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 Emanuel Swedenborg, 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.