Moving toward convention

All the governance machinery of the Episcopal Church is preparing for General Convention — oiling the gears, testing the tire pressure, checking the (electronic) connections, updating the service manuals. The pace is increasing, and it is quite surprising to see the depth and breadth of preparation for our triennial gathering. Some have compared General Convention […]

Christmas Eve: What happens when authority calls?

David, the military general, is now king, and thinks it’s time to end the military campaign. David has been able to settle down, and act like peace really has come. He’s even built himself a great palace, with pillars and beams made from those great cedars of Lebanon. So why should God’s ark still be […]

Sermon at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC

I’ve started twitching. I’m not used to being addressed as “ma’am,” even though when I talk to people I don’t know on the phone, they often call me “sir.” I know it’s an important sign of recognizing authority in military culture, but it startles me every time I hear it – I’m usually turning around […]

St. Paul's, Alexandria 200th anniversary dinner

I've been to several major anniversary celebrations in recent weeks. Last weekend I was in Cincinnati celebrating 100 years with Redeemer parish. Two weeks before that I was on Staten Island, celebrating 300 years with St. Andrew's, on the feast of St. Andrew. Last year I was in Jamestown on three different occasions to mark […]

National Press Club Address – Religion in the Public Square

Well, is there anxiety in this town as the machinery of government shifts gears? I’ll warrant that there will continue to be a lot of anxiety until the new administration settles in, probably several months from now. Who’s going to sit in which seat at the table? Who’s going to be – or feel – […]

Shine as a Light in the World to the Glory of God

The people in darkness have seen the light. 'ow you who live in Christ are light. Everything exposed by the light becomes light. 'You are the light of the world, so don't hide it under a bushel ' let it shine out and enlighten the world. Light is the physical source of all life, not […]

Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati, Ohio

There is an old tradition that says there are 100 names for God, 99 of which can be pronounced. The 100th is still beyond speech, a mystery. What names do you know? Father, Son, Holy Spirit are the easy ones. Jesus, Lord, Savior; prince of peace, mighty counselor, advocate, holy wisdom, emmanuel, the one you […]

Presiding Bishop’s Christmas Message 2008

Sermon at St. John's Procathedral in the Diocese of Los Angeles

Lessons and Carols: Isaiah 40:1-11; Genesis 3:1-24; Baruch 4:36-5:9; Isaiah 35:1-6; Romans 13:11-14; Mark 1:1-8 [Haggai 2:6-9 substituted for Baruch] 67 years ago today this nation entered the Second World War. A series of exiles began that day, and some of them continue into the present. At its most basic level, war represents the separation […]

Peace and Justice through the Empowerment of Women

I think I would have enjoyed Margaret Parker a great deal. I’m just sorry I never got the opportunity to meet her. She was an incarnate example of what’s possible when you’ve got vision and passion and persistence. She had a pretty significant effect on the lives of many in the South Bay, through her […]