She Tells Them

Lisa at My Manner of Life has a transcript of an interview with Bishop Katharine Jefforts-Schori by the BBC. I left the comment below at Lisa's site:

Blogger Grandmère Mimi said...

Lisa, I thought she did very well. She's pointing out truths that it seemed the leadership was reluctant to speak aloud, such a[s] the fact that Gene Robinson is not the only partnered gay bishop, just the only honest one.

I liked the, "You do it, too," about the same-sex blessings and her comment about double standards. Good for her. What on earth does she have to repent of?

The online article by the BBC labels Bishop Katharine "unrepentant on gay clergy".

The Blog Blessing

My two dear virtual blog friends, Fran at FranIAm and Doxy at Wormwood's Doxy have chosen me for the "Blog Blessing". I'm full of gratitude at this honor from these two wonderful writers, both of whom inspire envy in me when I read what they write. I bless them back and thank them for giving me pleasure.

Fran is so absolutely prolific that I can hardly keep up reading her blog. She's passionate in her views, and, like me, she writes about all sorts of subjects, perhaps whatever pops into her mind that seems interesting, notable, or funny. She has pictures, sound, videos, and she is quite adept at the technology available for bloggers.

Doxy doesn't write enough to suit me, but when she writes, she knocks my socks off. She has been unrelenting in support of our LGBT brothers and sisters and in getting out information on AIDS and HIV. Her journal entries and occasional rants (really mini-rants) are wonderful to read.

As most of you may know, I don't do memes, simply because they require way too much thinking, and I'm lazy. I was to pass the blessing on to three other bloggers, and when Fran's blessing came, I tried - I truly did try, but I could not single out three bloggers who have been a blessing to me, because there are many more than three. (The gathering in New York, where I met many of them face to face was pure pleasure.) I was totally blocked in choosing, and that's the truth. The same with Doxy's blessing. No way could I pick three. However, I return the blessings to both Fran and Doxy and thank them and so many other bloggers who have enriched my life.

What I will do is single out two bloggers who have influenced me the most. First and foremost is Rmj at Adventus. He is just past his second anniversary as a blogger, and I've read him from the birth of his blog. He taught me so much about the Christian faith, living the Christian life, and the sham that is much of what we call "values" in this country of ours. I've said this before, but, for a while there, he quoted Kierkegaard so often, that I finally had to read him for myself. He suggested another of his works to read first, but I chose to read Fear and Trembling, and I have never been quite the same since. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Christianity is not for the fainthearted. I can say, with all honesty, that he taught me how to blog. Our styles are quite different, and I don't blame my shortcomings on Rmj, but if you see good here, he gets some of the credit.

The second is MadPriest at Of Course I Could Be Wrong. Pray for me, all of you. I am under the influence of a madman. What am I thinking? Irony is nearly always lurking beneath the surface inside me, ready to burst forth. My rule of thumb is, in the words of Jane Austen, the mistress of irony, "I hope that I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can." Those words were spoken by one of her characters, but they are Jane's thoughts. In addition, I try very hard not use my irony against those weaker than I am.

MadPriest's blog gives me many laughs, which I am in great need of in these troubled times. In his comments, I practiced letting loose with irony and humor, and when I started with my own blog, I had a little experience in that sort of writing. The irony is, perhaps, practiced better here, than in real life, for in real life folks sometimes find my irony intimidating, even when it's not used against them. In other words, I am ironic to a fault. However, no one is forced to read a blog. The use of irony here at Wounded Bird has been a great release for me. I'm thankful for the outlet.

The two men who have influenced me in blogging are quite different, and you may wonder that two such different men and two such different blogs can influence the same person. I don't know the answer. Today, it appears that I will pass 55,000 in number of visitors. That is absolutely amazing to me. It's not much in comparison to the bloggers with large readerships, but I am grateful for each and every reader, and especially those who leave comments. The engagement with those who comment is as pleasurable as the writing for me.

So. Fran, Doxy, do you forgive me for not going along?

As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, every one!"

UPDATE: I thought of something that the two bloggers have in common. They both make me think about things that cause me discomfort but are, nevertheless, things that I must think about.

Church As A Place Of Refuge?

In a quick return to business as usual, we descend from the "Happy New Year" high. From MSNBC:

NAIROBI, Kenya - A mob torched a church sheltering hundreds of Kenyans fleeing election violence on Tuesday, killing as many as 50 people as the convulsion of bloodshed continued after the disputed vote that gave the president a second term. The opposition leader accused the government of "genocide."
....

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said that so far 145 people have been killed, 33,500 Kenyans have been forced to leave their homes and 208 properties have been destroyed.

Please pray for the people of Kenya, a country which has, until now, been one of the more stable in Africa.

Whatever happened to the idea of the church as a place of refuge? I know. There are many recent and ancient examples of of the violation of the concept of the church as a place of refuge. It appears that today, as in other times, the church is not a place of refuge against non-violent oppression, either. Too often the oppressors are the powers within the church.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

A Message From Molly

From the comments:

susankay said...

G'mere -- what a lovely present. Another gift has been a year of your blog. And Molly the WonderDog (who is finally doing well) sends love, woofs and thanks.

Thanks be to God! Molly, your being well is a wonderful gift to Susan and to all your doggy and human friends. Happy New Year!

AMAZING GRACE - IRVIN MAYFIELD, JR

My New Year's gift for those of you who are not glued to the TV watching football is this video which shows Irwin Mayfield, Jr. of New Orleans, playing "Amazing Grace" on the Elysian Trumpet, which was hand-built by David Monette.

This stunning instrument has been created to honor the memory of all who perished due to Hurricane Katrina. Its design celebrates the rich musical and cultural heritage of New Orleans and the sounds of our Jazz legends. Jazz has been the heart of this city since the days of marching bands and Louis Armstrong. Today this indigenous music is more important than ever. The cultural strength of Jazz moves us from disaster to a new beginning celebrating our history and giving us the inspiration and blessing of the many that have gone before us. Monette, along with nationally known artist and goldsmith Tami Dean have been collaborating for nearly 25 years

The video was made at Christ Church Cathedral at the Eucharist at which Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefforts-Schori presided and preached during the meeting in New Orleans of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church. The service was beautiful, but this performance by Irvin Mayfield, Jr. was outstanding and quite moving. Here's what I wrote the day after:

The trumpet produced the sweetest sound I have heard come out of a horn - ever. And I have heard many trumpets. Mayfield played the most magnificent "Amazing Grace" that I have been priveliged to hear. Two such superlatives, one after the other, may be hard to believe, but they are true. I was crying during his performance. What heart! What an instrument!

Trust me that you do not get the full effect of the sound in the video. You had to be there.

Happy New Year!

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Guess Who Dropped In?

Remember my post titled Priestly Behavior? The story of the priest who hissed at a one year old toddler to be quiet for greeting him before the service had even begun? I never dreamed that the post would generate the response that it did. And now, Elrena Evans, the author of the article that I referenced from Episcopal Life has left a belated comment:

Elrena said...

What a wonderful discussion! I'm only saddened that I didn't stumble across this blog sooner.

And Grandmere, may I have permission to sincerely thank your blog readers for sharing their opinions on my piece? This was such an enlightening and illuminating thread to read...although, I will confess, my husband and I did have a good laugh at someone thinking we were "those parents" who can't discipline their children and don't enforce bedtime. I apologize for laughing, but...the shoe just didn't fit. :)

Anyway, I loved what you all brought to this discussion -- so many people caring so passionately about how best to be the Body of Christ on this earth. I am truly moved. I think discussions like these are exactly what we need more of, as we work out how best to live in --and show others -- the light of God's love.

My article in Episcopal Life was actually a reprint of a column that I write monthly for Literary Mama on the subject of faith and parenting. If I may be so bold as to share the link, it's Literery Mama . I would love to see you all over there; the most recent column is always open for comments!

The Peace of the Lord,
~Elrena
December 31, 2007 2:39 PM

Thank you for visiting Elrena. Here's the link to the original article, if anyone would like to continue the discussion. Do click on the link to her blog, because there is a surprise there.

Blog Review For 2007

Thanks to Jan at Yearning for God for the idea of doing a review of my blog year. I started writing on January 22, 2007, and I am approaching my one year blogversary.

I laughed when I returned to my first entry, because I set up my faux blog simply to be able to comment on other blogs. Well, there was this blank screen, and the rest is history, as they say. Here is the first sentence from the first day of each month of 2007:

January - "My friends, I don't really have a blog."

February - "Some months ago at MadPriest's place, there was a long comment thread on New Orleans-style red beans and rice."

March - "Copied verbatim from Scout Prime at First Draft: People's Rebuke for Bush's Photo Op in NOLA today"

April - "Later, perhaps tomorrow, I'll write my impression of my trip to New Orleans with Scout Prime and Athenae from the blog First Draft and the other folks in our group."

May - "This large painting by Manet was part of the exhibit from the Met at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts."

June - "Padre Mickey in Panama is the man to see for the commemoration of the early Christian saints."

July - "You absolutely must go read this hilarious post by Richard at Caught By The Light."

August - "WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 — Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today he felt terrible about the military’s flawed handling of the death of Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former football star who was killed in Afghanistan."

September - "Clergymen struggling to comfort the afflicted in New Orleans are finding they, too, need someone to listen to their troubles."

October - "Remigius was the Bishop and Apostle of the Franks."

November - "The mound of rotted drywall and moldy planks piled recently outside the wrecked house in Algiers looked more or less identical to the countless heaps that have littered the New Orleans landscape since Hurricane Katrina."

December - "According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35."

I began my review laughing, but by the end, I was not laughing. I won't write too much here about the experience of blogging, because I want something left to say on the actual anniversary. I thank all of you who have visited here and who have left comments. I have enjoyed my exchanges with you more than I can say. The engagement with others, as much as my writing, is what gives me pleasure in the blog.

Is The Advent Letter Good Enough?

The Anglican Scotist, in reviewing the Archbishop of Canterbury's Advent Letter, quotes these words of Archbishop Williams:

Williams: Thus it is not surprising if some have concluded that the official organs of The Episcopal Church, in confirming the election of Gene Robinson and in giving what many regard as implicit sanction to same-sex blessings of a public nature have put in question the degree to which it can be recognised as belonging to the same family by deciding to act against the strong, reiterated and consistent advice of the Instruments of Communion.

In response Scotist says:

Scotist: Robinson is not addressed as bishop, but as an individual with a scandalous sexuality. He is being treated here as the exception, subjected to the unique authority of the Archbishop as a means to securing the Communion's unity: a sacred man or, in another conceptual framework, a scapegoat.... He has done this sort of thing to Robinson before and shows no sign of letting up--a merely personal tick?

While I agree with Scotist that it appears that the archbishop is treating Gene Robinson as a "special case" and making him a scapegoat, I part company with him, when he concludes:

Scotist: Still, this letter is good enough to work with. We would probably do well not addressing Williams' personal idiosyncracies head-on; they are not that important, and we need less wrangling. We already know, for instance, he does not view--even in this letter-- TEC or any province as a real church, he treats Robinson as a scapegoat, and he questions the legitimacy of our episcopate. While it would be tempting to take these views on, we would probably do better ignoring these oddities.

I wonder why it is that Scotist - and many others - don't ask Gene Robinson's view of not being addressed as a bishop and, even more important, whether he is willing to play the role of the scapegoat, while the rest of us refrain from objecting to the views expressed by Archbishop Williams in the letter. Again, we are talking about the person most affected by the words in the letter, without bringing him into the conversation. It's easy for me or the Scotist to say, "Well, yes, this letter is good enough to work with," when we have a much smaller stake in the game than Bishop Robinson.

The consecration of Bishop Robinson is not the cause of the divisions in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. His consecration may have widened the divisions, but the divisions were there already. I have been attending my Episcopal Church for 11 years, and long before Gene Robinson became a bishop, I knew folks who said that they would not take communion from a woman priest, and who mocked them by calling them "priestesses", intimating that they were not legitimate priests.

Even more recently, when we were in the process of searching for a rector, I asked if any of the women priests who had visited would be given consideration as serious candidates, I was told that calling a woman priest would only be setting her up for failure, therefore the women would not be considered.

Archbishop Williams knows quite well that the troubles did not start with the consecration of Gene Robinson as a bishop, and he is wrong to suggest that. As of this day, there are no women bishops in the Church of England. Bishops in the US are permitted to restrict ordinations of women to the priesthood in their dioceses. The Communion is not yet of one mind about the ordination of women, yet it has held together, if ever so tenuously, in spite of differing views.

And I'm not even taking on the question of whether we can be "recognised as belonging to the same family".

Thanks to Jim Naughton at the Episcopal Café for the link to the Anglican Scotist.

Fra Angelico

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