The Magdalene Mystique - The Path Inward

This morning I couldn’t help thinking of the Gospel of Mary when I heard Bishop Baxter of Central Pennsylvania speak at the Opening Plenary Session of the UBE Convention. I was reminded of that central portion of the Gospel of Mary when Jesus tells the disciples that “the child of true humanity exists in you!”

Bishop Baxter was the keynote speaker for the morning session of the Convention. He gave what he called his “personal musings” on the meaning of reconciliation. And he gave much more. In the course of his talk he urged us to move from mere toleration of difference into something new. Toleration, he suggested, may be simply “managed hostility.” And the problem with “managed hostility” is that we can’t handle so much hostility. It breaks out unsuspected in what we say and do. Then we behave in ways we thought we never would.

For Bishop Baxter, the Christian tradition calls us to move beyond toleration into transformation. Transformation, he said, does not require that we sacrifice the self - it doesn’t take our humanity away. What transformation does is to allow for “true humanity”; that is, a humanity that rejoices in hope, extends hospitality to the stranger, lives in harmony with others and peacefuly with all.

Bonnie Anderson, the President of the House of Deputies for the General Convention for the Episcopal Church, also gave an address. She hit a similiar theme. She urged all of us to move from mere toleration to advocacy and voice. Silence, she said, on major issues is often taken as an assent and agreement. We need to be more forthright in how we stand.

And for Anderson, we don’t stop at advocacy - we need to move from advocacy to transformation - become transformed in our ears and our hearts. Develop wisdom along with humility and above all, develop new relationships. It is a new day, realize more fully our interconnectedness, realize more fully that “I am because you are.”

Anderson has been a voice for equality and racial justice for many years in the Episcopal Church. She is committed deeply to an anti-racist church, to the UN Millenium Goals and the Episcopal Relief and Development. Click here for futher information about the ERD http://www.er-d.org/aboutus.htm and the Millenium Goals http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

Tomorrow promises to be another awesome day with UBE. I hope you can steal away for a few hours from your 4th holiday to hear the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori preach at 11:00 am Reconciliation Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue. Probably better get there early!

Yesterday was the first day of the UBE (Union of Black Episcopalians) Conference held here in Houston. I, and Richard Miller from Florida, had as our mission to pick up Bonnie Anderson from the airport. Bonnie, the President of the House of Deputies of General Convention of the Episcopal Church, will address the Convention this morning. I will report later her views. Also remember that the Presiding Bishop Kartharine Jefferts Schori will preach at the 11:00 am Memorial Eucharist tomorrow, July 4, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue.

Last night was the Grand Opening Worship Service for the Convention. Christ Church Cathedral was ablaze with candles and ceremony. It was a joyous occasion for all who had travelled across the nation to be there. Before the ceremony at dinner, it was my good fortune to be seated next to the preacher for the evening. He is a writer as well as the Dean of the Cathedral in Newark, New Jersey. We hit it off right away when he began to talk about the book he had written and those that would be published soon. Remember the name The Very Reverend C. David Williams for future reference.

In his preaching Dean Williams took us immediately into the story of Esther, whom you may remember from the Book of that name. Esther was Jewish living in Persia and she, as Williams put it, had some “soul-searching” to do. In her soul-searching Esther, who had attained a position of influence and honor, was able to use her influence to save her fellow-countrymen who were in danger of extermination by the grand-vizier Haman.

We all have some soul-searching to do, exhorted Dean Williams, and I nodded in affirmation. It is a new day, a multicultural environment, new circumstances. A new version of Esther has come before us, he said, and she is YOU. We all have some soul-searching to do. Perhaps there were some gains in the 60’s but we can’t hold on to that - we must stand up to oppression. We must overcome fears, for it is fear that keeps us in the role of slaves, even if we are free. Williams was certainly right when he proclaimed that blacks have been “supplanted and supplanted and supplanted,” and then he asked the crucial question, “Will we ever be equal?”

Toward the end of the sermon, Williams called for a “true partnership church” - one where mutuality and equality and justice are truly lived out. And I pray for that kind of church as so many of us do. And then he recalled the story of Esther who had some soul-searching to do.

I will continue to post some of the treasures I am receiving in my experience as an associate member of the UBE.