Love them anyway

From our dear brother Gene:

On Thursday, knowing that the conference attendees would leave early in the morning for London -- for the MDG walk, lunch at Lambeth Palace, and tea with the Queen -- it seemed like a good, low-profile time to make my own pilgrimage to our Mother Church. I told no one of my intentions to attend -- except I had my security person follow the properly courteous protocol of alerting the Cathedral to my visit. I had him also seek permission for a videographer to accompany me on my visit for a documentary to be released sometime in 2010. We were informed that the videographer could NOT accompany me or film me inside the Cathedral. Fair enough. We were told that he could accompany me to the gate onto the Cathedral grounds, and, standing in the public street, could at least film me walking into the Cathedral through the gate's archway.

We contacted Cathedral security to let them know of our imminent arrival, as had been requestd. When we got there, we were met by a gentleman, representing the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral, I think. He intercepted me and told me that I could not be filmed walking into the Cathedral (even from the public street outside) after all. The reason he gave took me by surprise, rendering me speechless (an uncommon experience for me!). "We can't have any photographs or film of you entering the Cathedral," he said, "because we want this to be a church for ALL people." Presumably he meant that my being seen walking into the Cathedral would cause others not to want to come.

This was one of those breathtaking moments when you just can't come up with the right thing to say. The rest of the day I thought of all the things I SHOULD have said. Like, "so you mean that I am not included in 'ALL people?!'" Or, "isn't this MY cathedral too?!" Or, "so what am I, chopped liver?!" The moment was so surprising, after having been so forthright in our notification of our visit and going through all the channels to ensure courteousness, I just couldn't come up with anything to say except, "okay," and accede to his wishes.

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What is their problem?????????

FEAR, FEAR, FEAR.

It is the institutional church at its ugliest, pettiest, smallest, and most frightened. In moments like this, it is hard to want to stay a part of an institution that can so wound others.

[What an antithesis to the cathedral in Washington DC that proclaims itself as a 'house of prayer for all people.']

Yet I am called back to the words (taken from John Fortune) Gene preached at the Integrity Eucharist in Cleveland at General Convention 2006 , 'Love them anyway.' He had us in tears and he was in tears as he said them. Yet somehow we understood that in loving we are set free.

For Gene's grace and example I pray.
For the church I pray.
For mercy I pray.
For us I pray.

Nan Merrill in her Psalms for Praying writes often about fear. One of my favourite verses of her interpretation of the psalms comes from her rendition of Psalm 105.5:

As we sift through our dreams,
guide us to the only Dream
that brings peace —
knowing we belong to You.
Give us wisdom and courage to release
all that binds us;
for, to face what is built on
illusion is to find new life.