Diocesan Ministry Developer Attends Executive Council Meeting in Salt Lake City

Andrea McKellar (far right) is shown with other leaders at Executive Council. The Rev. Canon Cornelia Eaton (second from the left), Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, spoke at this meeting about her experiences in The Episcopal Church and as a member of the Navajo Nation.

The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, a 43-member body tasked with enacting the policies adopted by General Convention, meets at least three times per year. Its various committees bring forth resolutions to be voted on by the full council, whose high-ranking members – including the presiding bishop and the president of the House of Deputies – also typically hear presentations on specific topics of interest to the entire church. Our own Diocesan Ministry Developer, Andrea McKellar, is a member of Executive Council.

McKellar attended the most recent session of Executive Council, February 13-15, in Salt Lake City, UT. Read below her thoughts from this most recent session:

One of my great joys of Executive Council is wrestling with the bigger themes of how to grow into the future church. Each time we meet, we have worked on the theme of Becoming Beloved Community through big events like touring the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama and small table conversations about exploring the languages used in our churches and dioceses.
 
In our recent meeting in Salt Lake City, we heard from local indigenous leaders as well as two Council members on the history of Indigenous people on this land, the atrocities created from the “Doctrine of Discovery”, and current realities. Local Episcopal leader Forrest S. Cuch, former director of Utah’s Division of Indian Affairs, shared a full history of the Ute people of which he is a member. He shared the heartbreaking history of genocide and oppression, some perpetrated by the Church. While hearing the hard truth, we also heard joyful stories of how The Episcopal Church is working in these communities today. 
 
Other great work that happened at this meeting:

• Grants approved for over $500,000 for young adult, campus, creation care, and formation ministries.
• The Diocese of Cuba was officially welcomed as the 110th diocese of The Episcopal Church after Secretary Michael Barlowe certified that they had met all canonical requirements.
• The 81st General Convention will be held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Learn more about the meeting in the posts from Episcopal New Service:

• Executive Council meeting kicks off in Salt Lake City with presentation on racism’s toll on Native Americans
• ​Executive Council approves readmission of Cuba, selects Louisville for 2024 General Convention

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