October 4, 2011
I saw this quotation from William Temple (a former Archbishop of Canterbury) in the Forward Day By Day for Sunday (October 2):
“In our dealings with one another let us be more eager to understand those who differ from us than either to refute them or to press upon them our own tradition …. Wherever there are divisions which persist, there is sure to be something of value on both sides.” (more…)
March 27, 2011
This is the sermon I didn’t give this morning in Fort Bragg:
This morning, we hear the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Like many stories of Jesus’ life, this is a story about expanding the boundaries of who counts with God. (more…)
September 3, 2010
Today we remember Prudence Crandall, who was born into a Quaker family in Rhode Island (and educated at a Friend’s boarding school since Friends believed in educating women). She started a school for girls in Connecticut attended by the daughters of the wealthy. Two years later, when she admitted Sarah Harris, a young African American girl, parents demanded that she be expelled. (more…)
July 28, 2010
In my daily office readings of late, in the Hebrew Scriptures, there has been a lot of talk about worshiping God alone, and keeping apart from the gods of other people. God gets very angry when Israel worships other gods. And I find myself thinking about my universalist religious approach (as opposed to exclusivist Christian approach) in this context.
And I’ve got to say at the start, I have real trouble believing that all of this comes from God. (more…)
June 28, 2010
Well, today we remember Irenaeus of Lyons (c.125-202). And while I was looking that up in Kathleen Jones’ “The Saints of the Anglican Calendar,” I noticed I’d underlined a lot about Cyril of Alexandria (376-444). I checked, and Cyril (unlike Irenaeus) is not in the calendar of the Episcopal Church – not even in the expansion (by about 100 names) that came out of our last General Convention. In my mind, this may well be a good thing.
About the only good thing in the book about Cyril is that he was “a champion of orthodoxy.” But he also refused to consider any doctrine not found in the early church fathers. And that denies God’s continuing revelation. I have a problem with that. (more…)
June 21, 2010
This past week, while at continuing education in Los Angeles (training for transitions ministry) I had the privilege of attending the midweek (Thursday night) service at Holy Spirit in Silver Lake. This is a small, emergent congregation that started in someone’s home and now meets in a couple of rooms for Eucharist on Thursday nights. They describe themselves as a meal in three courses, gathered around the altar. And there is intentionality about being open and welcoming to the GLTBI community.
One of the things they do differently is the sermon. (more…)
June 8, 2010
In my car this morning, I ended up behind a truck with a bumper sticker that read (something like) I’m a Christian (in big print) and I’m at war (in smaller print). It said more than that, but I didn’t have time to read the rest. And my bet is that this is a conservative Christian who sees themself fighting the culture wars on behalf of Christ. I’m a Christian too. And there are certainly parts of our culture that I might like to convert. But I hope I’m not at war — not even with the guy driving this truck, with whom I’m pretty sure I’d find much with which to disagree. (more…)
May 26, 2010
Well, today we commemorate Augustine of Canterbury. And I have to admit, I don’t normally think of him when I think of the Anglican via media. But, at Gregory’s direction, rather than adhering strictly to the Roman rite, he made at least some allowance for Celtic practices that were ongoing when he arrived. And, as our first Archbishop of Canterbury, that had to help set a tone. (more…)
May 22, 2010
Found this on Brian Baker’s blog (he found it on You Tube). It will NOT be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a powerful rant. Click here to see it. (I note that there is definite language in this video.)
