Forgiveness is a highly recommended spiritual practice. The benefits of forgiveness are supposedly less stress and better health. Forgiveness is recommended by the church as a way to wholeness. I wonder, however, if this is always a good idea. In cases of sexual and physical abuse, I believe offering quick forgiveness can continue the wounding rather than offering healing.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
“This post has a genuine occupational requirement and therefore has an exemption under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.” Translation from CoE-ese to English: gays need not apply.
According to our Webalizer 2.0 statistics, Episcopal Cafe has received more than 2 million visits in the last 12 months. That’s a first for us. Visits are up by more than 17 percent over the previous year. Thanks to everybody who visits, and everybody who comes back.
Don’t forget, Episcopal Cafe is asking for your help in writing a Facebook ad, and we are also trying to help the folks at Jericho Road bring a fruit orchard to Central City, New Orleans. The first task requires some creativity, but the second just involves clicking on your mouse. And, hey, you’re doing that anyway.
On the Anglican Communion Covenant, the House agreed (a) to commend it for adoption by the Church of England; (b) to invite the [Synod] Business Committee to schedule the beginning of the adoption process for the inaugural Synod in November 2010, with a view to final approval in February 2012; (c) not to propose special majorities for its adoption.
While 67 percent of churchgoing Protestants have a specific denominational preference, 70 percent have a preferred soft drink brand, 64 percent have a preferred brand of grocery store, 64 percent have a preferred brand of toothpaste, and 64 percent have a preferred brand of vehicle.
Most Eastern Orthodox Christians in America know Isabel Hapgood by name, but possibly not much about her life and activities. And yet, she merits to be remembered with respect and gratitude, as she was a champion in the awesome task of translating Orthodox liturgical texts from Church Slavonic into English.
There is little more bracing for a priest than to be publicly accused of heresy – even if it is only the casual remarks of the angry and anonymous on the internet these days. So I have been pondering the charge of heresy – and, specifically, Gnosticism – leveled at me for an online reflection on chastity that was posted recently at Daily Episcopalian.
O Lord, we come this morning
Knee-bowed and body-bent
Before Thy throne of grace.
O Lord—this morning—
Bow our hearts beneath our knees,
And our knees in some lonesome valley.