JUNE CLERGY NEWSLETTER
Outrage Fatigue

by Kate Heichler

There is so much cause for outrage these days, and we have so very many outlets for it. How do we navigate the cycles of offense, rebuttal, pronouncement and posting while upholding our faith, demonstrating the peace of Christ, not to mention maintaining our sanity?
 
We are in the throes of processing America's latest eruption of gun violence. The drill has grown numbingly familiar - we learn about the shooter and his or her motives; we honor and remember the victims, support the survivors, call for action, pledge to pray, opine on social media. As the rhetoric flies, it is very easy to demonize different elements involved, especially the perpetrators of violence and those who enable them. Does that make us, or anyone else, feel better?
 
I don't believe this is how Jesus would go about it. Our Gospel story for this coming Sunday (June 19) shows what a gift he had for separating disease, sin and evil from a person afflicted by them. He did not confuse people with the problems they manifest. Confronted with this terrified and terrorizing man, Jesus saw inside to what was really going on, and addressed the forces of evil oppressing the man. He did not condemn him.
 
This man's neighbors were not so discerning. They took the human approach - they saw the problem, not the human being. They demonized him - a job already done by the only force in the universe who actually can demonize, the one my spiritual director aptly refers to as "the enemy of human nature." They sought to control him, subdue him, ultimately to enchain and isolate him. Is this what we do with our social media feedback loops, our vigils and op-eds and "prophetic" statements?   
 
I do not suggest that people who manifest evil bear no responsibility. Yet we can choose our response. Even in the case of mass murderers and hate-mongerers (and I believe Jesus would put those on the same moral level (Matthew 5: 21-22; I John 3:15), we do well to remember what Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
 
Remembering that our battle is with the powers of evil - and that it has been won by Jesus Christ, who gives us his power to wield in further skirmishes - is key to approaching evil with love. Whether we are dealing with a person bent on destruction, or someone in the grip of addiction, or simply someone who annoys the daylights out of us, we are called to separate the person from the condition they bear or the problems they bring. We invite the power of God working through us to build up the person's spirit, weak as it may be, while seeking to free them from the ills that beset them.
 
I am trying to remember to pray for those people I feel are wreaking destruction - the only hope for them is God's blessing. I am trying to remember that we are all wounded - and that recommits me to the ministry of healing in all its forms. And maybe I also need to cultivate the spiritual practice of praying before I look at my news feed on Facebook , to let my outrage be transformed into generosity and prayer by the God who loves us more fully than we can ever love ourselves.
 
 
The Rev. Dr. Kate Heichler is a pastor in the community of Stamford based at the church of Christ the Healer, where she is priest-in-charge. She is also Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, and writes a daily reflection on Sunday's Gospel each week called Water Daily.  
Have you heard about these upcoming events?

Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Network

The Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Network invites you to attend a meeting of Hospital Healthcare Chaplains on Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m.  The meeting will be held at Norwalk Hospital and will be hosted by the Rev. Debra Slade, the Rev. Judy Holding and Bishop Laura Ahrens.  This gathering is expected to last 2 hours.  We welcome you to attend this informative and rewarding event.  Please RSVP to Suzanne DeMerchant at sdemerchant@episcopalct.org if you plan to attend.

 
Free online courses through Yale on Religion & Ecology

In September, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim will teach three six-week online courses through Yale University. These will be featured as a cluster of courses under the theme of "Cosmology and Ecology." This will include two courses on Journey of the Universe and a course on the Worldview of Thomas Berry. Each course can be taken independently. 

These are MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) available on Coursera and free to anyone, anywhere on the planet. These will be the first MOOC specialization for Yale and the first MOOCs for the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. More details will follow when the release date is known. 

(When you open the link, scroll down to item #2)
Formation Corner

Important Dates
  
For postulants & candidates:
June 18, 2016
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Gathering with COM at The Commons
 
For those in discernment groups:
Materials due: August 15 (Discernment Group report & Rector's Response)
 
Resource Pages
 
 
If you have any questions about the ordination process or know someone who might be called to Holy Orders, please contact Molly James, Dean of Formation.
Transitions Update

The Rev. Stephen Holton will begin his ministry as Rector of Christ Church, New Haven on June 22.
 
In July, the Rev. Marian Stinson will be retiring from St. Luke's, South Glastonbury and the Rev. Dr. Bill Hardwick will be retiring from Our Savior, Plainville.
 
We are receiving names through July 15 for rector positions at both St. Timothy's, Fairfield and St. Paul's, Riverside.
 
Parishes in Transition

Epiphany Church, Durham......................................Using Supply Priests
Grace Church, Hartford....................................Seeking Priest in Charge
Old St. Andrew's, Bloomfield...........................Interim in place: Alex Dyer
St. Andrew's, Madison......................................................Interviewing
St. James, New London.................................Interim in place: Bob Miner
St. John's, North Haven....................Interim in place: Louise Kalemkarian
St. John's, Waterbury............................................Using Supply Priests
St. Luke's, New Haven.....................................Seeking Priest in Charge
St. Mark's, Storrs.......................................Interim in place: Hilary Greer
St. Mary's, Manchester................................Interim in place: Lynne Grifo
St. Martin's, Hartford........................................Seeking Missional Priest
St. Paul's, Fairfield.......................................Interim in place: Amy Welin
St. Paul's, Riverside..................................................Receiving Names
St. Paul's & St. James, New Haven.........................Using Supply Priests
St. Peter's, Milford.................................Interim in place: Cynthia Knapp
St. Peter's, South Windsor..........................Interim in place: Shaw Mudge
St. Timothy's, Fairfield...............................................Receiving Names
Trinity Church, Portland....................................Seeking Missional Priest
Trinity Church, Seymour...............................Interim in place: Steve Ling
Trinity Church, Trumbull.............................Interim in place: Paul Carling

 
Please contact Lee Ann Tolzmann (latolzmann@episcopalct.org) with any questions.

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