Contributed by Christopher Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day in the body of Christ that resides at Spring Valley and Hillcrest. There’s something special about having the bishop present, especially when you think about apostolic succession, and what it means to trace our Christian family tree back to its beginning. We watched as 40 youth and adults confirmed and reaffirmed their baptismal vows, and together we renewed our own.

Although the entire covenant is powerful and moving, there are two questions that always strike me, resonate with me, and more often than not, convict me.

  • Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
  • Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

And we/you/me response, ‘I will, with God’s help.’

These are critical covenantal questions that must not slip by in rote fashion. The first one is the very basis for Transfiguration’s mission statement, ‘…to seek and to serve Jesus Christ in all persons.’ If we really do love our neighbors as we love ourselves (assuming we love ourselves in healthy, non-narcissistic ways), the second question indicates how we are to live out that love. We are compelled to demonstrate that love by actively striving for justice and peace among all people, and the natural outcome is that everyone is afforded the benefit of dignity and respect.

If only it was as easy as it seems it should be, if the ‘I will’ was enough, wouldn’t the world be a radically different place? There would be no need for schools to have anti-bullying policies; racial, ethnic, gender, and socio-economic inequality would simply cease to exist.  Unfortunately, my individual will isn’t enough. It is apparent every single time that I reaffirm my baptismal vow that I cannot fulfill these questions, I cannot make the difference that God so desperately expects of me, without God’s help.

As we renewed our baptismal covenant, I found myself grieving for the over 250 children in Nigeria who were recently kidnapped into sex slavery. These children are part of ‘All,’ those whom we are to be seeking and serving, demanding justice and dignity. What are we doing, in large and small ways, on a day-in and day-out basis to demonstrate to the world that ‘All’ in fact really does mean ‘All?’

In so many ways, it is clear that Church of the Transfiguration understands the mandate of ‘All.’ People of all different kinds, sorts, and conditions have been welcomed here in very public ways. Are we continually challenging ourselves to ever-expand the definition of ‘All?’ Is the circle getting drawn wider and wider so that ‘All’ really do have a place in God’s house, at God’s table, and in God’s world?

God mandates us to action, and that action necessitates God’s help.

I’d be curious to know what stands out for you, what goes through your mind as you reaffirm your baptismal covenant?