Vatican denies royal gift rumour

From the BBC-

The Vatican has denied Prince Charles will receive a memento of Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon (pictured) at a meeting with the Pope next week.

Pope Benedict XVI will meet the prince and his second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, when the couple visit Italy.

It had been reported that the Pontiff would give Charles a copy of the 1530 appeal by English peers for the annulment of Henry's marriage.

But chief Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said this was untrue.
It will be Charles's first audience at the Vatican since his divorce from the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Current wife Camilla has also been married before.

Succession rules

Henry VIII's battles with the Vatican over his divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, ultimately led him to separate the Anglican church from Rome and create the Church of England.

The Pope refused permission for the divorce and Henry broke with Rome, passing the Act of Supremacy, which proclaimed the King the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

The rest is here-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8008677.stm

Bribe claims fly ahead of ACK poll

A report about possible bribery in the election of the next Archbishop of Kenya-

Allegations of bribery, lobbying by some candidates and attempts by politicians to influence voting have emerged ahead of elections set for Friday to decide the next leader of the Anglican Church of Kenya.

One of the contestants, Taita bishop Samson Mwaluda, claimed a rival candidate was dishing out money.

“If I do not get favours from God, money cannot influence anything. My greatest weapon are prayers. I have heard money is already exchanging hands but I will not do that because I know I have what it takes to lead the church,” he said in an interview with the Daily Nation at the Coast over the weekend.

He said he depends on God’s miracle to ascend to the top.

The cleric said those who do not have a calling from God are bound to bribe their way to the position.

The 150-member electoral college, the body that will elect the new leader, will gather at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi on Friday to elect the new head in a secret ballot election.

Others in the running are Maseno West bishop Joseph Otieno Wasonga, Kitale bishop Stephen Kewasis and Bungoma bishop Eliud Wabukala.

Also raising allegations that money had begun changing hands ahead of the poll was another bishop from Western Province not in the race who sought anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter.

“There are claims that some people want to influence the outcome of the elections with money. I want to, however, state that this would be unfortunate as we want only God’s intervention,” he said.

Speaking to the Nation in Nairobi yesterday, the church’s equivalent of a secretary-general, bishop Lawrence Dena, said no direct campaigns were allowed and Friday’s election was considered a mere formality as the “head has already been identified by God”.

The rest is here-

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/562338/-/u4aycb/-/

Church should not be silent — Makgoba

From South Africa-

It was the responsibility of the church to speak on all matters affecting “the people of God” and it would not be silent about politics as some believed it should be, Anglican Archbishop for southern Africa Thabo Makgoba said yesterday.

The outspoken cleric has in the past condemned the disintegration of Zimbabwe into a police state, the HIV/AIDS denialism of the government under former president Thabo Mbeki, xenophobic violence and the secrecy surrounding the arms deal.

Yesterday in a speech at the Cape Town Press Club, Makgoba said politicians who advocated the separation of religion from politics were wrong and had forgotten the important role faith-based communities had played in the struggle against apartheid. The dichotomy between religious and political matters was false and superficial.

Makgoba said it was inevitable that the church was involved in politics as a “critical friend” of the constitution, supporting the government when it delivered on its provisions and criticising it when it failed to do so. “The primary task of the church is to promote a constitutional democracy,” he said.

Makgoba added his voice to the litany of concern over the comments made by president-in-waiting Jacob Zuma about the overriding status of Constitutional Court judges. “Judges are human but so are politicians and this is why all are subject to checks and balances,” Makgoba said.

More here-

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A984783

Pennsylvania files lawsuit against Forward in Faith parish

The Diocese of Pennsylvania has filed suit against the flagship parish of the Forward in Faith movement in the US, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, seeking control of the property.

Last month’s pleading, filed on behalf of the diocesan standing committee, asked a suburban Philadelphia court to eject the Rt Rev David Moyer and his congregation from the property, arguing the parish’s secession from the diocese violates canon law which requires parish property to be “held or used for the work of the Episcopal Church.”

The battle between Rosemont’s rector and the Bishop of Pennsylvania, Charles Bennison, began in 2002, when Bishop Bennison deposed Fr Moyer for “abandoning the communion” of the Episcopal Church for contumacy.

Fr Moyer filed suit against Bishop Bennison in a civil court for damages, and in a legal first persuaded the court that the bishop’s actions were so egregious that a civil review was needed. A jury in October 2008 found that Bishop Bennison’s actions did not merit redress. In an unrelated legal proceeding, however, a church court deposed Bishop Bennison for conspiracy to cover up child abuse. His case is presently under appeal.

After he was deposed, Fr Moyer was received by the Traditional Anglican Communion, a continuing church group, and is now a bishop within that church. Following the conclusion of the litigation last year between Bishop Bennison and Bishop Moyer the standing committee in Pennsylvania started legal proceedings to gain control of Rosemont.

More here-

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=4281

Good Stuff in TEC: Massachusetts

‘Communion Camp’

A different kind of First Communion Instruction for children will take place at Grace Episcopal Church on Saturday afternoon, May 2, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Children will learn about this sacrament of the church by baking bread, making crafts, sharing stories, and playing games. The afternoon will conclude with a dinner for all the children and their families.

Children who attend the afternoon activities will make their first Holy Communion the next day, at a special family-friendly worship service on Sunday, May 3, at 10 a.m. To register, call Grace Episcopal Church at 781-762-0959. All are welcome.

“We want children to feel the joy of being part of God’s family,” said Rev. Kate Ekrem, Grace Church’s priest, “so we show the children the meaning of sharing in Holy Communion in fun ways, and talk about how it’s like our own family meal celebrations. And we teach lessons about Jesus and his Last Supper through skits and storytelling so it’s really fun. But the part the kids always like best is getting the behind-the-scenes tour of the sacristy and altar, and getting to see all the beautiful altar things up close. Of course they also love kneading the bread dough!”
So come and learn about First Communion at Grace Church; all are welcome.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/norwood/calendar/x126903791/-Communion-Camp

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Another Big Hat

I have no idea what Bono's doing with this hat !

Faith and the Zen bishop-elect (updated)

If you search the World Wide Web for the name of Father Kevin G. Thew Forrester and the word “bishop,” you will find that an ocean of digital ink has been spilled in coverage of the bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. However, once again, you will find that this is apparently a “conservative” news story, with most of the “news” reports running in alternative, conservative publications and stirring up responses in advocacy media on the left.

Alas, if you look for the story in the mainstream press, you will find next to nothing. This is strange, because there are several interesting and newsworthy angles to this election in a tiny liberal diocese, which has a total membership about the size, or smaller, of a single evangelical megachurch.

The headline grabber is that Thew Forrester is both an Episcopal priest and an ordained — whatever that means — teacher of Zen Buddhism. However, it is also interesting that, when he was elected, Thew Forrester was the only nominee. In an attempt to derail the election, conservatives are asking, “Who anointed him in this manner and why?”

The bishop-elect has avoided mainstream coverage, in part, by declining interviews from publications such as the respected Anglican periodical The Living Church. The lack of info has allowed his supporters to simply say he is being attacked by people who have no interest in understand the complex nature of his approach to these faiths.

However, Frank “Bible Belt Blogger” Lockwood of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has marched into the gap, landing an interview that may be just as hot as his famous — on the record, nicely recorded — interview with former President Carter in which he called the George W. Bush administration the “worst in history.”

More here-

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=10940

Growing churches sit down for ‘Big Lunch’

Churches are being encouraged to grow their own produce – or use local food – and break bread with their own community as part of the Eden Projects nationwide ‘Big Lunch’ this summer.

Launched this month, to give growers and organisers time to prepare for the big day on July 19, the Big Lunch aims to bring communities – both rural and urban - together to create a new sense of neighbourhood and make the most of what they have on their own doorstep.

With a Christian presence in every community the Church of England is keen to tap into the event and support community ventures or host their own.

Church members at St Mary The Boltons in Chelsea have already planted herbs and vegetables for their homegrown ‘loaves and fishes’ meal they plan to host as part of the Earls Court Festival. The Revd Ruth Lampard associate vicar of St Mary The Boltons said: “We are delighted to support ‘the simple act of community’ objective of the Big Lunch project. Through The Boltons Big Lunch we want to reach out to the local community, especially the lonely and isolated, and share good food and sunshine. We are aiming for a festival picnic atmosphere, Le déjeuner sur l'herbe.”

Dr Jill Hopkinson, the National Rural Officer for the Church of England, said this would be a chance for churches to celebrate with their communities: “The rural church has always been deeply involved in its local community and this is a great way to show it. The Big Lunch is an opportunity for rural churches of all denominations to work together to encourage gardeners, support local farmers and food producers and have fun with the whole rural community.”

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr4309.html

Dalai Lama drapes Tutu with scarf of honour

Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has received a spiritual leadership award from Humanity's Team and a gift from the Dalai Lama at Freedom Park in Pretoria.

A representative of the Dalai Lama draped a white scarf around Tutu's shoulders.

"Leaders such as Madiba (Nelson Mandela) spent 27 years in prison and humbly reconciled with the enemy. One would expect them to be bitter," said Tutu.

"The Dalai Lama has been in exile for 50 years and one would expect that by now he should have been corroded by bitterness - and he is not."

Nobel Peace laureates Tutu and F W de Klerk pulled out of a peace conference last month after the South African government refused the Dalai Lama, a fellow laureate, a visa. The conference has been postponed indefinitely.

As Tutu walked in to Freedom Park on Saturday evening, he was greeted with an electrifying mix of African opera, pop and rock music.

Singer Joseph Clark stood beside him, while the Gaabo Motho Tenors, Yollandi Nortjie and traditional dance group Amakhono We Sintu performed on stage.

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4943106

Cathedral plans to market its 'product' abroad

Kent’s top historic tourist traps should market themselves as exports, says a leading expert.

Chris Lowsley, an International Trade Adviser with UK Trade and Investment South East, said the centre of the Anglican world should be seen as a major force in the market for exports, along with the host of other Kent attractions.

He said: "It's not the normal way you think of exporting, but it actually makes sense.

“The South East has a wealth of famous, historical sites - Canterbury Cathedral, Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, to name but a few – and they function like small companies in that they want to attract, retain and generate income from foreign sources, yet they might not think of themselves in terms of a 'product' that they could export.

“They may struggle to target international markets and not focus on where their customers are coming from overseas."

His radical thinking has the backing from the cathedral.

Therese Hislop, head of visitor services attended a presentation Mr Lowsley gave for the tourist board Visit Kent.

She had already analysed where the cathedral's visitors were coming from, and identified that a large number were from the United States.

She said: “The tourist board organised a presentation about a market visit to the USA, and Chris was there looking to help companies that didn't have a traditional 'product' to sell.

More here-

http://www.yourcanterbury.co.uk/kent-news/Cathedral-plans-to-market-its-_product_-abroad-newsinkent23510.aspx

The Pope’s gift for Charles and Camilla — his view on divorce

From the London Times- (is that hat or a pheasant?)

It may be an unfortunate accident or a piece of mischievous theatre. Either way, the Prince of Wales will need all his regal sang-froid when he tears off the wrapping of his gift from the Pope next week.

When the Prince presents the Duchess of Cornwall to Benedict XVI as his wife for the first time, he will receive a gift that may strike an unwelcome chord: a “luxury facsimile” of the 1530 appeal by English peers to Pope Clement VII asking for the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

It is intended as a gesture to help to heal five centuries of schism between Rome and the Church of England, of which the Prince will one day be the head. It is also a reminder of the causes of the rift and of the Vatican’s stern views on divorce.

The Prince met John Paul II at the Vatican in 1985, together with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and represented the Queen at the funeral of the Pope four years ago. However, he has not had an audience at the Vatican since his divorce from Diana in 1996, her subsequent death and his remarriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles.

More here-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6129130.ece

Embrace True Worship, Bishop Urges Christians

From Nigeria-

Christians have been told to embrace true and total worship of God and to repent of their sins so as to escape external damnation.

The Anglican Bishop of Enugu North Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Destiny Eze gave the advise at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, Ngwu at a service marking the festival of songs as part of activities to mark the season of Easter.

According to the Anglican Bishop, the season of Easter does not only begin and end from the Good Friday to Easter Sunday, but that the week before Easter and the week after Easter have a lot to be learned from in the life and ministry of Christ.

He said that Christ did not immediately ascended to Heaven after his resurrection, but stayed for some time and showed himself to many for about eight days before his ascention.

The Enugu North Diocese Bishop also pointed out that the message of Easter hinges on three component of the Christian faith, which are the knowledge of God, power of resurrection of Christ and the fellowship of his suffering.

http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=04/20/2009&qrTitle=Embrace%20True%20Worship,%20Bishop%20Urges%20Christians&qrColumn=NEWS

Good Stuff In TEC: Iowa

Here's parish that's growing. "If you build it they will come"

Church breaks ground for new projects

meet the needs of different styles of worship at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Iowa City, work will soon begin on a variety projects, including expansion.

"This old historic church needs to accommodate all of them," the Rev. Mel Schlachter said.

Following the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service, church members went outside to watch as the first shovels of dirt were overturned to kick off the projects.

This will be the second round of construction and changes at 320 E. College St. in less than 15 years as the parish continues its commitment to remain a downtown church, leaders said.

In 1995, the church added handicap accessibility and a new gathering area as well as restored original entrances and windows, architect Kevin Monson of Neumann Monson Architects said.

This year's $1.8 million project will add about 3,000 square feet of basement space under the church's worship space, add a new side entrance for the lower level, enlarge the sacristy and rebuild the organ chamber, he said.

More here-

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20090420/NEWS01/904200321/1079/news01

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Good Stuff in TEC: Mississippi

Diocesan Website Aids Mississippi’s Unemployed

The Diocese of Mississippi has added a feature to its website that gives employers and Episcopalians looking for work an opportunity to connect.

The most recent statistics from the Mississippi Employment Security Commission estimate that 9.2 percent of state residents able and willing to work are unemployed.

“These difficult times we’re hearing about are a reality for many members of our church, people who are very close to us,” said the Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray III, Bishop of Mississippi. “The church has probably been a little slow to respond effectively and pastorally to those who’ve been impacted in dramatic ways.”

The Rev. Scott Lenoir, editor of The Mississippi Episcopalian, said he was inspired to act after seeing an article in the Diocese of Southern Ohio’s Interchange. The resume and employment opportunity hosting service was announced in an article in the diocesan newspaper that included interviews with the first three persons to post their resumes.

“I was thinking of doing something long before I saw the [Southern Ohio] article,” he said. “The drama, trauma, of going through [unemployment] is something I felt needed to be communicated, to put some faces behind the statistics and get some practical information to people."

After the House of Bishops issued a pastoral letter on the economy at the conclusion of their spring retreat in March, Fr. Lenoir said he spoke with Bishop Gray and the idea came into clearer focus.

“We hope the article and the webpage will provide help to people searching for jobs,” he said. “The webpage particularly may initiate some networking possibilities for people that didn't exist before.”

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/4/17/diocesan-website-aids-mississippis-unemployed

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Anglicans in quiet protest at Springer

Jerry Springer The Opera? I thought that was a redundancy.

IN THE first Christian protest against the Sydney production of Jerry Springer The Opera, a prominent Anglican lecturer has dubbed the show "a vile piece … which offends religious people".

In a post at sydneyanglicans.net, the Reverend Michael Jensen, the son of Sydney's Anglican Archbishop, Peter Jensen, attacked the production for lack of artistic merit and for blasphemous content.

The show, which opens at the Opera House tomorrow, features scenes set in hell and a black Jesus who admits he is "a little bit gay".

"Shock and offence can be cheap artistic tricks which compromise art as art," Mr Jensen wrote. "Our Lord is being terribly besmirched by this tawdry show."

Mr Jensen declined to speak to the Herald on the grounds that it would give the show extra publicity.

The opera was notorious in Britain, attracting more than 50,000 complaints when the BBC televised a performance in 2005. Protesters burnt their annual television licences and BBC executives fled their homes after the organisation Christian Voice published their private telephone numbers and addresses on the internet.

Sydney's Anglicans appear to be taking a more stealthy approach. In his post, Mr Jensen advises against public protests, instead dismissing the show as "not really that good".

More here-

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/anglicans-in-quiet-protest-at-springer/2009/04/19/1240079536191.html

Thou shalt not copy: Playmobil unleashes legal action against toy Bible

From the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" Department

Father Markus Bomhard, who resides in Germany, is being sued by Playmobil, the famous toymakers. Why? Because he used the toys to recreate scenes straight out of the Bible to teach little kids. Father Bomhard took photos of the scenes and created a now defunct website (probably due to the current legal action) he called PlaymoBibel (his spelling, not mine) to display the pictures and use them as teaching aids.

Playmobil is not grateful for the publicity and claims that trademark issues prevent Father Bomhard from using the name Playmobil. The Daily Telegraphs reports that Playmobil were also "horrified that the scenes could offend people of other religion.” In addition, Playmobil did not appreciate that Father Bomhard redesigned the characters with clothing to change their appearance.

Playmobil is responding by claiming that their main issue is really about the disfiguration of the characters. Father Bomhard admitted he did have to melt down some of the figures to achieve the looks he wanted. Playmobil is concerned that children will attempt to deform their figurines and get hurt in the process. Ok, valid point there. They are said to be working on a compromise with Father Bomhard to figure out a way to use the characters without disfiguring them. I assume that when some sort of peace has been reached between the priest and the toy manufacturer that his website will go live again.

I do think it's ironic, however, that Playmobil let it slip they don't want to offend other religions. If that's the case, then perhaps they should consider not selling their nativity scenes and Noah's Ark playsets.

Oh, and here is a similar website that uses Playmobil toys to teach the Bible.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1146-Seattle-Eastside-Parenting-Examiners~y2009m4d8-Playmobil-sues-German-priest-for-using-toys-to-recreate-Biblical-scenes

Church of England bishop accused of trying to set up rival church

The Very Rev Colin Slee, the liberal Dean of Southwark has publicly attacked the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, and said that he was one of three bishops whose position was now "open to some debate".

The Dean's broadside, delivered in the introduction to the annual report for Southwark Cathedral, will infuriate evangelical supporters of the Bishop, 59, and further widen the gulf between the traditional and liberal wings of the church.

The report was distributed to worshippers who attended last week's Easter Sunday celebration at the Cathedral.

In the article, Mr Slee argues that the decision by the Bishop of Rochester, Lewes and Willesden to boycott last year's Lambeth Conference, a meeting of Anglican bishops from around the world which is held every ten years, raises serious questions about their future within the Communion.
He wrote: "One reason why peace broke out at the Lambeth Conference was that the Puritan fringe stayed away, they boycotted the Conference – and they included the Bishop of Rochester, Lewes and Willesden in the UK. It is my view that any bishop who engaged in the boycott has placed himself outside full communion and his status as a bishop of the Anglian Church must be open to some debate"

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5176218/Church-of-England-bishop-accused-of-trying-to-set-up-rival-church.html

Ark. bishop questions possible Episcopal bishop

A candidate to become the Episcopal Church's bishop in northern Michigan has unconventional beliefs that are causing some to question his possible appointment.

The Rev. Kevin G. Thew Forrester denies that Satan exists, doesn't believe God sent Jesus Christ to die for the world's sins and teaches that many paths lead to spiritual salvation. Thew Forrester also altered the denomination's prayer book, which include its baptismal vows and the words of the Apostles' Creed.

Now, as Thew Forrester awaits potential appointment to the Diocese of Northern Michigan, Arkansas bishop Larry Benfield says he and others hope the 51-year-old priest doesn't get the position. Benfield voted against Thew Forrester receiving the position.

Bishops and diocesan governing committees have until mid-July to cast their ballots on confirming Thew Forrester.

"The Book of Common Prayer, for us, is deeply steeped in the tradition of the church and in holy scripture," Benfield told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a copyright story published Friday. "Changes in the prayer book are very serious matters for us in the Episcopal Church."

The rest is here-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ar-bishopsbeliefs,0,2453728.story

Ancient faith spreads word in new ways

From this morning's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Love the hat)

While most Americans slept, Orthodox Christians gathered outside their churches last night carrying icons and candles for a midnight procession in which they would restore light to the darkened interiors, celebrating Jesus' Resurrection from death.

Easter -- Pascha in Orthodox parlance -- is the joyous highlight of their liturgical year. But most of their neighbors are oblivious to it because different church calendars and calculations usually set Orthodox Easter at a later date than the Catholic and Protestant Easter.

Now, thanks to Internet radio, Orthodox Americans can surround themselves with music and teachings of their church 24/7 on Easter and every other day.

Ancient Faith Radio at www.ancientfaith.com and the Orthodox Christian Network at www.myocn.net bring support to isolated believers.

"In my personal opinion, it's been the hand of God working in all of this," said the Rev. Tom Soroka, pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks and a popular teacher on Ancient Faith Radio.

"It's unquestionable that it has brought a daily presence of Orthodoxy into the lives of Orthodox Christians, for whom it's often impossible to come to church every day."

Orthodoxy developed in Eastern Europe and Asia when Christianity split into Orthodoxy and Catholicism in 1054, primarily due to conflict over papal authority.

More here-

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09109/963680-96.stm

Big day in the Bronx: Indians' 14-run second inning powers 22-4 landslide over Yankees

Only the second time the Yankees have given up 22 runs at home !

Fourteen runs, 13 hits and Slam No.2 to boot. Now that's an inning.
"I don't think I've ever been part of something like that," said Ben Francisco.

Not many people have, especially if they're wearing pinstripes.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in a 14-run second inning Saturday as the Indians scored another 20-something victory over the Yankees. This time the final score was 22-4, which isn't as bad the Tribe's 22-0 victory in the Bronx on Aug. 31, 2004 -- the worst loss in Yankee history -- but it will leave a mark.

The Yankees have won 26 World Championships to the Indians' two. They've dominated the regular-season series, with more than 1,000 victories over the Indians. The Tribe, however, has certainly had its moments.
They are the only visiting team to score 22 runs against the Yankees. They've done it twice.

More here-

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2009/04/cleveland_indians_slam_yankees.html

Interview with a Physicist Theologian

Christian thinkers have long employed insights from sociology, literature, and other fields to augment their ideas of how God works in the world.

Yet despite the world-changing insights of science, very few theologians have drawn on physics, biology or geology in the same way.

Renowned Anglican physicist-theologian John Polkinghorne wants to change all that. His new book, "Theology in the Context of Science," examines what topics like space and time can teach us about God, and how a scientific style of inquiry can benefit theologians.

Polkinghorne, who was awarded the Templeton Prize in 2002 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his work reconciling science and faith, spoke about his new book from his home in England. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.


Q: Theology and science are highly specialized, often complex disciplines. Is it feasible for someone to become fully versed in both?

A: I'm not saying that every theologian has to approach theology through the context of science any more than a liberation theologian would say that everyone has to live in base community in South America.

I wrote the book to encourage theologians to take the context of science more seriously ... without having to master all of the technical details.


Q: You write that theologians should be happy to operate in the "questioning" context of science, but they are often not. Why is that?

A: I'm puzzled by that. That kind of thinking impoverishes theology.
Science and theology are cousins on a quest for truth. The insight of science is to move from evidence to understanding, not to start with general principles that will control the whole discussion. Scientists learn that the world is quite often surprising and doesn't match our expectations. I am very happy to practice my religious beliefs in that sort of way.

More here-

http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2009/04/interview-with-a-physicist-the.php

Sheffield’s 500th Ties the Game, and Castillo’s Infield Single Wins It

Only the 25th player to hit 500 hundred homeruns in a career.

Gary Sheffield has been a Met for all of two weeks, a period defined more by his perceived weaknesses than by his obvious strengths. He may no longer throw as well as he once did, or patrol the outfield as deftly, but Sheffield, even at age 40, can still hit. One of his vicious swings Friday night launched him into the record book, as the 25th player to hit 500 home runs.

His pinch-hit, bases-empty blast tied the score in the seventh inning, and the Mets, despite later squandering two bases-loaded opportunities, defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, when Luis Castillo’s infield single scored Carlos Delgado with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. As soon as Sheffield made contact, crushing a full-count slider from Mitch Stetter into the left-field bleachers, he knew the ball was gone.

The crowd of 36,436 erupted as he raised his arms and looked into the Mets’ dugout, which emptied to greet him near the on-deck circle. Jose Reyes reached him first, wrapping him in a big hug, and the game was paused for about three minutes as Sheffield accepted congratulations and responded to the crowd’s standing ovation with a curtain call.

“I never thought it was going to happen like this,” Sheffield said, flanked by his wife, DeLeon, and two sons, Noah and Jaden, who presented him with a homemade card that read, “Hooray you hit it, you hit your 500th home run.”

The rest is here-

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/sports/baseball/18mets.html?ref=baseball

Will Obama's plan to trim charitable tax deductions hurt religious groups?

From The Christian Century-

The White House's proposed 2010 federal budget calls for reducing the deduction for charitable contributions for the nation's wealthiest taxpayers. Some religious groups are asking how that will affect their bottom line. The answer: it on depends who you ask.

Here's what it means in real terms for the 5 percent of Americans whose household income exceeds $250,000 a year. Those families can currently save $350 in taxes for every $1,000 donated to charity; under President Obama's plan, that amount would drop to $280 per $1,000 donation.

"By doing this, you raise the cost of giving," said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a liberal Washington think tank.

By Williams's calculations, the change will result in a 10 percent drop in charitable giving by wealthy Americans, who typically contribute about 20 percent of all charitable dollars. In real dollars, Williams projects a decline of about $6 billion in charitable donations because of the change.

But Williams also said religious institutions may be spared because most wealthy Americans funnel their biggest donations to education, the arts and health care. Think campus buildings, art museums and hospital wards with family names attached.

"My guess is that religious groups will not see nearly the drop that other charitable recipients will see," Williams said.

More here-

http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=6679

Zimbabwe: Anglicans in 'Power-Sharing' Deal

GOVERNMENT has imposed a "power-sharing" deal on the feuding Anglican Church factions to stop the violent clashes that have rocked the church for nearly a year.

Last week, the co-ministers of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa held a three-hour meeting with Bishops Sebastian Bakare and Nolbert Kunonga (pictured) over what sources claimed was the government's exasperation over the "unchristian" behaviour of the Anglican Church.

The sources said the ministers ordered the bishops to implement a schedule of worship agreement, in the presence of their lawyers, to stop the ugly clashes.

"It's a power-sharing agreement, which the government has imposed on the church," said a source familiar with the latest developments in the church.

The rival Anglican Church factions have clashed several times in Harare following Kunonga's withdrawal from the Church of the Province of Central Africa to form the Province of Zimbabwe on January 12 2008 citing the alleged tolerance of homosexuality by Bakare's group.

Since May last year, when a faction aligned to Kunonga appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court order compelling that faction to share church properties, the Bakare group had been battling to worship in Anglican Church premises.

More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/200904170841.html

Only Jesus can fill voids in life

In the Spirit
The Rev. Susan Esco Chandler
Priest-in-charge of St. James Episcopal Church, Amesbury. (Mass.)

At some time in life, each of us faces an emptiness, a void, a frightening feeling of ... well, you fill in the blank.

It happens ...

when you give your heart to someone who doesn't accept the gift

when you learn a sport, practice hard and still don't make the team

when you study and pursue a profession, only to find you hate your work

when you create something beautiful and discover that no one's interested

when you try to resist a temptation but then give in to it again and again ... and again

when you jump to a new job, then lose it to downsizing

when you put money into a home, only to see your equity vanish

when you retire from a long career and wake up with nothing to do

when you lose a spouse to cancer and find yourself all alone in the world.

Too often we pretend that massive voids do not exist in our lives. All of us have heard such things as "believe in yourself and you can do anything." This is dangerous advice. Bad things do happen to good people; many goals are simply fantasies; life rarely rewards us. Indeed, unrealistic expectations may be to blame for the recent rise in the anxiety and depression that many of us are feeling.

The rest is here-

http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_107221207.html

Miracles Do Occur For Beech Island Church (South Carolina)

It was built in 1831 but the historic All Saints Episcopal Church in Beech Island looked like it would come crumbling down during last Friday’s tornado.

“I just stood and looked at the devastation and thought what has happened to this poor old church,” said the Reverend Charlotte Waldrop.

But, the 178-year-old sanctuary still stands. Folks here consider it a blessing.

“It unbelievable, we’re doing something right,” said church member, John Paul.

And it was all right for Rosie, the church cat. She accidentally got locked in the sanctuary after the Good Friday service, but that was a good thing, she normally would have been outside when the tornado hit.

“We call her our miracle cat,” said Reverend Waldrop.

But the folks at All Saints are in need of another miracle, or at least some help, though the church is still standing, the yard is littered with more than a dozen big trees uprooted by the storm, this clean up is too big a task for the small congregation.

“No we can’t we don’t have enough people to do it ourselves so we’re really thankful for the Mormon Church for what they are going to be doing,” said Paul.

More here plus video-

http://www.wjbf.com/jbf/news/state_regional/south_carolina/article/miracles_do_occur_for_beech_island_church/12731/

Good Stuff In TEC: Texas

Episcopal churches complex affordable housing renovations

Local Episcopal churches will celebrate a different type of resurrection Saturday.

The Episcopal churches in Corpus Christi have helped to renovate an affordable housing complex.

The Cliff Maus Village Apartments will be re-dedicated in a ceremony from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday at the apartments,1458 West Point Road. The renovations have helped to replace all of the complex’s roofs, parking lots, heating and air conditioning units and stairways, said John Warren, a Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal parishioner who is on the Board of Trustees and is helping to spearhead the project at the property which has been in operation since 1970 and is owned by the Episcopal churches in Corpus Christi.

“Three years ago I was embarrassed to go out there considering the conditions; it was in poor shape and I was very concerned for the tenants,” Warren said.

The seven parishes involved are: All Saints Episcopal Church, Church of Reconciliation, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Christopher’s By The Sea in Portland and Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal, Warren said.

Warren said the complex was in jeopardy of being foreclosed on because of a lack of money before the Ed Rachal Foundation stepped in to help pay for the $1.5 million in renovations during the past 2 1/2 years.

More here-

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/apr/17/affordable_housing_cliff_maus/

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Emancipated From the Shadows

From the New York Times-

FROM two tiny rooms high up and far back in St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, with its neo-Georgian archways, straight-backed pews and simple, graceful detail, the legacy of slavery in Manhattan looks down.

The stone church, on Henry Street near Montgomery Street on the Lower East Side, was built for a patrician white congregation. But although it was completed in 1828, a year after slavery was legally abolished in New York State, behind the balcony and on either side of the organ are two cramped rooms, built so that black churchgoers could worship there without being seen by white parishioners.

“These spaces were never talked about,” said the deacon, the Rev. Edgar Hopper, an agile, bald gentleman of 79. “People knew there were instances of them being referred to as slave galleries.”

For decades, these galleries languished in a state of disrepair and were hardly discussed. Children often scrambled up the narrow staircases to play on the bleacherlike seats.

But after a decade-long restoration project led by Mr. Hopper, work on one gallery was completed late last month, and the space will open for tours at the end of this month.

The project began when the Rev. Errol Harvey, Mr. Hopper’s supervisor, noticed that census data showed a diminishing African-American population in the gentrifying Lower East Side. Mr. Harvey suggested looking into the silent heritage of St. Augustine’s, which today serves a primarily black congregation, and the task fell to Mr. Hopper.

Not everyone applauded his efforts.

More-

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/nyregion/thecity/19slav.html?ref=thecity

St. Thomas Episcopal Church's rector dismisses volunteer in 'draping' dispute

From Tampa Bay-

The rector of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church recently removed one of the congregation's most prominent members from her volunteer position, creating a painful division for church members.

The Rev. Chris Schuller dismissed Marion Fleming, a retired circuit judge and wife of a former rector, Peter Fleming, from a position known as "warden of the acolytes."

Now the Flemings have decided to move from the Snell Isle church, which she has attended for more than 30 years, and which he pastored for 19. Last Sunday, Peter Fleming's name was removed from church bulletins, which named him as "rector emeritus."

Peter Fleming said he was "shocked" by what happened. "I think his behavior was inappropriate. I think he was unpriestly. He was not pastoral. And I believe he was, in the best sense of the word, unprofessional."

But Schuller said he removed Fleming after "she took black drapings off of what are called processional crosses and hid the draping … I saw her actually hide them." He said that happened on a Sunday morning in March, and he asked her to put the drapings back on the crosses before the 10 a.m. service, but she didn't.

More-

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/article993094.ece

Pittsburgh: Judge Allows Chancellor’s Role, Episcopal Church Intervention

A judge has ruled in the Diocese’s favor on several points in its legal dispute with former leaders over the control of diocesan assets.

In a hearing today, April 17, 2009, Judge Joseph James of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, allowed Diocesan Chancellor Andy Roman’s appearance as the attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church. The judge also granted a motion by The Episcopal Church to intervene in the case.

Both matters had been challenged in earlier court filing by attorneys representing former Bishop Robert Duncan and others who left the Episcopal Church last October.

The judge proceeded to order a hearing on the central issue before him, namely, whether a 2005 Court Order and Stipulation agreed to by Duncan and Calvary Episcopal Church requires that diocesan property must remain under the control of a diocese that is part of The Episcopal Church. Attorneys on both sides agreed the question of whether a diocese may leave the Episcopal Church will be reserved for a later hearing and decision, if necessary.

The judge also declined to “unfreeze” assets held by Morgan Stanley, as requested by Duncan’s attorneys. Morgan Stanley froze the accounts upon learning about the dispute over who is the rightful owner of diocesan assets. The judge referred the parties to work with the court-appointed Special Master to determine whether any of the funds should be released.

No dates have been set for subsequent hearings.

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/judge-allows-chancellor’s-role-episcopal-church-intervention/

or

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_106958_ENG_HTM.htm