“Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (BCP prayer 27)
I am writing this from New Brunswick, NJ where I am attending a meeting of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. One of the blessings of serving the wider Episcopal Church is being present to the extraordinary diversity that is the Body of Christ. It is often easy for us to get trapped in our parochial or local context into believing that the Church looks, acts, and speaks just like, or only like, we do. Worse though is when or if we slip into thinking that our local context, our local expression of the Church, is the only definition of what it is to be faithful.
As the results of the Presidential Election settle in, it is clear that diversity of political opinion abides in our Church. Episcopalians of good faith voted for both candidates in the presidential race. There are Episcopalians of good faith who are pleased with the election results, AND there are Episcopalians of good faith now struggling to understand the consequences of the results. Some are rejoicing in hope. Many are watching in fear.
All people of good faith, however, are called to be united in the mission of Jesus Christ. All of us are called to live fullly into our Baptismal identity as the body of Christ. As our new Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe, said in his letter to the Church:
“Regardless of our political allegiances, we must remember that God has called us in The Episcopal Church to seek and serve Christ in all persons. No matter the party in power, we are one church, and we will continue to fulfill our baptismal covenant by proclaiming in word and example the Good News of God in Christ, striving for justice and peace among all people, and protecting the dignity of every human being.”
This is our time to be the Church, to be ambassadors for Christ–agents of peace and reconciliation committed to the Gospel of love. Let us pray for the elected administration, and all who govern, that they may be guided by wisdom, charity, and justice. And let us be renewed and strengthened in our witness and service to Jesus Christ our Lord and His way of life, liberty, reconciliation and love for all.
I encourage all congregations in the Diocese of Alaska you substitute the Renewal of Baptismal Vows for the Nicene Creed at worship this coming Sunday, November 10.
