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The Bishop's Notebook 31 May 2002 In the recently completed East Coast Military Chaplains' and Spouses' retreat we focused on "The Spiritual Life of the Spiritual Leader: Tending, Nurturing, Deepening." Among other things, the week was for me a reminder that a key part of our lives as priests is that we are called to be contemplatives. The contemplative role, in the words of Richard Foster, "takes us on a journey into the heart of God." Foster also says that "as we travel the contemplative way we enter ever more fully into Jesus' word from John 15, 'I call you servants no longer…but friends…. You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.'" We were also reminded at the retreat that we live either in one of two "houses," the house of fear or the house of love. The contemplative life can help us live in God's house of love even in the face of our disappointments, failures and grief. It also keeps us humble when we enjoy success. May we journey deeply into the house of love and assist others in that journey. Amen. Gerry Blackburn, Director of Military Ministries The Bishop's Notebook 24 May 2002 I've just finished reading an enlightening article in The New Republic titled "The Principle of Hope" by Sherwin B. Nuland. In it, Dr. Nuland discusses his reactions to a new book "The Case Against Assisted Suicide: For the Right to End-of-Life Care" edited by Kathleen Foley and Herbert Hendin and just published by Johns Hopkins Press. Dr. Nuland describes himself as a proponent of euthanasia and notes that the book he is reviewing does the same. Then he examines the arguments against assisted suicide and, somewhat to his surprise, finds himself agreeing with most of them. He points out, for example, that one of the paramount principles of the practice of medicine is that "hope is the subtext of every encounter that a doctor will ever have with a fellow human being who is sick." Thus, proponents of assisted suicide argue that the form of hope being so offered is release from perceived inevitable suffering. However the relatively new medical specialty of palliative care, unknown to many, including many physicians, can almost always offer complete relief from suffering. Another argument frequently used in support of assisted suicide is the right of the patient to self-determination. However it can be argued that someone in the final stages of terminal illness may not be in possession of an adequate level of decision-making ability. Or conversely, that an advance directive decision made well before the onset of terminal illness may not adequately take into consideration changed circumstances or the patient's reactions to them. Nuland offers several powerful arguments in opposition. He says, for example, societal or legal approval for assisted suicide and euthanasia "interferes with efforts to improve care at the end of life." Also that the single state in the U.S. (Oregon) that at present permits assisted suicide has not built into its law sufficient safeguards, such as consultation with a psychiatrist, consultation with an expert in palliative care to explore alternatives, and mandatory notification of next of kin. The reviewer also points out that the entire book is written without reference to moralizing and "without reference to any emotion arising from doctrines or dogmas of faith. The emphasis throughout is on facts, data, logic…" Well, it's good to have facts. But it's unfortunate that the book ignores input from the faith community. Even Nuland elsewhere suggests, in his solution, that input from members of the clergy is one necessary safeguard. With that opening, it is time to stop replaying the contents of a magazine article and offer my own ideas. They are relatively simple. On the subject of abortion, a clergy colleague of mine once said: "Abortion is always evil. Sometimes it is the lesser of two evils." I agree with that and think it applies to this subject as well. Assisted suicide is evil. But sometimes it is the better choice. Euthanasia is evil. Sometimes it is the option that gives the patient the hope he or she needs to embrace a better future. What do you think? We are always open to your reactions. David Henritzy The Bishop's Notebook 10 May 2002 Recently I visited the Diocese of Northern Michigan to attend a meeting called “Amen”. This group is comprised of the bishops from the dioceses of Eastern Michigan, Michigan, Northern Michigan and Western Michigan and one or two diocesan representatives that come together once a year. This year the agenda focussed on three topics: communications, formation and prison ministry. Bishop Edwin Lee of Western Michigan spoke to the assembly and there was a sense of both sadness and anticipation in his remarks as he reflected on the past and looked to the future. This would be his last time together with the group as he is to retire in two months. In honor of his work I presented him with a gift from Bishop Packard --- a beautiful medallion emblazoned with the logos of our office, Armed Services, Healthcare and Prison Ministries. Bishop Lee said he was moved and surprised, pleasantly so, and this was proof that life has a way of coming around full circle. He said that in 1991 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. he protested the ordination of the 4th Bishop of the Armed Forces. He said that at that time he was involved in the peace and justice movement in the Church and had prepared a protest letter to be read on this occasion with the permission of the Presiding Bishop. He added that at that time his concern was how could we have a bishop for the Armed Forces and not one for those who were outside the mainstream of life, the poor, the homeless and other voiceless groups? Since that time our office has worked and is still working to build a relationship with the peace and justice groups within the Church as we indeed have much work to do in common. We wish Bishop Lee many years of meaningful retirement as he begins yet another chapter in his ministry. Jackie The Rev. Dr. Jackie Means travels all over the country to meet with Prison Ministry groups at the parish, diocesan and provincial levels. Recently her trips have taken her to Oregon and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While in Oregon she met with Bishop Robert Ladehoff and traveled to visit two correctional facilities -- one in Orgeon and the other in Washington State.
While in Michigan she met with Bishop Jim Kelsey and the leaders of local churches. The Diocese of Northern Michigan is heading a ecumenical effort to provide summer camps for children of prisoners. Click on this link for the complete story. The Bishop's Notebook 3 May 2002 “Eastertide and the rhythms of life,” a 3 May 2002 notebook entry by the Rev. Gerry Blackburn, Director for Military Ministries. In a recent one-day event I participated in a small group made up of five priest and lay colleagues from various departments and agencies here at the Episcopal Church Center. Two of us were quite new, having been here about a year each. Both of us admitted that one of the challenges of working at the Church Center was the change of rhythm in our spiritual lives. Neither of us now have an altar and pulpit that we regular stand behind or any of the other more familiar routines that we had grown use to in our pastoral/chaplain ministries. Not to mention that we and our spouses are having to get use to living small apartments in a city that truly never sleeps. Our work day is 9-5 (or 6 or 7), Monday - Friday, plus periodic grueling travel in and out of country. For me, most all of my rather frequent one-on-one pastoral ministry is now done over the phone or by e-mail rather than face-to-face. I worship daily (from the pew mainly) in our Church Center Chapel at the noon Holy Eucharist. Then on weekends I am again usually in the pew and not at the altar. How does one find a spiritual rhythm that nurtures and sustains amidst change? The other three members of our group, each having served God and the Episcopal Church via the Church Center for several years, helped us with their stories. In summary they advised us to give in to the change of life-rhythm that our new jobs place upon us and enjoy experiencing God in fresh new ways. I am reminded of something Suzanne Guthrie says in one of her books about her spiritual journey. Before she became an Episcopal priest she and their children moved every two or three years with her husband, a physician serving in the U.S. Air Force. She said that after each move it would take here several weeks or months to really get comfortable in her prayer life in a new house. But she learned to give in to it and find a spiritual “at home-ness.” In a “new,” post-September 11 America, perhaps all of us are seeking a fresh spiritual rhythm that will allow us to feel a closeness to God and his will for us individually and collectively in the living of these days. May this Great 50 Days of Eastertide provide us time to give in to a God that is always near. The “resurrection reality,” as our Presiding Bishop calls it, is best expressed by St. Paul: “It is no longer I who live but it is Christ who lives in me.”
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