Monday

  • Usual early morning committee meeting. Most of it was dedicated to intense and emotional debate over A049, the enabling resolution for the rite for same-sex marriage. I'm grateful that we managed to build in strong safeguards in the language to protect the conscience of theological minorities. But I'm still deeply saddened by the outcome.
  • Once again, took the slot dedicated to daily Eucharist for some personal down time, which is hugely necessary.
  • The morning legislative session was fairly uneventful. See here for a fuller account of both the morning and afternoon sessions.
  • Lunch with Communion Partners bishops, clergy, and laity. It ended up being SRO, but the room was not that big--I think there were four round tables that may have seated 8-10, plus some chairs along the perimeter walls. Comparing this to the overflow crowds we had in a nearby church for "alternative" Eucharists and informational lunches in 2003 in Minneapolis and 2006 in Columbus, and it is painfully obvious what has happened to the conservative wing of the Episcopal Church.
  • The afternoon session brought with it consideration of the rite for same-sex marriage. Bishops from the minority party were well-prepped with talking points, and we pretty much managed to get them all in. Failure was not unexpected, but is nonetheless difficult in the moment.
  • In the evening, there was a dinner for bishops and spouses (though I went stag, as Brenda has returned home), during which we honored those who are retiring before the House of Bishops meets again next March.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Image
Ten years ago, minus about six weeks, I served as the supply priest for Trinity, Lincoln six days before my consecration as Bishop of Springfield. Today I was there for the final regular scheduled canonical parish visitation of my episcopate. (I have a few more gigs on my calendar: March 7 in Mattoon, the Chrism Mass, the Triduum at the cathedral, May 30 in Cairo, and June 27 back at the cathedral--May 2 is available and not yet spoken for--but the every Sunday routine of my life for the past decade (in a larger sense, for the last 32 years) is at a major flex point.) As much as it could have been in the midst of a pandemic, this morning at Trinity was luminous. We confirmed eight adults, six of them qualifying as "young." My homily had to compete with the sounds of active young children. (I would much rather do that than have no kids in church.) Trinity is one of the exciting points of light in my ministry in the diocese. I took my time getting out of Lincoln because I wante...
Read more

Spring 2018 House of Bishops, Day 3

Image
We have new stricter social media rules now in the HOB--no photos taken during a session without the permission of those in it. So ... I'm having to be more creative about finding pics for the blog, because I'm not going to take a panoramic group shot and then contact everyone whose balding head shows in the photo! Once again, the day began with Eucharist. This time, though, I took a pass, and opted for a vigorous walk on a brisk morning. Having looked at the liturgy sheet in advance, there were enough triggers that I knew the net spiritual effect for me would be negative. #selfcare  I will say, however, that HOB worship has gotten incrementally less problematic during the tenure of the current Presiding Bishop, and I give props for that. When we convened at 10:15, there were the usual announcements, then a whirlwind set of summary reports from bishop members of the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) and the Task Force on the Study of Marriage. The full report...
Read more

Saturday

Out the door at 8:30, headed south. Arrived at St Paul's, Alton at about 10:15. Presided over the installation of the Revd Cindy Sever as Rector of Alton Parish. It was an energetic and lovely ceremony. After the post-liturgical potluck I headed further south still, arriving at St James', Marion in time for their regular Lord's Day celebration, which occurs on the eve thereof. Presided, preached, and laid hands on one person renewing her baptismal vows. Dinner for vestry and spouses at the home of St Andrew's, Carbondale parishioner Trish Guyon, which is always an elegant affair. By now she knows what I like to drink and what I like to eat, so it's pretty special.
Read more