Encore

The BBC Hurls at Bishop Minns

Well, it's clear that the BBC - or at least this reporter - has a big time ax to grind and has his tinfoil hat firmly in place while he hurls away at the bishop. One can only imagine such badgering with Bishop Robinson. Imagine the protests! It's also quite a contrast to the tea party they had with Bishop Schori here. Bishop Minns holds up quite well and each time he scores a rhetorical point, the reporter quickly changes the subject. It looks like the TEC activists wrote out his questions for him. This can scarcely be called journalism - this is badgering a bishop and the bishop keeps his cool through it all, staying to the point - quite remarkable. Watch carefully and keep away from sharp objects. We recommend you follow up the interview with this.

What's up, Steve Jobs?

Yes, I am a geek and so this evening I get an update from Apple that Steve Jobs has done a Keynote Address at 2008 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. So I power up QuickTime and start to watch, learning that there's some cool apps coming up called MobileMe and a sneak preview of the next operating system upgrade called Snow Leopard.

But I don't get very far watching the Keynote when I see that Steve looks and sounds alarmingly unwell. We know he's a San Francisco Zen-style Vegan - and maybe that's all it is. Hope so. In this keynote he showed off key Apple personnel. It wasn't just the Steve Show. Sorta interesting. He's definitely getting across that it's not all about Steve. But of course, it is. Apple remains silent, as it has done before. We're keeping an eye on this space.

TUESDAY UPDATE: So Apple has finally responded and to the Wall Street Journal, no less, who has the scoop:

Apple’s iPhone 3G got most of the headlines on Monday after the product was announced at an Apple technical conference in San Francisco. But blogs and other Internet news sites also took note of a gaunt-looking Steve Jobs. “Concern over APPLE Steve Jobs’s physical appearance…” read a headline on the Drudge Report, which linked, without further comment, to photos showing the Apple CEO on stage at the Apple conference.

In response to a question about his health Tuesday, an Apple spokeswoman said Jobs was hit with a “common bug” in recent weeks but he still felt it was important to participate in the Apple conference. The spokeswoman said he’s now on the mend with the aid of antibiotics.

Jobs’s health is occasionally the topic of chatter because he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer four years ago, for which he underwent surgery that Apple said was successful. (Apple didn’t disclose that Jobs had been ill until after he was on the mend.) Mr. Jobs is also widely considered nearly irreplaceable at Apple, where he has been the architect of a dramatic resurgence in the company’s fortunes over the past decade. Fortunately for Apple, no replacement is needed.

BB NOTE: Well he is a devoted vegan after all and perhaps he just went had one too many tomatoes? Stick to apples, Steve. We'll be glad you did.

Time Magazine Profiles Martyn Minns and Gene Robinson

The first bishop married his gay partner in New Hampshire this weekend. The second bishop will be settling into a new house with his wife in a New Jersey suburb, chosen so that he can shuttle more easily between conservative churches opposed to the first one's theology and lifestyle.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church USA and Bishop Martyn Minns of the Anglican Church of Nigeria are the twin bookends of the current struggle within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Fallen bookends, one might add, insofar as they are the only two Anglican bishops so far to be dis-invited from the Communion's once-a-decade Lambeth Conference this July by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

The tall, British-born Minns, 65, got the boot because he led a batch of U.S. Episcopal congregations, including the one where he was church rector, out of Episcopalianism and into the authority of the Anglican archdiocese of Nigeria — primarily out of dismay that Episcopalianism had elected the openly-gay Robinson to be the bishop of New Hampshire. And Robinson, 61, a chatty, gray-haired Kentuckian who once said he looked forward to being a "June bride," was blackballed from Lambeth, (which will convene in Canterbury), because Williams felt that the Episcopal church in the U.S. had made him a bishop in the teeth of advice by the Anglican leadership not to engage in such a divisive move.

So where does that leave the two antagonists this summer? In each case, the present is about family and the near future about religious politicking. Robinson got hitched Saturday to his partner of 20 years, Mark Andrew, at St. Paul's Episcopal church in Concord, N.H. in a civil union presided over by a justice of the peace, according to the Concord Monitor. In a recent essay he says he regretted the June bride remark, noting that he should have made a more sober statement about the longing of gays and lesbians to celebrate their own "faithful, monogamous, lifelong-intentioned, holy vows," the kind of sentiment he also expressed in his recent book In the Eye of the Storm: Pulled to the Center by God.

Minns, meanwhile, is spending his weekend in Morristown, N.J, where he moved last month. His five children, ages 42 to 25, are all out of the house, although he quipped to TIME that with 12 grandchildren "I'm following the Abrahamic covenent" that promised multiple offspring to God's people. The move from his original base in Virginia, he says, was necessitated by a need to find "a good place near an airport," since his Convocation of Anglicans in North America, originally a handful of Virginia Episcopal congregations that embraced the authority of Nigeria's ultraconservative Archbishop Peter Akinola has now grown to 65 congregations spread country-wide.

On Monday, Minns will jump on a plane for Jerusalem to help prepare a meeting of conservative Anglican bishops in two weeks called the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCon) that he claims will attract Anglican bishops from 27 countries.

It is distinctly possible that the GAFcon meeting will determine what actually happens at July's much larger Lambeth Conference, which may see bishops from 160 countries in attendance. That is because, as Robinson put it to TIME recently, Lambeth "is designed not to be productive in the conventional sense." Although long heralded as the potential Armageddon where opposing bishops could finally duke out a position on sexuality and biblical fidelity, Lambeth's planners intentionally left out any opportunity to produce a concluding statement, apparently turning the meeting into a toothless series of conversations.

One of the few things that might shift it could be the goading from the bishops gathered at GAFCon. Although observers have accused conservatives like Akinola of trying to force an Anglican schism, Minns, who acknowledges occasionally polishing Akinola's prose, says "schism will not happen." Instead, he predicts a Communion "realignment" with the conservatives as the new center, possibly catalyzed by the articulation in Jerusalem of a "new revised version of 'this is who we are''" featuring traditionalist positions on Christ's divinity, his virgin birth, and a conventional understanding of marriage." Asked whether such a statement could prove exclusionary to liberal Anglicans, he said, "it will be up to the American Church to see whether it wants to be part of that or not. "

Or, to the entire Lambeth conference to chew over a month later.

It is clear that Robinson, for one, wishes he had not been excluded from Lambeth. He will be present in Canterbury as the meeting is held; and on two evenings his fellow American bishops will invite small groups of their colleagues to "meet me, hear a bit of my story, and see that their brother bishop Gene doesn't have horns and wear a dress."

Meanwhile, as befits Minns' ambivalence about the power structure behind Lambeth, the conservative bishop plans to stay away. "I'm not invited," he says "so why go? I have a life." Yet his life will keep him in the general area. "It just so happens that I do have family in England," he says. "In Nottingham, Penzance, and the Isle of Wight. I'll be there for little bit." Just in case he's needed, one presumes.

BB NOTE: Guess who lives down the street from Bishop Minns.

TEC Bishop Gene Robinson marries Mark Andrew

A week before Gafcon begins in Jerusalem and a month before the opening of the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, about 120 guests gathered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New Hampshire for yesterday's ceremony for TEC Diocesan Bishop Gene Robinson and his male partner, Mark Andrews.

Read more here and here and here. Apparently Rowan Williams has been petitioned to invite Bishop Robinson to Lambeth here. Hmm ...

TUESDAY UPDATE: We now have a photo from Saturday. Here's an article from the Guardian here.

Fr. Barron on Bob Dylan

A great short teaching by Roman Catholic theologian Fr. Robert Barron on reading Bob Dylan biblically:



Tip of the tinfoil to RWB.

Here's another teaching on Bob Dylan from a biblical point of view by Fr. Barron, this time focusing on Dylan's masterpiece, All Along the Watchtower:




Fr. Robert Barron is a professor of Systematic Theology at University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Ordained an Archdiocesan priest in Chicago in 1986, he also has published numerous books, essays and DVDs. Fr. Barron lectures extensively in the United States and abroad, including the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He also is a passionate student of art, architecture, music and history. Fr. Barron has been called "one of the Archdiocese's greatest gifts" (Open Book, Amy Welborn).

More on Fr. Barron here. Wow.

He also comments on Christopher Hitchens book as well. Part One is here. Please check this out.

Potter Watch: Could the "prequel" be one of Filch's Detention Reports?

Time out for some Potter. As some of you may know (and for those who don't but wish you did - you know who you are), J.K. Rowling has penned an 800 word "prequel" for a charity book auction in the U.K. It is one of 13 story outlines written by famous writers for a charity auction to be held by Waterstones on June 10. She was given a note card to write her submission and we have learned that she took up both sides of the notecard to pen a short story about Harry's father, James Potter and Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, that takes place about three years before Harry is born.

So naturally, the Potter world is full of speculation. We haven't heard our theory yet - so we thought, for the fun of it, we'd offer our thoughts. So here comes another "Official ZoeRose Theory" brought to you by Madam Rosmerta's Butterbeer: The best butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

Read it all at Shell Cottage here.

PreLambeth Film Fest Continues: The Graduate

A Fallen Stranger in a Metro

Yesterday I was on my commute home out of Washington. I was getting off the Metro at Union Station to run and catch my train to Virginia when I saw that a woman had fallen ahead of me. It was clear as I approached that she was unconscious.

Immediately, commuters dropped their bags and their briefcases and knelt around her to help her. Another woman - without a moment's hesitation - pointed her finger right at the metro train operator and said in a firm voice, "Call 911." The woman, a young African American who looked to be in her 30s, was non-responsive. One woman who had dropped to her knees, a white woman with short dark hair, took the young woman's head and held it gently so she did not have to rest against the dirty and hard floor. Another woman asked for water. Quickly, someone produced a full bottle of cold water from their bag and handed it into the circle around the fallen woman. Another woman began to speak in a low voice to the unconscious woman, comforting her. I started to pray. I was not the only one.

These commuters, their purses and briefcases abandoned next to them, turned their full attention on this young woman as if they had known her all their lives. The metro station chief arrived and asked if they knew the woman and all but one, who was also kneeling nearby looking so worried, said no. He asked if he should call an ambulance and the woman who had been speaking in a low voice to the unconscious woman, who was now stirring and her eyes were beginning to open, said yes.

All around us, other commuters continued to pass by, but this circle of unknown friends continued to focus all their attention on the woman in trouble. As I prayed I was overcome by this circle of compassion, in a city not known for its heart.

When it was clear that the woman was starting to regain consciousness and the situation was stable, I continued to my train. But I also continued to be overcome myself by the immediate compassion and order of this group of strangers, of all ethnic and racial description, stopping to care for someone they did not know in trouble. For the gentle voice of assurance, for the firm command to know the next step, for the solidarity of ministering together, for a bottle of cold water on a very hot day, for the gathering of others who prayed, and for a moment to find oneself in a city with a heart.

It's Thurs. Night: Do you know where the PB is?

Why, she's following in Kenneth Kearon's footsteps, of course!

A month ago we spotted the erstwhile Secretary of the Anglican Communion Office hanging out in the Philippines for a spell, thanks to a local blogger who had breakfast with him. Now it looks like he was just doing the pre-op work and here comes the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, off to have a walk about in a country where there are two - count 'em two - Anglican Provinces on the same soil. Yep. Borders, shmorders.

"Officials of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines and Iglesia Filipina Independiente expressed their appreciation to the Presiding Bishop for her leadership and consistent support and solidarity," gushes the breathless Episcopal Life. "National staff of the ECP and representatives from the various sectors of the IFI feted her with warm welcome, fellowship meals and mementos." Well isn't that special. Guess she's got their votes wrapped up.

It appears that Episcopal Life wants very much to have this photo sent about - they helpfully offer instructions on how to download the photo as well as offer two version, high test and low test. We'll oblige. Here's the specs: From left to right, Peter Ng, the Episcopal Church's partnership officer for Asia and the Pacific; Episcopal Church of the Philippines Prime Bishop-elect Edward Malecdan; Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney; Obispo Maximo of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), the Most Rev. Godofredo David; and the Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, the Episcopal Church's program officer for Asian American Ministries.

Diocese of Pittsburgh publishes proposed canons and resolutions to leave the Episcopal Church for the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

The following three resolutions and proposed canon changes have been published by the Diocese of Pittsburgh in preparation for their 2008 Diocesan Convention later this year:

Resolutions to be Forwarded to the 143rd Diocesan Convention

RESOLUTION ONE

New Canon I (All subsequent Canons to be Renumbered Accordingly) Provincial Membership within the Anglican Communion
The Diocese of Pittsburgh shall be a member of that Province of the Anglican Communion known as the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

RESOLUTION TWO

WHEREAS, Diocesan Provincial Realignment is a matter to be considered by the 143rd
Annual Convention in the form of a second reading of a series of Constitutional changes;
and

WHEREAS, a new Canon I establishing Provincial alignment with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone is also proposed; and

WHEREAS, the decision of Convention takes effect immediately, and supersedes all local existing provisions to the contrary; and

WHEREAS, many congregations will have to consider how to alter their By-Laws and/or Articles of Incorporation should the constitutional changes and new Canon I be adopted; and

WHEREAS, some congregations will require a season of discernment about whether to accept re-alignment or to petition to break their union with Convention; and

WHEREAS, charity and generosity continue to be embraced as virtues in diocesan life where matters of fidelity and direction profoundly divide us;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by this 143rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, that all parishes of the diocese shall have twenty-four months to bring their By-Laws and/or Articles of Incorporation into conformity with the Provincial alignment adopted by this Convention; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Diocesan Council shall have the authority to lengthen the discernment period on a parish by parish basis, as shall seem wisest to Council and to the representatives of particular parishes; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that negotiation between any parish seeking to break its union with Convention over the matter of Provincial alignment shall be undertaken with Christian grace and charity, and conducted in good faith, consistent with the Constitutions and Canons of the Diocese, consistent with all legal obligations, and consistent with the settlement of debts and other diocesan interests related to the parish property or assets.

RESOLUTION THREE

WHEREAS, the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (the “Diocese”) has this day voted to realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of America (“Province of the Southern Cone”); and

WHEREAS, as a consequence of such realignment the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as The Episcopal Church are no longer applicable to the Diocese, any Parish of the Diocese, or any Clergy of the Diocese; and

WHEREAS, neither the Constitution and Canons of the Province of the Southern Cone nor the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese address certain matters of administration, discipline and order that would benefit from a written and publicly available set of policies;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church be adopted as advisory policies, until a more comprehensive set of Constitution and Canons can be developed and approved by the Diocese, to provide guidance in those areas of administration, discipline and order that are not otherwise covered by the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, for the avoidance of doubt that it be understood that the adoption of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church as advisory policies by the Diocese should in no way be interpreted to suggest that The Episcopal Church has any authority over the Diocese, any Parish of the Diocese, or any Clergy of the Diocese.

J.K. Rowling addresses the graduating class of Harvard University in Cambridge

Amazing speech. You can watch it here and read or listen to it here.

Here's an excerpt:

Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.

Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.

So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.

Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above rubies.

The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned.

Read the rest here and watch it all here.

Blast from the Past: The Bishop of Virginia's Video for Virginia Churches preparing to Vote to Depart TEC with their Property

Circa Autumn 2006.

Here's the video that Bishop Peter James Lee made as a part of the "40 Days of Discernment," a period of preparation by the Virginia churches following the Virginia Protocol for Departing Congregations. In this video, Bishop Lee makes his case of why we should remain in the diocese, despite the events of General Convention 2003. His contribution to the 40 Days of Discernment shows that we heard his side of the story. There were no drawing straws - no flipping coins.

In September 2006, Bishop Lee recorded this video from his home at Shrine Mont and it was made available to the congregations both by DVD and online. It was recorded two months before Katharine Jefferts Schori became the "new sheriff" in town and changed the course of open conversation and discernment in Virginia. The video is definitely pre-KJS. It is missing the adversarial rhetoric from TEC that we are now all too familiar with - which is a clue of why the sudden shift in January 2007 was so shocking.

Here, Bishop Lee makes his case, speaking directly to the camera as though he was speaking directly to us. But in light of the hearings last week, it reminds us that Bishop Lee appeared to take our discernment process and our votes very seriously, with respect and care. He called us all faithful people in a struggle. He also uses the word division - which may be why it's disappeared off the diocesan website. There was none of the threats or dismissive attitude that would come later after the new Presiding Bishop took over from Frank Griswold. Bishop Lee appealed to a sense of Christian unity based on what he called generous historic orthodoxy - he just couldn't demonstrate how he would maintain that unity when it was clear by December that 815 and General Convention were going in a completely different direction then what Bishop Lee's describes as generous orthodoxy (which sadly, was not generous after all) - a direction that the votes of the Virginia Churches showed we could not go. A unity based on false premises could not endure the searing light of Truth. It was the Episcopal Church that left - and continues to leave - historic Anglican Christianity.

Note too that the identity he speaks of was not as Episcopalians but as family - which of course we were, which is why we are a branch and not a new denomination. While he maintains we are not congregationalists, he also does not assert that we are now suddenly emeshed in hierarchy. His respect for the discernment process leading to the votes exemplified this. We belong to the same Anglican family, now different branches.

However, he blindly dismisses that hierarchy when he asserts that the actions in one diocese are of little consequence in another. Virginia could carry on without concern for the actions being taken by the leadership of The Episcopal Church. That assertion, sadly was a dream.

Note also in this period, the loyalty he speaks of is not to the institution, but to Jesus. Of course, the question is asked in the Alpha Course - who is Jesus? We assume we know the meaning of those terms, like "Jesus" or "Christ" or even "family." But since the foundation of shifting "truths" is like shifting sand, clarity was missing. As the stress intensified, we discovered where the true loyalties lay. Now the emphasis is on loyalty to the institution over fidelity to Jesus and His Truth. It seems clear now, looking back, that what Bishop Lee describes in his video does not exist and did not exist, even then.

It was a dream.

When this video was made, there was still hope that we would find a way to stay in "as close a communion as possible," as Bishop Lee had said when he created his Special Committee with the chancellor of the Diocese of Virginia. It would not be a divorce, but a separation. I took seriously the admonition against saying to one another that "we have no need of you." Conviction does not mean disparaging the sanctity of the life of another human being - those who have stood did so for the love of those they served. No, conviction means that a line has been drawn in the sand, as Deuteronomy says, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Pretending that there is no choice does not make the choice go away. And the choice is not created by us - the choice is all ready there.

Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.

There are consequences to the actions of General Convention 2003. Calling us to an artificial sense of companionship when we've felt abandoned by the Episcopal Church (no where is there any apology) is like a philandering husband pleading with his wife not to leave him - and if she does, the separation is all her fault. Either he stops the philandering or not. Appealing to old and rusting sentiments is no substitute for dynamic conviction and creative action. What we need to do is save the marriage, not prolong the adultery. We can no more have a marriage that tolerates adultery than we can have a church that tolerates sin and calls it holy.

The Diocese of Virginia showed no signs that it would stop the moral philandering of The Episcopal Church. The video makes that clear. There's no indication of turning around, of repentance. We did not choose to separate because we had no need of our brothers and sisters, we choose to separate precisely because of our fidelity to Christ made it so. To remain would mean prolonging the lie.

We could not continue to condone actions that were so contrary to the scriptural understanding of marriage and holy living. We would not be serving our brothers and sisters if we did. He who lays down his life for my sake shall find it. Bishop Lee to some measure understood the gravity of the crisis enough to promote the creation the Protocol for Departing Congregations - and to participate in our 40 Days of Discernment. He saw the division building in his diocese. And in this video he paints his dream.

But what of a dream?

And what of the truth of a dream?

It is clear now with the new sheriff residing in the 815 penthouse, and with discovery well underway in the Virginia churches, and with the historic court hearing held last week with a ruling coming soon that such a dream has shattered.

But perhaps it shattered years ago - five years ago in Minneapolis.



Bishop Lee was speaking of progressives who hold views different than the Virginia churches understanding of biblical orthodoxy and holy living when he made this video. But if what he is saying is true, than it must now be true in reverse, now, two years later. It must be true for all - and the actions over the past year indicate that this is not the case. Imagine that he speaks of Bishop Schofield and not Bishop Robinson. My, how different it all is when the shoe is on the other foot.

Truth matters. Truth is not truths. "I am the way, the truth, and the life," Jesus said. "No one comes to the Father but through Me." That is truth - a hard truth, but it is the Truth. Truth instills trust - multiple truths do not. Multiple truths are shifting sands, which is exactly what the foundation of the diocese became - shifting sands and no sure footing. There is no place on shifting sands to build a home.

"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free," Jesus said. May it be so. May it be so.

Tuesday Night at the Cafe: PreLambeth Film Fest Begins

It's rather stormy out tonight so it seemed to be a good evening to begin what will be our special "PreLambeth Film Fest" over the next month. The popcorn is popping and the lemonade is on ice.

Tonight's FilmFest Presentation: Titan powers clash in a galactic struggle between good and evil. Cafe Patrons decide who's who. Popcorn may be thrown at the screen as necessary. Live long and prosper as the force is with you.

Monday Night at the Cafe: Live from Halifax

Okay, maybe you have to be a Dylanologist to love this - but perhaps you don't (hope spring eternal)! But when we contrast the Dylan in this homemade video shot just a few days ago in Halifax with other performances in recent years, it just seems like Dylan is on a big time roll. Here is Highway 61, which is bit hard to tell at first - but wow, all we can say is he just must be in a happy period right now. The New York Times has just given a rave review his "extraordinary art collection," The Drawn Blank Series. We have a few of the paintings up on YouTube here. Looks like others are popping in to check them out.



And here's one of his signature encore songs - a wonderful arrangement and an excellent performance of All Along the Watchtower:



Dylan is now touring Eastern Europe. Tomorrow night he's in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Back to Jr High?

Hmm ...

1. eschatological
2. anthropomorphism
3. sine qua non
4. eisegesis
5. semi-pelagianism
6. hermeneutics
7. transubstantiation
8. parousia
9. adiaphora
10. Apocalyptic
11. consubstantiation
12. Diaspora
13. hypostatic union
14. synoptic problem
15. Homiletic
16. ecclesiology
17. dialectical theology
18. Apocrypha
19. Septuagint
20. magisterial Reformation

Oh forget it. Guess it could be worse:



Heh.

Ah, but for how long? Perhaps if we renamed this place The Eschatological Anthropomorphist Semi-Pelagianism Apocalyptic Cafe we might score higher. That might make college level. BabyBlue sounds like we're still in preschool, so perhaps High School (or Junior High) is not too bad after all. We discovered that our favorite RWB is still in elementary school, alas. Matthew must be right - it must be those Dylan songs. Simplicity is an art form. After all, it takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.

TEC House of Deputies President Attacks Rowan Williams during VTS Lecture

No, it wasn't fisticuffs. He was safe over at his palace on the Thames. But she was hurling from her podium in Virginia (she sure does get around - does she have day job?). From the "We can't even make this stuff up even if we tried" file here's a quote from the May 30th Bonnie Anderson Show on preparing for Lambeth:

"Some of us in TEC in the past have thought that perhaps the Archbishop (of Canterbury) and others in the Anglican Communion do not understand the baptismal covenant that we hold foundational." -Bonnie Anderson, President, Episcopal Church House of Deputies

Oh, there's more here. We may disagree with Rowan Williams on occasion (but we've become a big fan of his theologian wife and listen to her podcast teachings at St. Paul's Theological Centre here), but we've never questioned that he somehow comes up clueless on what a baptismal covenant is. That's a somewhat audacious and, to be frank, arrogant charge. The problem is, TEC doesn't have a "baptismal covenant" in the Anglican sense of the phrase, what TEC has - and exploits - is their free-for-all fun pass to all the attractions.

What the Archbishop of Canterbury may not know, which is perhaps what Bonnie is alluding to, is that in the Episcopal Church often uses the Baptismal Covenant cunningly as a political weapon. It is the justification for inclusion of anyone to be a bishop or to be married in the church. If you've been baptized then there are no barriers. Zip. The Baptismal Covenant is a free pass for all and their appears to be some fear amongst the Episcopal leadership that the proposed Anglican Covenant (which, as we know, Rowan Williams has now required those bishops attending Lambeth to sign on to its concept before accepting his invitation - including the Americans), seriously threatens the Free Fun Pass so much that it may turn out that it wasn't so free - or so fun - after all.

Read the rest here, including the bits about splitting bishops into the "prophetic" camp and the "conformist" camp. What a slam. One does wonder, is everything all right?

Home Again from the Daughters of the King Provincial Retreat

Back now from the annual Daughters of the King Provincial Retreat. What an awesome weekend up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania! The focus on the weekend was on being filled with the Holy Spirit. We had both Episcopal and Anglican Daughters together (this is one place where the center of the relationships is not on the Church but on the King). While there are pressures by some to break up the Order, in Province III the focus remains fixed on Jesus. It was an amazing weekend. We had clergy teaching from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, CANA, and the Diocese of Pennsylvania (where else would we find such a team?!). Great workshops on the Holy Spirit and a time for everyone to be prayed for. It was terrific!

Since it's Sunday night and we're a bit weary from the long drive, how about this for Sunday Night at the Cafe. The song was on my iPod as I packed up my car and headed out after our Eucharist this morning. Here's a song dedication to all the Daughters of the King, Episcopalian and Anglican alike, here in the United States and around the world. Jesus is the center of our Order and our life. May He be glorified in this time - and all time - in our friendships for one another as sisters in Christ. I love you.