EASTER BREAKS EVERY BARRIER

EASTER BREAKS EVERY BARRIER By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook On Holy Monday, a group of Episcopalians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and others joined together at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church for a Service of Lament and Witness. From Good Sam, we walked to the nearby trolley station, which connects all the way south to the US-Mexico border, for a time of public witness there. We witnessed to God’s love for every human being and God’s hope for a renewed and transformed world. Sadly, though, that transformation seems far away, because we live in a world of barriers between human beings, built to exclude and separate and break down relationships. If you cross the border into Tijuana and look at the border wall, you will see high, slatted fences that go right out into God’s ocean. That wall stretching out into the shining ocean seems to me to be a symbol of all the ways humans enforce exclusion, distance, and difference, and fail to create space for inclusion, compassion, and love. During Holy Week and Easter, we Christians remember that Jesus came to break down barriers – barriers between God and human beings, and barriers that separate people from each other. Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbors. He lived a life of justice, peace, healing, and reconciliation. Read More

 

BEARING & RENEWING OUR PUBLIC WITNESS

 A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP SUSAN: BEARING & RENEWING OUR PUBLIC WITNESS 

Dear People of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego,

Thank you all for your prayers and tender care. Some of you know that I had surgery this past Thursday, and it went very well. I’m still experiencing pain, but this will lessen in the days ahead. I have just been released from the hospital and am resting at home. Your prayers, your ministries, and your support mean more to me than words can express.

I write now to you about a matter that deeply wounds our national conscience and calls forth our faithful response.

In recent weeks across our country, there has been a shocking escalation of violence involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. In Minneapolis, multiple people—including U.S. citizens and bystanders—have been shot and killed during federal immigration enforcement actions and protests. Most recently, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a Veteran’s Administration ICU nurse devoted to serving others, was killed by federal agents —the second fatal shooting in that city within weeks. Prior to that, Renee Good, another U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a raid, sparking widespread outrage and grief. These incidents are occurring within a pattern of aggressive enforcement actions that have seen federal agents open fire on civilians and detain U.S. citizens and others in troubling circumstances.  

We hold these realities before God with sorrow and righteous indignation. Scripture reminds us that the measure of our humanity is found in how we treat the “stranger”—the foreigner, the vulnerable, the powerless (Leviticus 19:33–34; Matthew 25:35). When national policy and public practice risk dehumanizing our neighbors—especially those already living in fear—the Church must speak, pray, and act with clarity and compassion.

I know that within our Diocese, many are already living out this calling in concrete ways:

Walking with Vulnerable Neighbors. Through EDSD’s Migration Ministry, congregations and volunteers offer accompaniment, legal support connections, pastoral care, and hospitality to migrants and their families as they navigate complex systems and fearsome uncertainties.

Advocacy for Just Policy. We have prayed with and supported those advocating for humane immigration policy at local, state, and federal levels, reminding our civic leaders that human dignity must never be sacrificed for fear or political expediency.

Clergy and Lay Formation. Our ongoing formation efforts help equip the faithful to address immigration realities in their communities with theological grounding and compassionate presence.

You can learn more about these ministries and how to get involved at the EDSD’s Migration Ministry page: https://edsd.org/migration-ministry/.

Due to my current health issues, I cannot be present at vigils and marches, but know that I am with those of you who are standing for justice in prayer. In this moment, I invite us all—individuals, congregations, and ministries—to renew our commitment to:

Prayerful Presence—Join in sustained intercession for victims of violence and their families, for law enforcement charged with public safety, and for policymakers entrusted with governing with justice and mercy.

Nonviolent Witness—Uphold and participate in peaceful, faith-rooted public witness calling for accountability, restraint, and structural reform that honors human life.

Pastoral Support—Reach out to immigrant communities fearful of enforcement actions with pastoral care, practical support, hospitality, and accompaniment.

Civic Engagement—Advocate for policies that protect the dignity and rights of all — immigrants, citizens, and residents alike—and that seek justice through accountability, transparency, and respect for human life.

Financial Aid—Bishop of Minnesota, the Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, has asked for donations to Casa Maria, an Episcopal nonprofit that is organizing groceries and other aid to immigrant families in Minneapolis.

In the coming days, my office will be announcing new opportunities to learn how best to engage in these ways. Until then, be reminded that our faith calls us not merely to lament suffering but to be agents of God’s peace and justice in a troubled world. As followers of Christ, we are called to stand with the vulnerable, to speak truth to power, and to embody the reconciling love of Jesus in every place where fear threatens to eclipse compassion.

May the God of mercy and justice uphold you, strengthen you, and guide our shared witness in the days ahead.

Blessings,

Bishop Susan Brown Snook

 

St. Luke's Episcopal Church with The Bishop 11.23.2025

We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill 

Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

San Diego, CA

 The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook has served as the Fifth Bishop of San Diego since 2019, where her ministry focuses on church planting and church growth; strengthening leaders and congregations; and service to neighbors, including migrants along the US-Mexico border. Her previous service in the church included being Canon for Church Growth and Development in the Diocese of Oklahoma, and church planter, vicar, and rector of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Scottsdale, Arizona. Prior to ordination, Bishop Brown Snook was a Certified Public Accountant, working in taxation for major accounting firms in Houston, Texas.

Bishop Brown Snook served as a member of The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council from 2012 to 2018 and chaired its budget committee and its Joint Standing Committee on Local Ministry and Mission. From 2022 to 2024, she co-chaired the Task Force to Advise the Church on the Denominational Health Plan, whose work produced important reforms to the DHP at the 2024 General Convention. She was elected as a deputy to the General Convention from Arizona four times and was a co-founder of the Acts 8 Movement, a group dedicated to revitalization in the church. She has served on the boards of The Gathering of Leaders and of Forward Movement. In current churchwide service, she serves on the Joint Budget Committee of Executive Council and the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons.

Bishop Brown Snook is the author of God Gave the Growth: Church Planting in the Episcopal Church, and the co-editor of Acts to Action: The New Testament’s Guide to Evangelism and Mission.

She was elected to her first term on The Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees in 2024.

She holds a DMin from Virginia Theological Seminary, an MDiv from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and an MBA, MAcc, and BA from Rice University. 

St. Luke's Episcopal Church 11.23.2025

 We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church

St. Luke's North Park is a Christian community praising God and seeking justice and healing in this dynamic neighborhood of San Diego since 1923.  We strive to create spaces for God’s grace to form life-changing relationships with Christ and each other across lines of prejudice and privilege. In the past three decades, God has led us to a new blessing: to serve as one of the primary congregations and cultural centers for South Sudanese Americans in the city, and more recently, for former Congolese refugees. Worshiping with our diverse community is a joyous experience that includes singing in Arabic and Swahili, and individuals from around the globe and the U.S., united by our found “home” at St. Luke’s and in Christ.  Our infant, toddler, children, and youth ministries are full and thriving, thanks be to God! We are proud partners with RefugeeNet, a non-profit dedicated to the well-being of refugee families. We’re also grateful to host sixteen twelve-step support meetings on campus each week. St. Luke's North Park is a Christian community seeking justice and healing in San Diego's North Park neighborhood. We dream to be a place where all people can enter into uncomfortable and brave spaces with others different than themselves -- different races, ethnicities, classes, creeds, sexual orientations, and gender identities -- and find their perspectives and hearts transformed. We follow a God who loves each of us especially for who we are and desires that every single human among us has all she or he needs to thrive in this world. Until that day comes, we will work alongside God's powerful Spirit to do justice in this hurting world and help all people find a loving and dignified home.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen Indeed!

Easter begins in darkness: the darkness of a pre-dawn morning as women walk through sleeping city streets to the tomb of their beloved rabbi. Grief-stricken and shocked, they are unaware of the glorious sunrise that awaits them, when they discover the empty tomb and hear the news that Christ is Risen.

There have been times this year when I have felt like I am waiting in the darkness of a pre-dawn morning. Like many of you, I am deeply concerned about events in the world and the suffering of many people. I am concerned about the fears of immigrants, refugees, and people who merely look like they might be immigrants or refugees. I am anxious along with LGBTQ people who fear the loss of long-awaited protections. I worry about the economic situation and the state of the markets. I wait for the sun to rise.

That’s when it helps to remember that Easter is not just about joy: Easter is about joy inexplicably arising out of sorrow. Easter is the shocking, world-upending news that a world that believes in a story that ends on a cross must adjust to a new story that begins in an empty tomb. Easter is the assurance, against all this world believes, that death is not the end: God’s life and God’s love triumph even over death. Easter is the profoundly good news that Jesus is alive and loose in God’s beloved creation, and that means that God’s New Creation can manifest itself anywhere, anytime.

Here in our diocese, some remarkable long-term dreams of God have come to fruition recently. On March 28, we broke ground on our first Mission Real Estate project at St. Luke’s in North Park, a project that will provide 78 affordable housing units for low-income people and will bring in long-term resources to sustain the ministry of St. Luke’s. Thanks to the leaders of St. Luke’s and the leaders of our diocese who labored for a long time to make this project possible. Then, on April 1, we cut the ribbon to open Comunidad de Luz, our migrant shelter for women and children in Tijuana. Working with other partners including Via International, Vida Joven, the Anglican Church in Tijuana, and the ELCA Pacifica Synod, we created a project that will provide security and the hope of a new life for up to 150 women and children at a time while they work to rebuild a new life, probably right there in Tijuana. Our two new church plants, Resurrection Ocean Beach and St. Brigid’s Oceanside, are growing and reaching new people. Truly, the Holy Spirit is at work in our diocese, bringing hope and new life to our world.

This Easter, let us remember all those who need to hear the good news of Christ. Let us pray for those who suffer, whom God has entrusted to our care. Let us act in bold faith that God’s church has a mission to proclaim the good news of Christ in good times and hard times alike, to a world that needs to hear that good news at all times. Let us experience the life of Christ among us, this Easter Day and every day.

Jesus is risen, and the world is made anew. Alleluia! Christ is Risen Indeed.

In Christ,

Bishop Susan Brown Snook

Statement on the treatment of migrants

STATEMENT OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN BISHOPS AND DENOMINATIONAL LEADERS

This statement was signed by denominational leaders with jurisdiction in Arizona, including Bishop Susan, since the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego includes Yuma, Arizona.

We wish to unite our voices to express our grave concern over America’s failure to update our immigration system and the threat of mistreatment of undocumented persons who are our neighbors and contribute to our communities. While we recognize the lawful right of nations to monitor and control their borders, we also recognize that in many ways our current US immigration laws do not uphold individuals’ rights to a dignified life, family unity, and safety.

As immigration and migration are driven by complex factors, oftentimes resulting in life-or-death situations, the rights of those fleeing disaster, hunger, conflict, violence, or war are urgent and compelling. Therefore, grounded by the demands of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and love of our neighbors—our deeply held religious beliefs—we urge our elected officials and community leaders to stand with us to protect family unity and human dignity by refusing to participate in any deportation efforts which violate these most basic human rights.

Of special concern to us are reported methods of detention and deportation that might include raids on churches, houses of worship, hospitals, schools, and other locations associated with meeting basic human needs. Moreover, the threat of separating children from their parents as a means of punishment or deterrence is exceptionally reprehensible. While the practice of religion is a basic human right recognized by most international organizations, we note that for those living in America, it is part of the very foundation upon which our Nation was built. We find it unacceptable that undocumented persons might be intimidated from going to a church and thereby exercising their right to the practice of religion. We also assert that the disruption of any religious gathering for deportation purposes is equally an assault on our own right to the free exercise of our religion.

We also acknowledge that the stability of our society is under grave threat when undocumented persons are too fearful to seek necessary healthcare for themselves or their children, access basic education, or contact law enforcement when being victimized or observing criminal activity. We stand in solidarity with members of federal agencies, state agencies, and local law enforcement personnel who may choose not to participate in deportation raids deemed unjust by their conscience. In accordance with long-standing humanitarian principles, these conscientious objectors must be respected.

Motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who urges us to see the image of God in every human being, we urge federal, state, and local personnel tasked with the detention or deportation of undocumented persons to consider how their actions might be seen in the eyes of God. We likewise reiterate the call to our nation’s federal legislature to create an immigration system that is fair, reasonable, and recognizes the human dignity of all persons.

HELP DEPORTED VETERANS

HELP DEPORTED VETERANS

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook

At our 50th diocesan convention, we honored veterans and highlighted the military ministries of our diocese. We prepared 200 care packages for Marines and Sailors about to be deployed. And we know there is yet more work to be done in service to our veterans, as our Military Missioner, T. Randy Cash, recently outlined for us.

Military ministry in our diocese has a unique confluence with our border ministries, as we all too often meet U.S. military veterans deported to Tijuana. These veterans are not citizens but green card-holding American residents who have served America with honor, some in the most challenging wars for generations. Read More

ADVENT MESSAGE from Bishop Susan Brown Snook

ADVENT MESSAGE

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook

As we approach the season of Advent, a time of reflection, anticipation, and hope, my heart is full of gratitude and a spirit filled with excitement. At our 50th Anniversary celebration, we reflected on the history of our diocese. One thing stood out to me as we reminisced on our past: Episcopalians have accomplished great things in the face of many challenges. From shipwrecks to fires, our predecessors in this diocese have overcome adversities, shared the Good News of Christ, and set the foundation for the Diocese of San Diego. Today, more than ever, we embody Courageous Love in this diocese. Despite pandemic challenges and changing societal trends, our faith remains vibrant. We are bold in discerning God’s vision for us and courageous in putting it into action.  Read More

REFLECTION, GRATITUDE, AND RENEWAL

REFLECTION, GRATITUDE, AND RENEWAL

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I am filled with gratitude for each one of you and the vibrant community we share in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. As we gather with family and friends around tables laden with the fruits of the earth, let us remember those who may be experiencing hardship and uncertainty. May our hearts be open to the needs of others, and may our hands be quick to offer compassion and support to those who are less fortunate.  In the midst of our busy lives, let us take a moment to pause and give thanks for the simple yet profound blessings that enrich our daily existence—the warmth of fellowship, the comfort of shared laughter, and the love that binds us together as a diocesan family.  Read More

October 17 2023

Join Me in Prayer

by Susan Brown Snook
Category: #Bishop's Blog

Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, it was reported that the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza had been destroyed by a missile strike, with hundreds feared dead. There are varying reports about who was responsible for the attack, with each side in the Israel-Hamas conflict accusing the other. While it is impossible at this stage to sort out questions of responsibility, I can say now that my heart is broken. The Ahli Arab Hospital has been operated for several decades by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, with strong financial support from many Episcopalians through American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, a group I appreciate for its support of many schools and hospitals in the Holy Land. I was able to tour the Holy Land with two board members in 2017, including several of the diocese’s schools and hospitals, and I saw firsthand the loving and dedicated work they do.

The loss of life at the Ahli Arab Hospital is horrifying. We weep for the hundreds of dead and wounded, for the loss of medical experts and humanitarians, and for the diocese whose ministries are deeply affected by this devastating loss. As a Christian hospital, Ahli Arab has long treated all people, seeing everyone as a child of God.

This week, there was a call from Christian church leaders of the 13 denominations in the Holy Land, including Anglicans, to fast and pray for peace in the Holy Land. I ask you to join me in prayer for relief of the suffering of innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza. Pray for victims and for humanitarian relief for civilians who are in danger. Pray for the dead, the wounded, those still held hostage after the Hamas attacks on Israel, those who are refugees, and all innocent civilians who suffer from the actions of the powerful. Pray for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Pray for world leaders who may be able to bring an end to the conflict. Pray also for peace here in our country. A horrifying attack on a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Chicago this week killed him and grievously injured his mother. Jews in the US have also experienced anti-Semitic threats. Pray that all of us may respect and protect the dignity and safety of all of our fellow citizens.

Pray for peace in the Holy Land, that people of all faiths may live together in security and that the land that is home to three of the world’s great religions may reflect God’s peace that passes understanding.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, all people may live in justice and peace. We pray now for peace among the nations, and especially for the people of Israel and Palestine. Guide us all into the way of justice and truth, and establish among us that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that all people may live and flourish in the world you have created. All this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

In Christ,

Bishop Susan Brown Snook

PRAYERS FOR PEACE

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook

Over the weekend, the world was shocked and grief-stricken to see the attacks in Israel on unarmed civilians, resulting in many deaths and numerous hostages. Here in the US, I know that many Jews and others were deeply grieved and traumatized by the deaths and the graphic violence shown in videos of the victims, as well as videos of people around the world celebrating the violence that occurred. The situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza is deeply complex, as all acknowledge, and a peaceful solution to generations of conflict seems very far away. But there is no excuse for terrorist acts against civilians, and we must offer our prayers for civilians held captive and innocent people in danger in this broadening conflict. Read More

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego - 50th Annual Convention

50th Annual Convention of The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

By: Chris Tumilty, Director of Communications

The call to "be courageous" is a familiar phrase in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego because it speaks to the human spirit's incredible capacity to rise above adversity. As Bishop Susan reminds us, courage isn't the total absence of fear but the choice to move forward despite a measure of it–a call to embrace our humanity, with all its vulnerabilities, to strive towards God’s purpose. This year, at the 50th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, we are very excited to celebrate five decades of ministry together. This year’s celebration is a reminder that while our journey may be bumpy at times, the path is illuminated by faith, courage, strength, and love. Read More

Bishop Susan’s Letter on Church Accountability

The Theology of Service by Bishop Snook

The Theology of Service

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce….But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:4-5,7

[Excerpt from the Bishop’s Address 2022] Jeremiah is speaking to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, telling them that God has a mission for them in the place where God has placed them. We Episcopalians are not in exile, but we are placed by God in communities, and God calls us to seek the welfare of the communities where we are planted. That means getting to know our neighbors. I have declared 2023 as our diocesan Year of Service, and throughout the year our diocese will learn about and practice what it means to seek the welfare of the communities we inhabit. I believe that every church is placed by God in a particular community for God’s reasons – because God has a mission in that community. Read More

Diocesan Staff Announcement

We are pleased to announce the call of a new Missioner for Multicultural Ministries in our diocese – Ms. Rachel Ambasing. Rachel is a familiar face in our diocese, as she has served as a General Convention Deputy and as a lay leader at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in National City for the past several years. Rachel's new role at the diocese will focus on the development and promotion of ministries among people of diverse cultural backgrounds to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our diocese. Rachel will begin her new role in January. Bishop Susan Brown Snook said, “I am very excited to have Rachel as the Diocese's new Missioner for Multicultural Ministries. Rachel's leadership, passion, and faith will help guide us to a new understanding and appreciation for each other's lives in Jesus Christ.” Welcome to Rachel Ambasing in her new role!

Theology of Service Webinar Join Bishop Susan Brown Snook and leaders from throughout the church for this four-week webinar series on the Theology of Service, beginning January 18 at 6:00pm.

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Ordination to the Diaconate God willing and the people consenting, the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook will ordain Heather Lawrence, Christina Miller, and Dawn Stary to the Holy Order of Deacons in the Episcopal Church on Saturday, February 18, 2023, 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul's Cathedral.

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Beloved: Youth Epiphany Retreat Join youth from across the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego for campfires, games, activities, worship, friends, laughter, and more Feb. 3-5, 2023. This annual gathering is one of the highlights of the program year!

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Community Engagement Cohort Join EDSD’s 2023 Community Engagement cohort and kick off the new year getting to know your neighbors!

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Sacred Ground Circles Starting EDSD Racial Justice and Reconciliation Task Force will offer two Sacred Ground circles. One on Mondays 3-5 pm starting Feb 13, and one on Fridays 6-8 pm starting Feb 17. Info sessions coming in January.

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Creation Care Roundtables The EDSD Creation Care Community will hold two roundtables on Thursday, Jan 26 (6:30pm - 8pm) and Sunday, Jan 29 (2pm - 3:30pm) to learn more about climate resilience in addition to many new ways to practice care for creation.

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