A communications initiative to tell the Episcopal Church’s story was launched on Ash Wednesday at www.episcopalchurch.org where visitors will find a new interactive feature called “I Am Episcopalian.”
The so-called “microsite” contains short videos of people “sharing their deep, personal connections to the big, wide, vibrant church that we are,” said Anne Rudig, who joined the Episcopal Church Center in New York as communications director on January 5.
Not only will the videos illustrate the diversity of Episcopalians — “all ages, all walks of life, all ethnicities,” said Rudig — but the site also will let users upload their own videos.
Uploaded videos will be monitored before being posted and should be no longer then 90 seconds, said Rudig. “I am Episcopalian” will be the website homepage throughout Lent, with a link to the rest of the Episcopal Church’s web content.
I suppose here is an opportunity for the Orthodox to tell their story and expand the parameters of diversity and inclusivity. It would be interesting to see what makes the cut and what is left on the cutting-room floor. On the other hand, who has the time or inclination to view such profiles? There seems to be an element of “job justification” in this project to me.
#1, Adam 12,
Don’t be surprised to see very orthodox sounding pieces on there. Bait and Switch is not limited to the retail industry…
I know a large number of apostate Episcopalians, and I am sure I could come to know a lot more via various TEC organizations and programs (Education for Ministry, etc.). If I had the time and money I’d learn how to use a video camera and would be urge them to let me help them “tell their story” of unbelief.
My guess is that, once they started uploading these pieces, they would NOT make the final cut… I think #2 is pretty close to the mark.
I find this new homepage narcissistic. TEC is choosing to celebrate itself on Ash Wednesday instead of pointing to Christ.
As long as 90% of the videos are of older white people, it should be very representative.
It occured to me that this sounds a bit like a 12-Step Group.
“Hello. My name is Fred. I am an Episcopalian.”
“Hello Fred.”
#6 – oh too funny!
Look for lots of “we value YOUR spiritual journey” tripe.
The good thing about these stunts is that they show the ineffectiveness of our leaders. After our Church is brought to its knees in disrepair maybe we’ll start seeing people of the likes of the servant bishops who were around in an earlier era. They weren’t much to look at compared to our sea breeze laden PB, but they sure knew how to DO the Great Commission!
Hopefully will showcase the bishop who is also a Buddhist and the priest(ess) who is also a Muslim. Are the wiccans and druids still around as well? I have not looked at the site (and won’t) but if Gene isn’t front and center, he will be howling.
Reminds of Chevy Chase: “Hello, I am an Episcopalian. And you’re not!”
“diversity” would apply to gender, sexual preferences, ethnicity, skin color, etc. alternative viewpoints are not part of the “diversity” program – didn’t you get the memo?
Bruce806 [#4] writes: “TEC is choosing to celebrate itself on Ash Wednesday instead of pointing to Christ. ”
You folks could save yourselves some work by giving serial numbers to these stock kvetches about TEC. (Recall the old chestnut about the denizens of a local pub who told each other the same jokes so often that they gave them numbers.)
Bruce’s comment could be turned into Standard Kvetch #1: “TEC is [fill in the blank] instead of pointing to Christ.”
So the short form of his comment would be “Number one – celebrating itself on Ash Wednesday!” And everyone could chime in with their own harumphs.
#14 Except “Celebrating itself on Ash Wednesday” instead of pointing the way toward Jesus wouldn’t be stock ECUSA “kvetch” number one, it would have to be stock ECUSA kvetch number 150 or so, somewhere between ECUSA promotes Buddhist Bishop instead of pointing the way to Jesus and ECUSA invoking pagan goddesses and Native American Spirits to manifest themselves in the National Cathedral instead of pointing to Jesus.
The only sad thing is they aren’t jokes. I wish they were.
What is the point of this showcase and I ask that with a genuine curiosity without sarcasm. Aren’t other denominations just as diverse?
If you’re already Episcopalian is this showcase meant to assuage your doubts, validate your personal beliefs or maybe give you a little pat on the back?
If you’re a Christian shopping for another denomination to join or a non-Christian just curious about organized religion is this showcase meant as an invitation sans evangalization?
Is one supposed to see the commonality of diversity here?
Actually, Ed, I’m not certain of the point of it except as some form of outreach. Despite my earlier snarky comment, I really don’t have a problem with the idea. I don’t think it hurts to put people’s testimonies on a website and might actually be educational.
Not everything that comes out of 815 has to bear the “Morodor seal of approval.”
I don’t know why, well, actually I do, but this [url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_s7q2Mn4Z8″]movie clip[/url] came immediately to mind as appropriate to the situation. With apologies to Tom Cruise I would like to give it the alternative title of “The Last Episcopalian.”
the roman, re: “Aren’t other denominations just as diverse?” Actually, other denominations are far more diverse.
I listened to several of the videos and hoped, yes hoped to hear about the wonders of Jesus Christ the resurrected Lord. But No. No mention of him in any of the 7 or 8 videos I watched. Sad, very very sad.
Hopper – I agree, at least in part, with your no. 11 comment. On the other hand, however, I can’t stand the continued boasting that the Episcopal Church is the “Thinking Man’s Church” (or thinking person”s). And really now, waht church actually believes, or promotes the idea, that “Jesus died not to take away our brains, but to take away our sins.” How sententious and condescending. Actually, the RC Church, to take one example, is actually a much bigger tent for various differences/nuances of thought.
An interesting marketing idea – I’m not sure about the name, though. The first two words hold some biblical significance.
I would be interested in the changes to this site if it is submitted to legal review – quite a few issues here…
🙄