My diocese will have its convention at the end of this week. I wanted to attend to see if I could hear a word of reaction from anyone in my diocese as to the happenings in Tanzania, and TEC, and the Anglican Communion and also, perhaps to catch a glimpse of what the Windsor bishops are about. I am not a delegate, so I would go as a simple person-in-the-pew observer.
But, I find that I am so thoroughly drained by the recent court proceedings pertaining to my son's divorce, that I can't comtemplate getting myself there. Since September, when the family uproar began, I have been in semi-recluse mode. I am not rebuffing contacts, but I am not initiating contacts either. I stay home more, and it requires more of an effort on my part to get out, except to do my granny duties with my two grandchildren.
I feel totally cut off from what my bishop is about, except that I know that he is involved in working on recovery from Katrina with various groups. I was pleased to hear Bishop Katharine's suggestion in her talk this morning for more creative solutions for those in the affected areas, such as services conducted in homes, with eyes on the early church for models. The church is not a building, but a gathering of the people of God.
In addition, I feel cut off from the wider church, except for news reports and internet contacts, and I am truly grateful for the internet contacts. I'd be going crazy (crazier?) without them.
Tomorrow evening we begin our Lenten Evensong program, followed by soup and sandwiches and teachings from the Alpha series. Perhaps the discussions after the teachings will serve as an opportunity for exchanges with others in my own church community about what is going on. We shall see.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Last Day in Court
A huge thank you and love and kisses to all of you who have shared your prayers and concern over the custody battle of my son and his soon-to-be ex-wife. They negotiated a 6/8 day settlement over a two week period. The children will be with my son for six consecutive days and then with their mother for eight consecutive days. This is not quite what we wanted, but it gives him more time with his children than he had before. For now, we will have to accept this and thank God for it. At least the children will not be moving around from night to night as they have been. Holidays and summers are split half and half.
The judge does not like 7/7 custody arrangements. Why, I do not know, but that's how it is. To try for more time, he'd have had to go to full trial, and more airing of the dirty linen, and we are all exhausted and not ready for that. I never had my turn on the stand, so all my careful grooming and thoughtful consideration of proper court clothing was for nought.
The court will review the situation in six months to see how everyone is doing. Thank God it's over for now.
This passage from Philippians comes to mind:
The judge does not like 7/7 custody arrangements. Why, I do not know, but that's how it is. To try for more time, he'd have had to go to full trial, and more airing of the dirty linen, and we are all exhausted and not ready for that. I never had my turn on the stand, so all my careful grooming and thoughtful consideration of proper court clothing was for nought.
The court will review the situation in six months to see how everyone is doing. Thank God it's over for now.
This passage from Philippians comes to mind:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Phil. 4:4-9
The Feast Day of George Herbert
Happy Feast Day of George Herbert.
Preface for the day:
After serving at Cambridge as Public Orator, Herbert was ordained to the priesthood.
Preface for the day:
Our God and King, who called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a pastor of souls, a poet, and a priest in your temple: Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to perform the tasks you give us to do, knowing that nothing is menial or common that is done for your sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.From a brief biography by James Kiefer:
After serving at Cambridge as Public Orator, Herbert was ordained to the priesthood.
He served faithfully as a parish priest, diligently visiting his parishioners and bringing them the sacraments when they were ill, and food and clothing when they were in want. He read Morning and Evening Prayer daily in the church, encouraging the congregation to join him when possible, and ringing the church bell before each service so that those who could not come might hear it and pause in their work to join their prayers with his.1 Peter 5:1-4
....
Today, however, he is remembered chiefly for his book of poems, "The Temple", which he sent shortly before his death to his friend Nicholas Ferrar, to publish if he thought them suitable. They were published after Herbert's death, and have influenced the style of other poets, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Several of them have been used as hymns....
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.THE HOLDFAST.
I threatened to observe the strict decree
Of my deare God with all my power and might:
But I was told by one, it could not be ;
Yet I might trust in God to be my light.
Then will I trust, said I, in him alone.
Nay, ev'n to trust in him, was also his:
We must confesse, that nothing is our own.
Then I confesse that he my succour is:
But to have nought is ours, not to confesse
That we have nought. I stood amaz'd at this,
Much troubled, till I heard a friend expresse,
That all things were more ours by being his.
What Adam had, and forfeited for all,
Christ keepeth now, who cannot fail or fall.
George Herbert
Monday, February 26, 2007
How long, O Lord!
My friends, My husband and I spent all afternoon in court waiting to testify in my son's custody trial. We did not get our turn, and we will have to go back tomorrow. How long, O Lord! Please keep praying. Thank you all for the prayers.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Riverbend, The Baghdad Blogger
Taking a break from parsing and discussing the hidden meanings in the statements coming from the leadership in the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church, I'm moving on. Perhaps some of you have noted the new blog link in my blog roll, called The Baghdad Blogger. The blogger, who calls herself Riverbend, blogs from the city of death, which the leadership of the "Coalition" has made of Baghdad.
Riverbend is a well-educated young Iraqi woman who began blogging in August of 2003. In the beginning, although she was living in a war zone, her posts were lively and full of humor and irony. Life was hard, but she and her family made the best of the difficulties and privations.
Now if you read her posts, they are filled with despair about conditions in Baghdad and with little hope that things will improve in the near future. She is quite bitter toward the American leadership. Can you blame her? She has lost family, friends, and neighbors to death and to flight from the unspeakable conditions in Baghdad.
She risks her life and the lives and safety of her family in writing her blog. Here in the US, supporters of the war claim that she's not who she says she is, that she lies, and generally seek to discredit her however they can. Of course, she must remain anonymous. She has enemies on all sides, because she tells the truth about the miserable conditions in which the people of Baghdad live.
Riverbend is a real person, and she is who she says she is. A collection of her posts was published and selected for the shortlist of a British literary prize, the Samuel Johnson Award, and her identity was verified by the prize committee. We know the British are never wrong about this sort of thing.
When she doesn't post for a while, I worry about her. I'm awed by her courage in continuing to blog. Her latest posts are about an Iraqi woman, Sabrine, who was gang-raped by Iraqi security forces, and who was brave enough to report the rape, but will get no justice from the authorities. Most women who survive after being raped don't report, because reporting can mean death.
I'm going to change my blogroll link for her to "Riverbend", since that's how she's best known.
Under the title of her blog, she has these words:
I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend...
Riverbend is a well-educated young Iraqi woman who began blogging in August of 2003. In the beginning, although she was living in a war zone, her posts were lively and full of humor and irony. Life was hard, but she and her family made the best of the difficulties and privations.
Now if you read her posts, they are filled with despair about conditions in Baghdad and with little hope that things will improve in the near future. She is quite bitter toward the American leadership. Can you blame her? She has lost family, friends, and neighbors to death and to flight from the unspeakable conditions in Baghdad.
She risks her life and the lives and safety of her family in writing her blog. Here in the US, supporters of the war claim that she's not who she says she is, that she lies, and generally seek to discredit her however they can. Of course, she must remain anonymous. She has enemies on all sides, because she tells the truth about the miserable conditions in which the people of Baghdad live.
Riverbend is a real person, and she is who she says she is. A collection of her posts was published and selected for the shortlist of a British literary prize, the Samuel Johnson Award, and her identity was verified by the prize committee. We know the British are never wrong about this sort of thing.
When she doesn't post for a while, I worry about her. I'm awed by her courage in continuing to blog. Her latest posts are about an Iraqi woman, Sabrine, who was gang-raped by Iraqi security forces, and who was brave enough to report the rape, but will get no justice from the authorities. Most women who survive after being raped don't report, because reporting can mean death.
I'm going to change my blogroll link for her to "Riverbend", since that's how she's best known.
Under the title of her blog, she has these words:
I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Prom
From deep south Louisiana comes a local front page story from The Daily Comet about a young man from a local high school who, at first, encountered difficulties getting a couple's ticket to the prom to take his boyfriend.
Alex Altenhein wasn’t looking for a fuss, and he didn’t want a fight.
"I just want to take my boyfriend to the prom just like anybody else would be able to take their boyfriend or girlfriend to the prom," said Altenhein, a soft-spoken H.L. Bourgeois High School junior, who learned the request was nowhere near that simple.
When his friends told him that he would not be able to buy a couple's ticket, he didn't believe them, so he went to the principal's office to ask.
"I said 'Is it true that I’m not going to be able to take my boyfriend to prom,’ and he said 'Your friend is going to have to buy a singles ticket.’ I said 'It is not my friend, it is my boyfriend,’ and he said again that he was going to have to buy a separate ticket," said Altenhein, who admits that he became emotional -- but not abusive -- during the meeting. "He said 'I believe I have answered your question,’ and showed me the door."
But Alex was not satisfied.
"The couple’s ticket says that me and Travis are going out, that we as a couple are equal, just as equal as the others, that we are normal people," Altenhein said. "That is the most-important thing to me for people to know. I am just your average Joe taking his boyfriend to the prom. I’m not the gay kid that you tell 'Oh you get a special little ticket.’ "
Good for Alex.
The local press became involved, and eventually the School Board intervened, and Alex got his couple's ticket.
Altenhein’s mother, Mary, says she is supportive of him and respects his sexual orientation. But she also fears that concerns about the prom will overshadow his schoolwork. And while she wants her son treated with equality, she is not so comfortable with him leading a civil-rights charge.
"I hope this makes a difference in that no one will be discriminated against again when they try to go to a dance,"
As a mother and a grandmother, I understand Mary's discomfort with her son's "leading a civil-rights charge," but I know, deep down, she's proud of him.
The pleasure with which Altenhein and Griffin greeted Authement’s [the principal] decision was tempered by reservations over how serious the school’s commitment to equality will be, and sadness that it should be an issue at all.
"It was not supposed to be like this," Griffin [Alex's boyfriend] said. "It shouldn’t be this difficult. It shouldn’t take the newspaper getting involved for that to happen. The damage has already been done. We shouldn’t have to ask for what is our right to begin with."
"It was not supposed to be like this," is exactly right. I am pleased that the story has a happy ending, but it should not have been such a struggle.
I have hope that those of Alex's generation will be much further along than my generation in making sexual orientation a non-issue. Here's a quote from one of Alex's classmates:
"I am not gay or anything, but I have a few gay friends," said Ian Wood, an H.L. Bourgeois senior from Houma, who signed the petition. "I thought we got past all that a long time ago. I don’t think it should matter who you go with. Why are they making such a big deal about it at school? I think it’s stupid."
I'll add that I'm quite pleased with the actions of the local press in this situation.
Alex Altenhein wasn’t looking for a fuss, and he didn’t want a fight.
"I just want to take my boyfriend to the prom just like anybody else would be able to take their boyfriend or girlfriend to the prom," said Altenhein, a soft-spoken H.L. Bourgeois High School junior, who learned the request was nowhere near that simple.
When his friends told him that he would not be able to buy a couple's ticket, he didn't believe them, so he went to the principal's office to ask.
"I said 'Is it true that I’m not going to be able to take my boyfriend to prom,’ and he said 'Your friend is going to have to buy a singles ticket.’ I said 'It is not my friend, it is my boyfriend,’ and he said again that he was going to have to buy a separate ticket," said Altenhein, who admits that he became emotional -- but not abusive -- during the meeting. "He said 'I believe I have answered your question,’ and showed me the door."
But Alex was not satisfied.
"The couple’s ticket says that me and Travis are going out, that we as a couple are equal, just as equal as the others, that we are normal people," Altenhein said. "That is the most-important thing to me for people to know. I am just your average Joe taking his boyfriend to the prom. I’m not the gay kid that you tell 'Oh you get a special little ticket.’ "
Good for Alex.
The local press became involved, and eventually the School Board intervened, and Alex got his couple's ticket.
Altenhein’s mother, Mary, says she is supportive of him and respects his sexual orientation. But she also fears that concerns about the prom will overshadow his schoolwork. And while she wants her son treated with equality, she is not so comfortable with him leading a civil-rights charge.
"I hope this makes a difference in that no one will be discriminated against again when they try to go to a dance,"
As a mother and a grandmother, I understand Mary's discomfort with her son's "leading a civil-rights charge," but I know, deep down, she's proud of him.
The pleasure with which Altenhein and Griffin greeted Authement’s [the principal] decision was tempered by reservations over how serious the school’s commitment to equality will be, and sadness that it should be an issue at all.
"It was not supposed to be like this," Griffin [Alex's boyfriend] said. "It shouldn’t be this difficult. It shouldn’t take the newspaper getting involved for that to happen. The damage has already been done. We shouldn’t have to ask for what is our right to begin with."
"It was not supposed to be like this," is exactly right. I am pleased that the story has a happy ending, but it should not have been such a struggle.
I have hope that those of Alex's generation will be much further along than my generation in making sexual orientation a non-issue. Here's a quote from one of Alex's classmates:
"I am not gay or anything, but I have a few gay friends," said Ian Wood, an H.L. Bourgeois senior from Houma, who signed the petition. "I thought we got past all that a long time ago. I don’t think it should matter who you go with. Why are they making such a big deal about it at school? I think it’s stupid."
I'll add that I'm quite pleased with the actions of the local press in this situation.
Friday, February 23, 2007
MadPriest
There once was a man called MadPriest.
Of his humor he served up a feast.
He stirred up a storm
To his bishop's alarm.
Now he's merry, but churchless, poor priest.
Of his humor he served up a feast.
He stirred up a storm
To his bishop's alarm.
Now he's merry, but churchless, poor priest.
Frank Said...
Frank and I met - virtually - at Of Course I Could Be Wrong, MadPriest's blog, "where the lunatics rave". Frank's wit is dry, sharp, and pithy. In just a few words, he can be very funny, laugh-out-loud funny.
A couple of days ago, I wrote a post titled "Back Home And Back In Business". In response, Frank wrote a wise, and wonderful, and serious comment that I thought was worth calling attention to.
These are the words in my post that Frank responds to:
After the service, I had a conversation with a gay man and a lesbian from my congregation, and both expressed support for Bishop Katharine, and the man thinks she did the right thing. I was much more saddened and disturbed by the communiqué and the PB's reflection than they were. The two of them were amazed at how upset I was, and, honestly, I was amazed at how complacent they seemed. The woman said, "I'm used to being oppressed." What gives here?
Here is Frank's comment:
As an old queer, with the emphasis on "old," I think I understand at least up to a point where the gay man and lesbian in your congregation are right now. Many of us have gotten used to taking what we need from the church whether or not it affirms us, knowing the gifts are God's to give and only channeled, sometimes imperfectly, through the human institution. If barred absolutely in one place, we have found another. We can do it again.
I'm not too worried about my generation. We're sturdy and stubborn, having survived this long. I worry about the younger ones who, confronted by such damnfool goings-on, may simply turn away --- not necessarily from God but from institutions the rest of us treasure.
Old queers are accustomed to not getting our way, and that may help explain the behavior of some of the grumpy old straight men now at play in the fields of the Lord. They ARE accustomed to getting their own way, unused to bending with the wind, not open to compromise or kneeling next to those who won't agree with them. Lord have mercy on them.
For one, I don't think this is a time to even consider "fasting" from The Episcopal Church. She has for the most part behaved in a Christ-like manner toward us for many years now and, like PB Katherine, deserves our hope and prayers during a season of hurt.
February 22, 2007 3:38 PM
UPDATE: Oy! Frank the Wit, at MadPriest's place tells me that he is not the author of this comment. I should have guessed that from its seriousness. Anyway, it's quite good, and I thought you should see it.
A couple of days ago, I wrote a post titled "Back Home And Back In Business". In response, Frank wrote a wise, and wonderful, and serious comment that I thought was worth calling attention to.
These are the words in my post that Frank responds to:
After the service, I had a conversation with a gay man and a lesbian from my congregation, and both expressed support for Bishop Katharine, and the man thinks she did the right thing. I was much more saddened and disturbed by the communiqué and the PB's reflection than they were. The two of them were amazed at how upset I was, and, honestly, I was amazed at how complacent they seemed. The woman said, "I'm used to being oppressed." What gives here?
Here is Frank's comment:
As an old queer, with the emphasis on "old," I think I understand at least up to a point where the gay man and lesbian in your congregation are right now. Many of us have gotten used to taking what we need from the church whether or not it affirms us, knowing the gifts are God's to give and only channeled, sometimes imperfectly, through the human institution. If barred absolutely in one place, we have found another. We can do it again.
I'm not too worried about my generation. We're sturdy and stubborn, having survived this long. I worry about the younger ones who, confronted by such damnfool goings-on, may simply turn away --- not necessarily from God but from institutions the rest of us treasure.
Old queers are accustomed to not getting our way, and that may help explain the behavior of some of the grumpy old straight men now at play in the fields of the Lord. They ARE accustomed to getting their own way, unused to bending with the wind, not open to compromise or kneeling next to those who won't agree with them. Lord have mercy on them.
For one, I don't think this is a time to even consider "fasting" from The Episcopal Church. She has for the most part behaved in a Christ-like manner toward us for many years now and, like PB Katherine, deserves our hope and prayers during a season of hurt.
February 22, 2007 3:38 PM
UPDATE: Oy! Frank the Wit, at MadPriest's place tells me that he is not the author of this comment. I should have guessed that from its seriousness. Anyway, it's quite good, and I thought you should see it.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Back Home And Back in Business
Yesterday, I was away from home all day with none of my passwords working from the computer that I was using. I could neither post on my own blog, nor could I post on other blogs which require registration. Nevertheless, I did manage to get in a few words here and there in the blogosphere with the name "Anonymous".
Perhaps it was for the best that I did not post anything on my blog, because I was having a bad day. I had the taste of ashes in my mouth because of my disappointment with Bishop Katharine's Reflection on the meetings in Tanzania and the communiqué issued by the Primates after the meetings.
Prior to the meetings, I admired Bishop Katharine greatly, too much, really, and I knew, deep down, that I was doing that, and MadPriest warned me about it, but I paid no attention to him. She was to be our savior. However, she is human, possessed of the same faults and foibles as the rest of us. We have only one Savior, as I was well reminded. Psalms 146.3 tells us:
Do not put your trust in princes [or princesses],
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
My sadness was such that I wondered if I could stay with my church. My question was answered last night. After I finished my child-care responsibilities, I headed to my church for the Ash Wednesday service. The service and the ashes on my forehead took the taste of ashes out of my mouth, thanks be to God. For better or for worse, I need my church community.
I'm sure my bishop is quite pleased with what came out of Tanzania. My rector and the majority of the members of my church probably like the results, too - those who pay attention.
After the service, I had a conversation with a gay man and a lesbian from my congregation, and both expressed support for Bishop Katharine, and the man thinks she did the right thing. I was much more saddened and disturbed by the communiqué and the PB's reflection than they were. The two of them were amazed at how upset I was, and, honestly, I was amazed at how complacent they seemed. The woman said, "I'm used to being oppressed." What gives here?
I told them, "But you should be paying attention; you should follow this closely." I don't know that I made an impression. The gentleman indicated that he believed Bishop Katharine had a long-term plan to outfox those who tried to lock her into the ultimatum. Perhaps she does; perhaps I'm missing something.
Lord God Almighty, bless and guide us in the Episcopal Church in the days ahead. Give us wisdom and and strength for the tasks ahead. May we always act according to your will, in truth and in love. We pray in the Name of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Reginald Heber's hymn from Isaiah 6:3, courtesy of The Cyber Hymnal:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Perhaps it was for the best that I did not post anything on my blog, because I was having a bad day. I had the taste of ashes in my mouth because of my disappointment with Bishop Katharine's Reflection on the meetings in Tanzania and the communiqué issued by the Primates after the meetings.
Prior to the meetings, I admired Bishop Katharine greatly, too much, really, and I knew, deep down, that I was doing that, and MadPriest warned me about it, but I paid no attention to him. She was to be our savior. However, she is human, possessed of the same faults and foibles as the rest of us. We have only one Savior, as I was well reminded. Psalms 146.3 tells us:
Do not put your trust in princes [or princesses],
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
My sadness was such that I wondered if I could stay with my church. My question was answered last night. After I finished my child-care responsibilities, I headed to my church for the Ash Wednesday service. The service and the ashes on my forehead took the taste of ashes out of my mouth, thanks be to God. For better or for worse, I need my church community.
I'm sure my bishop is quite pleased with what came out of Tanzania. My rector and the majority of the members of my church probably like the results, too - those who pay attention.
After the service, I had a conversation with a gay man and a lesbian from my congregation, and both expressed support for Bishop Katharine, and the man thinks she did the right thing. I was much more saddened and disturbed by the communiqué and the PB's reflection than they were. The two of them were amazed at how upset I was, and, honestly, I was amazed at how complacent they seemed. The woman said, "I'm used to being oppressed." What gives here?
I told them, "But you should be paying attention; you should follow this closely." I don't know that I made an impression. The gentleman indicated that he believed Bishop Katharine had a long-term plan to outfox those who tried to lock her into the ultimatum. Perhaps she does; perhaps I'm missing something.
Lord God Almighty, bless and guide us in the Episcopal Church in the days ahead. Give us wisdom and and strength for the tasks ahead. May we always act according to your will, in truth and in love. We pray in the Name of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Reginald Heber's hymn from Isaiah 6:3, courtesy of The Cyber Hymnal:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Shall I Speak?
While my view of the communiqué coming out of Tanzania is not positive, I seem to be not quite so pessimistic as some "on our side", because I think that Bishop Katharine's signing the communiqué is perhaps simply a statement that, "Yes, this is what happened at the meetings." She really does not have it in her power to commit to more than that. If she meant more than that, then I am truly disappointed in her. She has said that BO33 needs to be revisited, and the communiqué will, most certainly, be revisited.
Remember, she stayed seated at the meeting, and only seven primates refused the Eucharist with her. I think she might have brought some of those in the opposition around a bit, and that's no small thing. Whether we need to spend a whole lot more time trying to bring these folks around is another matter. Perhaps we don't.
Sooner or later, a gay or lesbian partnered candidate will be elected in another TEC diocese. What happens then? The vote will go in favor of consent for consecration. Then what? Another crisis? This meeting solved nothing.
As for the covenant, no matter what is in the covenant, I am against it. We already have a New Covenant given us by Jesus Christ. Why would we think that sinful human beings could come up with a better covenant than that of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
In the end, I am not gay; I am not lesbian. If I were, I'm wondering if my alarm wouldn't be greater, because, if the contents of the communiqué were put into effect, they would much more personally affect me. I don't think there's much chance of that, but we do need to get to work to keep that from happening. It is, in fact, happening in the dioceses of the Windsor bishops.
I can stand in solidarity with my GLTB brotheres and sisters, but empathy only takes me so far. I cannot be them. I hesitate even to express myself here, wondering if what I say is relevant at all. However, I do so because I am a member of the faithful, and my voice should count for something, whether gay, straight, black, white, old, young, whatever, therefore, I speak my small piece, for what it's worth.
UPDATE: Here is the link to Bshop Katharine's reflection on the communiqué and the meetings in Tanzania. I'm not quite clear yet if she is saying, "This is what the communiqué suggests," or if she is saying, "This is what I suggest."
What is being asked of both parties is a season of fasting - from authorizing rites for blessing same-sex unions and consecrating bishops in such unions on the one hand, and from transgressing traditional diocesan boundaries on the other.
She can only recommend this "fasting" to the US bishops, right? She has no power to order this "fasting". My question: "Is Bishop Katharine recommending that TEC follow through on the requests in the communiqué?" If she is, then I am deeply disappointed in her. She has made a grave mistake. Maintaining the Communion is not worth the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters.
As I see it, in the communiqué, GLTB Christians are asked to "fast" from seeking full inclusion in the church, in other words, to "fast" from seeking justice, and the authorities in TEC are asked to "fast" from handing down justice. The bishops who poached outside their territory are asked to "fast" from poaching. How, in any sense, is this equivalent "fasting"? How is this in any sense Christian?
The sacrifice comes on the backs of GLTB Christians. Who else is being asked to sacrifice? This resembles the Pharisees in Matthew 23:4: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them."
How long before TEC follows the words of the prophet Amos 5:24, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
I found this statement to be quite toubling also:
This covenant is a further step in the Windsor process, engaged in the understanding that all human communities need boundaries in order to function.
I was not aware that this was so. When did this come to be?
Remember, she stayed seated at the meeting, and only seven primates refused the Eucharist with her. I think she might have brought some of those in the opposition around a bit, and that's no small thing. Whether we need to spend a whole lot more time trying to bring these folks around is another matter. Perhaps we don't.
Sooner or later, a gay or lesbian partnered candidate will be elected in another TEC diocese. What happens then? The vote will go in favor of consent for consecration. Then what? Another crisis? This meeting solved nothing.
As for the covenant, no matter what is in the covenant, I am against it. We already have a New Covenant given us by Jesus Christ. Why would we think that sinful human beings could come up with a better covenant than that of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
In the end, I am not gay; I am not lesbian. If I were, I'm wondering if my alarm wouldn't be greater, because, if the contents of the communiqué were put into effect, they would much more personally affect me. I don't think there's much chance of that, but we do need to get to work to keep that from happening. It is, in fact, happening in the dioceses of the Windsor bishops.
I can stand in solidarity with my GLTB brotheres and sisters, but empathy only takes me so far. I cannot be them. I hesitate even to express myself here, wondering if what I say is relevant at all. However, I do so because I am a member of the faithful, and my voice should count for something, whether gay, straight, black, white, old, young, whatever, therefore, I speak my small piece, for what it's worth.
UPDATE: Here is the link to Bshop Katharine's reflection on the communiqué and the meetings in Tanzania. I'm not quite clear yet if she is saying, "This is what the communiqué suggests," or if she is saying, "This is what I suggest."
What is being asked of both parties is a season of fasting - from authorizing rites for blessing same-sex unions and consecrating bishops in such unions on the one hand, and from transgressing traditional diocesan boundaries on the other.
She can only recommend this "fasting" to the US bishops, right? She has no power to order this "fasting". My question: "Is Bishop Katharine recommending that TEC follow through on the requests in the communiqué?" If she is, then I am deeply disappointed in her. She has made a grave mistake. Maintaining the Communion is not worth the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters.
As I see it, in the communiqué, GLTB Christians are asked to "fast" from seeking full inclusion in the church, in other words, to "fast" from seeking justice, and the authorities in TEC are asked to "fast" from handing down justice. The bishops who poached outside their territory are asked to "fast" from poaching. How, in any sense, is this equivalent "fasting"? How is this in any sense Christian?
The sacrifice comes on the backs of GLTB Christians. Who else is being asked to sacrifice? This resembles the Pharisees in Matthew 23:4: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them."
How long before TEC follows the words of the prophet Amos 5:24, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
I found this statement to be quite toubling also:
This covenant is a further step in the Windsor process, engaged in the understanding that all human communities need boundaries in order to function.
I was not aware that this was so. When did this come to be?
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