Around the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles on Saturday, the love and justice proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ radiated from three communities as they celebrated the ministry of a new rector, marked National Coming Out Day, and partied at their annual fundraiser.
The Rev. Joseph Oloimooja began serving at Holy Faith Episcopal Church in Inglewood in early 2023. While it seemed a foregone conclusion that his people would call him as their rector, we had a wonderful celebration nevertheless. Joseph runs a family business in Kenya and has been honored by Kaiser Permanente for many years of devoted chaplaincy. Take these entrepreneurial and pastoral gifts, stir in Joseph’s good Bible teaching and cheerful disposition, and you have the recipe for his abundant ministry at Holy Faith, which is bearing fruit in many ways. Joseph has completed a remodeling of the rectory and used One Body and One Spirit Annual Appeal funds for roof repairs and other projects around the campus, which looks spectacular. The newest feature is a youth center.
I was along to preside and preach. Joseph’s dean, the Very Rev. Canon Ian Elliott Davies, presented him with a copy of the church canons. The senior priest present, the Rev. Canon Warner Traynham, artist, scholar, and raconteur, assists at Holy Faith. One of its former priests in charge, the Rev. Jennifer Wagner Pavia, kindly served as my chaplain. The Rev. Dr. Francisco Garcia, another former rector, was also aboard. Irene E. Cowley devised a lovely bilingual liturgy. Music director Gabriel Gonzalez and his musicians and singers raised the brand new roof. The people of Holy Faith offered a delicious lunch afterward.
Then late in the afternoon, at St. John’s Cathedral in in Los Angeles, the Bishop’s Commission on LGBTQ Ministry marked National Coming Out Day with “An Evening of Unbinding,” invoking Jesus’s liberation of his friend Lazarus. Joining commission chair Thomas Diaz and the Rev. Canon Susan Russell in offering opening and welcoming remarks, I lamented the irony of inviting people to come out when their government is saying, especially to trans and non-binary people, to stay in or go away.
I joined Thomas and Susan in announcing our Trans Liberation and Flourishing Initiative, with more details to come in January. One of its originators, Jonathan Quinn, offered a moving meditation. “Trans people have been living with a gun at their heads,” they said, “and every once in a while, someone says ‘bang’.” Yet with the full force of the gospel, they added, “There is no victory over us that will not be overturned… We have always been here, and we’re not going anywhere.”
My last stop was at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church/ San Lucas de las Montañas in La Crescenta, where the vicar, the Rev. Guy Leemhuis, and his wardens presided at “Love One Another,” the mission congregation’s annual fundraising banquet. I arrived in time to offer a few words of greeting and buy a paving stone in the live auction. St. Luke’s has been 101 years in its beautiful stone church, so you can imagine the upkeep costs. It was a joy to see friends from neighboring churches such as St. Barnabas in Eagle Rock and All Saints in Pasadena. Bless them all for their spirit of generosity and love in community.
