http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/ TitusOneNine en Copyright 2010 2010-03-12T05:05:34+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28766/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Conflicts, TEC Conflicts: San Joaquin, * Culture-Watch, Law & Legal Issues
Already, the Episcopal diocese has filed similar lawsuits against St. Francis Anglican Church in Turlock and St. Michael’s Anglican Church in Ridgecrest, a high-desert community in far eastern Kern County. Those parishes also were part of the secession.

The lawsuits against the individual parishes are part of a larger legal battle pitting the Episcopal Church against the breakaway Diocese of San Joaquin, which joined the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of South America, and now also the newly formed Anglican Church in North America.

Read the whole thing.]]> 2010-03-11T21:21:04+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28764/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, - Anglican: Primary Source, -- Reports & Communiques, Anglican Provinces, Anglican Church of Canada, * International News & Commentary, Africa
From February 24 to 26, the bishops of these dioceses met at the Anglican Communion Office, St. Andrew's House in London, England. In a context grounded by common prayer and eucharistic celebration we reflected together on our local experiences of mission and the challenges facing the Church in our diverse contexts. Though the initial exchange of papers had been related in most cases to matters of human sexuality and homosexuality in particular, our face to face theological conversation necessarily deepened to explore the relationships between the Gospel and the many particular cultural realities in which the Church is called to mission.

Read it all]]> 2010-03-11T20:23:16+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28761/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Provinces, Church of South Africa, * Culture-Watch, History, Race/Race Relations, * Theology, Pastoral Theology, Theology: Scripture
Now 78, in a magenta habit with a crucifix around his neck, he is the picture of a holy man. But looking back on his boyhood in one of South Africa's black townships, Tutu remembers an urchin with a fondness for marbles and comic books. And even in church, "we had fun," the archbishop tells NPR's Renee Montagne.

The memories linger even now. There's joy in Tutu's voice as he recalls a song he sang as a child: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" the verse asked.

"It was a fantastic thing to have much, much later," Tutu says — "to remember, 'Yes, if God be for us in our struggle against injustice and oppression, who can be against us?' "

Read or listen to it all.]]> 2010-03-11T16:32:22+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28760/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Bishops, TEC Data, TEC Parishes, * Christian Life / Church Life, Parish Ministry the U.S. Census Bureau's figures, Rhode Island has grown in population from 1,048,319 in 2000 to 1,053,209 in 2009. This represents a population growth of approximately 0.47%.

According to Episcopal Church statistics, the Diocese of Rhode Island went from Average Sunday Attendance (or ASA) of 8,174 in 1998 to 6,078 in 2008. This represents an ASA decline of about 26% over this ten year period.

In order to generate a pictorial chart of some Rhode Island diocesan statistics, please go here and enter "Rhode Island" in the second line down under "Diocese" and then click on "View Diocese Chart" under the third line to the left.

The Diocese of Rhode Island's website may be found here.]]> 2010-03-11T12:32:23+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28763/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Bishops, TEC Conflicts, * Christian Life / Church Life, Spirituality/Prayer, * South Carolina View the related Bulletin Insert.]]> 2010-03-11T11:48:14+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28762/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, TEC Bishops, TEC Conflicts, TEC Diocesan Conventions, * Culture-Watch, Law & Legal Issues, * South Carolina
A canonical revision, also proposed by the standing committee, grants the diocese’s bishop (or standing committee) the authority to “provide a generous pastoral response to parishes in conflict with the Diocese or Province, as the Ecclesiastical Authority judges necessary, to preserve the unity and integrity of the Diocese.”

An explanatory note on that resolution says: “We’ve experienced now as a diocese, in the All Saints, Pawleys Island litigation, the destructive force of such litigation; how it has created animosities and divisions that are not easily healed. It has failed as a positive cohesive force for maintaining the unity of the church and has in fact had precisely the opposite effect. Christians are suing Christians (1 Cor. 6:1-8); the reputation of the church is marred, and vital resources are diverted from essential Kingdom work. None of this is honoring to our Savior.”

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-11T11:43:45+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28750/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Provinces, Church of England (CoE), * Christian Life / Church Life, Parish Ministry, * Culture-Watch, Religion & Culture, * International News & Commentary, England / UK, * Religion News & Commentary, Other Churches, Other Faiths, Islam, Muslim-Christian relations
A collective comprising every church in Camberley, Surrey, has lambasted plans for the giant mosque, warning that will create only “division and discord” in the town.

The proposal has already caused security concerns in military circles as the mosque includes 30m (100ft) minarets that would overlook Sandhurst.

The planned mosque lies just 360m from the academy, where hundreds of newly commissioned Army officers take to the parade ground each year for their passing out ceremony. The event attracts senior members of the Royal Family as well as important military figures.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-11T10:01:58+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28748/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, - Anglican: Primary Source, -- Reports & Communiques, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Anglican Provinces, Church of England (CoE), * Religion News & Commentary, Ecumenical Relations, Other Churches, Methodist
The Commission is pursuing the common purpose of both world communions to be united according to the will of God, for the glory of God, and the well-being of God’s church, and for the effectiveness of God’s mission in the world.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-11T09:22:16+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28747/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Provinces, Anglican Church of Canada, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion), Same-sex blessings
A motion asking that priests be allowed to conduct blessings of gay of lesbian couples has been submitted to the biennial synod meeting Mar. 6-7 by the parish of St. John the Divine, Victoria.

The synod, primarily concerned with a restructuring of the diocese, failed to finish its business but will resume at the call of the Bishop James Cowan later this spring when the motion regarding same sex blessings may come to the floor.

Bishop Cowan will make the final decision as to whether same sex blessings should take place in parishes of the diocese, which covers Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. At General Synod 2007, the bishop voted against extension of the blessing.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-11T09:00:58+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28745/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Identity, Episcopal Church (TEC), Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, TEC Conflicts, TEC Diocesan Conventions, * Culture-Watch, Law & Legal Issues, * South Carolina See what you make of it.]]> 2010-03-10T21:22:02+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28744/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Bishops, TEC Conflicts, TEC Conflicts: Los Angeles, Instruments of Unity, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion), Same-sex blessings, Windsor Report / Process
The Diocese of Los Angeles announced March 10 that Glasspool had received 61 standing committee consents, in an unofficial tally. A majority of consents, or 56, were required from standing committees in the Episcopal Church's 109 dioceses.

"I give thanks for the standing commitees' prompt action, and for the consents to the elections of my sisters," Los Angeles Bishop Diocesan J. Jon Bruno said on March 10, referring to both Glasspool and Bishop-elect Diane Jardine Bruce.

"I look forward to the final few consents to come in from the bishops in the next few days, and I give thanks for the fact that we as a church have taken a bold step for just action."

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's office has yet to verify the official number of bishops with jurisdiction who have consented to Glasspool's ordination and consecration.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-10T20:56:02+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28743/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Conflicts, TEC Conflicts: Fort Worth, TEC Conflicts: San Joaquin, TEC Conflicts: Virginia, * Culture-Watch, Law & Legal Issues
The Court of Appeals for the Second District of Texas, which hears appeals from Fort Worth, has announced that it will hear oral argument on the writ sought by the Episcopal Diocese and Bishop Jack Iker on Wednesday, April 14, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-10T20:25:28+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28742/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Provinces, Anglican Church of Canada, * Christian Life / Church Life, Parish Ministry, Evangelism and Church Growth, * Culture-Watch, Blogging & the Internet, --Social Networking
The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia last weekend voted to close seven churches outright and move those congregations to "hub churches." The meeting, during which several members tweeted updates to followers, came on the heels of an ominous recent report that predicted that the once powerful church was headed for extinction unless dramatic changes occur.

In addition to recommending that churches close, the report described Canada as a post-Christian society and urged a change in attitude to attract new members, including embracing modern forms of evangelism.

Read it all.]]> 2010-03-10T12:00:30+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28734/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Anglican Provinces, Church of England (CoE), * Religion News & Commentary, Ecumenical Relations, Other Churches, Roman Catholic, Pope Benedict XVI
In 1976, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its declaration Inter insigniores, stating that the Church does not consider herself authorized to ordain women, not on account of socio-cultural reasons, but rather because of the “unbroken tradition throughout the history of the Church, universal in the East and in the West”, which must be “considered to conform to God’s plan for his Church.” (I’m quoting there from the document.) This position was reiterated in 1992 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and again in 1994 with the Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II, Ordinatio sacerdotalis. In October of 1995, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a response affirming that the doctrine stating that the Church has no power to confer sacred orders on women is definitive tenenda—it must be held definitively and is to be considered part of the infallible, ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Church. For Catholics, the issue of the reservation of priestly ordination to men is not merely a matter of praxis, or discipline, but is, rather, doctrinal in nature and touches the heart of the doctrine of the Eucharist itself and the sacramental nature, or constitution, of the Church. It is therefore a question which cannot be relegated to the periphery of ecumenical conversations, but needs to be engaged directly in honesty and charity by dialogue partners who desire Christian unity, which, by its very nature, is Eucharistic.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, current President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, addressed this point in an intervention given in June 2006 to the House of Bishops of the Church of England during its discussions on the ordination of women to the episcopate. In his talk he said this: “Because the Episcopal office is a ministry of unity, the decision you face would immediately impact on the question of the unity of the Church and with it the goal of ecumenical dialogue. It would be a decision against the common goal we have until now pursued in our dialogue: full ecclesial communion, which cannot exist without full communion in the episcopal office.”

Read it all and read it carefully.]]> 2010-03-10T10:19:59+00:00 http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/28732/ Kendall Harmon * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Provinces, Church of England (CoE), CoE Bishops, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion), Same-sex blessings
Read it all.]]> 2010-03-10T09:40:08+00:00