LATEST TSA

Don't blame me. Blame Doug.

ABOUT THE RELATIONAL CONSEQUENCES IN THE COVENANT...

...which certain supporters of the document claim are harmless and toothless, but which the Archbishop of Canterbury says we must have or the results for the Anglican Communion will be too horrible to contemplate, Jake, at Father Jake Stops the World, has a few words to say. As is so often the case, Jake gets to the heart of the matter. First off, he puts the relational consequences in the Daft Covenant in the form of a list. To see the 16 consequences in list format brings them into focus in a way is missed when the consequences are spread about in paragraphs. Jake calls our attention to no. 12 in the list, which reads:

• removal from the ACC Schedule of Membership

Fr Jake says:

I would suggest to those who are stridently claiming that this document is not "punitive" to carefully consider the above list of "consequences." Specifically, note that twelfth one: "removal from the ACC Schedule of Membership." Thats not getting grounded or sent to your room. That's getting kicked out of the house.

Harmless, toothless? Not punitive? I think not. Read Jake's entire post.

JESUS AND MO

Click on the strip for the larger view.

author says:

Oh no, it's a sentimental one. Emotional manipulation - what the desperate cartoonist resorts to when he can't think of a joke.

5 years old - who'd have believed it? If you want to make the boys happy on their birthday, why not buy a book? There's a 20% discount on all volumes from now until Christmas!

lulu.com

Peace and blessings,

J&M

I wiped a tear from me eye.

COMIC RELIEF - BIOLOGY EXAM

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam before Thanksgiving break. The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk,' worth 70 points or none at all. One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages. He wrote:

1.) It is perfect formula for the child.
2.) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3.) It is always the right temperature.
4.) It is inexpensive.
5.) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6.) It is always available as needed.

And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote...

7.) It comes in 2 cute containers.

He got an A.

And it was only right that he did.

Thanks to Doug.

"HOGWARTS FOR ANGLICANS"

From Rosie Harper, a newly-elected member of General Synod of the Church of England, in the Guardian:

Her Majesty the Queen, resplendent in peachy apricot, inaugurated the ninth General Synod of the Church of England in London on Tuesday.

For new synod members there was an initiation ceremony the day before. It was deemed necessary to introduce us to the inner circle of synodical process.

Central to becoming one of them is the ability to wield the magic zapper, imaginatively called the electronic voting device, and after careful coaching most of us acquired the power.
....

Maybe I had entered the world of Hogwarts for Anglicans. Church House corridors that seemed to go nowhere, pictures on the walls that winked knowingly at me. Would I be able to reconcile the dark arts of church politics and the openness and transparency of the gospel?

I should have known it would be thus. The elections were transparent as mud.
....

First came the dressing up – shivering in the cloister dressed in our academicals looking for all the world like escapees for Hogwarts, we began a very long wait in the cold. A long service in Westminster Abbey followed, and then synodical life began.
....

Dark arts or openness and transparency? The first session began with the presidential address. Our archbishop is a man of depth and integrity, not naturally given to dark arts. He spoke about the concept of a life well lived; what does that look like? A coherent Christian character; what is it? We were drawn in and wondered, beguiled by his gentle charming erudition, but everything stacked up in one direction. This was really an appeal for loyalty.
....

If you wondered where the spells were being brewed then you'd look no further than the labyrinthine corridors and committee rooms of Church House that seemingly conceal an underworld of Harry Potter gear. Down there groups huddled to plot strategy – cunning political and procedural techniques to wrong-foot their opponents.

For those of us in the US, who may be a bit confused by the workings of General Synod of the Church of England, Rosie 'splains it all. Please read the rest of her article if you desire true enlightenment.

Rosie Harper is vicar Great Missenden, chaplain to the bishop of Buckingham.

That would be Bishop Alan, the blogging bishop. Rosie is also quite attractive, which you will see if you click the link to the article. Not that Rosie's appearance has anything to do with anything....

STORY OF THE DAY - SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY

Rules for a successful holiday: 1. Get
together with the family 2. Relive old
times 3. Get out before it blows

Brilliant advice!

From StoryPeople

NACC NEWS RELEASE RESPONDS TO GENERAL SYNOD VOTE

No Anglican Covenant Coalition
Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity
noanglicancovenant.org

NEWS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NO ANGLICAN COVENANT COALITION RESPONDS TO GENERAL SYNOD VOTE

LONDON – Responding to the voting on the proposed Anglican Covenant by the Church of England General Synod, No Anglican Covenant Coalition Moderator, the Revd. Dr. Lesley Fellows made the following statement:

“The No Anglican Covenant Coalition is disappointed that the Church of England has voted to continue consideration of the Anglican Covenant. The debate made it clear that many members believe the Covenant will undermine the traditional Anglican comprehensiveness. We have lost this round. We will continue to oppose the Covenant in the Diocesan Synods and work to defeat it when it returns to the General Synod.

“We note that the GAFCON Primates have said ‘the current text is fatally flawed and so support for this initiative is no longer appropriate.’ A two-tier communion appears to be unavoidable.”

noanglicancovenant.org

The articles referred to, and several others, can be found at: noanglicancovenant.org/resources.html

Revd. Dr. Lesley Fellows (England) +44 1844 239268
Dr. Lionel Deimel (USA) +1-412-512-9087
Revd. Malcolm French (Canada) +1-306-550-2277
Revd. Lawrence Kimberley (New Zealand) +64 3 981 7384
Revd. Hugh Magee (Scotland) +44 1334 470446

CHURCH OF ENGLAND GENERAL SYNOD VOTE RESULTS ON THE ANGLICAN DAFT COVENANT

Bishops: For-39, Against-0, Abstentions-1

Clergy: For-145, Against-32, Abstentions-11

Laity: For-147, Against-25, Abstentions-8

The lopsided vote in General Synod in favor of the Anglican Daft Covenant is just so absolutely depressing. That such a flawed document was overwhelmingly approved after only a brief debate is astonishing to me. Although I have heard (not first hand!) that several bishops at GS had serious reservations about the document, all walked in lockstep, but for the one abstention.

The covenant will now go the the dioceses for approval and then back to Synod for final approval.

"THEY HAVE NAMES"

SSgt. Salvatore Giunta received the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award for bravery in combat, November 16, 2010 at the White House.

From today's Daily Office.

18 U.S. Military Killed in Afghanistan Last Week
11.21.10

US Air Force SrA Andrew S Bubacz, 23, Dalzell, SC
US Army CPL Shawn D Fannin, 32, Wheelersberg, OH
US Army SGT Edward H Bolen, 25, Chittenango, NY
US Army SPC Shannon Chihuahua, 25, Thomasville, GA
US Army SPC David C Lutes, 28, Frostberg, MD
US Army SSG Juan L Rivadeneira, 27, Davie, FL
US Army CPL Jacob R Carver, 20, Freeman, MO
US Army SPC Jacob C Carroll, 20, Clemmons, NC
US Army SSG Kevin M Pape, 30, Fort Wayne, IN
US Marines SSgt Javier O Ortiz Rivera, 26, Rochester, NY
US Army SPC Shane H Ahmed, 31, Chesterfield, MI
US Army SPC Nathan E Lillard, 26, Knoxville, TN
US Army SPC Scott T Nagorski, 27, Greenfield, WI
US Army SPC Jesse A Snow, 25, Fairborn, OH
US Army PFC Christian M Warriner, 19, Mills River, NC
US Army SSG David P Senft, 27, Grass Valley, CA
US Army PFC Kyle M Holder, 18, Conroe, TX
US Army SPC Justin E Culbreth, 26, Colorado Springs, CO

For those who have died:

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servants, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country:

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since I visit nearly every day, I'm grateful to Josh Thomas and others who offer their services to gather the resources for daily prayer at The Daily Office website.

SHALL WE DANCE?

Rowan and John and other dignitaries at the opening ceremonies of the Church of England General Synod. You spotters of British royalty are in luck.

Thanks to Ann for the picture and the title.