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THE RT. REV. JOHN PALMER CRONEBERGER, BISHOP OF NEWARK
Clifford Stanley taught theology at Virginia Seminary while I was a student in the early 1960's. I treated him with a combination of awe, respect, and a bit of fear. He was brilliant, and even more, he was passionate about the gospel. His lectures and his preaching were always well-prepared and always spoke to my heart. He was also one of those people who taught me much more than I realized at the time. My remembrance of an exposition he gave of this one verse of the twenty-third psalm is the thread for this Episcopal address…"thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies". Let us begin the thread with "mine enemies". The psalmist probably had his own personal list of favorites, just as, if pushed, I could produce my personal list as well…but it is more likely that the psalmist was referring to the foes and persecutors of the psalmist's people. We also claim that the psalms are universal, speaking to all times and all peoples. I remember Cliff Stanley saying three things about ENEMIES:
Here in our time we seem determined to name some of our enemies…such as Iraq…North Korea…Osama ben Laden. We also seem to have determined that the only way to respond to our enemies is to destroy them, which sends us on a search for reasons to do so. Why are these people and nations our enemies? Why are we hated so intensely in some places around the world? Consider this: During the Christmas holiday, I had the opportunity to watch three of our youngest grandsons playing together in the same space. The youngest child was playing off to one side by himself…not bothering anyone, and, for a time, not being bothered. The oldest child was clearly in charge…in charge of the resources for play, and in charge of the rules of the game. The middle child, after observing for a brief time, decided that he needed to be able to control some of the resources, and perhaps even determine how the game might be played differently. This led inevitably to a confrontation. Also, on occasion, raids would be made upon the youngest child playing alone, In order to capture some of his resources. Initially, the response was tears, but I could see that it would not be much longer before the youngest child would say, "enough is enough" and more aggressively seek to protect his own turf and his own resources. Child's play??? How far have we really progressed??? Reputable economists and sociologists tell us that there are in fact enough of the world's resources for everyone within the global village. It simply is not a question as to whether we CAN provide basic resources for all people of the world, but whether we WILL. The homiletical story is told of the child who lived in abject poverty, being asked by a reporter, "do you believe in God?" The child said, "Yes, I do". The reporter continued, "Do you believe God loves you?" and the child responded, "Yes, I do". The reporter's final question was, "Then why are you living in such poverty?" and the child's response…"I believe God asked someone to do something about it, but that person said NO." We have dedicated a grotesque amount of our federal budget to provide troops and weapons prepared to take on and rid ourselves of some of the enemies we've named. And they have done the same, North Korea has the third largest standing army in the world today, and yet has massive problems with poverty and unemployment …while in our country we continue to experience significant homelessness and despair among our poorest people. Beyond our borders, children and adults suffer and die each day of starvation and disease, especially vulnerable to the aids pandemic that continues to devastate our global village. We have the capacity and the ability to change that picture…but apparently not the will. We focus our resources, our creativity, and our energy on ridding ourselves of enemies…pointing to broken promises and failed agreements…digging up Augustine and Aquinas and the theory of a "just war". For me this puts us all on a very slippery slope from the "just war" to "it's just a war". As disciples of the prince of peace, we need to raise our voices in cries for peace. We need to demand that we exhaust every, every, every effort to find a way to bring peace to the global village, allowing us to redirect our substantial resources to the well-being of every human being. This is where I am and where I believe God is calling me to be. Tomorrow you will have the opportunity to speak from your heart as well - and the wonder and joy of this gathering is that we don't have to see this the same way . . . but if we are willing to listen, as well as speak, we might just learn something from each other, and God might just slip in between the listening and the speaking. Continuing the thread… somehow the psalmist knew that we don't get to rid ourselves of all our enemies before we focus on the preparation of our tables; rather it is in the presence of those enemies which cause us so much fear and anxiety that the table is set up…and therein lies our hope. The Christ child is born in a (s)table to which shepherds and magi are invited. The table is, of course, a symbol of life…a setting for the messianic banquet…where we come from the east and the west and the north and the south to sit down in the realm of God. Here in the diocese of Newark, we are constructing a table with attention to size and shape, in order that it might be sufficient for all to whom the invitation is given. This 129th diocesan convention for the diocese of Newark is organized around an opportunity to celebrate and engage in the multi-ethnic diversity of our diocese. We are not doing this in order to have a creative feel-good experience, nor because it might be politically correct. We are doing this because if we hope to live in a world that is deeply committed to the health and welfare of all of God's creation, then we will need to know each other far better than we do now. It will take plain hard work and commitment and it will take deconstructing myths and reconstructing opportunities in order to discover the joy and satisfaction that comes from respecting the dignity of every human being. In his book, Faithquakes, Leonard Sweet says that Americans now eat
more tortillas for breakfast than bagels or biscuits or pita bread;
more salsa is now sold than ketchup…and the year 2056 is the magic
date cited by sociologists as the moment when the majority of the US
American population will be nonEuropean, and nonwhite. As early as 1994,
Asians, Africans, and Hispanics made up one fourth of the population.
Tuesday's national press release in the New York Times indicated that
Hispanics are now the largest minority in our country, numbering 37
million people, while black people number 36.2 million, and Asians number
12.1 million. White people number 199.3 million in a country with a
total census of 284.8 million. We were experimenting with a software program to translate our English texts into Spanish. The computer determined that when we used the word, "Spirit", it translated the word in Spanish as Alcohol. I guess that means, "in the power of the Spirit" might be translated, "under the influence of alcohol" . . . but wasn't it only nine o'clock in the morning?" Michael Lind in "The Next American Nation" says that one of the consequences of the ideologies of pluralism in multicultural America is that there is no coherent American national community, but rather five national communities, defined by race - white, black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Native American. Lind believes that the melting-pot image of assimilation has been rejected. The image touted to replace it is America as Mosaic, merging the five national communities without assimilating any. Stephen Rhodes writes, "In many ways we are back to where we started the story of Babel. But now, instead of just one walled city and one tower, there are many. Human beings are once again afraid of being scattered, so we are busily erecting our cities, our towers, our walls to prevent this scattering. To protect our linguistic, cultural and racial identities, we are sealing ourselves off and imposing a self-styled uniformity to ensure homogeneous purity. As in Babel, once more we refuse to listen to each other…each group shouts more and more loudly, seeking to make a name for itself. This chorus of angry, defensive voices has no harmony, much less melody. The only sound to be heard is babble. There is speaking, but there is no listening. There is ideology, but there is no understanding." Therein lays the thinking behind this convention…and our effort to work at what it really means to invite everyone to the table in this diocese. Let me tell you briefly about our efforts to establish the diocesan table. A significant voice at the table this year is that of Rufus Theophilous Brome, assisting Bishop of Newark in 2003. Bishop Brome brings the wisdom of his years and experience as Diocesan Bishop of Barbados, and an understanding of the Greater Anglican Communion. As pastor to the clergy and clergy families, advisor to the Bishop and full-time participant with the diocesan staff and leaders of the diocese, Bishop Brome is a warm and welcome voice and presence at the table. This past year, the Diocesan Council initiated some important work identifying its responsibilities as a Council. I presented a series of tasks that I hoped the Council would take on as appropriate work to be done, and they have enthusiastically agreed to do so. Those tasks include
Slightly more than a year ago, the Rev. Maggie Gat encouraged us to gather some people who were especially sensitive to the need for Hispanic ministry in this diocese which has a rapidly growing Hispanic population. Upon their recommendation, I am delighted to announce the formation of a Hispanic Ministry Task Force for the year 2003, with the following specific objectives:
Presently, Hispanic ministry is being conducted in a variety of ways
in at least seven of our congregations. While we are busily engaged in the building of a diocesan table, as well as smaller congregational tables, we may lose sight of the world beyond ourselves, and our need to be involved in that world as well. With the challenge of this year's economic down-turn, and the financial difficulties faced by some of our congregations, it would have been easy for us to turn inward, perhaps to try out the old "charity begins at home" routine…but then of course that's simply not true…charity that begins at home really isn't charity…it's something else. I am very pleased with our decision to hold fast to our stewardship principles, which include making outreach our first financial priority. Truthfully, I'm not always pleased with some of the decisions made at the National Church level, and I am even more troubled by the failure of some dioceses to honor their financial commitments to the National Church and beyond, but I cannot allow those actions, (or lack thereof) to determine our stewardship. We have provided significant National leadership by our stewardship commitment, and I believe we need to continue to hold this high standard of excellence, as we continue to list our outreach portion of the budget as the first line items in our program budget. We shall also continue to stand firm in our 50 - 50 stewardship principles, giving 25 percent to the National Church and beyond, and moving toward 25 percent for local outreach ministries {currently 8%}. At the same time, after a brief initial analysis of parochial report returns and other data available, I am concerned about the possibility that there could be a significant number of congregations operating with deficit budgets, and I will be asking the diocesan council to review this matter in detail, with the assistance of the chief financial officer, Mr. John Zinn. As a further expression of our commitment to the church in the world beyond our doors, I am announcing the appointment of a committee to explore the establishment of a new companion diocese relationship for the diocese of Newark. Ms. Bernice Mayes from Trinity and St. Phillip's Cathedral, and the Rev. William Parnell, rector of Christ Church in Hackensack have agreed to serve as co-chairs for this committee. Other members of the committee include: the Rev. Esar Budhu, St. Agnes' and St. Paul's; Ms. Kitty Ferguson, St. Peter's, Morristown; Ms. Martha Gardner, St. George's, Maplewood; the Rev. Reuben Jurado, St, John the Divine, Hasbrouck Heights; Mr. Don Roberts, Church of Our Saviour, Secaucus; the Rev. Bob Schiesler, St. Luke's, Montclair; the Rev. Margaret Swetman, Grace Church, Union City. The committee will be charged with creating a theological framework for establishing a companionship, together with some practical information which might address the WHO…WHEN…WHERE…WHY…and HOW questions as well as some financial projections for the project. These findings and recommendations will come before the 130th diocesan convention in 2004. Entering into a new companion diocese relationship will also bring more voices to our table. If we want to build a diocesan table which will welcome all of God's children, we have to spend time strengthening the individual congregational tables. That is the place where much of the important work of ministry takes place. In deployment, I believe, with Canon Hunt's leadership, we are now strong enough (at least politically correct enough) that women, people of color, gay and lesbian clergy, and even straight white males can be interviewed in most of our congregations…although in truth there are still places where some clergy may get to interview, but will not get to celebrate or stand at the table. We still have a distance to travel before everyone has a non-prejudiced opportunity for a place at the table. This past year I have met with the clergy of color, as well as the gay and lesbian clergy in the diocese and earlier met with the clergy women. I plan to meet with each of these groups annually, and continue my strong commitment to a fall Clergy Conference, spring Clergy Day and Tuesday District gatherings. As we work to keep our communication open with each other, I believe we succeed at bringing more people to the table…and find them to be healthy when they get there. I believe our congregational development efforts are moving along with good result. In less than one year Canon Echols has gathered significant people and material resources to make it easier for each congregation to build its own table as well as to sit at the diocesan table. The Congregational Development mantra is, "you are not alone…call us first"…the diocesan network is available to you as you plan and implement your ministry and members of the congregational development program team be seen at this convention wearing yellow buttons that say, "Call Us First." We offer staff and commission members with expertise…information on the internet…training events and conferences…funds for buildings, outreach, program, and congregational development…Now is a great time to catch a vision and go after it…to set up your table! In order to carry out some of our congregational development work, we are in need of some comfortable, accessible, and affordable conference center facilities, for vestry retreats, other parish group events, as well as district and other functions. We have agreed to undertake the next step in our long-range program to improve the Camp and Conference Center facilities at Crossroads. Our diocesan goal as the diocese is to raise $500,000. That amount will also be the goal for our partner in this venture, the Lutheran Synod in New Jersey. What a wonderful asset we have in the Crossroads facility…and how useful it will be if we can raise the funds to upgrade the conference part of Crossroads. You will be hearing more from me about this project as we move toward our goal. In an effort to improve our communication with those already at the table, as well as our desire to communicate with those not yet at the table, or perhaps those at a different table, I have asked Ms. Susan Robinson to take on the responsibility for communication and the planning of special events. I hope you are already noticing the improved communication from 31 Mulberry Street and our connectedness with the larger church, especially via the internet. For the past fourteen years, the ministry of the Oasis has been focused on the inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bi- sexual and Transgendered people at the table . . . here in the diocese as well as in the world beyond us . . . and with great success. Now it is time to expand the table of justice concerns for which we provide staff support. I have called for a Justice Missioner, who would provide continued support for the work of the Oasis ministry, together with support for our Mission to Dismantle Racism, and for the Bethsaida team ministry which advocates for persons with disabilities, and the need for equal access to the table…where wheelchairs and other support systems will be welcome at the table. For the last year, we have listened to the concerns of these three groups and together with them have developed a job description for the new position which includes facilitating justice ministries in local congregations. The Justice Missioner will report to Canon Echols as a member of the Congregational Development program team. A national search produced candidates who were lay and clergy, people of many colors (people of color and white?), gay and straight, and variously abled. About half the candidates were from inside our diocese. Representatives of the Bethsaida team, the Mission to Dismantle Racism and the Oasis interviewed final candidates. After a long process, I believe we have found the person called to be our first Justice Missioner. I invite your warm greeting and support for our new Justice Missioner, Ms. Lyn Headley-Moore. May you keep our feet to the fire, admonishing and encouraging us to "DO JUSTICE "!!! AND SEE THAT NO ONE IS ABSENT FROM THE TABLE!! Well, that's the essence of which we are, and the journey we are on together and that's the table as I see it. The simple truth is that the only way it is even remotely possible to set up this table of life in this wondrous diocese is because of the first word of our text…THOU… Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies …this holy Thou…who surrounds us with love and strength and courage to dare to prepare such a table where all are welcome and none are outcasts. On the year I was ordained (1963), Michel Quoist published a book of
prayers called, PRAYERS. "Lord, why did you tell to love all people? {men} But, Lord, you have discovered a breach in my defenses. The first came in, Lord. There was, after all, a bit of space in my
heart. Now they have come from all over in successive waves, pushing one another,
jostling one Lord, they hurt me! They are in the way, they are all over. And Lord, You answered - (Please note: this poem should not be reproduced without copyright permission.)
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