The First Theological Council, April 8-9
Feast of the Epiphany, 2011
May the Lord help us to “preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4.5)
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus.
As I stated at convention and have repeated several times since, how we are in relationship with one another is the canvas upon which our common life is painted. It is utterly fundamental and colors all the claims we make to the world about the loving grace and salvation of Jesus Christ as Lord of the universe. Getting right with each other is at the very heart of our Christian vocation. It is a sign of our relationship with Jesus himself.
Since last March at the Clergy Business Day and continuing with the Fall Clergy Conference and the October Diocesan Convention, we have begun a disciplined process of open dialogue on matters of critical importance to our common life. Through these initial efforts at establishing norms for how we are in relationship with each other as Episcopalians in Upper South Carolina, we have already experienced some measure of new understanding and compassion for one another.
Call for Special Convention:
The 1st Theological Council of the Episcopal Church in Upper South Carolina
In light of our call to continue and deepen our disciplined practice of open dialogue, I am, with the full support of the Diocesan Executive Council, calling a special, non-legislative convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. The purpose of this 1st Theological Council of the Episcopal Church in Upper South Carolina is to engage in substantive biblical and theological dialogue on norms for how we are in relationship with one another and to practice these norms in a dialogue on human sexuality.
How will we go about this dialogue?
Our first priority will be to ensure a safe, secure, and open environment that will keep us mindful of our unity in Christ Jesus. The introduction to the proposed Anglican Covenant, as well as The Rule of St. Benedict, provides helpful scriptural guidance for being together in this way. We will ground our dialogue in a rhythm of prayer and worship, flowing from meals, to worship, to spoken meditation, to reflection, to small group discussion, and then to plenary discussion.
How can I prepare for the Council?
We will send to all attendees reference materials that will assist our dialogue on norms and on human sexuality. These materials will include readings from scripture, the Anglican Covenant, The Rule of St. Benedict, and the fall clergy conference norms.
What will the result of this Council be?
Again, the dialogue is the purpose. We will issue no statements from this Council but only a reporting of the event and how it unfolded. We will have no voting. We will have no hidden agendas. The goal is to expand how we understand one another and how deeply we engage one another in Christ. We do know that General Convention will make decisions in 2012 and 2015 that will affect our common life, and I believe strongly that before then, we must make biblically informed, healthy dialogue a norm for all of us, so that we will be able to discuss those decisions with grace and integrity. We must know more fully who we are as a people.
Who will participate?
All clergy who are canonically resident or currently licensed in Upper South Carolina
Certified 2011 lay delegates*
Certified 2011 youth deputies**
Lay members and officers of Diocesan Executive Council
Lay deputies to General Convention
Convocational lay wardens
Postulants, candidates, and seminarians
2011 senior and junior wardens
* Certification forms will be available online
** To be elected at March convocation meetings
When and where will the 1st Theological Council take place?
We will gather on Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9, 2011, at Christ Church, Greenville. The Council will begin at 4:30 pm on Friday the 8th and conclude by 5:00 pm on the 9th. Registration will open at 2:00 pm on Friday.
How much will it cost?
The cost will be $25 per person, and includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch. I hope the churches will pay this fee for their delegates. A block of rooms has been reserved at The Phoenix Inn. The cost of $79/night includes a full hot breakfast buffet. Reservations can be made by calling 800-257-3529 or 864-233-4651 and providing the block title “Episcopal Diocese.”
I recognize that, by calling this 1st Theological Council, I am asking churches and delegates to make a special and additional commitment. Because of the overnight schedule, we have decided to shorten the October 2011 business convention to one day. At the time of the Council, we will be in the heart of Lent, our season of repentance, reconciliation, fasting, and preparation for the Feast of the Resurrection. I can imagine no better way to prepare for that feast than by reconciling ourselves to God and to one another through deep and holy dialogue.
Faithfully in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. W. Andrew Waldo, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
Thanks to Lapin for the link.
"We will have no voting. We will have no hidden agenda" goes straight to the heart of it.
ReplyDeletewv "senate". Odd to have a real word.
Yes, indeed. And I like the following, too.
ReplyDeleteAgain, the dialogue is the purpose.
I wanted to post the letter without editorial comment. Commentary can come here in the comments.
For all his praise of the indaba process, Rowan didn't have the courage to do something like this at Lambeth. And he barred the one person whose voice should have been heard above all.
It mostly says Upper South Carolina, but at one point Bp Waldo is referred to as the Bishop of Upper North Carolina.
ReplyDeleteOh Malcolm, thank you! I can't believe I made the mistake. I had only a few original words to type, and I botched it.
ReplyDeleteI know how my mind works. If it's upper, then it must be north. At least the title was right.
Well, he certainly has a high- faluttin vocabulary! As I read it, I found myself wondering if this is really real people that he is speaking of. And all of that in 2 1/2 days?
ReplyDeleteSigh, I know that I am church- shenanigans weary, but .......
Nij
How does one participate in this conference? Does one have to be an upper South Carolinian? If you are known to be LGB or T, are you carefully declined?
ReplyDeletePlease accept my apologies for being slightly cynical, but my personal experience with South Carolinians and my reading of history, since 1861, activates my cautious genes.
Nij, I don't think the vocabulary in the letter is particularly high-falutin'. It's rather formal, but suitable for its purpose, as I see it.
ReplyDeletePfalz prophet, look under the heading "Who will participate?" to see who is invited to the meeting. It's not open to all, but I doubt that LGBT persons who fit the criteria listed will be declined.
This is the Columbia-based diocese of Upper South Carolina, not the Charleston-based diocese of So Carolina, Pfalz prophet. Very different kettles of fish.
ReplyDeleteThis is an extraordinary venture by Bishop Waldo. I wish my own bishop would follow the example and do something similar.
ReplyDeleteWhen're we going to stop being subjected to this sort of thing? The time for spiritual-sounding "dialogue" is over. Just stop it. Stoop it. Stop it. It's gone on long enough.
ReplyDeleteI feel sad just reading this. Do you mean to tell me that the church of Jesus Christ -- back from the dead, no less -- doesn't have anything more compelling to talk about? Shesh... lemme outta here.
Where's the first theological conference on the state of the poor? Where's the theological conference on wealth inequality? Where's the theological conference on the status of refugees? Can I get an amen for a theological conference on how not to be an ass?
I am not very optimistic about this conference. If somebody's a homophobe today, chances are they will still be a homophobe after this conference. Conferences do not change people. Even knowing someone who is a homo doesn't change people. the Holy Spirit changes people. That's the only thing what does it. So, good luck to the Holy Spirit. I think she's going to need it.
Lindy
Ormonde, I absolutely agree. I think Bp. Waldo demonstrates courage by calling the group together to have the discussion, and I pray that good comes from it.
ReplyDeleteLindy, we haven't had any "this sort of thing" in our diocese which needs to be stopped. We've never had the conversation. The other serious issues you mention need to be addressed most certainly, and I pray they will be in due time.
And don't forget that I changed. It's possible. No doubt the Holy Spirit was and is at work in me, but conversation helped to change me, too. And knowing gay people and hearing their stories helped to change me.