Bishop’s Appeal

In 2020 for our annual Bishop’s Appeal, Episcopalians in Oklahoma raised over $164,108.97 in support of Historic Vernon A.M.E. Church in Tulsa. The church has been a beacon of hope, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it provided over 200,000 meals to the community along with grocery bags since March 2020. Of the total funds raised, approximately half were allocated towards the renovation of the church’s kitchen facilities. The remaining half of the donations went towards fulfilling Pastor Dr. Robert Turner’s visionary project: a prayer wall adorning the church’s exterior. This prayer wall serves as a sacred space and pilgrimage site where individuals from all walks of life can come together to pray for global racial healing. Historic Vernon A.M.E. Church holds a unique place in history as the sole black-owned building to survive the devastating 1921 Race Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 In 2021 for our annual Bishop's Appeal, Episcopalians in Oklahoma raised over $90,000 to help form Magdalene House OKC. Magdalene OKC serves women who have experienced abuse, sexual exploitation, addiction, or incarceration as they rebuild their lives and focus on healing and wholeness through trauma informed therapy; physical, mental and dental health care; self-care; life skills training; and job training – all within the context of restorative relationships, professional support, accountability, and the safety of a home.

In 2022 for the annual Bishop's Appeal, Oklahoma Episcopalians raised over $26,000 for 20 + local congregations feeding ministries. Experts had called the year 2022’s combination of record inflation and lower donations to food pantries a “perfect storm” for the vulnerable. Our diocese was able to provide not only food but compassion at a difficult time in one of the hungriest states in the nation, by following the teachings of Jesus.