The "Good News" Within the Anglican Covenant Process

Is it possible that there is any possible good that could come out of the long and arduous process of reviewing and voting on the Anglican Covenant?  Well, after much thought I would have to say, I think so.

Let me begin by saying that this Covenant ought to be rejected out of hand.  Enough time has been wasted and enough ink has been used and enough breath to float a lead zeppelin (Pun intended?).  But what has it pointed out?

Well, it has pointed out that it is time for the Episcopal Church in the United States to change it's very foundations.  Want to do something really worthwhile then let's spend some time re-constructing this thing we call the Episcopal Church.  Let's take a look at  what William White originally proposed and perhaps reinvigorate the Episcopal Church in the United States with less political authority in the hands of bishops and clergy and more in the hands of the laity.  Bishops, at at their very core, are pastoral beings, not politicians.  We need to reconfigure their role in the diocese so that they can take care of the clergy and the pastoral needs of the community. endlessly worrying about the next great heresy has given many a false sense of superiority and it seems to have overwhelmed their ability to understand and operate in the real world.  Re-focusing on the issue of pastoral care for the flock will, I hope, rekindle both clergy and laity in their quest for the two great commandments.

A governing system needs to be constructed that provides true equality for all persons.  A unicameral house with equal votes with equal representation.  Yes, we could call it radical inclusivity!  What a concept!  It should be flatter and meet more frequently, perhaps every two years.  Eliminate the concept of province and reconfigure diocese to reflect a current and practical application.

Why all the hubbub?  Well, one thing for sure has been crystallized and that is we (the Episcopal Church) is not enamoured with anything that looks like a hierarchical church, structure or theology.  The Anglican Covenant discussion has given us that much.  So, lets scrub the Anglican Covenant and get down to the basics.  We construct our church on the basis or radical inclusivity, the idea that Jesus, the savior came for all people -- Jews and Gentiles; men and women; straight and gay; he came for us all and he will not leave without all of us going with him.  So let's construct the basic foundation of the Episcopal Church on that idea and create our mission so that everyone can see and no one can mistake what it is we are doing. 

In the end, those that join us join us and those that do not do not but we are neither hindered by those that join nor those that do not join.

It Is Rapture Saturday!

Monty Python always has something good for any occasion. This Saturday is no exception.

Okay, I Give Up -- For All You Leaving Us

A plaint for those of us not as lucky as our doctrinal warrior Fatherr Christian Troll.



And just in case you missed the lyrics:

Come Monday


Headin' up to San Francisco
For the Labor Day week-end show
I've got my hush-puppies on
I guess I never was meant for glitter rock and
roll
And Honey I didn't know
That I'd be missin' you so

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L. A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

Yes, it's been quite a summer
Rent-a-cars and west-bound trains
And now you're off on vacation
Something you tried to explain
And Darlin' it's I love you so
That's the reason I just let you go

Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L. A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

I can't help it honey
You're that much a part of me now
Remember that night in Montana
When we said there'd be no room for doubt

I hope you're enjoyin' the scen'ry
I know that it's pretty up there
We can go hikin' on Tuesday
With you I'd walk anywhere
California has worn me quite thin
I just can't wait to see you again

Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L. A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

I spent four lonely days in a brown L. A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

Tilting At Democratic Windmills

I know as I begin this, Don Quixote will be proud of this column. Also, this has little to nothing to do with Anglicanism or the Episcopal Church or even Christianity. It is about what I heard on national Public Radio today. Specifically, there was a news item in the afternoon that dealt with the democrats “reading the riot act” to the oil company executives. WHAT A JOKE! Let’s recount some of the recent democratic victories(#!?) Well, Obama’s health care plan has already been chopped down to size by this new Republican majority? The president, once claimed by almost everyone to be a socialist looks like Ronald Reagan. The budget is shot to hell because the Republicans, when handed a surplus, could not stand it so they spent us into oblivion and then bailed out the banks and the finance companies and screwed the average homeowner now want to eliminate social security, Medicare, Head Start, Planned parenthood, education, social service programs, mental health programs and just about anything else the middle class uses in favor of tax cuts for the rich. What have the democrats done? Quizzed the BP on how they could possibly let the blast in the Gulf happen. When they had finished that they decided to quiz the rest of the oil companies about the indecent profits. And when the oil execs said, the removal of depletion allowances would not reduce profits or lower gas prices could not find the guts to then respond with, “How about nationalization? Would that lower profits and reduce gas prices?” No, they just want to play patty-cake and in the meantime are outmaneuvered on the issue of the debt ceiling now being forced to give up 2 more billion dollars in social programs in order to raise the debt ceiling.
The democrats are running scared and cannot figure out what to do. They have a majority in the senate and yet get whipped at every turn. As folks said elsewhere, the 20th century is about to be repealed. And still the Republicans have time to mess with don’t ask don’t tell and a women’s reproductive rights and just about everything else that is an affront to the middle class. And what does our “socialist” president do? He gives in on all the social program cuts that the republicans want. What do the democrats in the senate do? They talk and talk and talk and talk.

When will it end?

GAFCON Re-LUNCH

There is a new statement from the Conealonialists.  I say new only because it is more of their tired and weary rap on the same old nonsense.  They continue to repeat much of the tripe they harp on in hopes that if they say it long and loud enough everyone (read Canterbury) will believe them.  Here, in abbreviated form is the latest statement from the "wannabes".

Narobi Statement from the GAFCON/FCA Primates Council

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

1. We met in Nairobi from April 25th through April 28th, 2011. We gathered as the elected leaders of provinces and national churches of the Anglican Communion and as leaders of GAFCON/FCA and we had lunch. Hence, the re-lunch title.

2. We are profoundly saddened by the many disasters that have afflicted our world in recent months especially the fact that we did not attend the Primates meeting in Dublin and boy, was that a disaster.

3. We are distressed that, in the face of these enormous challenges, we are still divided as a Communion. The fabric of our common life has now transformed into spandex so that most of us can still fit in our purple shirts and fancy robes.

4. We note the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to offer support.We only wish that the pope would let us run his place also.

5. We devoted a considerable portion of our time together exploring some of the presenting issues
 regarding Anglican ecclesiology. We were mindful of the importance of the new endowment fund for the college of bishops and are saddened that you guys thought of that before we did. We sure could use 15 million buckeroos right now as well.

6. As members of the global Anglican Communion we delight in the particular history with whichwe have been blessed. We are grateful for all the foolish laity that have hoped on board our freight train we like to call the ACNA Express.

7. We believe, however, that we are fully the church and no one can come to the father except through us.

8. We continue to be troubled by the promotion of a shadow that knows everything. Seems to us that should have gone the route of the doodoo bird. We mean really, a radio program that knows everything? How about, we know everything!

9. Confident of the power of God’s Word to renew His church we are creating more and more and more bishops and archbishops and if we could we would create some cardinals (maybe some bluebirds and some wrens).

10. We are delighted in the election of all the T-bagger Party members in the house of representatives and we may make them a diocese in ACNA all by themselves.

11. We also recognized Martyn Minns despite his new hairdo.

12. Finally we know everything there is to know and no one can tell us differently.

13. To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presencewithout fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority,through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

The Primates Council
 The Most Rev’d Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Kenya, ChairThe Most Rev’d Justice Akrofi, Archbishop, Anglican Province of West Africa
The Most Rev’d Robert Duncan, Archbishop, Anglican Church in North America
The Most Rev ‘d Onesphore Rwaje, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Rwanda
Mokiwa, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh, Archbishop, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
The Most Rev’d Henry Orombi, Archbishop, Church of Uganda
The Most Rev’d Hector Zavala, Province of the Southern Cone
The Most Rev’d Peter Jensen, Archbishop, Diocese of Sydney, Secretary

We May Be In Huge Trouble ---

I held a discussion with an intelligent, astute, extremely well-read individual yesterday that, no doubt about it, just "blew my mind".  The topic?  Public education.  I was not aware, until yesterday, that the primary reason why K-12 public schools are in such dire financial straits is because of "illegal immigration".  And, that these illegal immigrants from Mexico, pay no taxes, contribute nothing to society and if they would just go back to Mexico our schools,  our medical support system and in fact our whole economy would be much better off. 

The logic he used was more students create more costs and if the costs would go down then the amount of revenue would then cover the costs of the public schools.  My background is deeply steeped in public education finance and in public education in general and in the last few years in private education as well.  No amount of discussion about "cost per student", revenue limits (State of California don't you know) and lack of a tax base would shake this person to re-think his position.  No amount of GE and Oil Co. tax breaks would move this person around the corner.  See, he had read about a supreme court decision that mandated free public education for all -- including the children of illegal immigrants. His position was that if the feds wanted to mandate that then let the feds pay for it. 

Now, here is my real point.  The facts about public education, about our economy, about the tax base, about immigrants having for about ever generally worked harder, longer, and pay more in taxes per dollar earned would shake this notion.  My grandmother was an "illegal immigrant".  She came from her home country to the United States when she was 13.  Yep, she lied about her age and got in.  She, my grandfather, my dad, and all my aunts and uncles worked as hard as anyone, fought in the same wars, held the same patriotism as any other "American".  But these facts were of no value.  The fact that the tax base has been eroded by the constant need for Republicans to buy votes from their corporate constituents to stay in office and each time when revenue drops services are cut it is because of too many services, not the need for increasing revenue.

This person has bought into the great Republican lie hook, line and sinker!  What troubles me more than anything is that this is not some ill-read, poorly educated, blindly following oaf, this is a smart, intelligent, incredibly well-read person who can think on his feet and with the best of them.

All I can say is, we may be in HUGE trouble in our country.

Endowment Fund For College of Apostles Announced

Jerusalem 32 AD

Today, in a stunning announcement on a mount just outside of Jerusalem, Jesus of Nazareth announced the formation of a college of Apostles and a subsequent endowment campaign.  Jesus said, "Ya know, I preach parables all day long and these guys just don't get it!  I took them to a mountain top where Elijah and Moses and I all grew white as snow and these guys could only think about building a house or two.  I take them to a place in Bethany and raise Lazarus from the dead and all they can think about is some lady wasting money and oil.  Holy crackers! I just cannot believe that the apostles and fence posts have so much in common!"

So Jesus went on to explain that it was time to form a college of Apostles.  That is correct, he wants the apostles to go to college and learn some good stuff.  BUT, these are poor fishermen that ain't got a dime and so we need to raise funds for an endowment.  The current thinking of the son of Man is that this college will be set up and run from some silly out of the way place called Rome.  And when asked about the poor and the the destitute and the sick and the lame and the widows and orphans all Joseph's son could say was "You will always have the poor but these apostle guys need to wake up and smell the coffee.  How we gonna save the tax collectors and the adulterers if these apostles can't understand what I am saying.  No, these guys need to go to school, and there ain't no better place than Rome.  Don't believe me, just ask my father."

When asked about when Jesus thought this whole thing might get off the ground Jesus indicated that it would be sometime around the spring of 33 if the money changers would just give up some of there loot.  Jesus said, "there is a place in Rome called the Vatican that has been vacant for many years and we can get the whole kit and caboodle for a song."  "Once my apostles are thoroughly trained and fully educated with a bunch of new ideas on how to evangelize places like South America and Africa they (the apostles) will put my name up in flashing lights.  And after all, ain't that what we need most?"