‘She’s Tickling Our Souls’ Episcopalians Proclaim of Holy Spirit at Jesus Festival

Jul 17, 2023 by Dave Doveton

By Jeffrey Walton, Juicy Ecumenism.

Top Episcopal Church officials are warning of increasing anxiety at climate change as well as the need for healing amidst mental health and wellness crises.

“Are we ready to use our healing to help with anxieties around the climate crisis?” House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris asked, referring to participants at the recent Episcopal Youth Event gathering held in College Park, Maryland. “I heard one young person bravely say, request, demand, that The Episcopal Church is perfectly positioned to have programs for religious healing, especially on those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+.”

Harris, the church’s top lay officer, presides over the upper house of the church’s bicameral legislative body, General Convention. She spoke at “It’s All About Love: A Festival for the Jesus Movement” held July 9-12 in Baltimore, Maryland.

“They spoke honestly about their struggles with mental health and wellness, especially coming out of this pandemic,” Harris recounted of young Episcopalians she had met with.

A public policy component also characterized the Baltimore event, with emphasis on environmental and racial concerns.

‘It’s All About Love’

The gathering featured what organizers characterized as revival worship, in addition to teaching on themes of love for God, neighbor, and self. “Part of the problem is that we have cheapened love,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preached in an opening sermon. “Dietrich Bonhoeffer talked about cheap grace. I think we need to pay attention also to cheap love. Because that’s what’s got people confused.”

Read here.