Dear Ones,
This post is going to be different. In days past I have more or less tried to be your eyes to the broad picture, occasionally telling you of a specific. Today, I will tell you first that yesterday was pretty much like every day. We worshiped to a beautiful, Jazz ensemble in a paperless format. Bishop Steven Charleston preached a prophetic sermon on the fate of our earth, and our call as Christians to do something about it. I attended my committee meeting on the election of the next Suffragan Bishop for Federal Ministries. The budget of the Episcopal Church was rolled out to a joint session of the Convention. As suspected, life will be different. Our church will not look quite the same or operate the same and a lot of that is good, more technology made use of for meetings, less travel, all of which is good for the earth and the pocketbook. Some lost their jobs yesterday, never good. It is quite frankly where we are all headed, including the Diocese of Olympia, revisioning our future and what it is to be the Church in this day and time.
Which brings me to the specific act, because I think it fits with that idea of revisioning. In the House of Bishops, near the end of day, we began debating the resolution, D056, put before us to continue our conversations about same sex relationships and human sexuality, one of the more watched pieces of legislation here. (Let me say here that much of the press headlines today as saying this approved same sex blessings, it does not) I had volunteered to meet with a group of about 25 bishops to work out a substitute resolution to the one that came to us, in hopes that we might bring along some of the House that was troubled by certain pieces. This all came out of a discussion the day before which included the notion that we often move too fast, that the legislative process is not the best way to run a Church, that we do not always best honor our Lord within such a system. It was a hope for a “third way.” One of the people that articulated that hope then was Bishop Sean Rowe, Bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania, and the youngest bishop, by far, being in his thirties, in this House, I believe in the world. And so those 25 went to work. I must say I mostly listened, offered a few thoughts including one which stated my ultimate dream: essentially being what we were doing at that moment, much more honest conversation, where we can share our hearts without the pressure of legislation, but of course that is not the way of Convention. It was not designed that way. Those in the Diocese of Olympia would recognize that we have tried to move in this direction as much as possible.
So, yesterday, the substitute, a really fine one I believe, was offered. It had been worked on by a group representing the wide range of thought and theology in the House of Bishops. And soon it began; the amendments, and the amendments to the amendments. Finally, Bishop Rowe stood to move that the resolution be discharged. Essentially this would mean that it would die here, more than likely. After a good hearing of “seconds” he spoke to his motion again pleading for another way forward. He said sometimes it is better to say nothing and he asked us this question, “how has passing legislation in such moments really worked for us?” He then asked for a roll call vote, which requires, I believe at least five other bishops to make happen. I was one of many that raised my hand on that vote. I don’t know totally his thought on that, but I do want to say it made a point.
I write because of the great dilemma it presented for me. I don’t think I have ever been so unsure of a vote as I was of this one. In the end, it would fail by a sizable margin, but nonetheless it provoked some good conversation, one of the few I have felt compelled to get in, however the line was so long the question was called before I was able to get in. I voted “no”, not to discharge, but I was conflicted. In my mind were all the people for whom this legislation is important, and also the people that would find it even more conflicts them. In my mind were all the bishops that had worked day and night to craft what was before us, and also in my mind, my belief that Bishop Rowe is exactly right. Today, I wanted to say that he is. His actions yesterday might be described by many as showboating, or even foolish, but I saw them as brave and compelling, as leadership. I also write about it today hoping that it remains compelling enough to keep the conversation going. Personally, I think we need to have a deeper conversation about this “third” way long before we get into the crunch of legislation as maneuvering here only builds suspicion and hard feelings. The argument that we have worked hard and that this is the only way to get such things done is not, in and of itself a compelling argument. If it were, we would never change anything.
I must admit that I had in my mind B033 and the great pain and anger that has existed for many these entire last three years about how that came in the last moment, and how it drove the Church in so many different directions since. I feared rightly or wrongly, that we might be in the same dilemma this next three years. That process, three years ago, and this one, would have benefited from more time to process what was being asked and why.
It was odd that Bishop Rowe was using the very system he would like to change, to attempt to do so, but so often that is exactly what must be done. It was all confounding. It was one of the only times I wanted to abstain but I have vowed not to do that, if at all humanly possible. I believe we are sent here to make decisions, in the system we now have, but it is so difficult sometimes and so fast.
Earlier in this convention, in honoring former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning, I suggested that the emerging leadership in the church will have to change this, will have to help us find the “third” way. I suggested that they will often be seen as foolish, but God needs some holy fools if this will change. I so regret not being able to vote both ways, and finally not standing with him. Bishop Rowe led yesterday. I appreciate it very much. Ultimately, he is right.
Blessings,
+Greg
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