November 2021 Newsletter
Interview with The Rev. Canon Eric McIntosh
by Rev. Martin Rafanan
Since 2013, The Rev. Canon Eric McIntosh has served as Priest in Charge at St. James’ Episcopal Church, where he is engaged in daily urban ministry, church planting, and offering pastoral care to the Penn Hills Community. He is developing a multi-racial congregation that is both learning and embracing the Episcopal tradition while building a beloved community of worshippers collaborating for community restoration, renewal and revival.
As a leader in the Pittsburgh Diocese of the Episcopal Church in Southwestern Pennsylvania and as a pastor of a parish in Penn Hills, Canon Eric has his hands full. In the midst of a complex ministry, Canon Eric likes to pause and to reflect on the work of the church. He wants to make sense of the church’s participation in the community, its responsibilities in the midst of a pandemic and the throes of social justice demands. How can the church re-imagine itself for a post-COVID reality? In the strenuous work of re-planting the church, how can we celebrate what we have done well in the past while having the grace to let go of that legacy long enough to transpose it into a different key. This is incarnational ministry, the work of the Beloved Community.
Canon Eric is attentive to the church’s internal conversation around the graceful interludes of the Spirit’s call, leading and guiding so that we do not stray into false pathways but remain true to our Brother Jesus. Although extremely focused on specific action to address social justice issues, Canon Eric is always willing to take a step back and to discern through Scripture what is needed for repentance, renewal, and restoration. To move forward, we must always stay grounded in Jesus’ call to service and compassion for the neighbor. We must be equipped to move into nonviolent direct action that will strengthen our communities and encourage our neighbors.
Canon Eric is writing a new curriculum focused on the “Beloved Community Hermeneutic.” As we read the Scriptures through the lens of community, we are called to “Sabbath living,” addressing the needs of the earth and our neighbors. We begin to see how the nonviolent character of Jesus’ ministry builds the “soul power” to create movement and change. As we focus on God incarnate in both creation and in our humanity, we learn what it means to walk humbly with all that God has given. We are given the eyes to see Jesus “fully,” a perspective that undermines the false gods of our culture.
Most of all, Pastor Eric loves the people God has given him in his life. “The greatest strength of this region, of Pittsburgh, is the people,” he says. “God is at work in us and God uses us for the transformation of the world. That is why we can never see people as expendable.” As the Beloved Community, our goal is not just to react to injustice but to identify and rediscover how Jesus forms us and re-forms us for action in the public square. The issues we engage in are just the superficial manifestation of what needs to be exposed in our humanity. Unless we are willing to look at this place in ourselves, no change can take place. Our work is to grow into the fullness of God’s reign, and we do that among God’s people, embracing one another, building relationships, being in “each others’ face” for the upbuilding of the Beloved Community.
Book Review - Native
by Rev. Jocelyn Johnston
Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God is the second book by Kaitlin B. Curtice, “a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, a Christian, and a poet who speaks on faith and justice within the church as it relates to Indigenous peoples.” The book is organized into five parts: Beginnings, Searching for Meaning, The Struggle for Truth, Working, and Bearing Fruit in a New World. There is a study guide available on her website, which could be useful for a discussion group, or just individually.
Native is written in the style of a memoir, and focuses on her experiences and journey as a woman both of European and Indigenous descent. She shares stories of the difficulties of her childhood and the assimilation she experienced growing up. As a young adult, the desire to learn more about her Potawatomi culture grew, and she began her journey to lean more fully into her Potowatomi identity. She has also been going through a journey of deconstructing and reconstructing her faith, as she was raised Southern Baptist, no longer identifies with that denomination, but still considers herself Christian. Even so, she is not afraid to speak about the ways that the church has been complicit in historical systems of oppression and white supremacy. She challenges us in many ways to educate ourselves, to join in solidarity with our siblings who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color; to fight against systems of racism, oppression, and white supremacy; and to work for equity and justice for all people.
Though this book mentions various parts of our collective American history, such as slavery and colonization and boarding schools for Indigenous children, it does not provide a thorough history regarding Indigenous people. I would recommend looking to other resources for that information. This gives a more in-depth look at the experiences and perspective of one woman, which is eye-opening and challenging in many ways.
LSTC Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium
LSTC is partnering with Other+Wise for the 13th Annual Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium on November 16 and 17, 2021. The event is free and available online. The theme for this year's symposium is "On Our Way to Truth and Healing." The symposium educates seminarians, church leaders, and allies about the work of Vine Deloria Jr. and about Indigenous culture, movements, and activism. This year, symposium content will focus on the intersection between Indian boarding schools and Christian and theological education. Click for schedule information and registration.
Land Acknowledgement resources
The practice of including a land acknowledgement at the beginning of gatherings is growing increasingly common. This practice is intended to draw our attention to the tribes and people who have stewarded the land on which we gather, and to encourage further learning about their history and present circumstances. Below are some resources for learning more about land acknowledgements, and taking steps to include a land acknowledgement as part of your congregation's worship services.
Search your address to find out which Indigenous tribes have called this land home.
Find examples of land acknowledgements from Vance Blackfox, Director for the ELCA's American Indian Alaska Native Tribal Nations Desk, and read his article in November's Living Lutheran magazine.
Connect with the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, which "promotes the socio-economic development of the Native American community and others who experience the same type of economic difficulties in the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area."
Read this local land acknowledgement shared at the installation (formally, "invitation to ecumenical service") of Pastor Kimberly Greway at St. John's Lutheran, North Versailles.
Save the Date - MLK observance
The Authentic Diversity and Justice team is planning events for MLK weekend 2022 around the theme "Our Dream". Dr. King had a dream; what are our dreams for ourselves and our communities as we continue this work?
Events will include a worship service on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 4pm at Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, as well as resources for engagement in service activities on Monday, January 17. The Rev. Lamont Wells, program director for LuMin/Campus Ministry in the ELCA and president of the African Descent Lutheran Association, will be the preacher, and the Rev. Heather Lubold (Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church) and Bishop Abraham Allende (who will be serving as Acting Bishop in our synod in January and February) will preside at worship.