We always do the outreach thing better when we listen to the other and point to their experience as we say what you said is what I mean. It should always lead to the aha. Still learning, Bob Hoyt
Thank you for being teacher and student, pastor and seeker. Your letter stoked images of Paul to the Athenians, Ruth, Miriam, Nicodemus, Gamaliel, the Samaritan woman at the well bringing heritage/culture and faith together.
Wow, Lenny. For someone to attack you and your faith in the way that your bishop relayed to you is insane to me. Your Yoruba rootedness is a gift: most white people have nothing that deep to draw on.
I would bet real money that the "people who have been questioning [your] 'faith' and status as a 'Christian' lately" are white males: I recognize the type, being one myself. ;-)
If I could address these "people" I would (sarcastically) say something like this about myself:
I am mostly German, coming from the Fietsam, Reifschneider, Martin, and Spangler "tribes." The four Spengler brothers who fled Germany and settled in Pennsylvania during the 17th century were, I believe, Roman Catholics. They fought for independence a century later after anglicizing their family name. Does my ancestors' Roman Catholicism make me less worthy as an Episcopalian? (Does my being an *Episcopalian* lessen my ability to be Christian?)
For that matter, does my having attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, CA, and having been a devoted Cherokee (our team mascot/name at the time) make me less of an Episcopalian? Does my having a BA from the University of Oregon and being a loyal Duck for decades somehow dilute or poison my faith? Does my being a committed Democrat make me less a Christian - when my politics come directly from my understanding of our social, moral, and legal responsibilities towards one another springs from what I read in the Bible? I don't think so...
Of course, I am being sarcastic here. I would not seriously compare my own "tribal" identities with yours, but I hope you see my point: most of us have all kinds of affiliations that could be challenged if one wants to start down that foolish path.
Thank you for sharing your experience; a felliw seminary student shared this. I am reading a book for my Mission's class, and this article keeps coming to mind. Christianity is not opposed to indigenous peoples, their beliefs, or their heritages. We need to stop Christian colonialism. Thank you for your vulnerability and for standing up for yourself and your beliefs.
This spoke to my identity as a Lutheran more than the 47 years of “ministry” I’ve received as one. If the church of the Reformation isn’t the place for the Reverend Lenny Duncan, it isn’t the place for us, either, we middle-aged White het cis married folks who know “there must be something more than this.” Vibrate, Reverend Lenny.
We always do the outreach thing better when we listen to the other and point to their experience as we say what you said is what I mean. It should always lead to the aha. Still learning, Bob Hoyt
Thank you for being teacher and student, pastor and seeker. Your letter stoked images of Paul to the Athenians, Ruth, Miriam, Nicodemus, Gamaliel, the Samaritan woman at the well bringing heritage/culture and faith together.
Your response is so needed! I appreciate you being true to yourself as you spread love and knowledge.
Thank you for this.
Wow, Lenny. For someone to attack you and your faith in the way that your bishop relayed to you is insane to me. Your Yoruba rootedness is a gift: most white people have nothing that deep to draw on.
I would bet real money that the "people who have been questioning [your] 'faith' and status as a 'Christian' lately" are white males: I recognize the type, being one myself. ;-)
If I could address these "people" I would (sarcastically) say something like this about myself:
I am mostly German, coming from the Fietsam, Reifschneider, Martin, and Spangler "tribes." The four Spengler brothers who fled Germany and settled in Pennsylvania during the 17th century were, I believe, Roman Catholics. They fought for independence a century later after anglicizing their family name. Does my ancestors' Roman Catholicism make me less worthy as an Episcopalian? (Does my being an *Episcopalian* lessen my ability to be Christian?)
For that matter, does my having attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, CA, and having been a devoted Cherokee (our team mascot/name at the time) make me less of an Episcopalian? Does my having a BA from the University of Oregon and being a loyal Duck for decades somehow dilute or poison my faith? Does my being a committed Democrat make me less a Christian - when my politics come directly from my understanding of our social, moral, and legal responsibilities towards one another springs from what I read in the Bible? I don't think so...
Of course, I am being sarcastic here. I would not seriously compare my own "tribal" identities with yours, but I hope you see my point: most of us have all kinds of affiliations that could be challenged if one wants to start down that foolish path.
Godspeed!
Jon
Thank you for sharing your experience; a felliw seminary student shared this. I am reading a book for my Mission's class, and this article keeps coming to mind. Christianity is not opposed to indigenous peoples, their beliefs, or their heritages. We need to stop Christian colonialism. Thank you for your vulnerability and for standing up for yourself and your beliefs.
Good spelling. It’s “interrupt”. Sorry you’re one of those misguided woke ELCA pastors.
This spoke to my identity as a Lutheran more than the 47 years of “ministry” I’ve received as one. If the church of the Reformation isn’t the place for the Reverend Lenny Duncan, it isn’t the place for us, either, we middle-aged White het cis married folks who know “there must be something more than this.” Vibrate, Reverend Lenny.