Episcopal Life Online Newslink September 24, 2007
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's ELO Newslink includes:
* TOP STORY - House of Bishops talks make 'enormous progress,' go into overtime * TOP STORY ? 'Marching with the Saints': Bishops' spouses connect with New Orleans * TOP STORY - House of Bishops begins to prepare Primates' Communiqué response * TOP STORY - New Hampshire bishop calls Grace Church congregation to discipleship * TOP STORY - September 30 bulletin insert focuses on Recovery Ministries * DIOCESAN DIGEST - CHICAGO: Three priests added to bishop-nominee slate * DIOCESAN DIGEST - CHICAGO: Followers, protestors greet Akinola at Wheaton chapel * DIOCESAN DIGEST - NEVADA: Bishop nominees' tour of diocese includes blogger * WORLD REPORT - ENGLAND: 'Back to Church Sunday' initiative expected to pack the pews * WORLD REPORT - LIBERIA: Episcopal Relief and Development helps launch anti-malaria effort * WORLD REPORT - SOUTHERN AFRICA: Bishops 'look forward' to Lambeth, give thanks for Ndungane's ministry * MULTIMEDIA - House of Bishops' September 24 media briefing * FEATURE - Rebuilding God's broken world: Bishops, their spouses support Gulf Coast recovery through hands-on work
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TOP STORIES
House of Bishops talks make 'enormous progress,' go into overtime
Bishops discount earlier reports of draft document
By Pat McCaughan and Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service, New Orleans] After a day of mostly closed-door and overtime sessions, Episcopal bishops on September 24 said they'd made "enormous progress" toward a productive response to the concerns of Anglican Primates.
"This is a continuing process of discernment and clarification of the relationship of the Episcopal Church with the whole Anglican Communion" as regards church polity, the ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire and other issues arising from that decision, Bishop David Alvarez of Puerto Rico told reporters at an evening news conference.
"Through this process we have proven the quality of life of this church in which we can talk openly with each other and in which we can differ but also pray together," he added.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90431_ENG_HTM.htm
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'Marching with the Saints': Bishops' spouses connect with New Orleans
By Pat McCaughan
[Episcopal News Service, New Orleans] Debbie Konieczny had a mere five days to settle into the role of bishop's spouse when another "first" loomed large on her horizon: the House of Bishops with Spouses September 20-25 meeting in New Orleans.
"I've been floating in the midst of the gravity of the whole experience," she says of the May 5 election and September 15 consecration of her husband of 29 years, the Rev. Dr. Ed Konieczny as the fifth Bishop of Oklahoma.
Anticipating being a 'newby' at the New Orleans gathering felt "daunting," she recalled. "It's not like there's a rule book to help you figure out what to do," added the mother of two and grandmother of two.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90359_ENG_HTM.htm
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House of Bishops begins to prepare Primates' Communiqué response Text in draft form only; final action expected September 25
By Pat McCaughan
[Episcopal News Service] Editor's note: The following text is a write-through of a previously posted article.
Solidarity with the disenfranchised guided the discussion September 24 as the House of Bishops began to draft its formal statement to the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion culminating its five-day meeting in New Orleans.
The text is in draft form only and will be finalized and released September 25. The document is expected to serve as a response to the Primates' Communique.
Bishop Wayne Wright of Delaware, who chaired the writing committee, cautioned that the discussion was a "draft only" and that a final statement would not be released until it had been adopted on September 25 by the bishops. The document itself was withheld and its contents embargoed until it can be finalized.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90404_ENG_HTM.htm
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New Hampshire bishop calls Grace Church congregation to discipleship
By Anne Clarke Brown
[Diocese of Vermont] Preaching on the Gospel of Luke's parable of the dishonest steward, which he called a "tough gospel," New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson challenged Sunday worshippers at Grace Episcopal Church in New Orleans not just to come to church to be admirers of Jesus but to take on the hard work of becoming disciples.
Robinson was the guest preacher at the 10 a.m. service September 23. Bishop Wayne Wright, who was rector at Grace Church prior to his call to serve as Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware, celebrated and Bishop Joe Morris Doss, who preceded Wright as rector at Grace, also participated. The Grace Church Jazz Mass Combo led the music, which concluded with "When the saints go marching in."
Robinson spoke of a divine love "so broad and so deep?that even scoundrels are within God's love."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90426_ENG_HTM.htm
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September 30 bulletin insert focuses on Recovery Ministries
[Episcopal News Service] Learn about Recovery Ministries, a ministry of the Episcopal Church for those in recovery, in the September 30 Episcopal Life bulletin insert.
Bulletin inserts are available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90427_ENG_HTM.htm.
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
CHICAGO: Three priests added to bishop-nominee slate http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_90429_ENG_HTM.htm
CHICAGO: Followers, protestors greet Akinola at Wheaton chapel http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_90433_ENG_HTM.htm
NEVADA: Bishop nominees' tour of diocese includes blogger http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_90362_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
ENGLAND: 'Back to Church Sunday' initiative expected to pack the pews http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_90382_ENG_HTM.htm
LIBERIA: Episcopal Relief and Development helps launch anti-malaria effort http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_90422_ENG_HTM.htm
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Bishops 'look forward' to Lambeth, give thanks for Ndungane's ministry http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_90372_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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MULTIMEDIA
House of Bishops' September 24 media briefing
A video stream of the House of Bishops' September 24 media briefing will be available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/89878_27398_ENG_HTM.htm
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FEATURES
Rebuilding God's broken world
Bishops, their spouses support Gulf Coast recovery through hands-on work
By Nancy Davidge
[Episcopal News Service] "Just three nails will make a difference," said West Virginia Bishop W. Michie Klusmeyer during a break from framing a house in New Orleans September 22 -- a day of service for Episcopal bishops, their spouses, and their invited guests.
Struck by messages such as "I comfort others with the comfort I have been given," "I bless your home" and "God loves you, hope you will like the house" written by earlier work groups on the walls framing the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative home, Klusmeyer noted, "These prayers will continue to be received long after the walls have been closed off. God is in this place."
Carrying hammers, power drills, shovels, and paint brushes, members of the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops and their guests fanned out across New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, adding to the long chain of volunteers who continue to make a difference to those whose lives and communities were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81834_90418_ENG_HTM.htm
More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_ENG_HTM.htm