tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post4067052513236745984..comments2023-12-25T23:40:17.701-05:00Comments on Confessions of a Carioca: Making Space for Grace to Abound in San JoaquinDaniel Martinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15980949721733826978noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post-77028468080099802782016-08-19T14:06:07.781-04:002016-08-19T14:06:07.781-04:00While I am in principle favor of a generous approa...While I am in principle favor of a generous approach to property issues in San Joaquin, I think that that needs to be reciprocated by a similarly generous approach to property issues in Fort Worth and Quincy. In particular +Iker needs to realize that All Saints Episcopal Church is and will remain a TEC parish and stop trying to take their property on the grounds that they did not hold a formal vote to disaffiliate from the ACNA diocese. <br /><br />Also, you forgot that TEC won the first lawsuits against a departing diocese, in Pittsburgh. So right now the score is tied, two points for TEC and two for ACNA. Whit Johnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11446859577453868475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post-82256177893219579002016-08-19T13:59:27.590-04:002016-08-19T13:59:27.590-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Whit Johnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11446859577453868475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post-21789973539859367942016-07-18T07:00:38.350-04:002016-07-18T07:00:38.350-04:00Gentlemen, as someone who has sat in the bleachers...Gentlemen, as someone who has sat in the bleachers and worked the streets in this cause, I would like to relate to you some of my experiences during this period of what was once described to me as "happy chaos". <br />For many of us sitting in the pews, the last 30+ years have been a time of internal conflict that made it very difficult for us to assist in attracting new members to our churches. TEC 'made the news' in many negative ways that repelled potential new members while creating an entirely new group of those who felt they had been disenfranchised by our leadership.<br />As I told one of the attorneys involved in one of these cases, when I try to use the buzz phrase "The Episcopal Church is all about LOVE", I risked being elbowed in the ribs rather hardily with the reply comment of "So, how are all those lawsuits working out for you?" Because we all know that a loving, caring family would work their problems out behind closed doors rather than in open court, our denomination became a very hard sell to those who ae unfamiliar with our church history.<br />I strongly believe it is time for us to rejoin our faith with our actions.<br />I am known as a rather blunt person. During the period 2007-2010, I was accused of attending "secret meetings" because of spreading my wings by becoming more involved in my church at the Diocesan level, by persons who didn't recall the times I not only attended several General Conventions as a delegate (usually out of town and at my own expense), but also stood for the opinions of my local congregation (as I had agreed to do) even when it was in direct contradiction with my Dean (who had been one of my childhood priest, btw and was also one of the PIC's who chose to lead a 'leave' decision.<br />I personally have always valued the diversity of opinion in the Episcopal Church, except when it came to the point where I felt verbally bullied by those who dismissed my opinion as uninformed. When put on the spot in a debate, I have a difficult time coming up with the facts and figures to support my point of view. Part of the reason for that is that I feel no argument needs to be made. Christ himself preached LOVE to his followers. My HEART tells me that we have the very best religious philosophy merely BECAUSE it allows for the respectful difference of opinion.<br />All that being said, we had a family dinner at my brother's house yesterday where two younger women in my family (both vey intelligent and informed) told me that as one grows older, one starts to "care less about other's opinions". I disagreed with this statement, replying "That is simply not true unless you choose to live in a bubble, as a hermit. I have gone for caring what everyone thinks to caring what no one thinks to being selective about those whose opinions I value."<br />Mike, to the best of my knowledge, we have never met in person. I am currently a member of the Diocese of Springfield, coming there from the Diocese of Quincy. (This should allow you to fill in some of the names in my narrative, if you are well-informed of all the cast of characters in this ongoing drama).<br />Bp. Martins will tell you I am not a well-trained parrot.<br />I remain a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. One who can read well-structured English sentences. I am currently re-reading a text book from a recent college class on the New Testament. In going that far back in the history of Christianity, I am once again reminded what our forebears were willing to die to achieve. I have no plans to become a martyr, but sometimes being publicly ostracized by one's church family can be a worse punishment than prison or death.<br />I think the name of the movie was "The PASSION of Christ", not "The OPINION of Christ".<br />Thanks for you ears.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post-3408053319307336282016-07-17T15:19:01.539-04:002016-07-17T15:19:01.539-04:00Pretty broad brush you're painting with there,...Pretty broad brush you're painting with there, Mike. There has been as much variety of rhetorical style among the "schismatics" as among any other faction. To say that they all deserve what the worst among them deserve is unfair. Plus, since when is tit for tat a gospel value?Bishop Daniel Martinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341528414941408086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34346296.post-74693797520922951592016-07-17T13:51:31.096-04:002016-07-17T13:51:31.096-04:00Dear Dan,
Your essay overlooks an important point...Dear Dan,<br /><br />Your essay overlooks an important point, in my view. Before there was a "scorched earth" policy, there was a was a " scorched ears" policy among the schismatics. They engaged in a relentless verbal assault on TEC from the PB level down to the local parishioner level. Many created majorities in parishes by driving off those who disagreed with them. Their attacks on those who disagreed with them led to egregious behavior. This was true in the Diocese of San Diego, and documented by the various via media groups.<br /><br />In the 2006 period I was in favor of an amicable parting that included an agreement on the schismatics part to stand down from their rhetoric and verbal assaults. But of course, when you are speaking God's point of view, that is impossible to agree to. <br /><br />So, for me, they squandered the possibility of amicability, because they had no interest in being amicable. Their entire point was to destroy TEC and remove it from the Anglican Communion. That remains the schismatics' goal. I see no reason to reward them with property and assets for which they were stewards, not owners. Now they get the "measure they gave" which may lead them to be more inventive on behalf of the gospel and less truculent.<br />You do not get peace while perpetuating conflict.<br /><br />Michael Russellhttp://www.richardhooker.netnoreply@blogger.com