malcolm Boyd prepares to cut the cake at a celebration of his 90th birthday; his husband, Mark Thompson, is at right. At right: Boyd and Thompson, partners for more than 31 years, visit Descanso Gardens in 2010. MARY GLASSPOOL MARY 16, 2004, Bishop Bruno blessed Boyd and faithfully with the key issues that present- tor profile written by journalist Gary Yer- Thompson’s union in a ceremony at the ed themselves to me. I hope that I will not key noted Boyd’s expertise in conveying Cathedral Center on the 20th anniversary cry or whine for more time. If I have used “the message of Christianity outside of the of their life partnership. Two years earlier, my time for love, and am eager to find walls of the church to champion minority Bruno named Boyd an honorary canon of what lies ahead, I won’t have to.” rights and show that God is everywhere.” the Cathedral Center. Later, Boyd’s essay titled “Mother Broke The full article is here: http://bit.ly/1CxcEMu. In 1996, Boyd concluded 15 years as an Her Hip” was included in the book In In May 2014, Boyd received an honor- associate priest at St. Augustine by-the-Sea Times Like These ... How We Pray, a vol- ary doctorate from the Episcopal Divinity Episcopal Church in Santa Monica. Dur- ume that Boyd edited with Bishop Bruno. School, located in Cambridge, Mass., near ing these years he served three terms as With Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan Ches- the campus of Harvard University. Cover- president of PEN Center USA West, the ter Talton, Boyd also co-edited the 2003 age is online at bit.ly/1AesgBY. regional center of the international writ- book Race and Prayer: Collected Voices, One of Boyd’s last public appearances ers’ organization, and was a frequent book Many Dreams. In 2011, to coincide with was at the October 26, 2014 evensong and reviewer for the Los Angeles Times. Boyd’s 88th birthday, Seabury Books pub- dinner marking the 150th year of the Ca- From 1990 to 2000, Boyd also wrote lished Black Battle, White Knight: The thedral Center congregation in which he a regular column for Modern Maturity, Authorized Biography of Malcolm Boyd had been ordained 60 years prior. magazine of the American Association of by the Rev. Canon Michael Battle — with Late 2014 found Boyd preparing for the Retired Persons (AARP) with 34 million a foreword by Nobel Laureate Archbishop 50th anniversary, in spring 2015, of the readers. From 1996 until his death he was Desmond Tutu, who wrote: “One is an 1965 release of Are You Running With a columnist for The Episcopal News. In octogenarian, and the other a late baby Me, Jesus? Anticipating this occasion, Boyd 2011, Boyd became a regular columnist boomer. One is heterosexual, married with wrote: “My book of prayers clearly now in the Huffington Post’s religion section, three children, and the other is gay in a belongs to the world. I know that. I love continuing through 2014 and often com- long-term partnership. One is black and prayer and am grateful it is a powerful part menting on how much he enjoyed contrib- the other is white. But the similarities far of my life. I wish we could — or would — uting online and in the context of social outweigh the differences, the chief similar- pray with more passion, greater sensitivity, media. A link to the columns is here: huff. ity being their mutual search for God here even more passion. I identify with what to/1AeuWQ9. and everywhere.” a writer for The New York Times wrote In advance of Boyd’s 90th birthday, about the prayers: ‘The eloquence of the Insights on death, dying the Lambda Literary Foundation hosted prayers comes from the personal struggle The death of Boyd’s mother in 1997, OUTWRITE!, a special celebration honor- they contain — a struggle to believe, to keep just 10 days before her 99th birthday, ing Los Angeles LGBT literary pioneers — going, a spiritual contest that is agonized, prompted his book Go Gentle Into that Malcolm Boyd, Lillian Faderman, Kath- courageous and not always won.’ I am Good Night (Genesis Press, 1998), a re- erine V. Forrest, John Rechy and Patricia grateful for his insight. I agree with him.’’ ? flective commentary on death and dying. Nell Warren — at the West Hollywood In Go Gentle, Boyd wrote: “I hope Public Library. The April 27, 2013 event — Robert Williams is canon for commu- I’ll have few regrets when death comes. marked the organization’s 25th anniver- nity relations of the Episcopal Diocese of I would like to walk away hand in hand sary. Los Angeles and a former director of the with death, feeling that I have struggled That spring, a Christian Science Moni- New York-based Episcopal News Service.
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 11 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. OBSERVANCE
‘Growing up’ in King’s legacy, Christ’s love
outhland Episcopa- lians say the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy overcomes time, ethnic, racial, religious Episcopalians and geographic divides, strumpeting a perennial remember message of hope, faith, courage and inspiration. impact of Like 14-year-old Emily JANET KAWAMOTO Fitton, who had “learned something about Dr. King Alabama, to join King in the historic 1965 march King’s voice vaguely in school where it was more talked about from Selma to Montgomery. in my younger years, not so much in middle school It’s one reason he and spouse MaryJo invite young for justice, or high school.” people to attend the annual diocesan gathering. Then she accepted an invitation from other St. “What amazed me about Dr. King was his abil- righteousness, Stephen’s, Santa Clarita, parishioners MaryJo and ity to appeal to all people,” Higginbotham told the ‘unconditional Ken Higginbotham Jr., to attend the Jan. 17 Martin Episcopal News. `”He was able to capture the atten- Luther King Day commemoration at the Cathedral tion of everybody, and to me, he was mesmerizing. love’ Center of St. Paul. It wasn’t just the issue of black and white; he took That’s where the meaning of King’s legacy became on issues of economic fairness, of racial and social very real in an “amazing” way to Fitton. fairness. By Pat McCaughan “The choir was awesome; words cannot describe “He was very much into praying and pulling peo- how amazingly they performed,” she said of the Epis- ple together and sought change with nonviolence, copal Chorale, directed by Canon Chas Cheatham. showing inner strength versus physical strength.” “The sermon was captivating. It had my full at- MaryJo Higginbotham said she learned about tention the whole time. It was called ‘Grown Up King after moving to Los Angeles and celebrating Love,’” she said of the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, guest black history month with the school children at preacher and the first African American elected bish- Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Los Angeles. op of Atlanta. “It’s very tough for me to realize there was a per- “It was saying how as a child or teenager you feel son who would stand up so much, so long, as long as emotions you think are love. But it’s not the kind of he was able, to lead people of color, of any race, for love that gives you power to do the things that need justice,” she said. That witness, she says, empowers to be done,” said Fitton, a ninth grader at Saugus her “every year, to try to bring somebody with me High School. “It makes you feel good at the time, from Santa Clarita,” she said. “And everyone I bring but it doesn’t last, it doesn’t tell you what needs to is overwhelmed with the preaching and music.” happen and challenges you need to take on.” What spoke most loudly was “the amount of love ‘Love has the last word’ that was felt in that room,” Fitton recalled. “I knew Wright told the gathering that King believed that Above: The maybe four or five people in the entire room, but unconditional love would have the last word. congregation at there was still a connection with everybody in there. “When the curtain comes down on the final act the 2015 Martin Complete strangers were offering me hugs during the of human history, he believed that love was the only Luther King Day peace and everybody came up to me and shook my force that was capable of transforming an enemy celebration joins hands hand, whether I knew them or not. It was awesome.” into a friend,” Wright said. “And he said on many to sing “We Shall As a teenager Ken Higginbotham Jr. stayed behind occasions that hate was just too terrible a burden to Overcome” at the end in Columbus, Ohio, while his father, the late Rev. bear. That he was just going to stick with love.” of the Eucharist. Canon Kenneth Higginbotham Sr., a well-known King manifested a “grown-up love,” as did Jesus, Episcopal priest, boarded a bus bound for Selma, Wright said. The difference, (continued next page)
12 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 MLK (continued from previous page)
me; it gave me courage to stand up and speak and not care a word about what people are going to say. “What kept coming through to me is that, in spite of the odds against him, in spite of all the venom spewed back at him, he was doing the right thing and this is what Jesus did,” Gamarra said. “If we’re going to be followers of Jesus we’ve got to do what Martin did and speak up against oppression and not make peace with op- pression.” King’s ministry “inspired me to embrace
JANET KAWAMOTO my values and inspired me to be a better At left: Bishop Robert Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta delivers the sermon at the Martin Luther human being and gave me pride in being a King Day Eucharist at the Cathedral Center Jan. 17. Above: Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce blesses person of color.” the congregation, accompanied by deacons Margaret McCauley (partially hidden), Jamie Yet Gamarra said he is disappointed, Hammons and Walter Johnson. that although King “is a giant of history … it seems young people don’t know any- he said, between puppy love and grown- justice … and Dr. King has definitely reso- thing about him.” The United States may up love is that “one makes you feel good. nated with the Korean people. I can still re- have elected a black president, he noted, The other changes the world.” member the words of his “I Have a Dream’ but at the same time, there have still been Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce speech, that one day my children will not numerous deaths of black men at the said the Cathedral Center celebration is an be judged by the color of their skin, but by hands of police and “racism is in the veins opportunity to remember that King’s leg- the content of their character.” of this nation.” acy is “for all people. The things that Dr. Wright said that King’s reach also ex- “I only wish that this generation, this King fought and struggled for were for all tended beyond creeds. “Having been a nation would do more than just every year people.” Christian who consulted with a rabbi, have a Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a The Rev. Zelda Kennedy, senior associ- followed a Hindu and was in regular dia- celebration … even in the church. We have ate for pastoral care at All Saints Church logue with a Muslim, Dr. King might la- King Day celebrations but what do we do in Pasadena, said that, even though she ment Duke University’s decision this year the rest of year around issues of race and never met King, “the legacy he provided to disallow Muslim students to call their sex and all the other bigotries that exist for people like me is such that I do know faith in prayer from their storied tower,” in our church? On King Day we’re all on him. He’s part of my existence, in the way he told the gathering. the right side but the rest of the 11 months that I look at life, in the way I deal with He added, “God has many children and we’re doing something different.” people, in the way that I try to be non- ultimately we will all be gathered into a re- violent. He helped me to understand how ligiously integrated prayer meeting called From the Birmingham Jail: powerful that act could be.” heaven.” taking on the church The Rev. Esther Kim had a similar reac- Similarly, Wright said, King would prob- The Rev. Canon Eric Law, executive tion; “At the Korea University in Seoul, I ably agree with Pope Francis “who realized director of the Kaleidoscope Institute re- majored in political science and interna- that we must condemn violence like that called King’s letter from the Birmingham tional relations, and one of the first classes which we’ve just seen in Paris and at the Jail because “it read like an epistle from I took on justice was about Dr. King. same time balance our commitment to free the bible.” “In general, for the Korean people, there speech with our commitment to respecting That letter, in which King challenged was a lot of oppression,” added Kim, 35, the dignity of every human being,” he said. criticism from his own colleagues within who called “awesome” the Jan. 17 King the church community, “saying to him he’s Day commemoration, citing the perfor- Speaking up for all oppressed people going at it the wrong way, that he needed mance of the Episcopal Chorale, and While the Rev. Butch Gamarra was to slow down” resonated with Law. “If Wright’s sermon. growing up in Central America, King’s you read the letter now, he’s saying what is “A lot of people died, a lot worked for ministry influenced him because King going on now and it’s really quite amazing. democracy and justice in Korea,” said “was not just speaking up for Black Amer- He’s talking about young people disillu- Kim. “We were under Japanese occupa- icans but (he was) speaking up for all op- sioned with the church and not coming.” tion in the 19th century and then we were pressed people everywhere. According to Wright, “Grown-up love under military dictatorships. The list goes “Coming from a region where there was tells the truth. The prophets all did this. Dr. on and on. a lot of oppression, I could relate to that,” King did this, he told us of the gap between “A lot of people sacrificed themselves for he said. “It has emboldened me, inspired our current reality (continued next page)
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 13 MLK DAY (continued from previous page) and our democratic and Christian ideals. King’s legacy “From the Birmingham jail he pointed continues to in- out that our prodigious religious build- spire the Rev. ings seemed to dwarf our flesh-and-blood Lester Mackenzie, commitment to Christ and that sometimes associate rector our moderation in matters of justice for all at St. Matthew’s, is just cowardice and paternalism in dis- Pacific Palisades, guise,” Wright told the gathering. because “he chal- “He said from a jail cell if today’s church lenges us to con- does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of sider our own
the early church, it will lose its authentic- calling. (He) offers JANET KAWAMOTO ity, forfeit the loyalty of millions and be the reminder that The Episcopal Chorale performs at the diocese’s 2015 Martin Luther King dismissed as an irrelevant social club with we are all called Day Eucharist, under the direction of Canon Chas Cheatham (at the piano), no meaning the for 20th century — and, in one way or an- as Bishop Robert Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta, guest preacher, listens. we might add, the 21st century.” other to make a He added, “Grown-up love tells the difference in our society for the better. munity I serve. And we are all connected, truth not to destroy but to build up. What “King reminds us to always be listening and until white people and other people truth would Dr. King tell us today? I be- for our call to be agents of peace, recon- of color get that, we’re going to continue lieve he would tell us the truth that back in ciliation and forgiveness,” said Macken- to sit back and watch Ferguson and New his own state of Georgia, back in the place zie. “His life was grounded in scripture. York and say ‘isn’t that terrible.’ where I serve, he would tell us we’ve got Martin Luther King was deeply shaped by “My biggest hope is that we will all un- to end capital punishment now, absolutely Jesus of Nazareth. What I hear from scrip- derstand that we’re from the same family. I right now. ture, can anything good come out of the don’t care what our complexion is.” “He might say to all of us there you’re Episcopal Church? I think so indeed.” Bruce agreed. Remembering King’s leg- not actually pro-life unless you defend Kennedy said King’s legacy still drives acy “helps me remember that we’re not the unborn and the already-born with the her to recognize that “we are all connected there yet,” she said. “There’s still so much same passion. He might call to our atten- … and this is what killed him,” she said. that we need to overcome in this world, tion that capital punishment anywhere in “What he got was we’re all connected from a personal level to a corporate level, the world is actually state-sanctioned mob and what happens to you ultimately im- to a global level … racism, poverty, illness, violence and naked bloodlust and has no pacts me and what happens to me ulti- violence. It just holds that mirror up and place in any civilized nation.” mately impacts the white folks in this com- makes us look at it deeply again.” ?
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14 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 BOOKS
mont School of Theology. Bishop Bruno selects “The text is rich in every respect, includ- ing interfaith contexts and varied forms new book on pilgrimage of spiritual practice, both for individuals for 2015 ‘Diocese Reads’ and groups,” Bruno wrote. “So helpful are these insights that I invite us to engage this Pilgrimage — The Sacred Art: book in the 2015 “Diocese Reads” pro- Journey to the Center of the Heart gram, taking time to read and reflect upon the text both personally and in group by the Rev. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, Skylight Paths, 2013 study settings.” iting the importance of pilgrimage in ter and discover the presence of the Holy, Bruno cited the need for increased un- Cthe life of Christians and all people of many times in new and surprising ways. As derstanding among faith groups, especially faith, Bishop J. Jon Bruno has announced we travel, our contemplative life of prayer those in the Abrahamic tradition. He quot- that Pilgrimage — The Sacred Art: Jour- and meditation deepens, and we also have ed the publisher’s description of Pilgrimage ney to the Center of the Heart by the Rev. the joy of meeting fellow pilgrims who are — The Sacred Art: “It examines how the Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook (Skylight Paths, kindred spirits, even within different faith world’s religious pilgrimages evolved as cen- 2013) will be the 2015 selection for the traditions.” tral spiritual practices and the relationship “Diocese Reads” program. Kujawa-Holbrook is a priest of the between pilgrimage and transformation.” “Pilgrimage is a central metaphor for Diocese of Los Angeles, professor at Bloy Copies of the book are available at the us as people of faith,” Bruno wrote when House (Episcopal Theological School at Cathedral Bookstore at the Cathedral Cen- announcing the selection. “Most often, Claremont) and vice president for academ- ter of St. Paul: 213.482.2040 or bookstore@ pilgrimage involves a journey toward a sa- ic affairs and professor of practical theol- ladiocese.org. It also is available in e-book cred place — a path on which we encoun- ogy and religious education at the Clare- format through amazon.com. ?
ment, Richard Nixon is poised to become Authors Fred Borsch, John Taylor draw the first president to resign. But what if someone could convince him to change from academic, political experience his mind? he Rt. Rev. Frederick Borsch, retired says, “What now will happen to his re- Author John Taylor was President Nix- Tfifth bishop of the Diocese of Los An- lationships with family and friends? And on’s real-life chief of staff after Nixon’s geles, and the Rev. Canon John Taylor, vic- what of the young man whose identity and resignation from the presidency, serving ar of St. John Chrysostom Church in Ran- family and friends he must now discover? as an executor of his will and first execu- cho Santa Margarita, both released novels ... Whose mysterious and at times comical, tive director of the Nixon Library. Taylor in 2014 that draw from their experiences at times harrowing, story is this?” has parlayed his knowledge of the late in, respectively, academic life and politics. John Taylor, in a review of Borsch’s president into this fictional what-if tale of book posted on Amazon.com, writes, a 26-year-old White House lawyer who My Life “Fred Borsch invests his character with convinces Nixon to tell Congress that he is a pastor’s gifts for empathy and attentive temporarily incapacitated. By law, Gerald For Yours listening.” Another Amazon reviewer says Ford steps in to take his place. by Frederick H. Borsch My Life For Yours is “Fantastic. One of The fictional Nixon’s new home is Jack- Harold Barnes, the best novels I have read in a long time.” son Place, a townhouse across the street recently retired head from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Seeming- and master teacher Jackson Place ly in internal exile, Nixon “secretly grasps of Westview Acad- for influence over events while plotting his by John Taylor emy, dies of a heart final comeback,” says the novel synopsis. attack in a southern Create Space Inde- Kirkus Reviews, which named Jackson California gym. Or does he? pendent Publishing Place one of the best books of 2014, wrote Such is the premise of My Life for Yours Platform that it was “an historical novel that clev- by Frederick Borsch, who was a college On June 17, 1972, erly postulates an alternate reality ... The professor before his 1988 consecration as a break-in at the Wa- prose is razor-sharp and historically as- bishop of Los Angeles, and returned to tergate office com- tute, and the dialogue is crisp and witty ... academic life after his retirement in 2002. plex in Washington, Artfully rendered [and] suspenseful.” In My Life For Yours, which is writ- D.C., changed history forever with an at- My Life For Yours and Jackson Place ten in the form of a daily journal, Harold tempted cover-up that would ignite one of are available at the Cathedral Bookstore, discovers that he is sharing the body of a the biggest political scandals of all time. 213.482.2040 or [email protected], much younger man. As the jacket blurb Now, facing the certainty of impeach- or as e-books through amazon.com. ?
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 15 INTERFAITH
‘Future50 cohort’ nurtures emerging faith leaders
heir faith is woven into their work as nonprofit professionals, volunteers, board members, orga- nizers, artists and activists. They represent Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Hare Krishna, and Christian traditions, the latter in- cluding the Episcopal Church, the Latter-Day Saints, Christian Science and other denominations. By Pat McCaughant Fifty young people ages 24 to 35 living and work- ing in the greater Los Angeles area make up the Fu- ture50, a cohort of rising young religious leaders, lay and ordained, who are engaged in social justice issues and committed to religious pluralism. Under the joint auspices of the Interreligious Council of Los Angeles (IRC) and the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC), the “co- horts” will network together and build bridges of USC SABLE MANSON, PHOTO COURTESY understanding to ultimately strengthen the region. faith relationships are in very good hands for the next Shawn Evelyn, 33, chair of the pro- generation, especially in Southern California.” gram group on youth and young adult The greater Los Angeles area is home to almost FUTURE ministries for the Diocese of Los Ange- 10,000 congregations across the spectrum of tradi- les, is one of four Episcopalians included tions and denominations, all facing the same chal- in the Future50. lenges, such as climate change and cultural and im- “There are a lot of opportunities for migration shifts. The innovative Future50 cohort ecumenical attempts to anticipate those needs and develop and interfaith multi-faith networks of like-minded individuals to work through- help address them. out the city and Serving as a “Future50” mentor brings the Rev. there is a commu- Francisco Garcia full circle. Above: Future50 nity seeming to develop “I came to this community more than 10 years ago cohort member Sable from this group. I look for- and was formed here at All Saints, Pasadena. Inter- Manson works at a ward to seeing how their faith has always been at the core of this community Habitat for Humanity ministries are working,” as a peace and justice church; it really spoke to me,” house-building project said Evelyn, who attends Garcia, 35, director of peace and justice ministries at sponsored by the St. Philip’s Church, Los All Saints Church, told the Episcopal News. Interreligious Council Angeles, and is discerning Shawn Evelyn “There has been a sea change in how people un- of Los Angeles. a call to ministry. “This is derstand, articulate and live their religion in the pub- Manson, who is a brand new initiative. We’re all learning together.” lic sphere,” said Brie Loskota, CRCC’s managing di- director of residential The group is “creating its own vision, which has rector. “At least among younger community leaders, life at the University of potential and promise” around social justice issues, interacting with people who are ‘other’ seems more Southern California Evelyn said. “We feel social justice work is needed, natural, which in turn suggests that we are looking Office of Religious Life, creating different pockets of interfaith social justice at the beginning of a new way of doing ‘interfaith’ is founder of Soul- groups to take action in their own ways. It is excit- — or perhaps better, ‘multifaith’ work.” journer Interfaith ing. It’s an honor to be included.” In the coming months, cohort members and the Service Scholar “Working with the Future50 and experiencing their IRC will build connections and strengthen ties Program, which vitality and joy is energizing and a privilege,” said among faith traditions, and forge a bond between encourages partnering Canon Robert Williams, an IRC vice president repre- seasoned and emerging generations. academic courses and senting the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and a interfaith service. co-chair of the Future50 program. “Sharing with the ‘Faith organically unites people’ cohort members, I know with confidence that inter- For Jyotswaroop Kaur, (continued on next page)
16 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 FUTURE50 (continued from previous page)
34, joining the cohort is a natural exten- sion of her faith and her work. “As a Future50 leader, I am bringing the perspective of the Sikh community, the fifth largest religion in the world. Sikh Americans, who have been part of this country for 125 years, believe in service to the community,” she said in an email to the Episcopal News. “I believe that faith organically unites people and when you are trying to build community coalitions, Nancy Frausto (above) of Trinity and St. Mary’s it’s only natural that we need to work in churches in Los Angeles and Albert Giang, a an interreligious setting.” lawyer in Pasadena who attends All Saints As director of education at the Sikh Church there, are among the four Episcopalians American Legal Defense and Educa- in the Future50 chohort. tion Fund (SALDEF) Kaur teaches Sikh PHOTOS / JANET KAWAMOTO Americans how to build relationships with Episcopal Church and it was there I be- “More than anything, I’m looking for politicians, law came acquainted with the phrase ‘to be creative partners in figuring out how to enforcement, ac- religious in the 21st century is to be inter- live out God’s love in the world, make our tivists, educators religious,’” he told the Episcopal News. communities better, and to do that more and community “That has framed how I’ve thought together than separately.” members, as well about my life as a person of faith and con- as leadership de- tinues in my ideas of what it means to be ‘Differences as fun and creativity, velopment and ordained,” said Katz, 34, director of com- not fear and misunderstanding’ cultural sensitiv- munications at the Claremont School of Belonging to the Future50 will offer, for ity involving the Theology, and recently ordained a priest. Tasneem Noor, founder of Noor Enterpris- law enforcement “In a place like Southern California, as es, SOULfulTranformation, “a structure to community. richly diverse go about putting my vision into action.” She noted that Jyotswaroop Kaur as it is, there is A Cal State Los Angeles leadership de- Sikhs believe “in no way to live velopment and diversity training profes- equality across genders, race, and class. out life in our sional the past five years, Noor, 30, recent- “The three most basic principles of Sikh- world and not ly “came to a point where I knew I was ism that you are first taught as a child are be interested and ready for the next growth and bigger way that a Sikh should, in their daily life: re- engaged in in- of serving the community. I left my job so I member God and that God connects all of terfaith work,” could have the time and freedom to imple- humanity, the importance of honest work, he added. “It’s ment it.” and the importance of giving to others— just the reality She plans to develop interfaith diversity which are also American values. of our life. It’s training, “reaching out to university cam- “I want to share these Sikh values and tell something I love Nathaniel Katz puses that already have diversity programs people about how they inform our work,” about being here but that are not she said. Using these values, I hope to con- and why I choose to make it my home.” addressing reli- nect with other faith communities so that Katz also assists at Holy Spirit Fellow- gious and non- we can work cohesively, and build a tighter ship in Silver Lake and helps operate a religious identi- knit peaceful multi-faith group of activists Laundry Love ministry in East Hollywood. ties,” said Noor, who can then use their backgrounds and And while the relatively new ‘Future50’ who is Muslim. philosophy to educate a broader audience “is wisely still in the process of formation “I am looking and fight injustice peacefully.” (because) its organizers left it open for defi- to create more nition for those of us who will come into the spaces on uni- 21st century religion equals cohort … my real hope is that this becomes versity campuses interreligious work a means to connect with and find working where students When he heard about the Future50, the partners in problem-solving for our com- are having these Tasneem Noor Rev. Nathaniel Katz “knew it was a group munities in Southern California,” he said. dialogues,” she I just had to be a part of, from the very Cohort members are all committed to the said. “Having been part of a college cam- beginning.” ideal that “our faith motivates us to engage pus and talking to hundreds of students, I “All Saints, Pasadena, was my sponsor- with challenges and problems in our com- saw the need for it and students have the ing parish and it was how I came into the munity,” added Katz, a Claremont resident. willingness (continued on next page)
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 17 TAKE NOTE
Global tional affiliation, phone number and e- how to invite others to remember a par- Partnership mail address, to Isabel Roa at IsabelRoa@ ish or school through estate and financial group to convene aol.com or 626.793.9167. St. Edmund’s planning. human rights- Episcopal Church is located at 1175 San u An examination of important docu- themed seminar Gabriel Boulevard, San Marino 91108. ments to use for structuring an endow- The Program ment and clarifying its purpose. Group on Global u How planned giving can be used to en- Partnership invites the diocesan commu- hance ministries and overall mission. nity and friends to a seminar titled “Hu- ECF staff can be available for 20 min- man Rights In Global Partnership” on Sat- ECF workshop will help congregations, utes individual sessions following the urday, March 7, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. schools with planned giving workshop (must be scheduled in ad- Edmund’s Episcopal Church, San Marino. The Episcopal Church Foundation will vance). To register, contact Yuhadhi Sun- The seminar will feature presentations present “Creating and Enhancing Planned daramoorthy, parish administrator, at by: the Most Rev. Samuel Azariah, primate Giving Ministries,” a free workshop to [email protected] or of Pakistan; the Rev. Khushnud Azariah, empower congregations and Episcopal 626.282.5147, ext. 20, by March 2. Pakistan’s first female Episcopal priest; the schools, on Saturday, March 7, 9:30 - Rev. David Copley, Global Partnerships & 11:30 a.m. at Church of Our Saviour, 535 March 7 Stillpoint Mission Personnel Officer for the Episco- West Roses Road, San Gabriel. Jim W.N. retreat to examine pal Church; Troy Elder, Bishop’s Legate Murphy, managing program director of ‘life beyond crisis’ for Global Partnership; and Hannah Perls, ECF, will lead discussion of the following Stillpoint will offer a development director, Foundation Cristo- topics: retreat titled “Life Be- sal (El Salvador). u Taking the mystery out of planned yond a Crisis: Uncov- The seminar is designed to strengthen giving and endowments for congregations ering the Secret Next tools for effective global partnership in or Episcopal schools Chapter of Our Life” diocesan parishes, missions and institu- u Explaining in easy-to-understand terms on Saturday March 7, tions, and provide opportunities to build how planned giving differs from annual 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at All Saints Church, relationships for future work. Spanish in- stewardship and capital campaigns, and 132 N. Euclid, Pasadena 91101. Spiritual terpretation will be available. u How an organization can build endow- film guide Jim Curtan will explore the For additional information, contact ments through wills, life income and other movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Troy Elder at [email protected] or planned gifts. and contemplate the spiritual guidance 213.482.2040, ext. 245. To register, pro- u A review of the planned giving instru- available in a careful viewing of the film. vide contact information, including name ments, and the importance of vision, pro- Fee is $58. Information and registration and title, congregation or other institu- tecting and growing an endowment, and at stillpointca.org. ?
FUTURE50 (continued from previous page) and desire to engage in this type of work For Garcia, “it’s important that we con- and self-discovery with their peers. tinue to form people of all faiths who are “It’s all about creating safe spaces for really engaged and who speak from their people to come together, to see how they own tradition, but who are always con- can relate to one another in spite of dif- necting and looking outward and break- ferences, to see where differences can be a ing down boundaries between the different source of fun and creativity, instead of a faiths. place of fear and misunderstanding.” “That’s our call, to do justice work, and Being part “of the Future50 space al- to be compassionate in the world, to really lows me to voice my ideas, get feedback, share those commonalities, to bring our hear new ideas and have that support that faith to the table … what compels us all to anyone would want as they are starting a act and be in the world as we should be, to new phase of their lives … we have a great work for peace and reconciliation.” vibe going on,” she said. Other “Future50” Episcopalians include She anticipates learning from those with the Rev. Nancy Frausto, associate rector experience, like the IRC, who made the and priest-in-charge of St. Mary’s, Mari- opportunity available and with mentors posa and Trinity, Melrose, churches; and who will work with “young folks who Albert Giang, a Pasadena lawyer attending want to engage in interfaith work and give All Saints Church there. back to the community to create spaces for To learn more about the Future50 initia- us and to encourage us to actually do it.” tive, visit crcc.usc.edu/initiatives/future50. ?
18 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 PEOPLE News of the Diocesan Community
ORDINATIONS
Gwynne Guibord, right, of the Diocese of Los Angeles was among the religious and human rights leaders invited to join the Carter Center’s forum, BOB WILLIAMS titled “Beyond Violence: Women Leading for Peaceful Societies.” The Diocese of Los Angeles gained four new deacons on Saturday, Dec. 20, when Bishop J. Jon Bruno ordained (from left) Guy Leemhuis (Holy Faith, Inglewood), Scott Taylor (All Saints, Beverly Hills), Dennis Guibord joins Sheridan (St. Andrew’s, Ojai) and Paul Elder (St. Aidan’s, Malibu) in a forum on women, service at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in Echo Park (Los Angeles). peaceful societies at Carter Center he Rev. Gwynne Guibord, founder and president of Tthe Los Angeles-based Guibord Center, was among more than 70 leaders from hu- man rights, women’s rights and Gwynne Guibord offers President religious communities gathered Jimmy Carter a blessing at the end at The Carter Center in Atlan- of the Carter Center forum. ta, Georgia, Feb. 7 - 10 for the center’s annual Human Rights Defenders Forum, this year titled “Beyond Violence: Women Leading for Peaceful Societies.” The Guibord Center, based at the ProCathedral of St. John in Los Angeles, works to increase understanding among the South- land’s diverse religious communities. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, founder of the Carter Center, has said, “The most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts JANET KAWAMOTO In a joyous celebration with a standing-room-only congregation, and a growing toleration of violence and warfare.” Bishop J. Jon Bruno ordained nine men and women to the priesthood The forum’s website featured a blog entry about the Guibord on Jan. 17 at the ProCathedral of St. John in Los Angeles. Bishop Center’s 2014 event “Saving Grace: A Faithful Response to Violence Mary D. Glasspool celebrated the Eucharist. Pictured from left, new Against Women and Girls.” (To read the entry, visit forumonwomen. priests are Chitra Dasu Sudarshan Rao (Church of Our Saviour, San cartercenter.org and select “blog” from the menu.) A public service Gabriel), Allison Lee Cornell (St. Luke’s Church, Long Beach), announcement produced in relation to that event also was shown to Katherine Cadigan (St. Augustine’s Church, Santa Monica), Nathaniel forum participants, and has since been shared worldwide. Peter Katz (Holy Spirit Fellowship, Los Angeles), Todd Patten On the last day of the forum, Guibord presented to Carter a Blackham (St. James’ Church, South Pasadena), James David scarf from the “Saving Grace” event, imprinted with the words “I Prendergast (St. James’ Church, South Pasadena), Ann Brant am a beloved child of the Holy ... always.” She then offered the Engstrom (Trinity Church, Orange), Lorenzo Lebrija (St. Athanasius’ former president a blessing on behalf of all in attendance. Church, Los Angeles), and Martha Dale Johns (St. John Chrysostom “It shall forever be one of the highlights of my career,” Guibord Church, Rancho Santa Margarita). ? told The Episcopal News. ?
THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015 19 PEOPLE News of the Diocesan Community CONNECTIONS REQUIESCANT u The Rev. Fran Cantella retired in Janu- Europe. She is a past director of the Camp u Kathleen Boyle ary as rector of St. Barnabas, Eagle Rock. Fire Girls of Los Angeles, chair of the Brownlee, 103, widow Brownell-Talbot School annual campaign of the late Rev. Peter u Bishop J. Jon Bruno ordained the Rev. and member of the disciplinary committee Brownlee, died Jan. 8. Scott Claassen to the priesthood on Oct. of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Survivors include her 26 at Thad’s in Santa Monica. daughter and son. A u The Rev. George Okusi began serving as memorial service was held on Janu- u The Rev. Steven Dean retired in January vicar of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Long ary 18 at Trinity Episcopal Church, after serving 12 years as rector of St. Fran- Beach, in January. Redlands. Brownlee and her husband cis, Simi Valley. served at congregations in Canada and u The Rev. Sarah Phelps has conclud- California, including Epiphany, East u The Rev. Nancy Frausto, priest in ed her ministry as rector of St. Francis Los Angeles; Grace, Glendora; and charge of Trinity Church, Los Angeles, is a Church, Palos Verdes Estates, in order to St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert. “celebrity blogger” for the 2015 Lent move with her family to North Carolina. Madness competition between saints spon- u Barbara Elizabeth Fer- sored by Forward Movement. Read more u The Rev. James stead, widow of the late — and vote — at lentmadness.org. Prendergast has been Rev. John Ferstead, died named chancellor of u The Rev. Bruce Dec. 18. A memorial Eu- the diocese. Recently charist was held Jan. 24 Freeman is the new ordained to the priest- rector of St. Mat- at St. Bede’s Church, Los hood, he is a senior Angeles. A librarian by profession, Fer- thew’s, Pacific Pali- vice president and sades. He previously stead helped to support her husband’s general counsel at ministry at several churches, including served as rector of First American Title Insurance Company. Church of the Re- St. Michael’s, El Segundo; Ascension, Previously he was in private law practice Tujunga; and St. Michael’s, Riverside. deemer in Cincinnati, for more than 25 years, and has served Ohio, beginning in She is is survived by her daughter and on many organizations benefiting the le- son-in-law. 2003, and of Church of the Epiphany in gal community. He assists at St. James’ San Carlos, Calif. (1994 - 2003). Earlier Church, South Pasadena. u Elizabeth Evans he was rector of St. John’s Church, Athol, Morton, 90, founder Mass. (1989 - 1994). Freeman holds a u The Rev. Sharon Sheffield is serving and director of the bachelor of arts degree from Kenyon Col- as priest-in-charge of St. Mark’s Church, AIDS Service Center in lege in Gambier, Ohio, and a master’s Downey. Pasadena, a founding degree from Episcopal Divinity School, director of the Foothill Cambridge, Mass. u The Rev. Kirby Free Clinic, and the first woman to be Smith began serving elected a director of the Corporation u The Rev. Bryan Jones retired in Decem- as vicar of St. Luke’s of the Diocese of Los Angeles, died on ber as vicar of St. Luke’s, La Crescenta. Church, La Crescenta, Jan. 27. Services were held on Feb. 6 at in January. He also u The Rev. J.R. Lander began serving as All Saints Church, Pasadena, where she has been named trea- vicar of Faith Church, Laguna Niguel, in was a longtime member and first female surer of the diocese, January. He also has worked with TENS, senior warden. Survivors include a succeeding retiring The Episcopal Network for Stewardship. daughter, a granddaughter and a sister. treasurer Larry Sawyer, a member of St. u Julie Dean Larsen Clement’s, San Clemente, who was pre- u Jeffrey S. Terry, 60, of Faith Church, La- viously a longtime member of St. Luke’s. a member of St. Cross guna Niguel, has been Sawyer had served as treasurer since 2006. Church, Hermosa Beach, named vice-chancel- where his wife Patricia u The Rev. Stuart Swan began serving as lor of the diocese. Terry is a prominent vicar of St. Andrew’s Church, Big Bear, in Larsen is a member of lay leader, died Jan. 26. December. Faith Church, Laguna Terry was an employee of Los Angeles Niguel, and an elected u The Rev. Dawn Vukich began assisting County for 38 years. In addition to his director of the Corporation of the Diocese at Faith Church, Laguna Niguel, in No- wife, survivors include two sons and a of Los Angeles. She is also a senior partner vember. daughter; a grandson; his mother and of Kutak Rock LLP, a national law firm, his brother. ? where she represents the interests of, and u The Rev. Paula Vikmanic has been Obituaries may be found at www. provides counsel to, insurance companies called as priest-in-charge of St. Francis’ and corporations in the United States and Church, Palos Verdes Estates. ? episcopalnews.com
20 THE EPISCOPAL NEWS Early Spring 2015