Coming Soon: Fewer Episcopal Hospitals

In case you haven’t heard, the Diocese of Texas has decided to sell the St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, including the flagship Saint Luke’s Episcopal Hospital of Houston, to Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). You can find the story in the Episcopal New Service at ; and it was picked up at Episcopal Cafe. According to reports, “CHI has committed to maintain all current physician models and all employees will continue to be employed by St. Luke’s.” You can learn about more CHI here. Their network is literally coast to coast.

Not quite six years ago I wrote at Episcopal Cafe about Episcopal health ministries. In that article I noted at that time 17 hospitals, identified by digging through the Episcopal Church Annual (better known as The Red Book). Since that post the systems in the Diocese of Texas and in the Diocese of West Missouri (in which I serve) have both added services and hospitals. I don't know these days how many Episcopal hospitals or health systems remain. I appreciate the continuing commitment of the Diocese of Texas to supporting primary care in underserved communities. At the same time, I'm sad that there will now be that many fewer Episcopal hospitals.

On Practice and Discipleship: Sermon for Third Easter, Year C

I preached this Sunday at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Kansas City. The lessons brought me to the practice of discipleship - or, rather, practice and discipleship; and a favorite hymn. Take a few minutes and listen. You can link to it here.

A Conversation on Conversations

This past week the Center for Practical Bioethics hosted the 2013 Joan Berkley Bioethics Symposium - Conversations at the Crossroads. At the web site you can see the list of speakers who participated in the Symposium. In due time as well the individual presentations will be available at the Center's web site. However, one part of the Symposium is already available. In the midst of the day, keynoter Ellen Goodman was interviewed live on "Up to Date," a daily program of KCUR, the Kansas City NPR station. Goodman, well known as a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, spoke about The Conversation Project, an organization she started to support and encourage families in talking about values and goals for care at the end of life. That show has been archived, and can be heard here. 

I have long said that these are conversations that need to happen at home and well before there is a need. That is also the purpose of The Conversation Project. Goodman speaks about how this program grew out of her own experience. It's well worth an hour of your time to hear what she has to say.

Good Friday 2013

I did not go tonight

To my accustomed place.

I chose instead something familiar

Yet different.

Some place known and convenient,

Yet different.

And it was not right.

I do not say that anything was wrong –

Wrong in the doing,

Wrong in the intention.

I do not say that anything was done wrong –

Wrong in the preparation,

Wrong in the execution.

But, it was not right.

It was not as I expected;

But that was what I expected.

It was not as I would have done it;

But, I was not doing it.

I did not expect it to be right.

But, it was not right.

It was beautiful,

But just enough wrong

To cause discomfort.

It was fitting,

But just enough off of fit

To leave me frustrated.

It was familiar,

But just enough unfamiliar

To set me on edge.

It was comfortable,

But just enough uncomfortable

To cause distress.

And I was stressed;

And my feet didn’t fit,

And my knees were out of place,

And my hamstrings ached,

And my back was tight,

And my shoulders were strained.

I did not go tonight

To my accustomed place;

And where I went

What I heard unsettled me;

What I saw distressed me;

What I felt discomfited me.

And on reflection,

It was absolutely right.

Back at Episcopal Cafe

After a long break, I'm back again at the Episcopal Cafe. You can find here my reflection on Lent and outcomes.

And once again, if you haven't before take some time to peruse the Cafe. I think it offers some of the best information  and best writing associated with the Episcopal Church. Read, reflect, leave a comment. All of us associated with the Episcopal Cafe will be glad to hear from you.