All Saints of America, a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in America is a new Christian community being organized by Huw Richardson. They practice what Huw calls "Inclusive Orthodoxy."
"We seek to include groups that we think of as excluded from traditional religion. That would include me as a gay man. Certainly LBGTQ inclusivity is important to me. Orthodoxy is often tagged as having a list that says you must believe "A, b, c, d . . ." before we even let you in the front door. I don't think that's the way it goes."
And yet while Huw says things like, "God is bigger than "hetero-normative celibacy," he is still rooted in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
"If you look at the history of our tradition, it's often got a bigger tent than lots of us like to imagine," he said. "I've been around the block on the denominational bus, including everything from Baptist to Episcopalian, and all kinds of things in between. But I find I really deeply resonate with eastern conceptions of God, and Eastern ideas of what liturgy and worship are."
"For example," he explained, "the East has no conception of original sin the way the West does, and a whole host of theological assumptions proceed from that claim."
Just in case being "inclusive Orthodox" wasn't enough to set All Saints of America apart, they are unique because they meet in the Nickel City Housing Co-op, where Huw lives. He has set up a small worship space in his room, but will likely move the gathering to the common living room if more people show up.
Though there are many members of the co-op that would not describe themselves as Christian, they are what Huw calls a "spiritual but not religious" community. "There is no "official" relationship," says Huw, but he muses, "I have no house-mates who have not voiced an interest."
All Saints also is a sponsor (and host) of BYOB Theology, a gathering every third Friday to share a snack and/or a beverage along with open and honest theological discussion. (My church is also a sponsor, and I am a participant). This Friday, at 7:30, in the co-op, the discussion topic will be sex.
"I couldn't think of a better place" [for the church], Huw states. "I see the community that I want us to be already in the co-op, with sharing and mutual support and love. I think they have a pretty good church there."
One doesn't need to be Russian to be a part of the church. Huw isn't, for starters. "'Russian' is the identifier of where we came from, rather than an ethnic identifier. It's not necessarily a description of the people in the church."
"It would be great," Huw adds, "If a person was interested in learning traditional chant or Russian music. I need someone who wants to sing to do it up right!"
Huw also doesn't expect people to participate in this community not because they don't necessarily identify as Orthodox, but rather because "the Church they don't go to is Eastern Orthodox. Part of me hopes they will find a place to come home to because I did." That is, for many, one of the issues that drove them from the churches of their youth, but is not an issue for this community.
"Talking to my bishop is such a blessing because I don't have to lie, hide, or disguise any of myself to talk to him. I find that in Eastern Orthodoxy and I hope other people will, too."
Huw is careful to mention that he is a part of the Russian Orthodox Church in America [ROCIA] which is separate and distinct from the Russian Orthodox Church... which has a presence in Western New York, that is, according to Huw "staunchly conservative and would probably disagree with 9/10 of all I just said."
Because of prior commitments, All Saints of America will not be gathering in the next few weeks, but all are welcome at its next scheduled liturgy on April 11, the week after Easter.
Regardless of your background, Huw proclaims "Our doors are open for you, and your comfort level of participation."
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"We seek to include groups that we think of as excluded from traditional religion. That would include me as a gay man. Certainly LBGTQ inclusivity is important to me. Orthodoxy is often tagged as having a list that says you must believe "A, b, c, d . . ." before we even let you in the front door. I don't think that's the way it goes."
And yet while Huw says things like, "God is bigger than "hetero-normative celibacy," he is still rooted in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
"If you look at the history of our tradition, it's often got a bigger tent than lots of us like to imagine," he said. "I've been around the block on the denominational bus, including everything from Baptist to Episcopalian, and all kinds of things in between. But I find I really deeply resonate with eastern conceptions of God, and Eastern ideas of what liturgy and worship are."
"For example," he explained, "the East has no conception of original sin the way the West does, and a whole host of theological assumptions proceed from that claim."
Just in case being "inclusive Orthodox" wasn't enough to set All Saints of America apart, they are unique because they meet in the Nickel City Housing Co-op, where Huw lives. He has set up a small worship space in his room, but will likely move the gathering to the common living room if more people show up.
Though there are many members of the co-op that would not describe themselves as Christian, they are what Huw calls a "spiritual but not religious" community. "There is no "official" relationship," says Huw, but he muses, "I have no house-mates who have not voiced an interest."
All Saints also is a sponsor (and host) of BYOB Theology, a gathering every third Friday to share a snack and/or a beverage along with open and honest theological discussion. (My church is also a sponsor, and I am a participant). This Friday, at 7:30, in the co-op, the discussion topic will be sex.
"I couldn't think of a better place" [for the church], Huw states. "I see the community that I want us to be already in the co-op, with sharing and mutual support and love. I think they have a pretty good church there."
One doesn't need to be Russian to be a part of the church. Huw isn't, for starters. "'Russian' is the identifier of where we came from, rather than an ethnic identifier. It's not necessarily a description of the people in the church."
"It would be great," Huw adds, "If a person was interested in learning traditional chant or Russian music. I need someone who wants to sing to do it up right!"
Huw also doesn't expect people to participate in this community not because they don't necessarily identify as Orthodox, but rather because "the Church they don't go to is Eastern Orthodox. Part of me hopes they will find a place to come home to because I did." That is, for many, one of the issues that drove them from the churches of their youth, but is not an issue for this community.
"Talking to my bishop is such a blessing because I don't have to lie, hide, or disguise any of myself to talk to him. I find that in Eastern Orthodoxy and I hope other people will, too."
Huw is careful to mention that he is a part of the Russian Orthodox Church in America [ROCIA] which is separate and distinct from the Russian Orthodox Church... which has a presence in Western New York, that is, according to Huw "staunchly conservative and would probably disagree with 9/10 of all I just said."
Because of prior commitments, All Saints of America will not be gathering in the next few weeks, but all are welcome at its next scheduled liturgy on April 11, the week after Easter.
Regardless of your background, Huw proclaims "Our doors are open for you, and your comfort level of participation."
Excellent article Drew! Excellent work Hucifer!
Being a close friend to Huw, I've seen a transformation and persistence in bringing "inclusive orthodoxy" to Buffalo. Far from the Buffalo normative of "try once, give up forever," he has spent over a year building up All-Saints, sidestepping obstacles and following his heart. I do not know of a churchier geek in Buffalo, and a kinder one at that.
Congrats Huw, and for sure your logo will be finished soon!