The Loving Presence Group
Born out of a call to actively and prayerfully confront racism, racial violence, and white supremacy, The Loving Presence Group, fifteen clergy who developed a broad plan to actively and prayerfully dismantle racism in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.
The group met throughout the summer of 2020 and completed a report identifying ten major recommendations, with accompanying elaborations and action steps.
The Loving Presence Group and its work serves as the guiding light for the diocesan journey down this critical path.
The Anti-Racism Commission offers trainings, resources, and support that are rooted in our baptismal covenant, implementing the recommendations of the Loving Presence Group.
We look to all Episcopalians to engage in a Spirit-led revolution of the heart that empowers us to join together in the disciplined, Christ-centered action necessary to dismantle racism.
The Loving Presence Report
The Loving Presence Report was presented to, and unanimously approved by, Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee and the Board of Trustees in Oct. 2021.
The prayerful endorsement of diocesan leadership affirmed our need to respond to the systems of racism both within and outside of the diocese, and to implement the recommendations of the Loving Presence Group.
Testimonies of Racism
This video captures the essence of America's racist past through the testimonies of lay and clergy persons of the diocese, including: The Rev. Canon Jordan Casson, The Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey, The Rev. James Stambaugh, Tyler Lynch, The Rev. Canon Toneh Smyth, The Rev. Jane Gober, Nokomis Wood, The Rev. William Wood, Cameron Scott, and The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez.
This video invites all of us to create a revolution of the heart, reaffirming their commitment to ending racism in our nation, renewing their baptismal covenant to Christ, and planting the seeds of hope.
Combating Racism
In this video, Katherine Tyler Scott, principal of Ki Thoughtbridge, explains the values, goals, and the process for the development of a strategic workplan that will enable clergy and lay leaders in the diocese to be clear and focused about priorities boundaries, lines of authority, communication, and accountability, preparing them to undertake the responsibility of engaging their individual congregations in anti-racism work.
In January 2021, Ki Thoughtbridge, was selected to help the lay and clergy live into the Loving Presence Report and accept it as their own. Ki Thoughtbridge is an independent consulting group whose mission is the transformation of individuals, organizations, and communities, using an integrated approach using technical and adaptive skills, and inner and outer work to equip leaders to lead sustainable and systemic change.