It's indicative of the sad state of what is conventionally termed Christianity (but I have my doubts) when an avowed atheist calls our bluff, as Brendan O'Neill does in his article Mankind is more than the janitor of planet Earth: In his Christmas sermon, delivered at Canterbury Cathedral, Dr Williams finally completed his journey from …
Territory? What Territory?
It seems that the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Bishop Suheil Dawani, is upset that his Global South counterparts are having a conference (GAFCON) in his town without having consulted with him. From a purely tactical standpoint, I can't blame the Africans for doing it this way. They're in an interesting position; their "primus inter pares" …
The Secular Background of the Anglican Conflict in San Joaquin
George Hood's outline of the secular parallel to the conflict in the Episcopal Church--and specifically the secession of the Diocese of San Joaquin--is a theme that bears more coverage than it gets in the Anglican/Episcopal world. The whole row is a microcosm of the culture wars that now have a global dimension. That is due …
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The Aggie Definition of Political Correctness
David Virtue's weekly digest contains this gem from College Station: "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a lump of feces by the clean end." --- 2007 winning entry …
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Stacy Sauls and the Danger of Centralisation
Stacy Sauls' recent address to the Chicago Consultation at Seabury-Western Seminary brings up an interesting issue he may not have intended: There are proposals, of course, to make us either a federation or a confederation, or God forbid, a unitary governmental structure such as the Roman Catholic Church has. The draft Anglican Covenant is a …
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Archbishop says nativity ‘a legend’
The Archbishop of Canterbury says that the nativity story in the New Testament is 'a legend': Dr Williams said: "Matthew's gospel says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that's all we're really told. It works quite well as legend." That's more than one can say for Rowan Williams. He's …
The Connection Nobody Makes
Bob Marcotte's recounting of the story of Episcopal minister Algernon Crapsey reminds us of many things. The first is that the storm in the Episcopal Church that is now the spectacle of the world didn't start with Vickie Gene Robinson's being made a bishop. It didn't even start with James Pike's journey to nowhere. It …
Some Thoughts on the Exit of the San Joaquin Diocese
It's unsurprising but monumental all the same: the Diocese of San Joaquin in central California finally votes to leave the Episcopal Church (also covered here.) Although both sides (especially the orthodox) have had a lot to say, a few observations are in order. First, it's not quite a done deal yet. TEC will surely fight …
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Collect for the First Sunday in Advent
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his …
Gene Robinson Travels to Sympathetic Territory
The controversial bishop is taking his message to Nova Southeastern University law school: While some Episcopal dioceses are discussing breaking away from the church, the controversial bishop is traveling around the world to spread a peaceful and inclusive message. His next stop -- South Florida, where a number of Episcopal leaders have shown their support …
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Positive Infinity 