The Interim President and Dean of Seabury Western Seminary, Robert Bottoms, is asking questions about how we need to change our formation model and the resources that support it as we move into a new century of the Episcopal Church’s life in America.
Parishes and missions of the Episcopal Church have been busy this last week doing the sorts of things that are the bread and butter of congregational life. Here’s a brief survey of some of them that were mentioned in the news.
The bishops of the Anglican Province of South Africa, meeting at the new conference suite in the Diocese of Swaziland took council with each other, discussed the difficult challenge of hermeneutics and questions of how to incorporate traditional African practices into Christianity and called for a renewed commitment to the poor and basic human rights.
Grace Episcopal Church has had a tough run since it began dealing with the consequences of a congregational split initiated by then rector Don Armstrong. The legal costs and the questions of who actually owned the property caused the congregation to have to defer some much needed repairs on the parish’s historic property (which houses their offices).
A retired Episcopal priest was arrested on Friday as a result of an investigation by PA State Police into charges that he had unlawful sexual contact with a minor while the priest was still an active clergyman. Ralph Johnson was charged with more than 45 counts ranging from felony to misdemeanor charges.
There’s been an upsurge in interest in the ancient Christian spiritual traditions surrounding icons and iconography. Louise Shipps has found them a focus for her ministry in latter years of her life.
The most eye catching story of the week comes from the Wilmington North Carolina area congregation of Holy Cross. It’s a new church plant. But there were some serious obstacles to overcome before it begin to worship in its own sacred space.
In some ways the nuances of the Church of England’s General Synod is probably as hard for Episcopalians to catch as our General Convention is
Remember the church billboard in New Zealand that poked fun at the traditional understanding of the virgin birth last Christmas? Looks like there may have consequences for the clergyman who had the sign posted.
The thrust of the Archbishop’s remarks to the Trinity Institute have been summarized in a short essay published in Newsweek. If you’re familiar with William’s theological writing, you’ll recognize his main themes in this piece.