Page 7 - PC Issue 14 Summer 2020

Connection 7
LEADERSHIP
When Your Hero Falls Off His Pedestal
presbyterian.ca
SUMMER 2020
PRESBYTERIAN
By the Rev. John Congram, former editor of the Presbyterian Record magazine
Some readers may remember that in a previous edition of the Presby- terian Connection I wrote an article extolling the virtues of Jean Vanier. Frankly, he is one of my heroes. At the time, I was unaware that serious rumours were circulating about him. Since then, the L’Arche Community that he founded lodged an investi- gation that revealed that during his lifetime Vanier had sexually abused at least six women. I was shocked and disillusioned.
How should people like me react in the light of these revelations? A Catholic book publisher in Toronto decided to remove all of his books from their shelves and expunge his name from their book catalogues. Catholic schools named in honour of Vanier are presently deciding whether to continue using his name on their institutions. I wonder what my local library will do with many of his books on their shelves.
Beyond the personal sadness that I felt, these events had a practical ramification for me. During the win- ter, I had been leading a home study group for my local church. This term we have been looking at outstand- ing Christians of our generation. Of course on the list that I had an- nounced we would look at was the name of Jean Vanier. He was sched- uled to appear in about a month. Should I now remove him from the list and replace his name with a more
suitable character?
Quickly, I decided the best course
of action was to leave his name on the list and have the group consider not only his accomplishments but also his failings. (This was before the coronavirus pandemic brought everything to at least a temporary pause.)
I made this decision for several reasons.
Most of us will have to go through the experience of having someone we admire fall off the pedestal we have placed them on. My wife tells me that in her younger days she had three people in her life on a pedestal: her doctor, her minister and her father. Ultimately, they would all tumble off the pedestal.
As I thought about Vanier, I remem- bered a church whose minister was removed from ministry for inappro- priate sexual behaviour. Like many congregations, photos of previous ministers who served that church hang on their wall. One is missing. It is as if what he did erased any good or ministry he might have ever done.
Knowing what we now know about Vanier does not mean he did not ac- complish some remarkable things. The L’Arche communities he founded around the world have been of tre- mendous value to thousands of men- tally challenged individuals. Many of his books contain exceptional insights. Should we bury or burn them? Can we not still take and learn from his valuable insights? Though I hope that by saying this I do not heap an additional burden on those who have been abused.
In thinking about and preparing for my study group, I was drawn to the first commandment that says we should not have any other god except God. I began to wonder if, in the case of Vanier, I had been guilty of raising him to a level that neither he nor any other human deserves. Was I guilty of making him into a false god? We see people do this with celebrities all the time. Only one is worthy of our worship and that is neither Vanier nor any other human being. Had I forgot- ten that he would experience broken- ness and weakness like we all do?
Finally, for people like me, Vanier’s
actions raise the question of forgive- ness. Can I forgive Vanier for the hurt and betrayal he has caused me and so many others? I understand that those who have suffered abuse may be unable to forgive him, at least for the time being. But I also realize that unless I am willing to offer forgive- ness, I will not be free to move on and even appreciate the good that Vanier did, while never forgetting the evil he perpetuated. Only God is capable of not only forgiving our sins but “casting them into the sea of his forgetfulness forever.” I am of Vanier’s opinion when he pointed out
that the person who is unable to offer forgiveness will suffer more than the perpetrator.
In an essay titled, On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine, Cardinal Newman indicated that there resides deep in the mystical body of Christ (i.e., the church) a profound moral wisdom. When the pandemic finally recedes and our study group resumes, I look forward to seeing how this part of the mystical body of Christ, some of whom held the same opinion of Vanier as I did, will deal with this issue. Perhaps readers may also wish to share their insights.
The Assembly Council is responsi- ble for carrying out General Assem- bly decisions between Assemblies and serves as a coordinating and prophetic body within the church. At the meeting of the Assembly Coun- cil on March 23, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 General Assembly, which was scheduled to take place from June 7 to June 11 at Wilfrid Laurier University in Wa- terloo, Ont. First and foremost, the decision was taken to ensure the safety of commissioners and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and was in keeping with Public Health and government recommendations and directives.
The Assembly Council referred
the implications of cancelling the General Assembly to its executive to work with the Clerks of Assembly. A plan addressing all of the implica- tions and proposals related to the cancellation was approved by the
executive at its meeting on March 31. The official cancellation an- nouncement and summary of impli- cations and proposals are available to read in full on the PCC website.
The Rev. Amanda Currie, Modera-
tor of the 145th General Assembly, has agreed to carry on the role of moderator for another year. She has put out a pastoral letter and video message offering hope and reassur- ance in response to this decision. Both are available on the website.
The nominees who were on the ballot for moderator of the 2020 General Assembly have been ad- vised that a new election will take place next year. Those nominees will be eligible to be re-nominated in 2021.
The 2021 General Assembly will again take place in Waterloo at Wilfrid Laurier University to fulfill the last re- maining year in the PCC’s three-year commitment with the university. In
the meantime, Wilfrid Laurier is hold- ing the dates of June 6–10, 2021, for the next General Assembly.
A 2020 edition of the Acts and Proceedings (A&P) will not be pro- duced in its regular format. The General Assembly Office will instead produce a book that only contains information included in the back sections of the A&P—statistics, fi- nancial statements, memorial min- utes, and address and ministry lists. Interim General Assembly repor ts have been posted online without recommendations included.
To read interim reports from General Assembly standing committees, visit presbyterian.ca/ga2020
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Cancellation of the 2020 General Assembly