Becoming Small Churches that Say “Yes” to Meeting Community Needs

The Rev. Leyla King, Canon for Mission in Small Congregations for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, sits down with guests the Rev. Kevin Diehl, Rector of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in San Francisco, the Rev. Suzanne Smith, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Alvin, Texas, and Ed Carrette, Community Missioner also at Grace Church with Rev. Smith.

Kevin describes how St. John's, a small church in the Mission District of San Francisco, has partnered with the Gubbio Project to provide essential services to the homeless population in their neighborhood, transforming their sanctuary into a vital community resource. Suzanne and Ed share how Grace Church, facing declining membership, reinvented itself as a church that says "yes" to community needs. They describe how a simple blessing box evolved into a thriving weekly mobile food pantry, serving thousands of people in their community.

The conversation explores the importance of:

• Embracing a "reckless openness" to community needs: Both churches emphasize the importance of being open to new opportunities and willing to take risks to serve their communities.
• Building strong partnerships: Kevin and Ed highlight the crucial role of partnerships with other organizations, such as the Gubbio Project and local food banks, in amplifying their impact.
• Integrating faith and action: The guests discuss how their faith in God and commitment to the mission of Christ inform their community service, with examples such as incorporating liturgical elements into their food pantry ministry and viewing community service as an integral part of their discipleship.
• Overcoming internal resistance: The conversation addresses the challenges of overcoming internal resistance within the congregation, such as fear of change and concerns about financial sustainability.

This episode offers practical advice and inspiring examples for small churches seeking to make a lasting impact on their communities.

Episode Links:

• Grace Episcopal Church, Alvin
• The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco
• The Gubbio Project

Credits:

Music Credit: I Love to Tell the Story, Benjamin Grove, keyboard

Podcast produced by Polymnia