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General Convention 2009—Bishop’s Report No. 4

 B033, D025, C056 & the Anaheim Letter: Contradictory or Complementary?

Beloved, with this report I urge us—again—to read carefully the two resolutions which are—appropriately—drawing so much attention from various sources in and beyond The Episcopal Church. My reference is to D025, entitled “Anglican Communion: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion”, and C056, entitled “Liturgies for Blessings”. Media accounts (both secular and ecclesiastical) of these two resolutions are generally too brief in their coverage to convey accurately and completely the thought, prayer and dialogue which contributed to their final form—or the actual content of the final wording in the resolutions. (For example, the title of C056, which implies that liturgies are authorized in the resolution, simply states the subject of the resolution, the provisions of which do not authorize such blessings—again, read carefully!).

The Presiding Bishop communicated directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to all of the other Primates of the Anglican Communion immediately following the passage of these resolutions—while our General Convention was still in session. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who was present during part of our convention, has written about these resolutions in a document dated 27 July 2009. I refer you to these documents, together with the two resolutions in question, for reading, re-reading, and careful study. They may be found on-line by following the links in this report. Copies of Resolutions B033, D025, and C056 also appear below, immediately following this report. (For those desiring paper copies, please speak to your priest or request them from our Communications Officer, Dr. Peggy Hill: 803-771-7800, ext. 18.)

I voted “yes” on both D025 and C056. Yet, I also signed, with a significant number of other bishops, the so-called “Anaheim letter” which Archbishop Williams describes as expressing the “intention to remain with the consensus of the Communion”. I consider the two resolutions and the Anaheim letter “as a package”, so to speak; their provisions are not in conflict—rather, in complement they create a larger view: where we are, and where we want to be.

The two resolutions describe the present thinking of many in The Episcopal Church. With regard to D025, my decision was significantly shaped by the fact that the General Convention deliberately chose to reject through several actions any effort to repeal, rescind, or amend B033. (B033 was the resolution, of which I was the sponsor and one of the co-authors, through which the General Convention 2006 responded to the call by the Windsor Commission for a moratorium on the ordination of bishops in committed same-gender relationships). From this context, I view D025 as a factual expression of where we in The Episcopal Church presently find ourselves; it is descriptive in nature—thus my vote “yes” on the matter.

It was as part of this comprehensive context that I also signed the Anaheim Letter. I did so because I remain committed to personal and diocesan participation in the Windsor process. As the one blessed to be your Bishop, it is with great enthusiasm and a sense of urgency that I encourage our active participation, individually and corporately, in the challenging work of continued prayer, study, and discussion—that is, discernment—of what God’s Holy Spirit wants the Church to be and to do in witness to our common vocation: “One Body” with “One Mission”, which is “Changing Lives”.

A footnote in describing my votes at our 76th General Convention would be this: my deepest desire is to convey to you the conviction I perceived that God is, indeed, at work among us. This is to say, in part, that I sensed that through this time of difficult discernment and even divisive and separating contention, that The Episcopal Church in general, and our diocese in particular, are called to a new commitment (some might call it a “revival”) of all that we are and all that we have—a new commitment to the Glory of God, to the benefit of God’s people, and to the spread of God’s Kingdom. So long as we can keep this call to newness and revival at the center of our midst, whatever votes we make can be seen—and perhaps honored—as attempts to move from where we are presently to where God is calling us to be.

As a person who shares with you this spiritual journey which we call life—and particularly as your Bishop—I attempt to listen faithfully to God’s call to us as the Body of Christ in Upper South Carolina and in harmony with the Anglican Communion and God’s one holy catholic and apostolic Church. To that end, may our decisions and actions be those that God may bless—and as for those which He cannot bless, may we find humility and renewed trust that He will redeem us and what we have sought to do in His Holy Name.

You have heard it said before: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”. Beloved, as long as we keep our focus on the main thing—God in Christ—God will take us from where we are to where He means us to be.

For this I say, “Thanks be to God—and thanks be to you!”

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report’s invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God” (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.

 Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge the changing circumstances in the United States and in other nations, as legislation authorizing or forbidding marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons is passed in various civil jurisdictions that call forth a renewed pastoral response from this Church, and for an open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, collect and develop theological and liturgical resources, and report to the 77th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, devise an open process for the conduct of its work inviting participation from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are engaged in such theological work, and inviting theological reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention honor the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters of human sexuality; and be it further

Resolved, That the members of this Church be encouraged to engage in this effort.

Convention highlights

From The Very Rev. Dr. Philip C.  Linder

The 76^th General Convention of The Episcopal Church was my third as a deputy, two from Upper South Carolina, and one from the Diocese of Atlanta. This convention was by far the most intense in both the work needed to be accomplished and in the spirit of joy that was present. Our two weeks were marked by holy listening, with differing hearts being opened to one another. And it was because of this reality that the legislation that passed, and the debate and conversation surrounding it, were the most honest and respectful I have ever witnessed in the larger Church.

When we gathered for the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist each day between legislative sessions at 11:30am, I was once again taken with the experience of several thousand Episcopalians gathered in one space to celebrate our unity in Jesus Christ.  Our unity as Episcopalians and Anglicans is found first and foremost within our common prayer and sacramental life around God’s holy altar.

I considered it a joy and a privilege to serve as a deputy from our diocese to the General Convention. A real highlight for me was the Christian fellowship that our deputation shared with one another and with our bishop during this time of service, and sometimes quite grueling schedule.

Perhaps above all else, our time in Anaheim was good and holy—marked by a deep and abiding love and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a great love for the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church, and our commitment to the broader mission of the Anglican Communion throughout the world.

Personal highlights of the 76^th General Convention

Working on the legislative committee that commandeered, thanks to the House of Deputies, the reinstatement of the MDGs as a mission priority in the triennial budget

Worship & music

Face-to-face conversations with those who think like me and those who don’t

The call to worship by a Jewish cantor, a Muslim, and an Episcopal priest—celestial voices!

The support of my wonderful fellow diocesan deputies—and our bishop—as we gently debated controversial issues and enthusiastically endorsed mission opportunities to act as the Body of Christ in the world

Being referred to by name and diocese (and not in a bad way) by Mike Kinman+ in his sermon at the U2charist

Receiving a huge hug from Bono—only to discover that he was a look-alike (and sound-alike!)

Spending brief moments with friends I’ve made—new and old

A thoughtful gift of chocolate from fellow deputy Calvin Griffin+ in recognition of the fact that lay deputies had no “alternate” at this convention and, therefore, no time off.

The high point(s) of General Convention to me revolve around the incredibly difficult task of constructing—and resisting repeated special-interest-driven attempts to undo a balanced, mission-driven budget, or, as we in Upper South Carolina would say, Statement of Mission that:

(1) restored a specific line item of 0.7% to support the MDGs;

(2) added a specific line item of 0.7% to address domestic poverty in the Americas;

(3) was—finally—fully transparent about the rapidly escalating debt of The Episcopal Church to $47 million, the (in)appropriate draw down of reserves to fund questionable expenses, and the dollars spent—and to be spent—on property litigation and support to the remaining remnant dioceses involving the four dioceses that have left TEC;

(4) downsized/rightsized the TEC staff at 815 to realistic levels;

(5) and, most important of all, approved a reduction in the diocesan asking from the current 21% to 19% by 2012.

General Convention 2009: Bishop’s Report No. 3

General Convention 2009 – Bishop’s Report No. 3

The General Convention—“in General”

Beloved, it is a great relief to me to be home, once again among my people, sleeping in my own bed, and—best of all—having completed the extremely strenuous schedule which General Convention invariably is.  So—what happened there?  What’s the message from General Convention?  Where am I as a result of General Convention 2009?  Where are we as a diocese following General Convention 2009?

What happened in Anaheim?

That which was apparent before the convention began was palpable when we arrived.  Factions and individuals came with goals, agendas—even demands—and were determined to achieve them.  But something happened—something happened which I have not experienced in six previous conventions.  Worship brought us together in the sharing of the Body and Blood of the Lord.  Committees not only met—they connected.  Deputies and Bishops not only talked—they listened.  “Lines in the sand” softened.  A sense of trust began to emerge which produced a realization that we actually care for one another—need one another.  There was a growing—no, a new—consciousness that what each of us says or does affects all others, and that we care about that.  In essence, we realized, I believe, that we care about being the Church—the Body of Christ, each part honoring and dependent upon the other.  The spaces which divided people began to shrink as we moved closer and closer to each other.

Consequently, the Convention began to function differently:  We approached the doing of theology as a Christian community.  Oh, there were moments of tension and real disagreement, but even at those times it was apparent that people were attempting truly to listen to each other with honor and respect.  There was actual excitement in the realization that we belonged to something much larger than our own selves, our own dioceses—something larger than The Episcopal Church.  It had to have been by God’s grace that we entered and provided for each other a safe place—safe space, if you will—to be frank and direct about the serious matters of mission, ministry and yes—the hot button issues—in which we are all engaged.

In short, separate camps evolved into community.  To me, beloved, that speaks of “One Body….”

What’s the Message from General Convention for Us in Upper South Carolina?

The new spirit began early and gradually built so that, by the close of Convention even the most liberal and the most conservative in the House of Bishops took to the floor to acknowledge and to express gratitude—even awe—to God, to each other, and to the Presiding Bishop.  Each one noted, although in different words, the growing spirit moving among us, prompting us to listen, respect, and honor each other.  I believe we came to recognize more clearly that, in fact, we are indispensable parts of a Church united in purpose.  Perhaps I repeat myself, but we discovered common ground even when we were dealing with the most sensitive of matters.  To be sure, all of this was the product of frequent prayer, daily dialogue and—I’m confident—the guiding Spirit of God.

I can cite two specific examples of the reality of this new spirit, this new atmosphere:

1. The General Convention lived into the reality of the present state of our economy by adjusting the budget and action plan without stepping away from our priority of mission and ministry.  In order to facilitate ministry in and by dioceses, the formula for determining the amount of support requested from the dioceses was adjusted downward, and will be reduced further each year for the next three years. There was a shift in focus and power to the diocese and congregations to be the generators of ministry and mission.
2. I don’t know when I have witnessed such excitement about discovering ways to share the Good News of God with other people through personal stories–powerful stuff!  Here were thousands of Episcopalians (Episcopalians, no less!) discovering ways, both personal and comfortable, of doing just that.  Clearly this is one way that we are re-grounding the Church in is most native and fertile soil—and lives are being changed as a result!  (This teaching/learning experience in personal evangelism was termed “Public Narrative”.)

In short, common ground led to common joy in both bearing one another’s burdens and discovering more effective, comfortable ways of living into the Great Commission. Sounds like “One Body, One Mission…” to me.

Where am I as a result of the General Convention experience?

The word “transition” is coming home to me in ways broader and deeper than I previously experienced.  You and I are in transition as we prepare for new Episcopal leadership.  But the larger Church is also in transition—for that matter always in transition as we move from age to age—but in transition in ways particularly significant to these days, these times.  The transition in the way that Bishops relate to each other and provide their oversight of the Church is certainly one of the most consequential.

For instance, at dinner one night the House of Bishops “toasted and roasted” 12 of us on the verge of retirement.  I looked around at the many new faces in that room, and compared the fifteen years I have been blessed to be your bishop with the more recent experience.  Every generation of Christian leaders is called to exercise leadership in unique ways, in unique circumstances; and each generation strives to be obedient to that call.  The newer generation of bishops, elected in recent years, is largely responsible for a revival of authentic Christian community and a greater awareness of the consequences of belonging to something larger—both the Anglican Communion and the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church”.  Those same gifts and commitments are also present in the leadership of our diocese—laity and clergy.

Consequently ­I began the return flight from Anaheim with the conviction that, even in the anomalies of our lives together as the Body of Christ, God is powerfully and palpably at work in The Episcopal Church and in our diocese. God is on the move among us—growing the kingdom in our midst, depending upon us to be partners in the resurrection enterprise which is His and therefore ours.  What God is doing among us may not be what many of us expect or even desire—but then God has always been God of surprise—witness the Resurrection, for goodness’ sake!  And God is providing gifted leaders for this age, and through them the type of Christian leadership the Church and the world need for the years ahead.

So, “Where am I as a result of my experience in Anaheim”?  I sincerely believe that there is a growing determination by all those present to remain together, united in purpose even with differences in details, and that I’m reassured that God is present with us “until the end of the age”, and therefore with us now, leading us in transition and empowering us through God’s Holy Spirit to grow from strength to strength in mission and ministry as we seek to be united, committed, effective: “One Body, One Mission:  Changing Lives”.

Where are we—the Diocese of Upper South Carolina—now?

You may know the story about a Baptist arguing with an Episcopalian over infant baptism.  The Baptist demands, “Do you really believe in infant baptism?”  The Episcopalian answers, “Believe in it?  I’ve actually seen it!”  Participating in this General Convention I’ve seen coming to life much of what we have been working and praying for over these years.  There are parallels in both the challenges and the needs of ministry, and parallels in commitment to the Lord, the Lord’s Mission, the Lord’s Church.  Believe me, even those we accuse of having this or that agenda love God and are motivated by what they are convinced is of God and of God’s Gospel truth.  Because they, like we, are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and are motivated as we are, we can trust each other, we can be fed together at God’s table, where God has a reserved place for us, we can go out, singing a hymn and doing the work God has commissioned us and empowered us to do.

Remaining united despite differences is not just my idea, nor, borrowing from the musical “West Side Story”, “making nice wit’ each other”.  It is a Gospel imperative, expressed most clearly in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (17^th Chapter of St. John), offered to the Father on the night he was betrayed.  “Father…I ask…that they may all be one…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  Being “one”—united—and mission cannot be separated; unity is part of mission, and mission depends upon unity.  My experience in Anaheim heightened my appreciation of the indispensability of unity “so that”—so that the world may believe—so that­ the world may know Jesus.

Our diocese, in transition or not, has work to do, so that…. We are, indeed, “One Body”, so that…. We have “One Mission”, so that….  That mission is “Changing Lives”, our own and others’, so that….  The unity prayed for by our Lord depends upon God’s grace—and our commitment to be one in the mission of changing lives in His Name “so that the world may believe that you have sent me”.  That is our vision, our hope, and our strength.  Remember:  the Kingdom of God depends upon it.  Beloved, I am grateful for the overwhelming commitment of the people of Upper South Carolina to “be one”, “so that…”—and I am humbled to say “This is where we are”.  For that I give thanks to God—and to you.

General Convention 2009: Bishop’s Report No. 2

Beloved, it is an understatement to observe that the “dust has not yet settled” from General Convention.  I am astounded at how much erroneous information is being disseminated by the media–even some of the more responsible media.  Unfortunately, it appears that some people are accepting media statements as Gospel, leaping to conclusions based thereon, and making decisions which are nothing less than precipitous.

Accordingly, I will during the following days be posting statements which I hope will be more accurate in their reflections of what General Convention did and did not accomplish.  I’m not sure yet how many statements I will issue, but It is my intention to continue my reports on the Convention until I feel I have provided sufficient information to assist us all in evaluating Convention actions.  In the meantime, my counsel for all of us is this:  (1)  Don’t leap to conclusions based on media coverage, whether public or private.  (After all, we immediately discount media reports when they speak negatively about our favorite political candidates or party–why should we be any less skeptical when such negative reports are made about something as important as the Church?)  (2)  Pray for God’s direction as we seek to resolve questions for ourselves, remembering that the best practice in resolving doubt about any issue of theology or ethics is to suspend judgment while we study, pray, dialogue, and “ponder in our hearts”.  We don’t have to have God’s answer immediately–indeed, it is spiritually dangerous to make conclusions without proper preparation for discernment.  (Again–after all, for some issues, even as important as the doctrine of the Trinity–it has taken the Church hundreds of years to discern God’s will.)  (3)  Finally, as I tell all young people who are (quite rightly) so intellectually curious, bold and idealistic, and questioning, even the existence of God:  ”As we Anglicans honor questions and doubts, also fail not to ‘doubt your doubts’”.

I expect my next General Convention Report to be issued no later than Tuesday of this week. 

In the interim, I remain faithfully yours in our Lord, and with prayers for God’s richest blessings upon us all,

+Dorsey USC VII

The “Anaheim Statement”

Below is the text of the “Anaheim Statement,” which I, with 25 other bishops, have endorsed.

* We reaffirm our commitment to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them (BCP 526, 538)

* We reaffirm our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the instruments of Communion.

* We reaffirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed.

* We reaffirm our commitment to “continue I n the apostles’ teaching and fellowship” which is foundational to our baptismal covenant, and to be one with the apostles in “interpreting the Gospel” which is essential to our work as bishops of the Church of God.

At this convention, the House of Bishops has heard repeated calls for honesty and clarity. As the conversation has proceeded within the HOB, repeated attempts to modify wording which would have been preferable to the minority in the vote were respectfully heard and discussed, but in the end most of these amendments were found unacceptable to the majority in the House. It is apparent that a substantial majority of this Convention believes that The Episcopal Church should move forward on matters of human sexuality. We recognize this reality and understand the clarity with which the majority has expressed itself. We are grateful for those who have reached out to the minority, affirming our place in the Church.

The Convention is over

Thanks for electing me to attend General Convention.  Eleven days of meetings, sitting and reading resolutions and hearing thoughts and feelings, we made it to the end.

Please take time to listen to what has happened by talking to the deputies, and not what is in the paper.  We have not rescinded Bo33 which asks for restraining from ordination and blessings of same-sex unions.  We did affirm what is happening in the church–our reality–and asked for study.  We need study and to come to future convention with more than “feelings”.

We have done important work for liturgy that introduces new people on the calendar for Lesser Feasts and Fasts, “saints”.  We have changed the structure of the church and canons that help us work together in  a better way at Convention and as the Church.

It will take a while to go through all the work which has been done at this convention.  I hope we will find the “good” of this convention being a part of our life together in the Diocese.  The deputies are looking forward to sharing the “Convention Experience”  at the Diocesan Convention and other times.

From a non-blogger – Day 11

What an honor to have been elected deputy from Upper South Carolina!

It’s been a  long, exhausting eleven days. We are almost there. Tomorrow is the final day of General Convention.

I’ve enjoyed the daily meditations offered by Convention chaplain, the Rev’d Frank Wade. Meditations have been succinct, timely and relevant. The daily Eucharist has offered a needed respite from the rigors of legislative sessions and committee meetings.

My wife and I enjoyed an evening at Disneyland (within walking distance from the Convention Center). It was great seeing Mickey, Minnie, Snoopy and the Disney gang.

We also attended an Integrity Eucharist. The liturgy was lively and well-planned. We renewed our Baptismal vows and witnessed an extremely grand and festive Gospel Procession.  The music, offered by a choir from All Saints’ Church, Pasadena, was superb.  Bishop Barbara Harris’ homily was interesting: http://www.allsaints-pas.org/site/DocServer/_Barbara_sermon.pdf?docID=7361

Our SC deputation meets every evening for refreshment, fellowship and sharing. I’ve cherished the time spent with my fellow brothers and sisters from Upper SC.

I’m off now to spend some down time with our SC deputation.

Pax!

Hoping for all to be well

Today General Convention has been overshadowed by Earl calling early this morning to tell me that Christopher, our son, has become very ill.  Christopher has lived in Angola since last July.  Tomorrow he flies to Johannesburg and will be in the hospital there for tests.  We don’t know whether it is malaria, hepatitis, or something else. We will probably not know anything until sometime this weekend.  This morning the House of Bishops and The House of Deputies prayed for Christopher.  It was a very moving experience.

Tuesday in the House of Deputies we had visitors of all the faiths present in the Diocese of Los Angeles.  After their introductions we were blessed by having Cantor Mark Saltzman from Congregation Kol Ami; Mu’athin Ben Yousef from the Islamic Center of Southern California; the Rev’d Peter Rood, rector of Church of the Holy Nativity, Diocese of Los Angeles. Each sang cantors and a prayer call.  Then all three sang together.  For one brief moment—one too fleeting moment I felt real hope for the world.  I wanted them to go on singing, knowing that if they continued that all things would be well.

How things change

Over six General Conventions, but particularly since arriving in Anaheim, a number of folks–noting from my badge that I am from South Carolina–have asked me “Are you a hard-line conservative?” My answer has become a bit nuanced.

At my first few conventions I would say that I was pretty clearly a moderate, somewhere to the right of center on human sexuality issues, well to the left on the status of women and race relations and a centrist on fiscal and investment matters. While I have listened carefully on these and many other issues, my views have not changed very perceptively–in fact, almost not at all.

However, the “Far Right” has largely left the Episcopal Church or gone inactive. As a result, while my views haven’t changed too very much, because of the departures on the right, the former center has perforce become the right. Am I a conservative? Yes. Am I a hard-liner? No. Do I hold pretty much the same views I held in 1994? Yes.

Into the Routine

Yesterday the Convention seemed to find its stride and many resolutions were acted upon. The day seemed to go quickly, and I remember two resolutions that passed which I believe are important. The first deals with the Anglican covenant statements and the Episcopal Church’s commitment to continue an active role in this process. The second deals with a foundational statement that will guide the Episcopal Church, especially dioceses, when the Church is in dialogue with other Christian bodies and world religions. It is one of most important pieces of legislation passed but will go unnoticed by the world and most Episcopalians. Historians of the future will praise this document. The Convention also mandated health insurance and pension plans for all lay employees– depending upon the number of hours employed– which will create equality among the lay and ordained. The local congregations will be required to find the additional money to fund this timely requirement.

My wife and I went to “A Liturgy for Transformational Living” sponsored by the Diocese of Los Angeles and which featured Brian McLaren who is the author of A Generous Orthodoxy and Everything Must Change. I am still processing the experience but my first reaction is that the worship can be described as traditional liturgy meets mega-church worship. As I was leaving I heard one person say: “It was like watching a concert. We were spectators.”