Yes it Fits!
Last week (June 1-4) a wonderful group of young people of color met at The University of the South, Sewanee TN to explore ministry in community while celebrating their cultures.
The Does it Fit Conference, a collaborative effort between the Ethnic Ministries Offices and the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort-PLSE, was a rich experience. It was rich not only as stated by the participants in their testimonies and evaluation forms but also for the Design Team and Seminary Staff who were delighted by the gifts, talents, personalities and passion of the group and the high sense of community and fellowship shared with one another.
Does it Fit? was also an opportunity for celebration of a multicultural experience and community, where languages, dances and food were share. From enjoying a Round and a Rabbit Native American dance to eating coconut and tamarind dessert from the Caribbean, from hearing about the beauty of Alaska, hearing a beautiful song in Spanish, to enjoying in laughter a wonderful funny sketch about black history prepared by the African American delegation.
Among the 39 participants, 13 students expressed their desire to consider ordained ministry in the future. Jasmine Bostock a college student of the Diocese of Hawaii, who resides in Washignton DC, commented “I came in to the conference with a clear acceptance and realization that God had called me to ordained ministry. I have never fought against the call, but, until the conference, had a lot of unanswered questions”.
Indeed, Does it Fit? provided a safe and healthy space for exploring and asking all kind of questions about ministry.
Others participants, like Amasi Kumeh from the Diocese of Newark expressed her interest of pursing missionary work like after graduate school.
At the lunch hosted by PLSE for participants interested in ordained ministry, Diego Veizaga, 20 year old from Florida expressed his desire to go to law school and his passion about serving others. Diego shared with the group how the ministry of his Rector encourages him to consider ordination, as second career in life.
What is next for us, the leaders who organized this event? What is next is to support this kind of initiative, follow up, nurture, and guide Does it Fit? Participants to continue exploring and living their call to lay or ordained ministry and to usher them into the various ministries and networks of our Episcopal at large.
What is next? To continue nurturing and promoting ministry and diversity within the Church to continue embracing our mission as children of God and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom.
If you have questions about future, Does it Fit? events please contact any of the following staff person at the Episcopal Church Center:
The Rev. Angela Ifill (Black Ministries Office) aifill@episcopalchurch.org
The Rev. Anthony Guillen (Hispanic Ministries Office) aguillen@episcopalchurch.org
The Rev. Winfred Vergara (Asian American Ministries Office) wvergara@episcopalchurch.org
Sarah Eagle Heart (Native America Ministries Office) seagleheart@episcopalchurch.org
The Rev. Miguelina Espinal (Pastoral Leadership Search Effort-PLSE) mespinal@episcopalchurch.org
Let’s keep the beat! It does fit!
Paz,
Miguelina
