skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Not because I feel the need to provide a huge media conglomerate with more space in the universe than it already takes up--but because I really can't get enough of Christiane Amanpour. Which is why both tonight and Thursday night, I will be glued to my seat from 9pm until whenever it ends, watching her special on fundamentalists and religion, called, appropriately enough, "God's Warriors."
Tonight I believe she begins with the Jews, tomorrow moves on to the Muslims, and wraps it all up on Thursday with the Christians. I'm super bummed to be missing that middle episode for a lot of reasons (not the least of which is that Islam is the religion I know the least about--which, I imagine, puts me in the same camp as most other non-Muslim Americans). But tomorrow night Jessica and I have tickets to go see Mr. Barack Obama address the crowds in Brooklyn. So someone's gonna have to TiVo that one up for me.
Though I see that the Very Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and thus head of the worldwide Anglican Communion (which includes those of us who are American Episcopalians--for now), was trying to stem controversy by not inviting V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay bishop, to the big, once a decade party he's throwing next year, I find myself crushed by the thought process that brought this decision about.
True, Robinson's ordination touched off a firestorm of recriminations throughout the church (both nationally and internationally), and yes, the church is, many believe, on the verge of a true theological and ideological crisis. But how making the unkind and ungenerous move of pointedly excluding Bishop Robinson from participation at the Lambeth Conference in '08 is meant to fix those issues is truly beyond any logic I can fathom. (And no, the Archbishop's similar exclusion of the possibly illegitimate Bishop in VA--appointed by internal church foes of LGBT inclusion--does not make it any better.)
I do not mean to judge the Archbishop, but all I can say is that until now, I've felt proud and optimistic about my affiliation with the Episcopal Church; I've been moved by the words, the sentiment and the strength of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori (head of the Episcopal Church here in the US), and her defense of the right of people of all kinds to serve in this church. And I've even found some hope in the fact that, until now, the Archbishop has refrained from letting bigotry mark his decisions about the future of this church. But this... this just makes me so sad. For me, and for the other members of this flock who believe in the equality of all human beings. And most of all for Rev. Robinson, who has suffered so much unkindness since his ordination, simply for being who he is and wanting to serve God.
And then again: change is never easy. I suppose that's the thing we must always remember-- even as our hearts are broken a thousand times over.
You may remember that a while back I told you about how the Episcopal Church is going through a bit of a crisis, and how the group of international bishops that runs the Anglican Communion had basically given the American branch an ultimatum: stop with the gays or else. Well, today, reports are out that the Episcopal Church of the United States has drawn its own line in the sand. The US bishops have rejected the Anglican Communion's call to install a council of international overseers to police the Episcopal branch of the church, and respond to the concerns of more conservative members who want nothing to do with the gays either.
Without being too crass, this is a bit like the Episcopal Church flipping the bird to its non-US brethren--and god bless them for it. How profound is it to see a religious body standing up for the rights of gays and lesbians to be included, rather than shutting the door on them as so many others do? And the Episcopalians had an out: because this move means that there will very likely be a cutting of ties between the Anglican Communion and the Episcopals, they could have very easily ducked out under cover of "The bonds of our community are too important to sacrifice over this issue." But they didn't. They haven't. They're standing up and fighting, saying instead, "Respecting the humanity of all of God's people is too important to sacrifice." What a radical concept. Once they're done fighting this war, it might be worth them having a conversation with some folks at the Vatican.
I hate days when meetings keep me so busy that I'm constantly away from my desk. Today was one of those, so the only thing I have to offer is this cover story from Salon, about the divine Anne Lamott, who always has something compelling to say. If you're a parent, or thinking of becoming one, and haven't read her book Operating Instructions, it's time to get with the movement already. She's funny, smart, irreverent and kind--all of my favorite qualities in a human being. And her new book is about faith... This may be who I really want to be when I grow up.
Evangelicals are, for me, a tough nut to crack. There are any number of times, almost daily it sometimes seems, when I find myself waxing irate about the theft of Christianity and its appropriation by certain groups who use it as a tool for hate rather than for good. Here, though, is an example of an Evangelical who is using his faith for global good. Jim Ball is an environmental evangelical, and though I'm sure he and I would hardly see eye to eye on many other matters, I find his passion for reducing global warming, and using the tenets of his Christian faith to do it, compelling.
I can't say I envy Katharine Jefferts Schori. The (first female) head of the Episcopal Church here in the US just spent her weekend getting her head handed to her, thanks to a meeting of the worldwide Anglican Communion, held in Tanzania.
If you've been paying attention you know that there's a schism in the Anglican Church: Episcopalians make up the US arm of Anglicanism, and for quite some time now, most of those of us who call ourselves Episcopalian have found ourselves at odds with the Anglican leadership--specifically over the ordination of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions (the majority of Episcopalians support those actions, while a very vocal faction of conservative Anglican leaders do not).
Things came to a head this weekend, according to the NY Times, which reports that "the Anglican Communion gave its Episcopal branch in the United States less than eight months to ban blessings of same-sex unions or risk a reduced role in the world’s third-largest Christian denomination." Jefferts Schori, who runs the Episcopal Church, also agreed to the appointment of a special vicar to tend to the needs of conservative members who feel alienated by the fact that the mainline US church is moving in a more liberal direction.
What will it all mean? No one's exactly sure, but it's certainly not a good thing for those of us who believe that the church should be inclusive to all members, gay or otherwise. And the appointment of the "special vicar" (reminds one of the Ken Starr days, doesn't it?) is universally agreed to represent a major "check" on Jefferts Schori's powers. Add to that the fact that a number of bishops at the gathering refused to share communion with the US leader, and you understand why I say hers is not a position to envy. Still, I'm glad we've got her there. She needs all the support she can get.
Happy President's Day! If, like me, you're one of those folks lucky enough to have the day off, I'm sure you'll be reading this on Tuesday. But if, like Katie Sherwin, you're one of those whose job screws you out of mid-major holidays, here are a few tidbits to keep you happy while the rest of us are cavorting:
Reading Barack's Blackness: Another article on the question of Barack's racial identity, our perceptions of it, and why we should find the question itself utterly infuriating. (21 months out from the election and I already do.)
Siblings with Difference: A close look at the reality of being a typically functioning child whose sibling has developmental and/or emotional disabilities.
Another Woman Takes the Lead: Though last week was all about Harvard's big female appointment, Yale also took a big step in elevating a woman this month: Sharon Kugler-- a Catholic-- is about to take the helm as Yale's new chaplain.
I don't know why this gives me such perverse joy, but a story in the Post today reports that Cardinal Edward Egan and Bklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio are "outraged" that the city has decided to distribute, free of charge, some 26 million subway themed condoms. The religious leaders say such an act on the city's part threatens to "degrade society." Who are they kidding? What's truly degrading is their church's continued ban on contraception, which, if you ask some people, is tantamount to inducing homicide. Thankfully, Bloomberg and his administration are holding firm. Add another check in my book in favor of Mayor Mike.
Not because I feel the need to provide a huge media conglomerate with more space in the universe than it already takes up--but because I really can't get enough of Christiane Amanpour. Which is why both tonight and Thursday night, I will be glued to my seat from 9pm until whenever it ends, watching her special on fundamentalists and religion, called, appropriately enough, "God's Warriors."
