Episcopal Press and News
Diocese of Alaska Struggles with Cultural Differences and Loss of its First Native Bishop
Episcopal News Service. October 19, 1995 [95-1268]
(ENS) As the clouds moved lower into the valleys and the cold rains of impending winter persisted, Alaska's Episcopalians gathered in Sitka October 5-8 for the diocesan convention -- and what turned out to be a bittersweet celebration of a centennial.
A hundred years ago the diocese was formed with the election of a first bishop for Alaska and now the delegates were faced with planning for the election of a new bishop following the recent resignation of the Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston for what he cited as "family reasons." Still struggling with some feelings of denial and anger, the 90 representatives of the sprawling diocese almost 10 times the size of New England listened as their dynamic young bishop shared his deepest hopes for their future -- a future without his leadership.
"We stand at a crossroads, a threshold," the bishop said in his opening comments, "a very powerful and emotional time." He talked very frankly about "a lonely and terrible feeling" he felt as he searched for God's presence in his life in the midst of personal and professional doubts.
"It's so painful because the vision was so clear, the hope so real, because it was so right," Charleston said in describing his five years as the first Native American bishop. "We felt a new energy and vitality in what we were doing together. We were on the right track. We were going to become a new diocese, a new community -- a tolerant, loving, caring community."
Charleston contended that Alaska was on its way to serving as "a model of what the Christian community will be in the next century," and he urged them to express that new confidence in and through the convention. "We must keep the energy and momentum going."
The first test for the convention was a choice on how episcopal oversight would be handled until the election of a new bishop -- and when that election should take place.
In discussing the option of electing at a convention next fall or entering a period of self-examination and electing in two years, a third alternative emerged. The delegates decided to hire a consultant to work with the search committee, elect a new bishop in the spring of 1997 and seek a "supply bishop" for oversight during that period.
Some of the cultural tensions that are part of the realities of the diocese emerged during the discussion. The small, struggling Native parishes and missions of the interior and the Arctic said that they were in the midst of spiritual growth and needed a strong leadership to avoid losing momentum. "Our whole world has been turned upside down," said Jonathan Solomon from Ft. Yukon. On the other hand, the stronger, better-organized parishes in the south didn't see the need to rush a decision about a new bishop.
The tensions also surfaced during discussion of location for the administrative/financial office of the diocese, whether or not to move it from the Anchorage area in the south to the diocesan offices in Fairbanks in the center of the state. The roll-call vote followed cultural and geographic lines and the convention officially decided to move the office north -- and to hold the next diocesan convention in the Fairbanks area.
As uncomfortable as the discussion became at points, it was also a clear sign that the Native parishes had taken their place in the governance of the diocese. As one Native delegate from the Yukon pointed out, when he first attended the convention years ago he was alone. Now he has been joined by many others from the Yukon and Arctic and together they represent half the parishes of the diocese.
The vote on moving the office was challenged because, if it was presented as a resolution, it required a two-thirds vote, but only a simple majority was needed for a motion. The next morning Charleston defused the situation by urging delegates to recognize their differences, especially the cultural ones. "Like any Christian community we have to learn the Gospel skill of listening to each other, working on compromises," he said. When he asked if anyone was prepared to further challenge his decision to let the earlier vote stand, or to change their votes, no one responded and the convention moved on.
But there was still one more emotional flash-point waiting.
The final plenary session was proceeding smoothly until an Athabascan woman asked for moment of personal privilege.
With a trembling voice, Polly Simmonds of Fairbanks read a statement from the interior deanery, expressing how excited they were when a Native bishop was elected, "someone who can relate to the issues that we, as Native people, face economically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually."
"We as Indian people are a very spiritual people and we felt that you in some way understood this," she added. While expressing sympathy for the demands of the office, and promising to "walk with you in your journey with your family," she concluded: "Now hear our voice, a voice that is also hurting and grieving. You gave us hope that we as Native people can be leaders; that we can deal with our own issues in a responsible, reasonable way; and that we can raise our voices to be heard. It is with great sadness that we ponder over your decision -- and we ask that you reconsider your resignation."
Charleston was speechless. The delegates discussed a few more items on the agenda while he considered his response. Then he stepped forward and said, "I feel strongly that I failed most of you in my calling -- and my family, too. I could not, being who I am as a person, find enough strength to be all that you needed, and that my family needed, at the same time." He said that his individual personhood had gotten lost in his office but that he was now prepared to "start again as a disciple of Christ."
"My brokenness must not be your brokenness," he said urgently. "You are the church. Individually you are as sinful as I am, but collectively you are holy and sacred. Together you are the dream of Jesus when he hung on the cross -- the dream of a holy people, entrusted in your care, inspired by the Holy Spirit to live it out every day. Hold that dream dear, be worthy of the trust of God... Be the church in Alaska."
Delegates sitting near the window pointed to a stunning double rainbow that had suddenly appeared over the Sitka harbor.
The centennial banquet drew heavily on memories of the first century of the church in Alaska. It included greetings from two former bishops, the widow of a third and the son of the first bishop -- and Tlingit and Russian dancers.
"Steve has brought you to this springtime of spiritual excitement and energy," said Bishop George Harris, Charleston's predecessor. "He has made his gift -- now you are invited to make yours."
During a final Eucharist, including confirmations of 20, convention participants seemed to demonstrate that they were ready to meet the challenge. In what one delegate described as a "transcendent and humbling experience," the service focused all the hopes and dreams that had been flowing through the convention.
"They left renewed and refreshed," Charleston said later in an interview. "We all felt such a strong, powerful, spiritual feeling," he said, convinced that "we are on the way to becoming a diocese that is able to honor our differences and serve as God's messengers in Alaska."
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