Beloved Community

 During our most recent diocesan convention, I had the opportunity to sit and break bread with the clergy spouses from around our diocese. We introduced ourselves, made small talk, ate, and shared a quiet understanding of what it is like to be the background people for our clergy spouses. During our luncheon, the topic of finding a middle ground in a diverse geo-political landscape came up. As a still new clergy spouse (it has only been 2 years) and a new person to this diocese my stomach kept telling me to listen and not speak but the old adage of "let's agree to disagree" came up. My mind and my heart could not do that. We can agree to disagree on many many topics (candy corn is trash candy and beets are gross) but when it comes to the sanctity of other human beings and their right to exist and know they are loved, we cannot. Or rather, I cannot agree to disagree. 

As some of you, probably those who are Episcopalian, know our diocesan bishops in the USA recently returned from the Lambeth conference. For those of you not in the know, this conference is held about every 10 years in England. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury invites bishops from throughout the Anglican Communion (worldwide) to a 2-week conference to pray, study, and do things at Canterbury. For several conferences (one was canceled due to stupid Covid) there has been growing dissension from some of the conservative regions about progressivism and inclusion in The Episcopal Church. Predominantly around our ordination, inclusion, and loving affirmation of LGBTQUIA+ people. If you are interested you can Google "Lambeth" and you'll definitely go down the rabbit hole. But basically, one very vocal group believes LGBTQUIA+ folx should be withheld from the positions of leadership, believes that those who actively live their truth are sinning against God and Her Church and should not be given sacraments, believe me, it's a whole thing. 

As a staunch ally, I cannot agree that this group of people (who exist in our midst in our family) and who are beloved by God and made in Her image are anything but wholly part of the Beloved Community of God. I cannot resign myself to say that we will agree to disagree because by doing such, I am asked to deny that they belong and have a right to live their authentic life journey. I cannot agree to disagree that they have less dignity than I do because we love differently. I will not agree to disagree. I will FOREVER believe you are misguided. 

In response to my telling this, I was asked, well how can we say we love our neighbor as ourselves if we are not willing to discuss our differences and agree to disagree? My response to this is that I do not have to agree to disagree to love someone. God calls on me to love my neighbor. And I can, from a distance. I can pray for a change in their heart. I can pray that they have good things happen to them. I can pray they are warm and safe and loved. I can pray all of these things from a distance. God never said I have to love them right in my face, God just said to love them. Additionally, God never said I had to like them. Not one time. 

So, beloveds, know that no matter your political stance, your religious affiliation (unless you are actively atheist because that would be rude of me), your gender identity, etc I will love you. But, if you believe that others are less because of any of those things, I cannot and will not agree to disagree with you. I will always disagree with you BUT as strong as my disagreement is, so is my desire to still love you and call you beloved. But, I'll be doing it from a distance. I am ALWAYS open to a discussion. I am willing to hear you out. I hope you will also be willing to hear me out. If we find that we cannot, we will part ways and know that I will still love you. 

Have an amazing week beloved community. Thank you for letting me speak.