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!