CONNECTICUT: Diocese, Episcopal Church file complaint against those refusing to vacate Groton church

From Ed Getlein • Woodbridge, Connecticut, Jul 15, 2008 Does the Rev. Gauss now draw pension monies from the Episcopal Diocese of CT? Seems like he's dancing with the devil. I suppose he can justify that with a bit of mental acrobatics.

EUROPE: Catholic, Orthodox warn Church of England on women bishops decision

From Paul Barth • Adrian, Michigan, Jul 15, 2008 Not allowing women to be priests is false doctrine. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to women - not men. He told the women to spread the news of His resurrection. Jesus also used women in roles not in keeping with the traditions of Jewish society. God does not expect us to re-create first century A.D. Women are gifts from God, same as men are. All genders and sexual persuasions have a role in the priesthood of God in all its functions, including bishops.

PITTSBURGH: Parish wants court-appointed monitor to oversee possession, use of diocesan property

From Conroy Guyer • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jul 15, 2008 It is a sad thing when leaders within an organization want to undermine that organization so that they can follow their own agendum. One of the recurrent themes in the plays of Henrik Ibsen is that the by-product of the acts of reformers and purists is unintended evil. It is easy to think of the many evils that are the by-product of schism.  It is our duty to use those means at hand to prevent this sort of thing. A court-appointed monitor is the only option to protect the unity of the church and the properties and the resources of the church. I support what Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, is doing.

EUROPE: Norway's Lutherans praise Church of England on women bishops decision

From Rev. J. G. Pennington • Ypsilanti, Michigan, Jul 15, 2008 Anglicans need to ignore concerns of the RCs who have had every possible opportunity for reconciliation with their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Throughout all of the ecumenical conversations the bottom line is always to recognize the Pope's authority and make some kind of submission to his office.  It will never happen and it was never true of the early church.  The desire for power over service is too strong to really effectively reconcile itself with others.  Anglicans have the fullness of the faith and should move on in the faith of the renewing Holy Spirit. Women in all aspects of the ordained ministries harnesses at least 50% of Christian resources.

Episcopal/Presbyterian dialogue moves on with General Assembly action

From Jerry C Olson • Columbia, Missouri, Jul 15, 2008 As main line churches continue to lose members these unions are necessary. I find nothing wrong with most of these unions but I fear the real force is the loss of members. The Episcopal Church is loosing members at an alarming rate, including the Anglican Church world wide. The Episcopal Church is not only losing members but the ability to keep its seminaries open not to mention that many of our cathedrals are on the brink of bankruptcy. Attend any early Mass and you will feel like you are in a retirement home. The Episcopal Church is not healthy and recovery may never happen.

Frank Chun of Hawaii to celebrate 40 years of service

From The Rev. Bob Spangler • Arden, North Carolina, Jul 14, 2008 Frank, bless your heart (as we say in the South). I remember when you were just a boy at good old CDSP, and now you're a canon. I'm sure that our church and your diocese are better because of your years of service. Shalom, my brother. -- Bob Spangler of the great class of 1968.

Steven Frank Bailey set to leave Episcopal Church Center after 20 years

From Barbara Hopwood • Northfield, Minnesota , Jul 14, 2008 How can Steven think that he can slip quietly into retirement?

He more often than Willeen, JoAnne or Elizabeth was the voice that welcomed you when you called the UTO office. If you had a question he would facilitate finding the answer for you. Whether you were a parish UTO coordinator or a Committee member he was there to help you.

Everyone should be missed as much when they retire as Steven will be missed.

Presiding Bishop challenges Episcopal youth to act for justice

From Helen Bodell • Rumford, Rhode Island, Jul 14, 2008 As I was going about the mundane business of getting my hair cut yesterday, I got a text message from my daughter at EYE. She had just heard the Presiding Bishop and found her sermon very interesting. It's moving to read this Episcopal Life article to get a deeper understanding of Jefferts Schori's message to the EYE gathering. Thank you for the article, and thank you to the national and local Episcopal Church for making this experience available for our youth. What a blessing it is--and will be--as these seeds bear fruit in their lives.

PITTSBURGH: Parish wants court-appointed monitor to oversee possession, use of diocesan property

From The Rev. Peter Pearson • New Hope, Pennsylvania Jul 14, 2008 Having lived for 15 years in the Pittsburgh area and witnessed the beginnings of this drama unfolding, I can hardly believe that the national church has not already intervened to put an end to this by inhibiting Bishop Duncan and removing him from office. As a relatively new Episcopalian, the ends to which we allow these kinds of situations to come to crisis level is astounding. Preventative medicine is sometimes the best course of action so that the whole body does not die. Recovery is much harder to manage once the body is mortally wounded.

ENGLAND: Archbishop of York calls for church to reach out on knife crime

From Karen D. Powers • Oshkosh, WI, Jul 10, 2008 I was bewildered by the comment from the Archbishop of York, when he said that the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the current contested debate on sexuality, is a model of attentive listening. If the Archbishop of Canterbury is indeed a model of attentive listening in the current debate on sexuality, why did he exclude the Bishop of New Hampshire from the Lambeth Conference? Wouldn't it be easier to listen attentively to the New Hampshire Bishop if he were included in the gathering?

Global Anglican Future Conference issues final statement

From Arthur J. Sikula • New York, New York, Jul 10, 2008 The participants claim that their meeting was one of the spirit. I would counter that it is more explicitly a movement in ecclesiology. Once again, some in the Church would vie for position to the left and right of the Lord - to be the sole custodians of the Truth; and exclude all who do not agree with their truth to be pluralists or in heterodoxy. This is not Anglican. It sounds rather Roman.

Steven Frank Bailey set to leave Episcopal Church Center after 20 years

From Beverly Anderson • Seaside, California, Jul 10, 2008 Steven will be sorely missed at Triennial from now on. I always knew if I needed help Steve was there somewhere to guide me. Whatever I needed from UTO I had the answer as fast as the internet would go. I will miss you, but have a wonderful retirement and follow your dreams.

Steven Frank Bailey set to leave Episcopal Church Center after 20 years

From Rojita Tripp • Raton, New Mexico Jul 10, 2008 During my term on the UTO Committee, I came to enjoy Steven as a friend, as a resourceful part of UTO, as someone who cheered up everyone around him.

I hope you will publish an e-mail address so that we who love him can "touch base" now and then and not just lose touch. He's one of a kind.

Besos y abrazos, Steven, and vaya con Dios siempre!

Episcopal Church website redesign aims to ease navigation

From The Rev. Donna Ross • Cambria, California, Jul 10, 2008 I am so happy to see these changes planned for the website - especially your new emphasis on making the site more accessible to inquirers and seekers.

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