My name is Wren Ganin-Pinto. I am currently finishing up my graduate degree at Starr King School for the Ministry and in the process of Ordination with ChI. In March, Reverend Ineda reached out to me and asked if I would join the ChI team to assist in catalyzing and convening the ‘Deep Culture’ work that Patricia St. Onge launched in 2017. Over this past month, I have initiated one-on-one’s with several faculty and staff (past and present) to understand better the history of the Deep Culture work and how it is currently being implemented. From these conversations, I gather that through slow and steady attention, ChI is ready to do the deep dive needed in order to show up for our mission “to educate and empower individuals for innovative interfaith service and spiritual care that heals and transforms the world.”
With many new faces that have joined the team and with a beautiful community council that has formed, I am hoping that this moment is one in which ChI is ready to deeply commit to the work of social change from the inside out.
At the end of this month, a group consisting of members from the faculty, staff, board, and community council will gather as a task force to (re)establish a regular and ongoing space to learn and implement deep culture into all facets of the organization.
I am also seeking an outside facilitator/trainer to support faculty and staff as they learn to use education and action to dismantle the white supremacist culture within the organization. This means that we are reflecting on truly how we can be the inclusive, welcoming, and thriving community we aspire to be; one composed of (and celebrating) the wealth of diversity that holds our interfaith mission and reflects those we will be serving.
I am looking forward to this journey with the ChI community. It will take each and every one of us to show up to and engage in this work together. As we care for ourselves and one another, may we heed the call to dismantling the injustices, both internal and external, that keep us from full and complete liberation!
If anyone feels called to reach out, I am very much available to talk, trouble the waters, laugh, and cry with you.
Onwards,
Wren Ganin-Pinto
