Moving Diagonally

Yesterday morning, the last one of this meeting of the House of Bishops, we turned our attention to the state of theological education, with particular attention to the proactive recruitment of young people for ministry, both lay and ordained (as distinguished from waiting for them to self-select). The deans of all the Episcopal seminaries were there (save one who was absent due to illness). I have been on Commissions on Minsitry in two dioceses, Standing Committees in two dioceses, I've been an Examining Chaplain in two dioceses, I've been a General Ordination Exam reader four times, and I've taught in a diocesan formation program for both future deacons and future priests. Of course, I've also been a postulant, candidate, and seminarian, and now I'm a bishop! The process is forever being tinkered with because it's always perceived as inadequate, as not producing the fruit we would like to see. I must confess, I still see it that way, and will probably do my sh...

For the most part, life at a House of Bishops meeting happens non-stop. Sunday morning and afternoon was set apart as "Sabbath" time, for which we all were grateful, and this afternoon is unscheduled as well. Beyond that, between worship, meals, and working sessions, there's scarcely time to turn around. Sunday night we were visited by four bishops of the southern province of the Moravian Church. (They are spiritual descendants of the late 15th century proto-reformer Jan Hus, and the Episcopal Church as recently entered into full communion with them.) They led us in a celebration of Holy Communion according to their liturgy. It was quite interesting on a number of levels, very different in its details from the broad historic tradition of western eucharistic worship, but still preserving the rudimentary shape of Word followed by Sacrament.  Yesterday (Monday) was spent considering the relationship between Christianity and Islam. We had two outside presenters, one of whom...

Yesterday I packed my bags and headed to the airport according to plan, got checked in and cleared security. A few minutes later we got the word that our departure (Springfield to Chicago, then a moderate layover followed by Chicago to Asheville) was delayed due to mechanical issues with the aircraft. I'm all for them taking all the time they need to get that sort of thing right, bit the time frame that gave us meant that I would miss my connection. A phone call to United yielded that information that the best they could do was route me to LaGuardia and deposit me in Asheville (which is still a 30 minute or so drive from Kanuga) around 10:45pm. I made a snap decision, canceled my reservation, retrieved my checked bag, and hit the road: 700 miles, about 12 hours. I arrived at 1am, only about 90 minutes after I would have gotten here anyway, and now I have a car. There may be some moments of regret when it comes time to go home, but on the whole, it was a decent decision. I'm pre...

Read the morning paper (glad the it's more substantive than the daily publication in the small town we came from, and surprised at how seriously people in Springfield take their local politics!). Organized tasks for the day (by which I mean I used my online task management app to decide which items in the queue I would actually try to get done today). Morning Prayer in the cathedral. Took care of some paperwork related to my being a trustee of the Putnam Trust, from which a couple of our congregations receive a significant amount of income each year. Processed a steady stream of emails. (By "processed" I mean that I either responded immediately, flagged an item for later attention, or created a task for a day in the future. My goal is that nothing falls through the cracks. Sometimes I actually meet that goal.) Wrote my first  Ad Clerum  (bishop's letter to the clergy of the diocese). Set up voice mail on my office phone. Dealt with some administrati...

Delivered my mother and two siblings to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for their flights home after the big consecration weekend. For a while, we had nine house guests. Now Brenda and I now have the place back to ourselves (and the four-footed creatures). Took a phone call from Fr Swan, beginning to flesh out some of the details of an extended visit to the Hale Deanery in June.  Worked on a sermon for Lent IV, to be delivered April 3 at St Michael's,  O'Fallon. Took a call from a local pastor in another denomination wanting to make a lunch date with me.  As per usual, the Archdeacon and the Diocesan Administrator and I spend most of our day interrupting one another, usually for quite worthwhile reasons. Lunch with my predecessor, Bishop Beckwith, who is still in town following the consecration. His wisdom on several practical matters is greatly appreciated. Finished my perusal of the diocesan constitution and canons. I agree with the suggestion some ha...