2019 Commencement Address
“All In”
Dean Don H. Compier
Let’s consider a story of two chalices and two book ends.
Dear graduates: we are sending you off for ministry at a difficult time for the Church. We have lost respect due to the lamentable actions of some of our representatives. The cultural dominance of the Constantinian area is probably gone forever. And yet people so desperately need to hear the good news of God’s love for them and about God’s family ready to embrace us all. This is a time for effective evangelism! How fitting that today we celebrate the completion of work by our first cohort of lay evangelism students. But all ministers, lay and ordained, must be part of the great revival God’s Spirit is stirring up in our midst.
How appropriate that this school bears the name of the apostle of the plains, Bishop Jackson Kemper. Bishop Martin Field has kindly brought us the chalice he gave to Christ Church in Boonville, Missouri in 1844. It will once more be a vessel to share Christ’s very blood with us.
In 1835, at age 46, the General Convention appointed Rev. Kemper missionary bishop of the Northwest—by which they meant everything from Indiana out to the Pacific Coast and up to the Canadian border! At the beginning Bishop Kemper’s total resources consisted of two clergy persons and two church buildings. When he retired in 1859, he and his collaborators had established eight dioceses, including those of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and California, plus six missionary jurisdictions covering the rocky mountain west.
One major factor in the Bishop’s amazing success: he went all in. He determined to visit all of his far-flung parishes annually, weather and road conditions permitting. His most common mode of transportation: open wagons that had a tendency to overturn. Bruises and broken ribs did not deter him. Neither did the future state bird of Minnesota, the swarming mosquito. Bishop Kemper lived frugally. At his death his clergy calculated that he had given away two thirds of his income every year. He particularly cared for the special needs of his always under compensated clergy families. He openly expressed what motivated his exemplary devotion: “the priceless value of the soul.” Bishop Kemper did not want anyone to miss out on the good news of God’s love, the blessing of the sacraments, or the companionship of Christ’s Church. And so he consecrated all of his time, his body, his resources.
Thanks to the courtesy of the good people of St. Paul’s in Clay Center, Kansas, we will employ a second chalice today. It was once reserved for the exclusive use of Mai DeKonza, the only African American member of the parish, a remarkable poet, playwright, speaker and prohibitionist. She was born in 1870, the daughter of a former slave and a white man. Though she was largely ignored and experienced deplorable segregation at God’s table, Mai was a devoted member of St. Paul’s from 1900 until her death in 1959.
What caused her to go back time and again to a place where she was not wanted? Her letters to Bishop Wise make it abundantly clear that Mai was all in. In spite of its very evident flaws, she believed in God’s call to the Episcopal Church. One Easter morning she walked six blocks to church in her crutches, only to find out that the time of the service had been moved up and she was arriving just in time for the breakfast after—at which of course she was not welcomed. And yet she kept coming. And she kept writing Bishop Wise. She refused to give up on God’s corporate purposes or the Easter promise of hope and transformation. Ignoring continual reproaches and her own physical limitations, Mai just kept coming.
Now about those bookends: Graduates, you might remember that way back at orientation we read and discussed Life Together, a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We wanted to get a sense of the kind of Christian community to which we are called. We learned that agreeing with each other, or even liking each other, has no relevance. We are called to worship and serve with the most diverse bunch of folks and to be molded by the Holy Spirit into one body.
I would strongly suggest that as soon as possible you read or re-read another classic by Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. I know I shouldn’t be giving you yet another assignment at commencement, but I have never encountered a finer commentary on the Gospel lesson we heard this morning.
I think Bonhoeffer’s story is familiar to all of us. Let’s just say that he went all in. And he urges every follower of Jesus (the original title of the book in German is Nachfolgen, following after) to do the same, to walk in the path of Jesus even if it leads to the cross. No cheap grace! Bonhoeffer insists that to follow Jesus means to die to our old self, to our pride, and our concern for our safety, comfort, and prosperity. Like our Lord we must become persons who exist for the good of others. In the words of U2, we give ourselves away. This is the only path to true life. All in.
Not all Episcopal seminaries observe the Holy Eucharist at commencement, but I can’t imagine anything more fitting. For at this holy table we remember how God goes all in, becoming human out of deep love for us and the entire creation, in total solidarity with us. We celebrate how Jesus gives all for us, his very self.
The bread represents His gift of his resurrected and glorified humanity to us. The wine which this morning we will receive from the cups of Bishop Kemper and Sister DeKonza represents his very life force, poured into us. Here at this altar we in turn present ourselves, our lives and bodies, all of us, as a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice to God, for the divine glory and the sake of all creatures so deeply cherished by the Holy Trinity. We become what we eat and drink. We are made very body of Christ.
And that is what will win our world to God’s love and bring all into the embrace of Christ’s family, the same Spirit setting up permanent residence in all of us. You have learned many valuable things during your time at BKSM. But in the end, what you know isn’t what matters most. People will be drawn by who you are: living members of Christ.
Those marked as Christ’s own forever engage daily in very concrete, tangible actions. First, we pray. That is, we converse regularly with God, seeking divine guidance and strength. Nothing in your future ministry will be more important than disciplined, regular spiritual practices. God wants to encounter us and to mold us every single day. There is something special about people who regularly spend time in the presence of the Holy. Others notice, and they become curious. This is an age of fervent spiritual interest. People are looking for good spiritual companions along the way. Be ready to share your experiences with them.
Second, cherish every single person you meet. No exceptions! Even the most annoying people, even enemies, are made in God’s image. Christ died out of love for them. And Christ makes his appeal to us through them. People have been noticing the quality of our collegiality at BKSM. I have heard reports about how folks are impressed that our graduates don’t erect silos, grand stand, or compete. We love being in community with each other, supporting one another, enjoying the great blessing of Christian friendship.
I particularly commend this graduating class for the love and care you have so constantly demonstrated one to another. Ignoring categories like future ministerial order, diocesan origin, or even political leanings, you firmly valued and supported each other. I know that those bonds will continue.
Now we must extend that same consideration and welcome to people not yet part of our family. When all is said and done, it’s all about relationships. As a band of friends, we evangelize new people who have become our friends. And in the process we too are transformed, called into ever deeper commitment to God’s reign. All in.
I am glad that you will all be ministering fairly close by. I really look forward to seeing all the amazing fruits of your devotion! I am absolutely convinced that great things lie ahead for Christ’s Church in this part of the vineyard. The revival is on!
Always remember that passage from Ephesians found in our daily office. Say it with me if you like.
“Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to Him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.” Amen.
Dean Don H. Compier
Let’s consider a story of two chalices and two book ends.
Dear graduates: we are sending you off for ministry at a difficult time for the Church. We have lost respect due to the lamentable actions of some of our representatives. The cultural dominance of the Constantinian area is probably gone forever. And yet people so desperately need to hear the good news of God’s love for them and about God’s family ready to embrace us all. This is a time for effective evangelism! How fitting that today we celebrate the completion of work by our first cohort of lay evangelism students. But all ministers, lay and ordained, must be part of the great revival God’s Spirit is stirring up in our midst.
How appropriate that this school bears the name of the apostle of the plains, Bishop Jackson Kemper. Bishop Martin Field has kindly brought us the chalice he gave to Christ Church in Boonville, Missouri in 1844. It will once more be a vessel to share Christ’s very blood with us.
In 1835, at age 46, the General Convention appointed Rev. Kemper missionary bishop of the Northwest—by which they meant everything from Indiana out to the Pacific Coast and up to the Canadian border! At the beginning Bishop Kemper’s total resources consisted of two clergy persons and two church buildings. When he retired in 1859, he and his collaborators had established eight dioceses, including those of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and California, plus six missionary jurisdictions covering the rocky mountain west.
One major factor in the Bishop’s amazing success: he went all in. He determined to visit all of his far-flung parishes annually, weather and road conditions permitting. His most common mode of transportation: open wagons that had a tendency to overturn. Bruises and broken ribs did not deter him. Neither did the future state bird of Minnesota, the swarming mosquito. Bishop Kemper lived frugally. At his death his clergy calculated that he had given away two thirds of his income every year. He particularly cared for the special needs of his always under compensated clergy families. He openly expressed what motivated his exemplary devotion: “the priceless value of the soul.” Bishop Kemper did not want anyone to miss out on the good news of God’s love, the blessing of the sacraments, or the companionship of Christ’s Church. And so he consecrated all of his time, his body, his resources.
Thanks to the courtesy of the good people of St. Paul’s in Clay Center, Kansas, we will employ a second chalice today. It was once reserved for the exclusive use of Mai DeKonza, the only African American member of the parish, a remarkable poet, playwright, speaker and prohibitionist. She was born in 1870, the daughter of a former slave and a white man. Though she was largely ignored and experienced deplorable segregation at God’s table, Mai was a devoted member of St. Paul’s from 1900 until her death in 1959.
What caused her to go back time and again to a place where she was not wanted? Her letters to Bishop Wise make it abundantly clear that Mai was all in. In spite of its very evident flaws, she believed in God’s call to the Episcopal Church. One Easter morning she walked six blocks to church in her crutches, only to find out that the time of the service had been moved up and she was arriving just in time for the breakfast after—at which of course she was not welcomed. And yet she kept coming. And she kept writing Bishop Wise. She refused to give up on God’s corporate purposes or the Easter promise of hope and transformation. Ignoring continual reproaches and her own physical limitations, Mai just kept coming.
Now about those bookends: Graduates, you might remember that way back at orientation we read and discussed Life Together, a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We wanted to get a sense of the kind of Christian community to which we are called. We learned that agreeing with each other, or even liking each other, has no relevance. We are called to worship and serve with the most diverse bunch of folks and to be molded by the Holy Spirit into one body.
I would strongly suggest that as soon as possible you read or re-read another classic by Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. I know I shouldn’t be giving you yet another assignment at commencement, but I have never encountered a finer commentary on the Gospel lesson we heard this morning.
I think Bonhoeffer’s story is familiar to all of us. Let’s just say that he went all in. And he urges every follower of Jesus (the original title of the book in German is Nachfolgen, following after) to do the same, to walk in the path of Jesus even if it leads to the cross. No cheap grace! Bonhoeffer insists that to follow Jesus means to die to our old self, to our pride, and our concern for our safety, comfort, and prosperity. Like our Lord we must become persons who exist for the good of others. In the words of U2, we give ourselves away. This is the only path to true life. All in.
Not all Episcopal seminaries observe the Holy Eucharist at commencement, but I can’t imagine anything more fitting. For at this holy table we remember how God goes all in, becoming human out of deep love for us and the entire creation, in total solidarity with us. We celebrate how Jesus gives all for us, his very self.
The bread represents His gift of his resurrected and glorified humanity to us. The wine which this morning we will receive from the cups of Bishop Kemper and Sister DeKonza represents his very life force, poured into us. Here at this altar we in turn present ourselves, our lives and bodies, all of us, as a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice to God, for the divine glory and the sake of all creatures so deeply cherished by the Holy Trinity. We become what we eat and drink. We are made very body of Christ.
And that is what will win our world to God’s love and bring all into the embrace of Christ’s family, the same Spirit setting up permanent residence in all of us. You have learned many valuable things during your time at BKSM. But in the end, what you know isn’t what matters most. People will be drawn by who you are: living members of Christ.
Those marked as Christ’s own forever engage daily in very concrete, tangible actions. First, we pray. That is, we converse regularly with God, seeking divine guidance and strength. Nothing in your future ministry will be more important than disciplined, regular spiritual practices. God wants to encounter us and to mold us every single day. There is something special about people who regularly spend time in the presence of the Holy. Others notice, and they become curious. This is an age of fervent spiritual interest. People are looking for good spiritual companions along the way. Be ready to share your experiences with them.
Second, cherish every single person you meet. No exceptions! Even the most annoying people, even enemies, are made in God’s image. Christ died out of love for them. And Christ makes his appeal to us through them. People have been noticing the quality of our collegiality at BKSM. I have heard reports about how folks are impressed that our graduates don’t erect silos, grand stand, or compete. We love being in community with each other, supporting one another, enjoying the great blessing of Christian friendship.
I particularly commend this graduating class for the love and care you have so constantly demonstrated one to another. Ignoring categories like future ministerial order, diocesan origin, or even political leanings, you firmly valued and supported each other. I know that those bonds will continue.
Now we must extend that same consideration and welcome to people not yet part of our family. When all is said and done, it’s all about relationships. As a band of friends, we evangelize new people who have become our friends. And in the process we too are transformed, called into ever deeper commitment to God’s reign. All in.
I am glad that you will all be ministering fairly close by. I really look forward to seeing all the amazing fruits of your devotion! I am absolutely convinced that great things lie ahead for Christ’s Church in this part of the vineyard. The revival is on!
Always remember that passage from Ephesians found in our daily office. Say it with me if you like.
“Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to Him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.” Amen.