Some of the stories, big and small, from the around the Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion, and the world
The first bishop elected from an all-female slate was consecrated in Topeka
https://www.hayspost.com/2019/03/03/history-episcopal-diocese-of-kansas-ordains-woman-as-bishop/
Canadian Anglicans share meaningful Lenten practices
https://www.anglicanjournal.com/beneficial-discomfort-anglicans-share-their-lenten-practices/
A brief dispatch about a church that has a regular dog-friendly service.
https://lmtribune.com/pets/florida-church-hosts-dog-friendly-service/article_b8708a70-a862-5104-8a9f-3fa65f06d953.html
A very interesting experiment in the UK is being launched in Birmingham that seeks to really re-imagine how worship and ministry are organized and staffed – death to Herbertism!
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/1-march/news/uk/birmingham-diocese-seeks-to-undo-parish-system
Scott Gunn (of Forward Movement) had a thoughtful post on his blog that’s worth a couple of minutes of your attention on Ash Wednesday and Ashes to Go.
https://www.sevenwholedays.org/2019/03/05/ashes-should-they-stay-or-should-they-go/
As 815 takes on new tenants and retreats from its space in the building, a buffalo hide painting meant to symbolize connections between the Episcopal Church and Indigenous communities needs a new home
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/03/06/home-sought-for-buffalo-hide-symbolizing-churchs-commitment-to-indigenous-ministries/
A fire in an Episcopal Church (in the sacristy) after Ash Wednesday services. On FB the church said it was an ember (presumably for the incense) that was left in the garbage can. As a reminder that was what led to the total loss of the VTS chapel
https://www.wtnh.com/news/westport-fire-crews-respond-to-fire-call-at-christ-and-holy-trinityepiscopalchurch/1832233513
And their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/CHTWestport/
John Pavlovitz is speaking at an Episcopal church outside of Asheville, NC
https://www.blackmountainnews.com/story/life/2019/03/06/christian-blogger-john-pavlovitz-speak-st-james-episcopal-church/3018837002/
An interesting tidbit from south Carolina, where at least one of the breakaway parishes is trying to get Church Insurance to cover their legal bills (Church Insurance has covered some of the legal costs of the still-in-TEC diocese)
https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com
Now the PB is preaching to the Baptists
https://religionnews.com/2019/03/07/episcopal-presiding-bishop-michael-curry-preaches-on-selflessness-at-baptist-church/
A reminder that the global south and Africa specifically, is a big place with lots of differing opinions on full inclusion of LGBT+ persons
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/07/yes-methodist-church-voted-against-lgbtq-inclusion-theres-more-story/
And a reminder that bigots are everywhere
https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Cathedral-should-help-conservative-worshippers-avoid-women-priest-led-services
plus Forward in Faith UK jumps on the hate bandwagon
https://www.forwardinfaith.com/fullposts.php?id=265
The kidnapped family of a murdered Anglican priest in Nigeria have been released
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/03/family-of-murdered-priest-anthony-idris-jatau-released-by-kidnappers.aspx
The stolen skull of a crusader taken from Dublin church last week has been recovered
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/03/archbishop-welcomes-police-recovery-of-the-crusaders-skull-stolen-from-a-dublin-church.aspx
And a former Archbishop of York, John Habgood has died
https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/news-2019/lord-habgood-statement-archbishop-york
image: This buffalo hide was painted by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls Jr. to replicate the design of Powhatan’s Mantle, a 400-year-old relic made from deer skins and shell beadwork. Photo: Geoffrey Smith