Closing the Gap

Beloved in Christ, 

As I read the Presiding Bishop's opening remarks to this week's Executive Council Meeting, I was struck by his reference to the scientific study the Episcopal Church commissioned with the Ipsos Marketing Group earlier this year about the general public's perception of both Jesus and those who call themselves Christians. 

Across a diverse spectrum of Americans, a shocking 84% perceive Jesus to be a spiritual leader worth listening to. But when they asked people who specifically claim not to be Christian how they perceive Christians, 50% used the word hypocrisy, 49% judgmental, 46% self-righteous, 32% arrogant, and 50% of people surveyed saw a close connection between Christians and the perpetuation of racism in American society.

As Bishop Curry reminds us, there is clearly a gap between how people see Jesus and how people perceive Christians. Much of the work in front of us in this moment is doing what we can do close that gap. We can't, of course, speak, act, or be accountable for how any other Christians might speak or act in the name of Jesus, but we can always be about the business of asking ourselves in our own context: when people see us, do they see Jesus? That's not about being perfect. We are all broken and fallen sinners in need of God's grace. But it is about where we show up in our communities: how are we using our time, energy, and money? With whom are we spending our time, and to what end? 

While the gap that exists is indisputable, traveling the diocese week in and week out fills me with pride and gratitude for the ways we are working to close that gap as Minnesota Episcopalians. In the past week alone, I've seen the way Emmanuel in Alexandria is pulling together partnerships with a broad section of their community to feed the hungry all over Douglas County. I've seen how St. James in Fergus Falls is showing up in their community to provide clothing to women and children who are leaving a life filled with domestic violence. I see congregations reckoning with what racism has and does look like in their context. I see people knocking on doors to get to know their neighbors' stories. Over and over and over, I see local faith communities that look and act like Jesus. 

Thank you for how you model, inspire, and challenge me in this way. The gap can feel overwhelming for sure, and there is so much hatred on which the name of Jesus gets hung. But thanks be to God for the ways you all are doing all you can, with what you have, to close that gap. What a gift we have been given in this life we share together. 

Grace and peace,

The Right Reverend Craig Loya
X Bishop