Bishop Andy Doyle's Statement on Separating Children from Parents at Border

THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TEXAS·MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

"Families are the bedrock of American society and our government has the discretion to ensure that young children are not separated from their mothers and fathers and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma. Separating babies from their mothers is not only unconscionable, it is immoral.

Superior orders will not be an ethical defense for the legacy of pain being inflicted upon these children or the violence to families being woven into the fabric of our future. These actions do irreparable harm, are not proportional to the crime, betray our covenant with God in both the Old and New Testaments, subvert American family values, and are patently inhumane.

Our government leaders have the ability to uphold our laws, protect our borders, and ensure that families are not separated.

Yet, these families—who are in crisis in their native lands—now face even more uncertainty because those in power are not taking the responsibility of leadership. Our society’s actions reveal not only what our government values, but America’s values. How we handle this crisis reveals if we are the great and civilized society our immigrant founding fathers dreamed or if that dream is over. This is a defining moment for America.”

- The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas

From Fr. Richard Rohr

"Note that Jesus reserves his most damning and dualistic statements for matters of social justice where power is most resistant: 'You cannot serve both God and mammon' (Matthew 6:24); 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God' (Matthew 19:24); or the clear dichotomy in Matthew 25 between sheep (who feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned) and goats (who don’t). The context is important. Jesus’ foundational and even dualistic bias is against false power and in favor of the powerless. If you do not make such points absolutely clear (and even if you do, as Jesus did), history shows that humans will almost always compromise on issues of justice, power, money, and inclusion.

Let’s bring it home: The United States always has all the money it needs for war, weapons, and bailing out banks, but never enough for good schools, low cost housing, universal health care, or welcoming refugees. Has this not become obvious? No wonder Jesus dared to be dualistic and dramatic first! He offers clear, contrasting statements about issues of ultimate significance and calls us to decide between them. His point is always transformation.

Unfortunately, Christians have managed to avoid most of what Jesus taught so unequivocally: nonviolence, sharing, simplicity, loving our enemies. Thankfully many Christians are returning to Jesus’ foundational messages and seeking to follow his example. They are not shying away from the embarrassments and evils of our churches, politics, and economy and the ways we each contribute to and are complicit in them."

- Richard Rohr

ART: Lateral door in the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Coyoacán, Mexico City, México. 

Presiding Bishop Curry to participate in May 24 procession, vigil to the White House Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs Posted 4 hours ago

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Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will join other faith leaders and elders in Washington, DC to launch the Reclaiming Jesus Declaration at a church service followed by a silent candlelight vigil to the White House on Thursday, May 24.

All are invited to attend the event, beginning at 7 pm Eastern at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. At the Church Service, Presiding Bishop Curry will join 10 other faith leaders and elders in prayer and preaching.

Following the church service, at 8:30 pm an estimated crowd of more than 1000 will follow Presiding Bishop Curry and the faith leaders and elders as they process from National City Christian Church to the White House.

“The church service, the procession to the White House, and silent candlelight vigil is planned in response to the moral and political crises at the highest levels of political leadership that are putting both the soul of the nation and the integrity of Christian faith at stake,” noted the Rev. Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners. “The elders call upon all Christians to remember that our identity in Jesus precedes every other identity.”

The Reclaiming Jesus Declaration is located here.

The Episcopal Church Office of Communications will livestream the church service, procession and silent vigil.  The livestream is available here.

Schedule
The service at the National City Christian Church begins at 7 pm Eastern. The procession to the White House begins at 8:30 pm Eastern. The silent candlelight vigil is expected to begin at 8:45 pm to 10 pm Eastern.

Religious Leaders and Elders
The religious leaders and elders represent many Christian traditions – evangelical, mainline Protestant, Roman Catholic, and African-American churches.

Including Presiding Bishop Curry, others participating in the church service and vigil will be:

• The Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary
• Dr. Tony Campolo, Co-Founder, Red Letter Christians
• The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, President and Founder, Healing of the Nations Foundation and Preaching Professor at Union Theological Seminary
• The Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary Emeritus, Reformed Church in America
• The Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Fr. Richard Rohr, Founder, Center for Action and Contemplation
• Dr. Ron Sider, President Emeritus, Evangelicals for Social Action
• The Rev. Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners
• The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, Director, NCC Truth and Racial Justice Initiative
• Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Co-Convener, National African American Clergy Network; President, Skinner Leadership Institute

Preregistration for participation in the church service, procession and vigil is not required; however, participants are encouraged to mark their attendance on Facebook here.

Response to Detonated Package at St. Stephen’s, Beaumont

C. ANDREW DOYLE·THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This morning I received word that a package bomb went off on the front steps of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Beaumont, Texas between the last service yesterday and early this morning. I have spoken with the Rev. Steven Balke, rector of the congregation, who noticed immediate damage when he arrived at the church this morning observing blown out windows, traces of the detonated package, and holes in the walls. I give thanks to God that no one was hurt in this incident.

All Saints’ Episcopal School has been evacuated and the church and the school will remain closed until further notice. The FBI is on scene and is currently investigating what happened as there was a similar event at a Beaumont Starbucks on April 27. As more information becomes known, I will be sure to update you all. Please be sure to check the EDOT website and social media pages for the latest updates.

Our main concern right now is the pastoral care needs of the congregation and school are met. We are sending Bishop Monterroso, Carol Barnwell, director of communications, and the Rev. Canon Joann Saylors to be with them in Beaumont; Bishop Fisher will be there tomorrow. In the meantime, Bishops Fisher, Harrison, Monterroso, and I ask for your prayers for Steven Balke and his family, the St. Stephen’s and All Saints’ staff, the first responders, and all those affected by this incident.

Sincerely,

The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle

IX Bishop of Texas

From Bishop Doyle:

Barbara Bush said, "Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life’s blood. But everyone has something to give." This gentle, humble, and caring woman gave of herself to others. She gave herself to the nation, to school children, to her church, and to her family. From a factory during WWII, to reading programs, church groups, and the White House she has been a giver. The nation mourns her loss as it has done so for other amazing first ladies. Her Episcopal Church family mourns her loss and gathers around her family in this time. And, we find meaning in this time, shaped not by death, but by resurrection. So, we with others celebrate a life well lived punctuated by giving. And, we celebrate her inheritance with the saints in light whom we love but see no longer. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

The Presiding Bishop's Easter Message

Hello on Palm Sunday from St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem.

There is a passage in the 27th Chapter of Matthew’s gospel where religious leaders, political leaders come together once again after Jesus has been crucified and executed, after he had been buried in the tomb. Once again they come together to seal the tomb, to make sure not even a rumor of his resurrection will happen.  And this is what some of them say:

Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may go and steal him away and tell the people he has been raised from the dead. And the last deception will be the worse than the first.

It is easy to overlook, and sometimes convenient to forget, that Jesus was executed, Jesus was crucified by an unholy alliance of religion, politics, and economic self-interest.

Politics represented in Pontius Pilate, governor of the Roman Empire, representative of that very empire and all of its power.

King Herod, who heard Jesus at one of the trials, representative of the Herodian and economic self-interest at the time.

The Chief Priest, representative of religious aristocracies who had a vested interest in the status quo.

These three powers came together – economic, religious and political – to crucify the one who taught love the lord your God, love your neighbor, and actually live that way.

The truth is the message of Jesus was unsettling to the world then as it is unsettling to the world now.  And yet that very message is the only source of hope in life for the way of the cross, the way of unselfish living, the way of sacrificial living, seeking the good, the welfare of the other before one’s own unenlightened self-interest. That way of the cross is the way of love. That is the nature of love.  And that way is the only hope for the entire human family.

The reality is the way of Jesus was a threat to the way that the world is, and hope for the way the world can and will be.

But on that third day after the crucifixion, when by the titanic power of God, by the power of the love of God, Jesus was raised from the dead.  God sent a message and declared that death does not have the last word. Hatred does not have the last word. Violence does not have the last word. Bigotry does not have the last word. Sin, evil do not have the last word. The last word is God, and God is love.

On our pilgrimage here, we stopped and spent two days in Jordan. In Amman, Jordan, we were able to spend some sacred and blessed and painful time with Iraqi Christians. These are Christians, many of whom are Anglican, who have fled their country in Iraq because of war and violence and hatred and desecration. They have given up everything, refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. And there in Jordan, with the help of the Anglican Church there and many other relief agencies, they are at least safe, hoping to find safe and permanent homes in other countries.

In the course of our conversations, and listening to them, at one point I found myself quoting a hymn, a song that many folk have heard around Easter, certainly in our country.  And I didn’t expect a response. You probably know how it goes – it says,“because he lives,” referring to Jesus and his resurrection, “because he lives, I can face tomorrow.” When I quoted that song, those who have lost their homes, people who have lost everything except life itself, those who have lost loved ones, actually responded to the words of that song. When I said,“Because He lives I can face tomorrow.” When I said Jesus is alive, He’s been raised from the dead, I saw them lift up their heads and respond with the words amen, hallelujah.

My brothers and sisters, evil could not stop him. Death could not stop him. Violence could not stop him.  For the love of God, the heart of God, the reality of God is stronger than anything else.  And Jesus really rose from the dead on that first resurrection morning.

God love you.  God bless you. And, may this Easter season be the first day of the rest of our lives.

Amen.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church