Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington has written a column for her diocese on last week’s Muslim prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. It concludes as follows: All at the Cathedral and Diocesan offices have been taken aback by the hundreds of phone calls and letters protesting the prayer service because of […]
Day: November 20, 2014
Our problem with authority
by George Clifford We Episcopalians frequently have problems with ecclesiastical authority. Here’s some anecdotal evidence: • Clergy and laity do not want bishops (or, for that matter, any other person or group such as a Canon to the Ordinary or Executive Council) providing authoritative guidance. At every General Convention, diocesan convention, or clergy gathering that […]
“A Way Forward” is a step forward for the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church recently published “A Way Forward: Reflections, Resources & Stories Concerning Ferguson, Racial Justice & Reconciliation” on its website. It’s exciting to see the church responding to a pressing social issue in a timely fashion, and I hope this is what we can look forward to from some of the recently-hired staff members […]
The clerical collar and the message it sends
While he understands that the collar is a loaded symbol, Sam Wells thinks priests should err on the side of wearing them. In the Christian Century, he explains why: The collar says this one thing to parishioner and stranger alike: this conversation we’re about to have, this conversation we’re having, could be the most important […]
Bishop Dietsche asks prayers, affirms recent settlement at General Seminary
Bishop Andy Dietsche of New York recently made a personal statement about the situation at the General Theological Seminary at his diocesan convention. It concludes: And I want to be clear that in my judgment the Board of Trustees of General Seminary is made up of the finest, most committed people, and I pray daily […]
It’s the end of the world as we know it
Jonathan Merritt of Religion News Service writes: First Things, a conservative religious publication, has launched a movement encouraging pastors to refuse to perform marriages as representatives of the state. A signing statement called “The Marriage Pledge” has been posted to their website where ministers can affix their names electronically. It was drafted by Ephraim Radner, […]
Finding holy ground
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’ – Luke 17:20-21 […]
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