STORY OF THE DAY

What are you scared of? she said & I
said, Nothing & then I said what are you
scared of? & she said, people like you &
it was such a relief to know I wouldn't
be able to fool her for long

From StoryPeople.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE [EPISCOPAL(?)] DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA?

"Episcopal" is no longer part of the name of the Diocese of South Carolina. Nothing new there. "Episcopal" was removed some time ago.

Two resolutions, both of which passed at the previous convention, passed again, by more than the required two-thirds margin in both the clergy and lay orders, amending the Diocesan Constitution. The first resolution removed the accession clause to the Canons of the Episcopal Church, and the second, enabled the Convention to meet more frequently than annually, if needed. These resolutions seek to protect the Diocese from any attempt at un-Constitutional intrusions in our corporate life in South Carolina and were in response to the revisions to the Title IV Canons of the Episcopal Church.

What's going on? Is the Diocese of South Carolina still part of the Episcopal Church?

In the comments to the post on the actions of the convention of the Diocese of South Carolina at The Lead, Tobias Haller says:

The accession required is in Constitution V.1. The question raised in SC is whether the accession to the law of the church required for the admission of a diocese into union with this Church must necessarily remain in place. Their view, in the retail world, is called "bait and switch."

What is cited above is the "Dennis Canon" -- which is also an area of concern, but isn't about accession to the C&C.

Well! Bait and switch is it? Who would ever have thought...?

Bishop Mark Lawrence's address to the convention is in his usual bombastic style and includes the usual disparaging commentary about the leadership of the "national" church, along with the usual "scare quotes".

As I have spoken in recent days to Diocesan Council, the deans, and the Standing Committee, it is my expressed hope that this year of 2011 will be free from constitutional and canonical challenges from the “national” leadership of the Episcopal Church, and that we in the Diocese of South Carolina can get on with the work of growing our parishes, strengthening the lives of our parishioners and churches, and planting new congregations.

Bishop Lawrence continues with a reference to Nehemiah, noting that he will not employ the martial metaphor from Ch. 4.

A Biblical metaphor I have employed from time to time is from Chapter 4 of the Book of Nehemiah where the workmen rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem labored with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. But as I have said, my hope is that this will be a season for the trowel not the sword. Time alone will tell if we will be permitted to do our work unencumbered by intrusions. I am eager to see this Diocese of South Carolina add daily to its number those who are being saved; and what better way to do this than by growing our existing congregations and planting new ones. This work, not the controversies of the day, will be the thrust of this address.

Rather, he will move forward with trowel in hand, yet ever on guard against "intrusions", presumably by the "national" leadership, when he may again require a "sword".

Bishop Lawrence's rhetoric is unlike any other Episcopal priest or bishop that I've read or heard. He sounds more like Billy Graham - not that there's anything wrong with that!

The weekend began Friday afternoon with a presentation by the Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester, who now serves South Carolina as Visiting Bishop for Anglican Communion Relationships, on “Triple Jeopardy: The Challenge of Islam, Secularism and Multiculturalism.”

Bishop Nazir-Ali also preached a sermon. I searched for a link to the actual text of Bishop Nazir-Ali's sermon and presentation without success. The link to MP3 version of the sermon, to which I have not listened, is below:

Sermon by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali.

The link at the diocesan website to the Presentation, "Triple Jeopardy: The Challenge of Islam, Secularism and Multiculturalism," by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali is broken.

FOX NEWS TELLS THE TRUTH!

Fox News' Shep Smith talking with Juan Williams about the situation in Wisconsin: "Bust the unions; it's over."..."To pretend that this is about a fiscal crisis is baloney."




This is Fox News, folks!

REJOICE IN THE ANGLICAN COVENANT!

From the introduction to the Study Guide to the Anglican Communion Covenant:

In December 2009 the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion sent the text of The Anglican Communion Covenant to all the member churches of the Anglican Communion, asking that they consider it for adoption according to their own internal procedures. It is hoped that there will be wide consultation within those churches, so that Anglicans around the world will have an opportunity to understand and rejoice in the commitment which the churches are being asked to make. (My emphasis)

So. Anglicans around the world are to rejoice in the commitment to the covenant even before they undertake to study the text of the covenant to see if its implementation WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE AC! I'm sorry to shout, but I thought studies were to be impartial, with the conclusion left open to come AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE STUDY! Oops! There I am shouting again.

Alan Perry, a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, who blogs at Insert Catchy Blog Title Here, riffs off the crazy-making study guide which accompanies the daft covenant and introduces sanity into the discussion. Please read his post. Thank you.

"BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR"


Click on the cartoon for the larger view of this fine example of MadPriest's brilliance.

(MadPriest insists that the description of the cartoon includes "brilliance" or "brilliant" as a condition for its use.)

NOT TO BE BELIEVED!

From Jude at First Draft:

Well, this is news from Madison, WI, but not about the protests and such.
....

I started the day with breakfast with a fellow state worker parasite. We went to a local diner to do something silly like spend money on goods and services that would help stimulate the local economy.
....

As is my wont, I ordered a cup of coffee with breakfast.



Yes. That's right. I'm in goddamn Wisconsin, and I get a cup that says "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." And it's got a goddamn Confederate battle flag on it. That's a cup that's just bound to piss me off.

Read the rest of the story over there. You won't be sorry.

"DANCE ME TO THE END OF LOVE" - LEONARD COHEN

Leonard is an old man. Well, so what? I am an old lady. In fact, I believe we are the same age. The video is from a few years ago, but not so very many. Leonard has not lost his magic touch. What a gorgeous and romantic song! And the violin!

JUSTICE DEPT. WILL NO LONGER DEFEND "DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT"

From Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin:

The Justice Department today announced that they will no longer defend the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” in two lawsuits that had recently been filed in Federal District Court challenging the law.

In a letter sent to House speaker John Boehner, Attorney General Eric Holder wrote that Section 3 of the statute which bars the federal government from recognizing legal marriages of same-sex couples is a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment. Holder wrote that in response the the lawsuit which had been filed recently (Windsor v. United States, No. 1:10-cv-8435 (S.D.N.Y.); Pedersen v. OPM, No. 3:10-cv-1750 (D. Conn.).

Good news, indeed! I don't have the kind of mind to understand the legal twists and turns, but I'm pleased that the US Justice department will no longer defend the indefensible.

"UPDATE ON OUR FRIENDS IN NEW ZEALAND"

From the comments at MadPriest's post "UPDATE ON OUR FRIENDS IN NEW ZEALAND":

Brian R said:

Thanks, yes I was even further south on Stewart island (the third very small island of NZ). I am driving my sister and her husband around. Thankfully we had decided not to go to Christchurch this trip. It is very upsetting, the nation is in a state of shock. The loss of the cathedral is terrible but the loss of life (now 75) is far worse. Glad to hear Bosco and family are safe, also Alcibiades family.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ORMONDE

Feb. 23 I go into Ochsner for a catheter ablation to cure focal atrial tachycardia (rapid heart beat caused by a spot in one of my atria, which fires off odd electrical impulses). The doc will put a catheter up one of my arteries and into the right atrium, locate the pesky spot (if possible), and zap it out of existence. He assured me the procedure was “low risk”—only 1 % die.

Ormonde

Pray that Ormonde is in the 99% (I know he will be!) and that the procedure will be successful in stopping the atrial tachycardia.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, graciously comfort your servant Ormonde in his illness, and bless the means made use of for his cure. Fill his heart with confidence that, though at times he may be afraid, he yet may put his trust in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ormonde blogs at Through the Dust.

UPDATE: Ormonde Plater says:

I'm back, released from the hospital, and the good doc zapped not one but two bad spots. Thanks for the prayers, everybody.

Excellent news, Ormonde. Prayers of thanksgiving. Thanks for letting us know.

ONE BRAVE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST

From MYMMedia:

On February 10th , 2011, The interfaith council lead by the "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign, gathered together religious leaders of many faiths and denominations; from episcopal, to Catholics, to Jewish, to Southern Baptist and many others.

All spoke from a perspective as to why they feel their faith should support marriage equality for same-sex couples.

this is father joe Palacios comments from the Catholic perspective.


MYM-Media was asked on behalf of the "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign to document the groups ongoing efforts to end marriage discrimination in Maryland and broaden the public discussion regarding the roll of faith in this civil rights issue.

Thanks to Wade.