Rounding out worship

From The Rev. William F. Maxwell • Port Townsend, Washington, Nov 16, 2009 I am a retired cathedral dean, ordained priest for 60 years last September. I have gladly tried new forms of liturgy -- embraced some, rejected some. The seating in the round is the most important change in my experience, and I love it! At Grace Church, Bainbridge Island, we worship in the round. We sing a hymn that includes a line, "I see glory in each face", and I do as I look across the church at my friends who are worshipping with me. This doesn't happen readily with the backs of peoples' heads, and those faces at Grace enrich my worship every time. It is community at worship -- liturgy at its most engaging, and not only with fellow Christians but with our Lord. Thank you for the article.

Vatican's Apostolic Constitution explained

From Rich Dykstra • Valparaiso, Indiana Nov 16, 2009 As a liberal-minded Catholic, I would like to see the entire Anglican Communion accepted into the Catholic Church just as it is, as The Anglican Rite of The Roman Catholic Church. But, it's going to be a very long time before the Roman Church "catches up" to the workings of the Holy Spirit in the Anglican Church! Unfortunately, I see hundreds of years passing before the Roman Church "catches up."

Send us your Response

From The Rev. Rob McCann • Lafayette, California, Nov 16, 2009 For eons, if not forever (so I'm dramatic), two groups of people have been historically marginalized within the human family - women and homosexuals.

With the Vatican's invitation to drum up more interest among disenchanted Anglicans to become Catholics, the same incessant unequal beat goes on - and precisely over what so many of us see as two issues of justice not served.

The sudden invitation is curiously un-ecumenical following decades of theological headway and occasional bonhomie. It is wrapped with The Prayer Book and the possibility of married male priests. The sadness for so many of us centers around a powerful hierarchy that continues to disenfranchise more than half of its own members with no questions asked, nor tolerated.

As one who has swum on both sides of the Tiber, may I recommend reading the cautionary tale of the Trojan Horse in Virgil's Aeneid before any planned journey.

PAKISTAN: Church-run school burned down in suspected terrorist attack

From Cherian P. Varghese • Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Nov 16, 2009 We are standing with these Christians of Pakistan, trusting in the power of our Lord Jesus to support them, as they wish to give faithful witness about the true Biblical faith inside Pakistan.

Our Lord will surely help them.

Rethinking theological education

From Dale Carter • Asheville, North Carolina, Nov 16, 2009 I am in the discernment process in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. I find this article encouraging. It seems that there my be options and opportunities emerging that would allow some of us to continue to work and save for further education while still working towards our calling.

I am hoping I am interpreting this correctly. I am interested in more information on this program. Thanks for the article!

First Pakistani woman priest ordained

From Elizabeth Loweth • Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Nov 12, 2009 What a great event! Thank you for reporting it so well. There is another element, though, and she and her husband face prejudice possibly with violence. The women who repesent their primates and who are provincial links for the international Anglican Church women will be supportive contacts for this newly ordained woman. As the link for Canada, I celebrate this ordination and hope she will stay close to other women througout the Anglican Communion via the IAWN, a network established by the Anglican Consultative Council.

Rethinking theological education

From The Rev. Lee A. Gaede • Evanston, Illinois, Nov 12, 2009 It is very frustrating to once again hear presbyteral education be the only subject of theological education, as it is in this article. Seminaries seem to have completely ignored lay and diaconal education, and are now paying the price. Theological education should be about all the people of God. I would hope that the decision makers in the Episcopal Church and in the seminaries would begin to think creatively, with a goal of truly opening theological education to all, not just those preparing for the priesthood.

Southern Ohio gets approval for same-gender blessings as dioceses gather for annual sessions

From Michael McCroskey • Sugar Land, Texas, Nov 12, 2009 The Ohio news saddens me as I see it as just one more wedge splitting the Episcopal Church apart. If we can't read the Bible, what good are we as Christians? The world tells us we're wrong, but we insist we are "enlightened" and continue to move away from the truth.

Episcopalians pick five strategic goals for future

From Barbara Calvin • Winston Salem, North Carolina, Nov 12, 2009 I find it sad that the church wants to focus on youth and youth ministry and DOESN'T want to focus least on multi-cultural inclusion. A multi-cultural world is the world where our youth are living. It is what they value. They are not going to come to a church that is more segregated than their high schools. How will they feel inviting their multi-cultural friends to their faith community when that same faith community doesn't value their friends' experience? The Episcopal Church should be a witness to the inclusion of God. There is a reason why non-denominational churches are growing and the traditional denominations are shrinking ... The church can no longer justify being the most segregated institution that exists.

EPPN urges action on health-care reform

From The Rev. Jay Kanzler • St. Louis, Missouri, Nov 11, 2009 Why is EPPN, which is a not-for-profit entity, engaging in political lobbying? Also, please publish a link where I can find resources and contact Congressmen about defeating this misguided and potentially devastating piece of legislation.

Bishop C. Charles Vaché, of Southern Virginia, dies at 83

From Lawrence Outten • Portsmouth, Virginia, Nov 11, 2009 Bishop Vaché's ministry will long be remembered by those he served and those who served him and the Lord. He was a true Anglican, living and professing his faith in his daily life and ministry. Morning and Evening Prayer were said daily and the Eucharist was celebrated regularly on three days in addition to Sunday. Saints' days were always celebrated on their day during his tenure as rector at Trinity. He was strong in his beliefs, and sometimes willing to change his mind when what is right and proper made it necessary. He was a dynamic and faithful bishop, and after his retirement continued to serve the Lord and the church with strong executive leadership. The church has been greatly enriched by his ministry, and is saddened with his death. How fitting that the end should come for him on All Saints Day. May light perpetual shine upon him.

MAINE: Bishop 'grieved' over defeat of same-gender marriage law

From Robert Sutton • California, Nov 11, 2009 I am really pleased to see a small segment of the American public has the "guts" to stand up to the large "permissive" segment of society that believes that what the Bible stands for does not really count in the affairs of man and society. Our church has unfortunately been dominated by a large liberal segment of society who either have been blinded by permissive bishops and a permissive convention who fly in the face of what our Bible stands for. Christ must be close to building up his wrath to match that of the Father who will deliver his wrath to the earth one of these fine days. Can your Soul bear the brunt of that wrath?

PITTSBURGH: Diocese releases 135 clergy

From Gary Gaertner • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Nov 11, 2009 While generous treatment is appropriate for any returning parishioners and perhaps some of the clergy who were led astray, there is a strong sense that the diocese has acted too leniently. Some of the departing clergy have spread falsehoods about the Episcopal Church as they have swayed their congregations. I have spoken to members of congregations who were very torn by the choice imposed upon them, and worried about the future of their parishes. The attempt to leave with all diocesan assets including operating funds and real property is little more than theft. A thief cannot be forgiven until the stolen property has been returned, and the crime has been confessed. The departed clergy remain defiant and cocksure that they are God's chosen. The rebellion was years in the making and undertaken with great deliberation and scheming, as Robert Duncan supporters were placed in key positions to rig the conventions. The ringleaders of the rebellion should have their ordinations permanently revoked as a consequence of their wrongful conduct and the injury that they have caused. Some megalomania has seemingly been contagious in the circles of the departed clergy. I would not trust any of them to interpret the Gospels with wisdom, or to place their flocks above their own personal interests.

Haunted by love

From Sandy Ragan • Boerne, Texas, Nov 11, 2009 I really like that concept of being "haunted by love," one I hadn't previously encountered. And I wish my own Episcopal church shared your All Saints tradition. Aside from honoring our dead loved ones, I think that this sort of custom and those associated with El dia de los muertos are healthy ways of connecting living and dying, ways that we don't often see in our death-avoidant culture. Thank you for a lovely essay. It left me thinking of what items commemorating my sister, father, and mother that I'd want to bring to the altar.

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