Dear Friends,

As I write this, it is mid-October but our editors tell me this letter appears in the Thanksgiving-Christmas issue of our newspaper. Therefore, I feel caught in something of a time warp. Indeed, I am one of those who still has a sense of sadness when I see Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving. And here it is, two weeks prior to Halloween! Therefore, with all the anticipation I can muster, I wish you a holy All Saints Day, a gracious Thanksgiving, and a blessed Christmas!

I suppose that the “long view” of history sometimes is especially appropriate. For instance, we often find value in long-range planning and long-term goals. However, at the same time, our twelve-step friends remind us of the appropriate biblical perspective of “one day at a time,” for we do not know what tomorrow may bring. With appropriate Anglican flexibility, we tend to embrace the paradox and see the benefit of both perspectives.

In this time of late Pentecost, anticipating Advent, events of our world seem to be pulling us into immediate encounter and, also, pushing us into perspectives and policies which have far reaching consequences. Indeed, I suppose that the world always plays such a role in our lives.

I think, in particular, of three circumstances which have both immediate consequences and long term effects. First, as of this writing, the death sentence of Robert Coe has been stayed for an indefinite time. As we await whatever may happen, may we remember in our prayers the prisoner and his victims, our legal system, and ourselves, for we all may anticipate consequences which are both short-term and long-term as a result.

Secondly, I think of the decisions made in our churches about what financial support to offer the diocese in the coming year. Of course, to some extent, such decisions are governed by individual choices regarding pledges to local congregations. Such financial decisions - on the part of individuals and on the part of churches - also have immediate and long-term consequences. I am more and more certain that decisions about our stewardship of God’s creation are some of the most important ones we make in this life. Therefore, I commend to your prayers the individual Episcopalians and the churches of the Diocese of East Tennessee as we make such decisions.

Thirdly, perhaps you are aware that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has adopted the document “Called to Common Mission” which makes possible “full communion” with the Episcopal Church. Prior to General Convention next summer, we will be studying and analyzing this document to determine if we Episcopalians also want to adopt it. The short-term view focuses on the particular idiosyncrasies of the churches involved and on whether or not we agree on certain matters of doctrine. And those matters are very important. The long-term view concerns unity within the Body of Christ. Both these views deserve our careful and prayerful attention.

By way of concluding this reflection on time and decisions, I want to point out that most of us make our decisions in an immediate context and with an eye towards immediate consequences. That is, we often can predict most of the reactions to our decisions that may come quite quickly. However, we are less certain about what the long-term results might be, and I submit that we need to consider that perspective much more carefully. Indeed, in the examples I have cited, I suggest that the consequences are immediate, long-term, and, even eternal. We need to be on our knees as we encounter decisions with such significant ramifications to our spiritual health and lives!

Faithfully yours, in Christ,
Charles G. vonRosenberg