The Anglican Communion

Did you know that Christ Church Episcopal is a part of a worldwide communion of affiliated churches stretching around the world with over 50 million members? Did you know that the Anglican/Episcopal tradition is the 3rd largest Christian denomination in the world? Did you know that 3 out of 4 members of this communion is a person of color?

From July 12-August 9 at our 5:00 PM Saturday Eucharist, we will be highlighting various parts and traditions of our Anglican Communion. We are calling this series Hope of the Nations: How God is Moving in the World.

On the following dates will focus on:

Saturday, July 12 - The Celtic Tradition
Saturday, July 19 - Haiti
Saturday, July 26 - Southeast Asia
Saturday, August 2 - India
Saturday, August 9 - Liberia

We hope you will join us for this special series in which we will invite guest speakers. In the meanwhile, here are several links to help you learn more about our wide, diverse, and growing communion:

Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion News Service
 

- Jeff

List-o-Mania!

David Letterman’s legacy--what is it? Why lists, of course! His Top Ten List on almost any subject under heaven is now thoroughly engrained in American Culture. Daily, one sees magazines, newspapers, and internet sites listing The 5 Worst of this or The 7 Best of that. In that vein I recently came across two such lists that I feel are worthy of passing on.

The first is from a blog hosted by Addie Zierman who blogs about Millennials (basically anyone 30 and under) and the Church. Here is her list of 5 “churchy phrases” that are scaring-off Millennials and each one is followed by her synopsis.

1)  The Bible clearly says…

“We’re aware of the Bible’s intricacies. We know the Bible is clear about some things but also that much is not clear and open to interpretation.”

2)  God will never give you more than you can handle.

“Inherent in this phrase is the undertone that if life has become more than you can handle, then your faith must not be strong enough. Too much! We understand that we need help.”

3)Love on ____.

“A kind of creepy phrase with troubling implications...being ‘loved-on’ feels different than simply being loved. The former feels like contrived kindness; the latter is simpler and deeper.”

4)  Black and white quantifiers of faith: like believer, unbeliever, backsliding.

“Millennials are sick of rhetoric that centers around who’s in and who’s out. We know our own doubtful hearts to know that belief and unbelief so often coexist.”

5)  God is in control...has a plan... works in mysterious ways.

“Chances are we believe this is true. But it’s the last thing we want to hear when something goes horribly wrong in our life. We are drawn to the Jesus who cries when Lazarus is found dead... even though he is in control and has a plan to bring Lazarus back to life.”

The second list comes from the ever popular magazine, Real Simple. Its June 2014 issue contains a list of 5 phrases that should be banned from the English language. A brief explanation of the reasoning is included: 

1) It is what it is. Critic John McWhorter says, “It means basically nothing. You’re saying there is nothing to be done about it. When someone is sharing her problems, you can’t have perfect answers, but you should show a little feeling and genuine empathy.”

2) To your point... Nancy Gibbs comments, “This is the worst kind of faux flattery...it pretends to be agreeing while actually contradicting. How about some honesty?”

3) Don’t take this personally. Peggy Newfield: “of course most of us do take it personally. You’re the only one who knows what you think and feel, and you don’t really know what anyone else thinks and feels.”

4) When are you going to ____? “There are so many assumptions baked into this question. It implies that what the other person is doing now isn’t what she should be doing. In regard to life choices this phrase tends to put people on the defensive, and for that reason I would get rid of it,” says Emily Yoffe.

5) No problem. Liv Tyler says, “The phrase is problematic because it is considered negative. It is both impolite and annoying to say, “thank you” and to receive “no problem” in reply. How could a “thank you” be even remotely construed as a problem?

Reporting in,

Jeff

Coexist?

No doubt you have seen this around; the ubiquitous bumper sticker incorporates symbols of Islam, pacifism, male and female, Judaism, Wicca, Taoism and Christianity. On the face of it, “COEXIST” seems to be a plea for tolerance, let’s “get along.” Who can argue with that?

Well I hadn’t really thought about it until we read these words from John 14 last Sunday, “I am the way the truth and the life and no one can come to the father except through me.”(v.6). Since then as I’ve seen those stickers I’ve had second thoughts about whether I’d put one on the back of my car.

Of course we all need to be more tolerant; we live in a world that bears the scars of intolerance, discrimination, and hate; furthermore Classic Christianity has always asserted that there is truth in other religions, although it has not always acted as though it believed it. The Hebrew Scriptures were incorporated into the Christian Bible; who doubts that Mahatma Gandhi was a man of God or that the present Dali Lama is a very fine ambassador for the Spiritual life?

Christianity believes that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). We can observe the wonders of creation and achieve some knowledge about God the creator (in philosophy this is called Natural Law). We can recognize a shared humanity and the desire of all people to seek something greater than ourselves.

However, being tolerant and recognizing there is truth in other belief-systems does not mean that Christianity accepts the notion that all faiths are equal. Our doctrine of the incarnation posits that in the history of the world, Jesus Christ represents the fullest expression of God we have ever seen and known. If that is not true then there is no reason for his crucifixion. We believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

Of course we need tolerance, respect and peace with everyone -- especially now. But we cannot reduce this desire to the glib assertion all faiths are the same and that all paths lead to God. They aren’t and they don’t. The idea that there is no exclusive Truth is itself a doctrine, one that excludes everyone except the universalist.

I fear that we are living in a world that is trading the old triumphalism (I’m right and you’re wrong and I’m going to make you pay) for a fuzzy relativism (truth is whatever works for you, dude). Personally I’m hoping there is some middle ground between these ways of thinking, a worldview that is tolerant and respectful of others but doesn’t shy away from proclaiming the Truth.

I hope that is what COEXIST is aiming for, but I’m not sure. Which is why the bumper sticker on the back of my car reads: 2013 World Champions, Boston Red Sox. That is TRUE!

As ever,

Jeff

Appreciation for What IS

Is the glass half empty or half full? Certainly an age old question. How do you see it? For most of my life I’ve been a glass-half-empty person; a born pessimist; with any issue, I would think: that’s less than it used to be; or what’s wrong?; this is the worst possible scenario; how are we going to fix this?; and so on. It got so bad that my staff at Christ Church Charlottesville, called me Mr. Glass-Half-Empty.

However I’m glad to report that in the last few years I’ve begun to see the glass differently. Age has helped, as have some areas of personal reflection and growth. These have lead to a growing appreciation for what is rather than what isn’t; being more positive about situations rather than only focusing on what’s wrong.

When I began my Transitional Ministry Training in 2007 I was introduced to Appreciative Inquiry Theory. The idea is that one always approaches one’s ministry as an Interim Rector with a lens of appreciation for what one sees in the life of the congregation. From my viewpoint there is certainly much to appreciate across the board at Christ Church; this is a very strong, vibrant, energetic, cutting-edge congregation. I have been especially impressed by music and worship in general; children and youth; pastoral care; missions and outreach. The facilities and the parking are top of the line. Even financial stewardship -- which is seen as an area of improvement here -- is stronger than most Episcopal Churches with which I have been associated. And I might add that I have experienced, as have so many others, the warm and friendly welcome from you as I have entered this
new role.

Yet the fact remains it is easy for a parish to get down on itself during a transition. Some can’t get over the loss of a Rector or a beloved Associate; some hold up a period in the past when things seemed to be better; in some parishes during a time of transition, parts of the system which had been held together fall apart and become conflicted. Yes, it is easy to see the glass getting emptier. The truth, of course, is that the glass is both half-empty and half-full; sure there are some losses but there is much to build on that remains here that are foundational. The positives here are far more prevalent. Please don’t fall prey to negative thinking.

The operative fact is God continues to move among and through the people of God here. Jesus Christ is the Church’s one foundation. The number one strategy moving forward should be prayer, prayer, prayer! In our personal lives (and corporately, as well) we need to bathe this church in prayer. The Spirit of God continues to move here, to inspire, challenge and comfort. Now is a moment to shift the parish’s focus to discerning what new life the Spirit of God wants to bring forth in our midst -- the new water that God is already pouring into your hearts and corporate life here at Christ Church. How will the glass be pouring over in abundance here? Yes, it will be different, but it will be full.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Jeff

Charles Addams

At the end of one of my times serving as Interim Rector, a close friend gave me the following cartoon by the famous New Yorker cartoonist, Charles Adams. My friend said he believed the cartoon was the closest pictorial representation possible of the Gospel.

 

What do you think?

What caption would YOU give this cartoon?

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts,

Jeffrey