Letters
Recent letters are at the top of the page
March 20, 2013
To the Editor:
A short while ago I received the Priests' & Deacons' update, which is the electronic newsletter of the Bishop and diocesan staff.
In reading over the many activities happening in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, I took special note of the Clergy Wives Conference scheduled for May at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, New York. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
November 20, 2012
To the Editor:
It was not my intention for my comments to be mean spirited or otherwise offensive to the good people of the Diocese of Albany. I was just trying to paint a contrast to what I experienced in Central New York. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
November 17, 2012
To the Editor:
The 144th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York
This evening, I returned from the two day convention gathering of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York and while I could tell you a lot about it, I want to make a few short points. I felt more welcomed and loved by the clergy, people, and Bishop of Central New York than I do at home. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
July 25, 2012
To the Editor:
On following Jesus
Did the disciples follow Jesus into the tax collector's house, or did He go in alone? They ‘followed’ Him, but it seems they weren't in His presence every single minute — maybe sometimes He went where they just weren't ready to go. Maybe they were afraid, or maybe their old religion was holding them back. They may have been worried about what their friends, family, and associates might have thought if they knew. The stain of dining with an outcast, for example, could follow them for the rest of their lives. Tradition forbade it.
. . . more from Kathy Keenan
July 12, 2012
To the Editor:
In reply to the letter from Fr. Paul Hartt of July 7, I would like only to note that the seven bishops' open letter of July 6 never mentions The General Convention. Therefore, it is difficult for me to accept that it addresses the points I raised.
July 7, 2012
To the Editor:
The Bishops affected by the Title IV complaint, including our own Bishop Love, have issued a letter to their colleagues in the House of Bishops at General Convention where the matter is being taken up. I believe that Mr. Hammond's letter and concerns will find the needed address in their letter.
http://www.livingchurch.org/matter-polity
The Rev. Paul J. Hartt
July 5, 2012
To the Editor:
In the court case an organization calling itself “The Diocese of Fort Worth” which purported to leave The Episcopal Church — and took real and personal property — when it had absolutely no right as a diocese of The Episcopal Church to do so, is appealing a trial court ruling in favor of The Episcopal Church.
The seven bishops of The Episcopal Church who have intervened as amici curiae (friends of the Court) claim that they remain loyal to The Episcopal Church while they refute the position taken by The Episcopal Church in the case.
July 4, 2012
To the Editor:
In George Orwell's 1984 “The Ministry of Truth,” the State's propaganda arm, controls the thinking of the masses by rewriting any history unfavorable to the current policies of Big Brother. Such inconvenient history is simply erased. The motto of The Ministry of Truth is: “He who controls the past controls the present, and He who controls the present controls the future." And so it is becoming with the true nature of this Church's polity.
June 23, 2012
To the Editor:
Having recently attended the 144th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, I want to offer a few thoughts.
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
June 17, 2012
To the Editor:
There's a poster one can purchase to place for inspiration in one's office that says, “Unless it's fatal, it's no big deal”, and I would like to remind those people who would diminish or detour around the subject that the issue of same sex marriage IS a big deal because it can be fatal. Gays have been beaten and harrassed to death. One may claim to love everyone while giving tacit approval to others who would hate and harm.
. . . more from Kathy Keenan
June 17, 2012
To the Editor:
The Rev. Michael Shank tells us that he sees the matter of “same sex issues” as “settled by what is said about the subject in over 17 books of the Bible!”
For anyone to say that in his mind an issue is “settled” while a very large part of the communion holds differing convictions on the subject is tantamount to saying that he no longer wishes to be in communion with any who disagree. …
. . . more from Ann Carlson
June 15, 2012
To the Editor:
Dear Friends in Christ — One of your letters mentioned that for 40 years TEC has been discussing same sex issues. …
June 11, 2012
To the Editor:
Ms. Keenan's concerns are most important to raise. They reflect her compassionate engagement of these essential matters. It would be incorrect, however, to ascribe the lesser attributions to me. They would reflect a hardness and worldview that I do not hold and never have. …
June 9, 2012
To the Editor:
Fr. Hartt's letter is listed under considering Gay Marriage Blessing, but I have to say I think it's less about gay weddings than it is a way to avoid discussing it — which makes the cry to talk about ‘the elephant in our living room’ so ironic.
I think the Episcopal Church has a fine, time-tested response to human sexuality. …
June 8, 2012
To the Editor:
The Church has for over 40 years been studying, discussing, listening, learning, writing, praying, talking and moving through the process of understanding better the place of human sexuality and spirituality. …
. . . more from Rich Angelo
June 8, 2012
To the Editor:
. . .
It's too easy to duck immediate issues like blessing gay marriages by
pointing to the sorry state of human sexuality as a whole: That's
called deflection. …
. . . more from Robert T. Dodd
June 7, 2012
To the Editor:
. . .
At the ordination of a priest, she or he swears to
“take your share in the councils of the Church.” It is a
priest's duty, especially if elected to an office, to speak, write and
offer counsel for the good of the whole Church — not just for
the parish. …
We all — clergy and laity alike — have chosen as The Episcopal Church to engage in matters of incredible weight and importance. There is no way to avoid controversy or commenting on these matters. Because they truly matter, they matter enough to talk about. It would in fact be more than irresponsible for a priest not to comment; it would be a violation of his or her ordination vows.
May 12, 2012
To the Editor:
The Bishop has appointed Deacon Nicholas Hernandez to be our deacon at St. Andrew's. He will start on Sunday, May 20. We are thrilled. Deacon Nick is intelligent, compassionate, and faithful. He will be a great asset to St. Andrew's. It's worth noting that we have been asking for a deacon for ten years, during which time we have seen two of our parishioners ordained deacons and sent to other parishes to serve. It seems a great coincidence that now St. Andrew's has asked to be a DEPO parish, the bishop has finally found us a deacon. But perhaps not so much a coincidence. Are other parishes considering DEPO but haven't decided? Think about it. In the meantime, welcome Deacon Nick!
John White
St. Andrew's, Albany
April 22, 2012
To the Editor:
We were asked by John White how we felt about Fr. Paul Hartt's comments in the House of Deputies Online Forum topic “Excerpts from Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships”.
April 9, 2012
To the Editor:
Dr. Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies, invited us to read an on-line deputies discussion of the Standing Commisssion on Liturgy and Music's report on same-gender blessings. The Rev. Paul Hartt of our diocese took this invitation to heart. His sometimes heated exchange with other readers of the report can be followed at the Deputy Online Forum, which you can link to here. Remember, General Convention will be asked to approve the report of the commission at this year's convention, and passage of it is likely. Do you agree with The Rev. Paul Hartt's comments and his point of view?
John White
April 4, 2012
To the Editor:
“One Man, One Woman”
You can't study the Bible or learn about the life of Jesus without
having a sense of history. …
. . .
Marriage, while it was different then, was talked about. Marriage
involved the transference of property from one man to another —
women, we remember, were property. …
April 2, 2012
To the Editor:
The 144th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany is a little more than two months away and again I am disappointed that the prices are so high. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
March 11, 2012
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on the last, Thesis 12:
All human beings bear God's image and must be respected for what each person is. Therefore, no external description of one's being, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, can properly be used as the basis for either rejection or discrimination.
My first reaction is to say, of course Bishop Spong is right. … Then I have to think about it a little bit. Discrimination is one thing; rejection another. …
March 6, 2012
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 11. …
11. The hope for life after death must be separated forever from the behavior control mentality of reward and punishment. The Church must abandon, therefore, its reliance on guilt as a motivator of behavior.
The assumption that underlies this Thesis is that the Church relies on guilt as its motivator for behavior, using the hope for life after death as the carrot (and presumable the desire to avoid a nasty afterlife as the stick) in a mentality of reward and punishment.
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
January 7, 2012
To the Editor:
Continuing, in response to Fr. Paul Hartt, with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 10:
Thesis 10. Prayer cannot be a request made to a theistic deity to act in human history in a particular way.
The word “theistic” takes me all the way back to Thesis 1 and Thesis 2:
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
January 5, 2012
To the Editor:
. . .
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my
take on Thesis 9:
Thesis 9. There is no external, objective, revealed standard writ in scripture or on tablets of stone that will govern our ethical behavior for all time.
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
January 3, 2012
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 8.
Thesis 8. The story of the Ascension assumed a three-tiered universe and is therefore not capable of being translated into the concepts of a post-Copernican space age.
Oh my, yes it can (be translated, I mean).
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
January 3, 2012
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 7:
Thesis 7. Resurrection is an action of God. Jesus was raised into the meaning of God. It therefore cannot be a physical resuscitation occurring inside human history.
It's a bit of a relief to reach Thesis 7, which feels much easier to discuss than Thesis 6. Let me start from the second sentence. “It cannot be a physical resuscitation occurring inside human history.”
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
December 30, 2011
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop John Spong's 12 Theses, here is my (long-delayed) take on Thesis 6. Let me emphasize: this is not based on reading and responding to one of Bishop Spong's books, but simply a response to the thesis as it stands.
Thesis 6. The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God and must be dismissed.
My first response to this thesis is “WHICH view of the cross is Bishop Spong talking about?” …
. . . more from Allison De Kanel.
December 23, 2011
To the Editor:
I commend Bishop Bill Love on his Christmas letter to the Diocese of Albany. In it we see a different side of our Bishop, a more human side, a light-hearted side. He fills us in on his family, even the family pet. He reminds us of the joy of Christmas and the loneliness of Christmas for those people who don't have anyone to share it with. He asks us to be reminded of God's love for us in Jesus Christ — quite a contrast to sin and gloom and Satan we are so familiar hearing about. I think it is excellent that our Bishop chooses to reflect on God's goodness and love. Thank you, Bishop Love for your strong letter.
Dennis Wisnom
December 17, 2011
To the Editor:
I received the Bishop's Christmas Appeal Letter and read through the parts that talked about counseling and retreats, and I was heartsick to think of it. …
December 15, 2011
To the Editor:
The recent meeting at the Spiritual Life Center with Bishop Love, the Rt. Rev. Gladstone (Skip) Adams, Bishop of Central New York, and unnamed others is of potential interest to all in the Diocese of Albany.
Unfortunately, it sometimes seems as if the only way Diocesan leadership knows how to operate is through secrecy and confidentiality, leaving no room for transparency. Perhaps it's too soon to tell, for perhaps in a few weeks the substance of the meeting will come to light. But as long as the leadership maintains its present way of operating, the concept and need for transparency will continue to fall on deaf ears.
Dennis Wisnom
December 14, 2011
To the Editor:
It should be noted that according to Canon 17.4, “The concurrence of the Bishop shall be necessary before any Canon is altered or amended or any new Canon is adopted.” Thus responsibility for the three problematic canons rests with Bishop Love. Bishops Ball, Herzog, and Bena had retired when the canons were proposed and approved, and both Herzog and Bena had left the Episcopal Church, the former for the Roman Catholic Church and the latter for CANA.
Robert Dodd
December 12, 2011
To the Editor:
Kathy Baldwin Keenan asks whether the bishops of the diocese, as good shepherds of the flock, should have allowed the disenfranchisement of LGBT and other members of the Diocese via Canons 16.1 and 16.2.
As a new communicant of the Diocese for the past two years, I believe that I know the voice of my good shepherd, Jesus Christ, at least as well as the other sheep in this big flock. I have listened to this voice for 52 years now and have heard it over and over again coming from expected as well as most unexpected sources. I have heard that voice in this Diocese: from several of the clergy, from many of the laity. Although one of the “questionable” flock that is referred to in Canon 16 — married to a person of the same sex — I have even heard it occasionally from those who oppose the recognition of same sex marriages. I keep looking to hear that familiar voice from the bishops in Albany; and I don't say that I never shall, but so far I have been disappointed.
Ann Carlson
December 11, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . A good shepherd stops a sheep from wandering off — it's in the word — Sheep + Herd. If a wolf were in the vicinity, looking to steal a sheep and devour it, a good shepherd would do everything in his power, including putting his own life at risk, to save the sheep.
When a proposal to add a canon in this diocese was introduced that would disenfranchise a group of people, a good shepherd, seeing his flock dividing, would speak up to prevent such a thing from happening. …
December 3, 2011
To the Editor:
I find validity in the Rev. Ann Gaillard's letter. What one says, posts or writes does give an impression about the writer. When one writes or says something that is hurtful, it's there forever. Of course the pain of being left out of certain aspects of Christian life is much more painful than being told people don't agree with you.
December 3, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . while I do think it's important to discuss things with calmness and compassion for all, there's also a big difference between being excoriated for a theological position that is held, however strongly, and being condemned outright for who you are and who you believe you were born to be. . . .
. . . more from Ann Carlson.
December 1, 2011
To the Editor:
I am finding the tone and language of some of the recent AVM Facebook postings and letters to the editor discouraging. I am particular concerned about the comments directed at those perfectly decent people who disagree on some theological points with “progressives” and/or AVM-ers. Just because we may disagree with someone doesn't mean that he/she is bigoted or homophobic, which has been implied in some posters' comments. We have to be aware, too, that postings that distort someone's theology or attack someone's character will simply impede constructive engagement and dialogue, rather than further it. I recognize that people feel a need to vent, but I am greatly concerned that some of the comments have become as irrational, vitriolic, and decidedly un-Christian as those I see on some of the extreme right-wing blogs — such as those who call the Presiding Bishop, the Episcopal Church, and those who disagree with the “conservatives” heretical, demonic, and worse. I myself have been subjected to such right-wing vitriol when I have posted what I thought were perfectly calm and reasoned comments. I therefore no longer post on those blogs because they make it clear that reasoned discussion is neither desired nor valued. People who post to AVM need to be careful that they do not communicate that same message.
The Rev. Ann S. Gaillard, Rector
Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician
Saranac Lake, NY
November 28, 2011
To the Editor:
… Admittedly, I find it very hard to be patient with those who pull out their Bible to use as a weapon against those who disagree with them while ignoring parts of it with which they disagree. There are Bible experts out there, and I don't pretend to be one, but I do know there are many editions of it and is ‘edited’ by each and every person who reads it. This is why it's impossible to strictly adhere to each and every ‘rule’ contained therein. …
November 28, 2011
To the Editor:
I'm pleased to note that Fr. Brown, in his second letter of November 25 acknowledges that a prohibition of mere attendance by clergy at same-gender unions could be construed as “windowing into souls”.
Unfortunately, an assurance by the leadership of the Diocese that the phrase ‘nor participate’ does not prohibit mere attendance would neither bind future leadership nor block some other party from raising the question.
If indeed those in leadership do not see it that way, the way forward would be to propose substitute language — perhaps ‘nor assist’ — for the canon.
William F. Hammond
November 26, 2011
To the Editor:
In response to Kathy Baldwin Keenan: … This is one of those times when I don't recognize myself as the rigid ideological lock-step reactionary with whom she thinks she is speaking. Of course we disagree, but she seems to be missing all the nuances.
November 26, 2011
To the Editor:
Fr. Brown: “… we believe that a straightforward reading of Scripture indicates that complementarity of gender is fundamental to God's purpose in creation.”
If only it were that simple! As Fr. Brown knows, same gender attraction is common in man and in many other animal species. Was God unbelievably careless, or was this attraction, like other variations of form and function, “fundamental to God's purpose?” If those who wrote, rewrote, edited, and expanded what became Scripture had known about evolution, they might have realized that a zero-defect Creation could have produced nothing more interesting than amoebae.
Thank God for the gift of difference!
Robert Dodd
November 25, 2011
To the Editor:
On the AVM Facebook page William Hammond is pressing the question of whether “mere attendance” by Albany clergy at same-sex marriage liturgies constitutes a violation of the canons. I do not have a final answer to that question, but I agree that it would be important to clarify the matter. . . . more from The Ven. Canon Dr. Christopher Brown.
November 25, 2011
To the Editor:
Okay, I've heard the ‘marriage is for the creation of children’ line before — and if Mr. Brown is strict in that intrepretation — then the two 90 year-olds (male & female) who were married recently in a nursing home ought to be forbidden to marry as well since they obviously cannot reproduce any more.
November 25, 2011
To the Editor:
Can “any person other than God have the authority to forbid marriage?” Obviously, the civil state can, since same sex marriage has only been legalized in a handful of states and countries. (Undoubtedly there will be more to come.) And a bishop has the authority in some cases to forbid marriages, since we still require permission to perform a marriage of those have been married before.
But I think Dave DiSisto means to say something else: On a more fundamental level, isn't it up to God and not narrow human prejudice and self-interest to define whether two people of the same gender should love, and express that love in the outward and visible practice of marriage?
November 23, 2011
To the Editor:
Fr Michael Waverly-Shank's letter of November 23 gives me hope. Since the Diocese of New Jersey's policy regarding clergy attending new marriages of previously-divorced folks has changed so radically, I am optimistic that the Diocese of Albany's attitude regarding clergy attending marriages (real, not “so-called”) of my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in Christ will also change.
The Rev. Ann S. Gaillard, Rector
Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician
Saranac Lake
November 23, 2011
To the Editor:
After reading the letter from Father Kettlewell and the response from Father Waverly-Shank, I must ask if any person other than God has the authority to forbid marriage in either circumstance.
Should a love between two people be suppressed because some fallible person or persons don't agree with that love? Love should not be restricted by anyone's religious or personal views, whether it is a love between a man and a woman or a man and a man or a woman and a woman.
How can someone say they love someone if they don't accept someone? “Love the person not the sinner,” logic just isn't acceptable. Especially since any justification for that logic comes from interpretation of Bible passages, interpretation that is not universally accepted as correct.
It comes down to “And the greatest of these is love,” and there is only One who can pass judgment and that One is God, who is without sin.
Dave DiSisto
November 23, 2011
To the Editor:
Father Kettlewell says he has never heard of a prohibition like the one not to attend a gay ‘marriage’ ceremony. How's this for an interesting prohibition? During the 1980's in the Diocese of New Jersey (Trenton not Newark) a new bishop set up a marriage commission to, among other things, review the rules for remarriage after divorce. They sent out a document about their findings and the bishop's rules based on these findings. Among other things the clergy of the diocese were NOT to attend remarriage ceremonies if they had not received the bishop's consent! I still remember the language used — to do so would compromise the witness of the Church. And the same can be said for so-called gay marriage.
Grace and Peace
Michael+ Waverly-Shank
Vicar of St. Mary's, Downsville
and St. Margaret's, Margaretville
November 22, 2011
To the Editor:
Dear Friends: I have been a traditional orthodox Anglo Catholic oriented priest for over fifty years, but I recall nothing in the life of the Church as disturbing as our Diocesan prohibition of a priest of the Diocese even attending a same-sex marriage rite. The priests and lay people who support such a restriction must have no family or friends who might aspire to that kind of fulfillment. The ruling requires a priest to stay away from such a marriage rite even if it were for his or her own son or daughter or a close family member. What a brutal rejection that would be! I have known several young gay people who have taken their own lives when rejected by family. Probably the supporters of the restriction have no family or friends who might seek marriage to someone of the same sex, because they have already rejected any kind of relationship with those persons, or frightened them permanently into “the closet.” Appalling!
The Reverend John M. Kettlewell
St. Stephen's Church, Schuylerville
October 28, 2011
To the Editor:
Just wanted to share with you my experience last weekend. I officiated at a Wedding. Everyone as usual told me how beautiful our Wedding Service in the BCP really is. Before anyone decides to rewrite our service into a same gender ceremony I suggest they read our existing Wedding ceremony. It makes it clear that God's plan for marriage is one man and one woman for life. Remember it has always been said that at least 80% of the BCP is directly or indirectly based on Holy Scripture. Therefore a same gender ceremony would part company from Scripture and, as far as I am concerned, would be invalid. If the secular world wants to write such a ceremony -- OK . But I don't see how the Church can!
Grace and Peace,
The Rev'd Mike Waverly-Shank
October 5, 2011
To AVM Members and Friends:
This morning, I sent details about AVM's 22 October gathering and 12 November Annual Meeting to everyone on our e-mail list. If you are a member but did not receive my message, I have no functional e-address for you. To provide one, please e-mail me at rdodd2@hotmail.com.
If you are not a member of AVM but wish to receive occasional (but important) announcements about AVM, please notify me at the same address.
Thanks for your help!
Robert Dodd, for the AVM Board
September 22, 2011
To the Editor:
I would like to join with Bob Dodd in saying Happy Birthday
to
AVM. It seems a bit bittersweet to have to say that since I would
rather we did not have to even have such a group, but I am happy we
do.
Just as an addition to the information that Bob shared, in regard to those dioceses which left the Episcopal Church over the past few years, I think it is important to remember that each of those dioceses has now been re-constituted under new leadership. In many of them there are parishes where much of the congregation also left TEC taking the buildings with them, and in some cases whole parishes decided to remain with the Episcopal Church.
. . . more from Rich Angelo.
September 21, 2011
To the Editor:
When Albany Via Media was created in 2003, we had no idea that it would still be around eight years later. Indeed, John Sorensen+, one of our founders, said then, “With luck, we'll be out of business next summer.” John+ hoped, as we all did, that we could persuade the 2004 Convention not to link Albany to the then new Anglican Communion Network. Although 40% of parish delegations and a quarter of the clergy voted against the Network, Albany joined it. In doing so, it allied itself with dioceses (Pittsburgh, San Joaquin, Fort Worth, and Quincy) that have since left the Episcopal Church and others (e.g. South Carolina) that may yet leave it.
. . . more from Bob Dodd.
August 6, 2011
To the Editor:
I enthusiastically recommend the Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon's essay, “What is Anglicanism?”, published on Anglicans Online a few days ago. Dr. Whalon, who is Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, makes the case for Anglicanism concisely and clearly. His essay would be an excellent resource for a parish, deanery, or diocese-wide conversation on the subject.
Robert T. Dodd
July 20, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . Five years ago when there were eleven candidates running for Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese, one of the gentlemen (sadly, they were all gentlemen), the Rev. Dr. Tory Baucum, who interestingly later left TEC and joined one of the Anglican splinter groups, said up front in the questions that each of the eleven had to answer, “with all due respect ‘Disciples Making Disciples’ is not a mission statement, it is a motto …”
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
July 13, 2011
To the Editor:
However reasonable and constructive Dr. Brown's response to Bob Dodd's letter appears, its characterization of the “broad church” is clearly imaginative.
. . . more from John White.
July 9, 2011
To the Editor:
Bob Dodd's piece, “The Diocese of Albany: A Self Definition” raises some interesting and fair points. While I too have described the Diocese of Albany as an example of “Three Stream” Anglicanism (Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical and Charismatic), there is indeed an enduring “Broad Church” element as well — some of whom are in my own parish.
June 22, 2011
To the Editor:
Please publish the following letter that I recently wrote to Bishop Love. It reflects my thoughts on the recent Diocesan Convention.
. . . more from Joseph Liotta.
June 11, 2011
To the Editor:
I encourage all people who went to the 143rd convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany to fill out the comment sheet contained in the information packet that we received. Bishop Love and the other diocesan leaders need to know what we think and feel and our reactions just as much as he needs to hear from those who agree with him. If you didn't receive a feedback form, I urge you to write a letter to the bishop to share with him what's on your heart and mind.
Dennis Wisnom
June 6, 2011
To the Editor:
A piece by Yale psychologist/philosopher Joshua Knobe which appeared recently in the NY Times helps to clarify some of the value judgments that underlie the notion that we be “true to ourselves.” This notion frequently crops up in the context of thorny issues such as curing of homosexuals, a topic in this diocese frequently pervaded more by heat than by light. The article sheds some helpful light on the underlying issues, useful (I believe) for all … Go to http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/in-search-of-the-true-self/.
(The Rev.) Glen Michaels
Plattsburgh, NY
May 23, 2011
To the Editor:
I want to commend the music team at Diocesan Convention for interspersing hymns from The Hymnal 1982 in addition to the praise songs which are projected on an overhead screen for all to see. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
Editor's note: Publication of this letter was delayed until May 28 due to the Editor's travels.
May 21, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . I'm speaking only for myself, but it has been my experience that Bishop Love uses code words and phrases, such as “there are well intentioned people, but they are misguided.” . . .
Yet it is the root of a much larger issue. The issue is that it then becomes a game to see who is more right. It's an us/them mentality and it suggests exclusivity, self-righteousness and narrow-mindedness. For example, any mention of the phrase ‘inclusive church’ is negatively labeled by some of our friends in the Diocese of Albany as ‘progressive’.
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
May 20, 2011
To the Editor:
Father Waverly-Shank's 26 April letter suggests that he did not read the 11 April letter that inspired it. Dennis Wisnom did not question Trinity's status as an Episcopal seminary. He just described the school as "not a place that warmly embraces the message of the Episcopal Church." Fr. Michael's homily on seminary names misses the point of Mr. Wisnom's letter and is, in fact, insulting.
Robert T. Dodd
April 26, 2011
To the Editor:
Dennis Wisnom in his letter questioned whether Trinity School for Ministry is really an Episcopal seminary. I would like to refer him to The TEC website. There he will find an alphabetical list of our seminaries — under “S”. On the list he will find Trinity School for Ministry as well as Nashotah House and General and E.D.S., and all the rest. And they don't all have the word “Episcopal” in their title. I graduated from The Philadelphia Divinity School which later merged with E.T.S. in 1974, creating the present Episcopal Divinity School. As you can see, P.D.S. did not have “Episcopal” in its title.
Grace and Peace in Jesus,
Father Michael Waverly-Shank
April 11, 2011
To the Editor:
Is Albany a diocese of the Episcopal Church? Honestly, I wonder sometimes. Recently, there was a preaching seminar at the Cathedral of All Saints where the Dean of Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge PA, Justyn Terry, was the featured speaker. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
April 1, 2011
To the Editor:
Whether accidentally or by design, the Presiding Bishop's full schedule in Albany left her little time to talk with Albany lay persons who do not hold diocesan offices but firmly support the national Church. …
. . . more from Robert T. Dodd.
March 15, 2011
To the Editor:
I have a very hard time being in the Anglican Communion. I'd much rather be in The Episcopal Church. First and foremost we are Christians. However, the way that I choose to practice as a Christian is in The Episcopal Church.
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
March 15, 2011
Dear Friends,
I was present as an observer for the full Saturday deacon's session at Christ Church Schenectady. I did not take notes, so I'm writing this from memory.
March 12, 2011
Dear friends,
I was fortunate to have attended Friday evening's Healing Service at the Church of the Messiah, Glens Falls. It wasn't at all what I expected.
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
March 12, 2011
I did not mean to disparage Dr. Christopher Brown's sermon at the Spiritual Life Center on March 11. In fact, I thought that the sermon itself was very good. Others at the service can attest that I took written notes on the sermon. It was what I construed to be a condescending comment at the beginning of the sermon that I remarked upon on my Facebook page. Perhaps that is not as he intended, but it seemed gratuitous to me. If Dr. Brown wishes to send me a text of the sermon, I would even be happy to post it on the blog for others to read.
John White
March 12, 2011
To the Editor:
I feel a hint misrepresented by John White's comment on the AVM Facebook page, which implied that my sermon was negative and disrespectful of the presiding Bishop. I sought rather to be honest, complimentary and welcoming, with an emphasis on the theme of mercy. I received enthusiastic responses from a number of AVM people. Bishop Jefferts Schori was not at all offended, and we had a lovely talk at dinner.
February 22, 2011
To the Editor:
Here is an interesting video from Fort Worth. Maybe it could be included on either our website or Openly Episcopal: Once and Future Diocese.
Joe Liotta
January 24, 2011
To the Editor:
One of the other reasons I found problematic the statement from Scripture Union that I alluded to in my earlier letter is that I believe once you start saying “all Scripture is trustworthy and true in what it affirms …” suggests to me that you are affirming troubling things the Bible affirms. Does Scripture Union affirm slavery and the stoning to death of persons? I would hope not!
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
January 21, 2011
To the Editor:
The term “God-breathed” is a bit more than a metaphor — though, like most language used for God, it has a metaphorical or analogical character. The term comes from 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (English Standard Version), or as the New Revised Standard Version puts it, “All scripture is inspired by God …” The key term, theopneustos, is an explicit reference to what is classically called the “inspiration of Scripture.” The basic idea is that God is the author of Scripture, working by the Holy Spirit through human authors. Hence the words of the Creed, “He has spoken through the prophets.”
January 20, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . For an Anglican to accept the statement “fully trustworthy in all that they affirm” would be disingenuous because most Anglicans play down certain things in the Scriptures such as, for example, dietary laws, tacit acceptance of slavery, and Paul's admonition that a woman's head must be covered.
January 18, 2011
To the Editor:
. . . Dennis seems concerned about a certain rigidity implied in the conviction that the scriptures are “fully trustworthy.” . . . But in trying to avoid some sort of rigid fundamentalism, do we really want to manuever ourselves into the position of saying that scripture is NOT “trustworthy?” Once you have reached that point you are basically making it up as you go along, and no longer dealing with Christianity as a revealed religion. Better to have a healthy debate about the nature of scriptural authority and trustworthiness — in which undoubtedly there would be strong disagreement, but we'd at least have some coherent theological foundations within which to operate together.
I do think it is time stop invoking the revered “three legged stool” as the essence of Anglicanism.
January 13, 2011
To the Editor:
“We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures are God-breathed, since their writers spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; hence are fully trustworthy in all that they affirm; and are our highest authority for faith and life.”
This text is taken from the website of Scripture Union (www.su-international.org). The speaker for this year's Parish Leadership Conference works for Scripture Union.
I am planning to go to this year's Parish Leadership Conference on Saturday at the Cathedral of All Saints with an open mind because I am not afraid to engage in events with my conservative brothers and sisters which challenge my core beliefs. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom.
January 5, 2011
To the Editor:
On December 28th I wrote a letter to the editor of the Albany Via Media website critical of the Bishop for not posting his address last June to the 142nd annual convention of the Diocese of Albany. Now, as 2011 begins, a newly added entry to the Diocesean website is Bishop Love's address. Hallelujah! An Amen will be added to this Alleluia when the Bishop includes the text in the next Albany Episcopalian. Then we can have an “Alleluia, Amen!”
Joseph M. Liotta
Editor's note: The Bishop's convention address may be found at this link.
December 29, 2010
To the Editor:
The subject of Diocesan activity brings to mind that the Cathedral of All Saints will be hosting a special event with dinner and music two weeks hence, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., on the evening of Wednesday, January 12, to benefit the Haiti relief projects sponsored cooperatively by St. John's, Troy, St. Andrew's, Albany, St. George's, Clifton Park, and the organization "To Love a Child, Inc."
The event will feature music by choirs from the three churches as well as The Agape Gospel Singers, the Youth Chorale for Haiti, and The Reverberators. Father Jean Milor from Haiti will be the honored guest, and Bishop Love will be present as well.
Basic adult tickets are $15.00 per person. For more information visit the "Rhythms of Hope for Haiti" website, http://www.rhythmsofhope.org/
William F. Hammond
December 28, 2010
To the Editor:
I came across the letter to the editor dated December 21st and written by the Reverend Michael Waverly-Shank on the morning of Christmas Eve. My initial response to this letter was to try to put it out of my mind on that holy day as I prepared to play music for our church's Christmas Eve Service, music from the heart that was played before the service, during the service and after the service. Reading the Reverend Michael Waverly-Shank's letter would have interfered with the holiness that I felt.
Now it is time to respond to the Reverend Michael Waverly-Shank's bomb of a letter ...
. . . more from Joseph Liotta
December 28, 2010
To the Editor:
I thank The Rev. Shank for reminding us that members of the Diocese of Albany carry out important, vital ministries in our community and throughout the world. One example is the outreach to Haiti sponsored by St. John's, Troy, St. George's, Clifton Park, and my own parish, St. Andrew's, Albany. That ministry is the caring response of parishioners throughout the diocese, a real grass-roots effort. The point is that most of the active ministries in the diocese are the initiatives of individual parishes and members of The Episcopal Church in Albany, some of whom are members of Albany Via Media as well.
. . . more from John White
December 27, 2010
To the Editor:
I feel compelled to respond to Fr. Michael Waverly-Shank's letter. First of all, we in Albany Via Media do not feel that the Diocese does nothing. This writer does feel that the Diocese doesn't do enough to stay engaged in The Episcopal Church. At times it seems the Diocese is "of" The Episcopal Church but not "in" it. …
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
December 21, 2010
To the Editor:
From reading AVM one would get the idea that the Diocese of Albany does nothing. This is, thank God, far from the truth! Here is a partial list of what we in our Diocese have done this past year. It is partial because I know I will be forgetting something, and because there may be ministries I am unaware of.
November 25, 2010
To the Editor:
. . . However, a decision against the Covenant would have short-circuited the English church's democratic process. It would have denied dioceses, parishes, and individuals their right to weigh in on an issue of immense importance to them. As interviews quoted by the BBC make clear, many delegates who oppose the Covenant voted “yea” to preserve that right.
. . . more from Robert Dodd
November 22, 2010
To the Editor:
At our recent Annual Meeting, an AVM member asked for the e-addresses of websites of interest to progressive and moderate Episcopalians. Here are a few of my favorites:
. . . more from Robert Dodd
November 9, 2010
To the Editor:
Bishop Robinson's announced intention to resign in 2013 reminds me of a conversation I had in May, 2003, when he had been elected but was not yet confirmed. Talking to a ranger in tiny Frijole Ranch State Park, NM, I learned that she had just moved there from New Hampshire. “Have you heard of Gene Robinson?” I asked. “Heard of him?” she replied. “Everyone has heard of him: UCC (that's me!), Presbyterians, even Catholics.” She paused for a moment, then exclaimed, “He's wonderful!”
Bishop Robinson has met and exceeded the expectations of those who elected and confirmed him. I grieve for those Episcopalians and Anglicans who have chosen to distance themselves from this good man. Oh my, what they have missed!
Robert T. Dodd
November 3, 2010
To the Editor:
Once again, Allison de Kanel has offered an articulate response to Bishop Spong that is very much to the point. And John P. Meier is one of the very best of the contemporary writers on the Historical Jesus.
To say that the miracles “can no longer be interpreted” as performed by an incarnate deity is typical of John Spong's style of rhetorical provocation. People I know who have competence in both theology and modern physics tend to be quite open to the miraculous, since modern physics seems to view the universe as far more open and far less determinate that the earlier more mechanistic Newtonian physics.
Christopher Brown+
October 25, 2010
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 5, which is:
“The miracle stories of the New Testament can no longer be interpreted in a post-Newtonian world as supernatural events performed by an incarnate deity.”
Oh, dear. Physics, whether Newtonian or post-Newtonian — meaning, I suppose the physics of relativistic effects at high speed and quantum effects at small scale — isn't discussed a lot in the New Testament. But that doesn't mean that the authors of the Gospels, or the people who lived at the time of Jesus, were ignorant of the normal effects of physics.
. . . more from Allison de Kanel
Editor's note: The editor regrets that his absence delayed the posting of this letter until November 1.
October 18, 2010
To the Editor:
I want to commend The Ven. Dr. Canon Christopher Brown for his thoughtful, articulate and concise response to my letter of October 9. I asked for some clarification about what Fr. Brown meant and I received it. This is the kind of thoughtful dialogue and discussion we should be having at Diocesan Convention. While Archdeacon Brown and I have our differences surrounding theology, we both found avenues in which to express ourselves and I am happy to see this kind of dialogue continue.
Dennis Wisnom
October 14, 2010
To the Editor:
I too like Rowan Williams' notion of faith as something that takes place when we are “mastered by truth,” rather than that in which we exercise a mastery of a “system of propositions.” The especially appealing feature of the Archbishop's statement is the manner in which he sets the relational and propositional elements of faith in their proper balance.
One must, of course, distinguish between “faith” as a saving act of trust (graciously empowered by the Holy Spirit), and “the Faith” as the articulation of what ++Rowan refers to as “truth.” This too is a living and dynamic thing, but it does have a propositional aspect to it. Whenever we are discussing “the Faith” — and hence “theology” — we have entered into a “second order” sphere of Christian discourse that is distinct from the more direct and relational language of prayer, praise and confession. While theology is vitally important, no one is saved simply by having “correct theology.” (Hence, despite our wrangling I have every hope of walking the crystalline streets of the heavenly Jerusalem with my sisters and brothers from AVM.)
Christopher Brown+
October 14, 2010
To the Editor:
In his typically thoughtful way, Dennis raises some reasonable points. So let me respond:
- “Fully orthodox” — I am happy to dispense with the qualifier, “fully.” It does have a potentially pharisaical ring to it. Let's just say “orthodox.” …
October 13, 2010
To the Editor:
As a follow-on to my recent recommendation of Archbishop Rowan Williams' book Tokens of Trust, I'd like to cite a recent article that TitusOneNine found at the Religion and Ethics page of the Australian Broadcasting Company. The article is entitled “Faith Hope and Charity in the World Today”; in it the Archbishop makes the following statement:
“Faith as dependable relationship is thus something other than faith as a system of propositions, faith as confidence in my own capacity to master truth. It's much more a confidence that I can be mastered by truth, that I can be held even when I don't think I can hold on.”
The article can be found at http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2795.
I recommend the whole article for your consideration.
Allison de Kanel
Editor's note: The link provided here differs from that at TitusOneNine, which points to an abridged copy of the Archbishop's address at Lincoln Cathedral in March, 2010. The editor is happy to join Ms. de Kanel in commending it.
October 11, 2010
To the Editor:
The Bishop's 2010 Convention address is neither in the new Albany Episcopalian nor on the diocesan website. Inasmuch as the address included some interesting and important material, it should be accessible to those who were not present at Convention.
Robert Dodd
October 9, 2010
To the Editor:
I agree with Archdeacon Christopher Brown. Though I am a progressive Episcopalian, I believe the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ to be actual events, not metaphors or myths. Here's the part I struggle with: to take something at face value suggests an “it is” or “it isn't” mentality. . . .
. . . more from Dennis Wisnom
October 6, 2010
To the Editor:
I appreciate Marya Dodd's recommendation of Bishop Spong's autobiography as a book that might challenge some of our assumptions.
Although I didn't intend to recommend a book myself, the recent conversation between Marya Dodd and Canon Brown on the Creeds has inspired me to submit a recommendation. . . . The book is Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams. …
October 5, 2010
To the Editor:
On rereading Marya Dodd's earlier letter, I see that she did not actually say that we must “leave our brains at the door to say the Creeds.” I conflated her comment about church membership with her friend's statement: “If I had to believe everything in the Nicene Creed I'd be out of here.” Fair enough — it is important not to misrepresent those with whom we are in conversation, especially when we often disagree.
I actually agree with Marya that there is and ought to be “room” in the church for people with varying understandings of the Creed (however erroneous they may be), and I also agree that “all of us must struggle to find our place in the faith” and that “this develops over our lives and is a deeply personal journey.” …
September 25, 2010
To the Editor:
Fr. Brown has misinterpreted what I said in the last paragraph of my letter of September 15: “Leaving your brain at the door is not a requirement of church membership and Christian faith.”
He has inferred, erroneously, that I said it is necessary to leave our brains at the door to say the Creeds. I pointed out that all of us must struggle to find our place in the faith. This develops over our lives and is a deeply personal journey. Our background, education, experience in the Church and in our personal lives together with the help of ‘prophets’ along the way guide this process. Our brains are certainly actively involved. Some accept the creeds literally, as written, while others accept them seeing in them the beauty of metaphor and myth. There is room for both approaches in the Episcopal Church.
Marya Dodd
September 22, 2010
To the Editor:
Does Marya Dodd really mean to suggest that for modern people to “believe everything in the creed” they must “leave their brain at the door?”
My guess is that Marya would willingly concede the intellectual integrity of writers like C.S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot, Dorothy Sayers, John Henry Newman, Charles Gore, Karl Barth, Karl Rahner, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, N.T. Wright, Archbishop William Temple — even Rowan Williams (who has been very critical of John Spong) — all of whom explicitly affirm the articles of the creed. …
September 21, 2010
To the Editor:
Sixty-plus years ago, my father gave me a genuine, pro quality football. A thing of pebbled, russet beauty, it brightened many autumn Saturdays before it vanished in the same post-college purge that sent my collection of baseball cards to the Teaneck dump.
The football's only failing was that it leaked. Every fall, I had to inflate it, a job that required first finding an easily mislaid needle and then moistening a leather pump piston that had dried out during the summer. As the ball and I grew older, it became necessary to repeat this ritual before each game, until snow or frosted hands ended the football season.
Albany Via Media reminds me of my football. Over each summer, it loses air, deflated rapidly by disappointing diocesan conventions, more gradually by the pleasant distractions of the warm season. Kind words from people who appreciate what we do slow the process, but September always finds AVM in need of pumping up.
So it is in 2010. After seven years of giving voice and hope to progressives and moderates in the Diocese of Albany, the AVM Board will meet this Saturday to re-inflate the ball for another season.
If you share our commitment to the forward-looking, inclusive Episcopal Church, please consider joining Albany Via Media. Joining us costs nothing, and new voices are always welcome.
Bob Dodd
September 15, 2010
To the Editor:
I'd like to thank Marya Dodd for her response to my recent suggestion that we might begin a dialogue by reading books likely to challenge our own opinions. My suggestion was intended to allow us to practice “working through the actual positions of others” (as Father Hartt said).
Quite honestly, I have been discouraged at the limited discussion that has resulted from Fr. Hartt's suggestions, my letters on Bishop Spong's theses, and Canon Brown's responses. I asked the AVM letter editor if I should stop the series on the 12 theses, but he encouraged me to continue.
I'd like to ask anyone who disagrees with my take on Bishop Spong's theses to consider critiquing my letters. Unlike Marya Dodd, I am not a trained scientist, but I did study engineering (there is a difference) and I love mathematics. My education was light on the liberal arts. If someone who is knowledgeable in a field like string theory, archeology, or Semitic languages could join the discussion, I am sure the dialogue would be enriched.
Thanks again for Marya's input.
Allison de Kanel
September 13, 2010
To the Editor:
I have been following with interest the conversation between Alison de Kanel and Father Hartt. Rarely, in this diocese, is there a real opportunity for substantive dialogue between the various ‘factions in the diocese’, whatever you choose to name them. Alison is certainly correct in urging us all to set aside our prejudices and listen to each other with open minds and understanding hearts. …
. . . more from Marya Dodd
August 31, 2010
To the Editor:
. . .
Fr. Hartt's letter to AVM on June 16 started this discussion. In his letter, he made 12 points regarding conversations following the Diocesan Convention.
When I read his letter, it seemed to me that his last point — that conservatives sometimes doubt the core orthodoxy of those on the progressive side — would have to be addressed in order to have any fruitful conversations about other matters. So I've been attempting to discuss Bishop Spong's 12 Theses. I may not be much of a progressive, but it's a start.
August 23, 2010
To the Editor:
1. Allison de Kanel need not apologize for her disagreements with Bishop Spong, which were entirely respectful. By contrast, I admit that the tone of my comments reflected my own frustration with John Spong's approach — which I have explained in a previous letter. I am sure that it was I, and not Allison, that provoked Marya Dodd's understandable protest.
2. Once again, I like Allison's response to John Spong's polemic against the doctrine of the Fall in his 3rd thesis — which, if I understand her correctly, is that one need not take the account of the Fall as a literal historical account to locate a significant truth within the narrative. This seems to be the point of her quote of Gertrud Mueller Nelson's five year-old daughter, “Those are stories who aren't true on the outside. But they are true on the inside.”
August 22, 2010
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 4.
Thesis 4: The virgin birth, understood as literal biology, makes Christ's divinity, as traditionally understood, impossible.
We need to start by distinguishing between the virginal conception of Jesus and the virgin birth. “Virginal conception” refers to a conception without the participation of a human father through sexual relations or even — in today's world — by artificial insemination. I understand that this is what the Creeds refer to when they speak of Jesus “born of the Virgin Mary.”
August 12, 2010
To the Editor:
I have to confess that I was flattered by Canon Brown's letter replying to my letters on Bishop Spong's theses. I say “confess” because, sinner that I am, I am not nearly as humble as I would like to be. By humble, I don't mean the kind of false humility that denies those gifts God has given me. Rather, I mean the kind of humility that recognizes that events don't circle around me — I am not the center of the universe. Of course, I know that I am not, but …
August 6, 2010
To the Editor:
And one more thing: I had actually intended my letter regarding Allison de Kanel's thoughts on the 12 theses to be conciliatory. I thought my tone was rather friendly, actually, and that my response to Allison was quite positive. I was genuinely attempting to bridge the ideological divide. Was this not apparent?
Christopher Brown+
August 6, 2010
To the Editor:
I don't object to John Spong asking hard questions. I appreciate honest expressions of doubt — I have already indicated my recognition that doubt is part of the structure of faith. Often we believe in the face of doubt, our convictions strengthened in the crucible of uncertainty.
I almost never agree with John Spong's conclusions, but that is not really the issue. But my principle objection to John Spong is precisely what Marya Dodd has accused me of — his tendency to treat those with whom he disagrees with disdain. John Spong invariably sets up a false dichotomy between a crude parody of traditional Christianity on one hand, and his own flamboyantly provocative claims on the other. He seems oblivious to the fact that there is any middle ground. Moreover, he projects a gloss of scholarly respectability, when actually his reading is thin and his analysis is superficial.
There are many progressives I respect, even if disagree with them: Paul Tillich, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, James Cone, Gustavo Gutierriez — to name a few. Locally, I appreciate the things that Bill Hammond has written on this site. I admit that I don't feel the same way about John Spong.
Christopher Brown+
August 6, 2010
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 3.
Thesis 3: The biblical story of the perfect and finished creation from which human beings fell into sin is pre-Darwinian mythology and post-Darwinian nonsense.
It may seem as if I've had nothing positive to say about Bishop Spong or his work, but I have to give him a huge cheer for the first part of this thesis. …
August 6, 2010
To the Editor:
I am disappointed at the tone of Archdeacon Christopher Brown's reply to Allison DeKanel concerning Bishop Spong's theses. He sounds not only critical, which is fine if that is what he believes, but disrespectful. Bishop Spong's work may seem controversial to some Anglicans, but he is respected by many faithful Episcopalians and Anglicans worldwide for his work. One faithful Albany Episcopalian has said, “Don't you just love Bishop Spong? He makes it possible to be a Christian.” Those of us with a more ‘progressive’ bent in the Diocese of Albany are sometimes hungry for news of other, non-literalistic interpretations of scripture. To quote Alfred Lord Tennyson, “There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds.” Can we not try to listen to other opinions without mocking them? It seems so un-Anglican.
Marya Dodd
July 30, 2010
To the Editor:
I would like to commend Allison de Kanel for her thoughtful and faithful response to Bishop Spong's second thesis. Her comments go right to the heart of the matter and are well-stated. If she doesn't understand the terminology or substance, essence, personhood and so on, it is only because we don't think in those terms these days so that, as a result, they need a bit of translation. …
July 29, 2010
To the Editor:
Before the thread, originated in his letter of June 16 by the Rev. Paul Hartt, on Bishop Spong's 12 Theses of 1998 proceeds further, I'd like to observe that there was a substantial reply by Archbishop Rowan Williams, also in 1998, when he was the Bishop of Monmouth.
The online document http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/13880.htm offers a copy of that reply that is said to be reproduced from Church Times (the Church of England newspaper) of July 17, 1998.
William F. Hammond
July 28, 2010
To the Editor:
Continuing with my discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses, here is my take on Thesis 2.
Thesis 2: Since God can no longer be conceived in theistic terms, it becomes nonsensical to seek to understand Jesus as the incarnation of the theistic deity. So the Christology of the ages is bankrupt.
The first phrase of Thesis 2, "Since God can no longer be conceived in theistic terms," appears to depend on the conclusion of Thesis 1. As I indicated in my earlier post on Thesis 1, I find Thesis 1 meaningless in any way that I — as a lay person who is neither a theologian nor a philosopher — could make sense of. Bishop Spong may not be able to conceive of God in “theistic terms”, but I can and do (assuming here, of course, that I understand what Bishop Spong means by “theistic terms”!).
July 27, 2010
To the Editor:
. . . WHY or WHAT is the obsession with the “Anglican Covenant”? If I am not mistaken, in the Book of Common Prayer (remember that?), each Sunday when we pray the Prayers of the People, we Pray for “our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority”. Nowhere do I see that we specifically pray for the Queen of England or the rulers of foreign countries. We/I am an American, and I belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, according to the Ratification of the Book of Common Prayer (1789). I do realize, acknowledge, and am grateful that I am also a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion. However, I will not accept the dictates of countries who denounce the American arm of the Anglican Communion because we have the decency, love, and grace to appreciate and accept people who have different life styles …
July 24, 2010
To the Editor:
Bob Dodd asks some good questions regarding my comment about the “parasitic” character of theological liberalism or “progressivism.”
What do I mean by the term, “hermeneutic of suspicion”? Well first, I rather like what little I have read of Paul Ricoeur (who coined the term in the first place) and I know people who have found his ideas quite useful in making sense of the character of religious language. I am sympathetic with the notion of “freedom through disbelief, as long as that disbelief opens up new lines of inquiry.” …
July 21, 2010
To the Editor:
The Ven. Canon Dr. Christopher Brown writes: “Very briefly, in my reference to the ‘parasitic' character of theological liberalism or ‘progressivism,' I was thinking of what has often been called ‘the hermeneutic of suspicion.'”
I am troubled by Fr. Brown's use of “parasitic,” which means “living on others without making a fitting return,” to describe progressive theology. On what or whom is progressive theology living? What would Fr. Brown describe as a fitting return?
No doubt “hermeneutic of suspicion” stopped others as it did me. A browse on Yahoo showed that the term, coined by Paul Ricoeur (1970), has been defined in many ways, from “freedom through disbelief, as long as that disbelief opens up new lines of inquiry.“ (A. Clinton, home.earthlink.net/~alanclinton) to “a tendency to attribute the worst of motives to those with whom there is disagreement.” (J.P. Richardson+, ugleyvicar.blogspot.com). It would be useful to know just how Fr. Brown understands this term and concept.
Robert T. Dodd
July 18, 2010
To the Editor:
Fr. Paul J. Hartt recently offered a thoughtful discussion of the uneasy relationship between “progressive” and “traditional” Episcopalians (and other Anglicans). In particular, he pointed out that many “traditionalists” are skeptical about the orthodoxy of progressives in subjects other than human sexuality. He suggested a discussion of Bishop Spong's 12 Theses.
I don't usually label myself as either a traditionalist or a progressive. My progressive friends describe me as a moderate. Mostly I label myself as a Christian. But I think Fr. Hartt deserves at least one response to his suggestion.