No Anglican Covenant

On this feast of Richard Hooker I offer the following news release:

No Anglican Covenant Coalition
Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity
noanglicancovenant.org


NEWS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO STOP ANGLICAN COVENANT

LONDON – An international coalition of Anglicans has been created to campaign against the proposed Anglican Covenant. Campaigners believe the proposed Covenant constitutes unwarranted interference in the internal life of the member churches of the Anglican Communion, would narrow the acceptable range of belief and practice within Anglicanism, and would prevent further development of Anglican thought. The Coalition’s website (noanglicancovenant.org) will provide resources for Anglicans around the world to learn about the potential risks of the proposed Anglican Covenant.

“We believe that the majority of the clergy and laity in the Anglican Communion would not wish to endorse this document,” according to the Coalition’s Moderator, the Revd. Dr. Lesley Fellows, who is also the Coalition’s Convenor for the Church of England. “Apart from church insiders, very few people are aware of the Covenant. We want to encourage a wider discussion and to highlight the problems the Covenant will cause.”

The idea of an Anglican Covenant was first proposed in 2004 as a means to address divisions among the member churches of the Anglican Communion on matters ranging from human sexuality to the role of women. The current draft of the Covenant, which has been unilaterally designated as the “final” draft, has been referred to the member churches of the Communion. The proposed Covenant establishes mechanisms which would have the effect of forcing member churches to conform to the demands and expectations of other churches or risk exclusion from the Communion.

Critics of the proposed Anglican Covenant, including members of the new Coalition, believe that it will fundamentally alter the nature of historic Anglicanism in several ways, including the narrowing of theological views deemed acceptable, the erosion of the freedom of the member churches to govern themselves, and the concentration of authority in the hands of a small number of bishops. Two English groups, Inclusive Church and Modern Church, ran anti-Covenant advertisements in last week’s Church Times and the Church of England Newspaper aiming to make more members of the Church of England aware of the dangers of the proposed Anglican Covenant.

"If the Anglican Communion has a problem, this is not the solution,” according to former Bishop of Worcester Peter Selby. “Whether those who originated the Covenant intended it or not, it is already, and will become even more, a basis for a litigious Communion from which some will seek to exclude others."

The launch of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition website coincides with the commemoration of the sixteenth-century theologian Richard Hooker. “Hooker taught us that God’s gifts of scripture, tradition, and reason will guide us to new insights in every age,” according to the Canadian priest and canon law expert, the Revd. Canon Alan Perry. “The proposed Anglican Covenant would freeze Anglican theology and Anglican polity at a particular moment. Anglican polity rejected control by foreign bishops nearly 500 years ago. The proposed Anglican Covenant reinstates it.”

The No Anglican Covenant Coalition began in late October with a series of informal email conversations among several international Anglican bloggers concerned that the Covenant was being rushed through the approval process before most Anglicans had any opportunity to learn how the proposed new structures would affect them.

noanglicancovenant.org

Revd. Dr Lesley Fellows (England) +44 1844 239268
Dr. Lionel Deimel (USA) +1-412-512-9087
Revd. Malcolm French (Canada) +1-306-550-2277
Revd. Lawrence Kimberley (New Zealand) +64 3 981 7384

The Collect for Hooker's feast, November 3:

O God of truth and peace,

you raised up your servant Richard Hooker

in a day of bitter controversy

to defend with sound reasoning and great charity

the catholic and reformed religion:

Grant that we may maintain the middle way,

not as a compromise for the sake of peace,

but as a comprehension for the sake of truth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--the BB

Go Giants!

Bay Area folks and former Bay Area folks are pretty excited about the San Francisco Giants winning the World Series (and beating the boys from W's team to boot).

As unlikely as it seems, I was in a bar when they won the pennant and we knew they were going to the Series. Whole lotta shouting going on and I, a total non-sports-fan, was pretty stoked about it too.

I trust this celebratory post will not be deemed trademark infringement. We're just so damned proud of the boys from Baghdad by the Bay (as Herb Caen used to call it).

Yes, I miss Herb and his column.

All right, San Francisco, first we vote. And Wednesday we party!

--the BB

Heart thread - 11/01/2010

We remember Kirstin in our prayers daily, yes? She has offered some focus for our prayers and I ask you to read her latest post here.

She needs folks to travel with her for treatments and we're trying to get the word out in case someone who can do this will read and say "Yes."

If you can come with me, come with me. If you can’t, pray and let me know that you’re praying. Thank you.

and

Honestly, when you don’t see me is when I most need you. If you think of it, e-mail and say hi.

There was a time when she was in seminary and she and I traded e-mails endlessly. I have failed of late. May God help me to do better. God knows I have not forgotten her but I have not told her often enough.

--the BB

Heart thread - 10/31/2010

My father-in-law, Jack, is declining rapidly. I ask your continued prayers that he may be delivered from anxiety and pain in his last days. Thanks to all who have prayed for him and the family.

My cousin Michael and his wife Danielle are grandparents. Aria Evans has entered the world on October 29, her mother's birthday.

So many of my friends and their families need prayer that I cannot begin to list them (and in some cases it is confidential), so I offer them to God and to your prayers.

I also offer thanksgiving for the SF Giant's victory tonight because I can't help myself.

--the BB

You should be afraid

Paul Krugman points out the destructive path we are on if the fecking Republicans gain power. They only have a very few goals: destroy the President and serve the wealthy and corporate power. That is their entire agenda. They don't give a shit about the common welfare, the health of the economy, true national security, their red herring "values" issues, the working class, the Constitution and the rule of law, or anyone but their cronies. It's sad but true.

The Democrats are flawed humans and I try to hold them accountable but the Republican corporate structure is outright evil. Oppose it at every possible opportunity. And do your best not to be silent when lies or stupidity are uttered.


--the BB

I Remember

Televangelist Oral Roberts' gay grandson says "it gets better"

It Gets Better: Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles "True Colors"

The sad truth, bluntly put.

I do love Watertiger, bless her!

And it's the sad truth. The whole Tea Party movement is astroturf, not grassroots, funded and planned by powerful people who are out for their own interests, not the interests of the crowds they foment, stirring up fear and anger.

It's a graphic graphic and I can just imagine the shitstorm if I put it here, so you can click over to it.

--the BB

Whitman: "Why I came to California"

It Gets Better

"Secret Plan"

Heart thread - 10/20/2010 Updated

I ask your prayers for Marsha's brother Scott.

"His heart procedure (cardial ablation where dr. freezes one chamber of his heart to hopefully get it back into rhythm) is tomorrow in Salt Lake. It is about a 5 hour procedure and, as you might imagine, not without risk, plus he has been in arrhythmia intermittently for 5+ years so he is not going into this in the best of health. Our father died of this condition at age 57 so Scott is understandably anxious about it, as are all of us."

UPDATE:
Today (Friday 10/22) I received this e-mail that I pass on to all who have joined in prayer. Thank you so much.

Fthr Paul,

I spoke with my brother last night.....he is recovering very well. His physician was most optimistic that the procedure was successful. While there is no doubt that man is highly skilled, I stand convinced that all the prayers were the primary contributor to this all coming to pass.

Thank you so very much for passing the need onto others.

Marsha

--the BB

Secretary Clinton: "Tomorrow Will Be Better"

Thank you, Madame Secretary.

--the BB

"It Gets Better" (Broadway sings for the Trevor Project)

If you are young (or not so young) and feel alone or are bullied, please hang in there. And no matter who you are, enjoy this song from young folks on Broadway sharing their own experience in song. It gets better.








Broadway stars rock out in a celebration of life, in the wake of LGBT suicides across the nation. Please SHARE this original song and video to help send a message of hope and support. Available October 19th on iTunes, with all download proceeds benefiting The Trevor Project. www.thetrevorprojec.org (c) 2010 Jay Kuo & Blair Shepard. Inquiries: jay@singoutlouiseproductions.com.

h/t to Jon


--the BB

Early Voting Rally on the West Side of Albuquerque

Today the Martin Heinrich for Congress team sponsored a rally for getting out the early vote. It was held at Twisters on Coors here on the West Side of Albuquerque, about ten minutes from my house.

Early voting began about a week ago but only at the County Office; today the polls opened up around town. So about one hour after the polls opened, I went to my nearest one and voted with great joy. This afternoon I headed to the rally. What fun to meet so many people that I had voted for just hours earlier!

Martin Heinrich addressing the crowd

Alex Russell, candidate for NM House, District 29

NM State Treasurer, James B. Lewis

Bernalillo County Assessor, Karen Montoya

NM House Rep. Rick Miera, District 11

Brian Colón, candidate for Lt. Governor of NM
Current Lt. Governor and candidate for Governor
Diane Denish's husband Herb behind Brian

Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III and
Ray Powell, former Land Commissioner and candidate to return to the post

Ken Sanchez, President of the ABQ City Council

Antonio "Moe" Maestas, NM House Rep., District 16 (on the right)

NM Attorney General, Gary King

NM Secretary of State, Mary Herrera

Michelle Lujan Grisham, candidate for Bernalillo
County Commissioner, District 1

United States Senator Tom Udall, NM

U. S. Representative Martin Heinrich, NM-01

Willow Misty Parks for Probate Judge

Our Team in Washington DC
Senator Tom Udall and Rep. Martin Heinrich

As Congressman Ben Ray Lujan's office reminds us:

Martin is the first Democrat in history to represent the critical swing-district in Central New Mexico and we need to keep him there. But special interests from Iowa, Tennessee and Washington, D.C are spending over $2 million to replace him with someone that will toe their line. We can’t let them win!

You can see the kinds of issues Martin Heinrich fights for here.

--the BB

IOKIYAR

From the Midday Open Thread at Daily Kos:

New Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself from 25 of the 51 cases the Court will hear, this term. She is doing so because of potential conflicts from the work she did in her previous role as Solicitor General. Her recusals speak to her sense of honor and integrity.

Justice Clarence Thomas did not recuse himself from the Citizens United ruling, which directly affected his wife's work at the politically active non-profit she founded. Justice Thomas also didn't recuse himself from the Bush v. Gore ruling, which also directly affected his wife's work. His refusals to recuse himself speak to his sense of honor and integrity.

Indeed.

--the BB

The Real Republican Pledge To America

Voters should know what the GOP candidates actually propose. Forget the "Plague" on America; what are the candidates saying?

The Real Republican Pledge To America
If voters knew this, would they vote any differently?

They will never get the truth listening to Faux News, of course. Sigh.

h/t to Shel at FB

--the BB

Heart thread - 10/14/2010

I hope you all are joining in prayers at Mimi's and MP's and other gatherings in the blogosphere.

Tonight I ask your prayers for the repose of the soul of Jeff's mother, for my friend Jeff and his partner and his family. The memorial service is this Saturday.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory. May Jeff and his family be surrounded with love in their sorrow.

Continued prayers for my father-in-law Jack as he approaches the star path and for my sister Shirley.

--the BB

Joel Burns tells gay teens "it gets better"