[Union of Black Episcopalians] In the first part of its 2022 Annual Meeting on June 18, 2022, the Union of Black Episcopalians’ membership voted to elect the Very Rev. Kim L. Coleman to serve as president for a second term. Coleman’s first term as president began after UBE’s 2019 Annual Meeting.
According to Coleman, “Serving UBE has been a wonderfully rewarding challenge, especially while this country has been plagued by the dual pandemics of racism and coronavirus. UBE has a rich history with The Episcopal Church, a history that is worth knowing, emulating, and celebrating. I am glad for the privilege of serving again.”
When Coleman came into office in 2019, the organization faced an $86,000 budget deficit arising from a conference that did not achieve projected attendance goals. In three years’ time, she and her leadership team turned the deficit around, implemented budgeting and financial management strategies to guard against any recurrence of financial deficiencies, and doubled the size of its membership while also adding or reactivating chapters.
Roots, Reparations, and Renewal
“It’s an exciting time for UBE,” says Coleman. “We are headed to Baltimore from July 4-6, 2022, for our Annual Business Meeting and Conference, and we are rejoicing over what will be a first-time opportunity in the last three years for members and supporters to be together in person. Our shared mission binds us together as family. We miss the time to reconnect. It’s going to be great to see each other again.”
Events have been modified for UBE’s 54th Annual Business Meeting and Conference (ABMC) in Baltimore as the organization strives to conform with the guidelines and expectations of General Convention. Because UBE is not funded by The Episcopal Church nor affiliated with it or General Convention directly, the UBE is unable to take advantage of incentives other organizations may have been offered to offset costs associated with canceling their event. Rather than pay the nearly $100,000 that canceling would cost, the UBE decided to safeguard its membership against COVID-19 infection and carry on with the Conference.
Under the theme “Roots, Reparations, and Renewal: Food for the Journey,” the Conference will feature leading speakers on the topic of reparations in the church, in our communities, and in our educational institutions. Small group workshops will continue themes lifted in plenary addresses and worship in the African American tradition will begin and end each day. More information on the 54th UBE Annual Business Meeting and Conference may be found on the UBE website at ube.org.
Future plans by Coleman
Looking toward the future, Coleman plans to continue the good work already begun by focusing on chapter development, expanding UBE’s network of partners, helping struggling Black Episcopal congregations discern next steps, enhancing its program of matching people of color who are searching for a new vocational opportunity with those who have available openings, and becoming the consummate voice of and advocate for people of color in The Episcopal Church.
Other Union of Black Episcopalians elected officials
Other newly elected executive officers include the following:
- The Rev. Lynn Collins, first vice president
- James Pierce, second vice president
- The Rev. Linda T. Wilson, secretary
- Rose West, treasurer
Union of Black Episcopalians
The Union of Black Episcopalians stands in the continuing tradition of more than 200 years of Black leadership in the Episcopal Church.
Beginning with the establishment of St. Thomas Episcopal Church by the Rev. Absalom Jones in 1794 in the city of Philadelphia through the election of the Very Rev. Barbara Harris as Suffragan bishop of Massachusetts, there has always been a strong corps of Black Christians in the Episcopal Church. People like James Holly, Henry Delaney, John Walker, Tollie Caution, Charles Lawrence, Deborah Harmon Hines, and countless other.
Organized in 1968 as the Union of Black Clergy and Laity, the Union is the proud inheritor of the work of these people and earlier organization, the Convocation of Colored Clergy, the Conference of Church Workers Among Colored People, all dedicated to the ministry of Blacks in the Episcopal Church. The name was changed to the Union of Black Episcopalians in 1971.
The Union of Black Episcopalians is a confederation of more than 55 chapters and interest groups throughout the continental United States and the Caribbean. The Union also has members in Canada, Africa and Latin America.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
