March 2003

Along the Path…

I have had a piece of writing on my desk for several weeks.  It was presented to me by 9 year old Madeleine Rowe during worship at the Time With Children. The title of it is “Not to be heard.”  I was deeply touched by her concern for war and her willingness and ability to put her thoughts into writing.   She reflects on war with these words, “I am the face of war, the face of death, the face of pain.  I am not the answer…Turn your back on me.  Turn your face on peace.  Peace is the sign of light, faith and love.  Do not hear me.  Do not see me.”  Her writing is a constant reminder of our responsibility for the safety of our children and for the world’s children. 

I recently attended a listening conference with our new Executive Minister, Dr. Marshall Peters.  He was seeking to know what makes our American Baptist regional work relevant for us as clergy and for the churches we serve.  Several of us spoke about our own individual and our congregation’s concern around the possible war with Iraq.  I expressed my concern that whatever we do as a region must be relevant to those adults and children in our congregations who are dealing with the fear of war. At the end of the meeting, Reverend William Englund,  Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church St. Paul, came up to me and proposed that we enter into a three-way commitment to sponsor a peace conference.  Judson and University Baptist have joined  First Baptist Church St. Paul to form a triad.  Ken Rowe and Monica Lewis are our representatives for the planning. 

The conference title is “Peace, Justice and the American Way.”  It will be held Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, 2003. First Baptist St. Paul has a fund that will be used to retain speakers.  George Williamson, Jr, who has a history with the work of The Baptist Peace Fellowship, will be one of the speakers. Walter Mondale has been invited to speak and we are waiting for his answer. The leadership feels strongly that this event needs to be open to all churches who are seeking ways to come together and take action in the name of peace.

In an outstanding letter to the Star Tribune dated February 22, 2003, Don St. Dennis, of Shoreview wrote from his perspective as a Vietnam veteran who won the Bronze Star. He wrote, “Those of us who question the war, whether an individual or a nation, are friends of the United States—good friends giving honest feedback and observation.  Like an intervention with an alcoholic family member, we are telling our leaders, “We support you, but as your friends we are concerned about your actions and where they will lead you (as well as the rest of us) if you don’t stop and take corrective action.”  

In the name of Madeleine, Beau, Emily, Jacob, Zach, Ben, Riley, Griffin, Sarah, Robbie….all of our children,

-- Rev Diane Hooge, March, 2003

February 2003
For the Living of These Days

Robert McAfee Brown was a former professor of mine.  In an essay titled "Liberation Theology," he used the Biblical story of the Egyptian pharaohs and the Jews to speak of the war that he was opposing ­ the Gulf War.

"Before the recent Gulf War, almost all the mainline Protestant and Catholic church leaders opposed the arms buildup and the consequent military action.  From within pharaoh's court they tried (to speak truth to power, and power refused to listen.  That was not a time to leave, however, but more than ever a time to remain and keep mounting a moral challenge, particularly when the human costs of the Gulf War were, by any standard of measurement, morally devastating in terms of the consequent human suffering.  Pharaohs will continue to need the massive work of critique from within as well as without."

I clearly remember the deep sadness that I felt upon hearing of Robert McAfee Brown's death in 2001.  Brown fought against the Vietnam War. He co-founded the group known as Clergy and Laity Concerned About Vietnam. He was jailed as a freedom rider, and arrested while protesting at the New York headquarters of the United Nations as he participated in the hunger strike against nuclear weapons. He was a brilliant and passionate prophetic voice.   

There is a lecture series that is held each year in Berkeley, on the campus of the Pacific School of Religion titled the Earl Lectures.  This year, the lectures will feature a reception honoring Robert McAfee Brown.  The focus of this year's event was inspired   by his life and ministry.  The title of this year's lecture series is "For The Living Of These Days:  Reclaiming Theology As A Public Resource."  He believed that theology must add relevance and value to the public square.

I will leave Monday to attend these lectures and workshops which have been designed to "encourage, challenge and sustain one another for the living of these days."

-- Rev Diane Hooge, February, 2003
 

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