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Washington National Cathedral Offers Cathedral for Rent for Dinner Parties
By Sarah Frances Ives
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
August 23, 2014
Leaders at the Washington National Cathedral recently announced that many places in the cathedral are available for rent. These venues include the worship spaces of the Cathedral nave proper and the historic Bethlehem chapel. The website declares about the renting of the Cathedral, "Adorned with beautiful stained glass and distinctive carvings, the Cathedral's nave is glorious space to host a seated dinner, reception or lecture." They mention that as a drawing point that the Dalai Llama has spoken in the Cathedral. The Cathedral states that the fact that presidents of our nation have chosen the Cathedral for their funerals makes this an attractive place to host dinner parties. Indeed, the pictures shows the Cathedral proper set up with dining tables, looking something like an expensive hotel.
The Washington National Cathedral website also offers the 1912 Bethlehem Chapel as a dinner spot. The website rhapsodically asks consumers to "Imagine your event in the Cathedral's first chapel" for dinners, receptions, and lectures. Their marketing describes the chapel with "arched ceilings, unique carvings, and columns." Making no mention that many of these unique carvings are of Jesus and the Apostles, the Cathedral presents the chapel as a cool place to eat dinner.
The Cathedral also offers the Pilgrim Observatory Gallery and the Charles A. Perry Auditorium for rent. They mention that for a fee people can park in their underground parking lot.
Maybe instead of imagining the rental of the Cathedral, we should imagine that at times of national crisis, people have flocked to the Washington National Cathedral to seek in prayer the Lord's will for our lives. Let's imagine and remember the faithful prayers of humble Anglican leaders asking the Lord of heaven and earth to consecrate this Cathedral as holy ground. Let's imagine the many Eucharistic prayers asking that the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ be manifested on consecrated altars.
Turmoil in other areas also continues at the Washington National Cathedral. In March 2014, Dean Gary Hall of the Washington National Cathedral laid off popular head verger Claude "Duke" DuTeil. Some witnesses say that this was an unexpected dismissal. Many Cathedral workers, both paid and volunteer, express deep concern over this summary dismissal of the long-term and well-respected head verger affectionately called Duke.
The Washington National Cathedral also continues to run at a deficit. A recent June 2014 audit states that in 2013, the Washington National Cathedral spent $16,060,403, while it had an income of $15,661,295. This deficit does not include the initial amount of over $20 million needed for repairs of the building after the August 23, 2011 earthquake.
With deficits and termination of employees, now the Washington National Cathedral is trying to get money to let people socialize on consecrated ground. Maybe Gary Hall should consider Daniel 5 and the handwriting on the wall to see if there should be any application of the scriptures to the Washington National Cathedral.
