Sermon: "All One Body"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Since moving to Knoxville, I have come to realize that this time of year really is all about football recruiting. We might call it "post-Christmas" or "pre-Lent." We could consider the weather or the length of daylight at this point on the calendar. But this is really recruiting season. In the Knoxville newspaper, we receive daily updates about whether this or that recruit seems to be leaning toward UT or some other, unmentionable college.

With all the attention on individual players, it may be difficult to remember that football actually is a team sport. What really matters is how the team will do.

In a few minutes, some among us will be presented as candidates for baptism and confirmation. You will come as individuals, with particular gifts and talents to offer. In addition, though, each one comes as part of a class - a large, wonderful class - and that class is part of a team. Christianity teaches that individuals are tremendously important. However, we need to remember - especially in our society - that the church represents a team effort.

St. Paul writes to the members of the church in Corinth, "Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." And then, later, "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

In our worship service today, we focus our attention on the candidates who will be presented. However, after those candidates affirm their baptismal promises, we all will participate in renewing our own Baptismal Covenant together. In that covenant, our promises are clear - promises of belief, of obligation to the church, and of service to the world for which our Lord died. And the context in which we renew these promises - and in which we live our faith - is the body of Christ on earth, the church.

St. Paul writes clearly about the varieties of gifts that each individual possesses, and about the varieties of service to which we are called, and about the varieties of activities in which we engage ourselves. Thus, St. Paul readily affirms the individuality among members of the church. However, the point he makes in affirming such variety and individuality is that there is a larger unity and wholeness. It is that unity and wholeness that he calls "the Body."

Therefore, each member has a responsibility - for the good of the whole body. Each part needs to function properly for the body to be well. We know this from personal experience. That is, if we have a toothache or a sore throat, that infirmity seems to throw everything we try to do off course. The pain demands our attention. In St. Paul's words, "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it."

St. Paul then takes a somewhat different tack, in making a similar point. He says that no one part of the body can make the decision to be separate. In a rather facetious example, he writes, "If the foot would say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body', that would not make it any less a part of the body."

Then, further, no one part of the body is able to scorn any other part. Again in St. Paul's words, "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'" Indeed, according to St. Paul's analogy, to say "I have no need of you" is not appropriate for any member of the body, in addressing any other member.

At our particular moment in history, this word presents an important message to the Episcopal Church. The differences of opinion expressed following General Convention may tempt us in this regard. Indeed, some individuals, churches, and dioceses have felt inclined to say to others, "I have no need of you." Yet, as Christian Episcopalians, we are parts of a particular congregation … and of a diocese … and of the Episcopal Church, USA. Our unity marks a distinct attribute of our identity. And, we do have need of one another!

Indeed, using St. Paul's analogy, the body is handicapped whenever a member leaves. No matter what that member - or church or diocese - might say, the appropriate response of the rest of the body is never "I have no need of you." Rather, our biblical responsibility is to seek reconciliation and restoration of the body.

That task lies before us - as St. Peter's Church, as the Diocese of East Tennessee, and as the Episcopal Church. Our prayer is for wholeness, for completeness of the body, and for reconciliation in Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, please remember that St. Paul writes, "Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." May we indeed live into our calling as members blessed to be parts of the body of Christ! Amen.

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee