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Daybook -- Today is Monday, November 6, 2006. The Church calendar remembers William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (1881-1944)
* Today in Scripture: Daily Office meditation: http://www.forwardmovement.org/todaysreading.cfm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On this day in 1836, the Rev. Herbert Beaver, the first Anglican priest in Oregon, arrived at Ft. Vancouver. http://www.diocese-oregon.org/history.
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Mission: Theology of inclusion empowers ethnic communities
By ENS staff
[ENS] The theology of inclusion in the Episcopal Church is drawing in 'unchurched' people from ethnic minorities who have historically been marginalized in American church and society, said the Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara, national missioner for Asian American Ministries of the Episcopal Church.
Speaking at a Book Forum at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, October 23, Vergara said that many Episcopal dioceses in the country reported welcoming Asian communities receptive to the inclusive trends of the Episcopal Church.
"I think the message they are getting is that if the Church is capable of welcoming and empowering women, gays and lesbians as equal members of the Body of Christ, then it is capable of welcoming and empowering almost everybody," Vergara said. "It is a radical form of hospitality that says, 'you are accepted whoever and whatever you are and you don't need to be like us.' It is a closer approximation of God's unconditional love."
Promoting his book, "Mainstreaming: Asian Americans in the Episcopal Church," Vergara noted that ethnic congregations in the Episcopal Church had historically "suffered from being marginalized." Many dioceses looked upon ethnic congregations as "specialized ministries" rather than an integral part of its life and mission. "There was a lot of paternalism and tokenism in these ministries and many ethnic clergy felt like 'second-rate' ministers, Vergara said.
In history, American churches participated in racial and cultural injustice such as Black slavery, Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese Internment and other forms of racial and cultural prejudices.
"They had not lifted the prophetic voice for the rights of minorities and disadvantaged immigrants whom Jesus would call harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd," Vergara said. "There are still vestiges of racism in the structures of the church that must be dismantled and that can only happen if we 'mainstream' the marginalized, include and empower them in the decision-making bodies of the Church."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_79280_ENG_HTM.htm
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Catalyst: "Ceremonies of the Eucharist" from Cowley Publications, by Howard E. Galley, 240 pages, paperback, $22.95
[Source: Cowley Publications] -- "Unlike liturgical manuals of the past, which were intended specifically for the use of the clergy, this book is directed to a wider audience -- to members of parish worship committees, priests, organists and directors of music, lectors, deacons, cantors and other singers, bishops, altar guild members, acolytes -- in short, to all who bear responsibility for the planning and conduct of public worship."
From the Preface.
So begins Howard Galley's classic guide to the Eucharistic liturgy, The Ceremonies of the Eucharist. Galley opens his formidable liturgical learning and veteran ecclesial experience for all worshippers to access. Throughout, he enhances his suggestions for practice with "the rationale and historical background" for his recommendations.
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org or call 800-903-5544.
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herein, are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of ENS or the Episcopal Church.