Prayers Continue to Ascend

Rumors are flying with greater frequency than the planes in Newark Airport after cancellations due to a bad storm.

And, yet, we wait for news from the HOB in NOLA which was also rumored to be coming before they broke for Eucharist, scheduled at 5 PM. As I post this, it is fast approaching 6PM.

Speculation always rises in direct proportion to anxiety.

Prognostication may be an enjoyable past time for some, but it is not helpful to the digestion after eating the bread of anxiety.

The response to the Primates is as important as the bishops message to the church. Everyone wants clarity and consistency. Not everyone will be happy when and if that prayer is answered - that's the only real certainty.

Prayer? Absolutely. Without ceasing. Father Jake has called us to prayer.

Here's mine: Holy, gracious and loving God, surround our bishops with your radical grace. Lead and inspire them to act like bishops, men and women, elected, ordained and consecrated to lead.

Please, do not let them capitulate to anxiety, emotional manipulation or political coercion.

Please, God, lead them not into the temptation to sacrifice God's prophetic call to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with God for the sake of the illusion of human unity.

If there be anything that unites us, let it be the unconditional love of God made incarnate in the radical inclusion of Jesus Christ.

We don't need anyone to "save" the church or the communion or LGBT people.

We need leaders, not heroes, who have the strength and courage to be bold for the sake of the gospel.

We have a savior. Give us leaders, now and at the hour of our highest anxiety and deepest need.

Amen.