A Must Read: Resolutions from Navasota, Texas
posted March 20th, 2007 at 11:03 pm by Betty
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
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March 21st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Dear Betty,
What a beautiful statement. I think the word “violence” captured my heart. How wonderful that the Espicopal Bishops recognize that the exclusion of women and gays and lesbians from full participation in the life of the church does violence to the whole.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Dear Jere, I,too, am joyous with the statement. The Bishops make it clear that they are including women and gay and lesbian persons as full and equal partners in the life of the Church. After they repeat the baptismal formula about no Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free, they say: “We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including women, are full and equal partners in the life of Christ’s Church. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and euqal participants in the life of Christ’s Church.” Tnen they continue by denouncing violence. Wow!
March 21st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
http://ncrcafe.org/node/977/print
Betty this is a link, (I think) to the National Catholic Reporter. Sr. Joan Chisstner (sic) wrote a column this week on the Irish response to an add for Lenten reflection on social justice that showed a photo of beautiful cute little babies of all colors and shapes, who will sufer hunger and oppression for the rest of thier lives. Of course the babies are little girls. there is a wonderful bit of trouble going on in Ireland right now. look it up if you can. Fantastic piece.
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Jere,
This IS a fantastic piece! (Insert loud scream and banging of head here). I still don’t understand why the “powers that be” are so very fearful of granting women full membership in the human race. The social justice campaign in Ireland is wonderful. It’s too bad that it’s considered controversial and political. Good for Sr. Joan.
Bridgitt
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
It’s still amazing to me how the exact same news item can be “spinned” so many different ways. I don’t read every news story about the Episcopal church these days (especially ones with the word “Anglican Primates” in the title) because they can really be discouraging and depressing. This latest statement from our House of Bishops, though, does make me very proud to be Episcopalian.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I was quite taken when I read the remarks of the American Presiding officer that she said something to the effect that “it is god’s grace that permits us to continue this conversation [about gays]”–This was such an interesting context for it–it wasn’t a pain in the ass, something to be avoided or wished away.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Tom,
I think I remember the Presiding Bishop saying something like the Epsicopal Church has “a charism to encourage the conversation.” She said this on her way back from Tanzania - after she had signed the communique. So, for her, it is a “gift” given to the Episcopal Church to encourage the conversation. Thanks for pointing out how unusual that approach is. Our Presiding Bishop is quite amazing.
Betty
March 27th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more. I am so proud of the Episcopal leadership and their decision to support the two greatest commandments Jesus gave. 1) Loving God 2)Loving each other as we love ourselves. There are no exclusion clauses there. God is love, and as well we should be.