Loading...Beloved in Christ,
A meeting of the House of Bishops, held in Quito, Ecuador, concluded this week. This was my second gathering, having attended the March retreat and meeting at Kanuga. I wish to share with you my thoughts that this was no ordinary meeting. In fact, hard work, consultation, and a great deal of prayer enabled a couple of significant outcomes. Several bishops have used social media to share their own experiences.
The Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor, Bishop of Western North Carolina, had thoughts similar to my own. He began with asking and answering why we met in Quito.
“The truth is, before I got there, I didn’t know. Yes, Ecuador is part of the Episcopal Church (as is Puerto Rico, Honduras, Haiti, the Virgin Islands, The American Churches in Europe, and Taiwan), but still it’s a long way away and it’s a mile higher than Denver. Why go there?
“It’s because we are part of One Body who worships One Lord, proclaims One Faith and is saved by One Baptism. We went because the Diocese of Ecuador Central is in a mess. When part of the Body of Christ is suffering, how many choices do you have? It’s the phone call in the middle of the night. It’s the voice in your head that pushes you outside the door because you know it’s the right thing to do.
“A little history. A few years ago the Diocese of Ecuador Central petitioned the House of Bishops to elect a bishop for them because they could not agree on anyone (this was a sign). We interviewed four candidates. I remember personally asking the current bishop, The Rt. Rev. Luis Ruiz, if his being Columbian would make any difference, and he said,‘No, because Ecuador and Columbia used to be connected.’ But what he didn’t say was there’s a reason they aren’t connected anymore. The Ecuadorians don’t want a Columbian as their bishop. At his consecration demonstrators interrupted the service, and it’s gone downhill. The House of Bishops went to Quito as a living reminder that The Church supports her people and takes our ministry of reconciliation seriously. No person is an island.
“The bishops met with the people of this diocese; visited their churches; learned about their struggles and the issues they confront, and simply showed up. In her homily Sunday at the Cathedral, the Presiding Bishop called for the diocese to ‘recover a sense of Christian duty to work with one another’ and promised that the Church would help them do that.
“After much hard work and numerous conversations between the Presiding Bishop and her staff with all parties, Bishop Ruiz announced on Tuesday that he and all the Standing Committee will resign. Bishop Victor Scantlebury will step in as Interim Bishop and seek to begin the healing process in the diocese….
”I didn’t know any of this when I left. I thought I was going to yet another meeting in yet another hotel. However, being there reminded me that in our baptism we commit to a common mission to be ministers of reconciliation. How far are we willing to go to do that—not just in miles but in our hearts? And how willing are we to see the brokenness all around us? Why is it that I knew so little about what was going on in part of our Church? How important must we think we are to block our awareness?” (Excerpts from the Sept. 21 reflection by Bishop Porter Taylor, Diocese of Western North Carolina.)
Last Sunday at the cathedral in Quito, the nave was packed with bishops and people holding various opinions about the current state and future of the diocese. All came together to pray, to hear the Word of God, and receive the very life of the crucified and risen Lord in the Holy Eucharist. In that liturgy, at some point, I became aware that I was privileged to be participating in something holy and full of God’s Spirit. This awareness remained with me through the conclusion of the meeting. It was tempting simply to sit back and let the Spirit work. But of course, the Spirit needs all of us to carry out God’s work.
As you may know, the Diocese of Lexington said good-bye last month to Bishop Stacy Sauls, who resigned in order to accept the Presiding Bishop’s invitation to become the Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church. (With his trademark good humor, Bishop Sauls told me his real title is ArchSexton.)
Bishop Sauls held two conversations with bishops concerning the Church's mission and structures, leading to a presentation to the full house entitled, “Becoming A Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society: An Adaptive Moment.”
In 2011, 53% of The Episcopal Church’s budget goes to mission, and 47% supports administration, other governance, and the General Convention. Virtually every bishop agreed this is unacceptable, and committed to immediate work that would restructure this Church so that mission is greatly increased and spending in other areas is decreased.
This commitment will certainly have a financial impact. Bishop Sauls estimates that if correctly done, giving to The Episcopal Church annual budget would equal 1% of congregational operating budgets, meaning a decrease in what dioceses give from the current 20% to 13%. More importantly, this restructuring would enable more lay ministry, indeed require dramatically more lay ministry, and empower the baptized people of God to more effectively carry out Christ’s mission of reconciliation. I am not surprised that one formed as a bishop in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is leading the way! (An Episcopal News Service story about his presentation may be found at www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_129893_ENG_HTM.htm)
This was no mere report. It was the dawn of a new day. The bishops were energized by this call, which was seen to be the work of the Holy Spirit. And I have no doubt the laity, deacons and priests of the Church will be energized as well. A concluding comment by Bishop Sauls brought the bishops to their feet: "The people of The Episcopal Church want to engage God's mission. The people of the Church want to participate in decisions about engaging God's mission. The people of the Church want to fund God's mission."
As we approach one year together engaged in mission in this diocese, I have exactly the same sense based on what we have shared together. The people of the Diocese of Kentucky are engaged in God’s mission and want to grow that mission. We want to work together to set priorities for mission and then waste no time in carrying out that mission. And the people of this diocese want to fund God’s mission and give generously to local, diocesan, national, and international missions.
I end with this thought. I know with all my heart that the reason I sensed the power and life of God in the cathedral in Quito and in the concluding days our the meeting, was because I have so powerfully experienced God’s Spirit in you and through the tremendous ministries in our congregations. Thank you for an amazing first year. I am truly blessed to be a servant with you in the Diocese of Kentucky.
With my love in Christ,
+Terry
[Editor's Note and FYI: Bishop Terry White was consecrated the Diocese of Kentucky's eighth bishop one year ago Sunday (September 25, 2010) in Louisville.]
