Pluralist Speaks says:
"Well, The Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, at Saint George's Anglican Cathedral, Jerusalem, had some phrases worth listing in his sermon for the GAFCON leaders; the best potential one-liner I put first:"
*Pilgrims here do not bring decisions with them.
"And here are the others:"
* The greatest gift that Anglicanism has offered to the Middle East is a ministry of reconciliation
* we are a voice of moderation in a region of turmoil
* We work with humility and in a spirit of servanthood
* build and strengthen relationships among Christians, Moslems, and Jews and to work together with other Christian bodies here
* We are a people who know what it is to live faithfully and with humility in a pluralistic society
* we work for peace and unity
* Our work here is the very presence of Christ among the needy, offered without differentiation based on religion, gender, or nationality
* a crucial network of bridges on the international scene
* grateful for our relationships across the breadth of the Anglican Communion
* we have the utmost respect for the Archbishop of Canterbury
* I look forward to the Lambeth Conference
* Throughout its history, the Lambeth Conference has dealt with many difficult issues. At times these issues looked as if they might divide us, but they did not because we persevered in prayer and fellowship, together, with respect and patience
* The very stones of this holy city of Jerusalem teach us patience and humility
* God will always surprise us
* I pray that as you meet in this holy place, you will all be open, in real humility, to the Spirit's guidance and that you will continue here in a spirit of peace, reconciliation and goodwill
* I pray God's blessing on you, on the Archbishop of Canterbury and on our Anglican Communion
"Let's see if any of his words have an impact on the Global Anglican Future Conference."
If only the bishop's words would have an impact, but I doubt that the GAFCON leaders will take them to heart. Of course, I could be wrong. Let us pray.
Tip from Doorman-Priest, who would not give us a link. I am kinder than he, in that I linked to his blog in giving him credit.
Wonder how the Bishop in/of Jerusalem feels about the Gafconites placing Bishop O'Neill of Colorado, who is is house-guest, on their "banned" list? Pretty bad manners, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteLove their silly plan to have anyone who recognizes a banned individual within the confines of the conference sing "All hail the power of Jesu's name". My father, who was decidedly not of a religious disposition, used to sing the second line of the hymn as "Let angels' prostates fall".
Quite a few gems! I would be interested in knowing more about +Dawani.
ReplyDeleteHis sermon could be said, in sum, "You people had better be on your best behaviour while you are here." The last thing Jersualem needs is a 1,000 Anglican schismatics traipsing around.
Lapin, and what about Robert Edmunds, who will be working for the bishop of Jerusalem?
ReplyDeleteRB, one would need to be quite careful of talk about proselytizing Muslims, which Duncan has already done, and about proselytizing Jews, too!
I had not realized, Mimi, that Edmunds had been appointed chaplain to Bishop Dawani. So, as Jim Naughton points out in a posting to "The Lead", "the GAFCON leadership is restricting the movement of Bishop Dawani's chaplain in Bishop Dawani's diocese". In Lancashire we term behaviour of this sort "Pig Ignorant".
ReplyDeleteStrange folks. They don't care a fig about diocesan jurisdiction. They just move in an try to have their way.
ReplyDeletePig ignorant rather sums them all up.
ReplyDeleteJesus wept.
I like the spirit of Bishop Dawani's words. They sum up my prayers for the Anglican Communion and the Lambeth conference too. That's why I haven't bothered to read any of the GAFCON stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record (as most people around here will already know!), I'm 'conservative' on 'the issue'.
Tim, I like the bishop's words, too. He's quite gracious, considering that he asked the group not to meet in Jerusalem, but they went ahead with the meeting anyway.
ReplyDeleteO.K. I repent for being mean.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Bishop's words were very generous of spirit under the circumstances, but they were nevertheless a rebuke to the gathered throng.
As Mimi was kind enough to link me, I have posted a good editorial from yesterday's Guardian.