Observant Jews have traditionally not used the name Yahweh, refusing to pronounce the so-called proper name of God out of respect, or to be sure they do not misuse it. Now neither will Roman Catholics, at least in their worship services.
“Home” is set in the Boughton household at the time of Jack’s sudden return, and is an intense study of three people: the Reverend Boughton, the old, dying patriarch; his pious daughter Glory; and the prodigal Jack.
A Nigerian tabloid has reported on a Metroplitan Community Church congregation in Nigeria that, according to the paper, is “first openly declared gay church in the country.” Along with the story, they’ve noted that both Muslim and Christian Leaders have condemned the church, like homosexuality, as evil, and are using that as a basis for their campaign to re-evangelize the West.
Spore is a new video game, created by the same fellow behind the virtual world phenom “The Sims.” This time, he’s taken that virtual world
Last winter’s Title IV Review Committee certification that Bishop Robert W. Duncan has abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church is coming before the House of Bishops this week, according to a Katharine Jefferts Schori memo about the Sept. 18 meeting and despite Duncan’s assertion that the vote itself will violate the Canons of the church.
Cinematical points us to an indie film that premiered at the Toronto Independent Film Festival earlier this week: “…Dean Spanley, a wonderfully charming and whimsical comedy about an Anglican priest who believes he is the reincarnation of a dog.”
Megachurches with coffeeshops might not be unusual, but Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee built theirs out of a problem. The church was located next to a bar that had a growing reputation for noisy bikers, drug-deals and violent crime. After a particularly nasty night in which three people were injured in a shooting, the community called for it to be shut down. Eastbrook successfully worked with the bar to–well, acquire it.
The Diocese of Texas is preparing to respond to the expected emergency conditions that will be left in Hurricane Ike’s wake this weekend. They’ve updated their diocesan website with emergency contact information and disaster checklists.
A paper published at the National Bureau of Economic Research has found a definite and measurable link between decreasing church attendance and decreasing voter turnout in elections.
Bishop Idris Jones, in an address to his Diocesan Council, speaks of what he believes happens and didn’t happen at this summer’s Lambeth Conference. While he rhetorically overstates the condition of the Communion, he rightly points out that the Communion is in a phase of rapid transformation.