Flotsam and Jetsam

Somewhere in the north Pacific Ocean there is a mass of accumulated flotsam and jetsam. It is reputed to be miles across it's diameter. It is loosely bound together by a vortex current that moves with the ocean currents generated by weather conditions. It is a toxic malignancy on the ocean comprised of plastic products, shipping fuel and spilled oil, scrapped or lost fishing nets, shoes (with or without feet) and other fabric products, and the other wretched trash of careless humanity. It continues to grow, and it is too immense to clean up by any normal means. It traps wildlife and kills. It is a shame.

My original idea for this post was to deliver a variety of topics briefly and concisely and to practice embedding links. I thought 'flotsam and jetsam' would be a cute way to say, "A Variety of Topics." And what comes out of my diverse mind? A mini-rant about Topic A, flotsam and jetsam.

The long pause since July 7th is the result of my apt attention to the goings on of the World Wide Anglican Communion (hereinafter WWAC), a loose association of 38 provinces, originated by the excellent evangelism of the Church of England around the world. The archbishops and bishops (with some exceptions) are met in Canterbury UK for the decennial Lambeth Conference. Why do I care? Because I am an Anglican.

I was born a cradle Episcopalian (aka American version of Anglican), baptized into the body of Christ within a week of my birth. I grew up with an active, church-going family and I loved church, loved Sunday School (for kids), and loved teen youth groups and activities. I have learned in advanced adulthood that one cannot just shuck off such beginnings. I have distanced myself from the Episcopal, first in my youth and then more recently. But I continue to be fascinated by the interactions of this incredibly diverse religious community.

With us it is always something. Changes in the Book of Common Prayer drove traditionalists to start 'orthodox' Anglican churches. The ordination of women--only since 1977 puh-leeze!--drove traditionalists to start 'orthodox' Anglican churches. Well, guess what? Now the movement to provide full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender folks is driving traditionalists to start 'real' Anglican churches.

The nouveau 'orthodox' or 'real' Anglican churches aren't recognized by the WWAC. Yet over this latest issue, HUGE parts of the Anglican Communion are talking schism. This issue has become a slow motion side-show to the Lambeth Conference and if you like watching paint dry or grass growing, you might like to check out a daily official summary of the Lambeth Conference here.

More entertaining are blogs from articulate advocates of either side. Here are a few examples:

• Integrity is a leading advocacy group in the Episcopal Church working toward full inclusion of sexual minorities.
  
• Titus 1:9 advocates to maintain the status quo in the Episcopal Church. Its author, Kendall Harmon, seems to be respected as an articulate spokesperson for this point of view. (Full disclosure: His is not my point of view, tho' I respect his presentations.)
  
• The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, has become the focal human being for this issue. He was singulary uninvited to the Lambeth Conference by the Archbishop of Canterbury. His two blogs, Canterbury Tales from the Fringe and The Gene Pool pull at my heart especially. Over $50,000 was raised, not for his travel, but for his security team in Canterbury. He and his partner of twenty years, Mark, have had death threats since before Bishop Gene's consecration. The threats continue to this day.

When you've had your fill of all this sturm und drang, do what I do: Check in with the very droll Fr. Christian Troll to lighten your heart and blacken your soul: He's Fr. Christian and he reads The Bible. A certain degree of prior knowledge about Anglican high jinks is prerequisite for Fr. Christian. (Big eye roll.)

If you've read this far, you are an Episcopalian or an Anglican or an Anglophile. You are also bored stiff. But I have mastered embedding links. Next time I'm going to learn how to embed a link that generates a new window. Can you wait??

God loves us, each and everyone, beyond our wildest imagination! (With or without the WWAC)