St. Stephen’s Cathedral will host a Choral Evensong for the
The preacher for the event will be the Rev. Michael Thurman, pastor of the
More details will be available shortly. If you have questions, please contact either Deacon Patrick Strohl, (pstrohl@diocesecpa.org) or the Rev. Michael Collins (patrick@ststep.org).
In what may have been a prescient prelude to today’s assassination of Pakistani politician Benizir Bhutto, this week’s Economist carries an interesting article on international efforts to distribute Bibles and Korans. The article concludes by saying:
“…two things are certain in the battle of the books. The first is that the urge to spread the Word will spark some of the fiercest conflicts of the 21st century. The area that is being most heavily fought over—sub-Saharan
Let us pray that we will use this fire to illuminate, not to consume, one another.
Last fall, McNeil/Lehrer Productions, which produces The News Hour with Jim Lehrer for PBS, invited Bishop Baxter to participate in their latest project, Dialogues in Democracy. The program is part of McNeil/Lehrer’s series By the People—a special project to bring the views of informed, "ordinary" citizens to a national discussion on the important issues of the day.
Bishop Baxter spent November 8-11 in
The one-hour broadcast program created from this event will air on Public Television’s HDTV digital stations on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 10pm. Stations carrying the program in Pennsylvania include WITF/Harrisburg, WQED/Pittsburgh, and WPSU/State College. The program will also be broadcast on Maryland Public Television.
More information on the By the People project is available here.
Most Clergy like to believe that, “Our parish is a little different.” But while the style of the building or the local history may vary, for most Episcopal parishes, the basic dynamics are strikingly similar: an established presence with a shifting financial base, and the internal perception that, “we can’t do anything new, because we don’t even have the money to take care of the essentials.”
That’s what makes the recent story in the New York Times about “St. Bart’s” and its rector, the Rev. William Tully, a must read.
To be sure, the scale of the challenge facing St. Bart’s new rector 14 years ago was larger than most clergy dream of. This is a place that requires an $8 million annual budget just to keep the doors open and the lights on. The essential challenges were the same, though: how to rebuild a loyal flock, reduce the reliance on a handful of well-to-do donors, and make what could easily have become an urban museum a relevant contributor to the community. Rev. Tully’s solution was a “radical welcoming” and a reliance on outstanding communication strategies. You can read the entire story here.
As you begin your new year, resolve to help your congregation find something new, however off-the-wall it sounds, and explore its potential to grow into something meaningful. It’s important.
It has taken more than a month for an articulate op-ed from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette to reach this editor. It was worth the wait. Author Jerry Bowyer, “an Episcopal vestryman, a financial journalist and the chairman of Bowyer Media,” offers a conservative’s well-reasoned argument for why you don’t walk off the field when you don’t get to play quarterback. You can read the entire piece here.
Writing about the decision of the Bishop of Pittsburgh to pull his diocese out of the Episcopal Church, we wrote, “On Oct. 31., the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA sent a letter to the bishop of
It's a powerful quote, but a misuse of history. Martin Luther didn't leave the Roman Catholic Church; he was kicked out. He decided to ‘stand’ and fight. It's ironic that Bishop Duncan quoted Luther's pledge to ‘stand’ in order to justify his intention to ‘walk.’"
Mr. Bowyer notes that all ordained Episcopal clergy take the same oath to uphold the authority of the church. You can’t pick and choose among authorities, and if you don’t like a decision, your obligation under your oath is to work within the church for change.
A few weeks ago, there was a break-in at All Saint’s,
When word of the theft got out, a local TV station was among the first to call for more information, then send a videographer to shoot a segment for the evening news. That report led to a small flood of donations – in all amounts – from people who wanted to help. The response was so positive that donation total is more than fivefold what the children had originally collected.
To their credit, the children themselves also redoubled their efforts, and have collected an additional $81.
Commenting on the entire experience, the Rev. Christine Purcell, missioner for the parish, said, “We live in a world with all kinds of bad things that happen and there’s all kinds of darkness. And these kids were trying to do something, and people responded to the idea of kids trying to make a difference.”
You can read the entire story here.
With the children who are anticipating their first Christmas
And the families who will share their joy
And the families who will be apart
And those which are torn apart.
With those who are with friends
And those who are alone
And those who are alone, even with friends
With the parents who are too busy to see the wonder
And the parents who care for children
And the parents who fail to care for children
And the parents who care for parents.
With those whose joys are memories, and whose futures are uncertain
And those who love them and watch them decline
And with those who grieve over their losses
And – especially – with those who do not know that God is with them…
Blessed Advent
I had a note from the Rev. Michael Moran at the cathedral in
Some people have all the fun…
Episcopalians and Southern Baptists usually find themselves at some distance from one another on the theological/political compass. Pronouncements from clergy in one group carry little weight, if any, among the other.
Which is not to say that they ought not learn from one another… Read on.
In the midst of the “YouTube Debate” among the Republican presidential candidates Wednesday night, one questioner asked the question that won the evening’s Do-You-Still-Beat-Your-Wife? award: “Do you believe every word of the Bible?”
Several candidates slipped and slid on this one, muttering affirmative answers while interspersing adjectives like ‘interpretive’ and ‘allegorical.’
It fell to former
He might also have added, “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” but two out of three isn’t bad. We wish that all the Episcopalians/Anglicans who continue to insist that they know God’s will and the other guys are hopeless heathens had been listening.
Probably not…
This past Tuesday evening, PBS Newshour aired a long, one-on-one interview with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. At one point in the discussion, the interviewer asked, “How did this current round of negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinians get started?” Mr. Olmert replied, “We began by sitting down and talking – just the two of us, alone – over a period of two weeks. We usually met in my study. We got to know one another.”
Is it possible that a bunch of Anglicans with large egos might actually learn something from this Jew and this Muslim?
We can only pray…
The never-dull Louie Crew has done an interesting analysis of the largest parishes in the Episcopal Church, along with those with the best attendance. His results, summarized in a note to selected leaders recently, are interesting:
You can read the entire report here.
‘Tis the season, apparently, for news and information received a little too late for the December Tidings, and too important to hold until our next edition. Therefore, please take heed of the following:
Bishop Baxter will be the preacher for the annual Absalom Jones service, February 16, 2008, at historic St. Agnes Episcopal Church,
The Winter Youth Retreat takes place from February 1-3, 2008 at the
Operation Understanding has completed a new round of grant awards, and applications are now being accepted for the spring round of grants. You can find details about recent awards, as well as instructions for the current round, here.
Parish vision statements are popular; everyone has to have one. I recently found one such statement that struck me as particularly good:
Passion for God; Compassion for People
A tip of the editor’s hat to the folks at St. Luke’s,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in
Voices like Archbishop Tutu’s are prophetic, because they shine a new light on commonly-held “truths,” and in doing so expose them for the unjustness or silliness they are. Would that there were more like him.
The bishops and primates have all gone home. The parties have published their final statements and reactions. The media have moved on. A number of my fellow bloggers seem not to have noticed. They continue attempting to divine a greater meaning from assorted whisperings, correspondence, and notes sent back and forth among various prelates and actors.
Enough, already.
Surely, a couple of dioceses are whispering ominously about their intentions, and some shady convention resolutions will no doubt be offered. But there’s work to do. The church is not the mission of the church. The mission of the church is spreading the love of God in Christ. There are more than enough places at home and abroad that need that love. We have ample evidence, both here and nationally, that folks understand that, and there is outstanding mission work going on among our congregations and their partners. It’s a rewarding journey of mutual discovery. By not participating, those who would threaten us by their leaving will simply be left behind. For that we should all grieve.
Two items of note to clergy and congregations: Former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold will lead an Advent retreat on Saturday, December 15 at St. Cyril Retreat Center in
Bishop Baxter will be among a group of national figures participating in “By the People – Dialogues in Democracy” a PBS program produced by McNeil Lehrer Productions in cooperation with the By the People Foundation in
Monday’s New York Times includes a delightful chronicle by Michael Winerip about the trials involved in turning his brood of four children into adults with a lasting passion for reading. You can read it here. As a book reviewer for the Times, we assume Mr. Winerip is invested in this passion for more than one reason.
Any parent will tell you that kids are frequently loathe to try anything new, especially if it hasn’t been on their radar, or perhaps more importantly, that of their friends. You can’t force them to like something; you have to stick it under their noses, then wait patiently for them to decide that the whole thing was their idea in the first place.
Church can be the same. Children will go where they’re taken or told, but teens want to decide for themselves. That sometimes entails acceptance at a different pace, on different terms, or in different places. Making teens feel like part of the community is essential. Involve them as competent, thoughtful people, and odds are they’ll behave that way. Letting them discover how God works in their lives can be more instructive than telling them. It can be maddening stuff; that’s why community is important.
And a tip of the editorial hat to Mary Warner at the Harrisburg Patriot News for her interview with Bishop Baxter that ran in last Sunday’s editions. You can read it on line here.
It was refreshing to read someone who has come to understand the complexities with which The Episcopal Church is wrestling, and whose presentation mirrors the thoughtfulness with which the House of Bishops and others are now approaching those issues. We hope for more.
Yesterday’s schedule included a trip to
This building once housed the congregation that started both
…to the Rev. Veronica Chappell and the Rev. Dee Calhoun, whom Bishop Baxter will ordain to the Priesthood today at
Today’s Centre Daily Times carries a fascinating article about the Rev. Christian Brady, Dean of Penn State’s
We came across an interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald about a recent court ruling in
The story features the same sort of back-and-forth issues about which we’ve heard so much here recently: alternative oversight for uncomfortable congregations; let’s not rush in; etc. Mind you, the Church of England authorized female bishops a year ago, and we Yanks have been at it for years, though we still have bishops who refuse to even ordain women.
Cultures move at different paces. There’s no international definition of “normal.” We all need to remember that as we grope our way forward.
Bishop Baxter has written a Pastoral Reflection on the recently concluded House of Bishops meeting. In it he says, in part:
“Our Episcopal Church is on a journey. That journey has not changed. However, we are also a body---a diverse body---and we are equally committed to making every honest effort to make the journey together. This is not a matter of civil or political justice; this is a matter of Christian faith and conviction. Sometimes traveling as a body means slowing down the pace, in the hope that all can make the journey. Everyone is important in this Church, including those who do not agree with the timing or present direction of our journey. The end of Christian justice is community, and that takes patience, sacrifice, and respectful conversation as well as prophetic courage."
You can read the entire reflection here.
I’ve been reading a variety of press reports and commentary about the recent events in
Similarly, Rowan Williams and those primates who were in
One of my fellow bloggers, the Anglican Scotist, had an interesting reflection on the House of Bishops (HoB) statement. He says,
“…[S]ome Anglican conservatives will not be able to see the HoB document for what it actually is: a compromise that is part of a process. "Compromise" is not a category they are willing to recognize, because for separatists, reconciliation with an Episcopal Church that has not turned 180 degrees is not a real possibility. But for moderate provinces who took Windsor et al sincerely and seriously, compromise is a welcome development: it means the process of reconciliation can go forward.” You can read the rest here.
There are echoes of that sentiment in part of the statement that the Joint Standing Committee issued yesterday. It said in part,
The Anglican Communion is a family of 44 autonomous churches. There is no central body which can pass judgement or issue directions for the life of the Communion. At the same time, however, it is the responsibility of the Instruments of Communion to enable conversation and discernment between the provinces and churches, and it was in this spirit that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the members of the Joint Standing Committee have approached this meeting.
You can read the rest of the statement on the Diocesan web site here.
Ironically, the American church may be best positioned to model this sort of working toward compromise. Its governance borrows hugely from our American Constitution. There are separations of power and checks and balances in both our church canons and our national government. Winston Churchill called American democracy the worst form of government ever, except for all the others that have been tried. However messy the process is, there is perhaps something in our unique governing structure that will allow us to survive this tension, emerge stronger, and model a way forward that the other provinces can follow.
Episcopal Life has published the following message from the House of Bishops.
House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church
September 25, 2007
A Response to Questions and Concerns Raised by our Anglican Communion Partners
In accordance with Our Lord's high priestly prayer that we be one, and in the spirit of Resolution A159 of the 75th General Convention, and in obedience to his Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples, and in gratitude for the gift of the Anglican Communion as a sign of the Holy Spirit's ongoing work of reconciliation throughout the world, we offer the following to the Episcopal Church, the Primates, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), and the larger Communion, with the hope of "mending the tear in the fabric" of our common life in Christ.
"I do it all for the sake of the Gospel so that I might share in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:9,13
Introduction
The House of Bishops expresses sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Archbishop of
Much of our meeting time was spent in continuing discernment of our relationships within the Anglican Communion. We engaged in careful listening and straightforward dialogue with our guests. We expressed our passionate desire to remain in communion. It is our conviction that The Episcopal Church needs the Anglican Communion, and we heard from our guests that the Anglican Communion needs The Episcopal Church.
The House of Bishops offers the following responses to our Anglican Communion partners. We believe they provide clarity and point toward next steps in an ongoing process of dialogue. Within The Episcopal Church the common discernment of God's call is a lively partnership among laypersons, bishops, priests, and deacons, and therefore necessarily includes the Presiding Bishop, the Executive Council, and the General Convention.
Summary
We reconfirm that resolution B033 of General Convention 2006 (The Election of Bishops) calls upon bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
We pledge as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.
We commend our Presiding Bishop's plan for episcopal visitors.
We deplore incursions into our jurisdictions by uninvited bishops and call for them to end.
We support the Presiding Bishop in seeking communion-wide consultation in a manner that is in accord with our Constitution and Canons.
We call for increasing implementation of the listening process across the Communion and for a report on its progress to Lambeth 2008.
We support the Archbishop of Canterbury in his expressed desire to explore ways for the Bishop of New Hampshire to participate in the Lambeth Conference.
We call for unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons.
Discussion
Resolution B033 of the 2006 General Convention
The House of Bishops concurs with Resolution EC011 of the Executive Council. This Resolution commends the Report of the Communion Sub-Group of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates of the Anglican Communion as an accurate evaluation of Resolution B033 of the 2006 General Convention, calling upon bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." The House acknowledges that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 pertains.
Blessing of Same-Sex Unions
We, the members of the House of Bishops, pledge not to authorize for use in our dioceses any public rites of blessing of same-sex unions until a broader consensus emerges in the Communion, or until General Convention takes further action. In the near future we hope to be able to draw upon the benefits of the Communion-wide listening process. In the meantime, it is important to note that no rite of blessing for persons living in same-sex unions has been adopted or approved by our General Convention. In addition to not having authorized liturgies, the majority of bishops do not make allowance for the blessing of same-sex unions. We do note that in May 2003 the Primates said we have a pastoral duty "to respond with love and understanding to people of all sexual orientations." They further stated, "...[I]t is necessary to maintain a breadth of private response to situations of individual pastoral care."
Episcopal Visitors
We affirm the Presiding Bishop's plan to appoint episcopal visitors for dioceses that request alternative oversight. Such oversight would be provided by bishops who are a part of and subject to the communal life of this province. We believe this plan is consistent with and analogous to Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO) as affirmed by the Windsor Report (paragraph 152). We thank those bishops who have generously offered themselves for this ministry. We hope that dioceses will make use of this plan and that the Presiding Bishop will continue conversation with those dioceses that may feel the need for such ministries. We appreciate and need to hear all voices in The Episcopal Church.
Incursions by Uninvited Bishops
We call for an immediate end to diocesan incursions by uninvited bishops in accordance with the Windsor Report and consistent with the statements of past Lambeth Conferences and the Ecumenical Councils of the Church. Such incursions imperil common prayer and long-established ecclesial principles of our Communion. These principles include respect for local jurisdiction and recognition of the geographical boundaries of dioceses and provinces. As we continue to commit ourselves to honor both the spirit and the content of the Windsor Report, we call upon those provinces and bishops engaging in such incursions likewise to honor the Windsor Report by ending them. We offer assurance that delegated episcopal pastoral care is being provided for those who seek it.
Communion-wide Consultation
In their communique of February 2007, the Primates proposed a "pastoral scheme." At our meeting in March 2007, we expressed our deep concern that this scheme would compromise the authority of our own primate and place the autonomy of The Episcopal Church at risk. The Executive Council reiterate our concerns and declined to participate. Nevertheless we recognize a useful role for communion-wide consultation with respect to the pastoral needs of those seeking alternative oversight, as well as the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian persons in this and other provinces. We encourage our Presiding Bishop to continue to explore such consultation in a manner that is in accord with our Constitution and Canons.
The Listening Process
The 1998 Lambeth Conference called all the provinces of the Anglican Communion to engage in a "listening process" designed to bring gay and lesbian Anglicans fully into the church's conversation about sexuality. We look forward to receiving initial reports about this process at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, and to participating with others in this crucial enterprise. We are aware that in some cultural contexts, conversation concerning homosexuality is difficult. We see an important role for the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in this listening process, since it represents both the lay and ordained members of our constituent churches and so is well placed to engage every part of the body in this conversation. We encourage the ACC to identify the variety of resources needed to accomplish these conversations.
The Lambeth Conference
Invitations to the Lambeth Conference are extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Those among us who have received an invitation to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference look forward to that gathering with hope and expectation. Many of us are engaged in mission partnerships with bishops and dioceses around the world and cherish these relationships. Lambeth offers a wonderful opportunity to build on such partnerships.
We are mindful that the Bishop of New Hampshire has not yet received an invitation to the conference. We also note that the Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed a desire to explore a way for him to participate. We share the Archbishop's desire and encourage our Presiding Bishop to offer our assistance as bishops in this endeavor. It is our fervent hope that a way can be found for his full participation.
Justice and Dignity for Gay and Lesbian Persons
It is of fundamental importance that, as we continue to seek consensus in matters of human sexuality, we also be clear and outspoken in our shared commitment to establish and protect the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons, and to name and oppose at every turn any action or policy that does violence to them, encourages violence towards them, or violates their dignity as children of God. We call all our partners in the Anglican Communion to recommit to this effort. As we stated at the conclusion of our meeting in March 2007: "We proclaim the Gospel of what God has done and is doing in Christ, of the dignity of every human being, and of justice, compassion and peace. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, no male or female, no slave or free. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God's children, including women, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ's Church. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God's children including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ's Church. We proclaim the Gospel that stands against any violence, including violence done to women and children as well as those who are persecuted because of their differences, often in the name of God."
The final House of Bishops session is underway, and we expect at least one final resolution to emerge at the end of the session. You’ll be able to read it here as soon as it is available. Stay tuned…
Regular readers may be interested in knowing that, while at the House of Bishops Meeting, Bishop Baxter is serving on the committee that is drafting the “mind of the House” statement that is expected to be released on Tuesday. Bishop Baxter is also serving on the committee charged with explaining the outcome of the meeting to the media.
Tonight might be a good time to pray for the Bishop and his colleagues.
Episcopal News Service has posted the text of the Presiding Bishop’s sermon in
The PB drew her inspiration from two unlikely sources: Bishop Philander Chase—who in the early 19th century founded several congregations, as well as
She concluded the sermon with the metaphor of the trumpet and the
The blogs are reporting that The Right Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson, Bishop of Rio Grande, will resign at the end of the year to become a Roman Catholic.
Two aspects of Bishop Steenson’s letter to his diocese are telling. First, he says, “The reason for this decision is that my conscience is deeply troubled about where the Episcopal Church is heading, and this has become a crisis for me because of my ordination vow to uphold its doctrine, discipline, and worship. An effective leader cannot be so conflicted about the guiding principles of the Church he serves. It concerns me that this has affected my ability to lead this diocese with a clear and hopeful vision for its mission. I also have sensed how important it is for those of us in this position to model a gracious way to leave the Episcopal Church in a manner respectful of its laws.”
And then…
“I also want to acknowledge with gratitude the pastoral support I have received from the Presiding Bishop and her office during this time. She has offered to visit, and I have invited her to be with us at the clergy conference the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 26, and perhaps also for that evening, for mutual conversation and the opportunity to know each other better in this time reserved for the clergy. I hope that you all can be present.”
You can read the letter in its entirety here.
Graciousness and respect have been in short supply of late, and we should all rejoice at seeing them displayed on both sides. Pray that we see more.
The most that can be said of the House of Bishops meeting so far is that, as the old saying goes, no one has committed news yet. There is great speculation about who might propose what, which bishops might beat an early retreat, and what the eventual outcome might be.
In his remarks to the press earlier today, the Archbishop of Canterbury said something that you may not read elsewhere. He noted that, “Despite what has been claimed, there is no "ultimatum" involved. The Primates asked for a response by September 30 simply because we were aware that this was the meeting of the House likely to be formulating such a response. The ACC and Primates Joint Standing Committee will be reading and digesting what the bishops have to say, and will let me know their thoughts on it early next week. After this I shall be sharing what they say, along with my own assessments, with the Primates and others, inviting their advice in the next couple of weeks. I hope these days will result in a constructive and fresh way forward for all of us.” ENS has more here.
It’s worth noting that the last time the House of Bishops met, the outcome was considerably different from what many had expected. What you read in the blogs and the mainstream is mostly speculation.
Stay tuned…
Episcopal News Service is reporting that Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori has secured the agreement of eight bishops to serve as “episcopal visitors” to the six (out of 110) dioceses who have requested it. In making the announcement, the Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson (canon to the P.B.), said, "All eight are true bridge-builders who empathize with the concerns and needs of dioceses that are struggling with the issues of the current time," adding that "while all are sympathetic to these concerns, each is clear that the Presiding Bishop's ultimate goal is reconciliation." You can read the details here.
ENS is also reporting regularly from the current House of Bishops meeting. You can find that coverage here.
Our colleague Jim Naughton, Canon for Communication in the Diocese of Washington, DC, has a few carefully chosen words for those who will be trying to decipher the news out of
Jim also notes that it is the conservatives who have done the better job of using the media to “maintain an atmosphere of crisis” and to set the mainstream story line. You can read his full posting here.
Graham Kings, a reporter for the Church of England Newspaper makes an interesting observation in a recent article there. Our friends in
"Rowan Williams flies to
Res ipse loquitur. We have nothing to add.
The November issue of Tidings will include an interview with Bishop Baxter about this month’s House of Bishops meeting and his first year as our Bishop. Do you have questions you’d like to ask Bishop Baxter? You can do so by replying to this blog post. We’ll pass them along and try to print as many of them as we can in Tidings.
Many thanks!
This week’s House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans is the sort of occasion that usually prompts blog editors to pen sharp summaries of who has done what to whom, what’s really going on, and why the outcome should be such-and-such. I wrote mine. I won’t be posting it, because it wouldn’t help.
None of the parties to the current mess in the Episcopal Church has behaved particularly well. It is especially sad that the “unhelpfulness” has increased as a direct function of the strength of the parties’ convictions—both nationally and internationally. The fundamental truth lost in the process is that God’s will for this church is far more important than our own individual positions. There has been far too much talking, and not enough listening.
While Bishop Gene Robinson was initially at the epicenter of all this, he has, in many ways, become less of a focus. What folks are generally arguing about now are power issues that don’t have much to do with the original issue. Today’s New York Times has one of the more rational recent analyses here.
The current edition of the web site for the Diocese of New Hampshire has an interesting reflection by Bishop Robinson that goes to the central issue with which the bishops and the Archbishop must deal in the coming work. It is the work of reconciliation. You can read it in its entirety here.
He writes (in part),
“Reconciliation is hard work. It requires give and take from both sides. No “solution” is apt to be totally acceptable to both sides – that’s why it’s called “compromise.” We are working for a resolution that is acceptable and workable, and that preserves the integrity of all the parties to it. The way forward is not yet clear …It is my fervent prayer – and I hope it will be yours too – that a way forward will be found which will preserve the integrity of our Communion and its “big umbrella” approach to the life of faith which allows, even encourages, difference of opinion within the essentials of the Faith. Join me, please, in prayer for our Church as it struggles to live out the Gospel in these difficult times.”
Amen.
Two items in the current edition of Episcopal Life will be of interest to those in
The second noteworthy item is a short piece on the importance of forgiveness written by Mary Warner, religion editor for the Harrisburg Patriot News. We were delighted to see her contribution, which gives prominence to the Lancaster County Amish and the work of Dr. Donald Kraybill at
The alleged turmoil in the Anglican Communion, and the Episcopal Church specifically, looks a lot more serious if you’re looking through the wrong lens. Using one that takes in a very narrow field – while making everything seem closer – certainly heightens the illusion that there’s a stampede on. The Rev. Ken Howard, rector of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in
If there’s anything that might be termed quintessential in Anglican tradition, it is this willingness to admit that we mortals don’t have all the answers, and that—as Jesus stressed over and over—being in community and loving one another is central to God’s plan for his people. The God whom we worship is a very present-here-and-now God, not a being fixed in the past. Begin from these two premises, and the rest falls into place pretty quickly.
Bishop Baxter recently sent the clergy of the Diocese a reminder that they will gather in
If you’re looking for someone for whom to pray in mid-September, I suspect our bishops would welcome being included in your prayers.
Two interesting items crossed the editor’s computer screen yesterday. The first was a section of CNN’s web site entitled “God’s Warriors.” It’s the support material for a three-part series done by Christianne Ammanpour that airs August 21-23 from 9-11 pm EDT. Billed as a dispassionate look at fundamentalism in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, it shows the promise of being an interesting tracing of the historical roots of a phenomenon with which all three Abrahamic religions are grappling these days.
Ms. Ammanpour is well-equipped for the task. A native Iranian, she was educated in Britian, works for an American corporation, and is married to former State Department spokesman Jamie Rubin. You can find out more here.
For those who want still more, try reading the article by humanities professor Mark Lilla’s article in today’s New York Times magazine entitled “The Politics of God.” It seeks to explain—in far too little space—why the West experienced the Great Separation of church and state while the rest of the world did not… and why that matters in today’s world. Mr. Lilla also mentions—almost as an aside—that the American experience, which retains both a democratic secular government and a plethora of thriving religious communities, is entirely unique in the world. You can read it here.
Why does this matter to Episcopalians? It matters because we are unique, both as a branch of Anglicanism and also as an American denomination. Understanding both who we are and how others see us can go a long way toward building a better understanding of how we can live in community with brothers and sisters both here and abroad.
The New York Times carried an interesting story today about one of the newest priests in the Diocese of Western Michigan. He is Zachariah Jok Char, a native of
Mr. Char is one of the “lost boys” of
The Rev. Char’s comment sums it all up well: “in Sunday school, we were told when you are a kind person, God will give you a long life. The only way people can stay kind is hearing the word of God every day and staying involved in the community.” Amen, brother.
If your only barometer of the national and international health of our church were what you read in the media, most Episcopalians could be forgiven for thinking that the world was about to end. Fortunately, the media have either got most of it wrong, or they’re simply looking in the wrong places for something to write about.
The fall Diocesan calendar includes two international events of note to our Diocese. In early September, Bishop Baxter will preach at the consecration of the Rev. Roger Bird as the new Bishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This event will mark a transition to new episcopates in both our Diocese and
Later this fall, Bishop Masereka of
Further proof that effective ministries can trump long-winded meetings and media pronouncements any day.
The release of J.K. Rowling’s latest 700+ tome continues to stun. First, it has sold both hugely and quickly; second, it debunks the common wisdom that today’s youth are somehow organically wired to their cell phones and computers, neatly demonstrating that a ten-year-old will read a 700-page book if it’s got something interesting to say.
Much ink has been spent on analogies that liken Potter to heroes of old, Biblical and otherwise. However, in a recent edition of his weekly online newsletter, Sightings, one of Martin Marty’s co-writers opines that it’s not Potter but Severus Snape, the “greasy-haired” Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who remains the real conundrum. In her column, Elizabeth Musselman notes that Snape remains the only character in the Pottter ensemble whose moral character remains in question. That is, we still don’t know whose side he’s on.
Ms. Musselman posits that Americans will instinctively hope Snape turns out to be a “narrative of redemption,” rather than the face of evil personified. She adds, “If Snape's story concludes as a narrative of pure evil, it may provide hope that in the end, with much struggle, evil can be defeated by good. But it will fail to reflect the struggle that each individual faces between sin and redemption in this post-Fall world.” You can read the entire article here, and the weekly postings of Sightings are available here.
Your editor’s copy of the latest Potter remains in the grip of an errant owl, so I can’t provide the answers. I’ll leave it to our readers to figure out for themselves where good, evil, and sin lie in the latest text, and in the larger world.
We also welcome the Rev. Nancy C. Miller, late of
We’ve neglected to welcome two clergy who have recently begun new ministries in the Diocese. The Rev. Kate Kelderman’s first Sunday as Rector of Prince of Peace,
Also, a more belated welcome, actually a “welcome back,” to The Rev. Peter Harer, the new Rector of
We welcome them both; better late than never…
The newly reconstituted Diocesan Communications Commission met last week. One of the items high on the agenda was finding better ways for congregations to share information about what they’re up to. To that end, I have a request. If you know about something your parish has done, is doing, or is planning to do, please share that with us so that we can tell others – in Tidings, on the web, or elsewhere. All news is welcome, but we’re particularly interested in items about:
- outreach projects
- new ministries
- youth activities
- discoveries… any project you’ve tried that worked well.
Kudos to the young people from St. John's, Carlisle, who head to Williamsport in a few days for a week of painting, trimming, and that-which-needs-doing at the four churches there. Theirs is one of several such trips this summer to destinations within the Diocese, along the
Some of those same young people recently attended the Diocesan Summer Youth Conference at
One more note: Diana commented on my mention of Jennifer Looker as the youngest priest in the Diocese. I mentioned that fact in my post only because she used it in the opening of her sermon at Diocesan Convention, saying, “Even the youngest priest in the Diocese knows that when the Bishop asks you to preach, you say yes.”
One final reflection about our recent Diocesan Convention. Notwithstanding all the positive elements – seven ordinations, varied worship, and a sense of renewed purposefulness – the fact remains that there were a preponderance of heads that were grayed or bald (yours truly among the latter). It’s a pity.
Reuters carried excerpts of an interestingly frank interview with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams recently. You can find the full story in The Scotsman here. In it, the Archbishop says, “The task I've got is to try and maintain as long as possible the space in which people can have constructive disagreements, learn from each other, and try and hold that within an agreed framework of discipline and practice.”
One of the obligations of anyone trying to define the boundaries for such dialogue would seem to be letting folks on either side know when they’re out of bounds. We wish the Archbishop well, though we wish that he had blown his whistle a little earlier, before some of the players had started to move the goal posts. It might have made his current situation a lot simpler.
Fr. Bill Murphey has worked in this Diocese for over 52 years, and he still hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
Charlie and Alice McNutt do a better-than-average jitterbug.
Want to know how Job felt? Visit the
“Most efficient dispatch of business” award: Archdeacon Andy France, whose report on resolutions contained no resolutions.
“Hidden talent” award: to the Rev. Patrick Collins for his exhibit of custom-designed contemporary stained glass.
Four bishops and 150 ordained clergy couldn’t fend off the second end-of-banquet thunderstorm in as many years.
Lighting incense in a small room will probably set off a fire alarm.
Despite being the youngest priest in the Diocese, the Rev. Jennifer Looker can preach a great sermon.
Even bishops forget the names of those being ordained.
If you’re being ordained and the bishop forgets your name, it’s permissible to tell him.
How do you say “Amen” in jazz? Y-e-a-h-h-h!
Bishop Baxter’s address to the Convention on Friday offered a frank assessment of the state of the Diocese. In a nutshell: there’s a lot of great stuff going on, but it’s time for a financial reality check. There’s no denying that if only 40% of the Diocese’s congregations contribute at the level the canons require, much will be in peril, both regionally and locally. You can find a summary here. The entire address will appear in the July Tidings.
It seems somehow fitting that the first event of this year’s Diocesan Convention was a short Jazz Eucharist. The hymns were straight from the Hymnal, but set to a different beat. “Jesus, Lover of my Soul;” became almost a spiritual. The musician was part Vince Guaraldi, part James Taylor. The effect was beautiful… different, but it worked. Here’s a prayer that the next two days will go the same way.
It’s graduation season, of course. I recently attended two of them: a graduate school of public policy and a law school. I found both surprising. Fully prepared for a pretty sedate experience, especially from the newly minted attorneys, what I got instead was spirited, idealistic, and loaded with energy. The student address at the law school was outstanding, making the invited guest speaker look pretty much a dolt. In both ceremonies there was no lack of passion.
Our upcoming Diocesan Convention will feature some “graduations” of our own. On Friday, those who have completed the course of study at the
Martin Marty wrote a telling eulogy of Jerry Falwell (well, sort of…) in his regular Sightings column (published by the University of Chicago Divinity School) last week. In it, he says, “Falwell is best viewed from the perspective of what has been called "historical" or "(Reinhold) Niebuhrian" irony. In such irony a human agent — in this case, Falwell — acts, forgetting that while his humanness commits him to acting with an intention to use his knowledge, power, security, and virtue, his ignorance, weakness, insecurity, and vice compromise or even counter the intention.” You can read the rest here.
The public mind’s concept of a church actively involved in society seems to have morphed during the Falwell years, as stridency drowned out decades of more thoughtful perspectives. That loss has hurt both the mainline churches and the people at large. Perhaps we can begin to recapture some of that loss by speaking more quietly, but with no less conviction.
Now, for something completely different….. what happens when you invite a large group of motorcycle riders over for a “blessing of the bikes” and a nice, slow ride on Mother’s Day? Well, as the folks at St. Andrew's, Shippensburg, discovered, you get a great turnout, you get an opportunity to have more than a dozen local businesses underwrite the event, and you can raise some serious money for outreach projects. Those aren’t exactly traditional vestments that Janice Fritz and Ted Babcock are wearing, but talk about meeting the people where they are….
Easter is, of course, the ultimate Christian Good News season. The communication pros will tell you that good news doesn’t sell papers. The sexy and sensational work better. As a result, clergy don’t usually make the headlines unless they have messed up, and Big Time. Here are some Good News headlines we wish we could see:
“Rocky marriage mended; Family saved.”
“Estranged Son Reunited with Parents.”
“Successful Business Leader Confronts Alcoholism; Puts Life Back Together.
“Forty Homeless Find Warm Shelter”
“Church provides Easter Dinner for 150 Families”
“Volunteer Team Heads South; Helps Repair Disaster Damage.”
“Donations Buy Vaccine to Prevent AIDS in African Newborns”
“Volunteer Physicians Assist Brazilian Teen Drug Rehab Program”
These are the Good News stories someone could tell about the Episcopal Church in
Two “takeaways” from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s visit yesterday:
First, she accurately points out that the Episcopal Church is itself an international body. There are Episcopal Church dioceses in sixteen foreign countries, from
The Presiding Bishop visited
This writer is struck by the contrast between the recent fractiously contentious Primates’ Meeting and the unanimity shown at the more recent meeting of the House of Bishops. Dialogue with those with whom you disagree is hard. Over the past four years, many parishes in this Diocese have worked hard to begin and build this dialogue. These parishes have been successful in large part because of the presence of trusted leaders, both clergy and lay. They deserve our thanks, support, prayers, and encouragement.
The emergence of a sense of unity, shared commitment, and ongoing dialogue within the House of Bishops likely reflects a new sense of trust in the leadership shown there by the Presiding Bishop and her colleagues, regardless of their individual positions on specific issues. They also deserve our thanks, support, prayers, and encouragement.
Welcome… The Middle Pew is a collection of notes and comment about the Episcopal Church, mostly in
You will find… mostly items that could be useful to others in our area – both clergy and lay folks – but which would lose their usefulness if they waited for inclusion in other “official” diocesan publications.
… occasional references to things happening or words spoken elsewhere in the Episcopal Church, usually with links to their source, along with notes as to why you might find them interesting. I will also try to include mention of goings on in our companion Diocese of Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Those of you fluent in Portugese will enjoy the links; the rest of us can look at the photos, which frequently speak with equal eloquence.)
You will not find… a lot of discussion about the trials and tribulations of the Anglican Communion and its various members. My friend Jim Naughton does a fine job of that in his blog, which you can find here. I will break this promise only to report those items that affect folks in
