Archbishop of Cantebury

Funny thing --- every time I think we (St. Christopher's) are doing things in a modern way, I find we are behind the curve!!

The Archbishop of Canterbury is on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJ1G_3WPjw

If you have wondered "who is this guy anyway?" This could give you a small taste. PLUS - he is speaking about the upcoming Lambeth conference for most of the Anglican (the general name for the church we belong to) bishops. AND, in so doing he touches on the issues facing our worldwide church.

Although sexuality is the usually named issue, the issues are much more broad and difficult. The underlying issue is the issue of hierarchical authority. As the American bishops pointed out last year, the American church reduced the amount of hierarchical authority after the revolutionary war. (They went on to say: and we have no desire to become a colony again -- paraphrase) After the Revolutionary war we organized a church that has hierarchy -- bishops, but only our General Convention (similar to the US Congress) above the Bishops. The Presiding Bishop has virtually no authority. The Archbishop of Canterbury has no authority over US churches.

Many of our world wide cousins still have a stronger hierarchy and cannot understand that we do not. So they have gone around looking for someone to control us and are frustrated that no such power exists.

(Especially frustrating for me was finding out how many of my ordained, Episcopal colleagues did not understand this! I had friends argue that the Presiding Bishop should do this or the Archbishop of Canterbury should do that. When I pointed out that they did not have the authority to do those things -- I was challenged and doubted -- until they did some research!)

I am impressed that this worldwide gathering of church leaders will spend more time on Bible study than resolutions! What a great model.

We may be behind the technological curve but I am not sure I want to be on U-tube!

Evangelical Manifesto

An article in the News & Record last Sunday mentioned an "evangelical manifesto" which was shaking up Washington DC! Great lead in ... had to go get it. "www.evangelicalmanifesto.com" The article stresses how the term "evangelical" has become synonymous (to many people anyway) with "right leaning Republicans". Since in many ways I consider myself evangelical -- that characterization really bothers me! And frankly, does not fit me.

The manifest states that "evangelicals should be defined theologically, and not politically, socially, or culturally". It goes on to say that "Evangelicals in American, along with people of all faiths and ideologies, represent the greatest challenges of the global era: "Living with our deepest differences"

Wow! We Episcopalians have been attempting to live with our deepest differences --- or at least some CLAIM to be seeking that goal. So to have this group, a group many Episcopalians consider the "other end of the spectrum" from us, to have this group make that claim is both challenging and encouraging.

Can we live up to that standard? A standard to be defined by our theology? More importantly perhaps, what is our theology?

Historically we have said that our theology is basically defined by the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. These are in the Prayer Book on page 358 and page 304 respectively with the Apostles Creed ending with the words: "and the life everlasting".

To that definition I would add (and I think most Episcopalians would agree) "the creeds as expanded upon by the remainder of the Baptismal Covenant" (You can go to www.BCPonline.org if you do not have your copy of the Prayer Book handy!)

As we look over those creeds we discover they say nothing about issues we disagree about, and various evangelical churches disagree about --- capital punishment is probably the easiest example to cite. You can build a pretty good case from Scripture either for or against capital punishment. People who say they go only from Scripture are picking which passages to cite. That's why it is so important to be willing to honestly listen to other people who disagree with us --- it is at least faintly possible they are right and we are wrong!

I mentioned a couple weeks ago how reading sermons and articles defending slavery which were written in the 1850's and 1860's really affected me. In many cases you could hear the sincere faith and belief of the writers. The fact they were wrong in defending slavery did not change the fact that at their deepest level of knowledge and belief they thought they were right. They thought they knew God's will. They thought they were reading scripture as God intended.

I try very hard to remember those authors every time I am absolutely sure I am right!

All that said, there is one issue or question I am totally unwilling to consider being wrong about --- God loves you!!! (and me)

OK I shocked and annoyed a few people by saying I consider myself an evangelical -- at least in many ways. So I guess it is only fair to define the term as I see it: (1) believing God loves us all - equally - even those who do not love God, (2) believing that Jesus meant what He said about how we need to be a servant to all, and especially to the "least of these", and (3) believing Jesus meant what He said in the great commission that our job is to go to all people and preach (word and action) the good news of God's love for them. (btw - that is a Ken Kroohs unauthorized paraphrase of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20

blessings