Enemies?
Reflection by Fr. David Stoddart
He drew a circle that shut me out --
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle that took him in.
From "Outwitted" by Edwin Markham
Some years ago, when the Episcopal Church was still in the throes of debating homosexuality, I served on a reconciliation team in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts. At one point we hosted a weekend conference to which we invited people from across the country who had opposing views on this subject. The theme of the conference was reconciliation: how can we be reconciled to each other when we disagree strongly with each other? The weekend provided a structured and safe way for people to share what they really thought and believed, and to listen as others did the same. It concluded with a healing service. I was deeply moved by the whole experience, as I watched people who had opposite opinions on this emotional topic lay hands on each other, pray for each other, and embrace each other. Connections and friendships were formed by Sunday that few thought were possible on Friday night. And, by God's grace, we achieved our goal: not to change minds, but to change hearts.
We live in contentious times. It has become a truism to say that we are a divided nation, People all along the political spectrum feel like they are not being heard or understood by others with different viewpoints. A member of our parish recently wrote me that he feels attacked for holding conservative political views. Many of my wife's third grade students feel attacked for being Latino. I can't even count the number of people who have shared stories of alienation with me. Hurt feelings abound and people feel divided from each other.
But we cannot be a divided church. Reconciliation is at the heart of our mission and ministry. The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer says, "The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." Such unity does not demand uniformity of thought or opinion: that's why it is so hard. Somehow we must listen to each other and respect each other even when we disagree the most. We cannot change minds, but we can change hearts.
We Christians often forgo genuine reconciliation and settle for "being nice." In practice this means that we only talk about really important things with people we know agree with us. I see that happening at COOS in our current political climate. Parishioners share with like-minded parishioners and avoid any substantive conversation with those they suspect think differently. This is not unity and it does not make for healthy community. We can have no enemies in the church.
So let's begin to change that. Next Wednesday (Feb. 22) we will be holding a Unity Vigil in the church at 7:00pm. People can join us for dinner at WAC at 6:00 if they want, or they can just come for the Vigil. It will be an opportunity for us to be together in community: to pray, to share (for those who want to do so), to listen, and to remember that we are all one in Christ. Nothing which divides us is stronger than the Spirit of Christ who unites us with God and each other in the deepest possible way. Please come join us while we let God draw one great, loving circle around all of us.
In that Love,
David +
We live in contentious times. It has become a truism to say that we are a divided nation, People all along the political spectrum feel like they are not being heard or understood by others with different viewpoints. A member of our parish recently wrote me that he feels attacked for holding conservative political views. Many of my wife's third grade students feel attacked for being Latino. I can't even count the number of people who have shared stories of alienation with me. Hurt feelings abound and people feel divided from each other.
But we cannot be a divided church. Reconciliation is at the heart of our mission and ministry. The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer says, "The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." Such unity does not demand uniformity of thought or opinion: that's why it is so hard. Somehow we must listen to each other and respect each other even when we disagree the most. We cannot change minds, but we can change hearts.
We Christians often forgo genuine reconciliation and settle for "being nice." In practice this means that we only talk about really important things with people we know agree with us. I see that happening at COOS in our current political climate. Parishioners share with like-minded parishioners and avoid any substantive conversation with those they suspect think differently. This is not unity and it does not make for healthy community. We can have no enemies in the church.
So let's begin to change that. Next Wednesday (Feb. 22) we will be holding a Unity Vigil in the church at 7:00pm. People can join us for dinner at WAC at 6:00 if they want, or they can just come for the Vigil. It will be an opportunity for us to be together in community: to pray, to share (for those who want to do so), to listen, and to remember that we are all one in Christ. Nothing which divides us is stronger than the Spirit of Christ who unites us with God and each other in the deepest possible way. Please come join us while we let God draw one great, loving circle around all of us.
In that Love,
David +
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