The Road To Emmaus

In light of all the happenings around the Anglican Communion including the RCDC Covenant and the GAFCON meeting in England and the slef-recognition of GAFCON and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and all that whoop-de-do I wish to go back to Luke 24:13-35 and the disciples encounter with Jesus along the road to Emmaus.  As you may recall Jesus slips up on a couple of disciples (unbeknown to them).  They talk about the happenings in Jerusalem a couple of days ago.  Then, Jesus begins to warm up -- I will let Luke finish the story:

And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

When the disciples discovered it was Jesus, he vanished, but they went to the others with their hearts burning and could not keep still nor could they keep quiet.  The Episcopal Church, when we discovered women's ordination and LGBT rights did our hearts burn and could we hardly keep quiet?  I think not!  We have tried to hide all these things under a bushel basket.  Our timidity has been our worst enemy.  Yes, too some extent we have brought the last few years and the last few days upon ourselves.  And we continue to be timid and "hopeful" about these issues.  Those who would supplant TEC have neither been timid nor quiet.  They have mistaken our kindness for weakness and have taken full advantage.  In fact today, who stands up for Bishop Robinson?  Do we see or hear clear and unequivocal response to all the evil that has spewed from the mouths of Iker and Duncan and Schofield and Venables and Jenssen and Orombi and Akinola?  Each time they speak does someone immediately answer with clear and certain terms?  Does the rest of the Communion know, really know, where we stand and how firmly we intend to hold that ground?  No, why do I say that?  Look at B033!  Listen to those that speak of these issues.  Heavens, we are still apologizing for women priests and bishops!  No one in TEC seems to be willing to take on the primates on the issue of LGBT rights!  We are still arguing about the rescission (or not) of B033!  

Did we encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus or not?  I think we did.  Everyone is wringing their hands over these events and yet we caused a portion of them ourselves.  We need to create empahtic statements that leave no room for discussion or dismissal.  We need to show the Primates and the FCA and GAFCON and anyone else that these are baseline issues and we do not intend to allow rights to be taken away from classes of people simply because someone in Argentina doesn't like women.  Someone in Nigeria hates gays!  Someone in Fresno or Forth Worth or Pittsburgh takes advantage of TEC's kindness.   Let's start talking and acting and working like these issues are baseline issues -- remember, lukewarm Christians get spit out.

Keeping The Promises in Front of Us

Remember back when there was no schism?  Well, maybe not that long ago, how about we remember to the spring and summer of 2007.  Mr. Schofield and Mr. Gandenberger (then bishop and priest ) were making the rounds of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin.  He came to our parish in the northern portion of the diocese and was willing to take questions.  Here are some of the important questions and answers and how that has played out.

Question:  Bishop Schofield, I am an Episcopalian and if we move to the Southern Cone where will I worship? 

Answer: Why, right here in your own building.  Nothing will change.

Today:  Those buildings and properties taken by the Southern Cone are being given back to the Episcopal Church where they belong.  So, had you gone with Mr. Schofield (or anyone else such as AMiA) you would be in the process of finding new digs after giving back the stuff that was taken.  One parish is currently preparing to move here in our diocese and the balance of those incorporated parishes will be coming back shortly.  Those in the corporate sole will be back with in 4 to 6 months.  In point of fact, those who went with the Southern Cone will NOT be worshiping in their own buildings.  Furthermore, when you travel, you need to be very careful since there are so few southern cone churches inside or outside of California.  

Question: Bishop Schofield, will we be able to use our own prayer book?

Answer:  Nothing will change.  The Book of Common Prayer will be our prayerbook and nothing  will change. 

Today:  The Global South, the Southern Cone included and all of the GAFCON provinces have adopted the 1662 prayerbook.  That is right, the book prior to anything American.  You pray for the King and Queen of England.  Even the cherished Rite I, or the original Eucharistic prayer from the 1928 prayerbook is not recognized.   Don't forget you folks adopted the Jerusalem Declaration at your last convention.  

Question:  How will this change help us bishop Schofield?

Answer:  Well my people, it will bring us back into alignment with the Archbishop of Canterbury.  We will be closer to Canterbury and the Church of England.

Today:  Not only are you not any closer you are actually further away.  Look for one statement in which the Archbishop of Canterbury directly recognized your deposed bishop, your diocese or your move to the Southern Cone.  AND, the Jerusalem Declaration says that you don't have to recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury -- in fact -- the Archbishop of Canterbury is a throwback to colonialism and is probably a bad thing. 

Question:  Bishop Schofield how will this move fix the issues we face in the church?  Will this resolve the +Robinson issue?  Will this resolve the women's ordination issue?  How about the other things you warned us about?

Answer:  It will clear the path so that we can work on those issues but it will not fix them immediately.  

Today: Well, nothing has changed but the path has become no clearer.  And in fact the Southern Cone is preoccupied with other issues, like money. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the Southern cone -- you are not Anglican, you must use a prayerbook you never even saw and your issues have not been resolved.  By the end of the year you will be worshipping in storefronts and old liquor stores and borrowed churches.  Look at the following:

Picture is a bit dark but it is of the Easter Vigil just last Sunday.  It is of the renewal of life in the Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin.  It is not too late and it is time to renew your life.  Come home, come back to your friends and family.  Come back to where the prayerbook is the 1979 prayerbook and we pray for those things American.  Come back to where you can worship in your own buildings, built by your fathers and grandfathers for the Episcopal Church.  Come back to wrestle with those gnarly issues that we all wrestle with and things will improve.  Come back to the Episcopal Church -- the only true tie back to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion.  Come back -- no come home -- this is where you belong -- why continue the charade when you can resolve these issues and come home.  We continue to be hopeful.

Good Friday Reflection

I thought I would give this as a gift to my fellow bloggers on Good Friday. 

Not completely on target but worth the effort to reflect on this day of death.

1 Day of wrath! O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets' warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning! 2 Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth, when from heaven the Judge descendeth, on whose sentence all dependeth. 3 Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; through earth's sepulchers it ringeth; all before the throne it bringeth. 4 Death is struck, and nature quaking, all creation is awaking, to its Judge an answer making. 5 Lo! the book, exactly worded, wherein all hath been recorded: thence shall judgment be awarded. 6 When the Judge his seat attaineth, and each hidden deed arraigneth, nothing unavenged remaineth. 7 What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, when the just are mercy needing? 8 King of Majesty tremendous, who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us! 9 Think, good Jesus, my salvation cost thy wondrous Incarnation; leave me not to reprobation! 10 Faint and weary, thou hast sought me, on the cross of suffering bought me. shall such grace be vainly brought me? 11 Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution grant thy gift of absolution, ere the day of retribution. 12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning, all my shame with anguish owning; spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning! 13 Thou the sinful woman savedst; thou the dying thief forgavest; and to me a hope vouchsafest. 14 Worthless are my prayers and sighing, yet, good Lord, in grace complying, rescue me from fires undying! 15 With thy favored sheep O place me; nor among the goats abase me; but to thy right hand upraise me. 16 While the wicked are confounded, doomed to flames of woe unbounded call me with thy saints surrounded. 17 Low I kneel, with heart submission, see, like ashes, my contrition; help me in my last condition.

Holy Crap on a Cracker! Or, Here We Go Again.

Let me begin by saying that James at the Three-Legged Stool wrote about some of this earlier which got me to searching around.  I found the Diocese of West Texas.  Come to find out they are on a direct collision course with The Episcopal Church at large.   This diocese appears to have passed a series of resolutions that look bad and smell worse.

WHEREAS the consideration of an Anglican covenant by both Provinces and dioceses represents the next step in the Windsor Process and as part of a covenant, the opportunity for individual Windsor compliant dioceses to seek recognition as Covenant partners, therefore
 
BE IT RESOLVED that the Diocese of West Texas fully reaffirms its commitment to the Windsor principles, including, in principle, the formation of an Anglican Covenant within the Anglican Communion to strengthen our common life and witness as the Body of Christ in order to preserve and safeguard our relationship with the Anglican Communion and the historic See of Canterbury.

The emphasis is mine and yes, it appears they are prepping to seek recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a diocese directly.  Now, at first blush one might say that the bishop of this august diocese is a member of the WCG BUT, read on.

WHEREAS, the General Convention Budget has historically been funded by dioceses based on their financial capability and voluntary choice;
 
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 105th Council of the Diocese of West Texas affirms that the Diocese of West Texas is in union with the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ directly through the Anglican Communion, its Instruments of Unity, and our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge; and 
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council accepts no actions by General Convention that would reverse the authority roles between Dioceses and the General Convention, or would grant the Office of the Presiding Bishop executive powers over Dioceses and their Bishops; and
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council accepts no specific actions by General Convention that would

• mandate financial assessments from Dioceses to the General Convention budget;
• unilaterally impose trust interests on diocesan and congregational assets.

This diocese has decided to go it alone AND will truck no interference from the Presiding Bishop, General Convention, Larry, Moe or Curly Joe!  

Then slaps those of us from San Joaquin, Fort Worth, Virginia,  Pittsburgh, New York and anywhere else that has elected to protect their own property.

Here;

Be it RESOLVED, the Diocese of West Texas requests that The Episcopal Church and all Dioceses, parishes and bishops adopt a policy of negotiation and/or mediation with regard to disputes over property and do everything in their power to cease and desist from engaging in secular lawsuits with fellow Christians.
 
RESOLVED, that the Secretary of Council of the Diocese communicate this request to the office of the Presiding Bishop and Executive Council of The Episcopal Church.
 
RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Diocese report the Presiding Bishop’s  and Executive Council’s response be reported to the clergy and people of the Diocese prior to the commencement of General Convention 2009.

They want to take all their marbles and go home and in the meantime make those of us in the throes of litigation to just give in, you know, its the Christian thing to do.  Well, negotiate/mediate.  Might as well give up -- do you think for one moment that given this approach Mr. Schofield or Mr. Duncan would willingly give back the property they absconded with?  Matt Kennedy wanted to buy his building and pay the diocese from funds he took with him at the time they left.  Let's see, let me think about this, hummm, a nope!

Finally, this "clever" diocese decides that the Communion Partners is the greatest thing since sliced toast.

WHEREAS the Bishop of West Texas, Gary Lillibridge, has helped forge the Communion Partners as a relational fellowship to further the continuing Windsor process of preserving communion with the historic See of Canterbury, and 
 
WHEREAS the express purpose of the Communion Partners is specified in the Statement of Organizing Bishops dated May 31, 2008 attached hereto, therefore:
 
BE IT RESOLVED that the Diocese of West Texas affirms its full support for the Communion Partners initiative. 

The Communion Partners is a group of bishops and rectors/clergy that have decided to circumvent all the "stuff" they do not like and go directly past go, collect $200.00 and leave TEC.  Check it out it is at www.communionpartners.com.  Oh, gosh, we are just so clever none of you nincompoops will ever figure this one out.

And oh, by the way, there is a tie to San Joaquin.  Should you choose to go to that website you will find a rector that has a direct tie to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. 

Executive Council, you may not be looking but here comes the next great wave of sc**w the Episcopal Church and Archbishop Williams here we come! 

Fellow San Joaquin Travellers: Compare and Contrast

John David Mercer Schofield, in his most recent "Letter from the Bishop's desk"  has this to say:

"There are an ever growing number of mature Christians who believe the time for God’sgentle way of  opening us to transformation and life in His Spirit is coming to an end.  The  Jeremiahs  among us are crying out against the astonishing  greed and dishonesty of  financial and political leaders that have brought us to a place of pain and fear unknown to this generation.  They warn us that the consequences we have seen so far  may only be the beginning of an era  none could have imagined even a few months ago  and could easily prove to be harbingers of worse to come.   What’s at stake is not the next ten years until the  “present crisis”  is behind us or there is an upswing of the stock market.  What’s at stake is eternity.   It is Jesus who asks, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”  Has Judgment on our nation begun?  If it has, it comes from the hand of God who at every turn, in every challenge, will be there beside us, with us, and –most especially– for us.  His purpose is never vengeful.  Rather, it is to free us from dead idols that we may have the life He paid so dearly to give us in His Son."

Or how about this from Bishop Jerry Lamb:

I write to you to invite you into conversations with me regarding your relationship with the Episcopal Church in view of the January 5, 2009 California Supreme Court decision on property. I am, of course, not an attorney, but the decision is clear that all property and assets of a parish are held in trust for the wider Episcopal Church, and upon any attempted disaffiliation from the Episcopal Church, such property be returned to the Episcopal Church and its Diocese. 

There has been enough pain and suffering on all sides of the issue of separation from the Episcopal Church. It is time for us to speak to one another face to face about returning to the fold of the Episcopal Church or setting forth a plan for gracious leave taking. 

I remain ready to speak to clergy, the laity, those in leadership, or congregations. 

Please be in touch with me.

As you read the two please do not try to compare content because it is not the same. I do not offer this for content.  What I ask you to compare is styles, tone and tenor if you will. Think about who you are and where you would like to be. Think about the gospel from last week when Jesus told the adulterous woman, "I see no one here who will condemn you.  Niether will I.  Go your way and sin no more." 

We are all subject to the law and the prophets but remember this: 

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, andw with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

And how about this one: 

Hear the word of God that all who truly turn to him.

Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.   

It is time to come home.

Palm Sunday Music - Ave Verum

Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, performed by the Academia Musici Novi.
(If you get an ad first, wait it out, it's worth it.)



Don't they have a lovely sound? I was searching for a video of Mawby's Ave Verum, and behold what the Lord sent my way!

Who WE Are!

I gleaned this gem from The Lead which has published a portion of the triennial report on the State of the Church  leading up to the general convention.  

Who are we?

Quoting from the 2006 report to General Convention from the Committee on the State of the Church, “As a Committee, we are convinced that when we heed closely Christ’s call to us in the Great Commandment and Great Commission, the church is at its best, and we all become ‘bringers of hope and proclaimers of joy.’ ” While this statement brings some clarity to the identity issue, the present Committee on the State of the Church continued to struggle with the same issue and concluded that it has no unified answer, but raised a most significant question: “Has the time come for The Episcopal Church to make a definitive statement to the world about our identity as Episcopalians?”

It was interesting that our own parish had a similar emphasis to that stated by the national church.  We all talked about bringing families with children that we could school and bring up in the Episcopal tradition and "build our community".

Who did we really bring in?  We brought in those who were broken and tired and hurt and angry and feeling unloved.  Our parish is a safe haven for those who are  divorced, those who have been vilified, those who are struggling, those who are handicapped physically, emotionally, spiritually.  Our parish is a place where love abides.  Our parish is a place where if you miss a Sunday or two someone calls you or goes looking for you.  Our parish is a place that cares deeply about it's commitment to our neighbor because of our commitment to God.  

Some will say, how is that possible in a diocese that was "bishoped" by one of the great pointy heads of our time?  It is because we never lost sight of what it meant to be an Episcopalian in the 21st century.  Our parish never was overcome by the need to take care of ourselves before we took care of our neighbor.  I watched over the last few years as we evangelised looking for those "ideal families" that we could bring into the Episcopal church and was absolutely amazed at who we actually received into our church.  We said one thing and actively sought this one group while all along we got this other group.  It is an incredible outreach.  And we continue today.

Now, I do not want to sound to terribly pollyannish about this evangelism thing because we have not gone about this business in a straight-forward way, i.e., we have not intentionally altered our evangelism statement to reflect that which we do versus that which we say we do.  Think about those possibilities.

I would, however, encourage the National Church to begin to look at this "group" as well.  We already talk about the "big tent".  We should be about those sinners and "tax collectors" that Jesus lived with.  In fact,do we need to talk about bringing everyone under the big tent or should we "just" evangelise those who are broken, hurt, lost, tired, angry, thrown-away, marginalized, handicapped, and estranged from God's love and let the big tent take care of itself?