This is a brilliant article from Nicholas Knisely at Episcopal Cafe

We pray together. And that's enough

By W. Nicholas Knisely

A few months ago one of the staff here at the Cathedral forwarded an email to me with a request that I answer the question it posed as he had no idea what he should say. The email was very simple. It was from a person in the community who was looking for a new church home. But, before he would consider a congregation, it was very important for him to know where we stood on the question of blessing same-sex couples.

There wasn’t any hint in the email about whether or not the sender wanted us to say we were for blessing same-sex couples or opposed. Just that it was critically important to him that we give the right answer so that he wouldn’t waste his time unnecessarily.

I get letters or questions like this quite commonly. I think most Episcopal clergy do these days. It’s the BIG question that seems to be used as a way to sort through congregations and dioceses so that we can determine which ones are right-thinking and therefore worthy of support and which ones are wrong and worthy of nothing. What was different about this letter though was that I simply couldn’t figure out what the person wanted me to say.

So rather than trying to be pastoral and sensitive in trying to respond to the question behind the question (as is my wont), I decided to be bluntly honest.

“There are people in this congregation who are fully supportive of the Church’s blessing of same-gender unions. There are people in this congregation who are opposed to the Church’s blessing of same-gender unions. While the Episcopal Church as a denomination is on record as calling for equal protection under the law for all citizens, if you’re looking for a congregation that is of one mind on this issue, you’re going to be disappointed with this one. We don’t have agreement internally on this particular - or many - issues. Instead, we just agree to pray and worship together”

We don’t agree with each other. We pray together.

Friends of mine who are involved in the church growth movement offer me their sympathy every three years or so following our denomination’s General Convention. “It must be really hard to grow a church that spends so much time fighting” they say. In the past I’ve agreed with them. But I think I’ve decided that it’s time we as Episcopalians tell the truth about who we are though in a way that tries to explain to others why our struggles are not a “bug” - they’re a “feature”!

The Elizabethan Settlement, which for me is modeled at every Eucharist when I present the host to a communicant with the paradoxical words (to a person of Tudor England) “the body of Christ, the bread of Heaven”, is fundamental to our identity as Anglicans. We are willing to be in relationship with people who will gather with us around Jesus; whether they by free or slave, man or women, Jew or Greek. We are the anti-puritans caring less about clarity of theological categories than we do about loving relationship. “If you will pray to Jesus with me, I will pray to Jesus with you.”

At least we try to when we’re at our best. Which isn’t always that often admittedly.

In my mind, as an Episcopalian of catholic leanings and ecumenical enthusiasm, if there’s one thing that argues for the continued existence of an Anglican witness in the Universal Church - it’s our charism of holding firm to praying with those with whom we disagree no matter how hard that is to do.

Eusebius writes that in the latter days of his life, St. John the Evangelist would respond to repeated requests of visitors to “tell of us of Jesus” by only repeating again and again “Little children, love one another.” When asked by those caring for him why he would only say that he is supposed to have responded “Because if they do only that, it is enough.”

Episcopalians don’t agree to agree. We pray with each other. Because if we can manage to just do that, it seems to me, that we will have done enough.

What happened when I responded to my inquirer wanting to know where the Cathedral I serve stood on the question of same-gender blessings? I sent my short note off fully expecting to never hear from him again.

I got a note back a day later; “That’s so awesome. I’ll be there this Sunday.”

The Sky is falling, the sky is falling

So apparently the Episcopal church is going to implode at any moment.
Between the passage of DO25, C056, the financial crisis in the church - including the elimination of THE ENTIRE EVANGELISM OFFICE - and the attendant media blitz which has distilled the legislation beyond all recognition, The Episcopal church must be ready to keel over and die...right?
Well I certainly hope not! both D025 and C056 are more descriptive than proscriptive in nature. D025 does not repeal 2006 B033 and Co25 states what was already a reality, that bishops have the ability to create liturgy not addressed by the prayer book. I do take issue with these decisions though, and especially with the decision to cut the entire evangelism office out of the National church center. My issue is that there is no theological reasoning behind any of the three. If I asked why D025 and C056 should be passed, I have a feeling that the answer I would receive would be some variation of "Because it's the right thing to do." What I want to hear is how this fits into the continuum of the salvation narrative. How does passing these resolutions proclaim the Good News of salvation, give evidence of the reign of the Kingdom of God, etc? Where is the deep theological insight that will show people that these decisions have been thought about deeply in a meaningful way. I don't see that. And I certainly don't see any theological reasoning to cut Evangelism from the Budget.
It dismays me that leadership of The Episcopal Church, a part of so rich a heritage of theology, liturgy and tradition cannot seem to muster the energy to present its thoughts with theological underpinnings. The church seems tired, but rumors of its death are greatly exaggerated.

(long sigh...)

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!
- Psalm 31: 24

This was the last verse of today's daily reading. How much more annoying could The Holy Spirit, the bible et al possibly be? Nevermind, don't answer that. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little stressed about finding a job. But as I have bben repeating with growing earnestness this semester: Lord, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Oi!
In completely unrelated news I have "discovered" the Decemberists...yeah, I know, it takes me a while...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mbhd4LGR-g