‘The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefit of non-members.’ William Temple
Why am I a priest? Why do I love church?
Last week on Halloween day on October 31, I went to a trick or treating event with my son. I did not change my clergy clothing and wore my crucifix. So amidst all the people wearing their costumes, I wore ‘my costume.’ Someone said let me guess who you are. A longish pause. She
blurted ‘Oh, I like horror movies and you are a priest’. My response was affirmative. I like your costume. It got me thinking about my role as a priest and church in society. What do horror movies have to do with priests? What happens when the priest shows up in a horror movie? An
exorcist comes to the event to purge evil surrounding the event and bring some light and blessing. Does this person think that I am coming here to say this is an evil event to purge evil? How do I ‘wear my costume’ in this event without assuming and making others feel like they are
participating in the ‘devil’s work’?
Knowingly, some Christian people who were never allowed to participate in this festival assumed it to be evil. I met a family friend in this same event who lamented in his childhood that he was never allowed to participate or dress up. The same event others are feeling excited about, others
are lamenting.
Then on November 1st – the feast of All Saints was transferred to Sunday the 3rd. We had four baptisms and again this service was so beautiful that the question about what is church and my role as the priest was pondered anew and appreciated again. This event was a celebration of those
being initiated to the body of Christ through baptism and yet lamenting those who died. We have four baptisms and thirteen necrologies. Tears of life and tears of death in the same event. This is the mystery of the church that it serves both those who mourn and celebrates, oftentimes in the
same gathering or event. This is the mystery of life that can produce joy and tears. These two experiences made me think about my faith tradition. Why am I an Episcopal priest, not a Baptist pastor or a Methodist minister? In part, I believe it is because I am drawn to the
liturgy and the daily office, which every day reminds and anchors me in the history of my tradition through the Book of Common Prayer. It strengthens my faith and brings me a sense of joy amid all the suffering I witness as a priest. It provides the rhythm, structure, and constancy in
the world of chaos and conflict.
Providentially, the Book of Common Prayer again did not fail this week in pointing me to the right place. On November 3rd and November 6th, there were prayers (Lesser Feasts and Fasts) in commemoration of Richard Hooker (Priest and Theologian, 1600) and William Temple (Archbishop of Canterbury, 1944). These two British giants- theologians and priests- are
inspirational to my priestly formation, ministry, and foundational to my understanding of the church and its role in society. Richard Hooker was a priest in the Elizabethan reign. He has
helped Anglicanism to be a faith tradition that finds its way in the middle. He argued against the Puritans’ literal reading of Scripture and the tendencies of Anglo- Catholics to equate Scripture with Tradition which resulted in superstition. Hooker paved the way for Anglicans to be known for their “via media” approach. He helps Anglicans/ Episcopalians to make decisions influenced by the three-legged stool – Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. Hence the Collect on November 3 says– “Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth.” The idea of ‘comprehension for the sake of truth,’ seems to mean to me that any event is nuanced and there are many sides to the event.
As a priest and Christian in the Episcopal tradition, I need to discern the many sides of an issue, even with its contradictions, with love and patience for all sides. Love bears all things, and God expands our heart when we make time and space for the expansion of our hearts and our lives. Secondly, William Temple’s famous quote clarifies what I signed up for: “The church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefit of non-members”. That is the mission of the church. This clarifies my role as a priest and follower of Jesus in our time. The church’s role is to set the table in the wilderness, to make room in places where others are not given space (or land for that matter.)
The Collect for William Temple is instructive and deeply truthful. It is also hard to implement. It requires a new imagination of what ‘church’ looks like. May the church be the city without walls, its foundation is justice and love.
O God of light and love, you illumined your Church through the witness of your servant William
Temple: Inspire us, we pray, by his teaching and example, that we may rejoice with courage,
confidence, and faith in the Word made flesh, and may be led to establish that city which has justice
for its foundation and love for its law; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
May prayer be a foundational and anchoring practice for us all. November 5th was a historical day in America. I don’t know how this event impacted you. However it did, we can meet for prayer as the foundation of our next steps. Here is the offering for those who have tears of joy and also for those who have tears of sadness about the election. I am inviting you to join me in Compline at 8 30 pm on Zoom, for the next two weeks on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Beginning on November 11. Please let me know if you are interested in this prayer time MawethuN@stjohnswf.org.
Peace,
Father Mawethu