Snatching Defeat From The Jaws of Victory

I read and respect Lionel Deimel's thoughts. So, when I disagree with him, I stop and ask myself: why? Herewith then some thoughts on that. First, however, you should read Lionel's blog, Lionel Deimel's Web Log where in, “Reviving an Old Proposal” he sets out his case. Go ahead, do it now.

There is something to be said for the idea of a sabbatical. The Episcopal Church (TEC) has indeed been battered and torn by the incessant attacks of the hateful. Taking ourselves away from the conflict does have an appeal. The hateful might then attack the church with the largest concentration of lesbian and gay clergy and the most gay bishops: The Church of England (CoE.) Other provinces that have let their anti-Americanism overtake their good sense letting the hateful take shots at TEC would still participate actively in the Anglican Communion. Suddenly our absence might not appear so desirable. We meanwhile could attempt to heal.

Besides, we face exhaustion. We have been defending a simple idea – Christian inclusion – for decades. The hateful have been attacking, ever more nasty and sophomoric for those decades. Attempting to be reasonable when the attacks are consistently venal, ad hominem and cheap takes a huge amount of energy.

The presiding bishop in particular might well be simply tired. Since her installation, she has faced a series of personal shots about her dress, vestments, figure and even hair style no man would have to withstand. Her critics by the way go berserk if a commenter says something like, “misogynist." Incidentally, once in a great while they attack her ideas, generally badly. Yes, exhaustion is reasonable.

So why am I against sabbatical?

First the matter of ministry. We are told to love one another, care for the poor and cry justice to power. If we cannot feed the hungry, or house the homeless, there is little reason for us to exist. In my own parish, there has been a noticeable swagger, a sense of meaning since we adopted a sister congregation in Sudan. The day they do not need us we will almost certainly seek someone else with whom to partner. We cannot give that up and neither can TEC. We are in the ministry business.

If we absent ourselves from the councils of the Anglican Communion, we implicitly are not in it. To that extent, then we are no longer potential ministry partners. And we give up the other aspect of ministry vital to a communion, proclamation. Where does a church whose corporate name is "The domestic and foreign missionary society go if it is confined to its shores?

As it does for couples, it becomes increasingly difficult for communities to come together after even a short separation. For churches, liturgical development, hymns, seminary studies, Sunday school curricula and the like not shared or discussed become areas for new disagreements. Reconciliation grows out of conversation not separation.

There is another impact of change combined with separation. Somehow both we and the hateful will survive at least as institutions. We may come to that terrible point where we think we can say to the other, “I have no need of you.” I think this is analagos to the observation that once divorced persons often become multiply divorced persons because they know they can get through the process.

Finally sabbatical is wrong because the hateful have lost. Consider the recent “Global South” conference. The organizers specified that only those who agreed to the “Covenant” might attend. They planned a ceremonial signing of that document and a transmittal to the archbishop of Canterbury. Day four when this was to happen, speeches were made, the outline of the new denomination's agenda presented and then nothing happened. Clearly in the private sessions, the planners lacked the votes to proceed. The ending of the conference was not some grand anti-American anti-Canadian event, it was a simple goodbye with limos to the airport.

Declaring ourselves 'on sabbatical' now would let the hateful claim victory. At exactly the moment we should shout out that God calls ALL, we would be hanging our heads, handing the polity to the haters and abandoning the lbgt folk in other provinces who pray that we will help liberate their faith.

Sabbatical is the wrong idea at the wrong time. As tempting as I can find it to let England be the province with the most gay bishops, and to let Dr. Williams entertain witch-hunters in his space; I think I am wrong. In fact the vengful anger and sly joy I feel when I contemplate England under the attack and venom Gaf(fe)Con uses convinces me of two things:

• I am sinful
• Sabbatical is wrong.

FWIW

jimB