A messy, authentic Church

Truly I tell you just as you did for the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.

Matthew 25:40

My siblings in Christ,

Wherever he went, Jesus drew the poor and the outcast to himself. He accepted them without question and loved them without limit. As his followers, we must always keep Jesus’ focus on the least, the last, and the lost, at the core of our identity. Let us never forget that each one of us, at sometime in our lives has been the “other.” Let's outlove everyone else.

That is why this year Matthew 25:40 is the theme for our convention.

As we gather as family of faith, hope and love we will worship, pray, fellowship, break bread, laugh, listen. We will also find renewed focus and a willingness to be a hopeful People of God willing to get dirty, bruised, be vulnerable, challenge the system, transform, transfigure, and transcend. To be that gritty and messy Church. Not afraid to take risks. Not afraid to fail. Not afraid to open our hearts. Not afraid to love. Where everyone finds the freedom to be themselves and to truly find a place of belonging.

Convention begins on Friday, October 20th and continues through Saturday the 21st at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. You can see all of the deadlines and information on this convention page.

Our seven pre-convention meetings, online and in-person, are scheduled to provide an opportunity for you discuss and get your questions answered around the proposed budget, resolutions and canons changes. All the dates are listed here.

Let’s be a messy, authentic Church. Let’s be like Jesus.

The Rt. Reverend Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez

XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania