Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:41:50 -0400
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I am pleased to be able to commend to you an exchange that I have had this week with Dr. Lionel Deimel (associated with Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh), entitled "Once More, Clearly and Charitably: Deimel and Wells on the Issues before Us," here: http://deimel.org/church_resources/deimel-wells.htm Remarkably enough, Nick Knisely has become an interlocutor with us as well--already!--and has written a piece engaging our exchange which may be found on Nick's blog, here: http://www.entangledstates.org/ So perhaps read Nick's thing, and if it sounds interesting, read Lionel's and my exchange.
A word about what we've done from my perspective. We conceived of the series of pieces jointly with a view to clarifying the immediate issues before our Convention to do with the nature of the church and "communion." In particular, how shall we proceed regarding the Special Commission's resolutions in response to the Windsor Report?
This task was a real stretch for both of us as we ostensibly, seemingly disagree about a great deal. You may recall, however, that when Mark Harris (and Elizabeth Kaeton) commended several of Lionel's essays to our listserv recently, I also commended them, and particularly his piece analyzing the Special Commission's resolutions as the best analysis from the "left" that I had seen. And yes, I did register several concerns about his arguments, as well. When he wrote to me by email, therefore, I was interested to see if we could have a fruitful exchange in writing, responding to one another's thought; and after praying about it, he agreed this sounded good. Et voila!
If nothing else, we aimed 1. to be clear about the issues before us, while acknowledging their complexity and difficulty as necessary, and 2. to be charitable in our writing and thinking--that is, evincing an exemplary habit of listening to the other person, so as to communicate respect and demonstrate our desire to understand his animating passions and fears.
I think we did pretty well at it, given the time constraints; though we are sorry to be sharing this with you all now rather than, say, two weeks ago. Perhaps this also is providential, however (isn't everything?). Please know that we have tendered these pieces in charity to you all, as well, not to be pedantic or to hear ourselves go on and on (I can see Mike Russell's eyebrow lifting in suspicion), but to be of service in our corporate thinking as we head into these most interesting days--the culmination of a great deal of work and prayer for many of us. And to what end? Greater understanding? A larger sense of the mystery of God's call on our lives, together, in the Church of Christ ? A deeper love for one another?
Hopefully yes in each case; and yet only the most non-observant person could think that we have done all that we need to do--that we've got this church and "communion" thing down, and can get on with other things. Lionel and I also thought this was worthwhile to do, therefore, as a kind of downpayment on the sort of substantive, reflective dialogue that we hope will take place in our church more and more, and indeed capture our imaginations long after this Convention is finished. For what future could we possibly have together if we do not habitually cultivate the discipline of thinking together in charity about truth? Not one that God is leading us into.
Pray for a more reflective church! A church that knows why it is in communion with itself! There may be nothing more pressing to do, oddly enough, for our common mission; since the point after all of being "one" is for the sake of the world (Jn 17).
Gratefully yours in Christ,
Christopher Wells
L3 N Indiana 2006; member of Special Commission and Legislative Committee
P.S. This message comes to you from the Drury Inn in Columbus , OH .
--
Unless this message is clearly in the public domain, e.g. a press release, it may not be redistributed without its author's permission.
See http://hobd.org/help.html for information about the Bishops and Deputies list, including information about changing or ending your subscription.