Not Wacky Tobaccy
In case you were at the Diocese of Tennessee Annual Convention, that wasn't a big fatty; it was this!
31 January 2006
In case you were at the Diocese of Tennessee Annual Convention, that wasn't a big fatty; it was this!
30 January 2006
Man in Black, Robed in White
Great article about Johnny Cash:
"The prison imagery seemed real to Cash because, for him, it was real. He knew what it was like to be enslaved, enslaved to celebrity, to power, to drugs, to liquor, and to the breaking of his marriage vows. He was subject to, and submissive to, all the temptations the recording industry can parade before a man. He was a prisoner indeed, but to a penitentiary of his own soul. There was no corpse in Reno, but there was the very real guilt of a lifetime of the self-destructive idolatry of the ego.
It was through the quiet friendships of men such as Billy Graham that Cash found an alternative to the vanity of shifting celebrity. He found freedom from guilt and the authenticity of the truth in a crucified and resurrected Christ. And he immediately identified with another self-obsessed celebrity of another era: Saul of Tarsus. He even authored a surprisingly good biography of the apostle, with the insight of one who knows what it is like to see the grace of Jesus through one’s own guilt as a “chief of sinners"... Keep reading.
"The prison imagery seemed real to Cash because, for him, it was real. He knew what it was like to be enslaved, enslaved to celebrity, to power, to drugs, to liquor, and to the breaking of his marriage vows. He was subject to, and submissive to, all the temptations the recording industry can parade before a man. He was a prisoner indeed, but to a penitentiary of his own soul. There was no corpse in Reno, but there was the very real guilt of a lifetime of the self-destructive idolatry of the ego.
It was through the quiet friendships of men such as Billy Graham that Cash found an alternative to the vanity of shifting celebrity. He found freedom from guilt and the authenticity of the truth in a crucified and resurrected Christ. And he immediately identified with another self-obsessed celebrity of another era: Saul of Tarsus. He even authored a surprisingly good biography of the apostle, with the insight of one who knows what it is like to see the grace of Jesus through one’s own guilt as a “chief of sinners"... Keep reading.
Self-Actualization or Transformation?
Here's a portion of Bp. Herlong's sermon from the Annual Convention. It was right in this portion, I believe, when one of the "self-actualized" stomped out in a huff. Sorry about the ALL CAPS; this is how Bp. Herlong prepares his manuscripts. Click here to read the whole thing. (Update: Canon Harmon's little helpers have prepared a non-ALL CAPS redaction here, and blessings on their heads for the effort; one doffs one's biretta)
ARTICLES AND LETTERS IN CHURCH PUBLICATIONS AND TONS OF E-MAIL BEAR OUT THE FACT THAT THE DIVISION IS REALLY OVER BASIC THEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL ISSUES. THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY ARE JUST THE PRESENTING PROBLEM, THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
FATHER ANDREW ARCHIE, WRITING IN THE ANGLICAN DIGEST SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS THE REFORMATION THAT REJECTED THE NOTION OF THE CHURCH AS THE MEDIATOR OF GOD’S GRACE. THE PERSONAL COMMITMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER BECAME THE BASIC UNIT OF THE FAITH. OVER THE CENTURIES SINCE, THAT CONCEPT HAS BEEN DISTORTED TO MEAN THAT PERSONAL FULFILLMENT IS PARAMOUNT – EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. THIS UNBRIDLED INDIVIDUALISM HAS PRODUCED DISASTROUS RESULTS IN OUR TIME. IT IS A PRIMARY REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF AUTHORITY, INSTITUTIONAL MISTRUST AND THE DEMISE OF THE FAMILY AND MORAL VALUES. IT FIRMLY BELIEVES, ”I AM RIGHT BECAUSE I AM ME. WHAT I DO IS RIGHT BECAUSE I DO IT.” THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS PLURIFORM TRUTH – WHAT IS TRUE FOR ME MAY NOT BE TRUE FOR YOU. ABSOLUTE TRUTH GOES OUT THE WINDOW. MODERN CULTURE HAS TRADED TRUTH FOR TOLERANCE AND THE CHURCH HAS FOLLOWED SUIT. THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS ARE OBVIOUS. BIBLICAL TEACHING MEANS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO MEAN. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ATONEMENT, THE REDEMPTIVE DEATH OF JESUS – NO NEED FOR EVANGELISM – IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE TRUTHS AND THEY ALL ARE EQUAL, THEN WE DON’T NEED TO CONVERT ANYONE TO CHRIST – IN FACT WE WOULD BE WRONG TO INTRUDE ON THEIR TRUTH. THAT MAKES JESUS NO MORE THAN ONE GREAT MORAL TEACHER AMONG MANY OTHERS IN WORLD RELIGIONS.
THIS NEW THEOLOGY HAS MANY STRONG PROPONENTS IN OUR CHURCH AS EVIDENCED BY THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION ACTIONS. IT HAS BEEN SOLD AS INCLUSIVENESS AND TOLERANCE. SPECIAL AGENDA GROUPS HAVE PROMOTED IT AS A JUSTICE ISSUE. BUT IT IS A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL AND THEOLOGICAL ISSUE. THE CHURCH IS IN THE SOUL-SAVING BUSINESS – WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATION, NOT TO INCLUSIVENESS. . JUST TO BRING PEOPLE IN, TO INCLUDE THEM DOESN’T MEAN A THING. BUT CONVERSION, TRANSFORMATION TO A NEW LIFE IN GOD’S LOVE MEANS EVERYTHING. LISTEN TO A PROMINENT BISHOP, “THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT SELF ACTUALIZATION. IT IS ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSFIGURATION OF LIFE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.” BUT DOESN’T GOD LOVE ME JUST AS I AM? OF COURSE GOD LOVES YOU JUST AS YOU ARE HE JUST DOESN’T EXPECT YOU TO STAY THAT WAY!
ADDRESS TO THE 174th ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE
BY
THE RT. REV. BERTRAM NELSON HERLONG, D.D.
JANUARY 28, 2006
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, MURFREESBORO
GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
WELCOME TO THE LAY AND CLERGY DELEGATES, OBSERVERS AND FRIENDS AS WE MEET TOGETHER FOR THE I74th TIME IN ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE IN THE 177th YEAR OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT AND IN THE 13th YEAR OF MY CONSECRATION. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO FATHER GENE WISE, THE STAFF, AND THE CONGREGATION OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH FOR THEIR GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK IN ARRANGING THIS MEETING, MARCIE RICHMOND, CHAIR, NEWT MALLOY, KATHLEEN HERZOG, ALICIA HOLLIS, COLLIER SMITH, MIKE HURST, ED ARNING, JOYCE ADKINS, BOB PARKER, TERRI STERLING, JANELEE WISE, JEANIE RODGERS, SANDY GLEAVES AND FR. GENE WISE.
THANKS ALSO TO THE ST. PAUL’S ORGANIST AND MUSIC DIRECTOR ANGELA TIPPS AND THE CHOIR FOR THEIR WONDERFUL MUSIC.
ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE DIOCESE, IT IS OUR GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALFREDO MORANTE, BISHOP OF LITTORAL, OUR COMPANION DIOCESE IN ECUADOR AND DEACON HUGO MENDOZA WHO ARE OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, AND TO BISHOP HERBERT THOMPSON WHO GAVE US SUCH A WONDERFUL MESSAGE LAST NIGHT AT OUR CONVENTION BANQUET. IT IS ALWAYS A JOY TO HAVE OUR OWN BISHOP SANDERS WITH US. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT HE GIVES SO FREELY TO ME AND TO THE DIOCESE.
WE WISH TO GIVE THANKS AND RECOGNIZE OUR DIOCESAN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS – FIRST, “VOLUNTEERS”-THE MEMBERS OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAM, DR. PAUL TESCHAN AND MR. DAVID HERBERT; EDITOR OF OUR CROSS AND CROZIER, CHARLIE APPLETON. OUR STAFF: SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST, CATHY HENDRIX OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY, JUDY BUTTNER; AND OUR OFFICE MANGER AND SECRETARY TO THE BISHOP, COLETTE BARRETT,
AS YOU KNOW, CANON ROBERT DEDMON IS NOW DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BOB FOR HIS UNTIRING MINISTRY IN THIS DIOCESE AND PARTICULARLY FOR HIS ELEVEN YEARS AS CANON TO THE ORDINARY AND MANY MORE YEARS THAN THAT AS SECRETARY OF THIS CONVENTION. OUR CANON FOR MINISTRY, ROBERT BRODIE HAS ACCEPTED A CALL TO BE DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. HE HAS SERVED FAITHFULLY AND WITH DISTINCTION IN THIS POST FOR OVER NINE YEARS YEARS, WORKING WITH CONGREGATIONS AND NUMEROUS COMMITTEES TO STRENGTHEN THE MINISTRY AND OUTREACH OF OUR DIOCESE.
WE HAVE RE-STRUCTURED OUR STAFF ASSIGNMENTS TO CONTINUE OUR WORK. THE REVEREND JILL ZOOK-JONES CONTINUES AS PART TIME YOUTH DIRECTOR. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME PART TIME HELP IN THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENABLE HER TO BECOME CANON TO THE ORDINARY AND SECRETARY TO THE CONVENTION. SHE HAS ALREADY PROVEN CAPABLE AND COMPETENT IN THIS POSITION AND IS DOING A FINE JOB. IN ADDITION TO THESE CHANGES, WE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONALLY BLESSED THAT THE REVEREND FRED DETTWILLER HAS ACCEPTED MY CALL TO BE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP. FATHER FRED IS A VOLUNTEER WHO IS A RELATIVELY NEW PRIEST BUT IS A SEASONED MANAGER WHO HAS MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT HAVE ALREADY PROVED INVALUABLE TO THE OPERATION OF THE DIOCESE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO GIVE FREELY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO HELP THE DIOCESE CARRY OUT IT’S MISSION – WILL ALL WHO SERVE ON COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE DIOCESE PLEASE STAND?
THIS IS MY LAST ANNUAL CONVENTION AS BISHOP OF TENNESSEE AND I HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU – MOST OF IT GOOD!
FOR YEARS I HAVE CHALLENGED THE DIOCESE WITH BHAGS – BIG HOLY AUDACIOUS GOALS. THESE GOALS ARE SO BIG AND AUDACIOUS THAT WE COULD NEVER HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH THEM BY OUR SELVES. BUT WITH GOD’S HELP, SUPPORT AND STRENGTH, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARD THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL, WORKED HARD PRAYED CONTINUALLY AND GOD HAS HELPED US DO WONDROUS THINGS.
GOAL #1 – TO BECOME ONE CHURCH IN A MISSIONARY DIOCESE WITH 50 MISSIONARY OUTPOSTS. WE HAVE STUCK TOGETHER AND GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF OUR MISSIONARY OUTREACH AND NOW HAVE 51 MISSIONARY OUTPOSTS. WE HAVE LOST NO CONGREGATIONS DUE TO GENERAL CONVENTION ACTIONS. SINCE 2003 WE HAVE LOST THREE PRIESTS, TWO TO SPLINTER GROUPS AND ONE TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. WE HAVE LOST SOME MEMBERS BUT NOT MANY. THERE HAS BEEN A SHUFFLING AROUND OF MEMBERSHIP BUT AS YOU WILL HEAR, OUR GAINS FAR EXCEED OUR LOSSES.
GOAL # 2 – TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR EXISTING CONGREGATIONS. WE HAVE EXPANDED OFFERINGS IN STEWARDSHIP, EVANGELISM, LONG RANGE PLANNING, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, YOUTH WORK, COLLEGE WORK AND ADDED A NEW INITIATIVE IN PLANNED GIVING.
GOAL # 3 DEVELOP A CATALOGUE OF MISSION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE AND WORLD WIDE.
INSIDE THE DIOCESE, WE HAVE SUPPORTED ST. LUKE’S COMMUNITY HOUSE AND HELPED START THE WEST NASHVILLE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WHICH REHABS HOUSES AND MEETS SOCIAL NEEDS IN THE WEST NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ST. LUKE’S. IN THE WORLD, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN THROUGH OUR COMPANION DIOCESE RELATIONSHIPS. MANY OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MISSION TRIPS, MEDICAL MISSIONS AND SISTER PARISH RELATIONS HAVE INCREASED AND OUR CLERGY HAVE TAUGHT THEOLOGICAL CLASSES IN ECUADOR. SEVERAL OF OUR CONGREGATIONS HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS AND MINISTRIES IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. EACH CONGREGATION HAS BEEN GIVEN A DIOCESAN MINISTRY OUTREACH BOOKLET THAT IS A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY OF OUR CONGREGATIONS’ OUTREACH MINISTRIES. .
GOAL # 4 – TO ADOPT THE UNIVERSAL TITHE. THIS SETTING OF DIOCESAN FAIR SHARE ASKINGS AT 10% HAS LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT LARGE OR SMALL, EVERY CONGREGATION’S GIVING IS EQUAL PERCENTAGE WISE. THIS HAS ALLOWED MORE MONEY TO STAY IN THE CONGREGATIONS TO EXPAND THEIR LOCAL MINISTRIES. SINCE 1993, GIVING TO LOCAL CONGREGATIONS HAS INCREASED BY A WHOPPING 95%. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO THIS GOAL IN RELATION TO THE NATIONAL CHURCH.
GOAL # 5 TO HAVE A TRAINED YOUTH WORKER CONNECTED TO EVERY CONGREGATION BY 2006.
WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 100 VOLUNTEER YOUTH WORKERS AND THE NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL YOUTH WORKERS HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN 2000, WE HAD 4 FULL TIME AND ONE ½ TIME YOUTH WORKERS. NOW WE HAVE 8 FULL TIME, 6 PART TIME AND 8 PAID INTERNS AND ASSISTANTS.
GOAL # 6 TO GROW FROM 12,000 TO 40,000 MEMBERS BY 2006. WE DIDN’T QUITE MAKE THAT BUT WE DID GROW MORE THAN 30%. IN THE MIDST OF VERY TROUBLED TIMES, PERCENTAGE-WISE, WE ARE STILL THE FASTEST GROWING DIOCESE IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. WE ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO DIOCESES WHO HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENDANCE SINCE THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 2003.
GOAL # 7 – TO START ONE NEW CONGREGATION EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2006. BEGINNING IN 1995, WE HAVE STARTED SEVEN NEW CONGREGATIONS THROUGH 2005 AND IT IS OUR INTENTION TO START NUMBER EIGHT THIS YEAR. YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE NATIONAL FAILURE RATE ON NEW CONGREGATIONS IN MAIN LINE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY IS 50%. ALL SEVEN OF OUR CONGREGATIONS ARE HEALTHY, VITAL AND GROWING. INCLUDING HOLY SPIRIT NASHVILLE, THREE OF THEM ARE NOW SELF-SUSTAINING FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT PARISHES AND WE CONFIDENTLY EXPECT ONE EACH YEAR TO ACHIEVE PARISH STATUS THROUGH 2010. 80% OF CHURCH GROWTH OCCURS IN NEW CONGREGATIONS. SO, NOT ONLY ARE WE BEING FAITHFUL TO THE COMMAND OF JESUS TO MAKE DISCIPLES, BUT WE ARE EXERCISING GOOD STEWARDSHIP IN OUR PRIORITIES. FINANCING THE COST OF PLANTING AND SUPPORTING THESE NEW EPISCOPAL CONGREGATIONS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A WONDERFUL GROUP OF EPISCOPALIANS, THE BISHOP’S VOLUNTEERS FOR STARTING NEW PARISHES. SINCE 1997, MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP HAVE GIVEN $1,000 OR MORE OVER AND ABOVE THEIR REGULAR CONGREGATIONAL PLEDGE, TO ASSIST THE DIOCESE IN PLANTING NEW CONGREGATIONS.
I HAVE A DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE TO THESE NEW CHURCH PLANTS, THEIR CLERGY AND THEIR PEOPLE AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM AFTER MY RETIREMENT. UNDERSTANDING THAT CONCERN, A GROUP OF CHURCH LEADERS HAS ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS FOR MISSION, INC. THIS IS A SEPARATELY INCORPORATED FUND CREATED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT THE DIOCESAN BUDGET’S SUPPORT OF NEW CONGREGATIONS AFTER MY RETIREMENT AND TO START AT LEAST ONE MORE NEW CHURCH. THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FUND WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT WILL ALLOW THE NEXT BISHOP OF TENNESSEE TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM OR TO FOCUS THE DIOCESE ON OTHER THINGS. IF THE DECISION IS TO CONTINUE, VOLUNTEERS FOR MISSION, INC. WILL BE A VEHICLE FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF THE DECISION IS NOT TO CONTINUE, THE FUND WILL SIMPLY PAY OUT ITS ASSETS TO THE NEW CONGREGATIONS OVER TIME UNTIL IT IS EXHAUSTED. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FUND HAS NOW RAISED $300,000. IN ADDITION, A $100,000 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCHING FUND HAS BEEN GIVEN AND $35,000 HAS GIVEN OR PLEDGED TOWARD THAT MATCH. WE ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR $65,000 TO BRING THE FUND TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. I HAVE HOPES THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY WILL BE PLEDGED TO PURCHASE LAND FOR THESE NEW CONGREGATIONS. I HAVE PLEDGE CARDS WITH ME AND WILL BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ANY ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP US MEET THIS GOAL.
NOW TO THE DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR CHURCH AND THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION. THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN A DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE PRIMATES OF ALL OF THE CHURCHES IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION INCLUDING OUR OWN PRESIDING BISHOP AS, “TEARING THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNION.”
AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION AND CERTAIN ACTIONS OF ONE DIOCESE IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN CANADA, THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY APPOINTED THE LAMBETH COMMISSION. THE RESULT WAS THE WINDSOR REPORT, A SEMINAL DOCUMENT ON THE POLITY AND THEOLOGY OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION WRITTEN BY REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR WORLD WIDE COMMUNION. IN POLITE BRITISH UNDERSTATEMENT, THE REPORT ASKED ECUSA TO “EXPRESS REGRET FOR THE INNOVATIVE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION AND “TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER INNOVATIVE ACTS WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH AND CONSENSUS IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION.”
IN A RESOLUTION PASSED AT LAST YEAR’S ANNUAL CONVENTION, THE DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE EXPRESSED REGRET TO THE PRIMATES AND THE CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION FOR THE PART WE HAVE PLAYED AS A MEMBER DIOCESE OF ECUSA IN THESE INNOVATIVE ACTS AND COMMITTED OURSELVES TO WALK TOGETHER WITH THE PRIMATES AND CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION AND NOT APART FROM THEM.
THE WINDSOR REPORT WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT WILL OCCUR AT THE UPCOMING 2006 GENERAL CONVENTION IN COLUMBUS, OHIO THIS JUNE. WE NEED EVERY EPISCOPALIAN TO BE WELL INFORMED ON WHAT THE REPORT IS AND IS NOT SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND ANY ACTIONS BY THE GENERAL CONVENTION. THEREFORE, I AM ASKING EVERY CONGREGATION THAT HAS NOT DONE SO ALREADY, TO STUDY THE REPORT. THE REV. LEIGH SPRUILL AND THE REV. TIM JONES OF ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH HAVE PREPARED A STUDY GUIDE TO THE WINDSOR REPORT. IT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE REGISTRATION TABLE IN THE NARTHEX AND WILL BE HELPFUL IN YOUR STUDY.
THE WINDSOR REPORT AND YOUR RESOLUTION SUPPORTING IT GIVE ME GREAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE AT OUR ROOTS AND AT OUR BEST, WE ARE ANGLICANS. IT WAS FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND THAT OUR FOREBEARS CAME. WITHOUT THEIR MISSIONARY EFFORTS, THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOULD NOT EXIST.
IT DISTRESSES ME WHEN I HEAR EPISCOPALIANS SAY, “WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT CHURCH, JUST LIKE AMERICA IS AN INDEPENDENT NATION. WE DON’T NEED THOSE FOREIGN BISHOPS TELLING US WHAT TO DO.” THAT KIND OF THINKING IS JUST PLAIN WRONG! IT IS A TOTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF ANGLICANISM AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO THE WORLDWIDE COMMUNION. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS NOT INDEPENDENT, WE ARE INTERDEPENDENT. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT UNDERSTAND MY IDENTITY AS AN EPISCOPALIAN APART FROM BEING A PART OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION. SPEAKING TO A SMALL GROUP OF BISHOPS, OUR PRESIDING BISHOP WAS ASKED ABOUT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH LEAVING THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION. HE STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF A SMALL PROTESTANT AMERICAN SECT. WITHOUT THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD BE. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THAT EITHER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED AN ANGLICAN EPISCOPALIAN AND I INTEND TO REMAIN EXACTLY THAT. LISTEN TO WHAT ONE OF OUR CLERGY HAS WRITTEN: “EACH SUNDAY WHEN I STAND TO RECITE THE NICENE CREED AND CONFESS BELIEF IN ‘ONE, HOLY CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH,’ I DO SO THANKFUL THAT THIS CONFESSION FLOWS THROUGH MY MEMBERSHIP IN AN ANGLICAN TRADITION THAT IS LARGER THAN MY PARISH, LARGER THAN MY DIOCESE OR NATIONAL IDENTITY, BUT RATHER STRETCHES AROUND THE GLOBE TODAY AND BACK THROUGH TIME ALL THE WAY TO THE APOSTLES.”
HERE IS MY TAKE ON THE PRESENT SITUATION IN OUR CHURCH. IT BEGINS WITH SOME BAD NEWS AND SOME GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION IN CONSENTING TO THE CONSECRATION AS A BISHOP, A MAN LIVING IN A HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER MAN HAS DRAWN A LINE THAT SEPARATES CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY THOSE WHO AGREE AND THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THAT ACTION AND THE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AND THE THEOLOGICAL TEACHING THAT JUSTIFY IT. . THAT LINE MEANS THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A MIDDLE OR MODERATE POSITION – YOU ARE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION HAS DRAWN THAT LINE AND WE NOW HAVE A CLEAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND TEACHINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG SUBMERGED BUT ARE NOW IN THE OPEN SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THEM.
ARTICLES AND LETTERS IN CHURCH PUBLICATIONS AND TONS OF E-MAIL BEAR OUT THE FACT THAT THE DIVISION IS REALLY OVER BASIC THEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL ISSUES. THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY ARE JUST THE PRESENTING PROBLEM, THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
FATHER ANDREW ARCHIE, WRITING IN THE ANGLICAN DIGEST SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS THE REFORMATION THAT REJECTED THE NOTION OF THE CHURCH AS THE MEDIATOR OF GOD’S GRACE. THE PERSONAL COMMITMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER BECAME THE BASIC UNIT OF THE FAITH. OVER THE CENTURIES SINCE, THAT CONCEPT HAS BEEN DISTORTED TO MEAN THAT PERSONAL FULFILLMENT IS PARAMOUNT – EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. THIS UNBRIDLED INDIVIDUALISM HAS PRODUCED DISASTROUS RESULTS IN OUR TIME. IT IS A PRIMARY REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF AUTHORITY, INSTITUTIONAL MISTRUST AND THE DEMISE OF THE FAMILY AND MORAL VALUES. IT FIRMLY BELIEVES, ”I AM RIGHT BECAUSE I AM ME. WHAT I DO IS RIGHT BECAUSE I DO IT.” THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS PLURIFORM TRUTH – WHAT IS TRUE FOR ME MAY NOT BE TRUE FOR YOU. ABSOLUTE TRUTH GOES OUT THE WINDOW. MODERN CULTURE HAS TRADED TRUTH FOR TOLERANCE AND THE CHURCH HAS FOLLOWED SUIT. THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS ARE OBVIOUS. BIBLICAL TEACHING MEANS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO MEAN. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ATONEMENT, THE REDEMPTIVE DEATH OF JESUS – NO NEED FOR EVANGELISM – IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE TRUTHS AND THEY ALL ARE EQUAL, THEN WE DON’T NEED TO CONVERT ANYONE TO CHRIST – IN FACT WE WOULD BE WRONG TO INTRUDE ON THEIR TRUTH. THAT MAKES JESUS NO MORE THAN ONE GREAT MORAL TEACHER AMONG MANY OTHERS IN WORLD RELIGIONS.
THIS NEW THEOLOGY HAS MANY STRONG PROPONENTS IN OUR CHURCH AS EVIDENCED BY THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION ACTIONS. IT HAS BEEN SOLD AS INCLUSIVENESS AND TOLERANCE. SPECIAL AGENDA GROUPS HAVE PROMOTED IT AS A JUSTICE ISSUE. BUT IT IS A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL AND THEOLOGICAL ISSUE. THE CHURCH IS IN THE SOUL-SAVING BUSINESS – WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATION, NOT TO INCLUSIVENESS. . JUST TO BRING PEOPLE IN, TO INCLUDE THEM DOESN’T MEAN A THING. BUT CONVERSION, TRANSFORMATION TO A NEW LIFE IN GOD’S LOVE MEANS EVERYTHING. LISTEN TO A PROMINENT BISHOP, “THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT SELF ACTUALIZATION. IT IS ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSFIGURATION OF LIFE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.” BUT DOESN’T GOD LOVE ME JUST AS I AM? OF COURSE GOD LOVES YOU JUST AS YOU ARE HE JUST DOESN’T EXPECT YOU TO STAY THAT WAY!
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
BUT EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMES, WE DO NOT DESPAIR; REDEMPTION IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE. IT IS WHEN THINGS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT THAT THERE IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. FOR YOU SEE, MINISTRY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS MEANS MOST WHEN TROUBLE ABOUNDS. DIFFICULT TIMES CALL FORTH THE BEST FROM US. IT IS TRUE THAT WE PRAY MORE WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE THAN WHEN WE ARE NOT.
WHEN THINGS ARE AT THEIR WORST, WHEN THERE IS THE GREATEST NEED, THERE IS THE GREATEST OPENNESS TO REDEMPTION. AND RECONCILIATION.
THIS IS THE TIME TO CALL ON ALL EPISCOPALIANS TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH AND TO CONTINUE OUR WORK. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF GREATEST NEED FOR DYNAMIC, WELL-TRAINED, DEEPLY COMMITTED, NON-ANXIOUS CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS. EPISCOPALIANS ARE AT THEIR BEST IN ADVERSITY WHICH MEANS THAT WE SHOULD BE REALLY GREAT RIGHT NOW!
OUR FAITH AND LOYALTY ARE IN JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR, NOT IN CHURCH STRUCTURES. WE ARE ALL IN THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND IT IS THE PRIMARY INSTRUMENT FOR THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES AND TEACHING WHAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US. AS THE WINDSOR REPORTS SAYS, WE MUST LEARN TO WALK TOGETHER OR ELSE WE WILL END UP WALKING APART
NEITHER THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 2006 NOR THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS IN 2008 IS GOING TO FIX WHAT IS WRONG OR SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO GET IN THE MESS WE ARE IN AND IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT. SO GEAR UP FOR THE LONG HAUL AND GIVE OUR NEW BISHOP THE SAME LEVEL OF STRONG SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SO THAT WE CAN MOVE CONFIDENTLY INTO THE FUTURE. ALTHOUGH WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, WE DO KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE GENERAL CONVENTION DOES OR WHAT THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE SAYS, WE STILL HAVE OUR WORK TO DO, WE HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER SERVICE AND EXPANDED MINISTRIES IS STILL BEFORE US. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US AND IT IS, AFTER ALL, GOD’S CHURCH. GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE AND GOD WILL WIN IN THE END. IN THE MEAN TIME, OUR JOB IS TO BE FAITHFUL, TO WORK AND PRAY TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES, TO BAPTIZE AND TO TEACH ALL THAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US.
A POSTER IN THE DIXIE KREME DONUT SHOP IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. WHERE I SPENT MUCH TIME AS AN UNDERGRADUATE SAYS:
IN ALL OF LIFE
LET THIS BE YOUR GOAL:
KEEP YOUR EYE UPON THE DONUT
AND NOT UPON THE HOLE.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE CHURCH IS TO KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. IF THE MISSION OF JESUS IS TO SAVE THE WORLD AND WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, THEN THAT MUST BE OUR MAIN JOB. YOGI BERRA SAID, “THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAIN THING IS THE MAIN THING.” THE MAIN THING FOR THE CHURCH IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE MISSION OF JESUS IN THE WORLD TODAY. WHAT IS THE MISSION?
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO RESTORE ALL PEOPLE TO UNITY WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST. (BCP P. 855) HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION? BY FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION – MAKING DISCIPLES, BAPTIZING AND TEACHING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.
IF WE FOCUS ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH WILL BE HEALTHY AND WILL GROW, LIVES WILL BE CHANGED, OTHERS WILL BE LED TO JESUS AND DISCOVER THAT HE IS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR AND WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH TO THE HURTING PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FOR WHICH CHRIST DIED.
THAT OLD SAW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVING NO GRANDCHILDREN IS QUITE TRUE. WHEN WE STOP EVANGELIZING – MAKING NEW DISCIPLES, THE CHURCH IS DYING. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE EPISCOPALIANS AND DON’T KNOW IT AND OUR JOB IS TO TELL THEM. (I SAID THAT IN A SERMON RECENTLY AND A WOMAN TOOK ME TO TASK. SHE SAID THAT OUR JOB WAS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS. I CERTAINLY AGREE, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING THEM EPISCOPAL DISCIPLES OF JESUS.) OUR DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES TELL US THAT AT 35 TO 50 % OF THE PEOPLE IN ANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE NO RELIGION AT ALL. AS JESUS TOLD US, “THE FIELDS ARE WHITE FOR THE HARVEST.” OUR MISSION IS CLEAR: TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES, TO BAPTIZE AND TO TEACH ALL THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM JESUS SO THAT WE MAY MINISTER EFFECTIVELY TO A WORLD IN DESPERATE NEED OF GOOD NEWS.
DO NOT MISTAKE WHAT I AM SAYING, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF OUR TIME IN THE CHURCH WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK ON THEM. BUT WHILE WE WORK ON THEM, WE MUST GET ON WITH THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. WE MUST MOVE FROM RELATIVITY TO CERTAINTY, FROM A FEELING MODEL OF MINISTRY TO AN ACTION MODEL, FROM A CLINICAL MODEL TO A PASTORAL MODEL AND FROM A MAINTENANCE MODEL TO A MISSIONARY MODEL.
IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING REACTIONARY AND BE PROACTIVE. IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING SINGLE ISSUE ORIENTED AND BECOME ACTIVE IN FULFILLING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. IT IS TIME TO STOP USING THE TENSIONS IN THE CHURCH TO CAUSE DISSENSION AND DESTRUCTION AND START USING THEM TO GENERATE ENERGY FOR THE EXTENSION OF GOD'S KINGDOM – BEARING THE FRUIT OF THE LOVE OF GOD THAT WE HAVE KNOWN IN JESUS. LETS USE OUR DIFFERENCES TO SHARPEN OUR WILL TO WORK TOGETHER CREATIVELY. AS THE VIOLIN STRING ONLY MAKES MUSIC WHEN IT IS STRETCHED TIGHTLY AND IN TUNE WITH THE OTHER STRINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT, SO OUR LIVES AS EPISCOPAL CHRISTIANS MUST BE STRETCHED AND IN TUNE WITH OTHER EPISCOPAL CHRISTIANS IF WE ARE TO WORK IN HARMONY FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
AS JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “I HAVE MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR IT NOW.”
LET ME CONCLUDE BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR SUPPORT. THESE LAST 12 ½ YEARS HAVE BEEN THE MOST EXCITING AND FULFILLING TIME OF MY LIFE AND MINISTRY. I HAVE DONE MY BEST FOR GOD, FOR THE CHURCH AND FOR YOU. I PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU WILL EXPAND AND ENLARGE THE GOOD THINGS AND USE EVEN THE NEGATIVE THINGS FOR GOD’S GLORY AND THE CARE AND NURTURE OF HIS PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AROUND US.
MAY THE GREAT JOY I EXPERIENCE AT EVERY VISITATION CONTINUE IN THIS EXCITING PART OF GOD’S VINEYARD. MAY THE EXCITEMENT AND OUTGOING LOVE AND PRAYERS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, STRENGTHEN EMPOWER AND SUSTAIN OUR NEW BISHOP AND THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT DIOCESE. . LET US CONTINUE TO REJOICE IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, AND LET US WITHOUT FEAR OR ANXIETY CONTINUE TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD. AMEN.
ADDRESS TO THE 174th ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE
BY
THE RT. REV. BERTRAM NELSON HERLONG, D.D.
JANUARY 28, 2006
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, MURFREESBORO
GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
WELCOME TO THE LAY AND CLERGY DELEGATES, OBSERVERS AND FRIENDS AS WE MEET TOGETHER FOR THE I74th TIME IN ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE IN THE 177th YEAR OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT AND IN THE 13th YEAR OF MY CONSECRATION. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO FATHER GENE WISE, THE STAFF, AND THE CONGREGATION OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH FOR THEIR GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK IN ARRANGING THIS MEETING, MARCIE RICHMOND, CHAIR, NEWT MALLOY, KATHLEEN HERZOG, ALICIA HOLLIS, COLLIER SMITH, MIKE HURST, ED ARNING, JOYCE ADKINS, BOB PARKER, TERRI STERLING, JANELEE WISE, JEANIE RODGERS, SANDY GLEAVES AND FR. GENE WISE.
THANKS ALSO TO THE ST. PAUL’S ORGANIST AND MUSIC DIRECTOR ANGELA TIPPS AND THE CHOIR FOR THEIR WONDERFUL MUSIC.
ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE DIOCESE, IT IS OUR GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALFREDO MORANTE, BISHOP OF LITTORAL, OUR COMPANION DIOCESE IN ECUADOR AND DEACON HUGO MENDOZA WHO ARE OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, AND TO BISHOP HERBERT THOMPSON WHO GAVE US SUCH A WONDERFUL MESSAGE LAST NIGHT AT OUR CONVENTION BANQUET. IT IS ALWAYS A JOY TO HAVE OUR OWN BISHOP SANDERS WITH US. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT HE GIVES SO FREELY TO ME AND TO THE DIOCESE.
WE WISH TO GIVE THANKS AND RECOGNIZE OUR DIOCESAN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS – FIRST, “VOLUNTEERS”-THE MEMBERS OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAM, DR. PAUL TESCHAN AND MR. DAVID HERBERT; EDITOR OF OUR CROSS AND CROZIER, CHARLIE APPLETON. OUR STAFF: SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST, CATHY HENDRIX OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY, JUDY BUTTNER; AND OUR OFFICE MANGER AND SECRETARY TO THE BISHOP, COLETTE BARRETT,
AS YOU KNOW, CANON ROBERT DEDMON IS NOW DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BOB FOR HIS UNTIRING MINISTRY IN THIS DIOCESE AND PARTICULARLY FOR HIS ELEVEN YEARS AS CANON TO THE ORDINARY AND MANY MORE YEARS THAN THAT AS SECRETARY OF THIS CONVENTION. OUR CANON FOR MINISTRY, ROBERT BRODIE HAS ACCEPTED A CALL TO BE DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. HE HAS SERVED FAITHFULLY AND WITH DISTINCTION IN THIS POST FOR OVER NINE YEARS YEARS, WORKING WITH CONGREGATIONS AND NUMEROUS COMMITTEES TO STRENGTHEN THE MINISTRY AND OUTREACH OF OUR DIOCESE.
WE HAVE RE-STRUCTURED OUR STAFF ASSIGNMENTS TO CONTINUE OUR WORK. THE REVEREND JILL ZOOK-JONES CONTINUES AS PART TIME YOUTH DIRECTOR. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME PART TIME HELP IN THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENABLE HER TO BECOME CANON TO THE ORDINARY AND SECRETARY TO THE CONVENTION. SHE HAS ALREADY PROVEN CAPABLE AND COMPETENT IN THIS POSITION AND IS DOING A FINE JOB. IN ADDITION TO THESE CHANGES, WE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONALLY BLESSED THAT THE REVEREND FRED DETTWILLER HAS ACCEPTED MY CALL TO BE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP. FATHER FRED IS A VOLUNTEER WHO IS A RELATIVELY NEW PRIEST BUT IS A SEASONED MANAGER WHO HAS MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT HAVE ALREADY PROVED INVALUABLE TO THE OPERATION OF THE DIOCESE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO GIVE FREELY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO HELP THE DIOCESE CARRY OUT IT’S MISSION – WILL ALL WHO SERVE ON COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE DIOCESE PLEASE STAND?
THIS IS MY LAST ANNUAL CONVENTION AS BISHOP OF TENNESSEE AND I HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU – MOST OF IT GOOD!
FOR YEARS I HAVE CHALLENGED THE DIOCESE WITH BHAGS – BIG HOLY AUDACIOUS GOALS. THESE GOALS ARE SO BIG AND AUDACIOUS THAT WE COULD NEVER HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH THEM BY OUR SELVES. BUT WITH GOD’S HELP, SUPPORT AND STRENGTH, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARD THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL, WORKED HARD PRAYED CONTINUALLY AND GOD HAS HELPED US DO WONDROUS THINGS.
GOAL #1 – TO BECOME ONE CHURCH IN A MISSIONARY DIOCESE WITH 50 MISSIONARY OUTPOSTS. WE HAVE STUCK TOGETHER AND GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF OUR MISSIONARY OUTREACH AND NOW HAVE 51 MISSIONARY OUTPOSTS. WE HAVE LOST NO CONGREGATIONS DUE TO GENERAL CONVENTION ACTIONS. SINCE 2003 WE HAVE LOST THREE PRIESTS, TWO TO SPLINTER GROUPS AND ONE TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. WE HAVE LOST SOME MEMBERS BUT NOT MANY. THERE HAS BEEN A SHUFFLING AROUND OF MEMBERSHIP BUT AS YOU WILL HEAR, OUR GAINS FAR EXCEED OUR LOSSES.
GOAL # 2 – TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR EXISTING CONGREGATIONS. WE HAVE EXPANDED OFFERINGS IN STEWARDSHIP, EVANGELISM, LONG RANGE PLANNING, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, YOUTH WORK, COLLEGE WORK AND ADDED A NEW INITIATIVE IN PLANNED GIVING.
GOAL # 3 DEVELOP A CATALOGUE OF MISSION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE AND WORLD WIDE.
INSIDE THE DIOCESE, WE HAVE SUPPORTED ST. LUKE’S COMMUNITY HOUSE AND HELPED START THE WEST NASHVILLE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WHICH REHABS HOUSES AND MEETS SOCIAL NEEDS IN THE WEST NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ST. LUKE’S. IN THE WORLD, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN THROUGH OUR COMPANION DIOCESE RELATIONSHIPS. MANY OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MISSION TRIPS, MEDICAL MISSIONS AND SISTER PARISH RELATIONS HAVE INCREASED AND OUR CLERGY HAVE TAUGHT THEOLOGICAL CLASSES IN ECUADOR. SEVERAL OF OUR CONGREGATIONS HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS AND MINISTRIES IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. EACH CONGREGATION HAS BEEN GIVEN A DIOCESAN MINISTRY OUTREACH BOOKLET THAT IS A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY OF OUR CONGREGATIONS’ OUTREACH MINISTRIES. .
GOAL # 4 – TO ADOPT THE UNIVERSAL TITHE. THIS SETTING OF DIOCESAN FAIR SHARE ASKINGS AT 10% HAS LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT LARGE OR SMALL, EVERY CONGREGATION’S GIVING IS EQUAL PERCENTAGE WISE. THIS HAS ALLOWED MORE MONEY TO STAY IN THE CONGREGATIONS TO EXPAND THEIR LOCAL MINISTRIES. SINCE 1993, GIVING TO LOCAL CONGREGATIONS HAS INCREASED BY A WHOPPING 95%. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO THIS GOAL IN RELATION TO THE NATIONAL CHURCH.
GOAL # 5 TO HAVE A TRAINED YOUTH WORKER CONNECTED TO EVERY CONGREGATION BY 2006.
WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 100 VOLUNTEER YOUTH WORKERS AND THE NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL YOUTH WORKERS HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN 2000, WE HAD 4 FULL TIME AND ONE ½ TIME YOUTH WORKERS. NOW WE HAVE 8 FULL TIME, 6 PART TIME AND 8 PAID INTERNS AND ASSISTANTS.
GOAL # 6 TO GROW FROM 12,000 TO 40,000 MEMBERS BY 2006. WE DIDN’T QUITE MAKE THAT BUT WE DID GROW MORE THAN 30%. IN THE MIDST OF VERY TROUBLED TIMES, PERCENTAGE-WISE, WE ARE STILL THE FASTEST GROWING DIOCESE IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. WE ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO DIOCESES WHO HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENDANCE SINCE THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 2003.
GOAL # 7 – TO START ONE NEW CONGREGATION EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2006. BEGINNING IN 1995, WE HAVE STARTED SEVEN NEW CONGREGATIONS THROUGH 2005 AND IT IS OUR INTENTION TO START NUMBER EIGHT THIS YEAR. YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE NATIONAL FAILURE RATE ON NEW CONGREGATIONS IN MAIN LINE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY IS 50%. ALL SEVEN OF OUR CONGREGATIONS ARE HEALTHY, VITAL AND GROWING. INCLUDING HOLY SPIRIT NASHVILLE, THREE OF THEM ARE NOW SELF-SUSTAINING FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT PARISHES AND WE CONFIDENTLY EXPECT ONE EACH YEAR TO ACHIEVE PARISH STATUS THROUGH 2010. 80% OF CHURCH GROWTH OCCURS IN NEW CONGREGATIONS. SO, NOT ONLY ARE WE BEING FAITHFUL TO THE COMMAND OF JESUS TO MAKE DISCIPLES, BUT WE ARE EXERCISING GOOD STEWARDSHIP IN OUR PRIORITIES. FINANCING THE COST OF PLANTING AND SUPPORTING THESE NEW EPISCOPAL CONGREGATIONS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A WONDERFUL GROUP OF EPISCOPALIANS, THE BISHOP’S VOLUNTEERS FOR STARTING NEW PARISHES. SINCE 1997, MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP HAVE GIVEN $1,000 OR MORE OVER AND ABOVE THEIR REGULAR CONGREGATIONAL PLEDGE, TO ASSIST THE DIOCESE IN PLANTING NEW CONGREGATIONS.
I HAVE A DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE TO THESE NEW CHURCH PLANTS, THEIR CLERGY AND THEIR PEOPLE AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM AFTER MY RETIREMENT. UNDERSTANDING THAT CONCERN, A GROUP OF CHURCH LEADERS HAS ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS FOR MISSION, INC. THIS IS A SEPARATELY INCORPORATED FUND CREATED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT THE DIOCESAN BUDGET’S SUPPORT OF NEW CONGREGATIONS AFTER MY RETIREMENT AND TO START AT LEAST ONE MORE NEW CHURCH. THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FUND WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT WILL ALLOW THE NEXT BISHOP OF TENNESSEE TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM OR TO FOCUS THE DIOCESE ON OTHER THINGS. IF THE DECISION IS TO CONTINUE, VOLUNTEERS FOR MISSION, INC. WILL BE A VEHICLE FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF THE DECISION IS NOT TO CONTINUE, THE FUND WILL SIMPLY PAY OUT ITS ASSETS TO THE NEW CONGREGATIONS OVER TIME UNTIL IT IS EXHAUSTED. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FUND HAS NOW RAISED $300,000. IN ADDITION, A $100,000 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCHING FUND HAS BEEN GIVEN AND $35,000 HAS GIVEN OR PLEDGED TOWARD THAT MATCH. WE ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR $65,000 TO BRING THE FUND TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. I HAVE HOPES THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY WILL BE PLEDGED TO PURCHASE LAND FOR THESE NEW CONGREGATIONS. I HAVE PLEDGE CARDS WITH ME AND WILL BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ANY ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP US MEET THIS GOAL.
NOW TO THE DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR CHURCH AND THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION. THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN A DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE PRIMATES OF ALL OF THE CHURCHES IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION INCLUDING OUR OWN PRESIDING BISHOP AS, “TEARING THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNION.”
AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION AND CERTAIN ACTIONS OF ONE DIOCESE IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN CANADA, THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY APPOINTED THE LAMBETH COMMISSION. THE RESULT WAS THE WINDSOR REPORT, A SEMINAL DOCUMENT ON THE POLITY AND THEOLOGY OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION WRITTEN BY REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR WORLD WIDE COMMUNION. IN POLITE BRITISH UNDERSTATEMENT, THE REPORT ASKED ECUSA TO “EXPRESS REGRET FOR THE INNOVATIVE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION AND “TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER INNOVATIVE ACTS WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH AND CONSENSUS IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION.”
IN A RESOLUTION PASSED AT LAST YEAR’S ANNUAL CONVENTION, THE DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE EXPRESSED REGRET TO THE PRIMATES AND THE CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION FOR THE PART WE HAVE PLAYED AS A MEMBER DIOCESE OF ECUSA IN THESE INNOVATIVE ACTS AND COMMITTED OURSELVES TO WALK TOGETHER WITH THE PRIMATES AND CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION AND NOT APART FROM THEM.
THE WINDSOR REPORT WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT WILL OCCUR AT THE UPCOMING 2006 GENERAL CONVENTION IN COLUMBUS, OHIO THIS JUNE. WE NEED EVERY EPISCOPALIAN TO BE WELL INFORMED ON WHAT THE REPORT IS AND IS NOT SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND ANY ACTIONS BY THE GENERAL CONVENTION. THEREFORE, I AM ASKING EVERY CONGREGATION THAT HAS NOT DONE SO ALREADY, TO STUDY THE REPORT. THE REV. LEIGH SPRUILL AND THE REV. TIM JONES OF ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH HAVE PREPARED A STUDY GUIDE TO THE WINDSOR REPORT. IT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE REGISTRATION TABLE IN THE NARTHEX AND WILL BE HELPFUL IN YOUR STUDY.
THE WINDSOR REPORT AND YOUR RESOLUTION SUPPORTING IT GIVE ME GREAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE AT OUR ROOTS AND AT OUR BEST, WE ARE ANGLICANS. IT WAS FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND THAT OUR FOREBEARS CAME. WITHOUT THEIR MISSIONARY EFFORTS, THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOULD NOT EXIST.
IT DISTRESSES ME WHEN I HEAR EPISCOPALIANS SAY, “WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT CHURCH, JUST LIKE AMERICA IS AN INDEPENDENT NATION. WE DON’T NEED THOSE FOREIGN BISHOPS TELLING US WHAT TO DO.” THAT KIND OF THINKING IS JUST PLAIN WRONG! IT IS A TOTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF ANGLICANISM AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO THE WORLDWIDE COMMUNION. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS NOT INDEPENDENT, WE ARE INTERDEPENDENT. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT UNDERSTAND MY IDENTITY AS AN EPISCOPALIAN APART FROM BEING A PART OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION. SPEAKING TO A SMALL GROUP OF BISHOPS, OUR PRESIDING BISHOP WAS ASKED ABOUT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH LEAVING THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION. HE STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF A SMALL PROTESTANT AMERICAN SECT. WITHOUT THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD BE. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THAT EITHER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED AN ANGLICAN EPISCOPALIAN AND I INTEND TO REMAIN EXACTLY THAT. LISTEN TO WHAT ONE OF OUR CLERGY HAS WRITTEN: “EACH SUNDAY WHEN I STAND TO RECITE THE NICENE CREED AND CONFESS BELIEF IN ‘ONE, HOLY CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH,’ I DO SO THANKFUL THAT THIS CONFESSION FLOWS THROUGH MY MEMBERSHIP IN AN ANGLICAN TRADITION THAT IS LARGER THAN MY PARISH, LARGER THAN MY DIOCESE OR NATIONAL IDENTITY, BUT RATHER STRETCHES AROUND THE GLOBE TODAY AND BACK THROUGH TIME ALL THE WAY TO THE APOSTLES.”
HERE IS MY TAKE ON THE PRESENT SITUATION IN OUR CHURCH. IT BEGINS WITH SOME BAD NEWS AND SOME GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION IN CONSENTING TO THE CONSECRATION AS A BISHOP, A MAN LIVING IN A HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER MAN HAS DRAWN A LINE THAT SEPARATES CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY THOSE WHO AGREE AND THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THAT ACTION AND THE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AND THE THEOLOGICAL TEACHING THAT JUSTIFY IT. . THAT LINE MEANS THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A MIDDLE OR MODERATE POSITION – YOU ARE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION HAS DRAWN THAT LINE AND WE NOW HAVE A CLEAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND TEACHINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG SUBMERGED BUT ARE NOW IN THE OPEN SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THEM.
ARTICLES AND LETTERS IN CHURCH PUBLICATIONS AND TONS OF E-MAIL BEAR OUT THE FACT THAT THE DIVISION IS REALLY OVER BASIC THEOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL ISSUES. THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY ARE JUST THE PRESENTING PROBLEM, THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
FATHER ANDREW ARCHIE, WRITING IN THE ANGLICAN DIGEST SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS THE REFORMATION THAT REJECTED THE NOTION OF THE CHURCH AS THE MEDIATOR OF GOD’S GRACE. THE PERSONAL COMMITMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER BECAME THE BASIC UNIT OF THE FAITH. OVER THE CENTURIES SINCE, THAT CONCEPT HAS BEEN DISTORTED TO MEAN THAT PERSONAL FULFILLMENT IS PARAMOUNT – EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. THIS UNBRIDLED INDIVIDUALISM HAS PRODUCED DISASTROUS RESULTS IN OUR TIME. IT IS A PRIMARY REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF AUTHORITY, INSTITUTIONAL MISTRUST AND THE DEMISE OF THE FAMILY AND MORAL VALUES. IT FIRMLY BELIEVES, ”I AM RIGHT BECAUSE I AM ME. WHAT I DO IS RIGHT BECAUSE I DO IT.” THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS PLURIFORM TRUTH – WHAT IS TRUE FOR ME MAY NOT BE TRUE FOR YOU. ABSOLUTE TRUTH GOES OUT THE WINDOW. MODERN CULTURE HAS TRADED TRUTH FOR TOLERANCE AND THE CHURCH HAS FOLLOWED SUIT. THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS ARE OBVIOUS. BIBLICAL TEACHING MEANS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO MEAN. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ATONEMENT, THE REDEMPTIVE DEATH OF JESUS – NO NEED FOR EVANGELISM – IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE TRUTHS AND THEY ALL ARE EQUAL, THEN WE DON’T NEED TO CONVERT ANYONE TO CHRIST – IN FACT WE WOULD BE WRONG TO INTRUDE ON THEIR TRUTH. THAT MAKES JESUS NO MORE THAN ONE GREAT MORAL TEACHER AMONG MANY OTHERS IN WORLD RELIGIONS.
THIS NEW THEOLOGY HAS MANY STRONG PROPONENTS IN OUR CHURCH AS EVIDENCED BY THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION ACTIONS. IT HAS BEEN SOLD AS INCLUSIVENESS AND TOLERANCE. SPECIAL AGENDA GROUPS HAVE PROMOTED IT AS A JUSTICE ISSUE. BUT IT IS A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL AND THEOLOGICAL ISSUE. THE CHURCH IS IN THE SOUL-SAVING BUSINESS – WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATION, NOT TO INCLUSIVENESS. . JUST TO BRING PEOPLE IN, TO INCLUDE THEM DOESN’T MEAN A THING. BUT CONVERSION, TRANSFORMATION TO A NEW LIFE IN GOD’S LOVE MEANS EVERYTHING. LISTEN TO A PROMINENT BISHOP, “THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT SELF ACTUALIZATION. IT IS ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSFIGURATION OF LIFE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.” BUT DOESN’T GOD LOVE ME JUST AS I AM? OF COURSE GOD LOVES YOU JUST AS YOU ARE HE JUST DOESN’T EXPECT YOU TO STAY THAT WAY!
JOHN STOTT, AN ENGLISH EVANGELICAL PRIEST HAS A WORD FOR THOSE WHO ARE PUZZLED ABOUT WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH THE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE CHURCH. HE SAYS THERE ARE ONLY THREE OPTIONS: (1) TO GIVE UP AND GET OUT, (2) TO STAY IN AND GIVE IN OR (3) TO STAY IN WITHOUT GIVING IN. GETTING OUT IS THE EASY WAY BUT THAT SACRIFICES UNITY FOR TRUTH. TO STAY IN AND GIVE IN IS TO SACRIFICE TRUTH FOR UNITY BUT TO STAY IN WITHOUT GIVING IN IS TO PRESERVE TRUTH AND UNITY. IT IS THE HARDEST, BUT IT IS THE BIBLICAL WAY OF WITNESS AND FAITHFULNESS. THAT IS WHAT I INTEND TO DO AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL JOIN ME.
BUT EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMES, WE DO NOT DESPAIR; REDEMPTION IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE. IT IS WHEN THINGS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT THAT THERE IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. FOR YOU SEE, MINISTRY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS MEANS MOST WHEN TROUBLE ABOUNDS. DIFFICULT TIMES CALL FORTH THE BEST FROM US. IT IS TRUE THAT WE PRAY MORE WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE THAN WHEN WE ARE NOT.
WHEN THINGS ARE AT THEIR WORST, WHEN THERE IS THE GREATEST NEED, THERE IS THE GREATEST OPENNESS TO REDEMPTION. AND RECONCILIATION.
THIS IS THE TIME TO CALL ON ALL EPISCOPALIANS TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH AND TO CONTINUE OUR WORK. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF GREATEST NEED FOR DYNAMIC, WELL-TRAINED, DEEPLY COMMITTED, NON-ANXIOUS CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS. EPISCOPALIANS ARE AT THEIR BEST IN ADVERSITY WHICH MEANS THAT WE SHOULD BE REALLY GREAT RIGHT NOW!
OUR FAITH AND LOYALTY ARE IN JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR, NOT IN CHURCH STRUCTURES. WE ARE ALL IN THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND IT IS THE PRIMARY INSTRUMENT FOR THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES AND TEACHING WHAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US. AS THE WINDSOR REPORTS SAYS, WE MUST LEARN TO WALK TOGETHER OR ELSE WE WILL END UP WALKING APART
NEITHER THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 2006 NOR THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS IN 2008 IS GOING TO FIX WHAT IS WRONG OR SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO GET IN THE MESS WE ARE IN AND IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT. SO GEAR UP FOR THE LONG HAUL AND GIVE OUR NEW BISHOP THE SAME LEVEL OF STRONG SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SO THAT WE CAN MOVE CONFIDENTLY INTO THE FUTURE. ALTHOUGH WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, WE DO KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE GENERAL CONVENTION DOES OR WHAT THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE SAYS, WE STILL HAVE OUR WORK TO DO, WE HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER SERVICE AND EXPANDED MINISTRIES IS STILL BEFORE US. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US AND IT IS, AFTER ALL, GOD’S CHURCH. GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE AND GOD WILL WIN IN THE END. IN THE MEAN TIME, OUR JOB IS TO BE FAITHFUL, TO WORK AND PRAY TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES, TO BAPTIZE AND TO TEACH ALL THAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US.
A POSTER IN THE DIXIE KREME DONUT SHOP IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. WHERE I SPENT MUCH TIME AS AN UNDERGRADUATE SAYS:
IN ALL OF LIFE
LET THIS BE YOUR GOAL:
KEEP YOUR EYE UPON THE DONUT
AND NOT UPON THE HOLE.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE CHURCH IS TO KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. IF THE MISSION OF JESUS IS TO SAVE THE WORLD AND WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, THEN THAT MUST BE OUR MAIN JOB. YOGI BERRA SAID, “THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAIN THING IS THE MAIN THING.” THE MAIN THING FOR THE CHURCH IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE MISSION OF JESUS IN THE WORLD TODAY. WHAT IS THE MISSION?
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO RESTORE ALL PEOPLE TO UNITY WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST. (BCP P. 855) HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION? BY FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION – MAKING DISCIPLES, BAPTIZING AND TEACHING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.
IF WE FOCUS ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH WILL BE HEALTHY AND WILL GROW, LIVES WILL BE CHANGED, OTHERS WILL BE LED TO JESUS AND DISCOVER THAT HE IS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR AND WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH TO THE HURTING PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FOR WHICH CHRIST DIED.
THAT OLD SAW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVING NO GRANDCHILDREN IS QUITE TRUE. WHEN WE STOP EVANGELIZING – MAKING NEW DISCIPLES, THE CHURCH IS DYING. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE EPISCOPALIANS AND DON’T KNOW IT AND OUR JOB IS TO TELL THEM. (I SAID THAT IN A SERMON RECENTLY AND A WOMAN TOOK ME TO TASK. SHE SAID THAT OUR JOB WAS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS. I CERTAINLY AGREE, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING THEM EPISCOPAL DISCIPLES OF JESUS.) OUR DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES TELL US THAT AT 35 TO 50 % OF THE PEOPLE IN ANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE NO RELIGION AT ALL. AS JESUS TOLD US, “THE FIELDS ARE WHITE FOR THE HARVEST.” OUR MISSION IS CLEAR: TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES, TO BAPTIZE AND TO TEACH ALL THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM JESUS SO THAT WE MAY MINISTER EFFECTIVELY TO A WORLD IN DESPERATE NEED OF GOOD NEWS.
DO NOT MISTAKE WHAT I AM SAYING, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF OUR TIME IN THE CHURCH WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK ON THEM. BUT WHILE WE WORK ON THEM, WE MUST GET ON WITH THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. WE MUST MOVE FROM RELATIVITY TO CERTAINTY, FROM A FEELING MODEL OF MINISTRY TO AN ACTION MODEL, FROM A CLINICAL MODEL TO A PASTORAL MODEL AND FROM A MAINTENANCE MODEL TO A MISSIONARY MODEL.
IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING REACTIONARY AND BE PROACTIVE. IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING SINGLE ISSUE ORIENTED AND BECOME ACTIVE IN FULFILLING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. IT IS TIME TO STOP USING THE TENSIONS IN THE CHURCH TO CAUSE DISSENSION AND DESTRUCTION AND START USING THEM TO GENERATE ENERGY FOR THE EXTENSION OF GOD'S KINGDOM – BEARING THE FRUIT OF THE LOVE OF GOD THAT WE HAVE KNOWN IN JESUS. LETS USE OUR DIFFERENCES TO SHARPEN OUR WILL TO WORK TOGETHER CREATIVELY. AS THE VIOLIN STRING ONLY MAKES MUSIC WHEN IT IS STRETCHED TIGHTLY AND IN TUNE WITH THE OTHER STRINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT, SO OUR LIVES AS EPISCOPAL CHRISTIANS MUST BE STRETCHED AND IN TUNE WITH OTHER EPISCOPAL CHRISTIANS IF WE ARE TO WORK IN HARMONY FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
AS JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “I HAVE MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR IT NOW.”
LET ME CONCLUDE BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR SUPPORT. THESE LAST 12 ½ YEARS HAVE BEEN THE MOST EXCITING AND FULFILLING TIME OF MY LIFE AND MINISTRY. I HAVE DONE MY BEST FOR GOD, FOR THE CHURCH AND FOR YOU. I PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU WILL EXPAND AND ENLARGE THE GOOD THINGS AND USE EVEN THE NEGATIVE THINGS FOR GOD’S GLORY AND THE CARE AND NURTURE OF HIS PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AROUND US.
MAY THE GREAT JOY I EXPERIENCE AT EVERY VISITATION CONTINUE IN THIS EXCITING PART OF GOD’S VINEYARD. MAY THE EXCITEMENT AND OUTGOING LOVE AND PRAYERS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, STRENGTHEN EMPOWER AND SUSTAIN OUR NEW BISHOP AND THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT DIOCESE. . LET US CONTINUE TO REJOICE IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, AND LET US WITHOUT FEAR OR ANXIETY CONTINUE TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD. AMEN.
29 January 2006
Book of Daniel
An interesting take on the Book of Daniel fiasco, including this:
THERE IS ANOTHER DETAIL in Book of Daniel which rings untrue: Daniel's church is packed with people every Sunday. The Episcopal Church is actually dwindling in size, a decline accelerated by recent controversies over sex and theology.
Episcopalians are an increasingly tiny minority in America. But because the church of the chronically well-heeled has been on top of the American social, economic, and political heap for much of the last 400 years, Episcopalians have always been considered fair game for mockery.Book of Daniel only accelerated that mockery. Canceled after only a few episodes, the aborted series at least chronicled one of America's most famously failed experiments in liberal religion.
28 January 2006
A Statement of Conscience
I made the following statement this afternoon at the Diocese of Tennessee Annual Convention.
A Statement regarding the affiliation of the Episcopal Church U.S.A. with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Right Reverend Sir,
Two weeks ago, on the 12th of January, the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America formally affirmed the affiliation of the Episcopal Church with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a registered political lobby. As you know, sir, abortion remains a matter of deepest controversy among this Church’s membership and is perhaps the most contentious issue in American public life. So it should come as no surprise that I and many Episcopalians in this Diocese are profoundly troubled by this action of the Executive Committee and cannot in good conscience support an organization which promotes an act we believe to be gravely contrary to Christian morality. The literature and website of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice reveal that it advocates positions specifically at odds with those of the Episcopal Church as expressed by a resolution of the 1994 General Convention declaring that, “As Christians, we believe strongly that if [the right to abortion] is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.” Indeed, His Grace the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote recently in England’s Sunday Times newspaper, that, “For a large majority of Christians – not only Roman Catholics, and including myself – it is impossible to regard abortion as anything other than the deliberate termination of a human life.”[i] It is certainly true that many of our ecumenical partners, including the Roman Catholic Church, are utterly opposed to the agenda of groups such as the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and this affiliation will unquestionably hamper these relationships and our striving together toward the unity in mission and ministry for which our Lord prayed.
The effect of this action of the Executive Committee, an action which involves the Diocese of Tennessee and every Episcopalian, is to preempt dialogue, further dividing an already polarized Church by taking away one more plot of middle ground upon which we could meet and seek, in charity, to persuade one another.
Therefore, Right Reverend Sir, I respectfully ask that you, the Standing Committee, and the Bishop & Council give prayerful consideration to disassociating the Diocese of Tennessee from this unwise and unwarranted action of the Executive Committee. I further ask that this Statement be included in the record of this Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee. Thank you.
Faithfully,
The Reverend Patrick S. Allen
Rector, the Church of St. Joseph of Arimathea
[i] “People are starting to realize,” The Sunday Times. 20 March 2005
26 January 2006
Designated Giving Resolution
Following is a resolution submitted to the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee by the ad hoc Designated Giving Committee (the resolution explains the origin of the committee). This resolution represents a real best effort, good faith attempt on the part of the committee to recognize one another's concerns and extend charity on every side.
A Resolution to Amend Canon 23 (Sec. 3A)
Resolved, that Canon 23 (Section 3A) of the Canons of the Diocese of Tennessee be amended to read as follows:
It is the duty of each congregation established within the Diocese of Tennessee to contribute its share of the annual budget of the Diocese, including its share of its pledge to the National Church, provided that each congregation be permitted to deduct that portion of its Fair Share designated to the National Church and send it directly to the National Church or other local, national, or international ministries designated by the congregation’s Vestry, and that a report of such contributions to the National Church or other ministries is made to the Bishop & Council. This provision expires no later than the 177th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee.
Explanation:
The 173rd Annual convention of the Diocese of Tennessee passed a resolution amending Canon 23 (3A) and Canon 15 (1) of the Canons of the Diocese of Tennessee as follows:
Canon 23 (3A): It is the duty of each congregation established within the Diocese of Tennessee to contribute its share of the annual budget of the Diocese, including its share of its pledge to the National Church, provided that each congregation be permitted to designate a portion of its Fair Share designated to the National Church to other local, national, and international ministries designated by the Diocese of Tennessee.
Canon 15 (1): “unless otherwise provided in these canons.”
The 173rd Convention further resolved that the Bishop be requested to appoint an ad hoc committee “representing the range of opinion among us to explore this vexing issue during 2005, and present a permanent and more satisfactory solution of this dilemma to the 174th Annual Convention.”
The proposed amendment to the canons is purposefully not permanent, but, it is hoped, might prove to be more satisfactory in the short term. The resolution recognizes that there are many in our diocese who, for the sake of conscience, cannot financially support the budget of the National Church in the wake of the controversial actions of the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. There are also many in the Diocese who, agreeing or disagreeing with the 74th General Convention’s actions, believe that it is a necessity of our Episcopal polity and biblical stewardship obligations to provide such support to the National Church. The proposed resolution is intended to recognize this tension and “make room” for opposing consciences until some greater clarity is made manifest in the life of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, which clarity we may prayerfully hope for by the time of the 177th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee. In this interval, in addition to whatever else the Holy Spirit might work among us, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will have met and been given opportunity to comply, or not, with the norms enjoined in the Windsor Report, and also the Lambeth Conference of Bishops will have met. Under the proposed canonical amendment, the provision allowing for directed giving will expire as of the 177th Annual Convention, so that, unless that or a subsequent Convention intervene, all congregations of the Diocese will be required to fund their share of the Diocese’ obligation to the National Church. Should the proposed amendment fail, the canons will remain in force as currently written, allowing for congregations to designate the National Church portion of their Fair Share pledge to “other local, national, and international ministries designated by the Diocese of Tennessee.”
Submitted by:
The Rev’d Patrick Allen
St. Joseph of Arimathea, Hendersonville
The Rev’d Mickey Richaud
Trinity, Clarksville
The Rev’d James Guill
St. Andrew’s, Nashville
Dr. Richard Light
Advent, Nashville
Ms. Susan Huggins
St. David’s, Nashville
The Hon. Debra Young Maggart
St. Joseph of Arimathea, Hendersonville
Mr. Newton Molloy
St. Paul’s, Murfreesboro
Mr. Scott Kammerer
St. Bartholomew’s, Nashville
The Very Rev’d Ken Swanson
Christ Church, Nashville
Dr. Maura Campbell
Holy Cross, Murfreesboro
Mr. Pete Stringer
Christ Church, Nashville
25 January 2006
Television Redeemed
Have you seen this show? It makes television worthwhile. Look for it in an illustration coming to a sermon near you.
Whet your appetite (eesh!) with a look at this.
Or one of these.
24 January 2006
Equal Rights for Some
A friend and fellow priest responds to my concern about ECUSA's affiliation with the RCRC and says, inter alia,
Last week, my wife, a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, invited me to meet one of her patients – an infant with no name of his own, abandoned by his crack-addicted mother. This child had been born two months previously, very premature at only twenty-seven weeks gestation. Which meant, of course, that the child I was holding in my arms, who was grasping my finger in his little hand, would, had gestation proceeded normally, have had yet another month or so in his mother’s womb. And this meant, as we all know but hate to ponder, that this child’s life in America would have been worth nothing, but for the happy/tragic accident of his premature birth. (One of the great abortion myths in America is that late-term abortions are illegal under the Roe v. Wade ruling; not so.*) Somehow, that child possessed the full rights of any American citizen outside the womb, but could be legally dismembered and killed inside the womb. This is purely a question of our laws, because there can be no question of the humanity of the child, or of “ensoulment”, whatever that may mean – he would have been exactly the same (but covered in amniotic goop) inside the womb.
So, are these laws just? Yet these are the laws ECUSA – and hence all Episcopalians – are advocating. We can leave the varying views of varying religious traditions out of it (at least for my limited purposes here). Our constitutional order is founded on the premise that all human beings are of equal dignity and worth (yes, I realize that our constitution is informed by a certain religious tradition - an inconvenient fact for some) and so should enjoy equal rights under the law; in fact, they do have these rights, whether recognized in the law or not, because the rights are not conferred by the government and its laws but by "Nature and Nature's God." There can be no doubt that the child I held that night at Vanderbilt was a human child, and had I wrung his neck I would have been prosecuted for murder. And there can be no doubt that the same child enjoying a normal period of gestation would have been a fully human child, and at the same time subject to the legal termination of his life. So, again, are these laws just? Should you have to pay for their advocacy in order to be an Episcopalian in good standing?
*See, for instance, Mary Ann Glendon's (Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard) "The Women of Roe v. Wade."
I looked at the "Clergy for Choice Pledge" on the RCRC website and found this,
with which I fully agree:
"We honor the value and dignity of all human life, but recognize that different religious traditions hold different views regarding when life begins and when ensoulment occurs. Because of these honest disagreements and because we live in a society where all are free to live according to their own consciences and religious beliefs, we do not believe any one religious philosophy should govern the law for all Americans."
Last week, my wife, a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, invited me to meet one of her patients – an infant with no name of his own, abandoned by his crack-addicted mother. This child had been born two months previously, very premature at only twenty-seven weeks gestation. Which meant, of course, that the child I was holding in my arms, who was grasping my finger in his little hand, would, had gestation proceeded normally, have had yet another month or so in his mother’s womb. And this meant, as we all know but hate to ponder, that this child’s life in America would have been worth nothing, but for the happy/tragic accident of his premature birth. (One of the great abortion myths in America is that late-term abortions are illegal under the Roe v. Wade ruling; not so.*) Somehow, that child possessed the full rights of any American citizen outside the womb, but could be legally dismembered and killed inside the womb. This is purely a question of our laws, because there can be no question of the humanity of the child, or of “ensoulment”, whatever that may mean – he would have been exactly the same (but covered in amniotic goop) inside the womb.
So, are these laws just? Yet these are the laws ECUSA – and hence all Episcopalians – are advocating. We can leave the varying views of varying religious traditions out of it (at least for my limited purposes here). Our constitutional order is founded on the premise that all human beings are of equal dignity and worth (yes, I realize that our constitution is informed by a certain religious tradition - an inconvenient fact for some) and so should enjoy equal rights under the law; in fact, they do have these rights, whether recognized in the law or not, because the rights are not conferred by the government and its laws but by "Nature and Nature's God." There can be no doubt that the child I held that night at Vanderbilt was a human child, and had I wrung his neck I would have been prosecuted for murder. And there can be no doubt that the same child enjoying a normal period of gestation would have been a fully human child, and at the same time subject to the legal termination of his life. So, again, are these laws just? Should you have to pay for their advocacy in order to be an Episcopalian in good standing?
*See, for instance, Mary Ann Glendon's (Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard) "The Women of Roe v. Wade."
Network News
“As civil and canonical legal matters have unfortunately become a large part of church life for many faithful Episcopalians, it became clear to me that the Network needed to offer formal legal support to our affiliates. Mr. Stephens, with over 35 years of experience as a corporate litigator in Los Angeles, is a leading expert in church law and an obvious choice for the role,” said Bishop Duncan...
The ACN, which was formed just two years ago, continues to grow daily. Presently, affiliates include over 1000 parishes and 2500 clergy, 10 dioceses and 6 convocations, and an estimated 250,000 communicants. From the ACN website.
23 January 2006
Reading Material
While on the abortion topic, here's some good reading:
Frederica Mathewes-Green, From Pro-Choice to Pro-Life
Frederica Mathewes-Green, Seeking Abortion's Middle Ground
Mary Ann Glendon, The Women of Roe v. Wade
Nathan Schleuter, Robert Bork, Constitutional Persons: An Exchange
Candace Crandall, 30 Years of Empty PromisesStephanie Simon, Offering Abortion, Rebirth [a day at an abortion clinic - PSA+]
More on ECUSA & Abortion
Al Kimmel has more discussion of this latest outrage here. Some excellent comments, also.
21 January 2006
ECUSA, abortion, and your pledges
An excerpt from my latest in Designated Giving Committee correspondence:
I will be there and happy to talk through this. However, let me say beforehand that my perspective has changed somewhat since this conversation began. Two days ago, I learned that on 12 January the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Church formally affiliated ECUSA with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The ENS article detailing the Executive Committee meeting is here. The RCRC website is here. You may consider at this point that my heels are well and truly dug in. Formally, there was some ambiguity (some, myself included, would say incoherence) in the ECUSA General Convention resolutions re abortion – support for legality of the procedures, but questioning the morality of most elective abortions, indeed encouraging priests to be ready to offer sacramental absolution to women who have aborted their unborn children; the public policy question was separated from the moral-theological question. However, by affiliating with RCRC, the Executive Committee has now resolved that ambiguity in favor of a clear pro-abortion position. It is no longer a matter of connecting the dots between support of ECUSA and support of pro-choice organizations, but of a bright line running from the individual giver, to the parish, to the Diocese, to the National Church, to the RPRC and its agenda.
I will not materially support that agenda, or a church that supports that agenda; to do so is to become knowingly complicit in evil – and I use that word advisedly. So, I am holding out for a clear segregation of funds in the Diocesan budget. We can offer a method for doing this to the Annual Convention, or we can leave it to the B&C, but folks like me will not support the National Church, even if we must practice a kind of “civil disobedience.”
Finally, I would ask you to consider this: by taking such a strong position on the most contentious and morally-freighted issue of our time, and particularly doing so at the height of the divisions we already suffer, is it not plain that the entrenched powers-that-be in the Episcopal Church are not only being disingenuous when they speak of reconciliation and tolerance, but are actually intent on driving every evangelical- and/or catholic-minded Episcopalian out of the Church?
20 January 2006
The End of the Spear
Coming to a theatre near you:
On Jan. 8, 1956, five American missionaries were speared and hacked to death by a group of Auca Indians in the deepest jungles of Ecuador, making headlines around the world. A movie commemorating the 50th anniversary of the event--and the stranger-than-fiction tale that followed--is being released today. "End of the Spear," based on a 2005 book by Steve Saint, the son of one of the slain missionaries, will be shown in 1,200 theaters across the country... Continue reading.
19 January 2006
OUR SHAME
Former Episcopal Priest, now Roman Catholic candidate for Holy Orders, Al Kimmel posted the following yesterday on his weblog, Pontifications. All of us in the Episcopal Church should be deeply ashamed. And angry.
Living in the Darkness: Episcopalians and the Ethics of Abortion
The Episcopal Church has supported a woman’s right to an abortion for a good long time. Pontifications readers may recall my article about the Episcopal Church’s support of the March for Women in 2004. I daresay that the overwhelming majority of both clergy and laity support the legality of abortion. They may have various ideas about the conditions under which a woman should abort her child, but few would deny her right to do so. I do not have any data to support my claim, but I believe it to be true.
On January 12th, the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Church formally approved the Episcopal Church’s membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
A Christian community that supports the unconditional legal right to abortion has ceased to be Christian; it has ceased to be Church. A Church that is not willing to stand against the evil of abortion cannot be the Church that Jesus Christ founded. The lampstand has been taken away.
If you belong to the Episcopal Church and if you believe that abortion is unjust killing, how can you in good conscience remain in communion with it? How can you remain an Episcopalian? The Episcopal Church has ceased to be “neutral” in this moral battle. It has joined the forces of darkness. Flee, for your soul’s sake!
Very early in my life as an Episcopalian, I think that I supported legal abortions in extreme circumstances. At least I think I did. My memory is hazy. I remember arguing that 97% of abortions are morally unjustifiable and therefore should be made illegal. I’m not sure where I got that 97% figure. But I figured that if we could eliminate 97% of abortions our society would become a dramatically more humane society. We could talk about the hard cases later.
At that time I still wasn’t certain in my mind when the fetus became a human person, whether at conception or after the time of twinning or perhaps later in the pregnancy. But none of that mattered. There is one thing we know for certain: At some point in time the fetus will become a human person and thus worthy of the full protection of the law. And if this is the case, then we had better be damned sure we know when that critical point is before we employ killing violence against the fetus. If we cannot specify when personhood begins, we must always side with human life. Ignorance does not justify possible murder. As Tertullian wrote, “It is anticipated murder to prevent someone from being born; it makes little difference whether one kills a soul already born or puts it to death at birth. He who will one day be a man is a man already.” We cannot say, may never say, the fetus may or may not be a human person, so it’s all right to destroy it. A society that is willing to kill possible persons is just as evil as a society that is willing to kill real persons.
“Human life is sacred and inviolable at every moment of existence, including the initial phase which precedes birth. All human beings, from their mothers’ womb, belong to God who searches them and knows them, who forms them and knits them together with his own hands, who gazes on them when they are tiny shapeless embryos and already sees in them the adults of tomorrow whose days are numbered and whose vocation is even now written in the ‘book of life’ (cf. Ps 139: 1, 13-16). There too, when they are still in their mothers’ womb—as many passages of the Bible bear witness—they are the personal objects of God’s loving and fatherly providence” (John Paul II, Evangelium vitae).
I know how difficult this issue is for all of us. All of our lives have been touched by abortion. Women and girls dear to us have had abortions. Perhaps you have had an abortion. We all walk in the darkness. None of us are without guilt. Now more than ever moral clarity is needed. I thank God for the firm, unwavering, and courageous witness of the Catholic Church.
For a recent discussion of the question when human life begins, see Anthony Kenny, “Life Stories.” I invite your comments on Kenny’s article.
ECUSA: to fund or not to fund?
Below is my opening round in correspondence among the members of an ad hoc committe to facilitate "designated giving" - that is, making it possible for parishes to ensure their pledges do not support the budget of ECUSA - to the Diocese of Tennessee:
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year – I hope this finds you well. Did you remember there was a “designated giving” committee and that you were on it? Me, neither. In any case, Bp. Herlong has asked for a report and possibly a resolution for the fast-approaching Diocesan Convention. Our charge, incorporated into the resolution passed last year is “to present a permanent and more satisfactory solution of this dilemma to the 174th Annual Convention.” The resolution passed at Convention last year amended the Canons as follows:
[Canon 23 (3A) is amended as follows:]
It is the duty of each congregation established within the Diocese of Tennessee to contribute its share of the annual budget of the Diocese, including its share of its pledge to the National Church, provided that each congregation be permitted to designate a portion of its Fair Share designated to the National Church to other local, national, and international ministries designated by the Diocese of Tennessee.
[and Canon 15 (1) is amended by adding the following words:]
“unless otherwise provided in these canons.”
It seems to me that the wisest thing to do at this point is to offer a brief report and/or simple resolution which takes into account the reality of our situation – namely, that many traditionalists among us will not support the budget of the National Church, and not simply as a means of protest but as a matter of conscience. Currently at my own parish, we make a pledge to the Diocese (based on an actual tithe of our income) and subtract a tithe from that amount which is then given to the Anglican Communion Network. Doing so allows me to tell my concerned parishioners that their giving to the parish will not support the National Church’s budget. However, I can tell you that that arrangement was and is a tough sell with many of our people, Vestry included. They do not even want their already discounted contributions going into a fund from which money is then distributed to the National Church.
Having said that, I do agree that this kind of “designated giving” is certainly an abnormal way to for us to relate within the Church. But, again, I do think these are abnormal times; there is no need to rehearse the details of how this has been manifested, but suffice it to say that the actions of the 2003 General Convention precipitated a time of abnormal relating with the Anglican Communion. So, I would suggest that we explicitly acknowledge this tension by placing a “sunset” clause on the provision for designated giving. Perhaps we could structure the resolution so the matter must be reconsidered at the 2009 Diocesan Convention; this would be the first Diocesan Convention following the 2008 Lambeth Conference, by which time we may hope some clarity will have emerged.
As a further consideration, Bp. Herlong would like to see the Diocese (and the resultant budget wars at Convention) removed from the equation. In other words, he would prefer that congregations support, or not support, the National Church directly. I guess that’s fine by me and the makes the Bishop & Council’s life easier. I would make this subject to the same sunset provision and ask that parishes report to the secretary of the Convention of the B&C or whoever is appropriate.
So, my suggested revision of Canon 23 (3A) would be something along the lines of the following:
It is the duty of each congregation established within the Diocese of Tennessee to contribute its share of the annual budget of the Diocese, including its share of its pledge to the National Church, provided that each congregation be permitted to direct the portion of its Fair Share designated to the National Church to other local, national, and international ministries designated by the congregation’s Vestry, and that a report of such contributions to the National Church or other ministries is made to the Bishop & Council. This provision expires as of the 107th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee.
Those are my thoughts, and my thoughts only. One alternative would be simply to submit a brief report stating that we were unable to devise “a permanent and more satisfactory solution of this dilemma.” (That was my initial thought before I started getting phone calls from the Bishop and his Canon.)
Obviously, time is short. Please respond to the whole list with your own thoughts and suggestions as to how to move forward. It may be necessary that we meet. I could be available any afternoon on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (23-25 January) preceding the Convention.
Blessings,
Patrick Allen+, Chairman
18 January 2006
Mine Iron Heart - Holy Sonnet I
Thou hast made me, and shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste,
I run to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday;
I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it t'wards hell doth weigh;
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me,
That not one hour my self I can sustain;
Thy Grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like Adamant draw mine iron heart.
--John Donne
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste,
I run to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday;
I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it t'wards hell doth weigh;
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me,
That not one hour my self I can sustain;
Thy Grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like Adamant draw mine iron heart.
--John Donne
About Me
- Name: PSA+
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Fr. Patrick Allen is priest associate at the Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, S.C., and chaplain for Caritas Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Mine Iron Heart - Holy Sonnet I
Thou hast made me, and shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste,
I run to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday;
I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it t'wards hell doth weigh;
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me,
That not one hour my self I can sustain;
Thy Grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like Adamant draw mine iron heart.
--John Donne
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