Grace Cathedral
A Place of Immunity, Anonymity, Unity
There is a plaque that makes a big difference to me on the wall inside Grace Cathedral that has the following on it. I grew up within the Christian Faith and one of the things I hate about it is the attitude of "We are the one true way." It has kept me out of churches for a long time. The Labyrithn that I have fallen in love with happens to be in this Catherdral. Seeing this plaque, made me feel so much better. It seemed important enough to me that I wanted to make it avaliable on-line in relation to the Veriditas Labyrinth info. I am not overly fond of their use of the name "God" but I figure you have to call it something and that is their name. You can only be so Politically Correct, after all.
| A
Place of Religious Immunity |
A
Place of Anonymity |
A
Place of Unity |
| If you are
passing by and feel intimidated or angry because, of religion, please
know that there is immunity; granted when you enter Grace Cathedral. Immunity
from the ravages of religion and misuse of Divine revelation. You know
from the past about inquisitions and crusades and witch hunts. You live
in a time of religious military zealots, abortion clinic bombings, and
TV evangelists attempting to take power in our land. How to avail oneself
of the soul-inspiring testimony of religion through the ages and, at the
same time, receive some guarantee of immunity from the power perversions
that so often follow in the wake of religious strivings? How to find persuasiveness
rather than coercion and will-to-dominate in religion? An answer is Grace
Cathedral. Here operates an unconditional surrender to the freedom of
God to speak to whomever in whatever language is understandable. In this
space you can walk the labyrinth of life to the tune of the Spirit which
you uniquely hear. Immunity from religious control is grained you upon
entry. Grace offers "sanctuary" to everyone and promises this
glorious freedom of God as the climate to explore the healthiest living
that religion affords. |
If you are
passing by and feel hesitant to join the ranks of a particular denomination
or to buy into the creeds of millions, please know that most people who
enter Grace every week are practicing no regular religious discipline.
The rule of Grace is the stranger making himself/herself at home. All
names are sacred here, but no one has to contribute ones name to a membership
list to be taken seriously. Perhaps you quietly dropped by wanting to
reconnect in your relationship with God. Or to confess shame. Or to surrender
a burden. Or to pray for a loved one. Or to bask in the beauty of holiness.
Or to meditate on a hard personal dilemma. Or to find a moment of peace.
A cathedral has a high ceiling and long aisles to allow the contained
soul an opportunity to venture forth in multiple directions without the
encumbrances of forced community Grace offers ages of spiritual space
to which anonymous individuals may be on pilgrimage. |
If you are
passing by and feel that life is fragmenting into a vast number of irreconcilable,
shattered pieces, then please know that Grace holds an outrageous hope
that, in God alone, all aspects of life are in unity. We believe that
God is the Alpha, so in the beginning all aspects were in unity with God.
God is the Omega, so at the end all aspects will be in unity with God.
Now in the meantime, this unity exists in the brave hope of chose who
worship God. Grace seeks to keep this hope of ultimate unity alive. So
we are called to extravagant hospitality "to all sorts and conditions"
in the confidence that a gracious welcome is central to a cathedral's
purpose. And yes, we are part of a specific religious tradition (Episcopal
Church of the Anglican Communion). But we are so, not because one religious
tradition exclusively contains all truth, but because when one goes on
a long journey toward ultimate unity, one has to depart from one specific
place. Grace Cathedral, Episcopal Diocese of California, is our last point
of departure. And our companion and ultimate confidence is in the journey
of Jesus Christ. We believe him to be the clear manifestation of God's
love for the whole world and the expression that all life is in ultimate
unity even beyond the finality of death. In the midst of what appears
to be an ever-increasing fragmentation of life, Grace offers a House of
Prayer for All People, an abiding hope that there is a Oneness at the
center of life. When you enter Grace Cathedral, this immunity, this anonymity, this unity are pledged to you. May your time be blessed. |
| Signed by the Bishop of California |