At the 2025 Diocesan Convention, the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York overwhelmingly adopted Resolution E, committing our diocese to regular Anti‑Racism and Diversity Training for all clergy, lay leaders, diocesan staff, and licensed ministers. This mandate aligns our local practice with General Convention resolutions which call the whole Church to deeper formation in dismantling racism and building Beloved Community.

A year later, the Diocesan Council has produced a detailed status report outlining both the progress made and the significant challenges that remain. The picture is clear: our commitment is strong, but the path forward requires discernment, collaboration, and creativity.

National Resources Delayed

Resolution E anticipated that dioceses would be able to rely on a forthcoming model curriculum from the Episcopal Church. However, the resources expected from the National Church have not been received, and it appears that the work of creating these resources has not even begun.

This delay has left dioceses across the Church—WNY included—without the guidance originally promised for implementing consistent, churchwide training.

Local Options Under Consideration

Because no national curriculum exists yet, WNY must now choose among three possible paths:

Develop our own updated curriculum, potentially drawing on the earlier Seeing the Face of God in Each Other training, which was last revised in 2011.
Recommend training from other dioceses, such as Southern Ohio, New Jersey, Central Pennsylvania (Stevenson School for Ministry), or the Absalom Jones Center. Some of these options, however, require fees of up to $100, which present a huge deterrent to participation.
Pause implementation until the national Church provides the promised model policies and training framework.

Council members have begun discussing the practical implications of each option. Concerns include cost barriers, administrative workload, limited diocesan staffing, and the challenge of offering training that is accessible across a geographically large diocese.

Emerging Themes from Council Discussion

The Diocesan Council discussion on this topic reflects a shared desire to move forward faithfully while acknowledging real constraints:

Cost and administration: Charging participants is not viable and that diocesan staff cannot absorb additional bookkeeping responsibilities.
Local capacity: With a bishop search underway and limited personnel, developing a full curriculum and training network may be difficult in the short term.
Existing resources: Some members suggested revisiting Seeing the Face of God in Each Other or exploring partnerships with Rochester or Central New York, where related work continues.
Possibility of local drafting: Others expressed confidence that Council or a subcommittee could sketch an initial framework or set of modules tailored to WNY’s context, including attention to LGBTQ+ communities and Indigenous neighbors—areas essential for any updated curriculum.
Delivery and tracking: Any long‑term solution must include a reliable way to verify completion, similar to Safe Church training.

Next Steps

The Council recommends establishing a permanent advisory group to support ongoing anti‑racism and diversity formation.

Council will continue its discernment over the summer, with the goal of presenting a clear plan in September. If the diocese ultimately chooses to pause implementation until national guidance arrives, that decision will be communicated at the 2026 Diocesan Convention.

A Shared Commitment

Despite the challenges, Diocesan Council affirms that the commitment of our leaders and the Diocesan Council are evident. Resolution E calls us to live more deeply into our baptismal promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being.” The work ahead is significant, but it is holy work—and we undertake it together.

The Rev. Dr. Jason Miller
Rector, St. Paul’s, Harris Hill; Priest in Charge, St. Michael & All Angels
Dean, Erie North Deanery
Vice Chair, Diocesan Council