Bishop Barry Beisner prays for the congregations in the Diocese of Northern California affected by the wildfire at Paradise:
As we gather this day in Convention, we are all deeply shocked and saddened by the extent of the fire devastation in Paradise. We hold [the Rev.] Ann Sullivan, her family, the people of St. Nicholas and their neighbors in our hearts, praying God to give strength and healing. We pray fervently for the protection of Chico, for those at St. John’s who have lost their homes, and for nearby communities as the Camp Fire rages on. Richard Yale and the St. John’s team have been working hard to care for Paradise evacuees, at the same time that they prepare for possible evacuation. God bless, strengthen, protect, and sustain them, along with all firefighters and emergency responders.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
