Letters
from 3 July to 9 July 2006
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The
Mock was found innocent after a brief deliberation
I'm
a parishioner and vestry member of Grace Parish in the Diocese
of Milwaukee. As a result of our bishop's presentment and inhibition
of our rector, we have been functioning without her for many long
weeks now. It isn't easy, because, as our priest, she has raised
our expectations for our parish as a means of grace for our community
and for one another.
I have
seen Martha Ann live out her ministry in profound, thoughtful,
generous ways.
I have
seen her ministry to homeless men, with whom she shares meals,
and to whom she offers courteous and caring listening.
I have
seen her ministry to our children, her lively and reciprocated
love for them as well as the demands she makes of them. It only
took a few weeks for the children to learn that if they did not
stand for the gospel reading, she would gently and firmly coax
them into appropriate respect before the gospel was read. I know
that she frequents their recitals, and learns what they do well,
and I have seen their gifts creatively incorporated into our liturgy – not
so much because they are our children but because they have gifts
that enrich to our worship.
And
I have known her ministry to all of us – old-time leaders
as well as those who had been content to stay on the margins of
parish life – as she listens, discerns, encourages – even
prods – us into living out the new roles and new life of
our baptismal calling.
We live
in hope that this matter will be resolved speedily and without
a trial. We continue to strive to become more and more what Martha
Ann has called forth from us. It is harder when her presence, caring,
creativity, joy, and love are withheld by order of our bishop.
Judith
Guttman
Grace Episcopal Church
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
jguttman@wi.easterseals.com
7 July 2006
All
the shirts were clean, though
There
has been so much written about the stresses, tensions and torments
of the recent ECUSA General Convention. Having attended most of
that Convention, and having had the privilege of talking to countless
people from across the spectrum of ideology and opinion, I came
away with a different picture. The people I spoke with – wearing
everything from purple shirts to t-shirts – have a strong
yearning for unity within our Church. All were prayerful people,
passionate about Christ, trying to live faithful, Christian lives.
I heard stories of small parishes doing amazing things with a few
committed members.
I heard
accounts of struggle and growth in prayer and service. I heard
intense commitment to service to Christ’s
people in poor and isolated areas. I heard confusion and pain as
people tried to understand why, as a Church, we are so at odds
with each other over comparatively minor issues when there is so
much need in the world for the healing love of Christ to be lived.
I shared laughter and joy over the myriad, incredible ways that
the Holy Spirit is working through willing people. When news came
to me of the death of one I love dearly, I experienced the prayer-filled
support and love of brothers and sisters.
Somehow
I missed out on all the fighting and outrage. Instead I experienced
a Church filled with people who want to serve Christ together.
That Church – the
Church of God’s wildly diverse and faithful people -- won’t
make the headlines, but it is alive and well. For that, thanks
be to God!
Sister
Diana Dorothea, C.T.
Convent of the Transfiguration
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
4 July 2006
Harrumph!
For
some years now I have been looking you up regularly and I have
generally found your comments stimulating or encouraging.
However
I was surprised at your leader writer’s attitude what sounds
exactly like St Pauls Cathedral last Sunday. The points I would
criticise are these:
“There
was hardly any congregational involvement”.
The congregation had the same opportunity for involvement as at any
Eucharist. They could respond prayerfully and thoughtfully to the
readings, sermon and liturgy, and share in communion.
“twenty
percent of those present thought they were in an audience and not
a congregation”
Well, maybe, but you have no way of knowing. The mote and the beam
apply. It is the part of the individual worshipper to participate
through prayerful concentration, not to speculate on their fellow
worshippers’ possible spiritual shortcomings.
“There
were three hymns sung; we knew only one of them”
What a wonderful opportunity to enlarge the number of hymns you know.
“We
had some difficulty understanding the accents and rapid speech
of the readers and the Dean”
If you attended an English language service in the Caribbean or Africa
and complained of the accent, it would sound like racism. I do hope
I have misunderstood you. St Pauls does have a notorious acoustic,
but I have never found any difficulty there.
All
English cathedrals are in danger of appearing pompous. There are
hundreds of Anglican parish churches in London, where the congregation
is not so anonymous. You can look up the details of many on your
web site. If you attend the Eucharist at one of them, you can be
grateful for the privilege of sharing with the whole catholic church
in Christ’s eternal self offering, an opportunity which we
should never take for granted.
Jon
Blanchard
St Thomas, Finsbury Park
London, UK
jonb@londonguide.eclipse.co.uk
5 July 2006
(Ed: somehow you mistook our description of differences
for complaints. Our entire point was that the expectations
of a worshipper in an English cathedral are quite different from
the expectations of a worshipper in a church somewhere in the Colonies.
We have no opinion about which one is 'better' or
'worse', or 'right' or 'wrong'. Only that there is variation in
the brand identity already. Usually when in London we worship at
All Saints in Margaret Street or All Souls in Langham Place, but
a friend challenged us to try someplace new on this trip. And we
dearly hope that if we ever tell you that we're having trouble
understanding your accent, you won't think we are racist.)
Usually
they are shorter than the males
I'm
a freelance journalist, writing an article for a magazine called
'Inside the Vatican'. The article is to discuss the reaction to
recent comments by Cardinal Kasper on the issue of the ordination
of women as bishops.
Cardinal
Kasper reportedly told a meeting of the Church of England’s
bishops in Leicestershire that consecrating women as bishops would
make unity between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic
church “unreachable” and shared Communion impossible.
He also
reportedly urged the church heirarchy not to proceed towards women
becoming bishops without support from the Orthodox and Roman Catholic
Churches, warning that the Church of England risked losing its
identity.
I wanted
to canvass your reactions and your readers' reactions to these
comments.
What
do congregations think of female ministers? Do they agree with
the US Episcopal Church's decision to elect its first female presiding
bishop? Does the Church of England risk losing its identity if
it follows suit?
Why
do you and your readers think the Cardinal and the Vatican is so
against consecrating women bishops?
I look
forward to hearing your comments. Could
you also give me the name of a female minister I could speak to
and/or suggest other interested people I could speak to on this
issue?
Jean
Di Marino
Anglican
Rome, ITALY
jeandimarino@hotmail.com
5 July 2006
Stinking
bishop, of course
Hello! Your
message of
July 2 got me thinking: perhaps our American church
is enduring a bout of 'who moved my cheese'?
Communally
yours for the nonce,
Adelaide
Kent
New York City, New York, USA
5 July 2006
(Ed: perhaps it is.)
Bring
out your dead
This
letter is a request to readers of Anglicans Online for any information
regarding The Church of England, Toungoo, Burma, 1941.
The
family of an AVG pilot, John Dean Armstrong, who was buried at
the church's cemetery in September, 1941, would like to know the
location of that cemetery and if there remains any church hierarchy
or person for us to contact. Our ultimate goal is to locate and
secure the remains of our maternal uncle. Mr. Armstrong's own father
(our grandfather) attempted the same in the late 1950's but was
unsuccessful.
We
have some understanding of the political strife presently in the
region and also realize our goal may not be realized.
Thank
you in advance for any information and for any and all responses.
Lynn
Evans
First Presbyterian
Austin, Texas, USA
levans708@austin.rr.com
9 July 2006
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