That's StandFirm's Matt Kennedy for you, reacting to Ridgecrest's dry policy for the upcoming ACNA Provincial Synod: No scotch, no sherry, no cigars? It’s bad enough for the laity and the presbyterate…but the bishops. How shall the bishops endure this deprivation? This may be the first North American Anglican gathering in which the bishops are …
Another Try at Minimising Eternity
From (where else?) The Lead: The most popular immortality narrative is Soul. Most Christians now believe that their souls, which persist after death, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies. Souls thus solve a lot of the identity problems associated with the earlier Resurrection narrative. Cave argues that Soul narrative resolves the Mortality Paradox by …
The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem
I recently came across a fascinating book entitled The Handbook of Palestine by H.C. Luke and E. Keith-Roach. Produced in 1922 by the British Mandate government which had just taken control of the country after a long Ottoman Turkish rule, it’s a fascinating snapshot of the Holy Land beginning its transition to the State of …
Jefferts-Schori Should Face the Facts: Diversity Isn't What She Wanted to Start With
At the beginning of David Virtue's acid commentary on the run-up to General Convention 2012, he quotes the Presiding Bishop as follows: We need to discover ways to engage in the outside community. The Episcopal Church must embrace change and diversity if it is to move forward. We, er...you had the greatest chance to strike …
Living the Sermon on the Mount, Episcopal Style
Notre Dame's Gary Gutting doesn't think much of the real import of the Sermon on the Mount: The Sermon on the Mount, however, does not offer a clear view of what makes for a good life. Many seem to think Jesus is saying little more than be nice to everybody. Others see a call to …
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They'll Finally Get the Communion After All
At the end of the quest, victory: A coalition of bishops and leaders from Africa, the Americas and Australasia said it was time for a “radical shift” in how the church is structured away from models of the “British Empire”. They criticised what they called “revisionist attempts” to abandon basic doctrines on issues such as …
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Complicated Times in Old SC: Do We Really Have Diocesan Rebellion?
At the start of the month, I made the following statement regarding the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia's "victory lap" in the Washington Post: To put it bluntly, this is one of the most duplicitous things I have ever seen a man of the cloth put out. I’ve griped about the Anglican Fudge and how Episcopal …
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Why Lay Presidency Over the Holy Communion is a Bad Idea for Anglicans (and Everyone Else)
While casting about the Anglican blogosphere, I ran across an idea from an unexpected source: an endorsement of the lay presidency from John Richardson, the "Ugley Vicar". This concept is usually associated with the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia, the same archepiscopal entity which put subordinationism within the Trinity back into play in order to counter …
"…for they were frightened": An Easter Reflection
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, after sunrise. They were saying to one another: "Who will roll …
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The Church of the Palm Crosses Becomes the Church of the Double Cross
Today is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an entry which turned sour very quickly for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, then back to the supreme triumph of the Resurrection. For those who experienced it the first time, it was at least an emotional roller-coaster; our attempts to recreate the experience …
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Positive Infinity 