Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral held its Annual Meeting this past Sunday, February 12. Our community gathered for breakfast and presentations by our dean Malcolm Clemens Young and Bishop Marc Handley Andrus, as well as other leaders of the church and congregation. We heard reports on the cathedral’s progress and financial health in the past year and elected new trustees, council members and deanery delegates. Read the 2017 Annual Report.

Read Malcolm’s letter to the congregation below.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have so many extraordinary memories from last year as we explored the theme of “home” at Grace Cathedral. The home prayer has become a deep part of my life.

You might remember the packed house for our Forum with Jeff Kositsky, the Director of San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness, and the Chronicle’s Editor in Chief, Audrey Cooper. That memorable morning concluded with a powerful statement from a few people who were still living on the streets.

Last year we talked a great deal about the changing neighborhoods that make San Francisco unique and the cost of living here. In 2016 there were 65 million refugees who had no home. We heard from doctors who rescued them out of the Mediterranean Sea. Together we prayed for our planet and learned about our unique estuary system.

We participated in book studies and discussions in order to hear about what African Americans and Asian-Americans are experiencing in our culture. Malcolm Margolin brought us news from Native America. Gary Kamiya and David Talbot taught us more about the history of this amazing city. The President of the University of California, Janet Napolitano, gave us a report on the state of education here in our home. Isabel Allende told us what it felt like to move here as an immigrant.

Through our social events and the elegant liturgies of the church’s calendar we came to know each other better. We worked actively to make this a home not only for ourselves but for everyone who feels drawn here to this beautiful sanctuary.

We designed and approved a strategic plan that gives us direction for the future. Our “Home is Where the Heart is” stewardship campaign far exceeded my expectations. We welcomed Mark Stanger back home from the Holy Land, and we helped Ellen Clark-King and Mary Carter Greene to find a new home here, too.

Most of all we traveled together as pilgrims seeking our home in God. This was one of the best years of my life and I’m deeply grateful for this shared project. We have entered a much more tumultuous time. But I know that Jesus is present in this home that we share.

God is blessing us with each other every day.

Love,

The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young