Letters to the Editor
Editor's response to letters

Dear Editor,

Bishop Tharp's letter in the February edition of this newsletter was very good. And it raises a few questions.

Is no one taught what the practices of the Episcopal Church are? Ms. Stanley finds "Father," "Mother" offensive and yet, this Church has called its priests those titles for years. Not just anglo-catholics or high-church persons. Father/Mother are accepted titles. One would not dare call a superior of a convent anything other than "Mother" and we most certainly do not refer to priests as Rev Smith/Jones/Doe.

But I have other questions. Imagine walking into an established Episcopal Church. You are simply handed a order of service from an usher, no "hello," "good morning," "are you visiting with us today". You notice on the door jamb to the nave a holy water fount. And you attempt to use it, but someone is in the way. So you ask them nicely if you could use the fount. And their reply is "Why?"

Everything in the nave seems strictly Episcopalian. The organist is playing a prelude,after which a priest steps to the lectern and says "Good Morning.....the announcements for today are....." After which there is a short time for private prayer. The choir sings an opening anthem-ette from the entrance to the nave. The procession goes smoothly. The gradual (are today's Episcopalians familiar with this term?) is hymn 536, complete with rhythm band--every Sunday! The sermon is fantastic, although the priest begins by saying again, ..."Good morning." But then we start getting stage directions from the lectors/priests. "Will you stand for the recital of the creed" "Let us kneel for prayers."

During the offertory, the choir performs for the parishioners: the choir faces the nave--not opposing sides of the choir area, the organ is center stage, much like a concert. In looking at the altar, one can plainly see the arms of the organist waving directions at his/her charges, as well as choir members "getting into" the music by bouncing heads/shoulders. (And NO, this is not a charismatic parish.)

Passing the peace consists of parishioners leaving their pews and walking the aisles greeting friends, not just wishing "peace be with you." You might hear, as did I, two men discussing football games they had seen the previous day. It seems as if you have been transported to a decorum-less service in a more protestant church where passing the time of day is on tap. After which a priest tells you, "...you may be seated."

Communion follows with more stage directions, this time by a priest lowering his/her arms. There is not a proper Elevation (another rarely used term) and yet a sanctus bell is rung, the wrong number of times and at the wrong times. Communion can be hectic, especially when two mothers are battling with their children and discussing with each other problems with schools. Returning from communion, one might very well be forced to ask the two moms to "please excuse" so you may slip by. They are conversing about their plans for the afternoon--in the aisle, and NOT in quiet whispers.

There is no after Mass coffee hour. (Of course, why should there be? Conversations were carried on during the service. There may be a tray of cookies/coffee but no one partakes or stays to talk.)

This scenario takes place every Sunday at a parish I have been attending. And the questions I now ask are simple. What has happened to the dignity/decorum/commonality of the Church. If a visitor happened to enter for a service, would he/she think all Episcopal churches were like this? (I actually asked a visitor if he enjoyed the service and his reply was "not particularly. If I wanted all the schmaltziness, I would attend a Pentecostal Church; I came here to get away from that atmosphere."

When one is confirmed into our church, is that one not instructed that we have certain rituals/ceremonials that are expected to be followed, i.e., the sacredness of the Holy Communion, the scriptural guide behind the "Peace" (if, when making your offering to God there is anything between you and your neighbor, go to your neighbor first. Then take your offering to God..Nothing here about general "hello's")

Is there no guide that tells a priest how to do a proper elevation of the sacrament? Or that they, especially, should reverence the altar? Or that the sign of the cross as a blessing should not be done haphazardly, but with thought and reverence? If our priests are ignorant of proper ceremonials, why should parishioners not be?

I did go to the priest once to ask if he could not make an announcement regarding talking during communion and his reply was that he was too busy to be bothered with that.....I should learn to live with it.

I have been a member of a broad church, a low church and a high church and now I am attending a "do it our own way" church. One doesn't need to have smells/bells to have dignity in a service; one doesn't need stage

directions for being seated, rising, kneeling. One has only to follow the rubrics of the Prayer Book--that book that holds us all together as one. Attend an Episcopal Church for three weeks running and follow along in the Prayer Book and the service flows from one part to another: there is NO need to be told to stand, sit, etc.

Am I in left field here? I am most distressed concerning the lack of sanctity and would welcome comments.

Thank you.
Stephen A. Mosman
Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.

Dear Editor,

This is in response to a letter to the editor in your February publication. Bonny Stanley criticizes the paper’s use of the words "Father" and "Mother" when referring to clergy and defines it as being too "Anglo-Catholic."

I am not sure of how long she has been a member of the Episcopal Church but I have for my entire life. I was brought up in the church by my grandmother, the former secretary at St. Martin's in Chattanooga. I have always referred to members of the clergy as "Father" and "Mother." I am not a Lutheran or a Methodist so I do not call them "Pastor" and I am not a Baptist so I do not refer to them as "Brother" or "Sister." It is my belief that the church should work to be more Anglo-Catholic. Being a traditional Episcopalian myself, I respect these titles. Seeing this church as a member of the Anglican Communion, I see no problem with us keeping such traditions.

My grandmother always believed in keeping the church tradition and so do I. On more than a level of a reply I call on members of the church to keep their own parishes' tradition in the faith of our church. I will always uphold the traditions of this church, and to those of you who wish to change it towards a more "modern" church, then please aid us and join the Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians or Baptists.

Sincerely,
Trevor M. Southerland
Chattanooga, TN

Letters to the editor should be sent to: editor@etdiocese.net