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An online supplement to The Witness Magazine |
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Anglican/Episcopal NewsIn the Company of the FaithfulThe election of Gene Robinson continues to dominate news in the international church. In an interview with the new bishop, Herb Gunn seeks to get behind the myths, to learn why Robinson stays in the church, and what he thinks of the Anglican Communion today. [posted 2/4/05] “Tyger!” Anglicanism and William BlakePoets are rarely the first choice for insights on church disputes, but Mark Harris finds that William Blake offers an excellent lens for the Anglican conundrum. Blake is, after all, theologically unmanageable and has a seemingly wild agenda. [posted 1/20/05] “Alea Jacta Est” (The Die Is Cast)A bitter fight has engulfed the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, where a conservative bishop is trying to “dissolve” the diocese's relationship with two parishes. Harold T. Lewis, rector of one of the pair, states his case against civil war in the church. [posted 12/15//04] Disloyal Opposition: Striking Back Against the EmpireThere is more than one politically-charged “L” word these days: liberal, loyal, even love, in these days of attacking what goes on in people's bedrooms. Kenneth Wolman calls himself a moral leper, and refuses to be quiet in the midst of a war for America's soul. [posted 12/10/04] Wrestling with WindsorTensions reign throughout the Anglican Communion: a decision by any key player could change the very nature of the worldwide church. Daniel Webster says the U.S. church is being asked to exclude its gay and lesbian members for the sake of international unity. [posted 12/10/04] What Will We Have?How can the Christian community stay together? Human sexuality divisions are tearing apart churches, including the worldwide Anglican Communion. Tracey Lind seeks guidance in scripture, and finds we are all “prisoners in the Lord.” [posted 11/24/04] The Pharisee and the Windsor ReportThe gospel reading for Pentecost 21 (Oct. 24) tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Katie Sherrod finds this parable to be an apt metaphor for the Anglican worldwide church in the wake of the release of the Windsor Report. [posted 10/20/04] Institution over Inspiration?In a thoughtful, critical response to the Windsor Report, Paul Marshall (Bishop of Bethlehem) expresses dismay at the church's resolute focus on saving itself. Religious movements, he notes, begin with radical disturbance of the status quo. [posted 10/19/04] The Windsor Report: Reimposing Paternalism?At the Oct. 18 London press conference summarizing the report of the Lambeth Commission on Communion, Archbishop Robin Eames used the “family” metaphor for a new understanding of the church. Chris Chivers, covering the event for The Witness , says it was a poor choice. [posted 10/18/04] Integrity Statement on the Windsor ReportIntegrity USA, the Episcopal gay and lesbian advocacy organization, issues a press release in response to the much-anticipated "Windsor Report" of the Lambeth Commission on Communion. [posted 10/18/04] Power, Money, Control . . . It's the Church!There is great worldwide confusion about the growing number of Anglican & Episcopal groups who claim to offer the authentic voice of the church. Daniel Webster says this has little to do with biblical orthodoxy, and a lot to do with winners and losers. [posted 10/15/04] An Anglican Witness to God's Mercy & JusticeIn a submission to the Lambeth Commission facilitated by the Episcopal Church Publishing Company on behalf of several organizations, U.S. Episcopalians propose the legal and theological issues necessary to ground the church's ecclesial life. [posted 10/15/04] The “Crisis” Has Been Blown Out of ProportionIn a submission to the Lambeth Commission, church historian and lay leader Pamela Darling contextualizes the U.S. church conflicts. She sees the desire to maintain power and authority to be central, just as it was in the struggle for women's leadership. [posted 10/20/04] What Accepting Gays & Lesbians Means for the Anglican CommunionThe shift in North American Anglicanism, with respect to the full inclusion of lesbians and gays into the church, is a form of contextual theology, argues Bill Countryman. In a submission to the Lambeth Commission, he discusses the tradition of Anglican belief & practice. [posted 10/14/04] Good Bye Lenin and the Parallel UniverseIn a new German film, "Good Bye Lenin," a family in East Berlin attempts to recreate bygone communist-era surroundings. Brazilian writer Mario Ribas finds this story to be a metaphor for the church's inability to deal with modern realities. [posted 9/30/04] The L.A. Fissure in the Anglican Church DivideA battle is being waged for the soul of Anglicanism, Joseph Wakelee-Lynch discovered in Los Angeles. He believes this struggle suggests Western Christianity is still dealing with the impact of the Enlightenment. [posted 9/29/04] Sacred Victims and the Architects of FearConservative critics of gay rights in the church feel wounded by the mere presence of those with whom they disagree, says Tobias Haller. He asserts that a vocabulary of fear and the need for safety is being misused by an unusual and uneasy alliance of “victims.” [posted 7/9/04] Patient Compassion but Delayed Justice?For 15 tumultuous years, Ted Scott served as the head of the Anglican Church of Canada and one of the leaders in the ecumenical movements and the international Anglican Communion. One of his former key staff, Tom Anthony, reviews a new book about Scott's life, Radical Compassion, and considers his legacy. [posted 6/18/04] Why I Decided to Solemnize Same-Sex MarriagesMassachusetts is the same-sex marriage battleground, and several local priests have taken flack for opposing their diocese's order to not get involved. Renowned justice activist Carter Heyward has led the charge, calling this a justice issue. [posted 6/11/04] Finding Kairos in DallasThe Claiming the Blessing collaborative, a coalition of progressive Episcopalians working for an inclusive church on human sexuality and other issues, met in hostile territory last week: Dallas, Texas. A statement released by the coalition reveals great hopefulness in a time of much despair in the church. [posted 6/2/04] Mission as Reconciling PracticeAt the recent meeting of the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops, a keynote presentation by Willis Jenkins, a young adult missionary and theologian, addressed the church's commitment to mission in the midst of deep divisions. The Witness is pleased to serve as the original source of publication for this powerful challenge to the church. [posted 5/7/04] Sign-On Letter to Archbishop Robin EamesThe "Lambeth Commission" is an international Anglican group working on the volatile issues dividing the worldwide church. U.S. Episcopalians are invited to sign a letter to the Commission's chair, in response to a condemning petition being circulated by the conservative American Anglican Council. [posted 4/27/04] InasmuchPoor children in Honduras are now suffering the backlash of conservative Christians against an inclusive church, reports Susan Russell. She writes of an orphaned girls home that has recently lost $30,000 in revenues – because hundreds of miles away in another country, the founder's husband supported the ministry of a gay priest. [posted 4/7/04] Faith and Dogma in a Cultural “Third World”Numerous African church leaders have recently denounced homosexuality. Sybille Ngo Nyeck contrasts their focus on “purifying” and “cultural norms” to the church's unwillingness to address sexual abuse, and argues that “tradition” is too often used to accommodate injustice. [ En Français and in English .] [posted 4/2/04] Eurocentric Anglican Progressives?Mark Harris's recent essay, “Contending with Anglican Realignment,” has drawn heated response from conservative churchmembers. Evangelical writer Ernesto Obregon says Harris' critique of “fascism in practice” is an example of a Eurocentric U.S. church. Harris responds and debates Obregon's analysis of “post-modernism.” [posted 3/25/04] Sinful Attitudes: A Response to Robert RossIn early February, conservative Paul Zahl spoke out in Alabama against the church's full inclusion of gays and lesbians. Fellow Alabaman Robert Ross authored one of several challenges to Zahl. Now Ernesto Obregon responds, and compares Ross' words to those spoken during the South's racist Jim Crow era. [posted 2/27/04] An Australian Perspective on "Communion"Recently, Daniel Webster's column asked what it means to be "in Communion" with one another, a popular debate in the worldwide Anglican church these days. Robert Forsyth, the Bishop of South Sydney, critiqued his editorial, and Webster responds. [posted 2/13/04] "Last Signal from Carpathia": A Response to Paul ZahlOn Feb. 5th in Birmingham, Ala., conservative cathedral dean Paul Zahl spoke out to oppose recent church actions regarding gays and lesbians. Robert Ross, a former member of that cathedral's clergy staff, was in the audience. He challenges Zahl's theological arguments in an open letter. [posted 2/12/04] "Original Sin"? A Response to Paul ZahlAn ambitious conference on "Anglican Comprehensiveness" is being held this week, at which conservative church leader Paul Zahl delivered an address opposing recent actions regarding gays and lesbians in the church. Tobias Haller strongly critiques Zahl's perspective as "failed theology." [posted 2/6/04] Contending with Anglican RealignmentThere are cries in the Anglican world for "unity" these days, but is that possible? Mark Harris argues that Anglicanism in the post-modern world is ephemeral, and attempts to force unity are a form of "fascism in practice" which will only see the church "wither and die." [posted 1/28/04] Plano: Anglican Conservatives SchismThis week's launch of a new network of conservative U.S. Episcopalians was supposed to help them build momentum to take over the church's leadership. Instead, reports Kevin Jones, infighting and splintering are already causing this young movement to fall apart. [posted 1/22/04] What is "To Be in Communion"?Is there one form of Anglicanism, or are there many? Has "like-mindedness" become our point of reference? These questions are at the heart of the current debate, according to Daniel Webster, on what it means for Anglicans to be in "communion" with one another. [posted 1/22/04] Groups Call for Repudiation of American Anglican Council and NetworkConservative U.S. Episcopalians launched a new network this week, created to oppose the recent actions of the church's elected leaders. Progressive Episcopalians in several of those conservative dioceses call this initiative a "smoke screen" created behind closed doors. [posted 1/22/04] An Open Letter to the Anglican Mission in America from the Episcopal Women's CaucusThe conservative Anglican Mission in America has just released a long 142-page "report on the ordination of women," and the Episcopal Women's Caucus responds to this document. [posted 1/8/04] The Globalisation of Anglicanism Is Rather Like the Globalisation of Many Other ThingsWriting from Britain, Peter Selby surmises that most people in the U.S. who support Gene Robinson's election as Bishop of New Hampshire also opposed their government's war on Iraq. However, he finds there to be a problematic post-colonial connection between the two concerns. [posted 12/17/03] Dealing with Conflict as AnglicansWith deepening divisions in the worldwide Anglican Communion, theologian L. William Countryman offers a historical review of "classic Anglican tradition." To those who are now threatening to leave the church, he states, "We will not sacrifice that [tradition] to satisfy you." [Originally published in July 2003 for the 74 th General Convention; Re-published online 10/9/03]
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