Daily Archives: January 30, 2024

A TLC Article by Doug Leblanc on the Fracas at the recently Concluded Mere Anglicanism Conference in South Carolina

Speaking at Mere Anglicanism, a conference sponsored by a diocese that ordains women to the priesthood, priest and conservative firebrand Calvin Robinson described women’s ordination as a “tool of entryism” for critical theories about race and sex. Organizers of the conference, sponsored by the Anglican Church in North America’s Diocese of South Carolina, had asked Robinson to address the topic “Critical Theory: Antithetical to the Gospel?”

In response to Robinson’s address, organizers removed him from a panel on the conference’s final day….

Mere Anglicanism’s director, the Rev. Jeffrey Miller, and Bishop Chip Edgar of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, met with Robinson after his presentation. He compared the meeting to being called into a school headmaster’s office.

Miller disputed Robinson’s account. “For the concluding panel discussion of the 2024 Mere Anglicanism Conference, Father Calvin Robinson was pulled from participating not because of his views on women’s ordination, but because he failed to address in his plenary presentation the topic that was assigned to him,” said the Rev. Jeffrey Miller, director of the conference, in a post-conference statement. “Father Robinson was not asked to leave the conference, but remained through its conclusion and was paid his full honorarium.”

In a pastoral letter issued soon after the conference, Edgar described Robinson’s remarks as “inexcusably provocative, and completely lacking in charity and pastoral consideration of the people in attendance — especially the many women clergy both of our diocese and others who attended.”

Read it all.

I will take comments on this submitted by email only to KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * South Carolina, Anthropology, Ethics / Moral Theology, Pastoral Theology, Theology, Theology: Scripture

(Gallup) Felonies, Old Age Heavily Count Against Likely 2024 USA Presidential Candidates

Less than a third of Americans say they would be willing to vote for someone nominated by their party who is over the age of 80 or has been charged with a felony or convicted of a felony by a jury. Somewhat more, but still less than half of Americans, say they would consider backing someone nominated by their party who is a socialist….

Should Biden and Trump emerge as their parties’ presidential nominees this year (as they are on track to do, by virtue of their dominance in their respective primary fields), voters would face a choice between two of the most objectionable characteristics to Americans of those measured — someone who has been charged with a felony (Trump) and someone who is older than 80 (Biden).

An analysis of the responses of those answering both of these questions suggests that a slight majority of Americans (52%) would be unperturbed by the choice between Biden and Trump. These individuals indicate they would be comfortable voting for either someone who is over 80 (23%) or who has been charged with a felony (21%), or would feel comfortable with both types of candidates (8%).

On the other hand, 43% of respondents asked about voting for someone over 80 and someone charged with a felony say they would not vote for either type of candidate, while the remaining 5% are unsure about both.

Read it all.

I will take comments on this submitted by email only to KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.

Posted in * Culture-Watch, Aging / the Elderly, America/U.S.A., Law & Legal Issues, Politics in General

(Washington Post) Paris siege: French farmers encircle capital with an angry blockade

It looked like a military campaign. The farmers called it “Operation Paris Siege,” while the French interior minister ordered an “important defensive system” to protect the capital and its airports.

On Monday, angry agriculturalists and their allies deployed their tractors in an attempt to surround Paris, choking major roadways and disrupting not only traffic and trade, but also politics and normal life.

Farmers are emerging as the protest movement of the moment. In multiple countries across Europe, they have been driving their combines and harvesters into the streets to oppose cuts to subsidies and new regulations, some of them designed to reduce climate-changing emissions.

France, of course, is deeply familiar with protests. But as Paris prepares to host the Olympics this summer, and as the country’s ruling political centrists gird for a challenge from the far right in European Parliament elections, the farmer protests have the potential to be particularly destabilizing.

Read it all.

Posted in * Economics, Politics, Dieting/Food/Nutrition, Economy, France, Politics in General

Remembering Sam Shoemaker on his Feast Day-the importance of soul surgery

We have no respect for a surgeon who goes in but does not cut deeply enough to cure nor a patient who backs out of an operation because it may hurt; yet people can go through their whole lives attending church, listening to searching exposures of human sin, without ever taking it to themselves, or meeting anyone with skill and concern enough to lay the challenge right in their own laps.

Experiment of Faith (New York: Harper&Row, 1957), p.22 (emphasis mine)

Posted in Church History, Theology

A Prayer for the Feast Day of Samuel Shoemaker (Moved back from Tomorrow)

Holy God, we thank thee for the vision of Samuel Shoemaker, who labored for the renewal of all people: Grant, we pray, that we may follow his example to help others find salvation through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Holy God, we thank thee for the vision of Samuel Shoemaker, who labored for the renewal of all people: Grant, we pray, that we may follow his example to help others find salvation through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Posted in Church History, Evangelism and Church Growth, Ministry of the Ordained, Parish Ministry

A Prayer to begin the day from Henry Alford

O Lord, who alone canst cast out the evil passions and desires of the soul: Come among us, we pray thee, and by thy mighty power subdue our spiritual enemies, and set us free from the tyranny of sin. We ask it in thy name and for thy glory.

Posted in Spirituality/Prayer

From the Morning Bible Readings

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to thee, when my heart is faint. Lead thou me to the rock that is higher than I; for thou art my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in thy tent for ever! Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings!

–Psalm 61:1-4

Posted in Theology: Scripture