Bishop Waggoner and the Rev. John Sheperd dedicate the new entrance to St. Stephen's Spokane

St. Stephen’s, Spokane, celebrated the completion of a building project when Bishop James Waggoner visited the congregation Feb. 7 and 8. The project added worship and program space.

Bishop Waggoner blessed the newly remodeled building, met with the vestry, confirmed eight members and received two others into the Episcopal Church.

The building project includes an expanded narthex, reception center and office, an elevator and a main-floor chapel. It is the second phase of a remodeling effort that began with refurbishing the worship space and adding electrical and heating components. The firsts phase cost $550,000, raised in a capital campaign in 2004 and 2005. The second phase, a $420,000 project, was financed through a 2007 pledge drive and a building loan from the Diocese that is scheduled to be repaid by 2014.

Acolytes at St. Stephen's Spokane gather before the service during Bishop Waggoner's recent visit to the congregation

Bishop Waggoner met with the vestry during his visit and discussed the diocesan connection with the congregation. Several St. Stephen’s members serve on diocesan boards and committees and the parish often hosts programs of the Diocesan Commission on Theological Education (DCOTE).

St. Stephen’s hosts an annual children’s basketball camp and a children’s chorale and participates in various outreach ministries.

Because we are already  “Living with a Scandalous” Gospel.  Notice I say “living with.” That does not mean we are always living it but we are living with it; it is in our very midst.  As our homilist, Frank, said so well last evening, if we have the Bible we have the scandal among us.  And to address the question Frank raised, “so what?” – What’s the scandal?  In the words of author and preeminent preacher Peter Gomes, “The gospel is offensive and always overturns the status quo.  It’s not good news for those who wish not to be disturbed. … ”

Jesus told stories and gave us images of what this overturning looked like in his day – they are in the Book – about the wedding feast where the outcasts were invited in, those who did not have the proper garments.  And many more such stories about inclusion are in the Book!

This morning I want to tell you a story about this Gospel that overturns conventional practice; practice that is not bad, but that still misses the mark.  The story is from this neighborhood; it is about a couple that lives just across the street from Paulsen House – Sandy and Smitty Myers.

About three years or so ago, Smitty, a well respected retired Dean of the Gonzaga Law School, celebrated his 90^th birthday.  A big party was held in his honor in a lovely setting – the MAC (Museum of Arts and Culture), an artistically designed structure that overlooks the river.  Being their neighbors and having become friends with them, Gloria and I were invited to attend and, as we expected, dignitaries from all of Spokane were present.  But they weren’t the only ones present.  In the mix and clearly comfortable to be there were people from all walks of life.

As we introduced ourselves and met others we learned that the men who drive the recycling truck that serves our area were there.  The local mail carrier and spouse were there.  The crew from the garbage collection truck was there; servers, waiters and waitresses, from local restaurants were there.  And the couple being honored knew them all by name.  Everyone had a great time, and no one seemed out of place.  All were, without a doubt, welcome.

The button I was given yesterday evening – pinned on me while I was talking – stirred a twinge of conscience.  It reads:  “Who isn’t here?”  At first it annoyed me a bit, because when we gather at convention, I want to celebrate, to indulge in being this extraordinary diocesan group that we are and the blessing – Frank – we are to one another, and to raise up the marvelous work that is being done by our congregations.  For it is happening and it is making a difference – even transforming our communities.  But there are those who are not here, and the scandal of the Gospel won’t let us forget it.  And what a good and right thing that is – for us all.

That scandalous Gospel reminds us at every turn that every human being is important – Jesus would leave 99 sheep to find one lost.  In the story of blind Bartimaeus, people said to him, “leave Jesus alone. ”  But Jesus stopped  . . .  looked him in the eye, blind eyes, spoke to him and healed him.  When people are treated with respect, as important, healing occurs.

There are posters here that remind us of unholy history across continents and in our own country.  The practice of slavery.  In the 1400s and for five more centuries, more than ten million slaves were shipped from Africa to the Americas.  We scandalize the Gospel when we treat anyone as less than human.

And what we do makes a difference; God has a plan and we are the plan, as our speaker reminded us last evening. The Gospel is lived out in us.

That Gospel truth hit home for me and others at the Lambeth Conference held this past summer in Canterbury.  As around 700 bishops and nearly as many spouses from around the globe gathered for three weeks together, the bishops attended a 2 ½ day retreat in Canterbury Cathedral.  Having never been to that part of the world, I was in awe of much around me and especially Canterbury Cathedral, the historic landmark for Anglicanism.

Not long after we arrived at the Cathedral I was gazing and walking through this grand, historic cathedral when I saw a placard on a great column that read:  “Mission Statement.” I quickened to read it, thinking this must be some mission statement, given this stately structure. It didn’t take long to read it.  The statement was shorter than I expected, yet it said it all.  The full mission statement was four words:   “To Show People Jesus.”  That’s it; the entire mission defined in four words — light on length; but profound in purpose.

For to live it out means striving to let the authentic Jesus show through us – the authentic Jesus, not the one we so readily domesticate  or, as one passionate preacher described him, the Jesus we dress up and slick down.  But the Jesus whose words and actions speak for themselves. As writer Phyllis Tickle encourages us, listen to the actual words of Jesus, not the narrative around them, or the commentary about them, just the words.  They can be scandalous.

We have so much to treasure and celebrate in this diocese.  The generosity of spirit all around, the wonderfully welcoming, faithful, fruitful ministries of people and congregations, already being lived out in scandalous ways.

But we have more to see and more to do.  God is continuing God’s work of revelation, unfolding new possibilities and even new emerging visions for us.  New ways of being the Church that are challenging, sometimes frightening. And we’re called to step forward in uncertain, creative ways.

Let me give you but one example.  A restart of a Church.  A new mission on an old site.  Holy Trinity, Spokane.  It is a model of what more people are referring to as the emerging church.  When I drop in there, the doors to the church are open.  Banners are flying outside, on weekdays and on Sundays.  More often than not inside the Church I hear music; usually it is the voice of Johnny Cash – and this is an Episcopal Church – being amplified by an iPod and tiny but powerful speakers in a corner.  Something just doesn’t seem right.  I’m not convinced God wants iPods in the Church.  Yet there is something about it that is very right.

In a neighborhood that only recently was characterized by poverty, meth houses, and violence, Holy Trinity is there.  And from beginning to end the mission of this congregation has been to say to the community – this is your church.  This is your Gospel, and it is being shaped to be heard by all.  There is much creativity and a great deal of flexibility.  And a congregation of six to eight people a year ago now sees sometimes 60 people in church, worshipping on Sunday.

It is not about building a church and inviting others to attend our church.  It is about saying to all, it is your church.  You are not only welcome, you are invited.  It is about striving ” To Show People Jesus.”  You won’t be surprised to hear that it is the people of Holy Trinity who are passing out buttons that ask “Who isn’t here?”

It is not enough just to welcome others when they show up; we must invite them to come.  We have congregations that do that – and do it well – one of those is St. Anne’s, Omak.  They are shameless – perhaps scandalous – in invitation.  This summer they held a big ice cream social, invited everyone in.  In the course of the event they managed to get names and addresses for all who had not been there before.  And they followed up with personal notes afterwards.  When the fall schedule began, 32 people – adults and youth – showed up who were not previous attendees.

At the annual Bishop’s All Star weekend for youth, a good size group descended on the community of Oroville, hosted by Trinity Church.  The young people worked hard – cleaning and scrubbing, doing yard work, and much more to make life better for older people, for the community.  They could have been doing many other things, but they weren’t.  And we had a great time.  Maybe even in one way or another helped “to show people Jesus.”

It is happening and I haven’t even touched on all that is going on throughout the Diocese.  Time does not allow.  But we can say that we know we aren’t finished – that would be scandalous.  And we know God isn’t finished with us.  There is more to come.  And what a great gift it is to be moving into it together.

So now I want to turn to where I pray we are going in addition to what we are already doing.  The place where we are called to go looks like this – and it comes from the Mission Strategy adopted by Diocesan Council in September of 2007, which is being implemented daily in staffing and strategies.

We are going to where we will more and more be “creative and compelling witnesses to Jesus Christ in the Inland Northwest.”  That’s our vision.  To do so we are committed to building dynamic, growing communities of faith. And our guiding ethos is “openness, innovation, boldness, and risk.”  In Christ, we have great expectations – to think big and bold – innovative, open to risk, to failure as well as success.

Speaking of risk, today is St. Luke’s Day; it is the day when the Gospel tells us that Jesus went to his own home town, entered the temple, stood up, opened the scroll and read:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

And he said this was being fulfilled in him – today.  A scandalous thing to say.

All were amazed at his words, impressed.  But then he said a few more things and was later driven to the edge of a cliff and almost thrown over.

It is risky to claim our calling.  The church itself must be a safe place, but in carrying out the Gospel we cannot play it safe.  And we aren’t playing it safe.  We are doing it and we are on our way to that place where the vision already stated is more and more a way of life in this diocese.

We not only do it together, we do with specific strategies and with help already well underway.  Let me name specifics.

The leadership of this diocese is committed to congregational development for every faith community.  It is a high priority, and we are staffing accordingly to assist every congregation.  We are training more than ten persons to help congregations, all  congregations, do the following:

• Invite/Include -Evangelism
• Equip/Enable – Formation (making disciples)
• Send/Support – Outreach

We have three new Commissions established over the last couple of years.

1.      Young Adult, Youth, and Children’s Formation

2.      Social Justice and Outreach Ministries

3.      Camp Cross

We are revisioning for Camp Cross, asking what God is calling us to do with the treasure we’ve been given, something perhaps beyond summer camps and weekend conferences.  More to come.

Our Foundation is growing in service to congregations and our endowments are increasing dollars to support Church Growth and Development.

Anti-racism work and Social Justice and Outreach work continue with greater breadth and depth.

We are trying new models for leadership development – Julia, our young adult intern, is with us today.  She is the first person to serve in the WaterMark program developed in this diocese.

We are revising our Constitution & Canons to serve mission more effectively.

I am appointing two new working groups:  one for Communication, the other for Economics and Environment.  Both will review what we are doing and make recommendations to improve.

In closing, I want to challenge every congregation to think scandalously about the three basics of being a healthy, vital congregation:  1) Invite/Include, 2) Equip/Enable, and 3)  Send/Support.

I heard someone say the other day that the hope of the church is in our young people because when it comes to the church they have “a critical eye” and “a hopeful heart”

I pray that, regardless of age, we will have critical eyes and hopeful hearts to recognize and proclaim by word and example the core of the Gospel.

Having referred to St. Luke’s Day, I now want to recall another Saints’ day, St. Michael and All Angels.  On that day the Gospel reading tells us that we will “see greater things than these.”  When we more and more learn about and live out a scandalous Gospel, and help others to do the same, we will see greater things, and we ourselves will be both blessed and a blessing.    Amen.

In this update I want to note the London Day last week when the entire group made the three- hour bus trip to the city and participated in the Walk of Witness in support of the MDG’s, after which we were treated to events of memorably gracious hospitality at Lambeth and Buckingham Palaces.

Though the social events were beyond what most of us had ever experienced and ever will again, the spirit of the day was carried by the Walk of Witness in which more than 1,000 of us marched with placards in support of action to eradicate poverty and dire consequences it perpetuates.  Though it was an unthreatening scene and a quite pleasant walk through town, simply being in the streets and saying publicly something of import made the Gospel itself seem more real and present.

At the end of the walk we heard the Archbishop of Canterbury call all to Gospel imperative action for the poor, followed by a passionately powerful speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown focusing on the same imperatives for governments and nations.

Injecting the spirit of the Witness Walk into the Lambeth Conference makes this an opportune time to  note that one of the concerns expressed repeatedly at this conference is that what is being referred to as the “Western agenda” – meaning primarily North America – will dominate and that we will focus on sexuality, covenant, etc. to the exclusion or diminishment of far greater magnitude  world concerns such as starvation, lack of education, and unavailable health care for millions of people.

Bishops from some of the most devastatingly poor countries have said to me that discussion of sexuality and like concerns are a luxury of the rich compared to the life threatening circumstances they must address daily.  It reminds one of the scripture, “Your concerns are not my concerns,” says the Lord.  And certainly challenges us to put in perspective that which is of highest priority.

Can it be July 28^th?  The calendar is a reminder that time here is not only well filled, but is also passing quickly.  As we begin the last week of the conference, I write to update you on items that  seem to be most relevant and of highest interest.

The daily schedule of Bible study, Indaba groups, workshops, presentations, and other options resumes today.  This week will be somewhat different in design in that it affords us more plenary sessions for conversation and open hearings on increasingly pressing topics of the draft Covenant, sexuality, and the model for the Anglican Communion as we strive to go forward in mission.

Though there remain distinct and abiding differences on matters of ordaining gay and lesbian persons to the episcopate and the proposed Covenant, what is also distinct and most encouraging is that the overall tone of the conference remains far more positive than negative.  Disagreement on issues does not normally translate into dislike or disrespect of one another. That for the most part holds true across the gathering.  The more strident, critical voices making headlines are few and frequently misleading, especially if taken as the sentiment of the body here.

Overall there is a discernable readiness and general goodwill toward reaching increased levels of understanding and accommodation throughout the Lambeth gathering, but what that will look like in detail is yet to be decided.  One primary tension is whether we will evolve into a federation of national provinces that are connected, but clearly independent of one another or become more a Communion unified in mission and interdependent.  The latter is of course the preference, but the way there is not yet clear and a consensus is yet to come.

In the midst of listening, learning, and testing out possible next steps, we are exceptionally well served by the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury and our own Presiding Bishop – and others as well — in that both model being non-anxious, centered, and unhurried in a body where anxiety could easily escalate to the level of reactive decisions that would be less than wise and lastingly harmful.  Archbishop Rowan and Presiding Bishop Katharine are very present and relatively at ease in their comments and the conversations they are encouraging.

What I’m finding to be so – and this is from one who has a favorable disposition toward the media – is that the time we’ve spent in Bible study and discussion without high visibility, posturing and open conflict, has frustrated those here from various news agencies who are struggling to find stories that would be eye-catching and engaging to readers, especially those matters that could feed a more sensational headline.  As a result, even a simple aside made by anyone can become a headline with the implication that it reflects mood or the opinion of the conference, which it does not.

I should note that there was an extreme closeness of bishops and spouses, not in theology or ecclesiology, but during their respective group picture sessions on Saturday.  Try to imagine 700 – that’s 700, mind you – bishops of all shapes and sizes climbing onto temporary and somewhat rickety bleachers constructed just for the photo sessions.  It took nearly 45 minutes to get all in place with no space for movement and some literally having to be pushed into remaining small spaces.  Whatever the picture will look like, the experience itself will not soon be forgotten.  I resist commenting on whether a failure of structure would have been a plus or minus for the Communion.

More to come as the days unfold and the prayers continue.  I remain deeply grateful for yours.

As I reflect on yesterday’s events and review news reports already posted, I am conscious of not simply repeating the same description of “what we did” the day before.  The ENS accounts provided by reporters and Bishops who most often are approached randomly for comments offer basic information and insights that seem to serve well.  I do commend the ENS updates for your reading.

My intention in daily updates is to share my experience and perspective in a way that I hope will be informative and meaningful for our diocese.  I do recommend reading the Presidential Address by Archbishop Williams given Sunday evening.  It represents well both the tone and focus of the conference design group in the Archbishop’s own style which is a strong influence on our work.

And it continues to be clear that the intention is for every voice  here to be heard, among bishops and spouses in their respective settings.  The effort of conference planners to make this happen have been extensive and so far is proving to be effective well beyond past Lambeths, according to those who have previously attended.

Through the daily Bible study sessions (75 minutes), followed by Indaba groups (2 hours) of 30-40 bishops each, we participate in exercises that make it impossible for anyone to sit it out.  Most encouraging is the readiness of all to speak and to engage actively in discussion topics and questions.  The language differences have not been a great obstacle, thanks to the pre-planning and translation equipment available – and the fact that most speak English at some level, even if their fourth or fifth language.

The Bible study group I lead is composed of two bishops from India representing two difference dioceses, one bishop from the Sudan, another from Tanzania, and a Bishop Suffragan from England, Two ecumenical representatives who have not yet been able to attend.  The groups are inentionally small for everyone to speak.

I am daily struck by the readiness to speak and the openness to discuss not only the Bible passages and questions, but also how the issues that surface in studying John’s Gospel, focusing on Jesus’ “I am . . .” sayings translate into our respective contexts for ministry and relate to complex and challenging issues facing the Anglican Communion today.

It is heartening to hear freely offered candid comments and insights on scripture passages.  The study sessions have exceeded expectations timewise, quickly fostering honest and respectiveful interaction that is not at all always comfortable for any of us.  In the commitment to candid  communication I find real hope.

The Indaba groups that follow the Bible study and last for two hours follow a well designed model of constantly changing the makeup of small groups which vary in size within the 30-40 bishops in each.  The spirit of Indaba is being lived out.  While I at first suspected using Indaba as just another way to facilitate the same old group stuff, I have learned that it isn’t.  Below is a brief description – the essence —  of Indaba as a serious instrument for communication and community building.

Indaba is a Zulu word for a gathering for purposeful discussion. It is both a process and method of engagement as we listen to one another concerning challenges that face our community and by extension the Anglican Communion.

An Indaba first and foremost acknowledges that there are issues that need to be addressed effectively to foster on-going communal living. Originally, in the Zulu context, these would include issues which affected the whole of the community. In our case it is issues which affect the whole Communion as reflected in our daily themes.

In Indaba, we must be aware of these challenges (issues) without immediately trying to resolve them one way or the other. We meet and converse, ensuring that everyone has a voice, and contributes (in our case, praying that it might be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) and that the issues at hand are fully defined and understood by all.

The purpose of the discussion is to find out the deeper convergences that might hold people together in difference and come to a deeper understanding of the topic or issues discussed. This will be achieved by seeking to understand exactly the thinking behind positions other than our own.

As I wrote to the Diocese at the time Gloria and I departed for the Lambeth Conference, I have resisted becoming a regular blogger. Now, however, since the news accounts of Lambeth are beginning to increase and at times contain indisputably inaccurate information drawn from a seriously distorted perspective, I will be sending updates from my own participation, observation, and general perspective, which will be subject to their own degree of distortion as one person’s view.

Hospitality

To recap our early days in England, upon our arrival we immediately began the Pre-Lambeth Hospitality Initiative which included staying with a couple in the Diocese of Chichester and traversing the Uckfield Deanery (named for the river Uck) over the next four days. Our itinerary included a series of meetings throughout the Deanery, most of which were in people’s homes where we were in every place warmly received. The Diocese of Chichester is large, with nearly two million people and 21 deaneries. Two Suffragan Bishops serve with the Diocesan Bishop.

In many hours of conversation, only a small percentage was about the usual headline issues of sexuality and ordination of women as bishops; people were eager to hear about how TEC operates and voiced widespread misperceptions. It was enlightening to hear firsthand the impression that The Episcopal Church (hereafter TEC) was in turmoil and deeply divided throughout the country. The fact that most TEC eligible bishops were attending Lambeth seemed a surprise. This spoke to the influence of inaccurate reports about TEC in local papers.

At the various meeting venues, attendees posed straightforward and occasionally challenging questions which were more genuinely curious than contentious. A majority of the questions reflected a desire that the Anglican Communion not be divided. As Gloria and I listened and also spoke about our diocese and TEC, people responded quite positively.

Gratitude

They repeatedly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to talk face to face with someone from TEC. We learned a great deal from them about the richness of their history and the context in which the churches function, still influenced significantly by patronage, and eager, as are we, to get on with mission.

Beginning July 15, training for those of us leading Bible study groups continued for an evening and a day. The outline of material is quite good and available in a slightly modified form online. I hope you will take advantage of this offering and participate.

Preparation

Though last week the days were full, the work was primarily orientation and preparation for the official launch of the conference. In his Presidential Address, the Archbishop of Canterbury outlined his perspective and hopes for the conference. His remarks were focused clearly on a call to work on a form of Anglican Covenant.

For those of us attending and for the Communion, pray that we will be able to exercise spirit led discernment over special interest distortions.

Keenly aware of and grateful for the privilege of representing you, Gloria and I send our best to all. +Jim

This evening Gloria and I fly out for the Lambeth Conference to be held in Canterbury, England from July 16-August 3. Before leaving, I want to offer a brief preview of the conference and thoughts about the design which I believe holds profound potential.

About Lambeth

The first Lambeth Conference was convened in February 1867 by Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley. Seventy-six bishops attended. Not all bishops were invited; not all invited chose to attend, the Archbishop of York being one of those who declined to attend.

It is worth noting that according to Graham James, the first Lambeth Conference was convened in a spirit of “Resolving to Confer and Conferring to Resolve: the Anglican Way.” The intention, though it has shifted – especially at the 1998 conference – was not to legislate for the Communion nor to function as a governing body. The invitation was to pray, study, and build relationships across the Communion for the sake of God’s mission. There is much more to read and the details really are interesting and incredibly enlightening.

Repeating History, Recurring Tensions

A review of past conferences reveals that two fundamental tensions have occupied attention of the attendees from 1867 until today:

• The unique calling of the Anglican Communion to be comprehensive (inclusive) in tension with the need to define and hold what is Orthodox in belief and practice.

• The question about whether there should be some governing principles, not unlike the work we are doing now on an Anglican Covenant draft, to which all Provinces of the Communion would subscribe in order to be considered a member of the Communion.

Conference Design

I am delighted and encouraged that the bishops will begin with three days retreat led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The topic is “God’s mission and a bishop’s discipleship.” I cannot think of a better way to begin and Archbishop Rowan is a gifted retreat leader and teacher.

The overall design of the conference allows for table groups for Bible study and conversation on specific items, and is focused much more on conversation, listening, and relationship building than on plenary sessions for legislation.

Gloria and I will have some interesting opportunities before, during and after the conference.

Gloria will be facilitating a session on the environment and care of creation for the spouses and I have been asked to lead/facilitate the daily Bible study for my group.

I encourage you to visit the Lambeth Conference website to participate in the daily Bible study, and other links available for news.

I note as well that as part of the Lambeth Hospitality Initiative extended to all bishops and spouses, Gloria and I will be in the Diocese of Chichester from July 11-15 and will visit churches in the Uckfield Deanery, engage in open conversation, and share in formal events with Bishop John Hind and numerous others in the brief four days. I will be the guest preacher in Holy Cross Church this coming Sunday, July 13.

Though by choice I’ve avoided becoming a ‘blogging bishop,’ I am committed to frequent communication via email while at the conference and will strive to keep you informed on the most interesting and relevant developments. You can be sure there will be sessions in our diocese for sharing of information we bring back.

Know that your prayers for all attending the conference will be much appreciated and that you shall surely be in ours.

Faithfully yours,

+Jim

James E. Waggoner

We asked Bishop Waggoner to share his own plans and hopes for the Lambeth Conference 2008. More information will be posted on this site in the near future.

Gloria and I will be attending the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, this summer. It will be my first time and I will go in the hope and anticipation of genuine benefits to be derived from bringing together the Bishops of the Anglican Communion.

While I recognize there are justified reasons to question attendance, I shall go encouraged by the design, which includes retreat time, Bible study, prayer, worship, and regular opportunities to learn from those different from ourselves.

My own prayer is that we will engage one another in a spirit of humility and take advantage of this rare privilege for establishing and renewing relationships across the globe and for building networks for the mission God has given us all in Christ.

During the past two years the Archbishop of Canterbury has said more than once that he earnestly hopes the conference will enable bishops to more effectively equip the people of God for their ministries. May this be so throughout the world. That in itself will make it worth the trip.