As you may know, the California Supreme Court declared that the state ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional, thereby giving all couples in the state the right to be married. In response, Bishop Marc Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California suggested pastoral guidelines for the clergy and laity of the diocese regarding weddings. Directive No. 1 states:
I urge you to encourage all couples, regardless of orientation, to follow the pattern of first being married in a secular service and then being blessed in The Episcopal Church. I will publicly urge all couples to follow this pattern.
In this manner, all couples, whether male/female, female/female, or male/male will be afforded the same treatment by the church. Only blessings will be performed by the church after the couples have been married in a civil ceremony, until such time as the canons of the Episcopal Church change so that all may have equal access to church weddings. Read the rest of the letter, including the other guidelines.
Richard Helmer, rector of The Church of Our Savior, in Mill Valley, California, has chosen to follow Bishop Andrus' directives. His eloquent and inspiring statement of his reasons for so doing is at his blog, Caught By The Light. Richard says:
Bishop Marc, it seems to me, has chosen along with his Diocese a very careful, tenuous path of grace in a conflicted Church. Following his recommendation, I informed my vestry yesterday evening that I would no longer preside over a marriage of any kind until The Episcopal Church has settled on a way forward that honors the covenants of all couples with equality. Rather, I will treat all couples who approach me for marriage equally by offering counseling and blessing, and referring them to the civil authorities to publicly declare their vows as legally binding. By equality, I don't mean political equality (although that naturally follows), but equality in terms of the recognition of God's grace.
A parishioner asked me yesterday if I was therefore withholding the sacrament of marriage. After reflection, I decided I wasn't because I can't. It is the couple who engage in the sacrament of marriage. At best, as a priest, I can only name it and declare it publicly. The sacrament of marriage between couples of all sorts will continue with or without my help in that particular way. In a curious sense, that's liberating Good News, as I fast from this part of ordained priesthood.
Indeed, in my many years of Roman Catholic schooling, I was always taught that the minister of the sacrament of marriage is not the priest, but the couple themselves. The priest pronounces that the commitment has been made and blesses the couple and the covenant they have agreed to with one another.
Richard names refraining from officiating at weddings as a fast until all couples in his parish may receive equal treatment with respect to church weddings. To me that's close to an ideal description of the practice. I've said before that I'd like to see the church out of the marriage business altogether, with the couple receiving the church's blessing after a period of discernment by their church community.
Richard allows that the practice of blessing all couples is at the edge of the boundaries of what the canons of the Episcopal Church permit:
While our violation of canons by what we are doing in this case is quite arguable (I believe we have pushed their limits, but not transgressed them), amid the half-veiled or fully naked calls that we are anarchists and rejecters of the rule of law, I am reminded of the legacy of civil disobedience. Is there such a thing in an ecclesiastical setting? It was St. Augustine who argued that an unjust law is no law at all. Perhaps we are starting to point towards this ancient truth in our actions at this time.
I left the following comment at Richard's blog:
Richard, an eloquent and inspiring post. Thank you for taking the time to share your words. Just last night, durng my walk, I thought of the civil rights struggles here in the US. I thought of civil disobedience and wondered what the term would be for such actions within the church. Ecclesial disobedience? Ecclesiastical disobedience? I don't know, but you make the important point that if one engages in such actions, one must be willing to face the consequences of those actions, as those in the civil rights movement had to, with the consequence that some died as a result of their part of the struggle for equality. Others went to jail. They were willing to pay the price.
FWIW, I believe that Bishop Andrus has made the proper decision and that yours to follow his recommendations is proper and right.
Please read Richard's well-reasoned and eloquently written post in its entirety.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Gay Marriage? "No" Says The Rev. Dudley
The Rev. Martin Dudley, who performed the ceremony at St. Bartholmew the Great in London for the Reverends Cowell and Lord, says "no" in this interview on BBC4.
Thanks to Doorman-Priest for the link.
Thanks to Doorman-Priest for the link.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Louisiana Legislators Double Their Pay
From the Advocate:
Reacting to public outcry and threats of recall, members of the House approved a legislative pay raise plan Friday that more than doubles — instead of triples — their base salary.
The amended plan, passed on a close vote, proposes a $20,700 increase in lawmakers’ base pay — putting it at $37,500 effective July 1. Lawmakers’ total compensation package would hit nearly $60,000.
Legislators would still be guaranteed annual increases in their base pay — without future votes. Future raises would be tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
While the citizens of Louisiana are hurting because of high fuel and food prices, the legislators more than doubled their pay, and they won't have to vote again on new raises, because the raises will be automatic. I note that theirs is a part-time job. (Thank God, or they would have more time to make mischief.)
My fellow Louisiana blogger, Jim, at JindalWatch, has excellent commentary on the on the whole sorry exercise.
Our whiz-kid governor strongly disapproves of the raise, but he will not exercise his veto power. He knows who's boss. As I said at Jim's place, "How can he possibly appear weaker? He's hunkered down, enclosed by his circle of protectors, operating in secrecy. He caves in when the legislature says, 'Boo!'"
Reacting to public outcry and threats of recall, members of the House approved a legislative pay raise plan Friday that more than doubles — instead of triples — their base salary.
The amended plan, passed on a close vote, proposes a $20,700 increase in lawmakers’ base pay — putting it at $37,500 effective July 1. Lawmakers’ total compensation package would hit nearly $60,000.
Legislators would still be guaranteed annual increases in their base pay — without future votes. Future raises would be tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
While the citizens of Louisiana are hurting because of high fuel and food prices, the legislators more than doubled their pay, and they won't have to vote again on new raises, because the raises will be automatic. I note that theirs is a part-time job. (Thank God, or they would have more time to make mischief.)
My fellow Louisiana blogger, Jim, at JindalWatch, has excellent commentary on the on the whole sorry exercise.
Our whiz-kid governor strongly disapproves of the raise, but he will not exercise his veto power. He knows who's boss. As I said at Jim's place, "How can he possibly appear weaker? He's hunkered down, enclosed by his circle of protectors, operating in secrecy. He caves in when the legislature says, 'Boo!'"
Same Sex Wedding In The Church Of England
Our friend, Ann, posted at the Episcopal Café, the story of the wedding of two Church of England priests, both men, with the liturgy for the ceremony taken from the Book of Common Prayer, with only slight adaptations. Ann links to the actual bulletin of the litrurgy itself. A nice precedent out of the CofE. I wonder what will come of this.
The ceremony for The Rev. Peter Cowell, Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey, and the Rev. Dr. David Lord was held at The Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London..
Check it out.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the article in the Telegraph on the ceremony from Thinking Anglicans.
Archbishop Orombi of Uganda calls it "blasphemous" and demands that the Archbishop of Canterbury act quickly to prevent the "disintegration" of the "Anglican Church". To which Anglican Church does Abp. Orombi refer? Surely not the Anglican Communion, because the Anglican Communion is most definitely not a church, although some have taken to calling it that.
Thanks to Susan S. in the comments for the tip.
UPDATE 2: More from the Daily Mail.
The ceremony for The Rev. Peter Cowell, Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey, and the Rev. Dr. David Lord was held at The Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London..
Check it out.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the article in the Telegraph on the ceremony from Thinking Anglicans.
Archbishop Orombi of Uganda calls it "blasphemous" and demands that the Archbishop of Canterbury act quickly to prevent the "disintegration" of the "Anglican Church". To which Anglican Church does Abp. Orombi refer? Surely not the Anglican Communion, because the Anglican Communion is most definitely not a church, although some have taken to calling it that.
Thanks to Susan S. in the comments for the tip.
UPDATE 2: More from the Daily Mail.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Methuselah Resurrected
From the AP via USA Today:
WASHINGTON — Just over three years old and about four-feet tall, Methuselah is growing well. "It's lovely," Dr. Sarah Sallon said of the date palm, whose parents may have provided food for the besieged Jews at Masada some 2,000 years ago.
The little tree was sprouted in 2005 from a seed recovered from Masada, where rebelling Jews committed suicide rather than surrender to Roman attackers.
With Dr. Sarah, I think it's lovely, too, that a seed from the time when Jesus walked the earth sprouted with new life. What a wonderful symbol of the Resurrection.
The picture shows the plant at the age of 24 months. It's three years old now and bigger and taller than in the photo.
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat (or a date palm seed) falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:24
Photo from MSNBC News by Guy Eisner / Courtesy of Science Magazine
Thursday, June 12, 2008
"A Victory For The Rule Of Law"
From the Center For Constitutional Rights:
Today is a historic victory for the rule of law. We won! For the third time, the Supreme Court has upheld the fundamental rights of Guantanamo detainees. In its historic decision in CCR's case, Boumediene v. Bush, the Court affirmed detainees' right to habeas corpus. One of the oldest and most basic legal protections, habeas corpus affords the incarcerated the right to challenge the legality of their detention before a judge and keeps the king and president from arbitrarily locking people up and throwing away the key.
We're asking you to take action in two important ways: please make a contribution to CCR today so we can continue this important work, and please write to the presidential candidates to demand that they uphold the Supreme Court's decision.
The Administration has delayed, ignored and sought to evade two prior Supreme Court decisions, Rasul v. Bush in 2004 and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld in 2006, both of which upheld the rights of Guantanamo detainees.
This decision was, in many ways, made possible by the support of so many - the over 500 volunteer habeas counsel who have committed themselves to defending the rights of Guantanamo's detainees, the thousands upon thousands who have acted to demand that the Constitution be upheld, and all of our supporters, who have made this work possible. Today, your support is urgently needed, now more than ever, to ensure that the Supreme Court's decision is implemented and the Constitution restored.
CCR was the first organization to step forward to defend the detainees, long before anyone else would take the risk. Please click here to donate to support CCR's work today so that we can continue to take on the risky cases!
Join CCR today to write to the candidates for President of the United States, Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R), and demand that they affirm their commitment to not only implement the Supreme Court's decision, but also to close Guantanamo and undo all of the policies of the Bush administration that have trampled upon our Constitution.
Click here to write to the candidates!
This six-year-long nightmare is a lesson in how fragile our constitutional protections truly are in the hands of an overzealous executive. Let us celebrate, but let us remain vigilant.
Sincerely,
Vincent Warren
Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
UPDATE: Tell me why Nancy Pelosi says impeachment is off the table.
Today is a historic victory for the rule of law. We won! For the third time, the Supreme Court has upheld the fundamental rights of Guantanamo detainees. In its historic decision in CCR's case, Boumediene v. Bush, the Court affirmed detainees' right to habeas corpus. One of the oldest and most basic legal protections, habeas corpus affords the incarcerated the right to challenge the legality of their detention before a judge and keeps the king and president from arbitrarily locking people up and throwing away the key.
We're asking you to take action in two important ways: please make a contribution to CCR today so we can continue this important work, and please write to the presidential candidates to demand that they uphold the Supreme Court's decision.
The Administration has delayed, ignored and sought to evade two prior Supreme Court decisions, Rasul v. Bush in 2004 and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld in 2006, both of which upheld the rights of Guantanamo detainees.
This decision was, in many ways, made possible by the support of so many - the over 500 volunteer habeas counsel who have committed themselves to defending the rights of Guantanamo's detainees, the thousands upon thousands who have acted to demand that the Constitution be upheld, and all of our supporters, who have made this work possible. Today, your support is urgently needed, now more than ever, to ensure that the Supreme Court's decision is implemented and the Constitution restored.
CCR was the first organization to step forward to defend the detainees, long before anyone else would take the risk. Please click here to donate to support CCR's work today so that we can continue to take on the risky cases!
Join CCR today to write to the candidates for President of the United States, Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R), and demand that they affirm their commitment to not only implement the Supreme Court's decision, but also to close Guantanamo and undo all of the policies of the Bush administration that have trampled upon our Constitution.
Click here to write to the candidates!
This six-year-long nightmare is a lesson in how fragile our constitutional protections truly are in the hands of an overzealous executive. Let us celebrate, but let us remain vigilant.
Sincerely,
Vincent Warren
Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
UPDATE: Tell me why Nancy Pelosi says impeachment is off the table.
Feast Day Of Enmegahbowh
PRIEST AND MISSIONARY
Icon of St. Enmegahbowh by the Rev. Johnson Loud.
Enmegahbowh, who was also called John Johnson, belonged to the Ojibwa Indian tribe in Minnesota.
He must have been born to some position in his tribe, as he had been set apart for a "Medicine Man" in youth, and his Indian name, Enmegahbowh, meant "The man who stands by his people," a significant name, which in time proved to be a true one.
He was sent as a missionary to Crow Wing, after two ministers before him had been unsuccessful in establishing a mission.
For a few years the mission work seemed at a stand still. From Canada Enmegahbowh received earnest invitations to go where comfort and hopeful work awaited him, but Bishop Whipple encouraged him, s[t]anding in the forefront for an unpopular cause and a hated people, and Enmegahbowh would prove the fitness of his name -- he would not desert his people.
The Ojibwa were moved by the US government to the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota, where:
Enmegahbowh labored earnestly, the government now aiding in the work by encouraging the Indians in civilized ways. A steam sawmill was built at White Earth Lake, where Indians were taught to run the machinery, and from which lumber was furnished for building purposes. Eastern churchmen assisted the mission, and a church and parsonage were built.
At the time of the consecration of the church in August, 1872, quite a party of the clergy and laity, through the kindness of Bishop Whipple, were enabled to visit White Earth.
The consecration was on Thursday. Friday morning, the chiefs signified to the bishop their wish to meet with him in a council, which was therefore held, that afternoon, on the hillside in front of the church. It was a picturesque scene -- the lovely landscape, the sunlight glancing through the tall oak trees on the bishop and Enmegahbowh, who sat in the centre, the chiefs and five or six clergymen grouped around. Behind the bishop three chairs were placed for the ladies of the party -- the first time, I think, that ladies were ever admitted to an Indian council.
Enmegahbowh died at White Earth at the age of 95.
The above quotes and information were taken from A Pioneer History of Becker County Minnesota by Alvin H. Wilcox (1907), via St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Enterprise, Oregon.
Prayer:
Almighty God, you led your pilgrim people of old with fire and cloud; grant that the ministers of your church, following the example of blessed Enmegahbowh, may stand before your holy people, leading them with fiery zeal and gentle humility. This we ask through Jesus, the Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
READINGS
Psalm 29
Isaiah 52:7-10 or1 Peter 5:1-4
Luke 6:17-23
Disclosure: For the most part, this post is recycled from the feast day last year.
Icon of St. Enmegahbowh by the Rev. Johnson Loud.
Enmegahbowh, who was also called John Johnson, belonged to the Ojibwa Indian tribe in Minnesota.
He must have been born to some position in his tribe, as he had been set apart for a "Medicine Man" in youth, and his Indian name, Enmegahbowh, meant "The man who stands by his people," a significant name, which in time proved to be a true one.
He was sent as a missionary to Crow Wing, after two ministers before him had been unsuccessful in establishing a mission.
For a few years the mission work seemed at a stand still. From Canada Enmegahbowh received earnest invitations to go where comfort and hopeful work awaited him, but Bishop Whipple encouraged him, s[t]anding in the forefront for an unpopular cause and a hated people, and Enmegahbowh would prove the fitness of his name -- he would not desert his people.
The Ojibwa were moved by the US government to the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota, where:
Enmegahbowh labored earnestly, the government now aiding in the work by encouraging the Indians in civilized ways. A steam sawmill was built at White Earth Lake, where Indians were taught to run the machinery, and from which lumber was furnished for building purposes. Eastern churchmen assisted the mission, and a church and parsonage were built.
At the time of the consecration of the church in August, 1872, quite a party of the clergy and laity, through the kindness of Bishop Whipple, were enabled to visit White Earth.
The consecration was on Thursday. Friday morning, the chiefs signified to the bishop their wish to meet with him in a council, which was therefore held, that afternoon, on the hillside in front of the church. It was a picturesque scene -- the lovely landscape, the sunlight glancing through the tall oak trees on the bishop and Enmegahbowh, who sat in the centre, the chiefs and five or six clergymen grouped around. Behind the bishop three chairs were placed for the ladies of the party -- the first time, I think, that ladies were ever admitted to an Indian council.
Enmegahbowh died at White Earth at the age of 95.
The above quotes and information were taken from A Pioneer History of Becker County Minnesota by Alvin H. Wilcox (1907), via St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Enterprise, Oregon.
Prayer:
Almighty God, you led your pilgrim people of old with fire and cloud; grant that the ministers of your church, following the example of blessed Enmegahbowh, may stand before your holy people, leading them with fiery zeal and gentle humility. This we ask through Jesus, the Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
READINGS
Psalm 29
Isaiah 52:7-10 or1 Peter 5:1-4
Luke 6:17-23
Disclosure: For the most part, this post is recycled from the feast day last year.
The Political Compass Test
Economic Left/Right: -5.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.72
Take the test.
I took a similar test a few years ago, and, although my result was still in the same quadrant, I was much closer to the center. It seems that I've been marked by the Bush years. The test is not a quickie six-question test.
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.72
Take the test.
I took a similar test a few years ago, and, although my result was still in the same quadrant, I was much closer to the center. It seems that I've been marked by the Bush years. The test is not a quickie six-question test.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
They're Talking About Gov. Jindal's Exorcism
Talking Points Memo has taken note of our governor's participation in an exorcism (or so Jindal called it):
Bobby Jindal, the 36-year old governor of Louisiana, is being taken seriously by the national press as a candidate on the shortlist to be John McCain's Vice President. No one doubts that he's a political prodigy -- his impressive resume includes stints as president of the state university system, a Congressman and now governor.
But one of Jindal's job titles hasn't gotten much attention -- and it just might prompt a few questions if his Veep candidacy gains steam: Exorcist.
What impresses me most about Jindal's resumé is his nearly 100% loyal support of all of Bush's mad schemes, both at home and abroad, while he was in the House of Representatives.
I have no doubt that this wider notice of his participation in an exorcism will lessen his chances of becoming McCain's running mate, if he ever was a serious contender. The word of the exorcism has been around locally for some time, but it didn't seem to make much difference to Louisiana voters in the House race and the gubernatorial election. However, in a national election, the story of the exorcism could be a tad radioactive.
TPM failed to take note of the local bloggers who have talked about the story for years, except for one link to The Daily Kingfish, added in an update.
Thanks to Oyster for the tip.
UPDATE: Time Magazine's blog has picked up the story, and the full article from the New Oxford Review is available now, probably only for a limited time, but I printed a copy.
Bobby Jindal, the 36-year old governor of Louisiana, is being taken seriously by the national press as a candidate on the shortlist to be John McCain's Vice President. No one doubts that he's a political prodigy -- his impressive resume includes stints as president of the state university system, a Congressman and now governor.
But one of Jindal's job titles hasn't gotten much attention -- and it just might prompt a few questions if his Veep candidacy gains steam: Exorcist.
What impresses me most about Jindal's resumé is his nearly 100% loyal support of all of Bush's mad schemes, both at home and abroad, while he was in the House of Representatives.
I have no doubt that this wider notice of his participation in an exorcism will lessen his chances of becoming McCain's running mate, if he ever was a serious contender. The word of the exorcism has been around locally for some time, but it didn't seem to make much difference to Louisiana voters in the House race and the gubernatorial election. However, in a national election, the story of the exorcism could be a tad radioactive.
TPM failed to take note of the local bloggers who have talked about the story for years, except for one link to The Daily Kingfish, added in an update.
Thanks to Oyster for the tip.
UPDATE: Time Magazine's blog has picked up the story, and the full article from the New Oxford Review is available now, probably only for a limited time, but I printed a copy.
Wise Words From J. K. Rowling
Please go read or watch the video of J. K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard University. It's powerful, simply amazing. After pondering what to speak of, she says:
I have come up with two answers. On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called ‘real life’, I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.
I'll give you a few snippets of the address, but I urge you to read the entire speech or watch the video at the Harvard Magazine website that I link to above. It will take a little time, but I promise you, it's worth it.
She tells of the period in her life, seven years after graduating from the university, when her marriage had ended and she was a jobless single mother. It was a time of great difficulty for her. She says of herself, "I was the biggest failure I knew".
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
On imagination:
You might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so. Though I will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.
Her final words from Seneca:
"As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters."
I wish you all very good lives.
I hope that these brief quotes are enough to whet your appetite for more.
Thanks to Ann for the link.
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