CATHEDRAL AGEWASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | MIDSUMMER 2012

faith and the electioninterviews with president barack obama and governor mitt romney

Join Washington National Cathedral in a pilgrimage to northern Wales to connect with the heart of Celtic spirituality. Pilgrims walk enduring paths—literally and spiritually—to pray in churches and cathedrals planted in the sacred soil of a Celtic community: dedicated people of faith formed by inspiring landscapes and ancient legends. In journeying where thanksgiving and petition have been expressed for centuries, pilgrims also travel inward for the nourishment of their spiritual roots.

Email pilgrimages@cathedral.org for more information.

Lives, Legends, and LandscapesA Pilgrimage to Northern WalesMay 18–26, 2013

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• Participate through live webcasts each Sunday morning featuring Cathedral worship services and regular forums• Explore sermons, forums, and lectures—and guided tours of the Cathedral’s architecture, chapels, and the great organ—through on-demand, streaming video• Watch presentations by guests such as Karen Armstrong, Desmond Tutu, Garrison Keillor, and many more• Plan your visit using our interactive calendar and make advanced reservations for tours and special events• Read selected articles from Cathedral Age, or show your support with a National Cathedral Association membership

Whether you live in L.A., northern Virginia, or Peoria, the Cathedral’s website makes it easy to stay connected with the programs and content you value from the National Cathedral.

photo penmonista (wikimedia commons)

CATHEDRAL AGE MIDSUMMER 2012

on the cover this unique illustration based on a 1993 photograph depicts the two icons of the washington skyline as described by former cathedral dean francis b. sayre, jr., in a 1964 interview with hugh downs, host of nbc’s today show. “the cathedral sits on one hill. on the other is the capitol of our country. . . . on one hill, political decisions are being made. on the other, the word of god is being spoken.” image i. goddard, based on photo by r. burgess

above the girl scout council of the nation’s capital celebrates the one hundredth anniversary of girl scouting in an interfaith service at the cathedral on april 28, 2012. photo d. marks

16 A Vote for Understanding The Power of Faith in the Coming Election the rev. dr. francis h. wade

20 Faith in America Interviews with President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney reflections on faith in America from different religious backgrounds or perspectives

2 Comment Seismic Shifts david j. kautter

4 Stone by Stone A Year of Heavy Lifting Leads to Active Restoration dr. m. leigh harrison

10 Breaking the Silence The Second Christian-Muslim Summit richard m. weinberg

Contents26 Great Is Thy Faithfulness A Celebration of the Life of Charles Wendell Colson margaret shannon

29 From Darkness to Light Cathedral Hosts AIDS Memorial Service richard m. weinberg

32 Passages An Address by President Calvin Coolidge (1928) a look at the history and wisdom in the Cathedral Age archives

2 cathedral age 

comment

One year ago, when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocked the east coast of the United States, it did unprecedented damage to major landmarks and to our National Cathedral in particular. An even more significant event for Washington will occur this November 6, when the American people decide who will lead us as president for the next four years. In our own country, as across the globe, the fault lines of religion and culture remain far from quiet. With each of these major turning points covered in these pages, “seismic shifts” might well be the theme for this issue of Cathedral Age.

Major shifts lie ahead, but the outlook is far from bleak. For as serious as they are, the challenges that lie ahead are being faced with both agility and resolve. Following a 2010 gathering at the National Cathedral, a landmark second Christian-Muslim summit held in Beirut this summer resulted in a committed plan of action. After a year of detailed inspection, careful stabilization, and long-range planning, the Cathedral has entered a new phase of restoration—with exciting news of a major $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. leading the way to restoring $20 million of earthquake damage. Nationally important advocates for the cause of courage and understanding have been recently honored and uplifted at this spiritual home for the nation, from the humble ministry of Chuck Colson to the continuing role of the aids Memorial Quilt. Last but not least, we are extremely honored that both candidates for the coming presidential election agreed to be interviewed for this issue’s “Faith in America” section.

Excerpts reprinted from Calvin Coolidge’s 1928 address at the Cathedral oΩer a potent reminder that, from the days of William McKinley onward, U.S. presidents have expressed active interest in faith and in the work of the National Cathedral. And as an essay by our Interim Dean Frank Wade points out, President Obama and Governor Romney are no diΩerent; their reflections here provide important

insight into a major factor that has shaped them and will continue to guide their future work. “The principles of faith lie behind the priorities we set and the manner in which we work to fulfill them,” Wade notes. “To pretend that the faith of our leaders is not a matter of interest to the electorate is an act of denial with substantial consequences.” As such, Wade asks us to acknowledge faith’s power openly—and also to reclaim it as a positive force, despite its often-divisive public role.

All of us who have read Frank Wade’s Cathedral Age essays or have heard him preach from the Cathedral’s historic Canterbury Pulpit can appreciate the eloquence, wisdom, and deeply faithful leadership that have distinguished his tenure as interim dean as well as his decades of service in ministry. Yet as Wade’s Cathedral term concludes, it is my great pleasure as newly elected chair of the Cathedral Chapter to welcome the Rev. Canon Gary R. Hall as tenth dean of Washington National Cathedral. Hall’s work begins October 1. For him, the Cathedral is “an architectural treasure and a living symbol of worship and ministry in the nation’s capital.” He has expressed his eagerness for working with the Cathedral community and friends nationwide in the search to “strengthen our historic ministries and imagine and enact new ones.” (To learn more about the new dean, visit www.nationalcathedral.org.)

Hall’s role will not be easy, as he comes to the Cathedral and to its national service at a time of many challenges—but this ordained minister for more than 35 years is strengthened by faith and by proven leadership as a former seminary dean and president. I know that I speak for all of the Cathedral community, along with the search committee and those who serve with me on the Cathedral Chapter, in looking forward to an outgoing and energetic ministry sure to kindle hearts and put wind in many sails.

david j. kautter chair, cathedral chapter

Seismic Shifts

comment

right the cathedral rises above arlington memorial bridge and the potomac river photo w. geiger

midsummer 2012 3

Cathedral Age is the official quarterly publication of Washington National Cathedral.

the rev. dr. francis h. wade interim deancanon kathleen a. cox executive director and chief operating officer

Cathedral Age is produced by the Communications and Marketing Department of Washington National Cathedral.

steven m. schwab director of external relations richard m. weinberg director of communications craig w. stapert associate director for online strategies mimi m. mcnamara senior graphic designer m. leigh harrison communications manager

cathedral chapter David J. Kautter, chair; Alexander H. Platt, vice-chair; C. Raymond Marvin, secretary; Maxmillian Angerholzer iii; Boyce L. Ansley; John D. Barker; Richard F. Bland; Dr. Ann Carol Brown; The Rt. Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of Washington; Timothy C. Coughlin; Robert B. Coutts; The Hon. John H. Dalton; Cynthia Fowler; The Hon. C. Boyden Gray; Craig M. McKee; Eric D. K. Melby; Dr. Eric L. Motley; The Hon. Thomas Pickering; Geoffrey S. Stewart; The Rev. Dr. Francis H. Wade, interim dean;

The Rev. Dr. James P. Wind; Dorothy Woodcock

To Subscribe to Cathedral AgeCathedral Age is a benefit of nca membership.

For information on membership, email subscriptions@cathedral.org.

Postmaster Send subscription orders, change of address, and other circulation correspondence to Cathedral Age c/0 Records

Department, Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-5098.

Copyright ©2012 Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation issn 0008-7874. Cathedral Age is published quarterly by the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-5098. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC. Editorial comments should be addressed to The Editor, Cathedral Age, Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-5098. Telephone (202) 537-6200.

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Washington National Cathedral is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It receives no direct funding from the

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4 cathedral age 

Even when you take a long view, cathedrals are long-term endeavors; that’s both the wonder and the tragedy of the earthquake that struck a year ago, which took only a matter of moments to do its damage. Although it’s hard to grasp Washington National Cathedral in num-bers alone—83 years of construction, 150,000 tons of stone, a site of nearly 60 acres—its obvious scope and scale are providing valuable guidance for the building’s ongoing earthquake restoration.

Restoration is currently projected to cost at least $20 million and to take years to complete, proceeding in tandem with another $30 million of deferred mainte-nance and long-term preservation needs. The needs are urgent—cutting corners would be tempting. Yet the individuals involved have maintained high standards as well as high resolve. Avoiding the allure of “quick fixes” to the national treasure in their care, they are committed to work that can stand the test of time.

unprecedented damageThe earthquake that closed Washington National Cathe-dral to the public for ten weeks began about 1:50 pm on August 23, 2011—just over a year ago—in the small town of Mineral, Va. Within moments, however, the tremor felt as far north as Canada began shaking the Cathedral. The shockwaves’ widening amplitude induced a sort of whiplash effect that became more pronounced as the seismic energy raced up the perpendicular lines of the central “Gloria in Excelsis” tower, completed in 1963.

Here, 300 feet above the most commanding hill in the District of Columbia—Mount St. Alban, another 300 feet above the Potomac—the tremor was pronounced enough to break 40-foot grand pinnacles that form the city’s highest point. Huge pieces six feet tall and four feet wide, weighing more than two tons apiece, were flung down with potentially deadly force—although most

Stone by Stoneby M. Leigh Harrison

a year of heavy lifting leads to active restoration

august 23, 2011 september 1, 2011

midsummer 2012 5

collapsed inward onto the tower’s reinforced concrete roof. Bells rang as airplane cables in the tower’s carillon snapped, but the great weight of the peal bells helped stabilize swaying stone. The Cathedral’s three stonema-sons were luckiest of all, having chosen to work that day on the ground level rather than up on a tower as planned. When they climbed up on the scaffolding after the earthquake to inspect the damage, they found it littered with fist-sized pieces of broken stone that (had they been there) would have rained down on them.

As Cathedral leaders and interested onlookers walked around the building’s perimeter, peering intently for any signs of damage they could find, no one could have guessed the extent of destruction that would reveal itself at the top of the building’s three towers. An early sign of concern, though, came from seeing cracks in the flying buttresses supporting the building’s historic apse at the east end: as it turned out, the slight variance in construc-tion styles from 1907 to 1990 would make a huge differ-ence in the extent and type of damage that occurred. A few stones that flew outward pierced thick lead plating on lower roofs, while one heavy pointed fragment that did reach the ground embedded itself a few feet deep. Inch-by-inch inspections later increased the tally, soon reading like a litany for irreplaceable handiwork by

generations of carvers and craftsmen—among them Constantine Seferlis (1930–2005), whose career high-lights included restoring Washington’s iconic Dupont Circle fountain.

hidden blessingsThese losses from the earthquake were painful, and the aftermath was challenging, but hidden blessings con-tinued to reveal themselves. A hurricane approaching days later changed course slightly and only grazed the Cathedral as a tropical storm, doing minimal damage. Two weeks after that, the largest active crane in the United States at the time collapsed on site—it was being used to erect a platform on top of the central tower—but avoided potentially catastrophic contact with the Cathedral itself as it fell. Staff who scrambled to put the finishing touches on a weekend of concerts and other tenth-anniversary commemorations for the attacks of September 11, 2001, were heartened by the hospitality of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and nearby Washington Hebrew Congregation where events relocated. Encouraging contributions from a range of faith communities, including $25,000 from the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington led by Donald Cardinal Wuerl, signified a broad base of support for a place that, as Wuerl noted, “holds a special place in the hearts of all of us in Washington,” and which “so many recognize . . . as a national house of prayer.”

photos  j. alonso, c. fulcher, c. stapert

september 7, 2011 september 29, 2011

october 4, 2011 october 7, 2011 october 13, 2011

6 cathedral age 

careful craftsmanshipThe Cathedral stonemasons’ rare perspective was perhaps the greatest blessing of all. Despite enormous damage high up to architectural elements that can only be found on Gothic cathedrals, the three-man team had the background and skills to make knowledgeable and immediate judgments. The team is led by Joe Alonso, mason foreman, who set the Cathedral’s “final finial” stone on the southwest tower on September 29, 1990, crowning 83 years of construction. Along with colleagues Sean Callahan and Andy Uhl, Joe suspected that the Cathedral remained structurally sound after the earthquake. The engineering inspectors’ official verdict still came as profound relief.

For Joe, who has worked on and around the National Cathedral for the past 26 years, the old-world craft of stonework is practically in his blood: his father was trained as a coal miner and mason in northern Spain near Santa Maria de León Cathedral. “He was a very good mason at that,” Joe recalls. “He did beautiful work; growing up in Gary, Ind., I used to accompany him to masonry jobs on the weekends.” The family moved near Washington during Joe’s high school years, giving Joe the chance to join the prestigious local Stonemasons Union and to learn the trade from masons at the height of their careers. When he ultimately arrived at the Cathedral, he had the good fortune to work under “legends in the craft,” such as master masons Billy Cleland and Isidoro Flaim. “They saw to it that everything was done just right so that it could last through the ages,” he says, “and it

Another hidden blessing was the Cathedral’s adoption in April 2011 of a strategic plan for the triennium 2012–2014, which for perhaps the first time in a generation matched intensive self-study based on reliable empirical data with a clear-eyed view of the means necessary to achieve excellence in what have historically been important roles for the National Cathedral. Although the strategic plan was obviously not written with last fall’s earthquake in mind, its formulation made for an important first step in addressing the challenges of a new era of its life—the motivation to build replaced by the need to preserve the building’s service for new generations.

Moreover, visitors are quick to discover that the Cathedral’s interior remains safe and structurally sound for the worship, concerts, lectures, and other events that give it life. On the interior, fine black netting installed beneath vaulting high up in the nave remains mainly as a precaution. On the exterior, meanwhile, the broken stones themselves mutely plead their cause. Crowned with scaffolding, the three towers offer a challenge to make whole a landmark recently recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a “national treasure.” Restoration provides a rare, concrete opportunity to advance the Cathedral’s roles as a space for welcome, inspiration, and perspective.

october 13, 2011 october 17, 2011

midsummer 2012 7

provided by the firms in a first-ever preservation webinar on August 29, 2011.

a monumental taskFully restoring the Cathedral will certainly take time: several years, even if all necessary funds were already at hand today. Gothic buildings are not only slow to build but large, tall, and complex. Every stone exterior element must fit, and each must be carved by hand. Just one of the small rain-deflecting grotesques damaged in the quake—such as the angel carving at President Obama’s podium during the September 11 tenth-anniversary Con-cert for Hope—would take about 50 hours for a master like Uhl or Callahan to recarve. Stone-on-stone con-struction further compounds the difficulty, as not all the broken pieces jut out prominently for easy removal like gargoyles or crockets. A very simple cracked block that might take no time to patch or replace might lie several “courses,” or layers, beneath unharmed pieces of stone: each stone above must be removed—then lowered hundreds of feet to the ground—for crews to access any damaged piece.

Helping the Cathedral to face the complex work ahead is the Restoration Task Force. The task force is a small group comprised of current and former governance members and outside consultants, with a broad range of expertise in construction, structural engineering, project

photos  c. stapert

took a lot of learning even though I was an experienced mason, because this large cut stone work just isn’t done that much anymore. But they were great teachers.”

Callahan and Uhl, the two carvers on the team, were taught their craft at the Cathedral from the great Vin-cent Palumbo (1936–2000). “It takes years to learn how to carve all of these Gothic architectural elements,” Joe observes. “Very few masons if any have Sean and Andy’s skill or talent, and I know all the restored pieces they make will be absolutely true to the originals.”

Expert knowledge of this sort, along with professional connections forged over decades of work at the Cathedral, proved valuable when Joe called two respected figures from the Cathedral’s history after the earthquake: Anthony Segreti, architect of the Cathedral during the construction of the west end, and James Madison Cutts, structural engineering consultant starting in the early 1960s. Segreti connected the Cathedral with the firm of Keast & Hood; Cutts was soon in touch with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (wje). Those firms joined in performing the detailed assessment of the seismic damage, with wje taking the lead on compiling the data and the final report. As at the Washington Monument, the wje “Difficult Access Team” performed a rappelling inspection of the Cathedral’s exterior as part of the process. Universal Builders Supply was called in to provide scaffolding and rigging for the stabilization effort. Along with Andrew J. Hullinger, the Cathedral’s senior director for finance and administration, Joe proved an able translator to the public of the specialized information

8 cathedral age 

management, insurance, and related areas. “I cannot thank the task force members enough for their depth of knowledge and dedication during this challenging time,” Hullinger says. Over the past year, the group has over-seen post-earthquake stabilization efforts; repairs to the Herb Cottage, Bishop’s Garden, and South Road in the aftermath of the crane collapse; and the development of a comprehensive list of the required restoration, preser-vation, and maintenance work that lies ahead.

Prioritization of this future work is the group’s final task. “Having knowledge of the order in which this work needs to be done, along with the estimated costs to complete that work, gives us critical information for project plan-ning and provides us with the information we need to raise necessary funds to proceed,” Hullinger notes. “We are grateful for the members’ gifts of time and talent to make these efforts possible.”

Hullinger also shares the Cathedral’s profound gratitude for individuals and groups across the country, including

the National Cathedral Association (nca), whose assistance has already helped the Cathedral prepare for a new phase dedicated to active earthquake damage repairs, infrastructural maintenance, and long-term preservation.

a transformative giftThe restoration effort made a promising step forward on the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, as Washington National Cathedral announced the receipt of a major grant for $5 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind. One of the Endowment’s primary goals is to support efforts that “deepen and enrich” the cause of faith in America—a legacy that has included the construction effort for the National Cathedral and now continues with preservation.

Canon Kathleen A. Cox, executive director and chief operating officer, joined Interim Dean Frank Wade to express the Cathedral’s appreciation for the grant. “The Lilly family’s interest in American faith is well known, including a gift that enabled the construction of the Cathedral’s northwest St. Peter Tower,” Cox observed. “A

october 18, 2011 november 4, 2011

year after the earthquake, as we seek to preserve the building for the future, the Endowment’s significant restoration gift acknowledges the importance of a new phase in the Cathedral’s life.” Wade concurred. “Day by day, the Cathedral pursues harmony in our nation, renewal in the churches, reconciliation among faiths, and compassion in our world,” he said. “That founding vision will continue to guide us. But preservation is essential for the Cathedral’s work to endure.”

Cathedrals are meant to stand for millennia, but they cannot stand alone. As both necessary repair work and ministry continue, it’s important to remember how much the National Cathedral has depended (and will depend) on generations of steadfast support. Fortunately, as the Lilly Endow-ment and others across the country are recogniz-ing, the connection between the building and its mission remains crystal clear: repair a stone—and help to repair your world. CA

april 25, 2012ongoingcarving

and repair work

You Can HelpThe Lilly Endowment’s generous $5 million lead grant for earthquake repairs officially begins the Cathedral’s restoration phase. Your ongoing support will be essential during the years of work ahead.

Watch a special video update to learn about the Cathedral’s first year of recovery, and add your voice in support for this sacred national treasure, by visiting www.nationalcathedral.org/restore.

photos c. stapert, j. alonso

midsummer 2012 9

10 cathedral age 

Breakin te Silence

the second christian-

muslim summit

midsummer 2012 11

above st. george’s maronite cathedral and mohammad al-amin mosque photo r. weinberg

As Jesus came near and saw Jerusalem, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!”luke 19:41–42

JUNE 18, 2012

The humid air outside Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque seems thick enough to swim in. The despondent breeze from the Mediterranean coast only 1,500 feet away provides little relief from the sweltering sun. Yet the armed guards in black and gray fatigues seem undeterred in their duty to keep watch over the downtown area where more than twenty religious leaders have gathered in Beirut, Lebanon, traveling from across the Middle East, Europe, and America to engage in three days of intensive dialogue.

The mosque in Martyrs’ Square stands in the center of a city still rebuilding after 15 years of bloodshed, four corner mina-rets of a yellow ochre color stretching higher than 235 feet each; a brilliant blue dome, rising higher than 135 feet, sparkles with

Whoever kills a soul . . . it is as

if he had slain mankind entirely.

And whoever saves one—it is

as if he had saved mankind entirely.

surah 5:32

hints of gold above the vast space dedicated to public prayer. Just a few feet away to the northwest, St. George’s Maronite Cathedral stands as a 130-year-old counterpoint to the modern mosque, the ancient Roman columns of its neoclassical façade somewhat diminished by the towering minarets nearby, but its scars from the civil war washed away by recent restoration.

These are the two settings where the second Christian-Muslim Summit will be held over the next few days: a Muslim and a Christian house of worship, side by side. The rolling skyline of this capital city reveals countless clustered spires bearing both minarets and crosses. The ancient city’s architecture epitomizes Lebanon’s religious diversity, showing just how appropriate the gathering here will be.

by Richard M. Weinberg

12 cathedral age 

he setting described in that

journal entry diΩers a great deal from the setting of the first Christian-Muslim Summit, hosted at Washington National Cathedral in 2010. Two years later, four eminent religious leaders from Sunni, Shi’a, Anglican-Episcopal, and Catholic faith traditions have traveled to Beirut with some two dozen delegates to reflect on the theme: “Christians and Muslims building justice and peace together in a violent, changing world.”

The host cleric, Sheikh Malek Shaar, Mufti of North Lebanon and Tripoli, would extol the generous hospitality of his country at the summit while also bearing in mind his own country’s direct witness to the violent world the summit aims to address. His two principal Christian guests were His Eminence Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue at the Vatican; and the

Right Rev. John Bryson Chane, eighth bishop

of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and senior advisor for

interfaith relations at Washington National Cathedral.

The second Muslim principal, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, director of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization

in Tehran, represented the Shi’a tradition. The participation of an Iranian Shi’a Muslim would be a

significant shift forward in this second of four planned interfaith summits between Muslims and Christians. In

2010, Iranian participants were unable to join at the

gathering hosted by the Cathedral

due to travel challenges.

But in Lebanon, hosted by Sunni Muslims, and with

more than a dozen

Western Christian

leaders taking part, Ayatollah Taskhiri proved

to be a key presence in advancing the reconciliation eΩorts of these religious leaders.

the right of self-determinationFollowing three days of dialogue, the leaders presented a public forum and a mutually agreed-upon Plan of Action, articulating the intensely negotiated steps the participants would commit to in working toward positive change in their ongoing work. The poignancy of the setting in the Middle East and Lebanon especially was not lost on the summit’s participants. This was framed in the introduction of the Plan of Action: “Because of their belief in one God, Christians and Muslims have so much in common which the very fact of this meeting in Lebanon makes clear. The conviction of the reality of this one God is deeply interwoven in the story of what we now call the Middle East, a story reaching back over millennia.

“Meeting in Lebanon, with its very specific story, at this moment our hearts reach out especially to the suΩering of the poor, of the women, and of the children in neighboring Syria,” the plan continued. Participants in the summit condemned the massacres and bloodshed in Syria in the plan and asked “the international community to end such acts immediately and to grant the Syrian people their rights to live in dignity and self-determination.”

Syria was not the only urgent concern debated in the summit. The plight of religious minorities, particularly Chris-

left ayatollah seyyed mohammad-ali taskhiri and sheikh malek shaar photo r. weinberg

midsummer 2012 13

tians in the Middle East, received unani-mous condemnation among those gathered. The Plan of Action called for all Arab Chris-tians and Muslims to enjoy common citizenship while strongly noting that the emigration of Chris-tians from the countries of the Middle East is “due to many factors, not just for religious reasons.”

Much time was spent discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “One thing is clear, as was a≈rmed at the end of the first summit,” the Plan of Action stated: “the resolution, through justice for all, of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is an essential founda-tion to build justice and peace, not only for this region, but for the world.

“Participants consider that peace will not be achieved unless justice prevails in the world and until all peoples enjoy their full rights, including the right to have their own states and the right of self-determination. . . . We also reiterate our full rejection of all attempts to alter the identity of the city of Jerusalem and its Holy Places,” the Plan concluded.

the silence of broken spiritsBishop Chane began his remarks at the public forum by reiterating an overall condemnation of violence. “There are more than five billion Christians and Muslims throughout

the world, and although we do not speak for all of them, we are here to say that violence has no

place in the teachings of Muhammad or Jesus,” he

said. “We are here to say that no one has the right to take the life of another in the name of God.”

Implicitly condemning the actions of religious fundamentalists, Mufti Shaar called for “the revival of positive behaviors in an environment of compassion, love, and security,” explaining that these “could only be done if the religious roots of societies are strong. Only there does each individual discover his own identity—to live out life according to God’s laws and not the laws of the jungle.”

Reflecting on the past two years since the first summit, Cardinal Tauran said, “The climate of inter-religious dialogue has positively changed. But all the great challenges remain to bring this devel-opment to the grassroots level.”

Ayatollah Taskhiri agreed in the need to carry work to the level of grassroots communities among believers in our respective faith traditions, an idea he says “has been launched on the foun-dations of sound logic.” He further explained that dialogue must be capa-ble of “achieving the desired compre-hension and understanding, and reduc-ing the conflict areas and providing areas of continuous cooperation in the

left bishop john bryson chane and cardinal theodore mccarrick top dome of mohammad al-amin mosque at night  photos l. shakespearecenter the city of beirut photo iryna1/shutterstock.combottom st. george’s maronite cathedral photo lebnen18 (wikimedia commons)

14 cathedral age 

service of humanitarian issues and the issues of religious and moral values.”

One of the most moving moments came when Anglican delegate Clare Amos read aloud from Brian Wren’s poem “Say No to Peace”:

Say “no” to peaceif what they mean by peace,is the quiet misery of hunger,the frozen stillness of fear,the silence of broken spirits,the unborn hopes of the oppressed. . . .

Tell them that peaceis the hauling down of flags,the forging of guns into ploughs,the giving of the fields to the landless, and hunger a fading dream.

Amos, the inter-religious program executive of the World Council of Churches, was one of only three women participating in the summit. In fact, the Plan of Action called out the importance of the participation of women in future work, and participants of this summit encouraged more involvement of other women leaders in subsequent gatherings. “Women must play a key role in peace-building at all levels of society, since they often bear the greatest burden of violence, poverty, discrimination, marginalization, inequity, and exclusion,” the Plan of Action stated.

convening dialogueRoman, Armenian, Melkite, and Maronite Catholics made up the Catholic delegation led by Cardinal Tauran, including His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, patriarch emeritus of Jerusalem, and His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington.

midsummer 2012 15

In addition to Amos, among those also assembled from the Anglican Communion were the Anglican bishop in Jerusalem, the Right Rev. Suheil Dawani, whose diocese includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, and Israel. Other delegates included the Right Rev. and Right Hon. George L. Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury; the Right Rev. Michael Ipgrave, bishop of Woolwich, England, and former interfaith relations adviser to the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England; and the Rev. Chloe Breyer, executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York.

Two years of planning were undertaken by a steering committee made up of the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, director of the Cathedral’s Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation; Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo of the Vatican; and Mufti Shaar’s son, Anas Shaar, a Lebanese businessman. Evan Anderson, who managed the 2010 summit, worked on behalf of the Cathedral as the summit coordinator. Nicolas Haddad served as an advisor. The Cathedral was also represented by Canon Kathleen A. Cox, executive director, and the Rev. Lyndon Shakespeare, director of program and ministry.

When asked why the Cathedral would play a part in such a gathering, Canon Cox explained it as “part of our commitment to being a leader in convening people of all faiths to examine and respond to important issues in the world. Interfaith dialogue at this level is what makes the National Cathedral an international cathedral, and it strengthens our capacity to minister as the spiritual home for the nation.”

Participants are discussing the possibility of convening a third summit in Rome, although they must first address the need to obtain necessary funding. CA

opposite page top summit participants gathered at the opening ceremony photo l. shakespearecenter the four principals at the public panel: bishop chane, mufti shaar, cardinal jean-louis tauran, and ayatollah taskhiri   photo l. shakespearebottom ayatollah taskhiri presents fellow participants with gifts from iran (l. to r.): cardinal tauran, majid mirdamadi, bishop chane, ayatollah taskhiri, mufti shaar, and canon john l. peterson photo r. weinberg

this page top ayatollah taskhiri and cardinal tauran in conversation  photo l. shakespearebottom former archbishop of canterbury george l. carey photo r. weinberg

16 cathedral age 

The Power of Faith in the Coming Electionby Francis H. Wade

A Vote for Understanding

There is a story told of a man who was finally rescued after many years on a desert island.

He proudly showed the rescuers all that he had made for himself during his exile: the hut, the garden, a playing field, and two churches. When asked why he had built two houses of worship he explained that he regularly attended one and the other was the church he refused to go to under any circumstances. That negative and judgmental aspect of religion is not confined to small islands or bad jokes but is all too often the public face of religion. In this election year, that unfortunate impulse in the faithful has already begun to make its mark and undoubtedly will become a larger factor as November nears.

The results of the presidential election are expected to be close. And so far, our public discourse is relentlessly negative. The fear of what might happen if “the Other” were elected is generating far more energy than any hope associated with a particular candidate. Concerns about Mormonism or the preaching of Jeremiah Wright are being quietly fanned. Instincts that are drawn to homogeneity are allowed to rail against inclusivity. Islam receives little under-standing from those of many theologies, and the frequent reports of its adherents blowing up themselves and others make insight even more elusive. Long-standing issues of contraception, abortion, sexuality, re-distribution of wealth,

stewardship of the environment, and healthcare, as well as public and private debt, combine to produce a nearly perfect storm of fear, judgment, and negativity. Like the man on the island, we are surrounded by churches, ideologies, and trends we do not want to consider under any cir-cumstances. The result is that we who have been invited to serve at the banquet of God’s bounty are instead volunteering in droves to serve on the jury at Judgment Day.

deeper and better impulsesYet that is an oΩer God consistently declines to accept. Teachings of the great religions condemn passing judgments on our neighbor. Those of us who are Christians would do well to remember that Jesus made it quite clear that we are simply not qualified to render the judgments we are so easily tempted to make. Those we regard as “ne’er do wells” will be in the Kingdom long before those we admire, he said. And he told a parable about our inability to separate good and evil—a job reserved for angels who are well above our station and grade. Our task is to be agents of the opposite of current political trends: openness, inclusion, truth, trust, forgiveness, understanding, generosity, and personal risk in the name of all of these things. The private hearts of people of faith know this even while our public faces are contorted by negativity.

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The Rev. Dr. Francis H. Wade is interim dean of Washington National Cathedral

above a peaceful demonstrator holds a sign in front of the site of a proposed islamic cultural center near ground zero in new york city in august 2010. the center—park51—would later open to the public for its first exhibit in september 2011. photo ap photo/s. wenig

18 cathedral age 

on the fruits of well grounded faith, fruits associated with the kind of questions already mentioned. In our discomfort we have come to the absurd oxymoronic notion that faith simply does not matter in public life. Our culture tends to treat it as an isolated personal choice having no more bearing on our community than the decision to collect stamps or ride a bicycle: one’s right to do so is a≈rmed, but the practice of it is deemed to be without impact outside the circles of intimacy. Political rhetoric takes an equally limiting view. If all one knew about religion came from the political process it would appear to be on a par with the decision to wear

purple or green; entirely personal and private with no

bearing on one’s

qualifications for o≈ce.

the dangers of denialFaith is actually the means by which one under-stands life and the world in which we live. Is life good? If so, how is its value expressed? What are the purposes of life, and how does one con-tribute to and serve them? The great narratives of faith address those questions in mythic form, and the answers one derives from them have much to do with how one might lead a nation. The principles of faith lie behind the priorities

This does not mean there is a clear religious answer to the issues that perplex our nation. People of reason and faith do come to very diΩerent conclusions about the best course and the best candidate to lead us on that course. We are not called to common conclusions but to common paths, principles, and hopes. People of faith are bound to a given set of questions, even if the answers will vary. Faith's questions include exploring the potential for reconciliation of all people; impact on the environment as well as the economy; the

interplay of freedom and

responsibility; the encouragement of generosity; and concern for the vulnerable along with the valuable.

The power of these questions and others like them is not absent from the hearts of the faithful even if they are of little interest to adrenaline-addicted news cycles. The deeper and better impulses of religion remain overshadowed by the reality of shallow and unmoored behavior carried out under its banner. This distortion results in a national discomfort with the fact of faith. We forget our Founders’ understanding that while church and state must be separate, democracy depends

midsummer 2012 19

we set and the manner in which we work to ful-fill them. To pretend that the faith of our lead-ers is not a matter of interest to the electorate is an act of denial with substantial consequences far beyond the scope of dealing with the intoler-ant excesses of some religious practitioners.

And there is no real reason for it. The traditions that formed President Obama and Governor Romney’s faiths have several points that should be of interest to voters. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long and commendable emphasis on the importance of family life. It is a point well worth acknowledging and worthy of commendation by anyone concerned with the fabric of our nation. The dna of African-American faith communities includes a lively concern for justice that can always benefit our common experiences. And both traditions believe that God’s purposes are worked out in the flow of history—the very flow the president of the United States significantly influences. Our candidates have been molded by their faith communities as they have been shaped by educational institutions, families, and work experiences. The sources of their convictions and assumptions are proper inquiries in an election year. Our national respect for individual choice in religion makes the processes of faith communities oΩ-limits, but the resulting values are as important to elections as they are to governance.

liabilities and assetsJust as positive values emerge from the traditions of Messrs. Obama and Romney,

questions can also be raised about them. Thinking of Mormonism and the African-American tradition in the broadest possible categories, both have the experience of being marginalized in ways not known in mainline or national faith communities. That experience tends to produce strong internal loyalties and strengths but can develop wary if not hostile relationships with the wider community that have no place in national governance. I am not suggesting that either candidate has that limiting view: I am suggesting that a lively conversation about the importance of faith

should not keep us from hearing how the candidates have honored the obvious assets of their religious background and how they have dealt with some of its possible liabilities.

Religion is a powerful force in life. That point is obvious to believers and unbelievers alike. Much of history’s goodness as well as its terror spring from some form of religious conviction. In spite of our checkered behavior, faith retains an interest in questions that are vital to the common good. For our nation to pretend that the beliefs of our president are a matter of indiΩerence is an absurdity that ill serves us. Putting one’s light under a

bushel is a common failing. Trying to convince the world that there was no light in the first place is a folly with peculiar power during an election. CA

opposite 2008 presidential election results by county, with shades of red, blue, and purple used to indicate percentages of republican and democratic votes. © 2008 m. e. j. newman, used with permission.

Join the ConversationHow does faith contribute to leadership? What is the continuing importance of faith in American life?

Tweet your thoughts about this article to us: @WNCathedral.

“We are not called to common conclusions but to common paths, principles, and hopes. People of faith are bound to a given set of questions, even if the answers will vary.”

FAITH

in AMERICA

Interviews with President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney

midsummer 2012 21

CA how does faith play a role in your life?

president obama First and foremost, my Christian faith gives me a perspective and security that I don’t think I would have otherwise: That I am loved. That, at the end of the day, God is in control—and my main responsibility is to love God with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself. Now, I don’t always live up to that standard, but it is a standard I am always pursuing.

My faith is also a great source of comfort to me. I’ve said before that my faith has grown as president. This office tends to make a person pray more; and as President Lincoln once said, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.”

Finally, I try to make sure that my faith informs how I live my life. As a husband, as a father, and as president, my faith helps me to keep my eyes on the prize and focus on what is good and truly important.

governor romney Faith is integral to my life. I have served as a lay pastor in my church. I faithfully follow its precepts. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. My father was committed to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s cause of equality, and I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby and in leading national volunteer movements. My faith is grounded in the conviction that a consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another—to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God.

CA do you have favorite scriptural passages, prayers, or other words of wisdom to which you often turn?

governor romney I am always moved by the Lord’s words in Matthew: “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me.” (matthew 25:35–36, kjv).

president obama I do have a few favorites. Isaiah 40:31 has been a great source of encouragement in my life, and I quote from it often. Psalm 46 is also important to me; I chose to read it on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Niebuhr’s serenity prayer is a good one as well.

I’ve also been blessed to receive a daily devotional from my faith advisor, Joshua DuBois, who will send me Scripture or thoughts from people such as C.S. Lewis or Howard Thurman every morning.

CA how do you view the role of faith in public life?

president obama There are many ways to approach this question, but two clear aspects of the role of faith in public life come to mind immediately. First, faith has always provided a moral framework and vocabulary for this country to come to terms with its most pressing challenges. One of the great things about this nation is that it is a place where people from all walks of life can advocate on behalf of their faith and beliefs and be open about what drives and motivates them.

This series features reflections on faith in America—from prominent thought leaders and individuals of different religious backgrounds or perspectives.For this issue, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney were asked an identical set of questions and given the opportunity to respond freely. Their answers appear in Cathedral Age as they were given in full.

photo d. schwen (wikimedia commons)

22 cathedral age 

“My faith is grounded in the conviction that a consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another—to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God.”

From slavery to the suffrage movement to civil rights, faith—and the moral obligations that derive from our faith—have always helped us to navigate some of our greatest moral challenges with a recognition that there’s something bigger than ourselves: we have obligations that extend beyond our own self-interest. We face big challenges in this country, and we’re coming to the point where we will decide if we’re truly in this together or if each individual ought just to fight for what serves them best. For me, and I think for many other Americans, faith tells us that there is something about this world that ties our interest to the welfare of a child who can’t get the health care they need, or a parent who can’t find work after the plant shut down, or a family going hungry.

Second, faith motivates people to do incredibly compassionate and good work

that helps our nation thrive. Now, I’ve been familiar with this for a long time. One of my first jobs was as a community organizer where I was funded by a Catholic Church grant to help families on the South Side of Chicago who were struggling after the local steel plant closed. But I must say this has become even more real to me during my time as president. Through the letters I’ve read from individuals whose faith led them to serve in Joplin or Colorado Springs in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and the work of my faith-based office (which has done incredible work to strengthen partnerships between the federal government and faith-based non-profits to serve those in need), it is more apparent to me now than ever how integral faith is as a motivating factor for so much of what keeps our country moving forward.

governor romney We should acknowledge the Creator, as did the Founders—in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our Constitution rests.

CA as a country of great religious diversity and divisiveness, how can faith play a role in unifying america?

governor romney I believe that while we are a country with so many differences in creed and theology, we can all meet in service, in shared moral convictions about our nation stemming from a common worldview.

midsummer 2012 23

“. . . faith motivates people to do incredibly compassionate and good work that helps our nation thrive.”

president obama Faith lets us know that there’s something bigger than ourselves, and that requires a certain basic commitment to one another. This country has a rich tradition of seeking to create an environment where people of different beliefs can live together and share common goals. As Americans, I think we understand that—in protecting our ability to advocate for our own positions—we must protect the ability of those who come from different backgrounds and beliefs to do so as well. Faith demands that we see the image of God in one another and respect it.

CA some people have questioned the sincerity of your faith and your christianity. how do you respond to those questions?

president obama I spoke about this a bit at the National Prayer Breakfast last year. You know, there’s not much

I can do about it. I have a job to do as president, and that does not involve convincing folks that my faith in Jesus is legitimate and real. I do my best to live out my faith, and to stay in the Word, and to make my life look more like His. I’m not perfect. What I can do is just keep on following Him, and serve others—trying to make folks’ lives a little better using this humbling position that I hold.

governor romney I am often asked about my faith and my beliefs about Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Every religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These should not be bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

CA what does a political leader’s faith tell you about him/her as a person?

governor romney A political leader’s faith can tell us a great deal or nothing. So much depends on what lies behind that faith. And so much depends on deeds, not words. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office is whether he or she shares these American values: the equality of humankind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty. They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

opposite ap photo/c. dharapakabove  mistydawnphoto/shutterstock.com

24 cathedral age 

president obama Faith can express itself in people in many ways, and I think it is important that we not make faith alone a barometer of a person’s worth, value, or character. I will say that oftentimes faith can serve as an impetus, or even a reason in itself, to view issues outside of just the perspective of our own personal advancement. There is a sort of selflessness that often derives from faith that I think is a powerful force for good.

I didn’t agree with former President Bush on many issues, but I did respect him as a good husband, a loving father, and as a man of faith. I don’t know how he would have approached the issue of immigration reform or aids in Africa if he were not a man of faith. If he’d been someone solely concerned with hard politics—or what people would say about him—I’m not sure he would have had the gall to step out on those issues. But he did, and I think it’s clear that his faith was a major part of that.

CA how can our government and faith communities work together as a positive force for the nation while also respecting the boundaries between the two?

president obama I think we’ve made some important progress on this issue during my time as president through our work with my Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The constitutional principle of a separation between church and state has served our nation well since our founding—embraced by people of faith and those of no faith at all throughout our history—and it has been paramount in our work. That is why I signed an executive order that implemented recommendations from my Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships that included some of our nation’s top church/state experts. We’ve also expanded how the government views partnerships with faith-based and non-profit organizations from solely a financial focus to include non-financial partnerships.

I have also had the approach that partnerships are a two-way street. Faith communities often know their cities better than most anyone else. They also have an institutional memory and history of service that we have and can continue to learn from. On the other hand, the federal government has tools and resources that faith communities often do not have. We’ve been intentional about connecting non-profits in the same field with one another to share best practices, or to form private sector partnerships. In a field like mentoring, we’ve brought corporations to the table to facilitate private funding for non-profits doing this work. On an issue like human trafficking, we’ve worked with faith communities not only to care for trafficking survivors through financial partnerships but also to inform their congregations about how to identify possible trafficking victims through non-financial partnerships.

We can always do better, and we’re getting better every day, but one of the greatest sources of optimism for

“From slavery to the suffrage movement to civil

rights, faith—and the moral obligations that derive from

our faith—have always helped us to navigate some of our greatest moral challenges

with a recognition that there’s something bigger than

ourselves: we have obligations that extend beyond our own

self-interest.”

midsummer 2012 25

me over these last four years has been to see so many heroic and humble Americans serving others out of the kindness of their hearts, and the moral imperative of their most core beliefs.

governor romney As governor of Massachusetts, I worked hard to promote faith-based social-service organizations, and I appointed my wife, Ann, to lead my efforts. Clearly the boundaries between church and state must be respected, but there is a large space in which faith-based organizations can do good for the community in which they serve. In recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. The Founders proscribed the establishment of a state

religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation “Under God,” and in God, we do indeed trust.

CA washington national cathedral is called to be the spiritual home for the nation. from your perspective, how can the cathedral live out that mission?

governor romney From the beginning this nation trusted in God, not man. Religious liberty is the first freedom in our Bill of Rights. And whether the cause is justice for the persecuted, compassion for the needy and the sick, or mercy for the child waiting to be born, there is no greater force for good in the nation than Christian conscience in action. The mission of the National Cathedral, as I conceive of it, is to preserve, protect, and advance that tradition as a national house of prayer.

president obama I believe that clarity about most anything in life is the result of seeking answers, not settling for what we know already. The National Cathedral has a proud history of hosting conversations about questions and debates of great importance and of allowing different perspectives as part of that conversation.

I think the Cathedral has found that our faith and overall decision-making is strengthened by being exposed to other ideas and testing them. This is how the Cathedral can continue to serve its mission, and how America can continue to live up to its highest ideals as well: by carving out space for important conversations and ideas, and intentionally including those of different viewpoints in those discussions.

“Every religion has its own unique doctrines

and history. These should not be bases for criticism

but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious

tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if

it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.”

opposite president barack obama at the inaugural prayer service at washington national cathedral, january 2009 photo d. marksabove former massachusetts governor mitt romney pauses during a visit to st. paul’s lutheran church while campaigning in a berlin, n.h., neighborhood in december 2011. photo ap photo/c. krupa

26 cathedral age 

Great

is thy faithfulness

memorial service for charles colson, may 16, 2012 photo d. marks

midsummer 2012 27

From across the nation and the world, more than 1,500 guests filled the nave of Washington National Cathe-dral on Wednesday, May 16, to celebrate the life of Charles Wendell Colson (1931–2012), presidential counselor, best-selling author, and founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Seated next to each other under the Cathedral’s vaulted ceiling were an unlikely assemblage of Republicans and Democrats, high government officials and ex-convicts, famous faces and in- famous faces, as well as faceless “little people” he had befriended.

His improbable path to this day was a remarkable journey. After a spectacular rise in the world of hardball politics, the Massachusetts native served four years as special counsel to President Richard M. Nixon. Then, in one of the most dramatic conversion stories of contemporary history, he accepted Christ after reading C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity in the summer of 1973. As a consequence of that decision, Colson pleaded guilty to the Watergate-related crime of disseminating derogatory information against Daniel Ellsberg. He was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

faithfulness, not successStunned by the hopelessness he saw while incarcerated in federal prisons at Maxwell and Fort Holabird, Colson promised skeptical prisoners he would never forget them. They were, he realized later, “sinners just like me.” Semper fidelis, the United States Marines motto, was deeply ingrained in the man who had once been the Corps’ youngest captain. Colson kept his word: he never forgot those in prison.

A Celebration of the Life of Charles Wendell Colson

Unexpectedly released after only seven months, Colson took his first tentative steps toward what evolved into an international prison ministry to the least, the lost, and the left-out. “My greatest

humiliation—being sent to prison,” Colson later said, “was the beginning of God’s greatest use of my life; He chose the one thing in which I could not glory for His glory.”

For decades, Colson took his ministry into prisons filled with despair “to proclaim Good News to the captives.” He became one of the most respected leaders of the evangelical movement in recent decades. In 1993, Charles Colson was awarded

the prestigious Templeton Prize for his “exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.” He donated the million-dollar award to Prison Fellowship.

celebrating a life well lived“Today is a celebration of my father’s life,” said Emily Colson. Her dad had left the family a note saying, ‘‘I want my funeral services to be joyful. I don’t want people to be sad because I believe with every ounce of conviction in my body that death is but a homecoming and that we will be in the presence of God. It is the culmination of life. It is a celebration.’’

Charles Colson was 80 when he died on April 21, 2012, three weeks after he suddenly became ill while delivering a speech at the annual William Wilberforce Conference. “What will we do in the shadow of such an extraordinary role model?” his daughter asked. “I encourage you to continue the work God has begun through my father’s life. Do the right thing. Seek the truth. Defend the weak. Live courageous lives.”

Great is thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see;All I have needed thy hand hath provided,Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

28 cathedral age 

Former Minnesota congressman and governor Albert H. Quie, who once asked President Gerald R. Ford to allow him to serve Colson’s prison sentence so his friend could be released to deal with family problems, reflected on the Chuck he first met after Colson’s dramatic conversion experience in the driveway of his friend Tom Phillips, who had first shared his faith with him on a sultry August night in 1973.

The Rev. Dr. Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and chairman of the board of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, delivered the homily. He noted that the proud Marine had been interred in Quantico National Cemetery and added: “[W]e are here today, in this the nation’s church, to celebrate the life of one who ended his days as a soldier in another army, the militia Christi: a battalion without bullets, soldiers of Christ, arrayed in truth, wielding weapons of faith, prayer, and love.”

Traditional Christian hymns sung by the congregation had been chosen personally by the cradle Episcopalian-turned Baptist. Bass Wintley Phipps, who traveled frequently with Colson into prisons, performed two of his favorites, “It is well with my soul” and “Amazing Grace.” The Cathedral Choir sang Canon Michael McCarthy’s setting of Psalm 23 and John Rutter’s benedictory, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Cathedral Organist Scott Dettra concluded the service with Eugène Gigout’s rousing “Grand Chœur Dialogué,” its antiphonal call-and-response between organ divisions symbolizing Colson’s call for respectful and winsome dialogue between those who may hold different views. Cathedral Carillonneur Edward Nassor welcomed arriving guests, and the Washington Ringing Society rang a Cambridge Surprise Minor quarter-peal as attendees dispersed into the warmth of the noonday sun.

Live each day as if it were the best of days and the last of days.And when the last of days comes, live it as the best of days.

—Charles Colson, The Good Life

top r. to l. patricia colson, emily colson, wendell colson, and his wife center top wintley phipps, bass center bottom the rev. dr. timothy george, homilist bottom emily colson, daughter photos d. marks

—Margaret Shannon

midsummer 2012 29

cathedral hosts aids memorial servicefrom darkness to Light

Washington National Cathedral hosted a gathering of more

than 850 individuals from many faith traditions on July 21 for “From Darkness to Light,” an evening service to memorialize those lost to aids and uphold a spirit of hope and commitment during the names Project Foundation’s twenty-fifth anniversary display of the aids Memorial Quilt in Washington, D.C.

Nine 12-foot select blocks from the quilt, the world’s largest living memorial, were on display throughout the nave, with two blocks hanging from the north and south balconies.

The service included more than 50 participants made up of Christian,

Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim faith leaders; people living with hiv/aids, their families, friends, loved ones, and caregivers; and members of an international planning committee.

Sandra Thurman, executive director of the Interfaith Health Program at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, which was a primary sponsor of the service, and the Rev. Francis H. Wade, interim dean of the Cathedral, welcomed attendees.

“The place where you are gathered is called, in the Christian tradition, the nave,” said Wade. “It is a Latin word for ship. And what it means literally is that when we gather, we are in this boat together . . . This Cathedral has been in

this boat for a long time, and we will be in it for as long as it takes, and we are honored to share this particular moment with you.”

Calls to prayer from each faith tradition sung from the Cathedral’s west balcony alternated with Scripture readings by the Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha of the Anglican Church of Uganda; Rabbi Aaron Miller of Washington Hebrew Congregation; Abhay Das of iskcon, a Krishna-Hindu organization in Washington, D.C.; and Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of the Dar Al-Hijirah Islamic Society.

A special commemoration included prayers written by Marcia Falk and chanted by Ana Hernández with

photo e. graham

30 cathedral age 

Two rarely seen panels from the quilt appeared prominently against the intricately carved wooden rood screen of the Cathedral, providing a striking backdrop to the platform in the Cathedral’s crossing where the service took place. “The Last One,” a panel unveiled for the first time to the public Saturday morning on the National Mall as part of the names Project Foundation’s opening ceremony of its “Quilt in the Capital” events, was received by the foundation (caretakers of the quilt) in 1988. It arrived with a handwritten note that read: “I hope this quilt will find a permanent place and help mark the end of this devastating disease.” The names Project recognized its importance immediately and has held on to it—and to the hope it conveys—to be able to sew it into the quilt as the “Last One.”

“The Last One is both a quiet prayer and a stark reminder of all that we are working to achieve,” said Julie Rhoad, president and ceo of the names Project Foundation. “There is renewed hope that the end of aids is possible as science has begun to articulate a new narrative. We are sharing the ‘Last One’ with the public now because it’s

critical that we all realize how each one of us has an important role on the road to the end of aids.”

Also on display against the rood screen was a block of panels on loan from St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, which had been blessed by Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu prior to its departure from South Africa last week. Arriving at Washington National Cathedral on July 18, it was presented in a ceremony including another blessing led by the Right Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, former bishop of Washington, pro tempore, with remarks offered by the Hon. Ebrahim Rasool, South African ambassador to the United States

Special anthems were performed by three different vocal groups. Among them were Potomac Fever, a small ensemble from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., which sang Fred Small’s lullaby “Everything Possible” in an a cappella arrangement.

The Cathedral Singers, led by Director of Music Canon Michael McCarthy, sang Leo Sowerby’s “Eternal Light” and “When Night Fell,” a new composition with music by David

congregational refrain. All were invited to offer silent prayers as service participants and Cathedral acolytes lit six stations full of votive candles.

Dr. James W. Curran, who in 1981 coordinated the task force on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc), was the featured speaker. Curran led the hiv/aids division at the cdc and went on to attain the rank of assistant surgeon general while there. He is currently professor of epidemiology and dean of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

“The quilts from the names Project are with us as reminders of the commitment of their loved ones. They are no longer recognizable by gender, by age, by race, by sexual orientation, by country of origin,” said Curran. “They are united in their death by the cause—as we are.

“It is essential that, throughout the world, the communities of diverse faiths unite in their charitable endeavors to provide hope for the hundreds of millions with hiv or at great risk,” he added.

midsummer 2012 31

Hurd and text by Carl Daw and Adam Tice, commissioned especially for the service. The Washington Performing Arts Society’s Men and Women of the Gospel Choir, led by Artistic Director Stanley J. Thurston, performed an uplifting rendition of the traditional hymn “Oh Happy Day,” with worshipers standing and clapping in rhythm. A final blessing and sending forth followed with all gathered joining in singing the South African freedom song, “Siyahamba,” or, “We are marching in the light of God.”

The Cathedral’s acting director of worship, the Rev. Gina Gilland Campbell, formulated much of the service’s liturgy in conjunction with an interfaith

planning committee coordinated by the Rev. Canon Ted Karpf.

The service took place as thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the xix International aids Conference, hosted by the United States for the first time in 22 years and anticipated to be the largest conference since the gatherings began in 1985.

The National Cathedral’s ministry around hiv/aids dates back to 1986, when it hosted a conference on the role that religion might play to bring greater awareness to the issue. The Cathedral has also hosted the quilt and held services around it in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, and 1996.

—Richard M. Weinberg

opposite pageleft batalá washington, dc right the rev. canon gideon byamugisha

center potomac fever

this pagetop left wpas men and women of the gospel choir top right dr. james curran photos e. graham

bottom left arrival of the st. george block from cape town, south africa bottom right “the last one” panel photos c. stapert

32 cathedral age 

We cannot doubt that the world is growing better. But because we

have made a very large progress is no reason for failing to comprehend the enormous work that yet remains to be performed. The most casual survey of our own country reveals the existence of conditions which require constantly increasing eΩorts for their redress. The o≈cers of our governmental agencies are constantly alive to these problems and through legislation and administration are alert to meet their demands. But those who have given these subjects much thought are constantly reminded that an additional element is needed.

The advancement of knowledge, the increase in science, the growth and distribution of wealth, the enactment of laws, while they may all be commendable or even necessary in themselves, do not alone meet the problem of human

existence or furnish a su≈cient foundation for human progress. Man is more than all these. Organized government and organized society have done much and can do much. Their eΩorts will always be necessary, but without the inspiration of faith, without devotion to religion, they are inadequate to serve the needs of mankind.

We cannot remind ourselves too often that our right to be free, the support of our principles of justice, our obligations to each other in domestic aΩairs, and our duty to humanity abroad, the confidence in each other necessary to support our social and economic relations, and finally the fabric of our government itself, all rest on religion. The debt which this country owes to the men and women down through the ages who have been teaching and are teaching today the cause of righteousness is beyond all estimation.

The Spiritual Advancement of Humanityon the morning of october 10, 1928, president calvin coolidge spoke before

a large crowd gathered on the cathedral close

passages…

cathedral age, christmas, 1928 issue

turning the pages of cathedral age

Delivering an address “of surpassing clarity of thought [and] felicity of expression,” President Coolidge “spoke in a clear, resonant voice which was easily heard, through the use of amplifiers . . . and was broadcast to countless thousands more listening in.” The full address, excerpted here, was published in the Christmas 1928 issue of Cathedral Age.

Gifts of Spiritat the Cathedral Store

Jerusalem Cross PendantThis sterling silver pendant with Amethyst center features the Jerusalem cross—an emblem of the Cathedral: a central cross surrounded by four smaller crosses. 1.5" including bale, 1.25" $199.99

Creation Rose Silk TieThis new tie features the Creation rose window and is handmade of silk. With custom gift box. $49.99

Architectural MiniatureThe majestic towers and flying buttresses of the Gothic style of the National Cathedral are rendered with impressive accuracy and detail. 2½" tall and 5¾" wide at the base. $32.99

Earthenware MugHandcrafted for the Cathedral by a master potter, each of these earthenware mugs is unique and proudly displays the Cathedral’s logo. $26.99

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A percentage of your purchase supports the Cathedral’s mission to be the spiritual home for the nation. The Cathedral Store offers a wide range of Cathedral-inspired items, books, and special gift products.

Shop online, order by phone, or stop in on your next visit.

Decades ago, a generous bequest from Eli and Ruth Lilly helped speed the completion of the Cathedral. That commitment continues with the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s recent grant of $5 million to the restoration effort.

Now it’s up to you.

Your ongoing dedication will be essential during this major new phase in the Cathedral’s history, joining countless angels across the country who believe in the Cathedral’s power to inspire and want to help sustain it for future centuries.

It’s easy to learn more about preservation needs, stay connected, and make contributions to the work ahead.

To get started, visit www.nationalcathedral.org/support.

“I believe so implicitly in the good that will be done by and through this Cathedral.” —president theodore roosevelt, attending the laying of the cathedral’s foundation stone, september 29, 1907

Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NWWashington, DC 20016-5098(202) 537-6200www.nationalcathedral.orgfacebook.com/wncathedraltwitter.com/wncathedral

background foundation stone ceremony, 1907 photo cathedral archivesroosevelt photo pach brothers copyright 1915