Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The House of Bishops have been meeting in Texas to consider their response to the Primates request that they refrain from authorizing the blessing of same-sex unions, refrain from consenting to the election of gay or lesbian bishops, and allow a "primatial vicar" to minister to disaffected dioceses and congregations in the Episcopal Church. They have just passed a series of resolutions in which they communicate their inability to decide these matters without the participation of the House of Deputies. They have also rejected the proposed "primatial vicar." They reaffirmed their desire to remain full members of the Anglican Communion as well as the importance of full inclusion of all people regardless of gender or sexual orientation. They have requested a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the members of the Primate's Standing Committee. They have also written " A Statement from the House of Bishops – March 20, 2007" This statement is found at the bottom of this link and is worth reading. It is beautifully written. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_84148_ENG_HTM.htm
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After reviewing the famous sonnet by John Donne (included below. His feast day is March 30),I composed this sonnet-song last week, after morning prayers at Trinity, attended by Bp. Beisner, just before he left for their Texas meeting:
SONG FOR A DAY IN LATE SEPTEMBER
--for Anglicans near and far,
(by Grant Bakewell, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Church, Sacramento)
Beckon our hearts, O Rainbowed God, for You
As yet but arch among our darkening clouds.
Once You cast Your fiery dart of longing love--
Do now still knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
Come September set our strings to deeply
Recognized resonance; contrapuntal
harmony--which only Your lyrist knows!
That together we may yet rise and stand,
Enthrall misguided thrones, and do still bend
Your beclouded bow to break, blow, burn, bring,
beseech, and bless: E'en now to make us new!
We, like usurped towns to another era due,
Labor to
admit You, but oh,
to such a presently contentious end!
Scripture, like stained-glass, lets in Your light of life,
Yet upon each reading—or reasoned exegesis--
Shows us a different hue:
Red, White, or Blue?
Or shades of Grey--
Both Straight and Gay:
To each their due--
What shall we do?
Grappling Tradition: this many-Angled anchor
Holds us tight; keeps our boat from breaking up
Or does it drag us like one dressed in lead?
You are not dead!
Transform, Renew, Revive us, instead.
Reason, your viceroy: in us, it should suffice,
For the still discerning, who might think twice;
Yet, as always, incomplete:
Viewed from location (ex-Cathedra, Manger, Street)
In hindsight, captive to false conceit:
inquisitors, crusaders,
colonizers, invaders
witch-hunters, warmongers,
Diests and Eugenicists
or palefaced men who may still refuse to let
their aged white burden down:
All now untimely, myopic, blind!
or simply wrong, untrue, unkind.
Yet dearly, still
I do love you!
We would be lov-ed fain,
Our suffering World--and Your broader, deeper love-- to gain!
Dare I divorce--cut off this band--
Which bears Your promise to my left hand?
Yet to left and right betrothed:
Unto Apostles's way 'tis clothed.
Yet did not these still differ, too
In their kaleidoscopic search for You?
Themselves to faith or reason flew
To bless or ban uncircumcised Gentile, Pagan, Jew...
My lesser hand now seeks to free
Itself from domineering certainty:
Reminds me Reason's claims like these
Once made for burnings, crusading sprees--
The tragic lot of slavery's certainties!
Stand we now on these three-legged stools
(Dare we live as brethren, or perish as fools?)Ω
Three-legged stools for left or right
Seeking to prove, or shine more light
On common ground. Else say goodnight!
Or find a more convincing proof?
Or pause in place?
Or Remain aloof,
Or beseech Holy Wind,
Or Fire:
--Proof?
These three-legged stools for right or left:
Do these match Trinity's warp, or weft?
The three-personed One made
poet and priest,
Lord Archbishop,
And “my kin, the least”.
Then let neither side be called “outlawed”
'Till Thy true Spring from ice is thawed
To water Canterbury's gardens
At home, and abroad:
Reveal to us where e'er we're flawed
Come, ravish our hearts, O Rainbowed God!
Ω “We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools”--a famous line from several sermons by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Donne's original follows (also on our Lectionary website for March 30):
SONNET XIV
--by John Donne
Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me
and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like a usurped town to another due,
Labor to
admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy
in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly= I love you,= and would be lov-ED fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy
Divorce me,= untie or break that knot again;
Take me to you, imprison me, for I
Except you
enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
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