I was finally able to visit with Myron today, and gratefully the only other person in the room was Maryann, so I was able to have a nice visit with her also.
He squeezed my hand several times and will mouth words, and occasionally will speak simple words like "I love you". He was triggering the ventilator to assist him in breathing and the staff will probably do that for a couple of days and inch up the time each day. His eye contact was good, but you can quickly see the tiredness in his eyes. He gets a lot of company. We were still gloved and gowned. I really worry about people not washing their hands.
He is to have an evaluation from the rehab center tomorrow. This center is renowned for their work with people with brain injuries.
I hope the folks in the USA had a good Labor Day as it is back to work tomorrow.
Sue
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Word To The Seven Bishops...
...who recently called upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, namely Mark Lawrence of South Carolina, Gary Lillibridge of West Texas, Edward Little of Northern Indiana, Bill Love of Albany, Michael Smith of North Dakota, James Stanton of Dallas, and Bruce MacPherson of Western Louisiana.
From the rite for the ordination of a bishop in the Episcopal Church:
The Examination
All now sit, except the bishop-elect, who stands facing the bishops. The Presiding Bishop addresses the bishop-elect
My brother, the people have chosen you and have affirmed their trust in you by acclaiming your election. A bishop in God’s holy Church is called to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ’s resurrection and interpreting the Gospel, and to testify to Christ’s sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings.
You are called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.
With your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of the Church throughout the world. Your heritage is the faith of patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and those of every generation who have looked to God in hope. Your joy will be to follow him who came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Are you persuaded that God has called you to the office of bishop?
Answer
I am so persuaded.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 517)
Amongst those seven bishops was Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina who recently addressed the clergy of his diocese.
We face a multitude of false teachings, which like an intrusive vine, is threatening The Episcopal Church as we have inherited and received it from our ancestors. I have called this the false Gospel of Indiscriminate Inclusivity because I see a common pattern in how the core doctrines of our faith are being systematically deconstructed. I must by necessity be brief and cannot give any of these concerns the attention they deserve.
....
• Scriptural Authority. This is such a comprehensive dimension of our present crisis in the church that one hardly knows where to begin. But one can hardly do better than St. Ambrose’s statement that “the whole of Holy Scripture be a feast for the soul.” How seldom one hears upon us who are bishops in Tec such glowing statements about the Bible. In my experience all too many of our bishops and priests seem to mine the scriptures for minerals to use in vain idolatries.
....
The Standing Committee and bishop will be proposing a resolution to come before the special convention that this diocese begin withdrawing from all bodies of governance of TEC that have assented to actions contrary to Holy Scripture; the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this church has received them; the resolutions of Lambeth which have expressed the mind of the Communion; the Book of Common Prayer (p.422-423) and the Constitution & Canons of TEC (Canon 18:1.2.b) until such bodies show a willingness to repent of such actions. Let no one think this is a denial of the vows a priest or bishop makes to participate in the councils of governance. This is not a flight into isolation; nor is it an abandonment of duty, but the protest of conscience. It is recognition that the actions of GC’09 were in such blatant disregard and violation of Holy Scripture, the bonds of affection, and our own Constitution & Canons that one is led by reasoned conviction to undertake an intrepid resistance to the tyranny of the majority over judicious authority; therein erring both in Faith and Order. (My emphasis)
Meanwhile in the Diocese of Albany, according to the Times Union:
A grass-roots Episcopal group wants to question Bishop William Love on whether he intends to lead the Albany diocese out of the Episcopal Church.
Albany Via Media, a group of moderate to liberal Episcopalians, is lining up parishioners to attend Love's seven meetings around the diocese in September and October.
"We are trying to have members asking the question at every meeting,'' said Clair Touby of Saranac Lake, president of Albany Via Media.
....
Dennis Wisnom of Schenectady, an Albany Via Media board member, said Love would talk at the meetings about the opening of the clergy and the development of blessing for same sex unions. The Albany Episcopal Diocese's rules do not allow same sex marriages or blessings of same sex unions.
Wisnom said Albany Via Media doesn't want the diocese to leave the Episcopal Church as four other dioceses around the country have done.
....
Love and spokesman for the Albany Episcopal Diocese could not be reached for comment about the meeting with the archbishop or those scheduled in the diocese.
....
Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina was among the bishops with Love who attended the meeting in London. Lawrence is scheduled to appear at a Sept. 21-23 clergy retreat for the Albany Episcopal Diocese.
What's going on? To paraphrase Fox News, "I report, you decide."
And down in the Diocese of Louisiana, we are preparing for the election of a bishop. My prayer is that we elect a bishop who is loyal to the Episcopal Church. Although Bishop Charles Jenkins had differences with the leadership of TEC, he had his feet firmly planted in the Episcopal Church. I hope to be able to say the same of our next bishop.
H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead and to MadPriest at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong for the link to the Times Union.
From the rite for the ordination of a bishop in the Episcopal Church:
The Examination
All now sit, except the bishop-elect, who stands facing the bishops. The Presiding Bishop addresses the bishop-elect
My brother, the people have chosen you and have affirmed their trust in you by acclaiming your election. A bishop in God’s holy Church is called to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ’s resurrection and interpreting the Gospel, and to testify to Christ’s sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings.
You are called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.
With your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of the Church throughout the world. Your heritage is the faith of patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and those of every generation who have looked to God in hope. Your joy will be to follow him who came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Are you persuaded that God has called you to the office of bishop?
Answer
I am so persuaded.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 517)
Amongst those seven bishops was Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina who recently addressed the clergy of his diocese.
We face a multitude of false teachings, which like an intrusive vine, is threatening The Episcopal Church as we have inherited and received it from our ancestors. I have called this the false Gospel of Indiscriminate Inclusivity because I see a common pattern in how the core doctrines of our faith are being systematically deconstructed. I must by necessity be brief and cannot give any of these concerns the attention they deserve.
....
• Scriptural Authority. This is such a comprehensive dimension of our present crisis in the church that one hardly knows where to begin. But one can hardly do better than St. Ambrose’s statement that “the whole of Holy Scripture be a feast for the soul.” How seldom one hears upon us who are bishops in Tec such glowing statements about the Bible. In my experience all too many of our bishops and priests seem to mine the scriptures for minerals to use in vain idolatries.
....
The Standing Committee and bishop will be proposing a resolution to come before the special convention that this diocese begin withdrawing from all bodies of governance of TEC that have assented to actions contrary to Holy Scripture; the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this church has received them; the resolutions of Lambeth which have expressed the mind of the Communion; the Book of Common Prayer (p.422-423) and the Constitution & Canons of TEC (Canon 18:1.2.b) until such bodies show a willingness to repent of such actions. Let no one think this is a denial of the vows a priest or bishop makes to participate in the councils of governance. This is not a flight into isolation; nor is it an abandonment of duty, but the protest of conscience. It is recognition that the actions of GC’09 were in such blatant disregard and violation of Holy Scripture, the bonds of affection, and our own Constitution & Canons that one is led by reasoned conviction to undertake an intrepid resistance to the tyranny of the majority over judicious authority; therein erring both in Faith and Order. (My emphasis)
Meanwhile in the Diocese of Albany, according to the Times Union:
A grass-roots Episcopal group wants to question Bishop William Love on whether he intends to lead the Albany diocese out of the Episcopal Church.
Albany Via Media, a group of moderate to liberal Episcopalians, is lining up parishioners to attend Love's seven meetings around the diocese in September and October.
"We are trying to have members asking the question at every meeting,'' said Clair Touby of Saranac Lake, president of Albany Via Media.
....
Dennis Wisnom of Schenectady, an Albany Via Media board member, said Love would talk at the meetings about the opening of the clergy and the development of blessing for same sex unions. The Albany Episcopal Diocese's rules do not allow same sex marriages or blessings of same sex unions.
Wisnom said Albany Via Media doesn't want the diocese to leave the Episcopal Church as four other dioceses around the country have done.
....
Love and spokesman for the Albany Episcopal Diocese could not be reached for comment about the meeting with the archbishop or those scheduled in the diocese.
....
Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina was among the bishops with Love who attended the meeting in London. Lawrence is scheduled to appear at a Sept. 21-23 clergy retreat for the Albany Episcopal Diocese.
What's going on? To paraphrase Fox News, "I report, you decide."
And down in the Diocese of Louisiana, we are preparing for the election of a bishop. My prayer is that we elect a bishop who is loyal to the Episcopal Church. Although Bishop Charles Jenkins had differences with the leadership of TEC, he had his feet firmly planted in the Episcopal Church. I hope to be able to say the same of our next bishop.
H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead and to MadPriest at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong for the link to the Times Union.
Labor Day 2009
For those who work, have a good holiday.
For those who work, but must work the holiday, have a good work day.
For those who want to work, but have no jobs, may you find work soon.
For those who worked all their lives, but are now retired, have a good day.
For the kids, have fun.
Collect For Labor Day
Almighty God, who hast so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
For those who work, but must work the holiday, have a good work day.
For those who want to work, but have no jobs, may you find work soon.
For those who worked all their lives, but are now retired, have a good day.
For the kids, have fun.
For the Unemployed
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Collect For Labor Day
Almighty God, who hast so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
"There Is Good News Tonight!"
Evening Everyone,
There is good news tonight! Myron has been moved!!! He currently resides in a transitional unit for ventilator patients. The down side of this move is he is back to requiring assistance from the ventilator. This is because his respiratory rate is not stable. We must remember, however he has had all his ribs broken, both lungs punctured, pneumonia, and his body was tossed around how many times? That isn't known.
This is a unit that works with patients who are on ventilators and need to come off of them. I'm sure before he can get to Bryn Mar Rehab., he'll need to be off the ventilator permanently.
He is responding better and can mouth words, and make better eye contact. He registers displeasure to being suctioned out, because he can't do major coughing. There is still little if any movement from the left side.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers,
Sue
Thanks for keeping us informed, Sue. Myron is the man of iron. Prayers continue.
There is good news tonight! Myron has been moved!!! He currently resides in a transitional unit for ventilator patients. The down side of this move is he is back to requiring assistance from the ventilator. This is because his respiratory rate is not stable. We must remember, however he has had all his ribs broken, both lungs punctured, pneumonia, and his body was tossed around how many times? That isn't known.
This is a unit that works with patients who are on ventilators and need to come off of them. I'm sure before he can get to Bryn Mar Rehab., he'll need to be off the ventilator permanently.
He is responding better and can mouth words, and make better eye contact. He registers displeasure to being suctioned out, because he can't do major coughing. There is still little if any movement from the left side.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers,
Sue
Thanks for keeping us informed, Sue. Myron is the man of iron. Prayers continue.
Bill Moyers - "Mr. President, We Need A Fighter"
Bill Moyers gives us the truth instead of truthiness on health care reform.
Here's a suggestion, Mr. President: ask Josh Marshall to draft your speech. Josh is the founder of the website talkingpointsmemo.com. He's a journalist and historian, not a politician. He doesn't split things down the middle and call it a victory for the masses. He's offered the simplest and most accurate description yet of a public insurance plan; one that essentially asks people: would you like the option — the voluntary option — of buying into Medicare before you're 65? Check it out, Mr. President.
This health care thing is make or break for your leadership, but for us, it's life and death. No more Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. President. We need a fighter. "
Watch it if you haven't seen it. It's a little over 5 minutes. You can do it. Or read the entire text of Moyers' special comment to President Obama.
Today many of us will write to the president about health care reform. Remember President Obama gives his big speech on Wednesday. Here is the link to send a letter by email, or you can sign one of the many petitions circulating on the internet. Sorry to be late in posting.
H/T to Jane R. at Acts of Hope. Jane said, "Do it!" so I had to do it.
UPDATE: I'm angry now. Not that it does any good. Why must we beg for decent health care reform from a Democratic president?
The Gret Stet Of Loosiana
From JohnByronKuhner:
In writing there are only two things, matter and treatment. In Abbott Joseph Liebling’s The Earl of Louisiana we have matter so interesting that it still holds the attention fifty years later in itself, and treatment so virtuosic one is tempted to proclaim Liebling a literary figure rather than a journalist.
As far as matter goes, all you really need to know is that this book is about Louisiana. Louisiana attracts nonfiction the way rotting trees attract fungus. A visit or two to Louisiana easily takes the place of what is today called imagination. Finding something interesting in Louisiana is like shooting a hanging possum with a shotgun. All you need to do is get close enough to see it.
Yes, indeed! I don't know how I stumbled upon JBK's blog, but I enjoyed reading his review and the quotes from Liebling's wonderful book. Here's a quote from the book on how Uncle
“Earl is like Huey on Negroes,” Tom said. “When the new Charity Hospital was built here, some Negro politicians came to Huey and said it was a shame there were no Negro nurses, when more than half the patients were colored. Huey said he’d fix it for them, but they wouldn’t like his method. He went around to visit the hospital and pretended to be surprised when he found white nurses waiting on colored men. He blew high as a buzzard can fly, saying it wasn’t fit for white women to be so humiliated. It was the most racist talk you ever heard, but the result was he got the white nurses out and the colored nurses in, and they’ve had the jobs ever since.”
Huey Long got the job done. If you want to understand politics in Louisiana, Liebling's book is a good place to start. Our present governor, Bobby Jindal, seems an anomaly, but in the long run, he may fit the pattern of Louisiana politics in a way that I can't see right now. Bobby is unusual in that he lacks both a sense of humor and a sense of irony. The only laughs I've had from him are when he's dead serious, making statements worthy of ridicule.
Every Once In A While...
...in life...you run into a genius with a talent!!
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon
THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate
THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I'm married.
2. No, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. No thanks, I'm not hungry.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I'm not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool!
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road.
10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.
Your pre-Labor Day holiday humor from Doug.
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon
THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate
THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I'm married.
2. No, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. No thanks, I'm not hungry.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I'm not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool!
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road.
10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.
Your pre-Labor Day holiday humor from Doug.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Two Calls For Prayers
From my brother-in-law:
Got a special request: Yesterday about 11:15 am , I left the office at the PD for a doctor's appointment. My co-worker, an officer 45 years old with 23 years on the department left at the same time for a meeting at headquarters. He was almost there (it was raining) when an elderly man darted out in front of his car. He was thrown about 50 feet and killed instantly. My co-worker is taking it extremely hard - cried most of the day. He is probably the most soft hearted police officer I have ever met - and is taking it very hard. A few prayers would be appreciated for him and the victim. Thanks.
Frank
From Caminante:
Very hard news from El Salvador
Monday at 12.30 in the middle of the day, in the middle of a medical campaign at the Church of Sta Maria Virgen in San Bartolo, a suburb (barrio) of San Salvador, gang members came into the newly consecrated church building and assassinated a devoted and faithful young member, Alejandro. A woman patient was also injured. Motives behind the slaying remain unknown, but the entire church community has been greatly affected by this tragedy, especially for the fact that it took place in the church. A group of visitors from the United States, participating in the campaign, were witnesses to the murder.
Bishop Martín Barahona, Bishop of El Salvador and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America (IARCA), writes: 'Let us come together in prayer to ask God that there be no more violence in our country and we can refind the values that we have lost, especially the value of life.
'All your solidarity and prayers are welcome, not only for this moment but for our poor and humble people who suffer the strikes of this pandemic.
'My most sincere thanks and may God have compassion on us.'
Bishop Barahona is one of my heroes. I have his quote on my sidebar.
Lord, have mercy.
Got a special request: Yesterday about 11:15 am , I left the office at the PD for a doctor's appointment. My co-worker, an officer 45 years old with 23 years on the department left at the same time for a meeting at headquarters. He was almost there (it was raining) when an elderly man darted out in front of his car. He was thrown about 50 feet and killed instantly. My co-worker is taking it extremely hard - cried most of the day. He is probably the most soft hearted police officer I have ever met - and is taking it very hard. A few prayers would be appreciated for him and the victim. Thanks.
Frank
From Caminante:
Very hard news from El Salvador
Monday at 12.30 in the middle of the day, in the middle of a medical campaign at the Church of Sta Maria Virgen in San Bartolo, a suburb (barrio) of San Salvador, gang members came into the newly consecrated church building and assassinated a devoted and faithful young member, Alejandro. A woman patient was also injured. Motives behind the slaying remain unknown, but the entire church community has been greatly affected by this tragedy, especially for the fact that it took place in the church. A group of visitors from the United States, participating in the campaign, were witnesses to the murder.
Bishop Martín Barahona, Bishop of El Salvador and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America (IARCA), writes: 'Let us come together in prayer to ask God that there be no more violence in our country and we can refind the values that we have lost, especially the value of life.
'All your solidarity and prayers are welcome, not only for this moment but for our poor and humble people who suffer the strikes of this pandemic.
'My most sincere thanks and may God have compassion on us.'
Bishop Barahona is one of my heroes. I have his quote on my sidebar.
Lord, have mercy.
Please Join Me...
...in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.
Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.
Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was considered a very smart cookie, but wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.
Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.
The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.
If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.
Israeli box.
All right, Doug. I passed it on. Enjoy.
Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.
Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was considered a very smart cookie, but wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.
Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.
The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.
If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.
Israeli box.
All right, Doug. I passed it on. Enjoy.
Update On Myron
Hello Everyone,
Myron's activity has slowed down a bit and so has my reporting those events to you. On Thursday he spent most of the day resting after spending a short time in the recliner. there is some difficulty in weaning him from the ventilator, but he opens his eyes and can move his right hand.
He still had fever at this point and the nurses tell the family that his pneumonia has not resolved and now he has a bad sinus infection.
On Friday he was still ventilator dependent, but he was up in the recliner for a couple of hours, then back to the bed. He was fitted with a boot for the left foot to help prevent foot drop. He was visited by the social worker on Friday and Maryann was told Bryn Mawr Rehab would be in on Tuesday to evaluate Myron for the brain injury program.
I hope you all have a good weekend and a safe Holiday. Remember if you ride a bicycle wear your helmet!
Sue
Myron's activity has slowed down a bit and so has my reporting those events to you. On Thursday he spent most of the day resting after spending a short time in the recliner. there is some difficulty in weaning him from the ventilator, but he opens his eyes and can move his right hand.
He still had fever at this point and the nurses tell the family that his pneumonia has not resolved and now he has a bad sinus infection.
On Friday he was still ventilator dependent, but he was up in the recliner for a couple of hours, then back to the bed. He was fitted with a boot for the left foot to help prevent foot drop. He was visited by the social worker on Friday and Maryann was told Bryn Mawr Rehab would be in on Tuesday to evaluate Myron for the brain injury program.
I hope you all have a good weekend and a safe Holiday. Remember if you ride a bicycle wear your helmet!
Sue
“Who Can Adopt This Covenant?”
From the Anglican Communion Institute:
The Anglican Covenant: Shared Discernment Recognized By All
Written by: The Anglican Communion Institute, Inc.
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
The Reverend Canon Professor Christopher Seitz
The Reverend Dr. Philip Turner
The Reverend Dr. Ephraim Radner
Mark McCall, Esq.
The Rt. Reverend Dr. N. T. Wright
Bishop of Durham
The approved text of the Anglican Covenant is already serving as a lens through which individual Anglican churches are inevitably and accurately being measured in terms of their character as “Communion churches.” Thus, in ways not yet properly noted by all, the text endorsed by the Anglican Consultative Council, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Joint Standing Committee in May 2009 has already raised and to a large extent provisionally answered the question “who can adopt this Covenant?” It is the purpose of this paper to explain why and how this is so, and to do this in relation particularly to The Episcopal Church, although it should be noted that the Covenant’s defining substance can be applied analogously to other Anglican churches as well.
The substantive sections of the Anglican Covenant, Sections 1-3, are now in final form. They will be sent to the churches of the Communion for adoption within a few months. A fourth section containing procedural provisions will be added to the other three at that time, but it remains subject to further review and “possible revision.” Section 4, however, either as it now stands or as revised, will not change the fundamental substantive commitments given by the covenanting churches. The scope of the fourth section is purely procedural.
This cuts directly against the claim of some “progressive” elements that it would be perfectly possible for The Episcopal Church, as it stands and even with the recent General Convention decisions in mind, to sign the first three sections. Following the recent reflections by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the actions of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, some in the Communion are urging TEC to sign the Anglican Covenant even while continuing to reject the teaching of the communion on same sex ordinations and blessings and the moratoria that now have been affirmed by all four Instruments of Communion:
....
CONCLUSION
An Anglican church cannot simultaneously commit itself through the Anglican Covenant to shared discernment and reject that discernment; to interdependence and then act independently; to accountability and remain determined to be unaccountable. If the battle over homosexuality in The Episcopal Church is truly over, then so is the battle over the Anglican Covenant in The Episcopal Church, at least provisionally. As Christians, we live in hope that The Episcopal Church will at some future General Convention reverse the course to which it has committed itself, but we acknowledge the decisions that already have been taken. These decisions and actions run counter to the shared discernment of the Communion and the recommendations of the Instruments of Communion implementing this discernment. They are, therefore, also incompatible with the express substance, meaning, and committed direction of the first three Sections of the proposed Anglican Covenant. As a consequence, only a formal overturning by The Episcopal Church of these decisions and actions could place the church in a position capable of truly assuming the Covenant’s already articulated commitments. Until such time, The Episcopal Church has rejected the Covenant commitments openly and concretely, and her members and other Anglican churches within the Communion must take this into account. This conclusion is reached not on the basis of animus or prejudice, but on a straightforward and careful reading of the Covenant’s language and its meaning within the history of the Anglican Communion’s well-articulated life.
I've included quotes only from the beginning of the document and the conclusion. I did not read the statement in its entirety. I tried, but I did not finish. It is long. I read enough know that those who wrote the document seem to believe that the Episcopal Church cannot sign on to the covenant, even should it choose to do so, unless GC12 reverses resolutions B025 and D056. The conclusion states as much.
The group's strategy is to create "facts on the ground". (Thanks Doxy!) Say something is true, and it will, in fact, come to be true. That this flies in the face of logic did not prevent the transformation of the Windsor Report into the Windsor Law. The Archbishop of Canterbury seemed to buy into the strategy for the Windsor Report, so will he follow suit and come to the same conclusion as the writers of this document? Has he already done so in his talk of a two-track solution? Has he already consigned the Episcopal Church to the out-of-the-covenant track?
UPDATE: Meanwhile, across the pond, Pluralist is busy.
The Anglican Covenant: Shared Discernment Recognized By All
Written by: The Anglican Communion Institute, Inc.
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
The Reverend Canon Professor Christopher Seitz
The Reverend Dr. Philip Turner
The Reverend Dr. Ephraim Radner
Mark McCall, Esq.
The Rt. Reverend Dr. N. T. Wright
Bishop of Durham
The approved text of the Anglican Covenant is already serving as a lens through which individual Anglican churches are inevitably and accurately being measured in terms of their character as “Communion churches.” Thus, in ways not yet properly noted by all, the text endorsed by the Anglican Consultative Council, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Joint Standing Committee in May 2009 has already raised and to a large extent provisionally answered the question “who can adopt this Covenant?” It is the purpose of this paper to explain why and how this is so, and to do this in relation particularly to The Episcopal Church, although it should be noted that the Covenant’s defining substance can be applied analogously to other Anglican churches as well.
The substantive sections of the Anglican Covenant, Sections 1-3, are now in final form. They will be sent to the churches of the Communion for adoption within a few months. A fourth section containing procedural provisions will be added to the other three at that time, but it remains subject to further review and “possible revision.” Section 4, however, either as it now stands or as revised, will not change the fundamental substantive commitments given by the covenanting churches. The scope of the fourth section is purely procedural.
This cuts directly against the claim of some “progressive” elements that it would be perfectly possible for The Episcopal Church, as it stands and even with the recent General Convention decisions in mind, to sign the first three sections. Following the recent reflections by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the actions of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, some in the Communion are urging TEC to sign the Anglican Covenant even while continuing to reject the teaching of the communion on same sex ordinations and blessings and the moratoria that now have been affirmed by all four Instruments of Communion:
....
CONCLUSION
An Anglican church cannot simultaneously commit itself through the Anglican Covenant to shared discernment and reject that discernment; to interdependence and then act independently; to accountability and remain determined to be unaccountable. If the battle over homosexuality in The Episcopal Church is truly over, then so is the battle over the Anglican Covenant in The Episcopal Church, at least provisionally. As Christians, we live in hope that The Episcopal Church will at some future General Convention reverse the course to which it has committed itself, but we acknowledge the decisions that already have been taken. These decisions and actions run counter to the shared discernment of the Communion and the recommendations of the Instruments of Communion implementing this discernment. They are, therefore, also incompatible with the express substance, meaning, and committed direction of the first three Sections of the proposed Anglican Covenant. As a consequence, only a formal overturning by The Episcopal Church of these decisions and actions could place the church in a position capable of truly assuming the Covenant’s already articulated commitments. Until such time, The Episcopal Church has rejected the Covenant commitments openly and concretely, and her members and other Anglican churches within the Communion must take this into account. This conclusion is reached not on the basis of animus or prejudice, but on a straightforward and careful reading of the Covenant’s language and its meaning within the history of the Anglican Communion’s well-articulated life.
I've included quotes only from the beginning of the document and the conclusion. I did not read the statement in its entirety. I tried, but I did not finish. It is long. I read enough know that those who wrote the document seem to believe that the Episcopal Church cannot sign on to the covenant, even should it choose to do so, unless GC12 reverses resolutions B025 and D056. The conclusion states as much.
The group's strategy is to create "facts on the ground". (Thanks Doxy!) Say something is true, and it will, in fact, come to be true. That this flies in the face of logic did not prevent the transformation of the Windsor Report into the Windsor Law. The Archbishop of Canterbury seemed to buy into the strategy for the Windsor Report, so will he follow suit and come to the same conclusion as the writers of this document? Has he already done so in his talk of a two-track solution? Has he already consigned the Episcopal Church to the out-of-the-covenant track?
UPDATE: Meanwhile, across the pond, Pluralist is busy.
Gay Pride March In Manchester UK
Have a look at the wonderful post and pictures on the Gay Pride March in Manchester at The Changing Attitude Blog.
Of course, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were there.
See them all at CA.
Thanks to Lapin for the link.
Friday, September 4, 2009
"We Are Echos Of Each Other...."
From Elizabeth Kaeton at Telling Secrets:
This has been a wonderful summer, filled with visits from good friends, good conversations, and GREAT food.
A bitter sweet note has been the visit with my brother. I am so deeply grateful to have had this time with him and to sort through some stuff that had been cluttering the corners of my heart and mind and soul.
I'm no where near done, but I've made a good start. I'm deeply grateful for that.
I did get a note from my sister-in-law this morning. She took my brother to the Eye Doctor yesterday where it was learned that half the vision in both eyes is gone. It seems the plaque that attaches itself to the brain has gotten to the optic nerve and occluded half of it to both eyes.
That's the Bad News. The Awful News is that it will progress.
The Really Bad News is that this sort of wild-fire progression of Alzheimer's is signature of its manifestation in its younger victims.
I will call him Sunday night, as has become our routine, to see how he's feeling about all of this. When we talked when he was here, I saw on his face and in his eyes, and heard in his voice a combination of being overwhelmed mixed in with a bit of disbelief, confusion and amazement, all while attempting to resign himself to his situation with some manner of good cheer and dignity.
"Hey," he would say every so often, "What else am I going to do, right?"
Oh, I don't know. I can think of a few other options that would at least cross my mind as distinct possibilities.
I covet and cherish your prayers for my brother. Go ahead. Put that request on your prayer lists. I haven't wanted to be a bother but now I'm thinking it's time to 'storm heaven' on his behalf.
John. His name is John. He's 56 years old - just turned in July.
Pray for a miracle - without condition or specifics. I don't know what God has in mind in all of this, but I do know that when things get this bad this fast there's usually a miracle just around the corner which often doesn't have as much, if anything, to do with a 'cure' or 'healing' of that which gave rise to the prayer in the first place.
It's about "something else" that needs curing or healing, by which the party of the first part finds hope and strength and solace, through which the parties of the second, third and fourth parts play a significant role - which changes and transforms everyone and everything.
I know that sounds confusing, but I'm actually crystal clear in my head and heart.
I don't know how any of this works. I only know that it does.
So, in these last days of summer, I have been given the unexpected blessing of some stamina and courage to walk into the dyings of Autumn and through the harsh, cold realities of Winter, knowing that the new life of Spring is really only just around the corner and Summer will return again.
I entered this poem in my journal early this morning, after prayer. I think it sums up my state of mind in this:
Echos of Summer
Summer boldly infringes on a day
the calendar claims for Autumn
The sun rises hot in the Eastern sky
a cool wind blows in from the North
Mortals cling to flip flops and bathing suits
the cosmos revolts against the status quo
does not stand still
refuses to feed our fantasies
fuel our anxieties or
soothe our sadness
Two abandoned crab shells cup my ears
listening to the whispers of summer
My sisters' giggles
My brother's taunting
My mother's warning
My father's scolding
We are echos of each other
Very present and near and now
Whispering truths
Telling our tales, one day to the next
I close my eyes and listen
I open my heart to hear
These are not the last days
but days of beginning
All our days
all our livings
all our dyings -
- all miracles awaiting birth.
Listen to the echo
not the calendar
Put John on your prayer list. Pray for a miracle. Put his wife Mary and his sister Elizabeth on your prayer list. Put his children on your prayer list. There they all are in the photo above.
OREMUS.
Please express your sentiments and support at Telling Secrets.
Gov. Jindal, Pay Your own Way To Church - Pt. 2
Once again from the Advocate:
Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday defended his taxpayer-funded visits to churches and dismissed criticism from a national religious organization.
Jindal rejected suggestions by the Interfaith Alliance that he should reimburse the state and apologize for using a state helicopter to worship at Protestant churches in north Louisiana.
Interfaith Alliance, based in Washington, D.C., alleged that Jindal’s taxpayer-funded worship trips blurred the constitutional line separating church and state.
The governor said his trips are “absolutely appropriate.”
Aren't we all surprised that Jindal defends his actions? It seems that yesterday's article from the Advocate went viral in the regular media and on blogs on the internet, including mine. Rachel Maddow invited the president of Interfaith Alliance, the Rev. Welton Gaddy, to appear on her show. The video is here. (Thank you, Pseudopiskie.) Note that the Rev. Gaddy is from Monroe in the Gret Stet of Loosiana. He's a man after my own heart.
Back to the Advocate:
Between March 2 and July 20, Jindal traveled to churches, mostly in north Louisiana, on a state helicopter at a cost to the taxpayers of about $45,000, according to State Police records.
In May, June and July, there was rarely a Sunday when Jindal did not fly a taxpayer-funded helicopter to church services in a remote part of the state. Two aides usually accompanied him along with his security detail and pilots.
The Governor’s Office refuses to tell the media ahead of time about Jindal’s church visits.
The governor rarely pays attention to criticism outside his narrow circle of insider advisers, who rarely disagree with him.
Gov Jindal is a Roman Catholic. Does he never attend his own church on Sunday?
Seven Bishops To Meet With The Episcopal Institute
This announcement was posted by Tom Woodward to the House of Bishops/Deputies listserv on behalf of The Episcopal Institute, and as you can see below he has given permission for it to be published offlist, under the conditions he specifies. I wonder whether any of you might be interested in reposting it on your blogs.
I attach a clean plaintext copy.
Regards,
Paul (A.)
Does this count as a "press release" for offlist distribution purposes?
Possibly Jake and certainly MadPriest might be interested in promulgating.
Cordially,
Paul (A.)
Yes, this is a document you can use any way you wish. I will try to get it onto Rowan's desk early next week. I'm sure he will be regretting that he hadn't read this before agreeing to meet with the Dissenting 7. You can attribute it to The Episcopal Institute. Let me know who you send it to - the other members of TEI would like to see the responses.
Tom
Thank you, Paul (A.) for forwarding this very important announcement from TEI. I forgive you for not specifically mentioning my name to Tom Woodward, because you were kind enough to forward the press release anyway, after you left my name out.
I attach a clean plaintext copy.
Regards,
Paul (A.)
The Episcopal Institute has announced its plan to meet with seven moderately progressive bishops of the Episcopal Church to respond to the current meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and seven American bishops who have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the democratic process in the Episcopal Church.
The two sites under active consideration for the upcoming meeting are the recently dedicated Athanasius Room at the recently reclaimed Diocesan House in Fort Worth and the Starbucks located across the street from the Trinity School for Ministry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The agenda for the consultation is to consider several alternatives to the rumored Canterbury proposal of a "two-tiered" Anglican community. A spokesperson for the Episcopal Institute noted that "The problem here is three-fold. First, the notion of 'two tiers' is more appropriate to a football stadium than an international worshiping community. Second, if the concept of tiers is really accepted, it will not be long before we have between thirty-five and forty-seven different tiers given the nuances of the multiplicity of issues such as human sexuality, social justice, the authority of the laity, and differing styles of ecclesiastical vesture that are before the Church. Third, the notion of a multi-tiered Christian group has been tried before -- with women, racial minorities and others -- and has always proven inadequate to maintaining status quos."
A different and more subdued spokesperson for TEI revealed that two different orderings of the Anglican Communion will be proposed at the upcoming meetings. The first is to divide the Anglican Communion into three different groups: PLATINUM, GOLD and BRONZE. PLATINUM membership would be for those who agree with The Episcopal Institute's goals, including the full inclusion of all Baptized members in all ministries of the church. GOLD members would include those who embrace most of TEI's goals while respecting their differences with TEI as part of Anglican Comprehensiveness. BRONZE membership will be reserved for those who insist on a single interpretation (their own) of key parts of the Bible and who regard all Tradition as Absolutely Binding, except the parts they don't like. There will also be an additional SILVER category for the lay people throughout the Communion who wonder what the problem is when the core doctrine of the historic creeds is not at issue. SILVER members will possess all the rights, responsibilities and regard as Gold or Platinum members.
The second proposed ordering of the Anglican Communion, favored by older members of the Institute, is the radical notion of Comprehensiveness, with differing provinces respecting the differing experience of other provinces while considering the unity of the Communion inhering in a common belief in Jesus Christ and the decision to share with one another in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
The Episcopal Institute has requested that attending bishops be accompanied by several clergy and lay people from their dioceses in recognition of the importance of the full ministry of the Episcopal Church and the uncommon wisdom of the laity.
Does this count as a "press release" for offlist distribution purposes?
Possibly Jake and certainly MadPriest might be interested in promulgating.
Cordially,
Paul (A.)
Yes, this is a document you can use any way you wish. I will try to get it onto Rowan's desk early next week. I'm sure he will be regretting that he hadn't read this before agreeing to meet with the Dissenting 7. You can attribute it to The Episcopal Institute. Let me know who you send it to - the other members of TEI would like to see the responses.
Tom
Thank you, Paul (A.) for forwarding this very important announcement from TEI. I forgive you for not specifically mentioning my name to Tom Woodward, because you were kind enough to forward the press release anyway, after you left my name out.
"What am I doing here?"
When I was in my 50s and folks asked me what I wanted to do in my retirement, I'd say that I want to travel, I want time to read books that I've been putting off for a long time. I'd say that I want to do exactly what I want to do, in other words to be thoroughly selfish. That's right. I'd been responsible my whole life, and I looked forward to a time for myself. In truth, throughout my adult life, I've wanted to run away from responsibility and be a FREE SPIRIT. I'm laughing as I type the words, because my adult life turned out to be so pedestrian and so unlike what I picture as the life of a free spirit.
Ever since our first child was born, I felt burdened with a huge responsibility. Within a few years, there I was with three little ones, me a bookish, absent-minded, dreamy type. My little ones were precious to me, more precious than my own life, but they were an awesome responsibility. I take responsibility far too seriously, and I suspect that's why I so often feel the tug to run away from it. I'd look at my babies and think, "How did this happen? How did I get here?" Of course, how I got there was my doing, my choice, but, nevertheless, I had the sense that I was plucked up and set down in someone else's life. "What am I doing here?"
Mothering was never easy for me. Following my inclination, I took the job too seriously, and, of course, I never measured up to the ideal in my head of what a mother should be. If only I had relaxed and enjoyed my children more. That is the major regret of my child-rearing years. It's not that we never had fun as a family, because we did, but I was too damned serious about motherhood and too messed up in my head with my picture of the ideal mother, who never turned out to be me.
Taking care of children would have been far down on the list of my "What I want to do in my retirement" story. I love all my grandchildren, and I enjoy spending time with them, but anything like major child care for them was not in the picture. And yet, here I am a part time mother again. And although it's not easy, I'm enjoying it far more than I would ever have dreamed. A sense of a late life calling is the best way that I can describe my commitment to the two children. That I care for them with such a good heart, I can only attribute to grace, God's free gift, to do that which he calls me to do. Don't misunderstand. I have my moments of impatience and short-temper, but I'm more forgiving of myself and of the children than I was in my younger days, which, in turn, makes me more relaxed and able to enjoy the good times. Thanks be to God.
God's grace amazes me more and more, the older I get. It's a life-changing free gift which keeps coming, the value of which I can appreciate only in part.
Of course, I still do a good bit of traveling, and I still read, but it's not so much the children who get in the way of more reading but the blog, which is another great surprise in my life, and which I enjoy immensely, but, at times, feels like another responsibility from which I sometimes want to run. Once again, I think, "What am I doing here? Surely this is someone else's life."
Ever since our first child was born, I felt burdened with a huge responsibility. Within a few years, there I was with three little ones, me a bookish, absent-minded, dreamy type. My little ones were precious to me, more precious than my own life, but they were an awesome responsibility. I take responsibility far too seriously, and I suspect that's why I so often feel the tug to run away from it. I'd look at my babies and think, "How did this happen? How did I get here?" Of course, how I got there was my doing, my choice, but, nevertheless, I had the sense that I was plucked up and set down in someone else's life. "What am I doing here?"
Mothering was never easy for me. Following my inclination, I took the job too seriously, and, of course, I never measured up to the ideal in my head of what a mother should be. If only I had relaxed and enjoyed my children more. That is the major regret of my child-rearing years. It's not that we never had fun as a family, because we did, but I was too damned serious about motherhood and too messed up in my head with my picture of the ideal mother, who never turned out to be me.
Taking care of children would have been far down on the list of my "What I want to do in my retirement" story. I love all my grandchildren, and I enjoy spending time with them, but anything like major child care for them was not in the picture. And yet, here I am a part time mother again. And although it's not easy, I'm enjoying it far more than I would ever have dreamed. A sense of a late life calling is the best way that I can describe my commitment to the two children. That I care for them with such a good heart, I can only attribute to grace, God's free gift, to do that which he calls me to do. Don't misunderstand. I have my moments of impatience and short-temper, but I'm more forgiving of myself and of the children than I was in my younger days, which, in turn, makes me more relaxed and able to enjoy the good times. Thanks be to God.
God's grace amazes me more and more, the older I get. It's a life-changing free gift which keeps coming, the value of which I can appreciate only in part.
Of course, I still do a good bit of traveling, and I still read, but it's not so much the children who get in the way of more reading but the blog, which is another great surprise in my life, and which I enjoy immensely, but, at times, feels like another responsibility from which I sometimes want to run. Once again, I think, "What am I doing here? Surely this is someone else's life."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Seven Bishops And Canterbury
From Episcopal Life:
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams held a private meeting September 2 with seven Episcopal Church bishops at Lambeth Palace, his London residence.
The bishops attending the meeting were Mark Lawrence of South Carolina, Gary Lillibridge of West Texas, Edward Little of Northern Indiana, Bill Love of Albany, Michael Smith of North Dakota, James Stanton of Dallas, and Bruce MacPherson of Western Louisiana.
A spokesperson in the Lambeth Palace press office confirmed that Williams had hosted the seven Episcopal bishops, but said that the meeting was private.
When asked for his reflections on the meeting, MacPherson told ENS that the bishops will have "something forthcoming soon."
We shall see. As St. Gilda Radner said, "It's always something".
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams held a private meeting September 2 with seven Episcopal Church bishops at Lambeth Palace, his London residence.
The bishops attending the meeting were Mark Lawrence of South Carolina, Gary Lillibridge of West Texas, Edward Little of Northern Indiana, Bill Love of Albany, Michael Smith of North Dakota, James Stanton of Dallas, and Bruce MacPherson of Western Louisiana.
A spokesperson in the Lambeth Palace press office confirmed that Williams had hosted the seven Episcopal bishops, but said that the meeting was private.
When asked for his reflections on the meeting, MacPherson told ENS that the bishops will have "something forthcoming soon."
We shall see. As St. Gilda Radner said, "It's always something".
Gov. Jindal, Pay Your own Way To Church
From the Advocate in Baton Rouge:
A national group that lobbies Congress on religious issues asked Gov. Bobby Jindal to apologize and reimburse taxpayers for the state-funded helicopter trips he takes on Sundays to visit churches.
The Rev. Welton Gaddy, who is the president of the national Interfaith Alliance, said Jindal is overstepping the line of separation between church and state.
“If you were traveling to these churches to worship with the various congregations, you should have paid your own expenses to get there as did the other worshippers,” Gaddy wrote to the governor in a Sept. 1 letter.
“It appears you owe the people of Louisiana an apology and the treasurer of the state a reimbursement of at least $45,000,” Gaddy wrote. “No taxpayer money should have been used for your travel.”
What the Rev. Gaddy says sounds about right to me. Here's a link to the text of the entire letter.
Gaddy also is pastor of Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe.
I am somewhat surprised that the president of the Interfaith Alliance pastors a church in north Louisiana. I checked out the church's website, and it is, indeed, quite an interesting community. From a sermon by the Rev. Gaddy:
As you may know or surmise, here at Northminster Church, generally the biblical texts that drive Sunday sermons are taken from scripture passages recommended by the Common Lectionary. Such a discipline ensures that a preacher deals with the whole sweep of biblical literature and does not just always gravitate to personal favorites among texts and themes.
From Northminster's church covenant:
The freedom of the individual, led by God's Spirit within the family of faith, to read and interpret the Scriptures, relying on the historical understanding by the church and on the best methods of modern biblical study.
....
The servant role of leadership within the church, following the model of our Servant Lord, and to full partnership of all of God's people in mission and ministry.
As you see, not all Baptists are cut from the same cloth. I lost my focus in the middle of the post, because I was caught up in exploring the church's website, where I found much to admire.
Back to the Advocate:
The Alliance, which Gaddy heads, touts itself as a celebrator of religious freedom and a counter to the “radical religious right.”
"...touts itself"? What does the writer, of the story, Ms Millhollon, imply by that phrase? She sounds a tad doubtful that the group is what it claims to be. What about that Ms Millhollon?
Anyway, I'm with the Rev. Gaddy. Jindal should pay his own way to church. That he schedules a meeting with local officials while he's in town, seems more like following the letter of the law rather than the spirit. One wonders how much of Jindal's helicoptering around the state is really campaigning, which seems a never-ending activity for the governor.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
My Friend (?) The Barred Owl
Remember the owl that I've talked about seeing on my walk? Tonight the bird swooped down and was flying head-on toward me. When the bird was three or four feet away from my face, I screamed, and the owl turned and flew up onto a tree branch. On the way back, I saw the owl fly low to the ground a few yards in front of me, apparently after prey. You can believe that I moved past quickly. I searched on the internet to see if the birds attacked humans, and apparently they do, but not deliberately, according to Canada.com. They see something on humans that looks like prey, like a pony tail swinging. "Anything dangly could draw an attack if the owl mistakes it for a smaller bird or a rodent." I didn't have anything dangly, but that owl was coming for me. The solution: wear a cap, which I will certainly do until the season is over. September is the time when most attacks occur.
UPDATE: Image from Wiki
Myron's Day On 9/1 - From Sue
Hello Everyone,
Myron had another busy day yesterday with chest x-rays and a CAT scan of his chest. His pneumonia still has not resolved and he continues with a productive cough.
He had his eyes open and was able t blink when asked, and was moving his right hand and arm and was able to squeeze ones hand.
He was fitted with his back brace, and to do that he had to get out of bed and sat in a recliner. He didn't seem to be any more alert in the recliner than in bed, but doing physical exercises like that are exhausting, so I'm not too surprised. His pain medication has been changed and when he yawned a couple of times Mary and Stephanie noticed that his front 2 teeth (which are caps from a childhood accident) were missing and a tooth was broken, so there will be dentistry in his future also.
There is some new progress made each day, and that is perfect.
I'll be in touch later on,
Sue
Sue, I'm pleased that you were able to visit Myron. Sue is still not able to visit. That's why she said "squeeze ones hand". It was not her hand.
Myron had another busy day yesterday with chest x-rays and a CAT scan of his chest. His pneumonia still has not resolved and he continues with a productive cough.
He had his eyes open and was able t blink when asked, and was moving his right hand and arm and was able to squeeze ones hand.
He was fitted with his back brace, and to do that he had to get out of bed and sat in a recliner. He didn't seem to be any more alert in the recliner than in bed, but doing physical exercises like that are exhausting, so I'm not too surprised. His pain medication has been changed and when he yawned a couple of times Mary and Stephanie noticed that his front 2 teeth (which are caps from a childhood accident) were missing and a tooth was broken, so there will be dentistry in his future also.
There is some new progress made each day, and that is perfect.
I'll be in touch later on,
Sue
Speaking Of Superior Wisdom....
"Seven diocesans meeting with Rowan Williams"
The headline is from a story in The Lead. At his blog, Fr. Dan Martins states that seven bishops of the Episcopal Church are presently meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The bishops are all members of the Communion Partners, and all signed the Anaheim Statement, which was read at GC09 of the Episcopal Church after the vote on C056 (on blessing faithful, same-sex unions), and which says in part:
* We reaffirm our constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, our communion with the See of Canterbury and our commitment to preserving these relationships.
* We reaffirm our commitment to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them (BCP 526, 538)
* We reaffirm our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the instruments of Communion.
* We reaffirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed.
Archbishop Williams, in his reflection on GC09, states the following about his two-track system idea for those provinces who sign the Covenant and those who do not:
25. It is my strong hope that all the provinces will respond favourably to the invitation to Covenant. But in the current context, the question is becoming more sharply defined of whether, if a province declines such an invitation, any elements within it will be free (granted the explicit provision that the Covenant does not purport to alter the Constitution or internal polity of any province) to adopt the Covenant as a sign of their wish to act in a certain level of mutuality with other parts of the Communion. It is important that there should be a clear answer to this question.
In my humble opinion, the ABC opened up a huge can of worms with the statement, not just for the Episcopal Church, but for other provinces in the Anglican Communion, including his own Church of England.
What promises, encouraging words, etc., etc., etc. will the seven bishops take away from their meeting with the ABC? I have no idea. I said in a similar vein in my previous post on President Obama and health care reform, perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury is operating on superior wisdom that's not obvious to me.
UPDATE: Too good to be hidden in the comments:
Lapinbizarre said...
Could it be that one of these days he'll balance his continuing meddling in the internal matters of TEC and, as an example, look into the extent of Nigerian Anglican complicity in the Yelwa massacre. While obviously this does not compare with the abomination of homosexuality - and slaughtering ones enemies is unquestionably Biblical - maybe, as a "communion" thing, it merits a little attention. Have no doubt that Akinola and his lackeys would welcome the inquiry with open arms and cooperate to the fullest.
UPDATE 2: According to Fr. Martin in the comments to his post, the seven bishops are Little, Lawrence, McPherson, Stanton, Lillibridge, Smith (N.D.), and Love.
The headline is from a story in The Lead. At his blog, Fr. Dan Martins states that seven bishops of the Episcopal Church are presently meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The bishops are all members of the Communion Partners, and all signed the Anaheim Statement, which was read at GC09 of the Episcopal Church after the vote on C056 (on blessing faithful, same-sex unions), and which says in part:
* We reaffirm our constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, our communion with the See of Canterbury and our commitment to preserving these relationships.
* We reaffirm our commitment to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them (BCP 526, 538)
* We reaffirm our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the instruments of Communion.
* We reaffirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed.
Archbishop Williams, in his reflection on GC09, states the following about his two-track system idea for those provinces who sign the Covenant and those who do not:
25. It is my strong hope that all the provinces will respond favourably to the invitation to Covenant. But in the current context, the question is becoming more sharply defined of whether, if a province declines such an invitation, any elements within it will be free (granted the explicit provision that the Covenant does not purport to alter the Constitution or internal polity of any province) to adopt the Covenant as a sign of their wish to act in a certain level of mutuality with other parts of the Communion. It is important that there should be a clear answer to this question.
In my humble opinion, the ABC opened up a huge can of worms with the statement, not just for the Episcopal Church, but for other provinces in the Anglican Communion, including his own Church of England.
What promises, encouraging words, etc., etc., etc. will the seven bishops take away from their meeting with the ABC? I have no idea. I said in a similar vein in my previous post on President Obama and health care reform, perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury is operating on superior wisdom that's not obvious to me.
UPDATE: Too good to be hidden in the comments:
Lapinbizarre said...
Could it be that one of these days he'll balance his continuing meddling in the internal matters of TEC and, as an example, look into the extent of Nigerian Anglican complicity in the Yelwa massacre. While obviously this does not compare with the abomination of homosexuality - and slaughtering ones enemies is unquestionably Biblical - maybe, as a "communion" thing, it merits a little attention. Have no doubt that Akinola and his lackeys would welcome the inquiry with open arms and cooperate to the fullest.
UPDATE 2: According to Fr. Martin in the comments to his post, the seven bishops are Little, Lawrence, McPherson, Stanton, Lillibridge, Smith (N.D.), and Love.
Obama Will Speak On Health Care Reform
From TPM:
President Barack Obama plans to tell the country, in more precise terms, what it is he wants to see in a health care reform bill. According to White House adviser David Axelrod, Obama will not put anything new on the table, but will be more specific about his key goals.
That means that Obama will, again, not be insisting on a public option--a development (or a non-development) that's sure to give his progressive base some heartburn.
According to the Associated Press, Obama may give a speech in the next week or two as part of an effort to regain control of the health care reform debate, after losing it during a month of grueling politics.
It's about time. It's past time. But perhaps President Obama is operating on superior wisdom that's not obvious to me. The bully pulpit, Mr. President! You stand at the bully pulpit.
The link within the story, which I included, goes to Politico, which a good many folks say is a right-leaning source, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I think it's probably correct that Obama will not insist on the public option. And that will give Mary Landrieu and her Blue Dog companions great cover.
The crunch may still come if the more progressive members of Congress refuse to yield ground and a bill which includes the public option comes to a vote. If, by some miracle, such a bill makes its way through the Congress to the president's desk, he will surely sign it into law.
However, I'm losing hope that a bill with a "robust" public option will make it through Congress. I'm pleased to see that Democrats, for the most part, have given up on the idea of a bi-partisan bill. The Republicans don't want to play. They want to stop, delay, or do anything to keep any sort of health care reform from happening now, in the hope that it will never happen.
When Obama takes to the bully pulpit, I'd suggest that he use story after story of real people who suffer from the present chaotic system that we call health care, which, for too many, means no care until it's too late. The stories, Mr. President! Bring to the fore the tragic stories of real people who are denied health care.
President Barack Obama plans to tell the country, in more precise terms, what it is he wants to see in a health care reform bill. According to White House adviser David Axelrod, Obama will not put anything new on the table, but will be more specific about his key goals.
That means that Obama will, again, not be insisting on a public option--a development (or a non-development) that's sure to give his progressive base some heartburn.
According to the Associated Press, Obama may give a speech in the next week or two as part of an effort to regain control of the health care reform debate, after losing it during a month of grueling politics.
It's about time. It's past time. But perhaps President Obama is operating on superior wisdom that's not obvious to me. The bully pulpit, Mr. President! You stand at the bully pulpit.
The link within the story, which I included, goes to Politico, which a good many folks say is a right-leaning source, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I think it's probably correct that Obama will not insist on the public option. And that will give Mary Landrieu and her Blue Dog companions great cover.
The crunch may still come if the more progressive members of Congress refuse to yield ground and a bill which includes the public option comes to a vote. If, by some miracle, such a bill makes its way through the Congress to the president's desk, he will surely sign it into law.
However, I'm losing hope that a bill with a "robust" public option will make it through Congress. I'm pleased to see that Democrats, for the most part, have given up on the idea of a bi-partisan bill. The Republicans don't want to play. They want to stop, delay, or do anything to keep any sort of health care reform from happening now, in the hope that it will never happen.
When Obama takes to the bully pulpit, I'd suggest that he use story after story of real people who suffer from the present chaotic system that we call health care, which, for too many, means no care until it's too late. The stories, Mr. President! Bring to the fore the tragic stories of real people who are denied health care.
Story Of The Day
I say go ahead and build stuff anywhere
you want. If I want nature, I'll watch
Discovery Channel.
From Storypeople.
you want. If I want nature, I'll watch
Discovery Channel.
From Storypeople.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Waxing gibbous moon
The words themselves a poem
Turning full moon soon
Grandmère Mimi - 2005
This is what I saw when I walked tonight.
A Word From Richard Rohr
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). Wow! If Jesus said this, he was surely not expecting the religion of niceness, of pretty words and feel-good experiences that we have become. He knew that Big Truth always divides before it can unite a few at a deeper level. I think most of the thousands of sermons I've heard in my life have been about “being nice” in one way or another. That's how domesticated the gospel has become--as if Jesus were a Divine Miss Manners, and the Church existed to maintain proper social order and class. Yet many are entirely content at the level, and Church has not usually been a passionate search for God. The word nice isn't found anywhere in the Bible, to my knowledge.
There's nothing more dangerous to true religious thinking than conventional thinking, easy conformity, being like everybody else in our social group. There's no depth or power at that level. Mass consciousness is never going to be ready for anything that asks them to “die” or that does not make them feel secure and superior. So we have settled largely for civil religion and cultural Christianity. It's so much more comforting to be nice and “moral” at a small level--than to be faithful to Big Truth—which cuts us all open like a sword.
Adapted from Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
From Center For Action and Contemplation.
There's nothing more dangerous to true religious thinking than conventional thinking, easy conformity, being like everybody else in our social group. There's no depth or power at that level. Mass consciousness is never going to be ready for anything that asks them to “die” or that does not make them feel secure and superior. So we have settled largely for civil religion and cultural Christianity. It's so much more comforting to be nice and “moral” at a small level--than to be faithful to Big Truth—which cuts us all open like a sword.
Adapted from Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
From Center For Action and Contemplation.
How Congressional Legislation Happens
From TPM:
As Senate leaders begin work on a Democrat-only health care bill, they're finding themselves confronted with an unexpected irony: Though the caucus has reached an uneasy consensus around a public option that's modeled in many ways after a private insurer, it may be necessary to make the public option more liberal, and thus, more politically radioactive, if it's to overcome a number of unique procedural hurdles.
This is the needle Democrats may have to thread if they want a public option, and at the same time, want to bypass a Republican filibuster. And the key for them will be keeping conservative Democrats on board.
"A very robust public option that scores significant savings would presumably be easy to justify doing through reconciliation," says a Senate Democratic aide. "But it is still being studied whether other, more moderate versions of a public option could pass parliamentary muster."
According to Martin Paone, a legislative expert who's helping Democrats map out legislative strategy, a more robust public option--one that sets low prices, and provides cheap, subsidized insurance to low- and middle-class consumers--would have an easier time surviving the procedural demands of the so-called reconciliation process. However, he cautions that the cost of subsidies "will have to be offset and if [the health care plan] loses money beyond 2014...it will have to be sunsetted."
And there the irony continues: Some experts, including on Capitol Hill, believe that a more robust public option will generate crucial savings needed to keep health care reform in the black--and thus prevent it from expiring. But though that may solve the procedural problems, conservative Democrats have balked at the idea creating such a momentous government program, and if they defected in great numbers, they could imperil the entire reform package.
Let's see if I have this straight. If Democrats choose the more robust public option, they are more likely to be able to overcome the procedural hurdles and pass the bill on 51 votes without the threat of filibuster by the Republicans. The bill would also save money and perhaps pay for itself.
But the conservative Democrats may not stay on board, because they don't like the idea of a "momentous government program"? On what grounds? Read on. Because the Republicans in their pushback say that the public option would have to be "very aggressive in setting rates, price controls and rationing,". Ah, those are scary words to conservative Democrats.
On the other hand, those with no health insurance know rationing quite well.
So. As the author of the article, Brian Beutler says:
The path of least political resistance is beset by procedural obstacles; and the path of least procedural resistance is beset by political ones.
Got that everyone?
As Senate leaders begin work on a Democrat-only health care bill, they're finding themselves confronted with an unexpected irony: Though the caucus has reached an uneasy consensus around a public option that's modeled in many ways after a private insurer, it may be necessary to make the public option more liberal, and thus, more politically radioactive, if it's to overcome a number of unique procedural hurdles.
This is the needle Democrats may have to thread if they want a public option, and at the same time, want to bypass a Republican filibuster. And the key for them will be keeping conservative Democrats on board.
"A very robust public option that scores significant savings would presumably be easy to justify doing through reconciliation," says a Senate Democratic aide. "But it is still being studied whether other, more moderate versions of a public option could pass parliamentary muster."
According to Martin Paone, a legislative expert who's helping Democrats map out legislative strategy, a more robust public option--one that sets low prices, and provides cheap, subsidized insurance to low- and middle-class consumers--would have an easier time surviving the procedural demands of the so-called reconciliation process. However, he cautions that the cost of subsidies "will have to be offset and if [the health care plan] loses money beyond 2014...it will have to be sunsetted."
And there the irony continues: Some experts, including on Capitol Hill, believe that a more robust public option will generate crucial savings needed to keep health care reform in the black--and thus prevent it from expiring. But though that may solve the procedural problems, conservative Democrats have balked at the idea creating such a momentous government program, and if they defected in great numbers, they could imperil the entire reform package.
Let's see if I have this straight. If Democrats choose the more robust public option, they are more likely to be able to overcome the procedural hurdles and pass the bill on 51 votes without the threat of filibuster by the Republicans. The bill would also save money and perhaps pay for itself.
But the conservative Democrats may not stay on board, because they don't like the idea of a "momentous government program"? On what grounds? Read on. Because the Republicans in their pushback say that the public option would have to be "very aggressive in setting rates, price controls and rationing,". Ah, those are scary words to conservative Democrats.
On the other hand, those with no health insurance know rationing quite well.
So. As the author of the article, Brian Beutler says:
The path of least political resistance is beset by procedural obstacles; and the path of least procedural resistance is beset by political ones.
Got that everyone?
"The Tears Of Our Children.... "
From Bishop Charles Jenkins of The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana:
The generosity of our nation and the world in response to our time of having been brought so low is gratefully acknowledged. Like the Good Samaritan who left silver with the innkeeper to care for the man robbed and beaten on the Jericho Road, we have known the mercy of others in our time of need. Some would say the season for such generosity has passed. Indeed, many of us we are well on the way to recovery, and that which yet needs be healed will be done by God, perhaps through the hands of doctors and nurses. But I find in my own soul a wound so deep that healing seems possible only by grace.
However, not all are at the point where I am on the road to recovery. Demonstrated so plainly time and time again is the indisputable fact that the “least of these” are not able to stand without assistance. Surely, assistance is available for many, but the process to that assistance remains a moving target. Deadlines are arbitrarily set to meet the needs of bureaucracy rather than the needs of our fellow citizens whose lives remain in the roadside gutter.
I remind us that the Good Samaritan bound up the wounds of the man brutalized and then took him to the Inn. He did not simply give him silver coins and tell him to be on his way. As tired as we are, as deep as may be our compassion fatigue, like the Good Samaritan we must gird our loins and pick up the least of these and bring them with dignity to the place of healing. If we just toss a coin to the beggar alongside the path of life, the beggar will die in that spot.
The words of Dr. King must ring loudly in our ears. “A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” (From “Beyond Vietnam”.)
We have engaged, in a direct and intentional manner, the work of challenging the edifice that produces beggars. I believe Dr. King to be correct when he calls this “true compassion.” Faith communities and people of good will are the standard bearers in this challenge. This challenge continues to be lived out in New Orleans where the façade of American progress has been washed away. Many would be happy if we could again apply “make-up” to the wound that affects us all, but this is no longer possible here. This wound is evident around our nation, but in New Orleans, it was exposed starkly when the flood washed away the veneer.
Living without this veneer can be trying. Compassion fatigue is a phenomenon I well understand. True compassion as defined by Dr. King seems to me so fundamental to being a person of faith, a Christian, and, in my case, a Bishop, that I think we must persist. When the wound in our society is healed by grace and compassion, the scar will not be an ugly reminder of what was, but a medal of honor reminding all of God’s healing.
Something else I find trying is wondering what our government’s intention is for this city. I do not know if there was a deliberate plan for the social engineering of New Orleans. I observe that, intentional or not, the city is a far different place today than it was four years ago. For some, life is better, while for others, life is at best unchanged or worse. I observe a shift in where political power is vested and a dramatic change in the role that New Orleans plays in state government. I see our schools improved for some but grossly neglected for others. I see children going without special education and the tools that will help those challenged to succeed. So many children remain estranged from their spiritual roots in New Orleans. They have no way to return home and little encouragement to do so. The tears of our children remain a scandal to this city.
The privatization of disaster response has made of us a means to profit. The revolution of values of which Dr. King wrote is a theological revolution. This theological shift has to do with our understanding of God and, thus, our understanding of humanity. Grace and blessing cannot be measured in the rich lifestyles of predatory preachers; rather God’s blessing is seen in the ministry of Jesus whereby dignity has been granted to all. The revolution of values must include recognition of the dignity of every human being. I think such dignity is incarnational and, thus, has to do with what we think of God.
On this fourth anniversary of Katrina, I find myself concerned that the work of the revolution of values is still in the beginning stages. What we do in Louisiana has an impact across the nation and the world. We have an opportunity to give the world a model of Christian compassion. I pray for the continuing generosity of Christian brothers and sisters and friends from around the world that we may continue the task that has been placed before us.
Until today, I missed these powerful and eloquent words from Bishop Jenkins. Thanks to Ann Fontaine at The Lead for directing me to them.
I'll miss Bishop Jenkins when he retires at the end of the year. I hope that he remains in our neighborhood after his retirement.
UPDATE: A more recent picture of Bishop Jenkins than the one above.
"Cure The Sick...."
Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Luke 10:9
I suppose it's a really far-out and crazy idea to relate the passage above from the Gospel reading today on the feast of David Oakerhater to the health care debate, but I just can't help doing so. The passage seems to say that in the Kingdom of God, you cure the sick. It's the Christians against universal health care that I truly do not understand.
Luke 10:9
I suppose it's a really far-out and crazy idea to relate the passage above from the Gospel reading today on the feast of David Oakerhater to the health care debate, but I just can't help doing so. The passage seems to say that in the Kingdom of God, you cure the sick. It's the Christians against universal health care that I truly do not understand.
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