EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF COLORADO SAYS NO TO THE COVENANT

Members of the Diocese of Colorado’s General Convention Deputation have accepted and faithfully engaged Executive Council’s invitation to study, pray and discuss with members of our diocese the proposed Anglican Covenant. In addition to our own conversations as a deputation, we listened to others in congregations and in other contexts throughout the diocese, and these conversations also inform our understanding of the proposed covenant and this response. Our fellowship with each other and our desire to be in relationship with sisters and brothers in Christ in other parts of the Anglican Communion have been strengthened by our study and discussions. We give thanks for the collaborative work of the committees and writing teams who have created the successive drafts of the proposed Anglican Covenant.

Based on our engagement with the text and with each other, our deputation (with one exception) has concluded that adoption of the proposed covenant would not strengthen our relationships within the Anglican Communion or foster our witness to God’s transforming love in the world. We, therefore, recommend to Executive Council that The Episcopal Church encourage members of the Anglican Communion to persevere in strengthening relationships through ongoing conversation and living into those covenants that already bind us in missio dei – the Baptismal Covenant, the Five Marks of Mission and the Millennium Development Goals - while refraining from adoption of the final draft of the proposed Anglican Covenant.

Our concerns with the final draft of the proposed Anglican Covenant
include the following:

· The idea for a covenant arose out of the Windsor Report in response to the actions of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in Canada regarding consecration of a partnered gay bishop and same gender blessings. However, the proposed covenant provides no means of reconciling the relationships broken by responses to those actions. Instead it offers a punitive Section 4 that proposes relational consequences that formalize separation and suspension from participation in the life of the Communion. One member of our deputation suggests that this is an example of proffering a legalistic solution to remedy a relationship problem. Another deputy asks, “How would the events of 2003 have turned out differently had such an Anglican Covenant been in place then?”

· The Preamble acknowledges that signatories adopt the covenant “in order to proclaim more effectively in our different contexts the grace of God.” However, Section 4 directly contravenes the Preamble by promulgating disciplinary procedures that do not respect those different contexts. The polity of the provinces in the Anglican Communion varies widely, and Section 4.1.3 affirms the “autonomy of governance” of each province.

· Section 3.1.3 elevates “the historic threefold ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, ordained for service in the Church of God” into ministry leadership above the laity, which is contradictory to The Episcopal Church’s theological understanding of the ministry of all the baptized, including the laity who share in the governance and leadership of the Church.

· Section 3.1.4 codifies The Four Instruments of Communion and their powers in a new way that is not in alignment with how they are perceived, received and understood by all provinces of the Anglican Communion.

· Some experience the proposed self-description of Anglicanism (Sections 1-3) as "too Anglican" while others experience it as "too generically Christian." This confusion about how a particularly Anglican understanding of Christianity fits within a general understanding of Christianity may undermine the integrity of
ecumenical relationships. Moreover, if the proposed covenant accurately describes Anglicanism's self-understanding, why is it necessary? If, on the other hand, it does not accurately describe our self-understanding, then how is it helpful? And does it not then fundamentally change who we are?

· The broad authority proposed for the Standing Committee of the covenant suggests the “covenant” is really a “contract.” The grace and beauty of the Anglican Communion has always been the voluntary fellowship of provinces bound together by affection. Covenants in the biblical tradition are about relationship, identity, and
transformation, and are rooted in models of shared abundance (Eucharistic fellowship). On the other hand, contracts are merely transactions or exchanges for mutual benefit. Contractual arrangements fall short of our vocation to love one another as we have been loved by God.

The Colorado deputation affirms the need to maintain and deepen fellowship within the Anglican Communion as well as within The Episcopal Church. Our relationships are troubled and the members of the Anglican Communion are not of one mind about how to reconcile and restore our relationships. Some would even diagnose the Anglican Communion as a global entity as being profoundly fractured, our relationships ruptured, and our attention to missio dei compromised. Precisely for these reasons, we must work to intensify our relationships across the communion through engagement with the promises we have already made to care for one another.

All of us must continue to seek ways to connect our Anglican identity and relationships to God’s mission for the Church. Some believe it is incumbent upon those opposed to this version of the covenant to propose alternative, clear, realistic and definitive strategies by which this global family can weather and address the divergent theological and ecclesial realities in the Anglican Communion.

We look forward to continuing to walk together with all our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion and give thanks for our fellowship.

General Convention Deputation of the Diocese of Colorado

IN MEMORIAM - ONE YEAR LATER

The New Orleans Times-Picayune posted pictures of the 11 men who died in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon well in their print edition, but I can't find the pictures online. However, the men have names:

James Anderson - 35 - Drill supervisor - Married, father of two - Bay City, Texas

Aaron Dale Burkeen - 37 Crane operator - Married, father of two - Philadelphia, Mississippi

Donald Clark - 49 - Assistant driller - Married - Newelton, Louisiana

Stephen Ray Curtis - 39 - Married, father of two - Georgetown, Louisiana

Gordon Jones - 28 - Mud engineer - Married, father of two - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Roy Wyatt Kemp - 27 - Roughneck - Married, father of two - Jonesville, Louisiana

Karl Kepplinger, Jr - 38 - Mud pit worker - Married, father of one - Natchez, Mississippi

Blair Manuel - 56 - Chemical engineer - Engaged, father of three, Gonzales, Louisiana

Dewey Revette - 48 - Oil driller - Married, father of two - State Line, Mississippi

Shane Rosto - 22 - Floor hand - Married, father of one - Liberty, Mississippi

Adam Weise - 24 - Floor hand - Single - Yorktown, Texas

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And the oil? It's still there.



Photo from NOLA.com.

Picture at the head of the post from Wikipedia.

"THE PILGRIM'S WAY"

Deliver me from every pride---the Middle, High, and Low---
That bars me from a brother's side, whatever pride he show.
And purge me from all heresies of thought and speech and pen
That bid me judge him otherwise than I am judged. Amen!

(Excerpt from the poem by Rudyard Kipling)

The words made me smile, and they made me think.

DIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA SAYS NO THE ANGLICAN COVENANT

From the summary of the Anglican Covenant conversation in the Diocese of California:

The California deputation concluded from conversations that included more than 200 lay and clergy members of the diocese that the proposed covenant "would alter Anglicanism at [its] basic level, and not for the better." The deputation also held up the "Indaba process," a Zulu word that refers to conferences where all participants have an equal voice. This process was introduced at the Lambeth Conference of 2008 as a way to bring bishops from around the communion together in small groups to discuss matters of importance in their own context. The California deputation's summary stated that the Indaba example and other expressions of mutuality "are far more life-giving in the Gospel and Spirit-filled than pursuing the formal structures offered by the proposed Anglican Covenant." (My emphasis)

Indaba! Indaba!

From the letter to Dr. Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies and The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate from the General Convention Deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of California:

We note our deep value of the Anglican Communion, The Episcopal Church's constituent part in it, and our ongoing desire to participate in its common life. We cherish our developing diocesan companion relationships and the inter-provincial relationships in shared mission a number of our congregations enjoy. Many of these relationships already transcend cultural and theological differences, witness to our unity in Christ, and reflect the diversity that has been part of our Christian heritage all the way back to the first apostolic Council of Jerusalem.

It IS possible to value the Anglican Communion, while at the same time viewing the Anglican Covenant as detrimental to furthering the bonds of unity in Christ amongst the churches of the communion. Thanks to the deputation at the diocesan for making the concept crystal clear.

Read the entire letter at the diocesan website or at the link to The Lead below.

H/T to Ann Fontaine at The Lead.

Keep those noes a-comin'! Indaba! Indaba!

ST LUKE'S IN THE DIOCESE OF ALBANY VOTES NO TO THE ANGLICAN COVENANT

From the comments:

Ann said...

Following the lead of St. Andrew's in Albany, the Vestry of the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician in Saranac Lake, New York (diocese of Albany) unanimously voted last night on a resolution not to endorse the Anglican Covenant and will send that resolution to the national Church. There are plenty of "black sheep" in the DoA!

Chalk up another "black sheep" parish in the Diocese of Albany, which voted at convention to endorse the Anglican Covenant. Obviously, not all the parishes agree. Go "Black Sheep"!

Image above shows stained glass windows depicting Faith, Hope, and Charity in the Church of St Luke's.

JINDAL WILL SIGN "BIRTHER" BILL IF LEGES PASS IT

From NOLA.com:

Gov. Bobby Jindal would sign a bill requiring presidential candidates to provide a copy of their birth certificate to qualify for the Louisiana ballot if it reaches his desk, a spokesman said Monday.

A spokesman says Gov. Bobby Jindal will sign a bill to require presidential candidates to provide a birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

"It's not part of our package, but if the Legislature passes it we'll sign it," press secretary Kyle Plotkin said.

Surprise! Our Rhodes Scholar governor will sign the silly bill as a sop to the "birthers". Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter is also a Rhodes Scholar. One wonders how the screening committee for the scholarships operates.

The bill by state Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, and Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, would require federal candidates who want to appear on Louisiana ballots to file an affidavit attesting to their citizenship, which would have to be accompanied by an "original or certified copy" of their birth certificate.
....

Seabaugh, an attorney, said his bill was motivated by the numerous lawsuits that have been filed over Obama's citizenship. "Not one of them has ever been decided on the merits," Seabaugh said. "As an attorney, that's offensive to me."

He said he has no reason to doubt Obama's citizenship. "I don't purport to be a 'birther,'" Seabaugh said. "This is from the standpoint of cleaning up an area of the law where there appears to be a gap."

There's a gap all right, but it's not in the law.

H/T to Adrastos at First Draft.

FUNNY KIDS

1.HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
(written by kids)

-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

2.WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

3.HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

4.WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

5.WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8(isn't she a treasure)

-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

6.WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

-When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
-- Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8

7.IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )


8.HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8


And the #1 Favorite is...

9.HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

Thanks to susan s.

Please don't bother to tell me if Snopes says that the words were not written by kids, because I don't care. They are funny.

IN THE BLOOMING GARDEN - AGAIN

The sweet pea flowers of many colors, with their sweet aroma, are lovely to behold.



At right angles to the fence with the sweet peas is a long stretch of fence covered with blooming Confederate jasmine. The sweet aroma near the jasmine is nearly overpowering. The blooms are best admired from a distance.



Pictured above are white flowers on a wild rosebush. The plant requires no special care at all as opposed the hybrids which Grandpère has tried to grow in the past, which needed treatment for black spot and other diseases due to our rainy and humid climate. Even with intensive TLC, the bushes didn't thrive.



A few of Grandpère's tomato plants are shown above, along with marigolds to keep the bugs away from the plants without the use of insecticides. A redbird is causing trouble to the tomato plants corn now. Since GP puts out birdseed, all sorts of birds come in great numbers.



There's Diana in all her one-eyed splendor with the long shadows of the late afternoon. Grandpère stands with my son on the left.

Diana went for her annual checkup and vaccinations this week. The vet said she's in fine shape for a 15 year old dog. I had no idea she was 15 years old, not having looked back at her veterinary records for quite some time. I'd been saying she was around 12 years old. As many of you know, Diana has only one eye, with a cataract, and she is going deaf. She can still see out of her one eye, but not well.

THE OLD CHEROKEE

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil: He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good: He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

(Not so much a joke, really.)

Cheers,

Paul (A.)

No, Paul (A.), not so much of a joke, really, more like the truth from the wise old Cherokee.

MIMI'S RESTAURANT - MY PLACE

No, not excatly my place, but Mimi's Restaurant is our place to eat a delicious Sunday brunch. Mimi's is located in River Ridge in Jefferson Parish in the 'burbs outside New Orleans, only a short 45 minute drive away from Thibodaux. Grandpère and I dined there several times since the new chefs took over, and we enjoy the food immensely. You can view the brunch menu here.

GP ordered Shrimp Remoulade, and I ordered New Orleans Crab Ravigote for the salad course. The chunks of white crab meat over fresh greens in my salad were out of this world. The Shrimp Remoulade was not the tiny appetizer bowl that is served in most restaurants but was rather a full salad.

The menu changes from Sunday to Sunday, and I see that the entrées we ordered are not on the menu on the website. GP had Mixed Green Tomatoes, Shrimp Cakes, Poached Eggs, Red Wine Mushroom Sauce, and I had Eggs Lafourche (my parish!), Meat Pies topped with Fried Eggs, and Shrimp Sauce Piquante. The sauce was, indeed, piquante. If you don't like hot and spicy, then you'd want to order another dish. Both entrées were quite tasty. Last time we were there, I ordered GP's dish, so I know it is good.

We asked for boxes for the leftovers, because we couldn't finish our meals, but that didn't stop us from ordering dessert. Oh no! I ordered Crème Brulée, and GP ordered Key Lime Pie. Mmmm - yummy!



Pictured above is the wine and cheese list hanging on the wall. GP had an Italian Mosato white wine, and I ordered a New Zealand Shiraz red, and we shared a Mimosa. I did not drive to my daughter's house, because I was a little tipsy, so GP did the duty. Her house is only a couple of blocks away from the restaurant. I sobered up there.



As you see from the picture, the building is nondescript from the outside, located in a strip shopping center, but at the restaurant's website you see the decor inside is warm and welcoming.

The food is delicious; the staff is friendly and attentive; the prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. What more can you ask for?