National EAM to Celebrate 40th Anniversary in June 2013

EAM@40: Remember, Celebrate and Re-Envision Our Mission

March 20, 2013  -- The Episcopal Church Asiamerican Ministry will convene a national consultation to celebrate its 40th anniversary June 20 to 24, 2013, in San Francisco CA. 

Focusing on the theme: "EAM@40 Remember, Celebrate and Re-Envision Our Mission," the conference will celebrate the 40 years of Asiamerican Ministry, from its beginnings, when a small group of Chinese and Japanese clergy gathered in San Francisco March 1973.

"What began as modest vision has grown into a conglomerate of diverse ethnic convocations of over a hundred self-identified churches -- Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian and Southeast Asian," explained the Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara, Episcopal Church Missioner for Asiamerican Ministries.

"Asiamerican" as a term was coined by the EAM pioneers and has evolved into three areas of ministry:

 - Ministries to Asian immigrants in America;
 - Ministries to American born Asian-Americans; and
 - Ministries of bridge-building with churches in Asia and other parts of the world.

At the consultation opening Eucharist two historical Asian American leaders, the Rev. Hiram Hisanori Kano and the Rev. Dr. Winston Ching, will be remembered and honored along with living pioneers.

Fr. Kano, whose name is being considered for "Holy Women and Holy Men" recognition by the church, championed the cause of immigrant farmers in the 1930's and became a spiritual leader in the infamous Japanese Internment Camps during World War II. 

Dr. Ching pioneered the EAM and sought to establish links with Asian churches.

Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves of El Camino Real will be the celebrant and Dr. Vergara will preach.

Consultation speakers will include clergy and lay leaders who will emphasize the memory of those who pioneered EAM.

Among key events at the consultation:

• Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church Center will keynote on "Domestic Mission: Focus on Poverty."

• Dr. Rodger Nishioka, professor of Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA, and noted motivational speaker, will keynote on "Global Mission: Focus on Asiamerica."

• The June 23 Eucharist service will feature a multicultural liturgy complete with a Chinese dragon dance, Philippine gongs, Korean drums and other colorful Asian culture displays.  The preacher will be Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori; the main celebrant is Rev. Dr. Fran Toy, the first Asian American woman to be ordained in the Episcopal Church.

The conference Registration form is here:  https://www.formstack.com/forms/DFMS-eam40

For more information, contact Dr. Vergara: wvergara@episcopalchurch.org

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