As the years go by, I am more and more impressed by Bishop Wolf of Rhode Island. Check out her recent address to her diocese...
THE ADDRESS OF
THE RT. REV. GERALYN WOLF
TO THE 216TH CONVENTION OF THE DIOCESE OF RHODE ISLAND
28 OCTOBER 2006
The Lord said to Jeremiah,
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16a)
Our Church and Diocese are standing at a crossroad, at the intersection of competing theological claims and differing interpretations of scripture and polity, of the complex relationship between interdependence and independence, autonomy and the common good.
The world is also standing at a crossroads. Through almost instant communications what is said in one nation is known in all. When war and destruction visit upon one country, refugees flee to another. The rise and fall of major currencies alters the exchange rates around the globe. Bird flu in Asia can reach our soil on the next international flight. What direction is God calling us to follow? What turns must we take?
Today we cross thresholds of technology unimaginable even five years ago. Every institution is affected, not least, the church. We keep in delicate balance the blessings of the ancient paths and the fruits of the present age; the values we inherited, and scientific discoveries that are as exciting as they are bewildering. As we traverse this landscape we are met with challenges and decisions for which we are only partially prepared. We stand where the roads cross, faced with decisions for which there are few easy answers…
Read it all here.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
A focus on mission
Fr. Andrew Gerns, of the Diocese of Bethlehem, PA, blogs about their recent convention...
It has been said that Episcopalians would much rather do most anything that work at real mission. It is easy to confuse hot debate on a convention floor for work. Most of the political maneuverings on the national and international levels over sex, rites and rock’n’roll are the clearest examples of how easily and how costly our distractibility can be. So it should not surprise us that a commission interested in peace, non-violence and reconciliation could distract us as well. Since we are not surprised, we can anticipate and do better next time.
Read the interesting and entire entry here.
It has been said that Episcopalians would much rather do most anything that work at real mission. It is easy to confuse hot debate on a convention floor for work. Most of the political maneuverings on the national and international levels over sex, rites and rock’n’roll are the clearest examples of how easily and how costly our distractibility can be. So it should not surprise us that a commission interested in peace, non-violence and reconciliation could distract us as well. Since we are not surprised, we can anticipate and do better next time.
Read the interesting and entire entry here.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
More voices from the middle
Even before General Convention 2006, but especially after, the prophets of doom have predicted and in many cases called for the destruction of the Episcopal Church as a religious institution.
Many of those prophets have unfortunately been leaders and primates of other Anglican provinces. (So much for the ordination vows of a bishop in regard to defending the unity of the Church.)
But thanks be to God, recently there has been a voice from the center, the Rt. Honorable and Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of the Church of Wales. Take the time to read his most recent presidential address to his Synod. It gives one pause for thought in what too often seems to be ECUSA bashing sessions on the global stage.
Many of those prophets have unfortunately been leaders and primates of other Anglican provinces. (So much for the ordination vows of a bishop in regard to defending the unity of the Church.)
But thanks be to God, recently there has been a voice from the center, the Rt. Honorable and Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of the Church of Wales. Take the time to read his most recent presidential address to his Synod. It gives one pause for thought in what too often seems to be ECUSA bashing sessions on the global stage.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
On leadership...
Bishop Tim Thornton gives his assessment on leadership and the current unease in the Anglican Communion..
For me there's an apparent contradiction in even discussing leadership as all Christians are called to be disciples, in other words, followers of Jesus, the leader. However there is a distinctive idea from the Christian tradition about leadership which is worth highlighting.
Read it all here.
For me there's an apparent contradiction in even discussing leadership as all Christians are called to be disciples, in other words, followers of Jesus, the leader. However there is a distinctive idea from the Christian tradition about leadership which is worth highlighting.
Read it all here.
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