September 2008

Hearing the call

From Clinton Burchfield • Biloxi, Mississippi, Sep 05, 2008 I agree to pray for the "whole" state of Christ's church daily. We must overcome the divisions I see even in our little congregation at the Church of the Redeemer in Biloxi and indeed throughout his church. It is good for us layfolk to see our leaders trying to reach understanding and to hear the final and ultimately correct voice of the Spirit explaining the union and solidarity of which we are a part.  May God bless you and keep you and we regular people of the Way will continue praying for unity and understanding, until his coming.

Dancing figures express ubuntu in winning convention logo

From John Banks • Tucson, Arizona, Sep 05, 2008 Is it just a happy accident that the colors in this logo reflect the colors in the logo used by Ubuntu, which distributes the Linux-based operating system by that name? Perhaps the artist is a computer geek?

Episcopal priest gave invocation at Republican National Convention

From Billy Harrison • Roswell, Georgia Sep 05, 2008 Fr. Certain is no longer interim rector but is now Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Marietta, Georgia, and we are very proud to have him.

PITTSBURGH: Group plans 'unity event'

From Devin Rodgers • Lisbon, Ohio, Sep 05, 2008 I think it is good that we can engage in dialogue that would preserve our continuity and foster an understanding of one another.

Episcopal priest gave invocation at Republican National Convention

From Jane Maxwell • Austin, Texas, Sep 05, 2008 You might mention that his daughter, the Rev. Mary Vano, is a priest associate at St. David's in Austin and she is one of the most gifted young priests I've known. There is a crozier in her future.

Dancing figures express ubuntu in winning convention logo

From James Fuller • Clovis, New Mexico Sep 05, 2008 It is typical of the Episcopal church that they can spend large amounts of money for trash that they call art and in all the talking about it never once mention Jesus Christ. I know that you do not believe it but Jesus Christ is in fact the head of the church. You will one day believe it.

Lambeth encounters strengthened relationships

From Herb Gunn • Detroit, Michigan, Sep 05, 2008 Mary Frances Schjonberg has shown again what a gifted and insightful journalist she is. Thank you for this overview that, while not clearing away the fuzziness of Lambeth, has outlined why it is what it is: fuzzy.

Get off the sidelines

From Ed Clarke • Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Sep 05, 2008 I've seen this idea mentioned before. I'm not any more impressed by it now than I was then! Is somebody (perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury) jealous of the power of the Pope? If so, why? Sorry, but the LAST thing the Anglican Communion needs is some kind of strict, inflexible hierarchical structure with a "big boss" at the top of the food chain with the authority to supposedly punish "wayward" churches, priests, or bishops who have been deemed by somebody to not be following the "party line," whatever the heck that may be. I don't need my religion prescribed for me. I don't need somebody in some "ivory tower" 3,000 miles across the ocean somewhere dictatorially telling me what to believe and how to believe or whether I will or won't associate with gay people, approve of women clerics, and on and on. I'm quite capable of making up my own mind about such issues, thank you very much!

People, social institutions, and customs have changed over the last 2,000 years, folks! It's up to the Church to adapt and adjust accordingly! My strongest objections to the proposed "Anglican Covenant" are (1) that its appendix contains a proposal for the type of hierarchical structure discussed above and (2) it attempts to force all Anglican and Episcopal churches into the same mold, supposedly with "punishments" for those who "stray." Sorry, don't want it.

Episcopal priest gave invocation at Republican National Convention

From Marty Fisher • Imperial Beach, California, Sep 05, 2008 Truly a "Servant of God" much like Fr. Vincent Capodanno, whom the Roman Catholic Church has placed on the pathway to sainthood. Chaplain Capodanno was killed in Vietnam 11 years ago (September 4, 1967). Fortunately, we still have Fr. Certain with us; and one can but hope that somewhere out there lies another Fr. Daniel Mode...one who will tell the story of Episcopal chaplains such as Fr. Certain and Fr. Victor Krulak.

Archbishop of Canterbury sends pastoral letter to bishops of the Anglican Communion

From The Rev. Teresa T. Bowden • Wahiawa, Hawai'i, Sep 01, 2008 The theme of working together to feed, clothe, free from oppression, and to not tolerate abuses to any one or group of people who so desperately need our love and help [is present in the Archbishop’s letter].

However I am distressed that the all-inclusive love of Christ did not enter into the discussion of homosexuality. God created all people. God does not create junk. The loving exclusivity and equality of all that God created, as shown to us by the words and example of Jesus Christ, should always be in our hearts. This type of discussions, in which a portion of God-created humanity Is disrespected and judged by human beings has no place in the Anglican Communion, or any group who profess to be Christians. People who claim to be authorities on everything, given to them by ordination, and assume the robes they wear also give them the right to judge other people should begin again at the beginning and give some serious thought and meditation to their baptismal vows.

Then we can all help in the feeding, clothing, sheltering and protection of people of the world. In this way we can best spread the Gospel to all nations.

Get off the sidelines

From Lionel Deimel • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sep 01, 2008 How can you publish essays that use the term "Anglican Church"? There is no Anglican Church, even though Rowan Williams and others would like to convert the fellowship that is the Anglican Communion into a hierarchical church with some body at the top of the hierarchy that can articulate doctrine for the all the Anglican provinces. You are propagandizing for enemies of The Episcopal Church.

Get off the sidelines

From Gary Flowers • Henderson, Kentucky, Sep 01, 2008 This is a good article, but I don't see how the church will be able to correct itself with the same-sex agenda that it is still pushing. It is not in Scripture anywhere that same-sex should be blessed and that will always be the bull in the china shop. There has to be a happy medium somewhere, but who is going to back up or down from the true faith of Scripture? Is it going to be the gay agenda side or the believers of Scripture? That is the true question.

Reconstituted San Joaquin diocese sees ordination

From Felix Henderson • Irmo, South Carolina, Sep 01, 2008 There was nothing there?  How about the diocese, including the bishop, priests, deacons, and laity who decided the Protestant Episcopal Church USA had left them, veering sharply to the left?

The author talks as if aliens had abducted the Episcopalians, the cattle, and maybe a couple of FBI agents.  Hogwash!  This is just PECUSA violating the autonomy of a diocese. Shame!