The Bishop's Notes
Bishop Philip Duncan, II
The Coastline November 2007
Bishop Philip M. Duncan, II
Pensacola,FL
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth...” St. John 1:14
It is difficult to lose a parent or a child or a spouse or anyone we deeply love. I recently rushed home from a meeting in London, England of the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, in which our theological groundings were discussed and how we might draw more closely together for the mission and ministry of the Gospel.
I rushed home because my mother had taken ill and was not doing well. Two days following my arrival home, “I lost her.” In truth I did not lose her, she died. That was a hard reality for our family to face - we gathered and held her whom had once held us, in our arms of love.The Covenant Hospice Center at West Florida Hospital was wonderful and kind and professional and they had and have my profoundest thanks for the work and ministry they do. They made this time holy and blessed. I thank them and all those within the Diocese who have held the Duncan family in their prayers and thoughts during this time of our grief and sorrow. You have eased our pain and helped us honor “Miss Jessie” in our family time together and the memories we have shared. That has been both gift and grace.
The work at which I was engaged at the St. Katharine Retreat Center in London was an opportunity to share and discuss how it is that we as two church bodies may come together and share both sacramentally and missionally, in the work we believe God has called and is calling us to do. With the past General Convention’s approval of limited Eucharistic Sharing under the guidelines of the Study Document, and with the approval of the two Bishops exercising jurisdiction, I would encourage those congregations where appropriate and possible, to deepen and strengthen their relationships with the local United Methodist Church. It is possible to share deeply in proclaiming the Gospel with our sisters and brothers in the United Methodist Church and to mutually learn from and about each other in why we believe and practice our faith in Jesus Christ the way we do.
I thank those who are engaged in the ecumenical work within our Diocese which allows us to listen, share and talk with other branches of the Body of Christ. Our sharing with the Evangelical Lutheran Church is a primary example of our moving forward in living into what we believe is God’s call to us to come together “that they may be one, even as we (Jesus and the Father) are one.” (St. John 17:11)
We will celebrate Thanksgiving with its richness of returning thanks to God for the many blessings we have received as a nation, a people and as persons of faith. We then begin the seasons of Advent and Christmas in which we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Kingdom of God, and then the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus, the Christ. Word made flesh - the Incarnation of the Most High God - is about what God has done and is doing for and with us. It is about God’s righteousness and acting on our behalf so that He “pitched His tent in our midst” that we might know His grace and glory. It is all about God and His Gift in Jesus Christ for us and our salvation, that we might respond with the incarnation of that endless love poured out and shared with others.
As “the Word was made flesh,” may this be a time for us to embrace that Word that we might share with others the Gospel lived through our lives. May this Christ event be for us, a time of our self-giving as a response for what we have received from Christ Jesus our Lord - Word made flesh who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
Blessings and peace to each of you during these coming Holy Seasons.
I am,
Yours in His Holy Name,
Bishop Duncan
bishopduncan@diocgc.org
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