Read it all.

China is on the cusp of a deflationary vortex.
This was signalled late last year by the sharpest contraction in the (real) M1 money supply since modern records began. The hard data is now confirming the warnings.
Consumer prices have been falling for the last three months, producer prices have been falling for four months. This is not a food cost story. It is systemic.
“While an economy-wide generalized deflation is yet to be seen, the deflationary spiral looks to have started in some industrial sectors, attesting to considerable stress with the economy. Persistent deflation can be poisonous,” said Xianfang Ren from IHS Global Insight in Beijing.

Read it all.

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That there shall be a Special Commission on Missional Structure and Strategy, the composition of which shall be at the discretion of the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and the members of which shall be appointed jointly thereby not later than thirty days following the adjournment of this 77th General Convention. The Special Commission shall be charged with presenting a plan to the Church for reforming its structures, governance, administration, and staff to facilitate this Church’s faithful engagement of Christ’s mission to proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and the acceptable year of the Lord (Lk. 4:18) in a way that maximizes
the resources available for that mission at all levels of this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Special Commission shall endeavor to issue its report and recommendations along with resolutions necessary to implement them, including proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons of this Church, so that they might be considered by a special General Convention prior to the convening of the 78th General Convention in 2015, but in any event, not later than February 1, 2015; and be it further Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $100,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Resolved, the House of [________] concurring, That this General Convention believes the Holy Spirit is urging The Episcopal Church to reimagine itself, so that, grounded in our rich heritage and yet open to our creative future, we may more faithfully:
Ӣ Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

Ӣ Teach, baptize and nurture new believers

Ӣ Respond to human need by loving service

Ӣ Seek to transform unjust structures of society

”¢ Strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth…..

Read it all.

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention commend “Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing” for study and use in congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church, with
the following revisions:

Throughout “I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing” change “same-gender” to “same-sex”; BB p. 184 (Te bendecire pdf, p.1): change “Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships” to “Resources for The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” BB p. 240 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 83): Add rubric after first rubric, stating: “At least one of the couple must be a baptized Christian.” BB p. 240 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 83): In paragraph 2, line 1, delete “at least one of whom is baptized,”
BB p. 241 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider’s address to the assembly, delete “come what may,” (paragraph 1, line 9) BB pp. 241-242 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider’s address to the assembly, delete all of paragraph 2 (“Ahead of them…calls us all to share.”) BB p. 242 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider’s address to the assembly, change “let us pray, then,” (paragraph 3, line 1) to “Therefore, in the name of Christ, let us pray”
BB p. 245 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 90): After the bidding for peace in their home and love in their family, add the following bidding: “For the grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours: Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness) Hear our prayer.”
BB p. 246 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 91): Change rubric that begins “After a time of silence” to the following: “The leader may add one or more of the following biddings….”

Read it all.

As expected, the General Synod said a final: ”˜No’ to the proposed Anglican covenant today.

But it did so quietly, and the original motion was amended to stress this church’s desire to remain tightly knit with the Communion.

Read it all.

In a rare intervention, Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt warned that many of the estimated 55 million Anglicans across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and the Americans felt they had “no say” in the process of selecting a successor for Dr Rowan Williams.

He voiced fears that the selection committee, dominated by liberal-leaning British church leaders, would be unlikely to represent the traditionalist views of most Anglicans overseas.

As a result, their decision might only serve to further fracture the Worldwide Anglican Communion, which has been riven with disputes over issues such as homosexuality in recent years.

Read it all.

Read it all (pdf).

You find the the link for the whole June 16th service here; if you are pressed for time the Magnificat starts about 13 minutes in to choose but one piece.

For further information please go here.

Blessings for Same Gender Unions: A049
This evening, the Prayerbook, Liturgy and Music Committee (Committee 13), held a hearing on resolution A049, “Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships.” Support for the resolution was broad and strong; opposition was deep in a few dioceses…..

The committee is expected to take action on resolution A049 on Monday at the earliest.

Read it all.

Watch it all (video).

Back to work at 2:15. The Bishops dealt with a sensitive issue. Seven bishops–some retired or no longer Episcopalian–had signed a friendly brief for the court proceedings in Fort Worth to support the parishes who left The Episcopal Church and are trying to keep their property. Because much of our conversation was private, I can only report that we had a unanimous roll call vote to support the Episcopal parishes, the right of the Episcopal bishops in the dioceses struggling with property disputes, and affirmation that the Episcopal bishops are the only rightful bishops in these dioceses. It was a hard but grace filled conversation.

Read it all.

It is early, too early, in the morning of the Fifth Legislative Day here at the 77th General Convention. We’ve only got four more Legislative Days left, and aside from the House of Deputies decision to sell 815 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, we’ve done nothing of any substance.

In a convention hell bent on change, we’ve talked and talked and talked about process.

In a convention seeking marriage equality (or a pathetic facsimile of liturgical equality), we’ve had long debates.

In a convention over-shadowed by a budgetary disaster, we’ve made sure voices are heard.

Read it all.

(Please note–directly related to the preceding blog entry–KSH).

Read the original here and check the amended version there. The explanation follows:

The Report of the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church presents a church in where key statistical areas from 2000”“2010 show significant decline (Average Sunday Attendance -23%, Easter Attendance -21%, Baptized Members -16%, Communicants in Good Standing -16%). There are significant places of hope and vision where significant efforts are being made to turn this around. These include the Office of Congregational Vitality and the Office of Emergent Church and Church Planting. This resolution seeks to give these ministries solid budgetary support to allow this work to continue and by doing so to bring vitality and growth back to the Episcopal Church.

Now [for Episcopalians] the apt word seems “life support”.
The average Episcopal Church attendance dropped a staggering 23% in the ten year period between 2000 and 2010 (via Whispers) In 2010, just under 700,000 attended TEC Churches in the whole world.
In the Seattle area, (Diocese of Olympia) where St. Mark’s Cathedral still looms and KING FM has broadcast their lovely Sunday evening Compline for many years, average attendance in the whole diocese was 9,500. 9,500? I’ve worked in Catholic parishes with larger weekly attendance than that.
The Episcopalian Diocese of Quincy, IL attendance has dropped 71% and averages 363 people in attendance at 9 parishes. I’ve taught Called & Gifted workshops that were larger. No wonder they are openly talking about reuniting with the Diocese of Chicago (attendance: 12,925).

Read it all.

I’m sending this in from New Orleans in hopes that it will be helpful in the testimony for Resolution DO69 regarding the Social Media Challenge to the Episcopal Church.

I believe it to be 100% necessary that we in the Episcopal church as staff, clergy, and congregants, engage ourselves and our communities by using social media. It’s usually free, it’s usually rapid, and it can be fun and informative. Can many of you fathom doing business without using email? Often, social media is checked more frequently than email.

Read it all.

Following five years of discussion and several draft versions, the final text of the covenant was sent in December 2009 to the communion’s provinces for formal consideration.
[Bishop Ian] Douglas, who is co-chair of the World Mission committee, recently told ENS that the Episcopal Church has participated “at an extremely high level” in considering each draft of the covenant….

“I don’t find section 4 helpful,” Douglas told ENS recently. “I think it moves the covenant from a document that is relational to one that is more juridical. I do think the first three sections are relational and missional.”

Read it all.

Check it out. Lol.

Yesterday afternoon, the Committee for National and International Concerns heard testimony on about 12 resolutions encouraging the church to act in support of the Palestinian people. Even our own Diocese of Maryland put forth a resolution on this complex issue. After reading the resolutions and listening to the testimony, here is my distillation of the arguments at hand.
No one disagrees that Palestine and the minority community of Palestinian Christians are being oppressed, persecuted, and denied basic human rights. Everyone also agrees that in the United States, the story of the Palestinian Christian people is not widely known and they feel forgotten by their brothers and sisters in the West.

But how do you fight the oppression and discrimination of a people?

Read it all.

Post on Complaints filed against 9 bishops of the Episcopal Church and Philip Turner under Title IV

Post Last Updated 24 October 2012

[Latest Update: 24 October 2012: See this story for the latest news.]

[Further Update 8th July: Following a further closed session of the House of Bishops on Sunday 8th July 2012 a Resolution of the House of Bishops was issued expressing support for the continuing dioceses. Provisional Bishop Buchanan of Quincy is reported by Episcopal News Service to have “told the house I am grateful for the support and help the resolution provides, but it’s not what I asked for. I asked for clarification around the hierarchical character of our church.”]

Latest updates:
*An ENS Article on the Mind of the House of Bishops Resolution Passed Today [8th July 2012]
*Mind of the House of Bishops Resolution, July 8, 2012, as Passed [8th July 2012]
*Full Text of Letter from Eight bishops to TEC House of Bishops Refuting disloyalty allegation [7th July 2012]
*(Fort Worth Diocese led by Bishop Jack Iker) Motion filed for expedited hearing [7th July 2012]
*[Eight] bishops respond to charges brought to the House of Bishops [Updated] [7th July 2012]
*House of Bishops reaches No decision as of yet on complaint brought by Bishops Ohl and Buchanan [7th July 2012]
*House of Bishops to hear complaints from Fort Worth and Quincy on 6 July 2012 [6th July 2012]
*Current TEC Bishops in Fort Worth and Quincy write PB Jefferts Schori about recent Charges [6th July 2012]
Title IV Complaint Filed Against Philip Turner [4th July 2012]
*South Carolina Standing Committee Statement [3rd July 2012]
*What is it that the Bishops are saying about the Polity of The Episcopal Church? [3rd July 2012]
*[Allan Haley] Bishopsgate Plot Thickens: Complaint Timed to Intimidate Witness [3rd July 2012]
*Central Florida: Statement by Bishop Brewer and the Standing Committee [3rd July 2012]
*Bishop Howe responds to “Presentment” [3rd July 2012]
*Dr Ephraim Radner: How To Kill a Christian Church in Four Easy Steps [3rd July 2012]
*Dallas: Standing Committee Statement [3rd July 2012]
*Albany: Bishop Love’s Letter to the People of the Diocese of Albany [3rd July 2012]

A brief guide to the action being taken against 9 bishops of the Episcopal Church under the new Title IV Disciplinary Canons and against Dr Philip Turner with links in reverse chronological order so that the newest items appear first in each category. The Elves hope these links from T19 posts and elsewhere will assist the understanding of readers.

[A] UNOFFICIAL INTRODUCTION [Updated 8th July 2012]
On 28th June 2012 Bishop Clayton Matthews, Intake Officer for the Episcopal Church issued two communications:

1. To 3 bishops, Edward Salmon, former Bishop of South Carolina and current Dean of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Peter Beckwith, former Bishop of Springfield, and Bruce MacPherson, sitting Bishop of Western Louisiana stating that he will initiate disciplinary process against them following complaints “for your action in signing affidavits” in proceedings regarding the Diocese of Quincy

2. To 7 bishops [including Bishop MacPherson again], Maurice Benitez, retired Bishop of Texas, John Howe, retired Bishop of Central Florida, Paul Lambert, Suffragan Bishop of Dallas, William Love, sitting Bishop of Albany, Bruce MacPherson, sitting Bishop of Western Louisiana, Daniel Martins, sitting Bishop of Springfield, James Stanton, sitting Bishop of Dallas stating that he will initiate disciplinary process against them following complaints “for your action in filing of Amicus Curiae Brief in the pending appeal in the Supreme Court of Texas in opposition to The Episcopal Diocese of Texas and The Episcopal Church” [n.b. there is no court involvement of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, however there is one in respect of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth]. An Amicus Curiae Brief is a third party submission offered ‘as a friend’ of the Court usually about something the Court will want and need to know.

Neither the identity of the complainants nor the specific canonical breaches alleged have been disclosed to the bishops. However the complaint seems to be that they gave submissions to the Courts regarding the polity of the constitution, canons and history of the Episcopal Church and in particular as it relates to dioceses and that their opinion may have differed from the assertions of the Episcopal Church litigators who claim that the polity of the church is hierachical with dioceses subservient to and at the total whim of the National Church bodies and in particular its General Convention and through that its central church offices under the Presiding Bishop. The bishops appear to be speaking up for the rights of the Dioceses in the polity of the Episcopal Church. [Update 3rd July 2012: see this post What is it that the Bishops are saying about the Polity of The Episcopal Church?]

[Update 8th July 2012: Responses have been issued from Springfield, Albany, Dallas, Central Florida and from Bishop Howe.

On 4th July 2012 The Very Reverend Dr Philip Turner former Dean of Berkeley Divinity School, Yale ascertained that Title IV proceedings were being brought against him in the Diocese of Texas – read his statement here.

On 6th July 2012 the text of a letter of complaint by the provisional bishops of the dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy [reformed and funded by the Presiding Bishop’s office in the wake of departures] to the House of Bishops was released. It states: “We respectfully urge that the House of Bishops set the record straight on the polity of this Church regarding its hierarchical character” and sets out four grounds of complaint which they make about the bishops.

Eight of the nine bishops have written to the Presiding Bishop refuting each of the four grounds of complaint and setting out their reasons of principle in defending the polity of The Episcopal Church in their Amicus Brief. Read the full text here.

It is reported that the House of Bishops together with Goodwin Proctor partner and Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop David Booth Beers met in closed session on the evening of Friday the 6th, and at the start of the afternoon session of Saturday 6th.

In further developments it appears that the General Convention litigation package may be about to impact on the current Court actions in ways which those who put it together may not have envisaged]

[Further Update 8th July: Following a further closed session of the House of Bishops on Sunday 8th July 2012 a Resolution of the House of Bishops was issued expressing support for the continuing dioceses. Provisional Bishop Buchanan of Quincy is reported by Episcopal News Service to have “told the house I am grateful for the support and help the resolution provides, but it’s not what I asked for. I asked for clarification around the hierarchical character of our church.”]

[B] FULL INDEX OF POSTS:

CHARGES AND ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST THE BISHOPS AND PHILIP TURNER
The Presiding Bishop is at it again [30th June 2012] – dealing with 2 Anglican Ink articles breaking news of the charges brought

Allan Haley comments on the aggressive action taken against 9 TEC Bishops on the Eve of GC 2012 [30th June 2012] legal analysis of the charges by Canon lawyer Allan Haley

Newspeak to become Official Language of TEC: Innovative Loyalty Oath Plan Put Forward [1st July 2012] containing allegations about the bishops by lawyer Kathleen Wells and the Bishop and Deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

[*NEW] Title IV Complaint Filed Against Philip Turner [4th July 2012]

[*NEW] Current TEC Bishops in Fort Worth and Quincy write PB Jefferts Schori about recent Charges [6th July 2012]

[*NEW] House of Bishops to hear complaints from Fort Worth and Quincy on 6 July 2012 [6th July 2012]

[*NEW] House of Bishops reaches No decision as of yet on complaint brought by Bishops Ohl and Buchanan [7th July 2012]

[*NEW] (Fort Worth Diocese led by Bishop Jack Iker) Motion filed for expedited hearing [7th July 2012]

[*NEW] Mind of the House of Bishops Resolution, July 8, 2012, as Passed [8th July 2012]

RESPONSES AND DEVELOPMENTS
[*NEW] Full Text of Letter from Eight bishops to TEC House of Bishops Refuting disloyalty allegation [7th July 2012]

[*NEW] [Eight] bishops respond to charges brought to the House of Bishops [Updated] [7th July 2012]

South Carolina Standing Committee Statement [3rd July 2012]

Central Florida: Statement by Bishop Brewer and the Standing Committee [3rd July 2012]

Bishop Howe responds to “Presentment” [3rd July 2012]

Dallas: Standing Committee Statement [3rd July 2012]

Albany: Bishop Love’s Letter to the People of the Diocese of Albany [3rd July 2012]

Bishop Dan Martins: Speaking Truth in Love [2nd July 2012]

ANALYSIS
[Allan Haley] Bishopsgate Plot Thickens: Complaint Timed to Intimidate Witness [3rd July 2012]

ACI: The Quincy Three, The Fort Worth Seven And Title IV: What Now? [2nd July 2012]

Communion Partners: Title IV Exposed [1st July 2010]

COMMENT
[*NEW] An ENS Article on the Mind of the House of Bishops Resolution Passed Today [8th July 2012]

Dr Ephraim Radner: How To Kill a Christian Church in Four Easy Steps [3rd July 2012]

An ENS report on Bishopgate [2nd July 2010] from ENS staff working on Sunday

Open Thread: Tell us about an interesting experience you have had recently with an Opinion [1st July 2010]

Dr Peter Carrell: The Open Church and its Enemies [1st July 2010]
from a New Zealand priest

Mark Harris: Say it isn’t so”¦. seven bishops charged with misconduct [1st July 2010] from an Episcopal priest in Delaware and former Executive Council member

Robert Munday: Have you ever been stung by a dead bee? [1st July 2010] – from a former Dean of Nashotah House Theological Seminary and Episcopal Priest

Standfirm: Charges Deployed to Silence ECUSA Bishops in Court [30th June 2012] – note the comments from Allan Haley

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
[*NEW] What is it that the Bishops are saying about the Polity of The Episcopal Church? [3rd July 2012]

Bishop Bruce MacPherson – A Prescient Diocesan Address from 2008 [1st July 2012]

Prayers from Lent and Beyond and more here

ACI: Friend of Court Brief Filed in Fort Worth Lawsuit [23rd April 2012] – with link to Amicus Curiae Brief

Online text of current Title IV Canon

This post will be updated regularly – ‘Sticky’ for now
SUNDAY P.M. Manifestation of Faith in Public Life
The following Private Member’s Motion was passed For: 263; Against: 25; Abstentions: 52 [among other business]
[blockquote]’That this Synod express its conviction that it is the calling of Christians to order and govern our lives in accordance with the teaching of Holy Scripture, and to manifest our faith in public life as well as in private, giving expression to our beliefs in the written and spoken word, and in practical acts of service to the local community and to the nation.’

audio of session[/blockquote]Summary of business conducted on Sunday 8th July PM
[*NEW] Christians should show their faith in public, Synod says – Church Times

MONDAY A.M. Women Bishops The Church of England debate on women bishops has taken place this morning and has been adjourned until November – a report is here with audio of the debate this morning. There is a report on the debate and reaction by the BBC here and reactions by Forward in Faith, WATCH and Reform
[blockquote]The Bishop of Manchester (Chair of the Steering Committee) moved:

‘That the Measure entitled “Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure” be finally approved.’

The Steering Committee for the draft Measure had indicated its intention to seek the permission of the Chair, immediately following the moving of the motion for Final Approval of the draft Measure at item 501, to move an Adjournment under Standing Order 94(b).

Following permission from the Chair, the Bishop of Dover moved:

‘That the debate be now adjourned to enable the new clause 5(1)(c) inserted by the House of Bishops into the draft Measure entitled “Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure” to be reconsidered by the House of Bishops.’

Following a debate and a division of Synod, the motion was carried.

For: 288
Against: 144
Abstentions: 15

audio of session [/blockquote]
– This afternoon Synod passed unamended a private member’s motion on Israel and Palestine – details below the fold. With business set down for Tuesday being completed early, Synod has ended.

As it developed:
– the Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken advising that he would like to hear all the speakers but if Synod is minded to adjourn for a period of reflection then that will enable the church to spend more time on understanding what the bishops proposed and for the bishops to understand what is being said in the speeches in Synod today.
-The Bishop of Durham is speaking in favor of adjournment for mutual listening in the House of Bishop to listen to the Church – a plea for the creation of a brief space for discussion and then a clearer and more thoughtful decision
– listen to the speeches, and the audio podcast of this morning’s debate will be available in due course
– Archbishop of York closes the debate having asked Synod
– Bishop of Dover summing up for adjournment – asks Synod to vote with this in mind “that the world might believe”
– Results: For 288; Against 144; Abstained 15 – women bishops debate is adjourned [Archbishop of York advises at least until November the next Synod date – the Bishops to consider it in their meeting 12/13 September] – text to follow
– Motion to adjourn proposed by the Bishop of Dover was carried – text is:
[blockquote]That the debate be now adjourned to enable the new clause 5(1)(c) inserted by the House of Bishops into the draft Measure entitled “Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure” to be reconsidered by the House of Bishops
– thanks to Thinking Anglicans for the text[/blockquote]- The Church Mouse ”@thechurchmouse tweets: “Is it significant that exactly one third of #synod voted against adjournment? Shows how finely balanced final vote will be.” [For the main motion to pass it will require a 2/3 majority in each of the three houses of Synod: bishops, clergy and laity]
– Agenda for Monday afternoon is being reorganised over lunch given time set aside for women bishops debate has been vacated
– Forward in Faith responds – [see below] “Forward in Faith is disappointed that the General Synod today resolved to adjourn the debate on final approval of the draft Measure to permit women to be ordained as bishops in order to give the House of Bishops an opportunity to rethink its recent amendments to the Measure. We call upon the House of Bishops to stand firm in the face of this unwarranted pressure and to return the draft Measure to the Synod in a form which will provide for the future of traditional Catholics and conservative Evangelicals in line with the clearly expressed mind of the Synod throughout this morning’s debate”
– Reform: Rev’d Rod Thomas, chairman of Reform, said: “We stand ready to co-operate to find a solution if there is a genuine desire to see a permanent place secured within the Church of England for those who on theological grounds cannot accept women as bishops.”

Some press reports and responses

Women bishops: Church’s General Synod delays vote – BBC
Statement by Forward in Faith – FiF
Adjournment motion passed – draft Measure sent back to House of Bishops for further consideration CofE
General Synod – Summary of business conducted on Monday 9th July AM CofE
Permission to be sought to move adjournment motion – CofE
Women bishops: Church’s General Synod to delay vote – BBC News

MONDAY P.M. Israel/ Palestine

Synod passed the following Private Member’s Motion unamended in a division by houses [results from Church Times]:
Bishops: 21 for; 3 against; 14 abstentions
Clergy: 89 for; 21 against; 44 abstentions
Laity: 91 for; 30 against; 35 abstentions

[blockquote]”˜That this Synod affirm its support for:
(a) The vital work of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment
Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), encouraging parishioners to volunteer for the
programme and asking churches and synods to make use of the experience of returning
participants;
(b) Mission and other aid agencies working amongst Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and
elsewhere in the region;
(c) Israelis and Palestinians in all organisations working for justice and peace in the area,
such as the Parents Circle ”“ Families Forum; and
(d) Palestinian Christians and organisations that work to ensure their continuing presence in
the Holy Land.[/blockquote]

General Synod – Summary of business conducted on Monday 9th July PM

Press Reports:
[*NEW] Jewish lobbying with Church of England ”˜backfires’ – Times of Israel
[*NEW] Jewish group: Church Synod Israel vote ‘inflammatory’ – Jewish Chronicle
Church Synod vote in support of EAPPI motion – The Jewish Chronicle
Church of England weighs link to anti-Israel group – Jerusalem Post
Jewish campaign targets Synod motion on Israel – Church Times

GENERAL SYNOD LINKS

AUDIO/TWEETS
Live audio when in session is being provided by Premier Christian Radio
Tweets #Synod ***

REPORTS AND AGENDA
Reports from Synod and audio podcasts of each session available from the CofE Media Center
Agenda and Papers for Synod
Timetable
Full Agenda

OTHER REPORTS
Evangelicals Now – [Church Society]
Thinking Anglicans
Anglican Mainstream
Church Times

***Particular tweets which may be worth following are:
Church of England
Church Times
+Pete Broadbent
Ruth Gledhill [Times]

Almighty God, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and whose power is made perfect in our weakness: Grant us so to dwell in thy presence, that we may ever be glad of heart; and so to rest on thy strength, that we may have victory over evil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

–Psalm 1

Film and television actor Ernest Borgnine, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a lovelorn butcher in 1955’s “Marty,” has died at age 95, his manager said Sunday.

The thick-set, gap-toothed Borgnine built a reputation for playing heavies in early films like “From Here to Eternity” and “Bad Day at Black Rock.” But he turned that reputation on its head as the shy, homely title character in “Marty,” taking home the Oscar for best actor — one of four awards the film claimed.

Read it all.

[Bishop John] Buchanan told Episcopal News Service after the resolution passed during private conversation that he “told the house I am grateful for the support and help the resolution provides, but it’s not what I asked for. I asked for clarification around the hierarchical character of our church.”

Read it all.

From here:

Resolved, That Episcopalians in the Dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy and San Joaquin–lay and clergy–be commended for their unflagging efforts to continue to witness to God’s mission as The Episcopal Church during recent difficult times as they reorganize their continuing dioceses in that same spirit; and be it further

Resolved, That the leadership in each of those four continuing dioceses be commended for their similar efforts, including in particular the Rt. Rev. C. Wallis Ohl, Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth; the Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; the Rt. Rev. John C. Buchanan, Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy; and the Rt. Rev. Chester L. Talton, Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, and especially the strong lay leadership of each dioceses.

You may read more there.

Update: You can check to see the headline chosen by the TEC affiliated diocese of Fort Worth there.

Jesus is sending out his disciples to the people….[and he concludes by saying] if they are rejected, if… [those to whom they speak]…refuse to hear what they are saying, to leave. And he tells them that as they walk away they should shake the dust off their feet as a sign that they had not been welcomed.

Its sort of a Leadership Principles of Jesus 101 class. As much as you want consensus, as much as you want everyone to join you, that won’t always happen. And sometimes you have to just move forward and do the right thing anyway.

I was thinking about this last week. I was watching the webcast of the biannual national meeting of my former denomination, the Presbyterian Church. It’s a church I still love, but I, like many others, had my own moment of shaking the dust from my feet in order to join a church that was truly committed to moving forward and embracing all in their ministry.

Read it all.

The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, Bishop of South Carolina, opposed the change in canon language.

“We have entered into a time of individualized eros, with a wide variety of self-perceptions,” Bishop Lawrence said. “We are condemning ourselves to freedom ”” the freedom of every individual to self-define every aspect of who they are in such a way that we no longer have any kinds of norms. We are entering into the chaos of individuality. It’s an idol that will break us….”

The Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh, Bishop of Rochester, supported the resolutions, saying he knows what it feels like to be “the other.”

“When I am in India, people think I’m an American. Here, people think I’m from somewhere else,” he said. The resolutions encourage healthy self-examination, he said.

Read it all.