You meet the most amazing people around the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, including April Grayson Talton and the Rt. Rev. Chet Talton, retired bishop suffragan, back in their lovingly restored Altadena home after months away because of the wildfires; the bishop is recovering from back surgery…Canon Bob Williams and Pastor and USC professor Najuma Smith, at an LA Voice workshop to talk about the corporations supporting Trump’s cruel, racist workplace roundups…the Rev. Robert Sammis of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glendale, CA’, hospital chaplain and retired college official, who is grappling with some breathing issuing while resting up to watch the World Series every night with his grandsons…Canon Andy Tomat, our volunteer diocesan treasurer, who hosted me for lunch at the University Club in Pasadena, one of his constellation of favorite hangs around town…colleagues from Episcopal Communities & Services, our affordable housing partners…and the Rev. Zach Hoover at the podium at an evening in his honor as he ends nearly 20 years as executive director of LA Voice, an amazing organization of faith-based community organizers; the Rev. Eddie Anderson, on the frontlines of peacemaking each day during Trump’s LA crackdown in June, was MC; the evening also included a tribute to the late Umar Hakim-Dey, a legend in interfaith work who served as LA Voice’s chair.
