A Different Kind of Church

by Carrie Graves
Trinity Cathedral, Columbia offers Eucharist at 7:30 am on Wednesday mornings, but on this Wednesday morning, September 23, 2015, more than a dozen Episcopalians from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina attended an altogether different kind of church. 

As if in a narthex on a Sunday morning, dozens of churchgoers gathered, but in the Gallery of the SC Supreme Court, talking happily among themselves despite the quiet tension floating around the room. Many arrived more than an hour early for this “coffee hour” with no coffee. There was going to be a tight crunch on seating.

Those present, although many were clergy of differing theological beliefs, were there to listen, to show support, and to pray for all involved.

We were there for the SC Supreme Court Hearing – The Protestant EpiscopalChurch in the Diocese of South Carolina and Others, Respondents v. TheEpiscopal Church (a/k/a The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States ofAmerica) and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, Appellants. The Appellants were there to ask that a ruling made after a 14-day trial in July 2014 by Judge Diane Goodstein (stating that The Diocese of South Carolina had the right to break away from the larger Episcopal Church and take its property with it) be overturned.

Although attending an 8:00 am Eucharist just to get a seat at the 10:30 service is not the norm in The Episcopal Church, observers who were gathered in The Gallery poured into the courtroom to sit in on a 10:00 hearing in order to guarantee seats for the 10:30 hearing concerning their Church. The court staff urged everyone to “scoot together” and fill up all the benches. There was not a seat to be had, and the aisles were lined with chairs, ironically reminiscent of an Easter morning service.

Getting settled I put my pocket book under the “pew” in front of me, making sure not to have it interfere with the kneelers – except, there were no kneelers and these weren’t pews. And there were so many clergy (from the entities on both sides of the argument), they nearly outnumbered the lay people. And they were sitting in the pews instead of behind the "altar."

Feeling like I was in a dream (it was pretty warm in the small room with more than 100 in attendance), I looked up at the not-altar and studied the symbol over it that was not a cross or a stained glass window of Jesus. It was the stamp of the SC Supreme Court indicating that it is the highest court in SC. We were in a civil court, not God’s court. 

When the Bailiff stated “All Rise!” we all rose, preparing to sing to opening hymn. But, no hymn. The court proceeded, not processed, straight into arguments for the case preceding the Episcopal Church hearing.

The case began with the Appellants (The EpiscopalChurch and The Episcopal Church in South Carolina) attorney, Blake Hewitt’s, arguments. The justices asked questions regarding the hierarchical nature of and authority in The Episcopal Church, and about the Dennis Canon of 1979, which modified The Episcopal Church's Canons in an attempt to create an express trust in favor of The Episcopal Church should a faction of a local parishes seek to withdraw from the Church. The Episcopal Church maintains that, legally, any officer of any official institution must maintain his/her fiduciary trust responsibility on behalf of the Episcopal Church.

  

The Dennis Canon states that “All real and personal property held by or for the benefit of any Parish, Mission, or Congregation is held in trust for this Church [i.e., TEC] and the Diocese thereof in which such Parish, Mission or Congregation is located. The existence of this trust, however, shall in no way limit the power and authority of the Parish, Mission or Congregation otherwise existing over such property so long as the particular Parish, Mission or Congregation remains a part of, and subject to, this Church and its Constitution and Canons.”

Neutral principles, the primary argument used by the Respondents attorney, Alan Runyon, applies civil corporate, contract and trust laws to a dispute of this nature rather than deferring to the Church’s internal rules. (U.S. Supreme Court, 1979, Jones v. Wolf)

In 2012, Mark Lawrence left The Episcopal Church, taking more than half of the parishes of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina with him, as well as the name, diocesan seal and jointly held (by all parishes in the Diocese) diocesan camp and conference center, Camp St. Christopher. The Episcopal Church maintains that only individuals, not groups, can dissociate from The Episcopal Church, which would prohibit a group’s taking property from the Church one wants to leave.

The Diocese of South Carolina and 18 parishes then sued The Episcopal Church to retain more than $500 million in parish properties, Camp St. Christopher and the name and seal of the Diocese.

The justices asked many questions about the hierarchical nature of the Church and the vows that a bishop takes to “conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the [Protestant] Episcopal Church [in the United States of America]” when he or she is consecrated. Justice Toal pointed out that in the July non-jury trial, The Episcopal Church was deemed to be congregational, run by the parishes, which is contrary to the nature of The Episcopal Church.

Groups in other dioceses that have separated from The Episcopal Church maintain that most of their properties and assets were established long before the Dennis Canon by loyal Episcopalians that would not recognize the theological innovations of the modern Episcopal Church.

One final argument on the side of the Appellants was the nature of non-profit corporations, who, by law, are not authorized to change their articles of incorporation to be in direct conflict with the original articles. Since churches are non-profits, one wonders if this argument would hold up in civil court.

After more than an hour, we were dismissed, not sent out to be who we’ve become in the Eucharist or to do the work of Christ in the world. It was just time to go. There was no lemonade on the lawn without lemonade. There was no guidance or message from a sermon. We will have to wait to see how the story ends. We are the continuing story of the people of God. Being in the court setting was a reminder of all that was missing from the “worship,” and of all the reconciliation work to be done in the future. But for now we can continue to pray without ceasing, see God in each other no matter who or where we are, be formed by the Eucharist, and to pray for the Church and its people, rendering unto God what is God’s.  Amen.

“Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Judaism” With Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

by Robin Smith

Friday September 25, 2015, without thousands of people lining the streets, without hundreds of members of press in your face and without thousands of visible and invisible security personnel, Rabbi  Amy-Jill Levine delivered a message at the Lutheran Seminary in Columbia as powerful and important as the Pontiff’s visit to America.

The meeting started with echoes of Pope Francis' style - she came out into the audience to meet and be with the people who had given up an afternoon to hear what she had to say. “Glad you are here. Do you have any questions you want me to answer?” She went from row to row, group to group relaxing the participants so we could “HEAR” what she was going to say. Then she gave a little more than an hour-long presentation, in true Amy-Jill style. Filled with fast-paced rapid fire truisms, common sense, and humor, it was an intense address (normal delivery speed would have made it a two-hour presentation.) With the amount of information shared at the speed of light it will take some time to process what we heard.

With broad brush strokes and without repeating every illustration, I believe she is trying to tell us that we Christians need to look deeper into Judaism, at the truths it has to offer, and discard the stereotypes that have been projected on our Jewish brothers and sisters. The same is true that Jews need to discard some myths and stereotypes of Christians. Many of our Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, AME and other Christian elements have roots in Judaism. Dr. Levine stressed and stresses that the Christian and the Jew, as well as the church at large, MUST listen to each other, understand each other’s roots and have DIALOGUE that builds relationships rather than stereotypes.

Perhaps on a smaller scale Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is offering the same message of mutual understanding among all people that Pope Francis was commending on his visit to the United States.

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine spoke on her most recent book, Short Stories by Jesus. Several groups in our churches are reading it. Check with your local Episcopal bookstore to pick up a copy, newly released in paperback.

Robin Smith lives in Columbia and is a lifelong Episcopalian, artist, photographer, audio-visual pro and teacher of courses on spirituality and photography.

Down at the Railroad Station

by Jack Evans, St. Timothy's, Columbia

Dateline: Richmond, Virginia, July 25, 2015

It was some three or four months ago that we received a colorful card from my wife Mary’s brother Frank and sister-in-law Arja advising us to hold the above date open for their son Harri’s wedding. We duly recorded the date on all our calendars and stood by for further instructions.

As the day approached we received an invitation with further instructions as to the time and location of said wedding and all the celebrations that went along with it.

During the following weeks I was working hard to gain a full recovery from a terrible fall I had had on Good Friday, April 3^rd off the front porch of a cousin’s house in Calhoun Falls, SC. Fortunately I was able to prepare for the big day coming on July 25.

The wedding was set to take place on the second floor of the Richmond Railroad Station, the reception on the first floor and then back to the second floor for dinner. I was anxious to see how the scenes would be set for this undertaking.

A few weeks prior to the wedding I was honored to be asked to play a speaking part in the wedding by reading Scripture that would be assigned to me as the day approached. It turned out to be verses from Chapters 2 and 8 of the Song of Solomon so I began getting familiar with the script that Solomon presented.

The day of departure finally arrived and we left for Virginia on July 24 with grandchildren Thomas and Anna and all our luggage in the Honda Van. Our son Worthy drove up alone and we all arrived at or about the same time on Friday afternoon. Reservations were set for all of us at a Comfort Suites Inn just north of Richmond and cocktails and dinner were scheduled for that evening. The hotel was great as was the restaurant and a good time was enjoyed by all of us, along with perhaps a hundred other guests.

The wedding day dawned beautifully in the suburbs and we all prepared for the trip to the railroad station. We arrived in plenty of time and the “set” was arranged perfectly for the wedding itself: Plenty of seating with white folding chairs. As we arrived, the tiny clergy lady, a priest from a nearby Episcopal Church was arranging a portable lectern and microphone. She was not really ancient but she did look to be at or near retirement. She was most pleasant and very alert as to all that was happening around her. She briefed me on how she would signal when it was time for me to read and handed me a bible with the total reading taped inside the bible all clear on one sheet of paper. I was the first reader and two others came behind me. We were to hand the bible off to each other.

The beautiful bride and dashingly handsome groom soon arrived for the beginning of the wedding and the priest spoke a few words to them assuring everyone that they accepted each other as man and wife. Then the readings took place. Afterward the priest did the usual reading of the marriage words with a short homily, and then the bride and groom stated their final vows. It was a most spiritual and meaningful wedding ceremony and perhaps the most beautiful unfolding of a wedding I had ever seen or been part of in my lifetime, all taking place in a railroad station with no mention of a church of any kind. The tiny little priest was really effective in proving that God is not restricted to the inside of the four walls of a church but could be present in everything at anytime, anywhere and He was surely present on this particular day in Richmond, Virginia, down at the Railroad Station. 

Amen and Amen.

Jack Evans is a long-time communicant of EDUSC and has served as senior warden and in many other capacities in several parishes.

Freedom Ride 2015: Life Every Voice

by Gavin Kenner, All Saints' Cayce

Gavin Kenner with Presiding Bishop Elect Michael Curry

My name is Gavin Kenner. I am an active member at All Saints’, Cayce. From July 12^th through the 18^th, I was on a mission trip called Freedom Ride 2015: Lift Every Voice. It was about how many people during the Civil Rights Movement protested using non-violence, in their effort to have all people treated equally.

During my mission trip we stayed at Haw River State Park in North Carolina.  About 70 people, from all over the United States, came to this event. We also had participants from South Africa, Cape Town, and Botswana. 

We visited many historic places, like the International Civil Rights Museum where the original Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins occurred. One of the participants in the sit-in was present at the Museum; his name was Joseph McNeil. We visited a plantation that was still standing, called the “Harts Plantation.”  It’s located in Stagville, NC. 

An actor/singer did a play of “Blood Done Sign My Name” on Thursday, and a band called “Beast” did a jazz, free-flowing kind of jam on Thursday, also. Friday was a wrap up of everything.  

We all also got to meet and greet the Presiding Bishop-elect, Michael Curry. On Wednesday we celebrated worship with Curry, and it was a truly moving experience.  When he was preaching his sermon, he focused on one statement that was stated multiple times: “We are in the Jesus Movement and we are part of it!” That caught my attention. He is a wonderful preacher.

I must say Freedom Ride 2015: Lift Every Voice was an experience I will never forget. Freedom Ride is a three-year program and I’ve completed the first year. Next year it will be hosted in South Africa, in Cape Town. I hope I get selected to go! I truly recommend this experience to anyone.

Simplicity and Calm from Wells Cathedral

by Doak Wolfe
Associate for Liturgy, Music and Administration
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia

Awesome” may be the most over- and mis-used word in modern parlance, but it was spot-on for our experience at Wells Cathedral.  You could not help being filled with awe while worshipping God in that ancient and venerable space, as many of our choristers have already written.  But I had another experience, both in worship and in working with the Wells clergy and staff, that rivaled awe: simplicity and calm.  And for me, God spoke as much through the quiet and stillness as through the grandeur and spectacle.

Wells has had more than a thousand years to “work” on the worship of God, and for almost five hundred years the structure of their liturgies has been basically what we are familiar with at Trinity. I couldn’t help feeling that they have used that time to hone and focus.  In their services, there are no unnecessary words, no extraneous movements; everything is simple and direct and therefore important.  The music we provided at Evensong each day was integrated thoughtfully with the other elements of the service: each day the officiant’s prayers and intercessions wove texts that we had sung with the lessons that had been read and with concerns for our world.  Everything had a purpose, and there was enough silence for the purpose to be understood.  As we quietly processed each day over cool, uneven stones worn by centuries of Christians who had done the exact same thing we were doing, the sense of communion was inescapable.

We were welcomed at Wells notsomuch as visitors and guests, but as fellow ministers, and I am very proud that our choristers understood and lived into that role.  Each time we’ve made a pilgrimage to holy places – Gloucester, Canterbury, Assisi, Rome, and even just to other churches in this country – some new depth of understanding has come back with us.  I can’t wait to see how the magnificent serenity of Wells will speak to us at Trinity.

republished with permission from the trinitychoiruktour2015 blog

A Taste of Wisdom

by The Reverend Wayne Kinyon, Chaplain to the Retired, EDUSC

Daily I read my Bible in search of God's truth and ethics, and so I should. Also I read my Bible standing in awe of the great drama of God in history as spread out from Genesis to Revelation. But lately I have been reading my Bible with a fascination for the Bible as dialogue.

Of course the Bible is a place where I am drawn into dialogue with the Holy Spirit, as has been true for Christians down through the centuries. But my current fascination is the dialogues, sometimes the debates, that exist within the pages themselves.

Right off the bat, we have the two creation stories. In one, humankind is the concluding and crowning piece of creation, while in the other a human being is created before the animals, and is created as a servant, a laborer. Each version has its truth to tell and needs to be there, but in details contradicts the other. Later, we have the Book of Job. Of course Job the man is in dialogue, debate, and conflict with the others in the story, even God; but more, Job the book is in loud debate with parts of the Psalms and Prophets which say that if we trust the Lord and follow in his ways, all will be well. And within the Book of Job, are the prose and poetry sections in conflict about the nature of God and his gift of material prosperity? Sometimes in Scripture we see a God who is tough and demanding and sometimes a God who is gentle and easily forgiving. Is He in total control, or is everything the product of free will? Does He love everyone or just those who do his will? The temptation is to believe one strand and ignore the other.

Years ago, a family friend in Oak Ridge, The Rev. Dr. William G. Pollard, a nuclear physicist who later also became a priest, wrote a book: Chance and Providence. From the book and his talks on the topic, I picked up the word antinomy. It means paradox but avoids the idea that somehow the obvious contradiction is to be solved. Using examples from physics, Bill shows that sometimes the nature of a thing (light, for example) is such that one must carefully embrace contradictions (wave versus matter). He sees Genesis 50:20 as an expression of antinomy when Joseph says that what his brothers did to him was evil but God had caused the same event intending it for good. Sometimes seeming contradictions actually hold the greater truth.

I am picturing an elderly woman on the back pew of St. Pius Church saying her beads and a young man in a pentecostal church with hands upraised and praising God in tongues. Which one is the true Christian? Or is Christian worship better understood by knowing both of them? My grandfather did not approve of our Episcopal congregation having Holy Communion available so frequently; when he was a boy, his Congregational Church had the sacrament rarely, but work stopped for days to allow people to prepare themselves spirituality for this important event. Is one right and the other wrong, or does each catch a part of the truth?

And what about two opposite positions on a serious ethical issue, both held by devout Christians? Is it possible that God's truth is not in just one side or the other, but dwells in the tension of the debate?   When should the rule of antinomy apply? 

This piece republished courtesy of the EDUSC Retired Clergy News from Wayne's column, Chaplain's Chat.