The Messenger
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the Messenger Published by the Swedenborgian Church of North America Volume 241• Number 4 • April 2019 Creation Spirituality Theologian Matthew Fox Keynote Speaker at Annual Convention atthew Fox, the Ameri- languages, Original Blessing and The Cosmic Christ, can theologian who per- selling mil- he was twice investigated for heresy by haps has done the most lions of cop- Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Bene- Mto reframe a positive role for the nat- ies), creat- dict XVI) and finally expelled from the ural world in Christian theology in ed two in- Roman Catholic Church in 1993. the contemporary moment, will de- stitutes of Today he is an Episcopal priest liver the keynote address for the 2019 higher learn- working with young people to reinvent Annual Convention—whose theme is ing in Cre- worship with new forms; his Cosmic “Rooted in Spirit . Earth is Speak- ation Spiri- Mass has been celebrated in dozens of ing to Us”— on Saturday, June 29, at tuality, and locales. He spends much of each year 7:30 PM. taught at conducting workshops and giving pre- Renowned for his “Creation Spir- Stanford University, Mundelein Col- sentations around the world and is a ituality,” Fox has authored thirty- lege, and Holy Names College. Best visiting scholar at the Academy for the five books (translated into sixty-eight known for such popular books as Love of Learning. Swedenborgian Filmmaker to Screen New Film at Annual Convention By Jim Lawrence story of a man coming to grips with tragedy by escaping to paradise. With a arcia Kimpton has made copy of Heaven and Hell visible in mul- a Swedenborgian-inspired tiple scenes, the tense plot unfurls as a film, Bardo Blues, that has Swedenborgian-informed vision of the Mbeen winning awards at film festivals. eternal journey of regeneration with Bardo Blues won’t be officially released the penetrating challenges of spiritual until shortly before the annual conven- formation in the natural world that fol- tion, but responding to our request, low through with passage into the spir- Marcia has agreed to come to Indiana itual worlds. and give a special showing of this work Before relocating to Aspen, Colora- to the attendees at the convention. do, Marcia was a long-time active friend Based on and dedicated to her at the San Francisco Swedenborgian brother, Graham Kimpton, Bardo Church and Wayfarers Chapel as well Marcia Kimpton filming on location Blues is set in Thailand and tells the Continues on page 59 Nominations for Elected Positions in the Swedenborgian Church More Inside SPLATz Find Themselves in the Middle at Almont Contents: page 50 Proposals for Standing Resolutions of the Swedenborgian Church 50 the Messenger April 2019 The Editor’s Desk me of communing with nature. I felt an extreme peacefulness and oneness The Natural with the world for almost two hours of stillness in that aquatic world, simply World being with twenty or so friendly mana- We are all stuck in tees that seemed as interested in me as I the natural world for was in them. (Manatees have no natu- now, and our daily task ral enemies, except boat propellers and is to make sense of and other man-made hazards.) navigate our way through it. This experience not only helped It is amazing that Christians can A manatee greets the editor me feel more acutely the sacredness of have such opposite interpretations of the natural world but also led me to a God’s giving dominion over the nat- not exploiting, the world. greater awareness of my spiritual exis- ural world to humankind. Some say it The theme of the 2019 Annual Con- tence, and to the sacred connection be- means we are to exploit it for our pur- vention is “Earth Is Speaking to Us,” tween those two worlds. poses of survival, progress, and com- supporting the second interpretation. —Herb Ziegler fort while others hold that it means we Earth spoke to me in an unexpect- are the caretakers of the world, charged ed way last autumn. At the suggestion with the responsibility of protecting, of my friend Aline, we “swam with the the Messenger manatees” while visiting Florida. I did © The Swedenborgian Church of North America not expect much; boy, was I surprised! Published monthly except July and August by the Standing Committee for Communication and Contents As I hovered on the surface wear- Information of the Swedenborgian Church of ing a mask and snorkel, manatees be- North America (founded 1817, incorporated 1861 Creation Spirituality Theologian as the General Convention of the New Jerusalem Matthew Fox to Give Keynote gan swimming near me out of curiosi- in the United States of America), Rev. Jane Address at Convention ......................... 49 ty. Eventually, they began coming clos- Siebert, president. April 2019 Swedenborgian Filmmaker to Screen er, and one moved slowly toward my New Film at Annual Convention....... 49 face and then touched its nose to my Volume 241, No. 4, Whole Number 5439 Editor, design and production: Herbert Ziegler The Editor’s Desk .......................................... 50 face mask as I peered into its eyes. I Copy editing and proofing: Robert Leith, Letter from the President .......................... 51 was able to pet a few of these (up to a Samantha Johanson, & Trevor More Mini-Courses for half-ton) mammals while they floated Standing Committee for Communication and Annual Convention ............................... 52 Information: Kevin Baxter, Elizabeth Blair, & Val benignly beside me. Brugler Save The Date for Gathering Leaves! ..... 53 This was a seminal experience for Printing: Gnomon Copy, Cambridge MA SPLATz Find Themselves in Editorial Address: the Middle at Almont ........................... 54 Herb Ziegler, the Messenger Bring the Children to Convention! ......... 55 2 Hancock Place To subscribe to Cambridge MA 02139 Proposed Statement of the the Messenger online, Tel: 617.388.0252 Swedenborgian Church on scan this image with a Email: [email protected] Discrimination ......................................... 56 QR reader on your cell Business and Subscription Address: Proposed Resolution on The Messenger, Central Office phone or tablet. Ending Gun Violence ............................ 56 50 Quincy Street Cambridge MA 02138 2019 Annual Convention Tel: 617.969.4240 Registration Form .................................. 57 Church Calendar Email: [email protected] Rev. Anna Woofenden is Urbana Subscriptions: free online subscription at University Scholar in Residence ........ 59 • May 24–27: SCYL Memorial Day http://swedenborg.org. Printed and mailed to US Lights, Cameras, Action! Can Retreat, Almont New Church address, $20/year; to Canada address, $30/year; Assembly, Allenton, MI to all other addresses, $35/year; single copies, You Change Your Life Story? .............. 59 $2.00, Libraries & prisoners, free. Send check Nominations for Elected Positions • June 29–July 3: 2019 Annual made out to “Swedenborgian Church” with in the Swedenborgian Church .......... 60 Swedenborgian Convention, “Messenger” on the memo line. Other requests, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN write or call Central Office. The Art of Eleanor Schnarr ........................ 62 • July 28–August 3: International Deadline for submissions is three weeks before Reflection: Racism ........................................ 62 the first day of the month of issue. Summer Camp for Teens, Purley Good News! .................................................... 63 The opinions and views expressed are Chase, England those of the authors, not of the Messenger, 195th Annual Swedenborgian • August 28–31, 2020: Gathering Leaves, the Communication Support Unit, or the Convention Announcement .............. 64 Purley Chase, England Swedenborgian Church. the Messenger April 2019 51 TheStanding Committee for Financial Account- ability meets for two days in September to review Letter the budget and make recommendations about mission grants and augmentation grants for or- from the dained ministers’ salaries to the General Council. They also have conference calls as needed. President The Standing Committee for Education and Resources for Spiritual Community is respon- sible for the mini-courses at the annual conven- The Year of the Lord: 2018–19 tion and is working on the annual themes for the —The Primacy of Spirit Swedenborgian Church, with resources to go with them for our ministries. Dear Friends of the Swedenborgian Church, The Standing Committee for Communica- tion and Information is meeting this month to This time of year leads me to offer thanks to all improve cooperation and team work with all the the VOLUNTEERS that serve General Convention outreach programs of the Church. They also work and all of our churches, camps, retreats, and other closely with our operations and web manager, Sa- ministries. We would not exist without the work, mantha Johanson. They manage our web page dedication, and time you give. I wrote a similar and electronic presence, and work with the editor President’s Letter in 2017, and after three years as of the Messenger. president, I am even more aware of how impor- We often forget, until it is time for elections, tant volunteers have been in our past, are today, the importance of the Standing Committee for and will continue to be as we look to the future. Nominations. We are only as good as the people We have nine elected members of our Gener- they find willing to serve on General Council and al Council who serve voluntarily as the executive the committees. They are working on new ways to committee of the Swedenborgian Church. They involve people with different backgrounds, views, are members of churches from around the US and and experience to serve on committees. Canada. They meet for two days in November We also have many other committees, run by with the executive officers: president, vice-presi- volunteers: Retirement Committee, Trustees of dent, secretary, and treasurer. They are expected to the Building Fund, Committee on Library and come to annual conventions, where we have meet- Documents, Committee on Inquiry, Board of ings before and after the annual meeting. In addi- Mediation, Swedenborgian Online Commu- tion, we have conference calls as needed.