My friend and colleague, Diane Knippers, passed away this week. It was a shock to my heart. Among other things, Christine and I have fond memories of regular Sunday lunches over several years with the Knippers and the Frickies in Virginia. We would talk of life and trends, work and play, church and relationships. I learned many things from those conversations that serve me to this day.
Diane was one of the first people to actively support and advocate on behalf of the persecuted church. In the days long before Christian leaders or media outlets were devoting radio and newspaper columns to religious human rights, Diane focused her passion and energy to supporting it. It was Diane, along with Dave Howard and John Langlois from World Evangelical Fellowship (now Alliance), who encouraged me -- and Mike Morris from England -- to consider launching a Religious Liberty Commission to help coordinate advocacy for the persecuted church. With her encouragement came time, effort, and counsel for the cause.
At one of the first conferences we sponsored as the Religious Liberty Commission, she argued that "we need to support our persecuted brothers and sisters not because of any attention we might receive, but because it is the right thing to do." As the idea of an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church was originally explored, she was one of the strong supporters that helped me overcome some initial skepticism on the part of many (including several who are among the staunchest backers today).
There are many things to be said (and I hope many people will say them) about all that Diane did -- and who she was -- in the many roles she played. As we worked together as Board members of the National Association of Evangelicals, she brought deep insight and perspective on the wider Body of Christ. As leaders at Truro Episcopal Church, Christine and I benefited from her wise leadership and consensus building skills. We will be eternally grateful to all our friend Diane contributed to our lives, as well as to the early stages of our children's lives (she also served as godmother for our twin boys, Joseph and John, now 17).
Diane, the world is less -- and so am I -- without your passion, strength, energy, sense of humor, courage, wisdom and gentleness. Thankfully, you remain ever present in special places of my heart.
For more reflections on Diane, check out: http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=470197&ct=706653
4.23.2005
4.02.2005
Pope John Paul the Great
As someone whose spritual journey began in the Catholic Church, as well as one whose professional portfolio used to include ecumenical relations (see the launch of Evangelicals and Catholics Together), the death of JP II causes natural reflection.
The many details of John Paul II's life and achievements can be easily found elsewhere, the impact he has had, however, should not be underestimated. He was, as his official biographer George Weigel stated, "the first truly modern Pope."
He moved the church in interfaith relations like no one else in recent memory -- maybe ever. His involvement in the fall of communism was inspiring to me as a budding Russian scholar.
When I visited Russia for the first time in 1985 and went to a Catholic church in Lithuania. I saw people coming out of a side door with a two babies in their group. As it was late in the afternoon, it was fairly obviously that a baptism had just taken place. My friend and I slowly walked down the side street and said hello. As we talked, I asked them what caused them to risk possible problems with the Soviet government and have their children baptized. They never hesitated. They said, "The Pope has encouraged us to do what we should do regarding our faith. We intend on following his lead." We stood there with our mouths in open amazement.
Interestingly, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522-23). He inernationalized the church in ways none before him had ever done. Of the 117 cardinals allowed to vote for his successor (i.e. those under the age 80) -- of whom 114 were appointed by John Paul II -- only 58 are from Europe, including 20 from Italy. During the previous two millennia, Europeans were an overwhelming majority and Italians the dominant group, when not in majority by themselves.
Today, there are cardinals from Benin and Indonesia, Angola and India, Cameroon, Honduras, Ghana, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Samoa, and Syria. None of that is surprising, considering that this Pope also traveled to over one hundred countries, giving the Vatican not just credibility but a highly charismatic physical presence. Furthermore, some of the third-world cardinals, such as Francis Arinze of Nigeria and, before him, Bernardin Gantin of Benin, have attained high positions in the Vatican hierarchy. An impressive legacy by itself.
John Paul II will be missed -- but his greatness will live on.
The many details of John Paul II's life and achievements can be easily found elsewhere, the impact he has had, however, should not be underestimated. He was, as his official biographer George Weigel stated, "the first truly modern Pope."
He moved the church in interfaith relations like no one else in recent memory -- maybe ever. His involvement in the fall of communism was inspiring to me as a budding Russian scholar.
When I visited Russia for the first time in 1985 and went to a Catholic church in Lithuania. I saw people coming out of a side door with a two babies in their group. As it was late in the afternoon, it was fairly obviously that a baptism had just taken place. My friend and I slowly walked down the side street and said hello. As we talked, I asked them what caused them to risk possible problems with the Soviet government and have their children baptized. They never hesitated. They said, "The Pope has encouraged us to do what we should do regarding our faith. We intend on following his lead." We stood there with our mouths in open amazement.
Interestingly, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522-23). He inernationalized the church in ways none before him had ever done. Of the 117 cardinals allowed to vote for his successor (i.e. those under the age 80) -- of whom 114 were appointed by John Paul II -- only 58 are from Europe, including 20 from Italy. During the previous two millennia, Europeans were an overwhelming majority and Italians the dominant group, when not in majority by themselves.
Today, there are cardinals from Benin and Indonesia, Angola and India, Cameroon, Honduras, Ghana, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Samoa, and Syria. None of that is surprising, considering that this Pope also traveled to over one hundred countries, giving the Vatican not just credibility but a highly charismatic physical presence. Furthermore, some of the third-world cardinals, such as Francis Arinze of Nigeria and, before him, Bernardin Gantin of Benin, have attained high positions in the Vatican hierarchy. An impressive legacy by itself.
John Paul II will be missed -- but his greatness will live on.
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