A delightful Episcopal church

One of the joys of being on vacation is the ability to visit other churches. While staying in Marlinton, WV we discovered a delightful little Episcopal Church - St. John's. If more Episcopal Churches were as friendly, yet serious as St. John's the Episcopal Church would explode with new members!

We were not dressed for church -- we thought we would have left before Sunday (see blog about the Green Briar Trail) --- and yet we were welcomed warmly. We decided to be true Episcopalians and not arrive TOO early - about 10:55 was early enough. Several people were standing around talking when we walked in but everyone stopped their conversation to greet us. (I did not tell them I was a priest and I think they were much more impressed with Shirley's singing anyway!)

Although there were "only" about 10 people present there was no sense of dispair or depression over numbers but real joy over being together and worshiping.

We used Morning Prayer and the leader, an English woman with a delightful voice, did a great job. She put energy and enthusiasm into the service without it becoming at all disrespectful. She read the gospel lesson as it was written, as a story, with some inflection at appropriate places.

After the service we just stood and chatted with a couple members including a man, Dr. Jim (did not catch his last name) who will soon be ordained a deacon and later a priest. He will be serving two congregations. I sooooo wanted to give him some advice but managed to hold my tongue! (Ask Shirley if you doubt my word on that!)

Whimper not a bang

Well, the meeting of Anglican (Episcopal) Bishops from around the world, known as the Lambeth Conference, has ended with more of a whimper than a bang ---- personally, I am very glad!!

One of the things I have noticed is that Jesus spent very little time, even with the most generous count, discussing human sexuality. He never once mentioned homosexuality (which is NOT to say it is unimportant!).

My point is simply that we should put the emphasis on issues Jesus emphasized -- care of the poor, our excessive focus on money and material things, healing the sick, visiting the lonely, etc. etc. When our resources, especially our time and energy, are focused in a way which is greatly out of sync with Jesus' focus --- it is time to reconsider our efforts.So I was glad that the Lambeth Conference did not become a 10 day discussion on homosexuality.

I know that those who believe the church should condemn any and all homosexuals believe the fact that many bishops around the world did not attend is a sign they reject the right to even discuss the issue. And there is probably some truth in that.

However I find myself siding with those who say that the fact that over 2/3rds of the bishops from around the world could gather and have honest, deep, meaningful discussions about a number of issues is very encouraging. Furthermore, I am intrigued by the fact that many of the Bishops who did not attend come from some of the poorest, least healthy, and most violent societies in the world. (Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya) I have to wonder if God wants His church leaders focused on what happens in New Hampshire while so many of God's children are dying in these Bishop's country of responsibility. I wonder if God would not have preferred they attended Lambeth, made their points on homosexuality, but then also joined in the conversations about how to save the lives of people in their home churches?

We need to continue discussing the issues around human sexuality including homosexuality but also questions about divorce, remarriage, and female church leadership. Those are somewhat less visible but just as divisive in some ways as homosexuality.

I have my thoughts and beliefs, beginning with the firm belief that only God is right all the time, I am not God, and therefore I must be wrong some of the time. So I try very hard to "discuss" while remembering that I could be wrong. But I will "argue" on one point --- when someone says there is nothing to discuss because THEY know exactly what God intends -- I will disagree strongly!

I believe we can only learn what God intends by being willing to discuss --- and listen. We can only learn more from people who disagree with us. People who only repeat our own thoughts can teach us nothing.BUT --- a very important "but" if we spend more time on that then we do being "servants to all" as Jesus instructed us to do -- we have missed the point. I firmly believe God will forgive us for being wrong about capital punishment or abortion or whatever as long as we have honestly and sincerely attempted to understand God's mind. But, I also firmly believe God will be less open to people who fail to act in a loving manner to those around them --- including those we disagree with.

For closing thoughts by the Archbishop of Canterbury, our Presiding Bishop, and our own Bishop Curry you can go to www.episdionc.org for links.