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Bishop Wolfe advocates 'an attitude of gratitude' in July 25 bulletin inserts
Full text of the inserts is below. Inserts may be downloaded here.
Maintain an attitude of gratitude
By Dean Wolfe
…the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ... —Galatians 5:22-23
What an exciting time to be an Episcopalian! In this dynamic (and sometimes dramatic) moment in our church's history, I am enthusiastic about the good work the Episcopal Church continues to accomplish. The Episcopal Church holds open one of the widest doors in Christendom while working tirelessly to care for those in the greatest need. Our work in Haiti, on the Gulf Coast and around the planet reflects our concern for every child of God. We have seldom been led with such clarity and self-control, and it is a privilege to work under the patient leadership of our presiding bishop as we seek to interpret the vision and mission we share with the wider church.
Our economy has given us a wild ride over the past several years. We've all watched carefully as it rose and, more particularly, fell. Many people, including my own spouse, lost jobs in the economic downturn, and these losses invite our care and concern.
For others, however, a difficult economy has offered an easy excuse to cut back on giving to the church, even though they themselves have not been affected personally by the downturn. The Rev. John Claypool used to speak compellingly about our "not-enoughness," that gnawing sense that we never have enough and, indeed, we never can be enough. It's easy to succumb to such anxiety and fear when money is involved.
For still others, disagreement with a particular clergyperson, policy or decision becomes the motivation for withholding their gift. As a parish priest, I've begged parishioners not to hold the ministry of the parish hostage to personal agendas.
The work of a parish, a diocese or even the wider church is larger than any one of us. In the Episcopal Church, we continue to trust the Holy Spirit speaking through all God's people through the various councils of our church. How can we call it Christian stewardship if there are strings attached to our giving?
Jesus preached a gospel of radical generosity because he knew what a spiritual difference it made in the hearts of the people, and Jesus knew everyone, even the poorest widow, had something important to give.
As Dr. Joseph Fort Newton was leaving a Baptist pulpit to become an Episcopal priest, he wrote in River of Years my favorite description of our beloved church:
"Something deep in me responds to the sweet and tempered ways of the Episcopal Church. Its atmosphere of reverence, its ordered and stately worship, its tradition of historic continuity, linking today with ages agone; its symbols which enshrine the faith of the past and the hope of the future; its wise and wide tolerance; its old and lovely liturgy — like a stairway, worn by many feet, whereon men climb to God — and, still more, the organized mysticism of its sacraments — all these things of beauty and grace move me profoundly.
"More vital still, if possible, is the central and strategic position which the Episcopal Church holds in the confused religious situation of our time. It is the roomiest church in Christendom, in that it accepts the basic facts of Christian faith as symbols of transparent truths, which each may interpret as his insight explores their depth and wonder. Midway between an arid liberalism and an acrid orthodoxy, it keeps its wise course, conserving the eternal values of faith while seeking to read the word of God revealed in the tumult of the time. If its spirit and attitude were better understood, it would be at once the haven and the home of many vexed minds torn between loyalty to the old faith and the new truth. After all, there is one church of Christ. It may wear many names, but its faith is one, and finally, soon or late, it will be one fellowship, drawn together by creative desire or driven together by sheer necessity of facing the forces of destruction in our day, which, if they have their way, will end in materialism and futility. Each man should labor where he can do his best work in behalf of our common Christian enterprise; and I look forward to happy and fruitful service in a great and gracious fellowship."
Newton wrote these words more than 60 years ago, but they hold meaning for us as well. Who would not want to be deeply generous — joyfully, wholly, radically generous — to a church like the one he describes, the church we love and the church to which we belong?
The Rt. Rev. Dean Wolfe is bishop of the Diocese of Kansas and vice president of the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops. This commentary appears in the August 2010 issue of Episcopal News Monthly.
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