Jessica and Alan are pleased to annouce the arrival of their daughter Paige. She joined the family at a whopping 10 lbs 2.5 oz on February 26th.
Monday, March 26
Friday, March 23
New England reports on recent Executive Council meeting
Earlier in March, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church met in Oregon. Each province of the church sends representatives to the meeting. For New England, our representatives include Lee Allison Crawford and Dennis Stark. Dennis is a parishioner of St. Martin's, Providence, and a member of Diocesan Council. Lee has written an article on the meeting, with assistance from Dennis.
Here's an excerpt:
Perhaps the most eagerly awaited news was what would be Executive Council’s response to the Communiqué issued by the primates in Dar es Salaam (download pdf). Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson appointed eight people, representing several viewpoints and provinces of the church, to draft a letter of response to be considered in plenary on the last day of the meeting.
Council members, as a whole, felt it most important not to pass a resolution, which they thought would box the body and church into a corner. Likewise, they believed it was important not to react precipitously but to respond thoughtfully and deliberately. The final draft (full text available here) represents concerns expressed by Council members in an open and transparent conversation. It states:
• We wish clearly to affirm that our position as a church is to welcome all persons, particularly those perceived to be the least among us. We wish to reaffirm to our lesbian and gay members that they remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church.
• Further, we offer our prayerful affirmation to all who struggle with the issues that concern us: those who are deeply concerned about the future of their Church and its place within the wider Communion, and those who are not reconciled to certain actions of General Convention. We wish to reaffirm that they too remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church.
The letter also details the next steps of Council in responding to the primates’ requests. A task force to be appointed by the president of the House of Deputies will draft a complete response to the Communiqué, which Executive Council will receive and consider at its June 2007 meeting in Parsippany, NJ. The International Concerns Committee (INC) was charged with considering how to respond to the draft Anglican Communion covenant (download pdf) presented to the primates in Dar es Salaam by a Covenant Design Group.
In a touching moment [at the final Eucharist], the children of the congregation gave the presiding bishop a necklace of eight glass beads to remind her of the eight MDGs and the blue waters of baptism. After presenting her with the necklace, which she wore for the rest of the liturgy over her chasuble, they blessed her, inviting the congregation also to stretch out their hands in a blessing drawn from the prayer said after baptism.
Read the whole article.
Here's an excerpt:
Perhaps the most eagerly awaited news was what would be Executive Council’s response to the Communiqué issued by the primates in Dar es Salaam (download pdf). Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson appointed eight people, representing several viewpoints and provinces of the church, to draft a letter of response to be considered in plenary on the last day of the meeting.
Council members, as a whole, felt it most important not to pass a resolution, which they thought would box the body and church into a corner. Likewise, they believed it was important not to react precipitously but to respond thoughtfully and deliberately. The final draft (full text available here) represents concerns expressed by Council members in an open and transparent conversation. It states:
• We wish clearly to affirm that our position as a church is to welcome all persons, particularly those perceived to be the least among us. We wish to reaffirm to our lesbian and gay members that they remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church.
• Further, we offer our prayerful affirmation to all who struggle with the issues that concern us: those who are deeply concerned about the future of their Church and its place within the wider Communion, and those who are not reconciled to certain actions of General Convention. We wish to reaffirm that they too remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church.
The letter also details the next steps of Council in responding to the primates’ requests. A task force to be appointed by the president of the House of Deputies will draft a complete response to the Communiqué, which Executive Council will receive and consider at its June 2007 meeting in Parsippany, NJ. The International Concerns Committee (INC) was charged with considering how to respond to the draft Anglican Communion covenant (download pdf) presented to the primates in Dar es Salaam by a Covenant Design Group.
In a touching moment [at the final Eucharist], the children of the congregation gave the presiding bishop a necklace of eight glass beads to remind her of the eight MDGs and the blue waters of baptism. After presenting her with the necklace, which she wore for the rest of the liturgy over her chasuble, they blessed her, inviting the congregation also to stretch out their hands in a blessing drawn from the prayer said after baptism.
Read the whole article.
Bishop Wolf on the House of Bishops meeting
This letter to all clergy was sent by email today.
Dear Friends,
On my way to the House of Bishop’s meeting I spent two days in the Philadelphia airport, one of tens of thousands affected by the ice storm that grounded US Airways flights on the East Coast. I was grateful that Bishop Wayne Wright of Delaware was also there, as we waited on various lines for over seven hours to re-book the flight. We finally made it to Dallas, TX, rented a car and drove four hours to Camp Allen.
Our efforts were repaid by the tenor and seriousness of the deliberations at our meeting.
One of the requests from the Primates’ Communiqué was the appointment of a Primatial Vicar and Pastoral Council. The Presiding Bishop stated previous to the meeting in Dar es Salaam, her willingness to do this in charitable response to the needs of those dioceses who could not, for reasons of conscious, accept her oversight. However, the Communiqué called for the selection of the Primatial Vicar to be made by the Windsor Bishops, and to be accountable to a Pastoral Council, and of which two members would be selected by the Archbishop of Canterbury. As a House, we found this to be unacceptable. The Episcopal Church, by virtue of our constitution and canons, elects and selects its leaders. I would wholeheartedly support the Presiding Bishop’s selection of a Primatial Vicar (or whatever title is appropriate), in consultation with those dioceses who have requested same. In addition, I uphold the concept of accountability. For the integrity of our church, I believe that this should occur internally, with the Primatial Vicar serving at the pleasure of the Presiding Bishop. While the vote of the House was not unanimous, responses crossed "party" lines.
Two additional requests from the Primates' Communiqué were not addressed during this session: a moratorium on consents for bishops-elect who live in a same sex partnered relationship; and to refrain from authorizing same-sex liturgies, blessings, etc. The bishops will receive papers for reading this summer in preparation for our September meeting, at which time we will clarify our position.
Presiding Bishop Katharine held a steady hand on the wheel of the House. She spoke with great clarity, and her answers to questions revealed a deep understanding of the issues and challenges we face.
It is clear that different positions held by our bishops are not easily identified by, "right," "left," "liberal," "conservative" labels. Blogs and websites do not reveal subtle overtones, private conversations, and complex reasons why people vote as they do.
Bishops who support the Windsor Report gathered for a brief session, and plan to meet in August. Again, these bishops hold different opinions on the work before us, but all believe that the Windsor Report remains the best document available to move forward as a Communion.
Our gathering included most of the bishops from Mexico, and those mentioned in our official letter. They reminded us of the cultural challenges of the present age, and the breadth of diversity within the Americas. When the question is, "What do you think?" the answer is relatively easy. When the question is "What do we think," the answer is more complex. When the question is, "What do you think others think," it's best not to answer at all!
The final dinner was marked with much laughter and thanksgiving, regardless of which side you buttered your bread. The women bishops gave me another veiled miter, and Bishop Barbara Harris and I walked down the aisle of the dining room arm and arm, with the other women following. Bishop Harris kept waving her hand announcing, "mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-bride."
There are many documents that were used at the House of Bishops meeting, all of which are available to you on the internet or by e-mail through Ty. An additional paper regarding church property issues will be available in the next few days.
Just a remember that on Thursday, March 29th, at 11 AM, the ordained members of our diocese will renew their ordination vows, to which all the baptized are invited to attend. If you plan to stay for lunch, please contact the office.
What a glorious witness we can make to the world, in all its strife and hunger, if we find a way to remain together across such profound cultural and theological differences. Please keep our Church and Communion in your prayers, as it is only by the grace of God that we will find the Divine Wisdom to move through the opportunities that Christ has placed before us.
Faithfully,
+Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
Dear Friends,
On my way to the House of Bishop’s meeting I spent two days in the Philadelphia airport, one of tens of thousands affected by the ice storm that grounded US Airways flights on the East Coast. I was grateful that Bishop Wayne Wright of Delaware was also there, as we waited on various lines for over seven hours to re-book the flight. We finally made it to Dallas, TX, rented a car and drove four hours to Camp Allen.
Our efforts were repaid by the tenor and seriousness of the deliberations at our meeting.
One of the requests from the Primates’ Communiqué was the appointment of a Primatial Vicar and Pastoral Council. The Presiding Bishop stated previous to the meeting in Dar es Salaam, her willingness to do this in charitable response to the needs of those dioceses who could not, for reasons of conscious, accept her oversight. However, the Communiqué called for the selection of the Primatial Vicar to be made by the Windsor Bishops, and to be accountable to a Pastoral Council, and of which two members would be selected by the Archbishop of Canterbury. As a House, we found this to be unacceptable. The Episcopal Church, by virtue of our constitution and canons, elects and selects its leaders. I would wholeheartedly support the Presiding Bishop’s selection of a Primatial Vicar (or whatever title is appropriate), in consultation with those dioceses who have requested same. In addition, I uphold the concept of accountability. For the integrity of our church, I believe that this should occur internally, with the Primatial Vicar serving at the pleasure of the Presiding Bishop. While the vote of the House was not unanimous, responses crossed "party" lines.
Two additional requests from the Primates' Communiqué were not addressed during this session: a moratorium on consents for bishops-elect who live in a same sex partnered relationship; and to refrain from authorizing same-sex liturgies, blessings, etc. The bishops will receive papers for reading this summer in preparation for our September meeting, at which time we will clarify our position.
Presiding Bishop Katharine held a steady hand on the wheel of the House. She spoke with great clarity, and her answers to questions revealed a deep understanding of the issues and challenges we face.
It is clear that different positions held by our bishops are not easily identified by, "right," "left," "liberal," "conservative" labels. Blogs and websites do not reveal subtle overtones, private conversations, and complex reasons why people vote as they do.
Bishops who support the Windsor Report gathered for a brief session, and plan to meet in August. Again, these bishops hold different opinions on the work before us, but all believe that the Windsor Report remains the best document available to move forward as a Communion.
Our gathering included most of the bishops from Mexico, and those mentioned in our official letter. They reminded us of the cultural challenges of the present age, and the breadth of diversity within the Americas. When the question is, "What do you think?" the answer is relatively easy. When the question is "What do we think," the answer is more complex. When the question is, "What do you think others think," it's best not to answer at all!
The final dinner was marked with much laughter and thanksgiving, regardless of which side you buttered your bread. The women bishops gave me another veiled miter, and Bishop Barbara Harris and I walked down the aisle of the dining room arm and arm, with the other women following. Bishop Harris kept waving her hand announcing, "mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-bride."
There are many documents that were used at the House of Bishops meeting, all of which are available to you on the internet or by e-mail through Ty. An additional paper regarding church property issues will be available in the next few days.
Just a remember that on Thursday, March 29th, at 11 AM, the ordained members of our diocese will renew their ordination vows, to which all the baptized are invited to attend. If you plan to stay for lunch, please contact the office.
What a glorious witness we can make to the world, in all its strife and hunger, if we find a way to remain together across such profound cultural and theological differences. Please keep our Church and Communion in your prayers, as it is only by the grace of God that we will find the Divine Wisdom to move through the opportunities that Christ has placed before us.
Faithfully,
+Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
Friday, March 16
No election for South Carolina
From the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina via titusonenine
titusonenine:
"I received a phone call late this afternoon from the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori giving notification that she was declaring null and void the election of The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence to be bishop of The Diocese of South Carolina. Although more than a majority of dioceses had voted to consent to Fr. Mark’s election, there were canonical deficiencies in the written responses sent to us. Several dioceses, both on and off American soil, thought that electronic permission was sufficient as had been their past accepted practice. The canons which apply are III.11.4(b), pp. 101-102 in the newly published 2006 Constitutions and Canons that require the prescribed testimonial to the consent be signed by a majority of each standing committee."
Read the rest here
... and do keep Fr. Lawrence and his family in your prayers along with the Diocese of South Carolina as it continues its search for a new bishop.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has declared “null and void” the election of the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence to be the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina Diocese of SC
The announcement was first made in a letter written by the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, president of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina, and posted to the diocesan website late in the afternoon of March 15.
See the full story at ENS
titusonenine:
"I received a phone call late this afternoon from the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori giving notification that she was declaring null and void the election of The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence to be bishop of The Diocese of South Carolina. Although more than a majority of dioceses had voted to consent to Fr. Mark’s election, there were canonical deficiencies in the written responses sent to us. Several dioceses, both on and off American soil, thought that electronic permission was sufficient as had been their past accepted practice. The canons which apply are III.11.4(b), pp. 101-102 in the newly published 2006 Constitutions and Canons that require the prescribed testimonial to the consent be signed by a majority of each standing committee."
Read the rest here
... and do keep Fr. Lawrence and his family in your prayers along with the Diocese of South Carolina as it continues its search for a new bishop.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has declared “null and void” the election of the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence to be the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina Diocese of SC
The announcement was first made in a letter written by the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, president of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina, and posted to the diocesan website late in the afternoon of March 15.
See the full story at ENS
Monday, March 12
Rhode Islanders in South Africa
There are a number of Rhode Islanders in South Africa now, attending the TEAM conference. This event is bringing Anglicans from around the world together to focus on mission. (A nice change from the usual focus on sex at global gatherings.)
A few of the RI crowd have been submitting entries to the blog of Bishop Marc Andrus (Bishop of California, friend of Bob Brooks, and fellow pilgrim in South Africa). I encourage you to tune into Bishop Marc's blog for the latest from South Africa. He's got photos online too.
A few of the RI crowd have been submitting entries to the blog of Bishop Marc Andrus (Bishop of California, friend of Bob Brooks, and fellow pilgrim in South Africa). I encourage you to tune into Bishop Marc's blog for the latest from South Africa. He's got photos online too.
Wednesday, February 28
God and Evolution at S. Stephen's
Lecture at S. Stephen’s on God and Evolution—at 6:00 pm on Sunday, March 18, Kenneth R. Miller, Professor of Biology at Brown University, will deliver a lecture entitled "God, Darwin, and Design: What America's New Battle over Evolution Means for the Church," at S. Stephen’s Church in Providence. Professor Miller is the author of Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution (Harper Collins, 1999). The lecture will follow Sung Evensong a! t 5:30 pm. S. Stephen’s Church is located at 114 George Street, in the heart of the Brown University campus. For more information, please visit www.sstephens.org. All are welcome and invited to attend.
Friday, February 23
PB to host live webcast, answer questions
Listening, Lent and reflection on the recent Anglican Primates' Meeting will be among themes addressed as Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori facilitates a live webcast conversation with Episcopalians churchwide on Wednesday, February 28, beginning at 10 a.m. EST.
Venue for the 45-minute program will be the webcast studio facilities of Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City. Access to the program will be available through both the Episcopal Church's web site, and the parish site. The webcast is a joint project of Trinity Church and the Communication Office at the Episcopal Church Center in New York.
The program will open with the Presiding Bishop's introductory remarks centering on the recent Primates Meeting in Tanzania. Following her comments, she will answer questions from a live studio audience as well as phone and e-mail inquiries. Call-in numbers and e-mail information will be provided during the webcast. The program will then remain online for on-demand viewing at later times.
Venue for the 45-minute program will be the webcast studio facilities of Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City. Access to the program will be available through both the Episcopal Church's web site, and the parish site. The webcast is a joint project of Trinity Church and the Communication Office at the Episcopal Church Center in New York.
The program will open with the Presiding Bishop's introductory remarks centering on the recent Primates Meeting in Tanzania. Following her comments, she will answer questions from a live studio audience as well as phone and e-mail inquiries. Call-in numbers and e-mail information will be provided during the webcast. The program will then remain online for on-demand viewing at later times.
Bishop Wolf response to Dar es Salaam meeting
Bishop Wolf has written a letter to clergy and other leaders following the Primates' Meeting in Dar es Salaam. Here is the text, in full.
Dear Friends,
The meeting of the Primates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, produced several documents that were emailed to all clergy on Wednesday, February 21, 2007. I commend them to you for prayerful study and reflection. For some of our community there were sighs of relief that the Anglican Communion would hold together. For others, the price of holding together seemed quite high.
The Primates’ Communiqué addresses a number of important issues and will require careful study. The House of Bishops will take up discussion of the Communiquè and Draft Covenant at our March meeting, but I will share with you some initial reflections, primarily regarding the covenant process.
In listening to each other we have learned that issues of justice have various facets, as do interpretations of scripture and the priorities we place on the values we hold in common. The autonomy that was once possible in a small Communion must now be modified in response to global growth and cultural breadth. As organizations grow there is greater need to clarify terms of engagement and the process by which dreams become reality. Our Communion has experienced extensive growth in the last forty years and with that growth, and the concomitant revolution in communications, the nature of our interrelationship has changed profoundly. Thus, I support the development of a covenant to help us revisit and articulate our call to mutuality and interdependence and to clarify the levels of autonomy upon which we will agree.
A draft covenant was presented by the Covenant Design Committee and received by the Primates for discussion in the various Provinces. The draft covenant is a surprisingly moderate document that affords us the opportunity to reflect upon the essence of our interdependence and to rededicate ourselves to this branch of Christ's Church to which we have claimed allegiance. A particular strength in the draft is its focus on process and relationship rather than points of doctrine. It is not a perfect document and will certainly undergo refinement as it is received and discussed in the various provinces. It is, however, a good beginning. The Communion is struggling with the ground of its being. In this field is a pearl of great price, which only faithfulness will discover. We are being asked to search together and to find the priceless kingdom for which Christ died.
I pray for our Communion, for the Episcopal Church, for our Diocese, and especially for each of you. I ask your prayers for the bishops, that we might exercise wisdom and charity in our deliberations.
Yours faithfully,
Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
Dear Friends,
The meeting of the Primates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, produced several documents that were emailed to all clergy on Wednesday, February 21, 2007. I commend them to you for prayerful study and reflection. For some of our community there were sighs of relief that the Anglican Communion would hold together. For others, the price of holding together seemed quite high.
The Primates’ Communiqué addresses a number of important issues and will require careful study. The House of Bishops will take up discussion of the Communiquè and Draft Covenant at our March meeting, but I will share with you some initial reflections, primarily regarding the covenant process.
In listening to each other we have learned that issues of justice have various facets, as do interpretations of scripture and the priorities we place on the values we hold in common. The autonomy that was once possible in a small Communion must now be modified in response to global growth and cultural breadth. As organizations grow there is greater need to clarify terms of engagement and the process by which dreams become reality. Our Communion has experienced extensive growth in the last forty years and with that growth, and the concomitant revolution in communications, the nature of our interrelationship has changed profoundly. Thus, I support the development of a covenant to help us revisit and articulate our call to mutuality and interdependence and to clarify the levels of autonomy upon which we will agree.
A draft covenant was presented by the Covenant Design Committee and received by the Primates for discussion in the various Provinces. The draft covenant is a surprisingly moderate document that affords us the opportunity to reflect upon the essence of our interdependence and to rededicate ourselves to this branch of Christ's Church to which we have claimed allegiance. A particular strength in the draft is its focus on process and relationship rather than points of doctrine. It is not a perfect document and will certainly undergo refinement as it is received and discussed in the various provinces. It is, however, a good beginning. The Communion is struggling with the ground of its being. In this field is a pearl of great price, which only faithfulness will discover. We are being asked to search together and to find the priceless kingdom for which Christ died.
I pray for our Communion, for the Episcopal Church, for our Diocese, and especially for each of you. I ask your prayers for the bishops, that we might exercise wisdom and charity in our deliberations.
Yours faithfully,
Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
Primates' Meeting wrap-up
I'm home from Dar es Salaam, where I was reporting on another blog and taking photos. If you don't like a like liberal bent, have a look at this or this. Thinking Anglicans has lots of links to media coverage.The primates issued a Communique and a draft of the proposed covenant of the Anglican Communion. I encourage you to read these.
If you want my knee-jerk reaction, written at about 3 a.m. in the first hours after the final press briefing, look here. My more thoughtful and nuanced reaction will take some and mulling.
Friday, February 16
Updates from the Primates' Meeting in Tanzania
I've been writing at some length over on my other blog. Since many readers may not look there, I thought I'd post a quick update here today.
This photo shows a welcoming banner on the turnoff from the main road. There are more photos here.
So far, the primates have been getting themselves organized. They heard reports (contents) unknown from a delegation of US bishops representing a diversity of views. They also have received a report evaluating the US response to the Windsor Report. We were judged to have met the standard on two of three requests, to refrain from consecrating more gay/lesbian bishops and to express regret. On the third count, the blessing of same-sex unions, we were told that there is more work to do. It is not known how the discussion went when the report was received. Oh, and the other news is that the will-Katharine-be-allowed-to-sit-with-the-boys question has been firmly settled. She's here today.
Today, if we get the information, will be a telling day. The primates will celebrate Eucharist for the first time together. (Yesterday's service was canceled.) So now is the money question: will the primates join together at the Holy Table? Are they, or are they not in communion -- literally -- with one another. I'll report as I find out details. Frankly I doubt that anyone will be forthcoming with the info.
By the way, if you don't like my progressive bias, you can check out other blogs. For a good summary of news reports, check this one out.
This photo shows a welcoming banner on the turnoff from the main road. There are more photos here.
So far, the primates have been getting themselves organized. They heard reports (contents) unknown from a delegation of US bishops representing a diversity of views. They also have received a report evaluating the US response to the Windsor Report. We were judged to have met the standard on two of three requests, to refrain from consecrating more gay/lesbian bishops and to express regret. On the third count, the blessing of same-sex unions, we were told that there is more work to do. It is not known how the discussion went when the report was received. Oh, and the other news is that the will-Katharine-be-allowed-to-sit-with-the-boys question has been firmly settled. She's here today.
Today, if we get the information, will be a telling day. The primates will celebrate Eucharist for the first time together. (Yesterday's service was canceled.) So now is the money question: will the primates join together at the Holy Table? Are they, or are they not in communion -- literally -- with one another. I'll report as I find out details. Frankly I doubt that anyone will be forthcoming with the info.
By the way, if you don't like my progressive bias, you can check out other blogs. For a good summary of news reports, check this one out.
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