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.
Her Witness Was Clear
Marie Elizabeth cared for those whom the world easily forgets
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
Diocesan Life, January 2000
She fought against apartheid in South Africa, and worked for disadvantaged
and forgotten persons in America. She worked with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
to understand the dying of children. Bishop Mark observed that
there would be hundreds of children whose deathbeds Marie Elizabeth
had attended who would be there to welcome her to heaven.
My favorite story about the Rev. Marie Elizabeth Dyer is one that
struck me when I heard it as an example of how God works with many
of us.
Visiting a hospital unit for psychiatrically troubled children
she came to a child who had no people, who had been suicidal, and
now sat mute in his room. He totally ignored her, and she left.
The pattern was repeated until the child finally risked believing
that this person cared for him. Then very good things began to
happen for him. The outcome was only possible because she remained
a caring presence despite repeated rejection. She had a long-term
goal in mind, and worked toward in each visit.
Persistent and loving presence is the message of the Incarnation
as each of receives it and is called to live it.
It is thus the persistent, relentless quality of Marie Elizabeth's
concern for those whom the world was prepared to forget that impressed
me so much.
In our clergy Bible Study group I pointed out at the first meeting
after her death, that when there is a loss roles tend to shift
a little in the group, and that I would be interested to see who
would now be sure that both sides of the question were examined,
who would see that the easily forgotten were remembered as we looked
at our texts.
Some people have posted to our ongoing diocesan electronic meeting <bethlehempa@ecunet.org> their
reminiscences of Marie Elizabeth. To some she had been grief counselor,
to others mother, and to many others a source of inspiration.
The people of St. Elizabeth's parish knew her as pastor and friend.
People in the neighborhood knew her presence as well, and under
her leadership St. Elizabeth's hosted many community and twelve-step
groups. Forthrightness was important to Marie Elizabeth. In a part
of the world where people do not always communicate directly and
helpfully, she gave people a lot to think about.
In the long run, however, it may be Marie Elizabeth's witness
as adoptive and foster mother that will stay with us the longest.
Her theology very literally took flesh as she and Bishop Mark took
into their homes children who most needed parents.
It is one thing to advocate for those in need, but it is quite
another to bring them into your home and make them your family,
and give them best-effort parenting, creative and wise. To be sure,
Marie Elizabeth will be missed, and cannot be replaced. On the
other hand, her witness was clear enough that any who care to can
keep it going.
Learning to see Christ in the naked, hungry, homeless, and other
needy takes us beyond what passes for "spirituality" these days
right back to what Saint James calls "true religion." Of that religion
she will remain one of the chief apostles of our time.
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