The Archive

Day: July 2, 2012

Penn State and the culture of silence

July 2, 2012 1 Comment

Episcopal Bishop Sean Rowe is interviewed about why institutions create a culture of silence when they fail to confront sexual abuse and harassment.

On not being too good for General Convention

July 2, 2012 5 Comments

I am not too good for General Convention. I don’t believe that the whole thing is such a mess that I have to stand at an ironic distance and make comments that demonstrate my superior intellect and my more refined sensibility—tempting as those activities may be.

What to expect on the hot button issues at General Convention

July 2, 2012 4 Comments

I don’t entirely know what to expect at this convention, but I suspect that people may arrive in a state of some agitation and find that there is little immediate legislative reason to be so stirred up.

Jacob Riis: shining the light in the darkness

July 2, 2012 No Comments

Readings for the feast day of Walter Rauschenbusch, Washington Gladden, and Jacob Riis, Prophetic Witnesses, July 2: Psalm 72:12-17 Isaiah 46:8-11 James 2:14-18 Matthew 7:7-12

Nero fiddled and Rome burned

July 2, 2012 5 Comments

Reading the 2012 General Convention Blue Book does not make me optimistic about the probability of genuine renewal. Overcoming institutional inertia is incredibly difficult. Congregations more frequently die rather than reinvent themselves. In the next few decades, denominations, probably including TEC, will die, refusing to reinvent themselves.

The powers of a bishop

July 2, 2012 9 Comments

My principal concern was to not leave unchallenged the assertion that the Episcopal Church is a unitary hierarchical organism at all levels, and that the dioceses are entirely creatures of General Convention. I viewed signing the amicus brief as consistent with my vow to uphold the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church.