July 2, 2007
By Pat McCaughan

LOS ANGELES – Becoming culturally competent leaders is essential in a diverse, rapidly changing world, the Rev. Eric H.F. Law told about 250 clergy and lay leaders meeting in Los Angeles for the 34th annual consultation of Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries (EAM).

Comparing church leadership with rapidly evolving technology, Law held up his cell phone. "This was state of the art two years ago. Now it's a dinosaur and they're introducing the iPhone," he said. "Things are changing so fast, how can we be competent Christian leaders in a fast-changing world?"

The Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara, national church missioner for Asiamerica ministries, who was commissioned as director of ethnic congregational development for the Episcopal Church at the opening Eucharist on Thursday, June 28, said Asian American congregations are growing and thriving tremendously.

There is a climate of receptivity, even among other denominations, to embrace the "inclusive theology of the Episcopal Church. The state of the Asian Church is wonderful," added Vergara.

Bonnie Anderson, House of Deputies president, as guest homilist at the opening Eucharist, described pathways to faithful leadership as including identification of gifts, and being relational, courageous and joyful.

"As faithful leaders we must know what we bring – our cultural values, identity, strengths, and weaknesses," she said. "We need to identify our gifts and hone them to perfection ... shine them up and use them to the glory of God."

‘Cultural competence,' planned change The Rev. Dr. Fran Toy, president of the EAM council and the first Asian American woman ordained an Episcopal priest in the United States, welcomed participants from as far away as New Zealand, Taiwan and South India. The consultation concludes July 2 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

Law was invited back after he facilitated sessions at last year's consultation in Hawaii. He is the founder and director of the Kaleidoscope Institute, a ministry of the Diocese of Los Angeles, which mentors congregations and teaches a process for planned change based upon mutual respect and cultural awareness.

"Your EAM council went through the process for planned change," she told the gathering. "Each consultation is a continuing education, a place for learning tools and these tools are to be taken home by you and applied where you live and work and worship God."

Hopefully, participants will begin to recognize the power dynamics involved in Asian American interactions with mainstream U.S. culture, and "address issues and make change happen," Law said.

An all-day session on Friday, June 29, offered each convocation an opportunity to identify issues of concern and to create a set of goals and action plans in the coming year. "A big issue with Asian Americans in the Episcopal Church is that we don't tend to speak out about our needs," Law said. "I challenged them to be honest about those needs, given each particular culture within the Asian cultures."

The EAM consultation is a Pan-Asian gathering of multicultural, multiracial, multilingual and multi-ethnic communities. It includes participants who are: Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong, and South-Asian, including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Burmese and Thai, Law said.

"Our EAM network is very unique, it is very strong and one of the most organized Pan Asian organizations in any denomination," said Law. "When the Rev. Winston Ching gathered Asian leaders back in the 1970s, it was the first time Japanese Americans had a real conversation with Chinese Americans, because back in Asia we were enemies. But, in the United States, we were in a different context. It was the first time many of them had encountered other Asian groups. Asian American became an identity that did not exist before."

EAM was created after the 1973 General Convention and began organizing consultations the following year.

Law said the conference theme, "Working Towards Being Competent Leaders in A Diverse, Changing World" Part II, involves an effort to examine internal multi-generational issues, as well as external issues such as learning to advocate for Asian American ministries with diocesan and other church bodies and to recognize, "as Fred Vergara says, that being Asian is a value-added.

"Our existence in the church is a value to the church and we can help the church better deal with the world and understand the world."

‘Climate of receptivity' The Rt. Rev. Arthur Williams, who served as the Episcopal Church's interim ethnic congregational development officer, along with the Rev. Dr. Jim Lemler, director of mission, also commissioned the Rev. Anthony Guillen, as missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries at the opening Eucharist. The Rev. Angela Ifill, as missioner for Black Ministries, and Janine Tinsley-Roe, as missioner for Native American Ministries, renewed their commissions and helped facilitate June 30 workshops.

Vergara outlined a vision as missioner for Asiamerican ministries with the acronym CAST: Congregational growth and evangelism; Advocacy for Asian involvement; Support for clergy, women and youth, and Training for effective leadership and providing resources for Asian ministry. Implementation of an Asiamerica Mission Fund, to assist church plants and revive and strengthen existing Asian congregations, is another goal.

He cited formation of new Asian congregations, reception of non-Episcopal congregations, the appointment of four Asians to Executive Council and appointments to numerous national commissions, committees and boards of the Episcopal Church as examples of progress.

"We received a whole Korean Methodist congregation in the Diocese of Virginia and we are in the process of receiving an entire Taiwanese congregation. Another Korean congregation in Washington, D.C. is seeking to be received," he said. A new Filipino congregation has begun at St. Mary's Church in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, California, he added.

He has also authored Mainstreaming Asian Americans in the Episcopal Church, published by Asian American Ministries. Development of multilingual resources, including a Vietnamese prayer book and Hmong liturgical translations continues, he said.

Clergy, women and youth attended pre-consultation assemblies on Wednesday, June 27. Kathryn Nishibayashi, 24, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church in Los Angeles, organized the youth convocation. She said she attends EAM for the fellowship and relationships developed at the consultations. "It's like a large family reunion, reconnecting with old friends and creating new ones."

On Friday, June 29, Carole Jan Lee of the Diocese of California delivered a luncheon presentation on Florence Li Tim Oi, the first woman priest in the Anglican Communion. June 30 workshops included: ethnic mainstreaming; contemporary worship; Millennium Development Goals and the Episcopal Relief and Development; Inclusive Church and Anglican Communion; theological education and missions.

On July 1, delegates attended local churches.

Next year's meeting is set for June 6-9 in Taiwan. "We are a small but very, very interesting diocese. Some of you never thought the Diocese of Taiwan was part of the family of the Episcopal Church," Bishop David Lai of Taiwan told the gathering, while extending the invitation for next year's consultation.

"But we are the only diocese in Asia and we always remind ourselves that we should be the Word in Asia, and bring the Word to the Episcopal Church in the United States. We are happy to be in the family, your visit will make you very happy next year."

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Pat McCaughan is senior associate for parish life at St. George's Church in Laguna Hills, California and senior correspondent for the Episcopal News Service.