Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Crossing the Rubicon


Wikipedia succinctly reminds us that the Rubicon is a shallow river in northeastern Italy, about 80 kilometers long, running from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea through the southern Emilia-Romagna region, between the towns of Rimini and Cesena. The Latin word rubico comes from the adjective "rubeus", meaning "red". The river was so named because its waters are colored red by mud deposits. It was a key boundary that protected Rome from civil war.

The idiom "Crossing the Rubicon" means to pass a point of no return, and refers to Julius Caesar's army's crossing of the river in 49 BC, which was considered an act of insurrection. Because the course of the river has changed much since then, it is impossible to confirm exactly where the Rubicon flowed when Caesar and his legions crossed it.

Now that we have recalled the geopolitical situation of long ago, I would draw a parallel to what is taking place now at General Convention. The Rubicon of General Convention is crossed by a process of concurrence. That is to say, both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops must concur with the action taken in exactly the same form. Therefore, much of the ‘news’ from General Convention that has begun to circulate is not yet news that has crossed over to the other side. Soon this will change.

The House of Bishops has sent to the House of Deputies our recommended text to providefor the blessing of same-sex relationships. While I anticipate it will pass in the other House with a level of support similar to that of the House of Bishops (111 voted yes and 41 voted no), it is not yet an accomplished fact.

Resolutionson the implementation of the Church Health Insurance and Pension Funds appear to be heading to an accommodation that will allow for more time to pass before these are fully implemented. Issues of timing, tiered payment levels, and the unintended consequences of wanting to do a good thing (provide equal health coverage for full-time lay and clergy Church workers) are among the issues being addressed. The final form outcome remains to be seen, but the work itself is moving in a positive direction.

A resolution I mentioned in passing the other day that was to support the District of Columbia attain statehood as the 51st state in the Union is a prime example of how a resolution that came to the Convention in one form was transformed by careful work of a Legislative Committee so that it was presented in our House yesterday and adopted. The resulting resolution had nothing today about naming the new state “New Columbia” as had originally been proposed. Rather, a more nuanced statement emerged that actually dealt with the process by which statehood in this unique circumstance could be achieved. But that is another river to cross at a later date.

It was my privilege to attend the Episcopal Church Women’s Triennial meeting for a special session at which dioceses could present a woman of distinction to be honored. For West Tennessee, I was honored to present Dr. Susan Nelson from St. Mary’s Cathedral, Memphis, for this recognition. All who know Susan know of her commitment to Haiti and of her works of healing and care in Memphis. I know you join me in congratulating her in receiving this well-deserved honor.

To participate in the worship here has been a wonderful experience. While each daily Eucharist has been special in its own way, I am certain that each of our Deputies has particular moments that stick out in our minds. For me, the sermons by our Presiding Bishop, by the Bishop of North Carolina, and by apriest who spoke of her experience in a Native American congregation will long stay with me.

On the day of the Eucharist at which the United Thank Offering is presented, I recall a moment during the opening hymn. The bishops process, and four abreast we line both sides of the center aisle. (We do know how to do processions!) What I recall is the seven or eight year old boy who, while we were still singing, stopped at each row of bishops and took a picture. I recall his excited seriousness as he went about this important moment he wanted to be able to recall later. It said something to me about the way the youth of today are looking at what all of us, lay and clergy, are doing. I hope that what we decide will be remembered and acted on in their lives in the years ahead.

While I could go on, I will close with one more remembrance. When we moved to the time of the Lord’s Prayer in one of the Eucharistic celebrations, we were invited to pray in our own language this great prayer that Jesus taught us. When we had finished praying, there was the sound of a language I did not know that continued. A group was singing the Lord’s Prayer in their own language. It was beautiful and haunting to hear them sing. What was powerful to me was not only the singing; it was the reverence with which the other worshipers waited for the sung prayer to be finished in its own time. General Convention is about prayers being offered in thought and word and deed and in their own language and time. We are doing the work of the Church here. It is a sacred moment. It will involve crossing certain rivers, and in the end it will mean having to find new ways to sing the old, old story of Jesus and his love. But that is what we are trying to accomplish. I guess the only way to do it is to eventually get our feet wet. So into the river we go…

+Don

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