Leadership Development

Social justice

The diocese’s Partnership Commission was created to help “connect our common life with the wider church and the world” by creating a network of communities working together to overcome physical and spiritual pain and suffering. The commission helps nurture missional partnerships and expand our Episcopal presence in areas of social justice. This commission works with parishes to help strengthen missional and social justice partnerships.

COPA

The diocese regularly partners with COPA (Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action). COPA is a regional non-profit organization consisting of dues-paying member institutions across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties – including congregations, schools, non-profits, and unions. COPA develops leaders capable of working together to address the issues affecting families in local communities. It has achieved success on issues such as affordable housing, healthcare access, safety, immigration, education and economic development.

COPA is part of Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a network of broad-based organizations building power to revitalize our democracy for constructive social and economic change. Member institutions include religious congregations, schools, civic associations, labor and professional organizations, and non-profits. Each organization is politically non-partisan and seeks to:

• Build relationships of trust among people and institutions across the racial, denominational, economic and geographic boundaries that divide cities;
• Strengthen congregations and community institutions by developing the skills and capacity of their leaders;
• Create a vehicle for ordinary families to have a powerful voice in the decisions that affect their lives and communities;

Take action on concrete, winnable issues that transform our communities.

Integrity Pride El Camino Real

LGBTQIAP is an acronym used to include those who fall out of the traditional gender or sexuality norm. [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual, Cisgender, Non-binary, Gender nonconforming]. Gender, as the world is discovering, is a social construct. Rather than two polar opposites — male and female — it’s a spectrum and people can fall anywhere within. This group works for full inclusion throughout the diocese and in the broader Episcopal Church. Some of our activities include an Integrity Pride Eucharist with the Bishop in October, annual meeting, Spring retreat, and Pride celebrations. Email Jani Wild, President, and Robin Poppoff, Secretary.

Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center, San Jose
The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz
The Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center At UC Santa Cruz

Creation Care

As we are called by God to care for creation, we support policies that protect the natural resources that sustain all life on Earth. The Episcopal Church’s Covenant for the Care of Creation is a commitment to practice loving formation, liberating advocacy and life-giving conversation as individuals, congregations, ministries and dioceses.

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