The Joy of Being Called

The Joy of Being Called

Today has been a day of profound joy and grace.  It started out early with my testimony at the committee on Social Justice and US Policy.  I spoke to the resolution on removing the Confederate Battle Flag from personal, public, governmental, and religious use.  Although I had my whole testimony written out beforehand, I was still nervous and shook the entire time I was testifying.  Thankfully, the committee was supportive of the resolution and didn't ask any followup questions.  Of the three people who testified, two of us spoke in favor of it and one person spoke against.  The person who was opposed was a young person and I have to admit it broke my heart to hear him testify to a need to make room for people to be able to fly that flag. The committee quickly voted to accept the resolution and so, the resolution will now go before the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops for consideration.

After that meeting I headed to the Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Church Music.  People were testifying to a resolution that would put a naming rite in the new revision of the Book of Occasional Services.  The people testifying were a cool mix of transgender people, who hoped the rite would give them the opportunity to celebrate with their church family a very important step in self identity, and monastics who wanted the rite to be able to celebrate their decision to enter a religious order.  It will be interesting to see what the committee decides. 

From there it was on to worship.  The music for the last few days has been a jazz group.  Today, we switched to Native American music that consisted mostly of an awesome and incredibly powerful drum circle and a haunting native flute.  Needless to say, the music was beautiful.  The preacher was a younger native clergywoman who did a fantastic job of speaking to her journey of faith within the context of the gospel passage.  It was incredibly refreshing and grounding to hear her witness and I really appreciate the breadth of diversity in the preaching at GC.  At the end of the service, the Bishops of the Church were all asked to leave together and head to the Cathedral where they would begin the process of electing a new Presiding Bishop.  Seeing them leave from the midst of the congregation was powerful but at the same time, my heart ached for the lack of gender and ethnic diversity amongst their ranks. 

Our morning legislative session began shortly after worship finished and was mostly marked by celebrating the 230th anniversary of the House of Deputies.  That body has been around a very long time.  After acknowledging some of the past leaders of the House and celebrating their ministry, we moved on to legislation.  Although we tried to work, most of the morning was spent in anticipation of one thing - the results from the House of Bishop's on the election of the Presiding Bishop.  Right before we were to recess for lunch the delegation showed up.  But instead of telling us who they voted for, they had to give the news to the confirmation committee first.  That committee had to sit behind closed doors for almost an hour before coming out with the result to tell to the over 800 people in the house at the time.  

To say that there was great joy in the announcement of the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry being elected, would be an understatement. The news of his election filled the house with an overwhelming sense of elation and hope.  There was singing and clapping and crying and hugging.  I truly believe that Bishop Curry is the right person to lead this church forward and with him as our leader, all of us will grow in faith and love of Jesus Christ. 

After Bishop Curry and his family came to the House to be welcomed, we headed into recess so that we could all get a quick lunch.  It was already 3:00!  After lunch we came back into session and passed an important resolution to recommit ourselves to the work of racial reconciliation as a church.  The committee that proposed this resolution asked for a large chunk of money to do that work and thankfully, the House passed the resolution with little argument.  

Today was a day of hearing God's call and responding.  My testimony before the Social Justice Committee was a call that I felt laid on my heart after Charleston.  I am tired of not speaking out for fear of offending someone.  Part of the role of priest, whether we of the cloth like it or not, is to be a prophet.  That is a hard call to embrace, but this morning, with a little shaking in my voice, I tried my best.  Our preacher at the morning Eucharist spoke of the power of her call to ministry and how that has shaped not only her life but the life of her community for the better.  The election of Bishop Curry as our next Presiding Bishop came about because the Bishops of our Church listened to where the Spirit is calling us as a faithful people in this time and place.  Finally, the House of Deputies stepped up and accepted the call to do something about the structures of racism that are present within our communities by supporting legislation aimed at eradicating the problem.  God calls each of us to big and small acts of faith everyday.  The Church is in a time of discernment where we are trying to know where God is calling us next.  But God doesn't just speak to large groups.  God speaks to each of us.  Calling us to a myriad of actions and thoughts and decisions that grow the kingdom.  Today, I saw all the good that can come when we are faithful enough to hear that call and act in faith.  Please pray that in the days to come we might continue to be open to where God is calling us as a church and as individuals, and when we hear that voice, may we embrace the call, trusting in our loving and redeeming God to go with us on the journey.