PunkMonk

i really admire and respect people who manage to live lives of great integrity. As the company i've managed and worked for over the past 13 years goes out of business, self-reflection on the actions i've taken as a part of my role there are inevitable. Many times i was called upon to be a mediator, referee, and risk manager for the agency. Now that a workplace that could easily and frequently become emotionally toxic and ethically challenging will soon be a thing of the past, i'm left looking at my tattered idealism and honor. All in all i think the good i managed to do outweighs the times when i faced quandaries of honor. i stayed for all those years because it was where i felt i was supposed to be. Now that chapter is reaching its conclusion.

Here's a fellow whom i've admired for a while now. In general, i respect and admire many who take religious vows. It's a life i've felt drawn to at times, though it always seems that the circumstances of my life draw me elsewhere. Anyway, i hope you enjoy virtually meeting this engaging monk, Br. Karekin, a/k/a the PunkMonk.

Welcome, O wanderer and friend! If you have a dissident spirit, you may find a place here. My name is Brother Karekin, aka the PunkMonk, and I am an Episcopal friar, writer, political activist, and proud social deviant resident in San Francisco. I live here with my husband Anthony (in spite of Proposition 8). I am a member of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory which I humbly serve as their Minister Provincial for Province 8 which includes the West Coast. I have been a religious for 15 years, after having come to the realization that my life as an angry, punk, street kid were serving no one at all. I am deeply Christian, and unapologetically liberal and fondly remember the days when that was not a dirty thing to say.

Most people, after reading that first paragraph, grok that I am not a celibate religious. For those that didn't, well there you are. Our vow of Chastity can entail, but is not limited to, celibacy. While I have deep admiration for those of my brothers and sisters who have chosen the celibate life, I believe that sexuality when rightly enjoyed is also deeply sacred. And I am deeply appreciative of its variety in expression and practice. I am proud to be a Christian with a decidedly positive and expansive view of human sexuality. I provide Spiritual Direction for individuals in the SF Bay Area, working particularly with members of the transgendered community. While I am not transgender, I have personally struggled with my own Angels over gender expression and have a deep affinity/admiration/compassion for individuals who wrestle with gender identity and have run the risk of alternative expression.

Update to my blog list

"Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It" is a blog that i've recently found, courtesy of some other blogs i read, which is penned by a Rector living in Virginia.

Born Berkeley California. As was my daddy, his daddy and his daddy and his daddy. His daddy came via Brazil from Cornwall, England. Mine digger. Gold rusher. I'm an Episcopal priest, wanna be bagpipe player, sometime poet. My beloved is Joel (formerly Br. Joel, SSF). Loved him since the summer of '73. Still do. Passionately. My dogs are the only reason I'm going to heaven.

i'd be tempted to include LILWJFI on my blog list for the name alone, but it's going on the list because of posts like this. A very warm welcome to the Rev. Margaret!

Mad Hare Speaks (been a while...)

PB+K

The Presiding Bishop (PB) of the Episcopal Church in the USA, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Shori, delivered a sermon at the start of last month's General Convention which, predictably, is drawing criticism from some quarters. For the first female Presiding Bishop (Archbishop is the equivalent in other churches)in the Worldwide Anglican Communion, ++Katharine is certainly no stranger to blow-back. Perhaps her previous career as a marine biologist and the squabbles of academia figure in to the graciousness with which she engages her critics.

Here's her latest effort to continue the conversation with not only her supporters, but also her detractors (WARNING - Christian theological & doctrinal references ahead!):

I always am delighted when people listen to what I say in a sermon or address. Sometimes I am surprised by what they hear.

In my opening address at General Convention, I spoke about the "great Western heresy" of individualism (see the full text here). There have been varied reactions from people who weren't there, who heard or read an isolated comment without the context. Apparently I wasn't clear!

Individualism (the understanding that the interests and independence of the individual necessarily trump the interests of others as well as principles of interdependence) is basically unbiblical and unchristian.

The spiritual journey, at least in the Judeo-Christian tradition, is about holy living in community. When Jesus was asked to summarize the Torah, he said, "love God and love your neighbor as yourself." That means our task is to be in relationship with God and with our neighbors. If salvation is understood only as "getting right with God" without considering "getting right with (all) our neighbors," then we've got a heresy (an unorthodox belief) on our hands.

The theme of our General Convention, ubuntu, was chosen intentionally to focus on this. Often translated from its original African dialects as "I am because we are," ubuntu has significant biblical connections and warrant. The Hebrew prophets save their strongest denunciation for those who claim to be worshiping correctly but ignore injustice done to their neighbors (e.g., Amos 5:21-24), and Jesus insists that those who will enter the kingdom are the ones who have cared for neighbor by feeding, watering, clothing, housing, healing and visiting "the least of these" (Matt 25:31-46).

In my address, I went on to say that sometimes this belief that salvation only depends on getting right with God is reduced to saying a simple formula about Jesus. Jesus is quite explicit in his rejection of simple formulas: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matt 7:21).

He is repeatedly insistent that right relationship depends on loving neighbors – for example, "those who say, ‘I love God,' and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen" (1John 4:20). The Epistles repeatedly enjoin the followers of Jesus to "give evidence of the hope within you" (1Pet 3:15ff), that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26), that our judgment depends on care for brother and sister (Rom 14:10-12) and that we eat our own destruction if we take Communion without having regard for the rest of the community (1Cor 11:27-34).

Salvation depends on love of God and our relationship with Jesus, and we give evidence of our relationship with God in how we treat our neighbors, nearby and far away. Salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn by our works, but neither is salvation assured by words alone.

Salvation cannot be complete, in an eternal and eschatological sense, until the whole of creation is restored to right relationship. That is what we mean when we proclaim in the catechism that "the mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ" and that Christian hope is to "live with confidence in newness and fullness of life and to await the coming of Christ in glory and the completion of God's purpose for the world." We anticipate the restoration of all creation to right relationship, and we proclaim that Jesus' life, death and resurrection made that possible in a new way.

At the same time, salvation in the sense of cosmic reconciliation is a mystery. It's hard to pin down or talk about. It is ultimately the gift of a good and gracious God, not the product of our incessant striving. It is about healing and wholeness and holiness, the fruit of being more than doing. Just like another image we use to speak about restored relationship, the reign of God, salvation is happening all the time, all around us. Where do you see evidence?

I Kissed A Boy by Boy Interrupted - Matt and Liam

I've had the "Girl" version of this song stuck in my head for the past two days - but i like this one better!

God is Tryin' to Tell You Something...

Partnered Gay Lutherans Can Be Pastors
Timothy Kincaid @ Box Turtle Bulletin
August 21st, 2009

Capping a week in which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took strongly affirmative stances in welcoming and supporting gay Christians, the Lutherans have now voted to allow gay and lesbian ministers in lifelong monogamous same-gender relationships to serve.

First the assembly voted to keep today’s controversial vote a simple majority, rather than a 2/3 supermajority. Then they affirmed, by a 2/3 vote, a new statement on sexuality.

Today the denomination addressed the four step process outlined by their task-force, though the ordering has shifted to 3, 1, 2, 4:

Step three asks this church whether, in the future implementation of these commitments, it will make decisions so that all in this church bear the burdens of the other, and respect the bound consciences of all.

This step was confirmed 771 - 230.

Step one asks the assembly whether, in principle, this church is committed to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.

This step was confirmed 619 - 402.

Step two asks the assembly whether, in principle, this church is committed to finding a way for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as professional leaders of this church.

This step was confirmed 559 - 451. It is official. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in American will accept as ministers - for those churches who so desire - gays and lesbians with partners.

Step four proposes the specifics of how this church can move toward change in a way that respects the bound consciences of all.

The details of this step are yet to be announced.

ELCA Approves Move Toward Openess on Homosexuality - Tornado threatens

Today at their 2009 Churchwide Assembly, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America took a step forward in acknowledging some realities about human sexuality. From the AP:

MINNEAPOLIS — Leaders of the country's largest Lutheran denomination have agreed to disagree on homosexuality, endorsing an official statement on human sexuality that says there's room in the church for differing views on an issue that's divided other religious groups.

Delegates to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's nationwide assembly in Minneapolis on Wednesday approved a "social statement on human sexuality." The vote was a prelude to a bigger debate Friday, when delegates will tackle a proposal that would allow individual ELCA congregations to hire people in committed same-sex relationships as clergy.

Excerpts from "Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust", as the statement is titled:

"This social statement addresses the question: how do we understand human sexuality within the context of Jesus' invitation to love God and love our neighbor?"

___

"We in the ELCA recognize that many of our sisters and brothers in same-gender relationships sincerely desire the support of other Christians for living faithfully in all aspects of their lives, including their sexual fidelity. In response, we have drawn deeply on our Lutheran theological heritage and Scripture. This has led, however, to differing and conscience-bound understandings about the place of such relationships within the Christian community. We have come to various conclusions concering how to regard lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships, including whether and how to publicly recognize their lifelong commitments."

___

"This church also acknowledges that consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful, and faithful study and conversation. We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter and protect them, or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so."

"Regarding our life together as we live with disagreement, the people in this church will continue to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, pastoral care, and mutual respect."

Some media websites are reporting that while the assembly was debating passage of the statement, a tornado threatened outside. Well, there will certainly be another one threatening on Friday if they approve LGBT clergy who are in committed same-sex partnerships or marriages. A tornado in the ecclesiastical world, i mean. i like to think of it as the Holy Spirit blowing away cobwebs from the hearts of idolatrous, judgmental moralists.

Certainly it's a step in the right direction, toward fulfilling the Christ's Great Commandment.

Faith to Move the LGBT Community

A Faith Communities Gathering to discuss moving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights forward in New Mexico.

This gathering is to build on the work of the Religious Alliance for Inclusion and Non-Discrimination (R.A.I.N). The faith community has been a vocal part of the national debate over equal rights for persons who are LGBT.

Please join us to hear stories from community members and faith leaders as we continue to advocate for LGBT civil rights.

Thursday - September 10, 2009
7:00 to 9:00 PM
St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church [yep, that's the parish i belong to!]
601 Montaño Rd., NW
Albuquerque

Barney Frank Confronts Woman At Townhall Comparing Obama To Hitler

Providing an example of how best to respond to the nutters.

Those who are persecuted (as opposed to those who seek political capital)

In the US, a majority of citizens identify themselves as Christians more than any other faith. That's one of the reasons i feel like screaming when i read or hear people from the religious right claiming they're being victimized when told that they can't force their beliefs on everyone else, or when they say their beliefs aren't being properly respected because of things like hate crimes legislation, women's reproductive rights, etc. They're NOT victims - they're just whiny brats who want to reserve power for their own interests.

In Sri Lanka, they can tell you about true victimization of Christians.

...attackers on July 28 set fire to an Assemblies of God church in Norachcholai, Puttlam district, destroying the building. The pastor received frantic calls from neighbors at about 8:45 p.m. reporting that the building was in flames, echoing a similar arson attack almost a year ago that destroyed the original building on the site.

Church members have registered a complaint with police, but at press time no arrests had been made.

When a pastor of a Foursquare Gospel church and his wife visited a church member in Radawana village, Gampaha district during the third week of July, a 50-strong mob gathered at the door and shouted that they would not tolerate any further Christian activity in the village, NCEASL reported. The mob then prevented the couple from leaving the house, hit the pastor with a rod and threw a bucket of cow dung at him.

The disturbance continued for two hours before police finally answered repeated requests for assistance and arrived at the house, arresting three people who were later released.

Earlier, on June 28, a mob consisting of more than 100 people, including Buddhist monks, surrounded the home of a female pastor of another Foursquare Gospel church in the village, according to the NCEASL. At the time the pastor, whose name was withheld for security reasons, and her husband were away. Their 13-year-old daughter watched helplessly as the mob broke in, shouted insults and destroyed chairs and other furniture.

Hearing that their home was under attack, the parents rushed to get police help, but the mob had dispersed by the time officers arrived. Police called the pastor into the Gampaha police station for questioning on July 9 and July 11; on the second occasion, protestors surrounded her and other pastors who accompanied her, spitting on them and initially preventing them from entering the police station.

The full article contains reports of other attacks.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' -Matthew 5:10

A Life Well Lived

Last night around 9pm EST my Aunt Ginny (Virginia Iola Trexel, nee Smith) passed away peacefully with family attending her hospital bedside. Aunt Ginny is one of those people who've always been there, usually in the background of my life, and this morning i find myself deeply and quietly affected by her passing.

Aunt Ginny was a small woman with a golden heart. She took care of my father's parents until their deaths, witnessed the untimely deaths of two of her siblings (my Uncle Bernie & Aunt Doris) and that of her beloved husband, Uncle Charlie, who through he was also short in stature had a towering character and was much loved & respected by all.

She worked for years as the secretary for a small elementary school and lived for even longer in an old farmhouse which my family referred to as "The Ranch". Situated in an idyllic & fertile hollow in Western Pennsylvania, she always delighted in the number of deer that would frequent the property. A decade or so ago, she sold the ranch and settled in the seniors' community where my parents and other relatives eventually moved.

Aunt Ginny suffered with arthritis for decades but despite the daily pain & stiffness she never seemed to let it slow her down. Until the inoperable aneurysm she's lived with for years began to deteriorate a few weeks ago, she was up early every day, made her own bed, straightened her small apartment in the assisted living facility, and ALWAYS pressed her own pants daily, because, as she so frequently said, "I like a nice crease in my slacks." She would zip around with her walker (it was a challenge to keep up with her) and woe to the person who got in her way. First they'd hear her cheerily calling out, "Beep! Beep!" Then, if they didn't move out of her way fast enough, they were likely to hear a rather more pointed comment.

Some of my previous writing includes one of my fondest memories of Aunt Ginny, so i'll just repost the relevant passage here:

I was born into a devoutly Christian family in the early 1960s. In fact, there’s a strong heritage of Methodism in both my parent’s families. On my mother’s side, there are blood ties into the Whitefield [also spelled Whitfield, which is how both spellings are pronounced] family, which also produced one of the denomination’s early leaders, George Whitefield, as well as many widely known (in their day) Methodist ‘Hymnsingers’. Just a 10 minute walk from my childhood home was a home that was built around the log cabin which, starting in the 18th century, served as a base for the region’s Methodist circuit preachers. Aunt Ginny (my Dad’s sister) lived there with my Uncle Charlie.

I vividly recall playing dress up as a young child, donning another aunt’s cast-off dress, hat, gloves, shoes & purse then walking down the gravel lane to Aunt Ginny’s house. By the time I arrived, she had laid out a lovely tea service for the two of us. It floors me now to think that there I was, a sissyboy in drag, having tea with my loving & accommodating Aunt, right where John Wesley or his contemporaries once preached!

Aunt Ginny - rest in peace and rise in glory. i love you.

Admission of violations...of their own volition

TABC report finds 19 policy violations by agents, supervisor in Rainbow Lounge raid
August 6th, 2009

Two agents and a sergeant from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission committed a total of 19 policy violations related to a raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, according to an internal affairs investigation report released by the agency Thursday morning.

Agent Christopher Aller committed eight violations, Agent trainee Jason Chapman committed seven violations, and Sgt. Terry Parsons committed four violations, the report says.

Violations committed by the two agents include participating in a joint operation with Fort Worth police without approval from a supervisor; failing to submit a complaint card against the Rainbow Lounge; conducting bar inspections in unapproved attire; failing to follow bar inspection procedures; failing to report the use of force and injuries involving Chad Gibson, a Rainbow Lounge patron who sustained serious head injuries; and disrupting business during a bar inspection.

More at The Dallas Voice.

Atta Boy!

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Gotta Move!

Word to my readers (both of you.) Things have been hectic at Casa Conejo the past few days 'cause we're pulling up stakes and moving to a nearby rental house. We plan to be there until the addition/remodel is completed on the homestead. Today, it's a regular Discordian bacchanal. So don't expect much in the way of posting until the dust settles on this end.