More Ready Than We Realize
We are more ready than we realize to reach out and engage others in God’s mission. That message echoed through all the events of diocesan convention on Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13 in San Diego. The keynote speeches, workshop sessions, and business meetings all presented ways in which we can, and do, invite others to join us in our work for the kingdom of God.
Agents on a Mission
Internationally known speaker Brian McLaren challenged us in two dynamic keynote addresses to be agents on a mission -- the mission of spreading the kingdom of God on earth -- rather than simply focusing on staying in business as an institution. Conventional church growth programs often merely attract those who are already Christians, but do not attract those outside the Christian paradigm. He challenged us to be “contagiously enthusiastic” agents of God’s kingdom. Often those outside the church are attracted by some parts of Christianity but are repelled by those who loudly proclaim themselves to be Christians. They hesitate to attend a church because they think that becoming a Christian will make them more narrow-minded and judgmental. “We need to be identified as people of faith, but also we need to not be jerks,” said McLaren.
In order to become agents for the kingdom, we must be able to talk about our experiences of God in ordinary language, rather than giving sales pitches or using church jargon. If we are seen as safe people who do not try to threaten or argue, but rather listen to the questions people are actually asking, we will attract those McLaren calls the “nones,” those who have never been Christians. We will also re-engage the “dones,” those who have been alienated from the church by bad experiences, and the “no-funs,” those who are barely hanging on to their faith, motivated more by obligation or guilt than joy and love.
When we believe the Holy Spirit is already active in those outside the church, we can “go forth into the world” every week as living examples and safe points of contact for those outside the church who wonder if the way of following Jesus might be more appealing than they’d first thought. We will be agents of contagious enthusiasm.
More Resources Than We Realized
Friday afternoon workshops highlighted ways that churches in our diocese are already agents of the kingdom. The Rev. George Calvert, Ph.D. helped people learn how to tell their faith stories, one of the skills Brian McLaren later highlighted as essential. A team lead by the Rev. Eleanor Ellsworth demonstrated how to incorporate micro-credit as a tool for both social justice and evangelism, while John McLevie, Ph.D. shared how we can help minister with the increasing number of international refugees in San Diego.
The Rev. Canon Jack Lindquist explained how the crucifixion can actually be presented as good news to all. Canon Chris Harris demonstrated “Living Wi$ely,” a program which helps people consider personal finances in light of their values -- a great way to present the gospel in terms of the questions people are actually asking.
The diocesan staff workshop introduced new faces in the diocesan office: Canon to the Ordinary Suzi Holding, Director of Development Howard Smith and Treasurer Julie Young. The reorganization of the staff is not merely a matter of new faces, but reflects a new understanding of the staff’s purpose.
Holiness in Relationships
The Holiness in Relationships Task Force released its report on same-sex, and alternative relationships in summer 2009; the leaders, the Rev. Robert Nagy and Suzanne Foucault, presented a workshop and gave a report at convention. They described how over a dozen people representing the full spectrum of views about homosexuality and faith engaged in study and dialog together for over a year.
The amazing outcome was not the lengthy report representing a genuine consensus on a divisive subject, but the deep sense of Christian community and family that developed among them. Task force leaders described their participation as “remarkably, profoundly, powerful,” and “a life-altering experience.”
One of the most striking things Brian McLaren shared in his Saturday keynote was a study documenting that when non-Christians under 30 are asked to describe Christianity, the first word they list is “anti-homosexual.” The next words are “right-wing, hypocritical, and insincere.” The work of the Holiness in Relationships Task Force, and the model for dialogue they share with the diocese, show another way is possible. Even when Christians disagree on human sexuality, it is possible to engage the questions in a way that models the love, charity and respect of Christianity at its best.
Servant Leadership
One of the highlights of the gala banquet on Friday night was the presentation of the first-ever Servant Ministry Awards. Bishop Mathes awarded fifteen people from across the diocese who were nominated by their clergy: JD Cowart; Mark DeMichele; Andy Duvall; Ed Embick; Cathy Gay; MaryAnne Hildebrandt; Rachel Locke; Dale and Marion New; Debby Park; Judith Potter; Dr. Bart Smoot; Lou Toth; Mary Lou Vanderpool; and Beryl Westwood.
Worshiping Together
The Eucharist featured the installation of the Rev. Suzann Holding as our new canon to the ordinary. Canon Holding preached on the commemoration of Absalom Jones, first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church, reminding us that God does indeed equip and empower us to be more ready than we realize to share good news even in times of oppression.
The Business of Ministry
While the business sessions of convention are rarely its most exciting moments, we did hear of the ways in which we are already acting as agents of God’s mission. Camp Stevens has rebuilt many of the buildings damaged in the 2007 wildfires and is looking forward to a full year of summer camps and parish retreats. The Bishop’s School has a new head of school, Aimeclaire Roche, who shared her considerable excitement about her work. Two non-controversial resolutions were passed. For the first time in years, delegates were able to approve a balanced budget. New members were elected to committees and offices over three ballots. For a list of election results, resolutions and highlights visit www.edsd.org.
Mallory Holding, daughter of our new canon to the ordinary, described her experiences as an Episcopal missionary and seminary instructor in Haiti in the days immediately following the January earthquake, in one of the more dramatic reports to convention (see page 8).
The Most Rev. Martin Barahona, bishop of El Salvador gave thanks for the ways in which our companion-diocese relationship with El Salvador expands the mission of both dioceses.
Charles and Anne Dick each received the Bishop’s Cross for different contributions. Bishop Mathes recounted how as diocesan chancellor for sixteen years, Charles Dick has provided thousands of hours of free legal services, as well as especially strong personal support and friendship over the past four years of property litigation. The presentation was one of the most emotional moments of convention. The bishop honored Anne Dick for returning to chair the board of Episcopal Community Services, providing essential leadership and development skills.
The convention concluded with Bishop Mathes’ fifth annual address. He celebrated the love and faith we have for one another throughout the diocese. He gave thanks for the privilege of being our bishop, for being able to lead this diocese together saying, “My friends, I love your passion, your faithfulness, your everything.”
The passion and faithfulness of people throughout the diocese reached their full expression during the two days of convention as we learned that we really are more ready than we realize.