Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people continue to be in the middle of a storm of discrimination that is religious based. Individuals claiming to know absolutely the truth of the Bible continue to exploit the equal rights of LGBT people for their own political and monetary gain. A recent story emerged about how the Family Research Council has paid thousands of dollars for Congress not to pass the declaration against Uganda's "Kill the Gay's" bill. Senator Orin Hatch made the claim that politics is the religion of gay and lesbian people.
In the middle of the storm of controversy over homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote a wonderful pastoral letter to the Episcopal Church responding to the remarks of the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Pentecost letter.
"the Spirit does seem to be saying to many within the Episcopal Church that gay and lesbian persons are God's good creation, that an aspect of good creation is the possibility of lifelong, faithful partnership, and that such persons may indeed be good and healthy exemplars of gifted leadership within the Church, as baptized leaders and ordained ones. The Spirit also seems to be saying the same thing in other parts of the Anglican Communion, and among some of our Christian partners, including Lutheran churches in North America and Europe, the Old Catholic churches of Europe, and a number of others."
"That growing awareness does not deny the reality that many Anglicans and not a few Episcopalians still fervently hold traditional views about human sexuality. This Episcopal Church is a broad and inclusive enough tent to hold that variety."
We do not seek to impose our understanding on others. We do earnestly hope for continued dialogue with those who disagree, for we believe that the Spirit is always calling us to greater understanding.
We live in great concern that colonial attitudes continue, particularly in attempts to impose a single understanding across widely varying contexts and cultures. We note that the cultural contexts in which The Episcopal Church's decisions have generated the greatest objection and reaction are also often the same contexts where women are barred from full ordained leadership, including the Church of England.
As Episcopalians, we note the troubling push toward centralized authority exemplified in many of the statements of the recent Pentecost letter. Anglicanism as a body began in the repudiation of the control of the Bishop of Rome within an otherwise sovereign nation. Similar concerns over self-determination in the face of colonial control led the Scottish Episcopal Church to consecrate Samuel Seabury for The Episcopal Church in the nascent United States – and so began the Anglican Communion.
We have been repeatedly assured that the Anglican Covenant is not an instrument of control, yet we note that the fourth section seems to be just that to Anglicans in many parts of the Communion. So much so, that there are voices calling for stronger sanctions in that fourth section, as well as voices repudiating it as un-Anglican in nature. Unitary control does not characterize Anglicanism; rather, diversity in fellowship and communion does.
What I hear and perceive in both of these examples is that the storm for the full acceptance and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people continues with all of it's furious winds and waves. They tend to pound up against our personal faith and may very well cause some to become discouraged or even give up.
A thought I would offer from the Gospel for today that Jesus does not wish any one to give up. Jesus wants us to continue to reach out for him as we face the storms and difficulties of our lives. We begin to sink when we concentrate all of our energies on our own fears over how bad the storm is. Jesus wants us to rely on God to help us through those huge waves of life that will hit us from time to time. No where in the Bible does God promise anyone that our way of life will be without those storms that can be devastating. God does promise us in Jesus that God will be with us until the end of the age. (See Matthew 28: 21). Jesus comes to us when we are sinking through those moments when our faith is challenged and offers God's compassion and loving friendship. God offers that compassion and loving friendship to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in our struggle for equal rights. The storm is fierce and dangerous. At times we may loose and we will be angry and discouraged. The Holy Spirit comes to all of her children, to minister the words and example of Jesus Christ who loves us all and shows us to keep going even when it seems difficult.
O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 4, Book of Common Prayer, Page 229).
God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).
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