Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Thoughts before General Convention... Read: ramblings.

Recently Seminary of the Southwest had a discussion regarding the upcoming General Convention, and what this will mean for the Episcopal Church as votes come in either for or against the Episcopal Church blessing same sex marriages.  Two professors (Dr. Scott Bader-Saye and The Rev. Dr. Nathan Jennings) delivered presentations regarding various perspectives on same sex blessings in the Episcopal Church.  The conversation, in a nutshell, was about how people can minister to other people about sexuality, regardless of what our own feelings are on the matter.  After the presentations, we had a very honest Q&A time, followed by breaking up in small groups to talk about our own thoughts/hopes/fears going into this General Convention and as people being formed to be priests.  It was a refreshing conversation for me, and it caused me to confront some of my fears going into my ministry in a parish and student center.  I'm honored that I'm able to go to General Convention, but I can't now know how heavy my heart will be as I board my return flight from Indianapolis to Waco.

I struggle with the fact that I believe that the Episcopal Church should bless same sex marriages, but that I don't want to be exclusive to those who are struggling with that.  (I also struggle with the fact that I don't want one belief of mine to define the entirety of my ministry.  Not everything about my ministry has to do with the sexual orientation of other people.)  All people should be shown love by the Church, regardless of their belief on the matter.  God's love isn't intended to be divisive, it is intended to call the kingdom of God into unity.  Still, the way we interpret God's love and blessing leaves us with sides, and as clergy I feel like I have to figure out how to minister to the "other side" of where I stand even though I hate that there are sides.

I recognize that, as clergy, we minister to people, not ideologies.  This must mean that we minister to people without asking first what their opinion is on the blessings of same sex marriages.  I can say that fairly easily, but I think I have to clarify that this isn't a plea for us to diminish this concern or act like it isn't important.  It is important!  It needs to be talked about.  We need to recognize as an institution any hatefulness that has been shown to people in same sex partnerships.  It is that very need to talk about this that is why I care so much.  Unfortunately, "we minister to people, not ideologies," forgets that this is, in fact, ALL about people.  There are people who want same sex marriages, there are people who do not, and they are all people.  We cannot pretend that this will ever simply be an ideology.

How can the Episcopal Church be prophetic, without excluding the beliefs of some Christians?  I wonder if being truly prophetic is not taking a side so much, as it is recognizing a reality and claiming it.  I don't know if that can be done without it seemingly being a choice of two sides, but I certainly believe claiming a reality is healthier than giving into choosing one side of a binary.

I think the solace I find comes from the recognition that ministry in light of the decisions made by General Convention is still just that: ministry.  It means being a non-anxious presence.  It means not projecting my issues onto anyone else.  It means loving people before and after I know their opinions.  It means listening closely.  It means praying for and with them.  It means recognizing that there isn't anyone God hates.  It means worshipping God.

My biggest desire is this: I want the Episcopal Church to bless same sex marriages, and I want people who are uncomfortable with that to know that the Episcopal Church should still be a place they can worship.  I do not want one issue to define the Church, unless that issue is the grace, love, and gift of God.  I do not want there to be a scarcity of love.  I want the decisions of General Convention to show love, encourage love, and send us back to our congregations to love people -- ALL the people -- not the opinions and ideologies that bring us to division rather than unity.