The Lord is Risen! He is Risen INDEED!

Happy Easter to you all. In this time of new life and renewal let’s all take a deep breath and look at where we are as individuals, as Group Reunions, as Ultreyas, and as a movement in this diocese.

Your Secretariat had to postpone the May Candidate Weekend when it became obvious to us that we did not have enough lay or clergy team members. Additionally, we only had four candidate applications on file. We are greatly troubled by what this says for the movement here in Virginia. While there is great love out there for the Method of Cursillo there isn’t much support for the sustainment of the Movement through faithful use of the tolls (Group Reunions, Ultreyas, and Spiritual Direction), through prayerful sponsorship of candidate leaders, and through team service for weekends. This Movement can not survive on weekends or last minute applications for whatever reasons. I know there is an awful lot of apprehension over what is happening in the greater Episcopal Church, but we must not loose sight of our mission here. We are called to equip and encourage, to educate and sustain leaders for Christ. That’s all there is too it.

Over the past few weeks I have been distressed to learn that there are those among us who are not participating because they want to see who the rector for the weekend is going to be, who the spiritual advisors are going to be, and which way the team will lean theologically. They refrain from accepting a call to team service and from submitting candidate applications. Where is your faith in the power of our Lord? Where is your faith in the power of the Holy Spirit? Many of us are in distress one way or the other over the results of the General Convention of 2003. Our personal issues with what happened at General Convention 2003 need to be put into perspective with what Cursillo is and what our part in it is. If you don’t agree with Bishop Lee over his vote and what transpired at and after General Convention, that’s okay. If you do agree with Bishop Lee over his vote and what transpired, that’s okay too. What is not okay is using that as an excuse or a cause for paralysis to not stay engaged with your fellow Christians and to not do your duty…yes, DUTY…to pray for all of us and to encourage one another to lead more Christ-like lives.

The official position of Episcopal Cursillo in the Diocese of Virginia (ECDV) is the same as that put forward by the National Episcopal Cursillo Committee (NECC) which I quote:

"The decisions reached at the recent General Convention in Minneapolis have caused some division in the Episcopal Church. Some dioceses, congregations, and individuals are curtailing giving to the national church; some people have resigned their ministries and leadership positions. Some have left the church; others are likely to follow, though how many no one knows. With this happening, it would be irresponsible of us as stewards of the Cursillo movement not to deal with possibilities.

As we discuss where we are and what the future might hold, the following realities impress themselves upon the NECC:

Regardless of permutations in institutions, Cursillo has always kept its eyes firmly focused on Jesus and on the Mission. One of the principles of the Cursillo movement is that:

We focus on Christ and His resurrection power in our lives, transforming us into the people He would have us be. Theological and political issues have no part of our agenda.

This movement is neither liberal nor conservative. It is Christ-centered and Christ-focused. We must keep this in mind and heart as we do what responsibility calls us to do in considering future possibilities and possible adjustments to them.

The policy of the NEC/NECC is that it will not be a political or social agenda organization. It is a movement of the Episcopal Church. The NECC should not attempt to understand the implications of the as yet uncertain organizational and financial transformations in ECUSA. There are many issues that we do not influence.

What is clear is that NEC was created to serve the Episcopal Church in the United States, and we are licensed by the Roman Catholic Church to do that. Despite our personal theological and political views, we are focused on knowing Christ and making him known to others. That is our call and in doing it lies our greatest joy. Ultreya! Ultreya!!

Let's get on with the day's apostolic action.

Let's all pray for the church, the Church, and one another every day.”

The core team that was to serve on the May weekend at Mary Mother of the Church Abbey has graciously agreed to serve in October at Front Royal. I would encourage all of you to share what I have said in this letter with as many members of your community as you can. I would like to see the official policy of the NECC (and by extension ECDV), put into your church bulletins. I would very much like you all to stay focused. These next few months will determine if the Cursillo Movement will survive in Virginia.

I care deeply for you all – past, present, and future Cursillistas – as does your Secretariat. We want to see us all continue to be instruments for evangelism, for the Gospel, and examples of Christ in each of our environments.

Your brother in Christ and Lay Director,