PROVIDENCE – As Christians we have an obligation to speak the Gospel and to offer our neighbors the hope of Jesus Christ, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told a crowd assembled at an ecumenical revival service at Calvary Baptist Church last Wednesday.
"Brothers and sisters, you were not baptized to be irrelevant and I assure you that I was not ordained to be irrelevant," he told the crowd, eliciting cheers.
Bishop Tobin told the congregation that faith is of the utmost importance during difficult times: "We have a voice to speak, we have something to say and we should... say it to our community."
Speaking the truth of the Gospel is a Christian's obligation, and it is especially important to speak that truth to those in power in our society, he said. "Speaking truth to power is the role of the community of faith in our time, in our place."
Commenting on recent calls he has received to honor the principle of separation of church and state, Bishop Tobin said that people who complained misunderstand the concept. "Separation of church and state is supposed to keep the state out of the church... the truth is, even Caesar is subject to the law of God."
The theme of the night's service was "Offering hope in times of complicated change." Bishop Tobin's sermon offered advice for those gathered to recognize and refute the portions of society that are calling them to lead an un-Christian life.
Reverend Dr. Donald Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, echoed Bishop Tobin's sentiment: "Let us remember that we're living in a world that would have us imitate a way of life that is not faithful."
The congregation was receptive to the bishop's message and often broke into applause during the course of his sermon.
Bishop Tobin offered the congregation some words of advice about improving their communities during trying times: "The best gift we can give our community is the gift of renewed hope," he said. "Our role as a faith community in the midst of a troubled economy is to point to the stars."
The ecumenical service was the first of a three-night series of prayer services at the church. The Gospel Choir from Holy Name of Jesus parish in Providence as well as the Diocesan Gospel choir sang at the service. Lucille and Cam Auger were among the Catholics who attended. Lucille said that when they learned Bishop Tobin would be speaking at the church they were intrigued and decided to attend the service. They regularly worship at St. Theresa Church in Nasonville. Both said that they thoroughly enjoyed Bishop Tobin's sermon and the service as a whole, especially the music.
Anderson said Bishop Tobin was asked to speak to highlight the importance of people from all Christian denominations standing together and celebrating their similarities.
"The essence of ecumenism is giving visual evidence of our faith in Jesus Christ that ties us together," he said. He also commented on the warm reception he has received from the Catholic Church since assuming his current position about a year ago, adding that it is "energizing and empowering" for his mission at the RISCC. Reverend William Shaw II of the Rhode Island Ministers Alliance also spoke.
The similarities between the Catholic faith and all other Christian faiths are too important to ignore, Bishop Tobin said: "What we have in common is far more important that any differences we may have."
The simple fact that he was invited to speak at the service represents and important step forward for Rhode Island's Christians, he said. "It does strike me that we've come a long way when you can have a Catholic Bishop standing in a Baptist pulpit in front of a very diverse congregation preaching the Gospel."
