November 30, 2014 THE LIVING CHURCH CATHOLIC EVANGELICAL ECUMENICAL Needlework and Beauty THE LIVING CHURCH ON THE COVER THIS ISSUE November 30, 2014 Catherine Kapikian of Wesley | Theological Seminary says that community-engaged needlepoint NEWS for churches is “the work of the 4 Winning Haitians’ Trust people” (see “Stitchers Enrich 8 Stitchers Enrich Church Beauty Church Beauty,” p. 8). Craig Stapert/Washington National Cathedral photo FEATURE 10 Listen to Stringfellow I By J. Scott Jackson 4 BOOKS 13 For the Time Being by W.H. Auden Review by Jonathan Kanary 14 Becoming Human by John Behr Review by Jon Adamson 15 Self, World, and Time by Oliver O’Donovan Review by Jordan Hylden CATHOLIC VOICES 17 Take Justice Seriously, for Love’s Sake By Donn Mitchell 20 Voices of Buchenwald By Alexander H. “Sandy” Webb II OTHER DEPARTMENTS 22 Caeli enarrant 10 26 Sunday’s Readings 28 People & Places 17 We are grateful to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston [p. 27], and the Church of St. Michael & St. George, St. Louis [p. 28], whose generous support helped make this issue possible. LIVING CHURCH Partners THE LIVING CHURCH is published by the Living Church Foundation. Our historic mission in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion is to seek and serve the Catholic and evangelical faith of the one Church, to the end of visible Christian unity throughout the world. November 30, 2014 • THE LIVING CHURCH 3 NEWS | November 30, 2014 Winning Haitians’ Trust For more than four decades, New York City’s only Haitian Episcopal congregation has been a small, close- knit ethnic community that takes good care of its own. But now the Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan is reaching out to Haitians across the metropolitan area with help from a priest unlike any other in its history. When the Rev. Sam Owen accepted the call to Good Samaritan two years ago, he became the church’s first non- Haitian priest. He’s also its first white leader, a notable distinction for a black congregation that meets in a largely black Bronx neighborhood. Winning trust has taken time. But a few key steps have paid off and opened doors to the Haitian diaspora in the Big Apple. “What’s important to me is building bridges between race and class and culture,” Owen said. “That’s one of the reasons that Haiti is so important to me.” Owen, a 54-year-old former busi- nessman who left a health-care man- Photo courtesy of the Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan agement career to follow a call to The Rev. Sam Owen and the Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan in the Bronx ministry, said Good Samaritan parish- ioners were wary at first and unsure of his motives. We always used to have a Haitian Since then, Owen has traveled all A native of North Carolina, he now priest.” over the city, often accompanied by a comes to the Bronx each day from But after much prayer, she said, layman from the congregation, to another world just 30 minutes away. “God gave me my light to see it could visit parishioners in their homes. The He lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, work.” congregation has been impressed. one of the wealthiest communities in Old-fashioned pastoral care has “This is the first thing that Haitians the country, with his wife, the Rev. gone a long way to build ties between like: when the priest comes to their Jenny Owen, who is assistant rector the flock and its shepherd. Sensing house, sits down, and talks with at Christ Church, Greenwich. During some “standoffishness” at first, Owen them,” Isidore said. “He’s doing this a his candidacy, some on the vestry called a congregational meeting within lot.” had trouble imagining him in the his first six weeks to clear the air. Owen has put in time elsewhere as Bronx pulpit, even though he came “I stood up and said, ‘I know this is well. Since 2006, he’s been making mis- recommended by the bishop. hard for you all, and it’s hard for me sion trips to Haiti, where he first began “I didn’t think it was going to work,” too,’” Owen recalled. “I said, ‘We’re to feel God’s call to serve among said Gisele Isidore, who served on the all adjusting to this. Give me a chance Haitians. Last year, he led Good Samar- vestry during the discernment process. because I’m really, really clear that itan’s first mission trip to Haiti, where a “We didn’t have the same culture. … God has called me to be here.’” team helped build a church. Owen is Visit livingchurch.org for daily reports of news about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. 4 THE LIVING CHURCH • November 30, 2014 fluent in Creole and is learning French. These languages help him communi- Seven of GTS 8 cate in a congregation whose elders Return to Work brennan manning speak little or no English. with John Blase Worship services, which begin at Seven of eight professors of General 2:30 p.m., blend high-church Angli- Theological Seminary reached an canism with Pentecostal exuberance. agreement to return to their work in Dear Abba Worshipers smell incense and hear early November. bells rung at the altar, but that does The seminary’s board of trustees, morning and not hinder them from dancing, shout- dean, and faculty issued a joint state- evening prayer ing, and waving hands in the air. After ment about the agreement on No- two hours of worship, everyone stays vember 6. for dinner. Those parties “reached an agree- “If ever there were an embracing, The congregation is a mission of ment regarding the immediate issues joyful, health-giving collection of which have led to heated debates the Diocese of New York and has daily devotions and prayers, this never had its own building. It cur- within and without the walls of the rently uses space at St. Luke’s Church nation’s oldest Episcopal seminary,” one most surely is it. A treas- in the Bronx and gives half its collec- the statement said. “The resolution ure to hold close to one’s life day involves an ongoing process of rec- tions to the diocese, which pays after day after lengthening day.” Owen’s salary. onciliation, a reinstatement of all of the returning faculty members on a — Phyllis Tickle provisional basis, and a reaffirmation author of the Divine Hours prayer manuals of the responsibilities of the board of Worship is a blend of high- trustees and the dean.” The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, dean “From heaven Brennan speaks church Anglicanism and and president, later wrote that again with raw honesty, unassum- Joshua Davis chose not to return to ing humility, and passionate thirst. Pentecostal exuberance. his work as assistant professor of systematic theology. His prayers lift my mind and soul The Lombard Mennonite Peace into the wonder of grace.” Center of Illinois will work with the — Larry Crabb seminary for long-term reconciliation. Humor has helped the relationship author of Fully Alive and The Papa Prayer grow. Owen once used the wrong Creole term during a healing prayer; he meant to ask for good health but Six Primates instead petitioned the Lord for good Seek New Congress smell. ISBN 978-0-8028-7199-2 “People heard about that and they What began as a meeting of three 134 pages • paperback laughed and laughed and laughed,” he bishops has expanded through six said. “They howled. It made me more years to a larger, commiuniqué-issuing $10.00 human.” gathering that includes six primates Having a child has not hurt. The and three bishops. The fifth Consul- congregation loves the Owens’ first tation of Anglican Bishops in Dia- child, who arrived soon after his fa- logue issued a 950-word commu- ther began serving the mission. niqué on October 28 that invoked the Anglican Congress of 1963 and ex- Owen is now one of the congrega- At your bookstore, tion’s key ambassadors to the 250,000 pressed hope that another such con- or call 800-253-7521 Haitians who live in New York City, as gress will convene within the next www.eerdmans.com well as the millions who live in Haiti. two years. He invites local Haitian communities “We confessed that one thing we to join Good Samaritan for special oc- have in common is that we all have 4557 casions. Some have visited and keep needs, not the least of which is our coming back, and average Sunday at- profound need for each other,” said tendance is up from 50 to 65. (Continued on next page) November 30, 2014 • THE LIVING CHURCH 5 NEwS | November 30, 2014 TLC Advertising Manager Dies at 53 Thomas Williamson Parker, advertis- ing manager of TLC for 13 years, died November 7 after a prolonged strug- gle with cancer. He was 53. Parker was a native of Milwaukee and a graduate of Southern Methodist University. Before joining TLC he worked for Entercom Radio in Mil- waukee and for Second Harvest of Chicago. For years he was a territory account manager for General Mills. “Tom cherished the time he spent with his boys as Scout leader, Tai Parker Kwon Do dad, and homework chair- interests. He will be greatly missed man,” said an obituary prepared by by TLC’s family.” his family. “Love of music was a huge “Tom was a faithful friend, a ser- part of Tom’s life. Tom and Elizabeth vant, and a stalwart team player. had their first date at a Hootie and Ever with a hint of mischief, he de- the Blowfish concert, and thereafter livered on his commitments and had enjoyed many happy hours front and the back of his colleagues,” said center at concerts of their favorite Christopher Wells, editor of TLC.