In fact, I was doing it all wrong–I was using it as an ego thing. I would pat myself on the back for giving up things and being as Spartan as an Airborne Ranger about it, and pride myself for being more disciplined than “church people.” It was part of the “Me and God and Jesus and I don’t need anyone else” attitude I cultivated in those years.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long
… one of the reasons for the decline and continued decline of our Episcopal Church is a broken clergy deployment system. I think our church needs to examine this system. I want to pose this because I don’t hear anything about it in the discussions around the decline in membership of the Episcopal Church..
I wonder how many would be “conservatives” would be shocked to find out that they are reductionists, engaged in a “barren and contextless” announcement. If we are asserting the real Gospel, in all its shocking truth, we are issuing a decisive call to conversion and comprehensive transformation of life.
All of us have times in our lives where despite our best efforts, our good intentions, and our fears for those we love, they will make their choices and we are left with no other tasks but to let them go, and “pray them home.”
A senior cleric has warned there is “no Plan B” if the Church of England rejects legislation allowing women to become bishops, claiming such a move would lead to a “substantial period of shock”.
We are so used to censuring and being censured by those who do not have our standards. But to receive the message “Neither do I condemn you,” is so radical an act of majesty.
Returning from a General Synod meeting in York with a story to write, I once typed “The Church of England yesterday decided”, and fell immediately into a profound sleep over my laptop. I was entirely sober at the time. It’s just the effect that synod has; and I’m beginning to wonder whether this isn’t part of its real purpose.
Warren Throckmorton links to a Ugandan TV report suggesting the bill may be taken up in Parliament tomorrow.
What would your elevator speech for the Episcopal Church sound like? How about your elevator speech for your parish?