Author: John Chilton

Marvin died with Covid-19, and his final days were harder, scarier and lonelier than necessary. He was not surrounded by friends and family. The science that guided his professional life has been disparaged and abandoned by so many of the same people who depended on his knowledge to care for their animals and to raise their food. Marvin was a religious man. He was a lay reader at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. He saw no conflict between the science of his professional life and the belief of his personal life, each enriched the other.

Correction: The original post referred to record deaths. What is correct is record new infections. The author regrets the error. UPDATED 12/7 (where italicized) to

Just as the pandemic has reduced women’s engagement in the workplace, it has reduced their engagement with the Bible. Blame increased family responsibility for their children’s care and education during the workday borne more by women than men.

News reports suggest that the bishops may want to deny Biden, a lifelong Catholic, access to the sacrament of Holy Communion, much the way that conservative bishops declared John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, unwelcome at the communion rail in their dioceses. Archbishop Gomez has set up a task force to consider the matter.

…we stand against the harmful practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ2SIA+ persons in Canada. Such practices are hostile to a person’s identity and an affront to their dignity.

The House of Bishops would not wish to make statements on individual cases such as this, not least as it is a matter under the jurisdiction of another autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion. I have arranged to have a private conversation with the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and others on this matter so as to better understand the situation in hand.

Justin Welby is expected to be away from May to July 2021, studying in either Cambridge or the United States. 

In response to the surge in Covid-19 cases, the dioceses of Central Pennsylvania, Bethlehem, Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania have suspended indoor worship through the end of the year. Has your diocese made recent changes to restrictions on indoor worship?

The Convention delegates considered a budget presented by the Executive Board which reflected cuts necessary to balance the budget anticipating receipts of approximately 15% less giving by parishes to the Diocese. After an extended discussion the Convention declined to approve the budget and thereby referred the budget back to the Executive Board.

37 of 41 member churches were represented at a virtual meeting last week of the primates of the Anglican Communion. Topics covered included: the pandemic; safe church for children, young people and vulnerable adults; science; identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.