Report from the third annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Leadership Gathering

This is my reflection and response to what I heard and experienced attending the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Clergy and Lay Leadership Retreat for the third year. This year’s theme was “Sharing Our Stories, Revealing Dreams, Living in Hope.” Again, an opportunity was given for the 60-plus participants from Asian and Pacific communities within the Episcopal Church, who are priests, deacons, and lay leaders, to gather from different parts of the country and discuss their dreams and vision for The Episcopal Church. The first AAPI Leaders event was at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Austin, TX, in 2023, and the second was at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR, in 2024, hosted by their respective dioceses.

The Diocese of Western Missouri hosted this year’s AAPI Leaders event at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas, MO, under the leadership of their Bishop Diane Bruce, who served as the Celebrant at the inaugural service on the first day of the retreat. Bishop Allen Shin, the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of New York, delivered the keynote address. Bishop Shin was a passionate participant and a visionary for this gathering to happen for the third time in three years. In his homily, he said, “Storytelling is a powerful meaning-making and identity-shaping activity. Stories connect us and build relationships and communities. Stories help us transcend present realities so that we can dream together and hope for new possibilities of our common humanity.” In his book, After Virtue, the philosopher-theologian Alasdair Macintyre said, “Man is essentially a storytelling animal, but a teller of stories that aspire to truth.”

The morning and noon prayer was enriched with ethnic music using instruments such as Shakuhachi (Japanese flute), Indian Tabla, and hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Thanks be to God for the skills and talents of those ethnic Episcopal leaders to the wider Church.

I am an Indian-born New Zealander, so I fit well with the description of AAPI and was privileged to attend this retreat. I admired the courage of every participant to be open and to speak of their unique stories of the past and dreams of the future authentically, as they were given a place of safety and comfort. It was inspiring and inviting for others to join the community of sharing, questioning, grieving, crying, wondering, dreaming, and envisioning the future together.

While some realization was named as “we don’t speak up, Asians are not leaders, we are not loud, not included in the conversation, tokenism as inclusion, not important, you have to agree, limitation to discernment process,” Bishop Shin’s homily affirmed that, “AAPI people are not a monolithic group with a single stereotypical story and identity. We embody a rich tapestry of diverse stories and experiences.” Some of the sharing was celebrated by each other as they proclaimed, “I share to nourish the ones God invites us to walk with.” The gathering created a sense of belonging, as one other participant noted, “I was worried that I might not belong with Asian Americans too, but thanks be to God that was untrue!” A deacon said, “I was baptized into the Episcopal Church when I was nine. I can think of only two other occasions that evoked such overwhelming joy as I felt this week.”

I agree with one participant who said, “I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet and connect with all of you! I feel such immense joy… it is hard to put my finger on it. Still, I am excited just thinking about the possibilities that lie ahead for all of us!” One priest said that, “we are not alone in our grief, and that the bonds of community and shared identity are powerful sources of healing. Your solidarity brought comfort, strength, and hope in moments of pain. Your reaction was a reflection of love for our Church and a testament to the deep connections that tie us all together as part of the Asian American Pacific Islander family of faith and resilience. One phrase I would say: ‘THE RESURRECTION IS REAL.’”

As the Church celebrates AAPI month in May, let us be reminded of the Bible verse from Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.” May we have open arms to bring every person of color, caste and creed into the holy of holies of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the heart of God. May we take this celebration as time to begin the missio dei, Mission of God. What competence do we need to relate to AAPI people in the most culturally sensitive and respectful way? Could this become our hope for the Church at large?

Based on my experience, I have climbed thousands of steps to get to where I am. This means my stories are unique and powerful, always looking forward to holy listening. If we choose to listen to the way of life and path of spirituality of an AAPI person this week, that will be the genuine celebration of AAPI month. The Lord of Harvest is at work, but only through you and me.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Rajan is Vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Wantage.