Sermon: “Unity in Mission”
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

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

It is dangerous to make generalizations in conversation, for they can lead easily to misunderstandings. Especially is this true in our day, it seems to me, and in particular, in the context of the church. Nevertheless, I am going to tread on that dangerous ground, in hopes of making a point suggested by our readings this morning.

I want to put two images before you today … two contrasting images. And, please be aware that we are using generalizations. First is the image of a denomination that we know pretty well - the Episcopal Church. In recent years, we have found ourselves fairly divided over a variety of matters - especially, human sexuality. Historically the Episcopal Church has held within it different perspectives on all sorts of issues - social, political and otherwise. But recently, we have found unity to be a more elusive reality. Indeed, when we add into the mix the worldwide Anglican Communion - of which we are a part - our unity becomes even more precarious.

The basic problem in this situation, it seems to me, is not that unity in our church is imperiled. Rather, the more fundamental issue is that our mission as a church - our very reason for being as a church - is threatened by our focus on matters pertaining to our internal life rather than on matters involving the mission of Jesus Christ.

Now, please do not misunderstand me at this point. I am not suggesting that issues involving human sexuality are not significant and appropriate concerns of the church. However, we do damage to our faithfulness as Christians if we neglect other matters of Christian mission and focus only on such issues.

Therefore, the first image I suggest to you today is our own Episcopal Church - and particularly as we are prone to be self-absorbed and worried excessively about internal matters.

On the other hand - and, by contrast - here is a second image. Listen to the call to us expressed through the First Letter of Peter: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light"(2:9).

I submit to you that we in the Episcopal Church fall far short of our calling, as expressed by St. Peter. In fairness, we are not alone in our failure. Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, for instance, are having quite a time reacting to their new pope - and that in the midst of a variety of troubles and challenges on other matters as well. Indeed, each denomination and every faith tradition discovers within itself differing, deeply-held convictions that put member against member, congregation against congregation.

Our call, though, is to live into the reality that St. Peter saw in the Body of Christ - "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people." Our calling, then, is to "proclaim the mighty acts of him who called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light." And nothing - certainly nothing in the internal life of our church - should keep us from fulfilling that calling from our Lord.

This call is expounded further in the following verse. "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy"(2:10). Notice well a couple of points in that sentence. The term used is "a people" or "God's people" - and the reference there is to a unit, a unity among the people of God. The people are dealt with as one. Also notice that the word for "people" is laos, the people of God, and that is the root of the word for "laity." "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

The Gospel today offers us a different perspective on the same theme, it seems to me. Remember the familiar words of Jesus, often read at funerals, as words of encouragement and consolation: "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places"(Jn 14:2).

What is the point of saying that? What purpose can there be in affirming it, besides offering words of comfort in a time of mourning?

The point, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is that God's house is big enough for us all, no matter how different our positions may be on church issues of the day. Further, not only is God's house big enough, but also, Jesus promises that he will go and prepare a place in that house for each one of us. Think of that! God's house has enough space for all, and Jesus promises that he is going to prepare a place in that house for us. Surely, the unity represented by the promise of Jesus is far more significant than any sign or indication of disagreement or disunity in the church!

Therefore, our readings today are nudging us in the direction that our church seems to be moving - slowly and hesitantly, but with grace. And that direction involves the larger unity of God that claims us in the midst of our disagreement. Further, this is the direction of mission to the world, even as we are tempted by self-preoccupation. May God be our guide on this way - the way of unity and of mission, for the sake of Jesus Christ! Amen.

Copyright © 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee