There have been a number of essays posted in the secular media over the past two weeks which have attempted to put the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright’s sermons about racism in the United States into some sort of broader context. But there have also been a few helpful essays written from within the religious community.
The blogger Aaron Orear has posted a lovely story of interfaith religious cooperation at his local cleaners. It’s a reminder that while there are certainly tensions between christians and muslims, there are still plenty of hopeful signs all around us that we can live and work in harmony with each other.
The credit shortage that has been the focus of many stories in the secular press is also effecting the “micro-finance” projects that commercial lenders were beginning. How can people of faith act to respond in a sputtering financial market?
On Maundy Thursday we had a service in the evening. So I decided to try the Thursday morning spin class instead. Little did I know, the Thursday morning class is “Devotion in Motion,” an hour-long spin class during which the instructor plays praise and worship music and talks about God, using the idea of a bike ride as a metaphor for the spiritual life.
Holy Week is the world’s sacred Winter;
The earth is a widow, the skies are sere,
There’s a sound of scourging and nailing in the vinegary wind;
And the darkness chokes the Son of Man.
Episcopal Divinity School will present honorary doctor of divinity degrees to five individuals for their social justice work: The Rt. Rev. John Chane, former NBA star Kevin Johnson, Cynthia Shattuck, Katie Sherrod, and Hellen Wangusa. Wangusa, Anglican Observer to the United Nations, will deliver the commencement address.
The governing body of the Church in Wales meets next Wednesday to discuss a bill to enable women to be ordained as bishops. Backed by the six diocesan bishops of the Church in Wales, the bill states that henceforth men and women may be ordained as Bishops, but that pastoral care and support will be provided for those who in conscience object to the ordination of female Bishops.
The Chicago Tribune’s photo essay on the Keiskamma Altarpiece is worth a visit. Grace Cathedral offers a panel by panel view of this monumental artwork.
Café contributor Adrian Worsfold wonders whether Bishop N. T. Wright actually deserves his reputation as a scholar. It isn’t necessary to embrace his entire critique to believe that the bishop is so frequently lauded for his Biblical scholarship, that it obscures the hackneyed anti-modernism that mars much of his political and social commentary.
The Very Rev. Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, will take part in a panel discussion about race, religion and politics on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer tonight. The program is broadcast at 6 pm EDT; the panel discussion is expected to air about 6:30 pm.