The Diocese of West Missouri is pleased to welcome Gina Heise as its new Ministry Partner for Episcopal Relief & Development. Gina, an active member at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, is prepared to bring her years of experience and commitment to her role as a Ministry Partner. Read more about Gina below, what you can watch for, and the ways you can get involved.
About Gina Heise
Gina is an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City. Born and raised in Chicago, where she also attended college, Gina has also lived in Central Texas and Northern Virginia. Her and her husband have two young adult children and a dog and have lived in Kansas City for over 20 years.
Gina retired last year from a nearly 30-year career with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, where she served as Regional Director. Since retiring 18 months ago, she has leaned heavily into volunteering. Gina also currently leads the Outreach Commission at St. Andrew’s and serves as the partnership liaison to JVS in their work supporting refugees and immigrants. Outside of her partnership work, she also organizes the volunteers for the St. Andrew’s coffee tent at the Brookside Farmers’ Market and serves as a Eucharistic Minister.
Along with her time spent at St. Andrew’s, she is currently in year two of the three-year Souljourners program with the Benedictine Sisters in Atchison, Kansas, to become a spiritual director and is moving through discernment for ordination to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church.
Gina and her family found their way to the Episcopal Church five years ago after coming from another faith tradition.
“We have been members of the Episcopal Church for 5 years, coming from another faith tradition. The inclusivity of The Episcopal Church, as well as its deep reverence for tradition and liturgical worship, drew us in and we have found our spiritual home here.”
Being a Ministry Partner
As The Diocese of West Missouri Ministry Partner for Episcopal Relief & Development, Gina will help connect congregations throughout West Missouri with the organization’s mission and ministry.
“My role as a Ministry Partner is to inspire, equip and educate others in the diocese about the work of Episcopal Relief & Development, thus joining them in their work together for lasting change around the world. As a Ministry Partner, I will stay informed about Episcopal Relief & Development and its work, communicate the work throughout West Missouri, and participate at the Diocesan Annual Convention this November.”
Her passion for this work is rooted in decades of experience serving in international affairs.
“As someone who has spent most of my higher education as well as career engaged in international affairs, I have viewed the world through a global lens and have focused on creating opportunities to improve the lives of people around the world, as well as building the connections that forge greater partnerships, enhance well-being, and promote peace and justice. In our interconnected world, and as members of the Anglican Communion, we are called to serve our brothers and sisters no matter where they live.”
How Congregations Can Get Involved
There are many ways that various congregations across the diocese can support Episcopal Relief & Development; from incorporating lessons into Vacation Bible Schools, designating certain Sundays of the year as Episcopal Relief & Development Sundays, and praying for those around the world suffering from natural disasters, facing violence, and lacking basic education, sanitation, and healthcare. Episcopal Relief & Development focuses on four priorities: Early Childhood Development, Women and Girls (Violence Prevention), Climate Resilience, and Disaster Response. Episcopal Relief & Development directly aligns with two of the four pillars of The Diocese of West Missouri’s missional work: serving others and striving for justice.
Many are aware of the disaster related support that Episcopal Relief & Development provides in the U.S. and around the world. Most recently this work has focused on recovery in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, severe flooding in Hawai’i, and the extreme drought in Kenya.
In addition, Episcopal Relief & Development also focuses on healthcare needs and disease prevention including supporting no-cost or low-cost hospital care in the West Bank and Gaza and in preventing the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the months ahead, Gina will share information through the New Spirit newsletter and hope to develop a group of individuals across the diocese who will champion Episcopal Relief & Development in their own parishes.
This article was submitted by Gina Heise, The Diocese of West Missouri’s Ministry Partner for Episcopal Relief & Development. Gina is an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City.
