Toward Holy Week

As we reach the end of this Lenten Journey 2009 and look toward Holy Week and Easter, it is one of the lessons appointed for the Fourth Sunday in Lent that continues to echo in my head:

It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and even that is not of yourselves, but the gift of God. Nor is it an award for anything you have done, so nobody can claim the credit. We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to do the good things God created us to do from the beginning. [Ephesians 2:8-10]

We are God’s work of art. The fact that we so often fall short of doing the good things God created us to do from the beginning does NOT trump the fact that we -- and all creation -- have been declared by our creator "very good." More and more I'm convinced that how we live out our faith is directly connected to how we understand ourselves to have been created -- and whether we live out of a sense of our belovedness or out of a sense of our brokenness informs not only our theology but our politics, our economics, our relationships ... the whole enchilada.

It's kind of like this story about two wolves that preachers love to use as a sermon illustration:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Likewise, there is a fight going on inside the church about whether human beings are essentially beloved or essentially broken -- and the wolf that will win that fight is also the one that we feed.

Choosing to feed our belovedness rather than our brokenness focuses us on inclusion rather than exclusion; on justice rather than judgment; on compassion rather than condemnation. It is a choice that makes us homesteaders in the house of love rather than tenants in the house of fear.

Because we are – each and every one of us -- God’s work of art: created in Christ Jesus to do the good things God created us to do from the beginning.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it -- this Holy Week -- this Easter -- and always.

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On B033 & the search for a new bishop in Western New York

Just posted this to "Walking With Integrity" and decided to "double dip" and post it here as well because I think it's an important story.

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The week before Holy Week is a busy one in Episcopal Church Land ... even when you DON'T have decisions on marriage equality in two states and a son home on leave from the Army.

So I'm playing "catch up" this morning -- in part by highlighting this story from last week about the search for a new bishop in the Diocese of Western New York.

"Search committee told to honor Resolution B033" is the headline of the ENS piece, highlighting two important happenings in the search-for-a-new-bishop process in the Diocese of Western New York:

#1 -- The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York has told a newly formed bishop search committee that they are expected to "honor the mind of the Episcopal Church regarding acceptable candidates for the episcopate as expressed through the General Convention."

Yes, this would be code for "comply with B033: no LGBT candidates welcome." To his credit, the standing committee chair is quoted as saying "rather than have the issue of B033 lurk through the whole process and then come up later in a difficult way the standing committee decided to "put the issue on the table" explicitly."

But wait: there's more.

#2 -- The Western New York Standing Committee also said in its website statement that it "strongly recommends" that the diocese's deputation to the 76th General Convention "should work for or support efforts at the 2009 General Convention to rescind Resolution B033."

So what does it all mean?

Our friends on Titusonenine are on the story now ... interestingly enough posting Point #1 but failing to note Point #2. Here's my comment from "over there:"

The post neglects to note the part of the release where the Standing Committee: “strongly recommends” that the diocese’s deputation to the 76th General Convention “should work for or support efforts at the 2009 General Convention to rescind Resolution B033.”

As I noted in to the ENS reporter on the story last week, “The Standing Committee of Western New York stands out as the tip of the iceberg of mainstream Episcopalians.”

“They are asking our bishops and deputies to release this church from the straitjacket B033 has imposed on the vocational discernment process of a diocese seeking the best candidates for their bishop—to end the era of de facto apartheid that restricts a percentage of the baptized from full inclusion in all orders of ministry. We will keep the Diocese of Western New York in our prayers as they seek and call a new pastor for their people—as well as the deputies of Western New York as we work together to end this blatant discrimination against the LGBT baptized.”

So there we have it. A diocese giving us exactly the "case in point" we need to prove our point to our bishops and deputies -- that B033 continues to have a chilling effect on the work and witness of this church. AND a diocese asking for the church to move forward and give them the freedom to work with the Holy Spirit to call the best possible pastor for the people of their diocese.

So pray for the people of Western New York as they call a new bishop.

Pray for qualified candidates with an episcopal vocation excluded from consideration because of the ill-conceived and ultimately useless resolution passed in 2006 to keep at the table those who are determined to leave anyway.

And pray for Integrity's work -- along with our allies all over this great church of ours -- as we prepare to gather in July and move the Episcopal Church "Beyond B033" and forward into God's future.

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PS -- To support the Anaheim Campaign, click here to see the "Marching to Anaheim" video and make an online contribution.

From the Iowa Marriage Opinion

Today's Iowa Supreme Court decision is 69 pages long and most folks (myself included) have not yet had time to "read, mark, learn and inwardly digest" all of it. But this paragraph from the conclusion stands out as an extraordinarily succinct summary of the facts behind the decision -- and a voice of hope, reason and clarity for those of us in the other 47 states still working to end marriage discrmination.

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“In the final analysis, we give respect to the views of all Iowans on the issue of same-sex marriage—religious or otherwise—by giving respect to our constitutional principles. These principles require that the state recognize both opposite-sex and same-sex civil marriage.

Religious doctrine and views contrary to this principle of law are unaffected, and people can continue to associate with the religion that best reflects their views. A religious denomination can still define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and a marriage ceremony performed by a minister, priest, rabbi or other person ordained or designated as a leader of the person’s religious faith does not lose its meaning as a sacrament or other religious institution.

The sanctity of all religious marriages celebrated in the future will have the same meaning as those celebrated in the past. The only difference is civil marriage will now take on a new meaning that reflects a more complete understanding of equal protection of the law. This result is what our constitution requires.”

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And let the people say: "Amen!"

HOW ABOUT IOWA?????

Wow! Breaking news came out of Iowa ... while I was attending a symposium on the architectural tension between differentiation and contextualization, focused on modernism in historic corridors. (They do NOT teach you this stuff in seminary!)

ANYWAY, my PDA was hyperventilating with the news that the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously declared marriage discrimination against same-sex couples unconstitutional.

You can read the whole decision here.
The Des Moines Register report is here.
Integrity has a press statement out over at Walking With Integrity.
The Lambda Legal press release is here.
And Politico.com posted this commentary:

It's really a sweeping, total win for the gay-rights side, rejecting any claim that objections to same-sex marriage can be seen as "rational," rejecting a parallel civil union remedy, and pronouncing same-sex marriages and gay and lesbian couples essentially normal.

So ... celebrate the good news and then let's get back to work making Iowa's example the rule of American liberty and justice for all and not an encouraging exception!

UPDATE VIA EMAIL:

News Release
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2008
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal: 515-281-3901
House Speaker Pat Murphy: 515-281-0817

Iowa continues to be a leader in guaranteeing civil rights

This is a joint statement from Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal
and Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy on today's Supreme Court decision:"Thanks to today's decision, Iowa continues to be a leader inguaranteeing all of our citizens' equal rights.

"The court has ruled today that when two Iowans promise to share theirlives together, state law will respect that commitment, regardless of whether the couple is gay or straight. "When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today's events will be why it took us so long. It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency."

"Today, the Iowa Supreme Court has reaffirmed those Iowa values by ruling that gay and lesbian Iowans have all the same rights andresponsibilities of citizenship as any other Iowan."

"Iowa has always been a leader in the area of civil rights. In 1839, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected slavery in a decision thatfound that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil,26 years before the end of the Civil War decided the issue.

"In 1868, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated"separate but equal" schools had no place in Iowa, 85 years before theU.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

"In 1873, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against racial discrimination inpublic accommodations, 91 years before the U.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

"In 1869, Iowa became the first state in the union to admit women to thepractice of law.

"In the case of recognizing loving relationships between two adults, the Iowa Supreme Court is once again taking a leadership position on civil rights.

"Today, we congratulate the thousands of Iowans who now can express their love for each other and have it recognized by our laws."

Time Out for Some L.A. Tourism

My son Jamie is home for a couple of days of leave before heading to a new duty station (Fort Campbell KY) so today was a day off from things All Saints Church/Episcopal/Anglican/Marriage Equality/etc. as we decided to be tourists and check out two places Jamie hadn't seen before: The Watts Towers & Griffith Park Observatory.

The Watts Towers are "a collection of 17 interconnected structures, two of which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). The Towers were built by Italian immigrant construction worker Sabato ("Sam" or "Simon") Rodia in his spare time over a period of 33 years, from 1921 to 1954. They were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990."

The Towers

Jamie checking out the "walking tour" information signs, including:


And he "did something big" all right!

Then it was off to the Griffith Park Observatory ...
up in the Los Feliz hills overlooking Los Angeles.

Recently renovated, the displays were awesome ...

... and we peered into lots of telescopes
and rubbed shoulders with bunches of school children.

On the way out, Jamie had a little moment with James Dean ...

... and then we took pictures of each other in front of the Hollywood sign ...

(you don't get much more "touristy" than that!)

And now we're going to grill some steaks and get him packed up to head east ... tomorrow will be soon enough for things All Saints Church/Episcopal/Anglican/Marriage Equality/etc.

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Catching Up: Sunday's New Member Reception

Since it was such a beautiful day in the neighborhood, the rector had a little lunch for 50 on the patio Sunday afternoon.

It was the end of our 8-week "Covenant I" New Member class and so we gathered -- staff and the 30+ new members coming on board at All Saints Church -- including the six who will be baptized at the Great Vigil of Easter on April 11th.

We ate, drank and were merry ... new members heard from staff members about opportunities to "come into the work" in various departments. (Want to teach Sunday School? How about Usher? Maybe videotape Sunday services or visit shut-ins? Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith we've got something with your name on it!)

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But they didn't just hear from us, we heard from them.

"What brought you to All Saints Church?" is the icebreaker. Here are a couple of my favorite answers:

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"An Obama precinct worker came to my door during the election campaign and we got started talking and she ended up inviting me to come to check out her church so I came the next Sunday and found a home. And I knew you really meant the "whoever you are there is a place for you here" when I came to church on the first Sunday in Lent and there was an incense free room set up with a video feed for people with respiratory issues."

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"I had TIVO'd Oprah and when I heard Ed Bacon I thought "now why can't there be a church like that near me." And then I thought I heard him say "Pasadena" and I thought "no way" ... so I backed up the tape and sure enough ... it was Pasadena. And I came the next Sunday. And they said they had new members' class starting that night and I said, "I'm there!"

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One of our new members said, "I'd heard about All Saints and visited once a long time ago. Then I heard about the IRS tension and said, 'Any church who is fighting the Bush administration and the IRS is where I want to be.'

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"I drive up from Orange County every week ... and I just know there are plenty of people like me out there who had no IDEA someplace like this exists!"

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So that's our "market share" ... for all the projections of decline and gloom and doom forecasts from analysts in some quarters, there ARE folks out there yearning for the Good News we have to offer ... and ready to sign up and join in when they find a place that connects on Sunday with the values of tolerance, love, justice and inclusion they teach their kids all week.
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Some of them found All Saints Church in Pasadena ... but there are PLENTY of other places around this church of ours who have the same welcome to offer, the same gospel to proclaim, the same faith to put in to action, the same commitment to peace through justice.
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So April 11th we'll baptize 17 babies, six adults and welcome thirty some new members into the All Saints Pasadena "branch" of the Body of Christ. And then April 26th we'll start all over again ... with a new 8-week new member class and another chance to hear the stories of those who have come seeking a spiritual home and a parish family.
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The welcome mat it out ... stop on by!

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Gay Marriage a Done Deal In Sweden

[AP: view source] STOCKHOLM — Sweden became the fifth European country to allow gay marriage.

Parliament on Wednesday adopted a new law that gives same-sex couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals.

The Parliament's Web site says the new law will take effect on May 1.

The Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and Spain also allow gay marriages.

Sweden has recognized civil unions between homosexual couples since 1994. However, the old law stopped short of calling them marriages, which gay rights activists said was discriminatory.

It will still be up to individual churches to decide if they want to wed gay couples.

Swedish news agency TT says the 349-seat legislature passed the measure in 261-22 vote, with 66 lawmakers abstaining or absent.