Orcas Island Council of Churches Shares Soup, Spirit and Service

For more than two years, an ecumenical group of Orcas Island church leaders has been convening to discuss spiritual support and the social and environmental concerns of our community.

Bishop Craig Anderson, who has convened the group for monthly lunch meetings, says “We don’t just operate in our own spheres, we are motivated by the Lund Principle of Ecumenical Cooperation, which basically says that we have a greater impact with combined resources, rather than separate resources.

And Anderson says that means, “If it ain’t local, it ain’t real.”

Before retiring to Orcas in 2007, Anderson served as Bishop of South Dakota and was adopted by the Oglala Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, given the name “Leading Eagle. In recognition of his work combating racism in South Dakota, he received the Governor’s Award for Reconciliation in 1990 and 1991 as well as awarded the Sacred Hoop Peace medal by the Great Sioux Nation in 1991.

During the 1990s, he served as President of the National Council of Churches, which oversaw the work of the 37-member organization, representing 50 million Christians.

The concept for a council of churches on Orcas Island, to worship together and address social issues, was not totally novel, Anderson says, but it “hadn’t been orchestrated.” A similar organization functioned on Orcas Island in the past, under the name of the LARC Ministry, representing Lutherans, Anglicans, and Roman Catholics.

Anderson started some two years ago to convene the Brown Bag Clergy Lunch Group. The group meets monthly and takes minutes of the casual gatherings. In addition to Bishop Anderson, the following church members attend the monthly meetings:

• Pastor Dick Staub from the Orcas Island Community Church
• Suzanne Olson, representing the Unitarian Universalists
• William Hurtado, representing the Seventh Day Adventists
• Velma Doty from St. Francis Roman Catholic Church
• Pastor John Lindsay of the Emmanuel Lutheran congregation

(In addition, the Jewish community has been invited to worship in Council of Church facilities.)

Fulfilling one of the group’s purposes — to worship together — the Council has again planned Lenten Services, with each church hosting a “soup and service” evening on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. The worship service will be offered “in any form the host wants it,” says Anderson.

The Lenten worship schedule provides the opportunity to share unfamiliar traditions while celebrating the common values and concerns of the Orcas Community, giving, Anderson says, “not only an appreciation of other traditions and meeting people in the community we might not ordinarily meet, but a number of things spring from shared worship,” Anderson says, notably, “working together to address community needs and social justice.”

During the season of Lent, (this year from March 9 to April 24) the Council of Churches members will observe the theme of “Forgiveness.” (In 2009 the group concentrated their observances on the theme of “Creation,” and in 2010 the focus was “Reconciliation”).

Through the meetings of the last two years, the Council has developed a spirit of trust, and is beginning to address other issues, such as the environment and racism.

The Episcopal Church is part of the Genesis Covenant, which considers the ministry of environmental stewardship and asks why “the Church has lagged in the care of creation?” It should be in forefront of reducing man’s carbon footprint, controlling waste, recycling and education.

With Dr. Joe Gaydos, scientist for the SeaDoc Foundation, Anderson says the church is exploring “what can we be doing for the environment on a spiritual level.

“All land is holy, we’re dependent on it. There are things we could do to address environmental issues. The Council of Churches focuses on caring for, as opposed to using, the earth; considering the holiness of place and space.”

As pastor of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Bishop Anderson has overseen the installation of a permanent outdoor labyrinth on the green between the church hall and the 1888 church. Late last year, the blessing of the land, prior to the labyrinth groundbreaking, “had the unintended consequence for us to be agents of reconciliation among the Lummi and Samish” Nations and the people of Orcas Island, said Anderson.

He says that “folks not understanding tribal agreements and fishing rights,” have led to tension among the 19 tribes of the Puget Sound area and those who are descendants of the European settlers of the area.

This Saturday, February 26, Council of Churches in joining with OPAL and the Odd Fellows to co-sponsor the film, “Finding Our Way,” at the Odd Fellows Hall. The film describes in three segments the institutionalization of racism in British Columbia, and the manner in which two of the affected communities have found a way forward. The film will be viewed at 3 p.m., with a community discussion following the screening. Anderson says, “We see this as an opportunity to have churches working together and discussing institutional racism. We’re taking it slowly.”

“I have high hopes because the people are so great to work with.”

With some 115 non-profit, service and faith organizations on Orcas Island, the Council of Churches works to coordinate the efforts of many for the social needs it identifies on the island. Anderson is a trustee of the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF), and says, “One of my roles as the convener of the Council of Churches is to represent [that organization] to the OICF. My particular interest is so we keep the lines of communication open and don’t have duplication of efforts.” He cites the OICF’s ongoing Community Needs Assessment process of meetings as assisting the Council of Churches in addressing human needs in terms of the funds and stewardship available.

Last year, the Council of Churches worked together to help the Community Food Bank relocate to the grounds of the Orcas Island Community Church and achieve $30,000 in a matching funds building campaign. That campaign was successfully completed in November, 2010 and the new building is scheduled for opening this spring.

The Council of Churches will announce the Wednesday Soup and Service schedule soon, and invite all to share in these gatherings.