Community of Saints: Rector's Statement

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

On the occasion of St. Michael’s 75^th anniversary, we have had the opportunity to reflect on those who have come before us, those who are here now, and those for whom we are working to build the kingdom. What we find are not models of perfection, but a diversity of gifts and faithfulness that have been shaped by God’s grace.

In the Episcopal Church, we celebrate traditional feast days of recognizable saints, such as Mary, Peter, and Michael. We also have liturgical resources that lift up the examples we find in the Great Cloud of Witnesses.

The Prayer Book shows a great reluctance to define the term [saints] or to make specific identifications. The Catechism touches on this issue only briefly, identifying the communion of the saints in broad relational terms: “The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise.” In Christian language throughout the ages, “saint” has carried two referents, a general one that applies to the whole Church—which is the meaning invoked here—and a more specific one that applies to individuals who have been identified as “chosen vessels of [God’s] grace and the lights of the world in their generations” from among their fellows. This ambiguity is appropriate to the range of theologies around sainthood and holiness within The Episcopal Church. While some Episcopalians actively venerate the saints, others hold positions proceeding from Reformation desires to reform the cults of saints, such as those found in the Thirty-Nine Articles (Article XXII, BCP, 872). In other words, the ambiguity exists for the sake of inclusivity and maintains the Anglican tradition of a comprehensive approach to questions not decisively settled by Scripture and the teaching of the received ecumenical councils.[1]

The concept for this exhibit comes from our Episcopal understanding of sainthood – that all are potential vessels of holiness because of the gift of God’s grace. Our hope is that the artwork, which will be displayed alongside photos of parishioners past and present in the parish hall, will provoke curiosity for the saints alongside whom we have, and do, and will walk.

I am deeply thankful for the thoughtful curation of this exhibit by the leader of the St. Michael’s Arts and Faith Ministry, Maureen Doallas. As usual, she has summoned the talents of a diverse group of artists, who greatly enrich our world view with their work. A tremendous thanks to Dana Ellyn, Elise Ritter, Christopher Santer, Kathleen Stark, Kreg Yingst, and George Ziobro for their generosity and contributions. The celebration of this anniversary leaves me inspired by those who have gone before, grateful for those who I am privileged to lead alongside, and hopeful for those who will come after us. May time spent among these saints serve as a window into the depth and breadth of God’s faithful people.

Beth Franklin
Rector, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church