Beloved in the Diocese of Massachusetts,
Greetings from Barbara C. Harris Camp, where I am welcoming the Annual Conference of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers (ECCC). During this painful time for our nation, it is a balm to be in such a beautiful place, gathered with many who are committed to holy hospitality, formation, and community building.
Even amid this beauty, my concern and grief for our country grows. This week’s increased ICE activity in Maine has made me worry. Saturday’s killing of Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, has made me weep -- and made me angry.
I commend to you the following message from our Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Sean Rowe: Acting Faithfully in Troubled Times. I invite you to join him, the hundreds of faith leaders gathered in Minneapolis, and all in our church to pray for those who mourn, for those who fear deportation and detention, for those who suffer for righteousness sake, and especially, for the soul of our nation.
This is a good time to be in our faith communities, both to pray and to prepare. Today Bishop Rowe will be speaking with the ECCC gathering. This week, I will also be working with other faith leaders locally to create contingency plans to stand against dehumanization and tyranny in our Commonwealth. We must also be ready to stand with our neighbors in every way that we can. Later this week, the Episcopal bishops in New England will gather with our canons and chancellors to discuss strategies for effective collaboration, coordination, and mutual support.
It is not a time to lose hope or to become paralyzed with despair or fear; it is time to redouble our efforts to live into our baptismal covenant. Our shared humanity depends upon it.
Last night at Compline, we sang a song well-known in the Episcopal camp world. You may know it as well:
Lord prepare me/ To be a sanctuary/ Pure and holy/ Tried and true
And with thanksgiving/ I'll be a living/ Sanctuary/ for You.
I was struck: our Anglican theology of incarnation teaches us that we are to be living sanctuaries for our God, who made every person in God’s image. God hates nothing God has made. As such, we are called to be sanctuaries for one another as well – to respect the dignity of every human being. This is going to require intentional, sacrificial work in the days to come. Let us prepare for that work, with courage and thanksgiving, together.
Faithfully, with love,
+Julia