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Days before the Lambeth Commission issued its report in
October, a diverse group of Episcopalians met in Atlanta to
focus on a wide range of justice issues. With speakers that
ranged from Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, Byron Rushing of
ENEJ, Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson and Rev. Winnie Varghese, the
assembly was challenged to broaden the justice conversation
and deepen the church’s commitment to people in need.
The conference also presented 21 different workshops
including A Response to Poverty: Asset Building in
Communities of Need by three ENEJ participants, Vicky Partin,
Verna Fausey and Michael Bryant. Other workshops included
Looking Ahead to the General Convention 2006, the Anglican
Malaria Project, A Primer on the Separation Wall in Isreal/Palestine,
The Church’s Commitment to Anti-Racism, Election
2004:Ecumenical Approaches to Peace and Justice and Creative
Peacemaking. For anyone interested in justice work, the
variety of successful models presented was very encouraging.
Attendees came from across the U.S. and met in plenary
session to suggest possible candidates for the next
presiding bishop. A variety of issue groups including ENEJ
had displays to share information about their activities.
The group was welcomed by the Bishop of Atlanta and hosted
at All Saints Episcopal Church of Atlanta. Many vowed to see
one another again at the meeting of the Urban Caucus in
February, 2005 in Newark.
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