RECENT COMMENTS
By AnglicanFirst on May 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Chief of Staff of Diocese of Virginia Expresses "Disappointment" with Falls Church (Anglican)
“We have sought to be as generous as we can be with these congregations…”
That statement boogles the mind.
The Diocese of Virginia’s lawsuit was an uncharitable act toward Christians in the first case.
It came about after the Bishop of Virginia reversed course from his commitment to a negotiated separation and joined with (or knuckled under pressure from) the Presiding Bishop to join in a hostile action against the departing parishes.
The leaders of the Diocese of Virginia should hang their heads in shame. Nothing good can come of this action that they have successfully undertaken against Christians.
This leadership shoild be concerned about how they will fare at their Final Judgement.
By MichaelA on May 23, 2012 at 8:29 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
mbgentsch, further to your #9, I am reluctant to respond to your comment: “From my personal experience, the emergent neo-Anglicanism is theologically incoherent as well.” as your post (whether by accident or design) has ended up distracting from Luke’s good news about an ACNA church planting in an area of Kentucky which seems to have been largely vacated by TEC.
Why TEC would have any objection to ACNA (or Continuum churches for that matter) moving into an area which TEC has essentially vactated is not clear to me. If TEC does have a problem with it, surely the answer is obvious: establish your own churches there! Or better yet, support and maintain your churches that are already there BEFORE they die out.
But, since you have raised the issue, on what basis do you assert that ACNA is “theologically incoherent” (and do please ensure that your answer is not some observation that would apply equally to any other church, e.g. ‘I went into an ACNA church and found someone who believed differently to their theological statement’, or, ‘ACNA contains both evangelicals and anglo-catholics’!)
Over to you.
By NoVA Scout on May 23, 2012 at 8:25 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Chief of Staff of Diocese of Virginia Expresses "Disappointment" with Falls Church (Anglican)
“pocketing” seems not quite the precise word given that the departing group had no right under secular law or the governing rules of the Parish, the Diocese or the national Church to any of the “cash and property.” The “pocketing” would have occurred if people who reaffiliated succeeded in taking things with them on their to their new place of worship. It’s hard to imagine people even thinking of doing such a thing, but it has come up here and there. The trial court in Virginia made clear that funds and assets acquired or donated after the departure decision remained with the departing parishioners. That seems fair.
By driver8 on May 23, 2012 at 8:25 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
Not from universities in the United Kingdom. DDs are both earned and honorary.
By Brian Vander Wel on May 23, 2012 at 8:12 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An Indispensable C. S. Lewis Quote to Ponder and then Reponder on Modernity versus the Ancients
It is always amazing to me that C.S. Lewis saw what he saw many years before others could see, let alone understand.
I can remember a personal revelation of this kind when I was re-reading The Great Divorce days after General Convention agreed to approve the episcopal election of V. Gene Robinson in 2003. In chapter 5 (I believe) a bright spirit from heaven engages in a conversation with one of the ghosts who turns out to be an Episcopal Bishop who is living in hell (because of his apostasy) and had decided to visit the outskirts of heaven. The Bishop ends up choosing to go back to hell because he realizes he will miss an important lecture that he is scheduled to give. The topic? How much more God could have accomplished through Jesus had he not died so young. I read in stunned amazement as that conversation played out in a book written nearly 60 years before those CG events.
C.S. Lewis is clearly one of God’s greatest gifts of the 20th century for Christian minds. Thanks for pointing this out to me, again. Father Harmon.
By Alta Californian on May 23, 2012 at 8:04 pm [comment link]
From the entry: The Awesome Ring of Fire Formed by the Moon and the Sun Over the Weekend
Unfortunately, I had traveled just outside the zone of annularity, but even from where I was, it was a splendid thing to behold.
By MichaelA on May 23, 2012 at 7:57 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
mbgentsch at #9, you appear to have read far more into my post that is actually there.
Firstly I referred to cases where liberal dioceses of TEC have declined. I didn’t refer to all dioceses, in fact I didn’t make an entirely sweeping statement about liberal dioceses either.
Secondly, I referred to the Anglican witness being lost from communities in those cases where the TEC parish or mission disappears. I assume you are not suggesting that there are NO cases where this has occurred?
Thirdly, I wrote that it was encouraging to hear that Anglicans are discipling and making churches in areas where the TEC witness has disappeared.
Your post at #9 doesn’t really seem to be responding to my post at all.
By Statmann on May 23, 2012 at 7:53 pm [comment link]
From the entry: For sale: One Episcopal church with small-town charm in Oakfield, New York
Richard: You are correct. St Michael was in Western NY as is St James. St James could use the funds. From 2002 through 2010 Members went from 800 to 300, ASA from 80 to 60, and Plate & Pledge about the same at $110K which is about down 20 percent when adjusted for inflation. Statmann
By Alta Californian on May 23, 2012 at 7:37 pm [comment link]
From the entry: For sale: One Episcopal church with small-town charm in Oakfield, New York
I don’t know if Kendall can correct his headlines, but this does appear to be in New York, not in California.
Corrected by the elf.
By Ian+ on May 23, 2012 at 7:31 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
All DDs are honorary. Earned doctorates in divinity are PhDs and ThDs. Maybe somebody oughtta investigate Nashotah and Trinity!
By Mitchell on May 23, 2012 at 7:20 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (USA Today) Stephen Prothero--A Mormon moment
#15 I am not going to feed into your paranoid arguments about some hidden agenda to take every one’s guns. Elevating a Mormon to the Presidency of the United States is a mistake. It is the fulfillment of the dream of Joseph Smith. It will add unprecedented legitimacy to an expanding Pagan religion. It will impose upon Mormonism a stamp of approval by Christian America, and add credibility to their claim to be Christians.
Mormonism is a stealth religion. They use the name of Jesus Christ to spread their beliefs and convert Christians, but they are not Christians.
When my son was in 10th grade, he was dating a nice young lady. One day we were talking and she told me her mother was Catholic but that her father was Mormon. I was some what amazed but not alarmed. One day my son came home from a date and told me she had been invited him to attend her Church. I thought he was talking about the local Catholic church. He was not. Soon he was bringing home copies of the Book of Mormon, and talking about Indians being the lost tribes of Israel. He had developed a huge fascination with this religion, and I had one heck of a time putting a stop to his interaction with this family.
Can you imagine my concern? It is very difficult to deal with a teen boy in a way that does not push him in the exact opposite of the way you want him to go. Can you imagine how much more difficult my argument would have been had George Bush been a Mormon. I would have been calling the President of the United State evil.
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 7:04 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
RE: “Even if you remove 09-10, the picture isn’t rosy.”
Not at all—in fact it’s *quite* rosy. When you look at the year 2000 you see an ASA of around 12,500 and when you look at the year 2009 [prior to the departure of the largest parish] you see an ASA of around 14,000.
In the midst of that 10 year spread, the peak ASA was in 2004, followed by bouncing-ball years of decline and growth, with the next highest ASAs in that ten year period occurring in 08 and 09—truly stunning considering the decade of misery, chaos, corruption, and heresy in the larger church.
Needless to say, that chart is the very opposite of the standard TEC diocese chart.
No question that the events post-2003 have been damaging and destabilizing even to the Diocese of SC—which further demonstrates my original thesis. But I maintain that SC will enjoy a solid recovery from the loss of their largest parish—much to the discomfiture both of some conservative Anglicans and many revisionist Episcopalians. And, if they continue further differentiation from the odiousness of the national denomination, they’ll probably top 15,000 at some point—all, again, in direct antithesis to the vast vast vast vast vast majority of TEC dioceses.
Again—this is not something that will make *some* conservative Anglicans very happy, nor most revisionist activist Episcopalians.
But it makes me quite happy.
By RalphM on May 23, 2012 at 6:17 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Chief of Staff of Diocese of Virginia Expresses "Disappointment" with Falls Church (Anglican)
DioVa was benevolent in considering the return of specific items donated by departing parishioners. That fact is true. It is a little easier to be generous when you are pocketing tens of millions of dollars worth of cash and property.
By Richard A. Menees on May 23, 2012 at 5:28 pm [comment link]
From the entry: For sale: One Episcopal church with small-town charm in Oakfield, New York
Does this church really exist (in California?) or is it in New York where the rector in the picture has a church in Batavia?
Just asking because there does not seem to be an Oakfield in California.
By rwkachur on May 23, 2012 at 4:55 pm [comment link]
From the entry: For sale: One Episcopal church with small-town charm in Oakfield, New York
I am assuming Rev. Metcalfe just overlooked the memo…the TEC policy is not to leave the property “open to whoever can see the possibilities,” ACNA, AMiA etc. need not apply.
By Tfleetwood on May 23, 2012 at 4:48 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
# 18,
Maybe I’m reading the chart wrong, but it looks like there wasn’t a “year of decline” but years of decline interspersed with years of growth.
04-05 the diocese declined by 579 ASA
05-06 the diocese grew by 297 ASA
06-07 the diocese declined by 260 ASA
07-08 the diocese grew by 305 ASA
08-09 the diocese declined by 21 ASA
09-10 the diocese declined by 1,891 ASA
I don’t think these numbers merit panic, much less comparison with the deep decline mentioned above. But neither do I think these numbers are cause for optimism.
As to the recovery of the Diocese from the loss of its largest parish, I would suggest the numbers say the Diocese should be concerned about recovery in general not in specific reference to the loss of any one parish. Even if you remove 09-10, the picture isn’t rosy.
By Ian+ on May 23, 2012 at 3:56 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Chief of Staff of Diocese of Virginia Expresses "Disappointment" with Falls Church (Anglican)
They should have simply walked away from all the property in the first place, and given the diocese their cloak too.
By samh on May 23, 2012 at 3:42 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Chief of Staff of Diocese of Virginia Expresses "Disappointment" with Falls Church (Anglican)
“We have sought to be as generous as we can be with these congregations…”
Well now that’s just not true. They have been precisely as generous as they believed to be expedient or shrewd, but I doubt they have been as generous as possible.
By Ralph on May 23, 2012 at 3:39 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
In commenting elsewhere on the Holy Spirit - voices of all the baptized quote, I noted that her D.D. must be an honorary degree.
True that. She has 4 of them.
According to Wikipedia (always authoritative), she has the following:
Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa)
- Episcopal Divinity School
- University of the South
Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa)
- Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
- General Theological Seminary.
Amazingly, Nashotah House and Trinity seem to have overlooked her obvious spiritual gifts.
By Capt. Father Warren on May 23, 2012 at 3:25 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (USA Today) Stephen Prothero--A Mormon moment
Okay, Mitchell: I know something of Christianity and a little about Mormonism. My point is/was; the election is for President of the United States, not for Pope.
.....I reject your arguments this nation is in danger of becoming a Marxist state
That’s fine, many fellow citizens of this country also do that. But when we look at who surrounded Obama as he grew up, who surrounds him now, his own words at transforming the country, the actions to date of his administration, his admitted criminal behavior [abusing hard drugs], his totally fictional life story; compared to the Romney’s who have lived what we would in earlier times admire as the “American success story”........we have a clear, differentiated choice of candidates to cast a vote for. And sitting on your hands come election day won’t be helpful to those who will follow us.
Let’s just take one single policy position that we know full well this administration will pursue with a vengence if the “O” is re-elected: and that is the 2nd Amendment. Don’t care? Then read history: the list of nations who abolished the right to keep and bear arms and then went hard left totalitarian with tragic losses of life is well known and documented. If you sit on your hands, you want that on your conscience?
By Pb on May 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
To discern God’s purposes, we must listen to the voices of all of the baptized. This is known as the Aronic leadership model. Everyone brings some gold and throws it into the fire. Guess what comes out?
By David Keller on May 23, 2012 at 2:25 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
The PB wins another round. Looks like KJS is one step closer to being Archbishop Kate.
By Pageantmaster [Free Archbishop Cranmer] on May 23, 2012 at 2:18 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An announcement from Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal Church House of Deputies
Fall away, fall apart, fall out.
By clarin on May 23, 2012 at 2:13 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
Pog ma thoin!
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 1:07 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
Of course . . . those who left claimed that 6-8 parishes were gonna leave. My guess was closer to 2-4 . . . which proved an overestimate.
; > )
No, I think that the Diocese of South Carolina will recover handily from the loss of its largest parish . . . unlike most other dioceses in TEC who lose their large parishes.
And the differentiation will do it. I think there’s a market—a significant market—for the Christian gospel in the rich, Anglican liturgical/Prayer Book heritage that is the Diocese of South Carolina’s. There’s a larger market for the seeker-sensitive, informal, evangelical churches. A significant one for Anglican churches. And a next-to-nothing one for TECusa’s brand of faux Christianity.
By Mitchell on May 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (USA Today) Stephen Prothero--A Mormon moment
Wherever did you figure out such a fairy tale?
It is no fairy tale. Since his early days Romney has been a missionary for the Mormon religion. He has also served as a Bishop for the Mormon religion. Mormons reach out to Christians and attempt to convert them to Mormonism. Romney has actively participated in that process for his entire life. What do you think his mission trip to France was all about?
The souls of those who follow the Mormon religion are in mortal danger. The same as those who follow Islam or Wicca. Those who seek to convert Christians to another religion and lead them from the path to salvation do not serve the cause of Christ; and Christians who are unwilling to speak this truth because of some temporal concern about their taxes are active participants in that process.
While I reject your arguments this nation is in danger of becoming a Marxist state it has nothing to do with my point. The charge of Christians is to light the path to salvation. Christ transcends nations and political philosophies. Mormonism is a pagan religion which Romney has expended significant time, energy and money expanding; and every Christian he has converted to that religion is in danger of paying the ultimate price.
“Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the Church of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore whoso belongeth not to the church of the lamb of God belongeth to that great church; which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.” (The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10)
“Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Documentary History of the Church, Introduction, xl)
“I was answered that I must join none of them (Christian Churches), for they were all wrong…that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight” (Joseph Smith History 1:19).
“...the God whom the ‘Christians’ worship is a being of their own creation…” (Apostle Charles W. Penrose, JD 23:243)
“The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the salvation of God.” (Brigham Young, JD 8:171)
“...orthodox Christian views of God are Pagan rather than Christian.” (Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B.H. Roberts, p.116)
These are the things Romney believes and the things his religion teaches those they convert.
By High_Church on May 23, 2012 at 12:59 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Methodist Bishop Willimon on General Conference 2012 and ‘church by committee’
I love Bishop Willimon, he has both a southern charm and direct manner of speaking. He among the leading lights in the United Methodist Church and would that we’d have a few bishops like him in TEC or even the ACNA, both in his commitment to the centrality of Christ and and His cross and his academically rigorous and dynamic defense and advancement of historic Christianity. He’s definately one in the footsteps of Bishop Allison of South Carolina and like him, is one of the “bishops” who get any popular hearing outside their denominational ghettos.
By Ian+ on May 23, 2012 at 12:55 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
The acronym, Sarah, is JEDOCHINL. We could do that. There is a lot of stuff Episcopalians do that is truly good. Problem is, in some cases, the doers of them have lost sight of the mandate that all be done to the glory of God. To borrow a line from Bp Ed Salmon, How are we bringing Jesus into the good things we do? Is he front and center? If not, then it’s not being done for his glory. And that’s where we’re dropping the ball (or should I say, the cross?)
By midwestnorwegian on May 23, 2012 at 12:54 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
A more apropos title for the fan page might be: “Unrepentant Episcopalians”.
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 12:52 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
By the way, Tfleetwood, you do recognize that the year of decline in ASA in South Carolina arose from their loss of the largest parish in the diocese don’t you?
Because . . . the largest parish didn’t want to be in a corrupt, heretical larger organization called TEC?
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 12:46 pm [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
You could be right—it’s traditionally been *the* growing diocese in TEC [look back at headlines from 2006-2009]. But perhaps even its sturdy differentiation has caused its previous growth to slip.
But . . . it’s not looking too shabby in at least Charleston County either:
http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/42965
But again—I guess we’ll see when the diocesan stats come out for 2011. Somehow I expect that SC will be “least in decline” if decline it is. ; > ) And first in growth . . . or perhaps . . . “only” in growth if growth it is.
Which gets us back to my point.
There’s just not a market for ragingly revisionist faux Christianity with a liturgical gloss to it. Libs are usually opposed to Christianity in general, and those who are not go to the UU church. The percentage of 1) libs 2) who wish to fancy themselves religious, 3) who also like the pretension of a little light liturgy is alarmingly teensy.
And then there’s the whole church-fighting bitter-division thingy—never very attractive and going to play itself out for at least the next decade. Once the lawsuits wind their way down in the coming couple of years, you’ll have a nice fresh crop of grossed-out conservative Episcopalians, repulsed by the actions of the next General Convention which, refreshingly, we enjoy like a nice cooling tsunami every three years, rolling into our parishes and dioceses with a cleansing tide.
By Fr. Gregory Crosthwait on May 23, 2012 at 12:41 pm [comment link]
From the entry: An Indispensable C. S. Lewis Quote to Ponder and then Reponder on Modernity versus the Ancients
Fr. Thomas Hopko drew my attention to this book some years back in a wide-ranging lecture and subsequent podcast. I’ve come to agree with his opinion that this book is mandatory reading. This quotation and the entire book is ideal for pondering and re-pondering. Thank you, Canon Harmon.
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 12:36 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
UP’s got it right. The point of “Unapologetically Episcopalian” is to do some public relations in support of a national church that’s infested by heretical corrupt incompetent leaders . . . which is something that they’re just fine with, hence the lack of apology.
I’ll probably join the organization that titles itself “Joyful Episcopalians Despite Our Corrupt, Heretical, Incompetent National Leaders.”
By off2 on May 23, 2012 at 12:32 pm [comment link]
From the entry: Forward in Faith UK Release on the House of Bishops Decision
4. Pageantmaster, I understand the reformed part, but how can a body call itself catholic when it rejects two millennia of catholic tradition?
By Undergroundpewster on May 23, 2012 at 12:30 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
Or maybe “Shameless”.
By Undergroundpewster on May 23, 2012 at 12:28 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
The real way “Unapologetically Episcopalian” came into being was that there is something that needs to be apologized for when trying to explain this denomination to outsiders.
So why are they “unapologetic”? Are they, by choosing such a title admitting that there is a problem?
Nope.
Those who deny that anything heretical or sinful is going on, or who re-vision what once was considered sinful to be a blessing, feel that they have nothing to apologize for.
A better term would be “Prideful Episcopalians”.
By Christopher Johnson on May 23, 2012 at 12:26 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (SmartMoney) Does Facebook Wreck Marriages?
Facebook’s actually made one marriage that I know of. My sister was divorced. An old college boyfriend of hers who was also divorced tracked her down on Facebook, I guess the two of them went back and forth online, they got back together for real and eventually got married. That invitation was one of the shocks of my life.
By David Keller on May 23, 2012 at 12:12 pm [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
#4—Chuck; but here’s the thing. When I got back from GC 2003, being very critical about what had happened, another lay deputy said to me “We did 1,000 things at General Convention, and all you want to do is talk about one bad thing when the other 999 were good.” There is nothing wrong with any of those ministries, but bad theology trumps them all. Being the United Way in vestments does not cut it. I will say, I hope Fr. Pogue is also a major evangelist.
By Frank Fuller on May 23, 2012 at 11:55 am [comment link]
From the entry: (SmartMoney) Does Facebook Wreck Marriages?
People wreck marriages faster and more efficiently with Facebook.
By pastorchuckie on May 23, 2012 at 11:20 am [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
I can appreciate y’unses (#1 and #2 above) skeptical assumptions about anything appearing on the ENS webpage. I look in vain for a reference to something Episcopalians do that ONLY makes sense if you serve a crucified Savior and are animated by the Holy Spirit.
But you would almost think from the foregoing remarks that there’s something intrinsically wrong with feeding programs, service to people with AIDS, or a hospice program. It’s not such bad news that Episcopalians are engaged in doing things other than suing each other and getting caught in sexual misconduct—the only “church topics” that seem to make news in our local papers.
Pax,
Chuck Bradshaw
Hulls Cove, Maine
By Dan Crawford on May 23, 2012 at 11:12 am [comment link]
From the entry: (WSJ) What Happens When Toddlers Zone Out With an iPad
What in heaven’s name is a 4 yr old doing with an iPad in the first place?
By Tfleetwood on May 23, 2012 at 10:22 am [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
#15 Thanks for the clarification and I enjoyed the analogy.
I see how the Diocese of South Carolina has bucked the theological/ liturgical trends of progressivism. I do not see how they’ve bucked the trend with their growth. My read of the statistics shows them to be in decline, albeit the third slowest declining Diocese on the list which I suppose is a bonus. However it appears as if their current ASA is at a 10 year low. Perhaps the national brand is a bit too toxic, even for a strongly differentiated local brand?
By David Keller on May 23, 2012 at 10:11 am [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
How quaint of Mr. Pogue to quote St. Paul.
By Pete Broadbent on May 23, 2012 at 9:39 am [comment link]
From the entry: Church of England House of Bishops approves Women Bishops Legislation
You may find my blog, which attempts to elucidate what is quite complex material, throws some light on all this.
http://bishopofwillesden.blogspot.co.uk/
By BlueOntario on May 23, 2012 at 9:34 am [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
It got me wondering, what is the overhead for the Rotary International compared to The Episcopal Church? Compare and contrast with other mainline denominations as they come to mind.
I think service can be connected with mission, but they are two different things.
By A Senior Priest on May 23, 2012 at 9:25 am [comment link]
From the entry: (ENS) Ronald Pogue--How ‘Unapologetically Episcopalian’ came to be
This is absurd. Who’s going to get excited about some community service organization which merely does nice things? The author goes on to say that the world will judge us on how we in the TEC treat each other. Recalling Mrs Schori’s abusive and vindictive behavior to the “little people” and their parishes and dioceses, the author’s falsity and the utter hypocrisy of it all makes me want to scream.
By Sarah on May 23, 2012 at 9:04 am [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
RE: “Are you suggesting that if a conservative parish or Diocese is in decline it is the national church’s fault?”
It’s certainly a strong underlying pre-condition. Getting conservatives to stay in a corrupt heretical denomination like TEC is like getting people to take Tylenol in their local city right after the cyanide was discovered and Tylenol announces that they think things are okey-dokey anyway.
That analogy is an excellent precursor to the probable best solution for dioceses or parishes which believe the Gospel and are within a denominations whose national leaders do not—strong, clear, public, complete and total differentiation from the national brand.
Had the national corporate entity refused to take steps to protect their Tylenol bottles, then each and every pharmacy and local region would have had to do so—and would have had to announce loudly that, while national Tylenol had failed, the appropriate steps had been taken on the local level to assure a healthy Tylenol bottle, rather than a cyanide-laden one.
In the long run, there’s simply not a market in the US for a radically, flaming progressive “church” that’s also quasi-liturgical. People don’t want a product like that—as TEC is learning to its cost, and as parishes and dioceses are learning as well.
However, I *do* see that the Diocese of South Carolina has bucked the tide with their growth—which further demonstrates my point. The Diocese of South Carolina has done the most of any diocese in TEC to say “hey—while those loons over there don’t believe the Gospel, we’re different, we do, and here’s our practice to demonstrate that.”
Naturally, I’d expect revisionists like the ones who have commented on this thread to not agree. But that’s nothing new, as we don’t share the same Gospel or foundational worldview, values, or basic principles.
We’re two gospels in one organization, and that’s how it will be for many years to come. Best to make that crystal clear.
By Bart Hall (Kansas, USA) on May 23, 2012 at 8:44 am [comment link]
From the entry: (The Hill) CBO: Recession in 2013 unless Congress acts on fiscal issues
The longer politicians attempt to delay the day of reckoning, the worse it will be. You cannot solve a problem of excess debt with even more borrowing. We’re in a depression and we might as well get on with it.
By Brian from T19 on May 23, 2012 at 8:43 am [comment link]
From the entry: (SmartMoney) Does Facebook Wreck Marriages?
No. People wreck marriages.
By Tfleetwood on May 23, 2012 at 8:14 am [comment link]
From the entry: A Look Back to 2009 and a Consideration of Statistics in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
#12,
Not sure what the implication is of that observation. Are you suggesting that if a conservative parish or Diocese is in decline it is the national church’s fault? If so, what do you propose a conservative parish or Diocese ought to do about that?
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