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Letter to the Editor (Montana Standard)

3/27/2016

Accepting Syrian refugees means practicing compassion -
Rev. Susan Otey, March 27, 2016

There are few values more common throughout Jesus’ teachings than compassion. He speaks of loving thy neighbor in the context of loving those who are the most different from us, those whom we may find the most complicated to love. In this case, they are those desperately in need of the most love, yet are being labeled unworthy based on their faith, culture, or simply the misfortune of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A malicious rhetoric has emerged in our state by people who are blindly pushing against the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Montana. This rhetoric is not only based in a foundation of hatred, fear, and prejudice, but it is completely against the teachings of Jesus and that of the Hebrew Scriptures. In the past month, these people have been speaking especially loud, telling us that we must protect ourselves at all cost. They may be the loudest, but they are the most misdirected.

VIDEO: Presiding Bishop preaches during UNCSW Eucharist‘By empowering women, cultures, societies are lifted up’

3/18/2016

By Lynette Wilson/Via Episcopal News Service

Communion women can help change sisters’ fate, says Anglican leader

3/17/2016

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From the Episcopal News Service:
Secretary General also challenged: Turn focus away from internal conflict

By Mary Frances Schjonberg, March 17, 2016

Women ought to encourage their husbands and other men to join them to eradicate gender-based violence, the Most Rev. Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon tells Anglican and Episcopal women gathered March 16 in the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. The speech by the Anglican Communion’s secretary general came during an event related to the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Photo: Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] The secretary general of the Anglican Communion said March 16 that Anglican and Episcopal women must continue – and redouble – their work to change the fate of women and girls in their communities, including by working with their national and local governments.

“Sisters, opportunities are many, but we cannot afford to sit still and wait for things to happen,” said the Most Rev. Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon, speaking in the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in New York in an event related to the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. “We need to keep knocking on the doors of U.N. agencies and governments, and be ready to show what we can do and how we can be effective partners in terms they can respect.
“Anglicans are on the ground, serving their communities in over 165 countries,” he said. “We have countries where we are an established church. We must speak up for the people we serve at the grassroots level because we know what they need in order to develop and to thrive.”

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Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church

3/15/2016

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"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others.”

The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church, meeting in retreat, unanimously approved the following Word To The Church.

A Word to the Church
Holy Week 2016

"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others.”
On Good Friday the ruling political forces of the day tortured and executed an innocent man. They sacrificed the weak and the blameless to protect their own status and power. On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead, revealing not only their injustice but also unmasking the lie that might makes right.

In a country still living under the shadow of the lynching tree, we are troubled by the violent forces being released by this season’s political rhetoric. Americans are turning against their neighbors, particularly those on the margins of society. They seek to secure their own safety and security at the expense of others. There is legitimate reason to fear where this rhetoric and the actions arising from it might take us.

In this moment, we resemble God’s children wandering in the wilderness. We, like they, are struggling to find our way. They turned from following God and worshiped a golden calf constructed from their own wealth. The current rhetoric is leading us to construct a modern false idol out of power and privilege. We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others. No matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we must respect the dignity of every human being and we must seek the common good above all else.
We call for prayer for our country that a spirit of reconciliation will prevail and we will not betray our true selves.

The Episcopal Church House of Bishops met in retreat March 11 – 15 at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, TX.

On the web:
Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church

For more info contact:
Neva Rae Fox
Public Affairs Officer
The Episcopal Church
publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org
212-716-6080 Mobile: 917-478-5659

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A Letter to the Editor (Missoulian)

3/3/2016

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Help make Ravalli County a safer place

Dear neighbors:
As the people of the Bitterroot Valley debate who should and who should not be allowed to live here, we have heard much fear, anger and distrust. As pastors, Christians and members of this community, we feel called to speak a different word.
Though the Bible is full of stories of violence and war, sometimes by God’s command, its movement is toward the unity of peoples and love for our neighbors—even our enemies. God promised Abraham that through him “all the peoples on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12). After freeing the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, God taught them through Moses, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Leviticus 19).

In Jesus, God’s heart for peace is fully displayed (John 1). In days of brutal Roman violence toward his own people, Jesus said, “You have heard it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In fact, Jesus died at the hands of his enemies, praying from the cross: “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23). Christ calls those who would follow him to pick up our own crosses and offer the same life-giving love to all others (Luke 9).

AdvertisementIt is good and right that our government—national and local—protect our people and our borders. At the same time, it is God’s call through the centuries, taught and lived in Jesus, that God’s people extend our hands in welcome and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5), even if it costs our own lives.

A life full of anger and fear is not living, is it? Walls and guns won’t keep us safe. Neighbors watching out for one another, communities that speak and act for the benefit of those most in need—these are the ways that make for peace.
So, dear neighbors of many religious traditions or none at all, a challenge: let’s make Ravalli County a safer, better place—one word of welcome, one act of kindness, one prayer, one neighbor at a time.

This opinion is signed by Rev. Brenda Satrum of Faith Lutheran Church in Hamilton; r. James Connor of St. Francis Catholic Community in Hamilton and Darby; Rev. Dudley Rose of First Presbyterian Church in Hamilton; Rev. Richard Reynolds of St. Paul’s and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Churches in Stevensville and Hamilton; and Pr. Wendy Campbell of First Christian Church in Hamilton

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Voices of Faith

Letter to the Editor (Montana Standard)

Accepting Syrian refugees means practicing compassion -
Rev. Susan Otey, March 27, 2016

VIDEO: Presiding Bishop preaches during UNCSW Eucharist‘By empowering women, cultures, societies are lifted up’

Communion women can help change sisters’ fate, says Anglican leader

From the Episcopal News Service:
Secretary General also challenged: Turn focus away from internal conflict

Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church

"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others.”

A Letter to the Editor (Missoulian)

Help make Ravalli County a safer place

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Voices of Faith

Letter to the Editor (Montana Standard)

Accepting Syrian refugees means practicing compassion - ​Rev. Susan Otey, March 27, 2016

VIDEO: Presiding Bishop preaches during UNCSW Eucharist‘By empowering women, cultures, societies are lifted up’

Communion women can help change sisters’ fate, says Anglican leader

From the Episcopal News Service:​Secretary General also challenged: Turn focus away from internal conflict

Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church

"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others.”

A Letter to the Editor (Missoulian)

Help make Ravalli County a safer place

Authors

Archives

Categories

Accepting Syrian refugees means practicing compassion -
Rev. Susan Otey, March 27, 2016

From the Episcopal News Service:
Secretary General also challenged: Turn focus away from internal conflict