January 17, 2016
Fr. Philip Eberhart
Reflections on Canterbury 2016:
I cannot stand before you this morning without making some comments about the meetings of this past week in our "holy land," England - at the Cathedral at Canterbury.
You'll note that I have on my Canterbury Cross this morning, because I stand in a Communion that did not sell out, nor did it bomb out. There was true concern as the meeting of our Primates convened this week that by today there would be no more Anglican Communion. I have good news, there is still an Anglican Communion. And even better news, there is a united and operational core of faithful, even valiant, leaders who "hung in there" together for the sake of the Gospel and of Christ Jesus!
For those who have not been glued to Anglican Ink or to David Virtue, this was the week of meetings in Canterbury cathedral with the leading Archbishops known at Primates from around the world - 38 provinces (almost all were represented I believe). The purpose of the meeting was to address and deal with the actions of The Episcopal Church in the USA and the Church of Canada, in blessing same sex unions and in the case of TEC (The Episcopal Church), changing their canons and the language of the Marriage Liturgy this summer, coming in line with the Supreme Court decision last year.
The history of this church and of the Anglican Church in North America, of which we are a part, is one of dealing with these very issues - its why we find ourselves here, instead of snuggled safely in our own little building; why we have left behind houses and land, for the sake of the integrity (to reuse aright, an old word) of our witness to the Word of God and to the Lord Jesus Christ in this land.
But without rehashing our old wounds, let me just say that this week, the Anglican Primates at Canterbury, have sanctioned TEC for its behavior. Put simply, TEC and its bishops are put in a "time out." "Given notice" for three years, during which time TEC will not have a vote in the counsels of the Anglican Church, will not be able to represent the Anglican Communion in any ecumenical efforts or on any counsels or committees which deal with either doctrine or polity.
It is significant, I think, beyond the sanctions, to note that this decision marks a new way of being for Anglicans worldwide. Many are saying that there is no way that this will make a difference, and it may not, ultimately. That remains to be seen in the responses of the American Episcopal Church. But beyond that, the significance of a global fellowship which has stood up to its more moneyed brothers and sisters and said, "NO!" is most important.
The sanctions may be mostly symbolic, and TEC has the option of thumbing their nose, to be sure. I kind of expect that, but for me, the significance of the week was in a coherent, united statement of discipline, signed by 2/3 of the primates of the AC. Much remains to be said and done - in follow through on this action, but the words of our leaders and the intent of this action, is Godly discipline. They did not "sell out or bomb out" as I said. They did not sell out to the $$ of the powerful TEC, which have been brought to bear in pressure to move theologically. And yet, they did not "explode" the Communion, by throwing up hands and walking out. They purposed to "walk together." Walking through these painful times has been our lot for much of our life, much of my own ministry as an Episcopal, now Anglican priest. It is heartening for me to see our leaders step up to the plate and speak with both clarity and unity. I believe that "truth in love" won the day. What our brothers and sisters in TEC do with it all, remains to be seen. I pray for repentance and for real reconciliation in Christ.
Here endeth my comments on the Canterbury "tail".
And now for THE BIBLE!
I would like to go to a video now, and talk for a couple of minutes about the exciting vision for this next season here among us at REZ.
I want to share my excitement for a moment about the Community Bible Experience we are embarking on today. We will give out bibles today, if you haven't already gotten one, everyone gets one. We are going to use these bibles to read daily from front to back, cover to cover, 11 pages a day for 5 days a week, the whole New Testament in 8 weeks.
"Oh My!" you might say to yourself. I hope that you are challenged and that you will challenge both yourself and others, those here and those not here, from your family and your friends, to join you in this adventure experience. CBE is designed for and we are using it for two things: to bring us each back into Bible Engagement as a "full-contact sport!" and second to do it as a Community. This is important for us, for a couple of reasons:
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Did you hear the collect, the opening prayer this morning as you mouthed the words? Did you pay attention to the prayer we prayed as assigned to this day. God may be speaking to us again! (and again, and again, and again ... )
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth;
Illumined by what? The Word. Friends, we have a freedom in this land we love, to engage the Word of God freely, and we have lost our passion, our interest, our enthusiasm for the Bible. As a people in the US we are the most biblically inundated and yet the most bibically illiterate - even unengaged people in the history of America. We cannot be the light if the lamp is out. If we've set it aside, or even if we use it like a hummingbird uses its feeder.
We tend to dart in and out of the Bible, picking bits here and there, odd verses or a verse of the day. Its like the difference between snacking and sitting down to a full meal deal!
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, Ps 119 tells us. Friends, we cannot adequately "reflect" something we have not engaged - we are not the source of the LIGHT! We are merely reflectors of the light - The LIGHT is in Christ Jesus and in His Word to us!
This Bible is different! Get one and look through it, during the commercials in the Bronco game this afternoon! No chapter headings, no verse numbers - just simple text. It's still the NIV but without the additions. AND you will note it is not in the familiar book order either. The books of the NT are arranged in this Bible in the order they were written, according to the most agreed upon dates by scholars. Each book has an introduction and overview. This first week we will be in the gospel of Luke. Next week in Acts and Thessalonians. and so forth.
There will be more videos and some basic instructions in our Adult Ed hour, or if you missed that pick the bibles up on your way out and come next week. We will have 4 45-min discussion groups for our Adult Ed beginning next Sunday through to Easter. We are asking 5 questions as we read through the NT anew:
- What's something you noticed for the first time?
- What questions did you have?
- Was there anything that bothered you?
- What did you learn about loving God?
- What did you learn about loving others?
This is our time friends - I believe we are entering days that are so crucial for our life - both as a church and as Americans. We will be hearing more in the coming weeks about all that God is doing around (and wants to do THROUGH) us, but to be equipped and able we must avail ourselves to HIS WORD.
I can only lead you to the Water! Now its your turn! In the strongest possible terms, I urge you, beloved brothers and sisters, to make this a part of your Epiphany and Lenten lifestyle. Join us for this 8 week adventure - the Community Bible Experience. We begin reading tomorrow!
Let's pray...
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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