The Diocese of Los Angeles’ first-ever hybrid in-person and online convention was held on Nov. 14, 2021 at the Riverside Convention Center. About half of delegates attended in person; the rest logged in from their homes or churches.
Some photos were taken by Episcopal News and other diocesan staff, including Bishops John Harvey Taylor and Diane M. Jardine Bruce. Others were contributed by the corps of youth volunteers, led by Gabriel Vazquez-Reyes, diocesan youth coordinator.
Click on any thumbnail to see the full photo.
Before convention
Pre-convention-dinner_1_JHT
Diocesan Altar Guild members (foreground) and staff (background) enjoyed a pre-convention dinner together on Nov. 12 at a Riverside restaurant. Photo: John Taylor
LuisGaribay-BernardoLopez_podium_JHT
Diocesan staff members Luis Garibay and Bernardo Lopez work on setting up the dais for convention. Photo: John Taylor
Bernardo-Banner_JHT
Bernardo Lopez of the diocesan staff spends his Nov. 13 birthday helping to set up and run Diocesan Convention. Photo: John Taylor
SusanRussell_DJB
Canon for Engagement Across Difference Susan Russell documents convention. Photo: Diane Jardine Bruce
DJB-AltarGuild-JHT_bySusanRussell_md
Bishop John Harvey Taylor takes a photo as the diocesan Altar Guild presents a handmade stole to Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce before her departure for West Missouri. Photo: Susan Russell
DJB_AltarGuild_JHT
Members of the diocesan Altar Guild present Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce with a stole as a parting gift. Photo: John Taylor
YouthCorps_youth_md
The full youth contingent of Convention 2021 lines up for a photo. In the back row, from left, are Elliot Colaluca and Nico Colaluca (All Saints, Riverside), and Jet Burk-Wylie (St. Andrew’s, Fullerton). Front row, from left: Michelle Feimer, diocesan youth coordinator Gabe Vazquez-Reyes, Julia Warren (St. Mark’s, Upland), Jonah Mackenzie (St. Mary’s, Laguna Beach), Lu Repp and Wren Repp (St. Peter’s, San Pedro).
YouthSelfie_LesterMackenzie_youth_md
Youth corps members Elliot Colaluca and Julia Warren take a selfie with Lester Mackenzie, rector of St. Mary’s, Laguna Beach.
YouthSelfie_JHT_youth_md
Elliot Colaluca of All Saints, Riverside, takes a selfie with Bishop John Harvey Taylor.
YouthSelfie_Eyes_youth_md
Nico Colaluca, Julia Warren and Elliot Colaluca of the youth corp take a wide-eyed selfie.
YouthSelfie_DJB_youth_md
Julia Warren (St. Mark’s, Upland) of the youth corps takes a selfie with Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce.
YouthSelfie_BradWylie_youth_md
Youth corps member Julia Warren takes a photo with convention volunteer Brad Wylie (center) and youth coordinator Gabe Vazquez-Reyes.
YouthSelfie_1_md
Youth Corps member Julia Warren catches youth coordinator Gabe Vazquez-Reyes and fellow volunteers Elliot and Nico Colaluca in a selfie.
Youth_ThumbsUp_youth_md
Lu Repp of St. Peter’s, San Pedro, and Jet Burk-Wylie of St. Andrew’s, Fullerton, give the proceedings a thumbs-up. Photo: Youth Corps
Youth_DJB_youth_md
Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce poses with youth volunteers Nico Colaluca (All Saints, Riverside) and Jonah Mackenzie (St. Mary’s Laguna Beach). Photo: Youth Corps
TechTeam_JHT
The tech team of Canon Clare Zabala and Evan Gillette of St. Andrew’s, Fullerton, keeps things moving along smoothly during Diocesan Convention. Photo: John Taylor
TranslationTeam_DJB
The translation team takes a moment for a photo. All convention business was simultaneously interpreted in Spanish. Photo: Diane Jardine Bruce
Delegates_arriving_JK_md
Delegates line up to register for convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
SamanthaWylie_JK_md
Convention coordinator Samantha Wylie keeps the meeting on track with a near-superhuman attention to detail. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
SteveNishibayashi_JK_md
Secretary of Convention Steven Nishibayashi checks arrangements at the information table. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Registration_DJB
Youth volunteer Michelle Feimer staffs a registration booth as delegates begin to arrive for convention. Photo: Diane Jardine Bruce
Liz-Not-Liz_youth_md
Twin sisters Dorina Green, bishop’s warden at St. John’s, La Verne, and Liz Piraino, new chaplain at MonteCedro, an Episcopal Communities and Services senior residence in Altadena, clear up the confusion with their convention tee shirts. Photo: Youth Corps
Convention
ConventionFloor-2_youth_md
A view of the convention floor from the back of the hall. Photo: Youth Corps
DJB-dais
Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce is seated on the dais at convention for the last time. She will begin a new ministry on Dec. 1 as bishop provisional of the Diocese of West Missouri. Photo: John Taylor
VideoCamera_youth_md
Nico Colaluca of All Saints, Riverside, monitors a camera. Photo: Youth Corps
RedScreen2_youth_md
Julia Warren and Michelle Feimer duck behind a curtain on the convention floor as their fellow youth corps member Nico Colaluca looks on. Photo: Youth Corps
RedScreen_youth_md
Youth corps members Julia Warren and Michelle Feimer peek out from behind a curtain on the convention floor. Photo: Youth Corps
PattyJoMcKay_JK_md
Patty Jo McKay, judge of elections, monitors the count. Votes were cast both in person and online, and while the process was not seamless, it was effective. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
KathyWilder_mic_JK_md
Kathy Wilder, director of Camp Stevens, reports on how the camp weathered the COVID-19 lockdown, which caused all 2020 summer sessions to be cancelled and 2021 sessions to be run at a reduced capacity. She announced that “Camp Stevens Sunday” will be March 13, 2022. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
ConventionFloor-3_youth_md
A view of the convention floor from the back of the hall. Photo: Youth Corps
ConventionFloor_youth_md
The convention floor, pictured from the side. Photo: Youth Corps
Triad-2_JK_md
JHT_address-1_JK_md
Bishop John Harvey Taylor delivers his convention address. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Table_resolutions_JK_md
Mic-JaneGould_JK_md
Jane Gould, rector of St. Luke’s, Long Beach, speaks in favor of a resolution calling on General Convention to add the late Barbara Harris, first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion, to the Episcopal Church’s calendar of commemorations. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Mic-GuyLeemhuis_JK_md
Deacon Guy Leemhuis speaks in favor of a resolution calling for the diocese to commemorate Juneteenth (June 19) each year. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Triad-1_JK_md
DJB_address-2_JK_md
Diane Jardine Bruce gives her final convention address as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Presentation_MelissaMcCarthy_JK_md
Canon Melissa McCarthy announces that a room in the diocesan retreat center where Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce often stayed during her tenure, will be renamed in her honor and furnished with an icon of the Virgin Mary – and a book of jokes. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Presentation_JHT_JK_md
Bishop John Harvey Taylor presents Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce with a set of gift cards to various Kansas City barbecue restaurants – which will come in handy as she begins a new ministry there as bishop provisional of the Diocese of West Missouri. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Treasurer_AndyTomat_JK_md
Diocesan Treasurer Andy Tomat presents the balanced 2022 budget to convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Delegates_Kurtz_JK_md
Canon Kelli-Grace Kurtz replies to a comment during discussion of the proposed diocesan budget for 2022. Diane Jardine Bruce gives her final convention address as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Delegate_MikeMorris_JK_md
Delegate Mike Morris rises to make a point during discussion of the diocesan budget. Diane Jardine Bruce gives her final convention address as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
CapitalCampaign_GaryHall_JK_md
Interim Dean Gary Hall of Bloy House introduces the new diocesan capital campaign, “Everlasting Transformation: The Generation to Generation Campaign.” Photo: Janet Kawamoto
StClements_Crear_JK_md
Convention_tech-team_jk_md
Canon Clare Zabala and Evan Gillette of St. Andrew’s, Fullerton, keep things moving along smoothly during Diocesan Convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
MelissaMcCarthy_podium_JK_md
Canon Melissa McCarthy introduces climate activist Mary Nichols, who delivered this year’s Margaret Parker lecture. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
MaryNichols_JK_md
Mary Nichols delivers the Margaret Parker Lecture at Diocesan Convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
ParkerFamily-MaryNichols_JK_md
After her address, Nichols poses with Richard Parker and Stephen Parker, sons of Margaret Parker, and Stephen’s wife Kim. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
MaryNichols_MelissaMcCarthy_JHT
Fellow climate activists Mary Nichols and Melissa McCarthy meet before the Margaret Parker lecture. Both attended the U.N. climate conference, COP26; Nichols in person and McCarthy via the internet. Photo: John Taylor
Parkers_youth-group_JK_md
Youth volunteers set out to collect contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development in the “Parkers,” red buckets named in honor of the late Canon Richard I.S. Parker, who was for many years the Diocese of L.A. coordinator for the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief, predecessor of Episcopal Relief & Development. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Parkers_youth_JK_md
Jonah Mackenzie of St. Mary’s, Long Beach, searches for contributions to collect for Episcopal Relief & Development. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Parkers_2youths_JK_md
Michelle Feimer and Elliot Colaluca of the youth corps head back after collecting Episcopal Relief & Development contributions.
Worship
MorningPrayer_SuzanneEdwardsActon_JK_md
Canon Suzanne Edwards-Acton, member of St. Stephen’s Church, Hollywood, co-chair of the Program Group on Black Ministries for the Diocese of Los Angeles, and vice president of the H. Belfield Hannibal Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, leads the opening worship service at convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
MorningPrayer_Lakota_JK_md
Martha Duron reads from Genesis, translating the text into Lakota, during the opening prayers at Diocesan Convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
NoondayPrayer_table_JK_md
Delegates take part in noonday prayer at convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
NoondayPrayer_reader_JK
NoondayPrayer_AnneNoble_JK_md
Anne Noble of Prism reads a poem during noonday prayer at Diocesan Convention. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
NoondayPrayer_table2_JK_md
Delegates engage in noonday prayer. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_participants_JK_md
Participants in the closing Eucharist gather around the celebrant, Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_reader1_JK_md
Thomas Ni of Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel, reads the first lesson in Chinese at the closing Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_reader2_JK_md
Eucharist-deacon_JK_md
Deacon Dominique Piper reads a lesson at the convention Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_McCauley_JK_md
Deacon Margaret McCauley proclaims the gospel during the convention Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_JWhite_JK_md
Canon Jim White leads prayers during the convention Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_Siriani_JK_md
Archdeacon Laura Siriani delivers the sermon at the convention Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_DJB-chalice_JK_md
Bishop Bruce lifts the chalice during the prayer of consecration at the Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist_youth_JK_md
Convention liturgy planners Kay Sylvester (at left) and Susan Russell (at right) guide youth corps members forward to help distribute Eucharistic bread. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist-distribution_JK_md
Delegates share communion in the form of individually wrapped wafers, chosen to guard against the threat of COVID-19. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
Eucharist-blessing_JK_md
Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce blesses and dismisses the congregation at the end of the convention Eucharist. Photo: Janet Kawamoto
ThisLittleLight_JK_md
JHT_Convention2021_KHO
Bishop John Harvey Taylor, still suited for the Eucharist, takes a moment at the end of convention for a photo. Photo: Kathy O’Connor
Exhibit Hall and more
Spouses_JHT
Several spouses of diocesan clergy got together at convention to celebrate the ministry of Steve Bruce (seated at center), husband of Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce. Kathy O’Connor, spouse of Bishop John Harvey Taylor, is second from right. Photo: John Taylor
TalkingCircle_booth_youth_md
Women at the Talking Circle booth display Native American handicrafts in the exhibit hall. Photo: Youth Corps
SeedsOfHope_booth_youth_md
Erica Nieves prepares to receive visitors to the booth for Seeds of Hope, the food justice ministry of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Photo: Youth Corps
Kaleidoscope_booth_youth_md
Kathryn Nishibayashi staffs the Kaleidoscope booth at convention. Kaleidoscope offers training in cultural competence in the diocese and for many other organizations. Photo: Youth Corps
HispanicMinistries_booth_youth_md
The Hispanic Ministries booth in the exhibit hall displays Dia de los Muertos figures handcrafted by Alicia Ruvalcaba of St. Stephen’s Church, Hollywood. Photo: Youth Corps
GFS_booth_youth_md
Margaret Nolde, center left, leads the Girls Friendly Society presence at the exhibit hall. GFS currently is presenting a new program helping children be changemakers in their communities. Photo: Youth Corp
ERD_booth_youth_md
Episcopal Relief & Development lured convention-goers with sustainably-sourced chocolate, as well as a wealth of information about its programs throughout the world. Photo: Youth Corps
EpiscopalSchools_booth_youth_md
Episcopal Schools in the Diocese of Los Angeles promoted its Haiti school partnership program at its exhibit hall booth. Photo: Youth Corps
ECS_Soriano-Brown_youth_md
Mel Soriano and Susan Brown greet delegates and visitors to the Episcopal Communities and Services booth. Photo: Youth Corps
DOK_booth_youth_md
Daughters of the King (DOK), a prayer and spirituality organization for women in the Episcopal Church, was present in the exhibit hall at convention. Photo: Youth Corps
CFLC-Prism_booth-2_youth_md
Representatives of CFLC (Center for Lay Chaplaincy) and Prism (the diocese’s jail chaplaincy program) share booth space at Diocesan Convention. Photo: Youth Corps
CapitalCampaign_booth_youth_md
Jessica Savage staffs the booth for the diocese’s new capital campaign, “Everlasting Transformation: The Generation to Generation Campaign.” Photo: Youth Corps
Beadwork_booth_youth_md
Beadwork is displayed at a booth in the exhibit hall. Photo: Youth Corps
BloyHouse_booth_youth_md
Representatives of Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School Los Angeles (formerly Claremont) provide information for those seeking training for lay or ordained ministry. Photo: Youth Corps
AltarGuild_booth_youth_md
The diocesan Altar Guild displays some of its handmade stoles. Beadwork is displayed at a booth in the exhibit hall. Photo: Youth Corps
TalkingCircle_booth_JHT
Members of the Talking Circle, a ministry by and for Native women, gather at their booth in the exhibit hall. Photo: John Taylor
MiddleEastMinistries_booth_JHT
Doni and Randy Heyn-Lamb are at the Middle East Ministries booth in the exhibit hall. Photo: John Taylor
JHT_LauraSiriani_JHT
Bishop Taylor takes a selfie with Archdeacon Laura Siriani, who preached at the convention’s closing Eucharist. Photo: John Taylor
JHT_LatinexMinistries-group_JHT
Bishop Taylor gathers members of the Latinx/Hispanic Ministries group, including Roberto Limatu, vicar of Immanuel, El Monte (at right), for a selfie. Photo: John Taylor
FinanceTeam_Tomat-Stanton-Annette_JHT
Canon Andy Tomat, diocesan treasurer, Susan Stanton, director of finance, and lay leader Canon Annette Graw gather at convention. Photo: John Taylor
Delegates_JHT
Delegates enjoy meeting friends at convention. Photo: John Taylor
HispanicMinistries_booth_DJB
Alicia Ruvalcaba displays her handmade Dia del los Muertos figures at the Hispanic/Latinx ministries booth. Photo: Diane Jardine Bruce
HFS_booth_DJB
