Dismantling Racism Workshop at Lake Logan This Dismantling Racism Workshop was offered in September 2020 to clergy and lay leaders to help prepare them to lead Dismantling Racism Workshops of their own.

Honoring Indigenous People and Land The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina acknowledges the past and present members of the Indigenous communities that once occupied this land and were harmed and expelled by settlers: The Catawba (Issa, Essa, Iswa) and Cherokee (Tsalagi) nations. We stand in solidarity with all marginalized communities and condemn the acts of racism and ignorance toward any of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are dedicated to the work of dismantling racism and building Beloved Community. Any history of The Episcopal Church in Western North Carolina must begin with an acknowledgement that prior to the arrival of Christian settlers, the Catawba and Cherokee Nations called the southern Appalachian region home for centuries. The Catawba lived in the Piedmont and Foothills region of North Carolina and the Cherokee were just west throughout the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Learn more about the history of indigenous peoples on this land on our "Origins" page. Native-land.ca - Explore native history in your region READ: First Immigrants: Native American Settlement of North Carolina A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement Cherokee History in the North Carolina Mountains and Beyond - via Blue Ridge National Heritage Area North Carolina's First Colonists: 12,000 Years Before Roanoke - via NC Office of State Archeology The Catawba are well known in the Carolinas for their pottery. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Webinar on Building Beloved Community from an Indigenous Perspective by United Thank Offering Statement on Indigenous boarding schools by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings Statement by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 20th session Land Acknowledgement: A path towards reconciliation or a “move to innocence”? by Dr. Trey Adcock, Ph.D Indigenous Worldviews: Pre-Columbian and Post-Columbian by the Rev. Bradley S. Hauff, M.Div., Psy.D. Kituwah Society Guiding Principles by Principal Chief Richard - Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tsalagi Soul - The Music of the Rev. Bude Van Dyke Our Indigenous Mission is still in transition. Please stay tuned for updates as we continue to work with local communities in WNC.

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Lent & Easter Resources Adult Resources Learning to Walk In the Dark Follow Barbara Brown Taylor on her journey to understand darkness, which takes her spelunking in unlit caves, learning to eat and cross the street as a blind person, discover-ing how "dark emotions" are prevented from seeing light from a psychiatrist, and reread-ing scripture to see all the times God shows up at night. With her characteristic charm and wisdom, Taylor is our guide through a spirituality of the nighttime, teaching us how to find God even in darkness, and giving us a way to let darkness teach us what we need to know. Renewal & Hope Seminary of the Southwest is offering a new Lenten project that invites the wider church into a season of renewal and hope. Designed to accompany the first five weeks of Lent, the video series creates space for prayer, conversation, and faithful reflection on repentance, discipleship, and the promise of new life. Shaped by the voices of five women members of our faculty, these gatherings reflect both the depth of Southwest’s theological life and our commitment to forming leaders for ministry, service, and healing. Each week includes resources with reflection questions and scripture references. Holy Habits Episcopal Relief & Development is offering daily Lenten Meditations in English and Spanish, inviting readers to reflect upon and deepen their spiritual practices. This year, the organization has partnered with Sister Monica Clare —Episcopal nun, best-selling author and unlikely TikTok star —to create meditations that explore the theme of “Holy Habits.” In her meditations, Sister Monica Clare reflects on the Scripture readings for Vespers (Evening Prayer) to encourage habits that support and strengthen a life of faith. Ashes: A Lenten Playlist Music for Lent selected by Lifelong Learning staff from the Virginia Theological Seminary and available on Spotify. Craft Your Own Lenten Journey Consider crafting your own Lenten journey using videos from The Work of the People , a collection of videos that helps guide people into becoming fully themselves–the journey of becoming fully human. These are open, honest videos to help those grieving, struggling with faith, diving deeper in faith, and everywhere in between. Membership costs $7/month for unlimited personal streaming. There is an extensive selection of videos for the Season of Lent . Children, Youth & Families Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter Make Room presents Lent as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God by weaving together episodes from the life of Jesus with a child's reflections on how these stories can shape their own choices and actions throughout the season. Singing in the Dark: Ash Wednesday with Children Find unique ways to celebrate Ash Wednesday with children in this book. Holy Week Family Worship: Outline for Maundy Thursday & Good Friday from Building Faith This resource provides PDF Family Worship services that can be conducted at home to recognize Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Join the Journey Through Lent: Colorable calendar poster Join the Journey through Lent, illustrated by award-winning cartoonist Jay Sidebotham, invites spiritual reflection and is a wonderful companion for the Lenten season. This poster is just right for hanging on the wall or keeping on a table for daily coloring. Share these with your congregation, youth group, friends, and family, and keep them on hand for coloring fun. Ash Wednesday Bonfire at Home From Building Faith at Virginia Theological Seminary. An at-home Ash Wednesday fire can be done around a small fire pit in any backyard, on a roof top, on the beach, or on your deck. The activity can be large-scale with a community; or small-scale around a group of candles or indoor fireplace. The point is not how grand your fire, but instead that you make time for the occasion in the first place. StoryMakers: Lent Starter Kit Get to know the teachings of Jesus in Lent Three: The Parables. The introduces StoryMakers to the curious stories that Jesus told his followers in the Gospels, ultimately helping kids learn more about the surprising character of God. This 6-chapter Lent Three Zine* shines a new light on these vibrant and memorable stories, such as the Prodigal Son, and helps StoryMakers grow in their understanding Jesus’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection in a memorable way. Stations of Cross & Seven Last Words An article from Building Faith with Stations of the Cross resources and Holy Week offering for all ages. The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina ADDRESS 900B CentrePark Drive Asheville, NC 28805 OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday: 8:30AM - 4:30 PM Friday: 8:30AM - 3:00PM PHONE (828)225-6656 SOCIAL MEDIA Supported browsers: Google Chrome | Safari for Mac (version 10 and above) | Windows 10 Microsoft Edge | Firefox ©2023 by The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina NEWSLETTER

Congregational Vitality Grant The Diocese of Western North Carolina offers annual Congregational Vitality grants to support churches in their redevelopment work. Congregational Vitality Grants are open to any initiative that supports and sustains the vitality and mission of the local parish, including technology. Please note, preference is given to congregations who did not receive a CV grant in the previous year. If you have any questions, please contact our Chief Financial Officer or Canon to the Ordinary . Apply for this Grant Past Grant Recipients

History of The Commission to Dismantle Racism The Commission to Dismantle Racism owes its start to General Convention of 1991, which urged the Church to combat all racism and to conduct audits of institutional racism. That same year, the Diocese of Western North Carolina, at its Annual Convention, passed a resolution to implement these actions. The resolution directed the Outreach Commission to establish a “Racism Task Force.” That task force was established, headed by the Rev. Dn. Crisler Greer, then Deacon-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s, Morganton. After a few meetings, the task force became inactive. Following the Diocesan Convention of 1993, Ms. Pamela Hemphill, a vestry member of St. Stephen’s wrote to Bishop Robert Johnson protesting that no African Americans had been elected or appointed to any diocesan office or committee. Bishop Johnson responded, acknowledging the failure, and asked Larry Thompson, Chair of Outreach Ministries, to reactivate the task force. Ms. Fay Walker, a layperson from Brevard, stepped up to lead the Task Force on Racism and Cultural Issues and recruited a solid and diverse corps of dedicated members who worked diligently to make anti-racism a major focus of concern for this diocese. The task force invited Mr. Enrique Brown, from the Episcopal Church headquarters to help with their planning. He emphasized that it would require long term commitment, as much “inner work” as “outer work,” and remaining centered in the faith. A portrait of Rev. Absalom Jones. Beginning with the Diocesan Convention of 1994, the Task Force introduced several resolutions designed to move the diocese forward on the journey to dismantling racism. The first resolution was one urging congregations to observe the commemoration of the feast day of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African American priest in the Episcopal Church. In 1995, they introduced a resolution to monitor progress in eliminating institutional racism from the Episcopal Church in this diocese and to report findings to all subsequent diocesan conventions. In 1997, the resolution directed that each elected and appointed diocesan commission and committee attend and participate in a four hour workshop, “Overcoming Racism,” sponsored by the Task Force. That requirement, enforced by the diocesan bishops, remains to this day. At almost every diocesan convention since its inception, the task force nominated persons of color (and their allies) for positions on major diocesan committees and commissions. Almost every Task Force nominee was elected or appointed. An image from a "Repairing the Breach" service. In 2002, the Task Force on Racism and Cultural Issues changed its name to The Commission to Dismantle Racism, for several reasons. First, the term “task force” implied a short-term commitment, rather than a “long haul.” Second, it helped to emphasize the institutional/systemic nature and dimensions of racism, and third, better defined the purpose of the Commission – that being the “dismantling” of racism in all its forms. In that same year, the Commission requested and received a generous grant from the diocese to send 14 of its members for two weeks of comprehensive faith-based anti-racism training offered by the Mennonite Central Committee. Several of the members who attended that training are still steering the work of the Commission and conducting dismantling racism workshops in the diocese and beyond. In 2008, the Commission became involved in the “Days of Repentance” initiative mandated by the 2006 General Convention of the Episcopal Church. In April, 2011, this diocese held its “Repairing the Breach” service after over 18 months preparation, led by the Rev. SF James Abbott, a member of the Commission. Over 500 communicants participated, including virtually all clergy. The Presiding Bishop at that time, Katharine Jefferts Schori, was the celebrant. Bishop Porter Taylor made apologies for the “sins of the past” and the church’s complicity in its racist past. There were many prayers for forgiveness and healing. Today, the Commission, in addition to continuing to conduct workshops, is called to facilitate discussions about racism, racial understanding, and reconciliation. Some members of the Commission are involved in the steering of the diocese Beloved Community journey.

Creationtide 2021 Creationtide, or the Season of Creation, is an informal period in the church, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. During this season, all members of the Diocese of WNC are invited to deepen their connections with creation and celebrate the earth we are privileged to call home. Find resources below to help you get started, or visit our Creation Care page to learn more about how we care for creation year round. Resources from the Diocese of WNC LISTEN: "Chatting Creation Care with the Rev. Anna Shine and Sarah Ogletree" podcast Creation Care Resource Guide from the Diocese of WNC WATCH: The Mary Boyer Garden at St. Luke's, Boone The Creation Care Alliance of WNC Resources from the wider church What is the Season of Creation? - from The Church of England Creationtide Resources, liturgies, and more from the Church of England Season of Creation Resources from the Anglican Communion Learn more about Creation Care Ministries in the Episcopal Church Organizations to know Creation Justice Ministries Project Drawdown The Work that Reconnects Us Network NC Interfaith Power and Light Rural Advancement Foundation GreenFaith Energy Savers Network

Mountain Missionary Spirit In the mountains, the seeds of our diocesan missionary spirit were planted by Bishop Ives in the 1830s and 1840s. For twenty years, he traveled extensively, on horseback, through most of the western regions of North Carolina. Upon his arrival at a particularly beautiful spot in the northern mountains of Watauga County, Bishop Ives saw, as legend has it, the image of a St. Andrew’s Cross formed by the two streams in the valley and named that area Valle Crucis (Latin for the Vale of the Cross). Here, in 1842, Bishop Ives established a center for missionary work, a classical boys’ boarding school with a focus on agriculture, a theological school for training persons for ordination, and the Order of the Holy Cross, the first monastic order in the Episcopal Church since the Reformation. All these endeavors were supported by a working farm, dairy, and a blacksmith shop. Among Bishop Ives’ notable contributions to Western North Carolina perhaps the most significant was inviting Church of the Holy Cross, Valle Crucis, NC, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons William West Skyles to come to Valle Crucis in 1844 to serve as the manager of the farm and to teach agriculture. In 1847, Skyles was ordained deacon and became one of the first Episcopalians to enter monastic life. Beloved for his pastoral care and known affectionately as “the homely sage,” Deacon Skyles, under extremely difficult conditions, served the isolated mountain people as doctor, legal advisor, counselor, mediator, schoolmaster, public scrivener, and evangelist until his untimely death in 1862. One of the first directors of the school of ministry in Valle Crucis, ordained by Bishop Ives, was the Revd. Jarvis Buxton. Following graduation from seminary, Buxton arrived in the village of Asheville in 1847; five years later he helped establish Trinity Church. Supported by this congregation and fired by missionary zeal he was fundamental in establishing most of the churches in the Asheville area, while continuing to pastor Episopalians in Murphy, Franklin, Cherokee, Waynesville, and Burnsville. Throughout the second half of the 19th century, many other leaders were also active in missionary work, holding services and ministering to families in remote mountain areas west of Asheville, most notably the Reverends Buel and Deal. In 1872, the Revd. Buel was invited by Bishop Atkinson to direct the newly established Ravenscroft Associate Ministry, a diocesan mission center for training young men to the ordained ministry. From this mission center, clergy and students would go out to visit and care for communities beyond Asheville. The Revd. Buel tended to the growing congregations in Waynesville, Brevard, and Cullowhee in the west as well as congregations in Rutherfordton. In 1876, the Revd. Deal was invited by Bishop Lyman to serve the church in Murphy. One year later, Deal moved to Franklin and from there he shepherded Episcopal communities in Highlands, Cashiers, and Murphy, all the while building the churches in Franklin and Cartoogechaye. Rev. Henry S. McDuffy In 1887, the Revd. Henry S. McDuffey was one of the first black clergymen in the diocese, having arrived as priest-in-charge of St. Matthias. He embraced the missionary spirit and helped expand the diocese's work and ministry among African Americans. Sometime toward the end of the 19th century, Bishop Horner established the Franklin Associate Mission, and later, during the early years of the 20th century, he added the Rutherford Associate Mission. These mission centers were modeled after the Ravenscroft Associate Ministry and staffed by a new generation of ordained missionaries who served clusters of churches. A priest who influenced the whole diocese greatly in the 20th century was the Revd. A. Rufus Morgan. Born and raised in Franklin, NC, Rufus was sent by Bishop Horner to seminary in New York City. In 1914, the bishop called the now Revd. Morgan back to the mountains to help establish the diocesan Appalachian Industrial School, which later became the Penland School of Crafts. In 1918, Morgan left Western North Carolina to serve parishes in South Carolina and then headed north, across the state line, to become the assistant managing director of the new Kanuga Conference Center. He retired in the early 1940s to his native mountains west of Waynesville. In his retirement he helped build St. Francis in Cherokee and restored the original St. John’s, Cartoogechaye. All the while he was serving churches in Cullowhee, Sylva, and Highlands. This remarkable man was also one of the people who established the Appalachian Trail and was a principal developer of the route from Georgia to the Great Smoky Mountains. Up to his last days, Rufus led hikes throughout the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. A man who practiced good stewardship of the earth before it became popular, he inspired several generations of Episcopalians to an appreciation and reverence of God’s creation. We are all indebted to the work and dedication of the Revd. Rufus Morgan. <<>> Origins LEARN MORE Origins LEARN MORE LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Settlement Period LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Mountain Missionary Spirit LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Becoming a Diocese LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Repairing a Breach LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle LEARN MORE Expanding the Circle

LGBTQ+ In 1976, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church declared that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church" (1976-A069). Since then, faithful Episcopalians have been working toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all of God’s children. Indeed, the Diocese of Western North Carolina is committed to the leadership, ministry, equality and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning Episcopalians and their families. Below are resources for you to connect with welcoming congregations and advocate for LGBTQ persons in our communities. Project Embodied Welcome - Offers resources for churches who would like to be more inclusive. TransEpiscopal - An organization working for the full inclusion of transgender people in the church. Whosoever - An online magazine for queer Christians. Gladness of Heart - an Episcopalian match-making service that is inclusive and affirming of queer and trans people Pride Mass Gaychurch .org - A way to find queer-affirming churches. Q Christian Fellowship is a non-denomination network to advocate, educate and support churches on actively welcoming and including LGBTQ persons in their faith community. Queer Theology Believe Outloud Resources for Faith Leaders & Families

Our Cathedral Located in the Biltmore Village area of Asheville, All Souls is the cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. It is the seat of our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin, a spiritual home to all Episcopalians in Western North Carolina, and a house of prayer for all people. All Souls is a Eucharistic-centered cathedral whose life is shaped by Scripture, the Baptismal Covenant, and engagement with the world about us. It is a community where all are welcome, trust is present, risks are taken, and where our gifts and graces enable us to be who God knows us to be. For more information on our cathedral and events there, visit the All Souls website .

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Ministerio en Español Ministerio en Español en la Iglesia Episcopal Diócesis del Oeste de Carolina del Norte En inglés 2017 Ha sido un ano de muchas bendiciones para nuestra diócesis, especialmente por el crecimiento de nuestras comunidades de habla Hispana. En el 2018, la congregación de la Capilla de Santa Maria en Hendersonville ha crecido en número y conversación con la comunidad de habla Inglés. Nuestro misionero regional, el Rev. Miguel Álvarez, ha trabajado diligentemente en la parte Este de nuestra diócesis, en donde celebra Misa en Español todos los domingos en la Iglesia Trinidad de Spruce Pine, Santa Maria en Morganton, y 5 de Noviembre comenzó la celebración en Nuestro Salvador en Newland. Estos servicios son una fuente de esperanza para nuestras congregaciones en su mayoría inmigrantes y reúnen a varias iglesias locales para el ministerio compartido. En otros lugares en la diócesis tenemos servicios en español el Tercer Domingo en la iglesia de Gracia en montañas, Waynesville y el cuarto domingo en la iglesia del Espíritu Santo Mars Hills. Good Shepherd in Cashiers está considerando la posible expansión a un servicio en español. Agradecemos a los Guardianes y Rectores mayores de estas parroquias por su amistad y apoyo. Nuestras comunidades de culto son muy diversas, provienen de diferentes orígenes, cada una con su propia identidad cultural única y problemas sociales y políticos únicos. Estas ricas tradiciones culturales enriquecen a la nuestra diócesis. Nuestro trabajo incluye: Celebrando bautizos, bodas, confirmaciones y eventos de especial importancia cultural como las quinciñeras; los días de fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; Las Posadas; Los Tres Reyes; y el Día de la Independencia Mexicana. Celebrando frente al miedo como una voz de esperanza. Muchas de nuestras familias son indocumentadas, pero lo celebramos a pesar de la inseguridad económica, los puntos de control policial y la amenaza de deportación. Celebrando nuestra juventud Algunos de nuestros jóvenes disfrutaron de la conferencia de otoño, MidBeginnings. Más asistirán a la Conferencia de otoño de la escuela secundaria. Trabajamos con voluntarios de St. James Hendersonville, Holy Family Episcopal Church y First Congregational para ofrecer un programa de tutoría de verano en lectura, matemáticas y computadoras. Queremos abrir la casa parroquial de La Capilla para programas tales como preparación universitaria y orientación profesional para jóvenes de la escuela secundaria. Compartimos nuestro viaje espiritual a través de la asociación con iglesias no hispanas a medida que compartimos servicios y eventos especiales con iglesias episcopales cercanas y una iglesia AME en gran parte afroamericana. En el próximo año esperamos desarrollar capacitación para líderes laicos hispanos / latinos y brindar asesoramiento a estudiantes hispanos / latinos de escuela secundaria para la transición a la universidad y las carreras. Por favor oren por nosotros y nuestro ministerio. Gracias por tu visita.

A Discussion on "Living Into God's Dream: Dismantling Racism in America" Use this guide to lead a group study on, "Living Into God's Dream, Dismantling Racism in America." Each week offers a new set of reflection questions and discussion opportunities. There are nine chapters in the book, so this is a 9-week study. When we did this study as a diocese, we had a series of discussions with Dr. Catherine Meeks of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing to discuss how we can continue to Build Beloved Community together. Need a copy of the book? Click here to purchase. Click here to anonymously share your responses. Top of Page Find reflection questions for Chapter 1 Find reflection questions for Chapter 2 Find reflection questions for Chapter 3 Find reflection questions for Chapter 4 Find reflection questions for Chapter 5 Find reflection questions for Chapter 6 Find reflection questions for Chapter 7 Find reflection questions for Chapter 8 Find reflection questions for Chapter 9 WEEK ONE Chapter 1: Living Into God's Dream of Community by Luther E. Smith Jr. Discussion Questions: 1. "Racism persists because a large segment of the population benefits from it." Reflect upon this statement and list several ways you can see how segments of the population benefit from racism. How much thought have you given to this idea in the past? A few reflections: "Segments of the population benefit from racism through job hiring and promotions; education specifically public education; and ability to maintain a standard of life which includes access to healthcare, food and safety." "Indians and their lands, the Irish/Chinese/Blacks jailed to get free Labor, the cost of not caring for all in taxes and change." 2. If the transformation of hearts alone will not undo racism, what will? What other elements are needed to succeed in this challenging world? A few reflections: "Regardless of some being invested in racism, OUR jobs NOW are to come out of inaction. 'Be the change you wish to see in the world" - M. Gandhi'" "Systems that offer equal access to all. Interactions with others of different races outside of the workplace like church, clubs, teams. Get past relationships based on power dynamics. When is the last time a person of a different race visited you at home - to share a meal, coffee, etc? Being open and encouraging of our children to have relationships with people of different races. Be open to this ourselves. Speak out about anything in our systems that discourage the ability for diverse races to interact together." SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 1 WEEK TWO Chapter 2: Dissecting Racism: Healing Minds, Cultivating Spirits Discussion Questions: 1. What were you told about members of different racial or ethnic groups? What kinds of comments were made about members of different racial or ethnic groups in your household? Were there any racial or ethnic slurs or compliments or was yours a household where race wasn’t discussed, but only hinted at or acted out in innuendo? A few reflections: "Race was very rarely discussed in my household. My family and extended family are all white and grew up in middle class households. While they would discuss racism with me if I directly asked, the actual systemic elements of it were never fully discussed. Furthermore, I often noticed that race was unnecessarily included in stories--if I was being told a story of an interaction my family had with a white person, race was never mentioned, but if with a person of color, it was absolutely mentioned. Oftentimes, the interaction had the POC as the butt of the joke." 2. Where did you learn about race in school--was it from textbooks or teachers and what exactly did you learn? How did this information form your attitudes or feelings about your own ethnic or racial group and those from other racial or ethnic groups? A few reflections: "Ironically, though I attended a historically black high school, I found my education to be incredibly white-washed. The school had been transformed into a magnet school in the 90s, and had a majority white population despite being a historically black high school in a diverse neighborhood. We learned many overly glorified versions of American history, oftentimes neglecting to discuss slavery, taking land from the natives, and much more." SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 2 WEEK THREE Chapter 3: Why Is This Black Woman Still Talking About Race? Discussion Questions: 1. Do you have a story about a moment in your life that changes your viewpoint? If so, how did it change you? A few reflections: "I grew up in a very racially and ethnically diverse community in a northern city. It wasn’t until I started to travel south, that I realized how much emphasize is placed on race. It opened my eyes to how others have had different experiences than me and that I should do my best to be open and listen and acknowledge their experiences. And do what I can to share mine and the possibilities of being in communities where inclusion is the norm." "If I'm being entirely honest, it took having to travel outside of the country for me to truly recognize the privilege of my white skin. I was a student abroad (already an inherent privilege in itself) when I found myself the only white person in the room for the first time. That feeling of being "out of place" really got me thinking--why isn't this something I have experienced in my own country? I have never been the only white person in a room, I have never felt out of place for the color of my skin, I have never been treated differently because of it. My privilege was so ingrained in my day-to-day life I failed to truly recognize it until I was faced with even a small part of the opposite experience." 2. Why is the idea of race as an illusion a difficult one for Black people to embrace? A few reflections: To me, the idea of race being an "illusion" seems similar to the ill-conceived idea of "colorblindness." I hear so many people using this phrase, "I don't see color!" as a way to prove they are not racist, when in fact, the phrase discredits the experiences people inherently face because of the color of their skin. Rather, I think white people need to practice acknowledging the experiences of our brothers and sisters of color, "I see your color and it's beautiful, and I want to listen." SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 3 WEEK FOUR Chapter 4: Mama, It Is So Hard to Be Black in America Discussion Questions: 1. Why is it dangerous to the human psyche to allow small racist acts, so called microaggressions, go unchecked? A few reflections: "It is dangerous to allow microaggressions to go unchecked because if they are not brought to light, the assumption is that they are acceptable." 2. Is it difficult for you to engage in conversation about race with those outside of your race? Reflect upon the reasons for your experiences or discomfort. A few reflections: "It is not difficult for me to have discussions with people outside my race. However, it has only been in the past few years that race can be a topic of discussion across races. I think because it is very obvious that issues we thought were resolved or on the right track after the 60’s, only went under the radar. The diversity of ethnicities and races should be acknowledged, discussed and celebrated." SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 4 WEEK FIVE Chapter 5: Diary of a Spoiled White Guy Discussion Questions: 1. What do you think affected the author of this chapter the most as he learned about the reality of race? Think about the moments in your life that helped you to embrace the reality of race. A few reflections: When the author spoke about his time in Malaysia, that truly resonated with me. I too actually had a very similar experience--I went to visit friends in a small town in Malaysia, and found myself for the first time, not only the only white person in the room, but in the TOWN. It was suddenly extremely clear to me how much I took for granted in being a white person in my primarily white community back home and how I had never truly felt out of place for the color of my skin before. 2. What are some of the conflicts that you have had around issues of social justice and equality? SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 5 WEEK SIX Chapter 6: A White Lens on Dismantling Racism Discussion Questions: 1. With whom do you talk about racism or White privilege? If you are White, how and when do you talk about these issues when you are with just White friends? Is the conversation different when you are with people of color? If so, why and how does noticing that difference make you feel? A few reflections: I am a person of color. Within the past few years, I have had conversations about racism and White privilege. Usually as a result of a training or something in the news. I have some friends with which I have very natural, open conversations. These conversations are two-way and respectful of what is being shared and the feelings that sometimes surface. 2. If racism is an exploitative system set up by White people, maintained by White people, and benefiting White people, who has the primary responsibility for dismantling it? If White people have a primary responsibility for dismantling structural racism, what is a primary responsibility for people of color? SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 6 WEEK SEVEN Chapter 7: Architects of Safe Space for Beloved Community Discussion Questions: 1. What interesting coincidences have happened in your life that might have led you to greater congruence between soul and the role that you play in life? 2. When have you been confronted with your own unconscious prejudice? How did you deal with it? SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 7 WEEK EIGHT Chapter 8: The American South is Our Holy Land Discussion Questions: 1. What thoughts and feelings are provoked within you when thinking about the American South as the Holy Land? 2. "Facts don't fly high enough or reach deep enough. Poetry riding on melody is necessary," proclaims the author of this chapter as he describes the Holy Land for the United States which is the American South. Why does music help make sense of the comparisons that are being made between the American South and the biblical Holy Land? SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Chapter 8 Chater 9 WEEK NINE Chapter 9: Getting Dismantling Racism Right in America Discussion Questions: 1. This chapter tells the story of the Dismantling Racism Commission in Atlanta. What do you know about the work of dismantling racism which is occurring in your community? Who is charged with doing this work? Have you been involved in doing such work? 2. What do you believe could be the hardest part of having conversations about race such as the ones that you would expect to have in a dismantling racism workshop? SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS Share your response... What chapter are you reflecting on? Thanks for submitting! Submit Share Your Response

What does it mean to be an Episcopalian? IT MEANS being a part of the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement. IT MEANS being a part of a community of 2.2 million other Episcopalians in 110 diocese in the Americas and abroad. IT MEANS being a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion since the Episcopal Church has it's roots in the Church of England. IT MEANS loving Jesus and following his teachings by welcoming the stranger and the outcast, offering love and forgiveness to all. IT MEANS gathering around the Lord's table as a symbol of our unity. IT MEANS promising to love our neighbors as ourselves, and uphold the dignity of every human being – no exceptions. IT MEANS celebrating a diversity of people and worship styles even as we all practice a similar form of worship set out in the Book of Common Prayer. IT MEANS striving to be a faith community that both respects our religious tradition while also embracing a profound sense of awe and wonder in the mystery of God. IT MEANS practicing "via media" – or the middle way – in all that we do because we believe that, regardless of our views on particular topics, everyone is beloved by God, and Jesus calls us to always demonstrate respect and care in our deliberations. IT MEANS believing the Holy Scriptures are the revealed word of God, who inspired the human authors of the Scripture, and which is interpreted by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. IT MEANS participating in a unique structure of community. In the Episcopal Church, the ministers are all the baptized people of God, not just the ordained clergy. The word “episcopal” is an old Greek word for bishop. Bishops, along with other elected leaders, oversee the Church in particular geographic areas, known as dioceses. Each bishop and those elected leaders in the diocese, operating through a local annual convention, determine the character of life and work in that diocese within a set of general decisions made by a triennial General Convention of The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina welcomes you! Resources for Newcomers Find a Church in WNC

Up Back to Our Leadership & Governance The Disciplinary Board The Disciplinary Board consists of five clergy and four laypersons (pursuant to Title IV of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church) nominated by the Ecclesiastical Authority and elected by the Convention of the Diocese. The Disciplinary Board serves as the court which guides the Ecclesiastical process of accountability and discipline for members of the clergy. For more information on the Disciplinary process & reporting, please find more information here . Members The Rev. Jonathan Stepp, President Mr. Allan Fullwood The Rev. David Henson The Rev. Judith Whelchel The Rev. Patty Mouer Ms. Jillian Fisher Ms. Jacque Dunbar The Rev. John Simpson Ms. Candace Mance, Church Attorney

Spiritual Reflection READ: Always A Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home Barbara Brown Taylor offers a new collection of stories and sermons of faith, grace, and hope. REFLECT: Keep Watch With Me: An Advent Reader for Peacemakers This advent reader is a collaborative daily devotional from a diverse group of contributors. PRAY: Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent Slow down, simplify, and add a burst of color to your Advent. The spiritual practice of coloring mandalas (circular designs), lighting candles, and praying regularly can help us stay centered on God during this busy time of year. LISTEN: Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice. Formation Resources Journeying the Way of Love Advent Calendar Find daily reflections and activities to guide you through the Advent season in this calendar from the Episcopal Church Journey the Way of Love Advent Curriculum from the Episcopal Church For the season of Advent, Journeying the Way of Love offers four sessions to be explored as we await the coming of Christ by moving through the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. Advent Word Join an international community of prayer this Advent season in this global advent calendar. Vibrant Church Communication Vibrant Church Communication has resources to help you with Advent & Epiphany. Each season has multiple offerings that have been developed through the years to help guide you through these seasons. A Mason Jar Advent by Salt Project A Mason Jar Advent,” is a customizable Short Film all about keeping things simple and helping preserve what’s truly important: hope, peace, joy, and love. What’s more, this lovely film has an equally lovely companion, an illustrated and printable Advent calendar for congregations, families, and individuals, featuring the same artwork seen in the film. Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Books & Curriculum Book recommendations from the Episcopal Shoppe Book recommendations from Church Publishing Advent Resources

Asheville Deanery Dinner On Tuesday, June 21st, the Asheville Deanery of the diocese gathered at theThe Governor's Western Residence in Asheville, NC for a celebration of their deanery and community. To learn more about this event, please visit our Centennial Deanery Dinners Page .

Learn about the bishop's three focus areas for the coming year, and learn how you can support these ministries by becoming a Partner in Mission. Partners in Mission Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As your bishop, I’m asking for your help in sustaining the future of our diocese. As we look to where we want to be in the coming years, I ask that you consider walking with me as a Partner in Mission. I’ve spent the last two years traveling across our diocese. I have visited your communities, I have listened to you, I have worshiped with you, and I have prayed with you for a better tomorrow. We all have different ministries that are close to our hearts, and everything you do in Christ’s name is important to our communities. But I have heard from you, and you have helped me discern, that there are some specific ministries that need our attention and focus. I invite you to participate with me in three mission areas for the coming year. First, we need to continue to empower Youth & Young Adults . Our young people are a significant part of our vision in the diocese to “walk in the way, widen the walls, and wake up the world." Our youth, young adult and college campus programs are structured to supplement the youth and young adult ministry programs of local parishes. Our young people are thriving where they find vibrant faith communities of their peers, but we know that too often something happens that disconnects them from the Church. We need to offer leadership opportunities for our youth and young adults at every level of church and diocesan life so they can contribute their voices to our mission and ministries and be empowered to make a difference in their communities. We need to be a steadfast presence in their lives and we need to invite them to partake fully in our shared faith. Diocesan youth events, ministries at local colleges and universities and, young adult discernment and mission activities, these are all ways that we are already connecting with our youth and young adults. I am excited to see what they can do as we continue to put our faith and resources behind them. My second area of focus is something that has personal meaning for me. As a bilingual speaker, I know that too often language is a barrier to people coming together in common worship. Since the days of Bishop Johnson, continuing through Bishop Taylor’s time at the diocese, we have made our Spanish-speaking ministries a focus in the diocese. Today, we have a vibrant Spanish-speaking ministry with mission sites across the diocese, numerous parishes serving their Spanish-speaking neighbors, and two full-time Latino missioners. But we still have a long way to go to make our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters truly a part of our community. Christ knew too well the burden of being a stranger in a new land, one who is often not welcomed and even feared. Our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters still experience undue hardships and intolerance that are the opposite of Christ’s love, and we need to show them that our hearts—and our resources—are with them. My vision is that our diocese can become a standard for welcoming Spanish-speakers to the table – not just to worship in separate languages at separate places, but to become our friends, our partners, our leaders, our inspiration. In Western North Carolina, we are blessed by an increasing multi-cultural society and God is inviting us to participate in building beloved community among “every language, people and nation.” Every effort, including enhancing and expanding our Spanish-speaking ministries, re-envisioning an ecumenical partnership in Cherokee, honoring our historically black churches, and engaging in dismantling racism, are examples of Jesus’ mission to widen the walls so every child of God can participate at the Lord’s table. It is only by listening to all people in our communities that we can speak as one voice to glorify our Lord. Finally, the third mission priority is the way we form and support the men and women this diocese raises up for ordination as deacons and priests. We do this first by offering additional formational opportunities for those individuals who are called to serve as priests in non-traditional settings, including bi-vocational priests in small congregations. The IONA School for Ministry is an Episcopal program that can be implemented and led at the local level. Through rigorous academic reflection and study, practicums and independent learning, postulants attend monthly gatherings with local diocesan faculty and mentors. IONA will also allow us to bring together those studying for the Diaconate and those studying for the Priesthood and form a more collaborative learning community. In addition, the IONA school for ministry will allow us to develop curriculum to train the lay leaders of our diocese. Likewise, through our Curacy program, I want us to be intentional about how we encourage, place and support our newly ordained priests so that they can better enhance the life of the diocese, and so that they are better positioned to be successful and motivated to lead us into the future. By putting resources into this program, we can retain good clergy and provide the necessary post-graduation training and vocational development. I hope hearing about these three areas of focus invigorates you as much as it does for me to talk about them. I’m truly excited about the future of the Episcopal Church in Western North Carolina and the many ways we are working together to build vital communities of faith and make a difference in our world. I’m pleased to ask you to join me as a Partner in Mission. By focusing new resources on these mission areas, I am confident that we will have a growing, vibrant community of faith for many years to come. Please consider your contribution to become a Partner in Mission with me. Finally, we are offering a Bishop José bobblehead with every gift of $100 or more. My staff and I have had a lot of fun coming up with this playful memento of our partnership. I hope it can be a heartwarming reminder of how God delights in who we are and our faithful partnership in the mission of Jesus Christ. I give thanks for you in my life and in the life of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. Blessings, Bishop José Every donation of $100 or more receives a Bishop José Bobblehead doll! Please add $8 for shipping, or indicate that you will pick up your Bobblehead in the comments section. DONATE NOW • Download this letter • Watch the video

Empowering Youth and Young Adults Our young people are a significant part of our vision in the diocese to “walk in the way of Jesus, change the world." Our youth, young adult, and college campus programs are structured to supplement the youth and young adult ministry programs of local parishes. Youth LEARN MORE Youth LEARN MORE LEARN MORE College Campuses LEARN MORE College Campuses LEARN MORE Young Adults LEARN MORE Young Adults

MAIN HEADINGS EPISCOPAL DIOCESE of WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Episcopal arial black Episcopal proxima nova Episcopal palatino linotype Episcopal barlow medium Episcopal roboto bold Episcopal raleway semibold Episcopal poppins semibold Episcopal cinzel Episcopal oswaldo medium SECONDARY HEADINGS Impact Open Sans Overlock Kepler Questrial Roboto Bold Museo Suez One Spinnaker PARAGRAPH TEXT Libre Baskerville We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. DIN Next light We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Clarendon LT We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Noticia Text We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Palatino Linotype We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Playfair Display We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Times New Roman We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Georgia We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Adobe Caslon We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Tahoma We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Verdana We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village. Proxima Nova We are comprised of over 15,000 members worshiping in 63 year-round congregations; six summer chapels; two conference centers - Lake Logan Conference Center and Valle Crucis; Deerfield Retirement Community; and Christ School. In addition, we are blessed with the presence of Kanuga Conference Center, serving many local, regional and national bodies within the Episcopal Church. Our cathedral, the Cathedral of All Souls, is located in Asheville at Biltmore Village.