By Pat McCaughan
Contemplative listening, powerful storytelling and relationship building will be the focus of an Oct. 1-3, 2026, gathering at St. Paul’s Commons of lay and clergy members of Chinese American ministries from across The Episcopal Church.
About 30 attendees from more than ten Chinese churches and ministries across the church will gather in Los Angeles for “The Power of Listening, Story and Contemplation,” and for strength and support in the current political climate, said the Rev. Katherine Feng, co-chair of the diocesan Chinese Convocation.
Chinese ministries locally are thriving, said Feng, despite “this difficult time for immigrants. Because of this hard environment, a lot of parishioners are worried and feel unsafe, so we spend a lot of time on pastoral care to comfort them. It’s very tense right now; we have parishioners in more need than ever spiritually and emotionally.
“But,” she added, “we are thriving, in the sense that Sunday attendance is increasing and we do see people who are not afraid to show up in church and to pursue their Christian faith, and that’s very encouraging.”
The Rev. Jo Ann Jaén Lagman, missioner for The Episcopal Church Asiamerica Ministries, will be a featured speaker, Feng added. The Episcopal Church is also providing translation and other resources.
Participants will also discuss building relationships among clergy and laity, in a time of clergy shortages and ministering to both first- and second-generation members, she said.
“Many churches have the second generation in the pews, but they were either brought to this country very young and don’t know much about Chinese culture, and don’t speak much Chinese but because many of their parents don’t speak English, it’s hard to pass on the Christian faith between them.
“We have to face how to lead two different generations in church and how to attract more of the younger generation. We need to raise up more leadership to lead ministries with the younger generation.”
The Rev. Hsin-Fen Chang, vicar of St. Thomas’ Church in Hacienda Heights, is the featured preacher at a 3 p.m. opening Eucharist, while the Rev. Thomas Ni will celebrate, said Feng, who supports ministries at both the Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel and St. Gabriel’s, Monterey Park.
“By sharing stories, we hope to build relationships among each other and especially our relationships in Christ, and to see how the Holy Spirit moves us and inspires us,” Feng told The Episcopal News.