The American Bible Society seems to have dropped the Episcopal Church from its listing of denominations on its Church Directory page. Dr. Bones at Openly Episcopal in Albany tells a puzzling story on his website that you might want to read.
Since the Episcopal Church has consistently supported the ABS from its beginnings, when our friend, Tobias Haller, learned of the absence of a listing for the Episcopal Church from Dr. Bones, he wrote a letter of inquiry to the public relations director of the ABS about the missing listing.
I wonder how this happened. It's very strange. There is a listing for Anglican Churches.
Oh for heaven's sake. I summarized the whole book of Job this morning in my sermon. I am very tired of this kind of thing. I thank God for the ABS, but one of these days, someone in charge will just have to get over it. In the mean time, we carry the weight of the Gospel of Jesus, and, honestly, I don't give a s***, as long as I (and my spiritual family) have access to the Scriptures (we can preserve them aurally if necessary). I will say one dangerous thing...those who have come to know the risen Lord don't give a d*** about the material profits of the ABS. The Church existed for two generations before the printed Word...and we're still here.
ReplyDeleteThere was an Episcopal Church before the ABS, and there will be one after the ABS.
ReplyDeleteIt appears we've been booted out. I blame the homos.
Better to be kicked out than to walk out.
My cover is blown at Tobias' place, so I'll admit that I contacted the ABS by email asking, "in all innocence", where was the listing for the Episcopal Church. I'm still hoping that this is some sort of misunderstanding. Of course, I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteSo what's your hunch then?
ReplyDeleteA conspiracy?
ReplyDeleteI, too, sent a note to the ABS. I typed in my church and came up with bupkus. There is also no listing for "Episcopal". My theory? Someone has friends in low places. See also: Mimi's conspiracy theory above.
ReplyDeleteMarch 2, 2009
ReplyDeleteDear Grandmere Mimi,
I pray this update meets you in excellent health and spirits. I wanted to share with you additional information regarding the current discussion regarding the American Bible Society’s ForMinistry.com website.
All of the listings on ForMinistry.com are user generated. I encourage you to reference the "Specific Denominations" field on the following link: http://www.forministry.com/profile/ChurchSearch.cfm for a listing of the Episcopal denominations currently added by users of the ForMinistry.com service to date:
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Charismatic Episcopal Church
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Reformed Episcopal Church of Canada
• Southern Episcopal Church of the U.S.A.
• Traditional Episcopal Church
We welcome you and your colleagues to list your respective denominations as deemed appropriate.
In addition, although this list is user generated, we would be pleased to add "Episcopal" to the "General Denominations" drop down list and welcome any additional denominations that would be appropriate for the “Specific” field as requested.
Please feel free to contact my office at (212) 408.1215 if you have any additional concerns. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the American Bible Society.
Sincerely,
Autumn Black
Director of Public Relations
Does the good woman really n o t understand what this is about?
ReplyDeleteSomehow I don't think so.
:-(
"Director of Public Relations"
ReplyDeleteMy foot!!!
Ms. Autumn Black, thank for your response. I am simply a member of the Episcopal Church and not in any manner an official spokesperson for my church. I suggest that you contact Neva Rae Fox, the Program Officer for Public Affairs, at the headquarters of the national office of the Episcopal Church for a recommendation on how our church should be listed.
ReplyDeletenrfox@episcopalchurch.org
None of the denominations listed in your church directory match the Episcopal Church that I belong to.
Should we inform Ms.Black that some of the founders of her organization were members of our church?
ReplyDeleteI still smell a very big right wing rat in all this. It seems that our church is being deliberately dissed.
Counterlight, Tobias told her that, John Jay, being one of them. He also told her to make a listing for "Episcopal Church". It's simple, really, but I thought I should refer her to a higher authority.
ReplyDeleteSome days I wonder why I took up this blogging "lark" in the first place. I speak for myself only, and I have no desire to be a spokesperson for any organization.
There's a higher authority?
ReplyDeleteGotta check that out.
Thanks for your work on this G'mere.
Lindy, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThink about it. Me speak for the Episcopal Church? I dare not. Not even speak the name. I could get it wrong.
Somehow I've become a sort of go-to person, without ever intending to and without knowing enough to be a go-to person. How did that happen?
TEC is there, Mimi, but a bit strangely placed. It's not on the General Denominations bar of the "Find a Local Church" page that you have linked, which, of course, is where one would expect to find it, but if you go to the next search bar, "Specific Denomination", it's there as "Episcopal Church". I checked it out, using the zip code search option, and it returned two of the three Episcopal Churches within my zip code (I wonder how many other of your readers have three Episcopal churches in their zip code?). One of the three - the diocesan cathedral - has two entries.
ReplyDeleteLapin, it is partially fixed now, thanks to Tobias Haller. Read his comment at the link to his site above. It was not there when we began the discussion.
ReplyDelete