wfn.org | [ELD] Bishops to 'walk in witness' to church commitment to social justice / Lambeth Digest, Day 3 /

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

>Episcopal Life Daily
>July 23, 2008

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

Episcopal Life Online coverage of the Lambeth Conference is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/lambethconference.

A team of Blogging Bishops are contributing to The Lambeth Journal at
http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/lambethjournal.

Spanish and Portuguese translations of Lambeth Conference Daily Accounts  and
Episcopal Life coverage is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/89878_99166_ENG_HTM.htm

>Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Bishops to 'walk in witness' to church commitment to  social
justice
* TOP STORY - Lambeth Digest, Day 3
* TOP STORY - Cardinal to Lambeth: Be proactive, not reactive, in  combating
'culture of death'
* PEOPLE - Terry L. Martin named program officer for evangelism
* MULTIMEDIA - Lambeth Conference Daily Account: Bishops John Chane of
Washington, Charles Jenkins of Louisiana
* MULTIMEDIA - Bishop David Beetge addresses media at Lambeth News
Conference
* MULTIMEDIA - Cheryl Herft addresses media at Lambeth News Conference
* MULTIMEDIA - Hellen Wangusa addresses media at Lambeth News Conference
* WEEKS AHEAD - Upcoming special events and services
* SPIRITUAL REFLECTION - Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 12 -  Year A
[RCL]
* DAYBOOK - July 24, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

Bishops to 'walk in witness' to church commitment to social justice

>Focus on MDGs, halving global poverty by 2015

>By Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] Anglican bishops attending the  Lambeth
Conference spent July 23 focused on issues of social justice -- one day
before they take to central London streets in a "walk of witness"  against
global poverty.

Papal envoy Cardinal Ivan Dias introduced the social justice theme the
previous evening with an address, "Mission, Social Justice and
Evangelization." Discussions about the United Nations millennium  development
goals (MDGs) and social justice issues continued in bishops' discussion
groups throughout the next day.

At a July 23 news conference, Hellen Wangusa, the Anglican Observer at  the
United Nations was asked if the "walk of witness" was celebratory or in  part
a protest.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_99308_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

>Lambeth Digest, Day 3

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] Much happens each day at the  Lambeth
Conference (http://www.lambethconference.org/index.cfm). In addition to
Episcopal Life Media's other coverage
(http://episcopalchurch.org/97360_ENG_HTM.htm), here's some of what else
happened on July 23, the third day of the conference.

Lambeth Digest: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_99309_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Lambeth Conference Daily Account: Bishops John Chane of Washington,  Charles
Jenkins of Louisiana

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] Bishops John Chane of Washington  and
Charles Jenkins of Louisiana offer a Daily Account for July 23 at the  2008
Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.

Daily Account: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_99305_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Cardinal to Lambeth: Be proactive, not reactive, in combating 'culture  of
death'

World needs another C.S. Lewis; a dialogue of life and action

>By Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] Papal envoy Cardinal Ivan Dias  invoked
the virtues of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as "the star of the new
evangelization" and called upon bishops to be "proactive, and not merely
reactive" in combating a secular "culture of death" during a July 22  address
to the Lambeth Conference.

"Someone has rightly said: 'If Christians do not hang together, they  will
hang separately'," said Dias, eliciting a chuckle from about 650  bishops,
spouses and other visitors who attended the evening address, "Mission,
Social Justice and Evangelization."

Dias, the Vatican's Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization  of
Peoples, cited the 2007 Anglican-Catholic agreed statement "Growing  Together
in Unity and Mission" which examined worship, study, ministry and  witness as
a way forward for common mission.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_99268_ENG_HTM.htm

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

>_____________________

>PEOPLE

Terry L. Martin named program officer for evangelism
 
[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Terry L. Martin has been appointed  Program
Officer for Evangelism at the Episcopal Church Center, beginning August  13.

Martin was previously vicar of Holy Spirit Church, Tuckerton, New  Jersey. He
has also served congregations in Wisconsin, California, and South  Carolina.

He is best known as "Father Jake," the pen name he used on his popular  blog,
"Father Jake Stops the World." After five years of writing daily about
church life, Martin decided it was time to close down that site and  shift
his focus. He has started a new blog, "Father T Listens to the World:
Seeking God Around the Globe."

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_99275_ENG_HTM.htm

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

>_____________________

>MULTIMEDIA

Multimedia files available at

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/89878_97371_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Video: Lambeth Conference Daily Account: Bishops John Chane of  Washington,
Charles Jenkins of Louisiana

[Episcopal News Service, Canterbury] Bishops John Chane of Washington  and
Charles Jenkins of Louisiana offer a Daily Account for July 23 at the  2008
Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.

>- - - - -

Video: Bishop David Beetge addresses media at Lambeth News Conference

[Episcopal News Service] The Rt. Rev. David Beetge, bishop of the  Highveld
in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, speaks at the July 23 news
conference at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.

>- - - - -

Video: Cheryl Herft addresses media at Lambeth News Conference

[Episcopal News Service] Cheryl Herft, wife of Perth Bishop Roger Herft,
speaks at the July 23 news conference at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.

>- - - - -

Video: Hellen Wangusa addresses media at Lambeth News Conference

[Episcopal News Service] Hellen Wangusa, Anglican Observer at the United
Nations, speaks at the July 23 news conference at the 2008 Lambeth
Conference.

>- - - - -

Multimedia files available at

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/89878_97371_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>WEEKS AHEAD

A round-up of upcoming special events, services, concerts and diocesan
conventions taking place throughout the Episcopal Church is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_1669_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 12 - Year A [RCL]

Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128; or 1 Kings 3:5-12;  Psalm
119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

>By Kirk Alan Kubicek
> 
>[Sermons That Work] Jesus asks, "Have you understood all this?"

Without hesitating, the disciples respond, "Yes!"

Now that "Yes" coming from the very same disciples who only back in  Verse 10
were asking, "Why do you teach in parables?" has to strike us as  somewhat
unbelievable. Add to that 2,000 years or so of church history with  extended
periods and frequent episodes in which we, the church, quite clearly  have
not understood all of this, and one can begin to sympathize with Paul  who
appears to get it just right: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness: for  we
do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes  with
sighs too deep for words."

Full reflection: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82478_99272_ENG_HTM.htm

More Spiritual Reflections:  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>DAYBOOK

On July 24, 2008, the Church calendar remembers Thomas a Kempis, priest
(1380-1471).

* 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 Prayer for Lambeth: Be with the bishops and others meeting in
London, as they witness to the possibility of reconciliation and human
fulfillment in implementing the Millennium Development Goals.

* Today in History: on July 24, 1725, John Newton was born. Newton  converted
to Christianity while working on a slave ship and was ordained in 1764.  His
habit of penning one hymn per week yielded over 250 works including  Amazing
Grace.

>_____________________

>CATALYST

"Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality" from Westminster John Knox Press,  by
Jack Rogers, 169 pages, paperback, c. 2006, $17.95

[Westminster John Knox Press] In a powerful book, evangelical theologian  and
former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Jack Rogers argues
unequivocally for equal rights in the church and in society for people  who
are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Throughout history, he  observes,
Christianity has moved towards ever greater openness and inclusiveness.
Today's church is led by many of those who were once cast out: people of
color, women, and divorced and remarried people. He argues that when we
interpret the Bible through the lens of Jesus' redemptive life and  ministry,
we see that the church is called to grant equal rights to all people.  Jesus,
the Bible, and Homosexuality describes Rogers' own change of mind and  heart
on the issue; charts the church's well-documented history of using  biblical
passages to oppress marginalized groups; argues for a Christ-centered
reading of Scripture; debunks oft-repeated stereotypes about gays and
lesbians; and concludes with ideas for how the church can heal itself  and
move forward again. A fascinating combination of personal narrative,
theology, and church history, this book is essential reading for all
concerned with the future of the church and the health of the nation.

"Rogers adds immensely to those who argue for the full inclusion of gay  and
lesbian people in the church and in the clergy...For those who truly  wish to
know what the Bible does and does not say, this is a real find." -- The  Rt.
Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, Episcopal Church.

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