This month, on the occasion of their confirmation, 17 of our eighth graders will step up in the pulpit and, exercising their rights of freedom of speech, religion and assembly, will speak to their church family at Saint Nicholas about their faith journey so far. I’m so proud of all of them. Of course, speaking from the pulpit is not their right – it is a privilege the community accords to them because it wants to hear what they have to say.

As I write this, controversy swirls around a disc jockey who took it upon himself to insult the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, a group of women he had never met and knew nothing about except, evidently, their race. By the time you read this, of course, the controversy may have swirled away in some other direction. But it is entirely likely that the public’s attention will have moved to another public figure who has abused the privilege of celebrity by saying something disgraceful about some other racial or ethnic group. It is a modern plague with ancient roots, roots of fear and hatred of other groups and other people and, too frequently, other religions.

For reasons that I don’t completely understand (but for which I am very grateful), our young people don’t seem to share this disease of racism and all the other “isms” nearly to the extent that we older people do. Sometimes they don’t even understand it – “what’s up with that?” they ask, perfectly seriously. It could be that we’ve done a good job raising them. It could be that the “political correctness” we are so prone to ridicule has inoculated them and the culture from the free expression of our right to be stupid and offensive. It could be that in God’s good time we are finally coming of age. As I say, I don’t completely understand it, but I’m very glad of it.

I surely don’t want to distract your attention from the accomplishments of our confirmands, of whom we are justly proud. They have crafted worship services and timelines, skits and banners. They have interviewed bishops and council presidents. They have studied and memorized and recited the documents of our faith – the Bible, the creeds and the commandments. Their curriculum was as rigorous as any confirmation program I know of and I very much appreciate the teachers and guides and parents who have made all of this possible (and fun!). To the best of our abilities, we have prepared them to take their places as adult members of this congregation.

And it seems to me that this is the common thread. The privilege of public speech is best accorded to people who have prepared themselves to be heard, who have thought through what they have to say, who respect their listeners and who want to engage them in the work of building up a speech community. Any ignorant lout can spout insulting nonsense (and many do), but the privilege of adult, civil, public speech is one that is earned and accorded thoughtfully and in community.

I’m proud that on Pentecost we will welcome 17 new adult members to our community here at Saint Nicholas. I’m proud, too, of the traditions of adult, civil, public expression of which they will become a part and that they will advance, in their own unique way.

Pastor Greg