The Bishop's Notebook
24 January 2003
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Bishop Packard accepts a donation
from
Ralph O'Hara, Treasurer of ECUSA |
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Andrew Gary, Registrar, prepares
the donations for shipping |
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An appeal to the staff of the Episcopal Church Center resulted
in filling two large "dish barrels" with hats, gloves, scarves
and other assorted warm things for kids in a remote region of
Afghanistan. They will be distributed by a medical officer in
that area who has been in contact with our office.
Bishop's Notebook
17 January 2003
Accompanying statement to the NYT
article*
(*Now posted on the website: )
Because of the extraordinary reaction to this piece, I have
two things to add. One is about the subsequent overemphasis
on my battle experience. The other is that forgiveness and redemption
are not the end of the game. There is always more.
1. If you count the follow-up phone calls, reporter Chris Hedges
and I spent about six hours together. As a former war correspondent
of four wars and captured once, he knew many chaplains and was
particularly interested in what they were doing now as this
war stares them in the face. I was quite comfortable with this
aspect of the interview and less so with the emphasis some have
later made of my combat experience as it relates to doing my
current job effectively. (The impression is of some gunslinger
who got religion.) That's not Chris Hedges' fault, he had one
theme to develop. Others have concluded that combat or line
experience increases one's effectiveness as a chaplain. Not
necessarily. Often, it's a colossal pain and serves only to
lose the focus of colleagues and associates. I spent 21 years
as a chaplain, and though it makes good copy to pay attention
to the war stories, there is far more character-building in
the countless pastoral moments in military hospitals, in the
field, or in deployable situations trying to bring people together
around an impromptu Eucharist.
2. Chris has a Master's of Divinity from Harvard so it was comfortable
and easy to discuss the deeper significance of forgiveness and
healing. I shared with him my belief that the pursuit of wholeness
was the character of the journey for many, including me. In
that regard I had discovered Isaiah 58:5-9 during my early priestly
days but only understood its profound effect when doing the
Midnight Run to find the Homeless here in NYC.
Isaiah 58:5-9 prophesies a most identifiable, redemptive, course
for those after battle:
"Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for
a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on
sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the
chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set
the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide
the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked to
clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and
blood?
Then your light will break forth like dawn, and your healing
will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before
you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call; and the Lord will answer; you will cry for
help, and he will say: Here I am."
New International Version
After war a veteran tends to continue the isolation which had
to be lived so effectively in order to be of value in war. As
Chris Hedges writes in his book, "War, A Force That Gives Us
Meaning," when individual importance is prized, that person
becomes distracted and ceases to be effective under fire.That
is so true.
So, what a summation and insightful wisdom is presented to us
in scripture, when, after active engagement with human need,
it says that true salvation rises "like the dawn." To do otherwise
would be like "turning away from your own flesh and blood" and
facing darkness. I said to Chris in my living room that I wished
more reparative opportunities were available to the military
person after rotating out of a war zone. Many more dawns would
result. +gep
Bishop's Notebook
10 January 2003
By the time this is posted I will have traveled to and returned
from 4 days in Minneapolis. Under the fearless leadership of
Robyn Szoke, a few of us who are certain that a children's presence
at our church's General Convention is essential will have brainstormed,
scouted, and prayed.
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In short, there will be several options for families
planning on attending this year's Convention. Thanks to the generosity
of Province V, there will be a discovery center where the children
can offer their exceptional "ministry of presence" along with
others in the exhibition area. There will be a Peace Camp, where
older children care for younger ones. There will be opportunities
for the children to be engaged with each other under supervision
while their caregivers can attend more adult convention activities.
Most importantly, these youngest members of our denomination will
be included and welcomed at a significant gathering of the faithful.
Two practical observations: 1.) This means if you're planning
on attending Convention 2003, you won't have to make endless child-friendly
trips to the Mall of America and 2.) As I was explaining my pending
trip to Minneapolis to the group pictured above, the only question
I got asked was how cold I thought it was going to be!
Below is the text of Resolution D045 from General Convention 2000.
It helps to remind ourselves about our denomination's history
in stating the significance of ministering to children. Coming
up in February, will be a promising gathering of advocates for
children - "Will Our Faith Have Children?" During those five days
outside of Chicago, the model for Convention's Peace Camp as well
as the discovery center will be up and running. I will be attending
with Clara, and I invite any chaplains or spouses interested to
contact this office. I also ask that you keep these events, and
our children, in your prayers.
Brook Packard
Resolved,
the House of Bishops concurring, that the 73rd General Convention
affirms that children are central to the mission of The Episcopal
Church and asks each committee, commission, and program of The
Episcopal Church to consider, as it plans for the future, how
its ministry will positively impact the lives of children in the
church and in the world, how it will be impacted by children,
and how it will encourage children's full participation in the
worship and mission of the church;
and be it further
Resolved, that the 73rd General Convention affirms and
lifts up "A Children's Charter for the Church" as a continuing
vision of The Episcopal Church's ministry in nurturing children,
ministering to and advocating on behalf of children, and supporting
children in their ministries, remembering that "it is to such
as these that the kingdom of God belongs" (Mark 10:14 NRSV); and
be it further Resolved, that the 73rd General Convention asks
each diocese to continue to build awareness and increase implementation
of "A Children's Charter for the Church," and live out its vision
locally.
Bishop's Notebook
31 December 2002
My Dear Friends:
As we face 2003 together, I recall a New Year’s Eve gathering
when we were asked to list things we wanted out of our lives.
They would be discarded. You could bring old letters, papers,
outdated financial records, as well a solitary list to the evening.
(This introduced a second exercise allowing for things to be included
in the new year. They would have room to grow.) The cast off jottings
were ceremoniously burned on the cooker in the backyard, yet no
one anticipated the magnitude of the response to such an invitation.
One woman brought an entire filing cabinet! Our hosts were wise
to have the local fire department on notice, just in case.
Now, I sort of amble into these parties, so all this intentional
activity was surprising, and now as I look back, optimistic and
naive. A fresh year seems like the kind of time we want to lay
claim to, like re-arranging furniture in a big room. There’s another
perspective in the aftermath of September 11th. True, we can have
noble intentions for our time but we’d do better by addressing
the anxiety which comes with never controlling it.
In a year which might include mobilizations, deployments, family
separations, maybe war, smallpox vaccinations, other terrorist
episodes, and in Micronesia another storm, the only constant seems
to be uncertainty. I hope that you and I at the stroke of midnight
will thank God for the gift of another year and then promptly
give it back to Him for safe-keeping. This is not a new thing
for Christians, consider the urging of Hebrews 10: 23 ff., “Let
us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who has promised
is faithful.”
Year 2003 will be a “faith-grower,” that is for sure. We are not
alone, rather, hear the call in the Epistle, “And let us consider
how we may spur one another on in love and good deeds.” (Heb.10:24)
We all assemble around the certainty that, “Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb.13:8)
May you know of His Son’s presence and the continuing power of
God’s Love in this New Year. Let us build each other in faith!
+George
The Bishop's Notebook,
24 December 2002
Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
I heard this quote from St. Bonaventure over the weekend, "God's
center is everywhere but God's circumference is nowhere." Chaplaincy
gives expression to that. Often the exceptional environs of our
chaplaincies are in contrast to a local congregation so concerned
about the perimeter of familiarity. For example this past Thursday,
Jackie Means and I went to the Hudson County Jail in Jersey City,
NJ, where, through scripture, prayer and particularly good singing,
a gymnasium was transformed into a House of God. Security cameras
panned over the faces of joyous people.
Following Robert McAffee Brown and our own Gerry Blackburn, we
have picked up the expression "ministry outside the gate" from
a reference in the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 13, verses,
11 and 13. Christians are urged to know the place where Christ
made sacrifice for us. His crucifixion occurred beyond the walls
of Jerusalem, on a mound that was an after thought. As a chaplain,
how many times have you brought Our Lord's presence into precarious
and ill-prepared places? Indeed, there is a heritage of doing
so.
May this Season remind us of how our Lord's life of service began
and what he took on for our salvation. This Holy Child and His
family found refuge out back with the livestock where the least
and humble would be found. In that he transformed life and our
lives. May we do the same in His Name.
Brook and the girls join me in saying, "May you and your family
have a blessed celebration of the Nativity."
In Christ,
+George
Bishop's Photo Album
20 December 2002
These pictures were taken by Bishop
Packard when he accompanied The Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev.
Frank T. Griswold, III, on a visit to the Pentagon
this week
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| The Presiding Bishop saying a prayer at the
Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Chapel |
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The Presiding Bishop meeting Senior Lay Leader John Symons
of the Pentagon Episcopal community |
Bishop's Notebook
13 December 2002
