Andrew Goddard, once more with feeling, points out the obvious about Parliament's governance over the Church of England: The Church of England, wrestling with internal differences over provision for opponents of women bishops and over responses to same-sex relationships, could soon find a further contentious topic being added to the mix: the question of establishment, …
Katharine Jefferts-Schori: From Litigious to Practical, From Pathetic to Prophetic
This is what she tells the part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh she got to keep: Although the two churches battled over property in court, Jefferts Schori said she foresees a day when churches will become something different. "More faith communities will decide not to have a permanent dedicated structure in the coming years," she …
Tom Belt and God Unlimited
Every now and then a group comes along which represents the best of its genre. Its leadership, those who play and sing with it, everything seems to "click." Although picking an absolute best in the turbulent era of the 1960's and 1970's isn't easy, for college campus church based groups, it's hard to beat God …
A Colorado Based Priest Becomes Rector at Bethesda
Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church has a new rector at last: After a year of searching, The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea has a new rector. Tapped by the search committee, the Rev. James R. Harlan of Denver has accepted the job and will begin work the second week of June. His first Sunday in the pulpit will …
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Vested Choirs
While researching for another project, I came across this article in an 1896 issue of the National Magazine about vested choirs, which is now a well-established tradition on both sides of the Anglican/Episcopal world. It's hard to conceive of now, but even in Episcopal churches vested choirs were controversial. However, fashion changed, and this article …
Racoons in the Episcopal Church
While everyone else struggles with same sex blessings. we have this: The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea grounds keeper Keith Reisley has seen as many as 10 raccoons on the grounds recently. My Southern readers (and some of the closet redneck relatives I have up North) doubtless have ideas on how to deal with a problem …
Making It to the "Cover" of Stand Firm in Faith
It's been a busy time this year, and blogging has been a little harder than usual. But I'm pleased to announce that Positive Infinity is now listed in the "Around the Web" blog roundup of Stand Firm in Faith, which is in many ways the conservative Anglican blogosphere's "anchor" blog. Thanks so much to Greg …
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Cloud: Free to Fly (Holy Trinity Brompton)
Free To Fly (Dovetail DOVE 16) 1975 Their first album is a lovely group of songs, most of which are drawn from the Scriptures. The cover suggests the album's content: soaring and ethereal. But it's also well executed, with superb musicianship. Free to Fly is one of the best treasures from 1970's British Jesus Music. …
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The Keyhole/The Way In (Church of the Redeemer)
It's hard to think of a group that defines 1970's Christian folk/coffee-house music as much as this one, which morphed into The Fisherfolk. The group had its start in 1969 as the resident singing group of The Way In, a Christian coffee-house in the Allen Landing area of Houston, Texas. The Way In was, in …
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Non-Compete Clauses for Churches
Just when you think you've seen everything in the Anglican Revolt, we have this: There is a new twist in property settlements that forces fleeing orthodox parishes that wish to disaffiliate from the Episcopal Church over faith and morals. They can keep their properties in a lease back arrangement, but the church cannot affiliate with …
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