Letters from 5 to 11 May 2008
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And the Southern Cone is vanilla
Oh, good heavens, once again.
I really must ask if anyone other than I takes issue with the idea
that a barely-chosen and weakly-supported so-called Archbishop can wreak so much havoc up North?
Again: The "Province of the Southern Cone" is quite a phenomenon.
It has dioceses, bishops, priests, and deacons, but no one knows how many, because there are no public records, but we're sure
there are very few real parishoners.
Does anyone know why Canterbury cut this part of the Southern Hemisphere
loose and allowed the silly idea of a "Province" to exist in the first place? I do, but it's not fit for a church page. My
bet is that you couldn't scrape up 5,000 "serious" (i.e., had the slightest idea why they were Anglicans) Anglicans in all
six "dioceses."
One keeps wondering how one person, claiming to represent a Province
of the Anglican Communion, could have such an incredible level of clout amidst this lunacy?
The Communion, by sanctioning Venables' actions, must, in fact,
partly desire self-destruction.
I'm beyond being aghast. If anyone can tell me why this guy is getting
away with this, I'd be happy to learn it!
Peter Winterble
(probably) San Nicolas de Bari
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
peter@winterble.com
5 May 2008
Maybe it needs to have a web page
Almost no one reading this will
have the faintest idea where Tasmania is,
let alone Perth
and Bishopsbourne. They are two small communities—Bishopsbourne
very small—in the Diocese of Tasmania. Both have had Anglican Churches (Church of England originally of course) almost
since the first European settlement of Tasmania, so that's over 160 years. The buildings themselves are both "listed" as 'must
be retained at all costs' structures and in good condition.
Both attract only small congregations, although St. Andrew's Perth
is in a rapidly growing community.
Although no reasons has been given, the Parish Council of Longford/Perth has petitioned the Bishop of the Diocese to close both
churches. The Parish has been without a stipendiary, full-time priest for over two years though well-served by two honorary priests.It
is now to get a new Priest-in-charge as full-time and we are excited.
But those two churches are still to be closed!
People are devastated! There is a mission to be met in these two
places; the churches stand awaiting songs and hymns of praise, prayers and eucharists,baptisms, weddings, burials, but there
appears to be no vision to work through these present hard times.
Please pray, not just for those who look like losing their place
of worship but that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts and minds of the Diocesan decision makers and of the Parish Council
that it might recant on its decision to seek closure of these two churches.
Trevor G Cowell
Christ Church, Illawarra, Anglican Parish Longford/Perth
Tasmania, AUSTRALIA
platcha1@optusnet.com.au
5 May 2008
But some can't bear fruits
While I can only dimly imagine the pressures that the Archbishop
of Canterbury must face on a daily basis, why is a bishop as decent and good as Gene Robinson being denied the joy of bringing
comfort and renewed hope in the Gospel to many by celebrating and preaching in England, while Archbishop Peter Akinola, by
numerous accounts mean spirited, at the very least, is able to carry on with business as usual without any reported official
reprimand from Lambeth?
Alas, it seems to me and many others, that His Grace of Canterbury
has not revealed the great promise we believed he brought to his office. If all Christians are truly known by the fruits we
bear, then the Archbishop of Canterbury seems to prefer the sour ones that Archbishop Akinola seems to so routinely produce.
I pray that I am wrong.
Carlton Kelley+ AOJN
Non-parochial
Richmond, Indiana, USA
Carlton.Kelley@FSSA.IN.gov
5 May 2008
From the Book of Common Courtesy
In an otherwise trenchant Church
Times review of an excellent book, In the Eye of the Storm by Gene Robinson, the reviewer in the opening paragraph-uses
the phrase, '... and his appointment as
a bishop....' The review later mentions his 'election as the Bishop of New Hampshire', but most Anglicans throughout the world
will continue to imagine that Bishops in the Episcopal Church are 'appointed' by 'some person' of authority.
This is not true.
Perhaps a liturgical formulation will help communicate to fellow
Anglicans where literary prowess cannot:
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because Episcopalians believe in the Body of Christ.
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because Episcopalians believe that the Holy Spirit guides all those who
want to understand truth and to do God's will - even lay people,
deacons and priests.
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because Episcopalians take seriously the Priesthood of All Believers-even
in matters of ecclesiastical government.
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because Episcopalians are a peculiar people, with a particular history,
which makes them particularly peculiar to other Anglicans.
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because Episcopalians, whether they like it or not, are also Americans—and
are, therefore, congenitally wary of closed power structures, including
religious ones.
V In the Episcopal Church, Bishops are elected, not appointed:
R Because the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States of America and its Constituent Dioceses say so.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Lord be with you.
And alwisothy (mumblemumble)
Let us pray.
Guide and direct all members of your Holy Church as we seek to do
your will in all that we undertake. Help us to put our whole trust in your power and love; knowing that we too easily put our
trust in princes (and prelates), and mistake their will for yours. Make us ever aware that in matters of the Spirit, 'certainty'
is perilously close to idolatry; and finally, bring us to an ever closer relationship with the One who is the Way, the Truth,
and the Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Craig Bustrin
Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
craigplus@mac.com
7 May 2008
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