Purge Update: Laundry Disaster

I am preparing to attend a meeting of the National Organization of Episcopal Resource Center. Traveling means having clean clothes. Having clean clothes means doing laundry. So this morning I took my laundry baskets down to the laundry room and filled three washing machines--one with sheets and towels, the other two with clothes.

While the clothes were in the washers, I loaded all the stuff going to Goodwill into the car. By the time that and a couple of other small chores were done, it was time to put the three loads of laundry into two dryers--which are significantly larger than the washers. Sheets, towels, underwear, socks and the like into one dryer, and the permanent press and other work clothes in the other. All the tee shirts and other pullovers I took back to the apartment and hung on a rack to dry.

During the dry cycle I paid bills and updated my checkbook. Just enough time to do that before going back to the laundry room to pull the permanent press stuff out of the dryer. I like to pull it out while it is still a bit damp and put it on hangers. Once I emptied the dryer, I noticed a Chapstick in the bottom of it. The cap was still on, so I did not think anything of it and threw it out. Back to the apartment again to hang up the damp clothes.

The first shirt I pulled out of the basket had a stain on the front. I thought, I don't remember spilling anything on the front of this. I guess I'll have to hit it with spot remover. As I tossed it on the table, I noticed similar stains on the back of it. Well, that's not right, I thought. The next shirt I pulled out was a light colored one. It also had stains on it. Red stains. Ick. Cherry Chapstick all over EVERYTHING. When I tried to remove the stain, I ended up with weird green stains, or grease stains. That meant everything from that load of laundry had to be thrown out.

Of course, that totally screwed up my whole afternoon schedule. I had been planning to start replacing the clothes, just not all at once. So I dug out a couple of Kohl's gift cards I'd been given and then started out on my errands. Post Office, Goodwill to drop off the stuff in the car, bank. Then, instead of meeting Mom for coffee as we had originally planned, I met her at Kohl's at her suggestion. She said I might as well take advantage of her senior discount.

Two pairs of slacks, two dress shirts, three more casual shirts, two belts, two ties, and some underwear later, the initial bill came to close to $300. Ouch! Fortunately, between the gift cards and Mom's discount it came to half that. Of course, my stepfather thinks I'm nuts because I now have not many clothes in my closet. Mom thinks it is great. I like the fact that all my clothes--work clothes, casual clothes, good winter coat, Faire garb, dance camp skirts and sarongs, and my alb--fit in one closet. Besides, how many clothes do I really need? I work five days a week, I have five work shirts.

On the other hand, it means I absolutely must do laundry every week. You win some, and you lose some.

Peace,
Jeffri

The Bishops Speak During Their September Meeting

September 25 - Evening

The bishops have spoken. It seems that the self-names "reasserters" are already expressing disappointment. I am sure this will amplify over the next few days. It also remains to be seen what will happen over the next couple of days at the so called Common Cause Council of Bishops meeting in Pittsburgh.

When I post this tonight, it will be the last time I add to or edit this post. Any further tracking will be of bishops' statements and reports to their dioceses, which I will do in a new post.

I will probably post a response of my own once I've had some time to reread and digest the collective statement the bishops issued at the end of their meeting.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 25 - Afternoon

All quiet on the southern front. I have added and updated some links, but for the most part there is nothing concrete to report. The usual suspects have thoughts on what to expect from the bishops later today, but at this point, it is all speculation.

In the meantime, the folks at Stand Firm seem to be digging up every instance of diocesan approval for same-sex blessings they can find and as many instances of actual blessings as they can. I know what they are trying to prove, and I am not sure that I disagree with them--for different reasons, but they do have a point. It's the tone of the commentors that I find increasingly over the top. I wish they would just post these and close them for comments.

I figure the proverbial ----- will hit the fan while I am at my Education for Ministry seminar listening to spiritual autobiographies.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 24 - Evening

As I suspected, all you-know-what seemed to break forth in the blogosphere while I was gone today. And this surprises me how?

The primary reason for all the "fuss" is a draft statement the bishops are working with. Repeat: DRAFT STATEMENT. Here is the article from ENS posted on Episcopal Life Online. Here is Episcopal Cafe's report on the ENS story, which they posted before ENS released it. Over at Stand Firm, Matt Kennedy has transcribed the draft from notes taken during an open session of the bishops' meeting. Here is John Clinton Bradley's report on Walking with Integrity. Matt has also posted a "Draft Copy of Notes from an informal meeting of 57 Bishops listing agreements and disagreements."

Let me say once again how much in awe I am of the work the folks over at Stand Firm do covering these meetings, etc. While I do not agree with their point of view, the "reporting" part of what they post is usually pretty reliable. Just steer clear of reading the comments on the posts!!!

Bishop Steenson's resignation and move the the Roman Catholic Church was noted in this article on Clerical Whispers, the blog of an Irish Roman Catholic priest. From everything I have read or heard about Bishop Steenson, he was well respected, and the people of his diocese--of whatever "persuasion"--will miss him. This is a loss for the Episcopal Church, but I respect Bishop Steenson's integrity and his decision. Remember him in your prayers.

Peace,
Jeffri

P.S. FWIW: On this day in 1867, 76 from Anglican churches around the world met at the first Lambeth Conference.

September 24 - Morning

Obivously, nothing much is going on yet, as it is still relatively early in the day. I've added links to a couple of interviews and sermons. The only other thing of note that seems to be piquing people's interest is the story in the UK Guardian about some bishops working on a possible compromise.

I have the day off and will be out running errands, etc. I am sure there will be all manner of news, opinions, moaning and groaning, etc. when I get back this evening.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 23

The bishops spent the day yesterday helping the reconstruction effort in New Orleans. You can read the ENS story here. For a notable development, take a look at Jeffrey Steenson's letter to his clergy.

Other than that, not much happened today. Well, except for the various proposals for all or part of the Episcopal Church to withdraw from Lambeth or even the Communion itself (and become "associate" members) being discussed on various blogs.

I have updated some links and added a few others. Mostly I spent the day away from any computers--a refreshing thing to do once in a while.

Oh, and David Virtue is declaring "THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION IS FINISHED." Remember, this is David...

Peace,
Jeffri

September 22

This will probably be--and thankfully--a slow news day in terms of the bishops' meeting as they are out in the city "getting their hands dirty" doing some work to assist the rebuilding of New Orleans.

The primary purpose of this post, which I will keep updated and moved to the top until their meeting ends, is to track what the bishops themselves have to say. If you are interested in seeing accounts of the meeting from mainstream media sources, check epiScope (9/20, 9/21) and Walking with Integrity (9/21). Both these sites have links to those stories. If you are interested in seeing what is being said in the blogospere (and just about everywhere else!), check out TitusOneNine ( 9/21-1). T19 also has a post with links to blogs/sites of people who are "on the ground" in New Orleans.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 21 - Updated

It seems some of the bishops have already started letting their folks know what has been going on in New Orleans. Here is an email from Tom Shaw of Massachusetts posted on Kendall Harmon's Titusonenine. I am absolutely in awe of how quickly Kendall and the folks over at Stand Firm (take a look at their postings of proposed resolutions from various bishops, although you might want to avoid the comments, as some of the threads look to already be devolving into nastiness) get a hold of emails, documents, etc. almost as soon as they are released--and sometimes before they are released!

And throughout the day we have been seeing copies of statements made during the meeting--often released by the bishop who made the statement--and news reports of others'.

At this point, I feel no need to comment. You can read enough commentary in the usual places.

Peace,
Jeffri

Statements, Sermons and Addresses:

• Marc Andrus, California
• Mouneer Anis, Egypt and Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, so far only on Stand Firm and excerpts on BabyBlueOnline
• Robert Duncan, Pittsburgh, quoted in this article in the UK Guardian
• Katharine Jefferts Schori's 9/23 sermon at Christ Church Cathedral and the ENS coverage
• Jeffrey Steenson, Rio Grande, in an article posted by The Living Church
• Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 9/20 Sermon and 9/21 Press Conference Remarks

Reports from Bishops

• Thomas Breidenthal, Southern Ohio, in an email posted on The Religious Left Blog
• Chris Epting, Ecumenical Officer for the Episcopal Church, (9/21, 9/22, 9/23, 9/24) on his That We All May Be One
• John Howe, Central Florida, has a proposal that is posted on TitusOneNine
• Barry Morgan, Wales, in an interview with John Gibson of Walking with Integrity
• Ken Price, Southern Ohio, in an email posted on The Religious Left Blog
• Tom Shaw, Massachusetts, also an interview with John Gibson of Walking with Integrity
• Kirk Smith, Arizona, on Nicholis Knisley's Entangled States
• James Stanton, Dallas, in an interview with Sarah Hey on Stand Firm
• Jeffrey Steenson, Rio Grande, in a video interview with Sarah Hey and a letter to his clergy, both on Stand Firm

News Media/Blog Reports of Statements:

• The UK Telegraph reports "witnesses said" Gene Robinson told the Archbishop of Canterbury...

Other News Reports:
As usual, ENS/Episcopal Life Online seems a bit slower than other outlets.

Accounts of the Meeting from Mainstream Media Sources

• epiScope: 9/20, 9/21, 9/23, 9/25
• Walking with Integrity: 9/20, 9/21, 9/22, 9/23, 9/24
• TitusOneNine does a pretty good job of posting articles from the mainstream press--and the blogosphere--just avoid the comments on the posts.

September 20 Press Conference with Bishops Robert O'Neill of Colorado and John Rabb of Maryland

• ENS report

September 21 Press Conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury

Episcopal Life Online photo by Matthew Davies

• Matt Kennedy's report on Stand Firm
• ENS' report
• The Living Church's report
• Integrity's report on Walking with Integrity

September 24 Press Conference

• Matt Kennedy's live blogging notes on Stand Firm

Conservative Bishops Leave the Meeting

• David Virtue's story. I do not usually look at David's site, but during meetings like this I check it because he seems to be "in" with bishops like Robert Duncan of Pittsburg and Kieth Ackerman of Quincy. However, always take David's "news reports" with a grain of salt. I was particularly struck by this quote: "We came out of respect for Dr. Williams" two orthodox bishops told VOL. "It is clear to us, however, that there will be no change of direction for the HOB and the Episcopal Church and there is no reason for us to stay." An interesting view, since from the beginning, these bishops planned to leave as soon as Archbishop Williams left.
• Mark Harris' post on his Preludium talks about bishops' schedules posted on various diocesan and Communion web sites, including a meeting of the Common Cause Council of Bishops in Pittsburgh September 25-28.

Sunday's Prayer For The Bishops

Calm them, O God, as You stilled the storm.
Still them, O God, keep them from harm.
Let all the tumult within them cease.
Enfold them, Lord, in Your peace.


Creator, bless the work that is done
and the work that is to be.


Creator, bless the servants that they are
and the servants they will be.


Amen.


Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer, p. 38

I'm Contagious!

This evening I decided to go over to the Triangle Community Center for their "Saturday Night Out." On a good night there are several things going on--folks playing a variety of games, a movie on the TV, and folks just hanging out and talking. I have not been to the Center in a while--sort of a "recovery period" after having spent six years on the board. There were seven of us there at the height of the evening, and for a first portion of it, I was the only non-board member there. Mostly we just chatted. At some point we started talking about how the space might be reconfigured, if the board decides to stay in the current space for the long term. That became a conversation about what to do with the "Resource Room." I mentioned that I have been in the process of purging my apartment.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity. We started going through things in the "Resource Room" and piling stuff on dollies to take to the dumpster. A couple of people started working in the office, too. Others attacked the walls and replaced old signs and pictures with more recent ones.

Once again, "buh bye" was heard throughout the space as we tossed stuff that we did not need to be keeping. Like the whole pile of drinks and snacks labelled with a sign that said "Expired. Do Not Use." So we are keeping this stacked in the "Resource Room" because? Buh bye. Outdated psychology texts? Buh bye.

By the time we left there was a half-formed plan to complete the process of going through the rest of the stuff in the "Resource Room" and making it useful space again instead of the dumping ground it has become.

So for the time being, if you don't want to end up catching the "purge and reorganize" bug, stay away from me. I'm obviously contagious!

Peace,
Jeffri

Viewed Through The Lens Of History

Paul Woodrum posted this on a mail list to which I belong. He has graciously given us permission to share it. It is a response to remarks the Archbishop of Canterbury made in answer to a question at yesterday's press conference after meeting with the bishops of the Episcopal Church. In my opinion it hits the proverbial nail on the head. Thanks, Paul.

1st Century:
"Certainly Gentiles have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place Gentiles may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional theology of the church lets us move in that direction.

7th Century:
Certainly followers of Augustine have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about not only the date of Easter, but the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place followers of Rome may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the Celtic tradition of the church lets us move in that direction.

12th Century:
"Certainly Anglo-Saxon people have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place Anglo-Saxon people may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far Norman church tradition lets us move in that direction.

16th Century:
"Certainly recusants and dissenters have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place recusants and dissenters may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the Established Church and Crown lets us move in that direction.

18th Century:
"Certainly colonials have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place colonials may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far Parliament lets us move in that direction.

19th Century:
"Certainly slaves throughout the Empire have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place slaves may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far slave owners let us move in that direction.

1900 - 1960's:
"Certainly African Americans have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place African Americans may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far white American tradition lets us move in that direction.

1970's :
"Certainly women have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place women may hold in offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional patriarchal theology of the church lets us move in that direction.

21st Century:
"Certainly gay and lesbian people have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place gay and lesbian people may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional theology of the church lets us move in that direction." (The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 21 September AD 2007, New Orleans, LA, USA)

Saturday's Prayer for the Bishops

Heavenly Creator, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the City of New Orleans. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form its civic life. Send the people honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, that people from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, p. 825

Friday's Prayer For The Bishops

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life, we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--Book of Common Prayer, p. 100

You Can't Get Theah From Heeah

There is an old story about someone lost in New England--usually Maine or New Hampshire. When s/he stops to ask directions from a local, there follows a lot of discussion, which is ended when the local finally declares, usually in an exaggerated Maine or New Hampshire accent, "You can't get theah from heeah."

I am reminded of that story nightly in this corner of Connecticut. Northeast Utilities is upgrading the transmission system, including "the installation of new overhead and underground lines and the reconstruction of some existing lines along a 69-mile route through 18 cities and towns." They are digging trenches in many of the main roads through these 18 towns, including Norwalk. The construction takes place during the night, and steel plates cover the trenches during the day. What that means is that after 7:00 or 8:00 in the evening local traffic patterns become a maze. For the past couple of weeks I have not been able to turn into my driveway from the eastbound lane of Connecticut Avenue. Where the road work is, people have to make sometimes lengthy detours to get to their homes. It also doubles, triples, and quadruples the amount of time it takes to drive from Point A to Point B in town.

This evening driving home from doing some errands, I planned my route along back roads, thus saving myself at least 15 minutes of traffic snarls. Given today's news from New Orleans--or the lack of it--I found myself pondering "You can't get theah from heeah," not only in relation to the local traffic, but also in terms of the bishops' meeting in New Orleans.

As you have seen, I have kept myself out of the spin cycle over the past few days, at least in terms of my blog. Instead, I have posted a prayer for the bishops and their meeting each day. That does not mean I have not read other blogs and news reports. Today's were, for the most part, especially dull and useless. They remind me of days when there is some big news event and television stations cancel everything to provide continual coverage by their news departments. Sometimes there are no new developments, but news coverage there must be. So the talking heads repeat stuff we just heard less than two minutes ago, start discussing related items of little or no substance and trying to make "real news" out of it, or they bring in the pundits to do commentaries and make prognostications. Why is it everyone feels they have to say something important when nothing is going on?

But I digress.

Reading the reports and prognostications over the past couple of days it occurs to me that we "can't get theah from heeah" in the Anglican Communion because:

1. We do not agree on where "heeah" is.
2. We do not agree on where "theah" is.
3. Heck, we can't even listen to each other long enough to see if we can create a new "heeah" so that we can even begin a journey together that might just lead us to the as yet unknown "theah" in the fullness of God's time.

Of course, there's also the problem of who is and is not allowed to journey with us, which is what started this mess in the first place...

Peace,
Jeffri

Thursday's Prayer For The Bishops

Almighty and most merciful God, grant, we beseech you, that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit our bishops may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you7, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer For The Bishops As They Begin Their Meeting

God our Creator,
when you speak there is light and life,
when you act there is justice and love;
grant that your love may be present in the bishops' meeting
so that what they say and what they do
may be filled with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.


--Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 141

Tuesday's Prayer For The Bishops

Help me today to realise that you will be speaking to me
through the events of the day, through people,
through things, and through creation.
Give me ears, eyes and heart to perceive you,
however veiled your presence may be.
Give me insight to see through the exterior of things
to the interior truth.
Give me your Spirit of discernment.
O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day.
If I forget you, do not forget me.

--Jacob Astley

Monday's Prayer For The Bishops

We cannot speak,
unless You loose our tongues;
We only stammer,
and we speak uncertainly;
but if You touch our mouths,
O God,
then we will sing the story
of Your wonders!

Teach us to hear that story,
through each person,
to cradle a sense of wonder
in their life,
to honor the hard-earned wisdom
of their sufferings,
to waken their joy
that the King of all kings
stoops down
to wash their feet
and looking up
into their face
says,
"I know -- I understand."

This world has become
a world of broken dreams
where dreamers are hard to find
and friends are few.

Lord, be the gatherer of our dreams.
You set the countless stars in place,
and found room for each of them to shine.
You listen for us in Your heaven-bright hall.
Open our mouths to tell our tales of wonder.

--Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer, pp. 198-199

Sunday's Prayer For The Bishops

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 824

The Laughs Just Keep Coming

The House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria has written an open letter to Archbishop Rowan Williams. They urge him to postpone the upcoming Lambeth Conference, in part because

We are also concerned about the abuse directed towards those who hold to traditional views on matters of Human Sexuality. The spate of hostility in the UK is alarming.

We are all witnesses to:

*The presence of placard carrying and leaflets distributing campaigners at the last Lambeth Conference distracting Bishops who travelled thousands of miles for fellowship. These protesters effectively shifted the focus of the conference to human sexuality - as if that was all that mattered.

*The physical assaults against clergymen with opposing view, such as your predecessor attacked in his own Cathedral pulpit, and a Kenyan bishop assaulted by two people dressed as clergymen.

*The occasion when your own General Synod was disrupted by protestors angry over the handling of the Canon Jeffery John issue.

*Recent attempts to mandate unbiblical views in the UK through force of law and the protests and attacks by activists determined to disrupt and intimidate any group that seeks to uphold biblical teaching.

In truth anyone who does not embrace revisionist views is a potential target. We know it is possible to provide some security to minimize such occurrences but is the additional cost justifiable? Would the resultant atmosphere of fear and uncertainty be conducive to the goals of such a large gathering of bishops?

This from a body of bishops whose leader, the Rt. Rev. Peter Akinola, is on record supporting the further legal suppression of lesbian and gay Nigerians.

The letter goes on to recommend that Archbishop Williams call a special session of the Primates' Meeting to deal with the "crisis" in the Anglican Communion.

What a joke.

Who was it that shifted the focus of Lambeth to sexuality? No one but bishops were in the subcommittee meetings that revised the proposed resolution that eventually became 1.10. No one but bishops debated 1.10 and voted on it. This is a pitiful attempt to shift responsibility for their own actions.

Was Archbishop Carey's life in danger during the disruption of Easter services in 1998? Was the intention of the protest to injure or kill the Archbishop? No, and again, no. The attack on Bishop Oketch, while both regrettable and unforgivable, is not likely to be repeated at any Lambeth event. Hopefully, neither will anything like the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma's attempt to exorcise the Rev. Richard Kirker that did take place at the 1998 Lambeth Conference.

And are the good bishops truly afraid of protesters carrying signs and in no way threatening physical violence? Are they truly afraid of having their views on homosexuality questioned? Again, it is a situation unlikely to happen during any session at the next Lambeth Conference. They would probably still have to see and hear non-violent protesters traveling from one place to another. However, if they really believe violence could happen at Lambeth, what makes them think it could not happen at the "special Primates' meeting" they propose in place of a postponed Lambeth?

As for trying to "mandate unbiblical views in the UK through force of law," the good bishops of Nigeria might as well isolate themselves within the borders of their own country if they wish to avoid such places for meetings, because nations with "unbiblical" views far outnumber those with views the good bishops would consider "biblical." The same holds true if they want to avoid protests against their views--stay home. Physical attacks, even on those with whom we disagree vehemently, are never justified. However, the physical attacks suffered by conservatives for their views are infinitely smaller than the number of physical attacks inflicted upon gays and lesbians for being who they are.

The bashers are trying to claim victimhood. They are attempting to cast as the villains of their little drama those they continue to further marginalize. Another smoke bomb to obscure their attempt to hijack the Anglican Communion.

And the stones keep coming...

Peace,
Jeffri

Friday's Prayer For The Bishops

Almighty and eternal God, so draw the hearts of our bishops to you, so guide their minds, so fill their imaginations, so control theirwills, that they may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then us them, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen



--Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 832-33

Scheming Bishops?

In spite of my attempts to avoid the dreck over at Stand Firm, someone pointed me to a short post by Greg Griffith. It is a rather self-congratulatory piece--without details, of course--about how Stand Firm got a hold of a copy of a report for next week's meeting of the bishops of the Episcopal Church.

This particular bit had me rolling on the floor laughing:

...it was the work of a group, separated by a combined thousands of miles, all with their own kind of expertise, determined not to let this church be returned to an era of bishops scheming in secrecy...

Excuse me? Bishops scheming in secrecy? As if Duncan, Iker, Akinola, Minns, et. al. have been above board and completely open about their tactics in the attempts to oust or replace the Episcopal Church. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Or maybe it is okay because their scheming also involves clergy and laity? After all, they had to engage in a bit of sneakiness to get a hold of a report that was not meant for general consumption. And if it was not through stealth, then why didn't Greg just tell us the names of everyone who played a part in getting the report and how it was done, instead of posting this vague piece?

Transparency indeed!

Peace,
Jeffri

Behind The Closet Door

The clothes closet that is.

I have two closets in my small apartment. One is in the small room, and the other is at the end of the tiny back hallway that is between the large room and the back door--which I use as the main entrance. The only other "built-in" storage, excluding the kitchen, is a shelf that was built over the back door that takes advantage of the high ceilings to create a little more storage space.

As I noted before, I am in the midst of the "reorganizing" phase. This evening I spent time reorganizing the closet in the small room. Eventually, I hope that all the clothing and clothing related stuff will be in that closet, while the other will serve as general storage. To facilitate orderly, and easily retrievable, storage in the closet, I purchased four Sweater Boxes and six Men's Shoe Boxes at the Container Store.

All of my winter gear, except coats, is in one of the shoe boxes. One of the sweater boxes holds all the smaller canvas tote bags that I use on a regular basis to lug stuff around. Two other sweater boxes contain my "Summer Shirts," and one my "Winter Shirts." Another shoe box has a couple of rugby shirts. What surprised me is that I still have one sweater box and four shoe boxes with nothing in them on the closet shelves! My first thought was to take them back NOW!!! Five more places to stash accumulated, unneeded STUFF. However, I think I will wait until I finish the reorganizing phase before I do. They might come in handy as I clean out my dresser and reorganize the hall closet.

Today the Moleskinerie site had a link to the Web Worker Daily blog, because it mentioned using a Moleskinerie notebook. The post, Declutter Your Desk to Improve Your Productivity, has some are some pretty good guidelines for organizing your work space. Some of the guidelines work well in general, too. Maybe I will print it out for my colleagues--you never know when we might need them at the office...

Peace,
Jeffri

A Prayer For The Bishops Of The Episcopal Church - September 13, 2007

The bishops of the Episcopal Church will meet in New Orleans September 20-25. The spin on the upcoming meeting began almost before their previous meeting ended. This week I would not trade places with my bishop for anything! Recently, among other things, the bishops have been asked to "hold the line" and told to "be a man." Stone throwing has abounded on ALL sides by people in ALL the ministries of the church--laity, deacons, priests, and bishops. Predictions, threats, and spin, spin, spin are crescendoing toward next Thursday.

Here is a radical concept. What if we all just prayed for them between now and the time they gather in New Orleans? Prayers of support; prayers without an agenda, predictions, or spin. What if we just prayed?

So, from today through their meeting, I will be praying for the bishops of the Episcopal Church. I invite you all to do the same.

For all the chosen bishops in your Church, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

That he may faithfully fulfill the duties of this ministry, build up your Church, and glorify your Name, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

That by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he may be sustained and encouraged to persevere to the end, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For his family, the members of his household, and his community, that they may be adorned with all Christian virtues, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

--From the Litany for Ordination, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 549.

Peace,
Jeffri

It's All My Fault

One of my friends blames me for the current state of her homes, and a second may soon join her. What did I do? I talked about the Great Purge taking place at my apartment.

This evening on the way home from the second trip in three days to the Container Store in White Plains, I stopped by Friend A's apartment to pick up some CD/DVD holders that she is getting rid of. Her DVDs are now in a self-contained case, which takes up about 1/3 the space of the small baskets they were in before. Mine are now in a single wire-mesh basket rather than taking up an entire shelf of my desk unit. It is amazing how clearing that one shelf and putting everything in two wire-mesh baskets visually opens up not just the shelf, but the whole corner (my computer CDs and a couple of other odds and ends are in the second basket, thus consolidating more STUFF).

Meanwhile, A's apartment looks like mine did last weekend, except that she has twice the space I do, if not more. There's a full garbage bag sitting outside her front door waiting to go out to the curb for collection. There is at least one on the floor being filled. She has de-junked most of her drawers and reworked one end of her big closet with new wire shelves. Her home is in a state of upheaval, and it is all my fault.

And then there is Friend B, who has lived in his home for 23 years (I feel like such a nomad compared to him!). He said he has been inspired to at least consider how he is going to tackle his basement. I told him I am available to consult.

Even Mom is talking about undertaking a purge. That, however, is not my fault.

This evening, after reorganizing the DVDs, I took out bag number 5 of trash--mostly the empty DVD clamshells. Bag number 6 sits in front of the fireplace half-full. The actual purge has slowed down. Mostly I am reorganizing. Of course, that process also results in getting rid of some more stuff. However, it is nowhere near the amount that has already been tossed or is sitting in four 35-gallon plastic tubs. The tubs will go to Goodwill in a week or two, once I have finished the reorganization process, at which point the Purge should be pretty much done as well.

I even found a couple of things I'd stashed away for gifts at Christmas. I had all but forgotten them. Now I have a whole drawer that holds future gifts.

Next: Tackling the Clothes Closet.

Peace,
Jeffri

Throwing Stones

One scene in the movie Saved shows Hilary Faye and some friends attempting an intervention and exorcism on their friend Mary. Mary rejects their rather overzealous "help," and as she walks away, Hilary Faye throws a bible at her saying angrily, "I am filled with Christ's love." Mary picks of the bible that smacked her in the back, turns around and says, "This is not a weapon!"

The bible is not a weapon.

And yet, we, both conservatives and liberals, manage to turn it into one as our passion for our church gets the better of us. Disagreements become arguments, arguments become fights, fights become wars--all verbal, but as damaging and as dangerous as fists and guns. Bible verses become verbal stones in a stoning of evil sinners.

Sometimes that violence does become physical. There have been times when I have been physically attacked by people shouting quotes from Genesis and Leviticus--attacked by people using fists and by people throwing real stones. I was lucky. People I know have been hospitalized. People I knew have been killed.

Eventually, you learn that you must defend yourself. You learn by example, so you pick up the stones and hurl them back. Which only escalates the situation.

David Ould has posted a piece titled "We're All Murderers" on the Stand Firm site. Here is a quote:

I'm sick and tired of this consistent accusation. It's uncharitable. It's just a lie. When have we ever done the same? Name just one piece where we accuse one of our worthy opponents of wanting us dead. "oooh, that nasty Susan Russell - she's just waiting for the moment she can stick a carving knife in the back of Greg Griffith". It's ludicrous. But it seems to be perfectly acceptable over on the other side.

David, you are now enduring what gay men and lesbians have been enduring for years and years. It hurts, doesn't it? It's not fair, is it? I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But part of me, God help me, part of me is glad that you are experiencing just a small portion of what I and others have been put through by "good Christian folk"--some of whom frequent and comment on the Stand Firm site. The bible hurling and the insult matches hurt, and part of me wants to yell, "An eye for an eye..."

The Anglican blogosphere has reached a point where both sides are quick to take offense, quick to point out the faults of others--real or imagined, true or misreported. The comments start flying fast and furious. Before long the comments are barbed, and then insulting. Some of them get downright nasty. Just because they are deleted by blog owners does not mean they were not said, it just means that most (but by no means not all) of the blogosphere has not seen them.

At some point the stone throwing became a habit. At the same time we have all become so accustomed to stones being thrown at us that we do not take the time to read, ponder, and pause before responding. We no longer distinguish between genuine insult and rhetoric. Everything is a stone to be defended against and thrown back. It is such a habit that it is no longer clear who cast the first stone. Casting the last stone becomes the most important thing. Tit for tat. An eye for an eye.

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and the whole world would soon be blind and toothless.
--Mahatma Gandhi

So how do we learn to stop throwing stones and use them as building blocks instead?

Peace,
Jeffri

The Widening Gulf

For the past couple of days I have been pondering this report of a statement made by the Rt. Rev. Isaac Orama, Bishop of Uyo in the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Bishop Orama was quoted as saying

Homosexuality and lesbianism are inhuman. Those who practice them are insane, satanic and are not fit to live because they are rebels to God's purpose for man...

Some bloggers and commenters have questioned the accuracy of UPI's story in light of the total lack of any secondary verification or original source. Others have pointed out that since English is Bishop Orama's second (or third) language, the UPI report of what the bishop may, or may not, have said is a case of errors in syntax and grammar. At this stage of the resulting tempest in the blogosphere, it is not whether or not Bishop Orama actually made the statement but the reactions to it that draw my attention and thoughts.

It was amazing how quickly conservative bloggers fell all over themselves to repudiate what Bishop Orama reportedly said. Yet even in that repudiation, there was a counter argument, which goes something like this: If Bishop Orama should be disciplined by Archbishop Akinola for his hateful remarks, should not Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori, or bishops of the Episcopal Church, discipline Bishop Spong for his bad--if not dangerous--theology? Some, as Matt Kennedy did, both in comments on Fr. Jake's blog and in his own post on Stand Firm, clearly feel that bad theology is more to be feared than violence against--and even murder of--lbgt people. Here is a piece of one of Matt's comments on Fr. Jake's blog post:

Grace, salvation is found in only one name under heaven. To preach a false Christ is to lead souls to destruction. I do think that heresy is far worse than than we deem it. +Uyo's words are inexcusable. But I do believe from an eternal perspective Spong's do more damage.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not saying that Matt is advocating putting lbgt human beings to death. Nor is he advocating for violence against lbgt people. However, he DOES find that physical violence less reprehensible than Spong's spoken and written words.

Matt's statements about this difference really crystallized something for me. I had always known that the "reasserters'" theology differed from mine and other "reappraisers'." However, what I did not understand was just how much. The posts and comments they have written around this reported statement remind me so much of the Puritans of the 16th and 17th centuries that it is almost scary. There is no "living together" in a church with those whose theology differs from theirs. There is only ONE RIGHT WAY (and I am not referring to any non-Christian spiritual paths here). Everyone else is going straight to hell.

Which puts a whole different light on the "yes but..." discussions that quickly followed. Yes, what Bishop Orama [reportedly] said is reprehensible, but biblical teaching is clear on the issue of homosexuality, so what is the real problem here? Several commenters quoted or listed Leviticus 20:13:

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (NRSV)

Chapter 20 does prohibit several acts of a sexual nature that most in modern society consider wrong, such as having sex with your father's wife (who might not have been your mother), sex with animals, sisters, daughters, and so on. Yet verse 18 in the same chapter says:

If a man lies with a woman having her sickness and uncovers here nakedness, he has laid bare her flow and she has laid bare her flow of blood; both of them shall be cut off from their people. (NRSV)

Do "reasserter" husbands sleep in separate beds from their menstruating wives?

And later, in verse 25 we are told:

You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; you shall not bring abomination on yourselves by animal or by bird or by anything with which the ground teems. (NRSV)

The last time I checked, the whole "keeping kosher" issue was pretty much much settled with Peter's vision.

Chapter 19 also lists things that are "not holy," yet we often crossbreed animals and plant two kinds of seed in our fields (19:19), for instance. This is true of Leviticus as a whole. So obviously, our understanding of what is "an abomination" has changed over the years. But it often seems that many of the neo-Puritans wish to return to the Holiness Code in its entirety, even though what they really want is to pick and choose the parts that fit their view of Christianity. And the same can be said for us liberals. However, as I said before, the "reasserters" will not tolerate anyone whose "picking and choosing" is different from theirs. It is their way or the hellway, no ifs, ands or buts.

If we cannot relearn how to live together with our differences, then there is no hope for the Anglican Communion as it is currently constituted. In which case, either we find a way to perpetrate an "amicable divorce," or resign ourselves to more border crossings, non-geographic provinces, and lawsuits that will drag on until most of us living now are dead and gone.

Peace,
Jeffri

Update
September 7

According to The Living Church the official spokesman for the Church of Nigeria has said that Bishop Orama did not make the reported statements. The same report also said that the reporter (presumably from the NAN) has apologized and will be issuing a retraction.

The UPI has pulled the story from their web site. However, the note they appended to the bottom of the story earlier today is still there (or at least was at as of 6:40 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). Here is the text of the note:

UPI distributes certain third party submissions from official government news agencies, such as this article. Since UPI does not control the material included in these submissions, UPI does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of the material in such submissions, and UPI does not endorse any of the views or opinions expressed therein.

And here is the text of the original article:

Africa Monitoring Cleric condemns homosexuals, lesbiansSept. 2 (UPI) -- Uyo, Sept. 2, 2007 (NAN) The Anglican Bishop of Uyo, Rt. Rev. Isaac Orama, has condemned the activities of homosexuals and lesbians, and described those engaged in them as "insane people''. "It is scaring that any one should be involved in a thing like that and I want to say that they will not escape the wrath of God,'' he said. Orama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today in Uyo, that the practice, which has worsened over the years, was "unbiblical and against God's purpose for creating man''. Homosexuals - 2 "Homosexuality and lesbianism are inhuman. Those who practice them are insane, satanic and are not fit to live because they are rebels to God's purpose for man,'' the Bishop said. He noted that the Anglican Church in Nigeria had continued to lead the fight against the practice especially in the US where it led the opposition to same sex marriages. "The aim of such fight is to provide a safe place for those who want to remain faithful Anglicans and Biblical Christians,'' he explained.(NAN) NS/IFY/ETS ©

Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved. This material may not
be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.

(http://www.upi.com/AfricaMonitoring/view.php?StoryID=20070902-831713-6007-r as of September 7, 2007, 2:10 p.m. EDT)

Photographs And Memories

Those of you of a certain age will know this reference. And was there a high school prom in the late seventies that did NOT have this as a its theme? It was the theme of my senior prom in 1978. I would not usually remember that, except I found the pictures and the invitation today while going through another drawer of stuff.

This 24" x 13" x 10" drawer was filled to overflowing with photos, negatives, 3 1/2" floppies and CD's with .jpg files, and a few other odds and ends of memorabilia. Needless to say, today's 15 minutes actually took five hours. I emptied two photo albums that were not full and tossed them. Blurred photos? Trash. Half a face? Ditto. Twenty-five photos of the Yankee Clipper under sail? All but a few sunk into the garbage bag. Just plain bad pictures? Into the circular file, as we used to say in college. Negatives? No need. We can scan any picture we want a copy of. And who needs duplicate sets of most of the pictures I took over the last 15 years? Buh-bye.

Well, I did keep two copies of a favorite picture of my father and me taken about two years before he died. One will go with other family pictures under the glass top of my dresser. The other went into the pile of "to save" photos.

Sorting through the pictures brought back lots of memories--good, bad, bittersweet...

There were, of course, the pictures of both my junior and senior proms and of the Windjammer cruise Dad and I took in 1991. I watched my brother's kids, now 9, 14, 18 and 19, grow up all over again. I revisited Ireland. There was the last Christmas we brought my Grandmother down from the nursing home. I even found a picture of Tom and me from junior high school, which I managed to leave behind when I went to his place for dinner this evening. (And after dinner we spent time going through old high school yearbooks. It is hard to believe that we have known each other for 40 years!)

Over the last couple of months I have been trying to track down my friend Vicky. Some of the pictures I found this afternoon were of her wedding to Matthew. That was a double trip down memory lane because her wedding in 1993 brought together three of us who had gone to college together in Minnesota. (Victoria Kesler Gullett, if you stumble across this, email me. Please.)

And there were the inevitable pictures of Brian and me from the nearly 11 1/2 years we were together. The hardest ones to sort through were the ones from the cruise we took for our 11th anniversary--3 1/2 months before we separated. But there were happy pictures, too. Brian receiving his Master's Degree. The two of us on my 30th birthday, at various Triangle Community Center events, on vacation...

Once I had them sorted, I checked the backs to make sure I could identify who, what, when and where as much as possible. Those that had no information, I added it. Occasionally, I had to dig out one of my journals or old calendars. In another 50 years, no one may care, but one of my brother's kids may take over my job as family historian and want to know.


The photos are now organized by year and are in one box (the black one). The floppies, CD's and the boxes of slides from my summer in Germany are in another (the blue one). And just for comparison, here are the boxes in the drawer.

At the end of the afternoon, I took one half-full, but heavy, trash bag out to the dumpster. I also reboxed my journals. I had been keeping a couple of archive boxes folded up, again because I thought I would be moving in a year or so. Since I seem to be here for the duration, I might as well use them so that stored things are in identical boxes for easy stacking. When I took the two old boxes out to the dumpster, one of my neighbors asked me for them, because he is packing to move. I also gave them a roll of bubble wrap that was sitting in the back of a closet waiting for the move that has not happened. More stuff out the door!

The few odds and ends that were not pictures all went someplace else. An envelope of letters from my college years went into the appropriate box of journals. Diplomas are now with other important documents. My baby cup and bank sit happily on display with my crystal and Depression Glass collection. A couple of family heirlooms are now stored with the others.

That leaves my baby hairbrush. Do I really need to keep that, Mom?

Peace,
Jeffri