June 15, 2006, Columbus, OH – Tonight, at an event hosted by the Office of Black Ministries of the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Nelson Pinder, President of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE), Mr. John E. Harris, Jr., Treasurer of UBE, and Mr. Donald V. Romanik, President of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), announced a new and unique partnership.  Through this collaborative partnership, ECF would assist, enable, and empower UBE to develop financial, informational, and leadership resources for its mission and ministry.  UBE would assist ECF in connecting with grassroots, multicultural parishes in the Episcopal Church and developing leadership resource tools.

“This is a unique opportunity for the Episcopal Church, the Office of Black Ministries, UBE, and ECF to enhance powerful leadership and mission at the congregational level,” said the Rev. Angela S. Ifill, Missioner.

In his remarks, Mr. Harris noted that while “UBE will maintain our focus on our core mission, this partnership creates opportunities for re-visioning the work of UBE and building relationships with the wider Church”.  Mr. Romanik added that the collaboration is “consistent with ECF’s vision and mission, enabling ECF to provide core products and services while also engaging in a national initiative that will be transformational in nature”.

UBE encourages the involvement of Black people in the total life of the Church – on every level and in every way – mission, stewardship, evangelism, education, sharing, liberation, empowerment, leadership, governance, and politics.  One of its major goals is to eradicate every vestige of racism within the Episcopal Church.  Through this partnership, UBE will build upon its mission to foster and promote multicultural reconciliation in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.  “This collaboration,” said Rev. Pinder, “offers a chance for us to work on the mission of reconciliation and interdependence in the Church, dealing with issues that are multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual.”

An independent, lay-led organization, ECF strives to be an innovative force for excellence in leadership formation and resource development in service to God’s mission.  By offering a full spectrum of fundraising services to Episcopal congregations, dioceses and other organizations, as well as reaching out through parish focused studies and publications, teaching and networking partnerships, ECF empowers lay and ordained Episcopal leaders with the resources they need to grow their ministries.

This exciting new collaboration will enhance the mission and ministry of both UBE and ECF and result in programming and services that will serve the wider Church.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/75383_75967_ENG_HTM.htm