Gaining My Religion: My Faith Journey

 

Everybody seems to be talking about Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde.  They are talking about her sermon based on a two minute clip that is being shown on social media.  It's a great clip, but I encourage you to find 15 minutes (actually slightly less) to watch her sermon in its entirety.  It can be found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwwaEuDeqM8.  

As a layperson who has occasionally filled the pulpit, I think it's a wonderful sermon.  Certainly I wouldn't be able to top it.  But then I don't have the education and experience that she does.  Furthermore, I don't think I could actually do her "job" because there's a lot more to it than just going in front of a congregation once a week.  That actually might be the "easy" part, IF there's any easy part.

Based on that one sermon, I certainly admire her and want to hear more of what she has to say.  Her book: How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith seems impossible to find, at least in print, as copies are sold out.  I have ordered her earlier publication:  Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love and look forward to reading it.

However, Bishop Budde is not (completely) unique.  In my own "faith journey" there have been several women who have guided me.   While I am not "officially" an Episcopalian, I regularly attend services at an Episcopalian church.  My mother was Presbyterian and that's where I was confirmed.  My father was an Episcopalian and that's where my brother was confirmed.  My brother chose the Episcopalian church because he heard me complain about my confirmation experience and my vow that I would not return having "done my thing."  It was a vow that I didn't keep once I graduated from college, returned home and found that the minister who confirmed me had retired.  One Sunday in January, my mother wanted to attend as she had heard the minister, a woman, speak before and was impressed.  And that's how I went back to the church I grew up in.

The pastor that was eventually hired was a man, not that it matters.  He was compassionate and caring, hence I stayed and became more involved.  I have been on various committees and served as a trustee (I was bad at that), a deacon and an elder.  While I was an elder one of our congregants had decided to go back to school to become a minister.  She was an "older" woman and at the time, the Presbytery did NOT make it easy for her to be confirmed.  In my opinion they did everything they could to make her want to give up.  But she didn't.  I was her session liaison (I'm not even sure what that means) and as such we became very close.  So close that we consider her part of the family.  My "aunt" (as we "adopted" her) worked long and hard and was ordained 2 days after I was married, which is why I missed one of the biggest events in her life.  However, she was part of our wedding day (many guests thought she was a rabbi) and she baptized my son.  She always inspired me; she continues to inspire me.  In her 90s she is "retired" but continues to bring out the best in people.

When I was in the hospital in June of 2008 for 3 days EVERY day my pastor from the Presbyterian Church came to see me.  But he was not the only clergy member who dropped by.  The minister from the Congregational church came to see me.  I knew her because she was a friend of my brother and because my son attended nursery school that was housed in her church.  She didn't know me well, but she took the time of her day to check in on me.  That's something I appreciated and will never forget.

During the pandemic when church buildings were closed, I began attending virtual services not just at the Presbyterian Church, but at the Episcopalian church that my father had attended.  They offered an early morning service that was quiet and contemplative.  As we were able to move back into the physical church space, I kept attending services at both churches, as they each offered me something that my soul needed.  The Episcopalian priest had a "community" vibe that always (whether remote or in person) made me feel welcome, even though I was not a member.  There was also a female seminarian; again "older" and facing road blocks and difficulties that were not dissimilar to my aunt.  (Proving that ageism and sexism can be found in multiple denominations.  I introduced the two women at my "aunt's" birthday celebration in 2021, two months after she was ordained as a Transitional Deacon and 5 months before she was officially ordained as a priest)  When she preached, she never failed to touch my heart in some way.  And it was this extraordinary woman who presided over the graveside services of both of my parents, walking with me every step of the way so that the service was exactly as I requested.  (Side note:  Memorial services were held at a later date at an Episcopalian church at the Jersey Shore which my parents both attended in the summer.  The church had a rotation of priests for the summer season and he was so incredibly kind and gracious that I wish I could have attended more services that he presided over.)

Spending weekends in the Poconos, I have spent time at an Episcopalian church that is (somewhat) close by.  (Definitely much closer than a Presbyterian church.)  Every time I have gone I have felt warmly welcomed.  I haven't been in over a month, but I am certain that when I return, I will have that same feeling.

I have often joked that I should be classified as a Presby-palian or an Episco-terian.  The truth is, it doesn't matter what denomination I or anyone is.  What matters is finding inspiring and compassionate spiritual leaders who guide us on our journey.  I've been blessed to have several in my life.  I include Bishop Budde on that list, even though we have not (yet?) met face to face.  I include a friend who sent me a book of devotional prayers when she mentioned one that she had found helpful.   Spiritual leaders can appear in many different places under many guises.  When one happens upon your life, embrace him or her, and let your life be enriched.