A Shepherd In The Field

My sisters and brothers, I returned from the Anglican Communion Pilgrimage late yesterday. This pilgrimage and every pilgrimage has the real possibility of transformation and encountering the holy. I can share that once again, the impact was moving and deeply spiritual.  For this reason, I have made the pilgrimage an essential part of my Episcopacy. Thus, the reason for the first pilgrimage to all the churches during my first months in 2016. The naming of the diocesan magazine as “Camino - Our Road Together.”  Pilgrimage is not only to the Holy Land, or on the Camino to Santiago in Spain. Pilgrimage can be in our Diocese or the walk with one another as a diocesan family of believers. The spiritual purpose of a pilgrimage is to somehow transcend our human knowing and experience God in new and unexpected ways. You are transformed spiritually and physically.  In much the same way, pilgrimage connects you with your fellow pilgrims; you laugh, pray, cry and help one another along t

Good and blessed morning. This will be a long post so please take your time.  It is 3:30 a.m in Nazareth as I continue the Anglican Communion pilgrimage. The Holy Land awakens hearts and minds to the presence of Jesus Christ, and it is often beyond description.  As I mentioned in my last post, our schedule is long and detailed. The day usually begins at 5:45 a.m. and continues until at 9:30 p.m. Prayer, briefings and in-depth discussions frame the themes of the 2020 Lambeth Conference. While out in the Holy Land, we center our work on the sacred sites and discuss scripture at each of the sites. Throughout my ministry, I have attempted to emphasize the importance of relationship building. While not always successful due to my own ego, false assumptions, and constant failures, I strive to know people on a deeply personal level. I pray to see all people as God’s beloved. During this pilgrimage, I have come to know my fellow pilgrims on a profoundly personal level. I am struck by

I use this image of the lamp in the room where St. Jerome wrote the translation of the bible. It represents who we are as the Anglican Communion. All different pieces bound together and the light in the center is Jesus Christ. It is the light of Christ shining through each one of us, that allows the darkness to recede. Due to the extensive work during this pilgrimage, I may not have the opportunity to share as much as during the diocesan pilgrimage. I will make every effort during those brief free periods to update on the work we are called to undertake. The Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion invited me on this pilgrimage in preparation for Lambeth in July of 2020. I am the only Bishop from the United States and the Episcopal Church. I have been moved by the depth of relationship building during my short time here. I am surprised by the thoughtful questions and sincere desire to learn about the Episcopal Church and our country by our sister and brother Archbisho