Progressive Episcopal/Anglican Feed by IPC

A personal reflection from Integrity Province II Coordinator Chap James Day




I remember when Bishop Robinson received the consent to be bishop at General Convention. I was studying abroad with about two dozen or so students from my college at Corpus Christi College in Oxford. I had followed the newsfeeds through the whole debate at convention, sharing the news with the others, most of whom were Presbyterian (PCUSA) and though sympathetic to my hopes, did not have a dog in the fight. Still they joined me for a pint at one of the pubs to toast what would be one of the first pivotal moments for GLBT Christians in the 21st century. After the pint, we went to evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, and later spoke with some of the clergy who told us how proud they were for the Anglican Church, especially in light of what had happened with Jeffery John just months before. It was a day to be proud to be an Episcopalian and an Anglican, and a newbie openly gay person.



I had heard that this would cause the Church to split—that the Communion would crumble, and I watched for the signs of it. I read of the grumblings of more traditional Anglicans—many of which joined voices with other splinter groups that had left well before Robinson was called to be bishop. I also heard the positive voices and Alleluias from the progressive Anglicans who were taking ownership of this time for the achievement that it was in reclaiming our place at the Table.


As the consecration played out, and the Lambeth Commission was called to review what had happened in the Church, we saw people coming in who had felt disenfranchised and unwanted. We also saw many so obsessed with this one issue leave, and the start of many more battles over property and the very soul of the Church. I was blessed to meet the members of the Lambeth Commission while working at Kanuga. I overheard their conversations as I served them food and drink while they stayed there, and I observed their devotion as they prayed at the Chapel of the Transfiguration each day. I also remember the results of their recommendation in the form of the Windsor Report.


I read the report, and many commentaries trying to explain what it meant, and what the implications of the report were for the GLBT members in the Anglican Communion as well as those traditionalists that felt disenfranchised. I felt shame. The GLBT clergy had begun to “come out” and the greater Communion family just did not want to hear it—they did not want to accept that there was a Gay Son among the Bishops, and they sure as hell did not want any more.


Just like a family, some shunned our new bishop, some accepted, some disowned, and some celebrated. More importantly, some tried to reconcile and to educate on why the family needs to accept. There were family members like those involved in Integrity and CFLAG that knew that our Communion-wide need to accept it’s GLBT sons and daughters was important beyond pious notions of what is a sin or not a sin. It was about restoring life to the outcast and unwanted—saving lives and restoring lives—healing the broken hearted—and strengthening the strained “bonds of affection”.


In Columbus we saw the election of the first female Primate in the Anglican Communion—proof of how the need and push for acceptance and equality shows progress in momentous achievements like that. We also saw one of the more ghastly calls for restraint that made no one happy with regards to the still outcast GLBT members of the Church. It is hard to celebrate the achievements of an oppressed sexual minority with the shadow of continued oppression of another minority.


It was at that point that I joined Integrity. I wanted to join the fight that celebrated the achievements of women in the Church and said “And ALSO now GLBT!” The first hurdle was to deal with the restraints that were asked and later confirmed in New Orleans. One of the most disturbing images of these restraints was our new Presiding Bishop’s image of a Lenten fast on continued consecrations. I had had always heard of the fast as giving up something that was bad for you and taking on something good for the world. That sure did not seem like the case with regards to GLBT Episcopalians.


In Anaheim, we moved forward, pushed by Integrity and the many, many allies that also saw this restraint as antithetical to what it means to be a Christian family—another day to be proud to be an Episcopalian. The legislation that was passed was eyed by the patriarch of the family suspiciously… some of our more distant cousins wished to disown us even further claiming that we had gone our own way to ruin. We had whole dioceses vote to disassociate themselves with the Church, often supported by our cousin provinces.


This week we saw yet another momentous day for GLBT Episcopalians—one that will surely continue to rock the boat—in the consent to the election of Mary Glasspool . Again, it happens legally under the cannons of the Episcopal Church that were strengthened by the legislation in Anaheim last year. Again, it has caused the head patriarch of the family to eye us with suspicion. And Again I am proud—but this time I have a huge amount of Shame.


The shame has nothing to do with the great news of LA, but with the disturbing response of Archbishop Rowan Williams. I do not presume to understand what it is like to be a titular head of a denomination so vastly spread across the world, socio-economic strata, and political and theological spectrums. What I do not hear is the same response at words of hatred against us his GLBT members, or the continued efforts of foreign provinces to usurp property in the Episcopal Church. Most deeply ashamed am I of his restrained responses towards the near holocaust-level hatred that is fueling the “Kill Gays Bill” in Uganda.


One of the signs of the Spirit moving in the Church is that this consent comes on the heels of statements of inclusion and support from a Patriarch so wise that non-believes will turn to listen to him, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He is like that wise old family member that knows that the love of the God and the true bonds of affection that bind a family together are stronger than sexuality or morality. He understands that it is crucial to our faith to accept GLBT Christians into the fold and to celebrate with Easter joy when one like Mary Glasspool is called to be a Bishop among us. He warns us of the demoralizing and demonic destruction that awaits those who shun the outcast, hate those who differ, and seek legislation to exterminate that which we do not want to understand.


I only wish Archbishop Williams would listen to Archbishop Tutu and realize that we too are God’s loved children, that we too are called by the Spirit to serve and lead the Church, and that we deserve to solemnize our love in the Church’s sacraments. Williams, it seems, does not see this, Uganda does not want to see this…and that should make us all ashamed and outraged.


Tutu sees this—Los Angeles sees this—and those that consented to Mary Glasspool’s election see this, and that should make us all proud and filled with an Easter joy.

I expect St. Patrick's Day was a miserable day for many music fans this year as we learnt of the death of Alex Chilton at the age of just 59. Padre Mickey has already paid tribute at THE DANCE PARTY to his Big Star days. But I am more a fan of The Box Tops, his band in the second half of the sixties. In fact, I think there is a good case to make for Alexbeing the greatest blue-eyed soul singer of all time.
On The Jukebox tonight are a whole load of the Box Top's songs plus a couple of Alex's post Big Star solo recordings. Finally there is a rare recording of Alex joining the Fannies on stage in Glasgow back in 1995 for a performance of "Dark End Of The Street."

The first track in the mix is the album version of "The Letter" which is probably my number one "sing when I think no one is listening" songs.

God speed, Alex.
Rest in peace and rise in glory.
You were a true soulman.



WIKIPEDIA

I love it when a good plan comes together from out of the blue.
I've been needing this day off. Bad. The only real way I can have a day off is to get outta Dodge. And, the best place I know outside of Dodge is, of course, Llangollen, our wee cottage on Rehoboth Bay.

As I was driving down late Thursday afternoon, I called my dear friend, Mark Harris, who lives in Lewes. Just on a whim. Thought we might get together for a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze about - what else? - The Episcopal Church.

I've known Mark since 1986 - back in the day when he was National Coordinator for Campus Ministry and I was a brand new Chaplain at The University of Lowell.

I took one look at him, fell in love, and there's never been any other man for me. We keep in touch from time to time. It had been a few months since I had gotten one of his wonderful hugs, so I thought I'd ring him up and see about fixing that.

What I didn't know is that, in the few months seen I'd seen him, he'd become "The Old Man of the Sea."

That's him. Up there. In his new - well, to him - boat.

That's the new 'boy toy'. The Amity is her name.

Isn't she sweet? Got lots of character, don't you think? Like her new captain.

We met at our favorite coffee shop in Lewes, the Azafran, got our beverages of choice and were off on a tour of the back side of Cape Henlopen.
We watched a few momma osprey getting their nests together, spotted a magnificent Blue Heron, and marveled at the Very Ugly turkey vultures who seemed to be having a small political caucus on the side of the water.

Meanwhile, we chatted away about our families - grandchildren, mostly. And, what our respective spouses and children were up to these days. Oh, yes. And a bit about The Episcopal Church.
But mostly, we were just two friends of very long standing (I refuse to say 'old'), who were out enjoying the beautiful day. Temperatures in the low 70s. Not a cloud in the very blue sky. A slight breeze in the air. Very calm waters.

It felt like the weather on Rehoboth Bay was redeeming itself after three Nor'easters in six weeks time.

And here I thought I would just lounge about in my PJs all day.

And now I'm off to meet up with my friend Wayne to have dinner at Dos Locos - only the best restaurant in Rehoboth Beach.

Alaskan King Crab Legs are half price tonight. Served with lots of drawn butter, a side of yummy salad and some amazing rice.
I'll leave you with an image of the marina where I hope to meet up with The Old Man of the Sea in another month or so for another wonderful little ride on The Amity.

It just promises Spring, doesn't it?

Life is good. Especially when you aren't expecting it.

You have seen them and so have I: bright, enthusiastic young people leading worship, heading out on short term mission trips, collecting food for the food bank. And we think, “Ah, the future of the church is in good hands.”But what happens to those young people in the years that follow? Do they fulfill their potential for church leadership. If so, why? And if not, why not?Check out the rest of Prestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06606614277818623347noreply@blogger.com0

If we're going to be loud we might as well be very loud.
We're going to annoy the neighbours whatever.

From THE HERALD SUN:

Papua New Guinea Lutheran pastor Kandata Maua, has been sentenced to 16 years jail for killing his brother with an axe.

During a heated row over kunai grass, used as building material for traditional PNG houses, Maua hit his brother on the back of the head with the blunt side of an axe head, Wabag National Court heard.

Judge Ellis said he was used to sentencing people for customary payback deaths, especially after arguments over pigs, but this was the first time the argument had been over over kunai grass.

"I find it difficult to understand how someone who is supposed to teach people how they should live could even think of hitting another human being on the head," he added.

COMMENT: Oh, Papua New Guinea is such a refreshingly, innocent country still. In the USA no judge would ever be surprised at a pastor killing somebody over a bit of lawn.

Please note: The headline is a reference to the ancient, no longer practiced, cannibalistic diet plans of some PNG tribes and has absolutely nothing to do with the colour of Mr. Maua's skin which could be bright green for all I know.

From THE EXPRESS:

Kent police chiefs have banned officers from asking for Christian names in case it offends people of other faiths, it was revealed yesterday. Bobbies have been told that they should also refrain from using phrases such as “my dear” or “love”, when addressing women (obviously, it's still okay to call men "love," which is a nice touch, or could be if the policeman gets lucky). They also state that officers should not comfort people by putting their arm around them.

The Plain English Campaign criticised the advice, saying police chiefs were “strait-jacketing” everyday language.

From THE STAR (Toronto):

It’s hard to imagine pastor Rob Knight as an armed and dangerous criminal. But that’s what Cobourg police feared they might be confronting when they surrounded his family minivan during a dramatic “takedown” on Wednesday afternoon.
“It was all a misunderstanding,” the youth pastor at Cobourg Alliance Church, says as he recalls the incident on the city’s busiest downtown street. “The funny thing is there was maybe only two minutes when anyone could have seen the guns.”

Unbeknownst to the passerby who called police, the “guns” were harmless props in a video that Knight, 34, was filming with three Grade 10 students in a covered walkway just off King St. The video, which he’ll be showing at a Good Friday youth rally in Scarborough, is a “modern day analogy of the sacrifice Jesus made for mankind.”

Police surrounded the minivan at the end of the shoot.

“They told us to put our hands up and had two of us in the front seat get up so they could search us,” Knight told the Star Thursday.

Const. Terry Stanley said that the four men could have terrified the entire neighbourhood, Stanley says.

“Especially when no one knew what was going on. They were so silly. They just weren’t thinking. This kind of thing would get worried people frantic on their cellphones easily.”

Officers confiscated the toy guns.
***

From BIG NEWS NETWORK:

20 Members of a Tai Chi class, that had met weekly at the All Saints' Church Hall in Totley, Sheffield, for nearly five months, claim they have been banned by the church.

Vicar, Rev David Rhodes, said, "Our understanding is that the basis of Tai Chi is an Eastern religion and from the church's point of view that isn't something that we want to be involved in."

However, the group, comprising mainly older women, said they only took up Tai Chi - which involves slow movements and controlled breathing - to stay healthy.

Jennie Street, from the Totley Residents Association, said, "Some of the older people were very upset about it. They say they're just doing exercises and being healthy, it's got nothing to do with religion."
***
From WESTERN MORNING NEWS:

A gay disco has been banned over fears that it would upset Christians at Easter. The Good Friday Gay Pride event in a village hall was approved then cancelled.

Organiser Jason Hudson said: "I feel this is discrimination - it's ridiculous in this day and age. The original purpose of the club was for the betterment and education of the people of St Agnes, but now it seems to be for a select few. Does she think there are no gay people living in the village? I'm sure they will feel offended by the suggestion that a gay dance night may upset people."

But the committee chairman of the Miners' and Mechanics' Institute in St Agnes, Cornwall, Dawn Brown, said the village "has a large and active Christian community whom I would not wish to upset."

She also said the organisation had to "think of its image" but denied suggestions that it was anti-gay, saying: "We want to create a family-centred venue."

Mr Hudsonhas now been given the go-ahead to hold the event at Qdos in Truro.































Top: The Miners' Institute, St. AgnesBelow: Qdos, Truro

COMMENT: You know, I think things have turned out for the best in the end. Qdos looks a lot more fun than the Miners' Institute. And, anyway, the gay people of Cornwall probably should stay clear of the St. Agnes building - it looks like just the sort of place where Japanese satanists, disguised as sweet, grey haired old ladies, would practice their evil Tai Chi rituals.

From THE BOSTON GLOBE:






I don't think so!

From THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS:

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is distancing itself from longtime affiliate Royal Lane Baptist Church of Dallas, which recently changed its Web site to reflect an affirmation of gay members. They have decided to place in escrow any funds sent from Royal Lane. It also has asked Royal Lane to remove from church publications any reference to BGCT affiliation. Randel Everett, executive director of the BGCT, said those conditions will remain until the church says it agrees with the stance on homosexuality.

"It is my prayer that Royal Lane Baptist Church will take the appropriate action to return to these Texas Baptist values and restore its fellowship with the BGCT," Everett said in a prepared statement.

Earlier, Matthews said deacons overwhelmingly approved changing the church Web site to say Royal Lane is "a vibrant mosaic of varied racial identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and denominational backgrounds." He noted that the church had not changed its bylaws or taken an official vote on homosexuality but said the new Web site language reflected publicly the church's long practice of welcoming gays and lesbians, including ordaining some as deacons.

"It's just an acknowledgement of who we are," he said.

Thanks to Klady for sending the link to
this Austrian cartoon in to MadPriest Towers.

From THE NEW YORK TIMES:

The German archdiocese led by the future Pope Benedict XVI ignored repeated warnings in the early 1980s by a psychiatrist treating a priest accused of sexually abusing boys that he should not be allowed to work with children, the psychiatrist said Thursday.

“I said, ‘For God’s sake, he desperately has to be kept away from working with children,’ ” the psychiatrist, Dr. Werner Huth, said in a telephone interview from Munich. “I was very unhappy about the entire story.”

Dr. Huth said he issued the explicit warnings — both written and oral — before the future pope, then Joseph Ratzinger, archbishop of Munich and Freising, left Germany for a position in the Vatican in 1982.

In 1980, after abuse complaints from parents in Essen that the priest did not deny, Archbishop Ratzinger approved a decision to move the priest to Munich for therapy.

Despite the psychiatrist’s warnings, Father Hullermann was allowed to return to parish work almost immediately after his therapy began, interacting with children as well as adults. Less than five years later, he was accused of molesting other boys, and in 1986 he was convicted of sexual abuse in Bavaria.

The psychiatrist said in an interview that he did not have any direct communications with Archbishop Ratzinger and did not know whether or not the archbishop knew about his warnings. Though he said he had spoken with several senior church officials, Dr. Huth’s main contact at the time was a bishop, Heinrich Graf von Soden-Fraunhofen, who died in 2000.

Please feel free to add your own prayer requests in the comments or email them in to me.
Posted at SINFUL THEOLOGY:

My wrestling with theology grows no easier with time. i am hoping that my faith is in one of the boxes that i have yet to unpack from seminary, however i suspect that it was lost in the move. So what now? I have a hope, that somehow my doubts will crush me, compound me, that what will be left is a lack of logic or a crystal of truth. I long for that moment when all questions fall away and all doubts evaporated under a sun that radiates life giving energy. I am currently living between metaphors. I want to scream as did the writter of eclesatics, it is all meaningless! Its all blowing in the wind! None of it matters. Yet i need work - and time. I would like to sleep a while.

***

Posted by Kathy at KNITTING WITH MY SHOES OFF:

I got a bill yesterday from the rhematologist's office for the full amount of the bill, the insurance company declining to pay because I don't appear to be insured by them. sigh I don't know why everything has to be such an uphill battle getting them to pay out every single one of my bills.

***

From JIMB:

Sad news. Sam, our unofficial parish pooch and Rev. Terri's loved dog has crossed the rainbow bridge. He was a great dog, and we will miss him. Thanks to all who had prayed with me for his healing and celebrated what turned out to be a remission not a cure.

***

Posted by Father Kenny at RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS:

Today is dad's "Assessment Day", and there is a big meeting in the Care Home to decide on his future. Whether he is allowed to stay on or not is up for grabs, and I don't know where he will go if today doesn't work out. So, I'm hoping he's in good form today, and a wee bit of Divine Providence too!

***
Finally, a couple of tentative PTL situations. Both, Penolan at MENOPAUSAL STONERS and Jaliya at A POST-CYNICAL SEER indicate on their blogs the possibility of new friendships (possibly romance, at least in Penolan's case).
Click Here for PollOnline Survey
Enterprise Feedback Management
| Website Polls
| Email Marketing

| Crowdsourcing Software
View MicroPollClick Here for PollOnline Survey
Enterprise Feedback Management
| Website Polls
| Email Marketing

| Crowdsourcing Software
View MicroPoll

SAINT JOSEPH PRAY FOR US.

DR. ROWAN WILLIAMS CRITICIZES ELECTION OF LESBIAN BISHOP, MARY GLASSPOOL


From Ruth Gledhill's Column
Times Online March 19, 2010

The Archbishop of Canterbury's office today described the election of an openly lesbian bishop in the United States as "regrettable" and warned that it could further threaten the unity of the Anglican Communion.

The London office of Dr Rowan Williams responded to the election of Canon Mary Glasspool to a suffragan see in Los Angeles by warning of "important implications". The statement from Lambeth Palace said that further consultations will now take place and regretted that calls for "restraint" had not been heeded.

The Episcopal News Service reported that Canon Glasspool, who held from the start that her sexuality was "not an issue", had received the necessary consents from bishops and standing committees in the US for her consecration by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to go ahead in May.

Her election comes after that of the Anglican Communion's first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, whose election in 2003 took the worldwide Church to the brink of schism, where it remains. Both Bishop Robinson and Bishop-elect Glasspool have been with their current partners for many years.

Read the rest of Ruth's story here.

Blog favourites, Chumbawamba (who gave the world the "Homophobia" song - see "Soundtrack To Our Lives" in sidebar) have a new album out. Here's a brief taster of it.


WEBSITE

In response to the news that Mary Glasspool has received the necessary consents to become bishop suffragan for Los Angeles, there has been a brief and somewhat vague statement from Lambeth Palace:

It is regrettable that the appeals from Anglican Communion bodies for continuing gracious restraint have not been heeded. Following the Los Angeles election in December the archbishop made clear that the outcome of the consent process would have important implications for the communion. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion reiterated these concerns in its December resolution which called for the existing moratoria to be upheld. Further consultation will now take place about the implications and consequences of this decision.It may be time for some, including the occupants of Lambath Palace, to recall the heavy handed strategies employed by the House of Bishops, and our Presiding Bishop, to force the Deputies to pass the "existing moratoria."

That particularly unpleasant piece of legislation, known as resolution B033, defined the "existing moratoria" in this manner:

Resolved, that this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.That restraint, gained by the emotional manipulation of the House of Deputies, is the only "existing moratoria" recognized by the Episcopal Church. The Windsor Report is a report, nothing more. Canterbury, the Primates and the ACC are free to make recomendations, but they are not able, under our polity, to define what constitutes appropriate "gracious restraint" nor to establish Communion-wide "moratoria." They do not have that authority.

The "existing moratoria" in TEC, defined by B033, was never the mind of the House of Deputies. It is questionable if it was even the mind of the House of Bishops. Reports of the discussion that led to the Bishops passing it suggests that there was some serious arm twisting being employed by Presiding Bishop Griswold.

The fact that B033 was never representative of the mind of TEC meeting in General Convention in 2006 became quite obvious at the next Convention in 2009, when resolution D025 passed both Houses with very little debate. The relevant section follows:

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church...Now, at the time of the passing of D025, I was in agreement with the opinion that D025 did not change anything; it did not rescind B033. As one example, that opinion was articulted by Bp. Epting:

The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops’ passage of resolution D025 does not overturn last General Convention’s call for care and “restraint.” That last resolution (B033) was never a “moratorium” on the ordination and consecration of gay and lesbian persons. It counseled care in approving any bishops whose “manner of life” would cause additional strain on the Anglican Communion.

Quite apart from the press’s (including Episcopal News Service) usual misunderstanding of such things, D025 simply re-asserts what has always been true — the ordination process in The Episcopal Church is governed by the Constitution and Canons of this church...I find myself having to rethink some of those assumptions today.

First of all, we have to assume, based on the brief statement released from Lambeth Palace, that in Canterbury's mind, "gracious restraint" is indeed synonymous with "existing moratoria." We can play with the meaning all we want, but it seems clear to most people that the phrase "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion" was indeed intended to be a moratorium in regards to the consecration of gay and lesbian persons.

So, D025 was necessary, in order to clearly state that such a reading of B033 was not the mind of the House of Bishops or the House of Deputies. But, as with all resolutions, it is still simply words, open to various interpretations.

That has all changed now. That a majority of Standing Committees and Bishops have given consent to the consecration of Bishop-elect Glasspool will once and for all put to rest any speculation regarding the interpretation of both B033 and D025.

The message from Lambeth concludes with these ominous words:

...Further consultation will now take place about the implications and consequences of this decision...The consequences? How about a church that will not justify bigotry in the name of God? How about a church that strives to be a place for all the baptized? How about a church that seeks to raise up leaders that are clearly called by God, without placing artificial stumbling blocks in their way?

Yes, there will be consequences. Thanks be to God.

J.

I think this is Padre Mickey's archbishop.

From EPISCOPAL LIFE ONLINE:

The Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador March 18 publicly denounced the attempted murder of Bishop Martín Barahona and two others, according to a news release issued by the church.

The incident happened in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, on March 17 when an unknown man approached and fired upon Barahona, a church musician and Francis Martínez, the bishop's driver, according to news reports. Barahona was unharmed, but Martinez was hit in the stomach and his arm was broken by one of the gunshots. He is in "grave but stable condition," said the Rev. Lee Alison Crawford, rector of Trinity Church in Rutland, Vermont and a member of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council, in a telephone interview with ENS.

"At this point we don't know if there was a particular motivation or whether this was random, which is symptomatic of the pervasive violence that affects all sectors of daily life in El Salvador," she said.

Crawford, who is the canon missioner of the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador, said she had been in touch with church members in El Salvador after receiving word of the shooting.

The ongoing violence in the country, she said, comes from a "complex combination" of factors, including gang and other criminal activity, a "profusion of arms floating around the country" since the end of the civil war in the early 1990s and the country's economic stresses.

Barahona, 67, became bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador in 1992, and is the primate of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (IARCA). Barahona is scheduled to participate in a service commemorating the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Salvadoran Roman Catholic Archbishop Óscar Romero to be held March 27th at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

"As we report today, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury has said it regrets the election of Canon Mary Glasspool as a bishop in Los Angeles. If only all elections were as straightforward as this one."
(Our Ruth, THE TIMES)

Go read. She's well on form today.

Oh, and this is what Ruth is referring to. But, come on, does anybody actually care anymore?

From THE TIMES:

The Archbishop of Canterbury's office today described the election of an openly lesbian bishop in the United States as "regrettable" and warned that it could further threaten the unity of the Anglican Communion.

The London office of Dr Rowan Williams responded to the election of Canon Mary Glasspool to a suffragan see in Los Angeles by warning of "important implications". The statement from Lambeth Palace said that further consultations will now take place and regretted that calls for "restraint" had not been heeded.