Letters: Episcopal Life Monthly March 2009
Episcopal News Service. March 6, 2009 [030609-04]
Episcopal Life welcomes letters, especially those with pictures, and will give preference to those in response to stories. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must include the writer's name, address and phone number for verification. Send to Letters, Episcopal Life, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; or email to letters@episcopal-life.org. All letters will be edited for brevity and clarity.
Remain open
In response to "Conservatives seek new province" (January): It is indeed disheartening to see how a theological fundamentalism has raised its head in the Episcopal Church, seeking to cause inroads of division.
An attempt to bring the church back to its traditional beliefs is like going back in time to straighten the ladders that have become crooked. This is a myth and usually does not work.
These people want a perfect world, a perfect creed, a perfect Bible. The problem is, we do not live in a perfect world.
We might ask: What does perfect mean? Theology, like many sciences, does not remain static. The Holy Spirit is constantly renewing and revealing new truths. We must be open to fresh news from heaven on a daily basis.
Dr. Dolores Eddy Dunnett
Wheaton, Illinois
Better solution needed
I initially was pleased by the articles in February issue regarding the church's legal victories against dissident congregations. I later thought about how my congregation would feel if we had to lose our parish home because of a dispute with the diocese or the Episcopal Church. The diocese may have started our parish, but it is what it is today because of several generations of parishioners.
I feel bad for those who may lose their parish homes. I hope we are all praying for a better solution for this conflict.
Peter Sinclair
Phoenix, Arizona
Offer welcome
I find it odd that Rick Warren, M.Div., has offered the Episcopal dissidents space to worship in the Saddleback Church. Has he beaten the Episcopal Church USA to the punch?
Episcopalians should already have extended the hand of reconciliation in this fashion. Even if the dissidents do not want to worship with us, we should offer them space in our houses of worship because we are loving, forgiving, compassionate Christians. Aren't we?
David R. Moore
New York
Stumbling blocks
The article in the February issue of Episcopal Life Monthly on resolutions being submitted for the 2009 General Convention brought to mind the reading from the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany: 1 Cor 8:1-13. In it, Paul says that if anything he does might be a stumbling block for others, he won't do it.
Our ecumenical lectionary group discussed the implications of this passage at length and came to the conclusion that it wasn't just about "meat offered to idols," but anything that might cause a brother or sister to stumble in faith.
We also concluded there is a point at which one must stand up for what is right, even if the (immature) faith of others could cause them to stumble.
Resolutions of General Convention (e.g., BO33 in 2006) are only resolutions, not canon law. [The Episcopal Church's] current canon law (III.1.2) states, "No person shall be denied access to the discernment process ... in this church because of ... sex, marital status, sexual orientation..." Further, Canon III.1.3 states that ordination [to any order] "shall be equally applicable to men and women."
Resolutions acting out of prejudice or an attempt to discriminate are contrary to TEC's canons and totally inappropriate to its goal of serving all persons in Christ.
Any attempts on the part of TEC to remain engaged in the ongoing debate within the Anglican Communion about human sexuality were nullified by the decision of those who separated themselves out to form their own body within Anglicanism.
The Rev. Alex Howard
Pueblo, Colorado
Consider larger context
In reference to "Slumdog Millionaire highlights moral decisions": To consider Slumdog Millionaire a well-told story in a manner suggesting Charles Dickens without considering the larger context of India's multi-faced world, of the role of greed (which Salim embraces) in developing countries and of the considerable desperation that pervades this country is a bit shallow. It is definitely a well-told story with elements of fairy tale happiness in an improbable set of circumstances. However, the story also can be viewed as the triumph of human spirit even in the face of preposterous odds.
It is definitely a movie deserving of the accolades it is garnering, and it is definitely thought-provoking. However, Jamal's appearance suggests elements of the cult favorite Prayer of Jabez more than does his life suggest a faith journey of any depth or complexity. His knowledge of the answers to the questions posed on the show grows out of his experiences; but this is really an artistic gimmick more than being revelatory of faith in anything or being in particular. The references to Jamal and Salim being Muslims is more about contemporary India politics than it is an exploration of faith.
Willis H.A. Moore
Adjunct faculty in history and political science
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Virtual merits
In response to "Not by Internet alone: Virtual church can't replace real thing:" I certainly agree that some visitors to an online church can continue to feel isolated and alone, just as some people can attend a brick-and-mortar church, maybe even every week, and continue to feel isolated and alone. I know, because I was once that isolated churchgoer.
I since have discovered that to be fully engaged with anything, even a wonderful and all-embracing church family, one has to do some of the engaging. I am now an active member of two such church families, one of which allows me to engage in spiritual development and prayer with members from around the globe. While I prepare for an upcoming physical relocation that will remove me from one of those families and all the support it has given me, I am counting on my online spiritual community for stability amidst the changes.
The title of this opinion piece was, to me, unfortunate; "can't" is perhaps the most negative word in the English language. In this case, it seems to remove the possibility of something happening that a) we do not intend to happen in the first place and b) seems to happen anyway. Online church is not meant to replace face-to-face congregation. As can be read in other responses to this article, it can, indeed, be a remarkably effective alternative.
Anne Arundel Thaddeus
McAllen, Texas
Don't close doors
In response to "Not by Internet alone": Trauma is trauma ... and not glibly dismissible. The Spirit speaks through the unexpected traumatic dislodging of our typically intellectualized and rationalized explanations. For some, the virtual is all they have to cling to for the moment, so let's not be too hasty to dismiss their value because they do not meet our own personal needs at the moment.
There are many levels of seeking, searching and being found. I am in favor of keeping all avenues open to the redeeming, forgiving, compassionate Savior.
Lord, help us not to close avenues some may choose. Take care to wonder at the world through which we wander. Never hurry by an open door, for we live in a universe – virtual or otherwise – full of miracles.
The Rev. Charles F. Bencken
Sioux City, Iowa
Worship 'vitamin'
I thought the article ("Not by internet alone") was thoughtful and reflects many truths about online worship. Online worship is, in fact, a vitamin supplement. Alone, it is certainly not enough, but it provides a lot.
The Daughters of the King has an online prayer site (with more than 500 members) on which we daily offer prayer requests, have thoughtful discussions and have come to know and love each other. The prayers generated from the DOK prayer requests are phenomenal ... true prayer warriors utilizing the Internet. There is no feeling of desolation or loneliness there!
I use Forward Movement online for the daily office and subscribe to Libronix, which, although expensive, is a wonderful theological resource.
Nothing replaces in-person corporate worship, but there is a place for "Internet worship," particularly as a personal study resource. It also provides a wonderful resource for those who physically cannot participate in corporate worship.
Wanda Devereaux
Montgomery, Alabama
Electronic benefits
In response to "Not by Internet alone": I love my parish and all the parishes I've served. Church always has been a primary place where I have found community and connection. Intellectually stimulating homilies always have been something I've enjoyed.
I also have wonderful relationships that I started "in person" but that I maintain electronically. There are people I see once a year or less but who I love dearly and with whom I share deeply and almost daily, thanks to the miracle that is the Internet.
And while I am something of an extrovert, I can't help but wonder about people who are painfully shy or forced by circumstances into isolation. Might not online community be a lifeline for them? And even if it's second best, isn't second best preferable to nothing?
My grandmother (for reasons that were her own) left church for decades. But she stayed connected by mailing in her pledge and watching two televised church services that she enjoyed. In her final years, perhaps because electronic media kept her connected, she returned to parish life and enjoyed it very much.
For her, the issue wasn't either/or but very much both/and. Electronic church sustained her until she wanted to return to "real" church. I'm glad she had both.
Durrell Watkins
Cambridge, Massachusetts
What can we do?
In her prophetic piece "Season of Renewal" in the February issue, Editor [Solange] De Santis concludes with this question: "What can we do that hasn't been done before?"
There is much we can do. The nation learned after the first Wall Street bailouts that conditions must be imposed before big chunks of money are handed over if intended goals are to be achieved. Parish and mission congregations across the church receive "bailouts" from dioceses every year in direct support and forgiven assessments. It is time for a new way of doing things.
Each diocese could appoint a commission composed of knowledgeable people within the jurisdiction, and a few from outside to keep discussion honest, and give this group responsibility for studying all congregations receiving financial help from the diocese. The commission's task would be to bring recommendations to the bishop and diocesan convention concerning which churches should be closed, combined with a neighboring congregation or given either three or fi ve years, depending on local circumstances, to become self-supporting.
No one likes to belong to a "debtor congregation," relying on the diocesan family for support. Nor is this necessary. General Convention has repeatedly said that tithing is "the minimum standard of giving for Episcopalians."
Yet the average pledge is still below 3 percent of annual income. We all can do much better. Needed is dynamic clergy and lay leadership to announce bold, important goals for congregational life and outreach and work hard to achieve them.
To that end, all supported congregations would be required to adopt written plans for stewardship and membership growth and development to be reviewed and updated every six months. Continued diocesan support could be made dependent on this job being done faithfully and well.
"What can we do that hasn't been done before?" We can rise to the challenge of ending "bailouts" for our churches and free up important funds for diocesan and congregational programs to better serve the world in Christ's name.
The Rev. Fred Fenton
Concord, California
Wrong facts
In reference to "California Supreme Court rules disputed property belongs to general church": The article states as fact that the Supreme Court has decided the question of who owns the properties. [That's] truly irresponsible journalism. Any analysis or fact-checking would show Mr. Sohlgren's explanation of the effect of the ruling and procedural status of the case is correct and that all issues as to ownership remain to be tried at the trial court level – the Supreme Court ruling merely allows cases to proceed in the trial court.
However, being inconsistent with the [Episcopal Church] party line, Sohlgren's explanation was treated as opinion, as opposed to the supposed facts at the beginning of the article, past the point where a casual reader would continue to read, since the "true facts" already had been reported in the opening paragraphs.
Just how far is TEC willing to go to win? I can only pray that some who have chosen to "remain Episcopal," many of whom I hold in high regard and deeply love and respect, will have the decency and ability to stop this nonsense, but I'm not holding my breath. They, too, will get squashed and labeled as traitors as soon as they insist TEC begin to act Christian and to abide by its own constitution and canons.
Christopher Seymour
Fresno, California