Psalms and Sighs

So, after writing such a wonderful entry about my Rule of Life, I am endanger of breaking part of that rule that I had set up for the season of Lent: namely, that just as I had done last year, I would put up entries about the Sunday lectionary and comment on them as part of my regular blogging efforts.  Yeah, well, isn't also true that if I know the rules that gives me the leeway to bend them a little?

The psalm on Sunday, Psalm 27, and some of the ones assigned for Morning Prayer this week, have been providing me with much food for thought.  In fact, I feel stuffed and sleepy at times.  What caught my attention on Sunday were the last two verses:

What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!

O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart;
wait patiently for the Lord.

These lines spoke directly to so many recent events in my long and winding and wacky journey with God.  "What if I had not believed..." is a statement that made me think, "Yeah, seriously!  What if I live staring only into the abyss, and therefore missing the good that is all around me?  What if I had not been in the conference center room in Georgia to watch a shift in policy that removed a roadblock for the LGBT faithful to live into the people God may be calling them to be (talk about a moment of seeing goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!).   What if I resisted the command to "Show up!" and remained estranged from the Episcopal Church, in general, and St. John's, in specific?

The next verse comes quickly to answer the answers I have for the above "what ifs"; the answers that I have given that acknowledge that I have seen and tasted the goodness because I followed.  And because I followed, I am beckoned to keep going.  "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure," for me means, "Stay with this path and don't attempt to run into the woods and hide."  Next: "be strong, and he shall comfort your heart."  I think about how terrified I can be to make any move that might take me out of what I consider to be my comfort zone, and what is familiar.  And yet, I have made bold moves before: coming out as a lesbian, or leaving public radio to pursue a career as a massage therapist.  But am I able to do it again?  "Be strong... he shall comfort your heart... wait patiently for the Lord."  That last bit is the nagging reminder that I can get through all of this, but only if I stop thinking, and start listening for God (like doing centering prayer...).

I also heard God speaking to me this week during Morning Prayer.  There were actually two psalms assigned for Tuesday; we typically read only one of them.  On this day, our prayer leader skipped both of them by mistake, so I opened the book and read them to myself.  It was Psalm 62 that got me with it's repeated refrain:

For God alone my soul in silence waits;
truly, my hope is in him. 

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
so that I shall not be shaken.

If this is true of me, and I believe it is, then what needs to happen is for my brain to quit raising a ruckus of questions and doubts and allow my soul (or my heart) the stillness of silence to wait for God.   It's not that questioning isn't a good thing, but in my case it can become an endless loop that doesn't serve any other purpose but to keep me spinning in place.

What would it be to truly, really put my hope in God?

Grace in Fourteen Minutes

Several of us attending Georgia's Diocesan Convention in Tifton this weekend were anxious as the delegates moved swiftly through resolutions on changing the date of their next annual church meeting to November, the budget, the suggested tithe to The Episcopal Church, parochial reports. Luckily, the morning began with the youth of the diocese giving testimony in song, story and video, about their camp experiences to keep the adults in the room grounded in what's important to their future. And I noted how many times the teenagers talked about their time at Honey Creek camp for what is called "Happening," as a period when they could be themselves and not have to pretend to be somebody they are not.

What a perfect prelude to a vote on Title IV Canon 1: Ethical Standards, also known as, "that" canon.

Back in the days when the election and consecration of Gene Robinson to the episcopate meant that all other dioceses went haywire and needed to protect themselves against maybe calling a gay person in New Hampshire to be a bishop, Georgia responded with adopting Title IV Canon 1 which read:

"Marriage between a man and a woman or abstinence from sexual activity are the only forms of acceptable sexual behavior for Deacons, Priests, or Bishops."

The intention of this canon was clear. It was a way to keep out the LGBT faithful and tell God who God was allowed to call to ordained ministry. Any gay person that God might call into "the process" would have to vow celibacy or lie and pretend to be somebody they are not. Not exactly a Happening experience, if you know what I mean.

On Friday, the delegates looked at the proposed change to the canon. There had been one more edit made in the language that was not in their prepared packets. If there's one thing Episcopalians can do, it's argue over the words and the meaning of words, so the addition definitely caught folks attention. The amended proposal read:

"Deacons, Priests, and Bishops in the Diocese of Georgia are called to be wholesome examples to the Church exhibited in the teachings and virtues of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their personal lives, those called to chaste singleness must abstain from sexual intimacy; those not so called must manifest faithfulness, monogamy, life-long commitment, mutual caring, and healthy caring for themselves and their families. Their public lives must show financial honesty, confidentiality as required, respect of interpersonal and professional boundaries, and the avoidance of fraud, deceit, and deliberate misrepresentations."

Here endeth the proposal... Thanks be to God!

Debate swirled around what was the meaning of "monogamy." Some wanted to know why all the categorizations "financial honesty, healthy caring, etc. etc." At dinner, I was with a group of folks from Integrity Georgia. We were all wondering, "Why do they need all of this language anyway? There's a national canon on ethical behavior; why not go with that?"

Clearly, we were not the only ones having this lightbulb moment.

When the convention finally reached the point of discussing this proposed change it was 9:54AM. The rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Savannah, Rev. Sam Buice, made a motion chock full of "Whereas" clauses, all to get to the main idea:

We have a national canon. We have a Commission on Ministry. They aren't idiots. Let them follow the national canon and let's just strike this whole ethical standard and follow the one set by our Church's governing authority.

It was one of those moments where you could feel the whole room shift its collective thinking and realize that there was elegance in simplicity.

I say, "whole room," but there were detractors. Some really felt that they needed to hold onto the standard as it was currently written. There was even a motion made to delay any vote on the matter until the next convention, which would be in November 2014. That was easily defeated by a show of hands.

Back to the "strike-all and insert nothing."

A priest from Augusta went to the microphone, and called the question. Seconded. Bishop Benhase explained again what it meant to vote Yes or No. Rather than a voice vote, it was done by a show of hands. The No's had about a dozen. The Yes's were a veritable sea of phalanges. The motion to strike the whole thing, and accept the national canon was accepted. It was 10:08AM.

In fourteen minutes, the Diocese of Georgia opened its gates to those who have stood waiting on the other side. My body trembled in amazement at witnessing the event. And just as quickly as I absorbed what had just happened, I knew what I would have to do.

My spiritual director had sat between me and a priest named Gavin from Savannah. Rev. Gavin had voted No on the resolution. And I knew this development likely troubled him greatly.

"Excuse me," I said to him, "My name's Susan Gage. I know you voted No on that resolution. I just want to thank you for being here, and for voting your conscience, and" placing my hand lightly and briefly on the left lapel of his jacket, "following your heart."

"Thank you for your graciousness," he said.

"You're from Savannah?"

"Yes, St. John's in Savannah."

"I know you've gone through hell there..."

"Yes, it has been very painful."

"I'm from St. John's in Tallahassee, Florida. We've experienced that, too. So I know what you are talking about."

"Thank you."

"God's peace be with you," I concluded.

"And also with you. Thank you."

And again, grace occurring, and this time in one minute or less between two strangers who were clearly on opposite sides of the issue. My prayer is that Gavin, and the other Gavins in the Diocese of Georgia, not walk away, but continue to stay with the diocese. They, like me, are members, together, in this greater thing called The Body of Christ. And it takes all parts of the body functioning in order to propel it forward in motion.

The fact that Gavin allowed me to talk to him, I hope, is a good sign and evidence that God is working God's purpose out as year succeeds to year at least in the Diocese of Georgia.

What's A Nice Girl Like You Doing at a Diocesan Convention Like This?

My spiritual director is possibly as persistent as the Holy Spirit.

I have been working with her for a year now, and so she has observed my journey, both the ups and downs as I am living them and experiencing them in my context of a diocese that has refused to step up on the issues of LGBT inclusion. And if you are reading this blog, you know that LGBT inclusion in the Body of Christ is one of the driving forces in my life and ministry.

And so, since my SD is canonically resident in the Diocese of Georgia, she put it before me that I could come to their Diocesan convention in Tifton, and see how things are done north of the border. This was an offer, and I could have refused. But if I had, I have a feeling I would have been, how shall we say... wrong.

So, I'm here. In Tifton. With Georgia Episcopalians. And it's a hoot and a challenge!

I attended a workshop on Social Media and the Church Thursday, and got a few pointers on how to use the tools such as Facebook and Twitter (and YouTube and Instagram and Four Square...) to reach a varied population. It confirmed many things I already knew, and it taught me a few things I didn't know. That's what workshops are for, right?

Thursday night, I went to Evening Prayer at St. Anne's in Tifton. It was a beautifully simple service with a great sermon that set the tone on mission and, to borrow the wisdom of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, taught the congregation how to see beyond oneself, so that we can be "a community, not a crowd." Mission is the theme for this conference. Living out one's Christianity beyond the walls of the church and what that looks like is the thread throughout the presentations. And it's being done with seriousness and wonkiness, with plenty of silliness and fun videos to keep you from falling asleep.

There is good news and bad news at the Georgia Convention. The bad news is what many churches across the country already know: people aren't coming to church or pledging the way they did back in the days of President Eisenhower and the novelty of owning a television set. The world has changed... a lot! Even in Georgia. But the good news is that the diocesan bishop and staff believe that the people in Georgia are ready for change. And that includes changing the diocesan canon that prohibits LGBT people from being allowed to pursue a call to ordained ministry.

Bishop Scott Benhase, who has taken it on the chin from some of the progressives in the church for his less-than-outstanding adaptation of the approved same-sex blessing rite, has spent time vetting the idea to change the ethical standards for those entering the discernment process so that an LGBT candidate COULD be considered for ordained ministry. There was a listening tour. There were meetings. And ultimately, there is now a resolution up for a vote at this convention.

Predictably, there were those... many from Savannah... who are not happy about this proposed change and what it could (and does) mean. Savannah, you might recall, has had its share of ugly with the hijacking of Christ Church Cathedral, and schism and squatters and lawsuits. Their pain is very similar to the trauma that places like my beloved St. John's experienced with "the split." There were also many people, straight couples, who voiced their support for the change.

But if one listens to the Bishop, he is challenging them to open their hearts a little wider. In his opening address, he noted that there are still places in the diocese where petty bickering still exists.

"This sucks the life out of mission," he noted. "Let's get over this stuff and move ahead."

The bishop took this plea up a notch in his sermon at the Eucharist last night. He issued what he called his own "altar call" to the assembled congregation. But this wasn't like your Baptist idea of come to the front of the church, and renounce all your wicked ways, and accept Jesus as your personal, carry-around-in-your-pocket, Lord and Savior. This was an Episcopal altar call. And so when we were to come to the rail, we were to think on what are the "things" we are clinging to that are weighing us down. And then we are to put those down at the rail, and leave them there.
Bishop Benhase went further at the time of the offertory. He called on us to reconcile ourselves to anyone whom we are having a dispute, and then, and only then, come to receive the body and blood of Christ.

For the LGBT faithful in the room, his message could not have been any more clear if you consider the resolution from their perspective.

For this LGBT person of faith, his message could not have been any more difficult to absorb.

For me, the Bishop's challenge was intensely personal when I consider my own path. Because what I have to consider is whether I will be willing to give up Florida, give up the idea that I can ever be called to ordained ministry in Florida. I have been hearing the words of Isaiah in my ears for several weeks now: "The Spirit of The Lord is upon me." I think She is. And I think the Spirit is poking at me harder and harder.

At St. Anne's, there is an icon of Jesus in the sanctuary. That icon was in my line of sight at Evening Prayer, staring at me over the Baptismal font. There is also Jesus on the crucifix behind the altar. But their Christ is not a Corpus Christi. He is a living Christ, arms open to the world. And that Christ was in my line of vision when I went to receive the Eucharist. And due to the crowd, I was left there at the rail for a long time to consider, as I consumed the Body of Christ, the question: will I lay down Florida to follow Christ?

People have asked me what I'm doing here. I'm being disturbed.

Caught in the Storm

For those of you following the news of Tropical Storm Debby, we're doing OK here in our pocket of Tallahassee. The rain has been falling non-stop all day, at times heavy downpours and blowing wind. This is the South's version of a Nor'easter.
It sets an interesting backdrop for the things on my mind. Yesterday's gospel lesson was the story from Mark about the raging sea, and the frightened disciples, and the sleeping Jesus who wakes up to their cries of "Help!" and calms the storm. It seems that this metaphor was appropriate as the rain blew against the stained glass windows, and as we made our way from the safety of our sanctuary to the parish hall for an update on General Convention 2012 by our rector.
There are lots of issues that will be facing the bishops and deputies of the Episcopal Church next week in Indianapolis. From the description of the budget situation, it seems there is an intent to cut many program areas at the church headquarters (environmental justice, diversity, Christian formation). From what I understand, the idea is to shift these responsibilities down to the diocesan and even the parish level. What's not clear is what kind of funding will accompany that shift. And years of covering state politics showed me, when the state decided it wasn't going to be in the business of "xx" and it would be up to the counties or cities to provide "xx", it would be up to the County and City Commissioners to figure out how they were going to pay for "xx" to continue in their communities. My guess is that is going to be the upshot of this budget cutting and shifting down to the local level. It's going to be painful. And apparently has already had its own internal pain in the process of creating a budget for the Episcopal Church as reported by Katie Sherrod, who is a member of the Executive Council, the group normally charged with carrying out the duty of drafting a budget.
There is the matter of the Anglican Covenant. Thankfully, from the description I heard the rector giving, it would seem that our deputation going to Indianapolis is inclined to vote against the document. He gave the impression that there was a resolution that would be offered which would say, "We want to continue in dialogue, but we don't support the Anglican Communion Covenant." That would sound like D007, which is what me and my fellow bloggers in the No Anglican Covenant Coalition are supporting. But I know that is not the only idea out there, and my rector couldn't tell me which resolution he was referencing. To be clear, the only option that I find acceptable is the one that politely, but firmly, says, "No, thank you; non, merci; no gracias; nein, danke (have I covered all the languages of the Episcopal Church?)" This flawed proposal, the outgrowth of the Windsor Report which was the outgrowth of fear of gay people becoming bishops, just needs to die and go away. Period.
Speaking of fear, we get to one of the biggest hot button issues: blessing same-sex unions. There was much made of the term "union" vs. "marriage" at our forum. Mainly, it seemed there was a desire to make it clear that the rites to be considered by GC2012 would allow the blessing of "unions" not "marriages." I found this a bizarre distinction given that there are states and the District of Columbia where the civil government has said it is OK for us LGBT people to get married. But whatever! Our bishop, John Howard, has again written a letter to all of us on the topic of General Convention, with extra special attention given to this particular resolution. And, again, the bishop has gone on record opposing the idea of allowing LGBT people of faith to have our partnerships recognized by the diocese of Florida. Nevermind that if we cared to get the blessing of an Episcopal priest, all we'd have to do is travel to Miami where Bishop Frade has already given the green light to bless marriages that couples have entered into in those six states and DC where it is allowed. Suddenly, it just seemed so fitting that the sky was pouring down rain on our roof as this topic was being discussed. Unless you have lived in society's margins, you have no idea how painful it is to have an institution founded on the basis of Christ's love telling you, "We want your time, talent and treasure, but we don't really want you." The church ought to be the great equalizer where no one is greater or lesser than another. Ah, but then, they don't call it an "institution" for nothin'.
I have had enough meetings with our rector to know that he doesn't share +John's opinions about same-sex unions, marriages, blessings, etc. And rather than attempt to defend or explain the bishop's attitude (beyond saying +John is a "traditionalist"), Fr. Dave offered to people that they could take hard copies of his letter and read it for themselves. And the copies quickly went around the room.
I did not take one. I didn't need it. I had already read, marked, learned and inwardly rejected his reasoning on Friday when the letter showed up on the diocesan website. If there was any silver-lining in what I saw in his words, words, words on this issue: at least he owned the opinion as his own. In 2009, the bishop sent a letter back to all of us during the convention to denounce the adoption of D025 which lifted the moratorium on electing and consecrating LGBT people to the episcopate. It was an incredibly hurtful letter which framed the argument in the "fears" of Florida's deputation and grounding the argument against gays in what "We Florida Episcopalians" know about "Christian marriage" and so on.
In a change of approach, this letter makes it clear that the opinion expressed is that of Bishop John Howard and not necessarily our deputies. My hope is that when the voting occurs in Indianapolis, our deputies will find it in their hearts to consider the faces of the LGBT people they have encountered (and you know that they have), and that they will choose to see us as the face of Christ worthy of the compassion of our Savior as expressed in Matthew 25.
And, once again, our bishop will stand firm in the quick sand of "No" as the rest of the church says "Yes." Perhaps then, Bishop Howard will realize that the storm that is sending waves crashing over the bow of his boat is not one that will drown him, or me, or any of us. Because this, too, will pass.
Perhaps by then, Tropical Storm Debby will stop raining down buckets of water on our heads and we'll see the sun again. And maybe even a rainbow.

There Are NO Outcasts

Diane Bruce and Mary Glasspool share a moment of mutual support. From the LA Times.

The Diocese of Los Angeles made history with the consecration of its first two female bishops, one of whom is a partnered lesbian.

And, as predictable as the Tallahassee summer being unbearably hot and humid, the heat and humidity of stupidity is rising elsewhere in the Anglican Communion. There are forecasts of frogs and plagues coming from those who describe themselves as "Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Charismatic, Mainstream" (aka Anglican Mainstream) who see this as the death knell for the Anglican Communion. And I say, "Blah, blah, blah."

Reports from the service in Long Beach are that some 3,000 people were in attendance to witness this new life in the Church. Two people had to be removed from the arena, a man and a young boy, both of whom decided to use the moment to spout off the 1 Corinthians 6:9 passage about "homosexuals shall not inherit the kingdom of Heaven." My bible doesn't actually say that, but apparently some have decided to translate Paul's Greek to reveal that he acquired a term that didn't appear until centuries later. When the official moment in the service came for people to raise an objection, the arena was silent. And LA Diocesan Bishop Jon Bruno could continue.

"Today, as we pray over these two magnificent women, bring into your hearts those things that you bear against any other human being and cast them away... For we cannot be separated from each other if God is for us and with us. . . . There are no outcasts."

It was former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning who originally used that phrase "there are no outcasts." And the Episcopal Church has been battling, struggling, crying, and praying its way to actually live into those words for the past several decades. Saturday's ceremony was another growth spurt as the whole Church moves more and more in the direction of seeing Christ in each other, whatever "other" that happens to be.

Bishop Suffragan Mary D. Glasspool, the lightening rod in all of this, didn't speak to the media on Saturday, but did take part in a news conference the day before. She notes that the inclusion of women and gays in the hierarchy of the church is a sign that the Episcopal Church isn't about lip service.

"We are being the church we say we are," Glasspool said. "We're not just saying it, we're doing it and there's something very powerful about that."

Amen, my sister in Christ! And congratulations to you and +Diane Bruce!

MY Question About "The" Consecrations...

Integrity USA sent out a call for its membership to feed them one question, any question, we'd like to see asked and answered at a news conference before the scheduled consecrations of Rev. Canon Diane Bruce and Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool as the first female Bishops in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Bishop Jon Bruno will be on hand at the news conference.
Donning my reporter cap, I posed the following thought-provoking and urgent question:

What took you so long?!


Congratulations to Rev. Canon Diane Bruce and Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, and to the Diocese of LA. I will raise a glass in your honor on Saturday.

Archbishop Shoots Self in Foot on YouTube

Below is the video of a taped message from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, for those gathered in Singapore for a meeting of the Global South Anglicans. If you pay attention to roughly the first seven minutes of the video, he states all those those things that should bind us all together, quoting from Paul's letter to the Romans with talk of being adopted as children of God. All of this is in the context of talking about covenants, and the covenant that God has made with us. It's also the set-up for why the Archbishop believes that the covenant God has made with God's people isn't enough... and we need an Anglican Covenant crafted by "seventy people" to bind us as a communion.
And then the Archbishop loads up a rifle at roughly the eighth minute of the video, and aims it directly at his foot. See, I am willling to accept the first seven minutes of what he has to say because I buy into the belief of being a child of God. But ++Rowan continues to see me and other "mes" as embodied now in Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool as somehow not really part of that adopted group of children. (Please note: the Archbishop refused to even acknowledge that she is "Reverend Canon"!) We are the cause of pain, and suffering for the Global South... and Lambeth Palace. Our presence and our desire to claim the blessing that Jesus Christ so generously offers to all people is something that requires a new covenant to deal with us.
And what exactly does he mean at the end by "a new Pentecost"? Is that one where the Holy Spirit settles on only those who sign the covenant of Anglican exclusion?
Think what you will about the Archbishop's comments. I wish he had stopped at the seven minute mark.

As the World Turns...

I have been relatively quiet on all the shenanigans going on in the news with regard to the latest round of scandal involving the Roman Catholic Church. I decided I would rather spend my Holy Week on the blog focusing on things eternal, rather than temporal.

But all bets are off now, especially after the Archbishop of Canterbury has weighed in on the scandal in Ireland, which is the scandal in Germany, which is the scandal in the United States, which is the scandal in.... (OK, you see what I'm saying). It is far too easy for me to launch into my own criticism of the Roman Catholic Church, good little Episcopalian that I am. I think the New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd put it best when she quipped that the Roman church had given up credibility for Lent.

Honestly, the closing ranks to defend the Pope from those meanies in the media who wouldn't stop asking questions about the hide-n-seek method of dealing with priestly pedophiles reached the height of absurdity on Good Friday when the Pope's priest at the Vatican actually compared the reporting on the scandals to the persecution of Jews. Wow! Jews have been killed and tortured for who they are, for their religious beliefs. Is pedophilia an immutable trait and a religious doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church?

(See, I said it was too easy!)

But let's get back to ++Rowan. He criticized the situation in Ireland on the BBC. He bemoans the "loss of credibility" of the church there, and he is pretty sure now that all those conservatives who've been so hopping mad in England aren't likely to defect from Anglicanism to align themselves with the RCs now. I agree with Archbishop in his analysis that what this scandal in the Roman Church does is taint just about everyone who is Christian just because Roman Catholicism is so pervasive as the "face of Christianity" throughout the world. Still, I scoff at the Archbishop making any noise about anyone else when he must look at himself in the mirror knowing how he has lost credibilty amongst many of us on this side of the pond. He will sputter and stammer on about +Gene Robinson and soon-to-be +Mary Glasspool... but give only very lukewarm commentary on Uganda. He has offered an apology to the LGBT faithful for any appearances of not respecting our human dignity. But continues to offend with suggesting that we are not worthy of the office of bishop. Sadly, the ABC keeps falling short. He is, in my mind, a little like the apostle Peter before Pentecost: opening his mouth, and just when you think he's 'got it', he says something that makes you shake your head and say, "Oh, Peter, Peter, Peter!"

It will be interesting to see what happens when the Pope arrives at Lambeth Palace. Wonder if we'll see a different photo emerge than the one in this entry?

Herod and Pilate

This morning, I was the narrator at our 9am service for the reading of the Passion gospel from Luke. And, I admit, when I got to the line, "That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies," I had this picture of the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury in my head. I blame Mad Priest, or some of the clever people who correspond with the Mad Priest, for this. It was, by far, the best caption offered for the picture.

Think about it: Herod and Pilate joining in friendship in a common effort to route out the "one" who has been making things a little more difficult for those in the status quo in Jerusalem. Perhaps they shared stories of which insult hurled at Jesus was the most clever, the most cutting.

I don't know what these two men were saying at the moment of this photo. But the warmth of the embrace gave me pause. The leader of the Anglican Communion cupping the hand of the Pope? Ugh! Sure we've tried to reconcile differences that have been there since the 16th century with the Reformation in England. But when the smoke clears, I'm still thankful that I, as an Episcopalian, owe no allegiance to the Pope. And with the rot that is getting exposed with another round of priestly scandal, a rot that goes straight to the Pontiff himself, I'll add a "Hallelujah! I'm an Episcopalian!".

But that ++Rowan would give a warm embrace of the pope as seen in this picture makes me sigh. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised: ++Rowan would rather spout off against the legitimate election of a lesbian to the episcopate in Los Angeles than to face the seriously troubling issues of potential genocide of lesbians and gay men in Uganda. Every week, we pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury. And I do pray for him. Because I believe it is important for me to pray for those who I do NOT agree with... even more so than those with whom I do agree. What is gained by only offering prayers for those who I don't think are in need of a doctor? It's the ones I find difficult that I must ask God to play mediator and advocate as I continue along in my journey.

"That same day, Herod and Pilate became friends with each other..." Indeed!

A Fitting End of the Year Statement

From today's Daily Office, there was one line that seemed to jump off the page from the Third Letter of John:

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.--3 John: 11

This exhortation seems the most fitting statement for where I am in my thinking at the close of 2009. This has year has sped by, and in the process, there have been some ups and downs and big bumps in the road. In reflecting on all-things-queer, I remember how deeply stung I felt about the results of the November 2008 election, especially how supposed friends in the straight community could not understand the depth and breadth of pain Florida LGBT people were feeling. My "otherness" had been made very clear... and I entered the year with bitter anger, resentment and feeling numb on some level. What a set up for Lent when I realized that the "thing" I needed to work on was my hardness of heart. And, just as it always seems to happen with me, I served as a Eucharistic Minister the Thursday after Ash Wednesday... and there in the Prayers of the People at the top of page 391:

For this congregation... that we may be delivered from
hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in all that we
do, we pray to you, O Lord.

I can say with certainty that I did not do well with this Lenten discipline because I could not shake that feeling that my "otherness" was being used against me and my fellow "others".

But if there is one thing I think I'm learning about God it's that God doesn't restrict God's work to a season, and won't be held hostage by our human attempts to keep God locked into "seasons". And so this summer, this glorious summer, I was encouraged in Tim Miller's performance workshop to explore my felt "otherness" of queer Christian by pulling the narration of my story out of my body through physical movement, as opposed to simply writing like a mad woman at a computer. The short monologue I developed feels like the seedling for a much bigger piece... if I will make the time to let the sun shine on it and help it to grow.

God also ended the winter season of discontent by blowing life into the actions of our General Convention in Anaheim. Because of the passage of D025 and C056, LGBT Episcopalians could rejoice and be glad in the thought that our "otherness" would not ban our queer priests from becoming bishops, and in those places with marriage equality, Episcopal bishops were now free to develop and work with clergy on rites that could celebrate a same-sex marriage. Hallelujah!

Sadly, winter hangs on in the South in ways that it doesn't normally in nature. And yet, even with bishops in our region stamping their feet and declaring that "nothing has changed", I am deeply aware that things are changing, and no amount of human intervention is going to stop it from changing. Because the good shepherd is aware that one of the sheep was allowed... even encouraged... to wander away from the flock, and the shepherd is not going to stop searching for that sheep, and will brave the wolves and the lions to keep calling out to the lost and lonely one that was told by the liars to go away. And with the election of more and more bishops in this country who recognize that Christ died for ALL people, the icicles are starting to drip.

Of course, there is still Uganda. Burundi. Rwanda. Malawi. Nigeria. The Anglican Covenant. Maine. New York. New Jersey. California. Yes, all of these are painful. All of them have felt like set backs. But there was also Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Argentina, Mexico City, Washington, DC and State. In those moments when I pause and look at the creche set up on our mantle piece, or the Advent and Christmas candles beside it, I am reminded that nothing about God is necessarily easy. That wasn't the promise. The promise was that God has come, and will be with us always no matter what the circumstances. The light will pierce the darkness, and it prevails with each of us carrying that light inside us out into the world.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good.

Happy New Year!

I Said, and then They Said...

The following is the exchange that I had with Lambeth Palace over the proposed Anti-Homosexuality bill in Uganda.


Archbishop Rowan Williams,

I do not doubt that you are a man of God. However, your decision to publicly condemn the election of Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool for a Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles while not swiftly condemning the Anglican Church leaders in Uganda for supporting the Anti-Homosexuality legislation raises questions for me.
God is calling LGBT people to come to the table for fellowship and communion; not for imprisonment and death.
Please, if you really want to save this Anglican Communion, consider the damage of your spoken and UNspoken words.
Peace be with you,
Susan

To this, the Press Secretary to the Archbishop sent me the following:

Dear Susan,

Thank you for your message and for taking the trouble to write about this deeply painful issue.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is very clear that the Private Member’s Bill being discussed in Uganda as drafted is entirely unacceptable from a pastoral, moral and legal point of view. It is a cause of deep concern, fear and, to many, outrage. The Archbishop has publicly stated that “the proposed legislation is of shocking severity and I can’t see how it can be supported by any Anglican who is committed to what the Communion has said in recent decades”.

For its part the Church of Uganda has clearly restated its opposition to the death penalty. As the Ugandan Church continues to formulate its position on the bill as a whole, the Archbishop has been working intensively behind the scenes (over the past weeks) to ensure that there is clarity on how the proposed bill is contrary to Anglican teaching.

Marie Papworth

Three important notes: one is that I wrote of my concerns about the ABC's conduct before his interview last week with the Telegraph in which he made the public statement. As far as I know, that's the only statement he's made on the topic.

Point two: While it is true that the Ugandan Church has publicly stated that it is "considering" the legislation, there have been reports of Ugandan clerics... including Anglicans... publicly stating that they are in favor of "the private member's bill". They may not be speaking on behalf of the Anglican church; however they are members of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. Why are they not being "called out" for subverting the so-called "Listening Process"?

Final point: While Ms. Papworth was kind enough to address the issue of what had, at the time of my initial email, been the UNspoken words from the Archbishop, she refused to acknowledge that ++Rowan had said things in re: the election of Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool which were out-of-line. I think I was clear enough that my concern was for what was SPOKEN as well as UNSPOKEN. Obviously, Ms. Papworth felt no need to comment further on THAT argument.

I have remarked elsewhere that it would be one thing to be angry with the Archbishop for not taking a stronger stand earlier about this horrid legislation in Uganda. But what was the tipping point for me, and I think many others, was that the ABC had been so publicly silent on Uganda while being so publicly the bully about the election in Los Angeles. And within a half-day of the vote!! Where are your priorities, man? That Lambeth still can not see the hypocrisy is really mind-boggling.

Today's morning office had one of the best sections of Psalm 119:

I implore your favour with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
When I think of your ways,
I turn my feet to your decrees;
I hurry and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous ordinances.
I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes.
Psalm 119: 58-64

As always, I must remember to keep my eyes focused, my ears alert, and my heart open to the light, the truth and the love.

In Her Own Words

Introducing the Reverend Canon Mary D. Glasspool, Bishop Suffragan-elect in the Diocese of Los Angeles and the latest "threat" to the Anglican Communion.

Once you have watched this video, please take a moment to pray for those who struggle against the tide of God's inclusive love.

 

The Challenge of Canterbury

Once more, I find myself dumbfounded by what the Archbishop of Canterbury does and does not do. He does NOT feel the need to speak out in opposition to the horrendous Anti-Homosexuality legislation in Uganda, legislation which undermines all Christian values of respecting the dignity of every human being and basically thumbs its nose at the very meager offering made by the Archbishop that we Anglicans should "listen" to the experiences of homosexuals.

But, the election of a partnered lesbian as a Bishop Suffragan in Los Angeles? My goodness, the ink probably wasn't yet dried on the pages of the LA Times before the fuzzy-faced man in Lambeth Palace was firing off his "concerns" about the actions in California!!

In a short set of remarks, Archbishop Rowan Williams says her election raises very serious questions for the Episcopal Church, and its place in the Anglican Communion, as well as the Communion as a whole. And his statement is clearly a clarion call to all his Purple-Shirted Posse in the United States to try to block Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool's consecration:

"The process of selection however is only part complete. The election has to be confirmed, or could be rejected, by diocesan bishops and diocesan standing committees. That decision will have very important implications."

How much meddling the ABC does in our Church and our decisions will also have very important implications as well! But I digress: the ABC concludes:

"The bishops of the Communion have acknowledged that a period of gracious restraint in respect of actions which are contrary to the mind of the Communion is necessary if our bonds of mutual affection are to hold."

Again, what amazes me is that a decision that came after SEVEN ballots ending in the election of a woman noted first and foremost for her social justice commitment and pastoral care abilities is far more threatening to the figurehead of the Anglican Communion than a piece of legislation being egged on by Ugandan Church leaders that proposes death and imprisonment for LGBT people. Which part of the Gospel is ++Rowan reading? Which God is he following? Does his Bible not contain the message that God arrived in the world to reconcile us and redeem us and to bring as many of us into eternal life as would be willing to receive the Word?

Has he grown deaf to the voice in the wilderness that notes that every valley will be lifted up and mountain will be made low?

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, ++Rowan. Repent and return to the God who is calling back those lost sheep who have hungered and been thirsting for the inclusive love promised through Jesus Christ.

And we are coming to the banquet whether the Anglican Communion is "mutually affectionate" or not!!

You Go, Los Angeles!

Congratulations to the Bishop-elect Reverend Canon Mary D. Glasspool, who prevailed in the vote as the second Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles. It took seven ballots (a Biblical perfect number, eh?) to arrive at the election of the second partnered and out gay person to be elevated to the episcopate. Glasspool, in accepting the news of her election, issued a statement that started with acknowledging that there were others in the "other" category also being considered for the post:

"Gracias con todo mi corazon. I am not unaware of the many complicated dynamics that have been part of the election--and I want to acknowledge them. Any group of people who have been oppressed because of any one, isolated aspect yearns for justice and equal rights. My own heart has been stressed deeply today. To Martir (Vasquez of Hawthorne, CA), I honor you and pledge you my ongoing love and support. To my Latino and Hispanic brothers and sisters, I say we're all in this together. We are all working to bring forward the reign of God on earth. So thank you with all my heart."

Glasspool has been the Canon to the Ordinary in Maryland, and has served in rich and poor parishes throughout her career in the priesthood. Her election makes her the first openly-gay person to be selected for the episcopate since New Hampshire elected Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. The Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion, have been fumbling and bumbling their way toward acceptance of the simple fact that God will ALWAYS call whomever God wants to the ministry in the Church... and that means LGBT people, too. Some refuse to believe this... and thus, we've endured years and years of struggle with issues of human sexuality. The Diocese of Los Angeles, considered by some to be the most liberal, doesn't seem to be wrestling as much as others. And so it is no surprise to see them arrive at this decision.

The Los Angeles Times is already framing this vote as the first TEST since our General Convention this summer of the newly-adopted D025, the resolution which has allowed dioceses to once more consider LGBT candidates for the episcopate (there had been a moratorium since 2006). In fact, Minnesota did have an openly-gay candidate in the pool. So while LA is the first to act, others have been willing to at least consider gay candidates. Still, the media frenzy that is likely to begin will center solely on her sexual orientation. May God grant her grace and patience as she fields their questions, some designed to provoke her into a fight.

She still must gain the consent of Standing Committees and Bishops. One hopes they will not stand in the way of this election. Seven ballots, again that perfect number, tell you how carefully the lay and clergy electors were considering all kinds of factors in picking this woman. She seems to bring skills of pastoral care and a heart for social justice that will make her a valuable contributor to the loyal order of Purple Shirts.

Let her in, let her in, let her in.

Rev. Bill Carroll's Comments

The Rev. Bill Carroll hit the nail on the head with this comment in re: "pastoral generousity" and C056:

If anyone has been generous these thirty years and more, it has been the LGBT faithful, who have endured from the Church they love a spectrum of pastoral care ranging from spiritual violence and rejection, on the one hand, to ambivalent and fickle tolerance, on the other, with an occasional outbreak of Kingdom hope here and there to sustain them on their wilderness journey.

Gee, ya think?! We have been patient, and kind... even when we've been feeling bruised and battered. Rev. Carroll in his posting on The Lead seems to take the Church to task for this language in C056 about giving generous pastoral care to LGBT faithful couples who seek marriage. Please note that Rev. Carroll currently resides in Akron, OH, and I have no idea if the man has ever lived and worshipped in the southeastern United States. The Church here is not the same as the Church that I grew up in in New Hampshire. And I'm not just talking about the difference between low and super Protestant vs. high and Anglo-Catholic! I read the "generous pastoral care" language as a prompting to those bishops who may be willing to provide shepherding to these "other" sheep if they can do it from the next room, so as to not "get any of it" on them. Again, the real test will be if everyone... laity up to fellow bishops... will have the patience, but determination, to encourage these bishops to a new understanding of the LGBT faithful in the pews, some of whom may emerge to push their D025 buttons by saying they believe they are being called to the ordained ministry. It is the Christian response of those who have been made strong in these resolutions to continually reach out to those who perceive themselves to be weak.

Ah, but then I'm generous! You can read the full article on The Episcopal Cafe by clicking HERE.

Rolling Right Along

Word is circulating about in the blogosphere that The Diocese of Minnesota has a slate of three candidates its considering to replace a the retiring bishop. And--eek--two of the three candidates are women. And--gasp--one is a partnered lesbian. You can read their information here.

Had we still been in the "season" of B033, the lesbian would have been told, "Sorry, dear. This is a straights-only club." And, again, there is no guarantee that this woman will get the call. But at least she gets to be in the pool and doing interview laps with the other two candidates. And that is a very good thing.

Also good is an item that came to my attention on the whole transgender-rights issue at General Convention. The resolution... D090... asks for church application forms and other documents of the sorts to be updated and made inclusive of those who do not want to be forced into choosing "male" or "female". It also would give the applicant a chance to list which name they would like to be called, and which pronoun they prefer.

Can you believe it? This is the same Episcopal Church that has been in turmoil about recognizing the gifts of the gay and lesbian congregants and priests, and they are already running ahead of society by redesigning application forms to recognize differences in gender identity. That's revolutionary! The Church is actually a trailblazer in this category taking a step that most public and private employers haven't done yet.

Have I said it already that I am pleased and happy with my national Church?