Against the world for the world
Grass and sky are but a distant memory, as unto the land of Zion for the exiles in Babylon of old. I sit myself down by the rivers of Clear Creek Mall, and sing songs of Zion. It is time to go home.
Say something theological!
In changing its position on marriage, has the Episcopal Church struggled seriously with the strengths and the weaknesses of the Christian tradition, and fully comprehended it even while extending it into new domains?
A church reimagined?
Most of the talk going into General Convention was about three things: a new presiding bishop, marriage, and restructuring the church. We already know most (though not all) of what will happen with respect to the first two. What about 2012's goal of "reimagining the church"? In the battle between structural reform and institutional inertia, is inertia winning?
Marriage redefined?
Yesterday, the bishops voted to implement in church canon law and in trial-run liturgies the situation that obtained in this country before last Friday. That is, there will be a majority of dioceses that perform same-sex marriages, and a minority that will not.
Defining marriage: thoughts from a panel
Perhaps the best thing someone said to me afterwards was, "I wish we had been doing this kind of thing for the past 30 years. I think it would have really been good for the church."
Habemus papam!
Yesterday morning, the bishops sitting in secret conclave in St. Mark's Cathedral elected one of their brothers as the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, the soon-to-be Most Reverend Michael J. Curry. There was, alas, no white smoke from the cathedral chimney.
We are marching in the light of God
All of this has lain heavy like a stone on my heart. But I do not have to live in fear when I go to the house of God on Sunday mornings. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Saints be praised!
God has chosen to speak in our church by way of Robert’s Rules of Order. I give you two snapshots today of how the apostle Robert has been speaking in the church.