Wednesday, March 7, 2007
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU
The traditional slogan of the Episcopal Church is "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" and it is found on signposts around the country announcing the location of the local Episcopal Church. We, as a church, love the idea that we are welcoming and that we would graciously host anyone who would dare to enter our sanctuaries.
But there is the rub, is it not? We do not do much by way of ushering the unchurched into our churches on Sunday mornings and we do not go out of our way to open our doors to those not already associated with our little parish churches. When worship occurs on Sunday mornings, we are apt to assume that everyone there knows the service and the hymns and will know just when to sit, stand, or kneel. That is not always the case.
I look at my home parish and become deflated when the realities of the lack of diversity become apparent. I want to worship in an inclusive church -- one where people of all colors, backgrounds, sexualities, and classes are at home -- but I hold little hope of it happening at this time and place.
My little parish is white in appearance, actions, heritage, activities, and opinions. We are unlikely to change because it is unlikely that we will ever be confronted by others who are different. They probably will never enter our doors, because we will not have invited them, and if they do come inside, they probably will not stay around long enough to find a place and a way to be heard.
But these realities are not what is bothering me today.
What is eating at me today is the reality of my personal failure to be welcoming to others. When have I seen people of color in church and way too busy to extend a sincere welcome? When did I talk to the people I knew rather than the new person standing at the margins?
I wonder what has kept me from learning a few phrases in Spanish or Portuguese or even a word of welcome in Hebrew or the language of Islam.
What keeps me doing the same things over and over expecting others to make great changes in order to worship the God I claim to love? What do I need to do to change? What will it cost? What will I gain?
Will God still recognize me if I change?
