A message from Bishop Ed: I am writing to you on behalf of Presiding Bishop Curry to invite you to join us in remembrance and celebration of Blessed Absalom Jones and to ask you to consider dedicating an offering from one of your liturgical observances to support the Absalom Jones Fund for Episcopal Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am writing to you on behalf of Presiding Bishop Curry to invite you to join us in remembrance and celebration of Blessed Absalom Jones and to ask you to consider dedicating an offering from one of your liturgical observances to support the Absalom Jones Fund for Episcopal Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Collected funds will be divided equally between two HBCUs that were founded by the Episcopal Church: St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, and Voorhees College in Denmark, SC. A recent article in The New York Times noted that HBCUs produce 80% of the nation’s black judges, 50% of its black doctors and 50% of black teachers.
Absalom Jones became the first African American to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1804. The observance of his feast day occurs in February and would be an appropriate occasion to be as generous as possible in lending our support to these two institutions. You will find instructions for this offering, including bulletin inserts and additional resources at www.episcopalchurch.org/development/HBCU.
Your check totaling the amount collected may be written to the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and earmarked for "HBCU". Please send it to the Diocesan Office, 924 N. Robinson, OKC, OK 73102. We will send all collected funds to Presiding Bishop Curry for dispersal by the end of February, 2020.
The gospel work of education and emancipation, evangelism and formation, reconciliation and commitment to a just and humane society and world is happening at these schools. Thank you for your support of our HBCUs through this Absalom Jones offering.
May God bless and keep you,
+ Bishop Ed