A SERVICE OF CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE RIGHT REVEREND GEORGE EDWARD COUNCELL, D.D. ELEVENTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY OCTOBER 4, 1949 ~ MAY 21, 2018 MAY 29, 2018 10:00 A.M. TRINITY CATHEDRAL TRENTON, NEW JERSEY The Right Reverend George Edward Councell, XI Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey 2003-2013 Bishop Councell presided during a time of conflict in both The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of New Jersey. His gifts for listening, pastoral care, and healing became the hallmarks of his episcopate. "I will always be grateful for the pastoral gifts that were embodied in George Councell," said the Right Reverend William H. Stokes, Councell's successor as Bishop of New Jersey. "He turned over to me a diocese that had been broken, but that had experienced tremendous healing through his ministry and his capacity to love Jesus and love God's people." In a 2013 interview with the Times of Trenton, Bishop Councell laughingly noted: "I wanted to become a bishop to get closer to God, but with so many people here to look after, I thought, 'Wow, I'll really have to get closer to God to do this.' But I feel that I have." Bishop Councell actively encouraged recognition and giving voice to marginalized communities within the church. As bishop, Councell allowed his clergy permission to officiate over same-sex marriages in their churches in 2013. "It was very dear to me to keep everyone at the table, the Lord's table, and not needlessly build these boundaries among one another," he said in a 2013 interview. "The church isn't the totally safe place I want it to be [for the LGBTQ community], but I think we've made it a safer place for them, and a place where they can come, and be seen as people who want the same things as all of us: to have a healthy, happy, strong, supportive family." Bishop Councell also made the dismantling of structural racism a priority within the Diocese. "Bishop Councell's immense kindness and capacity to listen as a healer were instrumental in moving towards ra- cial reconciliation in the Diocese of New Jersey, particularly in his unwavering support of our Anti- Racism ministries," said Barbara Okamoto Bach, longtime member and a leader and educator in the Di- ocese's Anti-Racism Commission. "His strong belief in our efforts, and that healing and reconciliation were attainable through the redemptive power of God's love, made so many difficult paths of healing possible." "Never have I known a more spiritual, loving, compassionate man of God," said The Rev. Canon Eliza- beth Geitz, who served as Bishop Councell's transition officer, a position dedicated to clergy placement, for the majority of his episcopate. "What a loss for us." Bishop Councell graduated from the University of California at Riverside Phi Beta Kappa with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in 1971. In 1975 he earned a Master of Divinity from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Councell was ordained a priest in 1975 in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Among other positions, he served as Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest, IL from 1995 to 2003 and as Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts from 1986 to 1995. After retirement, Councell served as resident Chaplain of Doane Academy, an Episcopal college prepar- atory school in Burlington, New Jersey. He taught courses on Ethics and World Religions. Councell lived in Pennington, New Jersey with his wife of 47 years, Ruth May Tietjen, an artist and illus- trator. They met while undergraduate students at the University of Redlands. He is survived by Ruth and their two daughters; Sarah Councell Turner, who graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Theological Studies degree, Martha Councell-Vargas, Professor of Flute at Western Michigan University, his six-year-old granddaughter, Alma Susana Vargas, his sister, Pamela Plouffé, nephews Jer- ry Roberts III, and Justin Roberts, and his niece, Dawn Drootin and their families. 1 Love (III) Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, Guiltie of dust and sinne. But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack’d any thing. “A guest,” I answer’d, “worthy to be here”; Love said, “You shall be he.” “I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear, I cannot look on thee.” Love took my hand and smiling did reply, “Who made the eyes but I?” “Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve.” “And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?” “My dear, then I will serve.” “You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.” So I did sit and eat. ― George Herbert, 1593-1633 2 The Liturgy of the Dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the Resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too, shall be raised. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi- palities, nor thing present, nor thing to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any- thing else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) The joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend, Lazarus. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we grieve in sympathy with those who mourn. 3 Prelude Processional Hymns The Hymnal 1982: 470 & 518 All stand as able 4 5 The Liturgy of the Word The Dean says I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die. And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever. As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger. For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies. For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession. Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors. Dean The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Dean Let us pray. Silence may be kept; after which the Dean says O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother George. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding, deal graciously with Ruth, Martha, Sarah, and the family and friends of George in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please be seated for the readings from Holy Scripture Reader: A Reading from the book of Lamentations (3:22-26, 31-33) The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according 6 to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Psalm 23 said in unison The Lord is my shepherd; * I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; * he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; * he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; * thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Reader A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (8:34-35, 37-39) Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.