An ordained trans woman, I should be overjoyed at the continued progress made by the Episcopal Church at its general convention on LGBT inclusion. I am.
But, again, I leave yet another such convention in tears...tears brought on by the continued obstruction by the powers-that-be in the Episcopal Church of any meaningful action to achieve justice for the long-suffering Palestinians who, for a decade, have been petitioning us to enact a divestment policy that might pressure Israel to end its 48-year occupation.
But, again, I leave yet another such convention in tears...tears brought on by the continued obstruction by the powers-that-be in the Episcopal Church of any meaningful action to achieve justice for the long-suffering Palestinians who, for a decade, have been petitioning us to enact a divestment policy that might pressure Israel to end its 48-year occupation.
Resolutions that would have done that from the dioceses of California and Hawai'i having been pushed aside, the convention's legislative committee on Social Justice and International Policy could only produce a watered-down call to look into the matter and report back in 2017. And, as Palestinians continue to suffer and die, we - unlike the Presbyterians, Methodists, Mennonites, and, day before yesterday, UCC - continue our shameful silence,
Why? Because we are afraid of conflict, afraid of being called anti-Semites, and, under threat, afraid that our dialogue of the deaf with the Jewish Establishment will be ended.
Yet, we at EPF have worked at general convention with young Jews from Jewish Voice for Peace who agree that criticism of the recalcitrant Netanyahu government is in no way anti-Semitic. And, with them, the dialogue with Jews who believe in the universal justice-seeking ideals of the prophets flourishes.
In my sadness, I re-read Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry's 2012 convention sermon "Crazy Christians." In it, he alluded to Mary Magdala. And that reminded me of a poem by the late Jane Kenyon - "Woman, Why Are You Weeping?" In a boat on the Ganges, as she watches the bodies of dead babies floating by, she's asked that question. She replies "I have lost my Lord and I don't know how to find him."
As I left Salt Lake City yesterday, I did so with a similar feeling. Oh, my Lord - Jesus - is closer than ever. But I have lost my Church and I don't know how to find it.
Why? Because we are afraid of conflict, afraid of being called anti-Semites, and, under threat, afraid that our dialogue of the deaf with the Jewish Establishment will be ended.
Yet, we at EPF have worked at general convention with young Jews from Jewish Voice for Peace who agree that criticism of the recalcitrant Netanyahu government is in no way anti-Semitic. And, with them, the dialogue with Jews who believe in the universal justice-seeking ideals of the prophets flourishes.
In my sadness, I re-read Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry's 2012 convention sermon "Crazy Christians." In it, he alluded to Mary Magdala. And that reminded me of a poem by the late Jane Kenyon - "Woman, Why Are You Weeping?" In a boat on the Ganges, as she watches the bodies of dead babies floating by, she's asked that question. She replies "I have lost my Lord and I don't know how to find him."
As I left Salt Lake City yesterday, I did so with a similar feeling. Oh, my Lord - Jesus - is closer than ever. But I have lost my Church and I don't know how to find it.
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