From the Times Union:
ALBANY -- They prayed together. They recited the Nicene Creed together. They sipped from the same chalice.
On Saturday, the top lay official in the liberal-leaning U.S. Episcopal Church joined conservative Albany Bishop William Love in the first public forum of its kind since Love's consecration.
Bonnie Anderson, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, challenged the more than 200 people gathered at St. Andrew's in Albany to come up with a model for the national church of how believers of different views can communicate.
....
"We talk about the struggles of the church, and we seem to think that it all has to do with sex," Love said during his sermon. "That's only a symptom of something much deeper. That issue much deeper is God's word. How is it to be understood? How is it to be interpreted? How is it to be lived out?"
Some speakers told the bishop they felt shut out of diocesan events and publications. Some criticized links to conservative religious Internet sites on the diocesan Web page. One said he wasn't comfortable being referred to as a "sodomite" or "heretic" on a Web site recommended by the diocese.
Love said he could check the policy regarding links. He also suggested that if the speaker found the material offensive, "Don't read it."
That drew loud disapproval from the audience and, later in the session, an apology from Love.
....
In interviews at St. Andrew's Saturday, though, people on both sides of the ideological divide gave the bishop credit for showing up. A lot of credit.
"This is true Anglicanism, where you come together even with a divergence of views," said David Kennison, senior warden at St. George's Church in Schenectady and a former Albany Via Media board member.
The Rev. Peter Schofield, a conservative from Christ Church in Schenectady, said he feels Albany Via Media has been "very disruptive in the diocese." But he, too, praised Saturday's service.
"If we did worship together a lot more often than we do, I think we'd have a lot less problems," he said. "We're all one in Jesus."
What website recommended by the diocese would refer to a person as a "sodomite" or a "heretic"?
Here's the link to the Diocese of Albany's website. Could it be one of the blog sites? Here's a quote from one of the blogs recommended by the diocese:
Stand Firm is obviously the site referenced in the article below. I cannot imagine Bishop Love bowing to the demands of the crowd regarding links to this site. Given that Episcopal Cafe, a site run out of the Diocese of Washington DC links to vile places like Mad Priest, it is difficult to maintain the argument that Stand Firm represents anything more "offensive" than a viewpoint with which the small group of dissenters in Albany disagree.
Thanks be to God that the folks in the Diocese of Albany, including Bishop Love, prayed together and shared the Eucharist at the table of the Lord.
Grandmere - I am so glad that you blogged this! It is not really my place to do so and my blog is not really the audience for it.
ReplyDeleteFran, thank you for the link. I just sent you an email about the post. Fancy that.
ReplyDeleteOh, I find the link to David Virtue's site even more offensive. I cannot believe that a diocese of my denomination links to that cesspool of hate. Wow.
ReplyDeletegreat post, Mimi.
Funny that a bishop named "Love" would seem to lack an understanding of his name. I had a long argument with a young friend yesterday. I asked him what he would say to God. He wrote, "I would tell Him that I have trusted in the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ and in His mercy".
ReplyDeleteI wrote something about telling God I've been trying to follow what Jesus taught and apologizing for not being very good at it. The youth decided it was time to go to supper.
This is a divide that will be very hard to bridge. The "conservatives" seem unwilling to listen, as if by listening they will somehow contaminate their beliefs and displease their god. I'm glad the folks in Albany have given it at least one try.
The Rev. Peter Schofield, a conservative from Christ Church in Schenectady, said he feels Albany Via Media has been "very disruptive in the diocese."
ReplyDeleteYep. Any opinion which is at variance with an "orthodox" opinion is disruptive. It threatens the power of the dominant males.
Dennis, thanks. The viewpoint represented in the list of blog links is rather limited.
ReplyDeletePiskie, I have never understood those on the "other side" who fear conversation and proximity. I don't understand their refusal to share the Eucharist. It's the Body and Blood of Our Lord, after all. How do the beliefs or actions of the person standing or kneeling next to you change that?
The bishop's own name is a daily reminder to be a loving shepherd to his whole flock.
So OCICBW is a vile place and by extension Episcopal Cafe - and so what does it mean for all of us who are linked to OCICBW and even gather for dinner as a community-- oh my!! LOL.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I guess that from that other viewpoint, we are all vile, vile, vile by association. One way or another, they've got us. LOL.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, "vile places like Mad Priests'" indeed.
ReplyDeleteOCICBW = X-Rated Adult content, barely legal
(now where have I heard that before ? ;)
Have you seen Fr. Jake's excellent new post "More From San Joaquin and Some Personal Soul Searching"? Excellent both for what he says and for the numerous comments attached to it? To anyone who has not yet visited, much recommended.
ReplyDeleteI also am amazed at Peter Schofield's description of Via Media as "very disruptive in the diocese" - an astonishing combination of subjectivity and sheer gall.
David, MP made that up out of whole cloth, and you know it. It probably does bring me a few hits, but I'm sure the folks go away quite disappointed.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I have seen it. Fr. Jake has done great work in keeping us informed, as have other websites, like the Episcopal Café and Episcopal Majority. And he does have a day job. I don't know how he does it.
Grandmere,
ReplyDeleteFor all its shortcomings this event is truly momentous. As someone who lives in the same state and worked at the provincial level I can tell you that Albany has had very little to do with the rest of us over the last 5+ years. In fact I often couldn't even get my diocesan equivalent to answer my e-mails. They are involved in virtually no provincial events (which is curious since we often choose locations in that diocese since they are centrally located).
So with that in the recent history the fact that such an event even took place borders on the miraculous. Perhaps there's still hope for us all.
Peace
JP
Jay, welcome. Actually, although I know very little about the Diocese of Albany, I did think this might be a pretty big thing and very much worth posting.
ReplyDeleteOur parish church is pretty insular, but, since Katrina, our diocese is much more connected to the national church, because of the abundance of help they've given to the Diocese of Louisiana.
There is till hope. We shall overcome. Thanks for visiting.
We're not only vile, vile, vile, we're impure, impure, impure!!!! We've got cooties by association!
ReplyDelete" Episcopal Cafe, a site run out of the Diocese of Washington DC..."
ReplyDeleteI had to read this little gem 3 times before I realized what he meant.
I kept thinking,"When did they get run out of the Diocese of Washington?" Surely that would have made news on all the blogs I read.
Susan, LOL. I hope that Ann reads your comment. She's in the thick of the vileness at the Café, and I want her to see the whole new meaning you have given to "run out of the Diocese of Washington".
ReplyDeleteI am 99 44/100 percent impure!
ReplyDeleteMark, I always knew you were no Ivory.
ReplyDelete