Archive - 2016
March 23rd
Imago Dei: #WhatIMake
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 03/23/2016 - 17:00On April 16th, the #WhatIMake conference is scheduled to take place in Somerville, MA. My daughter is organizing it and I would love to be there. However, I’ll be at the 2016 Missional Voices Conference in Alexandria, VA. In my mind, these conferences are very closely related.
My daughter speaks about her work as an artist in terms of “reconnecting art to daily life”. For too many people, art is something you go to museums to see. It is something you need to be incredibly gifted to produce or incredibly rich to own. She is on a mission to challenge this thinking.
I’m looking for ways to reconnect the divine to our daily lives. It seems like for too many people, experiencing the divine is something you go to a church edifice for. It is something that other, spiritual people do, but isn’t part of your own daily life.
Perhaps this is all related. We mass produce objects and experiences and lose touch with what it means to create. From Hegel and Marx among others, we find the idea of estrangement or social alienation. We become alienated from our creativity.
In Judeo-Christian thought, we are created in the image of our creator, Imago Dei. These days, it is important to think of the Imago Dei in terms of people that are different from us. Instead of building a wall to keep them out, we need to find ways to connect with those who are different from us. Yet it is also important to keep in mind that what we are created in the image of is a creator. Reconnecting art to daily life and reconnecting the divine with daily life are perhaps two different aspects of the same thing.
March 22nd
Morning Prayer - Tuesday of Holy Week
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Tue, 03/22/2016 - 05:56I have a kidney stone I am hoping to pass with a little pain as possible. The pain has ebbed and flowed. Often, including right now, it is minimal. At other points, I have been doubled over in pain. It is a sharp pain in my right side and as we enter Holy Week, I’ve been thinking about the physical pain that Jesus must have suffered. I can barely stand the pain that I have.
I am drinking as much fluids as I can to try and help the stone pass. I don’t know when it shall pass. Perhaps today, perhaps not for weeks. Perhaps it will pass with minimal pain. Perhaps the time of passing will be great pain. As I wait, both for the stone to pass, as well as I seek to walk with Jesus on the way of the Cross this week, I play on Youtube, Stay With Me – Taize.
I finish one glass of fluids and move on to the next. At home, I drink mostly very diluted pomegranate juice. The splash of juice makes it easier to drink more fluids and perhaps provides some additional benefits. For Lent, I’ve been getting up early to read the lessons for the day and pray.
It is a special time spent with the God of love, but it is a time or remembering God’s suffering. It can be challenging to stay focused, to stay in the presence of God, and not just doing a morning ritual, like the rituals performed by money changers in the temple. It can be difficult to stay in the presence of God thinking about the great suffering of the crucifixion.
So I try to mix things up. I try to tie my morning devotions as closely to the rest of my life as possible. This morning, I start off with the collect for the day.
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
That is hard to pray. I move on to reading through posts in a Facebook group of Episcopalians online.
There are so many prayer requests. Prayers of God’s people. So much suffering. I pray for a person who has a very stressful meeting at work coming up today. I pray for a woman whose nephew is struggling with addiction, and for her struggles as well. How often do we pray for people in addiction after they leave a recovery program? How many times are we called to not give up hope? Seven times? No, we are told, seven times seventy. “Stay with me” continues to play, thinking of Jesus in the garden and Nick in the streets.
I pray for another who has had a terrible 2015, and 2016 isn’t looking much better, yet. I pause to enjoy looking at various prayer beads people have shared pictures of. I pray for a woman and her nine year old daughter as they wait to hear about approval for housing. I pray for another woman who is hoping to find people to work with on an important project.
Then, I stop to pray for CEC Fairfield Community of Hope Initiative which “serves a small, poverty stricken, historical city in Alabama that is currently facing overwhelming financial hardship and turmoil.”
“Stay with me” plays again. Watch and pray. There are churches around the country struggling to bring hope to desperate situations.
Presiding Bishop Curry talks about being part of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. These people that I am praying for, I am connected to by the online arm of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement.
“Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.”
March 20th
Hynes 2016 versus Donald Trump
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 03/20/2016 - 15:22In 2012, I ran for State Representative in the 114th Assembly District in Connecticut, which covers Woodbridge and parts of Orange and Derby. My opponent was the incumbent State Representative, Themis Klarides. I ran, not because I disliked Themis or thought her a bad person. I ran because I believed the voters deserved a respectful discussion about the issues our state faces. I believed that the voters deserved a choice in who they would vote for. I didn’t believe that Rep. Klarides was particularly effective as a state legislator or a leader and I disagreed with her on various important issues.
Themis easily won re-election against this relatively unknown candidate, but when asked the outcome of the election, I always told people I won. I won, not by being elected, but by having a respectful discussion, by getting voters thinking about the issues, and by giving them a choice.
Two years ago, I ran again. It was a last minute decision, because no one else was stepping up to run. I had become a fellow with the CT Health Foundation and I spoke often about racial health disparities. In a predominantly Caucasian district this wasn’t an issue that resonated with a lot of voters, but I got a lot of people thinking about an issue they hadn’t considered before. Like in 2012, I won by getting people thinking about the issues.
Here we are in 2016, and people are starting to ask me if I will run again. I am still trying to decide. People who regularly read my blog know that my primary focus right now is if I’m called to pursue a different office. I am seeking discernment on whether I’m called to become an ordained Episcopal priest. This has me leaning towards not running for State Representative this year.
Yet a few days ago, The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church issued A Word to the Church
In a country still living under the shadow of the lynching tree, we are troubled by the violent forces being released by this season’s political rhetoric. Americans are turning against their neighbors, particularly those on the margins of society. They seek to secure their own safety and security at the expense of others. There is legitimate reason to fear where this rhetoric and the actions arising from it might take us.
They appear to have been careful about naming any specific candidate, as I have generally tried to be.
The United Church of Christ echoed this in their statement
The leadership of the United Church of Christ, concerned with the political rhetoric aimed at the marginalized people of society in this election cycle, spoke out in support for and solidarity with a Holy Week statement released by The Episcopal Church. The UCC national officers and Council of Conference Ministers, in testimony to the ecumenical relationship between the two churches, expressed gratitude to The Episcopal Church for "the courage to speak, and for granting us the kindness of joining them in this statement."
With all of these things on my heart, I read the Op-Ed by Colin McEnroe in The Hartford Courant today, CT Republicans Must Denounce Donald Trump
On Wednesday, the candidate broke new ground. He threatened his own party and the city of Cleveland with violence if he doesn't get his way.
Trump told CNN that, if he arrives at the Republican National Convention with a substantial delegate lead but something short of the requisite 1,237, "you'd get riots" if he were not automatically anointed as nominee.
McEnroe goes on to write
We have some good Republican leaders here in Connecticut. It's time for them to speak, with the primary five weeks away. "I'm staying neutral" doesn't wash anymore. Mark Boughton, J.R. Romano, Themis Klarides, Len Fasano, Joe Markley, Rob Kane, John Kissel, Toni Boucher, Kevin Witkos. You're good people. I know many of you. Maybe it's time to assemble in one place for a press conference to tell Trump what he can expect, in the form of delegates, from our state.
I hope someone will step up to the plate and run against Themis this year. I hope Themis will show the courage and leadership to take up Colin’s challenge. Meanwhile, I will continue to seek what God is calling me to, including exploring the best ways of bringing love of our neighbors back into our political discourse.
March 19th
Why am I going to Missional Voices?
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 03/19/2016 - 09:10A few weeks ago, I received an email asking, why I was planning on attending the 2016 Missional Voices gathering at Virginia Theological Seminary in April. At the time, I didn’t have a good response. Since then, I’ve been added to a Facebook group of people attending the gathering where some interesting posts have been shared. My thoughts are starting to take shape.
The starting point of my interest came from a few different places. Last year, I attended a poetry conference at Yale Divinity School. During a guided meditation, I had a strong sense of God calling me in to ministry. It has started a period of discernment, where I am seeking to get a better sense of exactly what sort of ministry God is calling me into. I believe it may be a calling to the ordained priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
As I’ve spoken with my priest, my bishop, members of the commission on ministry, and my discernment committee, I’ve talked a lot about the unexpected. My experience at the poetry conference, in fact, even my attendance, was unexpected. I suspect that the path ahead will present many additional unexpected twists and turns.
I enjoy seeking out the unexpected and am excited about discovering whatever is in store for me in the current leg of my journey. I don’t want to jump the gun and start exploring down a path I’m not meant to go, but I do want to explore what I can.
One of the subject areas for study for those seeking ordination in the Episcopal priesthood is “Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Missiology.” I’ve encountered plenty of Christian Theology over the years and I look forward to further studies in the topic. However, “Missionary Theology and Missiology” was a new idea to me and one that I’m looking forward to exploring.
Another part of my journey is social media. I’m currently the social media manager for a community health center. It is a language I am very comfortable with, and I wonder how it fits into my calling. Seeing a post about “Missional Voices” in a social media group caught my attention, so I have signed up to go to the event, similar to how I signed up to go to the poetry conference last year.
I’m not sure what I am expecting out of the gathering. I am hoping it will not be yet another church conference or academic gathering. I don’t think it will be. The conference website has a lot of phrases that make me excited.
“Imagine a church that breaks free of its walls…”
-The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew DoyleMissional Voices will be a weekend of thinking, planning, and dreaming about the future of missional communities and innovative ministries in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. This will be a place where dynamic incubation of new ideas is the norm – not the exception – and where people doing uncommon ministry find support and encouragement.
We want to inspire and propel the Church to engage in God’s mission in life-changing ways. That is why a significant feature of Missional Voices will focus on practical engagement in incubator sessions where we can begin to dream about where God is calling us to participate in God’s mission.
March 14th
Religion and Politics
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 03/14/2016 - 06:46In a Facebook group of Episcopalians, the discussion of politics has come up, and I started to write a comment, which is probably better as a blog post.
I struggle to find the right words for this time and space, perhaps because of my particularly perspective in this discussion. Two years ago, I was seeking political office, as a candidate for State Representative. I had run for the same office two years earlier, and my wife ran for State Rep back in 2004.
Now, I am seeking a different office as a discernment committee explores whether I am called to become an Episcopal priest.
I struggle to find the right balance between separation of church and state, and a "both and" approach to living out our Baptismal vows.
I remember realizing during the 2014 campaign that I needed to say, at least to myself quietly, Psalm 19:14 before each political speech. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
How well are the various candidates making their words acceptable in God’s sight? Two articles have come up that caught my attention.
Ian Markam, Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary wrote this opinion piece: Denying the Imago Dei: The triumph of Donald Trump
"Trump is wrong because intemperate language against women, immigrants, the disabled, and Muslims is an act of sin. Our civic discourse should always be elevated. "
The Christian Post wrote Donald Trump Is a Scam. Evangelical Voters Should Back Away
"Trump claims to be a Christian, yet says he has never asked for forgiveness.
While God, in His wondrous creativity, has drawn people to Himself through the saving grace of Jesus Christ in many different ways, there are certain non-negotiable actions needed to become a Christian: One must repent of their sins and follow Christ as Lord and Savior. Trump doesn't talk this way, even when urged to.
Further, his words and actions do not demonstrate the "fruit of the spirit.""
I think these are important things to think about in terms of every candidate. What are the fruits of their spirits? Are they honoring the Imago Dei?
People are comparing 2016 to 1968. Others are hoping it will be more like 1964 or that the Republican convention will be like 1920.
People are talking about the good old days when broadcast journalism had anchors like Walter Cronkite, Harry Reasoner, and John Chancellor. They are questioning rhetoric of taking America back or making America great again, as code words for racism.
I believe we need better journalism, and it starts with each one of us. We need to reject political coverage that reduces discourse to a reality television show. We need to seek detailed news, and well reasoned political commentators. We need to realize that we are the government, and we need to be involved to bring respect back to our political discourse.
Perhaps most importantly, we need to pray for our country, that it not be driven by hubris, but by humility, and love for everyone created in the image of God.
