tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post3736153511519374008..comments2024-02-21T03:20:21.898-08:00Comments on An Inch At A Time: Reflections on the Journey: Breaking News on the "Blessings" FrontSUSAN RUSSELLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01795717638621668638noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-33332230768904328862012-11-20T16:22:24.998-08:002012-11-20T16:22:24.998-08:00I feel it too, SCG, down here in the South where t...I feel it too, SCG, down here in the South where the rite is not an option, where our bishop spoke against it on the floor and our entire delegation, including those I care deeply for, voted against it. For days my Episcopal friends were lighting up Facebook with rejoicing and my left-the-church friends were saying maybe they'd give church, our church, a chance. Meanwhile, I was having a hardIndie Pereirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00337834296068863923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-92317874360525352012-11-17T21:49:12.175-08:002012-11-17T21:49:12.175-08:00SCG ... I hear your frustration -- and yet the rea...SCG ... I hear your frustration -- and yet the reality is that's how The Episcopal Church works. Bishops with jurisdiction have broad discretion -- bordering on autonomy -- and even when General Convention does what it can to move the church forward there are, sadly, going to be footdraggers on LGBT equality just as there were on the ordination of women -- just to name one example. <br /><br SUSAN RUSSELLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01795717638621668638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-416327612037208142012-11-17T21:30:51.169-08:002012-11-17T21:30:51.169-08:00Rev. Susan,
I am glad that the position of +Scott...Rev. Susan,<br /><br />I am glad that the position of +Scott Benhase has raised your ire. I would have liked a full acceptance of the language adopted by the church without the need to nuance it in any way. But then, Blakely, GA, is not Berkeley, CA. And I note that at least there is a rite allowed in Georgia. In the diocese of Florida, headquartered in Jacksonville, there's nothing. SCGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08162762233972733978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-73826761533498502112012-11-17T16:15:35.161-08:002012-11-17T16:15:35.161-08:00It's always surprising to see Anglicans surpri...It's always surprising to see Anglicans surprised at Anglicanism. You'd think you were used to it. This rite is a very vague thing. It can be invoked on any group > 1. It might be a same sex couple or 2-3 people about to paint the parish hall, or a scout troop about to go on an outing. It is vague because (please note) Anglicanism is vague. Someone complained it was "buried&bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039146105983736459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-80852315653539736122012-11-16T16:41:15.249-08:002012-11-16T16:41:15.249-08:00But wait ... there's more! I hadn't "...But wait ... there's more! I hadn't "clicked through" enough to read this part ... but "IT" did over on Friends of Jake. Check it out:<br /><br />And if that's not bad enough, they must also sign the following: (PDF)<br /><br /><br />"We, ________________________________________________________,<br />desiring to receive the blessing of God in the Church and SUSAN RUSSELLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01795717638621668638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-62220796618206263132012-11-16T14:05:56.311-08:002012-11-16T14:05:56.311-08:00Wow, you could call that "blessing" the ...Wow, you could call that "blessing" the "We reluctantly acknowledge you're sharing an apartment---we really HOPE w/ separate bedrooms!" liturgy, huh?<br /><br />No vows. No "forsaking all others".<br /><br />And in the very FIRST line:<br /><br />"Let us pray for N. and N. in their life together and for the concerns of this community."<br /><br />For JCFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516376500318551838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-17489358313140600142012-11-16T11:31:46.537-08:002012-11-16T11:31:46.537-08:00My take over at Friends of Jake.
"You know, ...<a href="http://friends-of-jake.blogspot.com/2012/11/separate-not-equal-and-slapped-in-dio-ga.html" rel="nofollow"><br />My take over at Friends of Jake</a>.<br /><br />"You know, at some level, it's more honorable just to say, "Nope. Not in my Diocese." Because to do it like this--with the Rite de-emphasized, and the "signing statement" makes it a deliberate slap IThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09605163506396013904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-42736105453436477132012-11-16T10:03:28.752-08:002012-11-16T10:03:28.752-08:00You are exactly right -- and for over a decade now...You are exactly right -- and for over a decade now we (those working for full inclusion) have been tranparent about our deeply held conviction that nothing short of marriage on the prayer book is good enough for Jesus or for us.<br /><br />And ... it's a journey. <br /><br />If nothing else this moment points out -- as I said in the blog -- how much work there still is to do. And some of thatSUSAN RUSSELLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01795717638621668638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21609676.post-15320000883253437382012-11-16T09:56:43.996-08:002012-11-16T09:56:43.996-08:00However, I DO wish that general convention would (...However, I DO wish that general convention would (and I hope at some point in the future will) simply call is out plainly and in writing: Holy Matrimony/Marriage in the Church<br />etc, etc. Or, simply call it a blessing for all couples and change/revise the Book of Common Prayer so that the M word does not apply to straights either. My view is not only "all the sacraments for all Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855171851801011788noreply@blogger.com