VERGARA’S TRAVELOGUE
2012
The
benefit of travel is both external and internal: the farther you travel the
world, the deeper you reflect upon
life. To be a pilgrim on this earth is to travel broadly and to think deeply. Travel not as a tourist but as a pilgrim.-Fred Vergara
Oklahoma, Jan. 12-14:
Consultation on Alternative Theological Education . Ethnic missioners (Sarah
Eagle Heart, Angela Ifill, Anthony Guillen and I) led leaders to ponder on the future of
theological education that is relevant and user-friendly to Asian, Black,
Latino and Indigenous ministers.
San Francisco, Jan
28-29: Workshop on Filipino American Christianity. In Holy Child Church in
Daly City, I presented the image of “Milkfish in Brackish Water: Filipino
Ministry in American Context.”
Manila-Hong Kong,
Feb. 3-13: Asia Visit . At Trinity University of Asia, I met with Dr. Sumaya, TUA president about the
Asia-America Theological Exchange Forum in 2013. Joined by Peter Ng and
Margaret Rose, we meet with the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente and visited
an ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) projectsof the Episcopal Church in
the Philippines (ECP) in Nueva Ecija where residents turned the troublesome lotus
(they used to clog the drainage and worsen floods) into income-generating
handicrafts. In HK, I preached at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, ministered to
its Filipino Migrants’ congregation and met with Thomas Pang, missioner to
Macau and director Christian Education.
San Diego, Feb.
29-Mar. 4: New Community Clergy &
Lay Conference – First time in history that the Ethnic Ministries gathered
as one to experience common learning, fellowship and worship. The theme, “Re-Defining our Identity;
Re-interpreting our Context and Renewing our Communities” was attended by
around 300 leaders.
Tampa, Apr 12-15: Concordat
Council– The IFI inaugurated its Eastern Diocese of USA and Canada and
elected Bishop Robert Ilay as its diocesan.
The IFI-TEC Concordat Council met and created committees to follow up
goals.
Indianapolis, May
4-6: Deputies of Color -Prior to General Convention, it was customary for
more experienced deputies to orient the new ones on the workings of convention
and what issues are relevant to the communities of color.
Alexandria, Va., May
8. Guest Lecturer at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). Asian American
History and Theology.
Washington DC, June
6-10: Why Serve Conference for Young Adults of Color. 50 young adults
learned from each other and from the Ethnic Missioners how to discern their
calling and seek God’s will.
Maui, Hawaii, June
21-24: ABCD on Church Renewal. Teamed-up with Mike Green, Community
Organizer from Colorado to develop a contextualized ABCD for the renewal of
churches in Hawaii.
Indianapolis, Jul
3-12: General Convention . Landmark GC decision to provide liturgy for
blessing of same sex union. The “Five Marks of Mission” of the Anglican
Church became the basis for triennial
budget 2013-2015* Asian Hospitality at GC, Asian Lunch, Hmong language in
liturgy, and booth of the Diversity,
Social and Environmental (DSE) ministries. The news of sudden death of Dr. Winston
Ching sent shock waves in Episcopal Asiamerican Ministries.
Atlanta, Jul 19-20:
Confluence with Pacific Asian American
Canadian Christian Educators. As president of PAACCE , I represent the
ecumenical involvement of EAM. We planned to have an Asia-American History
Bus that would orient Asian educators to the history of Asian American
immigration.
North Platte,
Nebraska Jul 28-30: HIran Kano and the Japanese Heritaqge. The Presiding
Bishop preached at the ceremonies honoring the late Hiram Kano, the Japanese
“saint of Nebraska.” In collaboration of historian Steve Kay, I arranged for
the filming of the celebration and my interview with the descendants of Rev.
Kano, the Japanese Episcopal clergy who was interned during WW II and became a
sterling example of the ministry of reconciliation.
Minnesota, August
7-11: EAM Youth Camp. Kudos to Longkee Vang, the youth leader from the
Hmong congregation of Holy Apostle’s Parish at St. Paul, MN for organizing the
national youth for a weekend of fun and
learning.
Imperial Europe, Sept
6-16: Vacation & Group Tour. My wife (Angela )and I visited Munich,
Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and various other cities in Eastern Europe. It
intrigued me that the home of the classical music and such greats as Mozart, Bach,
Strauss Brothers as well as the Von Trapps of the “Sound of Music” fame is also
the home of Hitler. Such kinds of ambiguities (greatness as well as depravity
of humanity) are common in all of human civilizations.
New York, Sept. 18:
Winston Ching Memorial – At the Episcopal Church of our Savior, NY
Chinatown, one of the many Eucharistic
Services held in memory of my predecessor, the first missioner for EAM.
A Winston Ching Memorial Fund for EAM Scholarship was created.
Los Angeles, Oct 6-7:
Ethnic Stewardship Training. My “7 Principles of Stewardship in the New
Community” has become popular among Asian congregations that a diocesan-wide
training was held at the LA Cathedral
Center.
Singapore, Oct 18-24:
Installation of New Anglican Bishop. Our former Senior Warden (circa 1980-86)
and best friend, Rennis Ponniah, became the new bishop of the Anglican Church
of Singapore. Great time for renewal and reconnection. He agreed on
Singapore’s participation in the
Asia-America Theological Forum 2013.
New York/New Jersey: Hurricane
Sandy. A devastating hurricane and Nor’easter brought the East coast to its
knees. Some 30 residents died, thousands of homes, properties and cars
destroyed. Our home was spared, thank
God, but four of our parishioners at St. Michael’s Church in Seaford, Long
Island had homes flooded.
Chicago, Nov. 3-4: 2nd
Stewardship Training. Held at St.
Margaret’s of Scotland Episcopal Church, and attended by the IFI Eastern
Diocese clergy and leaders. Sunday, I
preached on Generosity at both Korean and Filipino churches.
Honolulu, Dec. 7-9: 2nd
ABCD Hawaii. 50 leaders from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii gathered for
this second ABCD on Church Renewal. Mike Green and I complement each other: he
presents the secular principles of organizing and I frame it in the context of
the church. We may be called for another ABCD for Youth Ministry.
Honolulu, Dec. 9: 3rd
Stewardship Seminar. Taking advantage of my presence in Hawaii, St. Paul’s Church,
the largest congregation in Hawaii and the largest Filipino in EAM, invited me
to preach and do a mini- Stewardship seminar.
New Jersey, Dec. 15: Ordination
of Rev. Dr. Christine Pae. Bishop
Mark Beckwith, bishop of the Diocese of Newark ordained Christine to the
priesthood. She is the second Asian American woman to be ordained in 2012, the
other being Christine Lee in the Diocese of New York.
Newtown, Connecticut, Dec. 14: Massacre at a School: As
we write this travelogue, we join the American Nation in mourning the tragic
loss of 29 Americans in Newport, Connecticut. Six educators and 20 students
from Sandy Hook Elementary School , died from the hands of a troubled young man, who after killing his mother, used
her guns to take the lives of the innocent. We join the re-elected President
Barrack Obama and millions of Americans calling for a stricter gun control and
praying for a culture of love, forgiveness, trust and hope. Let there be peace on earth as
it is in heaven.
As we approach the end of the Old Year 2012
and welcome the New Year 2013, we renew our faith in God who holds all things
together. “Where God guides, God
provides.” All things work together for good to all who love God. To our
friends and family, we wish that “you
may prosper and be of good health, even as your soul prosper” (3rd
John 2).
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ABLESSED NEW YEAR!
Fred & Angela Vergara
(Love from New York)
Facebook: Fred Vergara
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