wfn.org | [ELD] Convention takes steps forward in ecumenism / Presiding officers write Canterbury explaining s

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal Life Daily
>July 21, 2009

Episcopal Life Online is available at  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

>Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Convention takes steps forward in ecumenism
* TOP STORY - Presiding officers write Canterbury explaining
same-gender unions resolution
* PEOPLE - First ordained female deacon Phyllis Edwards dies at 92
* DAYBOOK - July 22: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - Three Cups of Tea - Young Reader's Edition

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

>Convention takes steps forward in ecumenism

>By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service] The 76th General Convention took steps, big
and small, to reunite Christians in opening, reaffirming and expanding
ecumenical dialogues through legislation passed July 8-17 in Anaheim,
California.

"The biggest step forward is the full communion step with the Moravian
church," said Bishop C. Christopher Epting, deputy to the presiding
bishop for ecumenical and interreligious relations, adding that it's
not official until the Northern and Southern provinces of the Moravian
Church vote to accept the proposed agreement when they meet in 2010.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112762_ENG_HTM.htm

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Presiding officers write Canterbury explaining same-gender unions  resolution

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] The two presiding officers of General
Convention have again written to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams, this time with an explanation of Resolution C056 that calls
for the collection and development of theological resources for the
blessing of same-gender blessings and allows bishops to provide "a
generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this
church." The letter was also sent to the Anglican Communion's 38
primates.

"While the resolution honors the diversity of theological perspectives
within the Episcopal Church, it does not authorize public liturgical
rites for the blessing of same-gender unions," wrote Presiding Bishop
Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies
Bonnie Anderson in their July 17 letter to Williams. "The Book of
Common Prayer remains unchanged, the marriage rites are unaltered and
the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer define marriage as a 'solemn
and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of
God.'"

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112765_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

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>PEOPLE

First ordained female deacon Phyllis Edwards dies at 92

>By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Phyllis Edwards, the first woman
ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, died July 7 in Forks,
Washington. She was 92.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_112767_ENG_HTM.htm

More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm

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>DAYBOOK

On July 22, 2009, the church calendar remembers Saint Mary Magdalene.

* 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 July 22, 1604, King James I wrote to Bishop
Bancroft that he had "appointed certain learned men to the number of
four and fifty for the translating of the Bible." This translation
later became the King James version of the Bible.

>_____________________

>CATALYST

"Three Cups of Tea - Young Reader's Edition" from Penguin Group, by
Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin, adapted by Sarah Thomson,
foreword by Jane Goodall, 209 pages, paperback, c. 2009, $8.99

[Penguin Group] This young readers edition of the worldwide bestseller
Three Cups of Tea has been specially adapted for younger readers and
updated by Greg Mortenson to bring his remarkable story of
humanitarianism up to date for the present. Includes new photos and
illustrations, as well as a special interview by Greg's 12-year-old
daughter, Amira, who has traveled with her father as an advocate for
the Pennies for Peace program for children.

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