Dear People of the Diocese of New Jersey,
"
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it...." Hebrews 13:2
This past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the clergy of the Diocese of New Jersey gathered at Seaview Resort in Galloway for our annual clergy conference. The topic of the clergy conference was "Remixing Anglicanism." The conference leader was The Reverend Canon Stephanie Spellers. Canon Spellers serves as the Church and Society member of the faculty of The General Theological Seminary, as well as their Director of Mission and Reconciliation. She was the founding priest of The Crossing - an Episcopal "emergent congregation" consisting largely of young adults based at The Cathedral of St. Paul in Boston. Canon Spellers is also the author of the book
Radical Welcome: Embracing God and the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation (New York: Church Publishing, 2006) and co-author with Eric Law of
The Episcopal Way: Church's Teaching for a Changing World - Volume I (New York, etc: Morehouse Publishing, 2014).
Energetic, faithful, smart and bold, Canon Spellers provoked the clergy to deep reflection and rigorous conversation though song, biblical story, personal story and good humor. She offered her own deep insights and experiences challenging us all to "follow Jesus with our souls, minds and arms open wide." She got us all to think deeply about this Episcopal Church we hold dear, about who is part of it and who
could be part of it giving particular thought to those who have historically been on the margins, whom God longs for us to welcome.
A central question that framed the conference was this:
How can Episcopalians passionately share the Good News of God's life and love in a way that embraces the traditions of the Church and the gifts of the cultures and generations around us?"
I found her concept of "remixing Anglicanism" particularly intriguing. A "remix"
is "a piece of media which has been altered from its original state by adding, removing, and/or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, or photograph can all be remixes. The only characteristic of a remix is that it appropriates and changes other materials to create something new." (See
Wikipedia "Remix" at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix
).
Of course the other characteristic of a "remix" is that it contains essentials of the original such that one can see and know both the original as well as what has been re-mixed. It's a stimulating idea for us as Episcopalians today as we watch our church, along with other mainline churches, decline precipitously. The traditional demographic of the Episcopal Church is not a growing part of the population. Yet we are part of a church that, at its best, is universal, catholic and comprehensive. Our Anglican origins were the result of a remix - Catholicism and Protestantism. The earliest conversations in the evolution of Anglicanism were precisely about what was essential and was not. It was a "remix." The question today is, what "remix" will allow the Church to retain the vital and essential characteristics of being Anglican/Episcopal and what can be re-mixed so that the cultures and generations around us can see and experience within us their own voices as well?
In her presentation, Canon Spellers quoted former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who in the forward to the book
Mission-Based Church (New York: Church Publishing, 2010) wrote,
"If 'church' is what happens when people encounter the risen Jesus and commit themselves to sustaining and deepening that encounter in their encounter with each other, there is plenty of theological room for diversity of rhythm and style, so long as we have ways of identifying the same living Christ at the heart of every expression of Christian life in common."
We are in the month of November. Thanksgiving Day is not far off. Advent will come. This is a time when churches can expect people who want to reconnect with God in Christ. It is a time when we should make an extra effort to "open our arms" and reach out. It's an opportune time to practice radical hospitality. Who knows, you may entertain without even knowing it!
I am grateful to all those who were generous with their time and wisdom in coming to Clergy Conference this past week and who enriched our community and common life together. We are blessed with outstanding clergy in the Diocese of New Jersey. Thank you to all of those who participated.
Blessings and peace,
