Farewell to Bishop Carol Gallagher

SUMMER 2007 Vol. 55- No. 1 Farewell to Bishop Carol Gallagher to the election and consecration of another,” “They’re incredible, and I’m very proud of people and parishes and a cross-section of Bishop Mark Beckwith wrote in a May 3 let- of them,” Gallagher says. Ariel and Phoebe folks — but they’ve also been a gift to one ter to the diocese. “Carol has described her were 3 and 8 when she went to seminary, another and ministering to one another. I felt ministry among us as that of an ‘episcopal mid- Emily born before her senior year. “They have really good about that part of my ministry wife,’ tending faithfully to the details and pas- really been an incredible gift to my ministry here.” toral-care issues that emerge during times of and have taught me a lot about God and the- Her ministry also included working with transition. She has certainly been that and ology and about relationships.” Fresh Start, a group for clergy in new calls in more.” That two of her daughters are following the diocese, and with the Clergy Family Life The Anglican Communion’s first indig- arts-related careers is no surprise, with program. She’s provided pastoral care in vari- enous female bishop, Gallagher served as Gallagher and her husband, Mark, both in- ous situations. suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Southern volved in the arts. Gallagher plays the native “It’s a very sacred and holy thing to be Virginia before coming to Newark. Her im- flute, Irish harp, guitar, piano and “whatever invited into people’s lives in their times of loss mediate plans include writing a book for else I can pick up.” She earned an undergradu- and crisis and challenges — and also when Church Publishing on congregational devel- ate degree in writing and communications and folks are trying to discern what’s next in their opment for small, unique, struggling and chal- is “a poet by hard-wiring.” life,” she says. “I’ve been able to be present lenged congregations. “I’m going to be fin- Poetry is “part of my spiritual life in terms and listening and helping to guide them ishing that up in the summer,” she says, “and of my conversation with God,” she says. “That through those next stages of their journey.” then hopefully doing some teaching and other has been one of the ways that I look at liturgy, Gallagher also has provided spiritual di- supply support.” is with the eye of a poet, and also as a musi- rection, been involved with the diocese’s She’s looking forward to spending time cian: that even the spoken language has some young people and worked with “some small with her youngest daughter, home from her capacity to sing and express more than just a congregations who are really trying to find by Sharon Sheridan first year in college. Phoebe’s a physics ma- single concept and also invite people into a their way forward.” The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, assistant jor, interested in developing a synthetic black different way of understanding their relation- “I have been incredibly blessed to be part bishop of Newark since fall 2005, will step hole to deal with global warming and alterna- ship with God.” of this diocesan community,” Gallagher con- down at the end of June. An evensong to cel- tive energy sources. Gallagher’s oldest, Emily, In Newark, she invited interested clergy cludes. “I have been really touched by how ebrate her ministry in the diocese is sched- recently completed a master’s degree in pub- and laity to join her in planning liturgy for di- people have welcomed me and made me feel uled for 3 p.m. June 23 at Trinity and St. lic policy, following an undergraduate degree ocesan events. The result was 10 to 20 people like a member of the community. I’m going Philip’s Cathedral, Newark. A reception will in theater. “She’s looking for ways to inter- involved at any given time. to miss working with folks, not just the dioc- follow at Cathedral House, 24 Rector St. face governmental programs and the arts for “Believe it or not, this is actually a group esan staff, but lay people and clergy across “Bishop Gallagher has been a vital and at-risk youth.” that laughs together,” she says. “And really, the diocese.” compassionate presence and leader in our dio- Middle daughter Ariel hopes to attend not only have they worked at designing lit- Sharon Sheridan of St. Peter’s, cese, especially during a time of transition graduate school and become a dance thera- urgy for the diocese — and [tried] to be not Morristown, is a contributing writer and copy from the announced retirement of one bishop pist working with children with disabilities. only inclusive in terms of language but in terms editor for Episcopal Life. More Inside: Teaneck churches Diocesan communications strategy ........................................................page 3 share ministries Youth ministries.......................................................................................page 4 by Carole Ann King Prison ministries......................................................................................page 7 It’s Monday night, and the pastoral care team and its minister are sharing their joys and sorrows on the status of their care receivers. Nothing unusual, except the team is from Christ Episcopal Church and Grace Lutheran, Teaneck, and their minister, the Rev. Michael Gerhardt, is vicar of Christ Church and vice pastor of Grace Lutheran. For more than a year, the two congregations have shared outreach, Christian education, their minister and monthly worship that alternates between the churches. Enabling the shared ministry is the Called to Common Mission approved by General Convention in 2000 and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1999. CCM provides, among other things, for the interchangeability of clergy, consistent with the each church’s doctrine, discipline and worship. The Teaneck relationship started informally during Lent 2005. Gerhardt had just suffered a heart attack. To help lighten his load, Pastor Ronald Miller invited Christ Church to join Grace’s Wednesday night Lenten series. Gerhardt said the experience was so positive that everyone involved said, “Why don’t we do more of this?” Soon after, a “conversations group” formed to discuss a joint ministry, a relationship Gerhardt described as “dating.” Initially, the group talked about why they should be together — and why they shouldn’t — and ways to get together. Then the talk deepened to questions like, “If we closed our doors, would anyone notice?” and “What is our ministry in Teaneck?” The timing couldn’t have been better. Miller was about to retire, and Grace couldn’t afford a full-time interim pastor. Both churches had been challenged for at least a decade by diminishing congregations and economic resources. In the Russ Worthington photo last three years, Christ Church has averaged 50 people at its Making way for progress two Sunday services. Grace’s Sunday congregation averages about 25 people. Demolition of the St. James', Hackettstown, Parish Hall began this spring. The new parish hall will be larger and connect to the sanctuary and church office, making the entire church fully accessible. See “Sharing,” page 3 FROM OUR BISHOP in print. Several books have hit the shelves that seem to perpetuate delusion. There are over the past few years. expressions of faith and religious interpreta- One of the first was The End of Faith by tions that are organized to avoid fear and es- Sam Harris, published in 2004. Then came tablish certainty (which, as far as I am con- Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural cerned, gives religion a bad name), rather than Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett, a philoso- for the true purpose of faith, which is to face pher at Tufts University. Last year, dust was fear and embrace the mystery of God’s grace scattered with the arrival of The God Delu- and presence. As I often am reminded, the sion by Richard Dawkins, a British evolution- opposite of faith is not doubt; the opposite of ary biologist. And in the last few weeks, Chris- faith is certainty. topher Hitchens, a well-known journalist, has In the four months I have been in this dio- Welcoming others and facing written God is Not Great: How Religion Poi- cese, I have been deeply impressed by people sons Everything. and congregations whose faith is deep and fear with faith, not certainty These books have been rather popular. courage is strong. Over and over again, I meet I remember a story about the late Rev. made up the armament of certainty — sought Most of them have made the best-seller lists. people and congregations who have generated William Sloane Coffin, who made a name for to eradicate the Muslim infidel by crusading I have not read any of them, but I have read ministries that face fear with an abiding faith. himself through his bold (and some would say through the Holy Land. several reviews of each of them. I understand Their surrounding community may be taking brazen) prophetic Christian witness – at Yale The name of Christianity was further the need and desire that some have to debunk cover from situations or from people who are University, where he was chaplain in the ’60s tainted in 1492, when the church expelled the the existence of God – especially in a world identified as scary or risky, or are making ev- and ’70s, and at Riverside Church in New remainder of the Jewish community from when religious actions directed from religious ery effort to avoid religious expression that York, where he was senior pastor in the ’90s. Spain. Throughout history, skirmish and battle beliefs are so destructive.

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