Monthly Archives: September 2011

I was moving along at my usual clip on my regular morning running trail when  I was startled by the loud noise.  I instinctively looked around for the distraction to my usually prayerful pace. Through a small gathering of  trees the provocateur of the ruckus quickly became clear. It was  a large earthmover beginning to clear an area for what I assumed would be a new home.

As the days ensued and structural forms began to be assembled, my assumption was correct. As a person who appreciates architecture and construction, I actually was pleased to be able to witness the daily progress. It reminded me of the importance of building a solid foundation and a strong structure.

It also reminded me of a two panel cartoon drawn by our own Missioner, Tim Hodapp, who shared his creation at the most recent meeting of elected bodies. The first panel showed a drawing of a church building with the church canons and constitution crushing the roof. The second panel again showed a church building, but this time the church canons and constitution were underneath the building serving as part of the foundation.

On Sunday and Monday of this week, I spent a number of hours meeting with chancellors, laity, bishops and priests working on our canons and constitution. Given a choice, this would not be how I would  spend my time. Likewise, I would not have intentionally chosen to spend  countless hours this summer working on the combined budget for the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.

However, whether it be canons or budgets, they are a part of the foundation of our  ”church house”. They are not the house, nor that which makes it a home, but rather they provide part of the structure.  Another way to illustrate this: the canons and budgets are tools to assist us to live the way we believe God is calling us to live. Canons and budgets on their own are not engaging God’s mission, but they provide the structure or tools to assist us in doing so.

As such,  I am supportive and grateful for those who use their gifts for ministry to do the structural, foundational work of canons and budgets so that the church can most effectively engage God’s mission.

Episcopal Church House of Bishops Fall 2011 meeting:
Daily Account for Tuesday, September 20
(Provided by the Episcopal Church, Office of Public Affairs) 

The following Daily Account, issued by the Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs, offers an overview of the second day of conversations and activities of the House of Bishops, which is meeting Sept. 15-20 in Quito, Ecuador. The following is an account of the activities for Tuesday, September 20.

The September 20 session began with Morning Prayer.  Bishop Carol Gallagher of Diocese of North Dakota read the Gospel in Cherokee.

Emcee for the day was Bishop Sean Rowe, Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

In the morning session, Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church, gave a presentation about structure of the Episcopal Church, “Becoming A Domestic And Foreign Missionary Society: An Adaptive Moment.” The presentation sparked much conversation among the HOB.

In the afternoon:

• Bishop Jim Curry of Connecticut reported on the activities of Bishops Working for a Just World.
• Archbishop Albert Chama, Primate of Central Africa, offered his reflections and thanks to the HOB.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori chaired the business session, during which:

• HOB had a moment of silence for Bishop Robert Anderson and Bishop Walter Righter, who died since the last HOB meeting.
• Bishop Luis Ruiz of Ecuador Central addressed the HOB about the current conflict in the diocese. He said that he and the diocesan leadership have been working with the Presiding Bishop and Bishop Clay Matthews. He announced his intention to resign and expressed his thanks for the solidarity he received from the HOB. Also the diocesan leadership will resign from their respective positions. Bishop Victor Scantlebury was named by the Presiding Bishop as interim bishop for the Diocese of Ecuador Central.
• HOB elected Bishop Lloyd Allen of Honduras, Bishop Andy Doyle of Texas and Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas to the board of the College for Bishops for three year terms.
• HOB accepted Bishop Santosh Marray as a Collegial Member of HOB. Formerly the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Seychellles, he currently serves in the Diocese of East Carolina.
• HOB approved and accepted A Pastoral Teaching from the House of Bishops on the topic of the environment, presented by the Theology Committee.

The Fall HOB meeting concluded with Eucharist, celebrated by Bishop Stacy Sauls. Preacher was HOB chaplain the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Diocese of Massachusetts.

Media Briefers for Tuesday, September 20
Bishop Brian Prior, Episcopal Church in Minnesota
Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, Diocese of Long Island

She appeared to be no more than five or six years old.  She was clearly holding, with all her strength, a baby wrapped in a blanket. She was speaking Spanish rapidly, standing only about three inches from me. With my limited understanding, I thought she was asking for money. My assumption was quickly corrected by a colleague who was more fluent in Spanish than me. “Did you get that she was trying to sell the baby to you?”

As you might imagine, I was immediately filled with a sense of shock and sadness. What would motivate a person to sell their sibling or their own child? Obviously it is complex, but at the core is an overwhelming experience of scarcity. When one’s existence, and even more importantly that of their children, becomes so marginalized in utter desperation, such drastic measures appear to be the only option.

The experience of, or fear of, scarcity is pervasive at all levels. Poverty, indebtedness, unemployment, even immigration are based on economic scarcity. Yet scarcity also happens on a relational level. When we feel unloved, unwanted,  not valued, demeaned or marginalized, we often react or respond out of a place of scarcity. Likewise, when God or the Body of Christ – the Church –  feels distant, our hearts and souls live in a place of scarcity.

Our God is not a God of scarcity but of abundance. The words of Jesus make this crystal clear, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) The life that Jesus proclaims is a life where everyone has enough: livelihood, love of neighbor, and most importantly love of God. That is why, wherever there is scarcity, whether economic or relational, with either neighbor or God, we are called to do whatever we can to make sure everyone has enough.

This will only happen if we, as witnesses to the abundant life, work to end all forms of oppression that hold back any one of God’s children from living the abundant life.