Michael Curry lovebombs San Diego

Earlier this month, Episcopal presiding bishop Michael Curry was again on the revival trail, bringing his message of “loving, liberating, life-giving (L3)” to the Diocese of San Diego. But Curry and the church are wasting their time.

As a slogan, L3 isn’t bad. Indeed, a little alliteration is always welcome. 

But Curry’s southern revival style of preaching is getting old quickly.

Why? Because his own words show it’s empty claptrap.

One of Curry’s favorite phrases is, “If it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” That’s true.

The problem is that the Episcopal Church very often isn’t about love. 

Instead, it’s about protecting the status quo. It’s about hanging onto dilapidated old church buildings. It’s about holding onto decrepit old church office buildings that are environmental disasters and reflect a time when the denomination was the quasi-state church. 

And it’s about an utter lack of accountability. For example, over the past fifty years, the church has issued report after report about the need to address substance abuse in the church. The result? More reports.

In what other denomination can married clergy openly have affairs, use drugs, commit perjury, lie to their vestries about HR issues, and keep their jobs?

And in what non-clergy position is perjury, bullying, age discrimination in employment, and making false statements about HR issues to your board of directors stuff you can do and still keep your job?

Nor does the church obey its canons. The ironically named Bishop Love may be out on his ear for opposing same-sex marriage and rightly so, but bishops ignore the canons with equal alacrity when they wish. Notable offenders include:

• Susan Goff
• Shannon Johnston
• Alan Gates
• Gayle Harris

And the list goes on.

So, apart from Curry’s love-bombing, what is real love?

It looks like:

• Caring for others, whether we think they deserve it or not.
• Honoring the commitments we make, including those written into canon.
• Integrity, even when no one is looking.
• Doing the right thing, versus the easy thing.
• Having the courage to speak up when we see injustice.

But the unofficial refrain of the church is, “I don’t want to get involved.”

That’s indifference. Indifference is not love. 

Indeed, it’s often been said that hate isn’t the opposite of love. It’s indifference.

As we approach the end of 2022, Anglican Watch awards its first annual You Give Love a Bad Name award to Michael Curry.

Or, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, “Mr. Curry, clean up this church.”