Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies has made public her letter to the Bennison trial witnesses. Her letter:

September 1, 2010

To Bennison Trial Witnesses:
Julia Alexis, Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
Martha Alexis, Western Diocese, Anglican Church in North America
Andy Alexis, Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
Maggie Thompson, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
Rev. Margo Maris, pastor, advocate and editor, Episcopal Diocese of Oregon

I was moved by your letter expressing your pain and frustration over the recent ruling by the Episcopal Church’s Court of Review which has made it possible for the Rt. Rev. Charles Bennison to resume the position of Bishop of Pennsylvania. Good people can disagree about how the court interpreted our canons. I believe that most Episcopalians who have followed this case agree that Bishop Bennison’s choice to resume his episcopacy presents significant problems for the Diocese of Pennsylvania and for the wider Church.

I want you to know that I share your hope that the Episcopal Church can be, “a guiding beacon to all people everywhere who are affected in some way by clergy sexual abuse.” I also share your frustration that in your case, and in others, our churches were not “safe sanctuaries” for vulnerable people. And I share your outrage that individuals in positions of authority have been complicit in maintaining a climate of silence and denial that has inhibited our efforts to end sexual abuse within our church.

Like the Diocese of Pennsylvania’s Standing Committee, and many diocesan clergy and laity, I wish that Bishop Bennison had the wisdom and generosity of spirit to resign. As bishop he is more likely to deepen divisions and discredit the church than he is to bring healing or advance our common mission. I join the Court of Review in its assessment that Charles Bennison’s handling of the sexual abuse charges against his brother John was “totally wrong.” Bishop Bennison’s lack of remorse about his handling of this situation, and his solipsistic view of what is at stake, concern me deeply.

I have spoken recently with Bishop Bennison, whom I have known for many years. I have also spoken with members of the Standing Committee. I wish I could say that I can imagine a just and speedy resolution to this situation, or for that matter, a satisfying outcome following a protracted campaign, but I do not. It is my prayer that the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, when they are together this month in Arizona, will prayerfully consider this matter and either prevail upon Bishop Bennison to resign, or undertake other measures that lead to Bishop Bennison’s removal from office.

As a result of your letter and those of numerous others, I have turned my attention to considering the steps that our Church might take to prevent this kind of injustice from happening again. In the wake of this decision, it seems essential to address a deficiency in the structures of our Church, namely that there is no means of dissolving the relationship between a bishop and a diocese that find themselves in untenable circumstances. I am also considering the calls coming from many Episcopalians to amend our canons to include clergy and laity on the Court of Review.

In preparation for General Convention, a review of the canons relevant to these concerns is in order. I am presently in consultation with members of my council of advice, deputies and others with particular interest and knowledge in these matters to determine the most expedient and efficient way to proceed in this review.

I wish there were more that I could offer you in gratitude for your bravery in the face of all that you have endured at the hands of our Church. It grieves me to be another person telling you that my hands are tied, and I know the potential remedies that I am proposing may serve the church in the long-term but do nothing to right the wrongs inflicted upon you.

But within our polity, this is what is within my power to do. Please know that I will pursue these issues seriously and actively, and with the support and counsel of others in the church who also find this situation unacceptable.

All of you, and all the people of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, remain in my prayers.

Peace,

Bonnie Anderson, D.D.
President, The House of Deputies

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Bishop Gene Robinson figures that as homosexuality becomes more of a non issue it's no surprise that the political element known as the Religious Right has turned its attention to stoking fear of Muslim Americans:

There’s been incitement of hate and discrimination to the enactment of the Defense of Marriage Act, active opposition to reforms such as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and well-funded efforts to forestall marriage equality.

Now, however, it appears that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people’s success in achieving equal rights in this country is impending and virtually assured. It makes me wonder, then, if a new “enemy” is now being chosen—Muslim Americans and Islam.
...
I fear we are seeing the next mass target for scapegoating. Will the obsession with Muslims “too near” Ground Zero disappear with the midterm elections? Sadly, I think not. Have political operatives and religious right leaders decided that Muslim Americans and Islam are the next scapegoat? That they are a sure vehicle for getting conservative voters to the polls and for opening the wallets of religious right contributors?

Robinson concludes, "When religious freedom and tolerance is attacked for some, it is threatened for all. All of us must work tirelessly to undo the suspicion, hatred, and xenophobia directed toward our Muslim fellow citizens." Like this Tennessee church:

When pastor Steve Stone initially heard of the mosque and Islamic center being erected on the sprawling land adjacent his church, his stomach tightened.

Then he raised a 6-foot sign reading, "Welcome to the Neighborhood."

The issue for Stone and the 550-person Heartsong Church in Cordova, came down to one question: "What would Jesus do if He were us? He would welcome the neighbor," Stone said.

The Memphis Islamic Center, a nonprofit organization formed three years ago, is two weeks from breaking ground on the first phase of a multimillion-dollar complex.

While plans for Islamic centers across the country and just miles away have triggered vitriolic responses and divided communities, here in Memphis it's been a peaceful process.

While the 4,000-square-foot worship hall is being completed, Heartsong has opened its doors to its neighbors throughout the monthlong observance of Ramadan. Under a gigantic cross constructed of salvaged wood, nearly 200 area Muslims have been gathering each night to pray.

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The Sacramento Bee:

The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin has filed its ninth and final lawsuit against self-incorporated parishes that turned their backs on the national church in 2007.
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The Episcopal diocese, headquartered in Modesto under Bishop Jerry Lamb, filed a lawsuit in 2008 against the the Anglican [sic, Schofield] diocese and its parishes. The additional lawsuits, filed this year, were necessary to claim the property of self-incorporated parishes.

Monday's action completes those lawsuits. The other eight parishes are St. Francis in Turlock and St. James — the historic Red Church — in Sonora, as well as St. Michael's, Ridge-crest; St. John's, Porterville; Redeemer and Hope, Delano; St. Columbia, Fresno; St. Paul's, Visalia; and St. Paul's, Bakersfield.
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Lamb and the Episcopal diocese won its initial lawsuit against Schofield in July 2009. That decision is before the 5th District Court of Appeal. Oral arguments, originally scheduled to begin next week, have been pushed back to mid-October.

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From the Episcopal diocese:

This lawsuit is a continuation of the Diocese’s litigation efforts seeking the return of property to the Diocese and its congregations that is currently occupied by former members of The Episcopal Church who have sought to affiliate with a different denomination. Similar cases are currently pending against the former members of St. Francis, Turlock St. Michael’s, Ridgecrest, St. John’s, Porterville, St. James, Sonora, Redeemer & Hope, Delano, St. Columba, Fresno and St. Paul’s, Visalia.

Unfortunately, such litigation became necessary after the invitations of the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb, to discuss the orderly return of the Churches were largely ignored. “It is particularly disappointing given the recent and unequivocal decisions of the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeals’ rulings that the properties and assets are held for the Episcopal Church and its Dioceses”, said Diocesan Chancellor Michael Glass.

Thanks to all Cafe readers how voted for Jericho Road.

There is lots of food for thought in Tom Ehrich's commentary on "the way forward" over at the Religious News Service blog.

COMMENTARY: The way forward is not an escape from troubled times
From Religion News Service

. . . These are troubled times, and those troubles cut broadly.

This is the moment for Christianity to step up and offer a way forward. Not a way backward, as many religious traditionalists offer; not a cantata of scapegoating, as the Glenn Beck-Sarah Palin "religious revival" would offer; and not a phony patriotic fervor that is self-service wrapped in a flag.

I mean the way forward that Jesus offered. People in his era, as in ours, were distracted, seeking escape, wanting easy answers, fearful of change, hungry for wealth and power, blaming foreigners and strangers, pulling inward, and willing to give up their freedom to the strong-willed.

Jesus' answer was clear, albeit threatening. Love me first, he said. Love your God before all others. Love your neighbor before yourself. Don't baptize your desired way of life and call it holy, but conform your life to the true holiness of God. Seek the courage not to be afraid.

Story of Jesus to get the Bollywood treatment
From The Independent (UK)

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What are the theological and ethical conundrums inherent in friending (or ignoring) old flames on Facebook?

Avoiding Old Flames on Facebook
That it's only a virtual friendship is all the more reason to stay away from it.

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Raimon Panikkar, 'apostle of inter-faith dialogue,' dies
'Overcoming tribal Christology,' he said, is task of third Christian millennium
From National Catholic Reporter

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In an article in Blue Ridge Outdoors Dane Rauchenberg makes the claim that the "church" of running in the great outdoors may bring him more spiritual wisdom and tolerance than hunkering down in a pew. A critique behind his article is that church may need to rethink the "when" question of church? In addition, How might our worship experiences appeal to those who have active lifestyles, and who find great solace, beauty, and wisdom in the wonders of God's creation?

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Washington Post's "On Faith" asks the question, "Does Obama's religion matter?" What say ye, good and faithful Episcopal Cafe readers?

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Herald Reporter in Zimbabwe, reports on the visit of Bishop Roberto Crespo. Crespo hails former Bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga. Kunonga in alliance with Robert Mugabe has been instrumental in oppressing the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, locking congregations out of their churches and other acts. Crespo was arrested and charged with arms smuggling in 2001. Strangers in good company?

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NPR explores the possible evolutionary advantage of believing in God:

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An interesting interview with the schismatic Anglican Church in North America Archbishop Robert Duncan:

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Today is the last day to vote in the Edy's Fruit Bars: Communities Take Root program:

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Updated with text of letter. To read it, click on Read more at the end of this report or go direct to the letter here.

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KBAK TV covered Bishop Mary Glasspool's visit to Grace Church, Bakersfield yesterday.

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The Episcopal News Service report on the Council of Anglican Province in Africa's recently completed bishops' conference is now online. Among its sources is a report by Jan Butter, the director of communications for the Anglican Communion which laments that coverage of the conference focused primarily on controversy over human sexuality.

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Edward E. Curtis IV, a professor at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, punctures a few misconceptions about mosques in an article in The Washington Post.

It includes this on sharia:

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In the weekly e-mail from the Alban Institute, Peter Steinke has this to say:

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Jesuit priest James Martin attempts to put a small dent in Glenn Beck's vast ignorance on the subject of liberation theology in an essay at the Huffington Post:

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There was apparently a row in the speaker-planning process around Greenbelt, the Christian arts and music fest running from August 27th-30th, Premier Christian Media reports.

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The iconic Wells Cathedral clock in Somerset, in the southwest of England, was installed in the 1380s, two centuries prior to the invention of the second hand by Jost Burgi for Tycho Brahe. For generation upon generation the old clock was hand-wound, and the metal figure of Jack Blandifers toned the hour.

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It can't have come as any great comfort this week when it was learned that a student filmmaker had stabbed a New York City cab driver after learning he was Muslim. But for one subsequent rider, a disaster turned out to be an interfaith opportunity.

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Now that the 2nd All Africa Bishops' Conference is all but ended, a flurry of communications has arrived at our electronic transom.

First up, the four hundred bishops gathered at Entebbe. [UPDATE: full statement now available] ACO's Jan Butter has it like this:

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Not much in the way of comments this week, but we do appreciate the retweets on Twitter and the shares on Facebook.

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Didn't have the time/will yesterday for Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally? Neither did we.

Someone did, and found that Beck is positioning himself to receive a mantle he may not be prepared to bear.

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There's evidence that the American is beginning to experience a sea-change in its views of same-sex marriage. Last week there was a report that now a majority of the electorate supports "civil-unions" as a legal way to guarantee equal-rights for all couples, and a smaller majority is not opposed to opening up marriage to all couples. Today there's a piece pointing out that the GOP's unified opposition to such moves is beginning to fracture.

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This week's Saturday Collection has stories of cooperation, feeding children, rebuilding and empowerment all happening because of Episcopal congregations around this church putting their faith in Christ into action.

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Five years ago Hurricane Katrina (and about a month later Hurricane Rita) hit the Gulf coast and wreaked destruction on the entire region. Those who have been working to rebuild are taking stock this weekend and reflecting on what happened, how people responded and what still needs to be done.

The Rev. Bo Jackson, quoted in an Episcopal News Service reflects:

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The well-known and controversial ministry that claims to turn glbt people straight is having some very significant and unexpected financial problems this summer according to a post on their blog.

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The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in the UK wishes the Pope well on his upcoming visit to Great Britain and at the same time promises to continue speaking out against official Roman Catholic opposition to LGBT rights.

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CNN repeats the story that African bishops challenged the Archbishop of Canterbury to get tougher on Anglican churches that ordain or welcome gay people. The Church Times says that Archbishop Williams focused on development and urged the church to minister to all of humanity, it all it's diversity, which the Times says the BIshops took to mean gay people.

CNN says:

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The Very Rev. Ryan Reed, Dean of St. Vincent's School, spoke with DallasVoice.com about the rejection of 4-year-old Olivia Harrison from his school because her parents are lesbian.

St. Vincent's Episcopal School is actually a part of the breakaway Diocese of Fort Worth which still uses the title "Episcopal" even though they have disavowed any connection to the Episcopal Church and claim a connection to the Province of the Southern Cone and ACNA.

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The Living Church reports that the Rev. Michael P. Milliken will remain rector of Grace Church, Hutchinson, when he becomes the Bishop of Western Kansas, a model of ministry that the Episcopal Church hasn't seen since it's earliest days.

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The continent of Africa is facing a future in which climate change will kill more people than traditional causes such as malaria and HIV, according to a Ugandan environmental expert, but there are practical things churches can do to help stem the tide.

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This from the Dallas Voice:

Four-year-old Olivia Harrison was disappointed to learn she won’t be attending St. Vincent’s Cathedral School this year.

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According to the results of a PRRI/RNS poll released today, :

A solid majority (57%) of Americans are opposed to allowing Muslims in New York to build an Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center. Only about one-third (31%) favor it.

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The Lead may be one of the last religious blogs to point to today's BBC report on research which finds the religious views of doctors influences their clinical decisions on end of life treatment for their patients:

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Over at Faith & Leadership, UCC minister Tony Robinson argues

Professional theologians have largely lost the ability to address wider audiences. Mimicking those in other academic and specialist sub-cultures, they have developed languages that aren’t accessible or even particularly interesting. Religious leaders have tended to mirror the polarization of the culture at-large, preferring to choose sides in the culture and political wars.

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Coincidence or not, the anti-gay environment in Uganda is back in the world's spotlight while the All African Bishops Conference continue in Entebbe, hosted by the Anglican Church of Uganda.

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Psychologists have long run experiments on college students to draw conclusions about the behavior of the general population. While students are a convenient sample, the criticism is that they may not be representative. Now comes evidence that what we think we know about behavior of people is biased because it is almost entirely based on the study of Westerners.

The Financial Post:

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Desmond Tutu recently stated that he would be retiring from public life. This may be true, but before he goes into a quiet retirement he will be sailing with Semester at Sea with the University of Virginia.

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This article in the Advocate has a good comprehensive look at how some anti-gay American evangelicals export the culture war to Africa. This article sets the wider context surrounding our the Anglican Communion's issues.

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Reinhold Niebuhr called upon preachers to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." In Africa, Rowan Williams speaks to African Anglican bishops, but has missed another opportunity to live out this aphorism.

Rowan Williams speaks to African Anglican bishops and Andrew Brown comments "not exactly truth to power":

The tank parked on Rowan's foot

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Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston got the "assist" for this incredible hoops shot by Will Duson, who took the shot from the belltower and scored it through the hoop in the parking lot below.

You've got to check out the video!

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Received by email
August 24, 2010

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Diocese of New York

I am writing to tell you that I wholeheartedly join other religious and civic leaders in calling on all parties involved in the dispute over the planned lower Manhattan Islamic community center and mosque to convert a situation that has sadly become ever more divisive into, as Archbishop Timothy Dolan recently stated, "an opportunity for a civil, rational, loving, respectful discussion."

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Newslite reports:

A Hungarian priest who performs skateboard tricks in a bid to encourage youngsters to go to church has become an online hit.

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Seminarians are organizing for young adult evangelism according to Otis Gaddis III writing at Episcopal Life Online:

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Although this feels like insider baseball, details like this matter. Check to make sure your diocesan mailing lists and hyperlinks go to the real Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. It's a problem the diocese faces daily.

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Starting school is always a little nerve-racking, even if you've done it lots of times before ... here's an opportunity to get a quick fuel-up each day as you gear into school mode.

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