Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) held its annual Network Meeting from May 17-20 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Partners in Hope, Partners in Life.”

The ERD Network is a group of volunteers who support and promote ERD and its programs throughout Episcopal parishes, dioceses, and seminaries. A total of 138 attendees representing 67 Episcopal dioceses and six seminaries attended the meeting which is held each year specifically for diocesan and seminarian coordinators. Currently, there are close to 3,000 members in the network, which also includes over 2800 parish representatives.

“The Network Meeting generated fresh energy and vision for working together as partners to bring God’s hope and life to the world,” said the Rev. Lynn Sanders, ERD’s Director of Church Relations.

Suraya Yahaya Bowermaster, ERD Diocesan Coordinator for the Diocese of Colorado, felt a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. “I've come away from the Network meeting renewed and with a sense of gratitude and hope,” said Bowermaster. “Gratitude for the people from all walks of life who respond to the needs of people whom they’ve never met. Hope because this response is proof that despite our differences, there is a way for us to work together for a common good. I am grateful to see the work that ERD has helped support so far, and excited about the work that we’re going to do,” she said.

A tribute was made to the late Canon Joyce Hogg, former ERD Network Coordinator. Workshops were offered on topics such as ‘Reaching out to Dioceses, Parishes, and Seminaries’ and ‘Public Speaking for ERD’ which was given by Dale Delitis and Debbie Simon, both professional speech trainers. Abagail Nelson, ERD’s Vice President for Program, moderated a discussion tilted ‘International Panel: Planting the Seeds of Development in Relief Work.’ Special guests and panelists included the Most Rev. Martin Barahona, Primate for the Anglican Church of Central America and Bishop of El Salvador; Ramón Aristides Valencia Arana, Executive Director of the Mangrove Association, El Salvador, partner to the Diocese of El Salvador; and Sanjana Das, Coordinator, Children’s Concerns of the Church of North India.

Network coordinators visited ERD supported Katrina recovery sites in New Orleans and Mississippi. Reflecting on his visit, Bishop Barahona said, “It affected me deeply to see the devastation of Katrina. I long to see the end to suffering and the reunification of families after this crisis.”

Robert Radtke, ERD President, was proud of the steps the Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana have taken to rebuild communities devastated by Katrina. “It was powerful and moving to witness the programs that the Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana are carrying out under the leadership of Bishops Gray and Jenkins and in partnership with ERD. It was gratifying to see the beginning of hope return to these devastated communities and give honor to the work of the Network Coordinators in making this possible,” said Radtke.