A Letter from Bishop Marc

Dear friends in Christ,

I and the other bishops of the Episcopal Church in Northern California (Diocese of California, Northern California, San Joaquin, and El Camino Real) received the statement, from the Northern California/Vivian Traylor chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) yesterday (June 10). We in the Diocese of California have already published the statement in our online Diocesan News and Events.

I am writing today to be clear that I personally, as Bishop of the Diocese of California, endorse this statement. Though I issued (Tuesday, June 2) a statement on structural racism and the President’s threats to use U.S. military in our states and cities to quell protest, I feel my endorsement of the UBE statement is even more important. This clear, strong, grounded, and heartfelt statement leads our way forward, and I am committed to engaging with the UBE in this work.

While injustice in our country and in the world have been in plain sight from the first moments of colonization in this land, I do sense, with many, that we have reached the verge of genuine, widespread, and, by our faithful commitment, lasting change. I will work with UBE to enact the areas of resolve in their statement and ask you to join me in this undertaking. The thunderous, prophetic call, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos 5:24) is both our petition to the Divine, and God’s call to us. Let us so pray and so act.

Bishop Marc+

Holy Spirit Church

Holy Spirit Church - Communities of Courage and Compassion

In 2013, Bishop Marc Andrus invited St Michael's Concord and St John's Clayton to join together as Holy Spirit Church. Each church maintains it's identity and location, while sharing the leadership of our Interim Vicar, Rev. Audrey Miskelley. We join together to celebrate Eucharist for special feast days and other occasions throughout the year. We share our strengths and our commitment to living the gospel. Together we are stronger!