Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
The recent vandalism of Glastonbury's Holy Thorn Tree at Christmastime has got me thinking about some strange connections which seem to be manifesting themselves. We always like to think that we know how things work, but that isn't always the case. And, as anyone involved in science and technology will tell you, sometimes recognising the …
Continue reading "Atheists: The New Roundheads of the Anglophone World"
This fascinating video from the Washington Post by Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori opens with this comment: ...and at some point it became necessary to shift approach and to say: "If you're going to stay as a leader in this organization, you have to be engaged, even if you don't like this decision over here. …
The last two years haven't been kind to Jim Wallis. First his man in the White House, Barack Obama, has spectacularly stumbled in his bid to reunify the country and get the economy going again (I don't think he was sincere about either, but that's another post). To use Sarah Palin's delightful phrase, that "hopey-changey …
In this case, the two candidates for FL-22 House district debated at Bethesda: A standing-room-only crowd gathered Monday to watch a debate between Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and Allen West, his Republican challenger in the Nov. 2 election. West sought to tie Klein to President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying Klein voted …
Continue reading "Klein vs. West: Human Sexuality Not the Only Debate in an Episcopal Church"
That is, if he takes his own words seriously: No, Tyler was a victim -- not of an inner disturbance of depression or mental illness--but of an external and in part religiously inspired disdain and hatred of gay people. Despite the progress we're making on achieving equality under the law and acceptance in society for …
For Americans who are unfamiliar with this British drama, Katharine Birbalsingh is the British deputy headteacher of an Anglican school in London who "outed" herself as a conservative and spoke passionately about the shortcomings of the educational system in the UK (many of which are shared here, as Michelle Rhee has found out) at a …
Continue reading "Katharine Birbalsingh: Maybe Our Next Tennessee Commissioner of Education?"
I still don't get this: Two congregations will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a blessing of the animals. The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea invites pets and their owners to the celebration Oct. 3. The procession into the church will begin at 8:45 a.m., with the service starting at 9 a.m. Coffee …
Continue reading "Blessing the Animals, and Must the Rector Search Committee Have Its Own Chaplain?"
The Lead, quoting William Sloane Coffin, puts the question clearly: Had I but one wish for the churches of America I think it would be that they come to see the difference between charity and justice. Charity is a matter of personal attributes; justice, a matter of public policy. Charity seeks to eliminate the effects …
Continue reading "Charity vs. Justice Work: The Difference Is Important"
This priceless anecdote, from a recent conversation re confirmation on StandFirm: Another move, no LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod), no CRC (Christian Reformed Church), but an invitation to teach Adult Bible Class at the Episcopal Church (dismal failure; Episcopalians generally have little interest in reading, mush less studying, the Bible). This was before the 1979 …
Continue reading "What do you expect us to do with it, give it to the poor?"
I found intriguing Elizabeth Kaeton's piece on priests-in-charge. It was interesting because it's one of those rare posts (in this case from a liberal) which transcends the left-right divide that defines just about everything these days. For my Evangelical readers, if you're interested in the whole business of "priest-in-charge" you'll need to read her post. …
Continue reading "Priest-in-Charge, Pastoral Woes and Authority in the Church"
Positive Infinity 