tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post115496822282227169..comments2023-06-07T09:13:41.693-05:00Comments on Episcopal Chaplain On the High Ground: Episcopal and Anglican Issues: Searching for the MiddleMarshall Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155810356689105472006-08-17T05:25:00.000-05:002006-08-17T05:25:00.000-05:00It's obvious that Father Scott works by the word!It's obvious that Father Scott works by the word!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155756745397131592006-08-16T14:32:00.001-05:002006-08-16T14:32:00.001-05:00Marshall’s piece is an elegant reflection that des...Marshall’s piece is an elegant reflection that deserves deep attention. I wonder if there’s a simpler – and less pejorative – way to describe his “constructed middle”: folks who believe the Holy Spirit may be speaking a new word to us regarding homosexuality but aren’t yet convinced and are listening hard for that new word; folks who would favor the consecration of a particular gay bishop but advocate deferring such action so as not to cause other believers to stumble; folks who adamantly reject and denounce homophobic attitudes and behavior. Marshall sees these folks as “moved to accept change only slowly, largely after it’s established ‘somewhere else,’” but at least some of these folks aren’t simply willing to accept change, but willing to be changed. Many of these folks are “conservative” in the best sense of the word: they trust that the sense of the faithful through the centuries, informed by scripture, should be conserved until a new and faithful reading of scripture warrants a different tradition. What I sensed as an observer at General Convention is that folks in this category are coming to feel that they’re being told now, “You must make a choice.” In my view, this “middle” has narrowed – whether it has held or not is something I don’t feel qualified to judge: some in this “middle” are making (reluctant) choices; others are trying hard to be “turnbuckles” (whose model might be William Reed Huntington) but finding the tension increasingly hard to bear; many are quiet because they have come to believe they have nothing constructive or edifying to say, and hope God might be heard in the silence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155744275196943862006-08-16T11:04:00.000-05:002006-08-16T11:04:00.000-05:00Chip, that is an interesting reflection: that perh...Chip, that is an interesting reflection: that perhaps because of the polarization the "middle" has lost ground. That's a little different than my reflection, but I fear it is all too true.<BR/><BR/>And I would also agree that, in our (small "r") republican polity all too often the folks in the pew say little about who goes to diocesan convention, and that's where a problem begins. Now, we could reflect on those in my fourth "middle" who so often attend but won't stay for the parish meeting. They are in that constructed middle, but are not moved by a unifying issue - lots of personal concerns, but not shared.<BR/><BR/>Now, this also challenges a piece of our Episcopal ecclesiology: that the Spirit can and does move in these processes because the Spirit calls to each of us, and as we're open to hear we respond. In the discussion that belief is more visible in the breach than in the observance; that is, those who don't like what happened in any meeting want to say "it's all political," as if that therefore excludes the action of the Spirit.Marshall Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155741447362722022006-08-16T10:17:00.000-05:002006-08-16T10:17:00.000-05:00Marshall,A good article, although I tend to agree ...Marshall,<BR/><BR/>A good article, although I tend to agree with Kendall in that the <I>middle</I>. has lost ground...in part due to the extreme polarization of the opposing views of thought, and due to the 'voting by walking' that has taken place over the past thirty years.<BR/><BR/>I also (as a cradle Episcopalian who was in ordained ministry in the Church of God for over twenty years, returned to ECUSA, and now Anglican) take exception to the notion that GC delegations accurately represent their local constituencies. <BR/><BR/>e both know that one of the more 'politicized' operations in the Church is the selection of Diocesan and General delegations. If you are 'in', and walk the bishop's line, you get the vote and keep the seat until you die (or vote the wrong way).<BR/>The bottom line is that the people in the pews generally do not have a clue to the polity of the general or diocesan Church, as long as they have their accustomed services, unhindered, they are happy. <BR/><BR/>Our fault, because we, as clergy, hae not allowed them to be more active in the local congregation. We make the decisions and pass the actions on down the line, the people attend, pay their pledge, and, ultimately, are buried in their parish. And, so long as they have a burial spot or a nook in the columbarium, they are content.<BR/><BR/>Kyrie eleison!Chip Johnson+, SF, CoJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16114810191282776023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155734325651522042006-08-16T08:18:00.000-05:002006-08-16T08:18:00.000-05:00Ah Marshall, here's my question. Do we want the "m...Ah Marshall, here's my question. Do we want the "middle", whatever it is, to hold? Or is it just a copout? I like your penultimate paragraph. That sums it up for me.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09005040876956039402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155733555513964592006-08-16T08:05:00.000-05:002006-08-16T08:05:00.000-05:00Well, Hopeful, you may be right. As I said, there...Well, Hopeful, you may be right. As I said, there well may be other understandings of the spectrum. I was responding, as I think Kendall Harmon was, to what happened at General Convention; and I have some faith that in fact the makeup of deputations to General Convention does in fact reflect those who elected them, and those who elected the electors, and so on. But that has also long been a matter of discussion: how much does General Convention really reflect the Episcopalians in the pews.Marshall Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-1155073694010612392006-08-08T16:48:00.000-05:002006-08-08T16:48:00.000-05:00Very thoughtfully written, Marshall. Thanks. Thi...Very thoughtfully written, Marshall. Thanks. This will take me some time to digest. But I'm certainly grateful to you for expressing it.<BR/><BR/>Take care,<BR/>DanDan Dunlaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610718122774026303noreply@blogger.com