June 15, 2016    Serving the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania      www.diopa.org
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: Prayers for Orlando


"Pray for the repose of the souls who have died," Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his video message, Prayers for Orlando, concerning the June 12 shooting in Orlando, FL in which 50 people died and 53 were injured.
The video is available here 



A letter from Bishop Daniel

"God's Love Will Prevail"



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The mass murder in Orlando, FL this past Saturday was horrific, evil and a complete denial of all Christian beliefs, Christian values and an insult to civilized society. Our hearts can only go out in sympathy to the families of those killed or wounded; in thanksgiving for the bravery of the first responders; and in compassion for all who suffer in the city and community of Orlando as a result of these heinous acts.

Sadly, most of the glaring fault lines in present American culture were broached and exposed this tragic event: religious and racial prejudice are very much in play, LGBT victimization is evident, failure to enact effective gun control is a contributing factor as is a lack of community awareness and response to mental illness accompanied by a heightened fear of terrorism. Sadly, faithful and peaceful Muslims in American society will become more singled out and suspect. Racism will redound on members of communities in the US who "look foreign" even though the murderer was a natural-born American citizen - he is truly "one of us". The club where the shootings occurred was a "gay" establishment where a peaceful celebration of LGBT Pride Week was being held. The shooter used a military-type assault weapon, legally available to the general citizen. He was known by family and co-workers to have violent outbursts of anger for no apparent reason. Our national anxiety has been heightened and our fear level increased.

No doubt, in response to all of the above, some will call for exclusion and expulsion of Muslims, gays, people of color and immigrants to this country. There will be calls to build higher walls to keep "them" out and to dig deeper moats to create sharper divisions, all in a vain attempt to create a safe, secure and "pure" society. This is frightening in itself and smacks of neo-Nazism. Casting the "other" out is never an adequate response. To cast others out is the very source and violent outgrowth of the evil and violent actions of this past Saturday night in Orlando.

One answer does lie within the boundaries and grasp of reasonable precaution and positive action on the part of our government: stop the sale of assault weapons as a start toward ending the sale of all firearms in the US. Indeed, stopping the sale of all guns and handguns grows even more reasonable and attractive following the recent gun murders of children, blacks, gays and others in our midst. Enough is enough. How much longer can we bear to watch innocent people murdered; how much longer can we bear our share of the responsibility for letting these tragedies occur through the sale of guns?

We can let our fears paralyze us. But to give in to our fears is contrary to God's intent for human life. Any community built on the foundations of fear, exclusion or violence toward those different from "us" is a perversion of God's intention for human society.

The answer lies in building bridges connecting people, not walls dividing us. The answer lies in tolerance of difference, respect for individuals and honoring the dignity of every human being. The answer lies in seeking reconciliation rather than raining terror upon those with whom we differ. The answer lies in increasing hope through actively seeking understanding of one another and forgiveness. It's easy to demonize a neighbor and demonization ultimately leads to war. It's easy to be frightened and intolerant; fright and intolerance leads only to misery and brokenness. It's easy to deny another's dignity - and such judgment tears at the bond, which binds human to human.

Either we live according to our fears or we live according to the hope that lives within us, which we proclaim Sunday by Sunday in our Creeds and worship. Either we put our hope in our ability to demonize, exclude and kill or we put our hope in the love of Jesus, which binds all creation together and bids us love one another as he loves us. In the end, God's love will prevail because that divine love is the foundation of all that is. As Lin-Manuel Miranda said in his speech at the Tony Awards, "Love is love, is love, is love, is love, is love."

The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd
Bishop, Diocese of Pennsylvania



Litany for Gun Violence Prevention offered for use in Sunday services


The following Litany for Gun Violence Prevention is written by the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Episcopal bishop of Maine, and offered for use in liturgies throughout the Episcopal Church this coming Sunday or at any other time.

The litany is available as downloadable bulletin inserts in English  here  and in Spanish  here .
A full Eucharistic liturgy, prepared by St. Mary's Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, is available  here.

Giver of Life and Love, you created all people as one family and called us to live together in harmony and peace. Surround us with your love as we face the challenges and tragedies of gun violence.
For our dear ones, for our neighbors, for strangers and aliens, and those known to you alone, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Righteousness, you have given our leaders, especially Barack, our President, the members of Congress, the judges of our courts and members of our legislatures, power and responsibility to protect us and to uphold our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For all who bear such responsibility, for all who struggle to discern what is right in the face of powerful political forces, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Compassion, we give you thanks for first responders, for police officers, firefighters and EMTs, and all those whose duties bring them to the streets, the lobbies, the malls and the homes where the carnage of gun violence takes place day after day. Give them courage and sound judgment in the heat of the moment and grant them compassion for the victims.
For our brothers and sisters who risk their lives and their serenity as they rush to our aid, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day. Bless them with your presence and help them find hope.
For all whose lives are forever marked by the scourge of gun violence, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
God Who Remembers, may we not forget those who have died in the gun violence that we have allowed to become routine. Receive them into your heart and comfort us with your promise of eternal love and care.
For all who have died, those who die today, and those who will die tomorrow, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence. Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change.
For your dream of love and harmony, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
All this we pray in the name of the One who offered his life so that we might live, Jesus the Christ.   Amen.



Photos from Summer Ordination 2016





The Arc of the Moral Universe
by Pamela Darville

[1] "The Arc of the Moral Universe is long but it bends towards Justice: Its History and Meaning"
 
The oft quoted statement: "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice" has fascinated and intrigued me.  What is the "moral universe"?  Why is it long? Why does it bend towards justice?  Before addressing these questions, let's examine the history of the statement.

Dr. Luther Martin King, Jr, is deemed as the originator of this statement, but research shows otherwise. [1]  The statement appeared in some fashion in the 19th century in a sermon given by Theodore Parker, a Unitarian minister and abolitionist of slavery.  He stated:

Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of the right.  I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways.  I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience.  But from what I am sure it bends towards justice. [2]

In a publication by an unknown author in 1905, the author repeated the statement used by Parker. [3]  In 1918, a modern version of the expression appeared in a book titled "Readings from Great Authors" in a section listing statements attributed to Theodore Parker:"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."  Subsequently, in 1932, 1934 and 1948 the statement was used to raise the moral consciences of men and women.

In 1958 and 1964, Dr. King used the saying in an article printed in the "The Gospel Messenger" and at a baccalaureate sermon at the commencement exercises for Wesleyan University, respectively. He did not credit himself as the originator of the statement.  Finally, in 2009, Time magazine published an article by President Barack Obama that included the subphrase "bends towards justice" and he credited the words to Dr. King.  [4] 

Now that we have seen how the statement has historically traveled through time, what does it mean?  Dr. King, in speaking about the "moral universe" stated:

There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying "You reap what you sow." This is a law-abiding universe.  This a moral universe.  It hinges on moral foundations. If we to make of this a better world, we've got to go back and rediscover that precious value that we've left behind.

I agree with Dr. King as he sees a "moral universe".  I also think that the arc of the moral universe is long because some men and women refuse to accept the immorality of oppressing groups of color, implicitly and explicitly, and must be shown through patience, love, education and understanding the light of justice and freedom for all people. Dr. King, as helmsman of the civil rights struggle knew this. As members of the Anti-Racism Commission we must also realize this.  The immorality of prejudice and hatred against an individual simply because of his or her skin color will not simply disappear overnight, and it may be frustrating to "change" an individual who is engulfed in hatred.  But the "arc" of the moral universe is a long one fraught with obstacles, naysayers and the like.  But it bends towards justice and freedom as Dr. King has shown us as long as we continue our pursuits.   

I'll leave you with one more quote.  A news reporter asked an elderly Black woman if she was tired from walking in the march in Selma in the 1960s.  She stated:  "My feets are tired but my soul is rested." Indeed, one may say she meant her journey was long and painful, but it would end in justice and freedom. In her own vernacular, she was expressing the long stretch of the moral universe and that it inevitably ends in justice.


[1] See http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/11/15/arc-of-universe
[2]  Ten Sermons of Religion by Theodore Parker, Of Justice and the Conscience, (1853).
[3] Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. (1905).
[4] "A New Era of Service Across America by Barack Obama" (Time Inc. March 19, 2009).



Episcopal Church Club Announces Completion of Successful Scholarship Campaign


The Episcopal Church Club Philadelphia joyfully announces the completion of a successful scholarship campaign to aid seminarians from our Diocese.  Contributions received from members, churches, priests who were past recipients of scholarships, church groups, and friends totaled $26,697, exceeding our goal of raising $26,000 this year.  We are thankful for the wide support for this campaign, the only fund raising activity of the club.

The seven seminarians who will benefit from this year's scholarships are Christopher Exley, St. James, Collegeville; JoAnn Jones, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas; Shana Kaplanov, Christ Church, Philadelphia; Michael Palmisano, St. Thomas, Whitemarsh; Paul Resse, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral; Darrel Tiller, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas; and Michael Whitnah, Church of the Good Samaritan, Paoli.  JoAnn Jones and Shana Kaplanov are third year students, Michael Whitnah will be a second year student, and the other four will begin their studies this fall.

For further information about The Episcopal Church Club of Philadelphia, check us out on the web at www.episcopalchurchclub.org and consider membership in the club.


100% of Church Farm School Seniors Accepted to Four-Year Universities for 6th
 Straight Year

 
Church Farm School's tagline, "Inspiring Boys, Fulfilling Dreams," speaks to its now 98-year-old mission of providing young men from a variety of educational, social and financial circumstances with a private college preparatory education that most would otherwise not be able to afford. For the sixth straight year, 100 percent of our seniors have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. The 31 members of the Class of 2016 were accepted to more than 100 schools, earning more than $3 million in scholarships and grants. These young men - many of them first-generation college students - will be gracing the campuses of Williams College, Emory University, Swarthmore College, Lehigh University and The University of Pennsylvania, among many others.

"Without Church Farm School, who knows where any of us would be? Church Farm School saved my life." These words from Emmit Jefferies '16, who came to Church Farm School from Anchorage, Alaska, and was a beloved figure on campus, are not unique to Emmit. They have been echoed by alumni year in and year out, and they speak to the indelible impact a Church Farm School education has on so many of its graduates. Once a working farm that aimed mostly to instill in its young men the value of hard work and good character, Church Farm School's mission has expanded over time to include goals such as honor, ethical leadership, excellence in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) and of course, admission into a four-year university or college.

"Church Farm School is truly transforming the lives of our students. Whether it is a young man who will be the first in his family to attend college, or a student who would have otherwise had to settle for an education in a failing school district, we are so very proud of the achievements this special place continues to make possible," says The Reverend Edmund K. Sherrill II, Church Farm School Head of School. You can learn more about our most recent class of graduates
here .

In addition, five Church Farm School rising juniors were recently selected for the QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship Program: (pictured above left to right) Alejandro Zuleta, Akshay Rana, Jesus Benites, Zozi Flores and Mohammed Emun. You can learn more about the program, which pairs overachieving, low-income students with top universities, here.

About Church Farm School: The Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible. Located in Exton, PA, the school serves nearly 200 residential and day students in grades 9-12 through its rigorous and engaging academic, athletic and extracurricular programs. Learn more about our mission at www.gocfs.net.



The Episcopal Academy Holds 231st Commencement Exercises


Newtown Square, PA June 10, 2016 - The Episcopal Academy graduated 132 seniors at its 231st Commencement exercises on Thursday, June 9. The ceremony took place in The Class of 1944 Chapel on the Newtown Square campus.

Students were recognized for their accomplishments and congratulated by Dr. T.J. Locke, Greville Haslam Head of School; Mr. Edward H. Vick '62, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Delvin Dinkins, Head of Upper School; and Mr. Michael Letts, Hon., Form Dean. During the ceremony, The Reverend James R. Squire, Hon. offered his final graduation Invocation and Benediction. After 38 years at The Episcopal Academy, Reverend Squire will retire at the end of June. This year's student speakers were valedictorian Frank B. Langfitt and salutatorian Claudia R. Becker. The Episcopal Academy Class of 2016 graduates are listed here: http://www.episcopalacademy.org/news-post-details/~post/ea-celebrates-its-231st-commencement-exercises-20160610


Presiding Bishop 
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry 
Honored  Bishop Daniel



Education for Ministry


Have you ever considered a formal study of the things which inform your baptismal covenant?  Many EfM seminar groups will be reforming or starting in the fall and now is the time for you to consider if this program is for you.  The current texts are portrayed in the attached link.



Bishop-elect Gutierrez Meets 
With Members of the Diocese



Bishop-Elect Daniel G.P. Gutierrez met with Bishop Daniel, individuals and groups from the Diocese and toured neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia.  

His schedule included meetings with the Diocesan Staff, Mary Kohart (Diocesan Chancellor), David Griffith (ECS Director), Standing Committee,  The Very Rev. Judy Sullivan ( Cathedral Dean), St. James School, Budget and Finance Committees, Kim Shiley & George Whitfield ( Transition Team Co-Chairs), and the Deans. 

Please see the welcome video that Bishop Daniel recorded with him as he traveled around our diocese.


Key Upcoming Dates in the Election Process

July 16  Consecration of the new Bishop, New Covenant Church, Germantown

For additional information please visit the Call/Transition Committee's website at:  http://diopabishopsearch.com

Matters of Faith: The new year is the start of a renewed life