Standing in the Whirlwind

I'm taking a few minutes out from what has been a whirlwind kinda week to tell you about this book.  I'll be on my way to LSD (Lower, Slower Delaware) tomorrow to rest up from the week that was before returning to face the New Year, so I probably won't be posting anything until tomorrow evening.

When we haven't been celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, we've been clearing out the sacristy for the renovation.  It will take about four weeks but when it's done, we'll have lots more room to move around and lots more organized storage space.  It's very exciting, but hupboy, what a chore to empty, purge and then reorganize.

 I got the space where we're storing stuff all organized so we can have some semblance of order over the next few weeks, did a few pastoral calls, got the bulletins done, did some chores and then settled in to "start" (yeah, right - "start") this book.

It's called "Standing in the Whirlwind: The Riveting Story of a Priest and the Congregations That Tormented Her," by Nancy C. James.

I know.  Not exactly the best read after the exhaustion of Christmas.  A clergy sister recommended it to me.  I ordered it and it came in the mail today.   I got home around 4:30, started to 'browse' and haven't been able to put it down.   I'm about 3/4 of the way through.  'Riveting' is a good descriptive.

This is how the inside jacket describes the book:

'Standing in the Whirlwind' focuses on the author's tumultuous tenure as a rector of two rural Episcopal parishes in Virginia after working at a Washington, D.C. jail and teaching at Lorton Reformatory. Initially, both of the author's parishes supported her charitable idea of inviting homeless African American individuals from Washington, D.C. to periodically join them for picnics. However, this acceptance quickly changes to a malicious plot of a few parishioners who begin to mercilessly harass her, kill her pets, damage her property, and actually attempt to arrange her "accidental" death. Some members of local law enforcement even take bribes, turning their backs on her cries for help.

This is a true story.  You can't make this stuff up.

This is probably one of the more extreme situations I've ever heard of, and I've been at this for 23+ years, but sadly, it is very believable.

The presenting issue in this case is, of course, racism, but the fact that the rector was a woman can not be easily dismissed as not being a contributing part of the dynamic.  Not surprisingly - at least, not in The Episcopal Church - issues of class are also a factor.

A rector - of either gender - has life tenure, so s/he can not be summarily fired without cause.  And even then, it is the bishop who declares a 'dissolution of pastoral relationship'. 

When most congregations begin to understand this - that there can't be a 'backroom business deal' (unless that's what the priest either agrees to or is coerced into) - they can then settle down and work out a reasonable, equitable settlement that is fair to both the clergy as well one that does not inflict any more wounds on the Body of Christ.

In most situations I've been privy to,  however,  the Wardens and Vestry try to 'scare off' the priest, usually by escalating the tensions so as to drive away members or average Sunday attendance, drive down pledging units and amounts, make mission and ministry impossible and/or to soil - or ruin - his or her good name. 

It's pretty clear to me that the bishop in this case - and, oh, by the way, except for parishioners, the author names's names - by his turning a blind eye, only emboldened the 'good folk' of both rural congregations and made the situation worse.

Oh, he came riding in on his white horse at the end, but it was too late to save anything but his own sense of himself.  Reading that chapter was a bit like watching a Greek drama - so sadly, tragically predictable.

Thankfully, the current crop of bishops seem more savvy and knowledgeable about these situations.   The "College of Bishops" seems to be having a tremendous effect on helping bishops become the leaders they were elected to be.

What is most impressive about this priest is that she never seems to lose the center of her spirituality.  James finds strength and solace in remembering the roots and wings of her Alaskan childhood as well as in the mystical theology of Mme. Jeanne Guyon, who was incarcerated by Louis XIV for being a female religious thinker.

For my money, the central story here is the story of the gospel. Once the rector tried to get both "communities of faith" to move from being a sleepy little rural 'country club at prayer' and into the mission of the gospel, all hell broke loose.  Yes, it was about racism.  Yes, it was about sexism.  Yes, it was about classism.  But, mostly, i was about the power of the gospel.

There is so much rich stuff in here - issues of power and authority, the destructive nature of secrets, the way the Gospel message continues to disturb and convict - that will have to be the subject for another day and time. 

I'm going back to finish the book before I put my head down on my pillow tonight.  Yeah, it's that good.  I know the way the story ends.  That's not what I'm looking for in the remaining pages of this book.

I'm looking at this sister priest as someone who has much to teach me about the ultimate power of spirituality which is shaped by the authenticity and truth-telling which is inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm hoping to be taught something more about how to stand up for the Gospel - and yourself - in the face of Evil borne by "good people of God".

I'm remembering something a wise bishop once told me:  That those who cried, "Crucify him!" were not bad people. Basically, they were good people. They were just scared and confused people who were then more easily able to be led into participating in an act of heinous evil.

I suspect this sister priest will have much to teach me - teach us all - about the grace and solace that come from living out your faith, standing in the whirlwind.

I'll let you know.