What is your vision for the Diocese of Los Angeles?
Articulating a vision for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles (EDLA) is something I approach with enthusiasm and caution. To me, a vision is not the possession of one individual – certainly not the bishop alone – but the shared work of the whole diocese. Our diocese is too wonderfully diverse in geography, socio-economic realities, language, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political perspective, and even baseball allegiances to be defined by a single point of view. This breadth of diversity is both our greatest strength and, at times, a source of tension – where some may feel unseen, marginalized, or even endangered.
For that reason, I hesitate to speak of *my* vision. Instead, I want to share how I imagine us moving together into a healthier, more grace-filled future – one rooted in the vision God already has for us.
It begins with returning to the heart of our faith. The consistent thread through the Hebrew Bible and the Gospel is the call to love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). In John’s Gospel, Jesus deepens this commandment when he tells the disciples to love one another as he has loved them. (John 13:34) This is not part-time work or a sentimental ideal. It is a demanding, transformative way of life – one that calls us to lay down our lives for one another.
If EDLA is to thrive, we must recommit ourselves to this kind of love – within our congregations, among our congregations, across our deaneries, within the bishop’s staff, and throughout the clergy community. Above all else, we must decide together that our first priority is to love each other as Jesus loves us.
The most pressing need in our diocese – and one I experienced as a parish priest – is strengthening congregations with both financial support and vitality. Recent steps toward direct engagement are encouraging, but we must build a clear, sustainable strategy. Vitality is more than budgets; it is about curiosity in God’s call to us, discipleship, and impactful ministry. By investing intentionally in leadership development, innovation, and collaborative models of ministry, we can position our congregations to thrive. With God’s help, EDLA can pursue the mission of the Church as we “pray, proclaim the gospel, and promote justice, peace, and love.” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 855)
What are your primary spiritual resources, and in what ways do they support your ministry?
My lifelong relationship with God is essential to my being. I nurture this relationship through prayer practices such as centering prayer, lectio divina, daily walks, and nightly reflection, giving thanks for God’s grace throughout my day. These practices ground me in God’s presence and reveal holiness where life might otherwise feel mundane. In times of challenge, when faced with problems that seem unsolvable, these practices remind me to trust God’s power and possibility. I have a sense of God being with me in all that I do which sustains my spirit and gives me joy.
What do you understand to be the primary thrust of the Gospel?
Out of God’s infinite love for us, God became incarnate in Jesus in order to show us the way to life in God. In his life, Jesus showed us the way to God through compassion for the powerless, healing the sick, and proclaiming God’s justice and mercy. In his death, he showed trust, courage, and deep compassion. In his resurrection, he revealed the promise of eternal life in God. The Gospel is not simply an idea, but a way of living shaped by love, justice, and hope. At its heart, it is the invitation to follow Jesus on the Way.
What primary principles are central to your leadership style?
My leadership is grounded in unyielding faith in Christ’s presence in each of us, placing us on equal footing and affirms that all perspectives and ideas matter. I problem solve by prioritizing the needs of all parties, because I believe that is what God wants – and it usually works. I have seen that strong relationships with God and one another make anything possible. I believe in collaborative leadership, where shared ministry and vision flow naturally from our common faith. From this foundation, we can move forward with joy into the many ways the Holy Spirit is at work among us.
As chief pastor of the diocese, how would you call upon and strengthen laypersons to engage their gifts for ministry?
Lay people are engaged in ministry every day. Calling upon and strengthening their gifts begins with creating opportunities for their own spiritual care, for their growth in discipleship as a core identity, and for education and resources enabling them to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. The bishop’s primary role is working in collaboration with lay and clergy leaders to create opportunities for discernment in the variety and diversity of our contexts as well listening, encouraging, and empowering the good work the Holy Spirit is already doing in all the baptized.
Similarly, how would you describe the relationship you would hope to have with the clergy of the diocese?
My relationship with clergy colleagues has been marked by mutual love, respect, and support. Together we have prayed and celebrated, trusted and held one another accountable, served as sounding boards and spoken truth in love. As bishop, I would hope for this bond to deepen and expand. I am profoundly grateful for the gift of this clergy community, and it would be a privilege to minister with and among them, offering the same love, generosity, and faithfulness they have so consistently shown me.
How would you seek to involve young people in the life of the Church?
I would involve young people by building on my record of prioritizing their voices and leadership. As a parish priest, I engaged them fully in worship, including preaching, and empowered their role in congregational life. Nearly 20 summers as chaplain at Camp Stevens deepened my commitment to their spiritual growth. As canon to the ordinary, I helped secure a $1.24 million Lilly Endowment grant to strengthen formation. As bishop, I would expand these efforts, using diocesan resources to foster worship, leadership, and formation so young people know they are integral to the Church’s life now and in the future.
In what key ways would you serve and engage the multicultural and socioeconomic diversity of Southern California in raising up lay and ordained leaders across this spectrum?
Among the great blessings of the Diocese of Los Angeles are institutions like the Instituto de Liderazgo and the Florence Li Tim Oi Center, which discern with, form, and raise up lay and clergy leaders, bringing vibrant, diverse leadership into our common life. In the next episcopate, it is vital to celebrate and strengthen this work by ensuring ongoing spiritual, practical, and financial support. Equally important is supporting and resourcing our congregations, with particular attention to leaders of color, so that every call to ministry is recognized, nurtured, and empowered to flourish within our diocesan community.
What opportunities do you see for evangelism and bringing seekers into the life of the Episcopal Church?
There are so many opportunities, if we’re willing to see them. People are hungry for connection, meaning, and belonging – things the Episcopal Church offers in abundance through our worship, community, and deep spiritual tradition. We don’t need to change who we are; we just need to stop being afraid to share it. Intentional, authentic evangelism isn’t about pressure – it’s about presence. It’s about showing up, listening well, and creating space for seekers to encounter God among us. Every conversation, every act of kindness, every invitation is a chance to welcome someone into a life rooted in love, grace, and hope.
In what ways would you advise congregations and the diocese to strengthen resources for financial vitality, both at present and long-term?
For the diocese, I would counsel continuing to build the endowment while focusing financial resources on the essential work that sustains our shared mission. For congregations, the challenge is more complex, as each community faces unique realities shaped by location, demographics, history, and liabilities. Financial sustainability and vitality are critical, yet these urgent needs can stymy a congregation’s ability to solve problems creatively. I encourage congregations to shift focus from what feels broken financially to an adjacent issue that is concrete and solvable. Often, this approach sparks creativity and generates unexpected solutions that, in turn, help resolve the deeper financial challenges.
Around what central global and local issues would you seek to provide a prophetic voice as bishop in the public square?
The central value that informs my understanding of the bishop’s prophetic voice is respecting the dignity of every human being. Through that lens, I would continue to speak out on dismantling systemic racism, challenging the illegal arrests and detention of immigrants, advocating for women’s health, and for safety for the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, the growing number of extreme weather events, drought, and climate migration exacerbates these divisive issues and needs its own prophetic witness. My ministry has prepared me to balance prophetic witness while holding close to my heart the complexity of our diocese as its pastor.
How would you interpret and apply the following observation from the late Brazilian Archbishop Dom Helder Camara: “The bishop belongs to all.”
I understand this as both invitation and mandate: to love and care for all people equally, ensuring each person is seen, heard, and valued. This call is especially vital for those most marginalized within our diocese and within the communities we serve. This means holding the tension of our diverse perspectives with humility and respect, while honoring the gifts each brings. I would strive to see every member of our diocese through the loving eyes of God, fostering unity without erasing difference and embodying the inclusive love of Christ.