For the past three months I have been reading other diocesan newspapers with new interest and from a slightly different perspective. The new interest is framed by a question: “What do these various diocesan periodicals communicate and how do they communicate it?’’
In answer to this question, it appears that some concentrate on local news within the diocese while others tend to report national or international Church news. Most are a mixture of both local and national or international events.
The different perspective from which I read these diocesan chronicles is that of being a new bishop. The related question is: “What do these various newspapers tell me about the diocese: the people, clergy, work and ministry of the diocese?’ There are almost as many different answers as there are diocesan newspapers.
A related question of special interest tome is: ‘What does this newspaper tell me about the bishop of this diocese, his concerns, leadership style, and vision for his people?’
In those newspapers that have no bishop’s column or its equivalent, the answer is often difficult to discern. In those diocesan tabloids that do have such columns or letters from the bishop, the style and emphasis varies with each bishop. Some offer a travel log with commentary, others write on diocesan or broader Church social programs and issues. Still others share their reflections in the form of meditations or written homilies.
In short, content and format seem to vary with each diocesan, reflecting his personality, his understanding of the ministry, and his vision for the mission of the diocese.
Having selected a name for this column — “Wanbli Tokaheya Toowa”, “Leading Eagle Writes’, I now ask myself the same questions that have informed my reading of other diocesan newspapers: “What will I write, how will I write it, and what is my purpose in writing such a column?’
As I share briefly answers to these self-imposed questions, lam aware of the long history of the pastoral letter as a form of communication. St. Paul comes immediately to mind. Paul, the Apostle, wrote with a sense of urgency and conviction to the various churches in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, etc., which comprised his ‘diocese”.
Paul’s letters addressed specific controversies and resulted in epistles of profound and practical theological insight and understanding. At times both pastoral and prophetic in tone, Paul’s letters represent a rich mixture of good preaching, theological argument, admonition and sensitive support and encouragement.
Jumping ahead in time and turning to our own Anglican heritage, I am reminded of our rich tradition of Anglican pastoral epistles. These letters of consolation, support, and encouragement, while addressed to individuals, contained some of the same elements that Paul’s letters contained: proclamation of the Gospel, a call for repentance and deep spiritual concern and support.
My purpose in writing these pastoral letters in the form of a monthly column will, I hope, be guided by St. Paul and the Anglican Divines. Moreover, I shall be attempting to address specific concerns, problems and issues which confront us here in the Diocese of South Dakota. I suspect that at times these concerns will represent issues that face the larger Church and the world.
My intent in writing these letters is that they will be informative, educational, prophetic, pastoral and reflective of my ministry as Bishop of the Church of God in this Diocese and beyond the Diocese. While I have a number of ‘column topics” in mind, I shall try to remain open to timely topics of interest and importance as I live and move about the Diocese and national Church.
Said differently, while recognizing that I am an incurable teacher, I promise not to bore you with written lectures couched in theological jargon and passed off as pastoral letters. I would very much appreciate your response to what I write, through either personal letters or letters to the editor, in the spirit that good theological discussion leads to thoughtful religious living.
In addition to this column, I will be sharing through the ChurchNews a monthly calendar based on a yearly calendar (which will be mailed to congregations shortly under separate cover). I am convinced that unless I control the calendar, it will control me.
As a matter of stewardship of time, I am asking that you be sensitive and aware of this calendar in planning meetings and events within the Diocese.
I will also be sharing good ideas that I pick up from various clergy persons and congregations as I travel about the Diocese, under the rubric Out of the Ordinary (a title suggested to me by Fr. Paul Davis as a title for this column — cleverly subtle).
A related concluding observation: of the various diocesan newspapers that I have perused of late, the South Dakota Episcopal ChurchNews stands out as one of the most balanced, informative, well written (and edited) and laid-out of the various diocesan ‘holy rags”. This doesn’t happen by chance or accident. It is the work and ministry of Mary Hobbs (“St. Mary-of-the-Press”?). From one former editor to another editor: an outstanding job, Mary. Keep the presses rolling!