Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

Reconciliation resources available

The Diocesan Jubilee Steering Committee was established several years ago to provide support and resources to parishes that desire to confront the sin of racism, and/or the issues of environmental stewardship, human sexuality and world peace.

To put it another way, the Jubilee Committee is charged with providing tools for living into the 5th Baptismal Covenant: “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?” The answer repeated at every Baptism is, “I will with God’s help.”

Striving to keep the 5th Baptismal Covenant takes greater and greater effort as our culture bombards us with messages of selfishness and fear. For this reason members of the Jubilee Committee are offering resources that can assist communities who seek deeper understanding of the gospel teachings about reconciliation and the methods to help them move forward.

In a new resource on reconciliation, Bishop Steven Charleston offers ten practical steps to communities choosing to take the risk of reconciliation. “Good News: A Congre-gational Resource for Reconciliation” is an adult study designed to place any conflict into the context of the gospel through a focus on justice, compassion and reconciliation. These three gospel lenses allow people to see the disagreements between them from a different perspective than “right or wrong,” “win or lose.”

The study suggests “that justice can be served without one side having to be right; that compassion can be practiced with a forgiveness that overcomes fear; that reconciliation can occur without the need for resolution.”

The ten steps to reconciliation Bishop Charleston suggests come from the teachings of Jesus and are markers for any community to follow. They are developed further in the booklet but the list is clear:

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God.
2. Do not be afraid.
3. Judge not.
4. Forgive seven times seventy.
5. Be servants first.
6. Stay awake.
7. Ask so you may receive.
8. Trust the Holy Spirit.
9. Go into all the world.
10. Love one another.

• To obtain a copy of “Good News: A Congregational Resource for Reconciliation” at no charge, contact Carolyn Dicer at the Diocesan House, 865-966-2110. To order direct from the Episcopal Divinity School for $5.00, call toll-free 866-4EDS-NOW.
• To obtain a study program for parish leadership about race and reconciliation, contact the Rev. Paige Buchholz at St. Elizabeth, Farragut, 865-675-0450.
• For information about how to start a chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship in your congregation and to obtain a bibliography of resources on peace and justice including curriculum for children, contact the Rev. Rob Henley at St. Joseph, Sevierville, 865-453-0943.
• For resources about environmental stewardship, contact Kae Wrinkle at the Episcopal School of Knoxville, 865-777-9032.
• To obtain study materials for conversations on human sexuality, contact Carolyn Dicer at the Diocesan House, 865-966-2110.

Additional resources include:

• A video-based teaching series on how to conduct meaningful dialogue among Christians who disagree on the issue of homosexuality is available from the Episcopal Media Center. “Moral Discourse on Homosexuality” is 78 minutes in length and is presented in five segments. Call the Episcopal Media Center at 800-229-3788 or visit the online store at www.episcopalmedia.org
• The House of Bishops of the Church of England has commended for study “Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate,” published by Church House Publishing and on the Web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk
• “General Convention Reactions and Resources” is an Episcopal News Service list of links to recent and past convention legislation, resolves of the Executive Council and to religious press and advocacy groups worldwide: gc2003.episcopalchurch.org/ens/3577_19467_ENG_HTM.htm

Related stories in this issue:

• Feelings mixed as first openly gay Anglican bishop is consecrated
• Anglican Communion's response biting, bitter, generous, jubilant
• Executive Council addresses the church
• Bishop’s letter emphasizes reconciliation
• Diocese comes to the table to speak, to hear, to pray
• Ascension rector attended 'A Place to Stand' in Dallas
• Changes pondered at Integrity mini-retreat