For if the punishment for say, murder is death, and that punishment is carried out by the community, then the community has murdered, and thus they now should face the same punishment, yet because they are the ones committing the crime of murder they tend to over look that they are doing so and live on to murder another day.

Yes, I know this is not the way many think of it. In part it may be the language we use, as we tend to not use the term murder when we refer to the act of the calculated, planed taking life of one who  has been accused and convicted of taking the life of another. We also tend to separate ourselves from the act, and not think of the aspect of our involvement. This post is mainly focusing on the communal murder described earlier in this paragraph, but I want to express that this is not the only form of communal murder we commit. There is also the communal murder committed by military and related action, by excessive police force, by our choosing to not eradicate hunger and extreme poverty, even though it could be done for a lot less then the communal murder done through acts of war, the deaths caused by us refusing to ensure all have access to basic life saving medical care… So when I describe numbers of how many communal murders I have been a part of it is in reference to just that type of communal murder and not the others, unless I state otherwise.

In some ways I am a lucky person, if I look at just the acts of the communities in which the governments represented me. In my lifetime, like all Americans alive in that time period we have communally murdered three people, and in the states where I was a legal resident of, I have been a party to 3 additional murders for a total of 6. The three state level communal murders took place prior to my having the legal right to vote, the the three federal after I had the right to vote. In addition to this I have lived while attending school and participating in internships and fellowships in states where additional communal murders took place, though my legal residence remained in a state where none took place. Summer 2004- I was in Ohio, during those three months: 3 communal murders, Once more in Ohio  for most of 2006, 7, 8, 9, and 10 for School, during the time I was in that state there were 14 communal murders. Thus through the governments that represented me I participated in 6 murders, three of them enacted once I had voice and vote, three before I had voice and vote, and was present in a state where I had no vote for an additional 14 for a total of 20 that I was present in the legal jurisdiction where the communal murder took place. Compare that to someone the same date as I who lived in say Texas their entire life- 489TX+3Fed for a total 491 (289 of them after age 18), I am lucky to have murdered so few (3,6, or 20 depending on how one counts… or 22 if one counts the 2 in Ohio that took place while I was not in Ohio, but while I still had belongings in a residence in Ohio). In my lifetime 1273 people have been communally murdered within the various legal jurisdictions of United States, 697 since I turned 18. Since it is possible for federal level law to end communal murder even in the states, my count could rise up to these numbers as well. I don’t have numbers for the rest of the world, but that will rise it even higher as a member of the Human family. I do not want to be a murder, and am very sorrowful that I have communally murdered so many… not to count the thousands, if not millions we have communally murdered during this time through lack of action, war…. This is not Okay.As a person of faith, I stand with clear voice saying this is not okay.

The first communal murder I have much recollection of, is the first of the three that took place in states where I lived. It took place while I was 10 years of age. I wasn’t physically there, but I do recall sitting in the living room, the TV on and watching the news as they talked about the man we were about to murder, as they showed the protestors outside, the governor’s refusal to commute the sentence… I don’t recall much details of the case or the man. I remember seeing pictures of where the death would take place… and things like that…

Here in Oregon our current Governor,  has just prevented the first communal murder in 14 years(scheduled for the 6th of Dec.) from taking place. In the last 49 years only 2 communal murders have taken place in Oregon, one in 1996, one in 1997. Both of these took place under the governorship of the same man who is once again our Governor, even though he himself was not for communal murder, and has described it as the hardest decision he has ever made and he expressed regret in allowing them to take place. However, he did not commute the communal murder, but postponed it stating no communal murders will take place during his time as governor, but that he feels that while he has the authority to commute all 34 who are waiting to be murdered by us to sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, it is something that the voters must address. I hope that we as Oregonians will take this chance to step up, and say we will murder no more and end the practice all together. The Governor has stated that that is what he intends to push for, the elimination of communal murder sentencing, and instead life without parole being the option. (I find it interesting that Oregon has had at least two Governors who have allowed communal murder to take place whose personal beliefs and morals is that communal murder is wrong, our current Governor Kitzhaber [D] his past stint, and Gov/Sen Hatfield [R]… there could be others, I just know of these two, in in Kitzhaber’s case we know he has regretted doing so, and has said it will not happen again while he is Governor)

For those of us who follow Christ, the communal murder of Jesus son of Mary and Joseph so long ago should be reason enough for us to stand in opposition to communal murdering of those who have committed crimes. If it is not, then the communal murders of many of the first apostles and disciples should be, along with the laws against murder, the teachings of Christ, should be… I’m glad my faith tradition stands in opposition of communal murder, though I am sad it took us until 2000 to pass a world conference resolution stating we stand against it.  I am sad that in this act, as in many others, that while we are called to be prophetic we we late to the game and followed others to standing up for the worth of all persons. (In one of the whereas we indicate that we were not courageous to act prophetically until others did by stating “ A growing number of nations and faith groups including Catholic, Protestant, orthodox, Jewish, and other traditions have either already rejected or urged extreme caution in using the death penalty as a means of punishment or as a deterrent for violent crime.”) The binding parts of the resolution, are the resolves and so the resolves of World Conference resolution 1273 are: “Resolved, That we stand in opposition to the use of the death penalty; and be it further Resolved, That as a peace church we seek ways to achieve healing and restorative justice.”

May we have the courage and conviction to step forward and be prophetic, may we have the courage to act now, and not wait for others to lead the way. Let us embrace our eternal call to care for the world, to bring about healing and reconciliation. Let us stand with conviction that the Holy calls us to love one another and that “One being is as precious in God’s sight as the other” (Jacob 2:27 as quoted in resolves of WCR 1273) and bring an end to the suffering and pain in the world. Bring  an end to the communal murder that is described in this post, but also the communal murder we participate in through our actions and inactions though the means of world hunger, extreme poverty, lack of access to basic healthcare, proper sanitation, through acts of war, through violent use of force by police…. Let us stand with our sisters and brother of other faiths within the circle of all those who call upon the name of Christ, and in the larger circle of faiths of all who call upon the Holy, the Ultimate reality.., and upon the larger circles of all of humanity and all of creation, and heal our broken world…

Peace,

No, the above is not what happened right at the end of the last post, for between then and this I went into another building, met more people and sat through an orientation session, which covered things I already knew by having been involved with Bread, and a little bit of new about the national gathering. But the above sets the stage for several of the experiences of Saturday and Sunday, well except for the food, typically just water, tea, coffee… was there not the cheese and fruit…

In this room with tables draped with many colours, centerpieces with beans upon them, I found myself one of many. I found myself in a few ways transported to the wonderful experiences of my seminary past. For I sat in community at the table, with people of faith, engaging, growing, learning in it. The preacher for our opening worship was Rev.  Dr. Frank Thomas. When I heard his name my mind went “why do I know him” and then I realized, he was the author of one of my seminary texts for one of the homiletics courses I took. They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching still resides within my collection of books. The scripture text for his sermon was Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.” As he proclaimed the good news, as he expounded upon this text, he and the Spirit with him brought forth passion and inspiration, new insight and awareness, along with old.  As he explored the manna, talked of Moses and the people, about today and the needs of this world.  As he talked about the sharing with all and the non hording of food. Talk of the need to ask of the holy, not expect, not demand… many were moved.  As he preached and proclaimed the good news, as he challenged us, as he spoke of being prophetic as speaking truth to those in power AND truth to those denied power. He spoke of how it is US not me, not you not some of us, but all of us… (I wish I wrote this early and thus express more clearly his words than now several weeks out I can). It was a wonderful and powerful experience, as as Rev. Thomas spoke and I quoted him in a tweet saying “Capitalism deserves to be critiqued… [it] will never end poverty” I learned my friend from seminary had arrived as was present in the arena for she tweeted at about the same time: "capitalism will never end poverty" and that the faith community must humanize capitalism.

That’s all for an in-depth reflection I shall give of the services and sessions of Saturday, we had another one where the David Beckman, president of Bread for the World spoke, and also we spent time in regional groups (the reason for the coloured tables). Good things were said, I learned things, but I was also starting to wear down a bit after being up so long with so little sleep… It was after the Opening Worship as I was leaving the area to head out to dinner in another building I encountered my friend in seminary, we shared in conversation, meal often in the next few days… It was good to have a companion at the event that saw with eyes opened from a view similar yet different than my own, to digest and process all that streamed into my head that weekend.

At the close of the final plenary we went to “The tavern” for social time, an odd name for a place on a dry campus, and then with a few young college students we took a risky drive on a golf cart and walked around a Methodist seminary next to the Methodist University we were at. A Lutheran and a Community of Christ person, who had gone to a different Methodist Seminary now here one another one (which I think was not as nice of a campus, and much smaller than the one we had gone to). Then finally after all the explorations, I would find my self back at the dorm, my room, and to my surprise my roommate still not present… he never did show… and sleep finally arrived over 34 hours since I had awaken the morning before…

Till next time…

(sorry for the delay in these, I had meant to reflect on the whole gathering the week I had returned, but life sometimes makes one busy…)

Peace,

So what is this “isn’t me” but in truth “is me.” thing I am about to do? I’m about to go and live out a part of my discipleship and ministry by going forth and proclaiming the good news. But I said I ‘m not preparing a sermon, and no I am not going to go preach. So what is it? I’m going to to go speak on behalf of the voiceless. I’m going to go speak on behalf of the hungry and poor. I’m going to go into the halls of power, sit down with the people who are elected to represent me, (or work for them),  and proclaim the living, restoring, liberating news of the gospel by  advocating for justice. Lyle, the shy, quite, little spoken in one on one and small group conversation, is going to speak up, and say we need to protect the poor and vulnerable.

As I prepare to do this my mind drifts to spring 2007 in hot and humid Independence, MO. it was here that I sat in the conference chamber of the Auditorium as I heard Prophet-President Steven M. Veazey share words of counsel to the church. Words of counsel, which he was not presenting to the church for consideration to be canonized and included in the Doctrine and Covenants, and yet words that spoke to me and many others. Words that as I heard them felt  as if they were scripture, and should be embraced as such. The Spirit moved amongst us, Steve by mid week had presented them for inclusion and felt a peace in doing so. When these words were being considered by the Aaronic Mass meeting I spoke on their behalf and the stirring that was within me. I have no idea what words I said. I know not what words ran through my head as I voted on each paragraph and the document as a whole, there as a member of the Aaronic Order, nor as we did the same as a whole conference.

What I can tell you, is as I heard these words, as I read these words, as I prayed over these words… I did not see myself where I am today. As I’ve used these words in sermons, papers, reflections. I did not see myself here today. Yet this morning as I awoke on lobby day, these words came to my mind:

Community of Christ,” your name, given as a divine blessing, is your identity and calling. If you will discern and embrace its full meaning, you will not only discover your future, you will become a blessing to the whole creation. Do not be afraid to go where it beckons you to go.

Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of salvation. Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.

You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness. Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace. There are subtle, yet powerful, influences in the world, some even claiming to represent Christ, that seek to divide people and nations to accomplish their destructive aims. That which seeks to harden one human heart against another by constructing walls of fear and prejudice is not of God. Be especially alert to these influences, lest they divide you or divert you from the mission to which you are called.

God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare. The earth, lovingly created as an environment for life to flourish, shudders in distress because creation’s natural and living systems are becoming exhausted from carrying the burden of human greed and conflict. Humankind must awaken from its illusion of independence and unrestrained consumption without lasting consequences. Let the educational and community development endeavors of the church equip people of all ages to carry the ethics of Christ’s peace into all arenas of life. Prepare new generations of disciples to bring fresh vision to bear on the perplexing problems of poverty, disease, war, and environmental deterioration. Their contributions will be multiplied if their hearts are focused on God’s will for creation.

The words bolded, italics, or both, especially the both, are what resonated in my head the most. For you see, without thinking about it, I found myself on a journey of embracing these words in new and different ways than I had before. I found myself learning, growing, speaking, and now today after three days of engaging speakers, worshiping with others, conversing, praying, learning, I’m going to the hill to live out these words. In particular as they relate to the suffering of my sisters and brothers around the globe who are hungry, those who are the verge of being so. (I have a lot of sisters and brothers, over 6 billion and  your one of them). I’m going at a time when there is this mode of “slash everything” being expressed by some, this mode of governmental expression that includes  proposals that will make those suffering the most suffer more and those who suffer least suffer the same or even less… I’m going to speak of healing, I’m going to speak upon those who can’t speak, for those here who may get the right to vote but seldom are heard  and for those who don’t get to vote as they live elsewhere in the world, but whose lives and well being are on the table. It’s not a task I want to do, it is not a task I am comfortable in doing, but it is a task that as a minister of the Risen Living Christ, and as a disciple of Jesus the Christ, I am called to do. I encourage you to write your leaders, wherever you live, and advocate for the voiceless. To make phone calls, to visit in person. To advocate for those who you are called to serve. Even if you are not a follower of Christ, you are a member of the human family, and as such you are called to help ensure we bring an end to the pain and suffering in this world.

Please if you read this on 14 June 2011, keep all of us who will be visiting our members of Congress and our Senators today to speak on issues of hunger in your prayers and thoughts.

Peace be with you,

Friday was the execution, it didn’t hit me, at least not right away. I mean this great man, this miracle worker, this person who could see through the masks and cloaks I wear and see the real me was executed. You know this man who said hey you, you are of worth, you are loved, now go and love. This man who said that I and you could change the world, this man who preached and expounded the Holy’s love, who lived it, and told of a better day, a day when we would all love one another, a day when our willingness to engage the Holy’s love and each other would bring about much needed healing and restoration to the world that the Holy created and called good, was killed in horrific fashion by the government. We thought he was going to be with us, and now he is dead… except that was nearly 2000 years ago… We know the story of what happens, but this time of year I pause, and go… No I don’t know the story… I let my body flow through the cycle of life that is before us. I allow myself to grieve, to wait… unknowing that which I know. So the execution, this horrific act, sometimes hits me right away, but it didn’t.

It took time, it wasn’t till Saturday evening, as my body ached, and screamed stories of being tired and worn out to me and needing rest that I finally felt that execution. I finally started to morn executed Christ. Part of that morning was about the ways I have stumbled, the ways I have failed to live in response to the message He proclaimed, and I feel called to live. Part of it was the realization of how worn out I feel, how I struggle to engage the Holy when life seems full of stumbling blocks, when I find it hard to find the doorways and pathways, and trails and… that I can engage to help share the love of the one who was just executed, be it many many years ago. In my mind last night I went, “I don’t think I’ll be ready to celebrate the good news in the morning…”  I wonder what the early disciples would have thought had they realized the resurrection that was to come, a resurrection hinted at, but not understood by them. I wonder what they thought, not knowing… I wonder how it is that we find ourselves sometimes executing the Christ representation which we are called to be… you know how we fail to act, how we fail to share, to love, to heal… 

Last night, I went… I’ll go to the tomb, and if I find it empty… I think I’ll just sit there, I don’t think I’ll be able to embrace the realization of the empty tomb, I won’t be able to understand the messengers, or see the reality I encounter as I see the Christ… When I first awoke, the sun yet to rise, I still was in that place, but when I awoke with the rising sun, and as I heard the birds chirping outside, I knew different. Christ has risen, yes indeed.  Still I want to sit and ponder at the empty Tomb, but I am seeing, I am realizing the reality that it points towards, the hope and truth found in that emptiness, and emptiness which is full. Full of love, of peace, of hope, of strength. Strength to go forth and bring healing to a broken world. Hope, that I too can be restored, healed resurrected from the depths of my struggles, into the creation that the Holy formed and called good. Hope that I can find the pathway I need to embrace to be one of many proclaiming the peace of Christ, sharing that peace, sharing the love, and bring forth the peaceable community where all are loved, where creation is known to be sacred, the worth of all is known, respected, and embraced by all, where relationships a whole and healed… you know the community Jesus the  Christ proclaimed, lived taught… the peaceable community, aye even Zion (as my tradition would say).

My mind ahs drifted to 2 Easter’s past. I was serving an internship as a Hospital Chaplain, and was on duty that Sunday Morning. As such I lead the Sunday worship service, gave the Easter message to a group of perhaps 20-30 gathered in the Hospital Chapel. As the service came to an end, the pager on my hip buzzed, and soon afterwards I found myself sharing with a family, and with medical personnel in the last moments of their loved one / patient’s life as they maid the decisions that would bring a form of peace and healing, but also a form of loss. It was not my last visit with them that day. I’m not 100% sure why this memory comes to mind, why I can see the cards taped to the wall, the face of the young D.O., the nurses, the patient.. at this moment in time. What I can say is in this encounter, and in this memory, I find myself saying “What.. The Tomb is Empty ‽ What shall I do, how will I respond? How will my life be different with the awareness of the continuing presence of the Holy, who can I, you, us live out the resurrection of Christ. How can we keep that mission going, How will we Live the mission and hope of Christ this day?”  I find myself as well, knowing a bit more about myself, and the ways I have to serve, and hope that I will find that path, even if at times it is hard to see past the emptiness, and find the fullness that resides within it…

So let us stand from our pondering, and start to live the peace, passion, and mission of  Christ. Let us allow ourselves to be healed, to be “resurrected” and go forth and do help heal, restore “resurrect” all of creation…

Peace be with us all