"As For You Man of God"

I Timothy 6:2B-12

World Communion Sunday – October 3, 2010

Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ

400 Glenwood Drive

Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404

I knew a saint once. To be fair, I have known many saints across the years, wonderful Christian people whose lives were full of compassion, commitment and courage. And more than a few of those saints are here in Pilgrim Church. But one saint stands out in my memory: Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.

Cardinal Bernardin was Archbishop of Chicago which I believe is the second largest Roman Catholic community in America. I first knew Cardinal Bernardin when he served on the Board of Directors of Religion in American Life when I was its Vice President. When (then) Archbishop Bernardin was moved from Cincinnati to Chicago and became cardinal Bernardin in 1982, I wrote him a very formal note of congratulation: “Your Eminence, on the occasion of your elevation I send you my most sincere best wishes and prayers for your ministry, etc. etc.” Within three days I received a handwritten note: “Dear Dave: Thanks for your best wishes and prayers. Love, Joe.”

That was the kind of man he was: humble, sincere, faithful, and compassionate. What a pope he would have made! He died far too soon at age 68 only a few years later of pancreatic cancer. But something happened a few years before which, for me, demonstrates the saintliness of the man. He was accused by a young man suffering from AIDS that he, the Archbishop, had sexually abused him when the young man was a Catholic high school student in Cincinnati. Cardinal Bernardin denied the allegation, went on national television, and gently and simply said he had been chaste and celibate for his entire life and didn’t even know this young man. The young man recanted his accusation the following year. Cardinal Bernardin later became the young man’s spiritual advisor, praying with him and helping him reconcile with the church before he died of Aids.

In that controversy and his later struggle with cancer, Cardinal Bernardin transformed personal adversity into teachable moments, times to show – not just tell – what his faith was all about.

I think you will understand why I thought of Cardinal Bernardin when I heard the story of the accusations of sexual misconduct against mega church Atlanta pastor Eddie Long. This, too, I believe is a teachable moment. Let me share the lessons I am learning from it.

First, and let me be very clear, this is not a moment for what the Germans call “schadenfreude,” pleasure at witnessing another person’s pain. This is also not a moment for envy masquerading as righteous indignation, a small church pastor criticizing a large church pastor. It is certainly not a moment for any sort of racism. The issue of sexual abuse in the church is too important for any of these unworthy motives. Still, there are lessons to be learned.

The second lesson is that we must give Pastor Long the presumption of innocence until proven quilty. Though I confess to you I have the strongest doubts that he is innocent given the four young men accusing him, the expensive gifts he showered upon them and others – trips, money, cars – and despite what I considered to be a very “lame” pulpit defense of his behavior last Sunday in his sermon, despite all this and more that we are learning, Pastor Long deserves the benefit of the doubt until this matter is resolved. Too many pastors of all faiths have been falsely accused of misconduct by a small number of members in their congregations. In many cases innocent pastors have been forced from their pulpits. I know because it once happened to me. But even though I have felt the terrible sting of injustice there is a third lesson which is more important.

The individual is always more important than the institution. Victims of abuse are at a tremendous disadvantage when calling a pastor, priest or rabbi to account. Too many times we have seen congregations and denominations close ranks behind accused clergy and scapegoating those bringing charges of misconduct. When that happens, sooner or later the congregation of denomination will pay a terrible price and I don’t simply mean money though that may be part of the cost. Faithful churches are charged with the responsibility of being more concerned for the weak rather than the powerful. God help us if we don’t. Last Sunday Pastor Long cast himself in the role of victim. As he put it, he was David confronted by Goliath, although it was not clear to me just who this Goliath was supposed to be. In everything he said I missed a sincere concern for his wife and family, his church, and, most of all, those who had accused him. His behavior was so different than that of Cardinal Bernardin.

There is a fourth and final lesson I believe we must learn from this moment: we are all part of the Body of Christ. Whenever pain or misfortune or scandal touches one part of the Body of Christ, the Universal Church, it affects all of us. And not just in reputation but in the compassionate concern we should have for all our fellow Christians. The Church is the Body of Christ on earth. It is as though someone might say, “I don’t care if someone cuts off my little finger. It doesn’t hurt that much and I still have nine fingers left!” What nonsense! All of us should be hurting because of what is going on in Atlanta.

Today is World Communion Sunday, the day we recognize our family relationship with Christians all around the world. Today in every part of the globe Christians are coming to Christ’s table as are we here in Pilgrim Church. But the Bible strictly warns us not to come to this Table unworthily. For me that means we should not come forward to receive communion if we have hatred or bitterness or contempt toward any person, even those who have wronged us or others. Leave all that behind in the pew and come forward with a prayer in your heart for all your Christian family and, especially this morning, for Pastor Eddie Long, his family, New Birth Missionary Baptist church, and for the young men who have brought these accusations. All of them are our sisters and brothers. May God bring peace and justice to them all and to the whole world. Amen.