My Voice

Once upon a time, just a few years ago, I spent Sunday mornings leading a small group as they explored their understanding of the biblical passages that would be read later in church. I can vividly recalled the morning that the comment was made during this discussion, that Jesus was the only way to be saved, and those who didn’t believe in him [all non-Christians] were going to hell. I didn’t say anything even though I wanted to. I remember thinking that if our priest had been there, it would not have been let go. Only later did it occur to me that I should have spoken up.

’It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.’ When I saw this quote by Madeleine Albright, an American politician and diplomat who was the first woman to become the United States Secretary of State in 1997, a woman who had to find her own voice, it took me back to that day all those years ago and also to a day not all that long ago.

As many of you know, I mentor a four year programme called Education for Ministry or as we fondly refer to it - EfM. EfM originated in the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, a theological college of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America in 1975. In 1985 the Diocese of Kootenay in British Columbia was invited to promote and manage the programme in all of Canada. The diocese of Toronto became a sponsor of the EfM programme in 2012.

As it states on EfM Canada’s website: “The program combines academic study with integrative components to help participants take what they learn about Scripture, church history, theology and ethics into their own lives and hearts, supporting them in living out a vibrant baptismal ministry in the church and in the world.” [efmcanada.ca]

By now, I’m sure many of you are saying to themselves ‘So what?’

This year for the first time people were graduating from the EfM group that I mentor. After they were presented with their certificate from the University of the South, they were asked if EfM had lived to their expectations, if they felt all the time and effort was worth while. Their responses were actually more than I had hoped for, for this is what more than one said [and I paraphrase]: “My basic beliefs haven’t changed over the last 4 years. But what has changed is that now I feel equipped to talk about them, that I feel confident within myself that what I have to say is worth listening to. No one will ever be able to tell me again that I don’t understand a theological concept and not to worry my head trying! I now know they are wrong.”

I can remember when I hadn’t found my voice yet, and how I struggled to find it both aloud and in print. For me this quote from Acts 2:3-4, is about people finding their voices. My voice [language]is not your voice as your voice [language] is not mine. We all have distinct and separate voices and that is how it should be.

‘Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.’ - Acts 2:3-4

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