|
Keynoter wants 'baptismal charter' for Episcopal singles
Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
2002-201-5
Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2002
|
The keynote speaker at the 12th annual Solo Flight Conference at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina--the only national gathering for single adults in the Episcopal Church--called for a Baptismal Charter for Single Adults.
Speaking on the theme of 'Flying Solo and Soaring to Wider Perspectives,' Professor Joe Burnett of St. Luke's School of Theology at University of the South in Sewanee called the church to recognize the changing patterns of family life that are now a norm in American culture. He pointed to studies by sociologist Stephanie Coontz on 'The Way We Never Were' and 'The Way We Really Are.'
Among the points included in his proposed charter, Burnett included asserted that single adults are baptized children of God who are 'entitled to be members of single households with full and equal voice in the church' and also entitled to 'worship of integrity in language, practice and focus' and able to 'bear appropriate witness' to their experiences.
In his closing session, Burnett called the community to recognize that they were not without power, experience, knowledge, identity, purpose and direction--and he reminded participants that they were 'indelibly graced by baptism' which confers dignity and worth. 'You are teachers--and a teacher effects eternity,' he said, challenging them to return home to be teachers who express the wider perspective of their lives.
Participants celebrated a Liturgy of Healing and Wholeness and Blessing of Singularity as the central liturgical affirmation of the weekend. They also discussed resolution A037 from the 2000 General Convention that sought funding to implement national leadership training for ministry with single adults. The resolution, originating in the Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism, recognized the singles population as the fastest-growing and most unchurched element in the population of the nation.
|
|
|
|
| © 2004, The Episcopal Church, USA. Episcopal News Service content may be reprinted without permission as long as credit is given to ENS. |
|
|
|
