15/07:
The first news of the day (at least for me) is that Paula and I celebrate today our 37th wedding anniversary. She’s on Grand Island, and I’m in Anaheim, so that doesn’t make it very romantic.
Ecumenical – As I’ve written before, I’m serving on the Legislative Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The resolution which continues Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church as passed, which pleases me greatly. I think we at St. Martin’s ought to do something with Trinity UMC this coming year. And we’re trying to continue work with the Presbyterian Church USA, though both Houses have not yet agreed.
Prayer Book and Music – There have been a batch of resolutions from Prayer Book and Music. One of them has been to propose a major revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts (our “saints days” in The Episcopal Church). I have rather mixed feelings about the scope of this project. It seems to me that the Committee has included too many on the list. The resolution calls for “trial use” so that the Committee can decide who stays and who goes. But my hunch about the Committee is that it can’t say, “No,” and that all the names proposed will remain.
Ecumenical Guests – One of the highlights for me yesterday in the House of Deputies was the introduction of the various ecumenical guests attending General Convention. Three of them – a Jewish rabbi, a Moslem leader, and an Episcopal priest – sang the Aaronic blessing. The text is “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Each of the singers in turn offered a prayer and then combined their voices in song. All three faiths trace their roots to the biblical prophet Abraham.
Title IV – In an earlier blog, I noted that the House of Deputies had passed the major revision of Title IV, which deals with discipline of clergy. Title IV has now passed the House of Bishops as well, so it will take effect on June 1, 2011. That gives us (Western New York) two Diocesan Conventions to make changes in our own canons so that we will come into conformity with Title IV of The Episcopal Church. Shawn Duncan, who is a WNY Deputy, is also the chair of our Diocesan Constitution and Canons Committee. He has indicated that he will shortly call a meeting of this Committee to begin work.
D-025 – As you’ve read previously, this resolution addresses our relationship with the Anglican Communion, and the understanding of The Episcopal Church regarding who may be acceptable candidates for Bishop. D-025 began in the House of Deputies and was adopted (see earlier blog). The House of Bishops amended significantly the 6th Resolve (which dealt directly with candidates for ordained ministry / bishop. That amended version of D-025 came back to the House of Deputies, and we concurred. So the matter has officially passed this Convention. The full text is below.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Fr. Earle
Text of D-025 as approved by General Convention:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.
Ecumenical – As I’ve written before, I’m serving on the Legislative Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The resolution which continues Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church as passed, which pleases me greatly. I think we at St. Martin’s ought to do something with Trinity UMC this coming year. And we’re trying to continue work with the Presbyterian Church USA, though both Houses have not yet agreed.
Prayer Book and Music – There have been a batch of resolutions from Prayer Book and Music. One of them has been to propose a major revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts (our “saints days” in The Episcopal Church). I have rather mixed feelings about the scope of this project. It seems to me that the Committee has included too many on the list. The resolution calls for “trial use” so that the Committee can decide who stays and who goes. But my hunch about the Committee is that it can’t say, “No,” and that all the names proposed will remain.
Ecumenical Guests – One of the highlights for me yesterday in the House of Deputies was the introduction of the various ecumenical guests attending General Convention. Three of them – a Jewish rabbi, a Moslem leader, and an Episcopal priest – sang the Aaronic blessing. The text is “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Each of the singers in turn offered a prayer and then combined their voices in song. All three faiths trace their roots to the biblical prophet Abraham.
Title IV – In an earlier blog, I noted that the House of Deputies had passed the major revision of Title IV, which deals with discipline of clergy. Title IV has now passed the House of Bishops as well, so it will take effect on June 1, 2011. That gives us (Western New York) two Diocesan Conventions to make changes in our own canons so that we will come into conformity with Title IV of The Episcopal Church. Shawn Duncan, who is a WNY Deputy, is also the chair of our Diocesan Constitution and Canons Committee. He has indicated that he will shortly call a meeting of this Committee to begin work.
D-025 – As you’ve read previously, this resolution addresses our relationship with the Anglican Communion, and the understanding of The Episcopal Church regarding who may be acceptable candidates for Bishop. D-025 began in the House of Deputies and was adopted (see earlier blog). The House of Bishops amended significantly the 6th Resolve (which dealt directly with candidates for ordained ministry / bishop. That amended version of D-025 came back to the House of Deputies, and we concurred. So the matter has officially passed this Convention. The full text is below.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Fr. Earle
Text of D-025 as approved by General Convention:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.
