Skylstad stresses unity and service at conference

Amid the ruins of the Gaza Strip, in a land torn apart by hate and violence, Bishop William Skylstad discovered a glimmer of hope.

“We can get along as brothers and sisters in the Lord God,” said the Roman Catholic bishop of Spokane, describing his experience two weeks ago as he sat among Christians and Muslims during a visit to the war-torn territory. As he listened to the words of a Catholic priest followed by speeches from Muslim leaders, Skylstad was touched by their apparent solidarity. “It was a marvelous expression of humanity coming together in a way that respected one another, profoundly and deeply,” he said.

It was this sense of hope – this vision for the world despite the obstacles – that Skylstad imparted to about 100 people Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane. As the keynote speaker for the annual Eastern Washington Legislative Conference, Skylstad asked an interfaith group of people to reflect on their “prophetic role” as they work on behalf of the homeless, the hungry, the disenfranchised and others in need.

People of faith must have a sense of connectedness – with one another and with the entire world, the bishop said. At a time when divisions in this country continue to deepen, we need a “revolution of relationships,” he said. People must go beyond themselves and be aware of other people’s realities, whether it’s the homeless in Spokane or the people who suffer in the tiny coastal strip of Gaza.

“We need to be mystics – contemplative, looking beyond the immediate signs that we see, always centering ourselves as we move into the future,” said Skylstad, who also reminded people of the need for humility, insight, courage and joy as they fulfill their prophetic role.

Regardless of one’s faith tradition, “the presence of God is everywhere,” he said. “Every one of us has a unique piece of God. … We must be servants of one another.”

Using several anecdotes from his recent trip to the Holy Land as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Skylstad also spoke of the need for gratitude – not just for the good times but also for the challenges life presents.

“In our own diocese, we’re going through a lot of pain and hurt these days,” Skylstad said, describing the frustration surrounding the Spokane Diocese’s bankruptcy and sexual abuse crisis. “As I’ve consistently said, I consider this to be a time for us as a Catholic community of grace and blessing. … We will be better and stronger with the experience. …”

For more than a decade, the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference has become a way for people of all faiths to discuss and collaborate on issues that affect children, the homeless and others in need. Sponsored by the Interfaith Council, the gathering not only provides information about the bills and discussions taking place at the Washington state Legislature, it also serves as a sort of pep rally – an opportunity for people to support and inspire one another as they work on issues of social justice.

“We’re trying to give context to the work we’re doing,” said Scott Cooper of Catholic Charities Spokane. “This isn’t about our own political agenda. It’s a much bigger picture that transcends partisan politics.”

It’s a conference that Jim Marchioro looks forward to every year. “It gives me hope,” said Marchioro, a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in North Spokane. “It helps me see that I am not alone and that there are others who want to make a difference.”

Motivated by their own spirituality, those who came to Saturday’s conference discussed a number of topics – from health care and mental health to homelessness and the genocide in Darfur. “We come from many different faith backgrounds, but we all recognize that we’re on the same journey,” said Richard Schoen, a Bahai and the interim director of the Interfaith Council.

Skylstad’s keynote address, which opened the conference, was designed to inspire the participants as they spent the rest of the day learning from other organizations, including the Lutheran Public Policy Office, the Washington State Catholic Conference and the Washington Association of Churches.

“We are truly our brother’s and sister’s keeper – not only here in the city of Spokane, but in our state, in our country and in our world,” Skylstad said. “And with that vision and that hope and that sense of enthusiasm and fire in our hearts and our lives – and with God’s wisdom – we will help make it happen.”