The 2023 South Asian Convocation occurred Aug. 20-22, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo: Fred Bagao Vergara/Facebook
[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians of South Asian descent are gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, to network and discuss how they can increase their presence and acceptance in The Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church’s Asiamerica Ministries and the Diocese of Missouri organized the annual South Asian Convocation, which takes place Sept. 9-11 at the Comfort Inn St. Louis-Westport Event Center. About 25 people are attending. This year’s theme is “Daring to Dream.”
“We are trying to create a positive impact and challenge The Episcopal Church to embrace us and accept us as we are,” the Rev. Clive Samson told Episcopal News Service. Samson is missioner for Asian ministries in the Diocese of Missouri and priest-in-charge at Faith Christian Church of India in Ballwin, a missional congregation within the diocese.
South Asians include people with ethnic roots in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Ethnic groups within the South Asian diaspora include Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil and many others. Asians, including South Asians, make up an estimated 1% of The Episcopal Church, according to data compiled by the Pew Research Center.
“Culturally, liturgically and linguistically, we are different, but we are still Episcopalians,” Samson said. “It is possible to embrace the diverse cultures within the wider church.”
Samson is one of four conference co-conveners along with the Rev. Yesupatham Duraikannu, a retired priest in the Diocese of New York; the Rev. Pamela Tang, interim missioner of Asiamerica Ministries and a deacon in the Diocese of New York; and Koshy George, a layperson in the Diocese of Long Island. Missouri Bishop Deon Johnson is the guest speaker.
“I’m looking forward to growing our membership and sharing input from different clergy and different lay people,” Duraikannu told ENS. “We can’t know or address the needs of our church communities unless we speak up and share our goals, whether they are physical or spiritual.”
Duraikannu and Samson both said one of the goals for South Asian Episcopalians is to increase their leadership roles on Executive Council and at future triennial meetings of General Convention, including serving in the House of Deputies.
“We need to do more than just be volunteers at General Convention, and I hope to see the start of that change in the next three years,” Samson said. “This ties directly into the ‘Daring to Dream’ [theme] for this year, and to share our expertise with church planting and outreach. We look forward to continuing to embrace and live with one another within The Episcopal Church.”
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service based in northern Indiana. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.