Bits & Pieces

Playing catch-up from being away for a few days, here are the stories that caught my eye:

Episcopalians NOT voted off Anglican Island:

[Episcopal News Service] The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion has agreed that separating the Episcopal Church from the rest of the Anglican Communion "would inhibit dialogue and ... would therefore be unhelpful," according to a July 26 bulletin from the Anglican Communion Office. read the rest here

Lutherans make last summer's resolution on gay clergy a reality

[NYT] With a laying on of hands, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Sunday welcomed into its fold seven openly gay pastors who had until recently been barred from the church’s ministry. The Evangelical Lutheran Church known as the E.L.C.A., with 4.6 million members, is now the largest Protestant church in the United States to permit noncelibate gay ministers to serve in the ranks of its clergy ... read the rest here

Presiding Bishop preaches at St. Paul's in London

[Episcopal News Service – London, England] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori challenged those attending Sung Eucharist at historic St. Paul's Cathedral here July 25 to be "ready, willing and able" to speak out and take action against the world's injustices and indignities. There is a human tendency, she said, "to insist that some are not worthy of respect, that dignity doesn't apply to the poor, or to immigrants, or to women, or Muslims, or gay and lesbian people." read the rest here

And because there is more to life than just "things Episcopal/Anglican" ... (Really. Honest. I just checked!) ... here's a great feature on the Gulf by my cousin-in-law (AKA Louise's cousin) Jeff Mason:

Plumes, politics and the sultan of spill

[Reuters] - It is a Thursday morning in early July and Thad Allen is ready to start his day. There are three states to visit, an oil company to challenge, and a cleanup process to inspect -- all in less than 12 hours. read the rest here

And now, back to my regularly scheduled Tuesday!