Daily Archives: December 14, 2006

Anglican Crystal Ball

Ok—here’s my picks for how things are going down. My best guess is that by next Christmas we’ll have:

 

++Schori as Primate of TEC (Anglican Communion)

++Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury (Anglican Communion)

+Duncan as Primate of All America (Evangelical Communion)

+Nazir-Ali as Primate of All England (Evangelical Communion)

 

I’m actually not going to call where ++Akinola will fit into this whole picture; I think it’s still too soon to guess…

IC Statement Update

Thanks to the magic of the Internet, we’ve got a clarification. The author of the piece responded to my query on TA and said in part:

 

By "we understand" we mean "we draw the inference from the number and speed of current events" or "our reading of the direction of recent statements is". Very happy to replace "we understand" with "it is probable that".

 

So–it is a ratcheting up of rhetoric. The timing does make things look suspicious but there is no proof.

 

 

Them’s Fightin’ Words

Thinking Anglicans has put up a statement by the InclusiveChurch. Apparently the famed Anglican reserve has been put on a shelf because they come out swinging:

 

1.0 Conservative Evangelicals are clearly trying to create a defining moment for the Anglican Communion. The declaration by the Anglican Church of Tanzania separating itself from all who ordain, who are, or who support homosexual people, together with Reform’s “Covenant” are the next stages in the rolling out of a strategy which will, if allowed to proceed destroy the Anglican Communion.

2.0 We are seeing the development of a long term plan developed by various people on various continents which is intended to bring the Anglican Communion out of its historically generous and open position, into a narrowly defined, confessional group of churches rooted in the religious right of the United States and extending from there across the world.

2.1 We understand that the Tanzania declaration was produced at the behest of others with the specific aims of undermining the Presiding Bishop of the United States, challenging the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and derailing the moves towards an inclusive Covenant which the Communion is beginning to make. It is a deliberately incendiary move. The intention is to pre-empt any decisions the Primates’ Meeting in February might make so that elements from the Global South and disaffected elements of the Episcopal Church rebels can proceed with their plan to set up an alternative Communion.

3.0 Reform’s “Covenant” brings this strategy into England. [continues from here… Read the rest if the link worked…]

These are some very serious allegations, especially what’s written in 2.1. These things should not be said without supporting documentation—where is it? If it exists then it’s time for the fat lady to start singing; if not, then this means the left is raising their own schism-producing efforts to new levels.

 

 

Either way, I don’t like it. “It” being the plans-within-plans, the gossip-mongering, the he-said-she-said, the let’s-you-and-him-fight, etc. ad nauseum. I’m so at “nauseum.” In short, I’m really tired of the political motivated power struggles over resources and money. It’s expensive—because it costs us our Gospel. On both sides.  This is no way for a church to behave.

 

Now I completely realize that I’m not at stake in this fight either. I’m not gay and no one’s trying to either push me out of the priesthood or out of the church all together. I’m also not likely to be shut out of a discernment process for being too conservative. I do believe that female clergy is a big piece of this realignment puzzle and I am fully invested in that one… All this is to say, to the degree that I represent the not-at-stake Anglican, both extremes are becoming truly irritating; something’s got to give and soon.

The Christmas Meme

Thanks to LP…

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Definitely hot chocolate. We make our own special blend that often appears as Christmas presents; be warned…

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa wraps. Growing up my brother and I had the unique tradition of stapling and duct-taping brown paper bags shut as wrapping… Santa wraps normally for everyone else.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Little white ones. I just think they’re classier.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No–holly and evergreen. It’d have to be fake anyway given the cat and the kids… It’s ok–plenty of kissing goes on without it. :-D

5. When do you put your decorations up?

Well, Advent in an academic household always sucks. We’re either taking exams or grading them or doing millions of services. So things get up whenever the hell they get up.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

I’ve always been partial to a great cheese tray.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

Christmas dinner in the dining room and my brother whaling away on the dog–who had crept into the dining room where she knew she didn’t belong–right in the middle of a drawn-out blessing. The sheer dissonance of it…

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I forget but I have an older brother. That pretty much sums it up.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

Naked. Um, no… We put lights and ornaments and such on it.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it!

12. Can you ice skate?

Yes. I just choose not to.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

No.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Hanging out with family and going to rockin’ liturgies.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Pecan pie.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Attending Midnight Mass at Rosemont.

17. What tops your tree?

A Martha Stewart angel thing that Lil’ G picked out last year.

18.Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

I’ve got little kids and a cat, so definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

O Magnum Mysterium

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Yum!

I tag bls, Gracious Light, and anyone else who still reads me…