I used a very polysyllabic word today, then added a further syllable, marking almost certainly the first time that the eight syllables of cisheteropatriarchy were uttered from the sanctuary of the Church of the Holy Apostles. This was part of an otherwise genial "stewardship homily" - an annual series in which three parishioners share what the church means to them and why they support it. Mine was this year's second, and fell on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day Commemoration, already a full slate, so I kept my remarks brief - except for that word!
I gave a last stewardship homily once before - seventeeen years ago! - and that was the framework for my remarks today. Much has happened since 2009, including that I'm becoming one of the church's old-timers, but I focused on only one: the long awaited completion of our Mission House renovation, which was already a desideratum back then, when it was known as the "elevator project." It was a special joy to invoke the name of the late parishioner whose passion project this was, while gesturing toward the mission house entrance: "Marnie, we did it!"
The polysyllabic word came a little later, as I reflected on how grateful I am to be part of the Episcopal Church, the Diocese and New York, and our own church, in these times where we witness true Christianity in the face of those "so-called Christians who are trying to force a reactionary white supremacist heteropatriarchy on us all." That's a lot of syllables, I quipped after heteropatriarchy, but let me add another ... and it was time for cisheteropatriarchy!
I recalled inspiring preaching on the sin/heresy of Christian nationalism from our bishop, two years ago, and from our rector, regularly - gesturing toward where Bishop Heyd had spoken (from the floor) and toward the pulpit. All this makes sense in this place, I added, taking in the whole space with a gesture, which saw the ordination of the first openly lesbian priest in the Episcopal Church in 1977, just three years after the Episcopal Church had been forcibly nudged to accept the ordination of women, acknowledging with a gesture our female clergy leaders.
I've mentioned my gestures as they were part of my shpiel. I'd begun, in fact, acknowledging that I'd heard last week's stewardship homily virtually, and pointed toward the livestream camera in the choir loft to which, since returning from the pandemic, the congregation makes a point to wave during each service. While the polysyllables were probably lost on many in the congregation, I think everyone got a sense of the powerful work the congregation does on so many fronts, and that this work deserves, and needs, support. My closing word? "Pledge!"
