Wisdom Christianity for Extraverts
On May 4 of this year I presided at the Eucharist closing the Anglican East Bay Cursillo weekend here in San Francisco. I am a veteran of Cursillo, a short course in Christianity that has its origins in the Roman Catholic Church of Spain. The website for Cursillo in the Episcopal Church defines Cursillo in this way: “Cursillo is a movement of the church. Its purpose is to help those in the church understand their individual callings to be Christian Leaders. The leadership may be exercised in work situations, in the family and social life, in leisure activities, and within the Church environment. Leadership, in Cursillo, does not mean power over others, but influence on others; all of us need to be aware that we can exert a positive influence on those around us.”
The course, which lasts for a long weekend, is extended by reunion groups, which are typically small groups that meet weekly to deepen companionship, but more importantly to support one another in our desire to do the mission of the Church. There are larger-scale reunions that have formation and learning goals as well.
I resisted going to Cursillo for many years, the whole time we lived in the Diocese of Virginia. Though we knew many Cursillistas (those who have attended a retreat), and they were inspiring people, whose friendship we valued, I was wary of it. I had heard that Cursillo could become a divisive element in the parish, those having attended being, in their own view, more advanced, committed Christians, and in the view of those who had not attended, an exclusive group, that leaned to the conservative side of the Church.
In the election process in the Diocese of Alabama, one of the search committee members, an African-American priest with a long history of involvement in civil rights and advocacy for the poor, asked if I had been to Cursillo. I said no. He said, “I’m not sure we can have a bishop in Alabama who has not been to Cursillo.” Being somewhat counter-dependent I said I’d think about it.
I did, and I looked into Cursillo in Alabama. I found it was an instrument of unity in the diocese, that many, many people had been in Cursillo, that the bishops of the diocese had attended the closing services for over 20 years, and most impressively, that Reunion Groups met in most of the parishes, supporting the work of mission, of justice, of reconciliation throughout the diocese. So, I went, and I had a great time.
Then the Episcopal Church met in General Convention in 2003, and we confirmed Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire. Though as a suffragan bishop I had no vote on the confirmation of bishops, I was quickly labeled “the liberal bishop,” and began receiving a startling volume of hate mail. It was yet another, and viscerally felt revelation regarding what my LGBT sisters and brothers experience in their daily lives.
Then a miracle of the Church happened: the Cursillistas in Alabama were being copied on vile, often anonymous emails that excoriated me and others who support Gene and LGBT people, and they spoke up in my defense. They said, “This is our Christian brother, our bishop, our friend, we know him, and what you are saying about him is both not true and not worthy of a Christian.” I am still moved when I think about it.
I have been promoting what I call Wisdom Christianity, the connection of contemplation with a life of justice and reconciliation, since I’ve been in the Diocese of California. Eleven years ago I founded the first of three Centering Prayer groups I started over that time, all three of which are still meeting (the last meets in the Chapter House of Grace Cathedral on Wednesday mornings – join us!).
The way of silent prayer and Christian meditation is something woven into my being. But so is this more boisterous, laughing Christianity called Cursillo. We need ways of praying that fit different personalities, and ways of praying that allow us to adapt as we change throughout life.
I urge you to explore Cursillo in the Diocese of California. You will find it to be a great gift in your life of Wisdom Christianity.
