MSOE - Glitter Ashes

I heard about this on Mark Belling's show Wednesday.

As part of its Decompression Week, the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) scheduled an event where one could receive "glitter ashes" on Ash Wednesday.



This isn't a new practice. Glitter Ash Wednesday took place around the country in 2017, too.

From the Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2017:

For 30 years as an Episcopal priest in Iowa, Peter Sickels smeared crosses of ash on the foreheads of his parishioners every Ash Wednesday.

"Remember, oh man," he would say during the ceremony marking the start of Lent, "you are dust and to dust you shall return."

But this year, his ash has an extra ingredient: purple glitter.

Sickels, now retired and living in San Diego, is one of roughly 150 religious leaders across the country who left parishioners with some sparkle to show support for the LGBTQ community.

"I love the concept of not just ashes but glitter for new hope and new life, and just standing up for minorities, for those who are incredibly in distress at these times," Sickels said.

Others were less enthused with modifying a 1,500-year-old tradition.

"However well-intentioned, Glitter Ash Wednesday is a distraction at best and a sideshow at worst," wrote Jacob Lupfer, a columnist for Religion News Service. "I find it hard to believe pastors and churches that have already evolved on sexual ethics will tamper with the tradition, solemnity and dignity of Ash Wednesday."

The idea stretches back to Ash Wednesday of last year, when Liz Edman, an Episcopal priest in New Jersey, wished for a way to "come out" as visibly queer and visibly Christian. She set her phone alarm to ring the following January to remind her of the thought.

When her girlfriend later mentioned glitter, Edman was initially guarded.

"It matters very much to me that people understand we're not doing this in order to be frivolous or disrespectful," she said. "Glitter is serious business for queer people. Glitter is how we have long made ourselves visible, even though becoming visible puts us at risk."

Wow.

Glitter ashes are terribly disrespectful, in my opinion. Mixing glitter with ashes is offensive. It makes a mockery of a solemn religious practice.

When we have to walk on eggshells to not offend anyone, why is it OK to offend some Christians like this and alter the solemnity of the practice of blessing and distributing ashes on the first day of Lent?

After complaints, MSOE cancelled the event.

I realize that Village Church (ELCA) is a Christian group. Clearly, not all Christians are offended by glitter ashes.

On the Village Church's Facebook page, they use David Bowie lyrics to promote glitter ashes.

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low

Yikes.