I'm reminded in all of this of the remarks of a now-long-deceased bishop to the wife of the Rector who went to him to complain that she was being beaten by her husband and asked for help for their family. She was told that, if she were a better wife it wouldn't be happening and, anyway, it was her duty to stay in the relationship and make it work even if it wasn't.
Stephen Bates may be my new hero. (read the long artile)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
articles in England--pro and con
To see this story with its related links on the guardian.co.uk site, go to
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/episcopal-anglican-communion-gay
The Anglican church's crumbling foundations
The Episcopal church's decision on gay clergy may well signal the end of the
Anglican communion as we know it
Stephen Bates
Thursday July 16 2009
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/episcopal-anglican-communion-gay
There have been many predictions of dawning schism in the worldwide Anglican
communion over the last six years ? as the Guardian's former religious affairs
correspondent I wrote some of them myself ? but the decision of the US Episcopal
church to affirm its belief that gays, lesbians and transgendered folk are
eligible to be considered for ordination may indeed mark a watershed.
Behind the studiously constructed words of resolution DO25, passed by the
church's triennial general convention in Anaheim, perhaps better known to the
secular world as the home of Disneyland, lies the potential for a Christian
milestone that may ultimately rank the Los Angeles suburb alongside the Council
of Nicaea, the Synod of Whitby, or the Edict of Nantes. Or possibly not.
On the face of it, and perhaps in the depth of it as well, the resolution simply
states the Americans' belief that God has called and may call such individuals
to any ordained ministry within its portals. It does not, technically, end the
moratorium the church agreed at its last convention three years ago not to elect
any more gay bishops, following its experiment with the consecration of Gene
Robinson, a partnered, gay, clergyman, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. It
just signals that it may do so, just as Christian churches including our own
dear CofE have done, knowingly if discreetly, for centuries.
But of course the symbolism of the resolution is much more than technical, the
culmination of a six-year split since Robinson's election by his parishioners
and one which has been anticipated with varying degrees of relish by both sides,
especially the conservatives opposed to gay people, ever since. They have
responded characteristically to the convention's vote, although their outrage at
the thought of any accommodation with gay people who might actually want to
belong to their church has been well-honed and practised for years.
As Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, expostulates in the Times, it gives active
expression to any and every sexual desire. This, as Wright ? a clever if
conceited man ? ought to know, is simply not true. The sort of relationship that
the Episcopalians might sanction is not any old promiscuous or abusive
perversion, but a lifelong, loving commitment between two persons of the sort
you might think the church would welcome and which Wright could find any day of
the week among the currently ordained clergy of the Church of England. In a
church which marries without question promiscuous heterosexuals, sometimes
several times, and blesses pets and nuclear submarines without a qualm, you
might think the expression of mutual commitment, which may or may not have a
sexual element if you are prurient enough to ask, would be welcomed rather than
spurned. After all, the church some time ago accepted the reality of divorce
(its founder Henry VIII was rather keen on the idea) about which the Bible has
much more disobliging things to say than homosexuality.
As it is, this week's Anaheim resolution will probably become the occasion for a
split in the ranks of worldwide Anglicanism, the third largest Christian
denomination. The Americans insist they don't want it and indeed it has almost
exclusively been the church's conservative, largely evangelical, movements and
pressure groups which do and have done all along.
The conservative forces are ready to go and have their organisations and
lobbyists already in place and flexing their muscles, keen to take over the
communion and reshape it in their image ? though, interestingly, the
conservatives are already falling out among themselves, united in what they
oppose rather than what they agree. In England certainly if the conservative
evangelicals get their way the established church will look very different from
the broad, tolerant institution that it has been up till now ? even Tom Wright
might find himself anathematised. Some of them insist that the 17th-century
Reformation did not go far enough and needs to be finished, which may come as a
surprise to the high church Anglo-Catholics with whom they have allied, whose
dearest wish is to reunite with Rome. Perhaps someone should tell them.
If the Americans are shown the door the consequences for worldwide Anglicanism
are incalculable and not just because the wealthy US church largely pays for and
sustains the communion, including in those parts of the world where the church's
mission would not otherwise survive. In the Church of England there are many who
find they have more in common with their American brethren than with the
strident, coercive voices they hear from the conservatives.
All of which leaves poor old Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and as
such nominal head of the Anglican communion, with a dilemma which has loomed
over his head ever since his enthronement six years ago. Who ultimately to run
with? As he sits lonely and anguished in his study at Lambeth Palace, or heads
off with his bucket and spade to a lonely beach in Wales this summer, he may
wonder whether it has all been worth it.
His tactics of delay, procrastination, conciliation and appeasement ? so often
useful weapons for Anglicanism in the past ? have failed to reconcile the
irreconcilable. Now it may be too late to be firm. As a bishop once said to me:
Rowan's been too damn Christian towards them ? meaning the conservative
splitters ? a verdict that on the whole the archbishop might appreciate, but
which hasn't worked in stemming the rift. Turning the other cheek might be a
virtue, but not necessarily against opponents determined to get their own way.
Time for a prayer?
Stephen Bates was the Guardian's religious affairs correspondent from 2000-2007
and is the author of A Church at War: Anglicans and Homosexuality (Hodder 2005)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/episcopal-anglican-communion-gay
The Anglican church's crumbling foundations
The Episcopal church's decision on gay clergy may well signal the end of the
Anglican communion as we know it
Stephen Bates
Thursday July 16 2009
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/episcopal-anglican-communion-gay
There have been many predictions of dawning schism in the worldwide Anglican
communion over the last six years ? as the Guardian's former religious affairs
correspondent I wrote some of them myself ? but the decision of the US Episcopal
church to affirm its belief that gays, lesbians and transgendered folk are
eligible to be considered for ordination may indeed mark a watershed.
Behind the studiously constructed words of resolution DO25, passed by the
church's triennial general convention in Anaheim, perhaps better known to the
secular world as the home of Disneyland, lies the potential for a Christian
milestone that may ultimately rank the Los Angeles suburb alongside the Council
of Nicaea, the Synod of Whitby, or the Edict of Nantes. Or possibly not.
On the face of it, and perhaps in the depth of it as well, the resolution simply
states the Americans' belief that God has called and may call such individuals
to any ordained ministry within its portals. It does not, technically, end the
moratorium the church agreed at its last convention three years ago not to elect
any more gay bishops, following its experiment with the consecration of Gene
Robinson, a partnered, gay, clergyman, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. It
just signals that it may do so, just as Christian churches including our own
dear CofE have done, knowingly if discreetly, for centuries.
But of course the symbolism of the resolution is much more than technical, the
culmination of a six-year split since Robinson's election by his parishioners
and one which has been anticipated with varying degrees of relish by both sides,
especially the conservatives opposed to gay people, ever since. They have
responded characteristically to the convention's vote, although their outrage at
the thought of any accommodation with gay people who might actually want to
belong to their church has been well-honed and practised for years.
As Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, expostulates in the Times, it gives active
expression to any and every sexual desire. This, as Wright ? a clever if
conceited man ? ought to know, is simply not true. The sort of relationship that
the Episcopalians might sanction is not any old promiscuous or abusive
perversion, but a lifelong, loving commitment between two persons of the sort
you might think the church would welcome and which Wright could find any day of
the week among the currently ordained clergy of the Church of England. In a
church which marries without question promiscuous heterosexuals, sometimes
several times, and blesses pets and nuclear submarines without a qualm, you
might think the expression of mutual commitment, which may or may not have a
sexual element if you are prurient enough to ask, would be welcomed rather than
spurned. After all, the church some time ago accepted the reality of divorce
(its founder Henry VIII was rather keen on the idea) about which the Bible has
much more disobliging things to say than homosexuality.
As it is, this week's Anaheim resolution will probably become the occasion for a
split in the ranks of worldwide Anglicanism, the third largest Christian
denomination. The Americans insist they don't want it and indeed it has almost
exclusively been the church's conservative, largely evangelical, movements and
pressure groups which do and have done all along.
The conservative forces are ready to go and have their organisations and
lobbyists already in place and flexing their muscles, keen to take over the
communion and reshape it in their image ? though, interestingly, the
conservatives are already falling out among themselves, united in what they
oppose rather than what they agree. In England certainly if the conservative
evangelicals get their way the established church will look very different from
the broad, tolerant institution that it has been up till now ? even Tom Wright
might find himself anathematised. Some of them insist that the 17th-century
Reformation did not go far enough and needs to be finished, which may come as a
surprise to the high church Anglo-Catholics with whom they have allied, whose
dearest wish is to reunite with Rome. Perhaps someone should tell them.
If the Americans are shown the door the consequences for worldwide Anglicanism
are incalculable and not just because the wealthy US church largely pays for and
sustains the communion, including in those parts of the world where the church's
mission would not otherwise survive. In the Church of England there are many who
find they have more in common with their American brethren than with the
strident, coercive voices they hear from the conservatives.
All of which leaves poor old Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and as
such nominal head of the Anglican communion, with a dilemma which has loomed
over his head ever since his enthronement six years ago. Who ultimately to run
with? As he sits lonely and anguished in his study at Lambeth Palace, or heads
off with his bucket and spade to a lonely beach in Wales this summer, he may
wonder whether it has all been worth it.
His tactics of delay, procrastination, conciliation and appeasement ? so often
useful weapons for Anglicanism in the past ? have failed to reconcile the
irreconcilable. Now it may be too late to be firm. As a bishop once said to me:
Rowan's been too damn Christian towards them ? meaning the conservative
splitters ? a verdict that on the whole the archbishop might appreciate, but
which hasn't worked in stemming the rift. Turning the other cheek might be a
virtue, but not necessarily against opponents determined to get their own way.
Time for a prayer?
Stephen Bates was the Guardian's religious affairs correspondent from 2000-2007
and is the author of A Church at War: Anglicans and Homosexuality (Hodder 2005)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A new day
Well, it will surely have hit the papers that the bishops found a way forward on blessing same-sex unions, however they are allowed or not by state law. A group of bishops--I think with a variety of positions/thoughts/stances on the question met together for several hours and crafted a resolution that they thought could pass the house. I heard that +Gene Robinson said that it was the most grace-filled conversation he had been a part of in the house of bishops.
In our house, we did several things which just make me think that it is a new day and maybe the church can go on to grow from here--they were actions of integrity, of justice, on a variety of subjects that we just couldn't have accomplished three years ago--or six, or even twelve. Pensions for lay employees over 20 hours a week, new disciplinary canons that have reconciliation as a model and plan; a budget that made severe cuts but expressed our commitment to the MDGs, the poorest of the world. And new money for some initiatives that we've talked about for a long time. We'll have to do more locally and in creative ways, especially with Hispanic ministries--that part of the budget was cut severely. But local ministry can be alot more effective than something bureaucratic. They are reducing the ask from dioceses over the next three years, again releasing money for local initiatives. Convention will be two days shorter in 2012, and the committees and groups that meet in the meantime will have to do less face-to-face and more by the web.
We repudiated a 15th century idea (the "Doctrine of Discovery"), which said that indigenous peoples were there to be conquered, defeated and subdued in order to "convert" the world to Christianity. A huge admission. We also passed a framework for our conversations with persons of other faiths and interfaith dialogue (somethign we know about in Torrington)
A huge day. And worship in the Emergent model with Brian MacLaren tonight; he's preaching tomorrow at the eucharist.
Feels pretty full. And very hopeful and realistic. A good day for our church, at least in my view.
In our house, we did several things which just make me think that it is a new day and maybe the church can go on to grow from here--they were actions of integrity, of justice, on a variety of subjects that we just couldn't have accomplished three years ago--or six, or even twelve. Pensions for lay employees over 20 hours a week, new disciplinary canons that have reconciliation as a model and plan; a budget that made severe cuts but expressed our commitment to the MDGs, the poorest of the world. And new money for some initiatives that we've talked about for a long time. We'll have to do more locally and in creative ways, especially with Hispanic ministries--that part of the budget was cut severely. But local ministry can be alot more effective than something bureaucratic. They are reducing the ask from dioceses over the next three years, again releasing money for local initiatives. Convention will be two days shorter in 2012, and the committees and groups that meet in the meantime will have to do less face-to-face and more by the web.
We repudiated a 15th century idea (the "Doctrine of Discovery"), which said that indigenous peoples were there to be conquered, defeated and subdued in order to "convert" the world to Christianity. A huge admission. We also passed a framework for our conversations with persons of other faiths and interfaith dialogue (somethign we know about in Torrington)
A huge day. And worship in the Emergent model with Brian MacLaren tonight; he's preaching tomorrow at the eucharist.
Feels pretty full. And very hopeful and realistic. A good day for our church, at least in my view.
Wednesday(or, in GC parlance, Legislative Day 8)
I am taking a little time off this morning to recoup. My committee (Ministry) met, though, to finish our business and hold hearings on two last resolutions that came to us--one about cleaning up canonical language and one about dioceses in a transition between bishops and pastoral care for clergy and congregations in that situation.
Our Church is so diverse--we have dioceses with less than two dozen congregations and dioceses with more than two hundred. Somehow the challenge is to listen to each other, to try to do ministry in these different contexts and, in the context of Convention, to craft laws and resolutions that will bind us together across such diversitites. Sometimes we manage better than other times--and too often the "middle" makes it so that the smallest or most innovative dioceses are isolated. Since I came from one of our smallest and now minister in one of the largest, I have a unique vision, though not a singlar one. I do love this church.
Caught up on a very little of the news that's being reported in the wider world about us. Actually, we haven't moved quite as far as they say, though we also haven't gone back. The secualr press has trouble with nuance. And nuance makes bad headlines. "Episcopal Church affirms its identity and practice" wouldn't sell papers.
We are rushing to get legislation through and onto the floor--we've been a little constipated by arguments over what seem like small things to some but big deals to others. Trying to keep good relationships while getting some things done is always the challenge of convention. A friend on the World Mission legislative committee (the one that had all the hard resolutions) reports that the committee was wonderful and transformative. That's good news. And my own committee functioned really well and worked hard. Makes it worth doing.
Now I'm bemoaning the fact that I've come all the way to Anaheim and will not even get to Disneyland. Oh, well.
Our Church is so diverse--we have dioceses with less than two dozen congregations and dioceses with more than two hundred. Somehow the challenge is to listen to each other, to try to do ministry in these different contexts and, in the context of Convention, to craft laws and resolutions that will bind us together across such diversitites. Sometimes we manage better than other times--and too often the "middle" makes it so that the smallest or most innovative dioceses are isolated. Since I came from one of our smallest and now minister in one of the largest, I have a unique vision, though not a singlar one. I do love this church.
Caught up on a very little of the news that's being reported in the wider world about us. Actually, we haven't moved quite as far as they say, though we also haven't gone back. The secualr press has trouble with nuance. And nuance makes bad headlines. "Episcopal Church affirms its identity and practice" wouldn't sell papers.
We are rushing to get legislation through and onto the floor--we've been a little constipated by arguments over what seem like small things to some but big deals to others. Trying to keep good relationships while getting some things done is always the challenge of convention. A friend on the World Mission legislative committee (the one that had all the hard resolutions) reports that the committee was wonderful and transformative. That's good news. And my own committee functioned really well and worked hard. Makes it worth doing.
Now I'm bemoaning the fact that I've come all the way to Anaheim and will not even get to Disneyland. Oh, well.
Well, it's been days and days since I was able to post--both timing and now computer trouble. I'm eligilble, I'm sure, for bad blogger purgatory.
Some things about convention are going well, and others not. We seem to get bogged down in small parliamentary wrangles hour after hour. I don't know if it is inexperienced leadership (though very competent), the anxiety of those who are hanging on for dear life to a church that is changing faster than the ground underneath them, or plot to hijack the convention with eating up time on frivolous motions. Perhaps a bit of the three. But 816 people is too many for a single conversation. Somehow we need some things to get us on the same page.
We're moving toward better inclusion, though. The long resolution that passed both houses really does recenter the Episcopal Church on our mission to the world; it opens the way for us to be our inclusive selves, says we want to be a part of the global family and moves us from guilt to a more adult stance of mission.
The bishops are working with something on blessings and marriage. I hope we can come farther than the status quo on that, but maybe not. The culture wars being lived out in the EC. We will know more by today. I'll try to post later.
Some things about convention are going well, and others not. We seem to get bogged down in small parliamentary wrangles hour after hour. I don't know if it is inexperienced leadership (though very competent), the anxiety of those who are hanging on for dear life to a church that is changing faster than the ground underneath them, or plot to hijack the convention with eating up time on frivolous motions. Perhaps a bit of the three. But 816 people is too many for a single conversation. Somehow we need some things to get us on the same page.
We're moving toward better inclusion, though. The long resolution that passed both houses really does recenter the Episcopal Church on our mission to the world; it opens the way for us to be our inclusive selves, says we want to be a part of the global family and moves us from guilt to a more adult stance of mission.
The bishops are working with something on blessings and marriage. I hope we can come farther than the status quo on that, but maybe not. The culture wars being lived out in the EC. We will know more by today. I'll try to post later.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
A day of rest?
Sunday at General Convention has a bit of a different pace to it. The Episcopal Women's Caucus breakfast, where the history/"herstory" of women's involvment in the Church is recounted, celebrated and a trajectory drawn ahead is always a highlight. Though most years we have a better breakfast than this year--it's always good to be together and to see and hear from the heroines on whose shoulders I stand. And to think happily of those younger women standing on mine, I hope. Good reason to stay stable.
Then on to Church, with lots of folks from local parishes attending, but also the whole convention. The Presiding Bishop preached and presided, with the two previous PBs on either side of her. It was wonderful and, again, a celebration of our history. We don't have to erase one persons ministry to a people in order to claim our own, but can build on it.
Lunch, and a little down time before this afternoon's legislative session. Today we start to take up some of the Anglican Communion/sexuality resolutions--one or two. Most of them are still in committee (they were given to World Mission). The House of Bishops will take up B012--the request for pastoral room to be given in those dioceses in states where same-sex marriage is legal. I hope ferverently (sp?) it passes; we could use this latitude in Connecticut where the UCC is "open for business" to offer such weddings. Though I think Trinity's compromise is pretty good, it is still short of what I hope we will be able to offer soon.
will write more tonight about the content of sermons and presentations, if I can remember them. Each day is so rich and full; it all kind of runs together to move one to a new place. An onslaught of grace. That'll preach...
Then on to Church, with lots of folks from local parishes attending, but also the whole convention. The Presiding Bishop preached and presided, with the two previous PBs on either side of her. It was wonderful and, again, a celebration of our history. We don't have to erase one persons ministry to a people in order to claim our own, but can build on it.
Lunch, and a little down time before this afternoon's legislative session. Today we start to take up some of the Anglican Communion/sexuality resolutions--one or two. Most of them are still in committee (they were given to World Mission). The House of Bishops will take up B012--the request for pastoral room to be given in those dioceses in states where same-sex marriage is legal. I hope ferverently (sp?) it passes; we could use this latitude in Connecticut where the UCC is "open for business" to offer such weddings. Though I think Trinity's compromise is pretty good, it is still short of what I hope we will be able to offer soon.
will write more tonight about the content of sermons and presentations, if I can remember them. Each day is so rich and full; it all kind of runs together to move one to a new place. An onslaught of grace. That'll preach...
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday from Anaheim
I have intended to write the last three nights, but have gotten in so late and had to get up and be at a committee meeting so early that I've barely had a spare moment for a thought. Must be General Convention.
It's a great time to reconnect with old friends from a hundred places over the course of thirty years in this church. People who've known me since my North Dakota college days, and seminary, and many, many folks throughout my life in the church. This is the great "family reunion" part of convention--all those folkss at once, in the span of a couple of days. It's dizzying, as well as gratitude-inspiring. I sure didn't get to where I am by myself, but as a product of many, many relationships.
Late yesterday and today the House of Deputies had a couple of sessions talking about B033, the disastrous resolution from the last convention foisted upon us extra-canonically at the last minute. It's the great pink elephant in the room. Will we set it aside and move ahead to include all God's people in the sacraments (read: marriage and ordination), or will we "moderate" our pace for the sake of our partneres in the rest of the world? Is that even the right way to put it? While there are still calls for us to refrain from blessing same-sex couples and from consecrating glbt persons as bishops for the sake of our relationships in the wider fellowship of Anglican churches throughout the world, the overwhelming and overall tone of this convention is that we will move ahead with some provision for blessing and with the determination to let each diocese discern its own best persons for leadership. This is especially true for deputies, whose lives and ministries are much closer to the ground than bishops.
Tonight I went to a dinner with a whole bunch of church historians. The other thing about General Convention is the constallation of events and groups that gather. Heard a talk by two young historians about what will happen to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in the 21st century. They remind me that the tradition is dynamic and open-ended, that whatever will happen to us next, God can make some good of and will.
I'm falling over, I'm so tired. Enough. Blessings, all. Ellen+
It's a great time to reconnect with old friends from a hundred places over the course of thirty years in this church. People who've known me since my North Dakota college days, and seminary, and many, many folks throughout my life in the church. This is the great "family reunion" part of convention--all those folkss at once, in the span of a couple of days. It's dizzying, as well as gratitude-inspiring. I sure didn't get to where I am by myself, but as a product of many, many relationships.
Late yesterday and today the House of Deputies had a couple of sessions talking about B033, the disastrous resolution from the last convention foisted upon us extra-canonically at the last minute. It's the great pink elephant in the room. Will we set it aside and move ahead to include all God's people in the sacraments (read: marriage and ordination), or will we "moderate" our pace for the sake of our partneres in the rest of the world? Is that even the right way to put it? While there are still calls for us to refrain from blessing same-sex couples and from consecrating glbt persons as bishops for the sake of our relationships in the wider fellowship of Anglican churches throughout the world, the overwhelming and overall tone of this convention is that we will move ahead with some provision for blessing and with the determination to let each diocese discern its own best persons for leadership. This is especially true for deputies, whose lives and ministries are much closer to the ground than bishops.
Tonight I went to a dinner with a whole bunch of church historians. The other thing about General Convention is the constallation of events and groups that gather. Heard a talk by two young historians about what will happen to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in the 21st century. They remind me that the tradition is dynamic and open-ended, that whatever will happen to us next, God can make some good of and will.
I'm falling over, I'm so tired. Enough. Blessings, all. Ellen+
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Settled in and started running--today was a full day, even by General Convention standards. I think they want to make sure that we deal with legislation instead of poring over the same old controversies--last time we deferred much legislation in favor of wrangling over control of the church.
And I think there is a spirit of cooperation and determination to think and pray carefully about our future. We seem finally to be acknowledging that our internal conversations, while interesting and in some ways important, are largely seen by the rest of the world as detracting from serving the mission to which Jesus sends us--healing and compassion, hope and restoration, helping each creature be the self God made it/him/her to be.
So the Archbishop of Canterbury was in the hotel lobby tonight. He's spending two days--should be an eyeful. One night (Thursday I think) he will address us about global poverty. Perhaps he will ascertain that we think a lot about that already. Oops.
Be sure to check out the Episcopal Church posts on convention--their press staff can get lots of places I can't. www.episcopalchurch.org and follow the prompts to General Convention.
My committee is holding a hearing on the future of Theological formation and its funding and trying to help seminarians with their educational debt...that's tomorrow. And the resolution from the Bishops in states where marriage is legal for all couples is moving toward a hearing. There are a lot of resolutions talking about full access to all the sacraments and ordination at every level (read marriage for all and the office of bishop for all).
No one seems loaded for bear. It's hopeful. And freeing. Enough. The end of a long, full, full day. Keep praying....Ellen
And I think there is a spirit of cooperation and determination to think and pray carefully about our future. We seem finally to be acknowledging that our internal conversations, while interesting and in some ways important, are largely seen by the rest of the world as detracting from serving the mission to which Jesus sends us--healing and compassion, hope and restoration, helping each creature be the self God made it/him/her to be.
So the Archbishop of Canterbury was in the hotel lobby tonight. He's spending two days--should be an eyeful. One night (Thursday I think) he will address us about global poverty. Perhaps he will ascertain that we think a lot about that already. Oops.
Be sure to check out the Episcopal Church posts on convention--their press staff can get lots of places I can't. www.episcopalchurch.org and follow the prompts to General Convention.
My committee is holding a hearing on the future of Theological formation and its funding and trying to help seminarians with their educational debt...that's tomorrow. And the resolution from the Bishops in states where marriage is legal for all couples is moving toward a hearing. There are a lot of resolutions talking about full access to all the sacraments and ordination at every level (read marriage for all and the office of bishop for all).
No one seems loaded for bear. It's hopeful. And freeing. Enough. The end of a long, full, full day. Keep praying....Ellen
Monday, July 6, 2009
From Anaheim; General Convention
Friends, here I am in Anaheim, at General Convention. As I just posted on facebook the last time I was in Anaheim was in 1974 or 5 on Band Tour with my high school band. Things have changed a bit. Though I was a church wonk then and still am one now.
Glad I came a day early to get acclimated and over jet lag. Hope that is true by tomorrow.
The first days of convention are full of meeting old friends and delighting in this truly diverse church--much more so than our reputation would say.
This is the largest legislative body in the world; this either makes us crazy or very representative. Maybe both.
So here is my inaugural blog post. Blessings to you all, and keep praying. Ellen+
Glad I came a day early to get acclimated and over jet lag. Hope that is true by tomorrow.
The first days of convention are full of meeting old friends and delighting in this truly diverse church--much more so than our reputation would say.
This is the largest legislative body in the world; this either makes us crazy or very representative. Maybe both.
So here is my inaugural blog post. Blessings to you all, and keep praying. Ellen+
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