An Open Letter to Bishop Marc.

I have been a member of this diocese since 1967 and seen many of our clergy men and women in the papers for one act of social conscience or another during this time.  On occasion we have been put 'in the funny papers' i.e. given adverse notoriety regardless of the issue.  The demonstration outside the Federal Building on Thursday, 7 December, in my opinion, ranks with the latter.

I voted for you.  I did not vote for you to give us more of the same - i.e. more adverse publicity in a fragmented church that is breaking apart.  I thought you were to be a unifier.  We have domestic dioceses now ready to pull out. We have overseas bishops and dioceses shaking their fingers at our policies threatening the same.  Your actions only add fuel to this fire.  It makes no difference their feeling of disenfranchisement may be erroneous. It was totally unnecessary to block a door of a public building and wantonly get arrested.  This is an entirely separate act from marching in remembrance.

First a disclaimer.  I am writing this as an individual and do not represent my parish.  Also, though I am registered republican and slightly more conservative than the average diocesan member, I did not vote, either time, for this president (not wishing another ex-governor, regardless of party, without Washington experience leading this country - particularly one who bragged he does not watch TV or read the papers) I have been embarrassed by his actions and disagree with what is going on in Iraq. We do not need a person of your status to tell us the war is wrong.  Likewise, the government does not need to be told they are in a pickle.  They know it as do the Joint Chiefs of Staff (who did not want the war and had been at odds with the old Secretary of Defense from the git go).

Your actions amount to saying 'water is wet'  It is all too obvious. No one - at home or in the government - wants to stay any longer than necessary (keep in mind a quick pull out means potential disaster to innocents left to the whims of religious violence)   I realize, ostensively, this was to be a march in remembrance for those that died.  However it did not turn out that way. It turned out and was reported to be an anti war march.

I spent 26 years in federal law enforcement with 3 different agencies.  Mercifully only 5 of those were in the federal building - the other years being in private spaces downtown or naval stations.  Periodically we had to step over bodies to go to work - a tactic guaranteed to alienate even those that agreed with the cause.  This is grandstanding, nay bullying at its most base - to hinder, blind side or cause discomfort to bread winners - working stiffs, secretaries, care givers as well as enforcement personnel is wrong (recall that building houses agencies like Labor, Transportation, Commerce, Education, two democratic senators and a myriad of others that GIVE money to the needy - that HELP boot strap organizations and NGO's) To march is one thing - sometimes necessary to bring attention to a problem.  Ditto for a Eucharist.

But not laying across doors - and not my bishop - brand new - getting himself in the 'funny papers'  This is not Selma in the 1960's where action of that type was needed.  The government has gotten the message and continues to get the message - loudly and clearly - from their own staff, from columnists and from allies.

Part of my tenure with the church while I was working (I have been retired for 15 years) was active parish involvement (junior warden many times, delegate many times)  My co-workers knew of my involvement though I did not wear my religion on my sleeve.  Most of my contemporaries were un-churched and cynical of any organized religion.  Our denomination, more than most, seemed to get notoriety over the years.  Often on a Monday morning someone would approach me with delight dancing in their eyes and a bemused opening remark like... 'I see your church was in the paper this weekend...'  then go into detail of whatever had been adversely written.   The erratic legacy of Bishop Pike was only the start.  Others in other dioceses have kept it up.  Likewise I am sure you have gotten kudos from those around you.  In fact I am sure many in parishes throughout the diocese also support your actions.  It is important you hear otherwise, lest you live in an isolated environment of 'yes' people.  This church is on the ropes.  The un-churched and the cynics are watching, critically.  Please be a unifier and apply critical thinking to such actions at a later date.  The critical thinking in this case would be to say 'I wish to honor the dead, civilian as well as military, I don’t need to bully the public and workers trying to gain entrance to go about their business and I don’t need to tell the government that 'water is wet'.
 
In witness,
Wayne Padgett
Church of the Incarnation, S.F.