Episcopal Press and News
UTAH: 'Claim your freedom, overcome fear,' Presiding Bishop tells Utah Episcopalians
Episcopal News Service. April 21, 2008 [042108-05]
Pat McCaughan, Correspondent for Episcopal Life Media in Province VIII
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in Salt Lake City for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah's April 18-19 Spring Weekend, delivered keynote addresses on topics ranging from ecological issues to civic and religious life, dedicated the new diocesan headquarters, met with local church and community leaders, and preached and presided at the Eucharist.
"Fear not, choose life" as a creative response to violence of all forms, Jefferts Schori told worshippers at a crowded April 19 morning Eucharist in historic St. Mark's Cathedral in downtown Salt Lake City.
She cited the witness of martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, Mahatma Ghandi, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Alphege, an 11th-century Archbishop of Canterbury who was held hostage and martyred by Danish invaders and whose feast day is commemorated on April 19.
Their refusal to act against their consciences even in the face of death, ultimately freed others, she said. Jefferts Schori challenged the gathering to consider, "What holds us hostage? Usually fear. Fear of the consequences, of what other people will think, that someone will stop loving us, that we won't get our share, sometimes fear of dying."
She also cited the witness of former Bishop Paul Jones of Utah, a World War I pacifist whose anti-war stance resulted in his being ejected from the House of Bishops. "His clarity about his understanding of the gospel was highly unpopular and got a lot of threatening responses from his fellow Christians and Episcopalians, but he stood his ground … and is now in our list of saints and we celebrate his feast day on 4 September," she said.
She called the new $8.8 million 33,000-square-foot Episcopal Church Center of red Utah brick and sandstone, built under the leadership of Bishop of Utah Carolyn Tanner Irish, a "monument to overcoming fear.
"It is a remarkable example of a dream coming to fruition, a gracious and inviting response to the world's claim that something other than love is the answer to our fear," said Jefferts Schori. "This center says, 'come apart for a while for rest and reflection. Come and join a community to learn more about your faith. Come and find a welcome where we don't insist you believe exactly as we do. Come and learn to serve your neighbor.'
"Its very green construction says that we can do something about climate change, one person and one building at a time," she added.
During her visit, Jefferts Schori also met with diocesan youth, clergy, seminarians, the local media, and religious and civic leaders, including the Latter Day Saints Church First Presidency, and with Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Joel Nau, chaplain for the Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry, said Jefferts Schori brought a message of transformation and empowerment for young people.
"She spoke of transformation, societal and global and our role in that, and church partnerships in creative ministry for change. That was powerful for young people, hearing young people have a role in change," he said.
The presiding bishop also addressed inquiries about Lambeth and human sexuality during question-and-answer sessions. The Lambeth Conference is the once-per-decade meeting of bishops and archbishops from across the Anglican Communion, gathering July 16-August 4 in Canterbury.
Jefferts Schori told the Salt Lake Tribune that she does not believe the Anglican Communion will ultimately splinter over the issue of sexuality.
"It's a very, very small part of this church, less than 1 percent, that see this of sufficient concern to want to leave over it," she said. "Our job is to bless their going and reassure them our door is always open and that we'll keep the light on for them."
Meanwhile, those remaining need to keep talking about such issues as sexuality, even when disagreeing with one another. Helping "one another live holy lives" is one of the fundamental tasks of the church, she added.
The Episcopal Church Center of Utah (ECCU), "was five years in the planning, two years in the building," said the Rev. Mary June Nestler, diocesan canon for ministry formation.
It includes diocesan offices, a 27-bed retreat and conference center, a bookstore and coffee bar, resource center, and a media center with webcast capability as well as environmentally friendly or "green" features.
Formally dedicated at the October 2007 diocesan convention, the new headquarters sits in close proximity to the historic St. Mark's Cathedral and its recently constructed office center, which opened in April 2007.
"It's our half-block area of downtown Salt Lake City," said Craig Wirth, diocesan communications officer.
Kenton Peters of the Salt Lake City-based Buese and Peters Architectural firm, which designed the new headquarters, said location is just one of the center's green-friendly aspects.
"Its central location offers easy availability to public transit and pedestrian access. Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish has really been on the forefront of pushing her flock to be more considerate of how we rest upon the earth and our stewardship to it," Peters said.
Prior to the construction of the new complex, both the cathedral offices and diocesan offices were located in rental property nearby.
"It really is a neat place, both historically and for the future, we have our little square here in downtown Salt Lake City," added Wirth. The grounds also include a bookstore, and a labyrinth, "so people can pause in the center of the downtown area and walk the labyrinth if they choose."
It will also serve as a hospitality center for the diocese, Wirth added. "We have a large diocese geographically, and it will be a place parishes can host retreats." The Diocese of Utah includes 23 congregations and about 6,000 Episcopalians.
An apartment in the 27-bed retreat center was named in the Presiding Bishop's honor, said Nestler.
"What impressed me most was that our Presiding Bishop gets to do what bishops ought to be doing—teaching about the faith and people were soaking up every word," Nestler said. "I am so proud to be a part of this church where our leader could speak so well and eloquently and in such depth on so many issues, particularly issues facing global community, poverty, ecology and sustainability. There are few church leaders who can address with such depth what she is able to address for our wider church."