Posted on 02/17/2007 6:20:33 PM PST by sionnsar
Ah, the Episcopal Urban Caucus. The group with whom our PB and Primate was hanging out before heading to Tanzania on February 7. Well, what follows is what the EUC thought of B033 through an essay by the coordinator of EUC, and some details of a disco Eucharist that is part Monty Python, part the Cheerleaders from the Longest Yard, and part Friends of Dorothy ala the Wizard of Oz:
Food for Thought
Behold I am Creating a New Thing
Do you not perceive it?
Reflections on B033
by Nell Braxton Gibson
I am still appalled at the General Convention’s decision to support B033, a resolution that calls on the Church to sacrifice the humanity of a group of people for the sake of institutional unity. I did not at the time of Convention (and do not today) understand why we have thrown people to the lions in hope of being allowed to talk to a faction that has placed conditions on conversations.
Up until the time of the vote on B033 General Convention had held itself accountable in the struggles of oppressed people - from support of the Millennium Development Goals to the passage of resolutions on reparations for slavery. It had even voted down resolutions with a similar intent to that of B033 and there was a sense that God was creating a new thing. The election of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as our new Presiding Bishop seemed to confirm this new order.
Many people who attended the 2003 General Convention in Minneapolis returned home and worked on resolutions for reparations for slavery - resolutions that failed the 2003 Convention but passed at this one. This year we must work to bring back resolutions to the 2009 Convention that support our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers as full participants in our Church at every level.
The Sunday after General Convention I returned to my home parish for Gay Pride Sunday and participated in a Disco Mass for which gays and lesbians turned out in force. The opening hymn was a beautiful jazz rendition of “Over the Rainbow.” Musical offerings came from gay men in sequined tank tops and from the Director of Music who was ushered into the service singing a disco number complete with Go-Go girls. The queen of St. Mark’s appeared in full drag to deliver the homily and the closing hymn was, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family.” As I stood singing among straight men and women, young parents with their children, gays and lesbians, teenagers in hip hop clothing, Asians, whites, African Americans and Spanish speaking people I realized I was part of the realm of God and I was glad to be there - in a place where God’s creation of a new thing was being lived out.
God’s new creation envisions a time of joy, prosperity, health and peace - a new social order whose goal is transformation. As members of the EUC let us not rest until every member of our family is fully accepted at every level of our Church.
While I must give credit to Kendall for having this up on his blog some time ago, right now would seem to be a good time to recall this business, in light of circumstances on the ground in Tanzania.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. "We are not in communion with this, and neither is our hierarch. We never will be."
I know! :)
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