Reflections, Missions, and Alleviation
Monday, October 6, 2008
This past weekend saw an important gathering in Philadelphia at which Episcopalians from all across our church and nation gathered to apologize for the part the Episcopal Church played in support of slavery and to apologize for taking part in the sin of slavery. At least two of our seminarians from Virginia Seminary in Alexandria attended (Grant Ambrose and Clay Riley) and will be sending reflections for Cross Current. The sin of racism is still very much with us and on various occasions The Episcopal Church has committed itself to the eradication of racism. Recently, an important documentary named “Traces of the Trade” was released which documents the part a prominent New England family played in the slave trade. The documentary centers on present-day members of the family undertaking a pilgrimage to their roots in New England and to Africa to probe the meaning of slavery. I have seen pieces of this documentary, and it is superb (you can also go to tracesofthetrade.org for more information.) I am also reminded of the fine work that our diocesan Anti-Racism Commission, under the leadership of the Rev. Bob Hudak (rector of St. Paul’s, Greenville) is doing, and that anti-racism training is now required for all persons who are in positions of diocesan or parish leadership throughout our church nationally.
I had a wonderful visitation yesterday with the good people of St. Thomas, Ahoskie. This is a fine congregation and their parish life is strengthening. St. Thomas’ rector, the Rev. Jeff Douglas, is soon to attend CREDO – a program offered to the clergy of our church for reflection, self-examination, refreshment and planning for ministry. The program is offered by the Church Pension Fund and has received great praise from all who have attended.
Since the Gospel reading was Jesus’ parable of the tenants of the vineyard, I spoke in my sermon about God’s abundance and our call to stewardship in light of the current economic crisis that this and many other nations are facing. All the strands evident in Jesus’ parable are also evident in this moment in our nation’s life: failed stewardship, lack of accountability, misplaced and betrayed trust, and greed; an attitude of dedication to selfish ends rather than service of neighbor. No doubt there will be a long road to the recovery of trust and economic stability. At the same time, I believe we can have a fundamental trust and confidence in our system of government. Our government has proven to be flexible and adaptable in meeting crises, and I have no doubt it will do so once more. We can also trust in God’s providence and have confidence in the future God prepares for us and all people: a future of abundance, for God is a God of abundance and a future of hope since (as St. Paul says) “…all things work together for good for those who love God.” That means that even these anxious and distressing days can be used by God to further the establishment of his kingdom. And, since truly we as members of the Body of Christ are called to be God’s hands in the world, there is much that we are called to do in this moment.
I also realize, apart from our own national concerns that almost 40% of the world’s population (about 4 billion people) live on $2 or less a day, which is counted to be extreme poverty. While we who are part of the wealthiest portion of humanity have confidence that our economic woes will eventually be resolved, it is also unlikely that the economic circumstances of the poorest in our world will change without drastic intervention by Christians and other people of good will who live in the wealthiest nations of the world. That includes you and me and our commitment to live into our baptismal vows of seeking justice, loving our neighbor, and preserving the dignity of every human being.
This is why working toward the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is crucial for us as Christians and as stewards of God’s abundance. The first of the eight Millennium Development Goals is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and by 2015 to cut in half the number of people who suffer from poverty and starvation. This is not only the goal of the United Nations, it is also the mission of the Church: to follow in our Lord and Savior’s footsteps of being in solidarity with the poor, the sick, the starving, the outcast and those who live on the margins of society, and to serve them and their needs in Jesus’ name. As followers of Jesus, and as God’s hands in the world, such service is what we are called to. When the owner of the vineyard in the parable returned, he found the tenants he had placed in charge working for their own selfish and greedy ends. When Jesus returns, let us as his followers be found working for the good and the well-being of all people!
One way we can do that is through participating in the Millennium Development Goals as individuals and as parishes and as a diocese. (Thank God for our Millennium Development Goals committee and its good work under the leadership of the Rev. Michael Singer, rector of St. Mary’s, Kinston.)
The Millennium Development Goals are ambitious, but every act of generosity and dedication to their fulfillment – be that act or contribution large or small – every demonstration of generosity, no matter how grand or how modest, counts toward the fulfillment of God’s dream for his world and for all humanity: a world of abundance and plenty for all people in which all are fed, all are healed and all are equal recipients of God’s mercy.
Today (Monday, October 06, 2008), I’m off to Memphis, TN, for a meeting of the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church for several days. My prayer in going is that the structure of our church and of every parish and diocese of our church be turned ever more clearly toward serving the ends of justice, reconciliation, and the alleviation of human suffering.
