Priceless Treasure

Response to Bishop’s Address                           February 10, 2018

East Carolina Diocesan Convention, New Bern , NC

Eric Moulton -St. John’s, Wilmington

Francisca Rios -La Sagrada Familia, Newton Grove

Tom Wilson -All Saints, Southern Shores

Melissa Glen -The Well, ECU Campus Ministry

Jettie Pelletier -Christ Church, New Bern

Priceless Treasure

Thank you Bishop Rob for your address, which was a treasure, and after four conventions you are still uncovering treasures of old and new. One of the Treasures we discovered in the Committee for the Bishop’s Response was to find out how diverse we were on this committee of five. We are different and we all were facing transitions in our lives, our churches and communities. We were especially touched by the question you asked us to "pray for those who live in fear and for those who bear the responsibility for making difficult decisions."  In your workshop you expanded that circle of compassion of how to enter into listening with those with whom we disagree. You shared the story of your sharing a Holy Space as you listened to a fellow child of Christ with his love for guns, less important than the love of his family. It seemed to us that you were a model of changing the empty time in a flight into Kairos time, the time which had fully come for both of you. You remind us that we who follow a rule of life in Christ are caught in a crossfire of love for people of all sides of the argument and how the path to advocacy must avoid the trap of demonizing our opponents, who remain our sisters and brothers in Christ.  Richard Rohr in his meditation yesterday wrote: “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.” Thank you Bishop for practicing the better

You never tire of reminding us of the commandment not to be afraid and let me let the other members of this committee share one of their fears and ask how the church may help, or has helped, us live with those fears and not be overwhelmed by them and we invite you to follow our example to practice the better.

Jettie Pelletier -Christ Church, New Bern:

“Our follow up discussion following the Bishop’s address lead us to discussion of FEAR regarding the hot topics he touched on this morning. So we decided to share what our fear might be? My fear is that our young people will become more desensitized through the continued use of social media. I can already see the loss of conversations among many of our young people. How can we prevent this and what are we doing as a church to include our youth and young families in more dialogue assuring them of God’s love and helping them with their “rule of life”?”

Eric Moulton -St. John’s, Wilmington:

“In an increasingly secular age, and with the dramatic rise of the religiously “unaffiliated”, known as “The Nones,”  my fear is that the church is ill-equipped to respond both to the challenge and opportunity of Gospel engagement within a ‘cross-pressured’ society that is asking huge life-questions and seeking answers anywhere but the church.”

Francisca Rios -La Sagrada Familia, Newton Grove:

“When Bishop Rob visited La Sagrada Familia last year, he shared a very powerful and meaningful message;"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

My fear is that all the commotion caused by our world's troubles (as mentioned in the Bishop's address) but in particular our nation's broken immigration system (as I experience firsthand the impact on those affected) will cause us to become so weary that we let the burdens overshadow that powerful and meaningful message which gives us love and hope.”

Melissa Glen -The Well, ECU Campus Ministry:

“My fear: I am afraid that if we keep letting our selfish and prideful attitudes keep us from being honest about our feelings, especially our fears then all open communication will disappear as we know it, but more importantly that love will disappear as we know it

Fear. 1 word, 4 letters. It's something logically no one should have if they have faith in God. However, it is something realistically everyone has, because they are human. It is in our opinion that the issues and the hate our world is facing are most often fueled by fear-- fear of the future, fear of what's different from us, and fear that we will individually one day become obsolete.

The solution we see is not to merely  try harder to be less afraid but rather to acknowledge these fears and share them with others to find common ground and a common answer.

So with that being said we would like to invite everyone here to be bold. . When you get your evaluation form by e-mail take a moment to use the comment section and share one of the things about which you might have some fear and share it and it will be forwarded to the Bishop for his better understanding of what is happening with his friends in the diocese and as a way of asking for his prayers”

Bishop, we are encouraged by your commitment to Safeguarding all of God's children and while working for justice, holding on to the hope of reconciliation and healing in ways that are beyond the imagination of us mere mortals, but our reach should exceed our grasp as the poet reminds us.

We applaud your ideas that the Diocese is not only in a waterlogged building in Kinston but wherever two or three gather in worship and work. We are scattered in this diocese but are strengthened by your attempts to gather us together in new structures of ministry to face the economic and social problems that have not lessened in the time you have been with us. We are asked to remember Dr. King's words that while the ark of the universe does bend toward justice, it is very long.

You proposed an action plan and were reminded about a "rule of life". On that idea we would like to point out that a "Rule of Life" in not about things to DO, but a rhythm of life - how can one live fully into who they created to be 

We called you as our Bishop, knowing that you were in a committed loving relationship with Sandy and we ask that you continue to be a role model for us on how to take time off from all the work that you (and every one of us) do not have the time to do and to take the time to love and cherish your family. You point out how the church has a habit of ignoring exploitation and you are right but there is also the exploitation of the people who work for us by demanding ALL of their time.

If you remember last week's Gospel lesson from Mark, Jesus had hundreds of requests for healing and after a VERY busy day-- he goes off by himself to a lonely place to nourish his soul. Jesus knew, and Mark passes on to us who are members of the body of Christ in this world, that God's indwelling Spirit feeds us with vision and strength away from all that we "DO".

Also as we come to this coming Sunday's Gospel lesson Jesus takes a few of his disciples to the Mount. There they enter into silence to hear God. Peter ruins it by going into a list of building projects.

Knowing that you are an introvert we are worried that you Plans of Actions, which are wonderfully focused on healing the problems of the world and what we can "DO”, leaves a hole in Being.

A suggestion might be that you lead by example and attend a quiet day a quiet day for clergy and lay persons in each deanery where a local Spiritual Director leads the Quiet Day and side conversations, questions or consultations with the Bishop by other persons at the retreat be strictly prohibited. Come BE with us. Remember we begin our services with "The Lord BE with You" instead of "May the Lord give you a series of tasks to accomplish in the next hour!" We must be aware that the response is always "And also with you (or "With thy Spirit)" is always the reply. 

 It has been good for us to have you BE with us for these last four years we have been blessed and we pray that we will also be a blessing for you.

One of the ways I like to think is to do a poem

The Priceless Treasure

That one treasure was buried there they knew

from long ago said filled with jewels and gold.

Unearthing a lock of which they'd been told

dug two scribes; hands of one old, one new.

Lock melted in their touching hands becoming

a beating heart pulsating in that lonely place

changing time to Kairos and air to Holy Space,

two hands; like on an instrument strumming.

Hands had none in common in the body except

of remembering vaguely of the old ancient tale

about the one speaking Word to void the sale

of souls to the Gods of violence and disrespect

Hands pulled out string of pearls, long out of fashion

to wrap round their shoulders a sign of compassion.