Today, I wish to reflect on the ultimate help the National Episcopal Church delivered to the diocese of San Joaquin, from a single individuals perspective. Realize that I may have tunnel vision on several issues but that is to be expected.
First, the easiest thing to look at, at least superficially, is the financial state of the diocese. Any way one cuts this someone or perhaps, more importantly, some entity is going to take a huge financial blow. The diocese of San Joaquin has been given some gifts from the National Church but the diocese has also received millions of dollars in loans, and with a firm commitment to repay that amount to the National Church. Perhaps, one of the many reasons why no audit has been performed by an outside entity is due to the debt riddled financial statements. It is true, part of that issue involves the lack of full support by the various parishes that are and have been in the continuing diocese of San Joaquin. The rip torn by the defrocked bishop John David Schofield in the fabric of the diocese of San Joaquin warranted a completely new fabric but all the diocese got was needle and thread (and no sewing machine, we have been doing the sewing by hand. I for one can barely spell sew let alone do it). The lawsuits time, energy, funding, reviews, re-considerations, stays of trial dates and on and on and on have cost everyone their life savings. I am not a real estate appraiser but I suspect in order to stave off the National Church will require more than selling Christ the King buildings. It will take the sale of multiple buildings and re-building parishes all over the diocese. Why there is no long range plan to deal with property and the resulting return of all the property the diocese is merely shadow boxing in the dark.
Second, how many bishops have you, in diocese other than those hijacked, seen come and go in 4 or 5 years? Maybe, under extreme circumstances two. San Joaquin has gone through three bishops none of which were permanent including the current incumbent. Most parishes see a new rector about every seven years although there are noted exceptions everywhere (longer than 7 years). The problems with short term (job hopping or otherwise) tenure is nothing of real substance ever gets done. Think about how little really does get done in a diocese that has no money, no full time bishop, more lawsuits than the Supreme Court, and no parishioners! On top of that there appears (I stress appears) that there is little to no experience at the top with working with financially strapped organizations. Hard decisions get turned into a car contribution from the parishioners that cannot afford a rector picked to buy a car for the bishop. There is still very difficult, mean, feelings between parish and parishioners. Every administrator worth their weight will tell you that it takes at least 7 to 10 years of concerted effort to turn an organization such as this around, not just financially, but more importantly, spiritual life. And, while the national Church has tried to be helpful who needs a third thumb? Yet, they pull the strings of this diocese, not based on demand, because the diocese owes so much money all the National Church has to do is wave the notes and everyone in San Joaquin jumps.
Third, the issue of planning. It appears that the diocese (and perhaps the chancellor) in collaboration with the National Church has a plan all their own and no one but a few choice regulars get a peek under the covers. But, even with that, the diocese has no real plan, not for recovery of the buildings and grounds and certainly not for any spiritual mission. This would be almost laughable if it were not so deadly. With no cohesive plan for the parishes to buy into the Episcopal Church in the diocese of San Joaquin is dead. It just hasn't fallen over yet.
A Place for Discussion
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
We Have Circled The Wagons
Yesterday was a real chance to let loose! Today, I have more questions. For example, why, with a crippled diocese would one have the bishop turnover of approximately one every two years? The first thing that any manager anywhere else does is establish credibility with those who follow. It is pretty hard to establish credibility when the top post is a musical chair.
Next, why, when only five of about 19 parishes remained loyal to the National Episcopal Church would those who suffered the most, get to pay for the crimes of those who left. Permit me to explain. By the time those renegade parishes left the financial affairs of the remaining parishes was a mess. Now, a renegade parish comes back, actually is chased down and returned to the real Episcopal Church and of course is in financial disarray. One would think that the parish that had left and was dragged back would have to pay for the transgressions that created the financial hardship. (In the Diocese of San Joaquin those parishes that left were forced to contribute to the general coffers for the purpose of legal services. In our case, the parish of St. Paul had a nice comfortable office for Bishop Rice. It appears he betrayed Christ the King for his own comfort. After all, why would a Bishop create his/her own discomfort? That would be taking pastoral care off hi/her flock to the extreme.
Next, in the midst of all the financial destruction going on, and in continuing for the diocese to borrow money for litigation, the Bishop decides he needs a new car. The natural thing would be to wait for the diocesan budget and cut in one or two places to free up money to buy a new car. Well, that just cannot be done! See, the diocese is in such financial straits that Bishop Rice had to ask each parish to come up with extra funds to give to the diocese for the purpose purchasing a car for the bishop. Now, Christ the King, clearly to be merged into St. Paul's, was asked to give to the diocese for the purpose of a car for the bishop. So, the bishop gets his car in part on the back of the parish that held firm when the winds of John David blew not only got to help buy a car for the bishop but the bishop saw to it that Christ the King parish.
The diocese from early 2008 until September of 2014 one would think that there would be two full scale long range plans developed. One for the financial side of churches being returned to the diocese and how they would fit or not fit or be sold. The second should have been for the purpose of re-establishing a long range mission plan for the diocese to bring to fruition. Nothing was done in either case. I was told by the bishop, our rector, the diocesan office, and the Standing Committee that there was a plan but no one in any place could produce the long range plans. Supposedly it was in some form of transition but there is no plan. How in the world does our diocese seek the return of every piece of property if there was not a plan and a plan on how to integrate the return of these buildings and grounds. And develop a new mission for the diocese and adopted by the parishes--- why would we need that? Bishop Rice said he was "known as a missioner bishop" so why would he need a plan? Plan, plans, we don't need no stinkin' plans!
Finally, for now, why in the world would the following happen in an Episcopal diocese? Most of the parishes of a diocese are ripped from the comfort of the arms of the National Episcopal Church, placed in the hands of the "Anglican diocese of the Southern Cone", and told that the Anglican Church was the only true denomination? That diocese then turns right back around and elects an Anglican bishop from New Zealand? Is there any need to explain why parishioners in te diocese would be skeptical? Well, turns out Bishop Rice wants to come back to his homeland of the United States and needs to have a place to work for immigration purposes. What better pace to put an Anglican Bishop than the nearly destroyed diocese of San Joaquin. Bishop Rice, gets to come home, gets to have a new car, and gets to keep his comfortable office while Christ the King, faithful follower of the National Episcopal Church. gets less than spit.
Next, why, when only five of about 19 parishes remained loyal to the National Episcopal Church would those who suffered the most, get to pay for the crimes of those who left. Permit me to explain. By the time those renegade parishes left the financial affairs of the remaining parishes was a mess. Now, a renegade parish comes back, actually is chased down and returned to the real Episcopal Church and of course is in financial disarray. One would think that the parish that had left and was dragged back would have to pay for the transgressions that created the financial hardship. (In the Diocese of San Joaquin those parishes that left were forced to contribute to the general coffers for the purpose of legal services. In our case, the parish of St. Paul had a nice comfortable office for Bishop Rice. It appears he betrayed Christ the King for his own comfort. After all, why would a Bishop create his/her own discomfort? That would be taking pastoral care off hi/her flock to the extreme.
Next, in the midst of all the financial destruction going on, and in continuing for the diocese to borrow money for litigation, the Bishop decides he needs a new car. The natural thing would be to wait for the diocesan budget and cut in one or two places to free up money to buy a new car. Well, that just cannot be done! See, the diocese is in such financial straits that Bishop Rice had to ask each parish to come up with extra funds to give to the diocese for the purpose purchasing a car for the bishop. Now, Christ the King, clearly to be merged into St. Paul's, was asked to give to the diocese for the purpose of a car for the bishop. So, the bishop gets his car in part on the back of the parish that held firm when the winds of John David blew not only got to help buy a car for the bishop but the bishop saw to it that Christ the King parish.
The diocese from early 2008 until September of 2014 one would think that there would be two full scale long range plans developed. One for the financial side of churches being returned to the diocese and how they would fit or not fit or be sold. The second should have been for the purpose of re-establishing a long range mission plan for the diocese to bring to fruition. Nothing was done in either case. I was told by the bishop, our rector, the diocesan office, and the Standing Committee that there was a plan but no one in any place could produce the long range plans. Supposedly it was in some form of transition but there is no plan. How in the world does our diocese seek the return of every piece of property if there was not a plan and a plan on how to integrate the return of these buildings and grounds. And develop a new mission for the diocese and adopted by the parishes--- why would we need that? Bishop Rice said he was "known as a missioner bishop" so why would he need a plan? Plan, plans, we don't need no stinkin' plans!
Finally, for now, why in the world would the following happen in an Episcopal diocese? Most of the parishes of a diocese are ripped from the comfort of the arms of the National Episcopal Church, placed in the hands of the "Anglican diocese of the Southern Cone", and told that the Anglican Church was the only true denomination? That diocese then turns right back around and elects an Anglican bishop from New Zealand? Is there any need to explain why parishioners in te diocese would be skeptical? Well, turns out Bishop Rice wants to come back to his homeland of the United States and needs to have a place to work for immigration purposes. What better pace to put an Anglican Bishop than the nearly destroyed diocese of San Joaquin. Bishop Rice, gets to come home, gets to have a new car, and gets to keep his comfortable office while Christ the King, faithful follower of the National Episcopal Church. gets less than spit.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Bishop David Lewis: "Goodbye - Don't Let the Door Hit you On the Way Out"
Fellow Episcopalians, I am at a genuine loss for words. Our beloved Episcopal Church in the presence of Christ the King Community Episcopal Church has been removed from the church rolls and left members to their own devices! Better yet, out in the cold and with no Episcopal Church to live within. My family and I are in deep, deep mourning for our loss. The bishop of San Joaquin (yep, the Episcopal Bishop, yep Bishop David Rice) has violently and without regard to many of us ripped our religious/spiritual world to shreds. Am I, are we upset? Oh, you bet! Is there any thing that we can do about it? Apparently not.
Shall we begin at the beginning. In 2007, our nightmare began. We lived unattended and un-served until March of 2008. Joyously we came together in the diocese and from 5 parishes up sprang new life in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin! Pretty much everyone from all sorts of places including the Presiding Bishop came to celebrate our new life. The members of these parishes and of the diocese were told of a new beginning -- no more hidden agendas, full transparency, and love and grace all around! We were ecstatic at Christ the King Community Episcopal Church. Bishop Lamb came to serve and usher in this new age of openness and "all are welcome". Bishop Lamb then handed off the diocese to Bishop Talton, Bishop Talton continued to remake our diocese and our parishes into new life in Christ. Bishop Talton then handed the reigns over to the new Anglican bishop from New Zealand, Bishop David Rice. With this "election" we were slipping back into the nightmare we had so many months ago thought was gone. The Bishop was brought to our diocese by the Standing Committee without any input from the parishioners of the diocese from New Zealand. He was elected by the standing committee without any widespread knowledge of who this person was. Bishop Rice was hailed as the new "missioner bishop" from wherever and before we the parishioners of the diocese knew we had a bishop. When the convention was asked to approve his eection Bishop Rice had moved everything from New Zealand to our diocese and had lived here for months. At no time did Bishop Rice make a visit to Christ the King and yet we were asked to "ratify" his election. He was not even approved to practice in our diocese before he was elected. The Standing Committee (of which no one knows exactly who is because the names of the Standing Committee have never been posted to the diocesan website) simply said to us, here is your new bishop. Let me clear a little of the water, the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council have not had their names posted on a diocesan website. If you from our diocese recall, we were in a new beginning, a breath of fresh air?
In the meantime the bills for the continuing lawsuits against those parishes and the faux diocese continued to mount into the millions of dollars borrowed from the National Church. Then, out of the blue, came the need for the diocese to close the episcopal Church of Christ the King and "merge" with the renegade parish of St. Paul in Modesto. Votes were taken, visits were made, private meetings were held, secret deals were made and then un-made. One of the five parishes that stood with the National Episcopal Church through thick and thin was to be closed and merged with a renegade church that had just been hauled back into the diocese. It was at this point that I put several questions to the Rector of Christ the King, the bishop of the Diocese, and the Chancellor of the diocese. These questions included when was the last time the diocese, Christ the King and St. Paul's books and records were audited? Why, well, in accounting in order to merge to entities it is only fit to understand the current financial pictures of both parishes prior to merging. Turns out Christ the King had not had a financial audit in over 6 years. Turns out neither has the diocese. According to the constitution and canons of our church audits are REQUIRED on an annual basis. The parishioners of CTK were told that our parish was in a horrible state and that St. Paul's was "not that bad". So I asked anyone and everyone to have an audit done -- and nothing happened. We, CTK, could not even see the financial records of either the diocese or St. Paul's. See, the diocese has a ton of borrows from the National Church. The money that has been sent from the National Church to the diocese is in the millions and can be accounted for it in the books in only one of two ways. First, an outright gift is income to the parish and outgo from the National Church. The National church gives the Local parish a dollar. The national church the lowers their net worth by a dollar and the parish increases their net worth by a dollar. But wait! These millions were mostly loans! That means that in order to maintain the same net worth at the National level there needs to be a due to/due from entry to show that the loans have not decreased the National Church's net worth. Think we could see the books and records? Well, hell no. None of our business, don't worry, everything is okay. If something fast and loose has not gone on at the diocesan level then the diocesan Bishop and the Chancellor want us to think there is.
Now comes the "cone of silence". First Bishop Rice said that the two parishes were going to merge and CTK will be closed. The parishioners rose up and said, uh, do we get a voice in this here sing-along? The bishop backs up and has the CTK vestry vote on the merger. Then, no, no vote was taken, the vestry needed to have parish input. The single page flier that was distributed said that the paln for restructuring the diocese called for the merger and the vestry was asking the parish to support this plan. Well, I asked the bishop, the rector, the chancellor, the standing committee and no one could produce any kind of "plan" at all. Apparently it was all in the head of Bishop Rice and the Standing Committee but no one could see it because ?? Well, it flat out did not exist. But, the parish voted on the merger with almost all but 4 approving the merger but all said, "What else can we do?"
The railroad had left the station just like in December of 2007.
Over the course of several written emails and messages to the Chancellor I asked for audits, financials, for explanation of how our merger met with the constitution and canons since I had read them and as far as I could tell the process was really truly screwed up. I asked for all sorts of explanations in April of of 2014 from the Chancellor of the diocese. He told me he was just too busy to deal with such questions. I wrote to the Bishop. I wrote to the Rector. Then, in the Fall, August, I wrote an other letter to the Chancellor and copied the National Church. The National Chancellor told me that she had spoken to the San Joaquin Chancellor and sure enough, Mr. Glass was going to take care of it. I wrote a third letter to the Chancellor. I then had the audacity to use messaging to contact Mr. Glass. Mr. Glass wrote back and said do not use messaging, that is my social outlet. And, he said he did not even remember what I had written to him about. So, I went back, re-examined my sources and cites and then sent him another letter. He emailed back he was just too busy but he would get back to me. Needless to say he has not to this day! Some of those questions and citations had to do with the procedural way in which Christ the King was closed and the way in which St. Paul had agreed to merge. O well, so much for the openness, transparency, for long range planning, for short range planning, for punishing the parish that stuck with the National Church while rewarding the parish that not only left the Episcopal church but linked up with some diocese in Africa!
Needless to say my spouse has MS, I have a 100% complete and total disability assignment from the VA and the VA wrote to the the DMV and the DMV revoked my license. See, we have no transportation. This is a huge thumbing of the collective Episcopal nose and a family that really has no voice, no vote, and that family has been virtually removed, no excommunicated, from the Episcopal church.
My gosh, evryone is welcome -- everyone except those not welcome by Bishop Rice, Father Glenn Kanestrom and some silly officious senior warden from St. Paul Parish in Modesto.
Shall we begin at the beginning. In 2007, our nightmare began. We lived unattended and un-served until March of 2008. Joyously we came together in the diocese and from 5 parishes up sprang new life in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin! Pretty much everyone from all sorts of places including the Presiding Bishop came to celebrate our new life. The members of these parishes and of the diocese were told of a new beginning -- no more hidden agendas, full transparency, and love and grace all around! We were ecstatic at Christ the King Community Episcopal Church. Bishop Lamb came to serve and usher in this new age of openness and "all are welcome". Bishop Lamb then handed off the diocese to Bishop Talton, Bishop Talton continued to remake our diocese and our parishes into new life in Christ. Bishop Talton then handed the reigns over to the new Anglican bishop from New Zealand, Bishop David Rice. With this "election" we were slipping back into the nightmare we had so many months ago thought was gone. The Bishop was brought to our diocese by the Standing Committee without any input from the parishioners of the diocese from New Zealand. He was elected by the standing committee without any widespread knowledge of who this person was. Bishop Rice was hailed as the new "missioner bishop" from wherever and before we the parishioners of the diocese knew we had a bishop. When the convention was asked to approve his eection Bishop Rice had moved everything from New Zealand to our diocese and had lived here for months. At no time did Bishop Rice make a visit to Christ the King and yet we were asked to "ratify" his election. He was not even approved to practice in our diocese before he was elected. The Standing Committee (of which no one knows exactly who is because the names of the Standing Committee have never been posted to the diocesan website) simply said to us, here is your new bishop. Let me clear a little of the water, the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council have not had their names posted on a diocesan website. If you from our diocese recall, we were in a new beginning, a breath of fresh air?
In the meantime the bills for the continuing lawsuits against those parishes and the faux diocese continued to mount into the millions of dollars borrowed from the National Church. Then, out of the blue, came the need for the diocese to close the episcopal Church of Christ the King and "merge" with the renegade parish of St. Paul in Modesto. Votes were taken, visits were made, private meetings were held, secret deals were made and then un-made. One of the five parishes that stood with the National Episcopal Church through thick and thin was to be closed and merged with a renegade church that had just been hauled back into the diocese. It was at this point that I put several questions to the Rector of Christ the King, the bishop of the Diocese, and the Chancellor of the diocese. These questions included when was the last time the diocese, Christ the King and St. Paul's books and records were audited? Why, well, in accounting in order to merge to entities it is only fit to understand the current financial pictures of both parishes prior to merging. Turns out Christ the King had not had a financial audit in over 6 years. Turns out neither has the diocese. According to the constitution and canons of our church audits are REQUIRED on an annual basis. The parishioners of CTK were told that our parish was in a horrible state and that St. Paul's was "not that bad". So I asked anyone and everyone to have an audit done -- and nothing happened. We, CTK, could not even see the financial records of either the diocese or St. Paul's. See, the diocese has a ton of borrows from the National Church. The money that has been sent from the National Church to the diocese is in the millions and can be accounted for it in the books in only one of two ways. First, an outright gift is income to the parish and outgo from the National Church. The National church gives the Local parish a dollar. The national church the lowers their net worth by a dollar and the parish increases their net worth by a dollar. But wait! These millions were mostly loans! That means that in order to maintain the same net worth at the National level there needs to be a due to/due from entry to show that the loans have not decreased the National Church's net worth. Think we could see the books and records? Well, hell no. None of our business, don't worry, everything is okay. If something fast and loose has not gone on at the diocesan level then the diocesan Bishop and the Chancellor want us to think there is.
Now comes the "cone of silence". First Bishop Rice said that the two parishes were going to merge and CTK will be closed. The parishioners rose up and said, uh, do we get a voice in this here sing-along? The bishop backs up and has the CTK vestry vote on the merger. Then, no, no vote was taken, the vestry needed to have parish input. The single page flier that was distributed said that the paln for restructuring the diocese called for the merger and the vestry was asking the parish to support this plan. Well, I asked the bishop, the rector, the chancellor, the standing committee and no one could produce any kind of "plan" at all. Apparently it was all in the head of Bishop Rice and the Standing Committee but no one could see it because ?? Well, it flat out did not exist. But, the parish voted on the merger with almost all but 4 approving the merger but all said, "What else can we do?"
The railroad had left the station just like in December of 2007.
Over the course of several written emails and messages to the Chancellor I asked for audits, financials, for explanation of how our merger met with the constitution and canons since I had read them and as far as I could tell the process was really truly screwed up. I asked for all sorts of explanations in April of of 2014 from the Chancellor of the diocese. He told me he was just too busy to deal with such questions. I wrote to the Bishop. I wrote to the Rector. Then, in the Fall, August, I wrote an other letter to the Chancellor and copied the National Church. The National Chancellor told me that she had spoken to the San Joaquin Chancellor and sure enough, Mr. Glass was going to take care of it. I wrote a third letter to the Chancellor. I then had the audacity to use messaging to contact Mr. Glass. Mr. Glass wrote back and said do not use messaging, that is my social outlet. And, he said he did not even remember what I had written to him about. So, I went back, re-examined my sources and cites and then sent him another letter. He emailed back he was just too busy but he would get back to me. Needless to say he has not to this day! Some of those questions and citations had to do with the procedural way in which Christ the King was closed and the way in which St. Paul had agreed to merge. O well, so much for the openness, transparency, for long range planning, for short range planning, for punishing the parish that stuck with the National Church while rewarding the parish that not only left the Episcopal church but linked up with some diocese in Africa!
Needless to say my spouse has MS, I have a 100% complete and total disability assignment from the VA and the VA wrote to the the DMV and the DMV revoked my license. See, we have no transportation. This is a huge thumbing of the collective Episcopal nose and a family that really has no voice, no vote, and that family has been virtually removed, no excommunicated, from the Episcopal church.
My gosh, evryone is welcome -- everyone except those not welcome by Bishop Rice, Father Glenn Kanestrom and some silly officious senior warden from St. Paul Parish in Modesto.
Friday, October 24, 2014
BETRAYED BY A KISS:THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN KILLS CHRIST THE KING PARISH IN RIVERBANK, CA
It is true and the saga is quite sad. Christ the King Episcopal Church has been betrayed, perhaps by the National Church, but surely by the Diocese of San Joaquin, the Bishop David Rice and the Rector, Father Glenn Kanestrom, as well as the vestry of Christ the King.
In the interest of transparency, Christ the King has struggled with finances almost since its inception but the fact is we as a parish have always pulled together to make it through the rough spots. We have always made it through, with God's help.
In December of 2007 John David Schofield split the diocese and took about 3/4s of it to the Southern Cone. Lo and behold, there were about five parishes that fought tooth and nail and we stayed with the Episcopal Church. Those of us in those five parishes waited for what seemed about ever -- actually it was about 3 months -- to await someone or something that would help us. While parishes throughout the country came to our aid we received no word from the National Church. Finally, the National Church decided we in the San Joaquin Diocese were worth saving. They came to our rescue with promises of a brighter day! Kathrine Jeffers Schori visited us as well as many clergy from everywhere and the President of the House of Deputies. All the big wigs showed up! Euphoria was the general feel of the day as promises of a more supportive Episcopal Church! A more open church that welcomed everybody. We were all joyous! Though we were few we had fought a good fight and for that God rewarded us with an "angel".
From 2008 until last week I personally asked for a facilities plan and a mission plan both of which would be diocesan wide and hold funds in reserve for contingencies. I asked the Chancellor, I asked two Bishops, I asked the Rector of Christ the King. Never saw one, no one ever did one. How are we going to determine what to do with our property when each church is returned to the diocese? What are we going to be about without a diocesan wide plan to point us in the direction. I was also told (on more than one occasion) We could not possibly share "that information" audits for fear that it would be turned against us. Huh? I was told there was a sustainability plan. I asked the vestry, I asked the Bishop (4 times) I asked Fr. Kanestrom about 4 times. The Bishop finally relented and told me that Fr. Kanestrom will ask the Chair of the Standing Committee, whoever that is. See, the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council do not have the members names listed on the website (or as far as I know nowhere else), but they have a sustainability plan. Really? Well to this date I have never seen one or had one put in my hands. Do we dare make the assumption that we don't have any of those because they would be turned against us in our lawsuits. Did I mention that our lawsuits on the issue of returning our lost property to our diocese has taken over years and we are still not done! What fun this is. When the Standing Committee submitted the Anglican Bishop from New Zealand's name for approval most of us had no idea that the search process was that far along. Now we have an Anglican bishop (at least he is real) and by his own admission has no idea what had happened in our diocese under the care of John David Schofield (bless his soul but here he is making decisions for all of the parishes.
Christ the King Parish, suffering from low pledges, over the last few years had entered into a verbal contract with the owner of a pre-K/daycare center for the use of our classroom. They fixed it up to the tune of $40,000.00 +/-. The day of reckoning comes and the full lease goes to our new Anglican Bishop and it appears he has refused to sign the lease. Why, well wait for this one -- it is a doosey!
Christ the King was to be closed and merged with one of the parishes that had left to go south and had been recovered through "negotiations". Yes, that is right, the Episcopal presence was being removed from Riverbank in favor of a breakaway parish that had to be sued before they would come home. Christ the King, one of only 4 or 5 parishes that stayed the course when everyone else was running around wondering what to do! And we did it by use of an Anglican Bishop and the help of a vestry that has absolutely no imagination, and a rector who seems to be weary of the struggle. And what are we to do about the Daycare Center.
Let me say, the vestry did no study, we do not know which of the facilities Saint Paul, Modesto or Christ The King, Riverbank has the greater cost/value (one has a mortgage payment but one has an incredible amount of repair work that needs to be done). The vestry could only offer two plans: 1, close our doors and move to St. Paul Modesto or not? Those were our two choices! Can you imagine that 8-12 people could not come up with one realistic second plan? Really, given our choices I can say that God must have missed a bunch of folks when she was passing out imagination. The two plans are presented by the vestry and the vestry told the parishioners that all the options had been compared against the "sustainability plan". Yep, you guessed it, the plan no one has a copy. No research and built on pure fabrication the issue went to a vote today. We had no formal meeting and no formal discussion prior to the vote.
Now, let's see what has changed since January 2008. The diocese has had three bishops (now on our third) and Bishop Rice admits that he had no idea of the history of any of the parishes as regards the the 6 or so years pre-split and no information regarding the experiences after the split. The diocese is quite frankly a million dollars in debt (2-3 conservatively) and while the national church has helped us a great deal it came with more strings attached that any one was ever initially told (at least out loud). We have a complete gag order on virtually everything that comes from the diocese as the Chancellor (the guy doing the lawsuits for the National Church) says if someone says something then the bad guys will leverage the information against us. The diocese has had secret meetings with the National Church Standing Committee and a main topic of discussion has been sustainability (whatever that means). If there was a discussion of what church was going to be shuttered, then under the promise of complete transparency the members of the diocese most affected by that should have input not just inside the diocese but at the National level.
Would it be too bold to suggest that nothing has changed but the names since December of 2007. The actions of the elite are the same as before 2008 however those who wanted to have power now have power. Now, as a point of information I came from another denomination over 40 years ago so that I would no longer subject myself or family to this type of "crap".
For those in Texas, and Pittsburgh and Quincy and wherever else, it is never to early to ask for financials, audits and plans early and apparently often.
We at Christ the King have been rewarded with "close the place". A place God brought us for the purpose of letting his light shine through us in Riverbank. A place where, those who are feeling disabled emotionally, physically, spiritually, could gather and be healed. My cheek feels slightly moist, wait, was that a kiss I just received?
In the interest of transparency, Christ the King has struggled with finances almost since its inception but the fact is we as a parish have always pulled together to make it through the rough spots. We have always made it through, with God's help.
In December of 2007 John David Schofield split the diocese and took about 3/4s of it to the Southern Cone. Lo and behold, there were about five parishes that fought tooth and nail and we stayed with the Episcopal Church. Those of us in those five parishes waited for what seemed about ever -- actually it was about 3 months -- to await someone or something that would help us. While parishes throughout the country came to our aid we received no word from the National Church. Finally, the National Church decided we in the San Joaquin Diocese were worth saving. They came to our rescue with promises of a brighter day! Kathrine Jeffers Schori visited us as well as many clergy from everywhere and the President of the House of Deputies. All the big wigs showed up! Euphoria was the general feel of the day as promises of a more supportive Episcopal Church! A more open church that welcomed everybody. We were all joyous! Though we were few we had fought a good fight and for that God rewarded us with an "angel".
From 2008 until last week I personally asked for a facilities plan and a mission plan both of which would be diocesan wide and hold funds in reserve for contingencies. I asked the Chancellor, I asked two Bishops, I asked the Rector of Christ the King. Never saw one, no one ever did one. How are we going to determine what to do with our property when each church is returned to the diocese? What are we going to be about without a diocesan wide plan to point us in the direction. I was also told (on more than one occasion) We could not possibly share "that information" audits for fear that it would be turned against us. Huh? I was told there was a sustainability plan. I asked the vestry, I asked the Bishop (4 times) I asked Fr. Kanestrom about 4 times. The Bishop finally relented and told me that Fr. Kanestrom will ask the Chair of the Standing Committee, whoever that is. See, the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council do not have the members names listed on the website (or as far as I know nowhere else), but they have a sustainability plan. Really? Well to this date I have never seen one or had one put in my hands. Do we dare make the assumption that we don't have any of those because they would be turned against us in our lawsuits. Did I mention that our lawsuits on the issue of returning our lost property to our diocese has taken over years and we are still not done! What fun this is. When the Standing Committee submitted the Anglican Bishop from New Zealand's name for approval most of us had no idea that the search process was that far along. Now we have an Anglican bishop (at least he is real) and by his own admission has no idea what had happened in our diocese under the care of John David Schofield (bless his soul but here he is making decisions for all of the parishes.
Christ the King Parish, suffering from low pledges, over the last few years had entered into a verbal contract with the owner of a pre-K/daycare center for the use of our classroom. They fixed it up to the tune of $40,000.00 +/-. The day of reckoning comes and the full lease goes to our new Anglican Bishop and it appears he has refused to sign the lease. Why, well wait for this one -- it is a doosey!
Christ the King was to be closed and merged with one of the parishes that had left to go south and had been recovered through "negotiations". Yes, that is right, the Episcopal presence was being removed from Riverbank in favor of a breakaway parish that had to be sued before they would come home. Christ the King, one of only 4 or 5 parishes that stayed the course when everyone else was running around wondering what to do! And we did it by use of an Anglican Bishop and the help of a vestry that has absolutely no imagination, and a rector who seems to be weary of the struggle. And what are we to do about the Daycare Center.
Let me say, the vestry did no study, we do not know which of the facilities Saint Paul, Modesto or Christ The King, Riverbank has the greater cost/value (one has a mortgage payment but one has an incredible amount of repair work that needs to be done). The vestry could only offer two plans: 1, close our doors and move to St. Paul Modesto or not? Those were our two choices! Can you imagine that 8-12 people could not come up with one realistic second plan? Really, given our choices I can say that God must have missed a bunch of folks when she was passing out imagination. The two plans are presented by the vestry and the vestry told the parishioners that all the options had been compared against the "sustainability plan". Yep, you guessed it, the plan no one has a copy. No research and built on pure fabrication the issue went to a vote today. We had no formal meeting and no formal discussion prior to the vote.
Now, let's see what has changed since January 2008. The diocese has had three bishops (now on our third) and Bishop Rice admits that he had no idea of the history of any of the parishes as regards the the 6 or so years pre-split and no information regarding the experiences after the split. The diocese is quite frankly a million dollars in debt (2-3 conservatively) and while the national church has helped us a great deal it came with more strings attached that any one was ever initially told (at least out loud). We have a complete gag order on virtually everything that comes from the diocese as the Chancellor (the guy doing the lawsuits for the National Church) says if someone says something then the bad guys will leverage the information against us. The diocese has had secret meetings with the National Church Standing Committee and a main topic of discussion has been sustainability (whatever that means). If there was a discussion of what church was going to be shuttered, then under the promise of complete transparency the members of the diocese most affected by that should have input not just inside the diocese but at the National level.
Would it be too bold to suggest that nothing has changed but the names since December of 2007. The actions of the elite are the same as before 2008 however those who wanted to have power now have power. Now, as a point of information I came from another denomination over 40 years ago so that I would no longer subject myself or family to this type of "crap".
For those in Texas, and Pittsburgh and Quincy and wherever else, it is never to early to ask for financials, audits and plans early and apparently often.
We at Christ the King have been rewarded with "close the place". A place God brought us for the purpose of letting his light shine through us in Riverbank. A place where, those who are feeling disabled emotionally, physically, spiritually, could gather and be healed. My cheek feels slightly moist, wait, was that a kiss I just received?
Friday, August 22, 2014
If this is Friday then we must be in the Southern Code
Yes, you read the lead in to this edition correctly. Much of the results (of the tactics currently being used) remind me of the shift south to the Southern Cone. Life is tough, then you get out of bed.
There is a move afoot to merge Christ the King (Riverbank) with Saint Paul's Modesto. Here are at least some questions that have not been answered sufficiently.
1, Which of the two (CTK and SP) is worse off financially?
2, How will the diocese help the merger financially?
3, What are the long term goals and objectives of the Diocese?
4, Where are the long term financial plans that this merger will further?
5, Where are the long term plans for returning property to the diocese and how is the diocese
going to merge, keep open, close, and or sell property to further to goals and objectives of the
diocese?
a) long term plan for the large amount of cash that will be returned to the diocese?
b) long term plan for the ECCO conference Center that will be returned shortly?
6, the long range plan for clergy training, staffing and working.
7, long range plan for outreach to grow the San Joaquin diocese?
These are the issues I can think of prior to any merger or anything else in the diocese. Can you, the readers think of any more? Just enter it in the comments section..
Saturday will be our day of rest and Sunday is the target date for a whole lot of movin' and shakin'.
There is a move afoot to merge Christ the King (Riverbank) with Saint Paul's Modesto. Here are at least some questions that have not been answered sufficiently.
1, Which of the two (CTK and SP) is worse off financially?
2, How will the diocese help the merger financially?
3, What are the long term goals and objectives of the Diocese?
4, Where are the long term financial plans that this merger will further?
5, Where are the long term plans for returning property to the diocese and how is the diocese
going to merge, keep open, close, and or sell property to further to goals and objectives of the
diocese?
a) long term plan for the large amount of cash that will be returned to the diocese?
b) long term plan for the ECCO conference Center that will be returned shortly?
6, the long range plan for clergy training, staffing and working.
7, long range plan for outreach to grow the San Joaquin diocese?
These are the issues I can think of prior to any merger or anything else in the diocese. Can you, the readers think of any more? Just enter it in the comments section..
Saturday will be our day of rest and Sunday is the target date for a whole lot of movin' and shakin'.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Things are beginning to heat up here at Christ the King in the diocese of San Joaquin. It is the summer and the temperatures have hovered around 95 - 102 degrees over the last few weeks. Once in a while in cools off to 91 or so. But for the parish of Christ the King I am reminder of a song verse/line, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
So, we begin with a little cartoon from the San Francisco Chronicle
Please see COMICS on Page U4 of Sunday, August 17, 2014 issue of San Francisco Chronicle
I suspect because of copyright issues you will have to go the the sfgate.com website and view the Sunday paper, the comic this refers to is titled Non Sequiter
Now, Bishop David Rice, our Bishop from New Zealand is coming to Christ the King to celebrate the Eucharist this Sunday, August 24, 2014. After the celebration, Bishop Lewis will address the parish and then we will "dialogue". I suspect the Chancellor will accompany Bishop Rice (ugh, oh!). Here is some of the information that has been gathered. Deacon Steve Bentley, has been reassigned to another parish within the diocese as of September 1. That leaves us with our longstanding but retired Deacon, George Cano; Rector Glenn Kanestrom, and Associate Rector Stan Collins. By the way, as most of you know, deacons serve strictly at the pleasure of the Bishop. The vestry of Christ the King has already discussed the issue of returning to St. Paul's in Modesto and approved of the idea. Bishop Rice has served for many years as an Anglican in New Zealand and as such is not used to the democratic process/convention system we Episcopalians guard so jealously. The decision comes at a time when Christ the King is having financial difficulty (as are almost all the other parishes in the diocese). I believe that the diocese has decided to cut their losses and we are the first pilot project.
The rector/priest in charge at St. Paul's will be taking a disability retirement and by naming our rector as the new rector for the newly combined parishes the diocese saves on at least the benefits from reducing by one the total number of clergy. Did I mention the diocese is in financial straits with a debt equity ratio that would collapse even Apple computers. This is a way of demonstrating to the National Church their desire to stay in existence.
Tomorrow, I will set out the negative side of this question. Until then, this is Fred signing off and saying, "Good night and good news."
So, we begin with a little cartoon from the San Francisco Chronicle
Please see COMICS on Page U4 of Sunday, August 17, 2014 issue of San Francisco Chronicle
I suspect because of copyright issues you will have to go the the sfgate.com website and view the Sunday paper, the comic this refers to is titled Non Sequiter
Now, Bishop David Rice, our Bishop from New Zealand is coming to Christ the King to celebrate the Eucharist this Sunday, August 24, 2014. After the celebration, Bishop Lewis will address the parish and then we will "dialogue". I suspect the Chancellor will accompany Bishop Rice (ugh, oh!). Here is some of the information that has been gathered. Deacon Steve Bentley, has been reassigned to another parish within the diocese as of September 1. That leaves us with our longstanding but retired Deacon, George Cano; Rector Glenn Kanestrom, and Associate Rector Stan Collins. By the way, as most of you know, deacons serve strictly at the pleasure of the Bishop. The vestry of Christ the King has already discussed the issue of returning to St. Paul's in Modesto and approved of the idea. Bishop Rice has served for many years as an Anglican in New Zealand and as such is not used to the democratic process/convention system we Episcopalians guard so jealously. The decision comes at a time when Christ the King is having financial difficulty (as are almost all the other parishes in the diocese). I believe that the diocese has decided to cut their losses and we are the first pilot project.
The rector/priest in charge at St. Paul's will be taking a disability retirement and by naming our rector as the new rector for the newly combined parishes the diocese saves on at least the benefits from reducing by one the total number of clergy. Did I mention the diocese is in financial straits with a debt equity ratio that would collapse even Apple computers. This is a way of demonstrating to the National Church their desire to stay in existence.
Tomorrow, I will set out the negative side of this question. Until then, this is Fred signing off and saying, "Good night and good news."
Monday, August 18, 2014
THE VACATION HAS COME TO AN ABRUPT END
Welcome to the re-opening of Real Anglicans. It has been enough time and as you might suspect, I am Real Anglican "upset". Here is a quote from my very first post in Sept. 2009:
A personal note in closing. We are madly, wildly and passionately in love with our Lord, Jesus Christ. We came to this conclusion through our beloved Episcopal Church. Truly we struggle from time to time but scripture, reason and tradition bring us through every time. Our God is madly, wildly passionately in love with us and sent Jesus to make sure we knew that. Trust us when we say we will no longer stand idly by and allow some group of thugs parading around as God's chosen stealing from us God's poem of love to us. Forewarned is forearmed
This blog was open from then until about two years ago when I discovered (among other things) I was writing to much about political things and too little about the diocese of San Joaquin and the Episcopal issues in general.
Since our diocese began anew in March of 2008 money (yep the root of all evil) has plagued us like the frogs in Egypt. Since 2008 this diocese has had no real set of plans, for recovery of the property or for our renewed spiritual journey. I have called publicly for diocesan plans from this blog and our sister blog, Off-topic at least 14 different times from 2009 through 2014. I have had a number of opportunities to speak with diocesan administrators and given outlines of how to begin a collaboration with representatives from all our parishes and one of two things have happened. First, and is usual, I have been patted on my head, told that "sure, we will start that soon", and never again does that topic come up in Diocesan dialogue. Second, I have been told that the "outline is too radical" for a loving, welcoming church. (this loving welcoming church on a macro level has kicked the crap out of any and every parish that went "South". Seems talk is cheap.
I have been told there is a sustainability committee but our parish has not seen any sustainability plans. We have been told, it was offered in Deanery meetings. Oh really, where are the CTK updates?
Recently, in April of 2014 I asked for an official audit at both the Diocesan level and the Christ the King Parish level. See, issues with cash accounting, separation of duties, gifts to restricted funds, large loans and large accounts recovered from the old diocese and who the heck knows where we are? For example, the parish was told that the vestry had brought funds in from our restricted bell tower fund to augment an anemic operating budget. When asked about who drafted the due to and due from entries and who had approved the actual transfer of funds the person who had been asked the question was hung up at "due...". Did not understand a word and yet this is good financial leadership. It was then that I called for an audit. Once again, patted on the head and told to press on.
Our financial accounting is rife with not bad accounting but inept accounting.
Now, with no better idea of where we or the diocese are the diocese has decided to "discuss" with Christ the King the OPPORTUNITIES that would be presented if we only merged back with St. Paul Episcopal Church in Modesto. St. Paul's Church, one of the leading parishes to not only break away from the Episcopal Church but then breakaway from the Anglican doctrine. St. Paul Church whose parishioners were arrogant and nasty as they went out the door. St. Paul's Episcopal Church who has a more spacious facility and the Bishop has setup a Cathedral there (instead of Fresno). Can you, our Episcopal readers fathom a more spiteful gesture than having a stalwart leading parish in the fight to remain Episcopal, a parish that was out on a limb for three months while everyone in New York debated in what appeared to be a cold and calculating manner what to do for three months.
Now, because the diocese has been so wrapped up in a singular quest to merely "recover property" Christ the King is faced with paying for mistakes that we never committed. Where are the diocesan plans drafted by a collaborative body from the diocese and approved by the convention? Where is all the money? How much did we/have we/ will we spend on property recovery and how on God's green earth is this diocese going to repay all those loans? (Remember if the National Church refers to these as loans the National Church is carrying these loans as due to/due from and as a result there is no paper loss since there is a loan. However, to forgive a loan, all at once or over a period of time will ultimately reduce the assets of the church by the amount loaned. If you just sucked in a whole lot of air you would have read that last line correctly.
And finally, in an ironic conclusion to all this happy news - The Bishop has decided he needs a new car. And, he has asked us (in addition to every other parish in the diocese to kick in some buks to buy him a new car. I have but one word for that : BRASSY.
If you can help by spreading the news around, especially to see if other "jacked up" diocese are feeling the same way help us out.
Stay tuned. Fred is once again open for business!!!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Ignorance is Bliss (For the Archbishop of Canterbury)
"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to take over is that enough good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke
The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, has unilaterally, and with no factual information decided that countries in Africa kill Christians because of the Episcopal Church's position of allowing the same rights to LGBT Anglicans as it does to all who worship in our fashion. The archbishop has determined, upon opening a grave of 369 "Christians" that they died because of LGBT rights.
In the archbishop's own words, "Why can’t we just do it now? (the question pertains to including LGBT fully in the rights and privileges
‘Because the impact of that on Christians in countries far from here, like South Sudan, like Pakistan, Nigeria and other places would be absolutely catastrophic and we have to love them as much as the people who are here.
‘I’ve stood by a graveside in Africa of a group of Christians who’d been attacked because of something that had happened far, far away in America. And they were attacked by other people because of that.
‘The mass grave had 369 bodies in it and I was standing with the relatives. That burns itself into your soul, as does the suffering of gay people in this country.’"
The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, has unilaterally, and with no factual information decided that countries in Africa kill Christians because of the Episcopal Church's position of allowing the same rights to LGBT Anglicans as it does to all who worship in our fashion. The archbishop has determined, upon opening a grave of 369 "Christians" that they died because of LGBT rights.
In the archbishop's own words, "Why can’t we just do it now? (the question pertains to including LGBT fully in the rights and privileges
‘Because the impact of that on Christians in countries far from here, like South Sudan, like Pakistan, Nigeria and other places would be absolutely catastrophic and we have to love them as much as the people who are here.
‘I’ve stood by a graveside in Africa of a group of Christians who’d been attacked because of something that had happened far, far away in America. And they were attacked by other people because of that.
‘The mass grave had 369 bodies in it and I was standing with the relatives. That burns itself into your soul, as does the suffering of gay people in this country.’"
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The Right Reverend David Rice - Provisional Bishop San Joaquin Diocese
Here is some additional information on our newest bishop - David Rice. As you may recall, while Bishop David Rice is clearly a well qualified candidate there were some process issues I had some difficulty. The Standing Committee did not create, with the various parishes in the diocese, a profile of the needs of the diocese, as should be the case. The Standing Committee took only one recommendation from the Presiding Bishop. Under normal circumstances Several clergy would apply for the position and the Standing Committee would act as the search committee and review and process the candidates. As a bonus, for both Bishop Talton and Bishop Lamb, each toured the diocese and visited with most , if not all, parishes before the election process took place. Bishop David was brought into the diocese as an Assisting Bishop even though he had not taken the vows of an Episcopal Bishop, and before a vote had been taken for Bishop Rice to assume the position of Bishop of the diocese of San Joaquin. And the appearance of even one Anglican (because he had not taken the vows ascribed to a Bishop in the Episcopal diocese creates interesting grist for the Stand Firm crowd's mill.
This type of process looks very much like the process for clergy in the San Joaquin Diocese when John David Schofield. No transparency, no openness, no easy going anything. Gives the impression that new names, same game.
Here is the link to a newspaper article as the Bishop was in transition.
http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/09/bishop-david-rice-returning-to-us.aspx
here is the link to Bishop David Rice.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&ved=0CDgQFjACOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndp-agency.com%2Fresumes%2FRice_resume_2012.pdf&ei=IH84U_i4DanlyQHXs4CgAQ&usg=AFQjCNEG5T9dxwtZUp-ZSVq3yBVRWpHbsQ&sig2=o-Mq0acvmEeBp5lNwstZUg&bvm=bv.63808443,d.aWc
In reinforcing one point I do not know Bishop David Rice and his resume is indeed impressive and with lay persons who have talked with him he is friendly, outgoing, and very spiritual.
What is not the case is one of process. Process is currently in vogue since JDS stacked the proverbial deck with his "yes men". We asked for transparency, open dialogue, and to see the checks and balances work for the diocese.
This type of process looks very much like the process for clergy in the San Joaquin Diocese when John David Schofield. No transparency, no openness, no easy going anything. Gives the impression that new names, same game.
Here is the link to a newspaper article as the Bishop was in transition.
http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/09/bishop-david-rice-returning-to-us.aspx
here is the link to Bishop David Rice.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&ved=0CDgQFjACOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndp-agency.com%2Fresumes%2FRice_resume_2012.pdf&ei=IH84U_i4DanlyQHXs4CgAQ&usg=AFQjCNEG5T9dxwtZUp-ZSVq3yBVRWpHbsQ&sig2=o-Mq0acvmEeBp5lNwstZUg&bvm=bv.63808443,d.aWc
In reinforcing one point I do not know Bishop David Rice and his resume is indeed impressive and with lay persons who have talked with him he is friendly, outgoing, and very spiritual.
What is not the case is one of process. Process is currently in vogue since JDS stacked the proverbial deck with his "yes men". We asked for transparency, open dialogue, and to see the checks and balances work for the diocese.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Saint Barrack Obama
Wow! We need to get in front of this one. We may have beat even Fox news on this one.
President Barrack Obama, in a private audience with Pope Francis was canonized by the new pope. The Pope said the quickest way to sainthood is right thru the Islamist Socialist ideologies. And by crackers, President Obama meets all those critera. At one point the pope was asked why he did not take into consideration the fact that President Obama was not left out because of his birth certificate coming from Kenya. The Pope said that he was in meditation just yesterday and had a meeting with Jomo Kenyatta and President Kenyatta said, "I once knew some Obamas but they were from Zaire."
President/Saint Obama said that he has received renewed energy to bring back to the United States, part 2 of his great socialist plan. Saint Obama said that when he and the pope were in private they meditated and St. Obama had a vision of Mary who told him to make sure that everyone in the United States has broccoli at least one time a weak. She also said that not to worry about gun control because if criminals are the only one with guns then we can just stab anyone who gets out of line.
Saint Obama said that after such a long meditation that it was time to come down off the mountain (not the ones in Kenya) and try to find his way back home. He also said that Mary had told him to place a bet on the Stanford Cardinal for her. She said that she will be back in touch with him about the time he goes to the Grotto of St. Bernadette.
St. Obama is due back in the US on Saturday and everyone at that time will see that the entire hair on his head has turned sparkly silver.
We will report more on this as the Saint returns from England.
(Hope everyone knows I have my tongue planted firmly in my cheek! :-)
President Barrack Obama, in a private audience with Pope Francis was canonized by the new pope. The Pope said the quickest way to sainthood is right thru the Islamist Socialist ideologies. And by crackers, President Obama meets all those critera. At one point the pope was asked why he did not take into consideration the fact that President Obama was not left out because of his birth certificate coming from Kenya. The Pope said that he was in meditation just yesterday and had a meeting with Jomo Kenyatta and President Kenyatta said, "I once knew some Obamas but they were from Zaire."
President/Saint Obama said that he has received renewed energy to bring back to the United States, part 2 of his great socialist plan. Saint Obama said that when he and the pope were in private they meditated and St. Obama had a vision of Mary who told him to make sure that everyone in the United States has broccoli at least one time a weak. She also said that not to worry about gun control because if criminals are the only one with guns then we can just stab anyone who gets out of line.
Saint Obama said that after such a long meditation that it was time to come down off the mountain (not the ones in Kenya) and try to find his way back home. He also said that Mary had told him to place a bet on the Stanford Cardinal for her. She said that she will be back in touch with him about the time he goes to the Grotto of St. Bernadette.
St. Obama is due back in the US on Saturday and everyone at that time will see that the entire hair on his head has turned sparkly silver.
We will report more on this as the Saint returns from England.
(Hope everyone knows I have my tongue planted firmly in my cheek! :-)
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Giddy-up Giddy-up 409
I have decided to write on something completely different than the Episcopal/Anglican/Catholic/whatever else. I guess this is going to be a point of personal privilege.
I am sure most of those that read this blog would be aghast to know that yours truly was raised in Southern California. I grew up with skateboards, surfing, body surfing, belly boarding and great suntans and beautiful blonds on the beaches (I actually married one). For a period of time I managed to get to the beach every single day. Skateboards were still made from 2x4s and a stolen skate from your sister. For me, the entire coast from Long Beach to the Trestles (and yes I body surfed the Wedge) and back again were my playgrounds.
Now you are probably thinking to yourselves, hum, how did he get around so much? All of that not withstanding, Southern Californians have a special relationship with the automobile. We talk in hours and not miles. We talk 409s, 327, 283, 350, 351, Carter carburetors, 4 speeds, doughnuts, and breaking rubber, and street races. We cruised up and down Whittier Blvd to pick up "chicks" and to pick up a street race. I believe that Modesto had nothing on what we did with cars. If you didn't have a car you had a friend with a car. The nirvana of Southern California was the driver's license quickly followed with the sound of car keys falling into your hand. We listened to the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, the Ventures, Dick Dale and the Deltones, KRLA, KHJ and KFWB.
This idea of automobiles as the primary source of transportation was something Southern Californians are born with. If you have never seen a baby born let me tell you that most boys are born with their hands in a formation that is identical to the ten and two driving position. Tickets were a badge of honor in your circle of friends and anathema to you via your parents. We would scrape and take bottles back to stores for recycling just to get enough money to pay for insurance. It is safe to say that the only reason one got a Book of Common Prayer is to tell your parents "I need to drive to church".
For over 46 years I have enjoyed the great privilege of owning and driving a host of cars. My favorites through the years include a 1965 Valiant with a Carter 4 bbl, Hurtz 4 speed and a real ability to fool a whole lot of other folks. This Valiant was one of 6 made that year. I once owned a 1956 Jaguar with a drop head coupe, great car. I also loved my 1978 Fiat Spyder. On a couple of occasions I was able to discover that the Fiat can indeed go 140+ miles per hour right through the 57 and 60 freeways on my way to work. We had Novas and Suburbans and Oldsmobiles and my best friend would bug me nearly every day about "be a man, get a Ford." Sadly Jerry moved on to that big Ford Dealership in the sky.
Now, I am faced with giving up my license and my driving privileges. Certainly not because I want to but because a host of specialists tell me I must. No more smelling burning rubber, no more immediate personal freedom to go wherever, whenever and return with that same cavalier approach. I say to myself, this is not Chicago or New York, or Seattle. This is California, how can someone who has not had an accident in over 40 years and who does not have a host of tickets, (well, okay some but its not like I got a ticket every week. More like every month or two.) not drive. Removing my driver's license is like amputating a hand or foot or leg. I will have for years those feint feelings of my drivers license in my wallet. I will have to have someone drive us all, all the time. I have not ridden in the backseat of a van/car/truck in a really long time. I am a control freak of major proportions. As I had one counselor say to me, you will go through the grieving process just like you lost a friend. I told him I don't due funerals, and I don't do graveside services. I will not start at this point in my life and so I have no real idea how this is going to work itself out. American Graffiti this is not. The worst of it is that every day of my life I will look out the window at all the people who are driving cars around the block, the town, the state and the nation and will say, "Thanks Uncle Ho. I thought you tried but were not able to get me on Mutter's Ridge, or so I thought. "It's one, two, three what are we fightin' for. . ."
I have a column I have written and re-written over several days/weeks. I want to provide a realistic evaluation of where the San Joaquin Diocese is as we welcome in our "newest non-Anglican, Anglican bishop. Stay Tuned.
I am sure most of those that read this blog would be aghast to know that yours truly was raised in Southern California. I grew up with skateboards, surfing, body surfing, belly boarding and great suntans and beautiful blonds on the beaches (I actually married one). For a period of time I managed to get to the beach every single day. Skateboards were still made from 2x4s and a stolen skate from your sister. For me, the entire coast from Long Beach to the Trestles (and yes I body surfed the Wedge) and back again were my playgrounds.
Now you are probably thinking to yourselves, hum, how did he get around so much? All of that not withstanding, Southern Californians have a special relationship with the automobile. We talk in hours and not miles. We talk 409s, 327, 283, 350, 351, Carter carburetors, 4 speeds, doughnuts, and breaking rubber, and street races. We cruised up and down Whittier Blvd to pick up "chicks" and to pick up a street race. I believe that Modesto had nothing on what we did with cars. If you didn't have a car you had a friend with a car. The nirvana of Southern California was the driver's license quickly followed with the sound of car keys falling into your hand. We listened to the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, the Ventures, Dick Dale and the Deltones, KRLA, KHJ and KFWB.
This idea of automobiles as the primary source of transportation was something Southern Californians are born with. If you have never seen a baby born let me tell you that most boys are born with their hands in a formation that is identical to the ten and two driving position. Tickets were a badge of honor in your circle of friends and anathema to you via your parents. We would scrape and take bottles back to stores for recycling just to get enough money to pay for insurance. It is safe to say that the only reason one got a Book of Common Prayer is to tell your parents "I need to drive to church".
For over 46 years I have enjoyed the great privilege of owning and driving a host of cars. My favorites through the years include a 1965 Valiant with a Carter 4 bbl, Hurtz 4 speed and a real ability to fool a whole lot of other folks. This Valiant was one of 6 made that year. I once owned a 1956 Jaguar with a drop head coupe, great car. I also loved my 1978 Fiat Spyder. On a couple of occasions I was able to discover that the Fiat can indeed go 140+ miles per hour right through the 57 and 60 freeways on my way to work. We had Novas and Suburbans and Oldsmobiles and my best friend would bug me nearly every day about "be a man, get a Ford." Sadly Jerry moved on to that big Ford Dealership in the sky.
Now, I am faced with giving up my license and my driving privileges. Certainly not because I want to but because a host of specialists tell me I must. No more smelling burning rubber, no more immediate personal freedom to go wherever, whenever and return with that same cavalier approach. I say to myself, this is not Chicago or New York, or Seattle. This is California, how can someone who has not had an accident in over 40 years and who does not have a host of tickets, (well, okay some but its not like I got a ticket every week. More like every month or two.) not drive. Removing my driver's license is like amputating a hand or foot or leg. I will have for years those feint feelings of my drivers license in my wallet. I will have to have someone drive us all, all the time. I have not ridden in the backseat of a van/car/truck in a really long time. I am a control freak of major proportions. As I had one counselor say to me, you will go through the grieving process just like you lost a friend. I told him I don't due funerals, and I don't do graveside services. I will not start at this point in my life and so I have no real idea how this is going to work itself out. American Graffiti this is not. The worst of it is that every day of my life I will look out the window at all the people who are driving cars around the block, the town, the state and the nation and will say, "Thanks Uncle Ho. I thought you tried but were not able to get me on Mutter's Ridge, or so I thought. "It's one, two, three what are we fightin' for. . ."
I have a column I have written and re-written over several days/weeks. I want to provide a realistic evaluation of where the San Joaquin Diocese is as we welcome in our "newest non-Anglican, Anglican bishop. Stay Tuned.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Hi! Have You Heard This One?
Is It Me? Again??
I am a w(h)ine drinker and so I think it is time to share some "sour grapes" and let the readers decide for themselves what is or has transpired in the diocese of San Joaquin. I hold no special knowledge in any real sense. I see what I see nowadays from the way way back pew and compare it to the promise resurrected in March of 2008. Then and at St. John's Lodi we came together and we came alive.
This is the second time I have risen as if a phoenix from the ashes. That is, by far and away, the best analogy for what has transpired over the last 6 years in the Diocese of San Joaquin. Has Bishop Lamb and Bishop Talton done what they came to do? Yes, they have. What have they done? Well they have fulfilled the dictates of the National Church fairly nicely. The two bishops managed to keep all the doors (depending on who was where and at what time) open. The two bishops were healers and did a lot of that also. But the fact is that it has been 6 years and not only is all the legal work not been completed but no one has yet to figure out what it is we, the Episcopalians, are going to do with old buildings that we have not yet been able to fill. If there is a strategic plan for rebuilding the Diocese of San Joaquin no one has yet shared it with the diocese of San Joaquin. Is there a strategic plan to rebuild the parishes - some where, any where? It appears that what we did is ask the National Church to help us and after letting our diocese dangle for weeks it finally came up with the plan of taking back every single piece of property the other side had stolen. We were wildly excited. We jumped in with both feet. Six years later we are still in with both feet but some how are shoes have turned into concrete supplied by the National Church.
See if you readers remember this one: The Standing Committee begins looking for a provisional bishop. No surveys, no questionnaire, no visitations to the local parishes. Everything is very quiet for sometime. Suddenly the Standing Committee announces they have found a qualified candidate in New Zealand. The candidate does not visit as Jerry Lamb did, the Standing Committee does not vet the search process. The "new" bishop appears one day, is approved to be an assistant bishop to Bishop Talton ("approved by a convention") and now a special convention is set up to "formally accept" the new bishop on March 29, 2014. The presiding Bishop has her calendar set up to provide the necessary vows to the Episcopal Church. Years ago, the train left the station without many of us on board but it did eventually return in that glorious year of 2008. Once again, the train has left the station and many of us are still on the platform wondering why there were two trains and no one seems to want us along for the ride. How does a bishop in New Zealand get the presiding Bishop to set a calendar for her to come and administer the vows of the Episcopal Church when no one has yet voted on it? Lets take a straw poll - who is not in favor of voting for the bishop who has moved his family, his household to the United States from New Zealand and has been the diocesan assistant bishop for four months? That is what I thought. I keep missing the train.
Transparency? No, there is not detailed listing on the diocesan website of who is on the standing committee. There is no detailed listing of who is on the Diocesan Council. Who is on the Discernment Committee?? Who is who? Well, the diocese of San Joaquin is on the cutting edge of recovery of the property that was "stolen" from us over 6 years ago. Our diocese has been sufficiently distracted from what we are supposed to do and been caught up in wins and losses. And, as far as I can see, the main interest is in how many wins can we rack up over the years. What is the toll? Attend a service at any of the Episcopal Churches in and around this neck of the woods and look into the parishioners eyes and if you cannot see it then look at the finances and that will tell you the plain hard facts. Most of us in the Diocese of San Joaquin will be buried out of some Episcopal church that has just been recovered from the non-Anglican almost Anglican Anglicans. There is just not one thing better to attract families to the Episcopal Church than this long, protracted war.
I will be very honest with my readers, I have no idea how to get out of this predicament we find ourselves in. And yes, it is to a large degree our responsibility for where we are. But as with the most recent anointed bishop, we as laity had no real input into the process of recovery; not just ourselves and our spirituality but our property, our hearts, and our parishes, and our belief that this is the way to go.
This is some of what I see. Those who went with the various John Davids of our church went thinking that it was for spiritual reasons. No, it was not, it was so clergy who thought they ought to be higher ranking in the church than they were now got to be ordained, promoted, canonized, acclaimed in all sorts of diocese such as Kenya and Nigeria and Uganda. But what wasn't quite so clear at that time is this was a mere changing of the guard. We have fallen back into our old ways except we have new faces that are ecstatic about their rising stock. All got some and some got all.
I will close with this (which may very well infuriate a bunch or folks) old saw - The road to hell is paved with good intentions and while we are really not yet in hell, we sure can see it from here.
And, before I get all sorts of nasty e-grams most of us in our diocese will forever be in debt to all those in the laity and clergy in other dioceses who supported us spiritually and practically. That is forever etched in our minds.
And, before I get all sorts of nasty e-grams most of us in our diocese will forever be in debt to all those in the laity and clergy in other dioceses who supported us spiritually and practically. That is forever etched in our minds.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Once Again Anglicans Play Telephone Game
Ever play the game telephone? Well, you get a whole lot of people together and then the first person whispers in the second person's ear some statement. The statement is then whispered all the way down the line. The last person then shouts what was told to him/her which is usually both incredibly funny because it does not resemble the original statement.
The conservatives, misogynists as they are, once again played telephone with the presiding bishop's homily in Venezuela. For the record, here is the text of her homily - the actual text.
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
The beauty of this place is legendary. It is beautiful – and fragile, for its beauty depends on a dynamic balance among the parts of this island system. Many people don’t notice beauty around them until it’s gone. When we go somewhere that looks very different, often it takes a long time to appreciate that it has beauty, even though it’s a different kind of beauty. Some people never do learn to value the different kinds of loveliness in the world around us. One of the gifts of this remarkable island is its diverse mixture of desert and tropics on land and sea – and even more so, the beauty of its different peoples, languages, and heritages. Yet the history of this place tells some tragic stories about the inability of some to see the beauty in other skin colors or the treasure of cultures they didn’t value or understand.
Human beings have a long history of discounting and devaluing difference, finding it offensive or even evil. That kind of blindness is what leads to oppression, slavery, and often, war. Yet there remains a holier impulse in human life toward freedom, dignity, and the full flourishing of those who have been kept apart or on the margins of human communities. It’s a tendency that seems to emerge along a common timeline Formal legal structures that permitted human slavery ended here and in many parts of the world within a relatively short span of time. It doesn’t mean that slavery is finished today, but at least it’s no longer legal in most places. Even so, slavery continues in the form of human trafficking and the kind of exploitation that killed so many garment workers in Bangladesh recently.
We live with the continuing tension between holier impulses that encourage us to see the image of God in all human beings and the reality that some of us choose not to see that glimpse of the divine, and instead use other people as means to an end. We’re seeing something similar right now in the changing attitudes and laws about same-sex relationships, as many people come to recognize that different is not the same thing as wrong. For many people, it can be difficult to see God at work in the world around us, particularly if God is doing something unexpected.
There are some remarkable examples of that kind of blindness in the readings we heard this morning, and slavery is wrapped up in a lot of it. Paul is annoyed at the slave girl who keeps pursuing him, telling the world that he and his companions are slaves of God. She is quite right. She’s telling the same truth Paul and others claim for themselves.[1] But Paul is annoyed, perhaps for being put in his place, and he responds by depriving her of her gift of spiritual awareness. Paul can’t abide something he won’t see as beautiful or holy, so he tries to destroy it. It gets him thrown in prison. That’s pretty much where he’s put himself by his own refusal to recognize that she, too, shares in God’s nature, just as much as he does – maybe more so! The amazing thing is that during that long night in jail he remembers that he might find God there – so he and his cellmates spend the night praying and singing hymns.
An earthquake opens the doors and sets them free, and now Paul and his friends most definitely discern the presence of God. The jailer doesn’t – he thinks his end is at hand. This time, Paul remembers who he is and that all his neighbors are reflections of God, and he reaches out to his frightened captor. This time Paul acts with compassion rather than annoyance, and as a result the company of Jesus’ friends expands to include a whole new household. It makes me wonder what would have happened to that slave girl if Paul had seen the spirit of God in her.
The reading from Revelation pushes us in the same direction, outward and away from our own self-righteousness, inviting us to look harder for God’s gift and presence all around us. Jesus says he’s looking for everybody, anyone who’s looking for good news, anybody who is thirsty. There are no obstacles or barriers – just come. God is at work everywhere, even if we can’t or won’t see it immediately.
The gospel insists that Jesus has given glory to the growing company of his friends and disciples so they can be all be one. When we recognize the glory of another human being, we become her advocate, and we begin to see him as friend. The word that’s used for glory has echoes that speak of awe, and gravitas, and deep significance. The glory we’ve received is something like a grand ceremonial garment, maybe even a shining face like Moses’, that says to those around us, “here comes the image of God.” The world begins to change when we see that glorious skin shining on our brothers’ and sisters’ faces.
The great loves in our lives come from a deep recognition of the glory in another human being and a desire to share that glory. When Jesus speaks of oneness, he’s moving in that direction. What would the world be like if we could love not only our lovers, but every human being with that kind of starry-eyed passion? The glory is there to see in all of us. Certainly God sees that glory. Most of us have eyes that can see that glory in one or a few other human beings. Learning to see that glory all around us is a good part of what the Christian life is all about. Slavery, war, and discrimination are only possible when we fail to see the glory in those people. Why does Jesus tell us to pray for our enemies, except to begin to discern their glory?
We live in a time when we need to see the glory of God in every other human being, and also in the rest of creation. This fragile earth, our island home, is also shining with the glory of its creator. If human beings are going to flourish on this planet, we’ll need to learn to see the glory of God at work in all its parts. When we can be awed at the beauty of a sunset or the delicate complexity of an orchid or the remarkable diversity of a coral reef, we’ll be much more wary about using it for our own selfish ends.
Looking for the reflection of God’s glory all around us means changing our lenses, or letting the scales on our eyes fall away. That kind of change isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s the only road to the kingdom of God. We are here, among all the other creatures of God’s creation, to be transformed into the glory intended from the beginning. The next time we feel the pain of that change, perhaps instead of annoyance or angry resentment we might pray for a new pair of glasses. When resentment about difference or change builds up within us, it’s really an invitation to look inward for the wound that cries out for a healing dose of glory. We will find it in the strangeness of our neighbor. Celebrate that difference – for it’s necessary for the healing of this world – and know that the wholeness we so crave lies in recognizing the glory of God’s creative invitation. God among us in human form is the most glorious act we know. We are meant to be transformed into the same kind of glory. Let’s pray that God’s glory may shine in us and in all creatures!
The conservatives, misogynists as they are, once again played telephone with the presiding bishop's homily in Venezuela. For the record, here is the text of her homily - the actual text.
All Saints Church, Steenrijk, Curaçao [Diocese of Venezuela]
12 May 2013
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori12 May 2013
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
The beauty of this place is legendary. It is beautiful – and fragile, for its beauty depends on a dynamic balance among the parts of this island system. Many people don’t notice beauty around them until it’s gone. When we go somewhere that looks very different, often it takes a long time to appreciate that it has beauty, even though it’s a different kind of beauty. Some people never do learn to value the different kinds of loveliness in the world around us. One of the gifts of this remarkable island is its diverse mixture of desert and tropics on land and sea – and even more so, the beauty of its different peoples, languages, and heritages. Yet the history of this place tells some tragic stories about the inability of some to see the beauty in other skin colors or the treasure of cultures they didn’t value or understand.
Human beings have a long history of discounting and devaluing difference, finding it offensive or even evil. That kind of blindness is what leads to oppression, slavery, and often, war. Yet there remains a holier impulse in human life toward freedom, dignity, and the full flourishing of those who have been kept apart or on the margins of human communities. It’s a tendency that seems to emerge along a common timeline Formal legal structures that permitted human slavery ended here and in many parts of the world within a relatively short span of time. It doesn’t mean that slavery is finished today, but at least it’s no longer legal in most places. Even so, slavery continues in the form of human trafficking and the kind of exploitation that killed so many garment workers in Bangladesh recently.
We live with the continuing tension between holier impulses that encourage us to see the image of God in all human beings and the reality that some of us choose not to see that glimpse of the divine, and instead use other people as means to an end. We’re seeing something similar right now in the changing attitudes and laws about same-sex relationships, as many people come to recognize that different is not the same thing as wrong. For many people, it can be difficult to see God at work in the world around us, particularly if God is doing something unexpected.
There are some remarkable examples of that kind of blindness in the readings we heard this morning, and slavery is wrapped up in a lot of it. Paul is annoyed at the slave girl who keeps pursuing him, telling the world that he and his companions are slaves of God. She is quite right. She’s telling the same truth Paul and others claim for themselves.[1] But Paul is annoyed, perhaps for being put in his place, and he responds by depriving her of her gift of spiritual awareness. Paul can’t abide something he won’t see as beautiful or holy, so he tries to destroy it. It gets him thrown in prison. That’s pretty much where he’s put himself by his own refusal to recognize that she, too, shares in God’s nature, just as much as he does – maybe more so! The amazing thing is that during that long night in jail he remembers that he might find God there – so he and his cellmates spend the night praying and singing hymns.
An earthquake opens the doors and sets them free, and now Paul and his friends most definitely discern the presence of God. The jailer doesn’t – he thinks his end is at hand. This time, Paul remembers who he is and that all his neighbors are reflections of God, and he reaches out to his frightened captor. This time Paul acts with compassion rather than annoyance, and as a result the company of Jesus’ friends expands to include a whole new household. It makes me wonder what would have happened to that slave girl if Paul had seen the spirit of God in her.
The reading from Revelation pushes us in the same direction, outward and away from our own self-righteousness, inviting us to look harder for God’s gift and presence all around us. Jesus says he’s looking for everybody, anyone who’s looking for good news, anybody who is thirsty. There are no obstacles or barriers – just come. God is at work everywhere, even if we can’t or won’t see it immediately.
The gospel insists that Jesus has given glory to the growing company of his friends and disciples so they can be all be one. When we recognize the glory of another human being, we become her advocate, and we begin to see him as friend. The word that’s used for glory has echoes that speak of awe, and gravitas, and deep significance. The glory we’ve received is something like a grand ceremonial garment, maybe even a shining face like Moses’, that says to those around us, “here comes the image of God.” The world begins to change when we see that glorious skin shining on our brothers’ and sisters’ faces.
The great loves in our lives come from a deep recognition of the glory in another human being and a desire to share that glory. When Jesus speaks of oneness, he’s moving in that direction. What would the world be like if we could love not only our lovers, but every human being with that kind of starry-eyed passion? The glory is there to see in all of us. Certainly God sees that glory. Most of us have eyes that can see that glory in one or a few other human beings. Learning to see that glory all around us is a good part of what the Christian life is all about. Slavery, war, and discrimination are only possible when we fail to see the glory in those people. Why does Jesus tell us to pray for our enemies, except to begin to discern their glory?
We live in a time when we need to see the glory of God in every other human being, and also in the rest of creation. This fragile earth, our island home, is also shining with the glory of its creator. If human beings are going to flourish on this planet, we’ll need to learn to see the glory of God at work in all its parts. When we can be awed at the beauty of a sunset or the delicate complexity of an orchid or the remarkable diversity of a coral reef, we’ll be much more wary about using it for our own selfish ends.
Looking for the reflection of God’s glory all around us means changing our lenses, or letting the scales on our eyes fall away. That kind of change isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s the only road to the kingdom of God. We are here, among all the other creatures of God’s creation, to be transformed into the glory intended from the beginning. The next time we feel the pain of that change, perhaps instead of annoyance or angry resentment we might pray for a new pair of glasses. When resentment about difference or change builds up within us, it’s really an invitation to look inward for the wound that cries out for a healing dose of glory. We will find it in the strangeness of our neighbor. Celebrate that difference – for it’s necessary for the healing of this world – and know that the wholeness we so crave lies in recognizing the glory of God’s creative invitation. God among us in human form is the most glorious act we know. We are meant to be transformed into the same kind of glory. Let’s pray that God’s glory may shine in us and in all creatures!
Monday, May 20, 2013
THE MODESTO BEE: ONCE AGAIN MISSES THE MARK
Well, hi again. It has been quite some time since my last posting. I could explain why but I will not - at least for now. What prompted this posting was the shabby reporting of the Modesto Bee. Yes, Ms. Nowicki is once again roaming all over the journalistic country side.
Here is the article:
http://www.modbee.com/2013/05/19/2722994/turlock-episcopal-congregation.html#
Here is at least one rebuttal (this has not been posted since I am awaiting the renewing of my modebee account).
I thought the Modesto Bee had an editorial page for this type of an article. The writer's personal opinions are not to be insidiously inserted in the "news article" the reporter has written. The opening line in the article begins with "think FORGIVE, act". This neither opens the article nor does it give insight into what this article is about. It clearly infers that the current Anglican parishioners have to forgive something or someone. The second paragraph further serves to editorialize by "including the words, 'Thou are giving and forgiving ...'". The third paragraph explains the reporter's indignation and at the same time sets the stage for "good guy versus bad guy". The Anglican St. Francis Church are the good guys while the big bad Episcopal Church is the bad guy.
The fourth paragraph, "the decision was made to return St. Francis and the historic Red Church (Sonora), ... " The line infers that these two Anglican parishes somehow own the buildings in which they held their services. Both these (in fact all 40 of 47) buildings were taken over by the Anglican parishes by right of occupancy. They were never paid for by the individuals nor the Anglican Diocese headed up by Eric Menees. The Episcopal Church is simply trying to regain that which was taken without recompense. And who among us would not want to "sue" if a squatter occupied our home when we were not looking and the squatter will not give it back?
The fifth paragraph is full of quotes from the Anglican Bishop from Fresno with NO corresponding quotes from Bishop Talton, the Episcopal Bishop who rightly is responsible for the property and as the Episcopal Bishop of San Joaquin is the steward of all the Episcopal property. What reporter, seeking balance would not balance quotes?
The reporter goes on to share quotes from long standing Anglican parishioners about their "home". The reporter failed to quote any of the long standing Episcopal parishioners who grew up in that parish and were unceremoniously thrown out of their building.
The reporter goes on to quote the Anglican Bishop to say "Grace Anglican Church ...will be a place where God is honored and glorified". As if to say that when the Episcopal parish regains their rightful property these parishioners will not honor and glorify God.
The reporter goes on to quote Russ Rappley from Michigan (who joined the parish only after the split the “Anglican” and the Episcopal diocese was completed, and knows nothing of the Episcopal parish that was there) "it’s not the way Christians should act". Again no balancing quote(s) from Kathy Galatia, the current Vicar of St. Francis Episcopal Church. And, the quote infers that what the Anglicans did by taking over the building is the Christian thing to do!
There are several more unbalanced quotes by parishioners and story lines by the reporter that predetermine what readers ought to think about this story.
I am greatly disappointed by the biased reporting of this reporter. Even non-journalists know that the "below the fold" ought to contain responses and reactions from (the other side). Journalists are responsible for who, what, why, where, when, and how. The conclusions drawn from a dispassionate and unbiased article are supposed to be the readers.
All I can say in conclusion is journalism has taken a "turn for the worst" to quote and Eagles song.
Personal note: best wishes to all my blogging friends.
Here is the article:
http://www.modbee.com/2013/05/19/2722994/turlock-episcopal-congregation.html#
Here is at least one rebuttal (this has not been posted since I am awaiting the renewing of my modebee account).
I thought the Modesto Bee had an editorial page for this type of an article. The writer's personal opinions are not to be insidiously inserted in the "news article" the reporter has written. The opening line in the article begins with "think FORGIVE, act". This neither opens the article nor does it give insight into what this article is about. It clearly infers that the current Anglican parishioners have to forgive something or someone. The second paragraph further serves to editorialize by "including the words, 'Thou are giving and forgiving ...'". The third paragraph explains the reporter's indignation and at the same time sets the stage for "good guy versus bad guy". The Anglican St. Francis Church are the good guys while the big bad Episcopal Church is the bad guy.
The fourth paragraph, "the decision was made to return St. Francis and the historic Red Church (Sonora), ... " The line infers that these two Anglican parishes somehow own the buildings in which they held their services. Both these (in fact all 40 of 47) buildings were taken over by the Anglican parishes by right of occupancy. They were never paid for by the individuals nor the Anglican Diocese headed up by Eric Menees. The Episcopal Church is simply trying to regain that which was taken without recompense. And who among us would not want to "sue" if a squatter occupied our home when we were not looking and the squatter will not give it back?
The fifth paragraph is full of quotes from the Anglican Bishop from Fresno with NO corresponding quotes from Bishop Talton, the Episcopal Bishop who rightly is responsible for the property and as the Episcopal Bishop of San Joaquin is the steward of all the Episcopal property. What reporter, seeking balance would not balance quotes?
The reporter goes on to share quotes from long standing Anglican parishioners about their "home". The reporter failed to quote any of the long standing Episcopal parishioners who grew up in that parish and were unceremoniously thrown out of their building.
The reporter goes on to quote the Anglican Bishop to say "Grace Anglican Church ...will be a place where God is honored and glorified". As if to say that when the Episcopal parish regains their rightful property these parishioners will not honor and glorify God.
The reporter goes on to quote Russ Rappley from Michigan (who joined the parish only after the split the “Anglican” and the Episcopal diocese was completed, and knows nothing of the Episcopal parish that was there) "it’s not the way Christians should act". Again no balancing quote(s) from Kathy Galatia, the current Vicar of St. Francis Episcopal Church. And, the quote infers that what the Anglicans did by taking over the building is the Christian thing to do!
There are several more unbalanced quotes by parishioners and story lines by the reporter that predetermine what readers ought to think about this story.
I am greatly disappointed by the biased reporting of this reporter. Even non-journalists know that the "below the fold" ought to contain responses and reactions from (the other side). Journalists are responsible for who, what, why, where, when, and how. The conclusions drawn from a dispassionate and unbiased article are supposed to be the readers.
All I can say in conclusion is journalism has taken a "turn for the worst" to quote and Eagles song.
Personal note: best wishes to all my blogging friends.
Monday, September 3, 2012
THANK YOU!
Do you remember when you worked a 10 hour day 6 and 7 days a week? Remember when you never received shift differential and overtime meant you got home after supper? Remember when you worked the construction industry and you had no protection against acetone and asbestos and all the other deadly chemicals everyone was exposed to? Remember when your children worked 8 OR 10 hours a day in a sweatshop?Remember when you never had holidays, vacation or sick leave? Remember when you received a dollar a day and you lived in company quarters and you paid the company store and the debt from that store got past on to your children and great grandchildren? Remember when you were hurt on the job and you lost weeks and weeks of pay? Remember when you were fired for going to your spouse's funeral and you never got unemployment? Remember when the farm workers were paid 50 or 75 cents per day, lived in "provided housing". Remember when the boss's best friend got the promotion and you got squat?
You say you don't remember these things at all? Of course not because so many of our fathers and grandfathers literally fought and died for the rights of workers. And Unions were formed and unions bargained for the basic necessities of life. You say you don't remember and it could never happen again? Review the minimum wage laws and see how many Republicans vote against it! Review worker's compensation laws and see how many Republicans vote against it! review the state disability laws and see how many Republicans voted against it!
If you don't think it can happen again listen to the issues in Wisconsin. Did you know that between Governor Brown and President Pro Temp Darrel Steinburg (BOTH DEMOCRATS) the public pension system in the State of California was gutted. The average teacher retires at about $39,000 per year in pension but they felt it was too much. Never mind that these pensions had been bargained. That teachers usually go their whole life and never see a distributive scheme let alone profit from it or more to the point ruin other peoples pensions by using it. But hey, the rich get tax breaks and the teachers and other public servants get to pay for the tax breaks.
If you think it can happen again then say THANK YOU to all our union constituents for all the hard work, then, now and in the future. Happy Labor Day. A Vote for Romney is a vote for eliminating Labor Day.
You say you don't remember these things at all? Of course not because so many of our fathers and grandfathers literally fought and died for the rights of workers. And Unions were formed and unions bargained for the basic necessities of life. You say you don't remember and it could never happen again? Review the minimum wage laws and see how many Republicans vote against it! Review worker's compensation laws and see how many Republicans vote against it! review the state disability laws and see how many Republicans voted against it!
If you don't think it can happen again listen to the issues in Wisconsin. Did you know that between Governor Brown and President Pro Temp Darrel Steinburg (BOTH DEMOCRATS) the public pension system in the State of California was gutted. The average teacher retires at about $39,000 per year in pension but they felt it was too much. Never mind that these pensions had been bargained. That teachers usually go their whole life and never see a distributive scheme let alone profit from it or more to the point ruin other peoples pensions by using it. But hey, the rich get tax breaks and the teachers and other public servants get to pay for the tax breaks.
If you think it can happen again then say THANK YOU to all our union constituents for all the hard work, then, now and in the future. Happy Labor Day. A Vote for Romney is a vote for eliminating Labor Day.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Power - That's My Speciality
Here is the latest from the diocese of South Carolina. This is actually taken from the website of the SC Episcopalians but the beginning three paragraphs make a point I have been working over for years.
The point is that the need to create ACNA or AMIA or any other multiple lettered acronym is nothing more than a power grab by those who choose to be above the law. Here it is:
CHARLESTON - The Cathedral of St. Luke& St. Paul is moving forward with plans to sever ties with the Episcopal Church, and shift its loyalty to something called “the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina” (PECDSC). Diocesan leaders have been quietly encourag ing parishes in the Diocese to amend their corporate documents to replace references to the Episcopal Church with similar references to the PECDSC. That is what the communicants of the Cathedral will be asked to do at a meeting of its congregation on September 9th.
Attorneys advising SC Episcopalians believe over the past two years the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina under Bishop Lawrence has re-invented itself as a "religious organization" separate from the Episcopal Church. The PECDSC’s corporate documents do not include an all important clause that accedes to the Constitution of the Episcopal Church, or otherwise does not include provisions that that impede accession to the Constitution of the Episcopal Church. This is important because unqualified accession to the Constitution of the Church is essential for membership
Attorneys advising SC Episcopalians believe over the past two years the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina under Bishop Lawrence has re-invented itself as a "religious organization" separate from the Episcopal Church. The PECDSC’s corporate documents do not include an all important clause that accedes to the Constitution of the Episcopal Church, or otherwise does not include provisions that that impede accession to the Constitution of the Episcopal Church. This is important because unqualified accession to the Constitution of the Church is essential for membership
Notice that South Carolina has already been spoken for by some bozo.bishop from ACNA and so Bishop Lawrence has decided to create his own diocese -- it appears that it may be his own Anglican Province. John David Schofield taught him all he knows and is probably part of Bishop Lawrence's kitchen cabinet. It is hard to believe but this has all been about a power grab. These folks did not like the election of a woman to the position of Presiding Bishop, not just because she is a woman (though that has a lot to do with it) but because they think they can do a better job. So, we have provinces and AiMa stuff and Church of Rwanda and GAFCON and all these folks trying to become bishops and those who are bishops trying to become popes.
Someone really ought to put all these folks in a long long timeout..
Sunday, August 26, 2012
John David Schofield II
I would like to begin with a quote from South Carolina Episcopalians. The actual story is entitled "Diocese Adrift as Bishop's Options Narrow".
“Hooker articulates for Anglicanism its answer to the question of what is our authority. Our authority is the association of scripture, tradition and reason … Scripture for the Anglican is a fundamental source of authority for the church; but apart from reason it is dangerous. It becomes the mirror for the misdirected person to project his or her own opinions and give them the authority of God. The sin of schism is the result."
– Urban T. Holmes in What Is Anglicanism?
Bishop Lawrence came to his diocese with the promise of staying within the Episcopal Church. On that basis he garnered sufficient votes to be ratified. So much for truth in the church. I suppose he had his hands behind his back and his fingers crossed. Just like John David Schofield.
Now, in closing and perhaps my main point (after an obligatory I told you so. Okay, got that out of my system) is that here is at least one more bishop who has done the same thing. I will let you guess who I am talking about but his initials stand for Daniel Martins.
Will we ever learn???!!!???
H/T Preludium
Bishop Lawrence has generally surrounded himself with a cadre of admiring friends and advisors who uniformly reflect his Biblical literalism and hostility to authority. Lawrence has revamped key governing structures of the Diocese such that they are now little more than an extension of that cadre. The direction of the Diocese is generally believed to be directed by God through revelation to Bishop Lawrence, who in turn, shares it with the Standng Committee, then the clergy, then the lay people of the Diocese.While Bishop Lawrence has used many things similar to John David Schofield in bringing his diocese to the brink the above quote is an encapsulation of the exact formula Schofield used in cutting San Joaquin out of the Episcopal Church. But, here is (I think) the unique part: See the highlighted part of the quote, that is my emphasis. But, before I say anything, since I am just a blogger of no repute let me provide the reader with the quote that the South Carolinians used to open their story:
“Hooker articulates for Anglicanism its answer to the question of what is our authority. Our authority is the association of scripture, tradition and reason … Scripture for the Anglican is a fundamental source of authority for the church; but apart from reason it is dangerous. It becomes the mirror for the misdirected person to project his or her own opinions and give them the authority of God. The sin of schism is the result."
– Urban T. Holmes in What Is Anglicanism?
Bishop Lawrence came to his diocese with the promise of staying within the Episcopal Church. On that basis he garnered sufficient votes to be ratified. So much for truth in the church. I suppose he had his hands behind his back and his fingers crossed. Just like John David Schofield.
Now, in closing and perhaps my main point (after an obligatory I told you so. Okay, got that out of my system) is that here is at least one more bishop who has done the same thing. I will let you guess who I am talking about but his initials stand for Daniel Martins.
Will we ever learn???!!!???
H/T Preludium
Friday, August 24, 2012
Lance Armstrong, The poor, and Oil Depletion
Once again the idea of "smacking" the poor raises it's ugly head. See, those who are less fortunate, those who lost their jobs and those who are just down on their luck receive cash payments and food stamps and WIC in order to merely keep them alive. The operative words here are "keep them alive". Someone has this great plan of drug testing those who receive government "handouts" prior to providing them with the necessary funds to merely subsist. Not, live like kings, not reap huge windfall tax relief, not stock market wealth up the proverbial you know what, merely to subsist. We all know that almost all of those people are druggies anyway using the money Uncle Sam gives them to buy heroin or crack or meth or weed.
Well, fair is fair, right? We should have a fair and just society so here is a modest proposal. Anyone who receives a government subsidy of any sort should be drug tested:
1, those who receive oil depletion allowances should be drug tested. Most of the owners and CEOs probably use cocaine regularly. We all have seen movies about it.
2, those who receive crop subsidies or payments to allow fields to lie fallow or water subsidies would be drug tested. We all know that corporate farms grow weed on their farms to "subsidize" their income.
3, All those who receive capital gains reductions or investment credits should be tested. They probably use illegal performance enhancement drugs that make them angry and unable to listen.
4, GM, Chrysler, and all the banks and investment firms that received handouts from the government should be drug tested. Lord knows their actions leading up to the economy falling apart clearly indicates drug use. Should check those beady little eyes.
5, All the veterans who receive service related disability pensions should be tested. After all, we all know that service people drink to excess and use those funny little things they pick up in Afghanistan and Vietnam and other places around the world.
6, then let's drug test all those on social security since they buy drugs of all kinds with their medicare and medicaid payments.
Got everyone covered? Hope so. Think of the money the government will save. Not only all the cash but we can do away with health and Human Services, Internal Revenue, Social security, Veterans Affairs, EPA, Natural Resources. Oh, and while we are at it let's drug test EVERYONE in government -- they all receive cash handouts from the feds. I have one better idea-- Let's not just start with congress but let's start with the Republicans in Congress who are so eager to drug test the poor and downtrodden. Anyone who takes money from the government and then denies it to everyone else clearly is on some kind of drug!
Well, fair is fair, right? We should have a fair and just society so here is a modest proposal. Anyone who receives a government subsidy of any sort should be drug tested:
1, those who receive oil depletion allowances should be drug tested. Most of the owners and CEOs probably use cocaine regularly. We all have seen movies about it.
2, those who receive crop subsidies or payments to allow fields to lie fallow or water subsidies would be drug tested. We all know that corporate farms grow weed on their farms to "subsidize" their income.
3, All those who receive capital gains reductions or investment credits should be tested. They probably use illegal performance enhancement drugs that make them angry and unable to listen.
4, GM, Chrysler, and all the banks and investment firms that received handouts from the government should be drug tested. Lord knows their actions leading up to the economy falling apart clearly indicates drug use. Should check those beady little eyes.
5, All the veterans who receive service related disability pensions should be tested. After all, we all know that service people drink to excess and use those funny little things they pick up in Afghanistan and Vietnam and other places around the world.
6, then let's drug test all those on social security since they buy drugs of all kinds with their medicare and medicaid payments.
Got everyone covered? Hope so. Think of the money the government will save. Not only all the cash but we can do away with health and Human Services, Internal Revenue, Social security, Veterans Affairs, EPA, Natural Resources. Oh, and while we are at it let's drug test EVERYONE in government -- they all receive cash handouts from the feds. I have one better idea-- Let's not just start with congress but let's start with the Republicans in Congress who are so eager to drug test the poor and downtrodden. Anyone who takes money from the government and then denies it to everyone else clearly is on some kind of drug!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Happy News
I suppose I can be depressing at times, Lord knows I get depressed, however, this time I wish to share some personal and happy news.
First, our daughter, after studying hard for many years, having two children and a myriad of other things happen in her life, has now completed her credential. Not only that, but she now has a teaching position -- in California no less!
Second, today our son begins his quest to become a Naval Officer. He is a Petty Officer, currently, or more correctly (as of today) an Officer Candidate. He was trained as a nuclear type and did one deployment in the gulf. Already, he has moved a number of times and will do so many more times. He has a very patient wife and two children also.
So that I can tie this into the blog, both families are practicing Episcopalians. Our daughter is very, very active and has done a mission to Chile. Currently serving on a vestry as the fund raising person. Her son has been featured with the Presiding Bishop and has never missed a convention.
I just wanted my readers, indeed anyone who stumbles across this humble blog to know that there are young families who love the Episcopal Church and are willing to make Christ the center of their lives and to make the Episcopal Church the center of their earthly attention.
We are a small family that has struggled through the trials and tribulations of the diocese of San Joaquin. But, take heart, a new generation is coming to take over. A generation of people willing to work for what they believe in, Christ made manifest through the Episcopal Church.
By the way, my wife and I could not be prouder of two children (and of course four grandchildren) who are on their way to success both spiritually and physically. We love them very much and hold them up for all to see, the torch is not only passing to a new generation (thanks JFK) but the torch has been accepted.
First, our daughter, after studying hard for many years, having two children and a myriad of other things happen in her life, has now completed her credential. Not only that, but she now has a teaching position -- in California no less!
Second, today our son begins his quest to become a Naval Officer. He is a Petty Officer, currently, or more correctly (as of today) an Officer Candidate. He was trained as a nuclear type and did one deployment in the gulf. Already, he has moved a number of times and will do so many more times. He has a very patient wife and two children also.
So that I can tie this into the blog, both families are practicing Episcopalians. Our daughter is very, very active and has done a mission to Chile. Currently serving on a vestry as the fund raising person. Her son has been featured with the Presiding Bishop and has never missed a convention.
I just wanted my readers, indeed anyone who stumbles across this humble blog to know that there are young families who love the Episcopal Church and are willing to make Christ the center of their lives and to make the Episcopal Church the center of their earthly attention.
We are a small family that has struggled through the trials and tribulations of the diocese of San Joaquin. But, take heart, a new generation is coming to take over. A generation of people willing to work for what they believe in, Christ made manifest through the Episcopal Church.
By the way, my wife and I could not be prouder of two children (and of course four grandchildren) who are on their way to success both spiritually and physically. We love them very much and hold them up for all to see, the torch is not only passing to a new generation (thanks JFK) but the torch has been accepted.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Let The Dead bury the dead
Here is the best reason I can give for not allowing those who return from the ACNA diocese to not be allowed any voice or vote in the Episcopal Church at least for 5 years. This quote comes from another blog whose name will remain not spoken and he comment is on the process we follow as a democratic organization, one of the few in the Anglican Communion. This writer is ,presumably still in the Episcopal Church which makes me very very nervous:
It's not the fault of Committees 9 and 10 that those resolutions take up so much time. The resolutions come in from CCABs, dioceses, bishops and deputies and have to go somewhere - if we eliminated those committees then they would have to be taken up by others. Speaking for committee 10, we took five health-related resolutions and combined them into three; and a whopping SEVEN poverty-related resolutions were combined into ONE. So in that respect, I'd say that Committee 10 actually *saved* us all a lot of time. The only way to improve the situation would be to somehow prevent the resolves from being made in the first place.
Improve what situation? The need for democratic process? The need for all voices to be heard? The desire to not run over the weak, the minority voice, those who you feel have no real say in the matters of the church?
Please, go join the Anglican Communion of North America if you feel as strongly as you seem to. We practice and live by the big tent theory and we have no need of "bishops" telling us what we believe especially in public and especially speaking for me. I have my own voice and can speak when I feel it necessary.
It's not the fault of Committees 9 and 10 that those resolutions take up so much time. The resolutions come in from CCABs, dioceses, bishops and deputies and have to go somewhere - if we eliminated those committees then they would have to be taken up by others. Speaking for committee 10, we took five health-related resolutions and combined them into three; and a whopping SEVEN poverty-related resolutions were combined into ONE. So in that respect, I'd say that Committee 10 actually *saved* us all a lot of time. The only way to improve the situation would be to somehow prevent the resolves from being made in the first place.
Improve what situation? The need for democratic process? The need for all voices to be heard? The desire to not run over the weak, the minority voice, those who you feel have no real say in the matters of the church?
Please, go join the Anglican Communion of North America if you feel as strongly as you seem to. We practice and live by the big tent theory and we have no need of "bishops" telling us what we believe especially in public and especially speaking for me. I have my own voice and can speak when I feel it necessary.
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