The Record Summer 2015

VOL. 6, ISSUE 2 • SUMMER 2015

The NewPresidingBishop

2 The Record Summer 2015 Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

THE FIRST LOOK

A super day for the annualDiocesan Picnic

The fifth annual Bishop’s Diocesan Picnic offered plenty of games, fun and food, plus a chance to visit with some familiar friends. Emrich Retreat Center in Brighton again served as the host for the event and will again host next year’s picnic. (Photos by Susi Stiles)

The Record Summer 2015Episcopal Diocese of Michigan 3

THE FIRST LOOK


Conversation: Bishop GibbsIt just so happens the 78th Convention for the Episcopal Church took place at a rather monumental point in history. Page 5

General ConventionA rundown of the legislative activities which took place in Salt Lake City, including the historic election of a new presiding bishop.Page 8

StepsA great deal of work went into participating in the General Convention. Fittingly, there is also much work to be done as a result of the event.Page 10

Historic RecognitionSt. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s, Detroit came together as one church more than 40 years ago. The unique background has provided the church with national recognition.Page 12

Same-Sex Marriage: An OutlineWith the Supreme Court recognition of same-sex marriage, Bishop Gibbs outlines what this means to our local churches.Page 14

Diocesan NewsInformation about our upcoming Diocesan Convention and a calendar of upcoming events.Page 15

PhotostoryThree ordinations take place at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit.Page 16

Opinion: The Rev. Matthew BodeIt might make ‘white America’ uncomfortable to realize the challenges faced by African-Americans.Page 18

The Final Word: Rick SchulteAn uncomfortable situation of narrow-minded-ness is settled, which is bad news for one business.Page 19

The Record is a quarterly magazine for theEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan.Vol. 6, Issue 2 Summer 2015

Episcopal Diocese of MichiganEpiscopal Church Center

4800 Woodward Ave.Detroit, MI 48201-1399

(313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424

Submissions: [email protected]

The Rt. ReverendWendell N. Gibbs Jr.Bishop of the Diocese

[email protected]

James GettelCanon for

Congregational [email protected]

Canon Jo Ann HardyDiocesan Administrator

[email protected]

Jennifer MichalakSecretary

Diocesan [email protected]

Beth Rowley

Executive Assistant Office of the Bishop [email protected]

Rick Schulte

Diocesan Communications

Editor, The Record [email protected]

The Reverend Michelle Meech

Ministry [email protected]

The Reverend Eric Williams

Director of Whitaker Institute

[email protected]

Eric TravisMissioner for Youth and

Young Adults [email protected]

Mark Miliotto

Director of Finance [email protected]

Kara Chapman

[email protected]

Knena CauseyWhitaker Institute

[email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Photo courtesy of: Melodie Woerman

VOL. 6, ISSUE 2 • SUMMER 2015

The NewPresidingBishop


CONVERSATION WITH BISHOP GIBBS

Individually, recent events – a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, various in-cidents of gun violence, the General Election of the Episcopal Church and the first election of an African-American to serve as the new presiding bishop – have been very significant. Col-lectively, could it be a sign we’re at an important point in our history as a country and as a church? Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. recently spoke with Rick Schulte, editor for The Record, about this.

Q: You could say we are at a flashpoint in our history.

That may actually be an under-statement. Same-sex marriage: Whether you agree with it or not, people are talking about it. Gun safety is in the discussion. Black Lives Matter is no longer abstract after several incidents caught on camera. After all of this, does the job of our churches become more important or more challenging?

A: I would say yes to both of those. It’s challenging

and important. One of the things that strikes me in your summary of what’s been happening is how the news cycle almost seems to have difficulty keeping up. Be-cause of the General Conven-tion, and of the cases that were before the Supreme Court, mar-riage equality was the top thing, particularly here in Michigan, since it was that case (it began as DeBoer vs. Snyder in Michigan, before moving through the court

General Convention meets during crossroads in history

appeals system) that was riding the whole Supreme Court rail. At some level, we thought the Supreme Court might speak, even before we went to General Con-vention. Then General Convention convened and we still didn’t have a report until the day before the election of the pre-siding bishop. And then the rul-ing comes down and it was like people weren’t ready for it. They

thought it would be in a few days.

I’m about to turn off the tele-vision in my ho-tel room and see something flash across the screen,

‘Supreme Court issues gay marriage

ruling.’ And I thought, what! But then, the Episco-

pal Church went into this historic election on Saturday with many people certainly riding high and some not so high, but with a lot of hope around the next presid-ing bishop. Obviously, on Sat-

urday morning, nobody knew who that would be. But after the encounter with the candidates the previous Wednesday, a lot of people were leaning toward (Bishop) Michael Curry, and a lot of the bishops were leaning the same direction. By Saturday afternoon, while there was still a lot of buzz around the Supreme Court decision, Michael Curry’s election took over the headlines. (At least, in Salt Lake City, that was the case). By Saturday eve-ning, between the ruling in favor of Obamacare – which a lot of people were excited about – the marriage ruling and Michael Curry’s election, some of us were like, let’s go home. What could possibly surpass all that?

Then on Sunday morning, to have 1,500 people walk through the streets of Salt Lake City – not trying to take guns out of people’s hands – but essentially trying to stop violence with guns, and sug-gest guns need to be taken out of the hands of those who should not have them in the first place. So you hunters, you folks that know how to responsibly handle guns, we’re not saying no to you. We’re saying no to the people go-ing around to the theatres and church basements shooting peo-ple, and who shouldn’t have the guns in the first place.

So in many ways, following that, the Episcopal Church kind of puts a period at the end of the sentence on marriage equality by authorizing rites to be used over the next three years, and going in the direction the country was al-ready going. In some ways, it was almost anti-climactic, and people aren’t talking about it much. At least, the ones I hang around with aren’t talking about it.



Q: How about the talk of al-cohol abuse?

A: Certainly, there’s been some fire around alcohol

abuse and some of the things which were made at General Convention. By the way, we al-ready have an alcohol policy in the Diocese of Michigan. We had it before I got here. Our policy manual already states what came out of General Convention. We don’t have to change anything, it’s already there. Of course, we urge congregations to use that as a base for something they want to put in action. If they want to be more stringent, fine, go for it.

I think what has happened is that no matter what went on before, during or after General Convention, the state of race re-lations and the violence between races and the random violence that seems to be going on, that’s the real news. I’m not surprised, but I’m incredibly disappointed, in the numbers we are seeing,

the percentage of people in our country who think race relations aren’t good. I could have told you that.

Q: And water’s wet.

A: Yeah, exactly. But all of a sudden, it’s national news,

it’s breaking news. Really? It took you all this long to figure that out? And I wonder where we’re headed. The latest two shootings, the theatre and the recruiting of-fice (in Chattanooga, Tenn.), I’m fearful for this country. There is an ethical break. There’s a moral break. Something’s happened. And I’m sure at some point, someone will suggest there are too many violent video games or something else like that. I don’t buy that. I don’t.

I think if anything, it’s that we don’t know how to deal with each other anymore. I grew up in a time period where the whole family came to the dinner table

and talked to each other. It was something everybody did. There wasn’t a house in our neighbor-hood where I grew up where, at some point, all the kids were called in off the street, and we went to our homes and went to dinner, where we sat with our parents and talked about the day. What’s happening, how are things going with us? The fam-ily dinner was a normative thing. And now, you look at shows on TV and it’s normative for them to sit down and have a family din-ner, but now everyone is actually looking down at their iPad, tablet, iPhone, Android, whatever. And they’re texting or playing games while the meal is going on. The table and chairs are merely tools for where you sit while you’re shoveling in food, but there’s no interaction. So we have this whole generation or more of peo-ple who have no idea how to in-teract with other human beings.

I worry about that. I certainly

think that’s way more impor-tant today, right now, before our church, than anything that hap-pened at General Convention. The stuff at General Convention was going to happen anyway. How we deal with this violence and what our reaction is, and how we minister to victims of violence, and how we preach and witness against violence, all of those are made more difficult and are a definite challenge to our faith. It’ll be interesting to watch that over the next few months.

Q: Do you think this is an opportunity for the

church? A chance to step for-ward and provide a place to dis-cuss this? Not just a matter about talking about today’s Gospel, but how to apply this to real life – to our interactions, to violence, to our response to racism. There’s a lot of opportunity and reason for us to discuss these things in a church setting, since they aren’t being discussed at the dinner

On the first Sunday morning of the General Convention in Salt Lake City, the bishops of the Episcopal Church were joined in a march and peaceful demonstration against gun violence. (Photos by Caroline Carson)



table. It’s a chance for those who want to be in church to get in-volved with issues.

A: It’s a ‘both and’ thing. To invite and expect its

membership to be involved in those conversations and apply the teachings of the Gospel. But it’s also an opportunity for the church to get outside the box and have this discussion with non-church members, without putting an expectation on those non-church members that dis-cussion will somehow lead to church membership.

We don’t do well with that. We always want it where, if we do this, let’s put a measurement on it and see how many of these peo-ple we can get to come to church. We might not get any of them to come to church, and that’s okay. None of those people may come to church, but someone else may see what we’re doing and decide that’s why they want to come to church. What we need to do is simply be the church, be the Body of Christ in the world, and get people to sit down and talk about racism and violence and all of these things, so we can learn how to live together. If we don’t learn how to live together, we’re going to die together. We’re going to kill each other. And then what? It’s not going to matter if we are a church or we’re not a church, because there’s not going to be

St. Paul’s, Brighton hosted a get-together featuring deputies from our General Convention delegation, Bishop Gibbs and others interested in the meaning behind all the action which took place in Salt Lake City.

anybody left.

Q: Not to be done as a re-cruiting tool by any

means, but I see some of our churches doing things. For in-stance, a small church like Christ Church, Pleasant Lake is getting something like 20 young people coming into their church. They’re obviously getting something out of it. But you’re not recruiting these people. You’re presenting something people want.

A: I agree. We have an im-portant thing to share.

Our faith story, our faith history, our salvation history. We have something important to share. We just don’t do it. We also tend to want to package it like we did in the 1950s and 60s, and that’s not going to work. We need to package it in a way that’s going to speak to people today. And that means to take some of the judg-mental part out of it. We have to be able to welcome people and not judge people. Heck, we have enough people not welcoming our own members without judg-ment. The old, “Oh, it’s good to see you, haven’t seen you in such a long time” thing. That’s a nice, welcoming statement for some-one who may have been away from the church, and someone who is looking at the church hears that and thinks, “Oh boy, if I start coming and miss church,

my name’s mud.” So, we have a lot to learn there. And, we need to remember that the church is the Body of Christ, the people, not the building. We still focus too much on our buildings and our worship. We idolize the wor-ship instead of using it as the tool to point beyond and to what and who we are worshiping. Gosh, if we could really embrace worship as a tool, maybe it would be easi-er to embrace people as children of God.

Q: Is there anything else you want to touch on?

A: I’m looking forward to this fall’s Diocesan Con-

vention, dealing with racism and racial reconciliation head on. It’s not going to be just about convention, but something we want as an umbrella over every-thing we do in the year following convention. Clergy Conference, Household of God and Minis-try Fair (both of which are now one in the same), where we are constantly dealing with the is-sues around race that are in this country. Helping people under-stand that not everyone is equal because of the privilege that some have had. It’s not that I want to turn my back on somebody who has privilege. I just want them to realize they have a privilege I’ve never had. They have privilege I don’t have. Until we deal with the

matter of racism in this country, anyone whose skin is not brown has privilege. A privilege I don’t have.

Q: And that’s an uncom-fortable message for a

lot of white people. When I first hear the team “white privilege”, which my kids brought up in a dinnertime discussion, it was un-comfortable. But as white people, we have never experienced racial profiling. We never experienced walking into a job interview as a person of color, instead of being a white person, not knowing what the interviewer is going to actu-ally think. We don’t know what we don’t know.

A: That’s really what it’s about. It’s not about hit-

ting you about the head and being angry at you for having privilege. Just try seeing it from the other side. That’s the seeds of dealing with the whole race issue. In my book, black lives matter. All lives matter. And part of the conversation is how do we get to the point that all lives matter. If the church lives into its witness of the Gospel, then we can make a difference in this conversation. And that’s what I’d like to see us do.

Rick Schulte is director of communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and is editor for The Record magazine.


GENERAL CONVENTION

One General Convention, over the course of about two weeks. That’s not a lot of time for change. And yet…well, not only did the Episcopal Church experience great change but the rest of the world did, too. Consider this:

The United States Supreme Court ruled for marriage equali-ty, affording the right to marriage for same-sex couples.

A new presiding bishop was selected to lead the Episcopal Church. In the first-ever, first-ballot selection of a new pre-siding bishop, North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry was the first African-American selected to lead the church.

Those two occurences weren’t all that took place during the time of the 78th General Convention, held in Salt Lake City, but they were among the key highlights. Here’s a rundown of some of the events.

A New Presiding BishopNorth Carolina Bishop Mi-

chael Curry was chosen to be the 27th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, gaining 121 of 174 votes cast in the House of Bishops. Other nominees were Bishop Dabney Smith (Diocese of Southwest Florida, 21) Bishop Thomas Breidenthal (Diocese of Southern Ohio, 19) and Bishop Ian Douglas (Diocese of Con-necticut, 13). Later, by an 800-12 vote, Curry’s election was con-firmed by the House of Deputies.

“We’ve got a society where there are challenges before us and there are crises all around us. And the church has challenges before it,” the presiding bishop-elect

A new presiding bishop,a marriage equality ruling

and a busy convention

said afterward. “We got a God and there really is a Jesus, and we are part of the Jesus Movement. Nothing can stop the movement of God’s love in this world.”

Curry will become presiding bishop Nov. 1 in a celebration at the National Cathedral in Wash-

ington, D.C.

Marriage EqualityFollow the June 26 U.S. Su-

preme Court ruling legaliz-ing same-sex marriage for all Americans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 with ca-

nonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians.

The House of Deputies con-curred with the House of Bish-ops’ approval the day before of a canonical change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) and authoriz-ing two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054).

The two new liturgies, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2” from “Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will be a Blessing, Revised and Expanded 2015” from the supplemental Blue Book materials of the Stand-ing Commission on Liturgy and Music, are authorized for use beginning this Advent (Sunday, Nov. 29).

Budget Notes Racial Reconcilia-tion, Evangelism

The General Convention ad-opted the 2016-2018 triennial budget July 2 after agreeing to add $2.8 million for evange-lism work. Revenue projects will change in future years as individ-ual dioceses will be asked for de-creasing amounts the next three years – 18 percent of income for the 2016 budget year, followed by 16.5 percent for 2017 and 15 per-cent in 2018. That is significant as it leaves more money in the hands of local dioceses.

The version of the budget pre-sented July 1 by the Joint Stand-ing Committee on Program,

The big board at the General Convention showed the landslide results from the House of Bishops’ first ballot to elect a new presiding bishop: Bishop Michael Curry was the clear-cut winner of the vote. (Photo by Judith Schellhammer)


GENERAL CONVENTION

Budget and Finance also also included a major new $2 million initiative on racial justice and reconciliation.

Mandatory AssessmentGeneral Convention made

mandatory the current volun-tary diocesan budgetary asking system for the 2019-2021 budget cycle and imposed penalties for noncompliance.

The mandatory assessment will not apply to the upcoming 2016-2018 triennial budget, but becomes effective Jan. 1, 2019. Without getting a waiver, a dio-cese that does not pay the full assessment will be unable to get grants or loans from the Domes-tic and Foreign Missionary Soci-ety unless the Executive Council specifically approves disbursing the money.

No to Fossil Fuels Reinvest in Renewables

General Convention passed two resolutions aimed at envi-ronmentally responsible invest-ing and creating a climate change advisory committee.

Resolution C045 calls upon the Investment Committee of Executive Council, the Episcopal Church Endowment Fund and the Episcopal Church Founda-tion “to divest from fossil fuel companies and reinvest in clean renewable energy in a fiscally re-sponsible manner.”

Resolution A030 calls for the creation of a climate change ad-visory committee with one repre-sentative from each of The Epis-copal Church’s nine provinces. The resolution also calls on each province to create a Regional Consultative Group composed “of no fewer than five experts in areas of environmental sustain-ability appropriate to the demo-graphic, ecological, cultural and geographic specifics of each re-gion.”

Oppose Divestment in Israel, Palestine

The House of Bishops sent a

strong and clear message that divestment from companies and corporations engaged in certain business re-lated to the State of Israel is not in the best interests of the Episcopal Church, its part-ners in the Holy Land, interreligious relations, and the lives of Palestinians on the ground.

Resolution C018 expresses solidarity with and support for Christians in Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories; af-firms the work of the Episcopal

Diocese of Jerusalem in healing, education, and pastoral care; and

affirms the work of Chris-tians engaged in rela-

tionship building, interfaith dialogue, nonviolence train-ing, and advocacy for the rights of Palestinians. The

resolution also urges Episcopalians to dem-

onstrate their solidarity by making pilgrimage to the Holy Land and learning from fellow Christians in the region.

Plans for Prayer Book, Hymnal Revision

Steps were taken toward revis-ing the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal 1982, directing the Standing Commis-sion on Liturgy and Music to pre-pare plans for revising each and to present them to the next con-vention in Austin, Texas, in 2018.

Among other liturgical issues, the convention directs bishops to find ways for congregations without clergy to receive Com-munion, but the House of Bish-ops defeated proposals to allow unbaptized people to receive Holy Communion or to study the issue.

Convention Admits ‘AlcoholAffects Us All’

General Convention passed three resolutions on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse.

Resolution D014 recommends ordinands should be questioned at the very beginning of the dis-cernment process about addic-tion and substance use in their lives and family systems.

The bishops also passed Reso-lution A159, which acknowl-edges the church’s role in the cul-ture of alcohol and drug abuse. Resolution A158, to create a task force to review and revise policy on substance abuse, addiction and recovery, passed with one amendment.

Bishops March Against Gun Violence

About 1,500 General Conven-tion participants joined a Bish-ops United Against Gun Vio-lence procession in Salt Lake City early during the convention. The prayerful procession walked the half-mile from the Salt Palace Convention Center to Pioneer Park while marchers sang hymns and prayed. Members of Utah an-ti-gun violence groups and civil rights organizations joined in.

The Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.

With Bishop Gibbs nearby, Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry addresses a joint gathering of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies.

Deputies from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan gather during a break in the action at the 78th General Convention.


GENERAL CONVENTION

By Larry VandenbergenSteps.I have been thinking of a word

that would encapsulate our time here in Salt Lake City for General Convention (GC78). So many things have already happened. As a chaperone for the Diocese of Michigan youth attending GC78, I have been able to see, hear, and experience many of these things. For that, I am grateful. Without going through a journal, Face-book posts, Tweets, or the hun-dreds of pictures that have been taken, it would be difficult to chronologically put these in or-der. Perhaps this is my need for an all-encompassing word.

Steps.The days here in Salt Lake

City are long. It is only fitting that my word came to me at 4 a.m. Moutain time, which is my normal wake up time back in Michigan. On the map, our hotel is about four blocks away from the convention center; it truly is about a half-mile walk. We then walk at the convention center, back and forth between commit-tee rooms, the exhibit hall, the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies and our worship space. My feet are sore and I have re-signed to wear tennis shoes with my dress clothes. I am sure my daughters are glad they are not here to see the fashion faux paus that is their father.

After arriving, our group head-ed to the convention center. Af-ter watching a short time in the House of Deputies, we walked to the House of Bishops. During that time, the General Convention Of-ficial Youth Presence (GCOYP) was introduced. The GCOYP is a group of 18 high school youth chosen a few months ago – two from each province. During the

Many steps taken towardprogress in Salt Lake City

short five-minute introduction, one of the bishops tweeted that he “was never impressed with the official youth delegation” and he wondered how they were chosen. This prompted hundreds, perhaps thousands of tweets in support of the Official Youth Presence, and for youth in general. This bishop spent a fair amount of time trying to explain what he really meant. He met with some other groups of youth and young adults since then, trying to explain his posi-tion. Sometimes, when we try to explain something over social

media in 140 characters or less, we stumble, and have to take the appropriate steps to get back up. Our youth were able to see and hear this, but they are also able to see and hear the reconciliation that is taking place.

More so the next day, but throughout the convention, there has been a celebratory feel most of the time. Right before leav-ing the hotel on Friday, we heard about the Supreme Court mar-riage equality decision. For many of my friends, this was a momen-tous occasion. This decision

was a huge step for my LGBTQ friends, both here and at home. My friends, who have had so many decisions go against them, have finally won. For some of my friends here, though, it has been a struggle. I think that in our cele-bration, we have lost sight of that. We must continue to take steps to where we can acknowledge our differences and treat each other with respect and love. The ruling is final. The reconciliation needs to continue.

Saturday was also a great day, as the House of Bishops elected a new presiding bishop. The name of the elected bishop was brought to the House of Deputies, and af-ter discussion by Committee 19, it was brought to the House of Deputies for a vote. For the first time ever, a bishop was elected on the first vote. Bishop Michael Curry from the Diocese of North Carolina will be our 27th presid-ing bishop (and will also be our first African-American presiding bishop). Many consider Bishop Curry to be charismatic, and they would be right. But in the times I have met Bishop Curry, I see love. Certainly, he is an amaz-ing speaker, and he will lead us to places our church has not yet ventured. And he is not afraid to take steps to get there. But, he also listens. He truly cares. He honestly loves Jesus, and all of us. More than his words, I think his love will lead us all to take steps in our own ministries in the next nine years.

Steps.We took a lot of them Sunday.

We woke early and walked to the convention center, where we and hundreds of others took part in the “Claiming Common Ground Against Gun Violence” walk. We were led by Bishops Beckwith

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (left) and Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry were at the center of the action at the 78th General Convention.

The youth delegation from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan was very busy during their time in Salt Lake City.


GENERAL CONVENTION

(Newark) and Sutton (Mary-land), as well as over 60 other bishops. We walked half a mile to Pioneer Park, some quiet, some in song, many holding signs that said “Black Lives Matter.” Af-ter hearing a few more speakers at the park, we walked back to the convention center and heard from a gunshot victim from Salt Lake City, and Bishop Curry. I am sure my personal views on firearms differ from many of the people here. But we, as a na-tion, as a whole nation, need to have the conversation on gun control, and background checks and we need to take these steps now. Virginia Tech. Columbine. Northern Illinois University. Sandy Hook. Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. How many have I forgotten? How many more do we need to list until we take the steps to talk?

During our time here, we have taken steps to learn about Thistle Farms and Magdalene House – programs started by Rev. Becca Stevens to help women who have escaped lives of trafficking and prostitution. We have taken steps to learn about Episcopal Relief and Development and their work around the world. We walked through Temple Square,

Much of what took place with the House of Deputies could be seen on massive video screens in the convention hall. It allowed for everyone to have a better feel for the proceedings. (Photo by Melodie Woerman)

and saw how others believe. We walked to committee meetings and heard people speak on be-half of Episcopal gap year pro-grams, transgender inclusion in the Common Book of Prayer, hu-manitarian relief, race issues and social justice. We walked to bud-get meetings. And as we walk, we take many steps. Certainly these steps are physical, but we are also taking the steps of formation for our youth on learning about our church and our God.

As I look back on the steps we have taken this week, I relish the steps that I have taken with our youth. I wonder what steps we all will take back with us and how this week has formed us. I am thankful for our youth and for the opportunity to walk with them – on the next steps of our journeys with God.

Steps.Larry Vandenbergen traveled

as a chaperone for the youth and young adult contingent from the Diocese of Michigan to General Convention.

One of the interesting new points to this convention was the exten-sive use of iPads. Not only were they loaded with convention infor-mation relating to voting matters, but the iPads were used during worship services. This was meant to cut down on the use of paper. (Photos by Caroline Carson)


HISTORY

If it seems like working hard to make a difference for all – espe-cially for the African-American community – is in the DNA of St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s Church, Detroit, that would be true. In fact, the church has its history to back it up.

Recently, it also gained recog-nition from the United States De-partment of the Interior National Park Service as a National His-toric Site. Part of what sparked interest from the organization was St. Matthew’s contribution to the Underground Railroad.

St. Matthew’s (which was lo-cated closer to downtown De-troit, before its merger with St. Joseph’s, located on Woodward near the Highland Park border) originated in 1846.

“This is quite an honor,” said church member Dr. Richard Smith, who worked with the De-partment of the Interior to help the church gain its historical des-ignation. He noted the church “is the second Detroit church that has received this special recogni-tion. The other is First Congrega-tional Church on Woodward.”

In St. Matthew’s early days (led by the Rev. William Monroe and local businessman William Lam-bert), the church quickly estab-lished its presence with an eye on social justice. It was a principal location along the Underground Railroad. The two abolitionists organized St. Matthew’s as a mis-sion before it moved to a new church building (at Congress and St. Antoine) in 1851. The church was closed for a few years but re-opened on a new nearby site. The church continued to grow before being recognized as an indepen-dent parish in 1906.

The history of the clergy of St. Matthew’s making an impact

St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’searns National Historic Site designation

continued. Among those were the Rev. Theodore Holly, who later became the first African-American bishop in the Epis-copal Church. Later, from the basement of the church, the Rev. Robert Bagnall organized De-troit’s first NACCP chapter. The Rev. Everard Daniels worked with Henry Ford to help during the Great Migration of southern-ers looking for work in Detroit. In more recent history, the Rev. Orris Walker Jr. served at St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s before serving as Bishop of Long Island; he died earlier this year.

Not only was the church known for its role in social justice and civil rights, but it provided great opportunities for its young people. The church’s parish house offered educational and recre-ational activities. It also gained recognition for the St. Matthew’s School of Music, which provided great opportunities and a venue

for African-American artists.As the church entered the

1970s, the time came for it to merge with St. Joseph’s (which was established in 1883). The new combined church integrated items from St. Matthew’s with the established new home on Wood-ward, but also was progressive in many ways. The altar was created to face the people. Also, it was one of the first to admit women as chalice ministers and girls as

acolytes.A previous Michigan Historic

Marker was placed at the St. An-toine and Elizabeth location. It was moved, currently housed at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit.

Recently, carrying on the in spirit of the church, St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s hosted youth groups from various Evangeli-cal Lutheran Church in America congregations from Washington state, who were in town for July’s Rise Up youth event in Detroit. The out-of-towners worked with the small but active youth group from St. Matthew’s and St. Jo-seph’s on various projects at the church and in the neighborhood – where the church’s housing non-profit is working on rehab-bing several residential proper-ties.

Recently, during the Rise Up youth event for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, young people from churches in Washington state came to St. Matthew’s and St. Jospeh’s to help work on the church and in several neighborhood properties.



Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. re-cently issued a letter, outlining the procedure all clergy must abide by in performing a same-sex wed-ding. This includes information about when these marriages may begin to take place in the Diocese of Michigan.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

In many ways, my post General Convention re-entry has been a lot like returning from sabbati-cal or other long absence from the diocese. During this time, I have had a lot of catching-up to do (thanks for your patience!) and a lot of time to reflect on what exactly happened while we met in General Convention. There wasn’t just history occur-ring through the actions of our Church, but also history was being made in the decisions an-nounced in our secular society. In particular, the Supreme Court decision allowing for marriage for all loving couples regardless of gender followed closely by the Church’s decision to revise our marriage rites and Canons to in-clude lesbian and gay couples in those jurisdictions covered by our Church where this is now le-gal. (Please remember, there are dioceses of this Church outside the United States where it is not!) As chief pastor and liturgical of-ficer of the diocese, it is my duty to outline if and how we are to make use of the approved rites in the Diocese of Michigan.

As with the decision in 2012 to permit the blessing of same gen-der relationships, it is clear to me that we are not of one mind in the diocese about these decisions. However, after conversation with the Standing Committee of the Diocese, with several senior cler-gy and others, I am prepared to

DIOCESAN NEWS

Bishop Gibbs issues clarificationregarding same-sex marriages

give a framework for how we will proceed.

First, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, 2015 (Novem-ber 29), I will permit the solem-nization of gay and lesbian mar-riages in this diocese. While this may seem to some as a “given”, I assure you it is not. The actions of the Church are very different from decisions rendered by the Supreme Court that cover civil actions only. Some bishops of our Church have formally rejected the Episcopal Church’s action. However, as an outspoken ad-vocate that same-sex unions can be equally reflective of the teach-ings of Scripture regarding fidel-ity, mutual sacrifice and shared service as are unions between male and female partners, I am thank-ful for the d e c i s i o n s our Church has made. I know that many of you are overjoyed and I honor that. I also know that some among us are not joyful and I honor that as well.

Some have challenged me on waiting until Advent 1. My rea-sons are:

• Two marriage rites have been authorized for trial use beginning on that day (please see Resolution A054). While I could permit ear-lier use, I have always stated that I would work within the guidelines of the church as expressed via General Convention; that is still my intention.

• We need time to make sure that the policy we put in place covers all possible circumstances

as fairly and “equally” as possible.• As I stated above, as we are

not of one mind on this matter, I want our household to have the time/space to embrace this change with all grace while be-ing sensitive to those who may disagree. I realize that for some waiting for four months may seem unreasonable, but please understand, I am seeking to keep the household whole and healthy.

What follows is the policy that will take effect on Sunday, No-vember 29,2015:

• All requirements stated in Canon 1.18 (“Of the Celebration and Blessing of Marriage,” for-merly entitled “Of the Solemniza-

tion of Holy Matrimo-ny), as amended by

Resolution A036, will apply

(i.e.,no change to present rules, ex-cept that the language of

the canon has been rendered

gender-neutral).• For a priest to

make use of these litur-gies, the priest must be in con-versation with their Vestry or Bishops Committee and obtain their support for their use in the congregation.

• No deviations from the au-thorized texts will be permitted during the period of trial use. Only the authorized rites are per-mitted. Use of the rite currently contained in the Prayer Book with “home-made” modifications is strictly prohibited.

• At least one of the parties must be baptized.

• As has always been the case, no priest shall be required to per-

form any marriage.• Where there has been a pre-

vious marriage or civil union, all the current provisions of Canon 1.19 pertaining to remarriage af-ter divorce will apply, as will our own diocesan procedures.

• In the case of a gay or lesbian couple already married in a civil ceremony, provision is made for the marriage to be blessed.

• A gay or lesbian couple whose union has been previously blessed, but who now desire legal marriage in the church, may pro-ceed to be married in the church.

• Between now and November 29, 2015, the Guidelines for use of Authorized Liturgy for Bless-ing of Same-sex Relationships, promulgated in 2012, remains in effect.

• Finally, I will not tolerate any dishonoring of opposing viewpoints from either side of the matter. No one and no con-gregation will be forced to use the trial liturgies; no one and no congregation will be forced to perform any marriage (a current provision of our Canons). If any harassment is experienced I ask that you bring it to my attention immediately.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that as we live into the new reality of equal marriage for all, we will, as a community of believers, find more and more ways to embrace and include all of God’s children in the sacramental and missional life of the Church. As beloved children of God, we are called to do nothing less.

Peace and blessings,The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs Jr.10th Bishop,Diocese of Michigan


DIOCESAN NEWS

‘Waters of Reconciliation’ theme of 181st convention

October 23-24, the Suburban Collection Diamond Center, Novi will host the 181st Diocesan Convention for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. This will be a first-time location for the event.

A Friday-morning workshop, “Race in America” with Dr. Ivy For-sythe-Brown (assistant professor of sociology at University of Michi-gan-Dearborn) opens the event. Later, the Rev. Dr. Bill Danaher (rec-tor of Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills) leads a “Public Rites of Reconciliation” discussion at 2 p.m

Guest preacher for the Friday-evening worship is the Rev. Dr. Jay Emmerson Johnson, a professor at Graduate Theological Union Semi-nary, Berkeley, Calif.

Race and diversity will be covered throughout the next day, which includes a panel discussion and table conversations. This will also in-clude an updated from the diocese’s Race Relations and Diversity Task Force

Whitaker CelebrationThe event truly lived up to its name, as the annual Whitaker Celebration honored the achievements of those who worked hard to participate in various educational programs through Whitaker Institute, the educational arm of the diocese. The Rev. Michelle Meech (ministry developer for the diocese and previous interim director for Whitaker) earned the Servant Leader Award.

Sept. 5EpiscopaloozaLocation, St. Michael’s & All Angels, Lincoln Park

Sept. 11-13Academy for Vocational LeadershipColumbiere Center

Sept. 11-12EYSJ RetreatEmrich Retreat Center

Diocesan Calendar

Times, dates and location

subject to change.

Sept. 17-18Fresh Start RetreatEmrich Retreat Center

Sept. 19Safeguarding WorkshopSt. John’s, Clinton

Sept. 19Diocesan CouncilSt. Paul’s, Brighton

Oct. 2Retired Community LuncheonCathedral Church of St. Paul

Oct. 3Family System WorkshopSt. John’s, Royal Oak

Oct. 9-11Academy for Vocational LeadershipColumbiere Center

Oct. 9-11New Beginnings

Oct. 13-15AMEN ConferenceMackinac Island

Oct. 17Safeguarding WorkshopsSt. Patrick’s, Madison Heights

Oct. 23-24Diocesan ConventionSuburban Collection Diamond Center, Novi

The next issue of The Record, in fact, will be devoted to several items pertinent to the theme of the convention – which covers racism and issues relating to it, plus how we respond to racism. This will be avail-able just before convention.

For a complete look at updated information relating to the convention, please visit the diocesan website at www.edomi.org/convention.


PHOTOSTORY

The Rev. Lynda Carter was or-dained as a priest, while Deacons Areeta Darshanee Briedgemohan and Andrea Morrow were also ordained at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit in June. (Photos by Jude Walton)


We are grateful you are reading this edition of ‘The Record’ magazine. Four times a year, we do our best to present a wide range of news and events, showing who we are as the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.

And while this magazine has been a large part of how we keep you informed, it’s not the only way.

Our Communications Ministry also presents Weekly Connection, a Tuesday-morning electronic newslet-ter highlighting church events and offering helpful resources to everyone in our diocesan household. We also offer The Friday Morning Grind. This includes links to stories of interest to all, including The Nuts and Bolts Blog (which explains resolutions and issues of the Episcopal Church in terms everyone can under-stand).

We are also busy in other areas online. We have developed and maintain a website that serves as a great resource for information about our diocese. We also believe it’s important to maintain a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, promoting events locally while also providing timely news and informa-tion to all.

All of this is done so our identity is clear – not only to long-time Episcopalians, but also to thosewho are curious about what our Church has to offer.

Today, we ask you consider helping our Communications Ministry. Your help allows us to continuethe mission of telling our story. Won’t you consider making a donation to our worthy cause?

Simply cut out the attachment below. We are grateful for whatever you can do to help. The Record/Communications MinistryEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan4800 WoodwardDetroit, MI 48201

Your Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

City: _______________________State: _____________ Zip: _____________

I WISH TO CONTRIBUTE: (Circle One)

$10 $25 $50 $100 $500 Other _________

Make all checks payable to ‘Episcopal Diocese of Michigan’ Thank You!


OPINION

For White People: To my sis-ters, and especially my brothers, of European ancestry in the Unit-ed States of America who socially identify as white, please stop your public musings, your coded social media postings, your back-handed compliments to people of color, and just say it to or ask it of me, or at least some other white person. Private message some-body who looks like you. I am serious. Or better yet, let’s get to-gether and have some mini-con-ferences just as white people. Let your white brothers and sisters of faith break it down for you. Stop bothering our sisters and broth-ers of color. Just stop. Leave them alone. Ask us.

Ask us, your white sisters and brothers, why Black Lives Mat-ter is right and All Lives Matter is wrong. Ask us why white people can open carry assault weapons and a woman of color in Texas cannot open carry a cigarette in her own car in the middle of the day in the presence of a police of-ficer. Ask us why talking back to the police is not wrong. Ask us why you see the police as your friends but no one else does. Ask us why a requirement to show photo identification at the voting booth is unconstitutional. Ask us how we are talking about voter fraud as an issue when it is not. Ask us why more men of African descent are in prison, propor-tionately, than white men. Ask us how writing legislative district boundaries is a tool to keep a mi-nority of white people in charge over a majority of people of color. Ask us how emergency finan-cial management is racist. Ask us about sentencing guidelines, about the prison industrial com-plex, about drug-testing welfare recipients. Ask us about the Con-federate flag, and the American

A message to my white brothers and sisters

flag for that matter. White people need to talk to white people.

Ask us because as a white man, it is my responsibility to teach you, to take your ig-norance, which is not your fault unless you refuse to address it, and set you straight. Let us teach you that it is not your fault that you, that we, were born white with social blinders and an understanding of the world that keeps you from seeing things from everyone else’s perspective. Let us teach you that it is not your fault that you were born into and understand white supremacy, or white normativity, as normal. Let us teach you that it is not your fault that you, that we, have been born several steps ahead of everyone else in the race for economic, political and so-

cial advantages in the world. Let us teach you that it is not your fault that you are white, but it is your responsibility to address these ineq-uities and take part in dismantling them. It is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to engage, to learn and to listen twenty minutes

for every minute that you speak. Let me teach you that when you mess up it is not the job of people of color to make you feel better about yourself or let you off the hook, even if they do.

I am here, your white brother, to teach you that being called a racist is not the worst thing that can ever happen to you. You should not be afraid of it. In fact, you should welcome it because it is a gift, even a moment of grace, to learn, to grow, to see things

Matthew Bode

from a different perspective, even if it is something you have never done before now. I, your white brother, am here to tell you that you will not die if you are called a racist. I swear to God you will not die. However, our sisters and brothers of color just might if you do not address the racism within you, and within this country, and within this church.

And after you ask us enough questions, and after you start to get it, then you get to do like we do. You will teach other white sis-ters and brothers what we taught you. You know why? It’s because I was lucky enough to have peo-ple in my life who taught me. They tore down the temple of my blinded understanding of the world. And I love you enough to do the same for you. And we will continue on the journey together, knowing that it is never done. It is how we grow as white people stuck in a racist system that keeps us from seeing the truth. We can see it, if we try. We, even white people, can be liberated. We can understand that white suprem-acy does not need to rule white people. We can break it apart. We can. I will do it with you. Now stop bothering people of color about this and talk to me, to each other. I am ready for it. Seriously. And we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

The Rev. Matthew Bode is pastor of Spirit of Hope and the Episcopal-Lutheran Detroit Cooperative Parish.

There are issues of relating to the comfort and well-being of African-Americans that are not always considered by white people. (Photo: The Free Thought Project).


THE FINAL WORD

The right of free speech goes both ways for allFor years, I always patronized

the same tire store. The prices were always reasonable. I could get my work done quickly. And the owner knew my name, so it seemed like it was a comfortable place to spend money I otherwise would prefer not having to spend.

With that familiarity came a caveat, however: The comfort to speak freely in front of me.

For years, that was never a problem. I learned how he liked taking trips Up North in the sum-mer, or going to Florida in the dead of winter. He learned about my family. He always treated me quite well.

Until one day, when the con-versation turned to Islam.

“Did you hear about what hap-pened at Duke University a while back?” the owner said to one of his workers. “You know, about what those Muslims did.”

Uh-oh. Judging by the tone of the statement – and the fact the hairs on the back of my neck stood up – I sensed this wasn’t going in a good direction.

“There’s a bell tower right in the middle of campus. And those Muslims, they wanted to have the bell ring at noon and have every-one stop and worship to them. Can you believe that?”

It wasn’t exactly how that took place. The Duke Chapel (Duke is a private institution) previously allowed prayer services from other religious groups, includ-ing Hindus and Buddhists. The school initially allowed the cha-pel and its bell tower to be used for a traditional Muslim call to prayer, but later rescinded the offer after resistance from some Christian groups.

“Duke remains committed to fostering an inclusive, tolerant and welcoming campus for all of its students,” a school representa-tive said in a written statement. “However, it was clear that what was conceived as an effort to uni-fy was not having the intended

effect.”I’ll say this: Duke is

a wonderful academic institution. The term ‘best and brightest’ ap-plies to those able to at-tend. But, like much of society, intellect does not correspond with tolerance. Many people I know would agree with the school’s re-sponse to the backlash. Many would disagree. But it has nothing to do with one’s level of education or IQ.

In my instance, inside the tire store service area, it was the owner, an employee, my car and me. Since my car had its wheels removed at this point, there was nowhere to go. And nothing to do but listen.

“The Muslims, they don’t care about us. All they want to do is convert everyone to being a Mus-lim,” the owner said.

“Yeah, and they want to kill ev-eryone who isn’t a Muslim. It’s in their bible,” the assistant said.

“You mean the Quran,” I said.

It’s an interesting take on something that simply isn’t true. Our Bible is a collection of writings from various authors. The Quran is based on God speak-ing, first-person, to man. And while there are some differences, there are some funda-

mental similarities. However you choose to interpret either book, it’s accurate to say the Quran is not a hate-filled manifesto.

Ah, but why let the truth get in the way of a convenient percep-tion?

“The Quran?” the owner said to his assistant. “Oh, that’s what they call it, right. Well, whatever it is, why should we let the people who want to kill all Christians have a public forum to try to con-vert us? No thanks.”

It took my mind right back to Sept. 11, 2001. I got to be good friends with Abe, who owned

the gas station in my neighbor-hood. When the acts of terror took place, the prices of gas im-mediately began to skyrocket. So I hustled up to the gas station to fill up.

Abe was working, but this time, he had someone else be-hind the counter with him. And he was visibly shaken as a small black and white television ran the endless, awful news coverage of the day.

“Are you okay, Abe?” I asked.“Rick, I’m scared,” he said.

“We’re not all like that,” he said, pointing to the TV. Abe talked about how he emigrated from Iran, how he loves America, how his family loves America. But he also felt vulnerable, knowing some people would associate him and others like him as people sid-ing with the terrorists.

At this point, I was happy to see the tires were back on, and the lugnuts were being tightened.

Now, there are two things in life bartenders are told not to discuss: Religion and politics. I take that a step further – watch out whom you engage in a discussion of reli-gion and politics, especially when you have no wheels on your car and you’re sitting in a tire store garage.

The owner handed me the bill and I went to pay it.

“You didn’t have much to say earlier,” he said. “I hope we didn’t offend you. I mean, people have the right to free speech.”

Yes, they do. And just as they have the right to free speech, I have the right to get my tires re-placed at another store. It made me sad, knowing what had been a good relationship was ending with the realization I would nev-er speak to him again.

Rick Schulte is director of com-munications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and editor for The Record. He can be reached at [email protected].

An outcry came when many when a Muslim group wanted to use the Duke University chapel bell tower for a call to prayer, although there was also support for the right for the event to take place. (Photo: The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.)

Rick Schulte


The RecordEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan4800 Woodward AvenueDetroit, MI 48201-1399

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDETROIT, MI

PERMIT NO. 5312

Documents

The Record Summer 2015