the Messenger Published by the Swedenborgian Church of North America Volume 241• Number 3 • March 2019 Exciting Lineup of Mini-Courses for Annual Convention 2019 in Indiana!

t every annual convention of This course will provide a rare oppor- that, when taken literally, discrimi- the Swedenborgian Church, in tunity for General Convention peo- nate against or negatively stereotype addition to business sessions, ple to glimpse the world of African groups of people based on race, gen- Aworship services, the annual meeting Swedenborgianism in one of its impor- der, religion or other generalized cat- of the Center for Swedenborgian Stud- tant story lines. egories. This session will discuss some ies, and ordinations, mini-courses are Rev. Tosin Ogunbodede received a B.A. of these texts, the history of their in- offered. There is always a variety of -ex from the University of Ibadan and an M.A. in terpretation, how other churches and citing and interesting courses to choose Public Administra- religions have thought about these is- tion from Ladoke sues, and our denomination’s official from, and Annual Convention 2019 is Akintola Univer- no exception. We have thirteen offer- sity, Ogbomoso. response, which will be voted on this ings for your consideration. Upon completion Convention. Members of the informal of the Diploma committee who have been studying The New Church in Nigeria: in Theology from the issues, who operate under the title History, Challenges, and Prospects The New Church “Manifold Angels” will be available to College of Theol- Bishop Tosin Ogunbodede ogy, Owo, he was share their thoughts. ordained in 2005 Rebecca Esterson is Assistant Professor A large New Church body in Nige- at The Lord’s New in Sacred Texts and Traditions and Dorothea ria was founded in 1935 by Africanus Church Cathedral, Owo, Ondo State, Nige- Harvey Professor of Swedenborgian Stud- ria, by the late Rt. Rev. L. W. Wariboko. He is ies at the Center for Swedenborgian Stud- Mensah, a West African. It flourished a member of Chartered Institute of Bankers ies. She earned remarkably for many years, spon- of Nigeria (CIBN) and National Institute of her Ph.D. from sored by the General Conference of Public Relations (NIPR) and is the business the Graduate the Swedenborgian Church in Britain, service manager of Unity Bank Plc, Igbokoda Division of Re- but suffered severely from the effects Branch, Ondo State, Nigeria, as well as a self- ligious Studies supporting minister of the New Church at Boston Uni- of the Biafra Civil War. It has been an since 2005. He is happily married to Mrs. versity and her independent Swedenborgian branch Abiola Ogunbodede; they are blessed with Master of Theo- known as “The New Church in West two young children (a boy and a girl). logical Studies Africa” since the 1980s. from Harvard In this illustrated presentation, we When Scripture Discriminates: Divinity School, with a focus in will look at the growth of New Church How Our Church Interprets world religions. in Nigeria, the remnants of what we Difficult Texts She also stud- were left with when Africanus Mensah Dr. Rebecca Esterson ied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as a slept in the Lord, and where we are visiting graduate student. She is a mem- now in our ministry work. What were Our church, like many churches ber of Hillside Community Church, the Swedenborgian Church in El Cerrito, Califor- the challenges of the past, and what and religious organizations today, is nia, and lives in Berkeley with her husband are they now? We will discuss disap- grappling with how to understand and and three children. pointments and celebrate successes. account for things in our scriptures Continues on page 36

Asking the Right God Question • The New Bible Study Project More Inside Presidential History Snapshot for the Swedenborgian Church Contents: page 34 The Creatress • FNCA Centennial Celebration 34 the Messenger March 2019 The 4th Day of Creation By Junchol Lee moon symbolizes the second stage of examine what we truly love the most, Rev. Junchol Lee’s exegesis of the first three faith: understanding the meaning of which is often deeply concealed under days of creation appeared in the February the acquired spiritual concepts and what we feel obligated to love. Unless 2019 Messenger. principles. The sun, the greatest light, one truly knows and admits what one And God said, “Let there be lights in symbolizes the third or last stage of truly loves, knowledge will never be- the dome of the sky to separate the day from faith: implementing the learned spiri- come truth in one’s mind. Meaning, the night; and let them be for signs and for tual concepts and principles as one un- if there is no real acknowledgement of seasons and for days and years, and let them derstands them. This interpretation truth, then there is no union of truth be lights in the dome of the sky to give light might be based on two expectations or with goodness in one’s spirit. In oth- upon the earth.” -Genesis 1:14&15 assumptions regarding human nature er words, we will never be able to live or , the that were somewhat popular in the what we believe to be true unless we fourth day of creation is a clear eighteenth century: 1) humans might love to live in such a way! sign from the Creator that we desire to seek higher knowledge, con- Rev. Junchol Lee is the senior pastor of the San Fshould not understand the creation cepts, and principles; 2) humans might Francisco Swedenborgian Church. story literally. As far as we know, there be willing to live by the acquired high- cannot be any vegetation without light er principles if and when they fully un- and warmth from the sun. However, derstand the meaning of spiritual prin- the Messenger Genesis tells us that the vegetation was ciples and expected benefits from living © The Swedenborgian Church of North America Published monthly except July and August by created on the third day, while the sun, them. The sad truth in the twenty-first the Standing Committee for Communication and century—247 years after the death of Information of the Swedenborgian Church of the moon and stars were created on the North America (founded 1817, incorporated 1861 fourth. Swedenborg explains that the Swedenborg—is that knowing higher as the General Convention of the New Jerusalem principles and understanding them are in the United States of America), Rev. Jane light sources (the sun, the moon, and Siebert, president. stars) symbolically describe both the entirely different matters, and living by March 2019 progress and state of our faith. acknowledged higher principles is yet Volume 241, No. 3, Whole Number 5438 Stars, as the smallest lights in our another matter. Editor, design and production: Herbert Ziegler Why is it that we are often un- Copy editing and proofing: Robert Leith, sky, symbolize the first stage of faith Samantha Johanson, & Trevor within us: acquiring and learning able to live what we already know to Standing Committee for Communication and spiritual concepts and principles. The be true and beneficial to us both psy- Information: Kevin Baxter, Elizabeth Blair, & Val chologically and physically? For this, Brugler Printing: Gnomon Copy, Cambridge MA Swedenborg advises us to seriously Contents Editorial Address: Herb Ziegler, the Messenger 2 Hancock Place Exciting Lineup of Mini-Courses To subscribe to Cambridge MA 02139 for Annual Convention 2019 Tel: 617.388.0252 in Indiana!...... 33 the Messenger online, scan this image with a Email: [email protected] The 4th Day of Creation...... 34 QR reader on your cell Business and Subscription Address: Letter from the President...... 35 phone or tablet. The Messenger, Central Office 50 Quincy Street Proposed Amendments at Cambridge MA 02138 Annual Convention...... 39 Tel: 617.969.4240 The Creatress...... 40 Church Calendar Email: [email protected] Asking the Right God Question...... 42 Subscriptions: free online subscription at • May 24–27: SCYL Memorial Day The New Bible Study Project...... 44 http://swedenborg.org. Printed and mailed to US Retreat, Almont New Church address, $20/year; to Canada address, $30/year; FNCA Centennial Celebration...... 45 Assembly, Allenton, MI to all other addresses, $35/year; single copies, $2.00, Libraries & prisoners, free. Send check Presidential History Snapshot • June 29–July 3: 2019 Annual made out to “Swedenborgian Church” with for the Swedenborgian Church Swedenborgian Convention, “Messenger” on the memo line. Other requests, of North America...... 46 Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN write or call Central Office. The International Summer • July 28–August 3: International Deadline for submissions is three weeks before the first day of the month of issue. Camp 2019 in England Summer Camp for Teens, Purley for teens: Deadlines!...... 47 The opinions and views expressed are Chase, England those of the authors, not of the Messenger, Save the Dates: • August 28–31, 2020: Gathering Leaves, the Communication Support Unit, or the 195th Annual Convention...... 48 Purley Chase, England Swedenborgian Church. the Messenger March 2019 35

there were around 200 people who attended the Kansas convention, and many spoke up. Letter I remember (now Rev.) Jenn Tafel speaking about her uncertainty if she wanted to continue from the to be a part of this organization if we did not treat all people equally. I remember Susie Baumgartner President standing up with a young child on her hip, beg- ging the members to ordain Jonathan as he was the one she wanted her family to have as their minis- The Year of the Lord: 2018–19 ter in DC. I remember overcoming my own hesi- —The Primacy of Spirit tancy to speak and telling the gathering it would be a privilege to have this momentous occasion be Dear Friends, affirmed in conservative Kansas. I hardly remem- This week, with the United Methodist’s con- ber anything of the negative comments that were ference in St. Louis and their narrow vote to re- based on doctrine and questions of theology. tain and strengthen the church’s “traditional” ban When it came to the vote, there was over- against LGBTQ clergy and marriages, I am once whelming support for Jonathan’s ordination. again reminded how glad I am that we addressed While for many, the principle of equality was im- this issue at the 1997 convention in Kansas with portant, what resounds in memory is how power- the approved ordination of Rev. Dr. Jonathan ful the personal level was. We were voting for the Mitchell. Jonathan was known within convention individual, not his sexual orientation, but the fine after his four years of study at the Swedenborg person he was and the good pastor he would be. School of Religion. He was being recruited by the In the same way, the ordination of women in DC Society to be their minister. He had shown 1975 came down to a personal vote to ordain his teaching and preaching skills and was well Dorothea Harvey, a woman well known in our or- equipped to be a Swedenborgian minister. ganization, a professor steeped in Swedenborgian The Committee for Admission to the Ministry theology, a woman who had touched many lives and the Council of Ministers recommended Jon- and helped them find direction and purpose for athan’s ordination after extended discernment; it their lives at Urbana University. Dorothea was al- then came to the delegates gathered for a vote on ready a pastor, and the vote to ordain her was just the floor of the convention. There was discussion; the affirmation of her as minister. The group was not all agreed. I remember it well as it was my approving the ordination of Dorothea; she just first convention. I remember watching Jonathan, happened to be a woman. his partner Carl, and his mother and his sister as Roughly midway between Dorothea and Jon- the meeting progressed. President Rev. Capon had athan, the Council of Ministers, in 1986, passed two microphones set up and allowed alternating a standing resolution on ordination. The resolu- comments (pro and con) to continue as long as tion refrains from commenting on any external someone had something they wanted to say. There aspect of personhood and focuses only on internal are advantages of being a small group; as I recall Continues on page 39 36 the Messenger March 2019

2019 Mini-Courses to life’s thorny questions. How can we this diverse, often confusing story. Continued from page 33 bring the writings of Swedenborg to If you wonder how the Bible’s dif- others without becoming “Swedenborg ferent parts fit together, or how this Singing Prayers bashers” or putting people off? Rev Ju- strange and ancient text speaks to us Rev. Kathy Speas lie Conaron has some ideas and stories in the here and now, then this course from her work as is for you! Singing benefits your well-being. a hospice chap- Rev. Robert McCluskey holds a B.A. and From stress release to improved oxy- lain and inter- M.A in philosophy, and is a graduate of the gen flow to the brain, there are a myr- faith minister. Swedenborg School of Religion. Ordained in 1984, he has pastored Swedenborgian iad of reasons that singing makes us Rev. Julie Conar- joyful. And the angels seem to love it churches in Portland, Maine, and New York on is a second ca- City. For seventeen years he served as the too! Swedenborg wrote, “It has hap- reer interfaith and Swedenborgian pened two or three times that I have Swedenborgian representative to listened to singing in harmony, and the minister, having the National Coun- spent twenty years cil of Churches, spirits were so delighted by that singing as a microbiologist that they were almost dumbfounded. with specific atten- and growing up in England. Julie is proud tion to the work of Its sweetness penetrated their inward to be mother to four grown sons and grand- social justice and parts” (Spiritual Experiences §2090). mother to seven children religious freedom. Let’s savor the joy of singing and He serves at the make the angels happy. Rev. Kathy Bird’s Eye View of the Word Wayfarers Chapel in Speas will share a dozen sung blessings Rev. Robert McCluskey Rancho Palos Verde, California, and chairs the Social Justice Com- that are easy to learn, can be shared mittee of the Swedenborgian Church. with your congregation, are useful at Walk into any Swedenborgian tender times that are beyond words, Church and you will see a Bible on the Emerson, Swedenborg, or will just keep you calm and cen- altar. The same goes for many Prot- and Eco-justice tered. Come, make a joyful noise unto estant churches. Walk into any syna- Rev. Dr. David J. Fekete the Lord! gogue or temple, and there are the He- There is one man of genius . . . Rev. Kathy brew Scriptures, front and center, safe whose literary value has never yet Speas was or- in the tabernacle. Without the Bible been rightly estimated:—I mean dained in 2004. or the Hebrew Scriptures, things like Emanuel Swedenborg. (Ralph Wal- She worked as Jewish temples and Christian churches do Emerson, ‘The American Scholar’ a hospice chap- lain for ten years simply would not exist. It’s that impor- in Essays By Ralph Waldo Emerson) and then minis- tant, that central. Ralph Waldo Emerson held tered in a facility But before we can learn what the Bi- Swedenborg in high regard and was for profoundly ble means, we need to know what it deeply influenced by Swedenborg. disabled adults says. The Common Lectionary pro- He mentions Swedenborg by name in for four years. She has sung vides a three-year cycle of weekly read- three places: his essays “Nature” and with the Thresh- ings, which cover just about all of the “The American Scholar” and in an old Choir (“Making Kindness Audible”) since significant events of the Bible. But even entire essay devoted to Swedenborg, 2005, singing at bedsides for people in tran- if you followed this cycle on a weekly “Swedenborg; or, the Mystic.” The es- sition. Her present ministry consists of sing- basis, I think it would be hard to gain say “Swedenborg; or, the Mystic” is ing at bedsides and supporting the disabled adults who were moved to the community a clear sense of the story of the Bible as striking. It is found in Emerson’s col- when the facility was closed. a whole. lection Representative Men. In that col- This course will provide a bird’s-eye lection there are only six representative Bringing Swedenborg view of the literal story of the Bible. men written about: Plato, Emanuel to the Masses Through all the myth, history, law, and Swedenborg, Michel de Montaigne, Rev. Julie Conaron poetry we will trace a common thread William Shakespeare, Napoleon, and tying it all together—the story of the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. So, Fewer people today attend church, Covenant. We will also look briefly at Emerson places Swedenborg in most yet many feel spiritual but not reli- the underlying, and unifying, spiritu- elite company. gious. They may be looking for answers al sense that lies beneath the surface of Continues on page 37 the Messenger March 2019 37

2019 Mini-Courses Re-Create Yourself And He said to them, “Ought not the Continued from page 36 Kurt Fekete Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And begin- Emerson was largely attracted to In this gathering, we will look at the ning with Moses and all the prophets, Swedenborg’s Nature correspondenc- first story in the Bible, the Seven Days of He expounded to them in all the scrip- es. Nature and eco-justice are press- Creation, and discover how it provides tures the things concerning Himself ing contemporary issues, so looking at a path of positive, personal growth for “that all things must be fulfilled which Emerson and Swedenborg in the light us. Did you know that, according to were written in the Law of Moses and of Nature doctrines will illuminate our Emanuel Swedenborg, each day of cre- the Prophets and the Psalms concern- own society’s understanding of Nature. ation represents an important period ing Me.” And “He opened their under- Emerson may not have rightly un- of growth in our own lives? However, standing, that they might comprehend derstood what correspondences are and not only does the Creation story relate the Scriptures”(Luke 24:26,27,44,45). how they relate to Nature and spir- to our stages of development from in- Far better than the disciples, we can it. In this mini-course, we will look fancy to old age, it also can be used see and know how and why God, our at the specific places in Emerson’s es- as a practice to help us actively battle creator, came into the world and what says where Swedenborg is mentioned a temptation, challenge, or trial. Our the transformation, His advent, accom- and explore Emerson’s appropriation lives can become brighter with more plished in Himself, in the spirit world, of Swedenborg’s Nature correspon- capacity for love and wisdom as we and for all human beings. The Scrip- dences. Then, we will compare Emer- complete each day and move into the tures the Lord expounded to them be- son’s use of Swedenborg with Sweden- light. Come to this mini-course, un- come, through Swedenborg, a diary of borg’s own doctrines. This comparison lock the mysteries of the creation sto- His inner life. Understood through the will illuminate how each writer under- ry, and discover the power to re-create spiritual sense, the scriptures unfold stood Nature, and help us in our own yourself and the world around you. every aspect of His spiritual, mental, understanding of Nature and eco- A Swedenborg- and physical life, consciously and ratio- justice issues. ian from birth nally guiding Him through life. God and trained as a reveals to us the intimate details of His Rev. Dr. David Fekete grew up attending chemical engi- the Detroit Swedenborgian Church of the diary, His life in the world, opening up neer, Kurt Fekete the secrets of the development of His Holy City, and Almont New Church Assem- found his divine bly. His educational training includes a B.A. use as the youth spirit, the kingdom of heaven within at Urbana University, an M.Div. equivalent director for the Him. He now shows us how He was at Swedenborg School of Religion, an M.T.S. Swedenborgian “born again,” “regenerated,” or “glori- from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D. Church in 2001. from the Univer- fied.” He invites us to know Him and He finds delight follow Him. Let’s explore. sity of Virginia. both in the shar- He has served ing of our unique- Rev. Terry Schnarr is a fifth-generation the Church of the ly meaningful theology and learning spiritu- Canadian Swedenborgian now “snow- Holy City, in Ed- ality from the adolescent perspective. birding” between Canada and Florida with monton, Alberta, his wife Kathlyn in since ordination Family Training: the Lord’s their camper and in 2006. Keenly hybrid camping interested in in- Glorification and Our Regeneration trailer. He retired terfaith dialogue Rev. Terry Schnarr from pastoral work and education, with the Gen- he has served as In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gene- eral Church after president of the Edmonton Interfaith Cen- twenty years, from sis 1:1) “In the beginning, was the tre for Education and Action, has attended hospice chaplain- the North American Interfaith Network Word… and the Word was God . . . cy after ten years, (NAIN) seminars in Guadalajara, San Diego, all things were made through Him. from chaplaincy in and Edmonton (co-chairing the Edmonton . . . And the Word became flesh, and retirement homes planning committee for the NAIN confer- dwelt among us, and we beheld His after five years, and ence) and has attended the Parliament glory. (John 1:1,3,14) from care-taking duties at the Church of the of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City Good Shepherd in Kitchener, Ontario after and Toronto. David is deeply involved in Not only did the disciples see God’s physical body, they also saw the glory seven years. Inducted into the ministry of music, writing, and recording original the General Convention a few years ago, he compositions. of His transfiguration and resurrection. Continues on page 38 38 the Messenger March 2019

2019 Mini-Courses church members who spent their lives the director of the Continued from page 37 engaging in business or politics. American Project of Pepperdine Swedenborg argues that it impossi- School of Pub- spent this past winter helping with the re- ble to lead a spiritual life if you are not lic Policy, which vival of the Swedenborg Chrysalis Center in engaged in the world, running your seeks to find a way Deland, Florida. business, showing up for work, manag- forward through ing your family, and engaging in polit- the polarization in Helen Keller’s Spiritual Legacy American politics. ical life. The “old church” is crumbling Rev. Sage Cole He is organizing a as two hundred churches in Ameri- social capital sum- Helen Keller was one of the most ca close each week. At the same time, mit in Washington famous people of her generation: a Americans have never been as alienated DC in 2019, examining the role policy can writer, an advocate for economic jus- from each other. An epidemic of lone- play in rebuilding American community. Rich has coached over 200 social ventures, tice and international peace, an oppo- liness is spreading throughout the in- working on projects in Africa, Latin Ameri- nent of WWI, deaf and blind, and to- dustrialized world. Young people find can, and the United States. tally devoted to the theological vision they have few places to develop their of Emanuel Swedenborg. In this mini- spiritual life. Transcendence: The Power course we will explore Helen Keller’s Spiritual entrepreneurism is a solu- and Purpose of Prayer faith—what inspired her most about tion. Here, churches seek to develop the Rev. Dan Burchett Swedenborg’s theology—and her inner life of those who participate,while life—the ways that she lived out her they also help them develop their busi- Prayer is a common practice in all faith in action. We will look to Helen ness life. Johnny Appleseed makes for religious teaching and foundational in as an example of lived Swedenborgian a great example of someone who en- importance. The thinking behind the spirituality and consider how we can gaged in the world through a business practice of prayer takes those praying learn from her example and bring her that improved the world, and this busi- in many different directions. A per- legacy forward for a new generation. ness allowed him to spread the insights son quotes “believing, ask anything” Rev. Sage Cole is of Swedenborg. and wonders why their answer never the pastor and direc- Church of the Holy City is begin- comes. Others hound God with a re- tor of Swedenborg ning to use the church as a spiritual en- quest based on The Unjust Judge that Chapel in Cam- trepreneurial hub in Washington DC. bridge, Massachu- “fears neither God nor man” but grants setts, where she is It offers itself as a place where young the request to stop the annoyance. Is currently casting a entrepreneurs can develop their inner God fickle or irritated at our asking? Is vision to create The lives as they get expert coaching and God too busy to be bothered? Or per- Helen Keller Center learn strategies to launch their business haps prayer has little to do with chang- for Spiritual Life. She or nonprofit. lives in Boston with ing life situations but rather changing her husband and In this session, Rev. Tafel will share me. We pray for healing, provisions, two young sons. the theory of spiritual entrepreneurship relieve from suffering, etc., things that and share case studies of what has and have to do with improving the quality Spiritual Entrepreneurs has not worked in the DC church. The of life in form and material. Emanuel Are the New Church final part of the session will invite en- Swedenborg and Scripture have much Rev. Rich Tafel trepreneurs from the audience to come to say about the power and purpose of up and get some hot seat coaching live prayer. It may Swedenborg describes the New from Rev. Tafel and the wisdom of the be dif ferent Church, or the next evolution of Chris- gathered group. than what you tianity, as integrating three areas: our think. moral life, our civil life, and our spiri- Rev. Tafel is pastor of Church of the Holy City in Washington DC. He is the director of Rev. Burchett tual life. For centuries, religious leaders serves Wayfarers have taught us that church meant com- Social Capital Advisers at Marcum, one of America’s leading accounting consulting Chapel as director ing together to worship within a com- firms. In this role he prepares nonprofits of finance and ad- munity. Not only did this worldview and social entrepreneurs for investment and ministration and divorce itself from civic life, but it of- helps impact-investors identify potential so- has served as well ten looked down upon and criticized cial entrepreneurs to work with. Rich is also Continues on page 39 the Messenger March 2019 39 Proposed Amendments for Annual Convention

he following amendments will years, respectively from July 1, 1956: Standing Resolution 10, adopted by be introduced for consider- their successors three years. One of General Convention on June 30, 1983, ation by the delegates at the the trustees, including the Treasur- conflicts with current federal and state T2019 Annual Convention in Valparai- er, shall be a member of the General law. Therefore, to remove that con- so, Indiana. Strikeout indicates deleted Council. They shall make loans from flict, the General Council moved that language, and underline indicates add- time to time from the Building Fund Standing Resolution 10 be amended as ed language. as heretofore provided, or as hereaf- follows: Bylaw Article XXIII, “Amend- ter provided from time to time by the Delete the entire first sentence of the ments,” states, “These Bylaws may Swedenborgian Church. In case of resolution. be amended at any session of the a vacancy on the Board, the General The Building Fund may make low- Swedenborgian Church by a three- Council may fill the vacancy for the interest loans to any minister on the fifths vote of those present and voting, unexpired term. Active Roll of the Council of Min- provided that the proposed amend- Add new sections 2 and 3. isters, for a down payment on a resi- ment shall have been first referred to Section 2. The Board of Trustees dence, provided there is demonstration the General Council, and public no- shall review Building Fund loan ap- of practicality and need under criteria tice of the substance thereof shall have plications. Loans of up to $50,000 adopted by General Council. Should been given at least three months before may be funded by the Board of Trust- such minister cease to be on such Roll, the time of said meeting.” ees of the Building Fund. Loans over the balance of the loans shall be due $50,000, but less than $100,000, shall and payable within ninety days. Building Fund be reviewed by the Trustees, with a Add the following sentences: Amendment recommendation referred to the Ex- General Convention no longer pro- At the November 2018 meet- ecutive Committee of General Coun- vides ministers personal loans through ing of the General Council of the cil for final approval. Loans in excess the Building Fund. Outstanding loans Swedenborgian Church, the following of $100,000 shall be reviewed by the that remain in good standing will con- motion, amending Bylaw XIX, Board Trustees, with a recommendation re- tinue as agreed until fully repaid. Min- of Trustees of the Building Fund, was ferred to the full General Council for isters with outstanding loans from the passed. final approval. building fund, who cease to remain on Section 1. The Board of Trustees of Section 3. General Council may the Active Roll of the Council of Min- the Building Fund shall consist of the periodically adjust the dollar amounts isters, may have their loan called in Treasurer plus three trustees who shall based on governance oversight. and due and payable within be appointed by the General Council, ninety days. to serve initially for one,two, and three Standing Resolution Amendment Letter from the President Procedural Note: Amendments to Continued from page 35 2019 Mini-Courses Standing Resolutions are handled un- Continued from page 38 der the guidelines of Robert’s Rules of qualities. Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence shared Order, as the Constitution and Bylaws with me that the Rev. Dr. George Dole, on the pastoral ministry team at Wayfarers of the Swedenborgian Church are silent who was key in the original draft, re- Chapel for many years. His history of over concerning the procedure to be used for phrased the gist of it in his serious but thirty years of ministry includes senior min- ister for two Southern California churches. these. We have adopted Robert’s Rules light-hearted way, “We (General Con- During that time he also served as a hospice in the absence of rules of order provid- vention) don’t ordain women or gay chaplain for four years. He is a student with ed in the Constitution or Bylaws. Rob- people, nor do we ordain men or white the Center for Swedenborgian Studies as ert’s Rules establishes that an amend- people or people of color. We ordain part of his process to have his ordination ment to standing resolutions passes with people who are properly prepared to be recognized for full standing as a minister in the Swedenborgian Church at the upcom- a simple majority in the event of pri- ministers in our denomination.” ing annual convention. He is a musician and or notice and a two-thirds majority So be it. Amen. musical director as well. without notice. —Rev. Jane Siebert, President 40 the Messenger March 2019 The Creatress

By Birrell Walsh recipients to the extent that we love into about sixty pounds of flour un- God and are wise because of our love til it worked all through the dough.5 was raised in Catholicism, a reli- for God (that is, the extent to which gion where God and all the priests we are moved by what comes from The New Testament speaks of small were male, yes. But more peo- God and think as a result of that things becoming great in their time. Iple spent time with a rosary clutched feeling), it therefore follows that the The mustard seed grows. The yeast in their hands than prayed before the divine essence, the Creatress, is di- leavens a wheelbarrow’s worth of flour. 1 crucifix. The presence of Mary was vine love and wisdom. Small things grow. Let it be so for us. everywhere. Latin has a grammar with genders, Is this an attempt to replace the I remember the story of Mrs. Guar- and sometimes the gender of one word male language of Lord and Father? naschelli, who was praying in the sanc- can force another to take on that same No, not for me. It is to make avail- tuary when she heard the voice of Je- gender. It is not so in this case, George able to us, based on Swedenborg’s own sus. “Mrs. Guarnaschelli,” he said, un- Dole said in his note 31 to DLW. words faithfully translated, an image til she interrupted him. “You’ll have to Swedenborg could have as easily used of God that may nourish us. The male wait a moment, Lord. I’m talking to the word “Creator.” Instead he said words are to remain present, for those your mother.” “Creatress.”2 who love them. It is an “and” thing, Later, with Tantric Buddhists What might that mean? not an “or” thing. I do not think the I again found women, as Tara, So God created man in his own God “who cannot even frown” will be Prajnaparamita, Kuan Yin. image, in the image of God created annoyed by our having more choices. I mention this because Swedenborg he him; male and female created he I think it is also an individual thing. followed his Lutheran ancestors in them (Genesis 1: 27).3 For some people, it is simply easier to largely emphasizing the male and ig- We know from Genesis that human- open to an image of God who is a noring the female in his understanding ity was created in the image of God, woman. The choice of God-as-female of divinity. Not in his understanding and that both male and female are in is to enable more of us to accept the of angels, for which we can be grateful. that image and always have been. But divinity. That “and-ness” is part of the And he did often use neuter, gender- a careful scholar might ask, is it fair to generosity of the Holy, it seems to me. less words like Divinum in his theolo- Swedenborg to take this one quotation There is a Sufi tradition that God -un gy. Largely, I said, largely. There is one and rely on it? And will it grow, until der the name Ar-Rab al Alamein, the passage in Divine Love and Wisdom there is some sense of balance in male Nourisher of All the Worlds, turns to (DLW) in which it is very different. In and female presence in this tradition? each being a face that is for them spe- it, Swedenborg almost shyly speaks of He told them another parable: cifically, and gives them what their God as creatrix (creatress), and gives us The kingdom of heaven is like temperament needs. Those who are a practice. a mustard seed, which a man took comfortable with femaleness can turn All human feelings and thoughts and planted in his field. Though it to the Creatress. Those who prefer the arise from the divine love and wis- is the smallest of all seeds, yet when male can turn to God-as-Lord. And dom that constitute the very essence it grows, it is the largest of garden both will be received. that is God. The feelings arise from plants and becomes a tree, so that As Swedenborg says in Heaven and divine love and the thoughts from the birds come and perch in its Hell § 18, divine wisdom. Further, every sin- branches. (Matthew 13: 31–33)4 gle bit of our being is nothing but For love is receptive of each and feeling and thought. These two are He told them still another parable: all things that are in harmony with like the springs of everything that is The kingdom of heaven is like it; it longs for them, seeks them, and alive in us. yeast that a woman took and mixed drinks them in as it were spontane- ously, for it desires unceasingly to be They are the source of all our life 1 Swedenborg, Emanuel, trans. George F. Dole. experiences of delight and enchant- Divine Love and Wisdom §33. West Chester, PA: enriched and perfected by them. ment, the delight from the prompt- Swedenborg Foundation, 2010. As in the afterlife, as Swedenborg ing of our love and the enchantment 2 Ibid. 3 Holy Bible: King James Version . Peabody, MA: tells us about it, what we love is available from our consequent thought. Hendrickson Publishers, 2012. Continues on page 41 Since we have been created to be 4 Holy Bible: New International Version . Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005 recipients, then, and since we are 5 Ibid. the Messenger March 2019 41

The Creatress the Sun of divine essence. does not mean loving Him in respect Continued from page 40 At the end of Graeco-Roman times, to His person, but it means loving the Proclus was one of the last pagan phi- good that is from Him.” Swedenborg to us. God provides dark clothing for losophers. He regarded the sky-blue here uses the idea of being moved Puritans, and bright clothing for revel- heliotrope as praying because it always by the good and thinking from the ers; and he offers to us the face of God turned to look towards its source. moved-ness. The good affects us as do we can most easily accept. In The Priestly Art, Proclus said, the rays of the sun. It sings the praise of the leader Please, help us to understand if this The Practice, What is the Practice? of the divine order to which it be- is what Swedenborg is saying. One Swedenborg did not believe in cre- longs, spiritual praises, and praise loves the Creatress by loving what ation from nothing. For him, God cre- which can be apprehended by rea- comes from Her. What comes are de- son, touch and feeling. And since ated the universe out of God—as a light and enchantment. One loves the the heliotrope is also moved to- woman creates a child, from her own ward that to which it readily opens, Creatress by turning toward these. substance. It is not something that if anyone hears it striking the air as One takes them as the gift that the ends with birth. For Swedenborg we it moves about, he perceives in the Creatress, the Divine Essence, intends are forever attached to God, receiving. sound that it offers to the king the for us. They are light and rain for the That is what we are made for. Not just kind of hymn that a plant can sing.7 flower. to be receivers—Swedenborg says it in If we follow the energy-fountain The practice for me is like locating a way that underlines the current, pres- across the sky, with attention and re- the sun on a cool day, and sitting so it ent-ness of it. We are created to be re- ceptivity to what is given, then, may- can warm me. One acts like the helio- ceiving. Our only choice is whether to be that is our offering to the Creatress. trope. So far, that is what I notice— accept what is offered to us, or to re- We provide a place for her to come, an unspeaking warmth coming into fuse it. and she seeks that. In True Christianity my upper body: comfortable, comfort- What is it that is offered? From §766 Swedenborg says, “[Dominus] ur- ing, bringing no new commandments. these two paragraphs in Divine Love get et instat ut recipiatur;” “urging and One of God’s many faces is turned to and Wisdom, we get a sense of it: de- pressing to be received;,” with a text us, and we sit in the sunshine of the light and enchantment are offered. Dominus could be translated with ei- Creatress, being eased and warmed. They come to us like the milk of our ther “he” or “she.” mother, and they are better food than The benefits of this opening to the A Prayer anything artificial. Creatress seems to be many: Heaven Creatress, who makes us out of But what is our part? What is the and Hell §522 says, yourself so we can love and know, first practice implicit in this text? The em- Qui caelum in se recipit, is in cae- of all, thank You. And as You pour us phasis in today’s readings is on receiv- lum venit. Whoever accepts heaven forth with all our various loves into ing, on allowing the Divine to enter us. [into themself] enters heaven.8 this curious and meandering world, Our practice is receptivity. It is a life- By accepting heaven, we come into You cannot ever be far away. And as we long practice, different for each of us. heaven. There is a promise that we will go home, to whom could we go but There are as many faces of feminine di- be carried to our goal. You, to abide with you as we always do? vinity as there are of male. India teach- Quod illi qui recipiunt, per in- We are made to be receiving. May we es this, and the ancient Greek Hymn finitas ambages sicut per maeandros receive You and pass You on. Oh You to Isis says so. ferantur ad sua loca. Those who re- of so many names, thank You. All mortals who live on the ceive are conducted to their places boundless earth, Thracians, Greeks through an infinite maze of winding Birrell Walsh, 9 and Barbarians, Express Your fair paths (Divine Providence §164:6) Ph.D., is a Name, a Name greatly honoured In Heaven and Hell §15, Swedenborg writer and scholar. He is a among all, but Each speaks in his uses male language to say the most cu- 6 member of the own language. rious thing. “In heaven loving the Lord Swedenborgian I think this section of Divine Love Community and Wisdom invites us to turn toward 7 Chlup, Radek. Proclus - an Introduction . Cam- Church at bridge University Press, 2016. Hillside in 8 Swedenborg, Emanuel. Heaven and Hell . West El Cerrito, 6 Vanderlip, Vera Frederika. The Four Greek Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2010. Hymns of Isidorus and the Cult of Isis . Toronto: 9 Swedenborg, Emanuel. Divine Providence. California, where A.M. Hakkert, 1972 West Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2010. he delivered this message. 42 the Messenger March 2019 Asking the Right God Question

By George F. Dole using ‘God’ in a purely metaphorical, how a snowflake develops around its poetic sense,”2 but he shows no aware- center with such precise symmetry, (This article is a slightly modified version of chapter 6 from The Universe and I: Where ness of his own use of metaphors (such with the arms managing to copy each Science & Spirituality Meet, which is avail- as “midwifed a new origin of life”3) other. We are left with an elegant de- able from the Swedenborg Foundation: www. or of the omnipresence of metaphors scription “in which efficient material http://swedenborg.com.) within his own discipline. After all, causality is nowhere to be found.”7 Most readers will not be familiar with the “emergence” and “evolution” are met- A less obvious place to start is with sources I refer to. This means that the article aphors. Models are metaphors. When ourselves, with how we have come to may raise at least as many questions as it an- Einstein said, “I think the most im- understand the presentation of reality. swers, which is not necessarily a bad thing. portant question facing humanity is, Based on the quantum principle that his post above all must be un- ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’,”4 he particles form only when they are ob- derstood in the context of the was using a metaphor to convey some- served, we must infer an observer of Swedenborgian concept of ap- thing he saw to be of supreme impor- some sort for the inexplicable emer- Tpearances of truth, which from a sci- tance. Dawkins would do well to rec- gence of the first particles. This argu- entific point of view can be thought of ognize both the need for and the pow- ment is pursued with some rigor at as model-dependent realism. My expe- er of metaphors as well as their suscep- the close of George Greenstein’s ele- rience of walking face-first into a plate tibility to misuse. gant The Symbiotic Universe: Life and glass wall (dating back to about 1950) The word infinite tells me that I Mind in the Cosmos. While Greenstein remains my textbook example of the should at least try to think in “meta” is unwilling to “accept the notion that fact that it is possible to be at one and terms. Stuart A. Kauffman is on com- it was God Himself who so carefully the same time quite certain and quite mon ground with Einstein in his capac- crafted the cosmos,” he also states that wrong about some particular thing; ity for awe. He proposes “a worldview “it is the observation itself that brings and I extend this fact to a belief that beyond reductionism, in which we are the physical world into existence” and if there is no necessary correlation be- members of a universe of ceaseless cre- that “only a conscious mind is capable tween certainty and truth, then the ativity in which life, agency, meaning, of performing such an observation.”8 If quest for either is likely to lead away value, consciousness, and the full rich- so, then given the omnipresence of par- from the other. ness of human action have emerged.”5 ticles in the universe, we must endow The obvious theological place to I am moved by his willingness to be our observer with the characteristics of start such a quest is with a definition of stunned and overwhelmed. In con- omnipresence and omniconsciousness. God: “the creator and ruler of the uni- trast, I am turned off by Lawrence M. Could this be the type of God that verse, regarded as eternal, infinite, all- Krauss’s reaction to the “miraculous” Kauffman is looking for? The “fully powerful, and all-knowing.”1 I would appearance of snowflakes. Apparent- natural God [who] is the very creativ- stop at the word infinite and note that ly, the best our scientists can do when ity in the universe”?9 practically speaking, it is the ontolog- faced by this miracle is “revel in [their] This suggests that Terrence W. Dea- ical equivalent of the epistemological ability to explain,”6 which has every ap- con’s frequent association of “life and term indefinable—to define is to de- pearance of an ego trip. To the best of Continues on page 43 limit. [It is] my opinion that the athe- my knowledge, too, the revelry is un- ists and antitheists are quite right in justified, since science does not know 7 “As Richard Feynman said, ‘The more you see how strangely nature behaves, the harder it is to their insistence on the inadequacy of 2 Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (Boston: make a model that explains how even the sim- commonly held concepts of God, but I Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006), 18. His dismissive -at plest phenomena actually work, so theoretical believe they are seriously wrong if they titude toward poetry is surely open to challenge. physics has given up on that.’ Quantum physics 3 Ibid., 137 forsakes genuine explanations for amazingly ac- hold these concepts to be anything 4 From “Reflections on September 11,” accessed curate mathematical descriptions in which effi- more than models of reality. Richard October 17, 2017, http://www.nlpu.com/Articles/ cient material causality is nowhere to be found” Sept_11.html. (Bruce L. Gordon, “Hawking irrational arguments: Dawkins seems to intend as derogato- 5 Stuart A. Kauffman, Reinventing the Sacred: A Theoretical physicist takes leave of his senses,” ry his observation that “Einstein was New View of Science, Reason, and Religion (New The Washington Times,October 1, 2010) York: Basic Books, 2008), 2. 8 George Greenstein, The Symbiotic Universe: 1 Webster’s New World College Dictionary, s.v. 6 Lawrence M. Krauss, A Universe from Nothing: Life and Mind in the Cosmos (New York: William “God (n.),” accessed October 17, 2017, http:// Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing (New Morrow & Company, 1988), 197, 222, 223. www.yourdictionary.com/god#websters. York: Atria, 2012), xi. 9 Kauffman,Reinventing the Sacred, 6. the Messenger March 2019 43

Asking the Right God Question I am no longer with him, though, Very simply, I hold to a model in Continued from page 42 when he continues, which an awe-inspiring creativity has I hold that it is we who have in- shown itself to be not random or law- mind”10 needs much closer attention vented God, to serve as our most less but inherently principled, press- than I have given it. If conscious mind powerful symbol. It is our choice ing constantly in one discernible di- was present that early, perhaps our how wisely to use our own symbol rection at all times and on all scales. to orient our lives and our civiliza- search of the universe for signs of in- Charles Darwin envisioned natural se- tions. I believe we can reinvent the telligent life is too limited, too parochi- sacred. We can invent a global eth- lection as “daily and hourly scrutinis- al. Perhaps life has been present far, far ic, in a shared space, safe to all of us, ing, throughout the world, the slight- 16 earlier than we had thought, and we with one view of God as the natural est variations” (the theological names simply have not realized what it looks creativity in the universe. for such a phenomenon are “omnipres- like. If “only a conscious mind is capa- This may well be no more than a ence” and “omniscience”). The bio- ble of performing such an observation” matter of wording, but for me, careful sphere “remains a coherent whole even (of what we take to be physical reali- thought calls for careful wording. We as it diversifies,”17 because creativity is ty), then mind has also been present in do not invent God. We can be said to always and everywhere differentiating some “obscure and primordial way”;11 invent our models of God, and those and integrating. We can invent all the and it may indeed be that what we now models can and should be evaluated. ethical systems we choose, but if they identify as mind is no more than a pre- They should grow as we learn. Child- do not foster societal differentiation lude to mind that is yet to come forth. ish models are not only appropriate for and integration, they will prove self- All this calls to my mind a sound children; they are necessary. If child- destructive.18 According to my mod- bite that has often served as a motto hood models of God are truly appro- el, Edward O. Wilson’s “eusociality”19 for Swedenborgians: “We are now al- priate, they serve as foundations for the works not because we have done such lowed to use our intellect to explore ones we adopt as we learn how to be a good job of inventing it but because the mysteries of faith.”12 With this, more fully human. So the foundations it is in accord with the “creativity in however, I may be parting compa- for understanding quantum mechan- the universe.” The domain of values is a ny with Kauffman. He sees the “web ics need to be laid in kindergarten or spiritual domain, and it is indeed awe- of life” as “partially indescribable by even preschool, perhaps with hide-and- some. It is outright beautiful, stunning. natural law,”13 whereas I, following seek games. Another reason I find Kauffman’s Swedenborg, do not. I am right there When we come up with models path running parallel to my own is with Kauffman when he writes, that work, we do tend to attribute to that he allows for different ways of I believe we need a domain for them “the quality of reality or absolute “naming” God. What I miss is the rec- our lives as wide as reality. If half truth.”15 We invent ethical systems, ognition that for the growing individ- of us believe in a supernatural God, too, and I would regard these as efforts ual the concept of God needs to keep science will not disprove that belief. changing. Anthropos is a process. James We need a place for our spirituali- to model something of critical impor- ty, and a Creator God is one such tance. I welcome Kauffman’s call for W. Fowler’s Stages of Faith, building place.14 a wider “domain for our lives,” and I Continues on page 46 would bring attention to such similar 10 Terrence W. Deacon, Incomplete Nature: How metaphorical phrases as “areas of con- 16 Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species (Chica- Mind Emerged from Matter (New York: W. W. Nor- go: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952), 42. ton & Co., 2012), 146. cern” and “fields of study”; I find myself 17 Kauffman,Reinventing the Sacred, 6. 11 In the Big Bang model, I find an analogue of both “at home” in Swedenborgian the- 18 This is intended as a prediction. For a tren- my own nature as a human-type being in an evo- chant examination of the “differentiation” ex- lutionary process of becoming more fully human, ology and “lost” in higher mathemat- treme, see Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts though perhaps only in some “obscure and pri- ics. Swedenborg explored the domain on the Nature of Mass Movements(New York: Harp- mordial way,” to use a phrase of Pierre Teilhard of the sacred with exemplary intelli- er Perennial, 2010). “All active mass movements de Chardin’s (The Phenomenon of Man [New York: strive, therefore, to interpose a fact-proof screen Harper Perennial Modern Thought, 2008], 71). gence and integrity; he found it to be between the faithful and the realities of the 12 Nunc liceat intellectualiter intrare in Arcana fi- coherent and eminently practical, and world. They do this by claiming that the ultimate dei (True Christianity §508:3). The translation takes he worked ceaselessly to communicate and absolute truth is already embodied in their arcana to be related to arca, “a chest,” in the same doctrine and that there is no truth nor [sic] cer- way that urbanus, “a citizen,” is related to urbs, what he had discovered. But, of course, titude outside it” (p. 79). Dialectical materialism “city”; and therefore, arcana connotes both the these are “only” metaphors. wore all the trappings of such a mass movement, hiddenness and the value of what one would and scientific materialism may very well be run- keep in a chest 15 Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, ning the same risk. 13 Kauffman,Reinventing the Sacred, xi. The Grand Design (New York: Bantam Books, 19 Edward O. Wilson, The Social Conquest of Earth 14 Ibid., xii–xiii. 2010), 7. (New York: Liveright Pub. Corp., 2012). 44 the Messenger March 2019 The New Bible Study Project

By Steve David Traffic is great. We’re one of the big- What’s Coming up Next? Lots gest, fastest-growing online “ventures” of Things! Broadly, Here’s Our t’s hard to convey the scope and in the New Church, with 2.5 million Strategy. power of the New Bible Study visits per year now, and more than 6 1. Be a site that people find so valuable Project project in print. We real- million page views. that they keep coming back to find Ily hope that, when you’ve read this ar- out more. ticle, you’ll grab your smartphone or Content has been growing strongly, • Get really good at explaining the tablet or computer, and go to www. too. We’re up to 9183 explanations— internal sense of the Word, so newchristianbiblestudy.org and have a of spiritual topics, books of the Bible, that people start to “get it” even look around. And then, if you like it, chapters, stories, verses, words, and on a brief visit. make it one of your favorites, and get a phrases. • Be an encouraging, helpful place. free account, and . . . come back often! • Offer new, fresh content often. Collaboration is thriving. 2. Help people connect with other The Big Idea • We now link to seventy-one “Off people, including mentors or coach- There are 2.4 billion Christians in the Left Eye” videos with Curtis es, who can help them on their spir- the world. That’s a lot of people! When Childs and the Bible and writings itual journeys. they turn to the Bible for help in their references that are made in those ep- • Some of this will be online. lives, it’s helpful . . . but it’s confusing. isodes. • Some will be connected to New The New Church has the abili- • We link to 280 of Jonathan Rose’s Church congregations world- ty—with the knowledge of the in- “Spirit and Life” Bible Studies, with wide. ternal sense of the Word revealed 4000-plus references. by Emanuel Swedenborg—to make Here’s One Thing that We’re the New Church Bible Study Project • We have added content from au- Working on Right Now thors in all branches of the Church, (NCBSP) the world’s best, most help- Around eighty-five per cent of vis- and we’re working with the church- ful, Bible study site. If we can do that, itors read a few Bible pages and then es, seminaries, schools, publishers, then when people come to the Bible move on. They aren’t exploring the in- photographers, translators, and li- looking for help, they will readily find ternal sense very much yet. How do we brarians. the most real, most useful truths. encourage that? Well, if you’ve tried • We have data for 448 New Church to read the vast New Church com- How’s the project going so far? organizations and we link to 209 of mentary that is out there, you’ll know The scope is wide: we’re working them in forty-nine countries on our that it’s not an easy read–not what you hard to provide global visitors with live map that helps site visitors find would prefer to lead with for new on- four key things in their own languag- congregations nearby. line users. So, we’re ramping up this es, to be able to “get” the New Church initiative: explain the Word by June truths: Finances are both challenging and 19, 2020, the 250th anniversary of the 1. A User Interface—we’re up to promising. NCBSC is a 501c3 non- New Church. twelve languages now. profit organization. It has no endow- We’re asking the New Church cler- 2. The Word—we offer eighty-four ment yet, but we raised $234,000 gy and laity to pitch in to help write translations in forty-two languages. in the most recent fiscal year and spent modern, easy-start summaries of the 3. Swedenborg’s writings—we have $262,000 in the same period. Only internal sense of each chapter. It’s do- forty-five Latin texts and now 289 $8000 was spent on overhead, most able. It takes a few hours per chap- translations in twenty languages. of that for accounting services and ter. We’ve gathered lots of resources 4. Explanations—these are still almost server fees. Other spending drove the to work from. It’s educational. And . all in English, but the structures are work of adding new functionality and . . it sure will be useful, reaching a lot ready to support more languages. content. We have been encouraged by of people who need to know it. Would We plan to use machine translation a gradual broadening of financial sup- you like to help? If so, we can show you and crowd sourcing to ripple them port, both from institutions and from how to do it. from English into other languages. individuals. Continues on page 45 the Messenger March 2019 45 FNCA Centennial Celebration

Save the Date good books on the porch in the after- honor of Rev. Dr. George F. Dole ou are most cordially invit- noon, some mighty good camp food on Middle Saturday ed to join us in celebrating the at mealtimes and food for thought in • Special lectures by the Rev. Everett Fryeburg New Church Assem- Adult Discussion Group, as well as Po- K. Bray Visiting Lecturer bly’sY (FNCA, in Fryeburg, Maine) lar Bear Swim at the rising bell and • A large display of historic photo- 100th anniversary at a gala two-week panoramic sunsets over the White graphs dating all the way back to celebration July 31–August 15, 2021! Mountains in the evening. There will our very first session in 1921. Plans include an historic look at the be religion classes for all ages and so- past and a peering eye into the future, cial gatherings in Adrienne Frank Fel- Call for FNCA Photographs a reunion of long-ago friends and a lowship Hall, a crackling fire in the Although we already have a fair- grand making of new ones, and a cele- granite fireplaces in the Dining Hall ly substantial collection of camp pho- bration of tradition and a rejoicing for and the Dole Wing every morning and tos, we know that many of you who the contemporary. folks hanging out on the front porch have attended the FNCA in the past There will be the usual excellent (no matter how long ago it was!) have lecture schedule in the mornings and a cache of camp photos hidden in a a special evening activity each night, drawer, box, envelope, attic, or photo swimming in the clear waters of the album that nobody has seen for a long, Saco River and marshmallows roasted long time. There are a lot of unseen over a camp fire, as well as Stunt Night FNCA photos out there, folks. It is our and a Round River Canoe Trip. There and deck every evening, as well as the deep hope you are willing to spend the will be stimulating conversations with fresh scent of pine and the joyous voic- time needed to dig them out and share a wide variety of people and reading of es of children and teens. them with us . . . the older, the better. Although we are only in the very be- We are sending out this call for ginning planning stages for this mo- FNCA photos early because we would New Bible Study Project mentous event, here’s just a small taste very much like to include selections Continued from page 44 of the various special events that mem- of your camp photos in our Centen- bers of the FNCA nial Celebration There are lots of other things afoot, Centennial Cele- plans from the too. We’re working to get word and bration Committee very beginning. phrase explanations rippled across have proposed: Some will make twenty languages. We’re importing • Guided tours of it into the book. translations of Swedenborg’s writings the grounds Others will be in- thick and fast. We’re adding tools like • A full-length, cluded in the his- notes and bookmarks. We plan to add hardcover book toric photo dis- podcasts. We’re cleaning up the Latin of the history of play. And even texts. It’s a fun project, and we think the FNCA more will be add- it’s one of the most promising New • Getting to Know ed to our already Church outreach efforts going. And . . . You activities extensive photo The Goddard Cabin, built in 1931, was it’s good for your own spiritual growth. • Historical pre- the first cabin on the FNCA grounds. collection on the What’s not to like? Come take a look! sentations about FNCA website, www.newchristianbiblestudy.org the buildings, people, and process- http://fryeburg.org/. [email protected] es that make the Assembly what it is If you have old FNCA photos to Steve David is the project manager for the today share (even if you haven’t found them NCBSP. He is a member of the General Church • Worship with the congregation of yet), for more information about how from Western Pennsylvania. After attending the Fryeburg New Church in town to proceed, please put “FNCA Photos” General Church schools he earned a degree in economics and political science from Yale. on Opening, Middle, and Closing in the subject line and contact Trevor, He is the CEO of SkyMark, a Pittsburgh-based Sundays FNCA historian: software development firm. • The Dole 3 Miler Road Race in [email protected]. 46 the Messenger March 2019 Presidential History Snapshot for the Swedenborgian Church of North America

he original Constitution of the denomination in Rev. Dr. Lewis Beers, 1833 1817 declared that the four officers (including Presi- Rev. Charles I. Doughty, 1834–1838 dent) “. . . shall hold their offices until their succes- Rev. Dr. Thomas Worcester, 1839–1849 Tsors are chosen.” In practice, election of officers occurred -ev Rev. Maskell M. Carll, 1850 ery summer for the upcoming fiscal year until 1945. Rev. Dr. Thomas Worcester, 1851–1874 At the 1945 convention, delegates amended the Consti- Rev. Chauncey Giles, 1875–1893 tution by setting the office of president as a single four-year Rev. John Worcester, 1894–1899 term that could not be succeeded immediately by the out- Rev. Samuel Seward, 1900–1911 going incumbent. Rev. Julian K. Smyth, 1912–1920 Just six years later, at the 1951 convention, delegates once Rev. William L. Worcester, 1921–1927 again amended the Constitution, this time setting the office Rev. Paul Sperry, 1928–1931 of president as a three-year term and limited to two consec- Rev. Fred Sidney Mayer, 1933–1942 utive terms. There have been no further amendments since Rev. Everett K. Bray, 1943–1945 1951 for the office of president. Rev. Leonard I. Tafel, 1946–1953 —Jim Lawrence Rev. Franklin H. Blackmer, 1954–1955 Rev. David P. Johnson, 1956–1961 Roster of Presidents Rev. Richard H. Tafel, Sr., 1962–1967 1817 to the Present Rev. Ernest O. Martin, 1968–1974 Elections for President occur midyear on the calendar; thus, terms Rev. Eric Zacharias, 1975–1980 straddle calendar years. To simplify the history timeline, dates indicat- Rev. Calvin E. Turley, 1981–1983 ed are the year in which the person was elected president for the up- coming church year. Rev. Randall E. Laakko, 1984–1989 Rev. Richard H. Tafel, Jr., 1990–1991 Rev. John Hargrove, 1817–1820 Rev. Edwin G. Capon, 1992–1997 Rev. Dr. Lewis Beers, 1821 Rev. Ronald P. Brugler, 1998–2003 Rev. John Hargrove, 1822–1827 Christine Laitner, 2004–20092 Rev. Maskell M. Carll, 1828 Rev. Kenneth O. Turley, 2010–2015 Rev. Dr. Lewis Beers, 1829 Rev. Jane Siebert, 2016–3 Rev. John Hargrove, 1830–1831 Rev. Dr. Thomas Worcester, 18321 total in office: thirty-four. 2 The first woman and only layperson to be elected president 1 Thomas Worcester holds the distinction of having served the most years 3 The first female clergy person to be elected president

Asking the Right God Question builds on the structures of the pre- recognition of the functions of differ- Continued from page 43 vious stages, integrating them into a entiation and integration shows indebt- more comprehensive and versatile new edness to Piaget in particular, it should on the work of Piaget, Kohlberg, and stage.”21 This could quite effortlessly be be noted that his book relies heavily on Erikson, proposes six stages as “logical- translated into a description of the evo- the solid empirical grounds of an ex- ly and empirically sequential and in- lution of the cosmos. While Fowler’s tensive series of interviews of individu- variant,” moving “in the direction of als of all relevant ages. greater internal differentiation, com- 21 Ibid., 79. I would note in particular Fowler’s Kauffman takes what is to me a ma- observation that “in many ways religious insti- 20 plexity, flexibility and stability,” be- tutions ‘work best’ if they are people [sic] with jor step in the right direction, with cause each stage “incorporates and a majority of committed folk best described by the statements that “agency and val- Stage 3” (p. 164). A significant feature of Stage 3, “Synthetic-Conventional Faith,” is the sense of ue bring with them what philosophers 20 James W. Fowler, Stages of Faith: The Psychol- security found in willing conformity. “Religion,” call teleological language, that is, lan- ogy of Human Development and the Quest for “faith,” and “religious institutions” are not synony- guage involving a sense of purpose or Meaning (New York: HarperOne, 1995), 49. mous with each other. Continues on page 47 the Messenger March 2019 47

Asking the Right God Question Continued from page 46

‘end,’ as in our common explanations for our actions based on our reasons and intentions,” and that “agency is emergent and real, but not reducible to physics.”22 This adds the final touch to Greenstein’s conscious observer, mak- ing the “metahuman” metaphor virtu- ally inescapable. I may have missed it, but I have not found Kauffman dealing more explic- itly than this with the relationship be- tween creativity and agency. For my part, I find it impossible to conceive of effective creativity apart from agency. . . . Such a conception points beyond my actual mental reach; and if I take seriously the finite nature of my own mind and the infinite nature of God, it always will. It demands that I think in “meta” terms. As Swedenborg puts it, When we know how to raise our minds above images of thought de- rived from space and time, we pass from darkness into light and taste things spiritual and divine.23 The International Summer What I experience as purpose, then, would be infinite creativity dumbed Camp 2019 for teens in England down to my level of comprehension, an immense simultaneity distinguished into “me-sized” bits and laid out along Deadlines! a temporal axis—hence, perhaps, the wondrously restless, creative paradox Here’s some more information about this great trip. of determinism and free will. We on the planning side are getting very excited! Please send your check Rev. Dr. George F. Dole holds a B.A. from Yale, made out to “Swedenborgian Church” for $600 to: Attn: Gina Peracchi, Cen- an MA from Oxford, and a Ph.D. from Harvard. tral Office, 50 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 or call Gina at (617) Now professor emeritus, Dr. Dole taught 969-4240 for credit card payment by the April 1 deadline. Make sure you in- ancient languages, the Bible, and theology at clude your child’s name with your payment. the Swedenborg School of Religion. He has Then email me (at [email protected]) your child’s full name on pass- served as a translator for the New Century Edition of the Works of port, birth date and year, passport number, and passport expiration date. Emanuel Swedenborg, Airline tickets will be purchased the first week of April. After April 7, I can- and he is also the author not guarantee your reservation, price, or camp accommodations. Sorry for the of Freedom and Evil, lack of flexibility, but airfare prices are already going up, so I must purchase Sorting Things Out, and A tickets soon to make sure everyone can go on this trip! Book about Us. He lives in Bath, Maine. Please contact me if you have issues or concerns with this deadline or have questions. We may be able to make other arrangements for you and your 22 Kauffman,Reinventing the Sacred, 12. child(ren) however the price you pay may be higher if the ticket price increas- 23 At qui scit elevare mentem supra ideas cogita- es or the flight may no longer be available. tionis, quae trahunt ex spatio et tempore, ille transit e caligine in lucem, et sapit spiritualia et Divina (Di- —Kurt Fekete, Swedenborgian Church youth director vine Love and Wisdom §69). The Swedenborgian Church of North America 50 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138

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48 the Messenger March 2019

About the Save the Dates Swedenborgian Church 195th Annual Convention Emanuel Swedenborg was Saturday, June 29–Wednesday, July 3, 2019 born January 29, 1688, in Stockholm, Sweden. Although Valparaiso University he never intended a church LaPorte New Church with Illinois Association denomination to be founded or named after him, a society was welcomes you to Northwest Indiana! formed in London fifteen years At Valparaiso University we’ll enjoy the Resurrection Chapel and labyrinth, a after his death. American groups modern residence hall and lounges, a comfortable dining area, and spacious meet- eventually founded the General ing rooms. The town of Valparaiso offers a quaint but lively town square with great Convention of Swedenborgian restaurants and pubs. Churches. The Newcomers Reception on Saturday, 3–5 PM, open to all. As a result of Swedenborg’s The opening on Saturday evening will feature the keynote speaker, Matthew Fox, spiritual questioning and a well-known pioneering theologian, educator, author, activist, mystic and propo- insights, we as a church exist nent of creation spirituality. to encourage that same spirit Participate in mini-courses, the ordination service, the CSS Annual Meeting, of inquiry and personal growth, worship services, business sessions, receptions, and good fellowship. to respect differences in views, There will be programs for SCYL (ages 13–18) and children (ages 5–12) as well and to accept others who may as childcare (ages 3–4). have different traditions. Enjoy an afternoon social outing on July 2 at the LaPorte New Church and Man- In his theological writings, na House, and then it’s just a short ride to Stone Lake Park for a catered picnic. Swedenborg shared a view of Registration information will be available in the April Messenger. God as infinitely loving and at the very center of our beings, a view of life as a spiritual birthing The Annual Meeting of the as we participate in our own creation, and a view of scripture Corporation of the New Church Theological School as a story of inner life stages as (dba the Center for Swedenborgian Studies of we learn and grow. Swedenborg the Graduate Theological Union) said, “All religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do will be held during the annual session of the good.” He also felt that the Swedenborgian Church of the United States and Canada, sincerest form of worship is a Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 7:30 PM, useful life. Resurrection Chapel, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana