Disciples, Apostles, and Saints!
If you follow the big conversation in the Episcopal Church, you probably had a weird couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, Episcopalians were fighting over the nature of communion and who gets to receive it. And just as that matter seems to have died down, a new debate raged last week.
Boxed Lunches.
At this year’s General Convention of The Episcopal Church taking place in Baltimore in July, boxed breakfasts and lunches will be provided for all deputies. Which doesn’t sound like news to anybody who isn’t a deputy. But this news caused much consternation among the peoples. For many reasons.
One reason, however, stuck out. Each meal would be $32 each. And each diocese would be charged whether or not they took one.
I certainly have some opinions about this, as I’m sure you do. But our opinions about this are far less significant than what these public battles are actually doing for us.
Are they truly raising awareness? Are we making a more just, equitable, hope-filled world of love and generosity? Do we feel like beacons of Christ? Or do we like to fight? Have our way? Complain?
There are many justice elements to both of these stories. Let us not cast them as irrelevant. But let us also see the ways we shine the light of Christ. I’d rather we be known for the generosity of our feeding the hungry than the bickering over the liturgical container the food comes in.
With love,
Drew