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An Open Letter to Sexual Minorities and the Episcopal Church USA

This letter was published in Outlook Weekly in the March 8, 2007 issue.

This past summer, we here in Columbus welcomed the Episcopal General Convention, and it was in my former parish that Bishop Jefferts-Schori was elected amidst great fanfare. We celebrated in great hope what could be accomplished under her leadership. Indeed, Columbus is home to one of the five largest communities of sexual minorities in the country, and we particularly were excited. We placed our faith in this woman who had broken through the glass ceiling of ecclesiastical leadership, both as a woman and, as one person called her, "a flaming liberal.". Now we see what comes of placing our faith in man (or woman, as the case may be).

I just read the full text of Her Eminence's reflections on the Primate's Convention (available at http://www.episcopal church.org/2577_82669_ENG_HTM.htm).

Kind of funny, don't you think, that we refer to ecclesiastical leaders in the same common parlance as we do apes. Though this may sound irreverent if less than humorous, after reading of the wrangling and posturing of these men and one woman called to shepherd God's people, I have to wonder if the term itself is not appropriate.

Just a few weeks ago, I was able to attend the formal inauguration of the new Governor of Ohio. Standing in the rain, I found myself intrigued by this man of the people, who seems to, "get it." Yet waiting in line during the public reception, I had the privilege of conversing with a family of Episcopalian sisters and brothers. Being in religious habit that day, issues of church came up, as could be expected. The twelve-year-old son made a rather acute observation. When trying to explain the role of the Universal Anglican Church in reference to the Episcopal Church USA, I tried to explain my view of those who, "fall through the cracks." This young boy, all bright-eyed and altar boy fresh, said in the clearest tone and with the innocence of observation that only a child could have, "they (the ECUSA) just don't get it. All they are worried about is feeling good and having pretty buildings, but people are dying."

As you can imagine, the conversation came to an immediate standstill, as no one could argue with or add to his observation. Quite frankly, he had come unto Christ as a little child and did not find his church there.

Reading the Presiding Bishop's reflections, pondering the platitudes of certain Primates who need not be named, and asking myself, "what is she thinking?", I am taken back once more to that simple observation of a simple twelve-year-old Episcopalian boy. They just don't get it. People are dying and they just don't get it. At least they have their pretty buildings. With American jurisprudence on their side, they have very little real fear of losing those buildings to the people who wish to leave the church and its fellowship.

Perhaps that is the point exactly. Perhaps these people are so intent on keeping their properties that they are willing to sell their own who are sexual minorities into a kind of slavery. In this sense, slavery means having all of the work and none of the benefits of that labor. You see, as gay and lesbian Christians, we are expected to volunteer more and to work harder as we typically are assumed not to have the demands of child rearing, but wait, that's because in most places we are not permitted to adopt; we are expected to contribute more financially as the myth of more disposable income in our relationships is propounded (though if it exists, I wonder where my share is); we are yearned for our time and our treasures, and one need not mention our artistic talents. Yet we are asked by the Presiding Bishop of this Church [ECUSA], which proclaims itself to be the champion of social justice, to give up our "idol" of equal treatment. We are told we must continue to "fast" from our desire for recognition of the realities of our relationships and our call to serve God in the name of unity within the [Anglican] Communion. How dare they?!

How long will those with resources and buildings and numbers continue to capitulate to the petty whinings of those who are bound up in their pharisaical interpretation of Christian tradition and doctrine?

Honestly, I don't know. And, just as honestly, at this point I find it hard to care. You see, I know the God whom I am called to serve. That is the God who could bring the cosmos into being through a single word. That is the God who could develop a nation out of the miraculous seed of one couple who chose to act in faith. That is the God who looked at the horribly screwed up mess we humans had made of our world and said, "ENOUGH! I will go myself and show them how to live, and they will hate me for it, and they will kill me for it, yet still I will go because I love them and I cannot leave them to their own devices. I will do it." That is the God who accomplished all of that and then trumped the power of hate and death by having the incredible audacity to rise from the grave and offer God's presence once more to us through the ministrations of Mother Spirit. That is the God who kept the faith alive through the sacrifice of martyrs and saints long past, through the dark ages, through fifteen hundred years of ecclesiastical abuse and wars of protest. That is the God who brought an end to legalized slavery in our own land, who has been the inspiration behind every fight for just treatmentfor all people, and who continues to champion the worth of every soul. That, my brothers and sisters, is the God who says "Enough!" That is the God who is calling us, each and every one, out of the churches who, "just don't get it." That is the God who is calling us as were Abraham and Sarah into an unknown land without beautiful buildings and masses of resources or people. That is the God I serve. That is the God of the Convetual Community of St. Francis, of the Universal Anglican Church, and of her sister Churches.

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My sisters and brothers in Christ, I will not presume to tell you what to do in these trying times, except to pray and to discern God's will for yourselves. What I will do, however, is put to you this question: In whom do you place your faith?

Bishop Jefferts-Schori, you can have the buildings, the resources, the people, and yes, the "Unity of the Communion." You can have those who would rather maintain the status quo than rock the boat in the name of holy justice. But, in the words of Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" and be happy with it.

In Christ's Peace,

The Rev. Br. Eron-Peter Hull, FSJ


A Response to the Vatican

In light of what has transpired in recent days, I felt inspired to write to our Church a reponse... of sorts.
 
It seems funny, doesn't it, that it is the Vatican telling everyone else that they are the "one true church", again? Growing up in the Catholic church, I was told to believe that it was the "one true church" and that all others were inferior to "our" church. At that time it didn't sit well with me and today, it still doesn't.
 
I find it rather amusing that at a time when many are discussing the relevence of apostolic succession, that the Vatican should use it as its arguement as to why they are the "one true church." There are, as you may know, many other denominations that can trace their own apostolic succession just as well as the catholic church. In fact, our own Presiding Bishop has one of only a handful of unbroken apostolic lines going back to Peter himself. Is this taken into consideration by the catholic church, that there are others out there with the same, if not "stronger" lines of succession than they?
 
How are they to say that our Church, the UAC (or any other church for that matter), is not a "true" church because we "lack something and have a wound that harms us" because we do not recognize the primacy of the Pope. At my last recollection, Peter was made a Bishop same as all the other Apostles. He just happened to be named the first among equals. Equals...all Bishops in the Church (in the greater sense) are equal to the Bishop of Rome (i.e. the Pope). Only once the early christians established itself did the Church hierarchy decide to set aside the Bishop of Rome as the Pope. Now, I don't deny that the Pope is a great spiritual leader, but, he is not to be worshipped as God on earth. He is human, just as you and I, and is capable of making mistakes and dare I say it...even capable of sinning. He's able to sit comfortably with all the cardinals and other church bureaucrats around him as advisors and decry what he wants, but when it comes down to it, is he really actually doing the work of Our Lord, Jesus Christ? Peter and all the Apostles not only told and instructed others on how to follow Christ they were also out in the world doing the work.
 
Quite frankly, I feel that a church in the real sense of the word, is one that is out in the world actually doing what Jesus Christ exemplified for us to do. How can we, at a time when the world needs a helping hand, sit back and not actively participate in what is going on? How can we not try to make the world a better place through Christ's example?
 
Finally, I feel saddened that the Roman Church feels that it needs to "flex it's muscles' and decry for this generation that it is the "one true church". We all derive from the first christians and therefore ALL belong to the ONE TRUE CHURCH. Apostolic succession is nothing more than a laying on of hands starting with Jesus giving to the Apostles and so on down the line from each generation to the next. Who needs a piece of paper keeping track of who touched who? (Perhaps keeping such detailed records has kept the church together all this time?) It's not so much about who it came from as it is moving forward. What are YOU, as a clergy member, doing to fulfill the role that God has layed out for you? How do YOU live the Gospels each and every day?
 
I know that it may seem as if I have a bit of hostility written into what I have said, however, it is not hostility, but frustration over the fracturing of the Body of Christ. Why can't we keep it simple and follow Christ as he exemplified for us in his time here on earth? I hope and pray that all he did for us was not done in vain because the Church has decided to take things into their own hands and not our Heavenly Fathers'. All churches are valid only in-as-much as they put into action the work of our Lord. Let us all work together in healing the wounds of Christ's Body and bring together the One True Church as our early church fathers worked so hard to do. Perhaps, I'm an idealist, but if healing is to begin, why not let it begin with US?
 
Humbly Submitted,
Br. John Jadwisiak, FSJ
Written the 11th day of July in the year of our Lord 2007.
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