St. Matthew's Episcopal

Church

Pennington, NJ

What's Right about the Episcopal Church!

by

The Rev. Jack Belmont

(June 2006))

This month, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will convene in Columbus, Ohio.  The Episcopal Church will once again be on the evening news!  The issues of human sexuality, Biblical authority and our relationship with the World-wide Anglican Communion will be the headlines.  How this will all play out is to be determined by the elected representatives, both lay and ordained, from each diocese in the United States.  No doubt, there will be debate and disagreement, but in the end, the people of God will decide through voice and vote.  It is not easy to be an Episcopalian in these times, but it is exciting.   The Episcopal Church is the Community I love and one that I firmly believe speaks to the Risen Life of Christ in our time.  We have our sins and shortcomings, but there is much that is right about the Episcopal Church!

Comedian Robin Williams, in an article that appeared a couple of years ago gave ten reasons why he is an Episcopalian:  "(10) No snake handling.  (9) You can believe in dinosaurs. (8) Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them. (7) You don't have to check your brains at the door. (6) Pew aerobics. (5) Church year is color coded. (4) Free wine on Sunday. (3) All of the pageantry – none of the guilt. (2) You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized. (1) No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you."

I like "reason one" the best!  It is this hyperbolic expression that speaks to the great strength of our Church.  The plain simple fact is that we are a church in which total agreement about all issues has never happened!  We are a denomination that, as a product of the Reformation in England and the Elizabethan Compromise, has attempted to steer a course through theological speculation and scholarship that provides broad latitude.  The term via media is applied to the Episcopal way of expressing the great truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It means "middle way."   As Anglicans, we have always striven to allow freedom of inquiry.  We are not locked into one particular theological system or confession as are some of our sister denominations.  We appreciate the thoughts and insights of the great theological minds throughout the history of the Church such as Augustine, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin.  We are informed, but not hemmed in by them.  The ancient creeds of the Church form the boundaries and the backbone of our discussion.  I personally find this freedom a challenging and spiritually healthy though not always comforting place to be.  We are given wide berth and are encouraged to think and ponder the will of God in Christ in our time and place in creation.

The great theological mind of the English Reformation was Richard Hooker.  In his Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, he argues against the shortcomings of both the Protestants and Roman Catholics of his day which offered two extreme positions: the first claiming the absolute authority of Scripture, the second claiming the absolute authority of the tradition of the Church.  In short, he demonstrates both extremes to be only partially correct.  To Scripture and tradition he adds our "God-given Reason."  His ideas have led the Episcopal Church to view authority and God's Truth on what has been referred to as the "three legged stool:" Scripture, Tradition, both understood and interpreted by Reason.  As Anglicans, we are a Church that is informed by God's Word in Scripture, as well as our historical tradition in thought and worship. We understand both Scripture and tradition through our common rational life as the community of faith discerns God's will in our time and place. We believe that God speaks to us today as we discover and learn more and more about the life with which we have been blessed.  We trust that God's Truth is revealed as we seek it in these three ways; to neglect any of the three would diminish our understanding of God's Will.

Hence, we are a Church that studies Scripture with a critical mind.  As we question and study, we affirm that Scripture brings life to us.  In doing so, we believe, to paraphrase John the Evangelist, that "the Word that became flesh dwells among us."  The Bible is paramount in our understanding of how God has chosen to be revealed in history and we believe it is basic to our understanding of God's will for our lives today.   It is our rounding in understanding the life to which God calls us. The Word, interpreted by the Church, speaks to the current circumstance of our existence and to the ongoing process of creation. 

It is cause for struggle as new insights from those who seek truth through scientific discovery open our experience to new ways of looking at the life our Creator has given us.  Yet, we are a Church that remembers the abuses of the past, how the great voices of scientific discovery such as Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin who dared to challenge preconceived notions were silenced and ridiculed.  Today, we listen, dialogue and reason together with all who seek God's truth. 

We are a Church that believes that God also comes to us in prayer and Sacraments.  The outward and visible signs of Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Ordination, Marriage, Healing, and Penance are ways that God's grace through the Holy Spirit enters into our common life.  We find that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives are transformed, and people are healed in miraculous ways that surpass understanding.  The richness of our liturgy is our grateful expression to the power of a loving God in Christ.  In the tradition of common prayer and the breadth of diversity, we Episcopalians know how to celebrate!

 As people of faith, we are conscious of religious extremism, how misguided people in history have wrought unspeakable crimes against others in the name of God.  We see it happening today, when fanatical voices of judgment who claim to know God's will become shrill sounds of fury wreaking destruction on the creatures of God.  It is our sacred obligation to be mindful and obedient to the promises we make in baptism:  As we proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, we seek and serve Christ in all persons.  As we love our neighbors as ourselves, we strive for justice and peace among all people, and we respect the dignity of every human being.  When we are at our best, we are forgiving, loving servants who do our best to avoid judging others, leaving salvation and decisions over who is eligible for heaven up to almighty God.

The Episcopal Church is not perfect and is in continual need of repentance and renewal, as are all institutions touched by humanity.  Yet, I feel personally blessed by God in Christ to be counted as member and priest of this Church.  I believe we have much to offer the world in Christ's name that is right and good.   I am saddened by those on both extremes who would hurt this Church by cruel words and accusations, especially those with whom we break the bread and share the cup.  It becomes apparent to the world we are called to serve when some of us are long in zeal and light in charity! Surely Christians who strive to seek the will of Christ for this sinful and broken world have a common mission.  In our disagreements, we are confronted, challenged and mandated to love as He loved us.  As Episcopalians, we can be the answer to the great high priestly prayer of Jesus: "Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one."  Only we can get in His way! 

As General Convention approaches, I encourage you to enter in His prayer.  Christ's prayer calls for unity in diversity, self-giving love and patience in our struggle to seek truth.  It is not meant to be easy; but it is right!