Complete Story
08/18/2009
Day 1: A little bumpiness along the way
The road was a little bumpy on the way to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. I mean that quite literally, as our flight encountered frequent pockets of turbulence-enough that I had to be VERY careful with my knitting, and enough to make my one trip to the restroom an adventure. And yet, I noticed that none of my fellow passengers seemed particularly worried-not even the little girl, about six years old, in the row behind me who was clearly a "UA" in airline parlance (an unaccompanied minor). As we touched down with the softest landing I've experienced in a long time, I reflected that air travelers, indeed all people "on the move", expect at least some bumpiness along the way. It is part of the adventure of traveling. The key is not to get rattled by it. It occurred to me that the same should be true for the Church, which is, if it is following Jesus, are a people on the move, travelers along what the ancient church called "the Way." A certain bumpiness along the way is to be expected-the key is not to get rattled by it.
These having been my thoughts as we taxied to our arrival terminal, Bishop Hanson had me in the palm of his hand during his sermon as he talked about the danger of fear-the danger that fear will entomb us, immobilize us, keep us from moving forward, keep us from being able to function in the work Jesus has given us to do. He talked about the danger of fear coming to define us, about our fear becoming our witness to the world. And what does that say to the world about the Jesus we are supposed to be following?
I was clearly not the only person influenced by his words-his warnings about fear were echoed over and over again in our first plenary session as we considered whether to amend the rules of procedure and debate which will govern this assembly. The discussion was long, but respectful, and in the end, the Assembly voted to reject fear, to not let fear bind us or the work of the Holy Spirit. The rules remained as they always have been in this church. Social Statements and amendments to our governing documents will require a two-thirds vote; all resolutions will require a simple majority.
It was a long, and occasionally bumpy day. We were glad to see our beds. We need our rest-it will help us weather the bumpiness of the rest of the week.
Katie Kerrigan
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I dunno: I'm getting sick of hearing about how afraid I am and how I need to get over my fear. I wonder if this is how we pastors sometimes sound to our congregations? Telling or implying that someone is afraid and then beating them over the head with it (if I hear or read that I am standing at the intersection of fear and hope one more time..) doesn't seem the most effective way to communicate Law and Gospel: or mission.
