SERMON
at
Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Pentecost VII
July 19, 2009
by
The Rev. Stanley C. Kemmerer, AHC

“Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered---it is Yahweh who speaks! This, therefore, is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them…I will take care of you for your misdeeds---it is Yahweh who speaks!”

I must admit when, earlier in the week, I first read this portion of the Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures, my mind went immediately to the controversy over human sexuality that has occupied ours and several other denominations over the last several years. Not because the passage has anything to do with sexuality but because it talks about bad shepherds.

Now, we’re none of us strangers to the fact the professional leadership of a congregation can significantly affect its direction, its composition. It’s also wisely said that the clergy called to lead a congregation are a reflection of the personality of that calling congregation. It would be difficult for me to imagine Trinity, Copley Square, Boston calling as rector anyone who wasn’t a great preacher, or St. Luke’s, Evanston, Illinois someone who wasn’t interested in the music and liturgy being the best that could be put together. Or All Saints,
Pasadena someone who wasn’t very liberal on social issues.

However, again and again when I uncover a parish up in arms and over the top in its anger toward, and disaffection with, our denomination and our diocese on the issue of inclusivity, invariably it will be led by a priest whose hobby horse this is. It is usually a particular type: full of himself (oddly enough, though there probably are some, what I don’t find are parishes led by women clergy who foam at the mouth this way!), absolutely convinced he knows exactly what the Bible says and that no one else’s understanding is worth even considering.

We are offered a different model for shepherding and for being the Church in this morning’s lessons.

In Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus he addresses a parallel problem of inclusivity: that of gentile/pagan Christians into Jewish Christian congregations.

He reminds the Ephesians Do not forget, then, that there was a time when you who were pagans physically, termed the Uncircumcised by those who speak of themselves (can’t we just see them puffing their chests out…) as the Circumcision by reason of a physical operation, do not forget I say, that you had no Christ and were excluded from membership of Israel, aliens with no part in the covenants with their Promise. You were immersed in this world, without hope and without God. But now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close…

In this morning’s Gospel lesson, Jesus acts out the role of the good shepherd:

First, we find him recognizing the apostles’ exhaustion. Like a good manager, he calls for a “mental health day.”

The apostles (after their missions) rejoined Jesus and told him all they had
done and taught. Then he said to them, “You must come away to some
lonely place all by yourselves and rest for awhile”; for there were so many
coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went
off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.

It doesn’t work. Even before cell phones and GPS/Onstar, people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them.

So much for the mental health day. But, although Jesus is weary, this shepherd doesn’t behave as one would expect. He isn’t annoyed. He isn’t irritated these people can’t help themselves from seeking the healing and comfort he/they can give. He isn’t even frustrated and overwhelmed at the enormity of their need.

Instead he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

The founder and president of the company I worked for must have been aware of this passage because it is reflected in a conversation I had with him early in my time with him and is one I’ve tried to remember in similar situations ever since.

I was having a particularly difficult time getting several people who had been put in our care to guide their job searches after they were fired to do the things we know are more effective than usual job search techniques.

What we teach isn’t the usual way. We don’t prioritize applying for jobs, answering ads. We don’t think your resume is anywhere near the most important element in getting either an interview or a job. Rather it gets you weeded out. Human resources isn’t your friend; it’s your enemy as a job seeker, that kind of thing. Why couldn’t they “get it?”

I expected sympathy. I expected an “answer” to give them for their objections. I got neither. The boss said, very quietly and sort of with the voice of a parent to a slow learning child, “Stan…Come to them in love. They’re the ones who need us most.”

That’s what Jesus does. he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

We need to pay attention to what is happening here: People are seeking out Jesus and the disciples because they are able to meet their needs. That’s what being the Church means.

What disturbs me most about certain Christian groups is that they see themselves as the “washed,” the righteous. We seek righteousness, yes, but we must be humble that we are, and must accept ourselves as, human beings, less than perfect, who will fall down, then, often with a little help from our friends, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and go on. The Church is not, my friends, a rest home for saints nearly as much as a hospital for sinners!

This has been what may well be regarded by future generations as an historic week in the history of the Church, particularly of the Episcopal Church. The passage of D025 made this week historic. It didn’t get nearly the notice I thought it would. Or hasn’t yet. I am confident it will. D025 nullifies B033, passed at the end of the last General Convention, which declared a moratorium on the consecration of gay bishops even in committed relationships.

As significant as its passage is the vote and its meaning.

While the resolution is polite and signfies the Episcopal Church’s intention to participate as a full constituent member church of the confederation of national churches known as the Anglican Communion, it a) makes clear the Episcopal Church is autonomous (Thank you very much, we’ll make our own decisions what’s permissible and what’s not!) and b) the Anglican Communion is not the only cooperative venture in which it participates.

It makes clear being in a committed same-sex relationship is not a deal breaker to being elected or consecrated a bishop in this church.

While committing to continued financial support of Communion projects, it reminds the Communion “The Episcopal Church contributes a substantial portion of the Inter Anglican budget.” That language is kind: We, in fact, bankroll the Communion. Without our support it would go belly up. Africa and the Southern Cone may have numbers and big mouths; they do not have any money!

Significant is that the Archbishop of Canterbury, after the House of Deputies passed the original resolution by more than a 2-1 margin (It wasn’t even close!), expressed his concern Deputies would take this action and told the bishops, “You can block this (resolution=kill it)…” Apparently, that ill-conceived meddling in our internal affairs did not sit well with the bishops because, with minor amendments, they then concurred, again by a 2-1 margin, again not even close!

In other resolutions one which had our three bishops as co-sponsors asked that individual dioceses be given the latitude to work out their respective positions on blessing civil unions or same-sex marriages in those states that permit them, and responding liturgically to committed same-sex relationships in states that don’t. Another asked that work be done to be presented to the next General Convention to produce appropriate liturgies for the Church to reflect greater inclusiveness around human sexuality.

So, what’s historic about this week is our church’s rediscovery of its spirit as a communion aware adherents can differ mightily on issues of the day and worship in one church (Note the resolutions do not call on any with more conservative views to consider themselves outside the fellowship nor does it require any dioceses to do any of the actions covered; rather, in true Anglican fashion, it permits now a wider range of practice.).

And these actions are consistent with this morning’s scripture lessons:
As people ourselves at various times in our history viewed as being
“beyond the pale,” they position us to include still another group
that we’ve marginalized, just as we previously have come to include
persons of color, women, and other minorities.

They position us as that place where people are invited to come
accepted as who they are, not judged for matters over which
they have no control, indeed celebrated for the diverse perspectives
they bring, to enrich our common life.
Thanks be to God!