The Anglican Centrist opineds...

Greg Jones+ always has interesting stuff on his blog...This is just one of those gems he is known to post...concerning the recent issues in the the Church...

But those who believe that Jesus Christ began the Church, and He has imbued it with the Holy Spirit, and that the Church is itself a means of Grace -- we don't take kindly to breaking it apart for the cause of 'purity' or any other cause -- even when there are valid critiques of the Church held among those who seek to do it harm. And that's the rub -- coercion, force, threat of schism, these are not fruits of the Spirit. Those that advocate for them cannot be doing Godly work. The work of reformation and renewal in the Church is not the work of division, heretic-hunting, and making stark us vs. them scenarios.

Read the complete text here.

The Great White Hope...

I've been reluctant to post too much sarcasm on this blog. Not that I object to it, mind you. I just like sticking to the issues in the spirit of trying not to make it personal...But this takes the cake. Even before our House of Bishops concluded their recent meeting in New Orleans, a group of angry pointed hats (irate bishops) gathered in Pittsburgh and elected Bob Duncan as their new pope...but I think he was looking to be anointed savior...Anyway, check out Scott Gunn and his take on the matter over at inclusive church...

What is our purpose...

Surfing the blogs today, I came across this essay. Thought it was interesting, especially with its reference to one of my favorite Anglican mystics.

If the world looks at us as a corporate body and sees inclusiveness in our leadership and our practice, then we are communicating something about the hospitality of God. If they see us finding ways to stay together in Christ while holding a diversity of views, that is a revolutionary witness for our deeply polarized times. On the other hand, if all that the world sees is fighting and schism and mutual recrimination, then we are losing track of our real identity and purpose.

Read it all here...

House of Bishops concludes week of meetings...

The gathering in New Orleans has come to an end, and our bishops have released this statement summarizing their work for the week. This is set in the context of responding to most recent Primate's communique...

The House of Bishops expresses sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury and members of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates for accepting our invitation to join us in New Orleans. By their presence they have both honored us and assisted us in our discernment. Their presence was a living reminder of the unity that is Christ's promised gift in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Much of our meeting time was spent in continuing discernment of our relationships within the Anglican Communion. We engaged in careful listening and straightforward dialogue with our guests. We expressed our passionate desire to remain in communion. It is our conviction that The Episcopal Church needs the Anglican Communion, and we heard from our guests that the Anglican Communion needs The Episcopal Church.

Read it all here...

Parting Words...

Stephen Bates, religion writer for the Guardian, is packing it in. I have always enjoyed his perspective, and he gives one last parting shot toward this week's house of Bishops gathering...

They are the sort of people who claim themselves so superior to their bishops that they won’t allow them to touch them for ordination, or who would not allow the Archbishop of Canterbury to preach from their pulpits (they should be so lucky) for fear that he might dangerously challenge the comfortable beliefs of their flocks, the sort of people who pick and choose the sins that are acceptable and condemn those – always committed by other, lesser people – that are not. Why is remarrying divorced people now OK – allowing them to continue fornicating – but not recognising the lifelong commitment of gay people to each other? Why does the Bishop of Carlisle happily bless nuclear submarines and, for all I know, dogs and cats, but not the unions of people who wish to demonstrate their devotion to each other for ever?

Read it all here...

God speed, Brother.