Jim's Thoughts

hmmmmm

2012-02-01T09:31:00.000-06:00

My son Stephan found this and passed it to me via Facebook. There is a great thought there which the "Christian Right" (which is neither) often misses. In a diverse, pluralistic culture, they commit, if they insist on "school prayer" an act of elitist discrimination that is, and should be unlawful.

I am for instance, involved in Scouting. Every once in a while we find it necessary to remind our volunteers that, "non-denominational" is not a synonym of "nonsectarian." Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Wicca, inter alia are not denominations. They are however, all religions and if we insist on the silly idea of "school prayer" there is every reason to suggest they all should be allowed. How excited the Dominonist Christians are going to be when they are told to face Mecca to begin the school day is an interesting thing to ponder.

No wonder these are the people against immigration.

FWIW
jimB

Secrets, I Hate Secrets

2012-01-30T08:22:00.000-06:00

Secrets are the bane of communication.

While as a frequent, indeed very frequent sinner, I am grateful for the confidentiality that is granted penitents in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession.) Beyond that highly individual sort of secret however, I am against secrets. I am especially against them in the context of organizations like the church. Secrets imply elites, conspiracies, and my least favorite, "keeping the lid on" or as the therapists name it, "conflict avoidance." Another evil thing about secrets is that they leak.

So, you should know, I was not told this, "in confidence." I know it because the secret has leaked all over the place.

Are you invited to the secret meeting at our parish tonight? I am proud to say, I am not.

FWW
jimB

Rosary Notes

2012-01-29T16:22:00.005-06:00

I make Anglican Rosaries from time to time. I made one today. As I strung the beads together, it occurred to me that a difference between Anglicans and Roman Catholics is that we do not intuitively know how to pray a rosary. R. C. kids, especially those who have been to parochial grade school, know this sort of thing. It is in their air and water.

One thing about Anglicans, in spite of the evil efforts of two archbishops; we do not have a central authority. There is no one who can prescribe the prayers. We sort of like that, which is why the Covenant is going to go down in flames. We not only do not have that central authority: we do not want it.

But that leaves the issue of the prayers. As near as I can tell, the rosary is fairly new in Anglican usage, and even more so outside of North America, where I think, it originated. They are easy enough to describe: a circle (more about that below) of four sections, separated by four large beads, each carrying seven beads. It is common to refer to the sections as “weeks” and the smaller beads as “days” so that each section is a “week” if you do not mind the total of 8 beads! I cannot find an academic reference, nor again any authority, but this is the pattern I see, make and pray.

Outside the circle is a single “invetory” or “introit” bead, and a cross or crucifix. Those I make have crosses, generally not crucifixes. I have a reason for this: we are, we Episcopalians, Resurrection people, Incarnation people. We are not Atonement people. We leave the whole idea of focusing on the crucifixion suffering to our Roman cousins. That does not mean we belittle it, only that it is not at our center. Incarnation, Resurrection, these are at our center.

There is no official beading pattern and as an artisan, I have worked on mine. I am proud of the results. I use a stringing pattern that allows the four “Week” beads to actually define a circle. The stringing that leads from one of the beads to the introit bead, and the cross are clearly outside the circle. That is intentional, it allow us to easily pray the beads more than once, moving around the circle

Here is how I pray the rosary.

I make a cross, and holding the cross on the rosary I pray the Gloria.
I move to the introit bead, and make a choice (I am Episcopalian!) either praying the “Lord's Prayer” or naming the concerns I bring to the prayer. So if I do not say the Lord's Prayer, I might say to myself, “Father, you are holy and blessed. I come before you to pray for: South Sudan, the ministry of the Episcopal Church threatened by litigation and libel, those who have asked my prayers: …..”
In any case I move to the first large Week bead and again make a choice, either asking a particular Saint to pray with me “Holy Luke, patron of healers pray with me,” or praying another Gloria.
Then as I allow each Day bead or pass through my hand I pray either a Kyrie: “Lord have Mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy” or “Holy God, Holy and mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy.” At times, I change saints from week bead to week bead so that the first bead is Luke, the second Mary, the third Peter, and the forth whomever is being commemorated by the church (I use Holy Women – Holy Men for this) that day.

We are Episcopalians, so variations abound. My Marian son asks Mary to pray with him at each of the four large beads. I have been known to use each bead to ask a different archangel to pray with me for something specific. I know a person who prays kyries at the weeks and Ave Maria at each smaller bead.
I and most people I know circle the beads at least 3 times. 12 is also popular with some folks.

To finish, we exit the circle, that is we return to the “introit” bead, pray another Lord's Prayer, and then holding the cross either say a last Gloria or a simple, “In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen”

Why do this? Because it helps center and focus our prayer and it teaches us to exclude all other thoughts while we pray.

It is not magic, we do not get goodies from God. Episcopalians may be many things but we are never, “healthy wealthy and wise Christians.” We are praying people. We have instead of a book of rules, or a book of discipline, a book of, “Common Prayer.” Prayer is what we do, what we always seek to be better at doing. And for some of us, the beads help.

Blatant Commercialism

2012-01-27T10:42:00.001-06:00

Well, sort of. This link will take you to the home page of the 56th annual Antique Show at Emmanuel Church. This is a very special event in the life of the parish. It brings together the various groups in the parish in a way almost nothing else does. Nearly everyone volunteers in some way, even the kids.

We produce a show that is top tier. This is usually one of the very first shows after the Christmas / Winter period which sees none or nearly none in the Illinois area. We have an actual waiting list for dealer space, pull from multiple States, and offer a spectrum quality items. We and the dealers hope you come to buy something, there are bargains here! But if you come to look, to have a snack (we have great food!) and to stop by our bake sale (yes I am that fat guy selling there,) it is a great way to come to LaGrange.

FWIW
jimB

Today

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

Today is the 24th of January. On this date in 1944, Rev. Florence Li Tim Oi became the first (and for some years only) woman ordained to Anglican priesthood. Her life and ministry is remembered in Holy Women - Holy Men, part of the Episcopal Church's calendar of It saints and the Canadian Book of Alternate Services. She is also misrepresented in "The Windsor Report." There is a website dedicated to her at this site.

She was an amazing pioneer, who should be celebrated more widely. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

FWIW
jimB

Liberal Hysteria

2012-01-22T14:35:00.000-06:00

OK, let's agree on a few things.

None of the candidates, as my friend Michael put it on Facebook, are candidates for Mount Rushmore.
Speaker Gingrich seems to think he can run away from his record as a fined, dismissed (by his party,) and unsuccessful speaker.
His marital record contributes to the perception of his moral and judgment issues.
Properly appreciated, elections are a good thing. They allow the voters not only to choose, but to make their case.

Elections are the pressure release valve of society. Which is why I find myself rather at odds with some of my liberal friends. There seems to have been a sort of "given" scenario out there. In it, Mr. Romney became the GOP nominee, picked a nice moderate VP nominee, and they had a reasonably civil and intellectual debate, of course won by liberals, after which Mr. Obama governed. If we learned anything in South Carolina it is that this is simply not going to happen.

Voters who chose Mr. Gingrich are not stupid, not morally deficient, and do not deserve to have their franchise removed. They simply made choices. They can do that: their right to choose, even to choose wrongly, is absolute. If I do not agree with their choice, my job is not to put them down, it is rather to make my case and get them to change. That is called, "democracy." To date it is about the best system ever conceived. When James Madison thought up our constitutional system, he never for a moment thought we would all agree. The idea was to permit us to disagree, vote, and live together.

When I hear of voters who want to move out of country if a particular person is elected, or if a particular bill passes, I shudder. These are the attitudes that destroy republics. It is simply wrong to think that way.

I am perfectly capable of being a slasher in debate. One of my readers has been known to call me to task on the tendency. And I am no friend of Speaker Gingrich. I consider his "ethical lapses" and sexual adventures indicative of a flawed judgement we cannot afford in office. But(!) that does not make me right. And it does not license me to think his supporters are troglodytes.

Here then a hint for my liberal friends. You are not gonna convert anyone by calling them a dolt.

FWIW
jimB

A new film that you should see.

2012-01-20T12:25:00.000-06:00

Holy God Can Anyone Be This Ignorant?

2012-01-16T11:52:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while, someone says something so stupid, so offensive, that I hesitate to quote it. The possibility is that an opponent might be deliberately misstating what was said. I have checked this. Not only did this idiot say this, his pathetic attempt to, "clarify" does not back off the stupidity. Rather it is a classic,"I am sorry you are offended. Yeah, I am.

I am offended because there is no data I can find, and none this idiot referenced, to support this claim. I am offended because he lied. I am offended because he miss-represents the loving God I worship as some sort of vicious monster. I am offended because by any reasonable definition, this "Christian" is committing blasphemy and no one can arrange an appropriate stoning! He actually said this: it is available on the web from half a dozen solid news sites:

"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican.
“In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”

Really? Does God of whom Christians proclaim, "God is Love" run around condemning innocent children? Really, has this idiot missed the story of Jesus's response to the pharisees who confronted him with a blind person, and who healed a number of other "disabled" people?

In fact, if anything, Jesus's ministry with its focus on the poor and and on healing would suggest that something, be it, "Obamacare" or another system is a Christian duty. That is precisely the logic (as opposed to this offensive dishonesty) by which the "Christian Democrats" in many European countries came to national health care systems. I suppose in theory, a system that is not run by the government could serve, I am not arguing for any particular system here. Merely for some decent respect for what Jesus actually said and did. This lying crap is the grist for Dawkin's mill.

FWIW
jimB

Alternatives

2012-01-14T12:21:00.004-06:00

15 January, 2011. When I wrote this post, I was not aware that the Very Rev. Jeffery John, a victim of unconscionable (but sadly not unusual) injustice in the Church of England, had found his patience with persecutors and betrayers exhausted and taken as is his undoubted right, to the civil courts seeking justice. I hope his action prospers. In any case, the reference to him below was based on my observation of that injustice and not his now public, entirely appropriate outcry against it. Jim B.
When Comprehensive Unity began its fight against the Covenant, there were among the twenty three of us, roughly twenty six strategic visions. We are after all, a group of progressive Anglican intellectuals and that is not a group known for single strategic views. We managed to agree on the goal, the general strategy - tell the truth about the Covenant, the leaders (that was amazing!) and the internet resources. Beyond that, not much, and in fact a few folks who were invited to the party, while agreeing, "in principle" were unable to subordinate their individual visions to the whole's.

This is both our strength and weakness. Most of us continue to have our own blogs, Twitter, and Facebook resources and we continue to make the case (which is actually fairly easy) against the Covenant. That collection of voices, focused on a single point, with a whole range of nuanced perspectives and polemics is our strength.

Dr. Williams is a smart centralizer. He and we know our weakness. We are not the sort of folks who can easily agree on the shape an alternative should take. We range from those who see the communion as a loose coalition, to those who would see it as a more active, integrated ministry of equals. So by saying, "there is no alternative" and doing none of things within his power to solve, "the crises" Dr. Williams has zeroed in our problem. Unethical, surely, but it is politically savvy. Sometimes I think we progressives under-estimate our opponents' political acumen while over estimating his decency.

My vision, and it is merely mine, one lone voice, little regarded in his parish or diocese, is of a communion that recognizes the abilities of the various churches within it, and attempts to focus them on the needs. So for instance, TEC is good at social gospel, not so good at church planting. We could offer some help to churches that really know about doing church planting but need to learn how to focus activist and charitable energy while learning some evangelism techniques. Do we need that? Consider that 95% of the clergy who are listed in our deployment database do not list, "evangelism" or "growth" as skills. They are correct!

That sort of communion would not need an archbishop who directs belief, it would need a network and exchange structure. It is hard to think of Dr. Williams endorsing it. It recognizes that the world is flat, and that we frankly do not need an international hierarchy. Is that dismissive of the current hierarchs? You bet! They know it too. Which is why a "flat world" approach is not salable in Canterbury.

What of doctrine and dogma? How does this network handle disagreement on things like women bishops, gay bishops, mutual ministry, biblical interpretation, and polity? Perhaps by simply being. If we honor our own Anglican tradition, then the boundaries of the Anglican community are actually quite clear: we are those who honor each other's ministries,and ministers; we are those who take the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral seriously; and we are they who are prepared to differ and argue (vociferously) about everything else.

That sort of divesity within the communion would mean TEC allowing CANA or whatever that organization is becoming into the mix, in exchange for CANA getting over the idea of replacing TEC, and at least giving up preaching against TEC ordinations. It would mean the CoE actually honoring the Forward in Faith folks and at least temporarily permitting them their "third province" or "flying bishops." And it would envision a Nigeria where the gay and lesbians could be either part of the church or a parallel, RESPECTED body. It would be a community where Sudan could welcome the presiding bishop of TEC while vocally disagreeing with her. No, this could not happen overnight -- it would take time and good faith negotiation.

The emergent church is not one that wants, "my lord bishop." That is a real problem for those who have walked on their principles and friends (cf. Jeffery John) to get where they are. When Dr. Williams says there is no alternative, he is partially correct: there is none he can envision. He sees none because he cannot see one in which he is not the central lord bishop. I can.

FWIW
jimB

This is worth your time

2012-01-05T11:58:00.001-06:00

This is a link to an interview with the Presiding Bishop of TEC, Katherine Jefferts Shori. I strongly suggest everyone listen.

FWIW
jimB

Iowa

2012-01-04T13:43:00.006-06:00

Not all of my readers are Americans, and not all of the Americans are political news geeks, so I thought it a good time, the day after the (in)famous Iowa caucuses, to take a look at the process, and what happened yesterday.

First, a "caucus" is different from a "primary" in that instead of private, confidential balloting, the participants are gathered in rooms where they can see each other, and where they have to declare their choice. This is the stuff of grass roots democracy -- pick a candidate, defend your choice, reconsider it (one can move from group to group) and finally stand by it. It is also rare in America where we mostly conduct secret ballot elections, but Iowans seem to like it -- periodic attempts in their legislature to change the system have never prospered.

So, about 120,000 Iowans, a fraction of that State's population; a fraction that in no way represents the demographics of the country (more about that below;) gathered, talked, divided as they saw fit, and delivered some results. This morning, winners and there were several, are offering answers, and loosers several others to the question: What are those results?

I think there are several visible:

In Iowa, among a mostly white, middle and lower middle class constituency, there is a significant body of voters who are not happy with the available choices. These folks, mostly self-identified as "Christians" but in fact members of domionationalist fundamentalist, faith communities, tend to vote an odd theology over their own interests. They do not see a candidate who is both viable and acceptable.
The most extreme of the candidates in support of their view, Congresswoman Bachmann and Governor Perry are completely unable to appear even marginally competent to campaign against Mr. Obama, let alone govern. Of course if we assume that one need govern only long enough to "trigger the rapture" the lack of ability is less important than it might otherwise be. But, one still has to actually defeat Mr. Obama: a formidable task. Neither can be seen as able in that contest.
What was the traditional Republican base, those who believe in small and constrained government, are now marginalized. Those voters, who sent Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, and unfortunately Richard Nixon to the White House, and offered candidates like Senator Goldwater now are dismissed as, "Ron Paul's libertarians." Representing about twenty percent of the voters in Iowa, which would work out all other things being equal, about ten percent of the vote, they were once the dominant Republican voice. I think there is an opportunity for someone there, be it Congressman Paul or another, to re-state and revive the structurally conservative (and often socially liberal) voice.
The big winner yesterday is probably Governor Romney. It is unlikely in my view that either Mr. Santorum or Congressman Paul can find significantly higher percentages of the vote in another State. While that may be the "anyone-but-Mitt" vote, it is not unified, is not centered around a viable candidate, and regardless of his obvious hopes, won't adopt former Spearker Gingrich as its standard. Absent Gingrich, and I think we are about to see him become absent, Romney need only gather the remnants.
Yes, I am dismissing Gingrich. I think Iowa did exactly that and that New Hampshire will put an exclamation point on that dismissal. I could be wrong, and he could surge as New Hampshiremen get to know Mr. Santorum. But, I do not expect that to happen.

On the subject of process, yes we do vest a lot of this choice in relatively small, rural, and Southern States. Whatever is left of the contest after New Hampshire votes will be settled in large part on "Super Tuesday" when a large number of Southern States vote. We actually like this, and given the fact that the largest single constituency in the country is white, middle and lower middle class, and unhappy, we actually do have to pay some attention to their concerns. Unfortunately, no one is paying attention to their need for jobs, except Mr. Obama whom they dislike. I told you, they vote against their own interests and for an odd theology. Mr.Paul thinks he offers an alternative economic model that might help -- very few voters think it will work, and no one in Congress seems to support it. "Rapture" is not, I think the answer. We shall have to await events to see if I am correct.

FWIW
jimB

As we continue to search for messiah,

2011-12-30T10:47:00.000-06:00

Consider the sages and how they found him, a baby, unprotected by guards or courtiers. Not in a castle or cathedral, but among the people, we find Jesus.

I love this video because it is pure folk religion, deep in the hearts of the people. Enjoy!

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T08:38:00.003-06:00

A merry, happy, and blessed Christmas tide to you all.

I shall be posting Christmas music and thoughts for the next days as Christmas begins today and continues.

FWIW

jimB

Light One Candle -- Happy Chanukkah!

2011-12-20T17:07:00.000-06:00

Blessings!

FWIW
jimB

Jim's Thought for the day

2011-12-19T11:32:00.003-06:00

The difference between Scrooge and Speaker Boehner is that Scrooge was redeemable.

Are we really that bad?

2011-12-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

I had a conversation this afternoon with a faithful, devout Episcopalian. He is a friend and someone whose opinions I respect. He quoted a clergy acquaintance, "I cannot wait until the baby boomer trouble makers all die off."

Hmm.... As one of those, I am in less perhaps, of a hurry.

Recently one of my sons, referring to political liberals, made a similar observation, although he made it clear (somewhat hastily) that he did not mean me.

So here it is, nearly year-end, and here I am, about half-way to 66, an age, one hears, for some reflection before the big voyage. Were we really that bad, we boomers? The eldest of us, those now 66 or 65 (moi) certainly were out to change the world. We worked for civil rights laws, Jack Kennedy and yes, Barry Goldwater. We went many of us (not me) to Viet Nam, and we protested the draft.

In the church, we were about change too. If I recall correctly, my first Episcopal tee shirt said, "A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE (of bishops.) We got female bishops, and a few very few, lgbt bishops are now finally being elected.

And yet, while we got Jackie Robinson and other African Americans into the major leagues we killed the "Negro Leagues" that had provided Blacks with jobs, investment opportunities, and executive experiences. We got open housing laws, and killed inner city neighborhoods as Black professionals left for suburbs. We got "the pill" and Roe v Wade, unleashed decades of sporadic political violence, and demolished the stay-at-home mother.

Was it worth it? Should we still be making trouble? Did I help enough, do enough?

On a personal level, I am an economic failure. But beyond that? What is the scorecard?

I am beginning to understand why some old people fear the ruffle of the recording angel's wings. It is not the big sins, I have not murdered anyone, raped anyone, stolen anything. Ah but the little things, the generational things. Those concern me. As I hear people not all that much younger celebrate our increasingly imminent demise, am I hearing to voice of judgement?

Ah well, mayhaps I am being a bit bleak of an evening. I do not know. Equally, perhaps we did some little good and much unintended damage. That may well lie with the angel and the historians to conclude.

FWIW
jimB

Interesting letter

2011-12-13T09:26:00.000-06:00

I do not do a lot of references to other sites, but this is a special case. You should read this article in the Washington Post. Here is the first sentence:

Rick Perry would be pathetic, if he weren’t so infuriating. In an effort to revive a sinking political campaign, Gov. Perry has reached a new low in promoting himself in a recent commercial.

Here is the link to the rest of the article:CLICK HERE

AMiA Crossroads

2011-12-06T15:14:00.001-06:00

This link will take you to an article detailing Rwanda's attempt to assert authority over "bishop" Chuck Murphy who was unlawfully ordained by the then current archbishops of Singapore and Rwanda. A PDF, here contains two letters sent by Murphy to the Archbishop and bishops of Rwanda.

I wrote about this controversy a few weeks ago, as did other reporters only to be scolded by those thinking that all was well and that I was as one email correspondent put it, "attempting to so discord." I am sad to find my reprting vindicated.

I have repeatedly warned that seeking to set institutional boundaries of holiness leads to repeated, ever finer splintering. The churches that signed the St. Louis Declaration pledged unity and were over 50 "true" denominations in two years. That way lies irrelevance.

Schism is the price of boundaries.

*********************

I want to be clear here, I am not happy about this, celebrating it, nor am I suggesting that all or most of the folks involved are less than faithful Christians as they understand that goal. I was outraged, as were many in TEC when the then primates of Rwanda and Singapore chose to violate almost 2000 years of catholic canon practice with their, "incursion" ordination of what was called the "missile" bishops. But, as AMiA grew into a truly separate body, and focused its evangelical efforts not on sheep stealing, or attempting theft of TEC real property, but rather on making new converts, leaving its TEC history well and truly behind; I came to wish them well.

I so wish this had not happened. Contrary to the fiction one reads on some blogs, I and I suspect many TEC progressives did not want any of the conservatives to leave. We in fact, really think that the right answer is "Comprehensive Unity." That is, we do not expect everyone to think what we think, see God as we see God, or use every ceremony or incense burner we use. We actually want every perspective to be present and heard. But for some self-styled "orthodox Anglicans" that won't do. They require a monochrome, narrow view. As they continually tighten the boundaries, they splinter.

A good many AMiA lay and clerical members, none of whom were consulted about a schism, are going to find themselves adrift. Pray for them. They are sheep whose shepherds are unable to comfort them.

FWIW
jimB

No Anglican Covenant Coalition The Year In Perspective

2011-12-06T10:56:00.000-06:00

No Anglican Covenant Coalition
Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity noanglicancovenant.org
NEWS RELEASE
DECEMBER 6, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COALITION CELEBRATES SUCCESSES, PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

LONDON – After slightly more than a year, the No Anglican Covenant Coalition can point to several successes, according to Coalition Moderator, the Revd Dr Lesley Crawley.
Four dioceses of the Church of England have rejected the Covenant (Birmingham; St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich; Truro; Wakefield). Where synod members were provided with balanced background material (i.e., material that presented both the case for and the case against the Covenant), the synods have voted it down. Four dioceses, where little or no material was presented other than officially sanctioned pro-Covenant material, have approved the Covenant (Lichfield; Durham; Europe; Bristol). A total of 23 diocesan synods must approve the Covenant for the matter to return to the General Synod.
The Tikanga Maori defeated the Covenant at their biennial runanganui, virtually ensuring the defeat of the Covenant in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

The Philippine House of Bishops has indicated they will not support the Anglican Covenant, likely ensuring the defeat of the Covenant in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

Individual dioceses in the Anglican Church of Australia (Newcastle; Sydney) and The Episcopal Church (California; Eastern Oregon; Michigan; East Carolina; and others) have indicated their opposition to adoption of the Covenant.

“In November 2010, we launched the Coalition to ensure that the case against the proposed Anglican Covenant would be given a fair hearing,” said Dr. Crawley. “Today we are seeing our efforts bear fruit. When fair debate has been allowed, the results have been gratifying.”

Critical to the success of the campaign, especially in the Church of England, has been the support of the Coalition’s Episcopal Patrons, Bishops John Saxbee and Peter Selby, who have encouraged diocesan bishops to allow for a full and open debate. In the coming months, 37 more English dioceses will vote on the Anglican Covenant. Only 18 additional no votes are needed for the Church of England to reject the Covenant.

The No Anglican Covenant Coalition continues to provide assistance to those researching the proposed Covenant. The Resources section of the Coalition website is regularly updated with new material and analysis.

In the coming year:
The Episcopal Church will consider the Covenant at its General Convention in July in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Executive Council of the church has circulated a draft resolution to reject the Anglican Covenant.
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia will consider the Covenant in July at its General Synod/Te Hinota Whanui in Fiji. Given the rejection of the Anglican Covenant by Tikanga Maori, rejection of the Covenant by that church seems assured.

The General Synod of the Church of England is scheduled to consider the Covenant at its July session. However, unless 19 more diocesan synods have approved the Anglican Covenant by that date, the matter will not return to General Synod.

“Anglican Communion Office officials have repeatedly responded to criticism of the Anglican Covenant by suggesting that critics have not read the document,” said the Coalition’s Canadian Convenor, the Revd Malcolm French. “Ironically, we find that the more familiar people are with the document, the more likely they are to reject it. The Coalition is committed to ensuring a proper and balanced debate in churches throughout the Anglican Communion.”

The No Anglican Covenant Coalition is an international group of Anglicans dedicated to protecting the Anglican Communion from the dramatic changes that would be effected by the Anglican Covenant.

noanglicancovenant.org
The Revd Dr Lesley Crawley (England)
Dr Lionel Deimel (USA)
The Revd Malcolm French (Canada)
The Ven Lawrence Kimberley (New Zealand)
The Revd Canon Hugh Magee (Scotland)

Justice Observed

2011-11-29T14:39:00.000-06:00

The review committee has issued a short but definitive judgement dismissing the charges that had been lodged against Bishop Lawrence. The reactions have been interesting.

For those of you who do not track this stuff, the charges alleged that the bishop had violated the "Abandonment" clause of canons. The charge was supported by a series of claims that purported to demonstrate that he was taking steps designed to facilitate a "Chapman strategy" attempt to alienate the church's property and lead the clergy, laity and property into a schismatic denomination like ACNA.

I am one of many skeptics who think that is precisely what he is doing. But we are dealing here not with opinions, but with provable facts. Based on those, the review committee decided that the charges could not be brought forward in the process.

Conservative bloggers seem unable to simply accept the decision. For them, it has to be part of an ongoing conspiracy. Of course, I read, the presiding bishop will somehow reanimate the charges when she needs a story that takes coverage away from her own failures or when she thinks the coverage will be diminished.

Yes, I know those are two contradictory conspiracy theories, but that is what is being said. I suppose anyone who can actually use a computer to push creationism is capable of internalizing some amazing cognitive dissonance.

The simple truth is there is no left wing conspiracy to take out conservative bishops, or others. There is no analog for the Chapman Memo. The actions of Bishop Lawrence will either trigger new action down the road or they won't. It is entirely up to him. Based on what we have seen to date, I do agree with the conservatives on one point, there will be another chapter to the story.

FWIW
jimB

occupy everything -- tea party time -- you say you want a revolution

2011-11-26T21:08:00.000-06:00

Thomas Jefferson is widely quoted as saying America would need a revolution every twenty years. We have had a few.

In my lifetime:

The returning veterans who used the GI Bill to transform both their futures and the entire education system certainly were a revolutionary force.
The civil rights movement, which made the racism so endemic in America begin to dissolve began a revolution that is on-going.
The Space Program that Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy began have given us a series of technology revolutions.

Personal computing devices have pushed organizations to become flatter, and productivity to rise.
The Internet and Web have changed the way we do research, communications and even dating.
Spin off technologies in areas like robotics, databases and metallurgy have changed everything from cooking to oil refining.
Super seeds have changed agriculture around the world.
Medicine has extended life spans, taken vaccination to new places, and is about to challenge more killers.
The social, political and economic impact of "the pill" cannot be over-stated.

In the fields of cosmology, archaeology, linguistics, and theology; revolutions abound. We understand the Natural world, and the ancient Hebrew, Roman, and Greek cultures in ways that were out of reach a century ago.

You say you want a revolution? So much abundance is available to us, yet many children starve, many others work in sweat shops to make the things a consumer economy demands, and many of their parents are completely unable to break the cycle. We know more about the times and cultures that swirled around first century Palestine than the catholic fathers and reformers combined; at the same time secularism, bigotry, and ignorance rule much of the thoughts of humankind.

You want a revolution? The command of Jesus, "Love one another" remains unheard. In fact, one set of loonies is "re-translating" (I think "selective editing" might be more correct) the Bible to get the "love" and "feminist" things out of it!

When the tea party movement began, and again when the occupy Wall St. movement began, reporters and others asked, "what do they want," "what is their agenda," and "who will they elect?" What silly questions. Revolution begins with a simple premise: what is being done is wrong. It does not begin with an agenda.

The revolutionary changes in technology, knowledge, and communications have left our institutions in the dust as they race by. The revolutionaries of this time want justice, fairness, and functional changes. They get the point: the institutions are hopelessly out of date. Now if only politicians, bishops, and corporations could get it too.

FWIW
jimB

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-23T19:16:00.001-06:00

Interesting how this all comes together. liturgically, for Anglicans, the feast of harvest was some time ago. But not for Americans, the last Thursday in November it is, and even though it is well after most crops outside California are gathered, it is an unchanging date. So we, a secular nation, with no standard or even common definition of the creator give thanks to someone, maybe, if there is a someone.

It is interesting that the one constant is the meal. We all have turkey, even if some of us deep fry it, some of us stir fry it and some of us make it into fajitas. Even vegetarians have turkey shaped and flavored tofu. This one day a year, a hamburger is almost unpatriotic. Decades ago, I worked in the second ever franchised Mac Donalds. On Thanksgiving we had customers who would come in, get a burger and explain to the counter clerk that they were on the way to a late Turkey. We did not care, we only cared that we got overtime, making our princely salaries $1.50 an hour! But they were compulsive about telling us.

I am thankful for a loving wife, two generally tolerant sons (I do tick them off from time to time.) an absolutely fabulous daughter-in-law, two amazing and loving grand babies. And I am thankful for all that being an American has come to mean, but most especially the opportunity we have to fix what it still needs to become. We will become more and better than we have been and that is the thing we can be most thankful for this day.

FWIW

The Chapman Strategy Continues to Fail -- Georgia

2011-11-22T11:28:00.000-06:00

Part of the assault on my church initiated by the "Institute on Religion and Democracy" a group that fits my definition of a terrorist conspiracy, is the constant attempts to steal the property of the church so that much of our time and treasure is spent on litigation. We keep winning the litigation, for some reason the courts do not think well of thieves.

Unfortunately, while it is good that we win, good that the church's leaders stand resolutely in the face of the assault, there is only a limited victory here. Yes, the Supreme Court of Georgia, in this opinion, found for the church. Yes TEC can take possession of Christ Church Savannah, a beautiful and historic place of Episcopal worship. And now the rebuilding of a vibrant congregation can begin. All of that is good.

But the church remains under assault by those who hate it. Being inclusive, Christian and yes, progressive; we draw the anger of the haters. In one sense I suppose this is an honor. If the IRD and the "Christian Right" (which is neither) does not hate you, you are doing something wrong! But none-the-less in our time the evil assault on the church does real harm.

They do not build the church. The numbers from ACNA, and the proliferating holier than God churches are small, unless of course one counts bishops. They have lots and lots of bishops.

There are lots of reasons for the membership problems TEC and other progressive churches face. But we cannot ignore a single major fact: people considering a church are put off by the image of conflict. After all, they are looking, often, for a place to pray and love, perhaps a place to bring their kids. They are not looking for a fight.

The dilemma is that we have to fight the litigation. No one could think allowing those who hate us to steal our church buildings and the associated assets would be responsible conduct. In the short term evil works. Those who do not care about the church's mission but want to silence it in the secular world have in fact diminished the voices of the church. Longer term things will change. The haters will run out of money and cases, and the attention of the secular haters will shift. In addition, evil has a hard time with unity -- cf. the issues arising in AMiA.

The voice of the church will emerge. And in spite of the difficulties we have now, we will rebound.

That future, and the victory in Georgia are worth celebrating. Thanks be to God.

FWIW
jimB

Reflections on Christ the King Sunday

2011-11-21T15:04:00.001-06:00

"In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1 11 & 12

Today the church celebrates the last Sunday after Pentecost. Next week begins Advent. Many liturgical churches, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Moravian denominations prominent among them, celebrate this week that Jesus is "Lord of All" as Paul often put it.

The churches have not lost their collective minds. Yes we know in a secular world, with an ongoing challenge from Islam, and various other religions, that it is hard to point to that portion of the world that recognizes Jesus as king. None-the-less, the church has a single message -- He IS Lord. And it is precisely by living as that is true, that we make a difference.

If Jesus is Lord, if Christ is king, in our lives, we act in particular ways. We forgive as we are forgiven, we care for the widows, orphans, imprisoned, and the poor. We work for justice. We seek to expand the number those who live in that way every day. We seek the ultimate redemption of the earth. We are not smug, judgmental, or exclusive. The poor, weak, and outcast messiah and apostles set that example and we are called to follow. In short we are really, really out of step with the world around us.

So where are those people who live as though Christ is King? I fear they are few. The people in the pews of most churches do not seem to me to fit the bill. We do invite people in - people who either are like us or want to be like us. We then work hard to "make them welcome," by which we mean we try to fit them into our pattern.

This is not merely an Episcopalian thing, this drive to conformity, the tendency to want people like us. I have heard it said that the most racially segregated hour in America is between 10 and 11 on Sunday. We routinely refer to the, "black church." No one would refer to the "white church." but we know it exists. This week the diocese of Chicago was told that 92% of all Episcopalians are white. That leaves 8% for all minorities, which is less than the percentage of African Americans let alone, Asian, Hispanic and First People minorities. I would expect similar if not identical numbers for other denominations.

Part of this of course is the reality of American society. We tend towards local congregations in a highly segregated housing market. Part of it is history -- when in the days of slavery, whites kept blacks out of their churches, they created a separated, community oriented church that would eventually lead to the emergence of Martin Luther King, James Farmer and other leaders of the Civil Rights movement. Part of it though is an excuse.

We like our segregated churches, else we would not have them. We could create churches that considered their community differently. We do not do that. We are among the freest people in the history of the world. Nothing stops us from creating an integrated, just, open society. Instead we defend obscenities like, Prop 8, and DOMA as "God's will."

In the entire Hebrew Scripture ("Old Testament") my favorite scene is Nathan, a prophet of the Most High, calling David to account, crying justice to power for the murder of Uriah the Hittite. Nathan, unarmed, confronts David in his hall where David can call on his solders. He brings David to repentance. That is living in the kingdom, that is what we inherit from the saving action of Christ the king. That is what we neglect to do far to often.

FWIW
jimB

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T10:16:00.000-06:00

Today, at 11:00 (AM) in Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, a number of other countries, and the USA, many will pause to pray for the repose of the souls of our defenders who have fallen in action in two world wars and various other conflicts. Here in the States, veterans' organizations will gather at flag stands, raise the flag, salute their comrades to the sound of Taps.

It is fitting that we remember them. It is fitting that we provide those who survived with some social benefits. It is not enough.

We need to live into the freedom they bought us. We need to make the sacrifices they made mean something by being free, being equitable, and being democracies as they expected. That too, is a battle, and sometimes as in the case of Medger Evers, Dr. King, Ghandi and others, it can be a deadly one. But this fight for freedom, for equity, and for opportunity: the fight to make our countries worthy of the sacrifices of our veterans is necessary, indeed vital. As long as there are oppressors: defenders of DOMA, dictators, or bigots, the fight is not over.

Happy Veterans Day!

FWIW

jimB

I Seldom Take Things From Other Bloggers, but, ...

2011-11-10T15:34:00.001-06:00

This image is a photo-shop by my friend Mad Priest. He has posted it with permission to use it, at his brilliant blog, Of Course I Could Be Wrong.

I think it is brilliant on its face. Living near Chicago, my son and I have been watching the spin off, "Occupy the Chicago Fed" group here. Stephan has been an active member. Unfortunately, Stephan has reported that the national movement has become increasingly less diverse and more and more anarchist / left wing. He has stopped being an active member as a result. I know of others who have made the same choice.

Still, the movement has a point. Greed, sheer greed motivates the leadership of our corporate institutions and after disastrous economic collapse and Republican government, we only reward greed. It does not have to be like that. Capitalism can be a reasonable part of a decent society. Sweden, Denmark, Norway and other countries have proved it. We need to learn from them.

FWIW
jimB

Kristallnacht 2011

2011-11-09T17:37:00.001-06:00

Second paragraph updated 10 November 2011.

Today is the anniversary of one of the most shameful days in European history. On 9 November 1938, the Nazis attacked peaceful decent people, Rom (Gypsies,) Homosexuals, and most especially Jews, destroying their homes, businesses and lives. They blamed the victims and Europe and America elected to accept that claim.

It is 9 November 2011, some 73 years later. We can see that little has changed. The same triad, Jews, Gypsies, and Homosexuals are still the targets of cheap shot, dishonest attacks, although as my son points out, post-911 we have to add Muslims to the list of targets for the mindless. Those of Arab descent who are secular or even Christian can point out that the persecuted category is racial as well as religious.

A small circulation rag in England, miss-named, "The Church of England Newspaper" recently published an attack of lesbians and gays claiming that they persecute the poor religious folks. You know, those who merely want to continue to oppress lgbt persons. It is yellow journalism at its worst, but about what we have learned to expect. They chose today to defend their publication of this rot, an interesting choice to say the least.

I did not include a link to the article because frankly it is that disgusting. These idiots do not deserve readers. I will simply say that they have abandoned any claim they may have had on the name, Christian.

From Uganda comes news that the "kill the gays" law is advancing in parliament. Nowhere do we hear the voice of the Anglican Communion or Roman Catholic voices against this atrocity. Shame!

In America we have our own scandal out in the open. The utter disregard for the little boys who were victims of coach Sandusky at Penn State. Readers who are not Americans cannot perhaps understand how prominent these weasels were but that football program ran that campus, and a good part of inter-college sports. Football is about as close to a secular religion as America comes. The violence done to our corporate culture cannot be ignored.

It is a night to pray. Pray for the repose of the souls of the victims of Kristallnacht, the persecuted little boys, gays, lesbians, transexuals, bi-sexuals, Gypsies and always, Jews who are or were victims. Pray for the conversion of those who advance this ugliness at places like the "Church of England Newspaper."

FWIW
jimB

My "I Told You So" Moment

2011-11-07T12:40:00.000-06:00

Update 7 November 2011: Over the weekend, the leadership of AMiA and the R'Wandan church issued a carefully worded denial of the press articles that have emerged regarding the alleged rift between the two institutions. It is amusing to this author to note how carefully it was clearly written, in terms that are similar to those used when AMiA, "redefined" its relationship to ACNA to make it clear that archbishop Duncan is not their primate. I think my observations stand.

At this writing, I have not read anything from Nigeria or the other holier than God groups.

Various news services are reporting that AMiA (the first break away group to leave The Episcopal Church over the ordination of +Gene Robinson) and CANA, the "incursion" church formed by Nigeria's primates to maintain control and over (and cash flow from)ex-pat Nigerians in the US, are causing trouble. Really? I have been predicting this for years!

Here then the view from archbhisop Duncan's desk. AMiA which is a major part of his intended ~~empire~~ church, with almost a third of the membership, is looking to become completely independent. If as my reading of the tea leaves suggests, AMiA won't servive this intact; it is possible that a somewhat smaller body will remain at arm's length as a, "mission partner." For ~~an empire~~ a church builder, this is not good news. Nigeria is up to its old tricks, creating bishops and diocese in the US subject to Nigeria (with pledges.) The new bishop and diocese are not quite in ACNA, which was supposed to be the single primatial structure for the holy in North America, headed by the single holy primate - archbishop Duncan. Oops.

Back on 3 July 2008, I wrote in a discussion of my post regarding the GafCon Communique

"I do think there is an effort there to paper over the cleavages. As I have observed in the past, one cannot build a church on opposition. Sooner or later one must be for something. Clearly, in my reading, the fact that Uganda and Pittsburgh ordain women is a problem for some of the others. The tap dancing on that issue does not lead to a solid statement."

And as I have frequently observed, the history of the St. Louis Declaration is instructive because its pledges of unity gave birth to the fifty or more "jurisdictions" of the Continuum. If one forms a church based on being holier than the other guy, being holier than the old rejected church, one can only expect schisms. After all, any opinion, any idea, or any change is subject to the question of whether it is holy, and schism is the correct response to disagreements. If one decides any thing is not holy, not orthodox; the correct response is that the unholy or unorthodox should be moved outside the fellowship. Schism is the ultimate ad hominem act.

So, I get to join Lionel Deimel. He wrote recently that he told the church: Bishop Lawrence should not have been confirmed and should be removed. He was right. I have written that by leaving TEC, AC Canada or other "indiscriminately inclusive" churches for a world of perfect holiness, the conservatives were on their way to ever more fragmented fractional churches.

I was right. I told you so.

FWIW
jimB

The Feast of Richard Hooker

2011-11-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

A year ago, a small dedicated group of Anglicans from around the world, began a campaign against a conspiracy. We set out, 23 bloggers of the NO Anglican Covenant Coalition, to defeat an entire hierarchy.

We have a secret weapon - the Covenant. The document is indefensible, and its proponents know it. In fact, one reason it is failing is that when anyone right or left questions the document, its defenders talk or write about something else. In a sense they have to do that, the proposed Covenant is that bad.

None-the-less, errors are not defeated without effort. The Coalition has organized and focused that effort, and I am proud of our work. We are far from done, but in a year, I think we have made a good beginning!

FWIW
jimB

A Sincere Thanks

2011-11-02T19:25:00.000-05:00

I think you really need to read this post. Rev. Susan nails it. Besides I laughed for about 4 minutes!

FWIW
jimB

An Ordinariate Question

2011-10-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

Every once in a great while, a news report grabs my attention. This one has, and the way it is being handled has too. So I am going to share it and a couple thoughts with you.

The story is ugly. A bishop in the Roman Catholic Church has been indicted on felony charges. He and his diocese are alleged to have deliberately covered up the activities of a priest they knew was acting, "inappropriately" around children, had stored images typified as "child porn" on his computer, and had pictures of children in indecent circumstances which he had made.

The indictment says bishop and his staff had possession of the computer, and returned it to a family member instead of calling the cops. Here is the major quote:

Bishop Finn and his diocese face charges of aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography.

The diocese had been warned about Reverend Ratigan in May last year, when the head of a school at which he taught wrote that the priest had behaved inappropriately around children.

Then, last December, a computer technician found files on the reverend's laptop, showing graphic images of minors as young as two, mostly girls.

The full story is here.

Some thoughts:

If convicted, I hope the bishop rates the "sex offender" status that requires him to register.
The story has little play in America, and lots in Europe. I suspect we are way to deferential to clergy here.
In a few weeks, as of the first Sunday in Advent, the Roman Church will implement new liturgical rules that among other stupid things, ban girls acolytes. If I was a parent of a boy, I would worry!
Would someone please explain why anyone with an IQ higher than their hat size would want to join the "ordinariate?"

FWIW
jimB

A Parable Considered

2011-10-11T11:54:00.001-05:00

On her blog, An Inch at a Time, Rev. Susan Russell has done an interesting contrast between two persons and two views of the church. I offered this comment, which I think has some value in its own right and so have cross-posted it here:

I read your post thinking about last Sunday's RCL Gospel. Consider this as a story outline:

The king invites the good people, who are not interested.

The king brings all the ruffians in, you know the sort of people Bp. Lawrence wants outside.

Most of them manage quite well.

When he finds the one exception he has him removed.

So, if as is sort of a standard interpretive framework, we suggest that Jesus intended us to see the king as the Father, where are we? God, you know, that guy +Lawrence claims to serve, invited, indeed commanded, "indiscriminate inclusivity." He found one bad actor, and had him removed. He sorted them out, AFTER he included them.

Which is precisely what +Lawrence misses. God is indiscriminately inclusive. Yes, as God did in the parable, we may include someone who refuses to act as though he is in the kingdom once included.

Let me see, we have one bishop who refuses to be loyal, inclusive (as we just said God is) and act like an Episcopalian bishop. In short we can suggest he is not "wearing the wedding robe (vestment)" as expected and promised. Now how was that one treated? Hmmm....

FWIW
jimB

(crossposted with a link on my blog)

"Niceness "Enforced" Two Blog Posts.

2011-10-09T13:06:00.002-05:00

At Comprehensive Unity the blog of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition, I have a post that responds to two publications. One is an article in, "The Living Church" by New Zealand bishop Victoria Matthews. The second is a post on his blog offering support and comment by a member of her staff, Rev. Peter Carrell. I hope my readers here will follow the link and perhaps comment on the post.

In addition, on Stone of Witness a great blog you should be reading all the time, my friend and Coalition colleague Lauren has written an excellent commentary on what we agree is the "sin of niceness." It is most definitely worth your reading time.

Update: At Eruptions of a Volcano his really fiery blog, another friend who is also a Coalition member has written about the post and the issue of "going along." No this is not a campaign. I, or at least the really bad arguments I wrote about, seem to have struck a nerve. Well worth your time in any case.

FWIW
jimB

Justice Appears to Finally Arive.

2011-10-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

From MSNBC:
"An appeals court jury on Monday overturned the murder convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the killing of her roommate Meredith Kercher four years ago."

Which leads one to ask when the Italian police will re-open the case looking for the real perpetrator. Somewhere is an Italian pervert who slipped into a room, killed a girl and lucked out when the cops took the easy way out of the investigation.

FWIW
jimB

political musings

2011-09-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

It is the American silly season. That period of time when the real candidates have to either ignore or sweep aside the pretenders. It warmed my heart to note this week that in one national poll, Michelle Bachmann is running behind Sarah Palin, who lest we forget, is not running! Yes American voters do have some sense! In a week that featured presumed Republican voters booing a soldier asking a question during a debate, I found that observation comforting.

Thirteen months before we vote, when not one primary has been counted, many voters appear much more concerned with their World Series picks and NFL point spreads than the election. That may save the Republican Party if it can dismiss some of the real idiots currently appearing in its debate fora. Ms. Bachmann's slide towards well deserved obscurity however, suggests the party should hurry, someone seems to be paying some attention.

Meanwhile among "viral videos" emerged the utterly incoherent attempt by Miss North Carolina to explain why a majority of Americans are unable to place the US on a world map. Even while she demonstrated the reality, she could not think of "horribly bad education systems." None-the-less in the States that unlike Illinois impose no constitutional study on high-school curricula (we require a year of American History and a test of basic constitutional literacy here) the legal hierarchy may surprise some folks.

We often refer to "seperation of powers" in public discourse without considering some of the implications. One is that someone has to be most or least powerful in any given context. So, for instance, the Constitution clearly empowers the president (not for instance governors) to conduct diplomatic relations. I mention this because arguably the second most powerful office in American government is the speaker of the house.

Congress often forgets its standing as a co-equal branch of government. Given some of the truly pathetic substitutes for intelligent thought which frequently emerges from Congress, this may be a good thing. But given a powerful demagogue in the speaker's chair and a weak president (cf. all of the contemporary Republican "favorites") the next term carries substantial risk.

Which is one additional reason why I shall vote for Mr. Obama unless some cataclysmic event changes my mind. Mr. Boehner is not the worst speaker in our history, who can forget "Beast" Butler (ok, look him up,) or Nancy Pellosi, but given the competition that is not much of a recommendation. A Republican president will empower this guy, or equally scary, empower Mrs. Pelosi. That is reason enough to vote for Mr. Obama. And so, I think I shall.

FWIW
jimB

A Recommended Post

2011-09-25T20:29:00.001-05:00

This is from a disturbing, but I fear spot on, blog entry at Seven Whole Days. Ifear I know, and indeed may well pray at this church or another that is just like it. I commend the entire post to your attention.

Here’s a recent experience: I arrive 10-15 minutes before the service. As I enter the narthex, I see the usher engaged in conversation with a parishioner. The usher is clutching a pile of service leaflets. No problem, I’ll just grab one off a table and take myself to a pew. No dice. The only leaflets are held by the talking usher. I walk toward him, waiting for him to pause. He glances at me: “Oh, you need a program?” in a not particularly friendly tone. “Yes, please. Thank you.” Without a further glance or a word, he shoves a leaflet my direction and continues the conversation. Welcome to the Episcopal Church.

There are monsters among us

2011-09-21T20:36:00.000-05:00

I have been watching the live feed from Georgia where the State is about to kill Troy Davis. I have no information regarding Mr. Davis's alleged guilt. Those who have studied the case say there is reason to think he is innocent.

OK, I live in Illinois. So in a legal sense I am not involved, my tax money is not being used. But we are all of us Americans! My country permits this! How can we possibly justify using our resources this way?

The politicians tell us this is justice, it is not. Killing people is not justice, it is vengeance. And it is wrong. The convicts sit waiting to die for years, and then finally when they run out of lawyers and courts, the State kills them. Black men die, white women almost never do, even when they have done the same or very similar crimes. In Texas there was actually an alleged medical finding that black men should be executed because they are more dangerous. How the Supreme Court can ignore that is beyond me.

It is wrong,not only for Troy Davis who may well be innocent, but period.

FWIW
jimB

The end of civilization as we know it

2011-09-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is. As of today, Don't Ask Don't Tell, the onerous policy under which only straight people were permitted to admit they own a sex drive is dishonorable history.

DADT has been responsible for rapes, "If you don't, I will tell the sargent you are a lesbian" is the stuff of rape. It has deprived the military of over 14,000 (!) volunteers, warriors who were there to defend this country that failed to honor them. It was wrong and its demise is to be celebrated.

But wait(!) The IVD (Idiot Voices of Doom) the same people who told us that if lesbians and gay men were able to legally affirm their relationships, to be, (gasp!) married to each other, civilization inevitably would self-destruct, are sure we will now be beaten by the fearsome military of Andorra. Oh, wait, Andorra does not have a military.

Here is a simple fact, the threat profile has not changed. The Taliban in Afghanistan has not become stronger, Al Quida has not become more successful because some men and women who serve this country are suddenly able to be a bit more honest. Here is another, people who go through the difficult, horrible experience of combat know each other. Very few soldiers will be surprised today when someone in their platoon comes out.

Ever had one of those days?

2011-09-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

Today is planned as a long day. We will finish the last meeting about midnight, 25 miles from home. A long day.

So, imagine how much fun today has been? Our dau-in-law was in a minor collision on her way to work. "Minor" in the sense that she is OK, the car not so much. Then it took me three trips to the pharmacy to get things right. Not the pharmacy's fault, ours. And then guess who had to pick up the grand daughter because her dad is working with her parent's only car? Yup. So here it is 4:45, I am about to grab an early dinner and I hope not screw up anything more.

Have a great weekend!

FWIW
jimB

Sexism, Racism, oh no! Not us!

2011-09-15T13:51:00.000-05:00

It is early in the presidential election cycle, and in a sense that is scary. The loonies are out.

Oh, I have been picketed often enough by the Westboro Baptist haters to know that there is no season on lack of reason. And as I am fairly far on the progressive / liberal side of things myself, I know that there are those on my side of the street who are unfailing in disparaging opposition: "George Bush was clumsy", "W. is stupid," you know the crud.

Really? A corn dog? REALLY? This is right up there with the periodic recirculating of the phony news report that "proves" Mr. Obama is Muslim based on the specious claim that he does not wear a watch during Ramadan.

Until yesterday, no one would publish a photo of a candidate eating at the State Fair, and all politicians do eat at the Iowa State Fair, it is required, to make cheap shot comments about it. No one would suggest a white guy elected president is Muslim. Sexism, and racism pure and simple. Yesterday after the photo of Mrs. Bachmann circulated, photos of other candidates were in act published, but the point of the first one is still out there.

But really, are we not better than this? I can think of a good many reasons to not vote for Mrs. Bachmann. In fact I cannot think of a single reason I might vote for her. I live in Illinois and therefor am not an Obama fan. I am generally suspicious of all our politicians.

But if the best we can do is to make snide comments about Mrs. Bachmann's sex life because she is a woman, and Mr. Obama's religion because he is black, we do not deserve the vote. This is pathetic and it is only September, there are most of 14 months to the election! Heaven help us.

FWIW
jimB

Pleeding

2011-09-14T12:02:00.004-05:00

Before The

INS

Washington, D. C.

In the Matter of

Deportation Order )
God,   )
Miriam of Nazareth ) Docket TTO1 - 999
Jesus of Nazareth   )
“The Holy Spirit” aka “The Comforter” )
Peter the Galilean   )
Paul of Tarsis   )
inter alia   )

To The INS

Comments of The Christians For Throwing Them Out Division of The Republican Party

The Comments of The Christians For Throwing Them Out Division of The Republican Party, otherwise known as the Perry and Bachmann Campaigns or simply as the GOP, offers the following comments on the contested deportation orders now pending.

These individuals claim a right to remain in the USA based on several false and misleading statements. First they claim that as they are the originators of the Christian religion and that it is an acknowledged foundation of the USA, that they should be permitted, to remain as “cultural bedrock.”

In fact, America is founded on the Bible, a book printed in English. These individuals are not English speakers, as near as the GOP has been able to identify, they speak Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. While we applaud their multiple language learning, it is not American English. We join our comments with those of U.S. English another group calling for deportation.

Several of these individuals are not of sufficient moral character to be Americans. We note:

God appears to be the illegitimate father of Miriam's out-of-wedlock son whom she had while engaged to another person. During the "Civil War" he was alleged to have been on the side of the government.
Peter left his sickly mother-in-law and wife without even obtaining a hot mistress.
Paul admits to moral failures!
Jesus routinely assaults temple workers, incites hard working taxpayers to abandon their taxable crafts, is considered a “prophet” by the foreign “Islam” religion, and preaches free love.
None of these individuals have as they testified, read or accepts the teachings of the King James Bible.

We urge the Commission to enforce the deportation orders and Throw Them Out.

As to the “Spirit” we understand this person blows where he will and cannot be controlled. None the less we ask that the order be continued as he may show up here again.

Krama? Justice? I think we have a problem here.

2011-09-13T12:28:00.001-05:00

"I think Americans understand justice." Governor Rick Perry responding to a request that he explain the applause received during the Republican debate (7 August 2010) at the mere mention of the 234 executions he has authorized as governor.

"Vengeance is mine" Duet 32:35; Romans 12:19; and Hebrews10:30

What is Justice? What is an appropriate way to seek justice?

The issue is an old one, Plato spent a good deal of time and thought putting discussions of the question into comments he attributed to Socrates. (Like the Gospel of John, the attributions are somewhat dubious.) The conversation has been ongoing since before Plato wrote. Jesus offered a very different view, drawing on Torah for it. I think those who now claim to follow Jesus get his view wrong more often than not.

The Eastern view called,"karma" also has a long history. Most often in the West that history is one of misunderstanding. I took this from a study guide.

The third universal truth explained by the Buddha is that there is continuous changes due to the law of cause and effect. This is the same law of cause and effect found in every modern science textbook. In this way, science and Buddhism are alike.

The law of cause and effect is known as karma. Nothing ever happens to us unless we deserves it. We receive exactly what we earn, whether it is good or bad. We are the way we are now due to the things we have done in the past. Our thoughts and actions determine the kind of life we can have. If we do good things, in the future good things will happen to us. If we do bad things, in the future bad things will happen to us. Every moment we create new karma by what we say, do, and think. If we understand this, we do not need to fear karma. It becomes our friend. It teaches us to create a bright future.
The Buddha said,

"The kind of seed sown
will produce that kind of fruit.
Those who do good will reap good results.
Those who do evil will reap evil results.
If you carefully plant a good seed,
You will joyfully gather good fruit."
Dhammapada
SF State University Web Site

You can search the Gospels, Paul, Torah, and the sayings of the Buddha for years: you will never find a point where the State or the individual is called on to be the hand of vengeance. None of the prophets call for vengeance: in fact they reserve it to God as does Torah. The Buddha says our conduct, our willingness to be merciful, determines our future, he does not tell us to enforce that determination on anyone.

So I think the governor is wrong, or at least wrong about a lot of Americans. They are his supporters who cheer when it is suggested that among 234 deaths, some might be questionable decisions. They are the mob with pitchforks, howling for vengeance that is not theirs but God's. They are about to kill another man in the South whose guilt is in doubt.

Violence breeds violence. There are now study data that show that the "bloods and crips" of the Los Angelos ghettos do not even know why they fight, why the kill each other. They do it because they do. The violence, the lust for vengeance is so deeply embedded in their lives they do not know where it came or or why they nourish it with each other's deaths. That is the vision Governor Perry and his cheering supporters offer us. And that is why he is wrong about their understanding justice.

Justice requires that those who violate others be segregated out of society, shown the "error of their ways" as the old phrase has it, and taught a new way. It requires that they be shown the path to repentance, not that they be compelled to repent. It requires that a society that has not protected the innocent both compensate victims and work harder on protection.

Protection may well mean "life without parole" laws where someone has demonstrated that they are a consistent danger. It does not, I think, mean the outrageous laws in many States that make "sexual predators" effectively outlaws.

Sorry Governor, your playing to the mob is not about justice it is about pandering.

FWIW
jimB

Rt. Rev. Walter Righter RIP

2011-09-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

I hope the bishop where I live could not pick me out of a line-up. I have met him a half dozen times. In fact I attended his consecration. We have never had a coversation, and I do not plan to change that. I have met quite a few other bishops, but I certainly do not seek them out, nor doconversations, meetings and all the other odd things one can attend.

In one sense this reflects my experience as a one-time postulant. I have had some rather unhappy times in the presence of bishops. In another it is simply my view that they and I both have better things to do with our time.

So when I tell you that I cherished the (correspondent) relationship I had with bishop Righter, that is saying a lot. He and I traded occasional emails, not many and not often, on the subjects of evangelism (his passion I think) and church polity. In the few electronic conversations we had, I felt sure someone was actually listening to my comments, and valuing them! Remember I am not a big deal, no major role or contribution here. None-the-less he was attentive, thoughtful and kind, all while he was very ill.

I think he was well received when he arrived before the recording angel. Oh I am sure like all of us he had some things to consider. But his faith that Jesus would speak for him was unwavering and I am sure correct. Rest in peace and rise in glory bishop! You did more and better than most in our time.

FWIW
jimB

How Many Times Shall I Forgive My Brother, Up To 7 Times?

2011-09-10T14:01:00.001-05:00

Peter, ever looking for a way to satisfy the rules Peter, asks his question in a way that does two things. It lets him know when he can go back to not forgiving. It also lets him look good, he is willing to forgive, as long as the jerk who offends him takes him up on the offer correctly(!)

If we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see? Are we Peter like?

In Mathew 18 we have his response. "22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." or depending on translation, "22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times." Somewhere, I fear, someone has been counting the 490 times that Jesus responds to Peter citing as the correct number. Either number of course is intended to be not a limit but a move towards infinity. No one who is marginally rational would count the number of times he forgave someone past seventy! Or so, at least Jesus seems to say.

It is hard, forgiveness. Those who have left the Christian community to worship the Bible often tell us that to be forgiven one must repent. That is wrong. Rather, to realize the benefits of forgiveness, the sinner must repent. Our benefit, if we are the wounded one, if we have been sinned against (and as Jesus understood when he taught us to pray, that happens!) comes not from the sinner's act of repentance but from our act of forgiveness.

So where are we in the counting to 490 or 77, or infinite? How often have you prayed in the last ten years for Osama bin Laden and his followers? Jesus did not tell us to pray for our friends. He told us we already did that and it is good. But he commanded us to pray for our enemies. How are you doing on those 490 times?

Here is my prayer for 9/11

Lord God, King of the Universe, I bless and thank you for the goodness of your creation and the ministry of your son. I commend to your mercy the brave men and women who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11th. Comfort those who loved them with the knowledge of your grace, and justified pride in their courage. Look also, I pray, on those who failed in the life you granted them falling into violence and murder. Grant that they may come to a new understanding of your will and their actions.

Amen

Seventy times seven times. Starting now?

Labor Day 2011 -- Enjoy!

2011-09-05T00:01:00.005-05:00

A really, really bad article with a terrible idea or several

2011-09-02T20:56:00.000-05:00

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatrist and member of the Fox News Medical A-Team. Which leads a person to wonder, how can someone with this much education be this ignorant?

This dope wrote an entire column arguing that readers should not permit their children to view "Dancing With The Stars" because Chaz Bono, a transgendered person is a contestant! Yup, somehow he thinks the fact that Bono will if viewed, be dancing as the male he is, will cause young people to malfunction as they mature.

I am not a fan of the show, but I have seen a few episodes. The show's producers do not generally spend time on the contestant's sex lives. The follow them a bit in their training regime, and talk to their partners the professional dancers, about how they are doing. There is no reason to think anything will be different this time. In fact, given the way liberals think, there will probably be an extreme effort to be sure nothing is different.

Ablow is spreading bigotry. Bono has done no child harm, nor for that matter adults. Of course now that Bono is officially male, he is entitled to respond in the macho idiot way Ablow deserves, and punch him out. Now that is an episode I would watch!

FWIW
jimB

I so wish I had written something half this bright.

2011-08-31T20:05:00.000-05:00

Go here! Just go. Let me sit here and suffer in the dark world of Spiritual and Religous...

FWIW
jimB

No Anglican Covenant Coalition News Release

2011-08-31T14:21:00.000-05:00

STATEMENT BY THE NO ANGLICAN COVENANT COALITION REGARDING COVENANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION PREPARED FOR THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD:

The No Anglican Covenant Coalition is disappointed with the two-page introduction to the Anglican Covenant posted recently by the Diocese of Oxford on its website. Introduction to the Anglican Covenant Debate ( http://www.oxford.anglican.org/ ), prepared by Canon John Rees, is intended to inform the debate at the March 2012 Diocesan Synod. The Coalition believes that the paper downplays both the controversy surrounding the Covenant and the risks inherent in its adoption.

The analysis of the Covenant in the Rees document is consistently shallow and superficial. The Covenant is presented as minor tinkering with Anglican Communion governance, yet somehow still vital to the Communion’s survival. Even the observation that conservatives see the disciplinary provisions as too weak, whereas liberals see them as too strong seems designed as a sort of Goldilocks defence of the Covenant’s supposed merits.

The Oxford document is consistent with the general approach to promoting the Anglican Covenant in the Church of England by downplaying its significance while claiming that the survival of the Anglican Communion depends on its adoption. While the Church of England is preoccupied with issues such as women bishops, there is a serious risk that the Anglican Covenant will be adopted without adequate or informed debate about the document and the implications of its centralisation for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. The consistent and erroneous depiction of the Anglican Covenant as largely meaningless and harmless only increases this risk. Comparable tactics were on display a few months ago in the Diocese of Lichfield, where pro-Covenant presenters were given extensive time to sell the Covenant prior to a short debate with alternating pro- and anti-Covenant speakers.

Oxford’s Introduction contains links to background material, but many of the references are official pro-Covenant propaganda from the Anglican Communion Office and the Church of England. Some warnings about the Covenant are found in General Synod debate transcript, however, and the Church Times Guide is properly characterized as offering “strong arguments for and against the Covenant.”

Unlike the background material prepared by the Anglican Church of Canada, Canon Rees references neither the No Anglican Covenant Coalition ( http://www.noanglicancovenant.org/) nor its associated blog( http://www.blog.noanglicancovenant.org/). The Coalition’s website includes all the references cited in Introduction to the Anglican Covenant Debate and more than 150 other articles. Ironically, Canon Rees does not even cite thoughtful pro-Covenant resources, such as the series being published by the U.S. magazineThe Living Church (http://www.livingchurch.org/), which has offered a far more coherent defence of the proposed Anglican Covenant than anything seen from either the Church of England or the Anglican Communion Office.

Fortunately, members of the Oxford Diocesan Synod have time to educate themselves in preparation for the forthcoming Covenant debate. Members of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition encourage them to visit our website and search for other materials, both positive and negative, regarding the Anglican Covenant. The decision about the Covenant to be made by the Church of England is too important to be made lightly.

Hat Tip to Mad Priest. This is TOO Spot on!

2011-08-31T09:49:00.000-05:00

This From The "Some People Never Learn" Department

2011-08-30T16:24:00.000-05:00

I am not sure about the grammar, but this is a fascinating headline and the story is even more interesting. It is worth your time to click on the headline (it is a link) and read the story. Yes this idiot is a citizen and may have once voted! The headline:
Murder suspect accused of trying to put hit on prosecutor on case

You cannot make this stuff up.

FWIW
jimB

When will we ever learn?

2011-08-18T13:30:00.002-05:00

When I was young and idealistic, the fight for liberty was the civil rights movement. We demonstrated, marched, sang and generally raised hell. We did that later by holding American conduct up to the light next to the statements of American principles. How can we claim to hold that "all men are created equal" if black men cannot use a clean restroom in a bus terminal or black women cannot sit on the bus?

Some of us, it is true, were whites. I think that more than anything infuriated the defenders of the status quo -- we were traitors. Consider the anger focused on "apostates" in many religious disputes. We did our part, and I like to think we helped. But we could "go home." I could, hell I did, go to school, get married, live, and love without experiencing most of the crap a de jur racist and sexist society imposed on others. I worked jobs that were closed to women, to "protect" them. Bunk! The law protected me from competition.

I worked hard to end those laws. I worked and voted for the agents of change, made efforts to help women working for me to advance. But, I benefited from the culture, I could not help it. It is hard to look back and take a lot of credit for my efforts.

Which leads to a question: where are we now? I do not like the answers. It remains in the words of a song I often perform, "a long hard, damn hard and bitter ride" for minorities. If you look at Rev. Elizabeth's post and look into either the book or movie, "The Help" with that question, "where are we now" in mind, I bet you won't like the answers either.

Oh, the overt, de jure discrimination against ethnic and racial minorities is pretty much gone. But we still dismiss some groups in our language. Been "gyped lately? Have you dealt with a "real B***h" somewhere or asked an angry woman if she has her period? Hmmm? Rev. Elizabeth reports a particularly egregious example, but clearly our hearts and minds have a long way to go.

De jure discrimination against lbgt persons is in its death throes and we can hope it is completely dead soon. But given the apparent decision by Roman Catholic bishops and the LDS hierarchy to stand firmly for the worst in 16th century ethics and their influence on many institutions, it is difficult to estimate how long we will take coming to the end of legal and regulatory problems. I predict a long period of litigation as RC institutions try to subvert the marriage equity law. I may start a pool on the year and month when the last lesbian couple files a complaint over mistreatment when one is in hospital. I want January 2021. But then I am known as a notorious optimist.

Real estate offers alas, a similar question. Decades after the first "open housing" laws were passed we still know where the "White Suburbs" are in many cities. Liberal and self righteous California has them, so too Chicago and New York.

When will we ever learn to simply treat all people as people? When will we finally give up the stupid idea that being up requires us to put someone down? When will we accept the idea that we can all compete with our gifts instead of diminishing others?

Rev. Elizabeth's post made me wonder. In another powerful way, Mad Priest's post on the evil done by unrestrained greed to the minority communities in England made me think too. Go read them. Then ask yourself where you are in the journey? I predict you won't like the answers, but that is a beginning, not an ending. There is always time to pray, to change, and to act.

FWIW
jimB

Getting It Really, Really Wrong

2011-08-16T16:15:00.001-05:00

In an 1892 case: HOLY TRINITY CHURCH v. U.S. the Supreme Court held that a law prohibiting the importation of workers did not apply to churches because that application was not what Congress intended. Much has been made of this case in contemporary conservative circles because the Court based its decision on a logic tree that says:

America does a lot of official or cultural things that can be called "Christian."
Congress operates in a "Christian Culture" because each house it begins its sessions with a prayer.
Therfore this is a "Christian Country."
Accordingly Congress clearly could not intend to restrict Christian churches.

Put this one down in the "right outcome -- wrong logic" column. It is possible to construct a reasoned argument against the statute on the basis that it fails the second half of the establishment clause, that is it prohibits the free exercise of religion. The statute is also arguably unconstitutionally vague. No jurist writing today would argue against it on the basis of the intent of Congress and the "Christian country" idea. In fact, were that argument advanced by a court below, it is likely the Supreme Court would dismiss it out of hand.

There are any number of 19th century opinions that are now so dismissed. The Dread Scott decision, and Plesy v Furgeson come to mind. The first affirmed that slavery was legal and that therefore the "owner" of Dread Scott, an escaped slave, has entitled to compel authorities in a "free State" to return him to slavery. The second case affirmed the idea that different "races" could be considered to have legal equality if the State mandated "separate but equal" services and accommodations. Both have been overturned but they were at one point the opinion of th Court.

To argue as some of Rick Perry's clergy supporters do, that this decision's observation that America is a Christian Country means Moslems have no access to the First Amendment is not merely wrong it is lunacy. Even if the governing decision over 100 years ago was this case: it is not now. The Court has recognized the plural nature of American belief in many cases, notable Murray v O'Hare. Somehow these people, apparently including Gov. Perry and the "New American Reformation," have not gotten the word.

John Adams wrote that America is not a Christian Country in a treaty which has the force of law as the Senate affirmed it. That too seems to be invisible to these people.

None of this is surprising. These people misread the Bible too, and do it with equal inappropriate selectivity. ::sigh:: These people are dangerous. They actually think their misreading of both the Constitution and Bible is divinely inspired. Gov. Perry accused Mr. Bernanke of treason last night! It appears the Governor missed the restrictive definition of treason in the Constitution.

Issac Asimov observed:

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

Isaac Asimov, column in Newsweek (21 January 1980)
True then and true today. But today we think of the cultists as serious presidential candidates.

In a MUCH Less Serious Moment

2011-08-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

A big hat tip to Sue-z.

A tough old Navy Chief counseled his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gun powder on his oatmeal every morning.

The grandson did this religiously to the age of 103 when he died. He left behind

14 children, 30 grandchildren,
45 great-grandchildren,
25 great-great-grandchildren,
wait for it,
ready?
and a 15-foot hole where the crematorium used to be.

Sorta brings a tear to you eye, don't it?

Israel And Landmines

2011-08-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

Like most of the war babies and early baby boomers I know, I grew up a supporter of the State of Israel.

I was two years old when the Israelis declared statehood. Growing up in post war America, the images of the Shoah were deeply vivid. We had not yet developed that horrible form of idiot the, "Holocaust Denier."

In high school, I like almost all of my friends and classmates read "Exodus" by Leon Uris. It, other novels, scholarly works, and many movies brought home an awareness that the Shoah could have been anticipated and stopped or at least mitigated and the world did nothing. In an utterly horrible way, R'Wanda reminded us of that.

Indeed in both cases, many "Christian" voices did less than nothing. In both genocides, Christians and Christian clergy were not merely silent: they were complicit.

I and my generation grew up with support for the independence and integrity of the Israeli state as a given. For decades that meant an automatic support for the Israeli government, and Israel in any conflict with the Islamic states that surround it.

Binyamin Netanyahu has done all he can to expend the automatic good will and support this legacy gave him in America and to some extent England and Europe. Recent Israeli actions in the Golan, convince me at least, that while we may support the existence and independence of Israel, we cannot morally support the Netanyahu government. My son Stephan brought this article to my attention. This quote is from the article.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's army is planting new land mines along its border with Syria in an attempt to dissuade protesters from rushing into the Golan Heights, according to a report in an Israeli military magazine.
The preparations come as part of Israel's beefed-up measures ahead of rallies that Palestinians are planning to hold in September, the magazine Ba'mahaneh reported over the weekend.
Israel came under heavy international criticism earlier this year after its troops opened fire on Syrians and Palestinians who broke through the fenced border into the Golan Heights during a pair of demonstrations. Around 35 protesters were killed.

I urge you to read the article. Then contact your Senators and Representatives of if you are Canadian or English, MP's, and let them know. We really cannot support this. Western countries should stop every penny of aid, training, and support they give to Israel. Especially they should halt all intelligence and other military support.

Landmines specifically targeted on civilians are utterly immoral. Civilized nations cannot support this. Waiting until the body count rises is wrong. We have to learn that lesson from the Shoah, the Cambodian killing fields, and R'Wanda.

I know we are all focused on the rolling debt disaster our central bankers have visited on us. But we cannot any of us ignore this. Silence is complicity.

FWIW
jimB

Riding a big bike

2011-08-11T17:26:00.001-05:00

Jamie, my namesake, is seven. She is a tall, loving, athletic,smart and confident little person. That is she is a lot of things I was not at seven or for that matter ever. She is teaching me to be a Christian.

Jamie's dad taught her to ride a bike without training wheels last week. He used a 16" bike with flat tires. Drew (Jamie's dad) is a smart guy. Jamie could simply stand up to avoid falls. Noticing the flat tires, we agreed Jamie and I, that we should take her bike to the local bike shop. The man at the shop said we should replace the inner tubes and sold me a pair of replacements.

As I was taking the wheels off her bike, Jamie found the larger, (rather fancy) 20" bike I had bought some time ago. She asked if she could ride it? I told her it was hers so she could do as she wanted. She can just straddle the 20" bike's frame on tip toes. 20" bikes for girls in America these days do not have step through frames, they have crossbars as do the boy's bikes. Jamie thinks the idea of riding in a dress is "really stupid Grandpa!"

She tried to ride that bike. She fell once, again, and she cried. I told her we would walk it to the long side of the block so she had a nice clear sidewalk. She fell, but I was helping and caught her. She got up and kicked the bike. I stopped her, and told her, "It is never the tool, but it is the fool who causes the problem. You CAN ride the bike. Pick yourself up, pick it up and ride." Jamie cried for a moment, more tears of anger than anything else, straightened out her clothes, brushed back her hair, gave me an angry look, climbed on the bike, let me push and balance her a few yards, and rode the 1/8th mile to the end of the block and back. She arrived with a brilliant ear-to-ear smile.

Remember that triumphant day, when you learned to ride the big bike? Jamie always will remember this one. She can ride! She got her mom to come out to see. They rode together around the block. She even rode in the street with mom for part of the way. She got her uncle and grandma to see too. She organized her kid brother, daddy and they rode to the park to play (1/4 mile roughly) and then back.

Before they took off for the park I had returned to the task of fixing bikes. I had tools to put away.

Jamie came to me and thanked me for showing her she could ride the bigger bike. She showed Gabriel how her brakes worked and how his worked. Then she stopped to talk to her dad about the other much loved but no longer needed 16" bike. Could we save it until one of her mom's friend's daughter is big enough for it? Or can we give it to a classmate who is shorter and younger?

Which made me think of that 10th leper. The one who came back, gave thanks and asked what he could do. Jamie lives into that story. She understands both the need to give thanks and the need to reach back, to help those behind her. She stands in stark contrast to greed, and the horribly common idea that we owe nothing to those behind us. Jamie lives love and never hate.

Both in our Christian life and our political life I think we can all learn something from my granddaughter. Have you thanked God or those in your life who helped? Do you ask who you may have left behind and how you can help them? Are you riding with Jamie, her parents, me (I am learning) and with Jesus?

FWIW
jimB

Islam Moves Past Christianity

2011-08-10T09:18:00.000-05:00

Changing Attitude Kenya meets with the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council
In this post Changing Attitude reports on a new effort to open dialog between the Kenyan Islamic community and the lgbt population. From the article, two quick quotes:

The Revd Michael Kimindu, CA’s contact person in Kenya, reports that on July 14th and August 4th, he had two successful meetings with the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (KEMNAC).
They are not intent on killing homosexuals as some extreme reports have suggested but are willing to learn counselling skills in order to live in peace with homosexuals.

After I read the article, I had several reactions. First I have to applaud the courage of Revd. Kimindu. Second I have to applaud the courage of the Islamic community. Third I am ashamed of the Anglicans in Kenya and England both of which have much to learn from these people and nothing to teach them.

HT to Revd Coward.

FWIW
jimB

Patterns of Thought

2011-08-09T19:34:00.002-05:00

We have had for Chicago, a brutal Summer. While not as bad as Dallas with its new record of consecutive over 100f days, for Chicago it has been unusually hot, humid and wet. We experienced the heaviest July rainfall in the City's recorded history. Some things are not impacted: the Cubs are still the Cubs.

The parish we attend describes its building as a "French Renaissance design." What that means is lots of thermal-mass stone, lots of immobile stained glass, no ventilation and no air conditioning. In short it is not a good place to hold a service from about 1 June to 15 September.

Let me tell you how hot it gets. When I was master-of-acolytes I stored ice cubes and water bottles in the sacristy so that when, not if - when, an acolyte felt faint, I had them handy. For the last few years of his ministry with us, the previous rector moved the service to the lawn and occasionally invited me to provide (dulcimer) music. It is not uncommon to experience temperatures 10f or more cooler outside than inside the building in August. Sure the younger kids ran around a bit but over all those were well received services.

So, the rector tried something else ~~this~~ last Summer. No vestments save only stoles for clergy. Street clothes for chalice bearers or other lay servers and lectors. Instead of the "normal" 8:00 and 10:00 services with music exclusively in the 10:00 service, the single 9:00 service features no music or limited music in alternate weeks. The choir and acolytes have the Summer off. Music when we have it is simple hymns, no anthems, or no chanted psalms ~~or sung consecration~~ although the organist still provides well done pre and postludes. None of this directly cools those of us in the pews, but at least the service is not interrupted by paramedics on the altar and is shorter.

It all makes sense I think. It keeps the servers, organist and clergy from melting, provides a break for the Sunday School, Choir and Accolyte groups and reduces the load on the sacristan teams. It is amazingly unpopular.

I have no standing in the parish. I am no longer a vestry-person. I hold no office save (very junior) member of a sacristan team. I have no role in the planing or execution of the services and I am still the recipient of a stream of complaints. After I laugh and point out that she is by canon law the liturgical authority in the parish; I redirect them to the rector.

Not long ago the idea of a choir wearing robes, acolytes, or a priest in a chausible was enough to start a civil war. (Truth! Look up "Cromwell.") And in some corners of the net, it still sets heads or fists shaking. (Look at this blog for example.) But in our time and place the pattern has changed. Some members need vestments, or choirs or acolytes, or chanting or all of them to see any sacramental act.

Were I the rector, this might lead to a series of Fall services with sermon topics like, "Liturgy - what we do here" or "Ordination - it is not a fancy dress." I doubt the rector will choose that series. Makes me glad to be a layman sometimes.

All of which makes me wonder. How much of the controversy in the Anglican Communion focuses on our patterns of thought, our expectations, what academics might call our paradigm or "memonic evolution" and not the actual theology or events? In other words,is it all a matter of manners? What might the communion look like without the assumption that some of us KNOW what the church must be? What might we achieve if we discarded the assumptions, held on to the creeds and re-started the conversation?

FWIW
jimB

Budget and The Debt Fight in Washington

2011-08-06T09:36:00.000-05:00

Update: Last night (late August 5th) Standard and Poors cut the USA credit rating from AAA to AA+. That represents a major departure as the USA has held the AAA for decades. Without it, the cost of money, credit and ultimately all business and government activities will rise. We do have to solve the problem, we cannot tax or spending cut our way out of it fast enough to do so.

The solution is to grow abundance. Yes that is possible, but it takes some guts and that is in short supply in Washington. Pray for our leaders and those of the other "developed" countries. They need the help of the Spirit more than ever.
_________

Jesus gets invoked in the crazy mix of Ayn Rand (a doctrinaire atheist) and the call for a "Christian Nation" that pervades the "Christian Right," which is neither Christian nor right. So I thought I might answer them here.

Last Sunday the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel was the story of Jesus feeding the multitude. This is a picture of what a Christian nation might look like and it does not fit the actions of the Republicans this week.

Jesus, confronted by his disciples with a very large number of hungry people and a very small supply of food did not say, "Cut the food budget to eliminate the deficit." He said, "You feed them." The Spirit moved those in the crowd with more than ample food and they shared abundance. That is what a Christian nation would look like. Not socialism, Jesus did not take the food from the rich at sword point or take their property. He did not say, "Let them perish." That last a direct quote from my memory of an interview of Ayn Rand when she was asked what would happen to poor people in her world.

I am not advocating unrestricted debt. I do think the conservatives have lost sight of the fact that we are in the second great depression. This so called compromise debt resolution will I predict stand with the Smoot-Hally Tariff as one of the worst economic laws ever passed.

Jesus showed us the way. The answer to poverty is not to restrict access to the pie, it is to make a bigger pie. The Tea Party and their lunatic allies have completely missed the message and that is why the budget is a disaster and their candidates will eventually pay the price.

Another Resounding NO!

2011-08-04T19:56:00.003-05:00

The bishops of Epispocal Church In The Philippines have rejected the Anglican Covenant. I want to dance and shout! While this is not the final vote of their synod, it is very significant and apparently likely to prevail.

This is not a liberal church. It is one led by a house of bishops that understands what it reads. They continue to disagree with Canada and America and that is clearly their right. At the same time they have voted to deny Canterbury its curia. Alleluia!

The article describing their vote with comments from their president bishop is at this site.Article Enjoy the read!

FWIW
jimB

Note: some changes as the news is emerging. It remains very, very good news.

A Lesson In Morality

2011-07-28T20:10:00.001-05:00

In assessing the news this morning, we need to consider some terms and a little history. When it began, the "tea party" was a group of citizens who felt the government was hurtling towards a cliff and not paying attention. Within a short period of time, the ideologues and politicians moved in, their expertise in press relations gave them the voice and the tea party became, all the disgusting things it is now. As a friend of mine said, the GOP could not tolerate a reasonable and sustainable opposition in competition with them, let alone critical of them; so they moved in.

It is my opinion that the people who moved in are the dregs of the Republican party.Perhaps the most obvious example was the Senate race in Maryland, but there are others. Sad to say, some of the movers won primaries and some of those won elections. 3245 s grove suite 202 8:15

That in a short story explains a lot of how we got where we are. Mr. Bohener does not get to be speaker without their support in the caucus, and he has become their voice. Even more than the, "family values" Republicans ("family values" is a two word phrase meaning, "homophobe")these people want to lecture us about how moral they are, how God has called them to govern us and about how good and decent we all have to be to live in their country. It is hard therefore not to smile when this is the morning this headline crossed my field of view:
Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh sued for $100,000 in child support
So here is the guy who wants to govern us, to tell us how to be what he calls, "Christian" and his family is in the middle of a divorce, while he does not pay his child support. Right!

Every divorce is a tragedy for the people involved and the skill set of an American divorce lawyer has been described as changing people who simply disagree into bloody eyed, raving enemies. But here is an idea, resolve the problem in the best interest of the kids and then come tell the rest of us how to live.

FWIW
jimB

New Publication

2011-07-19T10:17:00.001-05:00

The No Anglican Covenant Coalition has published a concise one page guide to the "Anglican Covenant." In this document, the Covenant is described and assessed. The publication is designed to be shared and is provided in both single letter and A4 page formatted copy. You are invited to read, download, print and distribute it. The files are available through our web site. Please take a look!

FWIW
jimB
Member No Anglican Covenant Coalition

Expectation

2011-07-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

This weekend saw the release of the last Harry Potter movie. Sue-z and I saw it and like it a lot. My pockect size review is: see it. If you did not see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part one) then renting it and viewing it first is a good idea.

Have you ever stood in line awaiting the moment when a Harry Potter movie is released or attended a release party at a major book store for a Potter book? These were amazing events. There was I in my every day dress but wearing (complementary) Potter spectacles surrounded by cheerful young people in Ravernclaw and Grifendorf robes awaiting a book. The book, released at midnight was reviewed, by kids, in the morning on network TV and the Net.

What I wonder will offer us such expectation and joy again? The last American release of anything with this sort of happy expectation was the last of the Star Wars movies, decades ago now. Dame Rawlings is done with Potter books and each now has its movie. Where do we turn for magic?

Great writers – Rawlings and great producers – Lucas happen rarely. And when they fulfill their expectation the gap to the next can span a lot of years. I fear this was my last such experience. I mourn the waiting, counting the days, my dau-in-law actually had a screen saver on her smart phone counting down the hours. She and Drew have also seen the movies now.

Where to the expectation? We shall miss it!

Contest Announcement

2011-07-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

On the No Anglican Covenant Coalition website, Dr. Deimel is offering a contest. Write the most persuasive argument for the Covenant and gain the front page on both our web and facebook presences for a day. If you are a supporter of the Covenant or interested in what supporters say, pop over to the blog and have a look.

FWIW
jimB

Guest post!

2011-07-07T15:15:00.005-05:00

Please visit Mad Priest to see my guest post. Major hat tip to Dr. Lionel Deimel, editor extraordinaire who worked over my rather rough prose and got me to a better place. Special thanks Fr. Jonathan for the incredible cartoon and publication space!

FWIW
jimB

News Release From the No Anglican Covenant Coalition

2011-07-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

NEWS RELEASE
JULY 6, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BISHOPS JOHN SAXBEE, PETER SELBY TO BE PATRONS OF NO ANGLICAN COVENANT COALITION

LONDON – The Right Reverend Dr John Saxbee and the Right Reverend Dr Peter Selby have been appointed Episcopal Patrons of the international No Anglican Covenant Coalition.

“The Anglican Communion doesn’t need a Covenant because Anglicanism is a Covenant, predicated on grace and goodwill,” Dr Saxbee said. “If there is grace and goodwill, a Covenant is unnecessary. If there is no grace or goodwill, a Covenant will be unavailing.” Dr Saxbee was Bishop of Lincoln from 2001 until his retirement in January of this year.

Dr Selby, Bishop of Worcester from 1997 to 2007, has been a supporter of the Coalition since its launch last November. “This proposed Covenant is not the solution to the tensions in the Anglican Communion,” he said. “It will inevitably create a litigious Communion where every serious disagreement will become a possible occasion to seek a province’s exclusion.”

“More and more questions are being raised about the potential pitfalls of the proposed Anglican Covenant,” said the Reverend Dr Lesley Fellows, Moderator of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition. “We have consistently seen that support for the Covenant tends to collapse in the face of full and fair discussion and analysis. We are very pleased to welcome Bishops Selby and Saxbee as our first Episcopal Patrons. They are well respected in the Church of England and throughout the Anglican Communion. We expect that their views on the Covenant will persuade many more people to take a harder look at the risks inherent in this radical proposal.”

A PDF version of the above announcement can be found here.

From the Future (Another News Clip!)

2011-07-04T15:45:00.000-05:00

Regular readers of this blog have both noticed that we now have a reporter who roams the future. No other blog, even those with readers who comment, provides future reporting services. Today we received another report from the future.

General Synod 2013

This afternoon the meeting of General Synod descended into chaotic shouting as members expressed shock and outrage at the ruling from the chair that the proposed vote to expressly permit the ordination of lesbian and gay candidates to deacon and priest, already a widespread practice and to permit the appointment of openly lesbian or gay candidates to be bishops, is out of order. Basing his ruling on the adoption in 2012 of the Anglican Covenant, Dr. Williams ruled against the motion.

Dr. Williams asked staff to explain the ruling, as he had not had time to write a book regarding the subject. The staff barrister explained, "The covenant appoints the Archbishop compliance officer for the Church. As such he has primary responsibility to assure that we do nothing un-Anglican. That gives him and every other primate effective veto authority and over-rules our canon and civil law."

In response to an inquiry, Dr. Williams explained that the covenant did not contain a procedure for reversing assent to it. He said with remarkable brevity, "Of course not!" Shortly thereafter responding to a motion he alone heard, he declared "motion to adjourn, seconded and passed."

This reporter made an effort to obtain reaction from those present:

Observing from the "second tier seats," Dr. Jefferts Shori observed, "This is of course first tier church business and therefore does not concern us."

This reporter was unable to obtain comments from lesbian or gay leaders as they boarded a chartered bus. I was able to notice a sign on the dashboard, "The Episcopal Communion Luncheon Charter." The bus left amid significant security but I can disclose that several of the riders appeared to be bishops.

****

July 1

2011-07-01T12:02:00.000-05:00

It is the first day of July. In Illinois where I live, this is the day when most laws passed by the General Assembly take effect. A smaller chunk of the laws take effect on January first. This July first is significant.

As of today: July first, twenty-eleven, Illinois does not have a death penalty. This is huge because it is something done by the legislative process, representing the electorate, not a judicial action. The way the American republic is supposed to work, it is precisely the elected officials who are supposed to make our laws.

It also means more likely than not, that the change is indelible. While it is true that another legislature might pass a different law, it is also true that passing a law is hard. The simple fact that there is a law in place makes it likely it will stay in place.

Illinois adds a small but measurable amount of inertia against allowing the death penalty anywhere in America. Yes I think that is a good thing. We need a national discussion of what reasonable sentences and reasonable law is. We can begin best by getting out of the killing business.

FWIW
jimB

A time to pray

2011-06-30T19:21:00.002-05:00

Kirsten is dying, if not tonight in the next day or two. Pray for her, and for her love Andee as they face her last few hours.

FWIW
jimB

Losing a Generation

2011-06-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

I am I claim, a conservative. I believe for instance that government should intervene in our lives as little as it can consistent with our ability to live together. I want every level of government every year to face the requirement of a balanced budget. I want to see the set of those things the government may borrow to fund sharply limited. I still like two spaces after the end of a sentence and think of the word processor as a smart typewriter.

I am also a dinosaur. Conservatives like me, people who want liberty to ring not only for straights but for lgbt citizens; who want the State out of our bedrooms completely, and out of the business of favoring some bedrooms and disadvantaging others; who want a government that wages peace not intervention, and yes decency not torture, are going extinct. When the last of us dies, the tombstone should read, "killed by "Christian Conservatives" who were neither."

Jesus, Paul, Peter, and James never once called on us to make everyone behave. Not once did Jesus nor his disciples ever tell us to impose ourselves on a theocracy. Only by rather questionable logic can anyone claim that one of the four, Paul, said anything much about homosexual behavior, but we can find lots of things they all said about other behaviors common to the so-called "Christian Right."

Today, the battlefield between those who would make us behave and those who want to follow Jesus and proclaim liberty is marriage equality. I do not know where most of the conservatives have been, to their credit a few Republicans acted as conservatives, and voted for the new equality law in New York. What we have seen instead is the Puritans, those who would expand! government and its intrusion in our lives claiming to represent God and demanding disadvantaged families.

In the process these foolish people are losing the ears of an entire generation. Most young voters simply do not consider who sleeps with whom the State's business. Most of them are more interested in the depth of the commitment than they are the gender of those making it. (I suspect this reflects on their experience with divorced parents.)

But they are busy people and not inclined to distinguish between conservatives and puritans. So as they turn away from Falwell, Christie, and Bachmann (as they should!) they also turn away from real conservatives. They do not hear the late Senator Goldwater, "Every conservative should line up to kick Jerry Falwell in the ass." One look at the fools picketing funerals from the "Westboro Baptist Church," which is neither Baptist nor a church, and they are ready to find liberals and non-Christian liberals at that.

This is how political realignment happens. Strident haters like Bachmann and Phelps repulse anyone with a brain and a sense of the Gospel. People run away. They find left wing groups that make sense on human rights. And so the democrats become more liberal, more big government oriented, and more popular.

This is why when my son says he is a Christian, his contemporaries step back. It is also why Mr. Obama will win a second term. Nominating one of these puritans, and I am convinced they will, assures the Republicans of a loss. Unfortunately two things are true: voters tend to set patterns and stick to them; and politicians seldom learn the correct lesson. So four years from now the puritan politicians will think that the answer is to shout more homophobia instead of shelving it forever. And the generation will in fact be lost to conservatives.

FWIW
jimB

Another Post From The Future...

2011-06-26T19:39:00.000-05:00

Way to go New York!

2011-06-25T07:23:00.000-05:00

Last night, New York changed its marriage law so that lesbian and gay couples can legally marry and divorce. The bill, already signed takes effect at the end of July. The law explicitly permits religious institutions to limit their function as agents of the State so that for instance, Roman Catholic parishes cannot be required to host or perform a "gay marriage."

State by State, inch by inch, love progresses. Way to go New York!

FWIW
jimB

Fading

2011-06-23T20:28:00.006-05:00

The idea that the Covenant will fade away if adopted is attractive and wrong.

The thinking goes something like this.

The synods of the moderate-to-liberal churches endorse the draft.
The GafCon or Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans do not.
No one files any actions to remove the GafCon churches.
Dr. Williams retires claiming he "held the communnion together."
Over time, the existence of the “covenant” is relegated to the “historic documents of the church."
The Covenant fades into well-deserved obscurity, of interest only to church polity nerds.

This seems like an innocuous scenario if one ignores some things.

Section Four of the Covenant is a canon lawyer's playground.

Terms are used without clear definition.
No authority is vested in any institution or person to define terms.

The church is always changing
There is always conflict between those who favor change and those who support the status quo.

Very soon, someone somewhere will see something that offends their sense of what the church must be. That someone will see the Covenant as the mechanism to preserve the church as they believe it should be. Section Four processes with both canonical and civil litigation will begin. Once begun, it will never end.

Dr. Williams is in my view a doctrinaire anti-American. He himself seems one of those who wants to use Section Four to shape what he calls, "The Anglican Church" as a replacement for the Communion. That shape excludes North American progressives and English liberals favorable to ordination and consecration of women and LGBT clergy. We will offend him: in fact we know from his reaction to the election of Bp. Glasspool that we are targets.

The Covenant is in fact not going to fade away. If it is enacted it will be used and the results will be as Benedict XVI has said of his intent for the Roman church a, "smaller and more uniform" church. That is not what the Anglican communion should be striving for, we do not need to be smaller and we do not need to be more uniform.

The covenant will not fade. Rather it must be scrapped.

This will have more than one benefit. If it fails badly enough, no one will try to inflict another version on the communion later. Without the covenant as a tool to attack The Episcopal Church, Anglican Church Canada, inter alia, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and other groups will be confronted with two choices: stay out there alone or come back and work to get along.

Nothing fades away when it is as evil and potentially profitable to someone, as this Covenant.

FWIW
jimB

"A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven"

2011-06-16T17:58:00.000-05:00

My friend and hero Kirsten has come to a special time and purpose. She has written about it here and she breaks my heart with her courage.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

It is a time to pray, to say "goodbye," to wish a pilgrim well on her journey, to seek to comfort Andee, and to pray some more. This is not the victory of death, this is the calm implacable refusal to be defeated by a woman of great beauty and courage. Through the tears we may dance as her pain comes to an end and her final victory is realized.

Amen!

LDS Gets It Right

2011-06-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

Frm the Reuters News Service

(Reuters) - The Mormon church on Friday expressed concern over a raft of state immigration laws and appeared to support a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants who "square themselves with the law."

The statement by the Church of Latter-Day Saints of Jesus Christ comes as U.S. states have shown increasing willingness to tackle illegal immigration -- an issue traditionally handled by federal authorities.

"The history of mass expulsion or mistreatment of individuals or families is cause for concern especially where race, culture, or religion are involved," the church said in a statement posted on its website.

"This should give pause to any policy that contemplates targeting any one group, particularly if that group comes mostly from one heritage."

The church said immigration issues must ultimately be resolved by the federal government.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is concerned that any legislation that only contains enforcement provisions is likely to fall short of the high moral standard of treating each other as children of God," the church said.

While the church did not endorse any specific proposal in its statement, it appeared to embrace the general notion of allowing illegal immigrants to earn their right to stay in the country legally.

"The Church supports an approach where undocumented immigrants are allowed to square themselves with the law and continue to work without this necessarily leading to citizenship," the statement said.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer touched off a furor in April of 2010 when she signed SB-1070, a law that requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they detain or arrest.

A federal judge subsequently blocked the most controversial provisions of that law, a ruling that was upheld by a federal appeals court in April.

In March, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a package of four immigration laws, including an enforcement measure similar to Arizona's and a guest-worker program.

A federal judge quickly blocked the enforcement provision and opponents have said they will seek to repeal the guest worker program, which they say amounts to amnesty.

In May, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a tough new law cracking down on illegal immigrants that is similar to one enacted in Arizona.

And on Thursday, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law a crackdown on illegal immigration that both supporters and critics consider the toughest in the nation.

New Release From General Convention 2015

2011-06-09T14:04:00.001-05:00

Today's session of General Convention saw the ultimate effect of adopting the "Anglican Covenant." A controversial resolution passed the House of Bishops that strips every woman now in holy orders of her ecclesiastical standing.

The action was taken based on a prior action in 2012 when the church passed the "Anglican Covenant." In a footnote, that document committed the church to the 1662 Ordinal which limited orders to men, and the 1662 prayer book with its Calvinist understanding of sacramental actions.

During the debate, one bishop observed, "If the church did not as my brother suggests, "intend" to defrock women, it should not have passed an ordinal into its constitutional law that committed it to be "Anglican" and affirmed the men only canon. As it did, we are left with the written record."

Reached for comment at Lambeth Palace, His Holiness Rowan I said, "oh, that is very interesting and probably requires that the other instruments of unity investigate it for its ontological consistency" (or something like that.)

Things to check out.

2011-06-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

Today there are a number of things you should read or view. I have not written any of them. ;-) So here are some links:

Mr. Catolic's tour of Lambeth's latest addition

Lionel Deimel's analysis of sections 1 - 3 of the so-called covenant

Fr. Jonathon's lovely Evening Prayer for the remembrance of Justin Martyr

FWIW
jimB

I Am So Proud of Illinois

2011-05-31T10:25:00.003-05:00

I live in Illinois. At times, it is possible to be proud of our history: we are as our license plates and slogan proclaim, "The Land of Lincoln," and more recently President Obama whom we share with Hawaii and Kenya ;-). We are also the State of Stephan Douglas, John Peter Altgeld one of the most decent people ever to be a governor of any State; U. S. Grant, Phil Sheridan, William Tecumseh Shurman, and a number of other military geniuses; and some amazing academic institutions including University of Chicago where Enrico Fermi and others dragged us into the nuclear age.

The dark side is that most people know us for Al Capone, Frank Nitty, and the national organized crime families of the 1930's. We are probably as well known for the .45Cal submachine gun made in Connecticut, as we are for Michael Jordan who is from North Carolina. We are also famous for political corruption.

We deserve that, we are the State of George Ryan, Rod Blagojevich, Tony Resco, and an entirely corrupt set of judges exposed in the "grey lord" investigations. If we have Lincoln, we have Blagojevich. And yet, tomorrow, we become something special.

Today is the last day Illinois will refuse to recognize the lesbian and gay families here. Tomorrow, a lesbian / gay couple can go to the county clerk and obtain a license just like straight couples do. They can take that to a judge or willing religious authority and become a legally recognized family.

For all practical purposes, within Illinois couples who do that will be married. OK, the State won't call it that, and the religious ceremonies generally will follow the State. So, as I have been joking with friends, what we will be doing is "unioning" them. But only when we get to the land of DOMA, and of Federal tax discrimination will the difference matter.

Illinois has moved into the group of States that respects and affirms lesbian and gay couples that want to stand within the circle. Couples who quite validly want the State to recognize that they exist and contribute. This has not been easy for us. Chicago is one of the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the country. This is the State that nominated Alan Keyes on a major party ticket to be a US Senator. But somehow we got here: with a governor whom even his opponents think of as honest, a legislature that has a sense of history and justice, and a government that actually works:, we got here.

Today we hear from an example of what not to do - Blagojevich testifies in Federal Court. Thursday, Thursday(!) the mayor of Chicago and the Governor of Illinois attend the joining of 30 couples in Grant Park to celebrate a day of liberation. Politicians everywhere will take note because when people like the mayor and governor make the decision to attend, clearly the politics have changed. The justice train is leaving the station and it is time to get on board! Illinois is famous for its railroads too.

FWIW
jimB

Andee and Kirstin need help

2011-05-30T21:05:00.003-05:00

I know and have known these folks. There is no deception here, they need help and unless we find a miracle, Kristen is dying. If you can help, please do!

FWIW
jimB

Written by Andee, posted by Kirstin

We have just reached the point where Kirstin can no longer stay alone while I am at work. (This is Andee - the infamous "A," her roommate, writing.)

For those of you who may not be up-to-date with the latest--the pain from the "strained ligament" in her left knee turned out in fact to be from another melanoma metastasis in her left tibia. The various pain meds she has been given, while not helping much with the pain, have made her loopy, nauseous or both. She had been able to hobble from the bed to the bathroom with the aid of a walker, but Friday night, the pain meds made her lose her balance. She caught herself before falling, but simply putting weight on that leg fractured the front of that bone.

I haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep in weeks, and am exhausted. Although I have some vacation time remaining, I'm trying to save that for the times I need to accompany Kirstin to doctor's appointments. Family leave laws don't apply when you are the primary caregiver to a roommate instead of a close relative.

To all of you who have wondered how you can help: HELP!!!!

We desperately need people who can just quietly be here daytimes on weekdays; having someone here for a few hours on Saturday so I can run errands would also be helpful. If you're local and can come for a day (or even half a day) every week, that would be wonderful. If you're from out of state and can come help out for a few days, or a week or more, that too would be marvelous.

You might need to bring her something from the kitchen when she asks, remember when she is due for more meds, or wheel her the few feet from the bed to bathroom. (The wheelchair is super-lightweight; the only tricky part is negotiating some tight doorways and corners without bumping her injured leg.) And I'll be honest, until we get the pain meds/nausea stuff worked out, there might be an occasion when you have to rinse out the basin. (To give her credit--although I'm sure this isn't something she wants to be known for--Kirstin is the neatest, most odorless vomiter I've ever met!) Between the pain and the anti-pain drugs, she's not up to much socializing. So most of the time, you'll just be occupying yourself in another room, just available in case of need. (There's a computer, wi-fi, a ton of books, and three cats to keep you amused, but no cable TV.)

We hope, and pray, that this is temporary. There is still one more treatment for melanoma to be tried; a very small percentage of those who go through it are helped by it. There is a very great chance (and I'm crying as I write this) that I'm asking you to be prepared to help with end of life care.

Many of our friends have asked if Kirstin needs money. The answer is yes, no, maybe and probably. Neither medical insurance nor hospice covers this kind of in-home care - at most they provide an aide a few hours a week. If we can't find enough friends who can help and need to hire aides, or if the friends who have time are unemployed and can only come if we cover their travel and lodging expenses, then yes, she is going to need lots of money. If you can help cover some of these expenses (and thank you, Lisa and Neil for offering air miles!), or contribute towards other medical costs not covered by insurance, please, please write to Andee.
(For that matter, if you're in the Stockton/Lodi area, do you have a guest room that you'd be willing to make available to friends who are traveling from out of state to help us? Or if you're going to be out of town for part of the next few months, could they borrow your house, if needed? My house is tiny - Kirstin's in the bedroom, I'm sleeping in the living room.)

Other ways you can help--

Baby monitor: Does anyone have one we could borrow? I'm discovering that with the air conditioner running, it's hard to hear from one room to another.

Handyman skills: I really need to get my front sprinkler systems working again, because I don't have time while taking care of Kirstin to water by hand. (I think the valves just got clogged with dirt when the city repaired the sidewalk a few months ago. At any rate, I hope that's all it is.) We may also have to remove a couple of inside doors and the shower doors temporarily to make it easier for her to move from room to room, and get into the bathtub. If/when we have to bring in a hospital bed, I'll need to put up curtains in the living room, and will need a place to store some furniture (and strong arms/backs to help move it).

Gardening: This will make the second summer in a row that melanoma has taken precedence over gardening. The weeds (and unwanted zillions of baby oak trees) aren't tall - but they are plentiful. If that's your thing, have at it!

And of course prayers, love, emails, tears, hugs. What's sustaining us through this is knowing how many of you are with us. I love you all.

Andee

Evangelism, Rapture and Ham Radio

2011-05-24T19:24:00.001-05:00

Actually, yes they do all belong in the same blog! Stay with me here.

Now that the fraud that Harold Camping has been playing on the gullible has been exposed, and no one got 'raptured' it is time to asses the damage. Let's begin by laying out simple facts.

The "rapture" is what the Reformers would call a "fond thing, vainly invented." The original publication of the idea dates to the 19th century. Amusing to me is the fact that the inventor was a misled Jesuit and the idea languished in well deserved obscurity until some "bible believers" republished it in the 1830's.
Christianity has always thought of itself as expansionist. From the earliest days Christians have been earnestly telling everyone they can that the kingdom of God has come. We have tried, albeit with less success than we might wish, to live into that kingdom.
From the earliest moments of the faith when it was first announcing itself, it has been attacked by those who do not want that "good news" to spread. Jewish temple authorities began the persecutions, Rome picked them up and the history since then is consistently violent and repressive.
If repression has failed, ridicule has been effective. From the snide internet comments about our, "invisible friend" to the attacks of the likes of Dawkins, laughing at the faith is remarkably good at harming it.
It should be said that our own misconduct helps make this weapon effective. Come on, the "Holy Roman Empire?" Baptist and other preachers defending slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries? Jerry Falwell claiming he prayed the course of a hurricane away from his headquarters? "Biblical inerrancy?" There is much to ridicule.

If I wanted to attack Christianity, I would invent Harold Camping. I would teach "biblical inerrancy." I might even write an "Anglican Covenant." I would not want to confront Christianity on its own ground, but rather to make it look ridiculous.

Yes Christians joined in the rapture jokes. Besides Leno, Letterman, Conan, inter alia, some of the very best appeared on Of Course I Could Be Wrong and Wounded Bird and the Facebook chatter was a total hoot. None-the-less, there is damage done. The believers who were defrauded by Camping were harmed, the faith over all was given the image of foolishness by those who think this guy is a for real "minister." And serious conversations with serious seekers were put off by the necessity of refutation of the rapture heresy.

Yup, if I wanted to harm the faith, I would invent the rapture, and "preachers" like Camping. I wonder who did?

Which leads me to Ham Radio. Hams are expected to provide disaster communications in exchange for the frequency privileges we enjoy. Our chatter has been about how to set up disaster nets if a bunch of the radio operators were raptured. No one seemed really worried.

We are communicators and we are governed by specific rules requiring that we not spread false disaster reports. To many we seem rather out dated now. After all, the internet is there, everywhere, as are cell phones, so why bother with these old guys, with their knowledge of electronics, their multi - function radios and their widespread affection for Morse Code? (Sadly some FCC staff seem to be of this view.

This week in tornado alley, suddenly hams are useful. Like the good news, we have visible purpose. Maybe our silly tech talk (we actually know what Ohms law means!) has value.

Hmmm.... maybe that old time stuff is worth preserving, advancing, considering and even embracing. But just as hams have to meet minimum standards and not be of diminished moral standing, ministers should be ignored when they are clearly liars.

FWIW
jimB

Not a good week

2011-05-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

Can I have your motorcycle when you are raptured?

2011-05-14T12:25:00.000-05:00

There are several things to say about the announcement by "evangelist" Harold Camping that he being the wise and holy man mentioned in Ecclesiastes 8:5, uniquely knows that May 21 is the day of the "rapture."

First the man's lack of humility would stun a pope! 3000 years on, after the coming, life and resurrection of the messiah, we finally have the "wise man" a prophet spoke of and he is a radio evangelist? Jesus said he did not know the date of final judgement, but this guy does. The late John Lennon said the Beatles were "more famous than god." His ego is now dwarfed.

Second, why oh why are we cursed with so many bible worshipers and so few Christians? The Bible is a collection of works written over centuries describing the mythic and real histories of the Hebrew search for an understanding of God's desired relationship with man, and (for Christians) the culmination of that search in the life, ministry, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. Along the way it picked up wonderful poetry (Psalms,) some very good advice that some fools tried to turn into laws (Proverbs,) and a good deal of cultural baggage. It is worthy of constant, informed, and careful study.

What the Bible is not, is a book full of hidden secret passages only the holy can find.

Nor is the Bible a book of laws (see Talmud for that!) It is not God, nor even a piece of God.

The Bible is also not a unified text, the authors of Torah did not know about nor write in coordination with the authors of the Gospels. Attempting to impose a single narrative is the great heresy of this age's "evangelicals."

It is precisely that heresy, the attempt to impose a single narrative which leads to such silly ideas as "inerrancy" and "rapture." There is no "rapture" described in the Bible. What the proponents of this heresy do is take separate sections from multiple books and slam them together with their own explanation of how they "must" fit. This leads to error because the books were not written to be read together.

Origen, one of the great fathers of the church writing well before there was a bible at all, said of the synoptics that they were worthy of study because they "generally are in accord with the Gospel (oral) which the church has received." That the church would eventually decide to add John to the three so that the reference, the bible, would include a Christology was a decision made later.

The synoptics are the great treasure of the church because they contain almost all we have of the words and teachings of Jesus. Only a few critical words of Jesus that Paul quotes in First Corinthians come from outside the gospels. Without them evangelicals would not know what to ignore.

The works should be read and studied on their own merits. No magic, no special discernment for special people, just Jesus, Paul, Luke and the other authors as they wrote. To understand them takes a lot of study of the cultures that were the context of the books. That is what we should read, mark and inwardly ponder.

Fortunately we have lifetimes to study and pray. The world is not going to end anytime soon.

Have a great May 22nd!

FWIW
jimB

Justice and bin Laden

2011-05-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

In Becket, the monk who serves as the archbishop's aide and servant explains justice to him. He explains that he sees himself as a grain of sand that will join many others in eventually stopping the unjust Norman machine grinding them all to dust. Then the Saxons and good folk will build a new machine and put Normans into it. He asks the Archbishop, "That is what justice means, isn't it?" Becket smiles but does not answer. Anouilh leaves the answer to the play goer.

Is it? Is that justice? I submit not.

Here is the prayer for our enemies in the Book of Common Prayer. It is worthy of considerable thought this week.

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From my space, some lessons to consider:

The triumphalism is not a good idea. It is morally corrosive. Celebrating the death of anyone is morally corrosive. That is what supporters of the death penalty miss. We never should hate anyone that much.
Bin Laden was unique. To will he - nil he undertake attacks against others would be a serious mistake.
Christians are called to wage reconciliation and redeem the earth. I am not going to second guess the president. His duty is to protect and defend. The question is what we do as Christians to bring reconciliation?
The swift, patriotic and appropriate response to these events from various Islamic organizations should but probably won't bring forward the simple fact that Islam is not the enemy.
It should finally be clear that the government of Pakistan is anti-American. Perhaps they can join GafCon or endorse the "Anglican Covenant?"

In American domestic politics, can we all say, "racism" now? The reaction of Fox News commentators among others that obviously we have to give credit to someone other than the guy who made the call is transparent. The recent explosion of the "birther" viewpoint and the amazing attack on Mr. Obama's academic background by the odious Donald Trump, leave little to obscure the inability to consider the simple idea that a black guy can run, win and serve.

I find it difficult to spend time reading or listening to these goofs. I think about 3 minutes listening to Donald Trump probably causes brain damage, the toxicity maximum for Terry Jones or Fred Phelps may be lower. But I am waiting for some dope to claim the fact that bin Laden received a Muslim burial at sea "proves" Mr. Obama is not a real Christian. Mark your calendars folks, I predicted that stupidity first here.

Just When I Thought "Christian Conservatives" Could Not Look More Silly

2011-04-29T21:22:00.002-05:00

Look here!

Franklyn Graham sets a new record for theological ignorance.

FWIW
jimB

Free Speech and Respect

2011-04-25T16:44:00.000-05:00

On his self-titled blog, Mr.Frank Schaeffer (whom I do not alas know personally) has an insightful piece (Blog Frank Scaeffer) that takes the ignorance offered so often as "faith" to well deserved task. He observes that if a person can believe or claim to believe that sexual identity is a "life style;" that Sarah Palin has the intellectual ability and background to be president or that "creationism" is a meaningful explanation of cosmology then we can delude ourselves into believing anything.

I am a devotee of the Jeffersonian era idea of the marketplace of ideas. The marketplace is a very simple concept: given exposure to rigorous examination and open discussion, good ideas prosper and bad ones fail. Those givens however are required. When we stop examining ideas seriously, when we deliberately delude ourselves in the name of "respect" and when we stop looking seriously at evidence the whole marketplace stops working.

Which is why what is going on in England at the moment is disturbing. The single worst reason to enter a treaty relationship like the so-called "Anglican Covenant" is "respect for the archbishop." In American plain speech this is a "cop out." It is a major affront to the marketplace of ideas. It is also of course, sin. The principal is that "under orders" does not remove moral accountability. That principal applies to bishops in the Church of England as well as soldiers in battle.

By any rational standard the "Ridly Draft" is a deeply flawed document. It would were it implemented (if that is even possible) create a model of dysfunction and call it a "church." The world dose not need that -- the Westboro Baptists already fulfill that role.

Tory Lightcap has done a remarkable job of proving that in a thought experiment he calls a Test Driving the Anglican Covenant – Part 1. In it he walks the reader through the "process" of Section 4. The so-called "Covenant" simply won't work.

The document is internally inconsistent. If we are to believe the convoluted and poorly written affirmations in the first three sections, the document affirms the authority and autonomy of the individual member churches. We call that their "Autocephaly." That is, the hierarchy of the individual churches (Church of England, AC of Canada, Episcopal Church of Sudan et al) is within its space the highest human authority. Yet section four allows almost anyone to initiate a process designed to force a church to either override its own autocephalous standing and reverse itself when some vague claim of "un-Anglican" error is affirmed or face "relational consequences."

That last phrase is my favorite. Savor it for a moment: "relational consequences" is somehow not the same as "penalty" so the defenders of this thing claim it is not punitive or juridical. One wonders if a felon being executed is happy knowing that this merely a "relational consequence?"

England is a literate country. Its bishops are often academics of considerable standing. They know the document won't work. Either that or they have not read it. Why then do so many support the "covenant?"

Blind ambition cannot be ruled out. If a bishop wants a shot at an archbishop's job, really annoying the Archbishop of Canterbury is not a good plan.
Something of the same may be true of priests who have been voting for this thing -- want to be a bishop?
We also hear of anti-Americanism. It appears from here that Canada gets included in that. Canadians are surely appalled.

Over and over again we hear of "respect" for the Archbishop.

Surrendering one's judgement does real violence to the marketplace and to moral judgement. It is not what Americans expect of Englishmen. We sort of think they use their brains unlike our indigenous fundamentalists. "Respect" creates a great degree of disappointment and very very bad decisions.

If we can suspend our judgement for "Bible belief"
if we can claim to believe in creationism, or "homosexual lifestyles"
If we can vote away the claim of autocephaly in the 39 Articles and other historical publications of the church
If we surrendor up 400 years of independence and liberty for "respect"

Then for "respect" we can vote away anything. Even a "president Palin" becomes possible. To suggest the "Covenant" will "hold us together" in the face of outright rejection from both progressive and conservative churches requires that we decide to believe anything for "respect."

Increasingly it is clear that England will go there if indeed it does, alone. While there is great good will for the Church of England and desire to respect its archbishops, America, New Zealand, Canada, I suspect Brazil, South Africa and even Scotland, are not going to "respect" away their autocephalous liberty. Among Central Africans and other GafCon "orthodox," "respect" is not going to move anyone.

So there will be England, "respecting" itself into irrelevance. It is time for the English to ask themselves if they really want to look like American Fundamentalists denying reality on their doorstep.

FWIW
jimB

Rankin, Mississippi does us all a bit proud

2011-04-25T10:48:00.001-05:00

It appears I have been had. The story that I wrote about was a fake planted on the web by someone as yet unidentified. I apologize. I try to be careful about sources -- this came from a trusted one that was itself spoofed.

FWIW

He IS Risen Allelulia

2011-04-24T08:34:00.003-05:00

I wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter Day.

A Blessed Triduum

2011-04-21T09:51:00.000-05:00

All of Christianity centers on these three days. In the actions of Jesus proclaiming his authority in the temple, giving himself and transcending death Jesus travels the ultimate pathway to the divine restoration of ourselves and our future. These three days are the pivot point of human experience.

The central mystery of Christianity is the ability of the suffering servant to transform and transcend. Jesus transforms bread and wine, transforms our lives from legalism and failure to the redeemed and potentially redeeming future he offers us and transcends suffering, condemnation and even death.

We have so far yet to go on the journey to God. We send our young people to die in wars, pollute our fragile earth with needless waste and cover the message of love with bible idolatry, legalism and fear. But the path, The Way as the apostles had it, survives and beckons.

This is not as the pilgrims in the Holy Land will have it today, the "Via Dolorosa:" the sad way. No it is the way to God, the path of triumph. It is the path that begins in the "upper room" and leads to the dismissed tomb. Come, walk with us who follow.

A glorious, triumphant and joyous Triduum to you.

Three cheers for Delaware!

2011-04-14T19:26:00.000-05:00

Delaware's House of Representatives passed the bill already passed in the Senate implementing "civil unions" for same sex couples. The law's stated intention is that same sex couples will enjoy to the largest possible extent the same prerogatives granted married two gender couples and married same sex couples coming from other States will be recognized as being in civil union in Delaware. It is not perfect but it is progress.

FWIW
jimB

More on lies and such

2011-04-13T15:00:00.001-05:00

I suspect like most Americans I want to think the Senate is composed of serious men and women engaged in a debate and conversation about the various policy issues that our country faces. I want to think that these people are honest, that they engage in negotiation and discussion that is both honest and meaningful. Oh, I know that sometimes one must joke, that friendship and even an occasional martini (make mine Blue Sapphire, stirred) are the lubricants of discourse. But on the floor of the Senate, in session, I want to think these people are as impressed with the importance of what they do as I am.

Enter one John Kyl (my bad on the spelling)- Senator from Arizona. He said during the debate on the budget and "government shutdown" that Planned Parenthood should not be funded because abortion is "well over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does." This on the record, in a formal session of the Senate. It is not true. By any measure, number of women served, budget, space utilized, Planed Parenthood cannot be said to do abortions as over 90% of their activities. Ooops!

The senator's staff offered this "explanation."‎

His remarks were not intended to be a factual statement.

Well that helps! How are we to know when he is attempting or intending a "factual statement?" He was on the floor, addressing the Senate. When does he plan to to speak honestly? Does he lie most of the time but then decide to be "factual?"

One wonders why in the world Arizona chooses to send this goof to Washington? But then, it does get him out of Arizona. I am reminded of Richard Nixon of whom after he was carried California running for Vice-president, Senator and President but not Governor someone said that Californians were willing to send him across the country to Washington but not across the State to Sacramento.

FWIW
jimB

HT to Rev. Susan who put me on this trail.

Why Must They Lie?

2011-04-09T13:09:00.001-05:00

I have spent part of the morning reading about the use of bogus statistics by the various opponents of "gay marriage" and something they call, "the homosexual agenda" in articles, interviews papers and even legal actions. A great deal of the "data" presented by various groups comes from publications by one Paul D. Cameron PhD. a self-accredited expert.

Cameron holds a real doctorate and was licensed as a clinician at one time in Nebraska. He held various faculty positions until he became a full time political voice. Cameron's reputation in both legal and academic circles is not good. He has the interesting distinction of having been publicly
disavowed or expelled from the American Physiological Association, Canadian Physiological Association, the American Sociological Association and a US District Court.

In his own right, Cameron is perhaps not important, his work is completely discredited, his ethical standards are dismissed by trial judges and my own reading of his work makes both things seem reasonable. Unfortunately it is not that simple in our world.

Dr. Dobbs, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, various politicians and a good number of campaigners routinely ignore the nearly unanimous academic and legal judgement of Cameron's work and quote at least his less silly conclusions. Much of his work comes from a "survey" done in 1983-84 with a methodology so flawed that I laughed out loud reading it. But it is not funny when otherwise reasonable folks are misled using his "conclusions."

Why do they lie? I do not find then persuasive but there is a case that can be made against homosexual conduct based on the Hebrew Scriptures, another based on some Pauline verses and certainly another traditional one based on legal history.

I think I see two answers to my question: one is that the courts and public simply will not move because of weak theological arguments and the other can be found in this fascinating quotation from Cameron.

"Marital sex tends toward the boring," he said. "Generally, it doesn't deliver the kind of sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual sex does." If all one seeks is an orgasm, he said, "the evidence is that men do a better job on men, and women on women. Homosexuality," he said, "seems too powerful to resist."¹

Now there is a revealing fascination and jealousy!

Does the lie matter? Yes. The debate in Uganda over a bill that would make even a dinner discussion of "homosexuality" a crime and actual conduct a capitol offense was shot through with pseudo science quotes from Cameron. His work is arguably a motivator for the murderous legislation.

Why must they lie? Maybe they do not want to admit how attractive they find gay sex? Maybe they are not competent theologians, historians or lawyers. In some sense at the end of the day, why does not matter. What they do is evil.

**************

1. Rolling Stone Magazine, March 1999, as quoted at Article in paragraph 9.

risks to democracy

2011-04-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

I voted today. In a sense there is nothing remarkable about that, the first Tuesday in April is when Illinois conducts elections for certain classes of local government, school boards, municipalities and townships. In other senses, it is a big deal.

Living in America where for over two hundred years, elections have been peaceful and more importantly the resulting transfers of power have occurred peacefully; it is possible to forget how rare this is. Only a few countries, England, Iceland, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada come to mind; can claim that long a period of successful democracy.

I am becoming a rare thing, someone who remembers the destruction of wars that have been fought to keep the right to peacefully vote and transfer government authority for us. I was born shortly after WWII. I had classmates who were fatherless because of the destruction of the last days of that war, scoutmasters and teachers who were injured in it. My children do not have those memories nor the memories of how devastating the revelations of the Shoah and fear of Marxism impacted the culture.

America, England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada survived all of that. America developed but survived the excesses of McCarthyism as well. One wonders if any of us can survive indifference?

We can vote, we can decide. We know that we have a major problem with indifference. Consider that 21% of Californians did not vote in the "prop 8" referendum and less than half of the eligibles are expected here in Illinois today.

There are new arising risks to democracy.

Mr. Jefferson famously observed that if he had to choose between government without the press or press without government, he would choose to have the free press. Ben Franklin noted that a minimum requirement for democratic success is literate voters. Soviet Russia considered photocopiers security assets. China and Saudi Arabia limit and control access to the internet.

Democracy requires freedom of communication and literacy. Ideas must be published and read. In years past, I have read local press reports and editorial endorsements before the election. Illinois law protects my right to take an endorsement page from a newspaper into the voting space and read it while voting. The problem is no one is publishing! I cannot read the local papers if they are not printed.

The internet is killing newspapers. Survivors are making it by being electronic. The problem being that the economy of scale for electronic publications is national or global. I cannot meet and interview every candidate. Even if I want to, they are not interested in giving me that much time. So who is going to listen and question and endorse? Without that service performed by newspapers, how do we evaluate the candidates? I do not know and that troubles my voting experience today.

We need to develop a locally focused, financially viable electronic press.

FWIW
jimB

Politics of death panels

2011-04-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

I want to be a political conservative, I really really do. I actually think that the State should limit itself to those things the individual or local community legitimately require and cannot do themselves. In that sense I suppose I am a disciple of the great Senator Henry Clay. It is unfortunate that in America in my time we do not have conservatives, we have murderously incompetent Republicans.

These quotes are from an editorial which ran in the Fort Worth (Texas) Star Telegram. My comments follow each quotation in red italics

Let people die.

Our very own death panel voted last week against adding $23 million in lifesaving medications for poor Texans with HIV, essentially turning away the 2,000 new patients who will need help in the next two years.

My memory is that the Republicans told us repeatedly that government panels should not be in the business of deciding some should die. I guess it is ok if those selected are poor?

At the AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County, Associate Executive Director Shannon Hilgart echoed Lakey's words.

"The folks we see" -- 500 new cases a year -- "don't have the money for medications," she said.

Without state help, she said, "They will die."

Well,that will solve three problems, it will reduce the homeless population, cut the number of beggars and save money. What is not to like?

But we'll balance the budget.

This is not just, it is not moral and it is not American.

It is all about priorities is it not? I am not a student of the Texas budget, but I am confident there are a lot of two million dollar line items. And I am also confident that at least some of them are items that benefit relatively well-off Republican constituents who can take care of themselves. Where does the legislature look to save two million? Why to health care for poor people. Poor people who are not white, who are of Mexican or Native American heritage, poor people who probably vote democrat.

Ah well, killing off a couple thousand poor folks is not a problem for someone. Want to bet the legislators who decided this self-identify as Christians?

FWIW
jimB

A quick political thought

2011-03-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

Contrary to various idiots running to be the Republican Party candidate for president, we do not have a Islam problem in the USA. We have a stupid pseudo-Christian problem.

FWIW
jimB

Moving on down the road

2011-03-26T16:15:00.001-05:00

My 65th birthday is imminent and with that event in America, one gets the dreaded junk mail and government mail storm of Medicare paperwork. One does not simply get older, there are decisions to make.

I am a skilled business systems analyst. I have about 20 years of insurance company work experience in my resume, most of it in management. Leave it to the USA, I had a time understanding the choices and forms. God in heaven help a person who does not have a bachelors in business or years of background!

First there is the question of "supplemental insurance." Medicare is divided into parts. Each is labeled alphabetically but to keep things confusing, some parts are not parts. So there is part A, basic health care; part B, hospitalization; part C, oh wait there is no part C and part D drug coverage, except some drugs are over in parts A or B! I am not making this up.

Part D involves private carriers selling something other than the "supplemental insurance" namely,"supplemental prescription coverage."

It gets better, there is an entire option for HMO coverage which takes all of this off the table and substitutes its own rules.

Under Parts A & B there are plans (not parts pay attention!) ranging from plan A to plan K except not all plans are available at all and not all are available from all carriers.

To actually decide what a person is doing, you have to make some priority decisions. Not all doctors participate in all options. Most for instance are not "in plan" for the HMO. If you want to stay with a primary care doctor, odds on bet is you cannot take the HMO route.

Not all doctors are "in plan" for all supplemental care plans, some are not for any! So a chat with the doctor or his office manager is in order, before you let agents anywhere near you.

For drug coverage, each of several dozen carriers has a "formulary" which in defines what it covers under which category. This is so hard to figure out that major pharmacies like Walgreens, OSCO and CVS will take a list of your prescriptions, submit them to a central computer and print a small book of possible listings with comparative coverages and costs.

I constructed a spreadsheet in the Google Cloud to compare various supplemental plans. I am good at doing that sort of thing -- it took several hours. It turns our that the premiums are not level across the country. Depending where you live, there is substantial variance in how doctors and hospitals price services. In some areas, they take Medicare's "usual and customary" fee as full payment at least most of the time. In other areas they bill more. The carriers deal with this by pricing by zipcode. In my zipcode, the difference between having "excess" coverage or not is $12 a year. In other parts of the country it is really a big deal. Heaven help you if you re-locate.

So, after a couple hours in the cloud, five hours of paperwork study, two hours on the phone and an hour executing and signing forms, I have "free healthcare" which costs $230 a month and covers 12 months of doctor' visits, 12 months of hospital coverage and slightly less than 7 months of drugs per year: this year. Next year as the premiums rise sharply for one segment, the coverage goes to about $300 a month but I still have five months without drug coverage. But wait, there is more.

My insured drugs will still cost a couple hundred a month in "co-pays." Next year I can cut that down a little because the 'co-pays' will be lower with the higher cost drug coverage, and both numbers can be finessed slightly with 90 day prescriptions from either 'mail order pharmacies' or those retailers who match the costs (Osco and Walgreen's that I know of, probably there are others.)

So all of that "free stuff" will consume between 1/4 and 1/3 of my social security income. This is what the government "gives" us. Or at least after a lot of reading and listening I think it is. Dying is cheaper. But I am not gonna do that anytime soon. So in October when "open enrollment" comes along, I get to do all this over again because the carriers and the government change the rules every year!

FWIW
jimB

New Note For Fundamentalists.

2011-03-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

"Thou Shall Not Steal"

***********************************

PRESS RELEASE – Episocpal Church of the Good Shepherd Litigation:

Austin Court of Appeals Affirms Trial Court Ruling

The Austin Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the trial court's summary judgment which requires those members who withdrew from the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd to return the Church property. The full opinion of the court is available at Full Decision. This decision enforces the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Constitution and General Canons of both the Episcopal Church and Diocese of Northwest Texas and the Bylaws of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. The Austin Court of Appeals considered the various legal approaches used in deciding ownership of church property. It concluded that under each of those legal approaches, the Diocese of Northwest Texas is legally entitled to the church property. The court further affirmed that the group who withdrew had no power or authority to remove The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd from the Diocese of
Northwest Texas or the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Northwest Texas and The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd remain confident that the decision of Austin Court of Appeals will be affirmed in the face of any possible further appeal.

on bravery

2011-03-19T10:39:00.000-05:00

In "Me and Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin sings, "Freedom is just another word for nothing-left-to-loose." Besides being a great blues singer performing a great song, there is something in that observation to ponder as the debate over the so-called Covenant heats up.

I am free. I hold no office in my church, have no career within it - I wield no power. I can oppose this horrible document at no risk to me. Oh, I suppose the rector could try to take my opposition as "open and notorious sin" under the terms of the Prayerbook and excommunicate me but I know she won't. For one thing, most of the members of the parish have no idea this blog exists and have no or little interest in what I think of things. Invisible is another word for free too.

Now think about the clergy who have stepped out in opposition, especially in England. There is a shortage of clergy jobs over there. Recently we saw that as some of last year's seminary grads were not ordained because there were no positions for them. Friends of mine have looked for months and years for positions and in spite of impeccable credentials and solid records found nothing.

Yet, in synod (we Americans would say "in convention" ) two English diocese have declined to affirm a document that is while horribly flawed their archbishop's pet project. I do not know that Dr. Williams is a vindictive sort, save in his extreme anti-Americanism. He is however wrongly, convinced that he is right. It is easy to imagine how one can go from there to advancing only priests who agree with him.

Priesthood is a vocation but it is also a job. Priests have families, bills and career hopes. A priest cannot function without a bishop and cannot hope to advance be it from a curacy to a vicarage, to a larger parish, becoming a bishop in the face of opposition from the archbishops. Priests who vote against the archbishops have a lot to loose. And yet in the first two English synods, the bishops have not prevailed. English bravery is a well known problem for autocrats.

If freedom is another word for nothing-left-to-loose, bravery is facing the losses that can happen and acting as though one is free. Some of that bravery is in view in England this week.

FWIW
jimB

Really Big News.

2011-03-16T11:39:00.000-05:00

Press Release from Modern Church, Inclusive Church and the No Anglican Covenant Coalition

First English diocesan vote rejects Anglican Covenant

Modern Church, Inclusive Church and the No Anglican Covenant Coalition are pleased with the result of the first diocesan vote on the proposed Anglican Covenant.

Both clergy and laity (the latter overwhelmingly) rejected the Covenant at the Wakefield Diocesan Synod meeting on Saturday 12th March.

While recognising the need to avoid the bitter controversies of recent years, we are glad that this Synod does not believe the Covenant is the way to do it.

We believe we should retain the traditional Anglican openness in which provinces govern themselves and disagreements are resolved by openly debating the issues free from threats of sanctions or schism.

The proposed Anglican Covenant offers instead a process for suppressing disagreements by establishing a central authority, with power to pass judgements and penalise dissident provinces by excluding them from international structures.

We trust that other Church of England Dioceses will have the courage to follow Wakefield’s example.

Further information:
Rev Giles Goddard, 07762 373674, www.inclusivechurch2.net
Rev Jonathan Clatworthy, 0151 7276291, www.modernchurch.org.uk
Rev Lesley Fellows, 01844 239268, www.noanglicancovenant.org

Ash Wednesday 2011

2011-03-09T14:25:00.001-06:00

I live near Chicago in Illinois. Among the many good and bad things we are famous for here, our recent public debate over the death penalty and the long corrupt saga of former governor Blagojevich have made world wide news. Today there is resolution on one topic and ongoing silliness on the other.

Today our new law was signed by Governor Quinn. Illinois now stands as the newest State to get out of the killing business. All of the convicted killers awaiting execution under the old law received commutations to life sentences without parole.

The State and the union arguably are improved by this. One more State has stopped. We can hope the example will have an effect.

There are rational and reasoned arguments for capital punishment. They range from the need of the State to protect its citizens, to the need for punishments to fit crimes. I understand that good people can think these arguments are compelling as I live with some proponents. None-the-less, I think the arguments against it are superior.

We do not need to kill murderers, we need to set them outside the society's benefits, protect ourselves from them and maintain the moral high ground. We can do that with life sentences and
we know from the examples of other States and other nations that this solution works when properly applied.

Meanwhile, Mr. Blagojevich keeps trying to turn the law and courts into his personal circus. The latest idea is that the US District Court should ignore the law, unilaterally drop the prosecution of the twenty outstanding felony charges pending against him and sentence him on the single felony count on which he has been convicted.

It is a neat idea from his perspective. The felony on which he is already convicted is lying to the FBI. It carries a maximum of 5 years in prison, and usually first time offenders get less. Some of the outstanding charges carry much longer potential sentences.

It is my hunch that this idea has no chance. His attorneys are claiming that they are not getting paid for preparing his defense. I suspect the courts will sort this out, he will get a defense and twelve citizens will render the verdicts. I do not know if he is guilty of all or some of the charges. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence as are all American defendants.

But this day belongs to the often (justifiably) maligned legislature and Governor Quinn. This day they have made Illinois a bit more just, a bit less vindictive and a bit more secure. This day, criminals learned the State will act with dispatch and the penalty is fixed and ready. No time on "death row" as a celebrity, no special interviews or prayers with an archbishop now, only the long years in lonely confinement waiting to die un-mourned now await our murderers.

FWIW
jimB

Another Sign the "Anglican Covenant" is a bad idea

2011-03-07T22:35:00.000-06:00

If one engages in the discussion of the so-called "covenant" one argument that appears frequently is that to pass the thing is some variant of "holding the communion together." Dr. Williams has himself used that theme when personal loyalty appears an ineffective argument. The argument fails in its face because Dr. Williams has already failed and the communion is not together. To make my case on this point I offer the following from Nigeria.

Bishop Derek Jones’s reception by the Church of Nigeria regularizes his already well-established ministry in the ACNA and CANA of leading the Chaplains Deanery, which supports chaplains in the U.S. military, the Veterans Administration, in vocational settings such as police and fire departments, in hospitals and hospice, and in varied marketplace ministries and volunteer opportunities.

Bishop Jones is a former U.S. Air Force combat fighter pilot, and retired as a Lt. Col. He was ordained in 2001, and went on to help the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) develop its administrative infrastructure and plant churches in Liberia. He quickly rose through the ranks to be consecrated a bishop in 2007, and was received by the ACNA in 2010. He and Connie, his wife, have two children, and live in their home state of Alabama.( http://www.anglicanchurch.net/index.php/main/page/206/)

I do not know "bishop" Jones. He may well be a very decent man, and based on his Air Force history he is clearly a solid leader. The "Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches" is not and has never been in communion with Canterbury nor has it any standing in the other so-called "instruments of unity."

In 1958, Lambeth discussed the issue of those churches claiming catholic orders without any relationship with the communion and concluded they were not acceptable.

Now ACNA, CANA and the (formerly) Anglican Church of Nigeria are autocephalous which means their autonomous and independent status places their bishops outside the hierarchy of other churches. So in a real sense they do not need Canterbury's recognition. In addition, they have in concert with the other "GAFCON" churches made it clear they consider the covenant document unacceptable.

You cannot hold together something that is apart! As the American saying goes, they have left the building. They boycotted the blue tents of Lambeth. They continue to intervene in other countries, not only USA and Canada, but more recently England. No Indaba, no "covenant" indeed no process within the Anglican Communion will bring them back.

As much as I wonder about his powers of observation, Dr. Williams is a reasonably bright man. He knows, or should know that the time for holding the communion together has long passed. What then does he think he is doing with the horribly inept, theologically weak, juridical mess of the "covenant?" One hears several suggestions:

Punish TEC and AC Canada
Stifle change
Achieve some sort of magesterium so that Rome will be more willing to recognized Canterbury
Manage change

I am not buying any of them.

Canada and TEC are going to be 'punished' by what not being permitted to spend money supporting our critics? Even if we are tossed out of the Anglican Consultative Council thus saving both churches millions of dollars, we will be fine. Where Canterbury will find the roughly 60% of the communion budget they will be tossing over the side is less clear.

Change does not stifle well and Dr. Williams knows it. He is enough of a historian to know change always happens.

Rome under B 16 has made itself clear. Its current sheep steeling efforts are designed to raid and dismiss not to unify.

Managing change is actually different from stifling it. One can look at phased introductions, concepts like the "doctrine of reception" that was used to finesse the issue of women clerics and any number of other things. But even a cursory reading of the mess that is section four of the covenant draft makes it clear that the thing is binary. Either a change is or is not "un-Anglican." That is not about managing, it is about refusing to change. Dinosaurs refuse to change -- that is why we have museums.

I conclude there has to be another purpose. I used to think it was a club intended to force TEC and AC Canada to disavow their affirmation of all the baptized. Now I wonder. There is simple hubris, but is that enough? No one with any sense could think the thing will actually produce unity, so what is its purpose?

Hating the Constitution

2011-03-03T08:25:00.001-06:00

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on a pivotal case yesterday. It ruled correctly, and as I at least expected. I hate the ruling.

Finding that the "Westboro Baptist Church" has a constitutionally protected right to protest at the funerals of our warriors who die in combat must have been painful for the Justices. They, unlike the Westboro members, appear to be decent and loving people. I cannot imagine myself ever ascribing that appearance to the Westboro people.

Let me be clear, in my view, Westboro is so far outside any reasonable definition of "Baptist" or "Christian" to bear no discernible relationship to either. I am sure most members of the Southern Baptist Convention and the other smaller Baptist churches are disgusted that these bigots insist on misusing their name. But, the Court made the right call.

We are Americans. Our national culture is founded on some basic ideas. One of those is that to assure our own liberties we must protect them for everyone. To assure our own right to speak our minds, we have to prohibit the government from interfering in anyone's free speech. We have used that right to break Jim Crow, to end wars, to move away from institutional homophobia and to break the grip of legal misogyny. To keep the ability to do those good things, we need to tie government's hands. Politicians, will always seek to impose the tyranny of the majority and maintain the status quo. Politicians cannot help themselves it is the nature of what they do.

Like many "gay rights activists" and many other Episcopalians, I have been picketed by these idiots. It is not a pleasant experience. They are loud, stupid, hateful and mean -- certainly not Christian virtues! But they do one good thing, they remind us of the costs associated with being the freest people in history. We do not have to worry about laws against slandering the State. We can call a politician a fool without worrying about arrest. The price is these fools with their signs. The Court has imposed the cost to protect the liberty. I hate it. They were right.

Freedom is not free. Some times the cost is the lives of patriots. Sometimes it is protecting thugs, fools and even those who use freedom to attack freedom.

That is why the angry father who all but called on people to physically attack the Westboro haters is wrong. Ignore them! That drives them nuts and it is legal!

FWIW
jimB