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God’s blessings be with you on this Christmas Day.
Our Advent journey has ended, and we now begin the Twelve Days of Christmas, which lead us to Epiphany. Perhaps your true love did not give you a partridge in a pear tree, but my hope is that this day finds you surrounded by good food, thoughtful gifts, and moments of shared joy. The birth narrative in the Gospel of Luke is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Whether it should be taken literally or understood more poetically has long been debated. What is clear is that across the centuries the Church has often romanticized and sanitized the story of Jesus’ birth. Even so, I am always drawn back to this simple and startling truth. God came to us as an infant. Is there anything more helpless than a human baby? I will admit that I am not much of a baby person. That wobbly head makes me nervous. I am always afraid that I will do something wrong or drop the baby. Yet this is how the Savior first came into the world. A newborn who had to be fed, changed, and protected, just like every other child. God trusted human beings to nurture and care for the Babe of Bethlehem, the one who would one day change the world. What a responsibility. A hymn I particularly love puts it this way: Our Savior’s infant cries were heard And met by human love Before He preached one saving word Or prayed to God above. By trusting Christ to human care God blessed forevermore The care of children everywhere, The bruised, the lost, the poor. When I speak of children, I mean more than age alone. I mean all of humanity, especially the young, the weak, and the powerless. Just as Mary and Joseph cared for the infant Jesus, the Church is called to care for those entrusted to us. In a society where empathy and compassion are often treated as weakness, we are called to deepen our care for those in need. Jesus tells us that when we care for someone who is hurting, we are caring for him. As we move into a new year, may we commit ourselves anew to standing with the Christ we encounter in those around us, especially those most easily overlooked. Amen. Thank you for taking time to reflect on the meaning of this season. +Kevin
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 THE EVANGELICAL ANGLICAN CHURCH IN AMERICA The House of Bishops Since its inception, the EACA has stood firmly on the side of the marginalized, powerless, and those often mischaracterized as undeserving of human equality, acceptance, love, and welcome. We were established as a community of faith in order to affirm the rights of all people and to provide safe and welcoming access to worship, sacraments, and ministry for LGBTQ+ persons and allies. In the current developing political environment of exclusion, oppression, and hate, we continue to stand with those on the margins and to affirm God’s lavish welcome and invite all communities of faith to join us in recognizing the dignity of God’s “rainbow of diversity” found throughout God’s creation.
After many struggles and well-fought battles, progress was made in the United States and other countries in accepting and institutionalizing the rights of LGBTQ+ persons, including the right to marry. Likewise, other denominations and religious sects began opening their doors and arms to persons previously deemed unacceptable and unwelcomed. Unfortunately, and fearfully, those principles of human equality became extremely divisive. The principles of human equality can shake the foundations of inequality and stir the roots of oppression and hate. Religious, political, cultural and social positions became intrenched in recent years and the tides have tended to see reversal. Denominations have splintered. Schools, libraries, churches, and communities became hotbeds of hate-filled attitudes and rhetoric. This pushed local, state, and national legislative bodies to move to restrict and even deny the rights (including medical care) and even the very existence of certain groups of human beings, particularly transgender persons. However, we shall not be moved, for when we stand together and join our voices hate cannot overwhelm love, and darkness cannot cover the light that we have grown as a community. Therefore . . . if you identify as Gay/Queer . . . if you identify as Transgender . . . if you identify as Straight . . . or if you identify outside of a name or label or identity . . . we want you to know that we see you, we stand with you, we love you and God is in love with you. We affirm that God is in love with all of creation! As a denomination, the EACA maintains our openness to ALL of God’s children. We continue to stand firm in working and fighting for justice, equality, and respect for everyone including those others may reject. We strive in our lives, worship, and ministry to follow the example of Jesus, who said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) The EACA is a resting place for those who need to hear and accept the healing love that God offers us. That has not changed and given the current state of our country and world, we are even more determined to stand firmly for and with those being pushed aside. God’s blessings be with you now and always and “May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you might overflow with hope by the power of God’s spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Rt. Rev. Kevin Champion, Presiding Bishop Rt. Rev. Rusty Smith, Bishop |
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