The Ordinary, Working Through God's Greatness

By The Rev. Bernard W. Poppe, Rector

In the middle of May, almost two months ago, I was in Berlin for no other reason than I’d never been there before and so many people I know said so many wonderful things about it. It was an amazing city for different reasons. Historically, it will be forever branded by its centrality to the Nazi third Reich. Among the various monuments and reminders of that period is a church substantially destroyed by the bombing of that city toward the end of the war.

Rather than tear the remaining parts down, the city leaders of the time decided to finish the sections off so that it would not further decay, but left it visibly maimed as a reminder of the horrors of war. So there it stands the entry with over half the steeple missing, large sections of the nave gone and its wall jagged. It is a powerful and mute statement of the devastation of war, even more articulate since the structure is intended to be a statement of peace and love. The church is supposed to witness God’s love and is now preserved as a witness to human aggression and turning away from the very love that is offered. Ironically, as I looked at it closer and for a longer time, it became a different statement. That church stands in silent witness to God’s presence in the midst of a broken world, like Jesus, taking upon itself the wounds of humanity to offer peace as the only real option for people. The only alternative to living in harmony with God’s love is the destruction to which people are capable.

The remains of that church also stand in contrast to the new construction surrounding it. I, like many tourists assumed that the new construction was to replace the older buildings which had been destroyed during the war. We were told that is not the case. Only 10 percent of Berlin’s building’s were destroyed. Older buildings were just torn down so they could make new ones and enjoy the creative spirit and energy represented in modern architecture. Perhaps too much of the past is a painful reminder of their shocking history and in order to move on, a new city must be built on the site of the old. But even if that is the case, they have no intention of forgetting the past. Like that church, there are plenty of reminders.

We look at Berlin now as a city connected with World War II. Even with its new exciting look, I don’t think it can ever exist without that part of its identity. And yet, in some of the museums there are pictures of happier days before there was a war, before there was a Third Reich and before there was a man named Hitler. By the time I got to Berlin and was seeing these sites, I was also tired of not hearing English. My ability at German is pathetic and though my comprehension is better than my ability to speak, both are painfully inadequate. I needed a dose of English and decided to go to the movies.

In Potsdam Place there is a center of stores and theaters that is incredibly futuristic in appearance and since the latest Star Trek movie had come out, and the theater was showing the English version of it, I made straight for it. I liked the movie very much and I also like the movies that take characters we’ve become familiar with and show us who they were before we got to know them. Youthful versions of all the characters we’ve come to know as the crew of the Star ship Enterprise grew and matured before our eyes. Like the city in which I saw this film, there was a time before they were famous. A time when they were unknown, before their greatness and faults were lived out.

Our lessons are a little bit like that too. In this case, we see David as he was just coming to the throne. The people of Israel were actually taking a big chance on him and taking a "nobody" and making him king. He had some good demonstrations of leadership in battle but could he rule a kingdom? The people of Israel had a belief that God was not only with David, but more importantly with them and could work though David as their King. David was God’s tool in building a Kingdom.

In somewhat of a reverse situation, the Gospel shows how Jesus went back to the people who knew him before he got well known and they weren’t impressed. They had a "who does he think he is" attitude and Jesus displays what might be described as frustration, but rather than dwell on it, keeps moving to the next town to continue his work and toward his destiny. Further, he sends out his disciples to go into other towns and gave them authority to do the things he did like healing and casting out demons. These are the early stories of the disciples’ humble beginnings before they became the giants of the faith they were to become.

God takes the ordinary and accomplishes extraordinary things. A shepherd becomes a king. A carpenter becomes the Messiah. Fishermen, tax collectors, and women from poor homes became phenomenal missionaries who changed the world. And it wasn’t so much that they were so great, but that it was God working Gods’ greatness through them to accomplish great things.

This July 4th weekend recalls for us 56 ordinary men given authority by the people they represented to declare independence from England. History show that many of them paid dearly with their lives and that of their families as well as their fortunes and livelihoods to sign that document and set in motion a string of events that changed a nation and the world. It’s exciting history filled with tragedy, triumph, failings and courage. We celebrate with fireworks because we know how that particular chapter of the story ended. They worked out of their faith and sense of calling without the knowledge that we have. I wonder how they would respond to the statues, museums exhibits and depictions of their lives and deeds.

In a much smaller, current example, this week marks for Episcopalians the start of the convention held every three years to lead our denomination with legislation, resolutions and visions of ministry and common life in our faith and witness of God’s love working through us in our various ministries. Ordinary people elected from each diocese around the country meet in Anaheim, California - not to go to Disneyland, but to do the work or the church and suffer constant teasing for their choice of location.

The major issues facing this convention center around how to address the departure of different diocese and individual churches from the Episcopal Church over their sharp differences over scriptural interpretation and social teaching. Specifically, churches and Dioceses in conflict with the direction the Episcopal church is moving in continuing to support the ordination of women as priests and bishops, as well as similar ordinations for gay and lesbian members of the church as well as creating liturgies for same gender marriages or civil unions. They have countless other issues, but these will dominate their work. One of our own members, Martha Gardner, is an elected Deputy to General Convention and we prayed for her at 8 am as she prepares to leave today, and we’ll continue to pray for all the Bishops and Deputies as they do this work. Hopefully history will look back, knowing the outcomes, and tell the stories of how these ordinary people given authority to heal God’s church came together and accomplished great things in the name of God and for the good of God’s church.

We too are ordinary people. Yet we are called to extraordinary feats of faith every day. Worshiping God and loving our neighbor is a task that calls forth greatness in us no less than that called out from David or Paul, or the disciples or the men and women throughout the ages who shaped and changed the world. God sends us out today giving us the authority to heal and cast out demons. There are things and people we will meet today who are hurting or broken. We may find that we are the only ones who can make a difference and we are called by God to do so. Our own brokenness and hurt may need attention and God offers healing for us and is available through prayer.

Like our ancestors in the faith, we can open ourselves to allow God to work through us and change us. Like them we can change the situations around us and together effect great changes in the world. We don’t know how the story ends, today is only our beginning. But through God’s grace it’s a story worth writing with God who is the author of life. Amen.

©2009 St. George's Episcopal Church, Maplewood, NJ

Upon the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop

By The Rev. Bernard W. Poppe, Rector

From the Gospel we just read, "...(T)hey woke him up and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?'"

The disciples found themselves along with Jesus in a boat far away from shore when a storm kicked up. Jesus was asleep and they were afraid that they would perish. Quite understandably they woke Jesus up hoping that he would be able to do something about this and sure enough he rebuked the wind and stilled the water. He turned to the disciples and asked them why they were afraid, if they still had no faith.

The action Jesus took was astounding, and the question he asked intriguing. Calming a storm at sea is amazing any way you look at it. What is even more amazing is to imply that the disciples could have done it themselves, if they had believed. The power of faith can make wonderful things happen. The presence of fear impedes those very wonders.

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in Columbus, Ohio ended this past week and evidenced both wonders achieved in faith and wonders denied through fear. In your bulletin is a flier about our new presiding Bishop. Please take a moment to find it. Please take time to read it, but NOT NOW!

Her name is Katharine Jefferts Schori and currently she is the Bishop of Nevada. By all accounts she was placed on the ballet of four nominees as the token women candidate. After all, she was ordained a priest only twelve years ago and a bishop only five years ago, and some in the country and many outside the country are uncomfortable with women's ordination even though the issue was decided 30 years ago. Besides, at 52 years of age, she's too young for such a role. But there she is, unlikely and yet elected. Her title is "Presiding Bishop-elect." She will be officially installed and her nine year term commences on November 1 of this year at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.


There are times in the church when the presence of the Holy Spirit is felt more strongly than others. It was by faith that she was elected, and by faith she will exercise her office. At this point the buzz of her election is still going strong. Those who were at convention have come home now and are telling the details in person instead of emails and phone conversations. One story is of the session where all the candidates are given time to make statements and her strong faith and vision, conviction and presence awed and won the House of Bishops which elected her on the fifth ballot.

Regardless of her statements, however, it was a bold move to elect her. I have to believe the house of Bishops, hardly a radical group, voted for her based on her abilities. She has worked within the framework of the international Anglican Communion is smart and sensitive to the issues and spoke boldly. They elected her based on her statement and not to make one. They had to know this would cause a stir and be prepared for it. They stepped out in faith.

The worldwide Anglican Communion who always watches closely, watched even closer at the decisions this time when tensions are running so high. The idea of a woman in the conference room sitting at the table of Anglican Primates, rather than in the gallery, makes many of the old boys uncomfortable. Well, that's just too bad.

Since when has being a Christian been comfortable? It has been a storm since the beginning. The Apostles were visited on the Pentecost day so long ago by rushing winds, their ministries fraught with persecutions and oppression. Generations following them found the same and worse. Christians throughout history responded to calls from God that took them out of comfortable situations and threw them headlong into discomfort. Storms of conscience and conviction have long raged in the spirits and minds of Christians. Comfort has not been promised to anyone. Now if we follow this reasoning of storms raged through convictions, people on both sides of any controversy will claim the rightness of their cause by the faith that motivates them. Those who are saddened by the election of Bishop Jefferts Schori will claim the validity of their objections just as quickly as her supporters will claim the rightness of the election. It wouldn't be a storm if both sides agreed!

"Lord do you not care that we are perishing?" The church appears to be in a mess. The ocean is so big and our boat is so small. Like the disciples we turn to Jesus to sort this out. And Jesus will calm the storm and call to the waves, "Peace." I imagine the disciples still had to bail out some of the water after Jesus calmed the storm, there was still work to be done in the aftermath, and there will be for us. In the calm after this particular storm of convention faith will win out.

Though some do not agree, the overwhelming vote for her in both houses of convention must reflect the stance of the national church whom they represent. The jubilation felt across the church speaks for itself. It was not a statement of defiance to other provinces in the church. The statement made by this election is to move forward in faith where God leads the way. It was a proud moment in the life of the church, an affirmation of God’s love and call to everyone. Convention did a good thing.

However, convention ended on a different tone. The other controversial issue facing convention was the response to the Windsor Report which called for a moratorium on the election of any other openly gay Bishop and the blessing of same sex unions. Many, myself included, hoped this convention would not back away from the bold stance it took three years ago in affirming the election of The Rev. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a monogamous relationship, to be a Bishop in New Hampshire. Much like the action it took this year, both houses affirmed his election knowing it would cause a stir. And it did. The storm unleashed by that decision is still felt today very strongly. Perhaps it was stronger than many expected at the time, and they are afraid that we might perish.

The resolution responding to the call from our international brothers and sisters to refrain from electing openly gay and lesbian bishops was introduced in the final day of convention. It took the form of a statement urging all standing committees and Bishops, (those who approve Bishop elections) to refrain from consenting to the election of a Bishop whose "manner of life" is considered objectionable by the international church. It's carefully worded and one can see loop holes a mile wide, but it's still a step backwards in what had been a bold move three years ago. I believe it was a fearful step, and not a faithful step. Our Bishop was one of several who signed a letter of dissent after the resolution was passed, as it backs away from the faith statement three years ago, that gay and lesbian people are equal in the church. Maybe we’re not, at least now.

The storm continues and as such we must still look to Jesus to calm the waters, since like the disciples, we seem to be unable to do it ourselves. All of us have something in the General Convention to find disappointing and yet we all have something to celebrate. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul said "...if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away, see, everything has become new! All this is from God..." Our lives as Christians calls us into community and prayer. Communities squabble from time to time and so will the Episcopal Church over these and other important issues. But ultimately the God who died and rose again for us, the God who loves us and calls us into covenant is with us. That love will ultimately calm the storm until such time as we discover the faith to confront and make peace of our own storms.

I'll close with a quote from the sermon delivered by Bishop Jefferts Schori the day after her election. "When we know ourselves beloved of God, we can begin to respond in less fearful ways. When we know ourselves beloved, we can begin to recognize the beloved in a homeless man, or rhetorical opponents, or a child with AIDS. When we know ourselves beloved, we can even begin to see and reach beyond the defense of others... We children can continue to squabble over our inheritance. Or we can claim our name and heritage as God's beloveds and share that name, beloved with the whole world." Amen.

© 2006 St. George's Episcopal Church, Maplewood, NJ

Claiming our identity as a progressive church

By The Rev. Bernard W. Poppe, Rector

The lessons today give us images, metaphors really, for the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Mark the Kingdom is like seed scattered on the ground which grows in a way that is not known to people, but through the power of God. Or again like a small mustard seed which becomes the largest of all shrubs with strong branches able to house the birds. These are simple images but have a power in their own right to draw our attention to the life giving and abundant love of God. We don't understand it, but we can see it at work and make a home in it.

The arboretum in the first lesson from Ezekiel didn't make out quite so well, however. In this case the tree which grew large enough to house many creatures and provide shade over vast amounts of land actually rivaled the Garden of Eden. This tree, representing Egypt, was cut down however because of its pride and belief that it rivaled God in power and majesty. The prophet Ezekiel was to remind the people of Israel that it is God who creates and sustains, and those who are not rooted in God will topple and to quote contemporary wisdom, the bigger they are, they harder they fall.

When we put these botanical lessons side by side they witness that while we might aspire to be the trees, we are in fact the birds who find shelter in the loving, embracing branches God extends through grace and love.

These lessons are helpful for us this morning as we bless and baptize two sets of twins. We are guiding them to seek and accept God's love and shelter, to nest in that protection without the need to usurp the tree of its height and strength. We as a community of faith are asking them to share the abundance space among the strong branches with other birds and creatures of God who will make their homes too. One of the advantages of a parable is that you can keep going on and on with the metaphor. It's tempting, but I'll refrain.

But I will use this metaphor as a jumping off place to talk about something that I believe we should be paying attention to. Just as the branches of God's love shades and protects the many creatures of God so must the church as a community reflecting God's love. We're blessing Max and Sam and baptizing Noel and Lily into the Christian church within the Episcopal tradition. It's a tradition that at its core has embodied widely differing views on theology, mission and social justice. But we have always used the tension between us to find creative solution or at least peaceful resolution.

This day in Columbus, Ohio, the National Church continues into the second week of what is a ten day convention accomplishing legislative duties. Most of these tasks will have little impact on the life of the church but among the larger issues is one that may very well separate the American Episcopal Church from its fellowship with the worldwide Anglican Communion. That issue is about human sexuality, and more specifically whether or not to ordain openly gay and lesbian people to the priesthood and even more importantly, the Episcopacy. There is also a resolution to create ceremonies to bless same sex unions.

This denomination has long been known for open dialogue, but unfortunately has become too often part of the national trend toward galvanized intolerance. Strong views spoken with uncompromising intent. Judgmental opinions vilifying opponents on both sides of any question. Threats to walk out are made if the vote goes to allow gay and lesbian bishops. People in the pews are also waiting to hear, some making their own plans to walk away if the voting goes one way or another.

I must remind everyone that this is not new territory for the Episcopal Church. Threats of division have been made before: the ordination of women beginning 30 years ago, and before that Civil Rights, before that women's suffrage, before that abolition and before that revolution with England. As a denomination we have weathered each of these threats. This time however, it looks uncertain.

Prejudice has always used scripture as a weapon, and our ability to take the same scriptures and come up with entirely different interpretations is staggering. The rhetoric surrounding the debates becomes dehumanizing and violent. Death threats are made to those who vote in favor or gay ordination. Much of the debate on consecrating gay men and lesbians to the Episcopate began three years ago when Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a relationship was elected the Bishop of New Hampshire. Death threats did accompany the news and controversy to the point that when Gene went to his own consecration, he did so wearing a bullet proof vest surrounded by FBI agents working undercover for his security.

We sing National Anthems speaking of equality and justice for all, and this reality mocks that ideal. Long before 9/11 terrorists have been in this country as KKK, organized crime, vigilantes and others. The church as institution has to recognize its part in hate mongering and inspiring violence both spiritual and physical against its own members and those outside its fold. Only when we recognize it can we move forward into the Kingdom God calls us to co-create. Our very baptismal vows call us to repent when we are wrong and strive for reconciliation. All of us need to take seriously the voice of faith within us. I mean our own voice.

A while back I heard a poet read a work call "Question Authority." He based this poem on a bumper sticker he'd seen. It's been around a while and occasionally you still see them. He noted that it's important to question authority and not follow blindly. The public can be lied to, and deceived by leaders we want to trust. Questioning authority can be seen as unpatriotic or rebellious. Whole groups can be manipulated with false information, and questioning that same authority is important to validate the information, its sources, conclusions and actions. This is true regardless of governmental or ecclesiastical authorities. However, the poet went on to talk of the danger of questioning only. We might become cynical or use the lack of trust to justify taking no actions whatsoever. It becomes easy to sit back and shoot down any opinion without offering one in response. And that was where the poet took his listeners. To take upon themselves the responsibility to find the information, voice and opinions, and to take actions. To stand up for something. Echoing the words of Malcolm X he said those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. So don’t just question authority, speak with it.

It's into this spirit and dialogue I would like to venture. St. George's is a church that has long broken with conventional ways of doing things. The history of this parish shows efforts and accomplishments in areas of racial justice and equal housing in this and surrounding neighborhoods. We were progressive acting on the role of women in the church, having elected the first woman vestry member in the diocese many years ago, later sponsoring one the first women in the country ordained a priest. One of our members is currently the first woman chancellor of the Diocese. In electing my predecessor as rector, you called the first openly gay man who was ordained. All these "firsts" made successive accomplishments easier. We've sponsored several gay and straight men and women for ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood, and have a couple more on the launch pad. By the time my election as rector rolled around four years ago, that you elected another openly gay man amid no controversy or fanfare, in a way that could be called "ho-hum" is a sign of progress.

St. George's has taken its prophetic role seriously if not fully articulating it. We have lived it. I want us now to own it publicly and fully. We are a progressive and liberal Christian church. We think critically and strive to make informed decisions in our theology and mission. We do not hold that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. It is the living word of God. Inspired by faith and written by people living in a world they tried to make sense of just as we do today. Their writing is wisdom born of their experience and faith. Its praise and worship is sincere for its context and instructive for us as a basis on which to understand our own world and issues. We have brains and we have voice. We cannot abdicate either in our faith or practice.

Earlier this week in a conversation with one of our wardens, he mentioned that he would be away at the graduation of his nephew. He mentioned that his nephew went to a Christian College. Well, so did I. The college I went to was Holy Cross in Massachusetts, a college founded by Jesuits in the Roman Catholic tradition. But you and I both know that's not what was meant. And I believe that's the sad crux of our dilemma. All too often, the word "Christian" in today's world refers more commonly to a fundamentalist, conservative branch of Christianity. While I will not deny that they are Christian, I will not stand for them denying that I am. The liberal, progressive church has abdicated much by way of word and symbol to another part of the Christian faith to the point where the loudest voice in the national pulpit belongs to the fundamentalists and radical conservatives. We have to speak out with a voice that balances and demonstrates that Christians can disagree and still claim their faith in the same God.

This parish is such a place. I believe we have a mission to speak out and take a place in the open public for those who question the authority and have the courage and preparation to speak with it. Further, to recognize that even then are the thoughts and ideas are wrestled with and conclusions arrived at, that even members in our own parish will not be of one mind on all given topics. We have members who are liberal and conservative. And that makes us traditionalists. So if anyone asks you if you are a traditionalist, tell them proudly, yes!

Claim words and symbols that are common property to all people of faith and especially those that are Christian. Debate them, use them and by all means witness to them.

I have been in gatherings that get a little heated when some will wonder how I can be gay and allowed to be a priest. Others who are gay will ask how I can be part of an institution that denies our full rights; questions the legitimacy of our being. The answer to both who wonder how I live in what appears to them to be a contradiction is that I am a priest of God exercising my ministry in an institution that is far from perfect but trying hard to be faithful. My faith and ministry transcends denominational boundaries. I worship a God who loves me as I am even as I live among people who may not be able to. God can make sense out of the contradictions and constructs that bring us to battle each other. That's part of my story.

The world is full of contradictions and always has been. After the service today there's a forum to be held sponsored by the Absalom Jones Committee led by one of the authors of a book about slavery in the North called "Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged and Profited From slavery." No doubt we’ll hear about conflicts and contradictions. Today is Father's Day. Many people have conflicted and complicated relationships with their fathers.

We cannot escape these realities or the histories of them. We have got to meet them head on, openly and honestly even when it's hard and painful. Support each other when we need strength and repent when we have made errors. As Paul says, we walk by faith, not by sight.

Shortly we'll bless Sam and Max. They are from an interfaith family where their father is Jewish and their mother Christian. They are not being baptized but receiving a blessing. As they grow we will support them in their journey towards weaving together the two rich traditions they are part of which can be a model for the rest of us. When we renew our own baptismal covenant, bless Sam and Max and baptize Noel and Lily we are not sparing them from the complexities of the world, but giving them the strength and consolation of a vigorous faith in which to proclaim God’s truth with boldness and minister God’s justice with compassion. Amen.

© 2006 St. George's Episcopal Church, Maplewood, NJ