MY TRIP TO THE CITY OF ANGELS JUNE 27 TO JULY 2, 2007

MY TRIP TO THE CITY OF ANGELS JUNE 27 TO JULY 2, 2007

FIRST PART: Here I Am, Father Randy: Destination: Los Angeles



EPISCOPAL ASIAMERICA MINISTRY NATIONAL CONSULTATION 2007 LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

For a last minute, REV. FR. RANDOLPH VN. ALBANO, VICAR, ST. PAUL’S CHURCH , emailed me: please avail yourself to a National Consultation, Manong. I want you to represent [again] St. Paul’s Church, this time. None of Bishop’s Committee Members; WOSP; LOSP; YOSP is available, and as a Chair, Vicar’s Advisory Board; former Bishop’s Warden from 1991-2007, please make yourself ready.

I emailed him back.: Only if all the elected officers were told and given the opportunity, I will go.

Apagisu nga alas dies ti agsapa iti Mierkoles, Hunio 27, my wife Gloria dropped me off to the Honolulu International Airport.


SUBJECT: EAM, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

VENUE:
WESTIN HOTEL BY THE AIRPORT
JUNE 28-JULY 2, 2007

THEME:
“Working Towards Being Competent Leaders in a Diverse, Changing World”

THANK YOU FATHER ALBANO FOR YOUR TRUST.
I’VE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AS YOU NEEDED ME. THEN, I CAME TO THINK OF ISAIAH 6-8: “WHOM SHALL WE SEND…”

“HERE I AM” ONE OF THE 209 REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT CONGREGATIONS.

Via Hawaiian Airlines, I arrived at the Los Angeles Airport about 9:30 pm, and I took a Hotel Shuttle Bus to Westin Hotel by the airport about 10:20 pm, on June 27. I checked in and was assigned to Room 949 with a roommate Mr. Thomas Kuk, a volunteer, Mission To Seafarers [Flying Angels] Seattle, Washington.

This is not my first time to travel to the US mainland. As I am involved with the Church, and the Episcopal Hawaii Diocese, and commissioner of the Hawaii Diocese on Stewardship Commission, commissioned by Bishop Richard S.O. Chang, and also a member of the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund Commission, I’ve gone to Washington, DC in 2002; Camp Allen, Navasota, Texas in 2003; Virginia in May 2004; San Francisco, California in June 2004; Seattle, Washington in 2005.

In our local communities here in Honolulu, and the Big Island, Hawaii, I was a presentor/speaker about stewardship in September 2003, St. George Church, Pearl Harbor; Thanksgiving Day November 2005, St. Columba Church, Pauulilo, at the Big Island; January 2006, Ressurrection Church, Hilo, Hawaii, as part of my ministry in Voluntarism.

As a member of the Commission on Election of the Hawaii Diocese, and the Registration and Credentials, I’ve gone to Annual Hawaii Diocesan Convention locally: Honolulu, and Kihei, Maui .

This time around, in this Los Angeles EAM National Consultation, I am represent my church as a Past Bishop’s Warden and current Chairman of the Vicars’ Advisory Board.

Only this time of the year, none of any of the elected officers is available. It used to be represented by the Bishop’s Warden, the Vicar, the president or any representative of the 3 legs: Womens of St. Paul’s; Youth Group of St. Paul’s; Laymens of St. Paul’s, for certain reasons.

Being an active member of my congregation, I said, in response to Fr. Randy [Albano], and as I’ve heard Isaiah 6:8: Whom Shall I Send”,,, and I said: Here I am”




DAY 1 - June 28, 2007- Thursday –
I volunteered myself at the Registration and Reception Desk chaired by Angela Cabanban. I want to utilize my strength and my passion about Stewardship of Time and Voluntarsim as my personal and spiritual ministry. With me are Florence Pucay, wife of Mr. Alfredo Pucay, who is involved with EAM for about 30 years now, Mr. Arthur Toy, the husband of Fran Toy, president of EAM. Gigi Kwok, Chikako Tsukuda, fellow volunteers.

I attended the General Assembly and the presentation of Eric Law about RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES

R-take RESPONSIBILITY on what you say and feel without blaming others
E- use EMPHATETIC listening
S – be SENSITIVE to difference in communication style
P- PONDER what you hear and feel before you speak
E – EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions
C – keep CONFIDENTIALITY
T – TRUST ambiguity because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong

RESPECT AND COMMUNICATION WERE TRANSLATED INTO SEVERAL LANGUAGES, include but not limited to Ilokano, Tagalog, Visayan, Korean, Chinese, Niponggo, others as part of the group discussions.

Filipino Convocation. Meeting #1.
About 40 people representing their respective congregation. Report in a form of sharing. Scope: Challenges, surprises and unexpected surprises.

Common challenges are: lack of participation, lack of communication, lack of youth and young adult involvement.

SUGGESTIONS: Everyone has a GIFT, everyone must be welcomed [not turned down] New people is a new gift. Bring them in, invite them, involve them. Find out their personal interest.

DAY 2 - June 29, 2007 Friday.
Continuation of the group discussion:

CONCERNS
· Youth development
· No follow-up
· Participation
· Separate convocation: Philippine Independent Church & Philippine Episcopal Church
· No Bible Study Group
GIFTS
· Volunteerism/Stewardship
· Adviser
· Counselor
· Good listener
·
MINISTRY

DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION STYLES

LOW CONTEXT
· Individual-oriented
· Rely on explicit coding of information being communicated; less aware of contexts
· Linear logic
· Adjust to new situation quickly
· Conflict may occur because of violations of individual expectations create conflict potentials
· Deal with conflict by revealing
· Direct, confrontational attitude
· Fact finding
· Focus on action and solution
· Open, direct strategies

HIGH CONTEXT
· Group-oriented
· Rely heavily on the physical context or the shared context of the transmitter and receiver; very little is in the coded, explicit, transmitted part of the message
· Spiral logic
· Take time for contexting in new situation
· Conflict may occur because of violations of collective expectations
· Deal with conflict by concealing
· Indirect, non-confrontational attitude
· Face saving
· Focus on relationship
· Ambiguous, indirect strategies
[I am 3.5 grouping in a scale of 6]

WHAT IS COMPETENT LEADERSHIP IN A DIVERSE CHANGING WORLD?

Self- awareness – deep understanding of one’s cultural values, strengths and weaknesses, and privilege and power that come with one’s roles and cultural background

Appreciations of differences as opportunities, rather than as a problems

Commitment to pluralistic understanding of issues while being able to make faithful decisions

Active theological reflection on diversity issues as they relate to oneself, others, one’s community and creation

Discipline and applying appropriately skills, models and theories that will increase the inclusiveness of various situations.

Ability to guide and support a community to move toward change faithfully in response to its changing environment.

ICEBERG ANALOGY OF CULTURE

· EXTERNAL CULTURES
o See
o Hear
o Touch
o Taste
o Smell
1. Explicitly learned
2. Conscious
3. Easily changed
4. Objective Knowledge

· INTERNAL CULTURES
o Beliefs
o Values
o Patterns
o Myths
1. Implicitly learned
2. Unconscious
3. Difficult to changed
4. Subjective Knowledge

LEARNED LESSONS FROM LUNCHEON MESSAGE RELATED TO LEADERSHIP
Openness and willingness to accept responsibilities
Flexibility and availability
Commitment and service
More action and follow-up; less talk and arguing
ISAIAH 6:8 Whom Shall I Send

DAY 3- June 30, 2007- Saturday
Participated in the LEADERSHIP FOR MISSION WORKSHOP
Definition of MISSION – Stewardship and Ministry.
1. Goal setting and strategy.
2. Sent by God.
3. Discovering and meeting needs
4. Medium
5. Bringing Christ presence to the world
6. Unity as people/God’s children
7. Share God’s Love
8. Bringing hope
9. Authentic in pluralistic culture
10. Building community
11. Spiritual practice
12. Thing to accomplish as intended

Definition of LEADERSHIP – To see things as they truly are and to act on what we see faithfully and effectively. Lead by example. Leadership/relational; courageous leadership; joyful leadership

ACTION PLAN
· Attainable
· Realistic
· Measurable

Attended MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS [MDG]
Example the ERDF – Rice Mill and Irrigation project in the Mountain Province
Attended Advocate meeting. Result of the meeting: Warren Wong was elected Chair, Carole Lee, secretary and Inez Saley, treasurer

Attended Province 8 meeting. St. Paul’s Church-Honolulu was used as an example, a fastest growing congregation in Province 8, because of its uniqueness in Ilokano service, immigration and family reunification and the lack of family planning, hence, fast growing because members “ability to make babies” [Mimi Wu and Fr. Bayani Rico]

Attended Dinner/Banquet Sea Empress Restaurant 1636 Redondo Blvd, Gardenia City.[Table with Fr. Ray Bonoan, Tomas Madella, Bishop Porfirio Dela Cruz, Lyman Salvador of St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary, Manila]

DAY 4 - July 1, 2007 Sunday
Mass to the Holy Trinity/St. Benedict, 412 North Garfield Blvd. Alhambra City. Met our kakailian a taga-Bontoc/Baguio. I met Mr. Manny De Castro and Mr. Iping Boluhan, members of the Vestry. Also met Mr. Edward Biag, one of the elders at Holy Trinity.

Rev. Fred Vergara, Rev. Tony Gumawad, Retired Bishop Porfirio Dela Cruz, were participated in the Mass. Other clergy who attended the mass included but not limited to Bishop Raul Tobias, Revs. Ray Bonoan, Tomas Madella, Bayani Rico.

Luncheon was offered, there was a short program showing the cultural dances of the Igorot brothers and sisters. Backed to the hotel after 4pm.

DAY 5 - July 2, 2007 – Monday
Filipino Convocation Meeting #2.
Fr. Bayani Rico was reelected as Convener; and Fr. Ray Bonoan, was elected Co-Convener; while Ashlee Witte, was elected secretary [young-adult]

I was able to connect myself to Mr. Donald V. Romanik, President of the Episcopal Church Foundation, who spoke before the group. ECF, offers grant and transformational ministry; help non-profit organization

Motion was presented by the Young Adult Group, and adopted by the convocation to send five youth representatives to EAM in Taiwan on June 6-9, 2007.

Motion also was presented that Filipino Convocation will make a side-trip to Manila, and stay for 4-5 days before heading to Taiwan, or vice versa.; after the Taiwan Consultation.

The Closing Eucharist was held for the closing.
NEXT CONSULTATION VENUE: TAIWAN, BISHOP DAVID LAI – HOST: “You are welcome to our small town but interesting place”

What did I learn here and brought home:

Enabled me to refine my personal, professional and spiritual outlook
Enabled me to integrate, connect and communicate with others
Enabled me to utilize my time: voluntary and joyfully
Enabled me to work, communicate with others respectful manner
Enabled me to experience how to work with compassion; and learned how to avail, prioritize, offer and take action as needed to achieve things in common goal. Remain humble as I grow with HIM for a deeper understanding and love
Success rely and depend in our commitments, action and deed, not necessarily what we think, or what we say.

Recommendations from me:

Number 1. Leaders of the church, group, community should consider to give priority, flexibility and time to certain conference, consultation, workshops/seminar in upgrading our knowledge in Christian leadership.

Number 2. Besides the BC is represented, 3 legs should resume going for representation

Number 3. Youth Development must continue; and do more participative role

Agyamanak manen Appo. Thank you again.

[NOTE: Hawaii representatives:
Kimo Hino –St. Andrew
Mimi Wu, - St. Peters
Joyce Kim, - St. Luke
Ernesto Pasalo – Good Sheperd Youth
Derrick Shimabukuro – Good Samaritan
Amado Yoro –St. Paul’s

Filipino clergy in attendance:
Bishop Bart Espartero
Bishop Porfirio Dela Cruz
Rev. Tomas Madella
Rev. Greg Bayaca
Rev. Raymund Bonoan
Rev. Ruth Pasipit-Paguio
Rev. Tony Gumawad
Rev. Fred Vergara
Rev. Bayani Rico
Robert Cristobal- youth