The Magdalene Mystique - The Path Inward

Read the report on Episcopal News Service Click Here….
I am deeply moved by these resolutions that have emerged from “prayer, reflection, conversation, and listening” in the gathering of the House of Bishops at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. They are beautifully written from the heart and from reason and express a relational spirituality inspired by Jesus, who, as they say, does not lead us to break relationships.

While the Bishops speak of their “passionate desire” and “deep longing in our hearts” to remain a full constituent member of the Anglican Communion and their willingness to continue to “work to find ways of meeting the pastoral concerns of the Primates that are compatible with the polity and canons of the Episcopal Church,” they find that they must urge the Executive Council not to participate in the Pastoral Scheme of the Dar es Salaam communique of 2007.

The document conveys a Gospel perspective that finds primary the words handed down that in Christ “there is no Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free” and that “all are God’s children.” There is a deep sense of conviction to uphold the dignity of every human being and to reaffirm the values of justice, compassion, and peace. These Bishops are taking their stand against all violence, especially those persecuted because of difference.

I am very proud to be an Episcopalian and hope that you will join me in expressing your thoughts as you read these resolutions. Dar es Salaam Communique episcopal

Episcopalians do get in the news! Here we are again: front page of the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/us/20episcopal.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

Journalists like to investigate and get to the bottom of things, refuse to be silent when things need to get out.

Hurrah for this article ON MONEY and what GENEROSITY COSTS. It helps us in seeing priorities.

To my mind, GENEROSITY is a supreme and sacred character trait - in its purity it is inspired by grace. It’s a giving out of one’s abundance (for which one is grateful though not necessarily deserving) in order to provide for the well being of another. It’s a sacred value. It is an extraordinary blessing to be a position to express this trait.

The American Church happens to be in this place: to give generously. We will not forget our neighbors, we will not forget the poor and the sick. The House of Bishops will not let that happen. I believe you can count on that, even when it means giving to groups that count us no longer part of the Christian tradition - even when it means giving to those who would have us OUT.

Generosity COSTS. It depletes the pocket book. What is given can then not be spent on oneself, even building an independent American Church. Yet it is still right to give and give and give to those in need.

But what generosity DOES NOT COST is the giving up of cherished views. It’s not an Either/Or.

Isn’t it true that part of what is behind generosity is a view about “the dignity of every human being.”
It would seem that by remaining generous we make our point!
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NdunganeJefferts Schori Millennium Goals