Yummy Christmas gift

Tonight we are having Caramelized Onions & Butternut Squash Casserole with Pumpkin Biscuits (which is actually my own recipe, not from the book).

Sarah Palin's Church Burned

If it's arson, is it also a hate-crime?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband Todd and up to 1,000 fellow parishioners will worship in a local school this morning after a suspicious fire virtually destroyed the Wasilla Bible Church early Saturday.

The Rev. Larry Kroon said some parishioners were in the church on Nicola Avenue at the time the fire was noticed but no one was injured. Firefighters battled for about eight hours in minus-20 degree temperatures to completely extinguish the blaze that began at the front door.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate went to the church Saturday to apologize to pastors in case the estimated $1 million fire damages, suspected as arson, were "in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received" since the governor's involvement with John McCain's presidential campaign.

The 30-year-old congregation in Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, had moved into its new church just 30 months ago. Church officials said they expect to hold services at the Wasilla Middle School for the foreseeable future during repairs.

GAFCON Primates Welcome New North American Province

From the GAFCON web site:


Statement by GAFCON Primates

Primates of the GAFCON Primates' Council meeting in London have issued the following statement about the Province of the Anglican Church in North America.

We welcome the news of the North American Anglican Province in formation. We fully support this development with our prayer and blessing, since it demonstrates the determination of these faithful Christians to remain authentic Anglicans.

North American Anglicans have been tragically divided since 2003 when activities condemned by the clear teaching of Scripture and the vast majority of the Anglican Communion were publicly endorsed. This has left many Anglicans without a proper spiritual home. The steps taken to form the new Province are a necessary initiative. A new Province will draw together in unity many of those who wish to remain faithful to the teaching of God’s word, and also create the highest level of fellowship possible with the wider Anglican Communion.

Furthermore, it releases the energy of many Anglican Christians to be involved in mission, free from the difficulties of remaining in fellowship with those who have so clearly disregarded the word of God.


6th December, 2008 AD


Thanks to Stand Firm for the link to this.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church?

Barista parking only......

Okay, I have a little problem with "marketing to felt needs", but on the other hand this makes some direct hits on the problems of being a welcoming parish.



Thanks, Stand Firm

First Advent

Thanks, Jerusalem, for this post. It's my favorite Advent hymn.

Celebrating the Birth of the Savior, Planned Parenthood Style

Words fail. h/t to Transfigurations.


Just In Time for Christmas - Gift Cards for Abortions from Planned Parenthood

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, November 26, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Planned Parenthood of Indiana has announced just in time for Christmas that it will begin selling gift certificates at its clinics and online, which can be used for all PP services, including payment for birth control, STD testing, and abortions.

The Planned Parenthood of Indiana website says the gift cards can be used for "services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method," and poses the question "Why not buy a loved one a gift this holiday season that they really need"?

When asked about the appropriateness of a gift card for abortion, Chrystal Struben-Hall, Vice President of Planned Parenthood of Indiana told WISH-TV, "They really are intended for preventative healthcare. We decided not to put restrictions on the gift certificates so it's for whatever people feel they need the services for most."

Indiana Family Institute President Curt Smith, however, said he is appalled by the certificates.

"I think the way to help family planning is to give the money where there's no agenda. So if somebody wants to help a woman at a time of crisis, they can support the life centers throughout Indiana," Smith said in the WISH-TV report.

One blogger at the highly popular “Hot Air” blog quipped, “What kind of relationship would you have to have with someone for a gift certificate from Planned Parenthood to be appropriate? If you’re buying for your significant other, cash works just as well. If you’re buying for friends, um … what’s the message there? ‘Merry Christmas, buddy. The next prostate exam’s on me.’”

More Bob Dylan from Wednesday Night's concert

I got to hear Bob Dylan in concert this week...

Bishop Iker inhibited

Breaking news from BabyBlue

In celebration of the new North American Province.....

maybe it's time to break out a bottle of Indaba!

Archbishops Anis, Nzimbi, Akrofi: We Will Recognize the New North American Province

From Stand Firm:


Greg Griffith: Bishop Duncan, can you tell us more about the new province?

Bishop Duncan: It was the GAFCON conference that spoke so clearly, saying ‘It is our view that the time has come for a new province to be recognized in North America,’ and that the Common Cause Partners are the basis of that province. We here in the states have taken that very seriously, we’ve done a tremendous amount of hard work, we’ve made deep commitments to one another, and the Common Cause Partnership, which has an annual meeting of the representation of the U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions – that happens early in December – and at that time our governance task force will come forward with a draft provincial constitution on which we’ve had help from our foreign partners.

The recognition process I think will be one by which our partners, who were the Jerusalem primates, are going to decide whether they’ll issue recognition by their provinces.

Greg Griffith [to Archbishops Anis, Nzimbi and Akrofi]: Are Your Graces all going to support the new province?

Archbishop Anis: Yes… Oh yes.

Archbishops Nzimbi and Akrofi: Yes. [all nodding affirmatively]

Greg Griffith: You’ll all be on record as recognizing the new province?

[All]: Yes.

Archbisop Nzimbi: They have been accepted by us, in terms of their belief, and they need a refuge. It is important for us to come together, and give them that refuge, believing in what they are doing.


Read the rest....

The Presiding Bishop regrets......

From the Dallas Morning News:

The Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, released the following statement Saturday:

“The Episcopal Church Kingdom of Egypt grieves the departures of a number of persons indentured servants from the Diocese of Fort Worth Province of Goshen. We remind those former Episcopalians involuntary workers that the door is open if they wish to return. We will work with Episcopalians indentured servants in the Diocese of Fort Worth Province of Goshen to elect new leadership appoint new over-seers and continue the work of the gospel Millennium Development Goals in that part of Texas Egypt.

“The gospel Millennium Development Goals work to which Jesus our vehicle to the divine calls us demands the best efforts of faithful egocentric, hedonistic, sin-enslaved people from many theological poly sexual and social transgendered perspectives, and the Episcopal Church Kingdom of Egypt will continue to welcome that diversity lock-step conformity.”

--Pharaoh

Fort Worth joins the Southern Cone

From this thread at Stand Firm:

I don't know if this is the official count, but it's pretty decisive.


Votes on Constitutional amendments (all passing):
A. clergy for: 73 Clergy against: 18

laity for: 104 Laity against: 26

B. clergy for: 72 clergy against: 19

laity for: 102 laity against: 25

C. clergy for: 71 clergy against: 19

laity for: 103 laity against: 24

D. clergy for: 72 clergy against: 19

laity for: 102 laity against: 25


Comment #[23] Posted by monologistos on 11-15-2008 at 12:29 PM

Terrorrism, GLBT style

White powder sent to Mormon temples in Utah, LA

Letters containing a suspicious white powder were sent Thursday to Mormon temples in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City that were the sites of protests against the church's support of California's gay marriage ban.
The temple in the Westwood area of Los Angeles was evacuated before a hazardous materials crew determined the envelope's contents were not toxic, said FBI spokesman Jason Pack.
The temple in downtown Salt Lake City, where the church is based, received a similar envelope containing a white powder that spilled onto a clerk's hand.
The room was decontaminated and the envelope taken by the FBI for testing. The clerk showed no signs of illness, but the scare shut down a building at Temple Square for more than an hour, said Scott Freitag, a spokesman for the Salt Lake City Fire Department.
None of the writing on the envelope was threatening, and the church received no calls or messages related to the package, Freitag said.
Protests in recent days have targeted the Mormon church, which encouraged its members to fight the recently passed amendment banning gay marriage in California.

h/t to StandFirm

The return of the Blacklist

Thanks to Stand Firm for the link to these stories:

From the Sacramento Bee:

Prop. 8 gift gets theater's leader in a ruckus

Gay and lesbian artists called Monday for an artistic and audience boycott of California Musical Theatre after learning that its artistic director donated $1,000 to a campaign that backed banning gay marriage in California.

The rest here.

Scott Ekern has since "resigned". A 25 year career over, because he dared to vote his conscience. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the New Tolerance.

And Quincy makes three.......

Resolution 2008-RM-1
Annulling Accession to the Constitution and Canons of
The Protestant Episcopal Church


WHEREAS, the General Convention and leaders of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States (“The Episcopal Church”) have failed to uphold the teaching and authority of
Holy Scripture, have challenged or belittled core doctrines of the Christian faith, have refused
to conform to the agreed teaching and discipline of the Anglican Communion, and have
rejected the godly counsel of the leaders of our Communion; and
WHEREAS, the Diocese of Quincy desires to remain faithful to Holy Scripture and to the
historic faith and order of the Church as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, and to
preserve its link to historic Anglicanism by considering affiliation with the Anglican Church of
the Southern Cone;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, under the authority and provisions Article II of the Constitution of this Diocese as
adopted in 1993, that this 131st Synod of the Diocese of Quincy, gathered the ____ day of
November, 2008, hereby annuls its accession to the Constitution and Canons of The
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America, otherwise known as The Episcopal Church; and be it further
RESOLVED, that by this action the Diocese of Quincy is no longer subject to, nor bound by,
the authority of the Episcopal Church, its General Convention, its officers, councils or agents;
and as of this date no actions or asserted claims of the Episcopal Church, or its General
Convention, or its officers, councils, and agents, whether for acts or omissions alleged to
have occurred before or after the date hereof, shall have any canonical or legal effect upon,
or application to, this Diocese, its Bishop, any retired bishop, its clergy, its lay members, or
its member churches.
----
EXPLANATION: Since 1993, under Article II of our Diocesan Constitution, our accession to
the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church has been “contingent upon the
continuing consent of Diocesan Synod.” This Resolution withdraws that consent and thereby
Diocese of Quincy, Proposed Synod Resolutions, 2008, Page 2
annuls our accession. Such action is necessary if the Diocese wishes to re-affiliate with the
Province of the Southern Cone.
NOTE: Since Resolution 2008-CC-1 below (the 2nd reading of 2007-CC-1), will amend the
same Article II of our Constitution, 2008-RM-1 is presented first to make clear that this first
action is taken under the authority of our Constitution as it has stood since 1993.
FUNDING IMPLICATIONS: Ending our affiliation with the General Convention of the
Episcopal Church may result in the Diocese or individual churches facing legal challenges
from officers or agents of the Episcopal Church if they attempt to assert control of properties
or funds held by our Diocese and churches. The likelihood of such litigation is uncertain, and
the costs cannot be accurately predicted.


Thanks to Stand Firm.

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh re-elects Bishop Robert Duncan

Bishop Robert Duncan is once again the diocesan bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Clergy and lay deputies to a special convention of the diocese on November 7 voted to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership of the diocese 50 days after the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church voted to remove ("depose") him.

"It is good to be back. God has clearly watched over the diocese and watched over me and Nara as we have walked through these challenging days together. God willing, I look forward to many years together sharing the good news of Jesus Christ," said Bishop Duncan.

Leaders representing a majority of the world's Anglican Christians, as well as many inside and outside The Episcopal Church in North America, never accepted the validity of The House of Bishops' decision to remove Bishop Duncan from leadership. In spite of the decision's deep defects, Bishop Duncan and the diocese elected to submit to the purported "deposition," so long as the diocese was part of that denomination.

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh was able to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership after it voted to leave The Episcopal Church and temporarily join the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone on October 4. The diocese made the decision after years of disagreement with the leadership of The Episcopal Church over basic Christian beliefs about the authority of the Bible, the unique role of Jesus Christ in salvation, and Christian moral standards. At the conclusion of that diocesan convention, the Standing Committee of the diocese, led by the Rev. David Wilson, announced that there would be a special convention on November 7 for the purpose of electing a bishop.

With the election complete, clergy and laity from around the diocese are participating in the "Moving Forward in Mission" conference at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh on November 8. The conference features the Rev. Mike Breen, who has done extensive work helping parishes effectively make new Christians in their local communities.

"The most important thing now is to move beyond our conflict with the leadership of The Episcopal Church and turn all of our energies toward living as Christians and effectively sharing the good news of God's love and mercy for all people in the places God has put us. I am looking forward to hearing what Mike has to say to us tomorrow," said Bishop Duncan.

Free concert to support Love146.org

Featuring Ten Shekel Shirt and The Wrecking.

Hosted by Campus Ambassadors of both Hartwick College and SUNY College at Oneonta, as well as a number of other campus groups, this concert, featuring Ten Shekel Shirt and The Wrecking, is to raise awareness of the horrors of human trafficing and funds for the work of Love146.org. The concert is FREE. There will be a silent art auction (faculty, student and local artists participating) and coffee, tea and snacks sold to raise funds. If you are in the Oneonta area Thursday, November 6th, come to this concert!

All Saints' Day

Reformation Rap

This one goes out to JerusalemAnglican. Happy Reformation Day!



Thanks to Stand Firm

For the G-Man

Invisible Servants

A few weeks late, but this is the sermon I preached on my final Sunday at my home parish. I am now off for a (school)year's internship.

I wanted to call this "What use are deacons, anyway?", but the Rector thought that was a bit unfriendly for the notice board.


Jeremiah 1:4-9
Psalm 84
Acts 6:2-7
Luke 22:24-27

Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations"

Then I said, "Ah, LORD God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." (Jeremiah 1:4-9)

This morning's readings are taken from the Ordination Rite for deacons. As most of you know, I am beginning my 3rd year of preparation for the diaconate. This is my last Sunday with you for the next nine months. The Diocese requires that all those in the ordination process serve an internship in a parish other than their home parish. During this time I will be given some hands on training to be a deacon. What exactly is a deacon, though?

The ministry of deacons is one that can be hard to explain. Deacons are often described by what they CAN"T do. Deacons can't do the "ABC's" - absolve, bless, consecrate. Deacons can not pronounce absolution of sins in the name of the Church. Deacons can not bless a marriage in the name of the Church. Deacons can not consecrate the Holy Eucharist.

Deacons can read the Gospel. Deacons can set the Altar Table. But can't a priest do that? Well, yes. Deacons can administer the Chalice. Deacons can take Communion to the sick & house-bound. But can't Lay Eucharistic Ministers do that? Well, yes.

What does a deacon do that either the priest or laity can't do? Just what use are deacons, anyway? In my journey through the ordination process, I have struggled with this question.

In the Old Testament lesson appointed for the Ordination of Deacons, we get a glimpse of just what deacons are good for. In the calling Jeremiah, God tells Jeremiah that he is called to be a prophet to the nations. God promises to put His words in Jeremiah's mouth. That is part of the calling of all deacons, to speak the Word of God to the nations. Who are the "nations"? The nations are those who are outside the Household of God. Deacons are to be evangelists, proclaiming the salvation of God to all people, especially "the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely". Deacons are to live in the nations, work in the nations & carry the needs of the nations back to the church. Most deacons don't have church jobs; they work in colleges, schools, businesses, just like you.

Deacons are to be students of Scripture. In this diocese, the clergy and all those in the ordination process follow the ancient custom of praying the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer every single day. Prayers and Scripture shape and form the day. Scripture becomes part of you when you immerse yourself this way. You begin to find that God has put His words into your mouth and heart and mind.

Deacons are to be servants, doing what they are commanded to do by God. Jeremiah protests that he is only a "youth" - inexperienced; how can he be a prophet? He hasn't gone to the prophet seminary! But God tells him, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth', for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." Deacons don't need to be experts; they need to be willing to follow the call of God.

But wait a minute, aren't all Christians called to spread the Good News of Christ, to pray & study the Scriptures and to serve God? Yes! Now we get to what a deacon is for. A deacon is a living reminder, an icon, of the servant ministry of Christ that all Christians are called to participate in. When you see a deacon, you are supposed to remember your calling, your gifts and your ministry to the world. Deacons serve by empowering you to find your ministry, to answer the call of God on your life. They do this in as many ways as there are deacons. Some preach & teach, opening up the Word of God to your life, some work in soup kitchens, visit prisons, work with addicts. All seek to draw in other Christians to serve with them. Deacons start new ministries and give them away to others; deacons assist already established ministries, serving in whatever way they can.

I said that deacons are an icon of Christ's servant ministry. What is an icon? In this parish, we are blessed with many holy icons, but when most people hear that word, they think of those little pictures on their computer. You know, click on the tiny house and you go right to Google's homepage. That's what an icon does - it takes you through the image to the real thing. The icon disappears and the reality appears. When you look at a religious icon, you aren't supposed to see just the pictures, but to look through it to the reality it represents. The painting of Jesus is more than a two-dimensional image in paint; it's a device that can take the faithful into the presence of the Lord himself.

The calling of a deacon is to fade into the background, to be invisible, to be among you as one who serves. When you see the deacon on Sunday morning setting the altar table, look through him & see Christ preparing to feed you with His Body & Blood. When you hear a deacon read the Gospel, don't stop at hearing her voice, but listen for the voice of Christ, speaking to your heart.

God willing, and you the people of God consenting, when I stand before the Bishop to be ordained, in a very real way I will disappear. My calling is to show forth Christ and to assist you in your ministries. The passion God has placed on my heart is to serve at His altar and to teach the Scriptures. Through the Scriptures we come to know God and grow closer to Him. At His altar we are fed.

When you see me clothed as a deacon, my prayer is that you will look through me & find a passion in your soul for the Word and Sacraments. That with the Psalmist, you will say: "How dear to me is our dwelling, O LORD of hosts! My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD, my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God." (Psalm 84:1)

AMEN

Close your eyes

Al Galladoro passed away this last Saturday. Our town will miss him. He was not only a brilliant musician, but a delightfully funny man. Close your eyes in peace, Al.

I'll start my own club & you can't join!

This is hysterical.

Someone styling himself "President of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh":

On Wednesday afternoon, I received a phone call from David Wilson, President of the Standing Committee, informing me that in 15 minutes there would be a conference call with the other seven members and that they intended to remove me from the Standing Committee. Two reasons were given. First, I had not accepted my letter of transfer to the Southern Cone. Actually, I had missed the announcement at convention and the letter was never offered to me. When I returned home that evening I found it in the mail having been sent the previous day. The second reason given was that my parish, St. Michael’s, appeared on this web site as having decided to stay in the Episcopal Church. I was not asked to join the conference call and was offered no due process. I do not recognize the authority that purported to take these actions. Providentially at that moment, I was meeting with key leaders of the Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church. After I reported the phone call to those assembled, and with the advice of the Diocesan Chancellor, I immediately appointed two new members to the Standing Committee, which the canons give me the authority to do. This was done at 2:44 P.M. I am pleased to announce that Ms. Mary Roehrich and The Rev. Jeff Murph, who were in attendance at the meeting, immediately accepted those appointments.

So let me get this straight. The Rev.Dr. James B. Simons is kicked off the Standing Committee and he decides that he and he alone is the one true, real, legitimate and only member of the Standing Committee, so he appoints himself president and appoints new members to his "Committee". The two members just happened to be "in attendance" at his clubhouse meeting. I wonder if they met in a treehouse and had a special handshake? This is just beyond satire.

Pittsburgh joins the Southern Cone

Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Changes Constitution, Joins Anglican Province
Document Actions


Deputies to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh’s 143rd Annual diocesan convention voted by strong margins on October 4 to join the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

Vote totals on the key constitutional provision that opened the way for the change were as follows. A total of 191 laity voted. 119 voted in favor. 69 voted against, 3 abstained. A total of 160 clergy voted. 121 voted in favor. 33 voted no. 3 abstained. 2 invalid ballots were cast.

“We deeply value our shared heritage and years of friendship with those still within that denomination, but this diocese could not in good conscience continue down the road away from mainstream Christianity that the leadership of The Episcopal Church is so determined to follow,” said the Rev. Peter Frank, director of communications for the diocese.

The rest here....

From this morning's readings

Collect of the Day: Proper 21

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 102:13-14

You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to have mercy upon her;
indeed, the appointed time has come.

For your servants love her very rubble,
and are moved to pity even for her dust.

Heavenly Father, we stand amidst the dust and rubble of the Episcopal Church. Arise and have compassion on your people. Declare your mighty power and have mercy upon us.

Hosea 10:4

They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of Truth. Protect us from those who utter empty oaths and covenants. Uproot the poisonous weeds of litigation from the field of your Church.

Luke 6:20-26

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blesses are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

Jesus, Keep our hearts focused on you. Help us to hunger and weep for the Kingdom of God. When we are excluded and defamed for your sake, let us rejoice that we are suffering for your sake. Save us, Lord, from the danger of seeking approval from the world. Amen

Diocese of Quincy Standing Committee votes to re-align

From The Living Church:

Quincy Standing Committee Opts for Realignment
Posted on: September 30, 2008
The standing committee of the Diocese of Quincy has recommended that the diocese seek realignment with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone based in Argentina, while continuing as a member of the Common Cause Partnership, according to Fr. James Marshall, president of the standing committee.

Bishop Keith Ackerman of Quincy is on sabbatical through the end of October. In the absence of the bishop, the standing committee is in charge of non-sacramental ecclesiastical duties. Bishop Ackerman will be back in time to preside at convention, which is scheduled to meet Nov. 7-8 at St. John’s Church, Quincy.

The standing committee decision following a Sept. 25 meeting at Grace Church, Galesburg, is similar to recommendations made by the standing committees in Pittsburgh and Fort Worth. Both of those dioceses have also scheduled votes similar to the one in Quincy.

Last year delegates to the annual synod in Quincy approved a number of canonical changes in preparation for this year’s decisive vote on whether to remain in union with the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.

And so it goes. Any thoughts on who will be next?

How many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb?

Chris Johnson at Midwest Conservative Journal has posted the PB's Hobart Lecture. So, to honor this faithful shepherd, Schori tells us to change our light bulbs.

So what does a reflection on tending the pasture say to us pastors and shepherds? We could be quite literal at first and ponder how much effort we’re putting into our role as gardeners. If we don’t steward this planetary pasture more wisely, our role as pastors will soon be vastly more difficult and, before much longer, moot. What is your congregation doing in the green department?

Most of us begin with the relatively easy, local initiatives like changing the light bulbs to compact fluorescents, or examining our use of disposable items, and then move on to upgrading building insulation and heating and cooling systems.

Sigh.

For all Episcopalians afraid of the "E" word

A "Easy Evangelism" T-Shirt!

Get yours today!

Be Thou My Vision

A Collect for Saturdays

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A musical meditation so that we may be duly prepared for the service of the Lord's sanctuary on the morrow.

New Blogger in the Diocese of Albany

Welcome to the new blogger in the Diocese of Albany, Deacon Frank Lockwood.

Subcutaneous Sinsick Blues

Another gem from anglicanbeachparty

Dear Bob????!!!!!

For something as momentous and painful as deposing a Bishop from his ministry and, in effect, excommunicating an entire diocese, don't you think something a bit more formal than "Dear Bob" is called for? This woman is so lacking in class. And doesn't she have a secretary, for crying out loud? When I worked at 815, if I had allowed something like this to get past me and embarrass my boss, I would have had to answer for it.

The Episcopal Church
The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate

September 22, 2008

Robert W. Duncan
125 N. Linden Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Dear Bob,

I wanted to write you personally to inform you that following the House of Bishop’s decision to consent to your deposition, of which you are already aware, I have signed the Sentence of Deposition, a copy of which is enclosed.

I think the press statement following the vote accurately sets forth the prayerful and thoughtful atmosphere of the discussions.

Please know that I urged the bishops gathered to hold you in prayer, and to do what they can to maintain a pastoral relationship with you. I pray that you may know the peace of Jesus Christ, and I remain

Your servant in Christ,


Katharine Jefferts Schori

From t19

Statement from the Province of Southeast Asia on the Deposition of the Bishop of Pittsburg

22nd Sept 2008

We received with great distress the news of the deposition of the Rt Revd Bob Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, by the House of Bishops (HOB) of The Episcopal Church (TEC).

The Communion has repeatedly asked TEC to make pastoral provisions and avoid steps that will alienate further those within TEC who wish to live by the Anglican faith which they believe to be true and remain in fellowship within the Anglican Communion. Even as recent as at the recent Lambeth, the great majority of Bishops present, including those from TEC, have expressed sincere desire for healing and reconciliation and to observe restraints on contentious issues for the Windsor-Covenant process to proceed.

The HOB has instead proceeded to depose a faithful bishop of the Gospel and the diocese under his care. This raises serious questions yet again, and more strikingly so soon after Lambeth, as to how sincere TEC and some of its bishops are in wanting to bring reconciliation, healing and resolution to the Communion crisis at hand.

The Province of Southeast Asia will continue to support, remain in full communion and prayerfully explore steps to strengthen our shared life with Anglican leaders like Bishop Bob Duncan and the Diocese of Pittsburgh as well as other TEC bishops who respect the mind of the Communion and remain faithful to the teaching of Scripture as expressed in the tradition and life of the Church. We urge those who have not chosen to ‘walk apart’ to work actively and sincerely with the Windsor-Covenant Process and other measures agreed at the Communion level. This is probably the only remaining opportunity to bind the Communion together out of this crisis which will strengthen our future common life, witness in the world and our place as an Anglican ecclesial family within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Most Rev’d Dr John Chew
Province of Southeast Asia

Bishop Duncan responds to "deposition"

e+News Release- September 18, 2008

BISHOP DUNCAN'S STATEMENT ON HIS "DEPOSITION"

It is a very sad day for The Episcopal Church. It is a sad day for me, a faithful son of that church.

Nevertheless it is also a hopeful day, hopeful because of the unstoppable Reformation that is overtaking the Christian Church in the West. It is also a hopeful day for me personally as I am unanimously welcomed into the House of Bishops of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, an act applauded by Anglican archbishops, bishops, clergy and people all around the world.

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will move forward under its new Ecclesiastical Authority, its Standing Committee. That body will carry the diocese through to our realignment vote on October 4. With the success of that vote, it will be possible that we be joined together again as bishop and people.

I offer my deepest thanks to the company of saints all around the globe who have sustained me, my work and all who are dear to me in these days.

Robert Duncan

Bishop Duncan received into Province of Southern Cone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
September 18, 2008

DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH MAINTAINS COURSE AFTER PURPORTED DEPOSITION

The House of Bishops purported deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan will not change the agenda for the Oct. 4 Diocesan Convention or change Bishop Duncan's status as a bishop in good standing within the Anglican Communion.

The action of the House of Bishops, which was taken in a closed meeting on September 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah, contravenes numerous canons of The Episcopal Church. While Bishop Duncan continues to believe that the "deposition" is unlawful, he will not challenge the "deposition" prior to the end of the diocese's October 4 convention unless forced to do so by the leadership of The Episcopal Church.

On October 4, diocesan convention deputies will consider the second reading of a constitutional change that would realign the diocese with the Province of the Southern Cone. With the passage of that constitutional change, the diocese will be free to welcome Bishop Duncan back as its bishop. In the meantime, under the diocese's governing documents, the standing committee will serve as the diocese's ecclesiastical authority.

"This is of course a very painful moment for Pittsburgh Episcopalians. The leadership of The Episcopal Church has inserted itself in a most violent manner into the affairs and governance of our diocese. While we await the decision of the diocesan convention on realignment to a different province of the Anglican Communion, we will stand firm against any further attempts by those outside our boundaries intimidate us," said the Rev. David Wilson, president of the Standing Committee.

Bishop Duncan's own continuing status as a bishop in The Anglican Communion has been secured by the Province of the Southern Cone.

"As was resolved by resolution made at the Provincial Synod in Valparaiso last November 2007, we are happy to welcome Bishop Duncan into the Province of the Southern Cone as a member of our House of Bishops, effective immediately. Neither the Presiding Bishop nor the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church has any further jurisdiction over his ministry. We pray for all Anglicans in Pittsburgh as they consider their own relationship with The Episcopal Church in the coming weeks," said Archbishop Gregory Venables.

A statement from the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh can be found at http://www.pitanglican.org/news/local/standingcommitteepastoral.

Letter to the Presiding Bishop

via email:

September 16, 2008



The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church Center

815 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10017



Dear Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and Members of the House of Bishops,



The Standing Committee and Bishop of the Diocese of Albany express our grave concern and hereby formally protest the planned deposition proceedings directed against Bishop Robert W. Duncan, called for by the Presiding Bishop in her Memorandum to the House of Bishops, dated September 12, 2008. We urge you in the strongest terms possible, not to proceed in this matter for the following reasons:



1) From a procedural and fairness standpoint, while it had been widely speculated that deposition proceedings would be brought against Bishop Duncan at the September HOB Meeting, the Presiding Bishop’s Memorandum to the House of Bishops, dated September 12, 2008, was the first official notification that such proceedings would in fact occur. There was no mention of deposition proceedings referenced in the draft agenda for the September HOB Meeting sent out on August 20, 2008. In the text of the agenda, it is stated that, “The main purpose of this meeting will be to reflect and deliberate together following the Lambeth Conference.” We believe that in a matter of such importance as the deposition of a bishop, every member of the House of Bishops should be notified well in advance of such actions, in order that every effort can be made by them to attend the proceedings. In accordance with the General Rules for Meetings in this House, Rule XIX on page 193 in the Rules of Order, House of Bishops, in order for any resolution to come before the House of Bishops at a special meeting the resolution must have been circulated 30 days in advance to all of the members, unless there is a two-thirds vote to allow the resolution. Should not the deposition of a bishop have, at a minimum, that same level of notification?



2) As acknowledged by the Presiding Bishop herself in the September 12th Memorandum, there have been significant differences of opinion expressed in regard to the interpretation of Canon IV.9 and the criteria that must be met as outlined in the canon. Specifically there is much debate centered around two major areas of concern: A) The required number of bishops needed to consent to the deposition of a bishop (whether it be a majority of all bishops in the House of Bishops eligible to vote or simply a majority of those present at the HOB meeting

in which the deposition proceedings occur); and B) Whether or not the inhibition of a bishop is a prerequisite to deposition. As you are well aware, the depositions of Bishop Schofield and Bishop Cox on March 12, 2008, were followed by an outcry by many within the Episcopal Church and the larger Anglican Communion. At question was the legality of the actions taken by the House of Bishops, particularly in regard to whether all the criteria outlined in Canon IV.9 were properly met and adhered to. While Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and her Chancellor David Booth Beers have both expressed their belief that they have properly interpreted the canons in regard to these matters, in a letter to the Presiding Bishop, dated March 27, 2008, the Standing Committee and Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, made a strong, well reasoned argument for an interpretation of Canon IV.9 which differs greatly from that held by the Presiding Bishop and her Chancellor. The Dioceses of Central Florida, Northern Indiana, Springfield and Western Louisiana, in statements published by their Standing Committees and or/Bishops in recent months, have raised similar concerns and interpretations of Canon IV.9 as those expressed by South Carolina. Due to these widely differing views and interpretations of Canon IV.9 and the extreme damage that can occur if misinterpreted, we call upon the House of Bishops to refrain from acting on this canon, until the House of Bishops is able to receive a legal interpretation of Canon IV.9 from a panel, consisting of a minimum of five canon lawyers/experts who are not involved in the proceedings against Bishop Duncan or any of the on going legal proceedings dealing with property disputes or parishes or dioceses leaving The Episcopal Church. While we appreciate the Presiding Bishop, her Chancellor and Bishop Stacy Sauls’ attempts to provide clarity in interpreting Canon IV.9, due to their current high level of involvement in legal proceedings throughout TEC that could be influenced by the outcome of the interpretation of Canon IV.9, we believe it is important to get an unbiased, outside interpretation of the canon, to prevent any appearance of a conflict of interest.



3) In defense or justification of the Presiding Bishop’s interpretation of Canon IV.9 in the depositions of Bishop Schofield, Bishop Cox and the pending deposition proceedings against Bishop Duncan, the depositions of Bishop Davies, the resigned bishop of Fort Worth in 1993, and Bishop Larrea, the Bishop of Ecuador Central in 2004 are cited as precedent, therefore paving the way for future depositions. The fact that no one apparently challenged the 1993 and 2004 depositions does not necessarily mean that the Presiding Bishop and her Chancellor have interpreted the canons correctly. If precedent is going to be used as justification for future actions, it is imperative that the canons are being properly interpreted and applied and that the process is agreed upon by the House of Bishops before action is taken. Again, the recent outcry by many over the believed failure to follow and apply the Canons properly in the depositions of Bishop Schofield and Bishop Cox, have only added to the growing division within TEC and the Anglican Communion.



4) In a letter to the Bishops of the Episcopal Church, dated August 24, 2008, Bishop Duncan stated, “The proper forum to determine whether I have violated constitution or canons would be a church trial, as I am a Bishop of this Church. But such a trial would have required due process and all the protections of the trial canons. The Course chosen…was an expedient course, requiring none of the justice, none of the expense, none of the rights of the accused, none of the lengthy timetable.” We concur with Bishop Duncan’s assessment that the proper forum to determine his guilt or innocence in regard to the charges that have been brought against him would be a church or ecclesiastical trial. The deposition of a bishop is an extremely serious matter as you well know. It is equivalent to the death penalty in regard to one’s ordained ministry. This is NO time to seek the most “expedient course” in determining one’s guilt or innocence. Bishop Duncan has dedicated his life to serving our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. While we question the charges brought against him, if he is to be charged, it should be dealt with in an ecclesiastical trial with all the protections guaranteed in the trial canons. Anything less is doing Bishop Duncan and the Church a great injustice.



5) In their attempts to explain their interpretations of Canon IV.9, The Presiding Bishop, her Chancellor and Bishop Sauls make numerous references to the “intent” of a canon. In her September 12th Memorandum, Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori stated, “…the General Convention in enacting this canon did not intend to give the three senior bishops a “veto” over the House’s right to determine whether or not a bishop who has been certified by the Review Committee as having abandoned the Communion of this Church should be deposed. Rather, that decision was intended to be made by the House.” First we would argue that is purely a judgment call on the part of the Presiding Bishop and her advisors. Others could well argue that the canonical stipulation that the majority vote of the three senior bishops was inserted to provide another level of discernment and to protect the House from having to deal with frivolous accusations. Second, after studying the history of Canon IV.9, a strong argument could be made that this canon was never intended to be used in the manner in which it was applied in the depositions of Bishop Schofield, Bishop Cox and the pending deposition proceedings against Bishop Duncan. It would seem that the intent of the canon is to deal with those bishops who not only leave the Episcopal Church, but also the Anglican Communion. That is clearly not the case with the three bishops just mentioned. While Bishop Schofield and Bishop Cox may have left TEC and in the case of Bishop Duncan it would appear he has plans to leave TEC, none of the three bishops have abandoned the Anglican Communion, but simply realigned with another province within the Anglican Communion. Because TEC is part of the Anglican Communion, it would seem that a charge of abandonment of Communion has no merit.



Despite the attempts of some to downplay the seriousness of the current situation in which tens of thousands of once loyal Episcopalians are leaving TEC, with no end in sight, the Episcopal Church is in a state of chaos. It is our belief that unless the current downward spiral is reversed, current and future charges of abandonment of communion will be a moot point. Within the not-too-distant future, if things continue as they currently are, there won’t be a communion to abandon. If the current on-going depositions of bishops and priests are intended to stop the mass exodus out of TEC, it isn’t working, but rather having the opposite effect. More and more clergy and laity are reaching the point that they can no longer accept or tolerate the recent theological innovations that have become so pervasive throughout much of The Episcopal Church’s leadership. The current attacks directed against the theologically conservative orthodox Christians within TEC are not scaring or intimidating them, but rather angering and emboldening them. With each new attack, more fuel is thrown on the fire. The depositions and lawsuits must stop. What type of example are we setting for our children and the rest of the world? What are we saying about how Episcopalians treat one another? Jesus commands us to love our enemy; to love our neighbor as we love ourselves; to love one another as He loves us. Clearly many in the Episcopal Church have not heard or listened to His command, when it comes to the way we relate to one another within TEC and the wider Anglican Communion.



The Standing Committee and Bishop of Albany call upon the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies and all involved in the current theological war to call a truce, enabling The Episcopal Church to refocus our time, energy and resources on the difficult but necessary process of figuring out how Christians who passionately hold what appear to be irreconcilable differences in the understanding and interpretation of Holy Scripture and its authority on our lives as well as issues of human sexuality, can move forward in building up the Kingdom of God by sharing the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with all who will receive it. For far too long we have been consumed by politically-charged agendas to the detriment of the Church and the building up of the Kingdom of God. May God give us the grace, the wisdom, the compassion, the humility we need to discern His will, moving forward in His Name to His honor and glory and to the benefit of His Church and people.



Faithfully in Christ,







The Reverend Lorraine M. Lyons

President, Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany







The Right Reverend William H. Love

Bishop, Diocese of Albany

That's my code, my motto...

Participate in 40 Days for Life

Sarah Palin for VP!

The young Sarah Heath once won the title “Miss Congeniality” in a local Alaska beauty contest. But her high school basketball teammates had another nickname for her, one that belied her genial surface: “Sarah Barracuda”.
Those monikers may sum up the contradictory political appeal of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s surprise choice to be his vice-presidential nominee.

She’s young, a fresh face, and a self-described “hockey mom” who eloped with her high school boyfriend after college. At the same time, she’s made a career of running against, through, and over Alaska’s old boy political network.

To win the governor’s mansion in 2006, she had to defeat the incumbent, scandal-weakened Gov. Frank Murkowski, in the primary. In the general election, she faced a former governor, Democrat Tony Knowles – and beat him handily.

“Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today,” said the McCain campaign in a news release announcing the Palin pick.

Governor Palin is energetic, staunchly antiabortion, pro-gun, and a maverick who has at times angered the Alaskan Republican Party. In that sense she might be seen as a mirror image of Senator McCain himself.

Read the rest here





Moose Burgers

1 lg. egg
1 tbsp. bitters
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 c. minced celery
1/2 c. onion, minced
2 c. bread crumbs (dry), cubed
2 lbs. lean ground moose meat
6 strips thick sliced bacon
24 toothpicks

In a bowl, beat egg, bitters, salt, and pepper. Stir in butter, celery, and onion. Toss in bread crumbs. Divide moose meat into 6 flat patties. Put 1/6 of stuffing on each pattie. Wrap pattie around stuffing into a ball. Mash balls into patties again. Place stuffed burgers on oiled roasting pan. Cut bacon strips in half. Secure atop burgers with toothpicks. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Broil for a minute to brown burgers before serving

Play Pumps

What an awesome idea!




Thanks to Stand Firm

Proposed CANA Resolutions

From here:

RESOLUTION NO. 1-Establishment of the Great Lakes Region as a Region of CANA

RESOLVED, that the Convocation Council recognizes that the Great Lakes Region has been duly established as a region within the Convocation the Convocation of Anglicans in North America ("CANA"), in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Bylaws of CANA.

RESOLUTION NO. 2-Regarding the Global Anglican Future Conference

RESOLVED, that the Convocation Council hereby expresses its gratefulness to the majority-world Anglican leaders recently gathered at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem, who stood in solidarity with all Anglicans who struggle against revisionist forces in the Anglican Communion. We also hereby express our appreciation to the CANA bishops, the bishops' wives, and others for representing CANA at GAFCON. We echo their endorsement of the Statement on the Global Anglican Future and the confessional Jerusalem Declaration. We commit ourselves to pursue the GAFCON goal to "reform, heal and revitalize the Anglican Communion and expand its mission to the world." We endeavor to support the emerging GAFCON movement and its Primates Council.

RESOLUTION NO. 3-Regarding Recognition by the Primates Council of the Global Anglican Future Conference of a New Anglican North American Province

RESOLVED, that the Convocation Council hereby supports the Common Cause Partnership (CCP) desire to embrace the invitation by the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) leadership to recognize CCP as an emerging Anglican province in North America. As we set forth plans for the future of Anglicanism in North America, our prayer is that our Common Cause federation will continue to grow and mature as an Anglican province.

How I spent my summer vacation

I took a week off to spend a little time with my family, especially my older kids who are heading back to college.

We mostly just puttered around local used bookstores, antique stores and malls. But one day I had a Big Adventure.

We went here.


I discovered all sorts of Interesting Things and had Deep Insights. Like I am really, really scared of heights. Even if the heights are over small rivers hundreds of feet underground. And, oh yeah, I don't like being hundreds of feet underground in a cave with weird rocks that look like they are melting down the walls. Did you know that stalactites look like evil squid clinging to the ceiling? And I discovered that even though the temperature is a steady 52 degrees year round, it is possible to break out into a sweat when I watch my young children gleefully peering over the edge of the railing and urging me to do the same.

I recommend Howe's Cavern as a fun, family outing.

I just will not be going back there myself.

And I really, really will not go on the "Adventure Tour"

Liberal dogmatism killing Church unity

LIBERALS are fond of brow-beating the Churches about sectarianism and disunity. These twin evils, they say with some justification, are harmful to society because they set one group against another and because sectarianism is, at the very least, uncivil.

It now transpires that all this liberal bleating about sectarianism and disunity was exactly that, bleating. But it was also hypocritical because when it suits their agenda liberals are very inclined to use sectarian language of their own and have no hesitation adding to the already deep divisions between the Churches......


Ecumenism, that is to say the drive for Christian unity, has long been a priority of theological liberals.

Conservative and orthodox Christians are used to being lectured about the need to put aside their opposing dogmas for the sake of unity. But as we're now discovering, liberals have dogmas of their own, or rather they have one super-dogma; equality.......


Having decided on these positions, liberals are then happy to employ the most sectarian language possible to describe those who stand in their way.

All opposition to theological liberalism is rooted, they insist, in ignorance and prejudice, and opponents are summarily dismissed, insulted and derided as 'bigots', 'sexists', 'fundamentalists' and 'homophobes'.

This quite clearly sums up the entire self-righteous attitude encountered in the pronouncements from KJS and other TEC bishops:

The fact is, liberals are willing to sacrifice anything and everything on their altar of equality, because they believe they are right and that they are the One True Church.

This article pretty much sums up the attitude of liberals. There is a huge dose of what Thomas Sowell called the "vision of the annointed" in the TEC reappraisers and their fellow travelers.

(H/T to TitusOneNine)

Bishop Miller of Down & Dromore defends orthodoxy

Bishop Harold Miller stands up to the nonsense spouted by Armagh:

The Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Reverend Harold Miller, rejected the Archbishop of Armagh's claim that if scientific advances prove people are born gay the Church may have to change its teaching about homosexuality.

And, warning that accepting homosexual relationships as normal would open the door to more divisive arguments about other sexual behaviour, Bishop Harold Miller said that the Church of Ireland could never bless gay couples.

Under the leadership of the last primate, Lord Robin Eames, senior churchmen rarely expressed disagreements with the Archbishop of Armagh and the Church largely maintained a single voice within the House of Bishops.

However, the accelerating crisis in the worldwide Anglican Church has exposed deep-seated disagreements about homosexuality and in an interview with the News Letter upon returning from the Lambeth Conference, Bishop Miller detailed his position on the issue.

Liar, Lunatic or Lack-wit? You decide.

From Stand Firm: ( follow this link.)

TEC has been living in gracious restraint for some time. I don’t see any church wide push to end that in the coming months. General Convention is the only body that can decide to do anything significant related to that. Individual bishops always make their own decision about what is best for their own diocese. All of us are urged to live in gracious restraint.

"Gracious restraint" - How in Heaven and Earth does this describe anything TEC has done in recent years?

I can not decide. My vote keeps cycling between liar, lunatic and lack-wit. Anybody out there have a way to decide this?

Compliance in Diocese of Massachusetts

Can't say that I'm surprised at this.

Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, said in an interview upon his return from London that he will continue to ordain gay clergy, which he called "pastorally important."

He also said that local priests will continue to bless same-sex marriages, although Shaw said that those priests are doing so on their own and that "I haven't authorized anybody to do anything."

As for whether he would follow up on his earlier intention to push for ending the moratorium on gay bishops and allowing church recognition of same-sex marriage when the Episcopal Church meets at its General Convention next year, Shaw said he would now wait until he meets with all the American bishops next month to decide how he will proceed.

Meanwhile, Bishop William L. Murdoch of the Anglican Church of Kenya, formerly the rector of an Episcopal parish in West Newbury and now the rector of an Anglican parish in Amesbury, said he expected that the "boundary crossings" by foreign bishops into the United States would also continue, because there is no alternative for traditionalist Episcopalians in the United States.

"Who is going to offer pastoral care to those churches that want to remain connected to the Anglican Communion but not the Episcopal Church?" Murdoch asked. "That's why our work will continue."

Fr. Tim on "Boundary Crossings"

From this thread over at Stand Firm:

Perhaps the Primates can announce the following:
“We will exercise restraint in making travel plans which might be experienced with discomfort in some parts of the Communion. However, the Communion must understand that
1. Scholars show that boundary crossings have taken place so they must have been an ancient tradition of freedom in Christ until suppressed by some malevolent church conspiracy or other;
2. Even if boundary crossings had not happened in the past, we are experiencing a new thing of the Spirit and need room to live into this in our various missional contextualizations of praxis and experience;
3. Our baptismal covenant entitles us to exercise ministry with anybody, any place at any time;
4. New social scientific discoveries indicate that we are now part of a “global village” in which legal jurisdictional boundaries are mere social constructs that go against our nature as transboundaried ministers;
5. Our feelings tell us that we are right to cross boundaries;
6. Our experience of cross-boundary ministries is that the people with whom we minister are holy and that their gifts are worth celebrating across boundaries;
7. We might refrain from authorizing further cross boundary interventions but will leave room for pastoral care to those who experience themselves as called to a cross boundary ministry;
8. Those who don’t agree with us are stupid;
9. Those who don’t agree with us are stupid;
10. We are more enlightened than those who disagree with us;
11. Those who disagree with us are stupid;
12. Our feelings tell us that we are right and you are stupid if you disagree.”

More compliance

From Still on Patrol:

Rebecca Anne Binder, the daughter of Dr. Martha Connell and Dr. Jack Binder of Scarsdale, N.Y., was married on Saturday to Amanda Elizabeth Laws, the daughter of Oneida Méndez-Laws and the Rev. Thomas Laws of Montclair, N.J. Ms. Binder’s father, who was authorized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, officiated at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlestown, Mass., where Ms. Laws’s father, an Episcopal priest, participated in a blessing ceremony.

Compliance

Episcopal Diocese ordains its first openly gay deacon
(h/t to Stand Firm)

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego took another step toward the full acceptance of gays with the ordination of its first openly gay deacon.


San Diego Episcopal Bishop James Mathes downplayed the sexual orientation of a newly ordained deacon.
During a month in which thousands of same-sex couples were able to marry in California, Thomas Wilson was ordained to the transitional diaconate by San Diego Bishop James Mathes at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Wilson, who moved to San Diego eight years ago with his partner of 20 years, is expected to serve as a deacon for six months to a year before becoming a priest, Mathes said.

Yet the bishop downplayed the significance of Wilson's sexual orientation. Mathes said he was not aware that a press release had been sent by the diocese with the headline: “Openly Gay, Partnered Deacon Ordained! First One in This Diocese Ever!”

On the next to last day of Lambeth!!!! Bp. Mathes does this. How's that for compliance?

Prayer Book Tyranny

Sarah Hey at Stand Firm posted this very interesting bit of information.

First, TEC is still the only province that does not allow use of an "authorized" but older prayer book in entirety. TEC does allow limited use of portions of another prayer book with the bishop's permission -- but that is far far different from blanket allowance of use of older, orthodox Prayer Books with no additional permission needed by bishops. Even Canada allows that.

But loving, inclusive, affirming TEC does not. And we all understand why -- it's because the gospel & propaganda the national church is promoting must be the only one available, since it cannot bear to compete. Other provinces may have their strange or heretical books -- but they still allow the older authorized Prayer Books' use.

I came in under the 1979 BCP and it's the only one I really know. But the more I study it and compare to the 1928 American BCP and the 1662 BCP, the more I realize the objections to the '79 book are not just about knee-jerk conservatives wanting to have antique language in their worship. There are substantial theological changes in the '79 book. No wonder we are forbidden to use the old book. We might actually prefer it and that would threaten the "new thing" theology.

Take Me In To the Holy of Holies

Thank you to my daughter for introducing me to this song and this group.

A view from Lambeth

Via Stand Firm...

From the Bishop of Nelson, New Zealand:

I have appreciated networking with some pretty amazing people.
I am so full of respect for Bishops Bill Love and Mark Lawrence (from within TEC) who are not afraid to stand up and call sin, sin!
I have the deepest admiration from the Bishops from the Sudan who came to let their voice be heard and have been treated with the most disgusting abuse from a woman Bishop from New York who labeled them ‘wife-beaters!’

Bishop Mouneer Anis on Lambeth so far...

From the Times Online:

I find that many of our North American friends blame us and criticise us for bringing in the issues of sexuality and homosexuality but in fact they are the ones who are bringing these issues in. Here at Lambeth, you come across many advertisements for events organised by gay and Lesbian activists which are sponsored by the North American Church. If you visit the marketplace at the conference, you will notice that almost half the events promoted on the noticeboard promote homosexuality and are sponsored by the North Americans. And in the end, we, the people who remain loyal to the original teaching of the Anglican Communion, which we received from the Apostles, are blamed. They say that we talk a lot about sexuality and that we need to talk more about poverty, about AIDs, and injustice. They are the ones who are bringing sexuality into this conference. It’s not us. We want to talk about the heart of the issues which divide us, not only sexuality. That is just a symptom of a deeper problem.

The Pointy Hat Club

This piece from Dean Munday is excellent. Read it all here.....

Once upon a time in a far away place called Dar Es Salaam there was a party attended by boys and girls who liked to wear pointy hats, including one girl who liked to wear a pointy hat, but who sometimes wore a rainbow-colored oven mitt on her head instead. The other boys and girls were very polite and never used the words "oven mitt" in front of the one girl because they knew it would make her very cross.

Some of the folks at the party weren't having a very good time. It seems that in some places there were boys who wanted to live with other boys (the way Mommy and Daddy live together) who had been allowed to join the Pointy Hat Club. The people at the party murmured as how this wasn't a good thing, and agreed that boys who wanted to live with other boys and girls who wanted to live with other girls (the way Mommy and Daddy live together) shouldn't be allowed to join the Pointy Hat Club. The girl who sometimes liked to wear an oven mitt nodded her head and said that was all right with her too.

When all the boys and girls got home from the party, the girl who sometimes wore an oven mitt said that she had not nodded her head along with the others who wore pointy hats and that, furthermore, she thought there ought to be more boys who lived with other boys and girls who lived with other girls (the way Mommy and Daddy live together) in the Pointy Hat Club.......

Nobody expects the Anglican Inquisition

From George Conger

Lambeth: Is Inquisition on the cards?
Friday, 25th July 2008. 7:45pm

By: George Conger,

Chief Correspondent



Canterbury: A “bombshell” report is expected to be delivered to bishops attending the 14th Lambeth Conference on July 28 that is expected to call for the Episcopal Church to abandon its push for gay bishops and blessings.

The request is expected to come in the third presentation of the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG) to the bishops at Lambeth and follows a call for the creation of an Anglican Holy Office to police the boundaries of the faith.

Backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican “Faith and Order Commission” will be a fifth instrument of unity for the Anglican Communion.

Plans for were disclosed on July 23 during the second of three briefings on the work of the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG) chaired by the former Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Bishop Clive Handford.

In its briefing paper to the bishops, the WCG commended the creation of an “Anglican Communion Faith and Order Commission that could give guidance on the ecclesiological issues raised by our current ‘crisis’.”



Okay, I can't resist.......



But it will probably be more like this......

Off to the Great American Irish Festival

We're off to the Great American Irish Festival! I think I will ignore Lambeth for the weekend and tune back into the continuing day-time drama on Monday.

A little music to travel by:

BARLEYJUICE

Taking a break from the Anglican Turmoil

The Glengarry Bhoys

Bishop Vader

Brilliant!


From the blogger jerusalemanglican:

Among the many controversial individuals attending Lambeth this year is, of course, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, seen left processing with his fellow bishops (h/t: Stand Firm). Although Lord Vader's status as a bishop of the Anglican Communion is, in the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury , Dr. Rowan Williams, "Unclear", he did receive an invitation to the Lambeth Conference, and has been very willing to talk to the press. In a recent interview Lord Vader was asked to comment on the absence of the many conservative bishops, Like Yoda, from this Lambeth Conference, he simply said that he "Found their lack of faith disturbing."
Conservative Anglican leaders from around the world, such as Yoda, Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, and Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda, met recently in a conference of their own in Jerusalem last month.
Regarding Lord Vader's presence at the Lambeth Conference, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Primate of The Episcopal ...Church said:
"Anglicanism has always been broader than some people are comfortable with. We need to have some serious discussions in the Anglican Communion about The Empire, and about the Dark Side. These are topics some in the Anglican Communion are not comfortable discussing in public." She also went on to say that "Darth Vader is not the only Sith Bishop in the Anglican Communion, he is just open about it."

Lambeth

I have not been posting anything about Lambeth because there is so little that has been reported yet and what has been reported is disheartening.

Take, for instance, this:

"Lambeth Eucharist Ends in Buddhist Chant"

"Anglican Communion Set to Disintegrate"


"Conservative Bishops Guilty of Greater Sin"


"Anglican Communion Like a Slow Moving Train Wreck"

But the most disheartening of all is the ongoing, never ending, perpetual, "It's all about how I feel" Gene Show.

Prayer for Bishop Love

Please pray for our Bishop.

Holy Spirit, be merciful to the bishops assembled at the Lambeth Conference and bless them; show them the light of Jesus' countenance and be merciful to us. Make Jesus' way known upon earth and your saving health among all the provinces of the Anglican Communion. Help us to praise you and the Father and the Son; yes, let all the peoples praise you. Let the peoples represented at Lambeth rejoice and be glad, for Jesus shall judge us all righteously and govern the nation upon earth. Let the people praise you, O God; yes, let all the people praise you. Then the earth shall bring forth its increase and you, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. (From the Deus mesereatur, Psalm 47 of Evening Prayer)

(from Albany Intercessor)

Lambeth - Pull the other one, it's got bells on.

Perhaps if the Bishops learned to Morris Dance, rather than attend Indaba groups,there might be a more authentically Anglican outcome?