In prison as a murderer, he is now a priest
Posted by Brian June 23, 2005
A convicted murderer has just been ordained an Episcopal priest while still in prison. The Bishop of California says it is a first in California, and likely the nation.
James Russell Tramel, a convicted murderer who has been behind bars for nearly two decades, has been ordained an Episcopal priest.
…
With his parents, fellow inmates and other clergy members from Sacramento and the Bay Area gathered around him Saturday in a courtyard off of the Vacaville prison’s visiting room, Tramel recited his vows and received the ceremonial vestment worn by Episcopal priests.
Then, using grape soda and a croissant from a prison vending machine, he administered Holy Communion, which Episcopalians believe is the body and blood of Christ. A paper cup served as a chalice. A small table served as an altar.
Swing, who performed the ordination, said the event had significance far beyond the ceremony.
“It was quite a symbol of hope,” Swing said.
“It meant that the connection between faith and prison is alive. It meant a bishop’s stole goes to a new generation of priests. It meant a witness of staggering hope to prisoners who were onlookers. It meant that resurrection is not just for the afterlife, but here and now,” he said.
I guess the Gospel can still change people. Even in the Episcopal Church!
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GRAPE SODA AND A CROISSANT FOR COMMUNION????????
Okay, I know us Catholics are a bit more big on the Real Presence–but–SURELY that’s not kosher, is it?
Had he been Catholic it would be flat-out sacrilege, a cause for being defrocked!
Ha! I thought that bit might freak you out. I must admit that the grape soda bit gave me some pause, as well. The croissant - eh, close enough. But grape soda? Yeah, that pushes it a bit for me. I don’t see why somebody couldn’t at least have brought some Welch’s. But maybe the prison has a strict rule about no no alcohol or outside food allowed. I don’t know.
I’m sure you could find some Episcopalians who would not find the prodecure “kosher,” either. In fact, I’m sure you could find Anglicans/Episcopalians who believed in all of the following:
-Roman Catholic-style transubstantiation, with the concept of the Mass as a sacrifice
-transubstantiation without the sacrifice bit
-Lutheran-style consubstantiation
-Orthodox-style Real Presence without trying to explain it in any way
-Church of Christ-style memorial meal
Not sure where Bishop Swing stands on those matters, but since he did the ordaining, I’m sure he stuck around for the Eucharist, so he must have approved the procedure.
Really, I’m not so sure why belief in the Real Presence would have to tie you very strictly to the exactly right elements, anyway. I mean, I think we ought to do the best we can with what we have available. If we’ve got wine, we should use wine. But I also think it’s important to remember that we live under Grace, not Law.
You know, the first time I attended the Metropolitan Community Church, I noticed that they were using white grape juice instead of “red.” At the time, I was freaked out, and I was sure it was part of some hyper-liberal attempt to remove the blood imagery from the affair, or something like that. It turned out that I was completely wrong about that. I can’t remember now what the reason they were using it that particular day was, but it was nothing theological, and wasn’t their normal practice.
So, there’s your long non-answer!
Actually, the croissant wouldn’t have gotten him defrocked, would it? I seem to recall reading somewhere a Roman Catholic debate about gluten-free wafers in Communion, and whether they were OK. I thought the bottom line came down to: the bread has to contain at least some wheat, so the gluten-free wafers were out. But croissants are mostly wheat, right?
Here’s what I pray (when I remember to) before I go to the altar rail:
“Before Receiving Communion”
Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
(from the Book of Common Prayer)
And here’s the Episcopal Church’s Catechism regarding the Eucharist:
The Holy Eucharist
Q. What is the Holy Eucharist?
A. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again.
Q. Why is the Eucharist called a sacrifice?
A. Because the Eucharist, the Church’s sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.
Q. By what other names is this service known?
A. The Holy Eucharist is called the Lord’s Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering.
Q. What is the outward and visible sign in the Eucharist?
A. The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ’s command.
Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace given in the Eucharist?
A. The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ give to his people, and received by faith.
Q. What are the benefits which we receive in the Lord’s Supper?
A. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, [ Page 860] the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.
Q. What is required of us when we come to the Eucharist?
A. It is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.
Yeah, I was aware of the wide range of belief regarding the RP in the Anglican communion. But grape soda–I mean–!!
I regret that I am not theologically versed enough to say why, but I can say that in the RCC, at least for the orthodox among us (and I am of course one of those), belief in the RP does tie us strictly to the proper elements. There is a gluten-free wafer that can be made, but it is strictly verboten to add salt, honey, herbs, anything like that to the wheat: it has to be flour and water and nothing else. Maybe I’ll dig around and try to see why.
I’ll feel very stupid when I find out the obvious answer. . . .
I also remember once while still in the CoC that I attended a service that had white grape juice, but it didn’t really bother me. I figured, grape juice was grape juice.
From Father Hardon’s article at http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pea/bas_hsc.htm .
“The sensible sign in the Eucharist is the appearance of bread and wine, that is, anything in these elements that fall under the senses such as size, color, shape, taste, weight and texture. After consecration, however, this sign contains the whole Christ, His Body and Blood, His Soul and Divinity.
“The material necessary for the sacrament is wheaten bread and wine. In the Latin Rite, the bread must be unleavened; in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, leavened bread is used. The wine is mixed with a little water before consecration. Christ chose bread and wine for the matter of the sacrament in order to teach that as we daily partake of food for the body so we should daily receive this heavenly food for the soul. The necessary words for producing the sacrament of the Eucharist are “This is my body”. “This is my blood”.”
I thought I’d find a better answer than that. . . .
“Christ chose bread and wine for the matter of the sacrament in order to teach that as we daily partake of food for the body so we should daily receive this heavenly food for the soul.”
If that’s true, shouldn’t we be using bread that resembles the bread people actually eat “daily”? A croissant is much more like real, daily-eaten bread than those wafers are!
Also, the fact that both leavened and unleavened bread are acceptable points to at least a little leeway, doesn’t it?
However, I grant you that grape soda seems like more leeway than I would personally be comfortable with.
Anyway, at St. Michael’s, we use a round loaf of leavened wheat bread, from which the Eucharistic Minister breaks off a little piece for each communicant. And red wine. It’s always amusing to watch the faces of children after they receive the wine!
Also, the fact that both leavened and unleavened bread are acceptable points to at least a little leeway, doesn’t it?
Longstanding tradition (like from the very beginning) is the reason for that, not leeway. In the CC everything is prescribed for a reason, and they can’t be fiddled with just because something seems to work better. You should, for example, see some of the bulletin board discussions I’ve seen about whether or not it’s appropriate to hold hands whilst saying the Our Father. It’s not appropriate according to the GIRM, but most people can’t get their heads around the fact that even the smallest gesture is prescribed for a reason, not whim. The nature of the wafer is like that too.
I would be against holding hands during the Our Father even if the GIRM had nothing to say about it, just because it’s so gooey and touchy-feely and all that. Ugh!
I guess my point was not really about leeway, but rather about how two fairly different things (leavened and unleavened bread - or even wafers, which I hardly consider bread at all) can equally serve the purpose. Their difference does not affect the efficacy of the sacrament.
Heh, but syrup and carbonated water sure does.
Uh . . . “sure DO,” not “does.” ((blushing)
Dear All,
I came across, by chance, this interesting discussion you all were having about the elements used during communion at my ordination to the priesthood. First, let me correct for you a mistake made by the media: It was grape juice (of the Welch’s variety), not “grape soda,” which was used for communion. I actually complained to the paper at the time because I believed (correctly) that some people would be disturbed by the idea of “soda” being used for communion. The prison does prohibit alcohol of any kind, and churches (including the ECUSA and RC) have long made appropriate exception for those in prison. Still, it must be fruit of the vine, which grape juice clearly is. In the spirit of your conversations about the validity of the sacraments, I would add that receiving the sacrament in one kind is as valid as having received it in both.
Also, a brief update: I am now home from prison and am serving as Interim Rector (priest-in-charge) of a parish in Albany (07/10/06). The grace of God is more than any of us can imagine or explain. Peace and blessings to all of you.
Father James Tramel
Father Tramel,
Thanks so much for leaving your comment!
It goes to show, I guess, that you can’t trust everything you read in the newspapers.
Thank you for your testimony to the grace of God. And thanks be to God for his grace in your life in your ordination and release from prison!
Oh, and good point about receiving the sacrament fully in either kind. Though I think Kate would still disagree about the croissant. And your non-allegiance to the bishop of Rome.