Reflections from the EAM Consultation in Minneapolis
by The Rev. Monica Whitaker
A few weeks ago, I gathered with over 120 other participants for the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries Consultation in Minneapolis. The theme of our gathering, “God Sees Us,” was a poignant reminder that Asian Americans and many other people of color often feel marginalized, oppressed, invisible, or erased by the dominant culture. During the opening eucharist at St. Mark’s Cathedral, we were introduced to a hymn for meditation by second-generation Taiwanese American songwriter Gloria Fanchiang. “The God who sees us” is an original worship song that references the story of the Egyptian slave Hagar from the Book of Genesis. After being mistreated by Sarai, Hagar ran away from her mistress only to return after being visited by an angel of the Lord who told her that she would give birth to a son named Ishmael. In response to this news, Hagar exclaimed:
“You are the God who sees me, for I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Each of us desires to be seen, acknowledged, and appreciated as part of a community, and we long to become God’s Beloved Community. But often we resist celebrating God’s gift of diversity, and we treat people who are different as “other.” As someone who has been “othered” by her country and church, Ms. Fanchiang writes:
“We have been forgotten and abandoned
Cast aside, erased, and counted out
Centuries of hatred and exclusion
Stories lost and rarely talked about. . .
Though the world ignores our pain
Our cries to You are not in vain
You see us, God
You see us and You hear.”
This song reminds us of God’s enduring attentiveness, especially when we feel that our presence is not welcomed, or our voices are discounted. During the opening plenary session, the themes of racism, diversity, and inclusion were discussed in more depth by a panel of bishops. Bishop Suffragan Allen Shin (Diocese of New York), Bishop Craig Loya (TEC in Minnesota), and Bishop Provisional Prince Singh (Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan) referenced a recent report from the House of Bishops Theology Committee entitled, Realizing Beloved Community that was edited by Bp. Shin. Beloved Community is a beautiful vision and hope for humanity. It is the way of life to which Jesus’s followers are called. In building beloved community, we must do the hard and holy work of racial healing. We must recognize that diversity is holy and understand that inclusion is about relationship; it is a gift for all; is about intentionally having diverse voices heard and respected.
Bp. Loya, who was consecrated as bishop just seven days after the murder of George Floyd, shared how the work of racial healing is central to his ministry. He asserted that racism is rooted in fear of the other and being closed to the presence of the other. We are called to rediscover the image of God within ourselves and in one another.
Racial reconciliation is part of following the way of Jesus. It should not be understood or approached simply as an ecclesiastical mandate. Dismantling racism is fundamentally spiritual work. By “making space for a real encounter with the holy,” we can not only right historical wrongs but also “rediscover what is truest about our own souls.” Essentially, our work to end racism is a holy and profound gift from God.
May we recommit to the promises of our Baptismal Covenant and do the hard and holy work that can lead us closer to the realization of God’s Beloved Community.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Monica
