The road to nowhere

Church of Uganda will uphold Road to Lambeth Statement

For Immediate Release
30th May 2007

In response to the recent announcement that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, has sent out invitations to the 2008 Lambeth Conference of Bishops, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, made this statement:

On 9th December 2006, the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda, meeting in Mbale, resolved unanimously to support the CAPA Road to Lambeth statement, which, among other things, states, “We will definitely not attend any Lambeth Conference to which the violators of the Lambeth Resolution are also invited as participants or observers.”

We note that all the American Bishops who consented to, participated in, and have continued to support the consecration as bishop of a man living in a homosexual relationship have been invited to the Lambeth Conference. These are Bishops who have violated the Lambeth Resolution 1.10, which rejects “homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture” and “cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions.”

Accordingly, the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda stands by its resolve to uphold the Road to Lambeth.

The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi
ARCHBISHOP OF CHURCH OF UGANDA.

Shocking!

You scored as Chalcedon compliant, You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451. Pelagianism 67% Chalcedon compliant 67% Monophysitism 50% Modalism 33% Nestorianism 17% Monarchianism 0% Albigensianism 0% Donatism 0% Socinianism 0% Arianism 0% Adoptionist 0% Docetism 0% Gnosticism 0% Apollanarian 0% Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com

Bloody Attack at Moscow Pride

Thugs Beat Activists and Dignitaries
by Rex Wockner

Confirmation attestation

Trinity Sunday approaches, and along with it my confirmation in the Episcopal Church. Ten weeks of wonderful New Member classes have ended, I’ve participated in a dry run of the upcoming confirmation service, and now am left to myself and my inner conflicts and doubts. My eleventh hour jitters seem silly, especially since I feel such a deep call to walk this path at this time. Happily there's still a four hour New Member retreat with our Rector to attend on Saturday.

It would be a lie for me to say that this step does not feel personally momentous. The reaffirmation of my baptismal vow and the public acceptance into a community of Christian faith on the surface seems like it should be a great distance from the Neo-pagan practice of my twenties and thirties. But it doesn’t feel that way. Rather, it feels like another step towards completion, healing and an expression of God’s grace. It doesn't negate the preceding guideposts along my life's journey; this confirmation's a new arrival at an important landmark along the way.

It is not lost on me that my confirmation will come at the hands of a Windsor Bishop. When I anticipate the service, I can’t help but see myself in the midst of a microcosm of the tension within the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

My tactile link into the apostolic succession will be a man with whom I apparently have some distinct theological differences. Recently I read that Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, once said that if you touch one bishop of the Anglican Communion, you touch them all. Bearing that in mind, I won’t be surprised if I think of Bishop Gene Robinson when Bishop Jeffrey Steenson lays his hands on me before the assembled parishioners this coming Sunday.

Was that Doug?

One night a blonde nun was praying in her room when God appeared before her. "My daughter, you have pleased me greatly. Your heart is full of love for your fellow creatures and your actions and prayers are always for the benefit of others. I have come to you, not only to thank and commend you, but to grant you anything you wish," said God.

"Dear Heavenly Father, I am perfectly happy. I am a bride of Christ. I am doing what I love. I lack for nothing material since the Church supports me. I am content in all ways," said the nun. "There must be something you would have of me," said God. "Well, there is one thing," she said. "Just name it," said God. "It's those blonde jokes. They are so demeaning to blondes everywhere, not just to me. I would like for blonde jokes to stop." "Consider it done," said God. "Blonde jokes shall be stricken from the minds of humans everywhere. But surely there is something that I could do just for you."

"There is one thing. But it's really small, and not worth your time," said the nun. "Name it. Please," said God. "It's the M&M's," said the blonde nun. "They're so hard to peel."

Back from the land that birthed me

Thanks to all who kept me in their thoughts & prayers over the past weekend. The long-awaited visit to my little hometown of Washington, PA went well. My parents and sundry relatives were happy to see me, and I them.

My father’s Parkinson’s Disease (PD) has progressed, but not as much as I had feared. His palsy occurs more often, and is more pronounced than it used to be. Physical movement is slower than when I last saw him (a symptom called bradykinesia) two years ago, and there are ever so brief moments of akinesia, or the cessation of movement. While his face isn’t completely masklike yet, a common PD symptom, he is certainly less expressive facially. His voice remains strong, a beneficial result of the therapy he’s been taking. The gait that’s common with PD sufferers is more evident, and he’s hunched over more.

Inside, he seems much the same, though you really have to look into his eyes to perceive it. He gets very emotional, which exacerbates his palsy and leaves him struggling to speak. You can see him struggle to order his thoughts and get words out, but when unable to he gets increasingly agitated and eventually croaks out the word “Shit.” According to my Mum, his vision is declining because he blinks so much less now, which leads to eye damage. Multi-tasking is beyond him, resulting in confusion and emotional upset if he tries to do or process more than a couple of things at the same time. Luckily, he’s got my Mum there, who is long used to telling him what to do!

Mum’s doing well, a vital 75 year old. She still delivers 30+ meals each week for Meals on Wheels, and is the unofficial chauffeur for several other seniors. She seems a bit tired & overtaxed to me, but no wonder, with all the responsibility she shoulders. The Saturday family potluck she planned went well, with about 20 relatives spanning four generations attending. Way more food was spread out than was needed, but it was all tasty. The afternoon ended with the menfolk gathered in front of the television, watching sports, and the womenfolk raucously playing cards nearby.

I spent some time during the potluck talking with my cousin’s widow, who is a Presbyterian minister. She’s the pastor to two congregations now, and is involved in some of the local Presbytery’s committees. One that she’s serving on is involved in a court struggle with a schismatic congregation just south of Pittsburgh. Being recently widowed, she’s had quite a road lately, but her grandchildren and her involvement in church seems to help her keep her head above water.

Sunday I attended an 8:30 service at the local Episcopal church, with some trepidation, since I was in the land of +Bob Pittsburgh. The church was pretty, the Rite I service a bit stiff for me, and the homily, well, uninspired would be an accurate descriptor. I longed for my progressive, Anglo-catholic, happy parish several times amidst the thee’s & thou’s. The people were friendly in a reserved way, so I’d be comfortable worshipping there again on future visits home.

While sitting with my extended family on Saturday during the potluck, I was struck how family itself is one of the Great Mysteries. Looking into the face of my cousin Dorsey and seeing my late Uncle Ed there, watching little Jessie toddle around looking and acting just like my recently deceased cousin Reed (her grandfather), it seemed as if the space was crowded with many loved ones long gone. I can’t adequately put it into words, but I’m sure many of you understand, having had similar experiences yourselves.

How wondrous is God’s creation!!!

Upcoming relatively tribal trek

Tomorrow i fly east for a four day visit with my family. Making this trip happen has been a goal for nearly a year, competing with budget constraints, demands of my job, and my inertia towards all things related to my hometown. My love for my parents and the rest of my family is definitely tempered by my aversion to the small-town, white bread, conservative, Norman Rockwell-ish flavor of my locus origo. At last, however, my planning and major hissy fits at both home & work have made the trip possible.

i've been warned by both my mother and brother to be prepared for the sight of my father. That worries me, since he has Parkinson's. It's out of character for my family to give such cautions, and the fact that they've both independently done so is a little ominous. Add to that my father's confusion and subsequent emotional upset the last time we talked on the phone, and i'm torn between wanting to be there instantaneously and dreading what i may find. But he's my Dad. i love him. i live 1500+ miles away from him, and we need to look into each others' eyes. What else is there to say?

To lighten things up a bit, here's an interesting article i came across from the UK version of The Onion. Homo turns straight after father's good 'talking to'

Another chuckle, albeit a personally uncomfortable one, is that my Mum called me Monday to let me know that she's planned a family potluck for Saturday. Apparently despite her fears that the slew of relatives she's invited wouldn't be able to attend, "It looks like everyone's going to be there!" Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nephew, niece, brother, in-laws, babies, cats, dogs, the whole lot of them, most of whom i've not seen in 25+ years will be there to see their favorite (and presumably only) gay relative. Oy. Familial overload. Well, i'm sure i'll enjoy it when i'm in the midst of the family's embrace. Pity my SO can't accompany me on this trip - i'd enjoy watching him share the love! LOL!!!

Today promises to be busy & stressful. Tying up loose ends at work, getting needed errands done, doing laundry then packing. My redeye flight leaves tomorrow morning at half past "Ye God!" which means i've gotta wake the SO around 4:30am tomorrow morning so he can drive me to the airport. He usually sleeps 'til 10am. This is gonna be fun!

On today's scheduled installation...