tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25560965.post1223865246139926393..comments2023-05-05T00:45:20.298-07:00Comments on Caught by the Light: Fear Wins A Round?Br Richard Edward Helmer BSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04603206783767329399noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25560965.post-50234249940610969672007-01-10T15:06:00.000-08:002007-01-10T15:06:00.000-08:00It's all about power: Emotional, financial, psycho...It's all about power: Emotional, financial, psychological, ecclesial, and spiritual power. And it has no place in the Church.<br /><br />Thanks for your good words, Richard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25560965.post-86188562722168704712007-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:002007-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:00Very interesting! And I couldn't agree with your t...Very interesting! And I couldn't agree with your thoughts more.<br /><br />Misogyny.<br /><br />I once had a recent convert RC woman (who had been an Episcopalian) try to explain to me, while I was still RC, how a women representing Christ on the altar was a farce, and an embarassment, as it made fun of Christ's masculinity. She tried to tell me it would be like a woman actress playing Abe Lincoln.<br /><br />UM...I don't think so.episcopalifemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18092579249862725163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25560965.post-89231638117845704422007-01-09T07:39:00.000-08:002007-01-09T07:39:00.000-08:00adam,
Thanks for visiting. Believe it or not, I ...adam,<br /><br />Thanks for visiting. Believe it or not, I was in Quincy for two years while attending Bradley University. I became a member at St. Paul's during that period and had a great time with delightful people. Even had a hand with some youth activities and co-taught Sunday School (albeit not very well!!!)<br /><br />Bishop McBurney was diocesan then. He, too, was a delightful man personally, although I disagreed with his position on the ordination of women.<br /><br />One thing I do clearly remember is that just before I moved away, Quincy was preparing to welcome +Ackerman. At their annual meeting, St. Paul's raised up a resolution to assemble a group of people to enter dialogue with the new bishop about the ordination of women. A number of clergy and a good portion of the congregation were supportive at that time. Those who were against stood up and were quite vociferous, if not mean, in their opposition.<br /><br />I'll never forget the way the place became unzipped. People literally got up and went to one side of the room or the other either for or against the resolution. The resolute, and dare I say angry expression on McBurney's face (he was present) was one I had never seen before. Same was true of members of the congregation who had otherwise been friendly and generous with me and those who now I could see disagreed with them.<br /><br />The resolution carried. And then everyone had lunch together (thank God.) But things in the diocese appeared to stay the same on the ordination of women.<br /><br />Just an anecdote I wanted to share. Enjoy your time at St. Paul's, and you have my prayers, as does Quincy and Bishop Ackerman.Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07474786207149076221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25560965.post-11759486629037351822007-01-09T05:56:00.000-08:002007-01-09T05:56:00.000-08:00Due to circumstance, our family currently attends ...Due to circumstance, our family currently attends St. Paul's Cathedral in Peoria, IL, the see city of +Quincy. This issue (among others) has made it difficult to live into the life of the parish as fully as I'd like. Quincy is a much smaller diocese than Fort Worth, and there seems to be fairly unanimous support of Bp. Ackerman here (we're the only AlPO diocese without a Via Media chapter, so I don't even know how to locate those who feel as I do). After meeting the Bishop myself recently, I understand why. He's an absolutely delightful and joyful person, completely at odds with the dourness I've seen from Duncan, Iker, Scofield, and especially our previous bishop, Peter Beckwith of Springfield. <br /><br />I don't know how to reconcile my opposition to practically everything he's taken a public stand on (esp. ordination of women and GLBT persons) with the fact that he and I seem to get on famously. We're meeting later this week, even.<br /><br />The fact is, it's over an hourlong drive to reach any progressive parish outside this diocese, including our beloved former parish. And being of modest means, we simply can't afford to make such a trek every week. And the cathedral community becomes more and more welcoming with each passing week.<br /><br />Anyway, I have hopes that the next bishop here (which is at least five to ten years away, so hopefully we'll have moved to at least Chicago by then) will bring the diocese into line with the rest of the church, at the very least with regards to women's ordination. But I am concerned that, even if still somehow part of TEC, the diocese will elect another like-minded bishop, leading to a similar situation to what we see now in South Carolina.<br /><br />Please pray for our diocese.Adam Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11608781382831601801noreply@blogger.com