Ulfilas was a bishop (also known as Wulfila) who translated the Bible from Greek into the language of the Gothic barbarian tribes and preached the Gospel to those tribes in the early 300s. Craig Gilman of Birmingham, UK, chose to name his Second Life avatar after the bishop, because of his nominally similar mission: bringing the Gospel to the goths of today.
Tongues wagging on the blogosphere hinted that Obama was going to break from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, whose former pastor has made headlines for his controversial sermons. Today, we have confirmation that he has resigned his 20-year membership at the church.
Tony Blair, the former prime minister of Britain, formally unveiled plans in New York City on Friday for an ambitious new charity that he hopes will enlist religion as a force for economic development and conflict resolution, rather than violence and strife.
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee stopped using the “ecologically diverse” Camp Webb as a diocesan camp and retreat several months ago and began exploring options to sell it, provoking community opposition when it started entertaining an offer for commercial development (i.e. condominiums).
Yesterday, around 3,000 people descended upon Heathrow Airport in London to protest the third runway that would, if it goes forward as proposed, would spell the end of the village of Sipson and increase air traffic along Heathrow’s flight path significantly. The Archbishop of Canterbury was unable to attend but did send a message of support to the protesters.
The National Cathedral, facing a budget shortfall, has suspended several programs and laid off 33 people. Also closing is the Cathedral’s greenhouse. This is happening despite a rebound in visitors at the Cathedral, with nearly half a million visitors touring the landmark in fiscal 2008–so far. But an increase in donations isn’t enough to offset the budget shortfall. And while leaders are claiming the shortfall is a surprise, others say they should have seen it coming.
The Jewish comedian began with a routine about raising adolescents. “There was a reason Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac at 12 and not 13,” he said. “At 13, it wouldn’t have been a sacrifice.”
Nine years ago, Vincent Pannizzo, now 39, dropped out of his doctoral program at Berkeley to take up preaching. But Pannizzo’s ministry in East Oakland, Calif., is different from what most pastors experience; indeed, it stands out even among street preachers. He’s known as Preacherman to those that come to his nightly “services” on an otherwise unfriendly street corner.
Bonnie Anderson writes: Some of us in TEC in the past have thought that perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury and others in the Anglican Communion did not understand the baptismal covenant that we hold foundational. Perhaps they just don’t “get” the way we choose to govern ourselves. But I think our governance is clearly understood. I just don’t think the Archbishop has much use for it.
At first I had no idea where the lovely Magnificat we sang every night was from: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46). When I eventually found it in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel, I was startled but glad to see that it was one pregnant woman’s response to a blessing from another. It is the song Mary sings after she has walked to her cousin Elizabeth’s village, and on greeting Mary, Elizabeth, who is bearing John the Baptist, recognizes that Mary bears the Messiah. . . .