Beloved in Christ: 

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Washington Area Resident Bishop LaTrelle Easterling has announced the appointment of the Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson as Chief Administrative Officer of the Baltimore Washington Conference (BWC), providing leadership to both the BWC and Peninsula-Delaware Conference effective July 1, 2021. Read that announcement

While I celebrate Erica’s appointment to this newly created position, I must also say that it is bittersweet news for the New England Conference and myself. 

Erica is a person of multi-faceted gifts and talents and is an excellent administrator. Attentive to detail and to accomplishing tasks in a timely manner, Erica is dedicated to seeing every project through to completion. As one of my mentors, Bishop Felton May, would say “She has the Book of Discipline in her back pocket.”    

In her role as Director of Connectional Ministries (DCM), Erica has been an integral part of our conference boards and agencies and is well connected with our general boards and agencies, the realities of the global church, and her DCM colleagues. 

She supervises a small team of program ministry staff who appreciate her team spirit and positive guidance and support. She has been a particular asset to our ethnic minority constituents, helping them to take advantage of many grant opportunities and developing new ministry and mission settings. 

She has carefully overseen the work of our Camping and Retreat Ministries, including hiring three new directors, who have enhanced this vital ministry of spiritual formation.

In times of crisis, Erica convened conversations around racial justice and COVID-19 protocols, and oversaw our Disaster Response Ministry.  

Erica has been a blessing to my ministry, personally, and to that of the Episcopal team and Extended Cabinet. She has been a partner in leading many Annual Conference sessions as well as shepherding several international pilgrimages.

I have admired Erica for consistently speaking the truth in love over the last eight years. Even when we had differing opinions, I could always count on her, a true team player, to support whatever final decision was made. I also truly appreciate Erica's pastoral and caring heart.    

With gratitude for Erica and her ministry, I share this quote by Dag Hammarskjold: “For all that has been, Thank you. For all that is to come, Yes!”   

Please join me in wishing Erica the very best and praying for her and her family in this time of transition. 

In Christ’s love, 

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar