4 Get Connected in Ocean Beach


By Nancy Holland, director of the Episcopal Church Center O


ver the past two years Bishop Mathes has cast a vision to move


our diocese from a season of internal reconciliation to becoming a diocese of vibrant and transformational work in our communities. A dynamic diocesan center is one of the critical components of this movement.


The Episcopal Church Center, formerly known as Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, will be this center. It will house the Office of the Bishop while it continues providing social services to the community. This locale, situated at 2083 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, provides the ongoing meeting space for diocesan business as well as private meetings with Bishop Mathes and his staff. With planned renovations and technical improvements to be concluded in 2012, the Episcopal Church Center will be a central place for serving, gathering, learning and sharing.


Serving The most important component to the identity of the center is service. A beacon for those in need, the center offers:


•Wednesday evening community dinners provided by area churches; • a food pantry through Loaves and Fishes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings; • a community breakfast and food distribution on Saturday mornings; • a medical clinic staffed by nurses from California State and doctors and medical students from UCSD; • legal services through the Center for Justice and Social Compassion, Inc. for help such as obtaining an ID; • meetings for life-saving


groups like Alcoholics Anonymous; • and coming soon are computer classes for seniors.


The Center welcomes people from all congregations to join in this life-giving work. See article,


“Opportunity Awaits,” on page two for more information.


Gathering On Sunday morning the worship space in Trinity Chapel, the former sanctuary, is open to the community. Preaching is shared among clergy and laity from around the diocese. When the bishop’s office moves into the Center, their practice of Morning Prayer will continue in the chapel. All are welcome.


Learning The Center will house our emerging School for Ministry that includes the training of deacons. It will also be a place for all standard diocesan trainings, such as Safeguarding God’s People, New Beginnings, Lay Eucharistic Visitor training, and Dignity and Diversity.


We envision this as a real diocesan laboratory and teaching place. As we train lay preachers, this will be a place where they will practice and receive guidance. Part of the model tests ways to have more lay-driven, and less clergy- driven, ministry.


New Energy: Middle school students enjoyed the Center’s campus during a retreat in May. Every week, the Center in Ocean Beach offers food and a safe haven to hundreds of the area’s people in need. Programs for people who are underprivileged have grown since the Episcopal Church re-entered this locale in January. All are invited to come to the Cetnter and join in the ministry that’s already happening!


The capacity to participate in webinars and virtual workshops will make this center a virtual resource as well. Clergy gatherings, instructional workshops, even social gatherings could all occur simultaneously in remote sites.


A young adult volunteer program is in development in collaboration with partners such as Episcopal


Community Services and the Episcopal Refuge Network. This nine-month program will provide youth the opportunity to work with one of our partners and gain skills for ministry. This could dovetail with our School for Ministry and provide an excellent testing ground for individuals discerning a call to ordained ministry.


Sharing Because the center will be a place of diocesan learning, the library


will be fully developed with books, DVDs, and curriculum for loan and/or purchase. We hope to have an online component as well. Sharing resources with other local faith communities is creating exciting new possibilities as we put aside our theological differences and work together to serve the community. We feel fortunate to create a center that, we hope, exemplifies the emerging Christian life and church in our postmodern world.


Myths They Cannot Live By A lecture series


Join us in this discussion series to explore the many myths about people who are homeless that hinder social compassion and impede social action to alleviate their distress. Led by Christine Schanes, JD, PhD, founder and director of the Center for Justice and Social Compassion (CJSC).


For more information or to register, call 619-823-8998.


Ministry Center in Action: (Left) One of the center’s guests finds a warm welcome and a hot meal. (Above) Nurses from UCSD discuss plans for handling the community’s medical needs.


Dates: Thursdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 Location: Episcopal Church Center 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, 92107


Time: 10:00am-12:00pm Cost: $60 suggested donation for series


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