Some weeks ago I began yet another painting project at home, the third room so far. I have a piece of advice to share with you: Never say “never.” I’ve said, “Never,” to painting two or three times, to no effect.Anyway, I find painting exceedingly boring, so I usually troll through old movies that are dialogue heavy. They are distracting and I can follow them, without actually watching the TV screen.One of my more recent weekend choices was “Paper Chase.” It’s the story of a new law stude … [Read more...]
The Real Work of Bishops
March 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In his report from The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops, Bishop Daniel Martins described a telling exchange: We began with another table discussion of generous length (about 30 minutes, as I recall). Each table was given a sheet amalgamating all the feedback that had been turned in on sticky notes yesterday concerning how we think we’re meeting the personal and institutional challenges of dealing with the way we tend to systematically marginalize individuals and groups based on criteria over … [Read more...]
Pre-approved Bishops: A Nursery for Ambition
March 16, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In a report from the meeting at the House of Bishops for The Episcopal Church, Bishop Daniel Martins notes that the bishops are considering creating a pool of prospective candidates for the episcopacy.As Martins describes it, this pool of would-be bishops would be a list of prospects who are vetted ahead of time, and dioceses electing a new bishop would be encouraged to use that list. Martins also infers that dioceses choosing to look beyond the list provided them would run the … [Read more...]
3 Reasons We Find it Difficult to Lament
March 9, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Prayers of lament wedge their way into the American psyche from time to time, much of it in the form of music. One thinks of Mahaila Jackson’s rendition of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” Lauryn Hill’s version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” and Eric Clapton’s “Holy Mary:” Holy Mother, where are you? Tonight I feel broken in two. I've seen the stars fall from the sky. Holy mother, can't keep from crying.Oh I need your help this time, Get me through this lonely night. Tell me please wh … [Read more...]
Lent is not a tightrope, it’s a journey.
March 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Popular assumptions about Lent come from a variety of places. Some arise out of the historical excesses that have surfaced from time to time in the life of the church. Other assumptions about Lent arise out of misunderstandings or a lack of familiarity with Lenten observance.In both cases, Lenten practice looms large, but the purpose of Lenten practice is lost. When that happens, Lent has all the spiritual allure of New Year’s resolutions – only longer and religious. Dint of effort, resolve a … [Read more...]
The Barking Dog of Congregational Vitality
February 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Congregational vitality is still on the front burner in conversations about the church. Noting that on average, 9 churches close their doors everyday, the Episcopal Church Building Fund has launched a recasting process, designed to help parishes evaluate their communities, reevaluate the deployment of their resources, achieve a sustainable budget, and rediscover a measure of relevance to the communities around them. The goal is to create a “thriving parish.”The chaplain for the process obs … [Read more...]
What do you do after a “mountaintop” experience?
February 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In a Facebook post a week ago, a friend asked, “What happens after a “mountain top” spiritual experience?” The question got me thinking, because most of us are find ourselves in that position from time to time, however we might define that “mountain top.”Understandably, one of his friends simply replied, “Reality,” and I think that we all got a good laugh out of her terse observation. But, of course, that’s precisely the issue. What happens when we come rolling back down hill?Here are som … [Read more...]
The Immorality of Partisanship
February 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment
At the SAG Awards this last week, David Harbour, star of Stranger Things, called for “a more empathetic and understanding society.” Then he promised to “punch some people in the face” with “soul, heart, and joy” – offering an obvious illustration of at least one of the moral problems with partisanship: i.e., the ease with which a certain brand of partisanship justifies immoral behavior in the name of a greater good.Harbour obviously sees his “party affiliation” as one with those who favor emp … [Read more...]
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