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Reader responses to Episcopal Life's coverage of the 76th General Convention
Re: Bishops affirm openness of ordination process
This will certainly cause a movement in the Anglican Communion to shun us. So be it. Would it not make sense to beat them to it and resign from the Anglican Communion? Why do we need them?
Re: Bishops delay decision on retired bishops' voice and vote
"Once a bishop, always a bishop." I wonder what it is really that moves the House of Bishops to have to "study" the concept of allowing their retired kin to vote. Because consecration cannot be taken away by human hands, the House knows that the retirees are every bit "real" bishops as they and, by definition, worthy of votes. Could it be that they are afraid of what those votes would be? Pushing it off to 2012 and 2015 is really very convenient because some older people may not be around in six years, speaking bluntly. And, of course, we don't want a chance of a stronger orthodox voice in the House, now do we? As most intelligent laity know by now, the "roomiest church in Christendom" has been drastically narrowed to a liberal living room.
Re: Four-footed ambassadors attend hearings
I am so pleased and gratefully prayerful that the ECUSA is, at last, officially recognizing the critical role of animals in God's creation and Episcopalians' responsibility in their stewardship. While resolutions proposed to increase awareness of and care for God's creatures have been defeated at past Conventions, I am greatly encouraged by the bishops' willingness to consider such resolutions in 2009. If Bishops, Deputies and all present at the Convention will carry the creation care message back to their churches and promote animal ministries, then truly, our Church will change for the better.
Thanks to The Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare's (ENAW) persistence in promoting resolutions that bring animals and their human companions to the attention of the Church leadership and overall membership. Let ECUSA serve as an international model for embracing ALL of God's creatures, regardless of sexual orientation or species.
Re: Crisis equals opportunity in the Episcopal Church, Brian McLaren says
The problem with McLaren's speech is that he wants to equate ordained ministry with evangelists, but in the Episcopal Church one doesn't have to be ordained to evangelize. This is a work open to all the baptized, not just ordered clergy, and so if the strictures of holy orders do not agree with one's evangelical aims, then don't enter into the process. A person with a call to evangelism could pursue other means to developing this gift in consultation with their bishop and clergy, and programs of spiritual and intellectual growth such as EFM, and never ever have to darken the door of a seminary or otherwise have anything to do with holy orders.
Re: LOS ANGELES: Episcopalians join hotel worker protest
Residents of Anaheim are very grateful to the Episcopalians for caring and joining the hotel worker protest on July 14. You have put into practice what you preach and believe in. Thank you.
P.S. I am not a Disney employee but an Anaheim retired businessman that cares about the struggling people of our community that want justice in their work place.
Re: Denominational health plan to provide coverage for all clergy, laity
These important conversations and implementation of a denominational health plan should continue to include the clergy and laity employees of the Episcopal Church in Province IX Dioceses (except Puerto Rico); in the case of these dioceses, maybe national/diocesan health plans could do it. Also, a subsidy or benefit from the CPG towards Province IX diocesan health plans could also be considered.
A177 is a giant step in the process of effectively addressing the issue of ongoing high costs of diocesan/parish health insurance plans.
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It would be wonderful if there were also better provision for those of us called to intentional interim ministry who struggle between positions to pay the mortgage, much less pay our own health coverage through Church Medical. We cannot afford to make payments to our pension fund either. Not all interims are independently wealthy or retired.
Re: Bishops, deputies see crisis and opportunity in proposed budget
It seems to me that if we can fund programs and projects around the globe, and even helping our staunchest critics in charity, I think our church is big enough that any person or person(s) who would be losing their job with the church could be found meaningful employment from our ranks. Time to start thinking out of the box and use what we have. Our imagination and our resources.
Just a thought!
Re: Focus on the environment is now, Bishop Charleston says at convention Eucharist
Thank you, Bishop Charleston, for your excellent eucharist message on the environmental problems facing us. I hope that the Episcopal Church, with its intelligence and courage, will take a leadership role on this issue for the world to see.
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Bravo, Bishop Charleston, I agree with you that the "great work" of our generation is to educate ourselves about our relationship with the environment, to learn to delight in it as god's creation, and to learn to live sustainability, so that our children and children's children 9 (and on and on.....) will be able to live. I myself have tried to reach people of the Episcopal Church -- and beyond -- through another medium: the printed page (Grounded in Love: Ecology, Faith, and Action, published by Ken Arnold Books). Like you, I think that the good people of faith communities can become a resource in leading humanity into a new paradigm and life-style -- this requires a change of heart and of will, and feels like a vocation to me, as it does to you. I rejoice that you have spoken out; let us hope that this vocation is contagious1
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It is very refreshing to hear a bishop speak out so boldly about the environmental disaster that has been building for the last few decades. Now if parish clergy and lay people will take up the cause, the Episcopal Church can finally get on board as a total denomination and not just a scattering of members here and there.
The Rev. John Crist is president of the Midwest Institute for Environmental Spirituality
Re: Bishops call for 'resources' for same-gender blessing
It's nice to see some of the clay falling from the feet of the leadership of our Church! Still, the Church's gay and lesbian children will have to wait yet another three years to see if same-sex blessing liturgies will be approved.
The work has been done, the theology scrutinized, the liturgies written. Shake the rest of the clay from your feet (as opposed to the sand!)and allow for the use of these trial liturgies now!
Re: ERD Sunday encouraged, liturgy for companion animals proposed
A liturgy for companion animals is such a wonderful idea! One of the reasons I joined my parish was because of their Blessing of the Animals event.
But I would also like to bring to your attention that a liturgy for service and therapy animals needs to be created. Examples are guide dogs for the blind, animals for the deaf, animals certified by the Delta Society for therapy visits to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, etc. This special liturgy would help bring those people into the church. Remember, Christ said bring all to him ... not just those that are able bodied.
Re: Reader responses to Episcopal Life's coverage of the 76th General Convention
This week I have seen the Episcopal Church which I joined in 1976 become that church again -- church that opens it arms and embraces all people.
Congratulations to all at the General Convention for doing what Christ calls us to do.
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