Reflections from Provincial Assembly
by Amy Rowe
(This reflection is excerpted from Amy's weekly letter to her congregation on July 3.)
I recently returned from a week in Latrobe, PA, for our annual Provincial Assembly. I thought I would briefly share my reflections and highlights.
Nancy Sung, The Rev. Erin Bair, The Rev. Amy Rowe (l-r) are all delegates from the Diocese.
But first, I strongly encourage all of you to watch this interview with our Archbishop-Elect Steve Wood and his wife Jaqui here. It was a moving experience to be in the room for this interview. When he read the text he received before going on a ventilator, I think the entire room wept. When he said "I really, really like non-Christians," people stood and clapped. After the interview, Nancy Sung (who sits on Provincial Council) turned to me and said simply, "That was amazing." And it was.
In addition to this interview, there were so many moments throughout the week that gave me hope. I'll share a few:
During our business session, we approved changes to the constitution and canons of the Province. Many of these changes strengthened requirements for responding to abuse, and strengthened enforcement mechanisms when those requirements are not met. I'm grateful for these changes, even as I recognize the work is not yet done. But these are important steps toward ensuring our churches are places of safety, healing, and justice.
During the opening Eucharist, the Gospel was read in English and Spanish. During the closing Eucharist, the New Testament was read in English and Mandarin. I was so moved by these gestures of hospitality toward the many languages, cultures, and ethnicities of those in our province.
The opening plenary session was led by a female priest and a lay woman. The content of their plenary was rich, wise, and deep, inviting us into Jesus' practice of retreating to a solitary place to pray. But beyond the content itself, I also appreciated this plenary for two reasons. First, as a female priest, I appreciated seeing someone like me on the stage; it felt like a small but meaningful gesture to acknowledge the ministry of women. Second, I especially valued being led by a layperson. If I'm honest, sometimes large gatherings of clergy can feel a tad elitist, removed from the real concerns of the real people who fill our churches. It was so good to be led by a wise and faithful layperson and to be reminded of the shared priesthood of all believers.
I loved participating in two breakout sessions from the Matthew 25 Initiative on "Anglican Churches that Make a Difference on Seemingly Intractable Issues." Although I felt WAY out of my league on this panel (!), it was really a joy to tell stories about our church and the practical ways we are trying to foster a culture of true belonging, in which every person has a gift to bring and a meaningful way to participate. This session was led by the Rev. David Hanke, rector of our parent church, Restoration Anglican, and it was fun to work together!
Finally, I found the closing Eucharist to be joyful and healing. I came into the Eucharist service carrying some heavy burdens, just as some of you come on Sundays. As clergy, I am acutely aware of the hurt that people have experienced in the church, and I have sometimes experienced that hurt myself. But as has happened so many times before, I found myself relaxing into the familiar words of the liturgy, and God met me there with his gentle presence. He lifted my burdens, refreshed my weariness, and filled me again with a deep love for his church — broken and messy though she is. It was a very good and unexpected gift.
The Rev. Amy Rowe is a Delegate from the Diocese for Provincial Assembly and the Rector of Incarnation Anglican Church in Arlington, VA.