On the road in Vermont with the Presiding Bishop
Episcopal News Service. November 8, 2007 [110807-01]
Neva Rae Fox , Program officer for public affairs for the Episcopal Church, Anne Clark Brown, Communications officer for the Diocese of Vermont
It was a grand, multi-day festivity in Vermont.
While the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont celebrated its 175th anniversary with a weekend of events, marked by a visit from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, participants never stopped in their awareness of the needs of others, highlighted by a vigil on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The weekend's events were also an opportunity for Vermonters to meet the Presiding Bishop, and for her to converse with them. She greeted and talked with many people in various venues -- gatherings with clergy, conversations with youth and young adults, open discussions, a major forum on the MDGs, a parish visitation, and, topping it off, a celebration of the Eucharist in prison.
Diocesan Convention
The diocesan convention was November 2-3 in Burlington, the state's largest city located on the banks of Lake Champlain. The Diocese of Vermont includes 48 congregations led by the Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely, diocesan bishop since April 2001.
The theme of the convention was "What One Can Do -- Changing the World," and repeatedly, the people of Vermont proved exactly what one could do.
At the center of the weekend's activities were the MDGs -- collections were taken, a major forum was conducted, the banquet featured a test-your-MDG-knowledge activity -- all with the point of showing how a major impact can be made in the lives of people they would probably never meet. A collection topped $34,000 for the MDGs, and another $2,200 for the California fire relief.
Convention proceedings were at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, a 1970s structure, built in place of the former cathedral which burned down. Overlooking Lake Champlain, the cathedral is a more modern style than many cathedrals. The colors, wall hangings, and plaques denoting the Vermont churches were among the many elements making St. Paul's a friendly and inviting home.
And the Vermonters warmly welcomed the Presiding Bishop to their home.
"Of all the places you could be, on your first anniversary, we're most delighted you decided to spend it with us," Ely said to Jefferts Schori in his convention address. "Your presence among us is a poignant reminder of our connection to the wider church."
Drawing applauds and cheers, he told her, "Your leadership is inspiring."
Friday, November 2, 9:30 a.m. with the clergy
More than 70 clergy gathered on the top floor of Cathedral House, a seniors' living building, located next to and started by the cathedral. Priests and deacons, most of them serving in the diocese part-time, perched on sofas, chairs and at tables in the multi-purpose living room area.
Following a presentation and a spiritual exercise, the Presiding Bishop and the clergy engaged in a frank conversation. A myriad of topics were explored, ranging from human sexuality, to the restructuring of the Episcopal Church Center, Resolution B033 passed by the 2006 General Convention, and the Anglican Communion.
Following the two-hour session, the clergy thanked the Presiding Bishop for listening, and for her presence. "I couldn't do this without the prayers that I know go on all over the church all the time," she told them.
Noon lunch with the youth
Relaxing on the floor and in chairs, snacking on chips and subs and soda, the 13 youth and two young adults had a lot of questions for the Presiding Bishop. More than anything, there was laughter, excitement and lots of banter.
Youth are important in the Diocese of Vermont. Two youth seats are maintained on diocesan council, and shortly after lunch, the convention would grant five youth seats and voice. Jefferts Schori noted that youth, young adults and children are a priority of the church, established by General Convention.
The hour kicked off with a direct question to the Presiding Bishop: what do we call you? "My baptismal name is the most honorable thing you could call me," she established.
They gave her a pair of reflective sunglasses, which helped to explain their theme: Look at yourself and see what you can do. In fact, some never took their sunglasses off.
This was followed by a song of praise and dance -- instructions were that "movements are mandatory" -- calling on head-shoulders-knees and God, knees and God (you had to have been there).
Amid the laughter and fun, there was also serious business. She was asked:
- What do you think about what people say about you behind your back? "It's easier to have a face-to-face so you can have conversation," she replied.
- Why are they making such a big deal about gays and gay rights? My definition of an Episcopalian is having a more open view. "Most of this stuff for your generation is not an issue," Jefferts Schori agreed.
- What do you do every day? "It differs day to day."
They talked about youth ministry, music, U2Eucharists, youth in churches, and what they want for the future.
They could have talked for hours, but time was up and it was off to the work of the convention.
3:30 p.m. MDG Forum
More than 500 people filled the Ira Allen Chapel on the campus of the University of Vermont for a forum devoted exclusively to discussing the MDGs.
Titled "What ONE Can Do: A Public Forum on Global Poverty and the MDGs," the assembly was a mix of Episcopalians, convention delegates, clergy, youth, university students and interested area residents.
Atem Deng of the New Sudan Education Initiative (NESEI) opened the forum. NESEI is a partnership between southern Sudanese and a global network working to bring education to southern Sudan.
In her address, Jefferts Schori referred to Matthew 25:34-36 and noted, "The MDGs are a contemporary illustration of the work that Jesus did himself and of the work to which he continues to call his followers: to serve the least of these as we would Jesus himself, and to serve the image of God in the people around us.
"The first of the Goals seeks to cut that rate in half by the year 2015 -- less than eight years from now," she continued. "The other goals move on from hunger to include maternal health care so that healthy children are brought into this world; primary education for all children, both girls and boys; gender equity and the empowerment of women."
She pointed out that the MDGs focus on "the little ones on whom Jesus' own ministry focused -- widows, orphans, those with infirmities and communicable diseases, women in general, those who labored at occupations deemed unclean."
Among the staggering stats she presented at the forum were:
- 50,000 die each day of poverty (mostly women and children)
- 800 million go to bed hungry
- 70% of those in poverty are women
- a child dies every 3 seconds from treatable or preventable disease
- malaria kills 1 million yearly
- 1 billion lack access to safe drinking water
What can a person do? "Pay, pray, listen, and go out and work in community to respond," she charged. "Or as Bishop [Paul] Moore [of New York] used to say at the close of the Sunday morning service, 'get up, get out, and get lost.' Get up, get out there, and lose yourself in God's work of healing this world."
Questions from the audience were entertained, such as: how do we get the MDGs into the current campaign? "That's a wonderful question," she smiled. "We must challenge our government -- your legislators and mine."
7 p.m. Convention Banquet
More than 400 people at the banquet, at the instigation of Ely, joined in one voice and sang Happy Anniversary to Jefferts Schori -- in Anglican chant, of course -- as this weekend marked her first year in office.
She recapped some of her many activities of her inaugural year. Of the 110 dioceses, she visited a remarkable 37. "It's important to be out in the church," she noted. As a result, she reflected, "I have seen the vitality of this church, the engagement in mission."
Recognizing her upcoming visit to Korea as "a profound opportunity for the church to call on government," she said, "I hope it doesn't take 50 years to do that in Iraq."
She talked about the Episcopal Church's involvement in advocacy, pointing to recent work in immigration, the farm bill and the budget. "Advocacy is essential," she said. "That means the willingness to lobby our senators and congressmen to say international development is essential."
She drew applause when she noted, "It is a way of building the reign of God in society."
Saturday, November 3, 8 a.m. Convention Eucharist
"So what is this thing called the Diocese of Vermont," she asked the hundreds in the cathedral for the convention Eucharist. "How would you explain it to people who know nothing about the church? It's more than 48 congregations, it's more than this body gathered. What's the connection with those who first gathered here in 1832? What allows us to still call this by the same name?"
Noting that Saturday was the observance of Richard Hooker, "One of the gifts of which Hooker reminded us is the sense that keeping the question open may be the wisest and most faithful thing to do. That can be a wretchedly uncomfortable way to live, but only if we insist that God speaks in black and white, either/or ways. This spirit is still searching, my friends. That is a characteristic of the society called the Episcopal Church."
The convention Eucharist -- as well as all the convention proceedings -- was presented in American Sign Language for the hearing impaired.
The prayers of the people were MDG-based, and the generosity of the Vermonters was proven as the Global Mission Offering, designed for the MDG Inspiration Fund, collected $34,120. "Not bad from a small diocese," one Vermonter quipped.
1 p.m. Conversation with the Presiding Bishop
"So what do you want to talk about?"
Time was carved out of the busy convention schedule to have a conversation with the Presiding Bishop. There were lots of questions, and a general feel of good will.
- What's it like to go from a life of a scientist to a life as a bishop? "I look at the whole world. It's a gift to explaining the wonders of creation."
- Any idea where you are headed with our Anglican brothers and sisters in the next five years? "I think it's an exciting time to be an Episcopalian and Anglican right now."
- What can we do about the climate? "Sustainability starts at home. Consciousness about everyday decisions impacts our lives -- that's where we start."
- Who do you support in the election? Over the laughter, she said, "As a pastor of the whole body, I continue to discern."
She also had some words of advice. "We shouldn't wait for people to come into our red doors, we need to get out there. We need to leave our comfort zone."
The audience agreed.
Sunday, November 4, St. Paul's, Windsor
On the first anniversary of her installation as presiding bishop, Jefferts Schori visited Paul's, Windsor, which was founded in 1761 and is known as the "birthplace of Vermont."
More than 100 gathered from St. Paul's and other neighboring Episcopal congregations for the service.
Beginning her sermon on the beatitudes, Jefferts Schori looked at the congregation and said, "Love your enemies. Wow! Who can do that?" She said that Jesus' words remind her of Paul's challenging passage about feeding your enemies and giving them something to drink, "for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." And they also bring to mind a prayer that asks that God turn the hearts of those who do not love us, or, if that doesn't work, turn their ankles so they cannot run away from us. "Jesus' words," she said, "are a challenge about those we think are out to get us. Jesus is not telling us to be doormats."
"Lots of us," said the Presiding Bishop, "would rather ignore an insult or injustice rather than confront the one who offers it. This is sometimes appropriate, but in the long run, it does not solve anything."
She concluded: "Jesus asks us to confront bad behavior. This says, 'I love you enough to ask you to confront yourself. Our job is to help heal those burning heads, sore ankles and maybe the sore heads too."
Jefferts Schori spent nearly an hour with members of the congregation at a pot-luck brunch after the service. "This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us at St. Paul's," a parishioner said. "It's great that she wanted to come to a small church."
1 p.m. State Correctional Facility
Jefferts Schori's last stop in Vermont was at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, a medium-security 350-bed facility for men. A team from St. Mark's, Springfield, and other area Episcopal churches has been involved in prison ministry there since it opened four years ago.
Jefferts Schori, with the Rev. Sherry Osborn, rector of St. Mark's, assisting, presided at a worship service attended by 18 residents and two members of the administrative staff. Accompanied on keyboard by a member of the prison ministry team, they sang several familiar hymns. Two residents read the lessons.
Jefferts Schori said the readings invite all to think, at this time of year, about saints. She asked, "Who do you think of when you think of saints?" The answers were varied and touching: "My brothers who I served with overseas"; "St. Francis. His life was a prayer"; "Anyone doing the Lord's work on earth"; "My parents."
Then she asked, "Any grumps on your list?" No one seemed to want to list any grumps.
Referring to the beatitudes, she asked, "Why do you think the gospel gives a long list of those who are having a hard time, of people who know they need more of blessing? How does that work in here?"
The responses, again, were telling: "I was always running from the Lord. Coming to jail has helped me stop running"; "We're not perfect. If we were, we wouldn't be here"; "My time here is coming to a close in a couple of weeks. While I have been here, God has taught me some things I needed to learn about my family and myself. God takes the things that we could avoid if we could and uses them to help us be better people. I would not trade the lessons I have learned here. Of course I'd rather have learned them somewhere else."
She concluded: "This is a room filled with saints. Thanks be to God for every single one."
Jefferts Schori reflected on the prison visit, noting, "It doesn't get any more real than in a place like that."