Once again, I refer you to Mark Harris at Preludium for his commentary on the letter from Bishop Parsley, Chair of the Theology Committee, presumably in response to the calls for transparency in releasing the names of the members on the sub-committee to study same-sex relationships.
Mark notes the same silly reference to academic freedom in Bp. Parsley's letter that struck me. The secrecy of the membership has nothing to do with academic freedom.
We believe that for a season the work can best be accomplished by allowing the panel to work in confidence. This supports the full collegiality and academic freedom of the theologians and provides the space they need for the deep dialogue and reflection that is taking place among them.
Few of us have a problem with keeping the discussions confidential. The problem is secrecy about the names of the people who serve on the sub-committee, who are apparently drawn from outside the members of the Committee on Theology.
Mark adds:
I am distrusting of any statement by anyone that talks about "for a season." Time and season are different sorts of measuring beasts. "For a season," roughly translates, "until we wish otherwise."
For the present, the phrase "for a season" resonates negatively with some of us in the Episcopal Church. I recommend that the phrase be laid aside "for a season", until I wish otherwise. What are the chances?
Bp. Parsley answers the question as to whether the discussions are simply "about" GLTB persons, as is so often is the case, or "with" them.
I wish to assure those concerned that the panel very intentionally represents a robust range of views on the subject and includes gay and lesbian persons.
UPDATE: IT in the comments suggests we watch an amusing supplement to the discussion at YouTube.
Fr Harris's analysis is excellent. Have you also seen "Notes of secret panel selection leaked to Episcopal Café"?
ReplyDeleteLapin, isn't it wonderful? There's already a sobersides in the comments saying that this won't be helpful.
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ReplyDeleteMimi, I just posted on MP but he erased it immediately. What's up. All this talk on MP about "OUR community,""OUR group," "US." Who then is "THEM?" If you are not "US" then I guess you are "THEM" and "US" are free to crap on "THEM>" JOE
ReplyDeleteJoe, you have insulted me more than once. You can't possibly think that I will discuss what happens on my friend's blog with you.
ReplyDeleteMimi, well, of course not. I had thought you might be just a TINY bit less "US".But, nevertheless. Joe
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ReplyDeleteLapin, I don't want to be caught in the middle. Don't bring it over here, please.
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ReplyDeleteThe parsley business may now be dead.
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ReplyDeleteLapinbizare, I will refer to myself in the future, not as Joe, but as "Them." So, you say I still have something to live for even knowing that I can never be "US?"
ReplyDeleteThem
"A robust range of views" -- gives me chills. I can just imagine what some of those robust views are.
ReplyDeleteRobust -
ReplyDelete1. Full of health and strength; vigorous.
2. Powerfully built; sturdy. See Synonyms at healthy.
3. Requiring or suited to physical strength or endurance: robust labor.
4. Rough or crude; boisterous: a robust tale.
Which of those definitions from the Free Online Dictionary do you think Bp. Parsley meant, SusanKay?
This morning, Mimi, I was awakened at 4:40 by the barks of my old, crippled half-Chow. This was the first time in the 12 1/2 years I have lived with her that this has happened. As I sat on the side of my bed, sleep dazed, I noticed a smell of burning. I followed it to the kitchen, where I found a white enameled tea-kettle turned part-black by heat, sitting atop a red/white-hot electric burner (hope you're keeping up with all these colours) fused to the burner by melted enamel, its rubber gaskets and handle smoking from heat.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angie, good old dog, for waking me.
I have told you before about my alcoholic room-mate. Always look for the unexpected, but the the gambit of buying him the microwave (which now looks as though there's been a suicide bombing in it because I refuse to clean it for him) failed, and now I've had to remove and lock up all the stove top burners. Looks pretty stylish, as you can imagine. But mustn't complain. Other folks have the real problems.
On the bright side, I did get a couple of hours sleep before my crack-head "friend" - the one I will no longer admit to my house because he's demented, violent and a thief; the one who one or another of the local hospitals sticks full of Ativan five or six nights a week, then dumps on the street to scrounge for crack and booze till next nightfall, made his first, of his six or seven, begging, demanding, or outright abusive ("goddam f-cking faggot") calls of the day. Oh, and he was slinging old shoes (why shoes?) at my front door in the early hours - forgot about that.
But mustn't complain. I'm not, after all, a drug addict; not bipolar or an alcoholic, and I successfully suppressed my two or three slight OC quirks more than fifty years ago.
Quite a day and it's still only 8:15.
Well, enough about me.
Back to the fabulously-named Bishop Parsley, whom may God preserve. Take care.
Lapin, I'm sorry that you had a horrible day. Thank God for Angie! You could have had a house on fire.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say that you shouldn't complain. I said that I don't want to be in the middle of other people's problems with each other. That's all I said.
I'll pray that you have a good night's sleep and a better day tomorrow.
Mwah!
The picture is of a far younger, limber Angie, but she's a good girl. I expect to sleep soundly enough that I won't hear any shoes. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteSuch an important issue posted, and the discussion was waylaid. I think it is way beyond time being allotted for more committees and more studies on whether to give full inclusion to all members of the Episcopal Church. I pray that there are enough members of the lay and clergy who will not allow this to be sidestepped at General Convention. It does sound like that is the plan if this committee is to operate for two years , and in secrecy.
ReplyDeleteMethinks Lapinbizarre has been most fortunate. A fire here would take most of the village because on the coast cabins huddle together to get protection from the wind...
ReplyDeleteGive Angie a good piece of meat!
Beryl, yes. We were taken a tad off topic. I joke, but this is a serious matter. I believe that PB misstepped badly by deciding to go along with this secret sub-committee. The buck stops with her.
ReplyDeleteGood Dog! Lapin, you're a blessed man to have a dog like that. Tough morning, I know. But, you've got a good friend in Angie. Please, let me say a prayer for you too, for a better day tomorrow, for all good, and all you need... Blessings.
ReplyDeleteG'mere, I would have thought that a bishop in the know would have had better sense than to try that "for a season" stuff on us. Who is advising these people? Satan? Parsley's response was so paternalistic, and just plain bad, I almost want to send it back to him and ask him to try again. It's just pathetic.
Joe is annoying. If he keeps at it i see no impediment to his becoming a TEC bishop.
Lindy, thanks for a laugh, or two or three. What would we do without you?
ReplyDeleteDouble secret probation....
ReplyDelete(Youtube that and Animal House)
Lapin, how do you manage to stay so cheerful?
ReplyDeleteI must say, the reasons given for this secret sub-committee are absolutely appalling. Will they get away with this?
"....how do you manage to stay so cheerful?" My dogs and an all too well developed ability to dissociate, I guess, Erika. Thanks to you all for your kindness. And now for another day!
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