Reader Response

Rounding out worship

From The Rev. William F. Maxwell • Port Townsend, Washington, Nov 16, 2009 I am a retired cathedral dean, ordained priest for 60 years last September. I have gladly tried new forms of liturgy -- embraced some, rejected some. The seating in the round is the most important change in my experience, and I love it! At Grace Church, Bainbridge Island, we worship in the round. We sing a hymn that includes a line, "I see glory in each face", and I do as I look across the church at my friends who are worshipping with me. This doesn't happen readily with the backs of peoples' heads, and those faces at Grace enrich my worship every time. It is community at worship -- liturgy at its most engaging, and not only with fellow Christians but with our Lord. Thank you for the article.

Rethinking theological education

From Dale Carter • Asheville, North Carolina, Nov 16, 2009 I am in the discernment process in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. I find this article encouraging. It seems that there my be options and opportunities emerging that would allow some of us to continue to work and save for further education while still working towards our calling.

I am hoping I am interpreting this correctly. I am interested in more information on this program. Thanks for the article!

Send us your Response

From The Rev. Rob McCann • Lafayette, California, Nov 16, 2009 For eons, if not forever (so I'm dramatic), two groups of people have been historically marginalized within the human family - women and homosexuals.

With the Vatican's invitation to drum up more interest among disenchanted Anglicans to become Catholics, the same incessant unequal beat goes on - and precisely over what so many of us see as two issues of justice not served.

The sudden invitation is curiously un-ecumenical following decades of theological headway and occasional bonhomie. It is wrapped with The Prayer Book and the possibility of married male priests. The sadness for so many of us centers around a powerful hierarchy that continues to disenfranchise more than half of its own members with no questions asked, nor tolerated.

As one who has swum on both sides of the Tiber, may I recommend reading the cautionary tale of the Trojan Horse in Virgil's Aeneid before any planned journey.

Episcopalians urged to support affordable health care

From Justin Varteresian • Whitinsville, Massachusetts Nov 16, 2009 I am an Episcopalian who is in opposition to the bill. Frankly, I am disgusted by how our church (the Episcopal Church, not my parish) is run, and I demand reform now. This bill is socialism at its finest. Jesus told us to help the poor, not give our money to the government so that they can semi-help the poor. As I understand it, Jesus and the institution of government did not get along very well. I see troubles ahead of us; our willingness to allow anyone into our church has caused our church to make a strong dash to the left on social and economic issues.

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