Saturday 23 March 2013

A triggered memory


The post of a Facebook friend brought back an old memory.

Here and there in this last week, in the aftermath of Steubenville, mothers have been discussing their approach to raising children – especially sons, and especially with reference to encouraging their children’s instinct for kindness.

My friend linked to this article, which I read with interest.  It’s excellent, right on the money.

As I read it, I stopped on a couple of sentences that especially caught my attention.  Thinking about the responses of her own little son, the writer asks:
Would he have hurt for the girl in Steubenville?  Would he have felt her fear, and said something?”
And she speaks about the courage it sometimes takes to go against the crowd in showing kindness.

I am entirely with her in all she says, but it also sent my thoughts down a different track.  “Would he have felt her fear?” she asks.  But the girl who was raped at Steubenville was out cold – completely unconscious, dead drunk; that’s what started the whole sequence of events.  Part of the problem was that she felt nothing and showed no fear (if I’ve understood correctly).  She was just inert.

This raises a different question.  Asking “Would he have felt her fear?” is about the kind of empathy triggered by emotional sensitivity – reading the signals of how someone is feeling and responding appropriately.  That is certainly apposite to this whole discussion; but what about when a person cannot communicate?  I think that gives us a special responsibility – and this is what triggered my memory from long ago.

I used to be a Methodist minister for a number of years, and at one time I pastored a chapel congregation that included a substantial number of adults with severe learning disabilities.

They attended worship faithfully, and after a while I brought to our church council the suggestion that they be invited into membership. 

I came to Methodism from the Roman Catholic church (not out of a change of ideology, just happenstance), so I assumed there’d be no problem with my suggestion.  Among Catholics, people with learning disabilities are often treated with especial tenderness, seen as Christ in the midst, because of their innocence.  As a teenager I’d worked alongside nuns caring for people with epilepsy and a comprehensive spectrum of disability, and joined with them in pilgrimage to Lourdes, so I was used to their attitudes.  I remember in the intercessions during Mass in the huge basilica at Lourdes, and again in the open-air Mass in Rosary Square, the haunting words quoted from the gospels, pleading before Jesus, “Seigneur, celui qui tu aime est malade . . .” (Lord, the one whom you love is sick . . .).   The paralysed, the palsied, the twisted, the lame, the dying; in their wheel-chairs and on their wheeled beds they were given the most favoured places.  Everyone in Lourdes makes way for the sick; they are those whom the Lord loves, His special care.  And I assumed it would be the same in the Methodist church – the same tacit understanding would be in place.

But of course Protestantism is quite different, because where Catholicism emphasises the Sacraments, Protestantism places emphasis on the Word.  In Catholicism the Word is Jesus; in Protestantism the Word is the Bible - making words a really big deal.

The overwhelming majority of my church council rejected my suggestion, and their concern focused on the issue of our disabled worshippers’ inability to articulate faith.  They couldn't say what they believed, and in many cases couldn't understand the creeds and stated doctrines.  Some of those I wanted to invite into membership showed no recognisable signs of cognitive process – they crawled, they grunted, they dribbled and rocked, they could not speak at all.  But I (and their carers) felt sure they were capable of making their preferences felt; they were brought to church because they liked it, they wanted to come.

At the church council, some offered the opinion that making them members of the church was unimportant because they were not intellectually capable of knowing what that meant – so it didn’t matter if they were members or not.  I took a different view.  I felt it mattered precisely because they didn’t know.  The onus lay with us therefore to see that they had this thing they didn’t know to reach out for, much as they were cooked for and fed because they couldn’t do it for themselves.

I spent six months teaching on the subject of “everybody’s church” and what it means to belong.  I compiled a folder of all those applying for membership, in alphabetical order so those with learning disabilities were not segregated into a separate group.

I prepared their case, pointing out that on Easter morning when we had 8am worship followed by a breakfast then 10.15 worship, they had risen at 4am to be ready in time for the 8am worship, and they stayed to both services (most people only came to one) as well as the breakfast.  When they went on holiday they sent us postcards.  They joined in everything that was going on.  And through their ministry among us, their key-workers were also attending worship and coming to care passionately about whether they were allowed into membership.

Six months later, when the church council met again, I brought my request once more; and this time all except one voted in favour.  They were brought into membership, their key-workers kneeling beside the wheelchairs, to speak for those who had no speech.

During that time I was what is called a “probationer minister” in Methodism.  I had pastoral charge and a dispensation to celebrate the eucharist, but was not yet ordained.

Methodist ordinations happen once a year at the annual Conference, in whichever city it is held that year (it moves around).  Because there are so many people to be ordained, tickets are limited for the venue.  I was ordained in Bloomsbury, as the Conference was in London that year (in a Baptist church lent us for the occasion).  As the big day drew near I was surprised to discover that our disabled members had plans to hire a bus and travel up from the south coast for the occasion.  When I learned this, I broke the news to my family and personal friends that not they but the disabled folk would be getting my tickets.

The service was long, and it culminated in the Eucharist.  We received communion alongside our allotted guests, in alphabetical order.  My name being Wilcock, I was the last to go up. 

After a two-hour journey into London, after getting lost and hurrying in late to church with no time for supper, after sitting through a long preaching service and lengthy ordination ceremony and everyone else going up to receive communion, finally – last of all, at about ten o'clock at night, well past their bed time – I and my group came forward.  Tired, hungry, incontinence pads soaking through, after waiting and waiting, they crawled or were led or wheeled up to the rail; and there together we received our communion.  It was one of the most precious moments of my life, the chance to make clear what I believe about the Kingdom of God – that it is for everybody, no one left out.

So what I believe about Steubenville is that the fact the girl who was raped could not speak, did not know what was going on, didn’t make it matter less what was done to her, it made it matter more.  In her unconscious, oblivious condition she relied utterly on her friends for dignity, for compassion, for good care.  Their response to her was the same response I met at my church council – if she doesn’t know any better, what does it matter what we do?

People need educating, don’t they?



14 comments:

Buzzfloyd said...

Yes. Not only kindness but grace is important.

I thought about the girl at Steubenville that we should not see other people's undesirable behaviour as reason to treat them badly, but to reach out and help them. When you think about that, it makes you realise how at odds such a concept is with a culture in which punishment is a root assumption and care only for those who work for it. So often I go back to your story from 'The Hawk and the Dove' about the root of the cross being mercy, not justice. (Because, of course, true justice is perfectly expressed in mercy.) And thank Heaven for it!

For the record, although your friends and family would have loved to celebrate your ordination with you, I think we would all stand aside again to do the same thing if we had to repeat that day. This also reminds me of Jesus' saying, "Who is my mother?" etc. His family were already his family - showing honour to those who had no claim on it spoke much more about what the Gospel is. Your ordination party receiving communion must have been accompanied by angels dancing and punching the air. :-)

Patricia said...

Yes. Lord have mercy.

Pilgrim said...

Yes, they do.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

I only heard about Steubenville last night...life has been challenging here and I have been out of it. It brought so much up...maybe because I am a mother of five boys...but I do have one daughter.

I am also a Protestant...Baptist background, and grew up with disabled in our church and my family all my life...I never thought not assumed they couldn't have a relationship with Christ...they were welcomed and loved on in our church...one son's mother played the organ, he was there weekly.

What an interesting piece...and one that will be added to our family discussion.

Pilgrim said...

This is the heart of one of my biggest struggles, raised as a Protestan, parenting a nonverbal son. I envy my Catholic friends, whose church long ago figure these things out for them.

Unknown said...

Pen, I have found this case so difficult because there are a number of difficult issues involved that are hard to articulate without condemnation. The girl concerned should have had more respect for herself than to end up in that condition. Her *friends* should have looked out for her. All the boys should have known better. In the end all that's left is shattered lives. Each one needs the love of God, His healing touch, forgiveness. I feel so much sadness for everyone involved in this case ~ yes, even those boys. They were riding high & now their lives are in ruins. They never expected that ~ & that is society's fault.

When it comes to disabilities what I do know is that the Spirit knows things the physical man will never understand & it is the Spirit that responds. The outer shell is nothing when it comes to the things of the Spirit.

Did you ever read Karen Armstrong's Through the Narrow Gate? What particularly stayed in my memory is the disabled child who found something in the mass & his spirit responded though both his parents were atheists. I found that fascinating.

Random thoughts after not much sleep. Every generation seems to have some area that has grown out of kilter & needs *fixing*.

Pen Wilcock said...

Thanks for your good thoughts, friends xxx

Sandra Ann said...

You are totally right on and yes it is important and precious to speak up for those who are unable to do so. My Uncle Paddy, one of my mum's younger brothers was left brain damaged as a result of the whooping cough vaccine, but regardless of his disability he was welcomed into the church to receive Holy Communion and I truly believe on a deeper level, he knew it was the Lord in his midst.

San x

Deb D. said...

Yes, the Steubenville incident is a tragedy and a travesty. It is so difficult to come to process all the facets of this.

In contrast . . . what you share of your efforts to confer the clearly "earned"/desired/appropriate membership recognition to your church attendees is beautiful. Even more so the honored position you extended to them to attend your ordination and their faithfulness displayed in the long wait.

You are a woman in whom Jesus' heart can be seen.

God bless you, Pen.

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi San, Hi Deb :0) x

Jules said...

wow! very thought provoking! thank you1

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) x

Amy B said...

Although it is kind of buried in the middle of your post, I am intrigued by your statement "I came to Methodism from the Roman Catholic church (not out of a change of ideology, just happenstance)" - how does this happen by happenstance? I was wondering if you have written a spiritual history or autobiography in any one place, either on this blog or in a book? I would LOVE to hear your story, or as much of it as you wish to share - I am both fascinated and often ministered to by reading/hearing other people's faith journeys. Especially in light of the fact that my own has been so complicated. Just a little request from a faithful reader. xoxo

Pen Wilcock said...

:0)

I grew up in the Anglican Church, but was received into the Catholic Church when I was twenty, living in York, a member of an interdenominational lay community with an Ampleforth monk as our mentor and chaplain.
At 21, expecting my first baby, I (and my husband) moved from York to Hastings, where I knew no-one. He became organist of an Anglo-Catholic Church, and I went to mass there with him until our second child was born. Finding high mass with a toddler and baby hard to manage, I began to attend worship with my parents-in-law at the Methodist Church. As time went by I became involved in leading and teaching there. I was invited into membership, and said I'd like to but wanted to be Catholic still as well - wanted joint membership. Bear in mind that I knew little about ecclesiastical structures in my twenties, and saw no problem in joint Methodist-Catholic membership. The minister made friendly ecumenical noises and I froze in complete shock when he announced in public worship that I would be transferring my membership from the Catholic Church to the Methodist Church. But I stayed, became a Local Preacher and then (for about 12 years) a Methodist Minister.
I am no longer a minister, and currently worship in a church in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England.
Somewhere along the way I also attended Quaker meeting for two years.
The Servants With Jesus greatly value ecumenical understanding; just as well, eh?
I have never written an autobiography, but this book has a LOT of autobiographical stuff in it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiritual-Care-Dying-Bereaved-People/dp/085746115X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364334741&sr=8-1

x