[The Episcopal News] A panel focused on best practices for launching and advancing multicultural ministries in local congregations is set for Diocesan Convention, with speakers including denomination-wide leaders from The Episcopal Church’s Department of Ethnic Ministries joined by the convener of Chinese ministries in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Set for the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 10, the panel will be moderated by Bishop John Harvey Taylor and include the Rev. Ronald Byrd Sr., missioner for African Descent Ministries across The Episcopal Church; the Rev. Fennie Hsin-Fen Chang, vicar of St. Thomas, Hacienda Heights, and convenor of the Chinese ministries in the Diocese of Los Angeles; the Rev. Bradley Hauff, The Episcopal Church’s missioner for Indigenous Ministries; and the Rev. Albert Rodriguez, consultant to The Episcopal Church’s Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries.
The panel has been organized in consultation with the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillen, director of The Episcopal Church’s Department of Ethnic Ministries whose ministry has included serving as rector of All Saints, Oxnard.
Ronald Byrd
A strong proponent of entrepreneurial ministry and leadership development, Byrd worked for 20 years in executive management, including positions at four Fortune 500 companies. He has served as a deputy to General Convention, a design team member for international Black clergy conferences; and as lead consultant for the Episcopal Church Foundation’s newest leadership development program, Vital Teams.
In 2011, Byrd and the congregation of St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church in Williamston, Mich., created and launched Forster Woods Adult Day Center, a facility that ministers to persons living with dementia and other physical and mental impairments.
Hsin-Fen “Fennie” Chang
Originally from Taiwan, Chang was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2012 in the Diocese of Los Angeles. She served as Episcopal campus minister at UC-Irvine for six years before beginning her current ministry as vicar at St. Thomas Church, Hacienda Heights. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and has more than 10 years’ college teaching experience.
In the Diocese of Los Angeles, she convenes the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries Chinese clergy and is a twice-elected deputy to General Convention. She also served on the team of translators who staffed the 2022 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops.
Brad Hauff
An Episcopal priest for more than 30 years, Hauff was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and raised in Rapid City. He is enrolled with the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Lakota) of Pine Ridge, as were both of his parents.
He has served congregations in the dioceses of South Dakota, Minnesota, Florida and Pennsylvania and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.
Al Rodriguez
An Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Texas, Rodriguez is experienced in serving Anglo and Latino congregations, social services ministries, and teaching Latino ministry competency both locally and churchwide.
He was for 15 years rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Austin and is founding director of El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission. His master of divinity degree is from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and his continued research projects have been supported by the Episcopal Church Foundation Fellows Program and the Episcopal Evangelism Society.