Posted on 09/01/2005 5:44:50 PM PDT by sionnsar
Gene Robinson is one sunny homosexual bishop:
Oh, I wish you could have been there! Berea College, Berea, Kentucky – a college that forged a new educational effort for blacks and whites, BEFORE the Civil War. In July, 2005, some 150 years later, Berea welcomed 1,500 high schoolers and their adult advisors, of all races and nationalities, to an Episcopal Youth Event. Kids came from all over the Episcopal Church – which, remember, includes much of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and even Guam, all of whom sent representatives. I accompanied our nine New Hampshire young people, and their adult advisors, Pat Stelz and Lauren Zimmerman, to this event. They represented us heartily and well. I was SO proud to be there as their bishop.
WERE you, Robbie? That's GREAT to hear.
Kids today don’t look like the kids many of us were and grew up with. These kids wear earrings – girls AND boys. They have piercings and tattoos in places you don’t even want to know about! They wear numerous plastic bracelets – from Lance Armstrong’s “LIVESTRONG” yellow bracelets, to any number of colored bracelets, espousing any number of laudable causes. They ask straightforward questions in workshops that would have never been asked a few years ago.
And they strenuously avoid certain straightforward questions Robbie would rather not address, thank you very much.
My favorite reminder from this event that I am of another generation: In “our” day, remember when, at a folk music concert, during an especially inspirational song, we would take out our BIC lighters, ignite them, and wave them ceremoniously in time with the music? Well, it still goes on. But in these non-smoking days, and in these days of technology, when the inspirational song is played, hundreds of kids open up their cell phones, and wave the lighted phone faces to the beat of the music. At first, it is just funny; then it sinks in that it’s a sign of the times (not to mention less of a fire hazard!). It helps me remember that the Good News of Jesus Christ ALWAYS has to be re-fashioned and re-articulated in a way that will reach and make sense to a new generation. The meaning is the same, but the way of communicating it has to change.
The Gospel ALWAYS has to be refashioned and rearticulated, ROBBIE? Guess so if you like to do what Robbie likes to do in his off-hours! This whole event was for the Young PeopleTM and I suppose that's why Robbie was so pumped.
There was a hip-hop mass. Presented by young people from the Bronx, it showed that the eternal truth of salvation could be communicated in words and music OTHER than Anglican Chant. The absolution, following the confession, was: “Forget about it! Your sins are forgiven! It’s a done deal!” Isn’t that plain street language for what we proclaim every Sunday?
If you bet the high over/under on exclamation marks, lunch is on you for the rest of the week.
One of the three priorities established by the people of the Diocese of New Hampshire, in our Re-Imagining Process, was “youth and young adult ministry.” We will need to put our money where our mouth and priorities are. I can’t wait! But in the meantime, know that New Hampshire was well represented at this international gathering – contributing to the everyday life there, bringing home great ideas, and joining in the fellowship of the larger Episcopal Church.
If this event is any kind of measurement, the Episcopal Church’s future is very bright indeed. Praise God for raising up new generations of the faithful. What an exciting time to be alive and to be the Church!
Meanwhile, back in the real world:
Not only is the Diocese of Northwest Texas in a cash “crunch” for the present, but “it appears that without help from individual members of the diocese, our situation will continue to deteriorate,” according to the bishop, the Rt. Rev. C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., who issued an appeal to individual members on Aug. 15.
“In the eight years I have been bishop of Northwest Texas, I have refrained from asking our people to support the budget above their parish giving,” Bishop Ohl said. “However, the time has come for those of us who are able to assist with a one-time offering to do so.”
Bishop Ohl attributed the majority of the shortfall to St. Nicholas’ Church, Midland, the third largest contributor to the diocesan budget. More than 80 percent of the congregation left the Episcopal Church in June and formed a new congregation pledging ecclesiastical obedience to the Primate of the Anglican Church of Uganda. Prior to the split, St. Nicholas’ had contributed none of its $109,000 mandatory apportionment, but the financial problems run much deeper.
The latest issue of the diocesan newspaper, The Adventure, reports that as of March 14, 12 of the 39 congregations had contributed nothing to the diocese. An unscientific survey of the diocese conducted shortly after the 2003 General Convention suggested that as many as 80 percent of the laity in Northwest Texas did not approve of the New Hampshire consecration.
“From the time in 2003 that ECUSA chose to lead us where 80 percent of the laity don’t want to go, it was obvious to all of us that at some point there would be large losses of members and financial shortfalls,” lay member Glenn Polhemus wrote to Bishop Ohl in response to the appeal.“It is my opinion that our diocese and the national church will only respond to economic stimulus. ‘One-time askings’ only delay the process and keep them from dealing with the real problem which is: ‘How do you lead 80 percent of the church where they don’t want to go and still get them to pay for the trip?
“I really think that the ‘one-time asking’ should be sent to Bishop Griswold,” Mr. Polhemus wrote. “He seems to have incredibly deep pockets. He got us into this mess. Let him finance the short term fix or deal with the problem he created.”
I guess Bishop Ohl's appeal didn't contain enough exclamation marks. You can never have too many exclamation marks.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Evidently this event was not any kind of measurement, Gene.
Looks like the diocese is learning that 'mandatory' apportionments aren't.
Can you believe that absolution? That bishop?
And if you want to see young people--i.e--those out of college so that they don't HAVE to go to church--visit an Orthodox church!!!! No rap or hip-hop noise, no earrings in men's ears, no "street language", no "gay" "bishops", no gimmicks!! Just a fourth-century liturgy and unadulterated Christian faith!!
And what's this "Reimagining" that Selfish Gene is promoting in New Hampshire? Wasn't that the name of those feminazi events where they worshipped "Sophia", and held blasphemous milk-and-honey "communions"? "Blessed be", Selfish Gene gets more and more off-the-wall with each passing month!!
Then I am the Exclamation Mark Queen !!!!!!!!!!
Anyhow, FWIW, here's my take on why Vicki Gene gets more and more off the wall:
He knows that what he is doing is sinful and wrong.
He HOPED that engineering "affirmation" by General Convention would quiet that still small voice in his soul. It didn't work, so now he's hoping that encouraging the hip-hop, body-pierced, raucous "culture" of the world will finally drown out that voice.
It won't work, either. That way lies madness.
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