Thomas Jefferson came to believe that the combined effect of power-hungry monarchs and corrupt “priests” had despoiled the original, pristine teachings of Jesus. But beneath these corruptions—which he labeled with such words as “nonsense,” “dross,” “rags,” “distortions,” and “abracadabra”—Jefferson came to believe there lay a fulcrum of eternal truth.
That preacher had written a sermon that made a great deal of sense to him, and yet he failed to ask himself what kind of sense it would make to the listeners, or whether they’d be able to listen to him with charity. Where is the line between communicating a message that you feel called to speak and sympathy for your audience?
Urban Spirituality The Liturgy of St James, 1st century. The writings of Thomas Aquinas, 13th century. French carols, 15th century. Plainsong, 15th century. French carols,
The Episcopal News Service has posted an audio interview with the Rev. Canon Phil Groves. He is interviewed by Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg of ENS on the topic of the Communion’s listening process.
Jonathan Petre, writing in the Telegraph, has news of coalition maneuvering in the Church of England prior to the beginning of General Synod: “Senior Church of England conservatives are plotting a new coalition to mount their biggest offensive yet against their liberal opponents over issues such as gay priests.”
Lutheran Pastor Brad Schmeling has lost his appeal to remain a pastor in a Lutheran Church in the Atlanta area. He was removed because he is a gay man in a relationship, which is contradictory to Lutheran canons.
The Church Times has an overview of various views held in the Church of England toward the question of whether an Anglican Covenant, as proposed by the Windsor Report, is warranted much less what it should address.
“The Episcopal Church offers the Black community an exercise in spirituality, an exercise in intellectualism, an exercise in the ability to be a community leader and an exercise in how to serve people,” said the Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder, outgoing president of the Union of Black Episcopalians