SPRING 2016
The Presiding Bishop Visits
HAPPENING
Happening draws together young people from dioceses of Michigan, Eastern Michigan St. Paul’s, Flint hosted a unique Happening April 29-May 1. It brought together young people from the dioceses of Michigan and Eastern Michigan for a combined event. The theme of water played a big role throughout the weekend, as residents of Flint have been dealing with a well-documented clean water crisis for an extended period. Bishop Todd Ousley from the Diocese of Eastern Michigan joined the group to celebrate the Eucharist.
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The Record Spring 2016
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HAPPENING
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The Record Spring 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Episcopal Church Center
4800 Woodward Ave. • Detroit, MI 48201-1399 (313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424 Submissions: submit@edomi.org
The Record is the quarterly magazine for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Spring 2016 The Rt. Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. Bishop of the Diocese bishop@edomi.org James Gettel Canon for Congregational Life jgettel@edomi.org Canon Jo Ann Hardy Diocesan Administrator jhardy@edomi.org Jennifer Michalak Secretary Diocesan Administration jmichalak@edomi.org Beth Rowley Executive Assistant Office of the Bishop browley@edomi.org
The Reverend Eric Williams Director of Whitaker Institute ewilliams@edomi.org
The Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry visited the Diocese of Michigan for its Absalom Jones celebration in February. His explanation of the Jesus Movement was greeted warmly. Page 6
The Final Word
Editor Rick Schulte notes there is a great deal of excitement that follows our Presiding Bishop. That’s a good thing, but it’s his message that is even more impressive. Page 19
Eric Travis Missioner for Youth and Young Adults etravis@edomi.org Mark Miliotto Director of Finance mmiliotto@edomi.org Kara Chapman Accountant kchapman@edomi.org Knena Causey Whitaker Institute kcausey@edomi.org
Rick Schulte Diocesan Communications Editor, The Record therecord@edomi.org Professional print services provided by Grigg Graphic Services, Southfield (248) 356-5005 • www.grigg.com
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Welcome
St. James, Birmingham officially welcomed its new rector, the Rev. Josh Hoover, in a festive celebration in February. Page 15
Take My Hand
Finding good help regarding suicide prevention is not always easy. That’s why St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills, Lake Orion has put a lot of effort into a new outreach program. Page 10
The courage to speak
The former president of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson, talks about how communication is important in establishment relationships in local churches. Also, photos from Vestry Day. Page 16
Tenebrae
A photostory from Grace Episcopal Church, Southgate. Page 18 The Record Spring 2016
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The Jesus Movement
A message of Episcopal evangelization from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry By Rick Schulte
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PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY Celebrating the Feast of Absalom Jones on Feb. 20, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry touched on his ongoing theme of the “Jesus Movement,” a message enthusiastically received at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit. “We were baptized not just into a membership of the church,” he said. “We were baptized into a movement. We’ve been baptized into the Jesus Movement, and we are the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, meant to change the world. That’s who we are.” This was Curry’s first visit to the Diocese of Michigan as presiding bishop. His Absalom Jones message was that of prayer and action – and that prayer means more when backed by effort. “In the Last Supper, notice what Jesus says over and over again,” Curry said. “By this, everyone will know you are my disciples. How will they know this? That you will love one another.” It’s Curry’s insistence on being recognized by our actions that resonated with the audience. “That you love one another, Episcopal Church,” he said. “That you love one another, Diocese of Michigan. That you love one another, Anglican Communion. That you love one another.” “It was really powerful, really stirring,” said Kevin McLogan, a member of St. John’s, Royal Oak. “The presiding bishop really sent home that message of love and what it really means. I was so impressed, I took notes, actually. “It’s something that’s going to stay with me for quite a while.” A contingent from St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s, Detroit – a church with a notable history of promoting civil rights and social justice – was highly visible with matching “I’m part of the Jesus Movement” T-shirts – which Curry noticed and pointed out during his sermon. Brenda Cann, proudly wearing that shirt, came away moved by Curry’s message. Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
“It was absolutely excellent, inspiring and motivating,” she said. “When it was over, I actually felt uplifted.” Curry explained there was a bit of wisdom in John being baptized in the Jordan River, rather than in a body of water like a lake, which exists but doesn’t display much visible movement. “He was baptized because John was baptizing into a movement, like the river that was moving,” he said. “John was baptizing him into the movement of God’s love, a movement that created this world in the very beginning, not because He had to, but because God is love, and that’s what love does.” The Rev. Laurel Dahill, rector of St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills in Lake Orion, said the message of a Jesus movement comes at the right time in our history. “I think that’s the message we need in the world. We can’t live in the world without Jesus,” she said. “We’ve tried, and it doesn’t work. We need Jesus. “We’ve had amazing people lead us in social justice movements, but without Jesus, it doesn’t work. We need more Jesus in the world.” “We have been called and baptized and challenged and committed to follow in the way of Jesus,” Curry said. “To follow in the way of God’s love, that we know is Jesus, and to change this world by the power and reality of that love from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intended, that’s how it works. We’re the Jesus Movement.” Bishop Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. presided over the celebration. The following morning, Curry also delivered a sermon Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. Portions of this story originally appeared in a story for the Episcopal News Service.
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit was filled with excitement as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry provided the sermon during an Absalom Jones celebration on Feb. 20. (Photos: Susi Stiles)
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More thoughts from the Presiding Bishop In front of a rather intimate setting, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry recently addressed the Episcopal Communicators Conference in Portland. Among the attendees was Rick Schulte, director of communications for the Diocese of Michigan. Bishop Curry touched on a wide range of topics. Here are a few of them: Social Media The idea of having church-goers promoting the Episcopal Church through social media is a good way of opening our doors to those who might be curious about it. Social Media Sunday is coming up Sept. 25, using the hashtag #SMS16. “If it’s a song that touches your heart, if it’s something in the sermon that touches your heart, if it’s in the prayers, if it’s in the Sacrament, if it’s something that touches you, Tweet, text, Facebook, Instagram, whatever, send it out. That’s evangelization right there,” Curry said. General Convention “I can’t think of a General Convention, in recent memory, that has been as clear about the direction of the Church in our time as this past General Convention… This came from the convention, it wasn’t a top-down kind of thing. In fact, nobody planned it ahead of time, to say we’re going to claim evangelism and racial reconciliation as the two things we’re going to do together… “Two words in English that are rarely found in the same sentence – Episcopal and evangelization – that in and of itself is significant. But to claim evangelization and racial reconciliation – probably two of the most complex things we could be talking about, to claim that as our mission, that’s the Jesus Movement for our time – is nothing short of remarkable. I don’t think a task force would have come up with that, I don’t think a committee would have envisioned it, I don’t think a convention would have planned for it. The only way I can explain it is the Holy Spirit was messing with us, big time. And I believe that was the case.” More About the Jesus Movement The truth is, I believe passionately that people who follow in the way of Jesus actually do change things. …..I’m not just talking about going to church. I’m talking about striving to really live the way of Jesus and to actually impact the world. I believe that Jesus Movement, that’s going on. It’s not only transformative for the Episcopal Church, but transformative for the entire world. “…The more we live deeply into that, we will find revival, and won’t be afraid of the word. We will find renewal, and won’t be confused about what it means. We will find our soul, our real Episcopal soul, and make even more difference in the world than we have. That’s what the Jesus Movement is getting at.”
The Rev. Jonathan Sams (left) addresses a gathering of clergy with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. After the celebration, guests were able to meet the Presiding Bishop.
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With suicide so prevalent in its community, St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills, Lake Orion works to solve the problem.
TAKE MY HAND BY RICK SCHULTE
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Dressed nicely, she raised her hand and began telling her story. Nervously, but with a steady purpose, a woman in her early 20s explained how she attempted to take her own life on several occasions. The gathered guests at St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills, Lake Orion, turned to where she was, near the back of the room, resting their arms on the chairs as they looked back and listened, shaking their heads as if to say, “Dear God, no.” And she told her story. How she attempted to cope with her suicide attempts, relaying her story to concerned friends who wanted to be helpful. “Trust your parents. They love you and would do anything to help you.” Little did they know that was the root of her issues. Her own father was molesting her. And she was trapped by this dark secret for years. Let that sink in for a minute. • Depression and suicide played a significant role in the course of my adult life. In 2001, I was working as a reporter at a suburban Detroit newspaper. The owner of the paper, though diminutive in stature, was a giant of a man. He came to America from Germany with only the money in his wallet and his toolbox. (At least, that’s the story he once told me, with great pride). Oh, and an insatiable drive to succeed. And succeed he did. Literally, with his bare hands, he built an automotive customization company from the group up. He secured contracts with the Ford Motor Company, Honda and Toyota, eventually growing a few businesses into an empire which included real estate, livestock and newspapers. He was wealthy, a multi-millionaire. He had personal relationships with presidents. In fact, it was at his own Texas ranch in 1996 he presented George W. Bush (then the governor of Texas) the idea to consider running for president. This man had a beautiful wife, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
SUICIDE
The Rev. Laurel Dahill, rector of St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills, Lake Orion, introduces Sallie Amalfitano. Amalfitano went into great detail discussing issues relating to suicide. This was part of the church’s Take My Hand outreach program.
wonderful twin children and was seen as a hero to everyone with whom he came in contact. He was a gregarious, gentle man with a big smile and a sincere greeting for everyone from his business lieutenants to the newest entrylevel hire at one of his companies. On July 6, 2001, in the pool house of his sprawling Grosse Ile estate, Heinz Prechter was found dead. He hanged himself. Understanding the reasons for depression and suicide was far less prevalent in 2001. All I knew – me, and the hundreds who worked under the umbrella of Prechter’s holdings – was we could only muster a response of, “Why? Why, Heinz?” Who knows for sure. Remember in the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when George Bailey considers taking his life, then sees what Bedford Falls is like without him? I always think of Heinz Prechter whenever I watch. It makes me painfully sad. Yeah, his companies began to tank, get sold off and eventually dwindled. And that hurt many of us, financially. Maybe it was caused by the post-9/11 collapse of the American economy. Maybe it was another reason. Regardless, what makes me sad is not the econom-
“We decided that if no one else was going to do something to shine a light into this dark issue, we would.” —The Rev. Laurel Dahill Rector, St. Mary’s-inthe-Hills, Lake Orion
ic impact of his passing, but the simple fact he is no longer with us. And everything he worked so hard to build soon began to fade away. • Suicide can happen anywhere, affecting men and women, boys and girls, young and old. Different situations precipitate thoughts of suicide. And it’s an issue that warrants more than just passing attention. There are no easy fixes. And there’s no way suicide can just be brushed off, swept under the rug as it has been for too many years. “Lake Orion and Oxford (located just to the north) have a higher-than-statistical-average
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for suicide,” said the Rev. Laurel Dahill, rector at St. Mary’s-inthe-Hills. “It runs across all demographic lines, and often happens in clusters. Just last summer there were three suicides in a cluster. The victims didn’t know each other, which adds another dimension to the concept of cluster suicides.” In fact, just before this earlyMarch gathering of the church’s Take My Hand ministry, a 2015 graduate of a local high school took his own life. The problem remains, showing an obvious need of addressing it. The idea of the ministry was born from a 2015 diocesan vestry retreat. Although the local high school already has a program in place which supports students who consider suicide, “How did this young man slip through the cracks?” Dahill said. “The other confounding thing about this is that it’s a generations-old problem. It draws the observation that somehow solving personal problems in this manner, although horrible on so many levels, is somehow approved by the silent response it gets.” In the obituary of the recent graduate, it stated the cause of death was ‘sudden illness.’ “It begs the question,” Dahill quipped, “if suicide is that bad, why isn’t anyone speaking up about it?” Sure, there were a number of resources locally, but few of a preventative nature. Grief support and fundraisers were available – after a suicide had already taken place. “We decided that if no one else was going to do something to shine a light into this dark issue, we would,” Dahill said. Members of the vestry, who presented the idea for the Take My Hand outreach, discerned how to go about creating it. So they dug around and asked questions. Of the Oakland County Sheriff ’s Department, Crittenden Hospital, a local funeral director and a non-profit support agency.
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SUICIDE
The personal experience of suicide, through the words of a mother
Sallie Amalfitano from Beaumont Hospital brought up many informative pieces of information.
Eventually, the focus and mission began to take shape. “We decided on the name Take My Hand to represent both reaching out to someone else, and asking for someone to reach out to us,” Dahill said. “And then we began to let the dream grow.” The goal is to have the ministry grow beyond the church’s vestry and into the wider congregation, where more people can get involved. • On a cold and messy Monday night, nearly 60 guests gathered at St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills to discuss suicide. They asked questions. They related personal stories. They offered support. And they learned. Sallie Amalfitano, a licensed social worker from Beaumont Hospital, Troy, facilitated the conversation about suicide. Sadly, suicide in the local community keeps her busy. “We deal with between 25 and 50 suicide attempts on a weekly basis,” she said. “And one in four is among the elderly.” Amalfitano touched on the goals of suicide prevention strategies, as well as some of the myths surrounding how to talk with someone expressing suicidal intentions. The key, she said, is to reach out and offer hope. “If you can give someone some kind of hope, that can be a gamechanger,” Amalfitano said. “Helping them see outside their world, and showing there’s hope. “The people who kill themselves are inside this bubble and they can’t see hope.”
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By Peggy Dahlberg I am writing this because I was asked to write something about suicide, not because I am an expert on suicide prevention. I’m not an expert, but unfortunately I do have personal experience with suicide. Our 24 year-old son Jimmy took his life last November. We are still reeling from almost every negative emotion possible. Extreme sadness; we miss his smile so much, sad because of life events that he will miss out on – the trips that he won’t take, the Detroit Tigers games he won’t attend, missing the experience of the complete love of being a parent and of not doing so many things that I am watching kids his age do. Guilt; did we do too much for him? Did we not do enough for him? Maybe we shouldn’t have done x, y and z. Blame; toward ourselves, not anyone else. Jealousy; I’ve never been a jealous type of a person, but yes, it is really hard getting together with my book club, all women who all have happy, successful kids Jimmy’s age and not feeling jealous. Frustration; at not having been able to help Jimmy. Doubt; “woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Anger; anger at Jimmy for taking this route, anger for him taking away our future with him, anger at the court system for penalizing a non-violent person to a violent punishment. Regret; for leaving town that weekend, for so many things, for not being able to
Jimmy Dahlberg
watch him grow to his fullest potential, for his wedding that will never happen and grandchildren that will never come. Shame, not about the suicide, but that we were not successful enough parents that we didn’t teach our son coping skills. The list of emotions culminates in what I think is the most awful emotion: the grief a person experiences due to the suicide of their child.
I have lost my grandparents, parents, in-laws, brother, best friend at 15, another best friend at 40 and too many dear friends to count. I know grief. Now I know the kind of grief no one should ever experience. Again, I want to reiterate that I am not an expert on suicide prevention, I’m not. A brother of one of Mike (our oldest son) and Jimmy’s friends took his life
“I don’t think there’s a “type” of person who takes their life and that is part of what makes suicide prevention so difficult. They are not as obvious as a square peg trying to fit into a round opening.” - Peggy Dahlberg
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exactly 10 months before Jimmy. I don’t know the circumstances of his death or what led up to his suicide, but I remember hugging one of my boys after he got home from the funeral home and made him promise to me that no matter how bad things got in his life, he would never do anything like that. Did I say that to Mike or Jimmy? I can’t remember. Would it have made a difference if I had said it to Jimmy? I don’t know. All I know is that a segment of his life went horribly wrong and as much as I tried, I couldn’t fix it. That is an awful feeling. I have faith that Jimmy is in heaven with all of those who passed on before him. I hate the bucolic/moronic image of heaven that I have in my mind though: clouds, green hills, angels flying around and Jesus sitting on a big chair with babies on his lap welcoming people. Although, I have to admit, I still hope that that is what heaven is like! (I think I’ve watched too many movies and looked at too many Hallmark cards.) But what I really hope Jimmy is experiencing is the thing most lacking in his final moments, peace. Jimmy was not what I would have stereotyped as a young man who would take his life because he had so many friends. His friends constantly said how good he made them feel, (so many of them said that Jimmy was their
SUICIDE
best friend) and told us how he taught them to be welcoming and kind and that he lit up a room when he entered. Between the visitation and the funeral, there were over 1,000 people who came to celebrate his life and mourn his death. So what is the “type”? I don’t think there is a “type” of person who takes their life and that is part of what makes suicide prevention so difficult. They are not as obvious as a square peg trying to fit into a round opening. It is so complex and the more we are willing to remove the stigma and have discussions about it, maybe this awful upward trend in suicides can be reversed. How do we reverse this trend? I don’t know, as I said, I’m not an expert. But I am glad that the lines of communication about suicide are opening and I pray that no one else will experience the lack of hope, the desperation and the terror that Jimmy felt. Peggy Dahlberg is director of communications for Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills.
Some facts, resources about suicide Coming up: How to speak to youngsters about suicide • This takes place at St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills, Lake Orion at 7 p.m.on Monday, June 13. While adults are able to talk to young people about illness and issues with drugs and alcohol, many find it harder to discuss suicide. This program gives parents and adults the tools needed to discuss suicide, plus address other issues relating to suicide.Call St. Mary’s at (248) 391-0663 for details.
Symptoms • Behavioral changes unusual to that person. • Talking about wanting to die or kill themself. • Looking for a way to kill themself, such as searching online or buying a weapon. • Talking about feeling hopeless with no reason to live. • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain. • Talking about being a burden to others.
Talk of suicide: What to do? • Seek help immediately. • Stay with the person. • Get them to the hospital. • If they refuse to go, call 9-1-1. (If you are speaking to someone who is discussing suicide who is not near you, call the operator and ask them to call 9-1-1 in the area where this person is located). • Suicide Hotline Number: This is available 24/7 and can be reached at (800) 273-TALK.
By the numbers • In 2015, approximately 800,000 people worldwide died of suicide. • Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death overall; among people ages 15-44, it is the third-leading cause of death worldwide. • Michigan is ranked No. 16 nationally in suicides annually. • There is one death by suicide every 12.3 minutes in the United States. (Resources courtesy Sallie Amalfitano)
Recommended Reading: ‘They Said She was Crazy,’ by Kristine E. Brickey
Celebration of ministry
Written by a Lansing-area teacher, this book touches on a mother’s struggle for answers after her son’s death. Just before her son’s high school graduation, Mara finds her son Zane shortly after he takes his life. The book covers Mara’s response to her son’s absence. Unable ‘to let go,’ Mara begins to see Zane, feel him, even talk to him. She begins to wonder if Zane is real or is she ‘going crazy’? This talks about her journey to fight through grief and work toward a future without Zane. This book, written in 2015, is available through Tate Publishing at tatepublishing.com.
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Record Spring 2016
A Celebration of the Life and Ministry of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Walled Lake took place April 31. The church originated in 1951, moving to its longtime home 10 years later. Although the doors will close, the work of St. Anne’s will continue throughout the diocesan household.
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WELCOMING A NEW RECTOR
St. James, Birmingham opens its arms The Rev. Josh Hoover was warmly welcomed earlier this year by his congregation at St. James, Birmingham. Greetings came from a variety of members of the church, including its young people, who came bearing pizza and donuts in a symbolic gesture.
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ESSAY
The courage to speak By Bonnie Anderson “Our lives begin to end the day we keep silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King, Jr. In every congregation there are lay people who hold a certain kind of personal authority. I’m sure you know these folks. Among them, they share some common characteristics. They are kind, have a positive outlook, often see the “big picture” and are usually soft spoken, but not always. They possess a certain kind of wisdom that is steeped in humility. Most importantly, they are brave and not afraid to speak the truth. I knew a matriarch (used in the best sense of the word) with personal authority. At 93 years she would stand at the microphone at diocesan convention, having thoroughly researched the topic about which she is speaking, and convince a whole diocese to
vote for her cause, controversial though it may be. Mary was fearless. There was standing room only at her funeral, and the preacher recalled many situations of conflict and distress that were prayerfully and gracefully resolved when Mary spoke. She spoke up when she saw things going wrong. She headed off parish situations that could have divided the parish, sent the rector away, and put the congregation’s ministry into a tailspin for years to come. She spoke the truth in difficult situations and, in [the Episcopal] Church that is not easy to do. After all, we have no language in the Church for telling each other the hard truth in love, even though the One we follow, told the truth all his life on earth. Even when it “hurt other people’s feelings.” What keeps us, the laity, from speaking the truth in parish situ-
ations where parishioners have “ganged up” on the rector? What keeps us from speaking up, what keeps us silent, is fear. We are afraid of losing the friends we have had for many years. We are afraid that our fellow parishioners won’t like us anymore. We are afraid that telling the truth from our own perspective will alienate us from our parish community. Our own self-interest keeps us silent while we sit by and watch our clergy person eviscerated. My grandmother (of all knowledge and wisdom) told me once, on the occasion of me not speaking up for a bunch of little kids in our neighborhood who were being bullied by bigger kids, that fear is the opposite of faith. Since I was a very obedient Roman Catholic at the time, I was having none of fear from then on. As I grew in faith (and became an Episcopalian) I learned to live by
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” As for speaking up in congregations headed down a path of conflict and angst, as laity, we need to be not only courageous but we have to remember that we are actually called to speak up. We promise to do so in our baptismal covenant (respect the dignity of every human being.) How? By speaking up when we see someone being diminished. C.S. Lewis reminds us “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Courage animates all our virtues: honesty, confidence, humility, compassion, integrity, valor. Without courage all these virtues lie dormant. Without regular use, our courage becomes harder for us to conjure up, less available to us. If we are not regularly courageous, our courage dries up. “Coura-
Vestry Day Canon Jim Gettel leads a lively discussion during one of two Vestry Day events celebrated in the diocese in February. The first presentation took place at St. Paul’s, Jackson; later in February, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul/ Diocesan Center, Detroit hosted a similar event.
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geous” becomes only a memory of how we used to be. Please now, allow me to share some ideas for possibly heading off these difficult situations in the future: To the clergy: When you are called to a congregation, look to identify the laity who you see as those having personal authority. Get to know them. Invite them to get to know you. Really know you. Pick their brains about the “culture” of the congregation. Ask them to tell you their hopes and dreams and you tell them yours. Then cast the net wider, and do the same thing with the whole congregation, a little at a time. It may take a long time depending on the size of the congregation. Bishop H. Coleman McGehee was a “dove” when it came to war and military action. At his parish in Virginia, he had many parishioners with military vocations. He devoted several years to developing authentic relationships. He got to know the parishioners (called “one on ones” in the community organizing community). He got to really know them, not
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ESSAY
to change people’s minds, but to hear their viewpoints and to share his views with them. Love and respect transcend all sorts of mindsets when people cannot agree on issues. This is not news to you, but “It’s all about relationship.” To the laity: Read the Catechism regarding the ministry of the laity. Find out what your job is. Look it up in the Book of Common Prayer (page 855). Know your gifts, know what your ministry is, and really commit to it. This is one of the most important things you will do in your life. When you say the baptismal covenant, mean it (after all it is a promise). If you can’t promise that you will respect the dignity of every human being, with God’s help, then don’t say those words when the baptismal covenant is renewed. Have generosity of spirit. Be kind. Love your neighbor and be in partnership with the clergy that God has given us. Have courage to speak the truth in love. Commit to being a loving and responsible member of your Christian community. If you have
your baptism certificate, as a daily reminder of your primary vocation in life, hang it on the wall near where you get dressed in the morning. Most importantly, get over the fear. Take a deep breath and speak the truth in love. It will set you free. These suggestions may sound simplistic, but they can be life changing. We are Christ’s beloved. Know that we are called to community to do our work of reconciliation, and always keep in the forefront of your mind that we have promised to respect the dignity of every human being. Henri Nouwen reminds us “we are cast into communities of people that we would never, in all our life, choose for ourselves.” There’s a life message there: Everything comes from God. Try This: How healthy is your church when it comes to dealing with conflict? Does your leadership team model ways to build trust within the congregation? How are disagreements handled? Are there opportunities for sharing different viewpoints in a setting where participants feel safe
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to give their honest opinion? Like many congregations, your church may have some work to do in this area. One place to start? Consider crafting a behavioral covenant that lays out the ground rules: We will start—and end—on time. We will commit to full participation. We will listen attentively. We will turn off our cell phones and computers. We will make our best attempt to attend every meeting. And when we can’t, we will notify the leader in advance. We will not be an air hog, bog, or frog. We agree the content of the meeting is the property of the group; we will not engage in side conversations in the parking lot, restroom, or by email. Bonnie Anderson recently completed her term as senior warden at All Saints, Pontiac. She served as President of the House of Deputies from 2006-12, This essay appeared in the ECF Vital Practices Vestry Papers.
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Photos: Catherine Long
“Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows,” so this is a service of shadows. Increasing darkness is used to dramatize the increasing sadness of Holy Week, accomplished by extinguishing candles during the reading of narratives and Psalms. Beginning with a series of readings from Lamentations, Tenebrae is distinctive for its use of 15 lighted candles; each is extinguished as each of the 14 readings is completed. The 15th candle symbolizes Christ. The candle is moved, then reappears at the end of the service, which represents the eventual triumph of Christ. This Tenebrae service was celebrated at Grace Episcopal Church, Southgate.
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THE FINAL WORD
Substance…and style, too
Meetings with our presiding bishop show you can combine both When Presiding py to interact with the Bishop Michael Curry well-wishers as they visited the Episcopal were to meet him. Diocese of Michigan Think about that for its Absalom Jones for a second. Most of celebration, I learned us can attend church, something quickly: with a level of involveDespite rumors to the ment from casual to contrary, the practice uber-involved, and we Rick of taking selfies with can generally move Schulte someone of note is from Point A to Point B not confined to young without much disruppeople. tion. With Curry, he’s Sure, there were a few “young constantly being hugged, tugged people” around that day. But at, photobombed and given any many of those who were packing other form of greeting you can smartphones and cameras were imagine. doing all they could to snap a And he truly seems comfortpicture of the presiding bishop… able with that. or with the presiding bishop…or You would think this sort of anything relating to the presiding rock-star treatment is confined bishop. to those who believe this will be To his credit, Curry looked their once-in-a-lifetime chance comfortable with this. Perhaps to meet Curry. Not so. A few that’s a large part of his appeal weeks back, he addressed the – of being engaging, approach- Episcopal Communicators Conable, genuine. However, that also ference in Portland – addressing made for a few funny moments. folks who should be used to this. Our youth missioner, Eric Travis, Alas, after he gave his speech, was charged with the task of es- he sat down nearby at my table; corting Curry from station to sta- a table essentially in the corner tion during his February visit to of a hall. I knew how this would the Cathedral Church of St Paul, turn out, so once the program Detroit. After all, the presid- was complete, I grabbed my work ing bishop is on a tight schedule materials and scooted away. It’s and should have some personal not because I didn’t want to greet space… him – I already ran into Curry Right. Watching Eric trying to the night before on a hotel elevaescort Curry through the masses tor. But I knew everyone would after the service was like watch- swarm to him. Individual picing a farmer try to build a fence tures, group pictures, autographs, around the goats in the field. It even a few old-fashioned handwas not an easy task, especially shakes. For a full hour. when Curry seemed just as hapSo what is it about Curry that
Diocesan Calendar Whitaker Celebration June 1, 6 p.m. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit Times, dates and location subject to change.
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Diocesan Ordination June 11, 11 a.m. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit Diocesan Ordination June 23, 7 p.m. St. Michael’s and All Angels, Cambridge Junction
Many visitors to the diocesan Absalom Jones celebration were able to interact directly with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry – with the photos to prove it, too.
moves the needle of those who meet him? First, this is not meant to compare Curry with anyone else, including his predecessor, Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori (who I found to be intelligent, thoughtful and, among other things, pretty clever). Curry offers something not commonly found in leaders of all kind today. Some leaders are stuffy. Some are more sizzle than steak. Curry is enthusiastic, but also smart and decisive. He has handled some internal issues with the Episcopal Church swiftly. He is quickly putting his mark on things, impressive considering he’s only getting started. How will this enthusiasm rub off on the Episcopal Church and its members? Well, put it this way: Curry’s presence makes every day a memorable experience.
But we can’t store up our excitement for the next time the “Presiding Bishop North American Tour” comes to town. We can, however, harness that excitement. Listen to the message. It does not even necessarily need to be Curry’s message. We hear that message from our local churches and our clergy. We see the message in activities that take place outside the church walls. It’s there in the outreach and the efforts that define the position of the churches in their local communities. Not everyone can be Curry. But we don’t have to reserve our enthusiasm just for him, either. Rick Schulte is Director of Communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and is also editor of The Record. He can be reached at rschulte@edomi.org.
Diocesan Council June 25, 10 a.m. St. Paul’s, Brighton
Diocesan Picnic July 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton
Green Week (Diocesan staff working offsite) July 5-8
Episcopalooza Saturday, Sept. 3
The Record Spring 2016
Diocesan Convention Oct. 21-22 Lansing Convention Center, Lansing
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The Record Spring 2016
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