From a discussion of the new budget for the Episcopal Church, an answer to a question about $1 million allocation: "Money apportioned specifically to Title IV goes for actions against bishops. Also for education." Interesting dichotomy....
From StandFirm
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
People of the Book
This is the third General Convention that I've been compelled to get all Old Testamenty and prophetic and such. And I don't mean prophetic in the GC 'lets ordain open and notorious sinners' sense either. I mean prophetic in the 'lets call down the wrath of God and grow a really long beard' sense. Which totally sucks as growing a beard is a process in perpetual facial itching and spousal alienation.
And I really do not wish to marry a woman named Gomer. Modern American culture views people named Gomer with hilarity and ridicule. Bigamy is still a felony in my home state. And my wife is both jealous and heavily armed.
Is there any chance that the Episcopal Church could pass a last minute resolution to the effect of "The 2012 General Convention shall not pass, entertain or debate any resolution, motion or canon revision that exposes anyone attending, belonging to or formerly belonging to the Episcopal Church to ridicule, derision or humiliation by such association or former association"?
I don't think so either.
The Episcopal Church Beclowns You!
And I really do not wish to marry a woman named Gomer. Modern American culture views people named Gomer with hilarity and ridicule. Bigamy is still a felony in my home state. And my wife is both jealous and heavily armed.
Is there any chance that the Episcopal Church could pass a last minute resolution to the effect of "The 2012 General Convention shall not pass, entertain or debate any resolution, motion or canon revision that exposes anyone attending, belonging to or formerly belonging to the Episcopal Church to ridicule, derision or humiliation by such association or former association"?
I don't think so either.
The Episcopal Church Beclowns You!
Summer Reading
Back on Monday I posted that I was trying to decide which book to read for the summer. I was torn between The Consolation of Philosophy and The City of God. Per Zana's recommendation I went with the City of God.
I'm reading it slowly, so I'm only in Chapter 2 of Book 1. I can read about 300 pages a day, but in so doing I miss a fair amount. This is going to be more of a reading, meditating and pondering exercise than a race. City of God is a good choice for this because it not only has a compelling back story, but it also requires a fair amount of unpacking.
Also, as Augustine pretty much defines orthodoxy in the Christian context, I'm reading it less defensively and more openly.
On a related note, the autobiography of William Porcher Dubose is available online, for free! Is this a wonderful world or what?
I'm reading it slowly, so I'm only in Chapter 2 of Book 1. I can read about 300 pages a day, but in so doing I miss a fair amount. This is going to be more of a reading, meditating and pondering exercise than a race. City of God is a good choice for this because it not only has a compelling back story, but it also requires a fair amount of unpacking.
Also, as Augustine pretty much defines orthodoxy in the Christian context, I'm reading it less defensively and more openly.
On a related note, the autobiography of William Porcher Dubose is available online, for free! Is this a wonderful world or what?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
An Appeal to Wingnuts
I'm a rotten typist. I freely admit that. But it's oversight, not 'over site'. It's martial law, not 'marshall law'. Rouge agents are people who sell make up. What you want to say is 'rogue agents'. And we did not 'loose' the Vietnam War. No one loosed the Vietnam War. We did lose it.
Your theories about black helicopters become ever so much more plausible when spelled correctly. AND NO ONE WAS EVER CONVINCED BY A RANT IN ALL CAPS.
Just FYI.
PS. No, I am not linking to the drivel that prompted this.
Your theories about black helicopters become ever so much more plausible when spelled correctly. AND NO ONE WAS EVER CONVINCED BY A RANT IN ALL CAPS.
Just FYI.
PS. No, I am not linking to the drivel that prompted this.
Hope and Change
Canada has better health care, right?
Funny thing is, I remember it being slightly better, but equally run down.
Funny thing is, I remember it being slightly better, but equally run down.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Book Decision
I'm at a crossroads and am having trouble deciding what to read. I have two candidates. The first is my old, reliable companion: The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius. It is short, chock full of wise counsel and eminently readable (for those who do not know it, the Consolation may be the best selling self help book of all time). Or, I can re-read a book I haven't read in its entirety since college: The City of God by St. Augustine.
Both would do me a world of good. I just can't decide which. I also need to get serious about studying the Bible again. I've gotten out of the habit, which is horrible. Lately all I've been reading are throw away thrillers and a history of early New York. It's been fun, but not especially nourishing.
Both would do me a world of good. I just can't decide which. I also need to get serious about studying the Bible again. I've gotten out of the habit, which is horrible. Lately all I've been reading are throw away thrillers and a history of early New York. It's been fun, but not especially nourishing.
Night And Day
Alan Haley has written one of his usually erudite essays about the effect of B033. This post isn't about his. This post is a little about Frank and Cole:
It's mostly about my wife.
It's mostly about my wife.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Headline O' the Week
Impatience Builds Over Slow Moving Stimulus.
Given the direction the economy has moved since passage, I'm rather glad it's been slow moving.
Given the direction the economy has moved since passage, I'm rather glad it's been slow moving.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
It May Be Illegal Now
But the Episcopal Church is already gearing up to bless these kinds of unions. Maybe not right away, but soon. After all, it's a justice issue!
Friday, July 10, 2009
General Convention Reform
I've never been to the Episcopal Church's General Convention (GC). Thanks to modern technology, I will never need to. This GC has around 1,000 delegates for a church that has less than a million attendees. Add to that, the more delegates a legislative body has, the less gets done. More people means more time for discussion. The GC is both ungainly and expensive.
Were I in charge, which is highly unlikely, I'd change things in the following ways: First, I'd trim the delegates to 1 bishop and 1 lay delegate from every diocese. That cuts the delegates down to slightly over 200 total. Allow for the election of a non-participating, unfunded alternate. But the total funded attendance would be one fifth of the present size. That means instead of using expensive rented facilities, the GC could meet in a parish hall. That would be a lot less glamourous to be sure, but it's also a great deal more frugal.
I'd also allow for committee meetings, either live or virtually ahead of time. In fact, I'd probably make that mandatory. The bishops already know whether or not they are delegates. With the laity, all that would have to happen are elections far enough in advance for committees to be formed.
By trimming delegates and shifting committee meetings to before, the GC could be reduced in its length as well. Currently it's a two week commitment, which prevents a great number of potential delegates from participating. Two weeks is the standard annual vacation for most Americans. Trim it to four days and all of a sudden working stiffs can run for delegate. To counter balance this egalitarian move, I'd remove all delegate funding from the diocese. Delegates would have to pay their own way. This would further encourage the delegates to be about their business.
Of course, none of the above will ever happen.
Preview: I'm working on a detailed rant/essay about grilling. I've no idea when I'll post it though.
Were I in charge, which is highly unlikely, I'd change things in the following ways: First, I'd trim the delegates to 1 bishop and 1 lay delegate from every diocese. That cuts the delegates down to slightly over 200 total. Allow for the election of a non-participating, unfunded alternate. But the total funded attendance would be one fifth of the present size. That means instead of using expensive rented facilities, the GC could meet in a parish hall. That would be a lot less glamourous to be sure, but it's also a great deal more frugal.
I'd also allow for committee meetings, either live or virtually ahead of time. In fact, I'd probably make that mandatory. The bishops already know whether or not they are delegates. With the laity, all that would have to happen are elections far enough in advance for committees to be formed.
By trimming delegates and shifting committee meetings to before, the GC could be reduced in its length as well. Currently it's a two week commitment, which prevents a great number of potential delegates from participating. Two weeks is the standard annual vacation for most Americans. Trim it to four days and all of a sudden working stiffs can run for delegate. To counter balance this egalitarian move, I'd remove all delegate funding from the diocese. Delegates would have to pay their own way. This would further encourage the delegates to be about their business.
Of course, none of the above will ever happen.
Preview: I'm working on a detailed rant/essay about grilling. I've no idea when I'll post it though.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Obscure Reference Time
I had a revelation earlier this morning: The leaders of the General Convention are Elan of Elanor wannabes.
Yes, that is a slam. No, I'm not going to take it back. I believe it also to be the truth.
Yes, that is a slam. No, I'm not going to take it back. I believe it also to be the truth.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Last Minute Suggestion
The 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be convening tomorrow in Anaheim California. The theme of the convention will be 'Ubuntu'.
I like Ubuntu. It is the primary operating system on two of my computers. But it is not even last years meme. It's the last generation's. If the Episcopal Church truly wishes to be relevant in this modern society then it should move up to a slightly more modern theme.
My suggestion is from 2007. It's kind of dated now, but I can assure the leadership that whatever grandchildren are still remaining Episcopal will be blown away when Grandma tells them "The cake is a lie".
Inspired by XKCD, of course
I like Ubuntu. It is the primary operating system on two of my computers. But it is not even last years meme. It's the last generation's. If the Episcopal Church truly wishes to be relevant in this modern society then it should move up to a slightly more modern theme.
My suggestion is from 2007. It's kind of dated now, but I can assure the leadership that whatever grandchildren are still remaining Episcopal will be blown away when Grandma tells them "The cake is a lie".
Inspired by XKCD, of course
Sunday, July 05, 2009
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