The Rector's Reflections, October, 2007

      By the time you receive this edition of the Beacon two major events will have taken place in our Diocese. The first is the vote that took place on Sunday, Sept. 16 by approximately 500 members of St. Clement's Pro Cathedral in El Paso. The congregation voted approximately 460 to 40 to disassociate itself from the The Episcopal Church (TEC) the The Diocese of the Rio Grande (DRG).
      The second is that just before the recent House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans (Sept. 20-25) our Diocesan Bishop, Jeffrey Steenson, announced his resignation as Bishop (see letter, page 6). He further stated that he was moving to the Roman Catholic Church.
      Both instances are traumatic for all of us. St. Clement's has been around for over 100 years as a vital part to the life our Diocese. It has a proud history. Deacon Kyra Kerr and Mother Chan Osborn de Anaya were ordained Deacon and Priest at St. Clement's. On that day Bob Lawrence served communion at the request of Bishop Kelshaw. Diocesan wide gatherings have been held there over the years with great hospitality, grace and holiness.
      In working out its departure from the DRG the clergy and leadership of the Pro Cathedral came to an agreement that is going, no doubt, to cause a lot of feelings and expressions of anger and tension. The final agreement worked out by the Bishop, Trustees of Property and Diocesan leadership with St. Clement's comes down to allowing the congregation to keep its property for the $2 million. For some this flies in the face of TEC canons. And they are right. All Church property is in the final analysis owned by TEC.
      In the case of St. Clement's and our Diocese the Presiding Bishop and her Chancellor were kept up to speed and fully informed at all stages. So far they have not objected.
      I support the decision and emailed Bishop Jeffrey a note of support. I think it is the reconciling thing do. St. Clement's will continue in its own way to carry on its work of the Good News in El Paso and on the border. The Diocese will receive a large and regular interest payment that would perhaps fulfill the church's fair share assessment. The DRG need not pay out large amounts of its budget for court and legal expenses. If I were on the Trustees I would have voted for the plan with the agreement of TEC.
      Regarding Bishop Jeffrey's decision to resign and leave TEC for Rome , it is a decision that I know he has struggled with deeply and for a long time. Carol and I are personally pained for him and Debbie. Jeffrey has reached a point where he can in conscience no longer be a part of the Episcopal Church. His objection to the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, his refusal to attend the installation of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori are only the most recent personal disagreements he has strongly felt in a history of struggle to come to accommodation with TEC.
      For several years Bishop Steenson was a member of the Synod, the grandparent of a variety of present day traditionalist organizations. If memory serves me, he was, for a long time its director.
      The road to the present decision has been long. Like John Henry Newman in the 19th century he has reached a point where the Church of Rome makes more sense to him. I can only say, “God bless you, Jeffrey. I wish you a rewarding and fulfilling life.”
      My first reaction on hearing the news was, “Why?”. Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church are, at least for this former Roman Catholic, the proper understanding and expression of Catholicism. Anglicanism, since the creation of the Book of Common Prayer in 1549 synthesizes the best of the continental (Lutheran) reformation while retaining the best of the ancient traditions and teachings of the Early church and early Church councils. Our “Triple Legged Stool” of Scripture, Tradition and Reason comes to us from Richard Hooker in the 17 th century who adapted the concept from Thomas Aquinas in the 13 th . We integrate and live out the best of both worlds, Catholic and Reformed.

A Struggle With Post-Modernity?

      So then, is it a struggle with post-modernity? Where some perceive a culture of moral relativity and ambiguity with the perceived rejection of absolutes others see pluralism, inclusivity and diversity as means of discovering paths towards absolutes. Is it a struggle with those early church thinkers and theologians who some understand as teaching the final answers while others work to apply their writings to present day contexts?
      Perhaps it's a combination of all of the above. Whatever the reasons, we are now without one more voice at the table. A voice that could often times be one of pastoral honesty, moderation and caution. Bishop Steenson, regardless of his points of view, has been extraordinarily kind to St. Bede's. His support of an Interfaith Center was a stretch for him. His acceptance and support of ordinands from St. Bede's and his active work in helping them to find job options after ordination has been generous and gracious. There are other instances which are “under the seal” which will never be forgotten.
      I do know one thing for certain and that is the time has come for Anglicanism and TEC to engage in a re-think. The Anglican theologian, Keith Ward, has written a book, Re-Thinking Christianity, (Oneworld Publishing, Oxford 2007) which shapes what I believe to be the ground for the start of a new conversation. There are others, e.g., Liberal Theology by the Protestant Theologian, Paul C. Hodgson, (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2007) On the more conservative side is, Radical Orthodoxy: A New Theology , by John Millbank (Routledge, NY, NY 1999, 2000). These theologians and others are creating new directions for theology and contemporary religious understanding. I studied under Keith Ward this past summer at Oxford . His course was entitled “Re-Thinking Christianity”. I came away and continue to be excited.
      I can't forecast the future direction of the DRG. But I do know that St. Bede's is not unaccustomed to storms and turmoil. Since the day I arrived here I became assured that St. Bede's, amongst all its many, many holy and good qualities, is a beacon of resilience and faith. These are the qualities that make our parish shine and be a light in the darkness. We know how to live out the words of Bishop Barbara Harris, “We are an Easter People in a Good Friday World.”
      Bishop Steenson's resignation takes effect January 1, 2008 . He will be with us on November 10 for the ordination of Randy Lutz to the Sacred Order of Priests. Let's greet Jeffrey with love and support on that day. We are probably a rare refuge in the storm that surrounds him.

The Church will Become Holier

      Let us pray for our Diocese, our Bishop and his family. Let us pray for the possibilities of the future that lies ahead for us. The Church will survive and become stronger and holier with our work, our faith, our hope, our will. God will lead us. We just need to do the legwork.

          God Bless Us All.
          Peace
          Fr. Richard

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© 2007 St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico