Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Although I'm sure his Presiding Bishop finds this post suitable for framing, somehow Episcopal minister Frederick Schmidt's appeal to the authority of the church doesn't quite connect. Let's start with the issue he uses to illustrate his point: the proper colour for Advent: In a recent dust-up over liturgical colors, a colleague of mine was …
Continue reading "An Episcopalian's Appeal to Authority Falls Flat"
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church depicts Our Lord and Saviour in a rather topsy-turvy way: In her book The Heartbeat of God, Jefferts Schori also taunts Jesus many times, calling him both a Hell's Angel gang leader (115) as well as a "party animal" (4). This kind of depiction of Jesus Christ and …
Continue reading "What a Motorcycle Gang Knows that Katharine Jefferts-Schori Does Not"
This is the time of year when we think of, amongst other things, all the things we were doing and experiencing at this time of the year in days past. For me, this Christmas is a milestone in one respect: forty years ago now, I was in New Orleans, along with my entire family, on …
Continue reading "On Christmas in New Orleans, Latitudinarians and Evangelicals"
A few days ago, as this story was breaking, I made some comments based on my experience with African oversight and church politics.  Since that time AMiA Bishop Chuck Murphy has made the break and there is all kinds of back and forth on this issue, I keep feeling compelled to say more, because this …
Continue reading "Some More (unAmerican) Thoughts on Rwanda, AMiA and Chuck Murphy"
Seems another wearer of the purple shirt is getting an offer he can't refuse: The head of the Anglican Mission in America has been threatened with ecclesiastical discipline for contumacy. Unless Bishop Chuck Murphy repents of his disobedience and apologizes for his offensive statements within seven days, the Rwanda House of Bishops will assume that …
Continue reading "AMiA Bishop Chuck Murphy's Moment of Truth"
This year's Chattanooga Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols will be presented by the Roueché Chorale and Orchestra on Friday, December 9 at 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Avenue, down-town Chattanooga. Prelude music will begin at 6:40 pm. The only way to describe this performance is jaw dropping. You'll need to get …
Continue reading "Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols"
The Catholic Church will allow him to come to Rome as a layman: John Hepworth, the Archbishop of the Adelaide-based Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), will be received back into the Roman Catholic Church, but only as a layman. Sources say Hepworth was given a letter from Rome by the hand of Melbourne Archbishop Denis J. …
Continue reading "TAC Archbishop John Hepworth's Tough Trip to the Bottom"
Today is the First Sunday in Advent, and along with all of the coverage of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the plethora of Christmas stuff around, we're also presented with another way of celebrating the time before the birth of Our Saviour: Advent. The first season in the liturgical calendar, this year promises to be …
Continue reading "A Couple of Things Worth Remembering About Advent"
Not this time: Pat Robertson advised a viewer of yesterday's 700 Club to avoid putting a "guilt trip" on those who want to divorce a spouse with Alzheimer's. During the show's advice segment, a viewer asked Robertson how she should address a friend who was dating another woman "because his wife as he knows her …
Continue reading "Pat Robertson Isn't Correct on Divorce and Alzheimers"
John Richarson, the Ugley Vicar, has his doubts about the course of Anglican Evangelicalism after the "Keele" commitment to stay within in the Church of England: When I was a young trainee clergyman (just six years on from Keele), the phrase going round was that we were ‘in it to win it’. In other words, …
Continue reading "The Perils of Any "Renewal Movement" Staying in an Established Church"
Positive Infinity 