[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs press release] The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church is meeting in retreat March 13-17 at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. The following is an account of the activities for Friday, March 13.

The theme for the spring meeting of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops is Fostering a culture of curiosity, compassion and courage in Christ.

The emcee for the day was Bishop Todd Ousley of Eastern Michigan.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori welcomed the bishops and opened the HOB session addressing the theme of the retreat. “Go with courage, curiosity, and compassion for yourself and your neighbor, and discover God in the difference,” she concluded.

Morning Prayer was followed by a stirring meditation by Bishop Robert Wright of Atlanta on Race/Color. Bishop Wright challenged the House to a holy curiosity that opens ourselves to our own inner struggles with difference and motivates us to confront the structures of racism in the world.

The Rev. Canon Eric Law of Los Angeles set the theme for the table conversations and discussion by asking the bishops to name challenges and affirmations, based on the theme.

Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington led the table conversations for mutual conversation based on four questions.

In the afternoon, the Bishops screened Traces of the Trade: The Story of the Deep North, a documentary about Rhode Island’s De Wolf family’s involvement in the slave trade. The screening was followed by bishops sharing compelling memories facilitated by Dain and Constance Perry.

Eucharist was celebrated by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori; preacher was HOB Chaplain the Rev. Stephanie Spellers of Long Island.

The evening is devoted to a discussion, “Traces of the Trade” Meets Ferguson.  Facilitators are Dain and Constance Perry and HOB Chaplains Spellers and the Rev. Simone Batista of Texas.

Media Briefers for Friday March 13

Bishop Gayle Harris of Massachusetts
Bishop Jake Owensby of Western Louisiana
Bishop Robert Skirving of East Carolina

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