Episcopal Life Daily March 13, 2008
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:
* TOP STORY - House of Bishops' actions draw reactions from interest groups, ELO readers * WORLD REPORT - ENGLAND: Canterbury expresses shock and sorrow at murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho * MISSION - Anglican delegation to UNCSW issues statement * PEOPLE - Namibia's Nangula Kathindi visits Virginia Theological Seminary * TEACHING - Sharon Sheridan to lead 'Spiritual Scrapbooking' workshop at General Theological Seminary * OPINION - Responses to House of Bishops meeting * DAYBOOK - March 14, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History * CATALYST - Ministry Among God's Queer Folk: LGBT Pastoral Care
_____________________
TOP STORIES
House of Bishops' actions draw reactions from interest groups, ELO readers
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] Reaction to news from the March 7-12 meeting of the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops centered on the bishops' consent to the depositions of Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin and William Cox, retired bishop suffragan of Maryland, as well as the news that New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson would not be allowed to participate in an official capacity at the upcoming Lambeth Conference gathering of Anglican Communion bishops.
In a statement (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95615_ENG_HTM.htm) about their consents, the bishops pledged their support to the members of the Diocese of San Joaquin and said they would continue to seek reconciliation with the people whom both Schofield and Cox served.
"This outcome is the painful culmination of a lengthy process of conciliation and review led by two Presiding Bishops," the bishops said in their statement. "While earnest voices were raised asking if there were other alternatives at this time, the conclusion of the House of Bishops is that this action is based on the facts presented to us and is necessary for the ongoing integrity of The Episcopal Church."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95705_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
_____________________
WORLD REPORT
ENGLAND: Canterbury expresses shock and sorrow at murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_95698_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
_____________________
PEOPLE
Namibia's Nangula Kathindi visits Virginia Theological Seminary
[Virginia Theological Seminary] The Rev. Canon Nangula E. Kathindi, provincial executive officer of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, returned to her alma mater on March 10 and addressed the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) community at a forum titled Women and Leadership: A New Day in the Anglican Communion.
Kathindi, in the United States to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) gathering in New York City, is a trailblazer.
"In 1993, Canon Kathindi was one of the first two women to be ordained deacon in the Anglican Diocese of Namibia and a year later was ordained a priest," said the Rev. Dr. Barney Hawkins, executive director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies at VTS. "Since this time she has had many 'firsts' associated with her life. First woman archdeacon in the Diocese of Namibia [1999], first woman elected General Secretary in the Namibian Council of Churches [1999], first woman dean of St. George's Cathedral [2004], and the first woman Provincial Secretary of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_95681_ENG_HTM.htm
More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm
_____________________
TEACHING
Sharon Sheridan to lead 'Spiritual Scrapbooking' workshop at General Theological Seminary
[Episcopal News Service] Sharon Sheridan, author of "Pages of Faith: The Art of Spiritual Scrapbooking," will lead a workshop themed Spiritual Scrapbooking on March 29 at General Theological Seminary (GTS).
Sheridan, an award-winning journalist who copy edits and regularly writes for Episcopal Life, has written for The Star-Ledger, New Jersey Business magazine, The VOICE and The Pennsylvania Episcopalian. Her workshop will teach participants how to create scrapbooks which demonstrate an individual, family or a parish's spiritual journey.
Many people begin scrapbooking as a way to record family history, she notes. With spiritual scrapbooking, the popular craft of making scrapbooks will be used as a spiritual tool to record and explore faith. Participants will combine illustrations -- photographs -- with words -- personal or those from other sources such as the Bible, hymns or inspirational writers -- to tell a unique faith story.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_95703_ENG_HTM.htm
_____________________
MISSION
Anglican delegation to UNCSW issues statement
[Episcopal News Service] Women who gathered from across the Anglican Communion to provide input to the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), meet with other NGOs, and meet amongst themselves, have issued a statement.
A release from the Anglican Communion Office said that their participation in the UNCSW sessions "has heightened the perception of faith-based organizations by the U.N. and the NGO network alike. Daily worship and further discussions amongst themselves on the issues as they pertain to the various situations across the Communion and the work of the church, as well as workshops on advocacy and designing effective programs, while sharing stories and forming friendships, have greatly strengthened the women and, through them, all members and the mission of the Anglican Communion."
This year, the focus of the UNCSW session was on financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women. Previous years have focused on such issues as the elimination of discrimination and violence against the girl child; equal participation of men and women in decision-making; and enhanced participation of women in development: an enabling environment for achieving gender equality and the advancement of women, especially in health, education and work.
Full story and statement:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_95704_ENG_HTM.htm
More Mission: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_ENG_HTM.htm
_____________________
OPINION
Responses to House of Bishops meeting
[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Life Online has received several responses to the news emerging from the March 7-12 House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen outside Houston, Texas. A cross section of those responses is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_95702_ENG_HTM.htm
More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm
_____________________
DAYBOOK
On March 14, 2008...
* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On March 14, 1981, Henry B. Hucles III was elected suffragan bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.
_____________________
CATALYST
Catalyst: "Ministry Among God's Queer Folk: LGBT Pastoral Care" from The Pilgrim Press, by David J. Kundtz & Bernard S. Schlager, 242 pages, paperback, c. 2007, $25
[Source: The Pilgrim Press] This practical handbook, written by two self-described "queer people of faith," covers the basic skills religious caregivers and ministry students need in order to be effective, enlightened, and supportive pastoral care providers to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) persons within as well as outside their congregations and communities.
"Kundtz and Schlager's book is a welcome and sensible guide for pastoral ministry to LGBTQ people in the here and now." --Jeannine Gramick, SL, executive co-director of the National Coalition of American Nuns
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org
More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm