O Lord and Father, to whom alone the debtors in ten thousand talents can come with hope of mercy: Have mercy upon us, O Lord, who have aught to repay; forgive us all the debt, forgive us all our sins, and make us merciful to others; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
–Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626)
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures for ever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures for ever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures for ever.” Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can man do to me?
–Psalm 118:1-6
From that first Sunday at St. Bartholomew’s [Episcopal Church] in February 2003, Dr. Marion never goes a week without attending worship. He tithes. He becomes a warden and a member of the vestry.
In the spring of 2003, he stumbles onto a poem titled “The Only Animal,” by Franz Wright. It is a poem, like many of Mr. Wright’s, about the interplay of faith and doubt. “You gave me in secret one thing to perceive, the tall blue starry strangeness of being here at all,” one passage goes. “You gave us each in secret something to perceive.”
Dr. Marion immerses himself in Mr. Wright’s work. In 2006, when he discovers a new poem, “The Hawk,” he feels it has the qualities of a biblical psalm, and he becomes fixated on the idea of setting it to music, something liturgical. Dr. Marion wonders if it is too late for him to learn composition, though his musical training ended with a med school production of “Guys and Dolls….”
They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.
Down but not quite out, these Americans form a diverse group sometimes called “near poor” and sometimes simply overlooked ”” and a new count suggests they are far more numerous than previously understood.
When the Census Bureau this month released a new measure of poverty, meant to better count disposable income, it began altering the portrait of national need. Perhaps the most startling differences between the old measure and the new involves data the government has not yet published, showing 51 million people with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line. That number of Americans is 76 percent higher than the official account, published in September. All told, that places 100 million people ”” one in three Americans ”” either in poverty or in the fretful zone just above it.
At the time of the Revolution, the Anglican church in the American colonies was the established church in Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and the southern counties of New York. It was funded generously by monies coming from England. It had legal standing, wealth, and power. It was comfortable. But, it was entirely absent of bishops. Nominally, the bishop of London was solely responsible for every single Anglican in the colonies. All of the priests serving in the colonies had to face the perilous journey to England for their ordination, and also submit to the requisite oaths of allegiance to the Crown.
After the eruption of the Revolution, the Anglican parishes in the colonies were ripped apart by division and argument over the rifts between the colonies and Great Britain. Gone was the security they had known under English rule. Many of the clergy, in particular, felt bound by honor to respect the vows they had taken to the Crown, and publicly opposed the Revolution. By the end of the war and the emigration of Loyalists to Canada or back to England, the Anglican parishes in the new United States were disestablished, no longer received funding from England, and half of the parishes were closed or destroyed. It’s estimated that almost 65% of clergy left for Canada; North Carolina had no priest; Virginia’s pre-Revolutionary parish count of 107 dropped to 42. And, there was an ocean and some sour feelings dividing the Anglican churches in the US and the closest bishop. Eventually, though, priests traveled to Great Britain, and were consecrated bishops for the American church, first in Scotland, then in England. But the sense of loss and change wasn’t entirely gone even after America obtained its own bishops: the first bishop of New York, Samuel Provoost, despaired that the church would survive, so in 1801, he retired as bishop and became a botanist, convinced that the Episcopal Church would fade away when the last members of the pre-Revolution generation died. At his time, there were only 10,000 Episcopalians in the entire nation of 4 million.
But that wasn’t the end of the story….
Hundreds of Anglican schools face being ordered to rewrite their admissions rules amid claims they select middle-class pupils “by the back door”, it was claimed today.
Schools could fall foul of the admissions watchdog after it emerged they are employing contentious entry policies that prioritise families who volunteer for church activities.
The claims come just 24 hours after a leading Roman Catholic school was criticised for using the policy to mark out the most devout children.
Update: You may find Canon Dietsche’s profile there.
I believe the third ballot voting was Dietsche 176/131, Eaton 28/32, Lind 58/69.
Earlier–Ballot 2 was: Eaton 38/47, Lind 58/54, Harmon 0/4; Whalon 3/6; Sabune 24/36; Dietsche 140/96. After this Bishop Whalon, Canon Harmon and Canon Sabune withdrew.
Basic infirmation about the election may be found there as well as here.
His profile information is there. His “candidate video” follows:
Marsh, 33, said after that weeks of prayer and conversation, he accepted a position as canon for congregational life at the Cathedral of St. Philip on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. He is expected to begin his new ministry on Nov. 28.
“I got a call by the dean to serve as canon of congregational life of the cathedral, a wonderful opportunity, and I just couldn’t say no,” Marsh said.
“My main job will be to work with 700 people that are between the ages of 20 and 40, newlyweds, people getting married and people married with children.”
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – A new journey Pastor leaving Cobb with fond memories
It wasn’t easy for the Rev. Ed McDowell to give thanks.
In May, he had his left foot and the lower portion of his left leg amputated when doctors advised him that he could die if the diabetes-related infection in his leg spread to other parts of his body.
The trauma of losing a limb made him angry at first, but then he worked hard to adjust to walking with a prosthetic leg. He now realizes how much he has to be thankful for and wants to share it with others.
Land in some parts of Spain is literally worthless, said Fernando Rodriguez de Acuna Martinez, a consultant at Madrid- based adviser R.R. de Acuna & Asociados. More than a third of Spain’s land stock is in urban developments far from city centers. About 43% of unsold new homes are in these areas, known as ex-urbs, while 36% are in coastal locations built up during the real-estate boom.
“If you take into account population growth for these areas, there’s no demand for them, not now or in ten years,” he said. “Around 35% of Spain’s land stock is in the ex-urbs, which means it’s actually worth nothing.”
A celebration of the 350th anniversary of Staten Island will include a service of Evensong with prayers and music from that time period on Dec. 4 at Christ Church New Brighton.
The ten Staten Island churches that are part of the Richmond Interparish Council of the Episcopal Diocese of New York will participate in the 4 p.m. service that will use the 1559 prayer book.
The Rev. Charles Howell, rector of Christ Church, will lead clergy from the other Episcopal churches. Representing the Episcopal Diocese of New York will be Suffragan Bishop Catherine Roskam and the Rev. Andrew Smith.
And Whereas, those parishes that support the actions of the 74th General Convention may wish to remain in communion with ECUSA, and those parishes that do not support the actions of the convention may wish to withdraw from participation within the National Church
And Whereas, the Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina wishes to express its commitment to all parishes and wishes to offer, in the spirit of Christian charity, the utmost freedom of conscience to parishes who are considering their support or lack of support for the actions of convention
And Whereas, the Church in this diocese does not wish to wield unGodly power in the form of control over buildings, property, finances, or endowments to enforce a false unity among churches that may agree or disagree with the actions of convention
Be It Resolved, that Property held by the Church in the Episcopal Diocese of
Upper South Carolina for the use of a Parish, Mission Fellowship or Diocesan Organization belongs beneficially to such Parish, Mission Fellowship or Diocesan Organization only. No adverse claim to such beneficial interest by any other body, by the Diocese, or by The Episcopal Church in the United States of America is acknowledged, but rather is expressly denied. All other property of the Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is held by the Diocesan Executive Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina for those exempt religious purposes within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America. Such exempt religious purposes shall be those determined by the Convention of the Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and the appropriate officers elected by it. No adverse claim to such beneficial interest by The Episcopal Church in the United States of America or any other body is acknowledged, but rather is expressly denied.
There was an interesting development in the Diocese of South Carolina this week. A Quit Claim Deed to the parish property was mailed to every parish in the diocese from Chancellor Wade Logan on Wednesday (the fact that it was coming I understand was announced to the clergy present at the clergy conference on Tuesday night). In Mr. Logan’s letter, the following explanation was given:
“For 190 years (1789-1979) there had never been any idea that somehow the parishes did not completely and fully own their property. Our Supreme Court has now said that the attempt to change that in 1979 by the General Convention was not binding on the parish of All Saints, Pawley’s Island, SC. In recognition of that ruling, and in continued pursuit of our historic unity based on common vision rather than legal coercion, the Diocesan Convention removed the relevant section from our canons in October 2010. The issuance of these quitclaim deeds lays to rest any lingering issue that may exist for some parishes when they seek to obtain title insurance or secure bank financing for parish projects. Parishes may choose to file them or not based on their individual needs. We trust this action will enable parishes to freely exercise their rights and responsibility to oversee that which God, through the faithfulness of prior generations, has bequeathed to them.”
Why would Bishop Lawrence and the diocesan leadership take such a step?
You may read the further comments of one leader among Anglican reasserters on this here.
Almighty God, by whose grace thy servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Almighty God, whose sovereign power none can make void: Give us faith to stand calm and undismayed amid the tumults of the world, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love thee; through thy beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven….”
–Matthew 18:21-22
Flying Starlings from www.carlpendle.com on Vimeo.
Great music, great photography, and oh those birds! Watch it all–KSH.
(This was held at the National Christian Center in Abuja, Nigeria, from the 7th to the 11th of November 2011)
In the name of God: the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
The first Divine Commonwealth Conference was held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, from Monday 7th to Friday 11th November 2011. It was an international, non-denominational spiritual conference initiated by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) under the leadership of the Most Reverend Nicholas D Okoh, Primate.
We, the participants, numbering over 5,000 Bishops, Clergy and Laity, deeply appreciated words of encouragement and goodwill from notable leaders from Nigeria, other parts of Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, including the retired Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Primates of West Africa and Kenya, the Methodist Archbishop of Abuja and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
1 We gathered as the People of God and members of the Divine Commonwealth determined to celebrate our oneness in Christ and reaffirm our unity around the fundamentals of the Christian faith; recognizing that we have been called into ‘One body … one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.’ 1 We reaffirmed our commitment to uphold our faith, loyalty and obedience to the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth, and to prove ourselves faithful in season and out of season as His worthy disciples in all places and circumstances.
2 We are thankful for our Christian legacy established through the European missionaries who brought back the Gospel to Africa and the many African Evangelists who, like Bishop Ajayi Crowther, spread it far and wide. We hereby renew our own commitment to make disciples of all nations and our determination to reach out to the ends of the earth with the Good News of God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Sovereign Lord of the Divine Commonwealth.
3 We applaud the commitment of the GAFCON Primates to hold fast to ‘the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints’2 and to stand against the erroneous teachings that have infiltrated our beloved Communion. We also join them in declaring our refusal to be bogged down by relentless debates about matters we consider settled. Instead we move forward in proclaiming the whole counsel of God and doing all that we can to establish His Kingdom throughout the world. We reaffirm the faith articulated in the Jerusalem Declaration and its reminder that we have a rich heritage in Scripture and the historic tradition of the Church.
4 We came together as members of the Divine Commonwealth, not identified with any secular order but founded by God – what our great African theologian, Augustine of Hippo, called the City of God. It is described variously in Scripture as the Kingdom of God, the Body of Christ, the Church, and the Communion of Saints on earth and in heaven.
5 We recognize that in the Divine Commonwealth, all worldly distinctions are rendered secondary. We assembled as women, men, youth and aged, ordained and lay, from different tribes and regions, rich and poor, to celebrate and reaffirm our citizenship in the one Divine Commonwealth and to chart ways that promote that Commonwealth in the wider society and in the Anglican Communion.
6 We gathered to recall the principal features of the Divine Commonwealth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. We maintain that all humanity is made in the image of God, is loved by God and is created for society, for relationship, and especially for marriage between one man and one woman. Yet due to sin and the Fall, ‘profound moral issues arise from the outrageous parodox of human dignity and human depravity’.3
7 We grieve with those of our own community who have witnessed this paradox first hand as they have experienced the outrageous and murderous behaviour of some who seek to terrorize, maim and kill Nigerians in defence of a misguided religious perspective. This shedding of blood of innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Yobe, Gombe, Borno States and parts of the Federal Capital Territory, especially that of Christians, is intolerable. It has been carried on with impunity for far too long. It demands decisive and immediate action from the Federal Government.
8 While we are grateful for the words of concern expressed by some national leaders we call on the Federal Government to rise to the challenge set by the terrorists, by giving solid and sustainable protection to the lives and property of all vulnerable and dispirited ethnic and religious groups in these places. This is the time for the Federal Government to act if we are to save the Nation from further bloodshed.
9 We know that the Divine Commonwealth is distinct from the ‘City of this World’, and yet it intersects it in our social and political life. We are ‘in the world but not of the world’4. As Christians we are called not to avoid or oppress unbelieving people but to meet them lovingly and to present them with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In the light of the Church’s transforming agenda5 we call on our leaders and all Nigerians to challenge corruption and greed in our society and to live their lives in obedience to God’s commands.
10 We are convinced that no community without the living God at its centre is a true Commonwealth . Neither is a ‘Commonwealth of Nations’ a true commonwealth if it does not stand for righteousness. In this regard, we were shocked by the recent statement from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable David Cameron, to the effect that his Government would aid only those countries that adhere to ‘proper human rights’. It is clear that his true agenda is to force the normalization of homosexuality and gay marriage as a ‘human right’. While acknowledging the sacred worth of every human being we reject this erroneous notion as contrary to God’s intention for humankind and harmful to those he claims to protect. Another implication of this is that the ‘Commonwealth of Nations’ is still being treated as a body of unequal partners, where, because of economic status, some nations are still vulnerable to manipulation. We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to resist any such intimidation on this matter.
11 We believe that the family is an essential building block of the Divine Commonwealth and the institution of marriage worthy of our full support. We stand with those who are working to protect marriage, family life and values pastorally in local congregations. We also support the National Assembly in its efforts to protect marriage as between a man and a woman.
12 Finally, we proclaim that the Divine Commonwealth is not only a present but a transcendent reality, as ‘our citizenship is in heaven, And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ’.6 We have been reminded that the Second Coming of Christ is an essential teaching of the faith and we eagerly look for Christ’s return. We recognize that Christ will come unexpectedly and that it is futile to set human timetables for His appearing. We do know that His coming will be a time of distress, where the forces of order and religion will be utterly perverted by Satan and many will be persecuted for their witness to Christ. Many of these signs are present today and thousands of Christians have been martyred for their faith. However, the end is not yet.
13 As members of the Divine Commonwealth we heed the Prophet Micah’s counsel, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God’7 until the time when the Saviour will come with a shout of command and the events of the end-time – resurrection, judgment, reigning with Christ, a final Commonwealth, the new Jerusalem, and a new heaven and earth – will come to pass, and God will be all in all.
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! AMEN.
The Most Revd Nicholas D Okoh
Primate of All Nigeria/Convener
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
1 Ephesians 4: 4,5
2 Jude 3
3 Professor James Gana address
4 John 17: 13-18
5 Luke 4: 18
6 Philippians 3: 20
7 Micah 6: 8
[The] Rev. [Rankin] Wilbourne and his staff created an umbrella agency called Hope for LA in 2008. Since then it has partnered with 18 other programs around Los Angeles, some with religious affiliations and some without. Through Hope for LA, Pacific Crossroads members can choose volunteer opportunities that best suit their interests and strengths. One such ministry is Boxes of Love.
“We got the idea from Here’s Life Inner City, a ministry of Campus Crusade,” says the director of Hope for LA, David Kleinknecht, about the origins of Boxes of Love. “And as the economy went south and they had to cut back in L.A., we took on the coordination of mobilizing well-resourced churches to fill boxes and delivering them with the help of inner-city churches.” No coincidence: The founder of Here’s Life Inner City was Mr. Kleinknecht’s father, who also piloted the Boxes of Love program in New York City in the early 1980s (where it still functions under the name “Box of Love”)….
And so in a city more often associated with Calvin Klein, John Calvin’s teachings provide a basis for hope. In his commentary on II Corinthians 8, the 16th-century Swiss theologian connected Christians’ assurance of salvation with their freedom to give to the poor….
Church abuse is the chief obstacle to Australians believing in Christianity, according to a national online survey of more than 1000 people conducted by a Christian media group.
The Australian Communities Report said more than three-quarters of respondents, 76%, said church abuse was a “massive” or “significant” negative influence on their attitudes towards Christianity and church.
It said the top 10 “belief blockers” for Christianity were church abuse, hypocrisy, “judging others”, religious wars, suffering, issues around money, that it was “outdated”, Hell and condemnation, homosexuality and exclusivity.
The report also found that doctrines and practices about homosexuality were a “block” to belief for 69% of respondents, while those on Hell and condemnation (66%), the role of women (60%), suffering (60%) and science and evolution (57%) were also prominent obstacles.
For a man pretending to be a vicar, it was high praise indeed.
The night before this interview, actor Tom Hollander and his co-stars from Rev went for drinks with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
And the verdict from the country’s most senior churchman? He declared Tom’s portrayal of put-upon Reverend Adam Smallbone “pitch perfect” and revealed he is a firm fan of the hit BBC2 show.
Tom, 44, says: “We went to Lambeth Palace and it was thrilling. One of the few relaxing things about being Archbishop of Canterbury is that you can have lovely drinks parties that people turn up to….
Read it all and for more information about the show, please go there.
The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) has come under sharp criticism from the Church of Rwanda over its plans to pull away from the oversight of the African church.
On 31 Oct 2011 Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje directed AMiA Bishop Charles “Chuck” Murphy to suspend work on a proposal that would change its oversight from a “personal prelature” under the Rwandan primate to a missionary society overseen by an independent “college of consultors”.
Founded by Evangelicals in response to what it saw as the abandonment of the classical Anglicans in the United States, Bishop Murphy and Bishop John Rodgers were consecrated on 29 January 2000 at St Andrews Cathedral in Singapore by the Archbishop of Southeast Asia and Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. It has grown rapidly under the leadership of Bishop Murphy, but has begun to witness internal tensions as well as stresses in its relationship with Rwanda.
Citing personal disagreements with Bishop Murphy, the Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, an assistant bishop, last week announced his resignation. Questions have also been raised over the transparency of the AMiA’s finances and leadership structure. Criticisms have also been raised over new canons prepared by a former Roman Catholic clergyman now serving in the AMiA that have incorporated a Roman Catholic ecclesiology and sacramental theology.
I will take comments on this submitted by email only to at KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.
THE diocesan synods of Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southwark, and York debated the draft legislation on women bishops on Saturday, and all six backed it in all three houses.
But York diocesan synod went on to carry a following motion: “This Synod calls upon the House of Bishops, in exercise of its powers under Standing Order 60(b), to amend the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure in the manner proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the Revision Stage for the draft Measure.” This was carried by 62 to 24, with six abstentions.
In total, 42 out of the 44 dioceses have voted in favour of the legislaÂtion. London and Chichester voted against…
Only the fiercely conservative stewards of the European Central Bank have the firepower to intervene aggressively in the markets with essentially unlimited resources. But the bank itself, and its most important member state, Germany, have steadfastly resisted letting it take up the mantle of lender of last resort.
European politicians and analysts say that unbending stance now threatens the survival of the euro and the broader integration of Europe itself.
“There is no solution to the crisis without the E.C.B.,” said Charles Wyplosz, a professor at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and co-author of a standard textbook on European integration. “The amounts we are talking about are too big for anybody but the E.C.B.”
At issue is whether the bank has the will ”” or the legal foundation ”” to become a European version of the Federal Reserve in the United States, with a license to print money in whatever quantity it considers necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of markets and, if needed, to essentially bail out countries that are members of the euro zone.
Critics say Germany is falling between two stools. It has backed EMU rescues on a sufficient scale to endanger its own credit-worthiness, without committing the nuclear firepower needed to restore confidence and eliminate default risk in Spain and Italy. It would be hard to devise a more destructive policy.
There is no change in sight yet. Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated on Thursday that Germany would not accept joint EU debt issuance or a bond-buying blitz by the ECB. “If politicians think the ECB can solve the euro’s problems, they’re trying to convince themselves of something that won’t happen,” she said.
Yet she offered no other way out of the logjam, and each day Germany is sinking a little deeper into the morass.
An Edinburgh church hall is to stage a “practical euthanasia workshop” hosted by the Australian physician who first helped a terminally ill patient to die legally by lethal injection.
Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International, will use his visit to publicise “newly developed, reliable, DIY end-of-life strategies that do not require travel to Switzerland”.
His event in Edinburgh has already attracted the condemnation of faith groups. The Rev Ian Galloway, convenor of the Church of Scotland’s church and society council, accused Exit of “demeaning our common humanity” by reducing the conversation about life and death to a workshop.
“Hipster culture is omnipresent,” says Peter Furia, a founder of Seedwell Digital Creative Studio in San Francisco. “It dominates fashion, music and lifestyle. It crosses borders of ethnicity, socio-economic status and sexual preference ”” something that we haven’t seen since the boom of hip-hop culture.”
Furia’s studio is producing a documentary-style Web series, American Hipster ”” for its nascent YouTube channel ”” that will debut in April 2012. “What’s funny is that people who aren’t hipsters generally express distaste for them and those who appear to be hipsters hate to be identified as such. Everybody hates hipsters … especially hipsters. And the ironic part is that hipsters’ opposition to pop culture has become pop culture.”
O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household, and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give us the grace to respect and love our fellow Christians with whom we disagree, that our common life may be enriched and thy gracious will be done, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.