First Words by Fr. John Paul Chaney

I was 10 years old when I first heard The Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. give his “I Have a Dream” speech.   There was something about this speech that made me believe that America could be a more loving, caring place for all people.  It set an ideal in my heart of what the world should look like and it has never left.  I came to see and believe that Jesus Christ has the same vision for what the Church should be.  The Church should reflect God’s Kingdom on Earth.  The Church of Christ is the primary instrument of shalom (peace) on earth. It is obvious to me that The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was drawing deeply on his relationship with Jesus Christ when he said, ““I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."  When he called for America to become a more Christian country, standing against to the evils of hatred and racism, he was treated like his Lord.  Dr. King died a martyr as a result of an assassin’s bullet.  Jesus warns his disciples, “’A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20).

Fifty-two years later, as an Anglican Priest in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, I am still working toward this goal to see America reflect more fully the Kingdom of God.  For my part, I serve as Rector of Seeds of Hope Anglican Church, a multi-ethnic congregation in the Bloomfield and Friendship neighborhoods. My wife and I through the non-profit ministry we started, Earthen Vessels Outreach, serve underprivileged children of all backgrounds and nationalities.

This blog, One Step into Samaria, is one small attempt to bring to light and clarify our call as the Church to be a leader in this racial and social transformation of our communities, country and world.  That is why I am part of the Reconciliation Commission in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh.  The Reconciliation Commission of the Anglican Dioceses of Pittsburgh’s mission is to bring awareness of, and to speak against racial and cultural hatred, bigotry, and misunderstandings.  As a commission we aim to make our fellow churchmen aware of the blessings and burdens of other cultures and ethnicities. We seek ways in which to bring them together under the peace of God and together be the body of Christ.   

This blog seeks to be a place to address the RC’s Mission and to create a forum to teac the clergy in our Diocese and the ACNA concerning issues related to race and God’s heart for all people and nations. We believe for the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and Anglican Church in North America to thrive that it must look more like what the Apostle John sees in Revelation 7,

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Members of the Commission

Co-Leaders:  Gladys Hunt-Mason, The Rev Dr. John Paul Chaney

Members: The Rev. Karen Stevenson, The Rev. Andrea Buettner, The Rev Dee Scott, Peg Bowman and Tina and Daniel McGregor

Daniel and Tina McGregor are the editors and administrators of this endeavor. They will help facilitate the conversations, publishing reviews, theological reflections and gather a diverse set of testimonies of those on the Canterbury road. Daniel and Tina welcome submissions from fellow Anglicans and minorities on topics pertaining to the mission and vision of this blog. Feel free to submit your ideas to rrcanglicanofPGH@gmail.com My hope is that this blog will be a catalyst for change and healing.