All right, enough of the travelogue I suppose. I go back to the church in a few hours to begin a day of media wrangling. Gene is doing about 14 brief interviews between noon and when he preaches at the 6:30 p. m. Eucharist at Giles’ church. Five of them are television interviews and two or three of those are live, so it could get rather hectic.
I remember seeing this parable [of the sower] acted out in the stage production of “Godspell,” a good-humored play based on the gospel according to Matthew. . . . Watching all of that, I had the same response I always do to this parable: I started worrying about what kind of ground I was on with God.
The Associated Press reports that Benedict XVI is praying for the Anglican Church but he isn’t inclined to interfere.
The Washington Post today has a piece on how the Epistle of James is being invoked again and again by Democrats. The epistle, at times maligned for its emphasis on works (which, say critics through history, implies that it downplays faith), is regarded by many as one that emphasizes community and ethics.
The fourth installment in The Sunday Telegraph’s list of the 50 most influential Anglicans is online. In order of ascending influence, 20-11, they are: Jenny
Despite the archbishop of Nigeria’s injunction against doing so, the Right Rev Cyril Okorocha, the Bishop of Owerri, will attend Lambeth next week, according to Ruth Gledhill. She writes that he will be the only Nigerian bishop in attendance out of the 100 under Akinola’s watch, although more than a dozen phoned in their regrets that they “dare not disobey their archbishop.”
The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin reports that Bishop Jerry Lamb, who leaves for Lambeth tomorrow, has asked all deacons and priests of the Diocese of San Joaquin to decide whether they will uphold their ordination vows to “…conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church“ and to make this commitment, in writing, by August 5.
My summer begins in early June when the dolphins are back playing in the ocean off Cape Henlopen, knowing better how to play than any human being I ever met. Webster’s Dictionary defines play as moving lightly; “to frisk; to flutter; as, sunlight plays on the waves; to have fun; to engage in recreation.” To my mind, dolphins are the embodiment of playfulness.
We are frequently told that we live in an age that doubts the wisdom, perhaps even the possibility, of commitment. At the same time, we can see a profound yearning for the values of community in the society of our times: the stability and sense of identity, the rootedness, that is so often lacking for those who live in the modern city.
The internet will be buzzing with blogging bishops, some with flip phones for videoblogging, during the Lambeth Conference. Here is your one-stop shopping for blogs by bishops and others who will be involved in the Fringe events or reporting on the every 10 year event.