So, when the prospect of “leaving” the Episcopal Church (I’ve always contended that we were staying, they had left, but those are just different words now) presented itself before last year’s convention, I began analyzing every possible reason not to: We don’t need another Protestant split, we need to stay and fight, what witness will be left if we go, no one is preventing us from preaching the gospel, and on and on. But gradually, as each argument failed, I found myself staring at the one big elephant left in the room: What will ministry life be like outside of the comfort, security, and status I had known all my life in the Episcopal Church? A question I had talked a good game about but never really faced seriously, and it was daunting.
Of course, some of that concern is natural; we all want a job so we can feed our families, and most people prefer provision, beauty, and comfort over poverty and pain, but, for me, they had become somewhat of an idol, a dependency that had exerted more influence on my thinking than I realized.
The testimony in all this is that, over time, through no contribution on my part, except resistance, that dependency and fear has been gently lifted and in its place a small gift of faith that has allowed me the freedom to face and even embrace the prospect of ministry outside of the Episcopal Church.
Joseph also made what I think was the best of the presentations in favor of realignment at convention this afternoon. He’s a good man of deep conscience and profound faith–and a fine pastor, friend, and colleague.
Bruce Robison
Thank you Bruce. You are a good friend and I hope you will be instrumental in mediating a settlement for the ensuing issues in the diocese. Either way, our friendship remains. joseph