Thursday, July 28, 2005
Bishop Maze speaks...
Although we don't always agree, Fr. Harmon has a great piece blogging the remarks of Bishop Maze of Arkansas. It's all about traveling without a map. Check it out here.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Who would have thought?
The list of the 50 most influential churches in the US was released recently by the people who do that stuff. The usual suspects made the list....Saddleback, Willowcreek and the like. But much to my surprise, and probably that of most episcopalians, we made the list--more than once!
Whatever this means is hard to say. I often think that the Church risks becoming a mirror for the fad management practice of the day. At the same time, without vision and ways to accomplish it the people perish.
So check the list out here. It might surprise you...
Whatever this means is hard to say. I often think that the Church risks becoming a mirror for the fad management practice of the day. At the same time, without vision and ways to accomplish it the people perish.
So check the list out here. It might surprise you...
Monday, July 11, 2005
Moving Forward
It is with no little irony that on the day that marked the 472 anniversary of Pope Clement VII excommunicating Henry (VIII) Tudor, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to remove legal impediments against women being elected as Bishops. For a thorough look at the goings on see here.
It hasn't been that long since the Episcopal Church (USA) elected its first female to the episcopate either. It seems that the tempest is still brewing from that event. And I am sure that our sisters and brothers in the CofE will not escape this without the occasional brew-hah-hah.
Controversy is often the order of the day when people of faith are willing to allow the Holy Spirit loose in the affairs of the church. Jesus said as much in the Gospel of Matthew...I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...turning son against father, and daughter against mother...
These are hard words for us to swallow in an age that is chaotic enough on its own. We like our church to be neat and in order and our faith to be a comfort. But we are not always promised that. However, God does promise to never leave us or forsake us, even in the rough moments. Because it is in our trials that we are shaped and hewn into the beautiful creations God intended...
One of my favorite hymns says it best...
The peace of God, it is no peace,
but strife closed in the sod.
Yet let us pray for but one thing
the marvelous peace of God.
It hasn't been that long since the Episcopal Church (USA) elected its first female to the episcopate either. It seems that the tempest is still brewing from that event. And I am sure that our sisters and brothers in the CofE will not escape this without the occasional brew-hah-hah.
Controversy is often the order of the day when people of faith are willing to allow the Holy Spirit loose in the affairs of the church. Jesus said as much in the Gospel of Matthew...I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...turning son against father, and daughter against mother...
These are hard words for us to swallow in an age that is chaotic enough on its own. We like our church to be neat and in order and our faith to be a comfort. But we are not always promised that. However, God does promise to never leave us or forsake us, even in the rough moments. Because it is in our trials that we are shaped and hewn into the beautiful creations God intended...
One of my favorite hymns says it best...
The peace of God, it is no peace,
but strife closed in the sod.
Yet let us pray for but one thing
the marvelous peace of God.
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