Unrest at Episcopal Cafe

Or, more accurately "unrest-cure."  My newest piece is up at Episcopal Cafe, and my "unrest-cure" is my starting point.  So, wander over to the Cafe and take a look.

And while you're there, check out what my colleagues have written there.  My colleagues are always interesting, and we contributors are always interested in comments.  Catch some news, read some great essays, and explore the multimedia presentations, and then let us know what you think.

Thought for 9.23.10

Do not answer fools according to their folly, 
   or you will be a fool yourself. 
Answer fools according to their folly,
   or they will be wise in their own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5)

 This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture, and one that I wrestle with frequently.  How important is the issue at hand?  Just how far off is the person I'm addressing?  Just how certain am I of my position (okay, well, that isn't an issue all that often)?  Sometimes I wonder if I don't need in more cases not to answer the fools.


But if we all did that, whatever would happen to the blogosphere?

Another New Resource on Bioethics

Yes, I've been away a while.  I'm back, and I have some stuff in process.

In the meantime, I want to point to a new ethics resource.  I've written before about the Center for Practical Bioethics.  They have some good resources on their web site, and have for some time have the blog Practical Bioethics and the Practical Bioethics Media Center.  (For more, check out the Center's page under "Center Media" in the right sidebar.)

Well, the folks at the Center have been busy.  They're now involved in the American Journal of Bioethics (AJOB) and its web site, bioethics.net.  You can access there the content of AJOB, and also a blog discussing these issues.

So, when you're checking into research and writing on bioethics, this is another worthwhile site.  Take some time to see there what's of interest to you.

An Opportunity

I don't often recommend a service, but here's one for all my chaplain geek colleagues - that is, for the really determined research-informed chaplains.  SAGE Publications offers a wide selection of professional journals, including many from outside the United States.  I first discovered them when accessing journals through my health system's library, but then was able to access them from home.  Many of them they make available on the web.

Now and again SAGE Journals Online offer free access to their entire list.  I'm sure they hope that readers will discover journals to which they want to subscribe.  In any case, periodically they offer an opportunity to sign up for free access, usually for a period of four to six weeks.  For those of us who find browsing new journals to be voyages of intellectual discovery, it's a lot of fun.  For example, a search on the word "chaplain" produces more than 2800 citations.

And they're offering it now.  So, link over and think about whether you want to register.  You might find a lot to see.

Looking Again at the Anglican Health Network

Once again the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA) has met.  There have been the predictable comments rejecting the Episcopal Church.  However, during the buildup to the conference many comments were repeated about Uganda specifically not accepting financial assistance from the Episcopal Church or sources within the Episcopal Church – even as some were noting support for the conference from Trinity Episcopal Church, Wall Street.  Logistical support form Trinity notwithstanding, it was because of decisions like Uganda’s that caused me concern about loss of support for joint ministries.

Which brings me to the Anglican Health Network.

It’s been a while since I mentioned the Anglican Health Network here “at the Bedside,” as it were.  In that time, a lot has happened, and it’s worth sharing.  Here are some highlights you can find at the Network’s web site:

• There’s the Health Microinsurance Project, now being piloted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and in Karakonam, India.  The idea is to apply the same principles to health insurance that have been so effective and so important in providing microcredit, small business loans in developing countries.  The Network has brought together individuals and dioceses that can provide some seed money, but the intent is that this will become self-sustaining.  It will allow thousands to take advantage of medical care that is already around them but beyond their financial reach.  In fact, the India project has already registered 25,000 members.
• You can access the Newsletters of the Anglican Health Network.  This summer’s Newsletter has articles on malaria, with a sidebar on the Nets for Life Program; on health issues at the G20 Summit; and health ministries in Haiti.
• There are links to Anglican and Episcopal hospitals and health ministries around the Communion.
• There’s even a blog with periodic posts by Paul Holley, Coordinator of the Network.

The Network grew from ideas shared at the first International Episcopal/Anglican Healthcare Ministries Conference in Houston, Texas, in January, 2009.  Individuals and institutions in the Episcopal Church are involved, and have been involved from the beginning.  However, the Network has taken off with some important programs.  We have a lot more going on in health ministries in the Anglican Communion than most of us know.  The Anglican Health Network web site is a good place to start learning about it.