The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
December 2006

Bishop's Reflections: Advent Ponderings

In the weeks leading up to Advent this year we have all felt the winds of change blowing all about us—in our church and in our nation. And, we have all participated in these changes—in one way or another.

Our church has lifted up new and different leadership. Through the leaders we have chosen (bishops and deputies, clergy and lay) a woman, Katharine, has become our presiding bishop.

I believe this change is huge, even if we cannot yet see or even anticipate clearly the differences it will actually make to us. We do know that the reaction of some Anglican primates, as well as some American bishops and others in our church have greeted this change with dismay.

Having participated in the service of investiture at the National Cathedral recently, what struck me most clearly was the statement we were making to the whole church and to the world. The statement was in part an affirmation of the way our church operates democratically, but it also had some quality of "...that which was cast down is being raised up" (a phrase in one of our prayers for the church).

Apart from 'statement' though, there is simply the person, Katharine, in whom we have invested our trust. It is possible to see this change as one of power, except that she is not a power person, nor does she see her role as one of power in any ordinary sense. Katharine's real power is drawn from her faith.

Politically, power (in the ordinary sense) surely has changed hands. This, too, came through a democratic process. The winds of change which we observed and participated in (again in one way or another) have turned up a more balanced form of power in our national governance, and in all likelihood this will result in our relinquishment of the power of the gun in our dealings with other nations.

As Christians and as citizens, power is not something to be ashamed of. We all have it, through our votes among other things. But there is the matter of how we use it—in service of others or at the expense of others. And there is also the matter of source, which shapes our use of power.

The season of Advent is so important in this context. Here, we find ourselves anticipating both the power of God in judgment, in what we call "the second coming." And we also anticipate the first coming, the birth of an infant—who is so powerless. What a contrast!

Between the two, we hear Jesus say to us, "my kingdom is not of this world." He is saying that his power, his authority, comes from God—not from the world. Its source cannot be reached by Jewish or Roman authorities.

As we now pray for of our changing political and ecclesial leadership, may we ask—for them and for ourselves, the divine humility this season invites, and the responsible use of power which democracy makes possible.

Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish

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