Let the Bells Ring

Westminster Abbey - where monarchs
have been crowned for over
a thousand years.

With all the American fascination about the English monarchy, one might think that the USA had no prior relationship with the throne, when in fact, our history clearly shows that our nation resulted from a rebellion of thirteen colonies against that same authority. The early years were fraught with tension. We even fought a “second war of independence” (The War of 1812), whose end finally determined that those former colonies were now a sovereign nation.

Of course, nothing in history is static and international relations ebb and flow. The conflagrations of two World Wars united Great Britain and America in ways that forged what has come to be known as a “special relationship” – strained at times – but seemingly strong and lasting.

One significant outcome of that early rebellion was the permanent change wrought in the Anglican tradition as it was lived out within the US. Bishops in England were reticent to consecrate bishops for the colonies. Clergy of the Church of England then, as now, swore an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign. This caused great qualms of conscience for many clergy in the rebellious colonies. Many remained loyal to the crown and left for England or “English America” (Canada). In a nutshell, what remained was a rump of the Church of England left to morph into The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America once two bishops had been consecrated (Seabury in Scotland for Connecticut and White in England for Pennsylvania.) Apart from the few available clergy, most parishes were left in the care of laity (Wardens and Vestries) as the nascent church began to develop its worship and polity. Nowhere in sight was an archbishop (much less Canterbury) or a king, as Defender of the Faith.

This is part of what has led to much of the tension between The Episcopal Church and other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Most of the other members of the Communion look more like The Church of England than The Episcopal Church in their structures and ministries of authority. Bishops have much more power and authority and laity have less of a voice than in the model used by The Episcopal Church. In short, The Episcopal Church is more “democratic” and less monarchical. I could go into much more detail here but that’s not appropriate. The point is, really, that just like the way that our systems of civil polity (government) tend to be messy because they are about dialogue and building consensus, so our church polity may seem less than tidy to others, as we voice our various convictions about what we hold to be true (or not) about the Christian way.

From my vantage point here in Cambridge, I do see the value of the myth and ethos that surround the monarchy, particularly as it provides a legacy of unity and national identity. I believe that was part of the special legacy of Elizabeth II. There must be always something that calls us to look beyond ourselves to rise above the tribalism and “group-think” into which we often descend – something around which we can unite that stands apart from the pettiness that characterizes our interactions with increasing frequency both in society and in the Church - something that calls us to reflect on the values that unite us rather than the differences that divide us.

In the Church, however, we do not need the pageantry and mythology that ties this nation to a monarch. We have this focal point in none other than Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. We have the high altar and the Eucharist – both of which are greater than any of us and all of us together – this was made clear even in the ceremonies of the coronation service. There we can gather, despite our differences, with widely disparate opinions and biases and prejudices but acknowledge that it is the Lord’s presence among us that unites us, share the meal that He alone prepares for us. We can disagree with each other, but as one family still eat at the same table. This is our point of unity, our place of reconciliation.

So let the bells ring their changes. Let the street parties continue. It is a great day for our British cousins. But as much as we long for the stability and permanency that something like monarchy can offer, we, too, have gifts to offer the societies of the world - and we, as Episcopalians - with all our messy Church - also have gifts to offer a communion that struggles daily to find the way forward in following the Way of Love given to us in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord.