The Rev. Kenneth Brannon wandered onto the national Episcopalian Web site last year and found something he didn’t know he was looking for.
At the time Brannon, 39 tomorrow, was an associate rector at St. Barnabas in Sleepy Hollow, Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y. With two children (Lucy, 10 and Isaac, 6) in school and his wife, Rachel, a psychotherapist studying to be a Jungian analyst, the idea of moving out West wasn’t on his radar. But Brannon saw the Web site for St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ketchum, which was in the process of a new minister search.
Brannon was immediately intrigued, and continues feeling that way a month after moving to the valley to fill the large shoes left at St. Thomas by the departures of Rev. Brian Baker and more recently Bishop Craig Anderson.
“We weren’t looking to move to Idaho. But the program and the St. Thomas Playhouse were compelling,” he said. Brannon’s second degree (out of three) is from New York University in drama therapy.
RE: “”It was lush and jungly but being in the mountains here feels right,” he said. “That was my best training for embracing all religions. What I came away with was the awareness that the U.S. is not the center of the universe. I’ve never lost that.”
He is committed to continuing St. Thomas’ tradition of interfaith gatherings, workshops and lectures, he said. In fact, he and another new spiritual leader in town, Rabbi Barney Brickner, have been getting to know each other over cups of java at the Coffee Grinder in Ketchum.
“I am distinctly Christian and I honor that, but because that’s true for me I don’t have to beat someone over the head with it. People will find in me an open spirit and (that I’m) fairly theologically generous.”
Whatever.
Perhaps we should just be pleased that he thinks the Christian religion is at the very least true for him?
Perhaps not.
It is always so uplifting to find people at T19 generous and well-wishing when presented with good news, that a parish has successfully found a rector. Such happy thoughts.
Sheesh. Can’t y’all stop with the grumbling? Wish the guy and his family and new parish well?
Yer right Padre. Who cares if he’s Christian or not. Let’s all wish him the best in his new position. You Chrisitians are all so judgmental. You want your priests to share your faith. Ridiculous!
PadreWayne has a point (and, no, it didn’t hurt to type that). There is a lot to be said for interfaith dialogue – particularly among congregational leaders. Christianity is the best and fullest expression of God and the best way to understand Him. However, that does not mean that we can’t learn about God from other faiths or learn how God is active in the lives of those who lead and live those faiths. If anything, that will arm us to be better evangelists.
As a former Rector of mine said when asked if Jews or Muslims were “saved” or what would happen to them in the final judgement: “I am not so much concerned with the fate of the Jews or Muslims. I am much more concerned with the fate of those people who are asleep across the street this morning. They should be our first priority.”
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
Maybe he will learn about Christianity from the Rabbi.
Congratulations Ken and people of St. Thomas. We’re really happy for you. I read this on the website, [i]We host various community groups such as the Wood River Jewish Community, Girl Scouts and Alcoholics Anonymous. We also sponsor spiritual programs and classes that reflect the religious diversity of our community. Primarily, however, we are a dynamic Christian congregation committed to helping people deepen their spiritual lives.
In addition to Sunday worship, we have Bible studies, book clubs, prayer groups, meditation groups, youth groups, gardening groups, choir, etc. We even have an active theatre company, St. Thomas Playhouse. There is an activity for almost every interest. If your passion isn’t found in an existing group, please feel free to start a new one. [b]These groups don’t exist for their own sake. They exist in order to connect us to each other and to Christ.[/b][/i]
Evangelism comes in many forms and being a welcoming space is one of them. It has been our experience here that lots of folks who would never have found their way through the doors in a traditional way have, through another program, become a part of the parish. It is humbling to see people baptised and learning to live out their baptismal covenant because the Holy Spirit helped them find the doors.
May God bless your new ministry.
Whew, thank you Revamundo, for a gracious offer of good wishes to the people and clergy of St. Thomas! Compare to #6 above, a mean-spirited, jumping-the-gun, unChristian and uncharitable [i]snipe[/i] if there ever was one.
RE: ” . . . a mean-spirited, jumping-the-gun, unChristian and uncharitable snipe if there ever was one.”
Oh my! I hope that is not the sound of a revisionist being all judgemental and non-affirming and such!! ; > )
Good grief, Sarah, if you’ll read the comments I’m referring to, I believe you would agree that they were unwarranted.
Your sarcasm – and your stretch to find something to be sarcastic about – is really becoming quite tedious.
PW…I’ve been thinking and praying a lot about my response to the “reasserters.” The situation is hurtful enough without extra snipe. Or any snipe for that matter. Here’s a link to something you might enjoy, [url=http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/tenwaysjesusshowedlove.html?pgIndex=0]10 ways Jesus showed love.[/url] When I read something that makes me want to respond in anger I go and look at this first and pray for all involved. It helps.
Rev 11, you’re absolutely right. Sarah, I apologize if I have sniped toward you. I’ll pray for graciousness instead of continuing the cross-sniping.
I’m a personal friend and Sewanee classmate of Idaho’s bishop Harry Bainbridge. From our conversations about the Church and from my sense about his own pastoral ministry, I’m confident that he’s very pleased to have Fr. Brannon in his company.
As one who has participated in interfaith dialogue, particularly with Muslims, I recommend it to all of you who don’t seem to think it’s a good idea. My experience has helped me to deepen my own faith and appreciate dimensions of it as I have compared it to the faiths that others have shared with me. At the same time, I have come to appreciate various dimensions of other religions from getting to know people who displayed these faiths in their lives. (Don’t worry, folks, I haven’t adopted Islam.)
Finally, a comment from Roman Catholic priest Raimondo Panikkar, the son of a mixed (Christian-Hindu) marriage. The purpose of interfaith dialogue, he said, is not that one person be converted to the other’s faith, but that both be converted to God. Without altering my belief that we should show the face of Christ to the other, just as the Christ Child showed the face of God’s universal love to the Magi, I believe that Panikkar is right.
BfromB,
I am puzzled as to why on earth you would think that folks here don’t think that “interfaith dialogue” is “a good idea”.
I engage in interfaith dialogue all the time with lots of people — Buddhists, and Muslims, and Jews, and pagans, and on and on.
Christians are indeed capable of engaging in “interfaith dialogue” without also thinking that Christianity is “true for me” [it’s true for everybody] and without “embracing all religions.”
[i]I engage in interfaith dialogue all the time with lots of people—Buddhists, and Muslims, and Jews, and pagans, and on and on. [/i]
I’m curious…how do you do this? Formal setting or informal? Panels, presentations or just conversation?
[i]Christians are indeed capable of engaging in “interfaith dialogue†without also thinking that Christianity is “true for me†[it’s true for everybody] and without “embracing all religions.†[/i]
What do you think Fr. Brannon meant by “embracing all religions?” He spent some of his youth in Saudi Arabia and India so he probably made friends with more Muslim or Hindus than most teens in the USA. Could it be that he just allowed people to be who they are in their own culture? And when he said, ““I am distinctly Christian and I honor that, but because that’s true for me I don’t have to beat someone over the head with it” isn’t he living out his baptismal covenant and ordination vows? All ministry is the life of Jesus lived through His people. Into this life we are baptized and out of this life within us, we all have ministry and gifts. All we ever seek to be is his life for our generation. Isn’t it possible that his open spirit and “fairly” generous theology helps him to meet people where they are?
Revamundo can I just ask how much time you have spent with christians from the subcontinent? Of course, it is a huge place with a massive diversity of christian life but the kind of attitude expressed in the interview (which is what we are actually discussing) – and reflected in your comment above – I simply didn’t find among the Indian or Pakistani christians I met.
I did meet the Bishop whose clergy were being beated up regulalry, I did meet tribal christians converted by Welsh missionaries a century ago who wanted now to send misisonaries back to Wales, I did speak with dalit christians about what life was like for them in villages. Perhaps your experience was different – you seem to speak so knowledgably – please do share.
The really extraordinary thing is how much more positive some folks are prepared to be when they speak about dialogue with other faiths (which can sometimes mean having a coffee with the local reform Rabbi) than when they talk about dialogue with members of their own Communion.
Revamundo,
In response to your question “I’m curious…how do you do this?” — I talk to people of other religions.
You know . . . “engage in interfaith dialogue”. [roll eyes]
The term interfaith or interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, at both the individual and institutional level with the [b]aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a concentration on similarities between faiths.[/b] Sarah, if you do this by talking to people of other religions, what common ground in belief have you found?
driver8 [i]the kind of attitude expressed in the interview (which is what we are actually discussing) – and reflected in your comment above – I simply didn’t find among the Indian or Pakistani christians I met. [/i] It would help if you explained exactly what “the kind of attitude expressed” is.
driver8…for over 15 years I worked w/ various NGOs in Cote d’Ivoire, Botswana, Burundi, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and Swaziland. I’ve done everything from teach AIDS prevention to setting up micro-economic businesses to teaching better planting and harvesting methods. I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe (or maybe you would, I don’t know) but I hope I never have to see again. I’ve been in fear for my life too many times. I’ve seen “Christians” kill “Christians” and all manner of tribal conflict.
Then I’m baffled by what seems to be the content of your comments. If you know what it is like to be a christian in Lahore or Kano or even iin a christian public school in India then you know that working towards mutual understanding begins not so much with the attempt to homogenize different truth claims but with the acceptance that different truth claims can be made. (ie it is the acceptance of differance that marks the start of genuine convesation between different religious truth claims).
driver8…[i]you know that working towards mutual understanding begins not so much with the attempt to homogenize different truth claims but with the acceptance that different truth claims can be made. (ie it is the acceptance of differance that marks the start of genuine convesation between different religious truth claims). [/i]
Where did you get the notion there was an attempt to homogenize truth claims. And I still don’t understand what you meant by “the kind of attitude expressed.”
From this
RE: “The term interfaith or interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, at both the individual and institutional level with the aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a concentration on similarities between faiths.”
Yes, so you say! You are welcome to define “interfaith dialogue” however you wish, but they are nothing more than nice words that make something more of simply people of different religions conversing amicably with one another, while acknowledging the obvious differences in foundational worldviews.
As far as commonality is concerned . . . all humans are more alike than different in so far as their needs and desires. And our religions at least purport to address those human needs and desires, with Christianity being the only one that both adequately and completely answers those needs and desires.
And this is the attitude
driver8…[i]aim of deriving a common ground in belief[/i] That is the purpose of interfaith dialogue. Not to try to create one belief or one religion but to find the places we have in common with the aim of living in peace with each other.
[i]Could it be that he just allowed people to be who they are in their own culture?[/i] You’ll have to explain to me what attitude is expressed. When Fr. Brannon said he embraced all religions I don’t think he was saying I’m a Muslim-Hindu-Whatever-Christian. I think he was speaking from his unique upbringing and POV.
Sarah…I don’t pull these definitions out of my hat. Why don’t you take a look at [url=http://idcnj.org/]The Interfaith Dialogue Center[/url] [i]In response to your question “I’m curious…how do you do this?â€â€”I talk to people of other religions.
You know . . . “engage in interfaith dialogueâ€. [roll eyes] [/i]
You could just be talking about the weather is what I’m gathering from your statements. Do you see interfaith dialogue as an opportunity for evangelism?
Are you simply making a definitional point? That you, and some others, define interfaith dialogue in such and such a manner. If so, then I’m prepared to accept you definition if it clarifies our discussion and simply say I disagree with it. For, of course, dialogue between faiths should be an opportunity for evangelism since genuine dialogue will be about communicating religious truth claims. How could it not be if it is both truthful and genuinely dialogical? (Of course that is true for all participants).
Which is not to say that people of good will cannot work together or respect and understand difference and join in mutual conversation or shared action.
I think to clarify things I think it may be helpful to discuss whether you think there are cross cultural truth claims made by christianity?
Jews, Christians and Muslims have one God. Beyond that point it gets very sticky. Jews don’t acknowledge Jesus as Christ (if at all), Christians (some anyway) believe that Jesus was the full revelation of God’s will on earth, Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet like Mohammed, God (Allah) is one.
I don’t understand why you won’t answer the question about “attitude?” Can you give me an adjective?
attitude n 1: a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
By attitude I refer to what I took to be the theological view (a theological version of cultural relativism) implied by your comments and, less clearly, in the original article.
I’m trying to clarlify just what you intend and just how far the relativism about theological truth extends. Would you be prepared to say that God can be truthfully spoken of as Trinity regardless of the culture of the speaker.
[i]By attitude I refer to what I took to be the theological view (a theological version of cultural relativism) implied by your comments and, less clearly, in the original article. [/i]
Why didn’t you just say that about 15 posts earlier? 🙂
Have we stopped talking about substantive matters and are now talking about talking – if so, I don’t think I have time or interest to talk about talking (though my short answer is – I did).
The scriptures are relevant to every culture. They do not need updating, correcting, or revisioning. On the contrary, what needs revisioning is our understanding and obedience to God’s word as we live out His mission in context. When we live humbly and intend justice for all, we will be salt and light in contemporary culture—a biblically-faithful, culturally-relevant, counter culture.
Hello. My name is Ken and I am the one featured in the article above. I find many of your comments interesting and helpful.
For those of you concerned about the phrase “embracing all religions,” I share your concerns. My intention was to communicate my respect for different people and different faiths. As a baptized Christian, it is my calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ and I do so regularly and with conviction. But I also believe in the primacy of relationship and true relationship means honoring the uniqueness of another person and being open and curious about the ground they stand on, religious and otherwise. My concern for relationship is rooted in the Trinity which, by its very nature, is relational. Since I place my trust in Christ, I also trust that Christ will be revealed in my interactions with others. I am less concerned about getting people to see things my way, and more concerned about living in love.
As for the value of interfaith dialogue, I commend it wholeheartedly. I have learned much about God and myself through interactions with those who are different from me. And yes, I have learned about Jesus from my Rabbi friend.
Due to time constraints, I will not be able to post to this conversation often. However, I appreciate those comments that are constructive and give thanks for a diverse Christian community that keeps us sharp and honest.
[i] I am less concerned about getting people to see things my way, and more concerned about living in love.[/i]
That is true evangelism. When we can show Christ’s love even in these times it gives the world hope.