Dear people of God in The Episcopal Church:
Last year, I had the honor to preach at the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas on the Feast of Absalom Jones. That occasion gave me the opportunity to revisit the work that the Honorable Byron Rushing and Mr. Arthur Sudler have done to enlarge and correct our understanding of Blessed Absalom’s legacy and gave me renewed appreciation for the way in which the pastoral and the prophetic were intertwined in his ministry. They write:
He denounced slavery, and warned the oppressors to “clean their hands of slaves.” To him, God was the Father, who always acted on “behalf of the oppressed and distressed.” But it was his constant visiting and mild manner that made him beloved by his congregation and by the community.
In these difficult times, when even Christian communities can be strained by the forces of division and despair, our church urgently needs more leaders like Absalom Jones—leaders who act on behalf of the oppressed and distressed of our times, and at the same time embody the command Jesus gives us in the Gospel appointed for his feast day: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
He denounced slavery, and warned the oppressors to “clean their hands of slaves.” To him, God was the Father, who always acted on “behalf of the oppressed and distressed.” But it was his constant visiting and mild manner that made him beloved by his congregation and by the community.
To make your gift:
Call: (212) 716-6002. OR. Online
Let us give generously, knowing that our support today will bear fruit for generations to come.
Faithfully,
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe
Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church