A little bit of discrimination?

Is a little discrimination a lesser evil than no women bishops in the Church of England?

That's the question asked by journalist Riazat Butt for the British newspaper, The Telegraph, in a recent article entitled, "Women bishops will have to accept discrimination to exist."

Here's the back story for those of you who aren't either feminists or Anglophiles.

The Church of England authorized the ordination of women to the priesthood in 1992 and began ordaining them in 1994.  In the 20 years since the decision was made, the debate about women in the episcopacy has been raging.

In 2008, draft legislation which would allow women in the episcopacy was finally proposed to General Synod which has been the subject of many angry debates, failed deals, fudges and great turmoil and angst.

In July of this year, a resolution - intended to reassure opponents of the ordination of women - was passed unanimously by the House of Bishops but it failed to achieve consensus among clergy and laity and was defeated.

In September of this year, the resolution was further tinkered with and clause 5 (1) (c) was proposed to the House of Bishops by Synod member, the Rev'd Janet Appleby. Depending on who's talking, the clause is either a brilliantly nuanced compromise which will allow women - finally! - to be "appointed" to the episcopacy - OR - another bad batch of Anglican fudge.

What is clause 5 (1) (c)?

Section 5 of the the draft measure on women bishops states that the House of Bishops must draw up a code of practice on implementing the measure.

In May, the House of Bishops inserted a new clause 5 (1) (c):

It says male bishops or priests looking after objecting parishes should exercise their ministry consistently with "the theological convictions as to the consecration and ordination of women" of the parishes.

The redraft agreed on 12 September says male bishops and priests should be selected "in a manner which respects the grounds on which parochial church councils issue Letters of Request under section 3."

The House of Bishops overwhelmingly approved of the Appleby Amendment which now comes before a specially convened meeting of General Synod on November 19th - four days from now.

I'm sure the bishops were quite relieved that a woman who is a priest proposed it, hoping to put an end to the matter and getting back to doing.....well, whatever it is CofE bishops do. I'm quite sure they want this issue off their plate before Justin Welby, bishop of Durham and the new Archbishop of Canterbury, takes over for the beleaguered Rowan Williams.

If the Appleby Amendment passes, they'll soon enough be onto the next contentious issue: The blessing of LGBT covenants and marraige and ordination of LGBT people - which, I think, will make the 20 year battle for the full inclusion of women in the church seem like a day eating oysters at the beach at Whitstable.

Sally Barnes, from the campaign group Women and the Church (WATCH), says that, at the July Synod, people were “so angry”, when stronger legal safeguards were suggested for traditionalists, that it took the bishops and archbishops by surprise. “They couldn't see what they had done and we had to spell it out.”

Some laity are thrilled because it also means that, for the first time in recent memory, the laity have had enormous influence on the decision-making of the institutional (male, clerical dominated) church hierarchy. The hierarchical paradigm, they say - at least on this issue - has been inverted.

Not so fast, say the "traditionalists".  Forward in Faith, a group that wants greater accommodation for traditionalists than is currently being offered, has dismissed the Appleby Amendment. Members of the Catholic Group in Synod, Reform and the Church of England Evangelical Council have already said they will vote against the legislation.

Justin Welby, new ABC

Sally Barnes, from WATCH, said:

“The House of Bishops needs to have women in it. Some people have had enough - it's not a ringing endorsement- but we've had 20 years debate and it's essential. A two-thirds majority is needed – the bar is very high – and I am resigned to whatever happens. People are very weary. We want women bishops very much and it's not credible or tenable that there aren't any. If it [the legislation] falls then we will have to keep on until there are women bishops.” 

It's important to note that the ordination of women has been a controversial issue throughout the Anglican Communion for a long, long time.  It's the one place where Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics find common cause.

Time does march on - even in England where it always seems to be 1950. By 2012, 28 of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion ordain women as priests and 17 have removed all barriers to women becoming bishops.

So, back to the question:  Is a little discrimination a lesser evil than no women bishops in the Church of England?

It sounds to me that folks are leaning toward answering that question in the affirmative.

Is that a good thing?

You ask that as if you believed that having women in the House of Bishops will completely eradicate sexism in the church.

You know, like the fact that Barbara Clementine Harris was the first woman to be bishop in the Anglican Communion, and Katharine Jefferts Schori is the first woman to be Presiding Bishop in the Episcopal Church, means that there's not even "a little bit of discrimination" in the church.

Or, like the fact that Barack Obama is the President of the United States means that there's not even "a little bit of discrimination" in terms of racism in this country any more.

Even if General Synod rejects the Appleby Amendment in favor of full, unequivocal, flat out inclusion of women in all orders of ordination, discrimination will continue to persist - in the church and in the world.

With the Appleby Amendment, discrimination will most certainly persist BUT with women in the House of Bishops in the Church of England - who have voice - and, vote - on issues that come before that governing body.

Which means that discussions in the House of Bishops about - and votes on - issues of reproductive justice, human sexuality, ordination and marriage equality will take on a very different tone and texture.

Not immediately, of course, but over time, there's bound to be an impact. It's completely unavoidable.

Do you really think the laity would have had an impact on the last Synod vote if there hadn't been women ordained to the priesthood in the Church of England for the last 20 years?

Is a little discrimination a lesser evil than no women bishops in the Church of England? 

Is sexism a greater evil than misogyny? 

A little bit of discrimination?

Women have been dealing with discrimination since the beginning of time. With one hand tied behind our backs.  Six times before breakfast.

Imagine what we'll be able to do in the Church of England with both hands free.

And, after breakfast.

Time Theft

In certain circles in which I travel, the term "time theft" has suddenly - and with some frequency - become a topic of conversation.

Did you know that the average employee "steals" approximately 4.5 hours per week from his employer - or nearly six full workweeks per year? I'm told that this adds up to thousands of dollars per year.

Different forms of time theft include:

* Late arrival or early departure
* Taking long lunch hours and breaks
* Requesting paid sick days for inappropriate reasons
* Slowing down the work pace to create overtime
* Excessive socializing and personal telephone calls
* Handling personal business while at work
* Using company time and facilities to operate another business.

To combat this, many companies are "going on the defensive". I understand some companies (like the place where I bring my car to be serviced) have blocked FaceBook. Some are actually collecting cell phones at the beginning of the shift so employees can't call or text or send private emails.

Others are installing biometric technology for their staff - professional and non. Biometric technology uses fingerprint recognition. The employee is to swipe their index finger on a "key pad" so another employee can't sign or "punch" in their time card.

This is happening in hospitals and nursing homes, in discount stores and supermarkets, in police and fire stations and schools. It  includes blue collar as well as professional staff.

Clearly, I live in another universe. I live in places where I worked a minimum of 50 hours per week - more often 60. If a parishioner wanted to go to lunch and it took two hours, then, well, it took two hours. It was work.

If I needed to spend an hour walking the streets or along a path in the woods to clear my head before talking to the next parishioner or to get my head wrapped around the gospel I was going to preach that Sunday, then that's what I did. It was work.

"Stealing time" is a concept so foreign to me as to make me shake my head in wonder.  Then again, I work with a different construct of time, one that is both linear as well as eternal. My job is to help people use the "gift" of time in this life to prepare them for life in the next.

If "corporations are people" the way the Supreme Court has decreed, I wonder what we are saying about the way "those people" are treating the people who make them human?

Which all causes me to wonder about the image of God some of these employers must have. Do they really think that God is going to greet them at the Pearly Gates and say, "Well done! You saved so many people from 'stealing time' that you now get all the time in the world"?

Look, I understand. It's about productivity. Some people will take advantage of any given situation and take what is not theirs.

I wonder if some of these employers have heard the Gospel story of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). You know, the one where everyone gets paid the same whether they started work at dawn or began just before dusk?

Jesus is the original "time bandit" - stealing away our rigid concepts of time and opening our minds and hearts and souls to a new way of thinking about our time on earth and Life Eternal.

If that makes me a sinner, well, I suppose I'll sin boldly - and, love more boldly still.

While I still have the freedom to make that choice for myself.

Faith Street

Sometimes it hard to tell if I've gotten cynical or I've finally arrived at a level of mature understanding, but this announcement set my teeth on edge.

Media Release

The Episcopal Church
Office of Public Affairs

Episcopal Church partners with FaithStreet, a new congregational evangelism tool

[November 12, 2012] A partnership between the Episcopal Church and<http://publicaffairs.createsend1.com/t/r-l-kkkdjul-xllklittl-d/> FaithStreet paves the way for congregations to connect their church with church seekers through an innovative church locator that offers much more than a search engine.

"Our partnership with FaithStreet will give our congregations a new tool to promote their churches," commented Anne Rudig, Episcopal Church Director of Communication.  "FaithStreet not only locates a church, but works with a congregation to present the mission and ministry done there in ways easily understood by a seeker. It goes beyond address and contact info to providing an ethos or 'vibe' of particular churches."

FaithStreet, based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, currently showcases 3,580 churches in all 50 United States, in over 1,500 cities. This includes over 100 church networks and denominations representing churches of all sizes, ranging from five to 10,000 members.

"FaithStreet is a tech-startup that is making it easy for anyone to find and connect with a great Christian church in their area," explained Ryan Melogy, Co-Founder. "We're creating a personalized church discovery experience, where anyone will be able to find a great church for them."

Founded in 2011, FaithStreet experienced remarkable growth.  By 2012 over 400 churches in New York City joined, and by September 2012, 3,100 churches outside NYC were participating.

"Churches will always be able to create a free profile on FaithStreet," noted Sean Coughlin, Chief Executive Officer. "In the future, FaithStreet will offer paid features, services, and advertising plans. These paid services will be always being optional, affordable and effective."

"FaithStreet gives churches a free, great-looking and easy-to-use web presence," concluded Glenn Ericksen, Chief Technical Officer.

For more information and to join FaithStreet: <http://publicaffairs.createsend1.com/t/r-l-kkkdjul-xllklittl-h/>www.faithstreet.com.

In 26 years of ordained ministry, I have to tell you that I've seen these "programs" come and go.  Every single one of them tell you that they are the "latest tool to promote our churches".

This, of course, is code for the word Episcopalians are afraid to say: Evangelism.

We're afraid to say it because we, as a denomination, still really don't know what it means - or, how to do it.

It's sort of like "mission" - or, these days, "being missional" - which we talk about as some sort of "magic bean", if, when planted, will grow our congregations like Topsy and solve all of our financial woes because (this always makes me growl) "money follows mission".

These programs are almost always "easy" and "free" .  This one goes beyond offering a mere "search engine" and "goes beyond address and contact info to providing an ethos or 'vibe' of particular churches."

Ethos.

Vibe.

Honest to Pete!

Let me get right to the point: This is more "marketing pablum" - more spiritual fast food - more "Got a problem? We've got a program!" - all of which functions as a "Spiritual Anti-Anxiety" drug and NOT evangelism.

Can this program work? Is there no benefit to it?

I think the real "secret to the success" of this program is there, if you look for it. Here it is, right here:

 "FaithStreet not only locates a church, but works with a congregation to present the mission and ministry done there in ways easily understood by a seeker."  

 See? It's not the program - it's the product.

As Terri Parson, former national church officer for Stewardship and Evangelism at 815 and now numbered (too soon) among the saints, used to say,  "You can't sell soap unless you bathe."

You can't "sell" something unless you believe in and use and enjoy your product.

If you have not identified your mission and ministry, if you do not believe in that mission and ministry with your whole heart, if you don't work it with enthusiasm and joy, no amount of "packaging" is going to attract people to you church.

And, I'm not talking just about the clergy. The whole congregation has to have clarity about their unique identity as a Body of Christ and are engaged in and enthusiastic about the particular mission and ministry God has called them to do.

The best evangelism is doing the work of mission. The best mission is that which responds to the needs of the community. The best evangelism and mission are the ones that are enthusiastically embraced and lived out by a community of faith.

The best feature of this program, according to the media release, is that it "works with a congregation to present the mission and ministry done there in ways easily understood by a seeker." So, if you are already doing great works in the name of Jesus and want to get the word out to a larger group of people...."seekers".... I suspect this program might just work well for you.

If, if, IF one assumes that there are lots of "seekers" out there. Somewhere. I'm not sure that's true. I think the 'bad evangelism horse' has been out of the 'church barn' for too many years.

Not only are many people "turned off" by stories of ecclesiastical corruption and betrayal, I think the cultural phenomenon of "Bowling Alone," combined with the forces of "secular humanism," "new age pop religion," and "self-help spirituality" have taken such a strong hold that many people have found a home in the fastest growing segment of American society: "spiritual but not religious".

Changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women’s roles and other factors have contributed to this decline, and yet the church as an institution still functions as if it were somewhere in the mid-1950s.

We put too much of our energy into "Building A Better Yesterday".

Can that trend be reversed?

Absolutely.

But, please, please, PLEASE don't expect this program to do it for you. 

The church has to change its assumptions and expectations about congregations.

It has to redefine what it means to be a "member" of a church. What does it say that some of the people in some of the groups that use the church building - 12-Step Programs, Day Care or Church School - are actually in the church more than some of its "members," some of whom give more to the church in "time, talent and treasure" than the "members" listed on its roles?

The church also has to redefine what it means by "ministry" and "mission". "Ministry" is not just about serving on the Vestry, Altar Guild and various church committees. It's not all about "Mother Church," which has to start showing some understanding and respect for - and embrace and celebration of -  the ministry people do in their lives and in their work and in their families. 

We have to start studying the "intersectionality" of ministry and mission and find ways to connect those things with the ministry of the church.

And....and....AND....bishops and deans and cardinal rectors and clergy have to start modeling this. You can't simply ask people to change models of ministry without modeling that ministry yourself.

Yes, this means that diocesan staffs are going to have to change configuration. Indeed, it may mean that there are fewer "diocesan centers". Instead, diocesan ministry may need, more and more, to find itself in congregations.

That's going to mean that the church looks very, very different from the way it does today.

Which, I think is a good thing. A scary thing, to be sure, but a good thing if Christianity is to flourish.  Notice I said "Christianity" and not "the church". I'm much more concerned about the former than I am the later.

That's not going to come from "programs". It's got to come from the heart.

I have a friend who says that the problem with church comes from the fact that, when we see people walking into church, we see dollar signs and symbols of success. Things will begin to change, he says, when we start seeing people as signs of the cross and symbols of resurrection and new life.

I think he's right.

That won't fit neatly into a "program" but it's a pretty powerful "ethos and vibe". 

Generosity and Poverty

Agnus Day

Generosity and Poverty – Mark 12:38-44

Pentecost XXIV – Proper 27B – November 11,2012

St. George’s Chapel, Harbeson, DE

(the Rev’d Dr) Elizabeth Kaeton

Today’s scripture gives us two very different images of women doing what they need to do in order to survive. The first is the young widow Ruth who uses her feminine sexuality – the only thing she has left – to seduce Boaz into being her husband. All’s well that ends well as she not only spares her former mother-in-law but bears a son Obed, who became the father of Jesse who became the father of David who became the King of Israel.

The other is an unnamed woman, a poor, elderly widow, who gives what she has – two copper coins – to the Temple. Jesus compares her with the Scribes and says to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Jesus, an ancestor of the House of David, seems to understand something about generosity - God's and our own - that many of us have a difficult time grasping. I know I do. Still.

I learned a lesson about greed and generosity and success as a young child. It’s a touchstone story for me, which I think of whenever I consider these things – or sit down to write out a check to the church or any other worthy agency – religious or secular – which is doing Gospel work.

A little bit of background: I am the oldest of four children. When each of us turned seven years old, we got an allowance for the chores we did. Every Saturday evening we were given two shiny quarters as an allowance. The rule, however, was that we had to put one quarter into our piggy bank, and put one nickel to the church in the collection plate on Sunday. That left us with two whole dimes to spend on ‘penny candy’ and other, otherwise forbidden treats like soda or a milk shake at the soda fountain.

I thought that was grossly unfair. I mean, I understood the wisdom of savings but giving one tenth of my hard-earned money for the church was simply over the line! To my mind, that was five pieces of penny candy I could be enjoying. And, what was the church going to do with that money? Buy candles? Or incense! Are you kidding me?

Besides, there were times when my parents could not afford to give even two shiny quarters. My brother was a sickly child and often I heard my parents lamenting that they owed $75 dollars (which might as well have been a million back then) to the Rexall Drug Store to pay for his penicillin.

And, my father always seemed to owe someone named Jack Daniel who demanded a line item in the family budget. My mother hated this guy named Jack Daniel, but my father insisted that it was the only enjoyment that he, as a workingman, ever requested.

One day, as I was sitting in church during one of the offerings, I watched the long handled baskets pass by me as I slipped in my weekly pledge of five cents. We always sat near the back of the church, so by the time the collection basket got to us, it was teaming and practically shimmering with shiny quarters, dimes and nickels. That’s when I got a brilliant idea.

I figured that I could easily glide my hand over the top of the cold hard, cash, drop in my nickel, and then scoop out a quarter or two. When no one was looking, I could then slip the quarters into my anklet and, before too long, I would have enough saved up that I could afford to pay off Jack Daniel so there would be more money for Mr. Rexall. It was a brilliant plan! I was a budding successful entrepreneur -  and a potential hero!

I didn’t mean to set myself on a life of crime, but suddenly, I was so successful that I began to think that, once I paid off Mr. Daniel, I could begin to save for a new home for my parents – one with a bedroom for each child so I wouldn’t have to share my bedroom with my three sisters and we could all have our own room just like my brother, whom we called “The Little Prince”.

Things came crashing to a halt, however, when Sr. Bernadette – the one with the eagle eyes who was meaner than a junkyard dog – spied me from across the church and reported me to Father. I still remember my palms sweating as I was called into Father’s office, with my parents, and being confronted with the evidence as reported by Sr. Bernadette. Through tears and sobs, I confessed my plan to pay off Mr. Daniel and bring peace and harmony and prosperity to my family.

I don’t really know what happened after that. I only know that I had to leave the room and Father had a long conversation with my parents. After that, Mr. Daniel disappeared from the family budget and Mr. Rexall was paid in full. I had to spend the rest of that Sunday repenting in my room, after which, nothing was ever said again about the incident. My lust for greed was permanently curbed, I returned to obeying the rules, and I was spared from a life of crime and corruption.

More importantly, as I have reflected on this story over the years, I have come to learn something about the church and something about God’s generosity – and my own.

The first is that so much of what the church does is unknown to many people. There are hundreds of these little life-saving and life-giving events that happen in the course of a week in the life of the parish that it simply boggles the mind. You won’t see this written up in an Annual Report or even hear spoken of during a Vestry meeting. You may think you are writing out your pledge so that the lights and heat stay on – and, to be honest, your money does that as well – but, when you give out of your poverty, expecting nothing in return, you enable every day miracles.

Another important lesson is to remember that God’s forgiveness and generosity is boundless. But, it’s even greater than that. God takes our mistakes and our sins and turns them into glory. Ruth, who used what she had to secure her future also secured the future of the line of the great-grandson who would become King. God also took my childhood greed and turned it into an opportunity for healing and wholeness for me – and my family.

When I think about why I pledge to the church, I think about this story of Ruth and I consider the story of the Widow’s mite and I weigh that against what the world teaches about success and prosperity. I think the Gospel message of giving out of our sense of poverty often leads to amazing stories of generosity and miraculous stories of healing and wholeness.

Both stories remind us that our real security lies not in our ‘stuff’ – our clothing or cars or homes or back accounts. Our real security lies in the boundless generosity and graciousness of God. This frees us up for generosity beyond measure – to be as foolish and lavish with love as God is with us – even when we feel we don’t have enough to give, or what we give may be too costly.

And we are reminded – once again – that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not sin, not money, not power, not status, not even who we voted for in the last election.

As Archbishop Temple once said, sometimes we make good decisions, and God still reigns. Sometimes we make bad decisions, and God still reigns. 

The letter to the Hebrews says, “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Which inspires me to join my voice with the song the Psalmist (146) sings,

4

    Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help!*

    whose hope is in the LORD their God;

5

    Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *

    who keeps his promise for ever;

6

    Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

    and food to those who hunger.

7

    The LORD sets the prisoners free;

    the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *

    the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;

8

    The LORD loves the righteous;

    the LORD cares for the stranger; *

    he sustains the orphan and widow,

    but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9

    The LORD shall reign for ever, *

    your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.

    Hallelujah!                                                                          

Amen.

Girl: Exploded

I was first introduced to the poetry of Lauren Zuniga about two years ago when this particular poem - "To The Oklahoma Lawmakers" - began to circulate among those of us who work for Reproductive Justice. The bill before the Oklahoma legislature required women to receive an ultrasound and listen to the baby's heartbeat before an abortion. It continues to be challenged in court. 

I believe that is so, at least in part, because of the power of this poem - and, because of the power of the story of her own rape and abortion - and because of this line in particular: "In this country where we kill people in the name of freedom but imprison people in the name of life."

Through her webpage, I have found many other feminist poets whose poetry, in turns, makes me giggle, laugh, cry, sob, and often times fires old passions and angers I thought had laid to rest or healed long ago.

Like Tatyana Brown of San Francisco and her poem "A List of Inappropriate Questions I have Asked My Mother."  Or, Eboni Hogan from NYC and her poem, "Elmina" (one of the 'Slave Castles' in Ghana) which blows me away every time I hear it.

Well, I could go on, but I hope you check some of them out for yourself. Allow them to be the portal into discovering other poets I have not yet found. I hope they will inspire you - as they have me - to write some poetry or prose of your own.

I have come to believe that these young women are the prophets of their generation, calling women to examine the truth of their lives through the prism of poetry - ugly facts and strong opinions woven together into a beauty so compelling as to stir the soul and fire the mind and move the body into action - which is what all good prophetic poetry does, actually. 

I will leave you with Lauren Zuniga's poem "Girl: Exploded" which captures so much of the experience of being a woman in this culture - "a well engineered time bomb".  You can see her in the video clip below where you may also be inspired, as I was, to write something like this:

Because, you know, even when your candidate wins
and your sense of justice prevails
and feels restored and affirmed
and women answered the call to the War Against Women by running for office
so now there are 20 women in the Senate
and even a few states where the legislative leadership is completely comprised of women
and you hear that the new Archbishop of Canterbury
is "okay" about women but "evolving" on LGBT issues
and you know, right then and there, that he really isn't
"okay about women"
and The Affordable Health Care Act and Roe v. Wade 
are safe....well, at least, for now,
and DOMA will surely be overthrown in the next four years
and we've moved on from all that and right onto the precipice of
A Fiscal Cliff,
and you know when men in suits start talking about 'compromise'
it is often code for cutting services and resources and money to women.....
.......Well......
Sometimes, you just have to Explode.
Boom.  

Lauren provided the the inspirational framework for me to write that. 

Watch. Listen. Learn.

One of the modern prophets is speaking.

GIRL: EXPLODED
The old man takes me aside after the slam and says, 

"You can't compete with the boys. Don't explode.
Don't send fire flakes of amplified kisses
into our ears. Don't swing your microphone
like a penis drawing urine hieroglyphics.
Don't be loud like beer bobsledding down throats.
Don't choke, don't explode.
Be atomic. Particles splitting with each
carefully placed breath and sway.
Implode.
Be like the woman in the white satin dress
with the long cigarette.
Be like Katherine Hepburn,
lifting appendages with a raise of the eyebrow
and a long gaze soaked in knowing.
Remember that you are Venus,
A smoldering bundle of birth and
baptismal embers but that sound and fury
should stay in your hip pockets and canals
until you are called for industry,
until we need your smoke stacks and machine parts
to start pumping with usefulness.
We need you in the piece by piece stage,
connecting breast to navel to legs to ankles
to feet slipping into stilettos
to click clack across floor
in the mating call of your generation.
Yeah, we need you like that."
And I say, “You know sir,
I think I know what you mean
when you say I can't compete
with the boys, and I think I know
what you mean when you say
Don't explode,
But
I don't think you know what it means to be
this well engineered time bomb
that is Woman.
This serrated edged grenade,
hard plated and pinned,
quietly tick tick tick ticking
thrown over the barricade
into a obstacle course of tire jumping men
doing their best to train for Insanity.
And Katherine Hepburn has been replaced
by a hundred versions of Britney Spears,
cheering on the side lines
with bottled sun stained legs
and Brazilian bikini waxes.
We are stripped and lit like our fuses.
We’ve traded in our minds
to become sparkling jingle muses,
blissed out with bling and our shiny new copy
of "How to Be a Modern Woman"
Volume One:
"Spend more on your hand bag than you do on rent!"
"Make a guy cum in 24 seconds!"
Ignore that ticking and
take this quiz on "How to quantify your worth"
Add the number of shoes, shampoos and open lines of credit
subtract your size and body fat percentage,
divide by marriage proposals and dozens of roses
and then you will know
if you are a worth while woman!
Tick Tick Tick.
It's okay to be smart but not smarter than him.
It's okay to be fat but not fatter than her.
Just find a good man, and have a big wedding
the bigger the wedding
the longer he'll stay.
Wait ‘til you have a career to have a baby
then give up your career to have a baby.
Coordinate your slings and boppies and diaper bags.
Breast feed, but not in public.
Join classes, do yoga.
Stay sexy but not so sexy that you forget you're a mom
and ignore that ticking,
you are a woman
not a walking time bomb.
And I know what he means
because it can get a little messy
When that sudden loud release of
angry femininity bursts forth and
showers us with the things
we'd rather leave on the Lifetime channel.
You don't have to be a channel
for every free choice denied.
Every porcelain bride with no property rights,
you don't have to prove you can fight like a man,
leave the screaming to the lesbians!
Feminism is an outdated word,
But see there’s still need for women’s movement
Because we still believe
that our sexual power is all we have, we cling to it tighter
to it then our own ovaries and we will pluck trust from fellow
women who threaten to take it.
It's huge, this tumbling history that we carry on our shoulders
It's heavy and sometimes, it's hard to keep your composure.
Sometimes you just have to explode.
Boom.

Women on top

Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin, D-WI

As excited ecstatic deliriously, over-the-moon happy as I was about the re-election of President Obama as our 44th President, and as elated as I am about the momentum we're gaining in the movement toward Marriage Equality, I am even more thrilled to learn that there are five new women, one Republican and four Democrats, who will join the Senate next year, delivering a new record of 20 women serving in the U.S. Senate (four of whom are Republicans).  

So, if you're counting that 5 Republicans and 15 Democratic women in the Senate. Interesting snapshot of both parties, eh?

Maine, Washington, California and New Hampshire are the three states in which women hold both U.S. Senate seats.  With the election of two Democratic women to the U.S. House of Representatives, New Hampshire became the first state to have an all-women congressional delegation (joining incumbent U.S. Senators. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen), and made it a clean sweep by electing  Democrat Maggie Hassan as governor.

Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren, D-MA

And, Wisconsin Democratic Representative Tammy Baldwin made history on Tuesday with her election to become the first openly gay U.S. Senator, defeating former Governor Tommy Thompson in the most expensive Senate race in state history.

Just over a quarter-century ago, in 1986, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, became the first woman elected to the Senate whose spouse had not served before her in Congress.  The “year of the women,” 1992, brought Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to the Senate, where they continue to serve.

This year, Representatives elected Carol She-Porter and Anne McLane-Kuster, D-NH, and Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs in combat before turning to politics, who won a congressional seat from firebrand Tea Party icon, Joe Walsh.

The incoming freshman class of legislators include Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Elizabeth Warren, D-MA Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii (first Asian-American woman - born in Japan - and Hindu elected), and (former state Attorney General) Heidi Heitkamp, D-North Dakota.

Voters reelected Sens. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York.

Okay, and bona fide Tea Party Cuckoo-Bird Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, was reelected but only by the slimmest of margins.

Rep.-elect Tammy Duckworth, D-IL

But, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, won a sweeping victory after her Republican challenger Todd Akin started talking about the magical thing a woman's lady parts can do after "forcible rape".

With the retirements of Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Olympia Snowe, the steady increase in numbers of Senate women was expected to stop in 2012. But, it didn't.
  
I'm willing to bet solid money that was a direct result of the Republican War on Women.  Their bullets backfired.

Threaten the reproductive rights of women or to not pay us equally for equal work or prevent women of poverty to having access to quality health care and education for themselves and their children, and well, this is exactly what happens.  

We don't get angry. We get even. We run for office.

We now have 20 powerful women in positions of legislative government power. 

We could use more.  We'll get more.

A woman's place is in the House. And Senate. And, Governor's mansion. And, Supreme Court.

And, anywhere she wants to be - including the White House.   

Four more years! 

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

I think I knew Barack Obama would be elected the 44th President of the United States at a moment during the Republican National Convention.

That moment came when Mitt Romney came to the stage to accept the nomination from the Republican Party as their candidate for President.

The set up was very different. He didn't just appear on stage. He came down the aisle - the way we see the POTUS during a State of the Union message - greeting and glad-handing and back-slapping all the way to the stage.

I had two thoughts. The first was that someone in the Republican Party was setting Romney up to look "presidential". The second was that someone in the Republican Party was giving Romney a little gift - the closest he would ever get to feeling and looking "presidential".

Either way, I'm sure someone figured that it couldn't hurt - and might help.

I knew then, in my bones, that Romney would lose. 

I didn't think it would be an easy win for Obama, but I knew that the RNC knew that they had a candidate that simply wouldn't - couldn't - carry the day.

And, if the RNC didn't believe that their candidate would - could - win, neither did I.

Although I must say, I'm still shaking and weeping this morning. I knew Obama could win but, frankly, my anxieties about what I was hearing in terms of voter suppression and intimidation were through the roof.

I couldn't believe that the White House could be bought, but when you begin to understand that billions - BILLIONS - of dollars were spent to elect Mitt Romney, well.... I didn't really, fully doubt that Obama wouldn't win, but my faith began to be shaken. 

When he won Pennsylvania and then Virginia - by a narrow margin - I knew Ohio and Florida wouldn't be far behind. I decided to go to bed and wake up in the morning hopeful - but not exactly certain - that he would win.

I had shut down my laptop and was getting ready to turn off the television when I heard that Obama had won. I literally fell to my knees and began shouting, "OhmyGod, OhmyGod, OhmyGod, OhmyGod!" I was trembling and weeping with surprise and delight and joy and prayers of thanksgiving.

This morning, I learned that Marriage Equality had passed in Maine and Maryland. While I'm still deeply insulted that marriage for LGBT people had to be put to a vote, I'm over the moon with joy at the final result.

I think I finally got to bed by 1:30. I had to hear Romney's concession speech to know it was true. I listened to a bit of Obama's acceptance speech and then I was ready for sleep.

As they say in Ghana, I slept like a foolish man. Deeply. Peacefully. 

I'm wondering, this morning, how those who prayed so hard for Romney will feel about his loss.  I wondered how Romney felt, coming so agonizingly close to victory. It's easy to fall into a belief about "God's will" - when things go our way. I don't hear too much of that when we are disappointed.

I found this quote this morning from Br. Kevin Hackett of the Society of St. John Baptist.

There is enormous danger for us, particularly in the United States, in appropriating the language of chosen people for our political identity. It is a national temptation with which we have struggled almost from the beginning. It is a legacy of the early European settlement of this land, and truthfulness on this point is slippery.

It's also a biblical legacy. The victor was always seen as having "manifest destiny".

This victory wasn't fate. It was hard work. A political campaign fought hard and well won.

Forward! That was the campaign slogan. No, Obama didn't accomplish everything he had hoped to do in the first four years. He has four more years to work with an equally divided Congress. It's not going to be easy. That's why you and I have to work just as hard to move forward against the tide of a deeply divided nation.

We have to move forward on repealing DOMA.  We have to work to put this nation back to work and reduce the debt. We have to continue to work for Reproductive Justice and equality for women in the market place. The Affordable Health Care Act will be implemented - but we all know that it is just the beginning. More work needs to be done.

We will get out of Afghanistan and we have to continue to work for peace in the Middle East and an end to terrorism. That will give us a good start on continuing to reduce the debt.  And, we have two, maybe three Supreme Court justices to name to secure Roe v. Wade.

I'm thinking Hillary would make a wonderful Supreme Court judge, don't you?

And, we have to begin the work - now - on the election slate for 2016. It's not too soon.

Right now - just for today - I'm going to take some time to let the reality sink in. President Obama has four more years.  And, so do we.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

VOTE!

At 7:35 yesterday morning, these Canada geese came swimming by our wee cottage.

Aren't they lovely? So serene and peaceful.

It was a wonderful start to the day I voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

It was not what I experienced at the Department of Elections in Georgetown when I went to vote later that morning. It was, as one woman said, "Wild".

Okay, so take that word and adjust it to life in Lower, Slower, Delaware. It wasn't South Bronks or mid-Town wild. And, it certainly wasn't African safari wild. It was a ten minute wait in a line that barely circled the building.

I can't imagine how "wild" it will be today.

No matter. Your voice, your vote matters deeply in this election.

To find your voting place where you live, please visit Rock The Vote

If you see or experience any evidence of voter suppression or harassment, please call 866.0UR.VOTE

And, if you are thinking about Reproductive Justice and why your vote matters, please check out this video which was produced by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.



But, please! Just vote! Calmly. Confidently. Peacefully.

But, a bit like those geese - paddling like hell underneath.

Saints and Hurricanes

Like so many of you, I have been, at turns, shocked and horrified as well as inspired and delighted by the stories of the devastation and recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy.

Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who lives in Northern NJ but owns a beautiful home in Seaside Heights. I tried using Google maps to locate her home, to see if it was still standing. It looked like it was, but I didn't want to assume anything so I called her.

She said, as far as she knew, her home was still standing but she knew there would be great damage and was preparing to face it. "I don't know when that will be," she said. "The Mantoloking Bridge is wiped out so I don't know how I will get to my house to repair it until after they repair the bridge."

Mantoloking Bridge after Hurricane Sandy

"How are you holding up?" I asked.

"Oh, she said, "you know, people have been wonderful. My family and friends have been calling and everyone has offered to go with me, when I can finally travel there, so I won't have to face it alone. And, you know, whatever has happened to my house, it can be repaired. It's not like my life was in jeopardy or any of my neighbors were hurt. We'll be okay. My faith is strong. We'll rebuild. We'll help each other. We'll be fine as long as we stick together."

Some people call that attitude "Jersey Strong". That maybe so, but it sounds way too independent to my ears. My friend's strength comes from her family and friends and her faith.

I don't know about you, but I'm inspired by the acts of 'everyday heroes' who collect water from fire hydrants and schlepp plastic containers up 12, 16, 20 flights of stairs to elderly people, or who deliver hot meals to them, or provide flashlights and blankets and sweaters, or have food collections at parish halls or community centers and coordinate volunteers to deliver food to families in their apartments.

I expect churches to open their doors, providing warmth and companionship and food and an opportunity to recharge cell phones and lap tops to people. That's a given. That's the very least I expect from churches - to be the 'sanctuary' they claim to be. No one gets any 'brownie' points from me for doing the basic minimum requirements of what you claim to be all about in the first place.

And, I keep waiting to hear stories or see pictures of bishops, sleeves rolled up, handing out diapers or juice to inner city women who are stranded in their dark apartments or water and a hot meal to fragile elderly who are also cold and alone.

Nothing yet. I hope I'm not too terribly disappointed, but if bishops want their dioceses to be 'missional', I think they are going to have to be 'missional' bishops. Otherwise, there's just no integrity and what's the point of that?

What inspires me is when I hear about church people and clergy going out into neighborhoods and tend to people where they are.

At one church in Morristown, NJ, word of mouth has spread that the church has opened its doors to the community. Before anyone knew it, members of the church were coming to the church from their warm, safe homes, bringing food and blankets, some staying to cook and serve meals or occupy children with art projects, or just talk with those who are lonely or apprehensive.

One priest I know gathered up warm blankets and distributed them to parishioners and their neighbors, but then, she spent the night with one parishioner who was afraid and alone.

I can't imagine anything colder than being in a home or apartment without heat or electricity and being afraid and alone. Apparently, neither could this priest, so she did for her parishioner what she could only hope someone would do for her.

That, I think, is part of what it looks like to live into the words of Jesus in the Gospel lesson appointed for tomorrow (Mark 12:28-34):

One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'--this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.

I don't think we are, any of us, far from the Realm of God when we meet people where they are and love them as we love ourselves.

Tomorrow is All Saints Sunday. Part of the focus of our worship together will be on the saints who have gone before us into heaven. That is a right and a good thing so to do. I plan to spend at least part of my worship time in community raising up and celebrating how the "saints of old" inspire and encourage the "saints of today".

The saints who have gone on to glory are with Jesus. They are dwelling, even now, in the Realm of God. Those saints who go forth and meet people where they are - just as Jesus did, and who love their neighbors as themselves - are not far from the Realm of God.

The lectionary also gives us a little snippet of the story from the Book of Ruth (1:1-18) which lays the foundation for thinking beyond blood ties and conventional definitions of family. Because of this story of love and compassion, we do not have to travel far to move from the exchange between Orpah and Ruth to understand Jesus' definition of 'neighbor'.

This is much more important to understand than anything else in scripture. Loving your neighbor means seeing everyone as your neighbor in Christ. You can only do that if you believe in the Incarnation - seeking and finding the Jesus in yourself so that you might seek and find Jesus in others.

And, when you believe in the Incarnation and be Jesus for the Jesus you see in others, then comes the possibility of Resurrection - new life, new birth, new hope, new faith - in simple acts of corporal works of mercy. Like a warm blanket. Or a hot plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Or a plastic bottle filled with water from a fire hydrant that someone has schlepped up 20 flights of stairs, just for you. Because they knew you couldn't do it for yourself. Because they know what it is to thirst.

When our youngest daughter was very young, one of her favorite hymns was one she called the "One, two song". It was "Saints of God" (Hymn 293).

They lived not only in ages past,
there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea
in church or in trains, or in shops, or at tea,
for the saints of God are just folk like me
And I mean to be one too.

Whenever the saints of God - just simple, ordinary folk like you and me - care for their neighbors as themselves, without limitations of geography, age, race, sexual orientation, gender, class status, income level, schooling, or any other demographic, the Realm of God comes very close.

Families, friend, faith and neighbors you never knew you had, everyone working outside their comfort zone to bring comfort to those in need.

That's an unbeatable combination that can overcome any crisis.

Even the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: 

The Rit. Rev'd Andy Dietsch

This is the Rt. Rev'd Andrew M. L. ("Andy") Dietsch, bishop of the Diocese of NY, who biked from his office in mid-town Manhattan all the way down to St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery to help with the food collection and distribution.

Let it not be said that there are no 'missional bishops' in The Episcopal Church.

The interesting thing about Andy Dietsch is that he knows from catastrophe and crisis.

He was first appointed Canon Pastor by his predecessor, Mark Sisk, right after 9/11.

If anyone knows the importance of being present where people are in times of crisis, it's this guy.

I take off my Canterbury cap to yer, sir!

Power and Light

ABC photo by Jason Duran

Excuse me, but I just have to get this off my chest.

This is not exactly a rant, but I'm not exactly a happy camper, either.

My email inbox is suddenly flooded with messages from churches and dioceses with long lists of churches that say either (1) they have "no power" and will not be open for services on Sunday or, (2) they have "power" and they will be open for services on Sunday.

The "power", of course, refers to electricity and, I suppose heat.

To be honest, several churches did report that they had - or did not have - "power and electricity". I've seen two churches that said they had no "power/electricity" but would be holding services anyway - one is having three baptisms.

So, here's my beef. I can understand if a church has a tree that has crashed through the roof and is sitting in the middle of the sanctuary. I can even understand if a church basement is flooded and the concern is about mold / mildew.

But, cancelling church because there's no electricity?

Are you kidding me?

If you cancel church because there's no electricity then you are right: You have no power. You have no power because you have given over your power to "the powers that be".

Indeed, I want to suggest that those churches without electricity that are still holding services on Sunday have more power than those that do. And, I suspect, the Light of Christ will shine brilliantly in those churches during their 'candlelight' service.

Oh Elizabeth, someone said to me as I was ranting on earlier today, it's not just the lights. You really can't expect people to come to church when there's no heat.

Clearly, he doesn't know me.

My first service of the Great Vigil of Easter as a seminarian was at Christ Church, Hyde Park. The furnace had gone out and was only repaired 30 minutes before the service was scheduled to begin. There were ten of us that night - coats, hats and gloves on, tapers lit - all huddled in the darkness around the heating grate in the middle of the aisle.

It was the first time I had ever chanted the Exultet. I had to concentrate on my chanting because, every now and again, even I was....enchanted....with the way my voice sounded in that magnificent old, dark, cold, and fairly empty church - when I wasn't distracted by the puffs air coming out of my mouth and into the cold air of the church.  

By the end of the service there was light and heat.

It was absolutely glorious!

My friend cleared his throat and tried again (Foolish man!) But, what about the organ, he wanted to know and then, seeing my face, quickly added that he supposed a piano would do but - oh, dear, oh dear - the magnificent music for All Saints Sunday just wouldn't sound the same played on a piano.

I didn't want to say what I was thinking so I closed my lips tightly. He pressed on (Foolish man!), and said that many churches don't even have a piano.

I could not contain myself any longer. Gee, I said, the sarcasm dripping from my lips, I suppose, then, that faithful modern Christians would have to do what millions and millions of Christians have done over the centuries and use the first instrument God gave us.

He looked at me quizzically. Then, light dawned on Marble Head. Oh, he exclaimed! You mean sing A Capella? Without instruments?

Why not, I asked?  It happens in lots of places in this country and around the world every Sunday.

His shoulders slumped and he fell into his seat. Then, suddenly, his back stiffened and he sat bolt upright. He raised his voice and said that it was just not the same and I knew it.

Of course it's not the same, said I, but it's worship and God glories in it.

I remember Ms. Eula Jefferson, a parishioner of mine at St. Barnabas Church in Newark where I was privileged to be Vicar for three years. One young man was complaining, one very hot summer day in the city, that it was too hot for church and maybe we should just cancel services for the summer the way the Unitarians do.

Ms. Jefferson got all up in that poor child's face and said, "You come to church because you think God needs you to be here? God don't care two figs if you come to church or not. I come to church because I need to. And that the Gospel truth. I come to church because I need to be here. I. Me. I need to be here. With my friends. With my church family. God don't need that but I think it pleases God. And after all the Lord has done for you, you mean you can't spend one hour - one hour!? just one stinkin' hot hour!?- with your friends and church family to praise the Lord for all the things He done for you the rest of the week? Shame on you, boy!"

If we can go to church for one stinkin' hot hour in the summer, I think we can go to church for one chilly cold hour in the late fall. With no electricity. No organ music. Just our voices, raised in petition and praise and thanksgiving.

My friend pushed his salad around his plate for a while and finally agreed with me. (Smart man!)

I did concede the point that some people will not be able to go to church because of the gasoline shortage in NY and NJ.  By some accounts, there was a five mile back up the other day at one of the gas stations on the Garden State Parkway. Some gas stations are only selling $10 or $20 worth of gasoline at a time.  In some places, fist fights have broken out. I know one man who drove from NJ to Stroudsburg, PA where he finally was able to fill his tank.

Look, here's my point. I know I've made it earlier, but I'm going to say it again: You may not have electricity, but you have lots of power.  You may be in the dark, but the Light of Christ never fails. There may be a chill in the air but you have a coat and, if you huddle around in a circle, the temperature near you will rise perceptibly.

Sing out those glorious All Saints songs using the instrument God gave you when you were born. Just listen to how you sound without the organ drowning you out. You may just discover what that line in Amazing Grace means when you sing, "how sweet the sound".

So, here's my plea: If you have any say in the matter, please don't cancel church on Sunday just because you have no electricity. I'm sure attendance will be thin because people will be saving their gasoline to get to work on Monday. That's okay. Others will come.

Perhaps they will come because they think God needs them there.  Whether they know it or not, they'll come because they need to pray with their friends and church family.

There is never a more important time to gather together as a community of faith than after the devastating effects of a storm like Hurricane Sandy.

Amen? Amen!

So, sing out children, with all your heart and mind and voice - for all the saints, who from their labors rest. And, for your own immortal soul, which contains all the power and light you need.