Diocesan
Life Columns
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
Bishop Paul's writes a monthly column for the Diocesan Newspaper, Diocesan
Life, edited by Communication
Minister, Bill Lewellis.
For more features from the life of our diocese, check Diocesanlife....ONLINE; and Bethlehem
News.
Convention ... For the Rest of Us
Bishop Paul Marshall
Diocesan Life, September 1997
Our General Convention has fallen victim to the unfortunate truth
that sensational news gets the ink. Two minorities (each representing
less than one per cent of the church's membership) have gotten
most of the news coverage. I have dealt with what I believe to
be a few of the distortions in the box on the right. [See below,
please] Here I want to reflect on other aspects of the Convention
that will have direct impact on our life together.
The "Concordat of Agreement" with the Lutherans was adopted with
great rejoicing by deputies and bishops. As I write, it awaits
adoption by the Lutherans. The practical implications of the relationship
would allow us to work much more closely together in small communities
and start-up situations. We have parishes that are waiting the
go-ahead. Regardless of how the Lutherans vote, our experience
was that of following the leading of the Spirit.
Ministry to Children was highlighted in several ways. Our diocese
was part of the Children's Center at the Convention. Margaret Sipple,
our parish life minister, was a key person in the Center where
ministry with and to children was not just talked about but done.
A "Children's Charter for the Church" was adopted. It was a pleasure
to have that proposal come in part from Bethlehem. A joint session
of the Convention and the Triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church
Women heard dramatic stories from young people whose lives have
been touched by Christian witness and service.
Electronic Communication, much more than a buzz word, is a way
to share the gospel. The Convention took action that reflects our
commitment to use all the tools for evangelism that we can. I am
gratified that so many people from our diocese were responsible
for formulating the program adopted. Lutherans and other Protestants
will be received, not confirmed, when they transfer to Episcopal
parishes. The difference is slight, but will not question the confirmation
process they have already undergone.
Lay eucharistic visitors is a new term, expanding our conception
of lay people who bring the sacrament to the house-bound, particularly
in parishes where clergy are not available for regular visitation.
We are hoping for something more than simple administration of
the sacrament, hence the new terminology. In most parishes, the
priest can manage to visit sick and shut-in parishioners once a
month at best; a system of "visitors" not only insures that those
who cannot get to church can receive the sacrament, but keeps them
in regular contact with more than one representative of the parish,
helping to lessen any feelings of isolation and loneliness and
helping to keep community as the context of communion.
As a devout introvert, I have avoided big conventions all my life.
At this, my first outing, I was impressed with how well the worship
was organized and conducted so as to transform a crowd into a worship
assembly. Worship and Bible discussion at tables groups made up
of all categories of attendees. We were introduced to a new hymnals,
for Spanish-speaking congregations and Wonder, Love, and Praise,
a supplement of gospel and contemporary music for our Hymnal 1982.
I found being in a small group in the midst of a great assembly
a very good and workable recipe.
Highlights of the worship were the ministries of many choirs and
the sermons. People were especially moved by the preaching of the
Archbishop of Canterbury. He emphasized the community of service
and witness that Jesus' followers are to be, and got a hearty roar
of laughter when he warned partisans of the left and the right
to take the scriptures as a whole, and to cease lobbing Bible verses,
like hand grenades, into each other's camps.
I was also moved by how much more than a merely legislative event
the Convention is. Through worship, social events, and special
programs there was a definite experience of the Church as family,
gathered in community and for witness to the world.
CAVEAT LECTOR (Reader, beware!)
An "open letter" that has been circulated following General Convention
makes charges that range from flat untruth to distorted half truth.
They cannot go unanswered.
The General Convention did not lay the groundwork
for the persecution of those who do not accept women's ordination.
The convention did not "fail to approve the Kuala Lumpur
Statement," a document addressing human sexuality. It came before
the House of Bishops on the very last day of Convention, when deputies
and bishops had already begun to leave. There was neither time
nor disposition for a long public discussion, which is really intended
for the Lambeth Conference next summer, so the document was commended
for study.
I cannot account for a number of the charges made in the open
letter, because the resolutions never got to the House of Bishops,
and I decline absolutely to bear the imputed guilt of having disrespect
for time-honored Christian moral teaching because certain legislation
never reached the floor of the House.
Convention passed a resolution to allow Church Insurance to sell
insurance for persons living in one household. It was not a statement
on the morality of same-sex relationships. Though it is fair to
say that the two groups most of us contemplated are older couples
in retirement whose Social Security would diminish should they
marry and same-sex couples, discussion of the resolution indicated
that "domestic partners" include also aged or infirm family members.
Still, it is misleading to say that this legislation had the effect
of "allowing dioceses to extend coverage" to anyone. Dioceses have
been and are, as are parishes, free to buy whatever insurance they
require, on whomever they wish to insure. This legislation simply
allows the Church's own company to compete for business. (Our diocesan
health coverage in the Diocese of Bethlehem, by the way, is through
another carrier.)
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