By Matthew Townsend and Kirk Petersen By the penultimate day of its deliberations, the 79th General Convention had settled several of the hot button issues anticipated in Austin — churchwide same-sex marriage, a salary for the president of the House of Deputies, and liturgical revision, to name a few. One topic, however, continues to elicit considerable debate: the church’s … [Read more...] about Israel-Palestine Divides the Houses
Archives for July 12, 2018
Canon Hunn Apologizes for Hymn Choice
The Rev. Canon Michael Buerkel Hunn, chairman of the 79th General Convention’s Worship Committee, has apologized for language in a hymn, God of the galaxies (Sound the Bamboo, Christian Conference of Asia Hymnal, 2000), used during the Eucharist for the Care of Creation [PDF] on July 10. One stanza referred to humans’ treatment of the earth with a word for sexual violation. … [Read more...] about Canon Hunn Apologizes for Hymn Choice
Alternatives Ready for Eucharists
Adapted from the Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg and Melodie Woerman, ENS Both houses of General Convention on July 12 adopted a resolution that allows all congregations in the Episcopal Church to use optional, expansive-language versions of three Rite II Eucharistic prayers in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Resolution D078 provides alternative language for Prayer A, Prayer … [Read more...] about Alternatives Ready for Eucharists
Rekindling Faith
Grants of £27 million by the Church of England aim to create 100 new churches in coastal areas, market towns, and outer unban housing estates. “The Church is always called to reach out, meet God’s people and share with them the life changing faith of Jesus Christ,” said the Rt. Rev. Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover, who carries out daily operations of the Diocese of … [Read more...] about Rekindling Faith
Convention Adopts $133.8M Budget
By Matthew Townsend General Convention has adopted a $133.8 million budget for the Episcopal Church’s 2019-21 triennium. The House of Deputies approved the budget July 12, and the House of Bishops concurred without discussion the next day. The budget, presented by the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, was summarized in Resolution A295. As A295 states, … [Read more...] about Convention Adopts $133.8M Budget
Delegated Oversight in London
By Colin Podmore On the last day of June — a glorious summer Saturday — the Rt. Rev. Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham (a suffragan in the Diocese of London), ordained two men in their early 30s to the diaconate at the church of Our Most Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, one to serve there and the other in a parish in outer West London. In many ways it was an ordination like so … [Read more...] about Delegated Oversight in London
Staff Member for Digital Liturgies
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald The House of Deputies has concurred with the House of Bishops in creating a staff position for liturgy and music. The position on the presiding bishop’s staff will cost $380,000 for the triennium, according to Resolution A195, and will focus on spreading the church’s liturgical resources in digital formats. The staff person will support work … [Read more...] about Staff Member for Digital Liturgies
Departures from Christchurch
Four congregations have announced they intend to separate from the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand. Their action protests General Synod’s decision on May 9 to authorize marital blessings for same-sex couples. Archbishop Philip Richardson is in discussions with the vicars of the four communities: Jay Behan (St. Stephen’s, Shirley), James de Costabadie (St. John’s, Latimer … [Read more...] about Departures from Christchurch