But most weeks, I forego my preferences and head to church because I need what it offers. And what it offers—what I’m seeking—is not cute stories or pats on the back. I do enjoy a good joke in a sermon. My dad is an expert sermon joke-teller; he puts the congregation at ease and makes us more receptive to the substantive message, which is always simple but vital.
This excellent learning then of Christ must be established in us, that we think us not to be born unto ourselves, but to the honor of God and wealth of all men. . . . This learning will induce men to desire no vengeance, but to be the sons of their Father in heaven, to overcome evil with good, to suffer hurt rather than to do it, to forgive other men’s offences, to be gentle in manners;
Nuclear families—with housewives who could offer abundant volunteer labor to a church—no longer characterize the demographics that define congregational reality today. But Merritt points out that there is cause for hope: “New opportunities, tools, movements, missions, and passions cascade through our wilderness landscape bringing vital ways of organizing faithful communities, communicating prayerful longings, and seeking social justice.”
An even, unvaried life is the lot of most men, in spite of occasional troubles or other accidents; and we are apt to despise it, and to get tired of it, and to long to see the world,—or, at all events, we think such a life affords no great opportunity for religious obedience. To rise up, and go through the same duties, and then to rest again, day after day,
The Rev. Ruth Meyers, chair of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, was a guest on The Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio program State of Belief on Saturday. She spoke about the commission’s work on collecting and developing resources for blessing same-sex relationships. The broadcast is available here, and Dr. Meyers segment begins at the 28 minute mark.
No one would confuse the Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso, General Secreatry of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, with a supporter of LGBT Christians. Yet his comments in this story about his organization’s upcoming meeting are encouraging in their way.
To observe, for instance, what passes for liturgy at many denominational events of the Episcopal Church, such as the putative consecration service for the new Bishops Suffragan of Los Angeles, is to understand the degree to which the Episcopal Church makes allowance, indeed makes deliberate provision, for a practice of religion which of its very nature “separates” its practitioners doctrinally from the Body of Christ.
Though the media makes much of antagonism between The Episcopal Church and Anglicans in Africa, the reality is far more nuanced, as the participation of a number of Episcopalians in this week’s conference of African bishops makes clear.
It’s safe to say there’s a difference between theory and practice, between seminary and ministry. I know this because the past few baptisms I’ve celebrated haven’t exactly followed the outline I dazzled my professor with. They’ve been better.