WEB-EXCLUSIVE

Choosing to Focus on the Meaningful
By The Rev. John Ohmer

COLUMBUS, Ohio--I left the parish I serve – St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Va. – after our 9 a.m. service Sunday and rushed to Dulles Airport in what I thought was plenty of time to make my flight to Columbus, Ohio, for the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting here.

I thought I had plenty of time, but the Disney World-like, back-and-forth security line at Dulles was over an hour long. The anxiety level was palpable as it dawned on people that they weren’t going to make their flights: heavy sighs, rolling of eyes, multiple watch-checking.

The anxiety of that security line was also contagious, and as we crept along, I found myself getting more and more agitated.

Then I realized I had brought along a copy of a good book I’d been meaning to read, and that I had a choice: I could spend my hour in line either worrying or reading – either getting swept up in the anxiety around me or focusing on something meaningful.

Well, I settled into my book, eventually got through security, and just barely made my flight.

Although it’s only one day into this General Convention, I think that security line might be a microcosm of the Episcopal Church, and I’d like to say why.

But first, a bit of background: The General Convention is a once-every-three-years phenomenon, gathering together elected deputies and bishops representing 111 dioceses from all over the United States and 20 countries beyond.

The General Convention is a massive undertaking. To see over 8,000 people attend a service of Holy Communion is quite a sight. By the time this 11-day meeting is over, more than 12,000 people will have participated in the Convention in one form or another.

The General Convention sets the direction of the Episcopal Church's mission and ministry, its policies and budget, and its worship. There are countless resolutions from committees and dioceses; there are dozens of committee meetings and legislative hearings.

In a massive exhibit hall, there are over 250 booths selling everything from Amish Fudge to Yellowhorse Indian jewelry, and advocating every point of view from “I regret my abortion” (the National Organization of Episcopalians for Life) to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (whose purpose is to “preserve reproductive choice as a basic part of religious liberty”) to the American Anglican Council (calling for the Episcopal Church to “change course” from its decision to consent to the election of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire) to the “Claiming the Blessing” organization (which advocates for “the selection of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered candidates as bishops, priests, and lay leaders where they are otherwise qualified”).

And that’s what brings me back to the security line. Walking around General Convention, hearing all these voices advocating different, even contradictory, points of view that twist us back and forth in a seemingly endless procession, there is a lot of anxiety – will we make it? – and that anxiety can be contagious.

We can get caught up in that anxiety, or we can remember that on this journey we’ve also brought along a good book that we as a church have been meaning to read – and follow.

And that Good Book reminds us that “’My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” That ought to give all of us – left, right and center – a little humility and a little patience.

More importantly, that Good Book reminds us that the mission statement, if you will, of the One in whose name we are gathered is to “proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind – to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

That’s meaningful work.

The issues that divide us didn’t creep up overnight, and they are not going away any time soon. We can spend the time we’re together getting swept up in the anxiety around us, or we can focus on the meaningful work we’re called to, even if that work doesn’t make any headlines out here in Columbus.