Salvation history reminds us repeatedly that God has this way of raising up the right
people for “such a time as this.” In the Bible we see this, of course, in the story of
Esther. But also we recognize that Moses was called to lead the people through the
Sea. And Isaiah was given a message for the season of exile. And Peter was inspired
by a Pentecostal word. And Paul journeyed for the sake of the Gentiles who had yet to
hear the Gospel. Each called by God for “such a time as this.”
In April, I journeyed to Charlotte, NC. There I gathered with Bishops from across the
Episcopal Church to hear from our five Presiding Bishop candidates. Five amazing
people. Five amazing and anointed ministers. Only one would be called to lead the
Episcopal Church into our future. By the end of the day in Charlotte, I was convinced
Bishop Sean Rowe is the person God has in mind for this particular moment in the
history of our Church.
It turns out, I was not alone; the House of Bishops elected Bishop Rowe on the first
ballot. When the results were announced there was an audible gasp in the room.
Because all five candidates were incredible. And because it is rare for such a diverse
body to achieve such immediate clarity.
It was a beautiful moment. And, I think, a gift to our Church in such a challenging and
contentious time. Bishop Rowe is well-equipped for this moment and will bless us with
those things we need in this season. Bishop Rowe possesses a brilliant mind and a
gracious spirit. He is generous and creative. He is a person of integrity and courage.
He articulates a compelling vision for our Church – one that will inspire increased
attention to local ministries and collaborative witness.
In his excellent sermon, during our closing Eucharist, he challenged the Church. I
commend the entire sermon to you. In it, he preached: “The struggle ahead will require
a tolerance for uncertainty, a willingness to make real sacrifices. We’ll actually need to
let go of some of our grievances and hold more lightly our beliefs about how the church
should work and who has a voice.
And we must learn to have hard conversations with each other, with love and respect,
so that we’re all pulling in the same direction: the transformation of the world by the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Just as I believe Bishop Rowe is called to lead us into these next nine years, so do I
believe Bishop Curry was the perfect person to lead the Church during these recent
times. In a challenging season for the Church and the nation, Bishop Curry inspired us
to walk the Way of Love. He preached Jesus with boldness, clarity, and humility. He
lived holiness and goodness on a very big stage – setting an example of Godliness for
the world and the Church. He sparked a revival in the heart of the Episcopal Church.
And we will need some holy fire in our bellies to tackle the uncertainties of our future.
But I am encouraged for that future. General Convention is a lot of humans and so it is
always a bit messy. But I think one of the gifts that will emerge from this most recent
gathering is a commitment to make space in our Church. The leaders of our Church
were very intentional to reaffirm the importance of Communion across Difference, of
preserving a Big Tent ethos – something that has, at times, been lost in the shuffle of
our issues.
That is never easy – especially in our divisive times – but it is worthy. And the care
exhibited in the House of Bishops’ discussions that I witnessed tells me that many of us
are ready to unite around the Gospel, understanding, of course, that we still have our
differences.
Finally, I must applaud our deputation. They are an amazing group of people. You
would have been very proud of our deputation. They represented the Episcopal
Diocese of Albany beautifully. They were a model of friendship and grace; they loved,
supported, and prayed for each other. They gave the larger Church a glimpse of the
amazing things God is doing in our midst.
Thank you for your prayers; they supported us through the long hours and hard, holy
work – and through the heat and humidity of Louisville, KY.
I left feeling proud of our Episcopal Church. I did not agree with every piece of passed
legislation. But I know the Holy Spirit was present and active in our gathering. I believe
God has a stunning future in mind for the Episcopal Church. It will not be without
challenges and difficult decisions. But it is a future that will be saturated in hope,
marked by courage, and defined by a holy and contagious love.
Your companion and pastor,
+Jeremiah