Tuesday, March 6, 2007

A TIME TO TURN

I have been reading a book this Lent entitled, "A Time to Turn: Anglican Readings for Lent and Easter Week" and digesting the selections assigned for each day by Christopher Webber. My responses to the readings have been diverse -- some hit close to home and others seem more like the compulsory reading one does in high school but does not appreciate or enjoy.

As I finished the reading for today, I was moved to review the list of writers and read the biographies included in the "About the Authors" section. There were 31 biographies included and of the 31 only 4 were women. I found no evidence of the inclusion of people of color in authors included in the book.

I would have been surprised if Chris had not included readings from Andrewes, Bacon, Brooks, Cramner, Donne, Gore, Herbert, Law, Pusey, Taylor, and Temple. I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of Benson, Kingsley, and Williams. I thought that More, Rossetti, Rowe, and Beecher-Stowe were excellent examples of female Anglican writers, but would have wished to see Brown-Taylor, Te Paa, or Kaeton included also.

I was very disappointed that no people of color were included in the listing.

Now let me hedge my bet here -- the biographies do not include racial information and I am recalling my perception of their race from memory -- but it is clearly not an inclusive hearing of the voices of Anglicanism.

The Episcopal Church is involved in a battle that sometimes seems like a battle for the soul of the Anglican Communion. The two hemispheres of the world seem pitted against each other in a mythic battle for a controlling voice for the Church. To find no voices from this significant and growing portion of the Church is to be accessible to only a segment of the Church.

If we are to be one church, we will need to hear all voices and learn to be intentional about seeking out other voices. Inclusion of these voices right mean that we will need to hear less of the voices of the past, but in listening more to the voices of today, we just might be enabled to see a way forward together.

I am still listening.