ISSUES
2009
FRIDAY JULY 10
The
Consultation Platform for Baptismal Ecclesiology
Recent
History
It was at the General Convention of 1970
that the Episcopal Church in the United States explicitly accepted the challenge to re-examine its baptismal theology in the
light of what has been learned in the twentieth century about the early church. Interestingly enough, it was this same General
Convention of 1970 that seated women as deputies for the first time and took the first vote on the ordination of women. The
connection was not planned, but with hindsight it is obvious that it was not coincidental.
The issue for debate at the moment was whether or not to give communion to children
prior to confirmation. Driven by constant reference to the early church’s practices, the debate resulted in the decision
to include children in the full sacramental life of the church and consequently in the decision to establish the rediscovered
baptismal theology in the proposed Book of Common Prayer. This baptismal theology had immediate effect even during trial use.
Just six years later in 1976, when the General Convention voted to accept that Prayer Book as revised, it also voted to ordain
women. The church had been led to this decision by the new baptismal ecclesiology that was being established within the Book
of Common Prayer.
Joe Doss, APLM
Indabababuntu
Ubuntu – you in me and I in you – or as the Desert
Fathers put it ‘our life and our death is with our neighbors’; indaba – a process of community discernment.
What do these have in common? They depend on trust. They depend on listening and sharing. They depend on transparency.
It’s ironic, given these community values we are being
asked to embrace, that the House of Bishops Theology Committee’s new study of ‘same-sex relationships in the life
of the church’ is shrouded in secrecy. We don’t even know for sure what the parameters of the study are, or the
identity of all the participants. It’s great that we can submit information that we want the committee to consider,
but what are they studying? What information would be useful? ‘Same-sex relationships in the life of the church’
covers a multitude of possibilities. I work with two other clergy who are both women – is this a ‘same-sex relationship
in the life of the church’? or does my gay male colleague make it a heterosexual relationship?
We can’t create a church based on mutual trust when some as yet not fully identified
people are studying the relationships of some other as yet unidentified people (though we can hazard a guess). I’m tired
of being the object of someone’s study, especially when they won’t tell me who they are, exactly what they’re
planning to study or how much this is going to cost us (we heard $70,000).
“Now we see through a glass darkly” but we yearn for transparent windows and an open climate
of trust.
Caro Hall, Integrity
OPEN MEETING
of The Consultation
in Pacific Ballroom A in the
Hilton Hotel
from 12:45 to 1:45
on
Friday,
July 10
Lunchtime Speakers
(1:00pm) in the
Consultation Exhibit Area (next to the food service area) will rock the house! Each day deputies, bishops, exhibitors and
visitors are invited to hear riveting talks from cutting edge Episcopalians speaking Christ’ message of Justice and
Peace. We will also have some afternoon speakers at 2:00pm.
July 10th
– The Rev. Ched Myers: Activist theologian who has worked with social change movements for more than three decades;
a popular educator who animates scripture and issues of faith-based peace and justice. Rev. Myer’s topic at lunchtime:
"Sabbath Economics and Community Investing".
At 2:00 pm in the Speakers' Corner--July
10th - Cameron Partridge & TransEpiscopal reps: TransEpiscopal is a group of transgender Episcopalians,
Anglicans and our allies whose purpose is to build up support for transgender people within the Episcopal Church and Anglican
Communion. Our members are from across the United States and around the globe, and are engaged various lay and ordained ministries,
both within and beyond congregational life. Founded in December, 2004, TransEpiscopal became a member of the Consultation
in 2007. Topic: "Behold, I Make All Things New": Transgender Episcopalians in the Life of the Church
July 11th – The Hon. Byron Rushing:
Floor Whip in House of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
July 12th -
Mr. Robert Dellello
July 13th - Ms. Marge Christie
Episcopal Divinity School banquet, Saturday evening, is to honor long-time Consultation member and general
agitator, Ed Rodman. Bishop Barbara Harris will chair and speak at this evening. There will be a Cash Bar at 6:00 and Dinner
at 7:00. Tickets, $45.00, are available before Thursday Noon at EDS and Consultation booths and from EDS friends. This is
not to be missed!!
Koko and General Convention
Fred Rogers wanted to meet Koko, the gorilla who had been taught American Sign Language and had watched “Mr
Rogers’ Neighborhood.” When they met, the 280-pound gorilla gave the diminutive Rogers a big hug, then took off
Mister Rogers’ shoes.
It is only too easy to think of a neighborhood
more as a place than as a relationship, more realty than reality. In our better moments, we might even call it an outward
and visible sign of an inner and spiritual reality. Then maybe we’d be on to something. For there is a kind of spirit
that helps make a neighborhood a hood and sort of hold it together with a kind of pride, like the kind that keeps trash off
the streets and the grass mowed. People in our town like the idea of “the Hood,” and they say it with pride.
Right now and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get General Convention
off my mind. After all, to use a neighborly term, it’s sort of our Hood. I keep thinking of ways we can set aside religion’s
entrenched and protective security long enough to dare faith’s loblolly off-the-wall openness and risk. Somebody suggested
we call General Convention our Big Fat Anglican Wedding and accept it as something like the neighborhood God’s Great
Commandment intends when God says love the folk who live there, among others, of course.
Gorillas have a way of being hard to avoid noticing. So perhaps Koko has a clue. Why not, just before
each legislative session, we give one another a big hug, then take off our neighbor’s shoes?
Lane Denson,The Covenant Journal
Two important opprotunities
There may still be time to get
a ticket-- Episcopal Women's Caucus (EWC) Breakfast, Marriot, 7:30 AM Sunday. Celebration of 35th Anniversary
of the founding of EWC and ordination of the Philadelphia 11 and 20th Anniversary of Bishop Barbara Harris's consecration.
Speaker: Dr. Pamela Darling, historian and author of New Wine: Transforming Leadership and Power in TEC. Tickets available
at the EWC booth.
and you can do both
The Brownings feted Episcopal Peace Fellowship will honor Bishop Edmond and Ms. Patti Browning, as the 2009 recipients of the John Nevin
Sayre Award. Please go by the EPF booth in the Exhibit Hall to make a reservation for this $35.00 event and join us on Saturday,
July 11th at the EPF reception at the Red Lion Hotel, 6 to 7:30pm, with the Rev. Canon Brian Grieves, presenter and Bishop
Greg Rickel, speaker (presentation at 6:30).
Latinos/Hispanics on the Go
The new Strategic Vision for Latino Ministry Development
in the Episcopal Church is hot off the presses. A great achievement, it marks the first time since TEC officially began to
explore this ministry that we have a concrete plan of action. The vision lays the foundation for the developing resources
and implementing strategies. But it will be just more hot air unless the funds are secured for its work. VOTE YES for resolution
PF285 Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics, coming up in PB & F.
Juan Oliver.
