Two years ago, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed—unanimously!—a resolution to establish a “super-committee” to propose changes to the structure of the church. There was so much enthusiasm about the idea the passage of the resolution that at one point it was greeted with song. Remember that? At the time, I wrote: The […]
The TREC rubber hits the TEC road Read More »
It’s no secret that the Episcopal Church has historically been associated with a particular stratum of society—white, educated, socially connected, middle- to upper-class. The Presiding Bishop used to live in Greenwich, Connecticut—and now lives (or could live) in a Manhattan penthouse. We are a church that can count the number of presidents who have been members and
Can a Starbucks barista find a place in the Episcopal Church? Read More »
The Archbishop of the Church in Wales, Barry Morgan, last weekend addressed the Church’s Governing Body about the recent review the church commissioned to review its structure. The actual review—which came out in July—is more detailed than the Archbishop’s speech. I looked at the review in July and had several thoughts on it then so
“So, Lord, please keep things broadly the same / Frankly, revival would drive me insane” Read More »
I was once in the customs and immigration line at Heathrow airport with the Rev. Otis Gaddis and watched as he struck up a conversation about faith with two other people in line. It was a sight to behold and I was filled with admiration for how skillfully he was able to do so. So
“Progressive Evangelism” and proclaiming the Gospel afresh in every generation Read More »
In the debate over a potential covenant for the Anglican Communion, you might see mentioned from time to time the idea that Anglicans already have a covenant of sorts: the so-called Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1886/1888. You can read all about it in your Book of Common Prayer (p. 876) but it has four elements: Old
The meeting was notable for the number of contributions from members with a common message: “The Church cannot go on doing the same things in the same way; some things need to change and we are open to – and indeed encourage – that possibility. Sound like a familiar sentiment? But rather than being from the just-concluded General
Lessons from the Church in Wales Read More »
For decades, Alaskan politicians have been looking for a way to develop the state’s natural gas resources on the North Slope. In 2007, the state legislature passed a piece of legislation called AGIA (the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act) that, it was believed, would at last lead to the building of the gas pipeline to transport
Church structure reform: now the work really begins Read More »
Proposals are flying around to restructure the Episcopal Church and it’s clear that the make-up of the church’s governing body, General Convention, is on the table. The bishop of Long Island wants to combine its houses. The bishop of Arizona wants to shrink it substantially. It has already, due to budgetary constraints, been shortened in recent
Bring back the Church Congress Movement! Read More »
I was recently looking through my notes from my trip a year ago to China and I found this story I had forgotten. One Sunday I visited one of the major, sanctioned Protestant churches in Beijing. The congregation stood while the pastor prayed over the communion elements. Then, just before the distribution, the pastor made
“If you are not baptized, please sit down” Read More »
Samuel Seabury asked a question on Twitter recently: when I named church #Episcopal it was to highlight distinctiveness on religious scene, what is distinctive about our church now? — Samuel Seabury (@SamSeabury) May 8, 2012 (Isn’t Twitter wonderful? Dead Episcopal bishops tweeting. Seabury’s old foe William White is online as well.) I think Seabury asks
The distinctiveness of the Episcopal Church Read More »
